Four more gone

Gail chose to wrap up in her new quilt for the photo

Four giveaways at work today.  Three of the four were written about in recent posts. 

"Scrappy Double Tease"

"Trickle, Trickle" --- Lori Diehl pattern and fabrics

Mary A liked the quilted feathers in her new Q

Steph won the hotly-contested "Kansas Twister" quilt

Penny's new quilt is ready for July 4

Stars and Stripes 2013--new quilt finished and gone

I finished a red-white-blue quilt last night, just in time for the giveaway today.  It was a quick project with leftover strips from a quilt I made for our grandson last year.  I wrote about his quilt here and  here. 

Pattern is "Honeyberries" -- the cover quilt on Evelyn Sloppy's book "40 Fabulous Quick-Cut Quilts."  It looks more complex than it is.  It's fast-fast-fast.  I used a pretty red/white/blue floral print from Eleanor Burns for the backing.

My giveaway to coworkers is nearly over, which means a lot of fabric has been leaving our house in the past 14 months.   Totals so far:
--30 new quilts won by coworkers in drawings
--one co-worker won a set of "old" wallhangings
--5 ladies left (new job or retired) before their names were drawn for a quilt
--two co-workers remain who haven't won a quilt -- yet
 
I've taken advantage of UFOs and WIPs, jelly rolls and a few other precuts, to get this many quilts done this quickly.  I haven't made anything very complex.  I've learned to use my time wisely, and overall I have NOT been too stressed by the whole process.   I set goals for myself with flexibility built in.  When I'm done, I'm done.  No pressure from anybody but me. 

Next meeting is probably in August, and I hope to show up with a wagon full of quilts (some old, some new).  High card will get first pick;  low card gets a choice of remaining quilts.  After that, retirement and quilting for me.

Two down, one to go

samples of my variegated threads

I've been on a quilting marathon this week, turning three tops into quilts.  Two are done (only need labels), and the third is half done. 

lavender binding added to this quilt

 I don't like a stack of tops staring at me, then quilting one after another.  I prefer piecing a lot, quilting a little, then back to piecing.  But if they need to be done and there's a deadline involved, then quilting it is.  The three will be given away at work next week, if they're done.

white thread on most; matching thread on lavender

Kim Diehl pattern

Each quilt has challenges that I enjoy--How much of the quilt can be stitched with a continuous line?  Which design shall I use?  Should I change thread colors, or will I be satisfied with one choice and stitch everything with it? 
 
In early days of quilting my own projects, I thought variegated thread was the magical answer for every project.  I accumulated a large stash of those lovely spools, and I made a handy notebook filled with stitched samples of each spool (see photo above).  That stitched sample gives a better representation of the thread than just looking at the spool.   But I haven't used the variegated thread much lately.  I've found two colors that blend well into the fabrics in many of my projects -- sage green and dusty gold. 

I'm not very good at quilting feathers, but I thought they'd be the logical choice in the sections between the tan squares of my Kim Diehl quilt.  Boy!! once you commit to doing feathers, you've dug yourself in, and you can't just quit.  You've started down the path, and there's no turning back.   
By the time I finished that top above, my feathers looked better.  Practice makes -- better (not perfect).  I'm stitching more feathers on the third quilt.   More practice :)

feathers galore

Bonnie Hunter pattern--and more feathers

Another UFO bites the dust

finished top is 70 x 83"

This UFO headed to my sewing machine a few days ago after 2 years in a box.  The pattern is from Bonnie Hunter's book Scraps & Shirttails II."   The link may take a little while to load, but it's worth the wait.  Bonnie shares photos of all the quilts in that book.

I first wrote about this quilt here.  My center is the same size as Bonnie's, but I wanted a smaller finished quilt, so I changed the border.  I remember stressing over the border, and that was why I boxed up the quilt and put it away in 2011.   But I want this one done--soon--so out it came, and before I could stress any more, I made the border out of simple flying geese (half with dark centers, half with light centers).  

closeup of setting triangle and T.Berries red border

Bonnie's border looks like a flowing ribbon, and I much prefer hers, but done is done.  My pieced border is prickly-looking, and hopefully it'll be softened with a wide binding.  I'm running short on the red fabric--not enough to add a second red strip to the border.  I'm saving it to use as wide binding.   

Way too often I say "I wish I had ..." when I talk about my quilts.  In this case, I wish I had made the pieced border as Bonnie did, but I'll do that the next time I make this one.  Bonnie's quilts are great scrap eaters, and I certainly have a lot of scraps that need to be eaten.

I'm especially fond of my two maverick blocks (the 2 blocks that look "wrong" -- the dark part of the HSTs isn't very dark, so the Double T's aren't as easy to see).  They look like star blocks, not Double T blocks.
One weekend while quilting with friends, one lady told me several times that those two blocks should to be removed and replaced.  Nope.  I won't do that.  I LOVE my mavericks.    

