Timeout

The Puss-In-The-Corner blocks are in timeout until I decide how to proceed.  My screensaver has been cycling thru quilt pics and this pinwheel on-point has been calling to me.  Check out the quilt at Liberty Star, Renee Plains' blog.

Each block is constructed from 16 half square triangle units.  I'm using the hst quick piecing method - each square set produces 8 identical hst!  My hst's finish at 1 3/4".  My usual method would be to cut one light/one dark square at 2 3/4" (add 1" to finished size) to produce two hst's.  With this quick method you cut one light/one dark square at double that measurement - 5 1/2".  Since I need 16 hst, I cut 2 light and 2 dark squares at 5 1/2".  Draw lines point-to-point (one line NW to SE and one line NE to SW).  Sew 1/4" on each side of both lines.

Cut the square in half horizontally and vertically (2 3/4" cutting line for this example).  Cut each smaller square along drawn line to yield 8 hst.  Trim each unit to 2 1/4" for finished 1 3/4" unit.

I've been contemplating my quilt resolutions for the New Year.  I want to commit to completing a top from my 'Bucket List' next year.  I have less than a week to make my pick!

Sunday night update

Today's progress.  These blocks remind me of a line from You've Got Mail - "Don't you think that daisies are the friendliest flower?" 

Work in Progress

Albert is snuggled up with Oregon Trails (Lori's January 2010 quilt-along - Cheddar Cheese and Crackers) guarding the Christmas tree from cat attack.  My doll quilt is still just a top, but I'd love to get it hand quilted soon.  Can't wait for Lori's new quilt-along!

I've started sewing some blocks with the Sarah Johnson fabric from my last post.  I originally thought (and am sticking to) Puss-in-the-Corner blocks with scrappy 4's and constant focus fabric in the middle/corners.  The plan was alternating PITC and 16 patch (two sets of two 4 Patch blocks) set 'on point'.  I made about 10 PITC blocks and put on the design wall (which is currently the spare bed).  I wasn't happy with the clamour of the scrappy 4's.  I don't have a pic of that layout, but here's some of the scrappy 4's:

The next attempt was to use the same layout with a more controlled PITC 4's.  I'm  leaning toward this design:

Here's a last photo with the more controlled PITC 4's with common alternate:

This morning was a sewing session with Elle (granddaughter) working on a Christmas surprise for her mom.  Elle doesn't realize what a treat it is to sew on a Featherweight!  We have a couple more evening's worth of work, but we should make the Friday night deadline.

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"

Giant Daisy Quilt

My husband and I both enjoy decorating, and we are big fans of Sarah Richardson, a Canadian interior designer. She has had a few series on HGTV. On the last series, she bought a farmhouse and completely renovated each room. For one of the bedrooms she found this fabulous cheddar, or maybe chrome yellow, quilt. Isn't it dynamic? I know, the pictures could be better, but they were taken off of the television. The entire bedroom design was based on this quilt. I mean, how could you not? Quite a bit of hand quilting, too.

Haven't been doing any sewing at all lately. I've been busy, but hope to have some time free up soon. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Three Fabric Quilt

I like scrappy quilts - lots of variety in fabric.  Making a quilt with just three fabrics doesn't fit my profile.  My current project is inspired by an old quilt I saw a couple years ago.  I worked out yardage requirements before I visited PA Amish country this fall.  Sauder's didn't disappoint!  I found two Judie Rothermel fabrics - the green Twelve Oakes yardage in a 5 yd cut for $1.99/yd and the yellow Butter Churn and Cheddar for $2.99/yd.  The red Turkish and Treasures was pulled from stash.  The block is #2026, New Irish Chain or On the Square, from Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns by Barbara Brackman.  I've changed the block construction for strip piecing, so progress is moving along!  

I've had alot of 'sitting idle' lately.  I've used the time to design a new, scrappy top!  Haven't started sewing, but I've included the focus fabric to peak your interest - an 'oldie but goodie' from the Sarah Johnson Shelburne Museum Collection.

