Sister's Choice Quilts

Metro Hold the Lattice

 

I can't take credit for the clever name, my friend Thelma came up with it first.  We are both working on this pattern called Metro Lattice, from Sew Kind of Wonderful, using the Quick Curve Ruler.  Thelma made an executive decision to leave out the pieced lattice the pattern calls for and to set the blocks on the diagonal.  I loved the changes she made and copied them.

I think leaving out the pieced lattice gives the quilt top a cleaner look, with kind of a Cathedral Window vibe.  My fabrics are fatquarters of Circa 1934 by Cosmo Cricket for Moda.  What the heck happened to them?  Are they just designing paper now?  I loved the collections they did for Moda when they were designing fabric.

My solid fabric is Moda Bella Butter, which of course I didn't have enough of.  Thank goodness for speedy deliveries from Fat Quarter Shop.  I should get what I need by Thursday, finish up the blocks and get the side triangles on.

The piecing for this pattern is super easy.  No major square up issues at all.  The blocks are made oversized and trimmed down, so there is plenty of wiggle room for blocks that seem wonky at first.  No intersecting seams that have to line up exactly and make me crazy.  I am relaxing and enjoying the process with this project!

The Design Wall is Filling Up!

I have completed 16 hoop blocks for my Metro Hoops project, using the Quick Curve Ruler by Sew Kind of Wonderful.  I have to admit I earned a few more grey hairs when I started this project, but am happy to say I persevered and with the help of a smarter-than-me reader, licked the issues I was having with these blocks.  

It makes me so happy to see them on the design wall!  The fabric collection is so cheerful and bright, and I am satisfied with the way the corner squares are matching up.  More than half of them are perfect, and the rest are just a thread or so off.  It isn't noticible, even with the strong contrast between the dark brown and cream.  Let's hope when I go to sew the blocks and rows together things will line up. 

I didn't order enough brown corner square fabric, yet again, so am waiting for it to arrive so I can finish this project.  I was thinking of making a total of 25 blocks, but am running out of steam.  I may just make the quilt as shown in the pattern, for a total of 20 blocks, four across and five down.  The finished size will be something like 60 x 75", which is a respectable sized quilt.

Here is another opportunity for custom quilting!  What would be a cool design for those hoop centers?

Goosey Goosey Gander

Quick update on my progress with the flying geese--it's going well.  All geese are made, and only 28 more need to be trimmed.  Hopefully today I can get my little Dutchman's Puzzle blocks together.  What a fun project this is:  Whit, a Little Bites pattern by Miss Rosie's Quilt Co.

And just for fun....Look what I managed to get my hands on!  Cotton and Steel evidently were the hottest new designers at Spring Quilt Market.  Their new fabric line just launched and everyone is raving about it.  This little tote bag is just the cutest thing I ever saw, and I have been using it sparingly to keep it pristine.

I forgot one super important product in my beauty favorites post yesterday.  Eyebrows.  As I have gotten older, my eyebrows have gotten so sparse and light.  This gel by Laura Mercier is amazing.  I have had it for over two years and it is only half used up.  You apply it with an angle brush and it gives you just the right amount of color to define your brows.  Eyebrows are boring, but seriously if you look like you don't have any, the rest of your makeup is pretty much for nothing!  Several of you commented that you thought it was fun for me to switch up the topic from quilting, so perhaps I shall do more posts like that once in awhile.

Have a fun weekend!

Duck Duck Goose

I am up to my eyeballs in geese.  Flying Geese that is.  I have eight more to make and I will be finished with construction, but as you see, my little pile needs to be trimmed.  Ha!  I am tempted to take them to work with me today, along with my tiny cutting mat and trim them during my break and at lunch.  No wasted time for me!

Then, Thursday I can start making the Dutchman's Puzzle blocks, and who knows, maybe I will complete this Little Bites project this week.  In an ideal world, that is my plan anyway.  One never knows what can crop up to keep me from my mission.

Making Flying Geese units always makes me think of the children's game, Duck Duck Goose.  My grand daughter Eva adores playing it, particularly when she gets all the grown ups in the family involved.  We played it on the grassy lawn of Grandpa's nursing home, and we brought quite a few smiles to the faces of the other residents.  Poor Grandpa continues his decline, but still enjoys his meals and the feel of the sun on his arms.  The other day he informed my husband (his son), "You know, Mother is here".  My husband looked all around, non plussed as how to respond.  Evidently Mother (who passed away three years ago) doesn't care for the nursing home, for Grandpa then commented, "But she is thinking of leaving me".  Aw.  Well, at least he seems to have forgotten she has departed this world.