Using the leftovers

top finished at 65 x 80"

This quilt was started five weeks ago.  Starting with strip sets and cutting triangles, the blocks went together easily, as did the vertical rows.   Darlene Zimmerman's pattern in her book Quilts from Lavender Hills Farm calls for top and bottom edges to be uneven, following the shape of hexagons and triangles.   That's a great look, but I did that with my last 1930s hexagon quilt.

before straightening edges & adding borders

So I added partial blocks to rows 2, 4, and 6, and (gulp) sliced and straightened the top and bottom edges.  That was the first time I've cut off parts of blocks, assuming it's a good idea.Then I chose a different border treatment.

Edyta Sitar's 2005 pattern "Twist and Turn" shows a great way to use leftovers.  When I cut my strip sets, I had all dozens of triangles left over with white at the bottom.   The leftovers became my pieced border. 

Edyta Sitar's pattern--border inspiration

My four corners haven't been squared off yet, and I know they are not perfect duplicates of each other. I got my border idea from the pattern, but I didn't try to round the corners with perfect piecing as Edyta did.   I simplified.  I first sewed on the side borders, then added the top and bottom borders. My corners are close enough in symmetry to satisfy me, and they'll probably not bother the new owner of the quilt, after it's given away in a couple weeks. 

This quilt is loaded with bias edges.  The purple thin border was measured and cut according to length and width of the raw top, and it  helped to stabilize the edges before adding the pieced border.   

I like the delicate look the border added.  I have a LOT of leftovers, both the main hexagon triangles and the border triangles.  I see another 1930s hexagon quilt in my future.  Or maybe I should box them up and send them on their way to someone else.

Company gone--memories remain

Grandpa showing Maddie how to play his guitar

Grandchildren, son, DIL, and daughters have come and gone.  We had the joy of company for a full week plus two weekends, and family time together is the best, even when things don't go exactly as planned.

We had a long list of ideas for things to do and places to go.  But we only checked off some.  First our grandson was sick, then our granddaughter was under the weather, and then our DIL.   A couple good days, and then grandson was seen by a doctor and diagnosed with an ear infection.

Rather than the sunny, warm days we'd prefer for spending time outside, we had cool temps and cloudy, rainy skies.  In the middle of all this, the drain in the laundry room decided to stop draining, and we had to call for help.  We kept busy and  found ways to have fun in the house till everyone was feeling better.    (all photos will enlarge with an extra click or two)

Drew stacked and rolled and played with spools nearly every day.

Getting a close look at young bulls near Great Grandma's house

Maddie helping Grandpa plant marigolds

Maddie and Drew fit in Grandma's little red wagon.  We stayed inside, with a slow ride from room to room.  It's not built for outside play.  

Maddie and Grandma made more yo-yos together and arranged them in groups by color.  Maddie wants half with puffy sides up and others with puffy sides down.

Starting a new tradition when they visit--putting on Grandpa's fireman helmets

Do you recognize this fabric?

...and does anyone know where I can find some?   Who is the manufacturer?  Who was the designer?
 
I love this fabric, the tessellations, the shading of color, the secondary oval design. I'm sure it's an older fabric.  I don't have any in my stash, but it's very familiar.

The photo was in an online note by quilt designer/teacher Cindy Thury Smith.  She wrote that this is one of her favorite fabrics, and she bought it in every color she could find.  I don't plan to do that, but I'd like a little, if I could find some.   I'm totally curious about the fabric.  I'm guessing I'm not the only quilter who gets a question and just can't stop till she finds the answer.

UPDATE:  Sat a.m. -- June 1 -- I got the answer.

I found Cindy Thury Smith's e-mail (she lives in Minnesota, just a couple hours north).   She wrote that the fabric is from Robert Kaufman Co, "The Imperial Collection" from at least 5 years ago.   

This and that

my 12" center for Lori and Randy's sew-along

The month of May hasn't changed for me.  It's busy, but not much to post about.

My only quilting that would qualify as "finished" is this center block for the Medallion Sew-along by Lori and Randy.  Not sure if I'll be able to keep up.  I've made a bit of the second round, and the third round will be posted soon.  I think the fabric I chose for my bird is the same that Lori used for hers.

We're enjoying the best possible company--children and grandchildren visiting through next weekend.  Son and his family have moved back to the USA, and they drove to Iowa for a visit before they settle into their new home and Son begins his new job.  Daughters are visiting too, as their work schedule allows.  

sorting yo-yos for Grandma

Grandma added the "M"

Our granddaughter will begin kindergarten in August, and on her list of school supplies is a "nap towel."  Maddie chose one of Grandma's pink fabrics for this great big "M" so her aqua owl towel will be personalized and special.

We've had a little yo-yo time too.  Maddie and I have been working together on these for quite a while.  I think it's time to put them together into a little quilt for a dolly. 

Our dept meeting for work was cancelled this month, and Friday was the last day at work for a lady who is retiring.  She isn't the first one to leave before winning a quilt from me this past year, but she also wasn't in the dept when I gave away quilts 6-7 years ago.   I decided to give her one. 

This is Lorna holding her 52" x 66" lap quilt.  I'm confident she'll use it for some summer decorating.    I wrote about this fun quilt, a Black Mountain Quilts pattern, here a couple years ago.   I know I'll make myself a larger version some day.  Nothing represents summer quite like a quilt made with log cabin blocks that look like slices of watermelon.

