Sister's Choice Quilts

Web Sampler Nears the Finish

Woo Hoo!  My Web Sampler project has a deadline of this Tuesday, July 1, and I am nearing the finish.  At least I think the deadline is this Tuesday.  Ahem, that would be TOMORROW, wouldn't it?  Nobody has been talking much about this project we started together quite awhile back, so I just thought I would bring up the topic.  Helllllll-ooooooo?

This project has been harder to get through than some others.  I don't know if it is due to the rather somber color palette, or if I just haven't been in the mood for the Civil War reproduction fabrics, but I have started up and put away this quilt project quite a number of times since Perry, Cindy, Carol, Lisa, Beth and I started it.

Part of the problem has been the lousy block instructions, which seem brilliantly written now that I can compare them to the setting instructions.  But, I mustn't complain.   Somehow I managed to figure it out, mainly due to having a picture.  Lucky for me because the written directions were incomprehensible.  A picture is worth a thousand words and all that.  Wouldn't it have been easy to just say "Cut six 3 1/2 inch strips"?  Seriously, I have to give you an example of what I am talking about.  These are the directions for cutting the beige background border triangles:

"From the remaining fabric, cut or tear two 3 1/2 inch strips.  Place wrong sides together.  Cut 12 Background border triangles as we did for the red and black border triangles.  Cut two more strips and cut four more triangles.  You should now have 96 beige background triangles."

Huh?  I must have missed something rather major, because I don't see how that could get anyone 96 triangles.  Tear fabric?  I don't think so.  I have a feeling my error was in not wanting to tear strips the length of the fabric, which could have given the proper results, but never mind.  Who cares?  The instructions seemed bass ackwards to me.

OK, big deep breath.   I'm fine, really.  I know the finished result will be great, and it will be really fun to see the different setting options each one of us chose.  Big cheesy smile here girls.  I have no idea who this kid is, but he is expressing how I feel.

istockphoto

The blocks are taking up real estate on the design bed, and will get sewn together today.  This past weekend I worked on the pieced border, which is all triangles.  They were all cut with the straight of grain on the long edge, which curtails some of the stretch you get when that long edge is cut on the bias.  I actually don't mind the bias edge because I think it gives me some "wiggle room" when I am attempting to make the border line up with the quilt top.  I am keeping my fingers crossed on this one!

I have almost finished the red borders, but still have the black ones to do.  This is mindless piecing if I ever did any.

So girls, how about an update on everyone's progress? 

Friday Finish #5

 

Mom discouraged bragging in our house when I was growing up, but I know she would give me some slack if I pat myself on the back for finishing this quilt top.  I have been struggling to get this done for more than two years!  The first challenge was the appliqued circles.  I am not skilled at hand applique, and have also had my issues with some machine applique techniques.  That whole starch thing was the biggest mess when I tried it!  Finally I figured out (with the help of many people's advice) how to do raw edge fusible machine applique, using a blanket stitch.  I was sure happy when the circles were done and had come out---well, circular.

Then I put the project away.  Don't get me wrong, I really liked it and sincerely wanted to finish it.  But that pieced checkerboard lattice around not only each block, but as an inner border as well?  I wasn't sure I was up for it.  Every few months I would go back to the project box however, take out the applique squares I was so pleased with, and tell myself I just had to finish it someday.

This summer was the time, and Friday, June 27 is the day!

The pattern is called Garden Fence from a book called Hearth and Home Quilts by Joanna Figueroa and Lisa Quan.  If you don't recognize their names, they are the Fig Tree designers.  I didn't purchase a single piece of fabric for this quilt top.  It was all scraps from my stash.

I really like this one and think it will look great in the family room with my Blended Neutrals quilt.  Some times you just have to stick to it and get it done.

Pet Peeve

 

I don't have anything super interesting to blog about today, so I will tell you about one of my pet peeves.

