Sister's Choice Quilts

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

Victory Star Center Blocks Done

 My project du jour is Victory Stars, a pattern and kit designed by Paula Barnes for Red Crinoline Quilts.  I have thoroughly enjoyed the process of making the center blocks, done in shades of navy and a golden tan background color.  The blocks each have a center square in a contrasting color, which I think adds some fun and zip to the equation.  I substituted some fabrics from my stash for the kit's center stars, which were a bit more conservative in color.

The quilt has an outer border that features small Sawtooth star blocks, which will also have these brighter center squares.  This quilt is a bit darker than any I have made lately, but I think it will look very nice draped over my white sofa or out on the golden tan loveseat on the front porch.  I have dark red front doors, which would complement this quilt, so the porch might be the perfect spot for it.

For now, I am enjoying the process of sewing my blocks together with the lattices and corner stones and setting triangles.  Doesn't it look different with the blocks spread out and with the lattices separating the blocks?  I am loving the turkey red setting triangles.

 

 

Half Square Triangle Exercise Almost Done

I didn't finish my Half Square Triangle Exercise quilt top by my self-imposed deadline, but I am nearly there.  I have one more block to make!  I need to make this quilt as large as possible, so I am going with a diagonal set and alternate plain blocks.  I can see I will be doing some rearranging of those plain squares today.  My plan is to put on a black print border, maybe something from Pam Buda's American Gothic line.  Those prints are right in keeping with the various ones I used in my blocks.

I am leaning towards this one, with its large tan flowers.

This quilt will have 840 pieces when completed.  400 half square triangle units.  My blocks are 8" finished.  Not sure what the size will be when I am finished, but my design wall is 72" square, so once I sew it all together and add on the border, I am guessing it should measure around 72" square.  Nice size for the back of the couch, which is where I am envisioning the recipient might use this.

Know which block was the hardest?  Third block in row four, with the straight line design.  Oh man, did I ever have to sew and un-sew those intersecting points to get the overall design to look straight.  I swear, if I was off a thread, the line looked all wobbly from a distance.  Those blacks against the cream/tan are completely unforgiving.

I think I see something wrong with the second block in row five.  Right?  Whoops.  That always happens doesn't it?  Oh well, it's an easy fix.

Have a great weekend everyone!

 

Half Square Triangle Exercise

Woo hoo, I finally snagged an afternoon where I could spend a few hours sewing, and I was able to make a few more of my half square triangle blocks.  I have been having so much fun with this project, inspired by Thelma and Carrie's Christmas Vacation Sew Along, where they made quilts using half square triangles based on Camille Roskelley's experiment using only half square triangles, arranged different ways to make a quilt top with no block repeated.

I must have dozed off for a minute though, because I see I have indeed repeated a block, the zig zaggy one.  I am thinking maybe if I turn one of them on its side, it could be a different block.  lol

You may recall that I happen to have an entire basket of 2 1/2 inch half square triangle units on hand, left over from my disasterous mistake of making hundreds of them the wrong size for a project I was working on.  Waste not, want not.  Here they are right when I need them and I can just start sewing.

Camille has come out with a printable version of the 25 different blocks she made, which is so convenient.

In other news, Grandpa is back in the hospital, another UTI (urinary tract infection).  Tomorrow he gets transferred to rehab for a month or so.  We have come to the realization that, as much as we want to, it is becoming increasingly difficult for us to care for him, and to provide in home care for him.  We are on the look out for an assisted care facility that can take care of all his needs.  His dementia seems to be increasing, and he repeatedly asks me "When can you take me to see Mother?"  In my experience, when the elderly start seeing or asking to see departed loved ones and family members the end isn't too far off.

I remember my Grandma Agnes coming out of her bedroom in her night gown, pocket book on her arm.  "Grandma, where on earth are you going?"  "Grandpa's waiting for me outside in the Oldsmobile, so I must go".  Grandpa had been dead for eight years....Grandma Agnes died a few months later, and in the days before she passed away she swore Grandpa was standing at the foot of her bed.

Antique Stars Still on the Design Wall

Following me make this quilt may be like watching paint dry, but truly I have made a few more blocks and am making progress.  In fact, I am loving the look of these stars so much I haven't had the heart to take them off the design wall to make room for Nantucket.  Just a little bit longer....

I have not quite finished half of the blocks for the quilt.  There is going to be a lattice seperating the blocks, so the over all look will be different than what you see with them all grouped together.  The lattice is chocolate brown, so at this point I can't tell if the over all  look of the quilt will be lighter or darker!  What is your prediction?

When I made my Hill Country Baskets quilt I was so surprised at how much lighter the quilt looked with the lattices on.  But that lattice was light in color.  Remember?  Amazing, isn't it?  Doesn't even look like the same quilt!

No lattice

Lattice

 

Spinning My Wheels

This photo may not look too much different from the last one I posted, but I have actually made a few more blocks for my Antique Star project.  Every block is such fun to make, and seeing the color combinations and the overall effect of the light blocks and dark blocks is really fun. 

I may have a bit of an interruption with this quilt however, because some pals of mine are starting up a sew along, and you know how hard those are to resist.  Sinta, Lisa and Thelma are going to make Nantucket with their bundles of Midwinter Reds!  And I think I want to do it too.

This is Nantucket, a great pattern by Minick and Simpson.  And below is my bundle of Midwinter Reds.  Along side my pile of trimmings from the Antique Star hour glass blocks.

I may be out of my mind, but I said I would try to join in with them.  This may be a miserable failure on my part because I have no time to myself at all lately.

Honestly, you would not believe my life since Grandpa got out of the hospital.  There are FIVE different health professionals that want to visit him each week, and I have to schlep a toddler over to his house each time to meet with them.  A Physical Therapist, an Occupational Therapist, a Speech Therapist, a Nurse, and a Social Worker.  The speech therapist is driving me insane, and I think I am going to fire her.  She can't keep her appointments on time, blowing off our first meeing and showing up forty minutes late for the second.  Today we didn't even HAVE an appointment and she phoned me in annoyance wondering where I was.  Don't you think it is enormously disrespectful not to show up on time for an appointment?  Or verify that you actually do have an appointment?  That has to be one of my top three pet peeves.  Here I am waiting for this woman, with a two year old running around like a lunatic, Grandpa falling asleep in his chair, time I will never see again slipping by like sand, and she tells me she has another patient whose needs she thinks are more pressing (excuse Number One) and computer problems (excuse Number Two)? 

She is toast.

Antique Star Progress

Since I am house bound with this silly head cold, I took advantage of the down time and sat up in my sewing room for a few hours making Antique Star blocks. Doesn't it make a difference to place them on the diagonal?  I do love the look of a diagonal set quilt.  Observe that there are actually two different color placements in the star blocks. One has a dark star on a light background and the other one has a light star on a dark background.  The cool thing about the layout of these blocks is that it is quite random.  No worries if you have three dark blocks in a row, or light background blocks touching.

The colors and patterns of the fabrics I am using are working together in such a pleasing manner to my eye anyway.  Do you notice that the bigger red prints end up looking diffused and more pink than red?  And those really light tan blocks with hardly any contrast?  The ones that look like nothing special, that you are probably thinking "Why is she including those blah things?"

Mark my words, when this quilt is put together, those light blocks that practically disappear into the mix of things are going to make your eye travel here and there and all over the quilt top.  They will be my Sparkle Factor, something from which I believe every quilt benefits.

We will have to wait and see if I am right, but I think I am onto something!