June 2016 – Page 2 – Artquiltmaker Blog

2016 Various & Sundry #8

Doing Good for Orlando

By now most of us have heard of the horrendous massacre in Orlando. All I can think about is that the victims could have easily been people in my family, good friends or work colleagues. My heart goes out to everyone touched by this supreme and unnecessary tragedy. All I can think about is that this could have happened to one of family or friends. None of us are immune. In true quiltmaker fashion the Orlando Modern Quilt Guild has started a block and quilt drive to create quilts for the victims and families of the slain. They are collecting quilts and blocks.

The idea is to make heart blocks in bright, rainbow colors to represent everyone affected (including YOU), and obviously represent the love we are sending them. Use the tutorial from Cluck Cluck Sew to make 10″ blocks in rainbow of bright colors, with a low volume background. The quilts should be no smaller than 5 blocks wide and 6 blocks long. You’re more than welcome to make them larger, they’d like to keep them at the very least lap sized.

Overview:
Pattern: Cluck Cluck Sew Hearts
Size: 10″x 10″
Colors: varying rainbow of prints with low volume background
Send quilt to Orlando MQG (check blog for address)
Send money, blocks and quilts to: Alissa Lapinsky c/o A List Hair Salon, 106 South Woodland Blvd, Suite B, DeLand, FL 32720
Timeframe: By August 15
Send this form with your submission.

A lot of questions were brought up in the comments on the original Orlando MQG post. This is a big project and they are working through the details now, but most of the answers have been posted today, including what you can send (quilts, blocks, batting, money, binding strips, etc). Also keep an eye on that blog for more information. I am sure your patience will be appreciated.

Julie is hosting a get together this weekend to make blocks and quilts. Contact Julie at the Intrepid Thread for more details. If you have any other questions, please email alissalapinsky [at] gmail [dot] com. She is the president of the Orlando MQG.

Do something! Help in some small way- whatever works for you.

Patterns, Tutorials & Classes

This is a GREAT idea. Jackie over at Sewexcited Quilts has a tutorial for an I.C.E. pouch. I.C.E. stands for In Case of Emergency. I have a contact called this on my phone, but if my phone flies across the car in a crash, it doesn’t help. Jackie writes “Local emergency personnel want these in every household. On strollers, backpacks, bikes, seat belts, the list can go on and on. They said it is helpful in saving lives and people getting the proper help” in her post. She has printables included in the post, not only for the tutorial, but also for the form to include and the logo. The tutorial is also included in the post. This is a great idea for gifts!

Kelby of One Hour Basket fame has a new pattern with 8 patterns included.

I was pretty excited about these foundation piecing patterns from Tartan Kiwi except that they are foundation piecing. The seahorse is my favorite and I might just make that one even though it is foundation piecing.

The Aurifil Thread Box and Sewing Caddy is the first sew4home tutorial after their partnership with Aurifil thread. The colors they used in the project are right up my alley and the bag is shaped more like a briefcase than a tote bag. It has some structure and that is also appealing to me. After some history of Aurifil and some information on their different weights of the different Aurifil threads Sew4Home provides a comprehensive tutorial with a lot of good pictures. I learned to use my Edgestitch foot, which I have never used from looking at the photos. I haven’t made one, but from looking at the photos, I think this is a comprehensive tutorial and I encourage you to let me know how yours comes out.

There is a super cute popsicle mini-quilt pattern that I adore. It brings back good memories of the freezer in my granparents’ play room that I am sure was stuffed with popsicles. I saw it first on Twitter. Then I saw the actual pattern and realized it is from Fig Tree. You can buy it from them directly. I love the colors they use.

Media & Books

Here’s the scoop on why Quilt Your Heart Out died.

Lucky Spools has a new book out, The Quilt Blocks Cookbook. When I saw ‘cookbook’ I thought actual cooking with teaspoons and hot oil. I delved a little deeper and saw that it might be a block dictionary. I haven’t gotten my hands on a copy, but the guild might get a copy and I can take a look.

I totally missed Amy bringing the Creative Mom podcast back. She has about 15 episodes waiting for your listening pleasure. I just downloaded them and started listening. The episode called Flip-through has a lot of interesting concepts and thought provoking ideas. I might try and get together with an art friend and do a flip-through. This might be a good idea for CQFA.