Back in April I had a job interview and really wanted to look modern and polished and professional--you know "office worthy".  Dress for the position you want, they say.  So, Macy's was having this big old clearance sale and in the suit department I found this fantastic three piece suit (jacket, pants, blouse).  It had been marked down a ton of times from over $300 down to $79.  Seriously. The pants were gigantic on me, but that jacket....it fit like it had been personaly tailored just for me.  Not being one to pass up a bargain that has karmic implications, I bought it and took it home where it has been hanging in the closet for what, eleven weeks? 

On my birthday my husband told me we were going out to a swanky place for dinner to celebrate.  After trying on half the clothes in my closet, trying to find the most appropriate outfit, I began to believe I had nothing to wear.  You have all been there.  Clothes piled up all around you, closet formerly packed to the gills now reduced to empty swinging hangers, and you can't find anything you want to put on.  Then, the lightening bulb went off!

The Suit, still in its plastic garment bag was there waiting for me!  Gleefully, I ripped off the plastic and put the jacket on over some black pants I already owned that fit me nicely.  I looked fantastic.  Exactly the look I was going for.  Now, running late, I finished my makeup, pulled on the perfect little black heels and changed purses.  As I was going out the door, I turned for one last admiring look in the full length mirror.  I turned to see the back of me and this is what I saw.

Luckily I still have the tags, but who knows where the receipt went?  Now I get to go back to Macy's, setting off the security alarms as I go through the door and try to explain this.  Grrrrrr.  Wish me luck.

Generosity

I have to be one of the most fortunate people in Blogland.  Through blogging over the past year and a half, I have made some truly fabulous friends all over the world.  Imagine my astonishment when I opened my front door and discovered this package that had traveled all the way from Australia!  My friend Mary Wood had sent me this exquisite hand knitted baby shawl she had made for me to tuck away for my first grand child.  Those of you who know me a little have heard of my great desire to be a grandma some day.  I try not to say too much on the subject so I don't drive my kids crazy, but sometimes it slips out.  I know it will happen eventually, but patience is hard for me in this area!  I was touched more than I can say by Mary's understanding gesture.

I am completely blown away by both Mary's amazing hand work and her generosity.  The Cambridge dictionary defines generosity as "the willingness to give help or kindness, especially more than is usual or expected".  That description fits Mary to a T.  What a stunning and unexpected gift.

And if that wasn't enough, she also included in the box a cross stitched table cloth that looks as if it might be vintage.  Look at the detail of the hand work!

It is proudly displayed on my table, and I can't wait for my husband to come home from work and see it.

Thank you so much Mary.  I appreciate this more than I can adequately express.

They Say It's Your Birthday....

 

Somebody turned one year old.  It didn't start out as an unusual day.  Maybe a few more snuggles and cuddles and gooney baby talk, but all in all it seemed pretty typical.  Then it started to rain treats and chew bones......

And then a flock of turkeys came into the yard to play!  Wow, we haven't had that kind of fun ever.

I tried to get a picture of him wearing his party hat, but he ripped it up before I could pose him.  All in all, I think it was a good day.  Somebody is worn out though.

Wish Upon A Star

Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight......No, not that kind of star.  Fabric stars!  I pulled out the UFO labeled "Roman Holiday" and got to work on it over the weekend.  Lots of stars in this pattern--in fact, it is ALL stars and flying geese!  The pattern is Opening Day by Miss Rosie's Quilt Company, and the fabric is Roman Holiday (last year's Christmas group by 3 Sisters for Moda).  Lisa and I started this project together, and she finished hers months ago.  Take a look at her blog to see what the quilt looks like finished.

I have more stars to finish today, but am organized.  As soon as I finish this post, I will get back to it.  I must have dozed off for a minute there.  Ooops.

