Surprises at the Chicago Show

A bit of a late post, but I wanted to share some of my favorite quilts at the recent Chicago Show - yeah, it came back!  It was missed the last couple of years when it relocated to Ohio.
The surprise is that there were many modern quilts, and I was thrilled to see them.  The modern quilt movement is just incredible, in my opinion.  We are witness to an entirely new way of approaching the quilt medium.  It is so fresh, and, I must say, traces it's roots directly to the liberated methods of Gwen Marston.  I truly believe that she broke ground for what we are seeing.  I'm curious as to what you think.
Here are some of my favorites...

 Zinnia, by Lynn Harris of Chelsea, Michigan

 Hugs & Hugs, by Hannah Talecka of Columbia, Missouri

 Tilework, by Elizabeth Harvatine of Toluca Lake, California

 Down Pat, by Pat Budge of Garden Valley, Idaho

Cherry Blossoms #8, by Noriko Endo

Cutest Baby Contest

These blocks would win the 'Cutest Baby Block' in most community Fourth of July contests.  Have you joined the Temecula Quilt Company July Cakestand Challenge?  The block is a bit fiddly, but so cute - finishes at 2"!  Jan, this looks made for you. 

 My blocks aren't perfect, but I'm OK with that.  I'm all caught up - one block a day for the month of July.


In fact, I'm a block ahead.  I had a mishap in placement on my first block and thought I'd use if for the center of the back.  Now, I think I'll use it on the front - give 'em something to talk about.

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!