Around the center

I made many of the "woodpile" blocks for my neutral quilt this weekend -- enough to know that the longer charcoal gray strips are more than I want here.  The small sections aren't so bad, but the two long gray strips will be replaced. 
Two stars done -- just to see what they look like.  I'll be making 40 of the 9" stars.   Some will be made with only 2 or 3 fabrics, and many will be parts and pieces.   I tried both versions in these first two stars. 

The upper left and upper right corners of the photo aren't quilt pieces.   The design of my thin, flannel-backed tablecloth is showing through. 
I see one "woodpile" block on the right side is turned the wrong way. 
Thank you, little design wall, for showing me the error of my ways. 

Neutral adventure begins

New pattern -- new color plan -- new adventure.
Beginning a new quilt always has an air of excitement for me, and sometimes I even dream about it.  That's especially true if I'm using a new pattern or new fabrics or I'm trying something I've not done before.

VERY restless sleep last night.  I'm working on an all-neutral quilt as a surprise retirement gift.  I'm heading to a weekend retreat in a few minutes, and I'm ready for a lot of hours of sewing neutral fabric.

I chose a medallion style quilt pattern, Terry Atkinson's "Monterrey Medallions" from 2005.  Her instructions are excellent--easy, uncomplicated, simple drawings to illustrate, direction arrows for pressing seams, and a warning or suggestion here and there.  This pattern has options, a simple version and a challenging version, and I can combine the parts any way I want, along with various layout options. 

The 18" center star is done.   Next are some "woodpile blocks" (simplified version of log cabin), then 40 varied 9-inch stars, and finally a chain block as a border.  I used my customary paper plates to help keep parts organized.   But I'm traveling now, so the plates with star parts are in one 1-gal bag, woodpile parts in another bag, and border parts in another.  
My bobbins are filled, I have plenty of neutral thread, and my friends are waiting. 
Have a WONDERFUL weekend. 

30 + 35 + 75 = 81

The math is correct, in one respect.  Explanation follows:
Have you ever bought a quilt book because of one particular pattern, and later you find that you already had the pattern?  I've made this mistake more than once. 

There's an interesting block called Dizzy Geese, and one quilter identified her pattern source as Quick Quilts from Your Scrap Bag.   I ordered the book through Amazon, a 1999 book with 35 quilt patterns.  Going through my new book, I saw many lovely quilts -- many familiar lovely quilts.  Even the style of the pages and print fonts were familiar.

A check of my library of quilt books produced 2 more books with the same style of pages, duplicate quilt patterns, and all published by Oxmoor House.   Scrap Quilts--Fast and Fun was published in 1997 and has 30 quilts.

The Big Book of Scrap Quilts has 320 pages, was published in 2005, and has 75 quilt patterns.  I think I bought it at JoAnn's with a 40% off coupon.  This big book repeats 32 patterns found in one book and 26 patterns found in the other book.  After eliminating the duplications, I have patterns for 81 different quilts (which explains my post title).   Each smaller book cost only $4 or $5, plus S&H, but I really have a lot of unneeded duplication.

Not much sewing done lately.  I've been finalizing plans, pulling fabrics, and cutting for a new quilt.  I offered to sew a quilt as a retirement gift for our boss, and co-workers have generously contributed to pay for fabric/batting/thread. I've looked through every book I own, plus some magazines and individual patterns.  Way too many options, but finally I chose one pattern. 

Many of these fabrics will be in the gift quilt, but I'll be adding more. Can't have too many different fabrics in a scrappy quilt.  I've never made an all-neutral quilt, and I'm a bit nervous, but I've done my homework, reading any advice I can find. Many were gathered through the years, some were bought on a recent road trip, a couple online purchases were made, and a friend gave me leftovers after making a beautiful all-neutral wedding quilt for her daughter.  (Thanks, Vicki.)
This quilt will be my main focus from now till it's done.  My WIPs and UFOs will have to wait.

More FW and new stuff x 3

FW blocks #12, 16, and 20

Couldn't keep my fingers off my fabrics to make a few more Farmer's Wife blocks.  My blocks so far have been relatively simple.  I have other things that should be getting done, so I've stayed with simpler ones to start. 

New #1 -- the lovely purple fabric is a yard of Smithsonian fabric I won in a giveaway from Lisa who's started a second blog called Material Witness.   I've been following her other blog Stray Threads for some time. She writes about antique quilts, restoring them and enjoying them. If you like reproduction fabrics, you'll want to check out what she has to share.  A gal just can't have too much purple repro fabric, Lisa.  Thank you!

New #2 --My copy of Barn Quilts and the American Quilt Trail Movement by Suzi Parron arrived this week  (preordered it some time ago).  It's a hefty 240 pages, and I've only looked through it quickly so far, but I hope to bury my nose in it soon.  The book is also available in a version for Kindle. 

New #3 -- This may seem like a repeated story, but it's a new version.  I'll be bringing my DH home from the hospital later today.   He has a new joint.  I look nothing like Farrah Fawcett, but I have my own Bionic Man.  He got a new left shoulder in May 2011, a new left knee in December 2011, and he got a new left hip this week.   Our living room is still set up like a modified rehab/recovery room following the knee surgery, so there's not much to do in preparation for bringing him home.  
I may not be posting for a few days.  I'm Nurse Vivian again.
Have a great weekend! 