I am gearing up for my next round of dresses for #politicalwifery and bought 2 patterns from the Indie designer, Colette Patterns. As a result, I received a newsletter called Get Snippets. The issue I received had 10 free resources for better sewing. I wasn’t able to find a web version, so they were:

1. 50 favorite sewing books. Looking to build up your library? The internet is great and all, but I truly believe there’s no substitute for a well-written, specific book. These are my top choices (including some great vintage ones), and be sure to check out the comments for more ideas.

2. Seamwork Radio. We love to share sewing stories. Our podcast brings you personal stories about all the ways designing, making, and wearing your own clothing can alter your life.

3. How to maintain your sewing machine. We all forget that our little machines need love. Keep yours in good working order with some simple cleaning and maintenance.

4. The free Sorbetto pattern. If you haven’t tried this pattern yet, you can download it for free today. A simple basic that’s been wildly popular, this pattern has been downloaded hundreds of thousands of times.

5. Wardrobe Architect. This blog series covers a step-by-step process for constructing a wardrobe you actually want to wear – and that feels like you. It’s one of the most popular things we’ve ever published!

6. 6 apps to help you plan your sewing.These days, most of us likely bring a smart phone to the fabric store. Here’s how you can use your phone to stay inspired, capture ideas, and track your sewing goals.

7. How to install an invisible zipper (with video). Learning to do this can be life-changing for your sewing, so check out the complete photo tutorial with video to see how easy it is.

8. How to prevent DIY anxiety. Like author Annaliese Fidgeon notes, “DIY anxiety is not something that can be cured,” but be sure to bookmark this post for when you need a boost.

9. Sewalongs.com. This is where we offer free real-time sewalong classes using our patterns! You can browse past sewalongs, or sign up to hear about the next one we offer. It’s all totally free and lots of fun.

10. Coletterie by email. Don’t want to miss any of our discussions and tutorials? We update our blog 3 times a week with thought-provoking and useful articles. Click here and enter your email to get them all delivered to you.

These link out to blog posts, of which I was not aware and was interested to read. You can sign up for the newsletter yourself at Get Snippets.

Cheryl has written a great post about what she has learned from using sheets as quilt backs. She is very thorough in this post. Keep in mind that YMMV.

Fabric, Tools & Supplies

Jackie has a series of blog posts about irons. Very interesting info!

Victoria Findlay Wolfe has new Sizzix dies coming out. I don’t have a Sizzix (yet??), but still admire the designs. She is right that the parallelogram design would make a great teen/young adult quilt, but especially a boy quilt. Interesting and not girly (assuming you don’t use floral swirly pink fabric).

Other Artists

I was thrilled to see Jill contribute a response to one of the last Creative Prompts. I adore her response, as I do most of her responses. In addition, I looked through her tag for “iPad doodles” and read more about the tools she uses, Tophatch Concepts app and the 53 stylus. I want them both and that means I need a new iPad. I have slowly been moving all of my mobile life to Samsung, but this app and the stylus are giving me pause.

If you are thinking about doing the La Passacaglia quilt (and why wouldn’t you be thinking about it with a name like that???), Massdrop has the templates and papers again. Take a look at Wendy’s quilt, which she is now quilting. Yes, I am doing it. No, I haven’t really started.

Johanna Bashford, the Secret Garden and Enchanted Forest coloring book queen will receive an Order of the British Empire award. She called Buckingham Palace, because she thought it was a prank. Amazing!

Group Projects, Challenges and Ideas

You can always dive into the Creative Prompt Project. Choose a prompt and go for it!

Exhibits and Events

Iowa Quilt Museum Opens in Winterset. As you know Winterset, Iowa is the home of Marianne Fons.

Lake County is a county north of me. Someone sent me an article about a new block added to a quilt trail up there. The article also talks about the history of the family on whose barn the quilt block has been installed. There is no additional information about the Lake County Quilt Trail, but a quick search found a site.

FOTY 2016 – Mid June

FOTY 2016 squares - mid-June — FOTY 2016 squares – mid-June

I spent several evenings cutting fabric while DH worked on his NSGW stuff. It was nice to cut up fabric and move some of it off my ironing board, but it was different than our routine and a little upsetting.

You can see that I am working through a load of blues nad other cool colors. Sometimes I got tired of the same colors and dug around for some others to entertain me. Pressing and cutting she stripes makes me want to bind something with those stripes.