Canned Pears

For those of you who couldn't see my post from yesterday or leave comments, it was due to a major Typepad issue.  Again.  They were down all day long.  Ever since they were hacked last month it has been one thing after another.  I had better type this and get it posted before it goes down again.

As you see, I have been doing a bit of sewing.  The little pear blocks go together pretty quickly once the units are all assembled.  There are four units that make up each block.  A leaf, a stem, a pear top and a pear bottom.  I have the day pretty free today so I should finish up all the blocks.  The lattice comes next and is such that the pear blocks are set in a staggered pattern.

The fabric collection I am using, Mirabelle, is more pastel than I ussually like.  This is going to be a very understated little quilt. 

Yesterday I went a bit nuts and ordered a ton of charm packs--15 different ones!  I have some cool mini quilts in mind, which I will share with you tomorrow.  Have any of you seen any blog posts or reports of Quilt Market?  There are so many wonderful new collections and patterns coming out.  I did spend some time yesterday watching a YouTube video of Moda's Schoolhouse, which was very fun.  Various designers show samples of some  of their current collections and projects, which is so interesting.  Edyta from Laundry Basket Quilts just blew me away.  Click on the link and check it out for yourself! 

These are examples of Edyta's style (photos I pulled off the internet).  She is known for combining print fabrics and batiks in the same quilt, usually with some applique thrown in as well, which these examples do not have. 

I want to be her when I grow up.

The quilt on the left is a Primitive Gatherings pattern called Pinwheel Garden.  It is only 22" x 28".  The pattern below is Starry Night by Laundry Basket Quilts.

 

Progress on Pears

Despite an attack of Spring Fever, which is causing me to want to sit on the porch sipping iced tea all day long, I have gotten a bit of work done on my pear blocks.  If you recall, I had stacks of little bitty squares and rectangles labled from A to M that were to be sewn onto the various pear block units.  I am now down to the last three piles, so truly, much has been accomplished. 

The pear tops and bottom units are finished, and I have just completed the stem units.  These were made with the stitch, flip and trim method, which I think is pretty accurate.

Stitch.

Press and flip.

Trim.

Ta da.

I have some things going on this week, so probably no post from me tomorrow.

Experimenting

The sewing room is pretty much of a disaster right now because I am experimenting with the Kaleidoscope blocks.  I have sure made a number of blocks wrong!  I keep trimming off the corners that I am supposed to attach the corner squares to.  I want my 12 piece blocks with the corner squares to form a X shape with the grey fabric.  If I cut the grey off and attach the corner squares to the other color I end up with kind of an Iron Cross shape with the greys, which I don't want because the grey in the alternate blocks forms the Iron Cross shape.  The block on the left is incorrect, the block on the right is correct.  Is this something I should be worrying about?  Am I wrong to try to insert some order into this project?

The brown and orange block in the background is all wrong in a couple of ways, as are several more you don't see.  I am thinking I will have enough left over "wrong" blocks to make a quilt for Ozzie.  Or maybe a king sized charity quilt.  Or maybe a circus tent.

Here are some blocks I have made that might be working ok.  Check out the fabric that I am playing with though, isn't it cool?  A couple of Denyse Schmidt collections, and Comma by Zen Chic.

Truly, I do not know if this is working for me at all. I feel a bit overwhelmed.  Would it be better to just stick with two colors?  Or keep adding in more?  Someone told me once that if a color doesn't seem to be working in your quilt, just add more of it, and everything will be fine.  Will it be better after I make about 24 more blocks?  Ack.  I don't know about this one.  And the fabrics are so pretty too.  I hope I haven't wasted them.  I am struggling.

Thanks for all your advice regarding the asthma meds/situation yesterday.  I have ordered my meds from Canada in the past, and it is much cheaper, but you sure have to keep on top of ordering in a timely manner because it can take over three weeks to get them, and of course if you run out during that time, you risk an attack.