   
Hope you all enjoyed the Thanksgiving holiday!

Thanksgiving?

Where has this year gone?! It really is hard to believe that it's time for Thanksgiving. I've never displayed this quilt before. It was made from a kit, and I purchased it at an auction for $30. It isn't a beauty, and the quilting is fairly crude, but it has slightly Fall-ish colors, so up it went for the next week or so. After that, it will be time for Christmas again - is that right, or did I sleep through the summer?! The tablerunner was whipped up a couple of years ago using Seminole piecing methods - great for squares on point. I've only made a few quilted items, as I really prefer to make quilts themselves. This is on the chest that sits in front of the quilt. You can probably see the stitches without enlarging!
The handsome devils in the photos are, in the background, my great-grandfather in his Civil War uniform. Yes, great-grandfather! Our family has very long generations. I am the youngest of parents who are the youngest. And, no, I am not that old - I'll be 52 shortly. On the left is my dad, and the blond little boy is my husband's dad. My husband doesn't like personal photos displayed; he says that we know what we look like! But, these are nearly always right here in the dining room.
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

Houston, We Have a Problem

Only one day to enjoy the show!  The vendors alone could take a day.  Life has 'smacked me in the face' this week, so only popping in to share a few of my favorite contemporary quilts from the show.

Sunflowers by Chris Serong and Susan Campbell from Victoria, AU - beautiful quilting!

Port of Cassis by Lenore Crawford from Midland, MI

Sognare Venezia (Venice Dreaming) by Pauline Barnes from West Midlands, England

Rhinosceros by Pam Holland.  Unfortunately, my full quilt pic had issues.  I just love this guy's face!

Happy Halloween Everyone!

This is a Scarecrow quilt that I made from a Red Wagon pattern using vintage feedsacks exclusively. Sorry for the cock-eyed photo. From where it is hanging it wasn't possible to take a full on pic. Here are a couple of the blocks:

The backing is all feedsack. I had a number of this pattern - maybe ten or more. It seemed to suit the quilt so quite a few of these were used here.

And, as always - Happy Birthday Dad! He is 84 today!

IQSC Chintz Exhibit

 

Luck has been with me lately!  A traveling work assignment took me to Cincinnati where the International Quilt Study Chintz exhibit is featured at the Taft Museum thru Nov 7 (details on sidebar).  What a great kiosk advert of current exhibits.  I spent about 1 1/2 hours leisurely exploring 20 beautiful quilts.  I had the exhibit to myself for the first hour - heaven!  Two ladies were viewing the exhibit for the last half hour (magnifying glass in hand).  I'm posting a pic of the museum and three of my favorite quilts.  You can view the entire exhibit at the International Quilt Study website (exhibition search).  No pictures were allowed at the exhibit - these are from the IQSC website.  If you're close to Cincinnati, don't let the exhibit pass you by!

This first quilt is IQSC object number 2008.040.002 from the Byron and Sara Rhodes Dillow Collection circa 1820 - 1840, maker unknown.

This quilt is IQSC object number 1997.007.0369 from the Ardis and Robert James Collection circa 1820 - 1840, maker unknown.  I love the quilting design in the corners of the Lone Star block.

This last quilt was my favorite - perfect balance to my eye!  The width of the basket floral composition wasn't to the maker's liking, so she added floral pieces to each side.  This is IQSC object number 1997-007-0659 from the Ardis and Robert James Collection circa 1830 - 1850, maker unknown.

Doll Quilt Finish & Fessing Up!

This little triangle doll quilt was pieced of leftovers at our group's retreat last January. Just some simple hand quilting along the seam lines, but it's enough, I think. The purple trip-around-the-world quilt that I posted a couple of weeks ago came from this book:

You can see that I completely copied the colors. The fabrics for this were cut out back in the early 90's, and when the retreat rolled around I was in the mood to complete a UFO. This was one of the oldest, and as time passed, I liked it again. By then, two or three fabrics didn't cut the mustard so Vicki and I shopped at Yoder's for substitutions.