I had to keep moving the squares off the design wall as I was cutting so much fabric. It was nice knowing I was making some progress. Why wasn’t I sewing? I don’t know.

Design Wall Monday

I don’t do this type of post every week, but felt like giving you an update this week. I also wonder if you haven’t seen this same Stepping Stones strewn design wall a million times before. I think the last update was in October.

Flying Geese: I haven’t made anymore or received any in awhile. I still have my design and lots of squares cut, so I need to get back to this.

2. Donation blocks. I am saving the red blocks to make a quilt top. I think I have enough, but I haven’t counted. You can see the stash at the bottom of my design wall under #3. I might also be saving the blue blocks to do the same. We’ll see.

3. Newest FOTY 2016 squares.

4. Stepping Stones blocks. I am stuck with these on the wall, because I have half a block done. I need more HSTs to finish it. I don’t want to put them away until I get around to it in case I forget what needs to be done. I also found a stash of Turquoise/Red Stepping Stones blocks, so I might have enough to make something.

5. Blue donation block in progress. I usually put the pieces and parts of blocks in progress near where I can reach them as I use them for leaders and enders.

6. My box of donation 2.5″ patches waiting to become blocks.

I am linking up with Judy Laquidara at the Patchwork Times

Napkins

I made these napkins yesterday. I had cut them out a few weeks ago. I took the opportunity to test the 9k by sewing them.

I bought the Philip Jacobs fabric for a dress. Aren’t those flowers gorgeous? Unfortunately, upon closer inspection I thought the melons and pineapples were inappropriate, especially if placement of those motifs ended up in an unfortunate position…. This is a good use of the fabric.

I am pleased with how they came out and by the way the 9k sews.

FOTY 2016: early mid June

With all of the cutting I have been doing lately, patches for FOTY 2016 are already piling up. I have a lot of black from the Food Quilt #3, though who knows how much it will look like relative to all the other colors I accumulate.

A number of the food fabrics have crept in due to cutting new bits for the last few food 9 patches.

In the photo above are the recent pillowcase fabrics and few I have cut that have been recently washed.

Creativity Inspiration

One of the things I want to do is inspire your creativity with color palettes.

The circles indicate the areas of the photo that determine the palette. The tool put all the circles ont he background, so my first palette had no brights.

I moved the circles a little to see the difference. I think the palette tool might tend to darker or muddier prints. It could be that I chose Kona as well.

Regardless, this tool is a great place to start, if you have a photo and want to use it as a color palette for your artwork. I used the Playcrafts tool and selected Kona Cottons to generate this palette.

If you generate a palette put a link in the comments of this post, so I can see it. Post the direct URL (link) where your drawing, doodle, artwork is posted (e.g. your blog, Flickr) in the comments area of this post. I would really like to keep all the work together and provide a way for others to see your work and get familiar with your blog or website.

The Creative Prompt Project, which we will continue to use for other creative activities, has a Flickr group. You can join to post your creative endeavors. I created this spot so those of you without blogs and websites would have a place to post your responses. Thanks for reading.

Last Peacocks?

I have no idea if this is the last of the blocks. They seem to multiply when I am not looking, so I expect more to turn up.

I do have some pieces left, but they are not in sets for blocks. I had one extra from each block. I think I could match up some of them, but I don’t really know how many will look good enough to include. Thus, I don’t know if I will use them, but we will see.

I made some solid blocks as tests. I don’t know if I will use them in the quilt, but we will see. I’ll have to layout the piece first and see if the solids can fit somewhere.

Typewriter Gift Bag

This is a different kind of gift bag than the one I usually make. A few years ago I made a couple of bags for wine. I was thinking of those bags when I bought the olive oil** for the hostess gifts. I remembered the basics so I didn’t even look at the post until I was writing this post. Also, I had just finished the Heart Bag, so I was freshly well versed in handles and turning bags. I felt confident that I could make one of these bags easily.

The size is different from wine, but I just measured the bottles of olive oil and made one bag (about 15″ around) for both bottles and the pour spout. The size was generous, though not so much that the bottles clinked around against each other. I used some leftover pieces of batting to beef up the sturdiness of the bag. I used something different last time, but didn’t note what I used. It was pretty stiff. The batting worked fine this time.

I made two handles this time and think I prefer just one handle. It isn’t as fussy around the top. All in all, I am pretty pleased with how this bag came out and especially pleased that it was a quick project. I will definitely make more.