You know who was super helpful to me?  My pharmacist.  He suggested I research insurance companies, and base my selection on whether they cover my asthma drugs.  I did that, found a company who covers my drugs, has a low deductible, and think I will go with it.  Seems so logical, doesn't it?  Spoke to a rep at the insurance company who was so nice.  After I meet my deductible, the co-pay will be just under $40. How about that?

 

 

Still In My Happy Zone

 

 I've been happy as can be working away on my happy blocks.  Debbie suggested that I rename the quilt "Maison Joyeuse", which I thought was an excellent idea.  Several of you have inquired as to the size of the blocks, and they are a perfect 8 1/2 inches.  Love that size block.

I want to clarify that I did not mean to villify the woman who wasn't willing to share her quilt design with me.  I thought she was kind of eccentric, but laughed it off as just one of those things.  She was kind of a loner, a woman who obviously had not traveled the easiest road through life, and perhaps hanging on to the uniqueness of her special-one-of-a-kind quilt was a way for her to feel as if she had control over something.  I was ok with her not sharing, truly.

What I was not ok with was a couple of comments I received yesterday regarding her behavior.  One was just kind of mean, but the other was obscene.  No call for that sort of thing here at all people.  Snarky or off color comments will be deleted.

There are 15 to 20 people who comment on my blog regularly, and I am so appreciative of all of you.  I make an effort to reply to your comments as often as possible, and I have come to think of you as my friends.  None of my regular commenters have ever left remarks that were inappropriate.  I realize of course, that the nature of the internet is that what you put out there is really "Out There" for any and all to see.  Lots of folks read my blog and never comment.  Most of those people are probably wonderful, and we would like each other a lot if we were to become acquainted.  Others just pass through, leave a nasty or obnoxious remark and go on, never to return.  Hopefully that was what happened with the unacceptable comments that were left here.

On another note, Carol left me a question regarding a Daisy quilt I had made, but I can't figure out which one that was.  When I tried to respond to you Carol, your email was "do not reply".  Contact me again and hopefully I can answer your question!

 

 

Let's Have Some Color

Hey there.  Hope you all had a good weekend.  Mine was pretty good, with great springtime weather, some family time, and some sewing thrown in for good measure.  I got the center section of Victory Stars all sewn together, and am going to set that project aside for a bit.  I will be adding a beautiful border of stars all around the center section, but not for a few months. 

I love this project, I really do, but am craving some brighter colors right now. I've got a couple of projects in mind, and will be sharing my plan as soon as I formulate it a bit better.

Have you heard of Hyacinth Quilt Designs?  Cindy Lammon is the designer and blog writter, and does some truly beautiful work using more modern fabrics and designs.  I am quite smitten with her most recent quilt, Kaleidoscope.  You have to go take a look.  She has used a palette of orchids and greens from a Heather Bailey collection, and the Kaleidoscope quilt block makes the most interesting visual pattern.  This quilt just screams SPRING. 

Have any of you made the Kaleidoscope block?  I have been looking up construction techniques and there are a number of options.  The block can be paper pieced, or you can use templates for cutting, or special rulers.  I am stymied as to how to proceed, but know I must make this quilt!

Guest Post: Sara's "Silver Linings" Quilt

 

Mom's taking a little break, but will resume soon. The death of my cousin has hit all of us quite hard. Still, we wanted to have a little content for you. If you are long time followers of my mother's blog then you might be familiar with me. Four years ago, my then husband and I moved to the country to start a winery, while our marriage failed, the business is flourishing. We share it still, and our time with our lovley daughter Eva. I know you've all become very familiar with her! 

Life is and has been in transition. My sewing machine has gathered a thick layer of dust and as I begin to focus on the things that make me happy, I've decided to make a cheery quilt for my beau, M. I'm getting back to the basics of life that bring me joy.

Quilts for men are difficult, as everything these days seems to be civil war, feminine florals, modern kitch or hideous novelty prints. While he bleeds blue & white for his alma mater, Penn State, I couldn't bring myself to buying a sports logo print in scratchy cotton. Luckily, I stumbled upon Kate Spain's Sunnyside line. I was able to focus on the navy, purple and orange color-ways, and have supplemented with additional navy fabrics from sellers on Etsy. These were just stash building bundles I purchased at random. The pattern, pictured below, is a simple zig-zag from Shabby Fabrics, and I plan on a Kona Snow background. To follow my progress you can find project updates on my new blog, pistachioleek.com

 

  

 ~Sara