Some small projects to share

"Lollipop Flowers" - 23 x 25" by Becci

I'm not finishing anything new lately -- just bits and pieces of progress --  life getting in the way again.  My plan (my hope) was to finish a couple nearly-done quilt tops this weekend and actually begin some sandwiching and quilting.   But not quite yet.  (insert MAJOR sigh here)

DH and I are out of town for two or three days.  I remembered to bring the laptop, so I'm sharing some of the small quilt projects from our quilt guild show last month.

Click (once or twice) on any photos for a close-up look.  A lot of lovely stitching here--made by my friends.

11 x 15"--wool flowers--  HST in borders are 1/2"

I hope you're having a productive weekend.  Mine is in tatters--not going as planned--but that's life.  Maybe I'll have some time for embroidery. A Darlene Zimmerman project is calling my name.

18 x 22" --2" broken dishes blocks--CWar fabrics

14 x 15" -- 1/4" (yes, 1/4") hexagons

3 interpretations inspired by 2" square magazine photo

closeup of one of the 3 trees above-- that's a real nut in this tree

"Failed Dear Jane"-- 11 x 11"--then Chris said "enough"

"Written with Thread" by Georgia

"Written in Thread" by Sue

"Dew Drops" -- 3/4" hexagons

every hexagon has a different embellishment

This and that

finished top is 60 x 78 inches

It's been a while since my last post, but I haven't been idle.  I just haven't been posting.

--We had an unusual, unwanted, 9-1/2" snowfall last week.  It slowed us down and caused cancellations, including our guild mtg, but now it's melted.  Boo, Mother Nature!  Not funny!

--I spent time out of town with a daughter who had a procedure -- and she's doing just fine now. 

--I've spent time in a dental chair lately, and I now have a new smile.  I had a car accident +40 years ago, and the steering wheel made a big impression (literally) on my mouth.  I have to admit that the steering wheel finally won, but I put up a good fight for 40 years.    

My latest Kim Diehl top is finished -- described in the last post  (from her book Simple Comforts).  Blocks are 6", and I modified the pattern by adding length and width, and I substituted some pieced blocks in the border of simple 6-inch squares.

some of the C. War repro fabrics added to this quilt

I'm at a standstill with my 1930s Kansas Twister or Purple Pinwheel quilt (haven't chosen a name yet).   Seven vertical rows on my design wall so far, and after I add purple triangles to the ends of the short rows, I'm not sure what  to do next.   I have 18 or 20 extra blocks made and want to enlarge it a bit.  Plenty of options.  I could add here, widen there, turn it 90 degrees and lengthen, or I could add purple triangles and then trim 2 sides straight . 

Kansas Twister quilt in progress

Five pinwheel blocks were made from same-color leftover triangles.  Can you spot them?  one red, one pink, one blue, one green, and one yellow. 

I'm wasting too much time, thinking and rethinking how to finish this one.  It will be another giveaway at work, and someone will like it, whatever I do.

We were supposed to have a dept meeting today, but it was postponed.  I want 3 or 4 quilts ready to give away next month. Seven coworkers still without quilts, and my goal is for everyone in my dept to have one by the end of August.  Hopefully no more meetings cancelled between now and then.

Two new projects with purple

progress posted on design wall

A new Kim Diehl quilt found its way to my sewing machine a week ago while quilting with friends.   I'm making good progress on the cover quilt of her book Simple Comforts. Starting with a 2-year-old kit, I added purples, lavenders, and a few Civil War repro fabrics.  My version will be a little wider and longer than the book project.   Blocks finish at 6", and the outside border will be plain squares plus a few of these pieced blocks.  
This will be a giveaway at work.    



My newest project uses 1930s strip sets and a 60-degree pyramid/triangle ruler.  I needed a 30s solid, and my stash choices were lavender, blue, or pink.  Purple won. 

Darlene named this "Hollyhock Garden"

This is a project from Darlene Zimmerman's book Quilts from Lavender Hill Farm.    Twelve  charming projects, one for each month.  I haven't yet figured out how many "flowers" I'll need to make. Her pattern calls for 2" strips, and I'm using 2-1/2" strips.  (I don't remember the last time I made a quilt exactly like the pattern.  I usually change something.)

This 30s fabric hexagon project is a bit different from the last one, which I wrote about here.
Both projects have the bias edges we deal with when sewing 60-degree triangles, but this one is a bit more stable -- less chance for stretch.   These hexagons are constructed by sewing straight-of-grain edges to bias edges. That stability is nice.   Another advantage of these hexagon blocks is how the colorful centers hide center seams that don't meet perfectly.

This will be another giveaway at work some day.   A daughter was home this weekend and cut the triangles from the strip sets I'd sewn.  Two make the work go so much faster.

UPDATE 4/29:   An old Fons and Porter book arrived by mail today (cheap on Amazon) -- American Country Scrap Quilts, and on page 109 is a quilt made with these same pinwheel blocks.  The book lists several names for this block including Kansas Twister, Whirligig, and Texas Trellis.  (always nice to know)