**Nota bene: there is a fancy olive oil store near my old office and we find that giving fancy olive oil is different than giving wine. Most people bring wine as a hostess gift and fancy olive oil is usable and well received.

FOTY 2016: Good News & Bad

I am plowing through fabric so more patches for FOTY 2016 are being cut. In this batch, you will see some from the back of the FOTY 2015 as well as some Ta Dots, which I am cutting into squares to make HSTs using my Triangle Technique. I thought I had all of them cut and then found a few more.

The black and whites plus the couple of browny-neutral fabrics were originally from Cityscapes, but I am doing another quilt in similar colors. Stay tuned for more on that. There are also a couple of random purples in there. Fun to think about projects I have made or am working on when I see these patches.

The BAD NEWS is that I mislaid the box I had been using to store FOTY squares. All the squares you saw last time were in that box. I had to clean up the workroom and I remember putting the box….somewhere. Exactly where is a mystery. It is not gone forever, I know, but I just don’t know where it is. It will turn up. This is what I get for having projects in process everywhere.

Donation Block Department

Donation Blocks - May 2016 — Donation Blocks – May 2016

In between sewing the top and back of FOTY 2015 together, I made a few more donation blocks. Not a lot, but my pile of reds is growing and the other random colored blocks are going straight into the back to to take to the next BAMQG meeting.

As soon as I make enough of the red, I will make a specific top and back from those. I might use the Cutting Corners ruler again and I might now. We’ll see.

Food Quilt #3 Starts & Progresses

Last Monday was the day to start the latest Food Quilt. The YM wasn’t home and DH was doing his NSGW stuff, so I was pretty much left to entertain myself. 😉 It might be the last Food Quilt, but we will see. After making the binding for FOTY 2015, I started sewing the 9 patches I needed to get this quilt started. I made really good progress.

The first one was quickly followed by 6 of them.

I was shocked to get all of them done in one day. I had some leftover parts. Poor counting. I thought I would use them for the back or for another quilt. Then SIL came over to talk about sewing and we discussed the size. The giftee for this quilt is very tall and would not cover him, so eventually, after discussing rearranging the blocks, I decided to make 4 more blocks. I will use the extra parts as a starting point.

Food Quilt #3 - Blocks Cut — Food Quilt #3 – Blocks Cut

After making all the 9 patches, I decided I would see what cutting the blocks up looked like. That is always a fun exercise. I thought I would do one. In a short amount of time, I did them all.

I’d like to do a different layout than the other two. Food Quilt #2 has a kind of zigzaggy look and Food Quilt #1 has a more traditional one block surrounded by sashing and cornerstones look. I am toying with putting the blues together in the middle. I think it looks good. If I do that layout, I’ll have to repress some of the seams. The one thing I am contemplating is whether I want the food fabrics touching. I plan to look online at some layouts for the Disappearing 9 Patch.

I think I will be able to get this done relatively quickly. After I make the extra blocks, the holdup will be the applique’ on the back and I have a good process in my head for making the templates, so it is a matter of sitting down to do it.

Midi Bag Finished!

It has been over a month since I took the Midi Bag class, – WOW! time sure flies – but I finally finished the bag.

After the class, I only had to topstitch then close up the opening in the lining. I really just didn’t have a spare moment to sew those last few steps. It isn’t as though I have been sitting around, but the Midi Bag just did not come to the top of the list.

After finishing the Heart Bag, I decided to take a few minutes to finish the Midi Bag. I am really thrilled that it is done. The Memorial Day weekend unexpectedly turned into a few days of finishing. Although I had to go with DH for a little bit of #Politicalwifery, I was able to sew a lot and finish a few projects. It was so relaxing and I am so thrilled I got to all of the projects I was able to finish.

I really like the way the bag turned out from a fabric point of view. The colors are very appealing and it has a bit of a tropical/Hawaiian art feel. I used Horizon by Kate Spain mini-charm packs for the body, a random solid for the inside and more Kate Spain yardage for the handles. The color combination is really great. I especially love the fabric I used for the handles. There is something about that blue that is very appealing.

It is a very strangely shaped bag, however, and I am not sure of the purpose for which I would use it. Also, I feel like it needs some kind of closure. SIL and I talked about grommets and buttonholes. I am not a fan of grommets after the Scrap Lab Backpack, so buttonholes are more likely. We’ll see.

