Who's Your Neighbor?

This doesn't look like much of a quilt block.  But, join a few together and the pattern emerges.  This wasn't the placement I originally planned - a mistake in my sample block took me in a different direction.  Each of the units at left have nine combinations, so you have to know 'who's your neighbor'?  This isn't a quilt to work on while enjoying a glass of wine, but it's not really hard to keep straight.  I'm over halfway done constructing the top.  I've decided to do the original plan (inspired by an antique quilt from the Arkansas book posted about here) for the back with hst's finishing at 2.5".  The top hst's finish at 2".  I'm lovin' the chrome yellow!

Thanks to evening hours, I visited Thistle Bee Quilt Shoppe (featured in Quilt Sampler Fall/Winter 2011) in Goldsboro, NC - a great diversion from work.  The shop is almost totally repro's and has great samples.  Following are a few pics -

Cutting, Cutting and More Cutting

 

 

Long time, no post, but I have actually been busy in the sewing room.  Inspired by Colonial Squares, made by the prolific Keryn, this quilt has been on my mental to-do list ever since she made hers.  My version is a charm quilt, mainly because I have so many 4" swatchs from Vintage & Vogue.  They would send out swatches of all the new reproduction lines on a monthly basis.  (This was probably back in the '90's, and I don't think they still offer this, though.)  Being the weirdo that I am, I prewashed, and dried all of them, then stacked them in a boot box.  I know that you will understand when I say that the box is still nearly full! 

If this design inspires you, be sure to check out Keryn's detailed instructions on putting together an on-point quilt.  I intend to use her method when I begin sewing this together.  Make sure you have time to spare if you haven't been on Keryn's blog - what a feast for the eyes!  Then, check out her twin sister, Mereth's,  blog, Pages from Me.  These girls are so artistic, and make such wonderful quilts!  You will love them!

Back soon with other projects - promise!

Bits and Bobs

Two blocks done from the quilt I posted about last time.  I'm using bits and pieces of my skimpy hotel scrap bin - I think it will make for interesting blocks.  The blocks will be set together with alternate muslin (not this distracting background).   The fabrics in the left block are hard to see - too much sun when I was taking pics.  Here are close ups -   

I've also been working on the Ocean Waves variation I posted about here.  I think I've got all the hst for the blocks sewn.  I need to do a count - I might be short one.  This is the stack that remains to be sewn into four units of four -

And what's left to trim - I've brought these with me to finish up in the hotel this week.  I'm hoping to have this one ready to play on the design wall soon!  Feels like ages since I've made major progress.










Thought you might like to see one of my purchases from my day at Mt Dora.  Isn't she sweet?

Pinterest Inspired

 Recently, on Pinterest - my favorite time stealer - someone used an open cabinet as a display for their quilts.  It looked great at the end of their bed.  I remembered that we had a pair of cabinets that were originally used to store videos - back in the big TV days.  DH and I measured, and they would fit perfectly at the ends of the sofa in our family room.  Finally, some quilt display like I've always wanted!  No pic of the other cabinet.  It is identical except it houses computer equipment.  Thanks Pinterest!

Hope everyone had a fun National Quilting Day on Saturday.  I spent nearly the entire day in the sewing room, and read Betsy Chutcheon's dynamite new book.  All three of her books have great reading, and wonderful patterns and photos.  They are books that I've gone to again and again to look at and dream.

I Got Nothin'

Not much sewing progress lately, but I have been looking through books.  I love the simplicity of this quilt.  Jan and I split a bolt of unbleached muslin last fall (which I haven't dipped into yet).  I have 25 yards at home, but none where I'm spending the winter.  My buddy Jan sent me a 1/2 yd so I can get a start.  I'm on vacation next week, so maybe I can make some progress. 

 

Hubby and I were browsing through an antique shop and look what came home with me!  The detailing is in great shape.  I think the machine is from the 1930's.  It's a portable, but heavy.  Only thing that would make it better is if it was in a wooden base - this one has the canvas type fabric.  The machine runs great.  This makes up for the featherweight that got away (and this one was half the price of the featherweight - so win, win).

I went off the grid a couple weeks ago and ran away to the Mt. Dora Antique Extravaganza - what fun and the weather was perfect!  What do you think this contraption was used for?  A fabric pleater.  Heated rods were inserted in the channels, a turn of the crank and, voila, pleats!  Looks like a pasta press.

This row of aprons has to put a smile on your face!

And if the aprons don't make you smile, maybe these crazy orchids will!

Newest Projects

Cheri Payne generously offers great free patterns on her blog.  Recently, she shared her double four patch quilt, and I jumped right in.  Here's my version:

Cheri made another doll quilt for a gift, and a great tablerunner, and, again, here is my version:

The next two are from Temecula, who has a monthly mini quilt kit offering.  The past two months were a sweet, little pinwheel, and a log cabin, perfect for Valentine's Day.                                      

Tomorrow, I have carpal tunnel surgery on my left hand.  The right hand was a breeze, so I am being optimistic about tomorrow.  I was able to get back to sewing fairly soon, and even rotary cutting, with a new, ergonomic cutter.  Blogger is messing with me again - white typeface!  Will try to change it.  

Miscellany

My current project (started in Shipshe) is an Ocean Waves variation from Arkansas Quilts.  There are 49 blocks.  I need 28 hst for each block, so I'm using the method that yields 8 hst from each square (3 of these plus 2 of the normal square that yields two makes the cutting and sewing speedy).  That's alot of hst's to trim!  I sew four sets of four and then add them to the storage container.

 
You need to know the block neighbor when constructing the block - at least the way I'm putting it together.  I'll admit I don't always make block construction easy (just ask Jan).  I'm more than half way there!  I'm anxious to start sewing some blocks together. 



I checked out Oklahoma Heritage Quilts from the library in the town where I'm working.  I think I have this book at home, but I love having quilt books in the hotel to peruse at night.  I found something for the project list.  Trouble is, I need a visual filing cabinet - a saved photo or note gets lost.  So I made a sample block.  The quilt was full-sized, but I'm thinking doll or crib size.  The 9 patch in my sample finishes at 1 1/2" - cute!  I'm happy to find something for the 1" scrap strips.  It's fun digging thru my meager hotel stash to make something work.  How do you keep track of all the ideas?

 

It occurred to me yesterday how lucky that we can spend stolen minutes making progress on a project.  This came home to me when visiting a painter's studio and thinking of all the preparation required to 'make the magic'.  Like Kathie from Inspired by Antique Quilts says - always leave something to sew tomorrow (or in my case, hst's to trim).