Check out some of the older fabrics that made the cut! How do you like those duckies and bunnies on the medium rose fabric? There wasn't a good fabric to swap it out with value-wise, so it stayed, and I think it's kind of funny that it's in there. The fabrics still all play together nicely. For some reason, when I make a reproduction quilt(which is most of the time), it's sometimes fun to throw in something that just doesn't belong. I really like to do this when there are lots of little pieces, and you would really have to search for it. Maybe I just find it hard to play by the rules? Yes, I think that's it!

The backing fabric was being saved so there would be lots of it visible. It practically makes the quilt reversible. The binding is truly one of my favorite fabrics. My daughter says that I say that a lot, but this one really is. It is from one of the early Smithsonian repro lines, and I still have a yard or so left. It's just a great brown.

Thank you to everyone who left comments on my posts, especially the one about the flannel quilt for my niece. I was really touched at all of the nice things that were written. Quilters are the best!

Temecula

 

 I spent an hour last Saturday morning at Temecula Quilt Co (no pics)!  It's a great shop filled with eye-candy for repro quilt lovers.  Luck was with me, as the town was having an outdoor quilt show.  The plan was to drive down main street and view from the car, but quilts were calling - 'a picture's worth a thousand words'! 

 

  

I Need My Own Camera

The camera that I use for blogging purposes is also the one that my husband uses for work. It hasn't been around the house for a few days so I'm sharing a flannel quilt that I had made for my niece Anna when she had leukemia five years ago. I hope that it comforted her when she went through some grueling treatments. Thankfully she is a healthy young woman now.

I had hoped to show you a recent doll quilt finish. When I get a camera for myself (and learn how to use it) that will happen!

Alma's Acorn Emery

I recently received a special package in the mail.  I was the lucky winner of Blackbird Designs emery drawing (Sept. 3rd post).  There were 564 entries, so I was very surprised to read that I held the 'golden ticket'.  The emery box was made by Alma's husband and the acorn emery by Alma.  I've found a prominent spot on the kitchen shelf so I can enjoy this treasure daily.  Thanks, Alma!!!

Lancaster Quilt and Textile Museum

                  The Lancaster Quilt and Textile Museum's current exhibit, Family and Friends: Quilts and Their Collections, is amazing.  There are three similar quilts (circa 1860 to 1880) made by mother, daughter, and neighbor.  This first quilt (circa 1860) was made by a member of the Brubaker/Keller family from Lancaster PA. 

The next quilt was made by Fanny S. Bucher circa 1860 (neighbor to the quiltmaker above).  These two quilts share many of the same fabrics and patterns.

This last diamond quilt was made by Barbara Bucher Snyder (daughter of Fanny Bucher) circa 1880.

It was quite a site to see these three quilts hanging side-by-side.  The current issue of Quiltmania has great pictures of these quilts.




Also exhibited are three Joseph's Coat quilts from the 1890's.  The exhibit placard explains 'Although similar patterned and colored quilts were made in other areas, this particular arrangement containing the six vertical stripes repeated and surrounded on four sides by the same striped slanted borders appears to have been made exclusively by Lancaster County Mennonite and Reformed women.'  Note the quilting in the close-up (poor color representation) - alternating stripes of braid and unique quilting pattern (same format holds true for the slanted border stripes).

The current exhibit of the Museum's Esprit Amish quilt collection is wonderful.  The quilts are exhibited in glass cases which includes encased lighting, so pictures aren't worthy of posting.  The Friends and Family exhibit runs thru December 31, 2010.

This last picture is of the trip's stash enhancement (sitting on my new-old porch bench snagged at the fairground antique market, griffin too).  The stars aligned to plop me at Sauder's on the first day of their truckload sale (after fabric shopping at Zook's at 8:00 AM)!  My luggage earned a 'heavy' tag and I had the sore muscles to prove it! The pile on the left is from Sauder's 5 yd flat-fold table ($2.19/yd).  There are two pieces missing from the picture that were enlisted in a new project - fodder for my next post.