Just couldn't resist

FW blocks 1, 2, 4, 10, and 48

Another project started.  There are so many Farmer's Wife blocks being shown around blogland.   I couldn't put it off any longer.  I've had the book for over a year but did my best to ignore it, especially as I slowed to a stop with my Dear Jane some time ago.   But maybe starting this one will push me to work more on the few DJ blocks I have left to make

My initial plan was to use only some green and aqua Denyse Schmidt fabrics, which have been patiently waiting for me.  But I decided to add a few other colors--red, yellow, and a bit of brown. 
I'm signed up for a "Sow-A-Long" (the spelling is correct) with Randy, but I'll venture off the 1, 2, 3... sequence now and then, as I have here. 

For those who aren't familiar with the Farmer's Wife quilt book, an accompanying CD has templates to print, and info in the book tells how many of this or that template are to be cut.  No instructions are included re: how to sew the blocks.  This is NOT for a beginning quilter with no one to turn to for help.  But there are tutorials and advice to be found here and there on the web.

I know I'll enjoy the challenge of making these quilt blocks.  It's probably my favorite part of quilting-- figuring out how to make something when instructions aren't given.  Hopefully this won't turn into yet another UFO.

Winners and a Valentine finish

This little Valentine project, finishing at 24" x 27", was fashioned from someone else's garbage -- literally. 
I added some white, a few other pinks and reds, and the border.  The hourglass blocks finish at 3".  No pattern.  I was just playing with the layout.   

The winners of my blog anniversary giveaway that I wrote about here have been selected using the random.org website.

photo of computer monitor with "ghost" lines

The winner of group A (repro fabrics, barn calendar, etc) is comment #4, Kathie.

The winner of group B (Denyse Schmidt fabrics, book, magazine, individual patterns, etc) is comment #94, Jonnie (JB). 

Congratulations to the two winners, and thank you to all who entered the giveaway.  I appreciate all the kind wishes, and I'm looking forward to many more years of blogging.

Round robin and an Australian post

We began a round robin at our guild meeting last night.  This is my 12"  starter block, #82 in "Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks" magazine, volume 1.  It's by Kim Brackett, author of two very popular books (I own both).  I chose the block first and noticed Kim's name second. 
My instructions to the group are to help me make a red, turquoise, and white quilt using the fabrics I sent along with my block. 

A package from the mailman started my weekend on a high note, especially since I forgot it was coming.   I won a giveaway from Merilyn, the Quilt Minstrel.

Merilyn is a master of understatement.  She wrote that she'd add a couple extras.  I counted 12 extra gifts.   The package contained a charm pack of "Cattails & Clover" by Kansas Troubles for Moda,  a quick-unpick with a handmade wooden handle from Australian 'Myrtle' wood, a pack of English sewing needles by Jeana Kimball, three CW repro FQs, a tape measure, 2 needle case patterns with sweet embroidery designs, 2 Wallaby Superbars (macadamia and ginger), a quilt block charm, a nail file/board, Bee Natural lip salve, embroidery scissors, "Great Australian Quilts magazine (No. 3) with a DVD about learning machine applique and quilting, and in honor of Valentine's Day, lovely heart buttons.

My cup runneth over, Merilyn.  It's been years since I've opened gift after gift after gift.  I had a blast, and thank you so much!

Pink Lemonade and a new blogger

My Pink Lemonade top is ready for quilting.  Thanks to Lori of Humble Quilts who prepared and hosted this quilt-along.  This is the fourth one she's organized in two years, each based on an antique quilt.  

Lori has a "Pink Lemonade Quilt Show" on her blog today with links to an assortment of versions.  I auditioned a lot of fabrics for the alternate squares and chose this busy print with vines, leaves and flowers.  It's OK -- nothing special -- and the top is done. 

The partial blocks on the corners and middle of the sides look different than I expected.  Not enough contrast between the dark pink/red and brown fabrics I used. They look like dark triangles stuck in there, but they are pieced.  I'm surprised how they changed the look of the quilt from a distance -- it seems to be a different shape.   That wasn't my intention, but that's what I got.

A reminder to enter my blog anniversary giveaway.  I'll choose two winners on Mon, Feb. 6.  PLEASE -- if you are hiding your e-mail address as a no-reply blogger, include your e-mail address in your comment if you want me to be able to contact you.  I have 3 or 4 entries with no e-mail address.  

I'd like to introduce you to a new blogger I met through my giveaway.  Her name is Kallie and her blog is A Quilting We Will Go...  She shares a lot of projects in the posts written since January 1.  She's working on a Dear Jane, sewing hexies, doing redwork, and cutting fabrics for her Omigosh quilt (that wonderful quilt with churn dashes, little 9-patches, and a gazillion pieces).   Kallie is 24 years old, and I like to encourage young quilters.   If you have a chance, swing by her blog and give her a warm welcome.