The pocket came out well. I put a little decorative stitch on the edge and I am glad I did.

I still have a few of the same charm packs left and I might see about making this bag again in the Mondo size. Perhaps the proportions for the larger bag will be better and that one won’t look as strange. I am not sure I would be able to carry a Mondo sized bag full of stuff. I don’t that pattern and would like to use the second sheet of interfacing from the Midi Bag pattern before I buy another pattern. Nota bene: Each pattern comes with 2 sheets of interfacing.

FOTY 2015 Top & Back Complete!

That big project I mentioned yesterday? I finished the Fabric of the Year 2015 top, back and binding over the weekend. The first thing I did Saturday morning (after tidying up, writing in my journal, drinking tea, starting the laundry, walking and making breakfast for the family) was get down to business with FOTY 2015. That thing has been on my wall long enough and I wanted to move on.

FOTY 2015 Top - Finished — FOTY 2015 Top – Finished

I finished the top on Thursday or Friday. I basked in that excitement until Saturday before moving on to the back. After the massive ironing session I did on Friday, I had some nice pieces I wanted to use. I decided to make the back with fabrics that I really liked.

I went back and forth about borders. Borders finish the look of the piece and stabilize it, but this quilt wants a binding, but no border, so I stay stitched the edge and will have to hope for the best in terms of squareness. At the moment it is mostly square, but quilting is the wildcard.

Speaking of quilting, I also had it in my head to quilt it myself. I really want some straight line quilting. After convincing myself that quilting it myself would be a good idea, I backtracked. I’ll take it to Colleen. I have 3 other projects to quilt. Adding another is not a good idea.

So, once those tasks and mind games were over, I made the back. Pressing fabrics the night before was a good idea. I found two pieces that I would love as dresses. I don’t have enough so I decided to make a back with fabrics I love.

As you can see, lots of Philip Jacobs, though that purple is by someone else (Patty Slottinger???). I tried to find more of it, but no luck so far. It was a cursory search. I added in the greys just to give the florals space to breathe.

FOTY 2015 - Half the Back — FOTY 2015 – Half the Back

I started to sew to avoid the label for a little while, but after making half the back, I had to deal with the label. That meant testing the printer. Cyan was out (I know gremlins print while I am not home and use up all my ink), so that meant locating some print cartridges and finding the cyan. I had one cyan left (WHEW!). Once the printer chores were complete, I created the label, printed it on paper and then copied on to fabric.

I think labels are vitally important, but making them and sewing them in is a chore. This time the bottom half of the back went very well. Actually the whole back went very well. There was only one spot where I had to insert a small piece. All the other pieces were fairly large, which made process of the back go relatively quickly.

I made the binding on Monday and now the whole package is ready to go to the quilter.

Care Package Pillowcase

Every time I make pillowcases, I feel like I am doing it wrong, then the pillowcase comes out fine and I feel mystified that the process worked, but vindicated that the process worked. All I can do is guess that the burrito method is not linear and that is part of the issue for me.

After finishing a big project, I wanted something quick. I also had making a pillowcase for one of the YM’s friends stuck in my head. I spent a lot of time pressing fabric on Friday night and came across a blue that would be perfect. I also found a perfect cuff fabric. Everything came together et Voilà! It was meant to be.

I used my guide to remind me of the pillowcase making details and the project only took me a little bit of time. It was very satisfying to finish something.

This is for someone whose favorite color is royal blue. I haven’t heard of Royal Blue as a favorite in a really long time, if ever. People love turquoise (ahem) or periwinkle or navy, but Royal Blue is new one on me. Good thing I had some fabric that was close.

Once finished I thought of the YM’s other good friend. All of the Musketeers would know if one got a pillowcase and the other didn’t, so I made a second pillowcase from some relatively subtle music themed fabric.

I thought I might have enough of that music fabric to make the YM one with a different cuff, so the two friends could coordinate their beds. I can dream, can’t I?

No such luck. The piece was larger than a yard, but not by much, so the leftovers are not large enough to make the body of another pillowcase. I might use the leftovers and a solid to make a cuff. The YM has plenty of pillowcases, though, so we will see.

I know I have some Star Wars fabric and a piece of Angry Birds yardage. I am tempted to make a few more pillowcases. Two of my nephews were using their Christmas pillowcases on Mother’s Day, so they might be the happy recipients of new pillowcases.

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