I figured while I was at it, making all these stars, that I might as well start a new project that has been on my mind since last year.  Remember the book Comfort and Joy by Brenda Riddle?  There is a pattern in it called Coventry, that is so gorgeous.  I had a layer cake of the new group Peace on Earth by 3 Sisters for Moda, and it is totally compatible with last year's group Roman Holiday by the same designers for Moda.  I have just enough fabric to make it on hand.  I had taken Sara had given me a bolt of Kona White and it came in handy for the four and a half yards of background fabric required.  I took this picture at In Between Stitches back in April.  My version should look very similar even though I am using different fabrics.

Lots of little stars required for this quilt.  Six and a half inch square blocks.  Cute, huh?  Obviously with only three blocks made, I have a way to go.  Love the effect of that stripe.

I have my work cut out for me!

Just had to share a picture of Ozzie at his happiest, dirty face and all.  He had a new bone and had been burying it in the garden.  Just look at that smile.  Dogs are so transparent in their emotions.

One More Word About Pins.

No I am not making myself a little prison uniform, even though some of you may think that is where I belong due to my bad habit of sewing over pins.

I have been making strip sets galore.  These strip sets are the reason I set this quilting project aside a year ago.  I had to make twenty strip sets of 1 1/4 inch black and white strips.  I made three of them, put the fabric back in the project box and said "Buh-bye".  And this was after completing twenty appliqued quilt blocks for the project!  I was pretty proud of the applique work (I am a beginner) and was quite gung ho to get them made into a top.  But, man did these strip sets wear me out.

So this week, I dragged them out with the idea of a Friday Finish in mind.  I finished all the strip sets, then set to cutting them into little 1 1/4 inch segments.

Hundreds of them.

 

The idea is that the little checkerboard strips are going to form a lattice around the twenty appliqued blocks.

So, here's the thing.  I like to pin.  I need to pin.  Once in a while I run over a pin and it's bad.  We all know that, we talked to death about it last week.  With new resolve to do better, today I was carefully pulling out my pins just before the needle came down, and hadn't run over a single one.  Nothing bent, nothing broken, everything smooth and hunky dory.  But look what happens!  The fabric shifts at the last micro second and you don't get the effect of the fabric nestling nicely together.  I just hate that.

I did quite a bit of unsewing to make my corners nice and perfectly lined up.  Then, here is what I did with the remaining lattice strips.  (Don't hate me).

I put on my goggles (well, my reading glasses), took out my extra fine U shaped pins, and slowly, carefully, at the speed of a snail, sewed over them.  This is what my new seams look like:

Now that's what I'm talking about.  No harm came to me or the Bernina.  I know I am at risk here, but I just won't tell anyone.  Shhhhh.  Ozzie is on Pin Patrol and has been watching me verrrrrrrry carefully.   Shhhhh, so don't tell him either.

Friday Finish #4--Not Vanilla Latte

Meet "Not Vanilla Latte"!  She was supposed to be made out of an entirely different pattern which was called Vanilla Latte, but I didn't care for that pattern so much, even though the name is cool.  I chose another pattern called Citrus Punch from the same book, and used my layer cake of At Water's Edge by Blackbird Designs for Moda.  The book is called The Sweet Life and is one of the Anka's Treasures offerings.  All the patterns in the book can be made with layer cakes, so it may be a good investment for you if you are into those yummy packs of 10 inch squares.

Now, all you beginning quilters out there, listen up.  This would be a great pattern for you!  It shows off all the pretty fabrics, without chopping them up into teensy pieces.  The piecing is all straight forward and simple.  You will learn strip piecing for the little four patch block centers and get practice making large half square triangles for the setting border.  Give it a try, you won't be sorry! 

This pattern will work with absolutely any collection of fabric.  Just use your imagination when you see a pattern that may be made out of fabrics outside your comfort zone.  Look how totally different mine looks from the one in the book:

For more advanced quilters, you could easily make this larger and add mitered corners.  I would have done miters, but didn't have enough fabric.

When this fabric line, At Water's Edge, came out, I was on an austerity program, and not buying everything I saw.  I thought I could live without this group just fine.  However, as the months went by, I kept seeing quilts made out of it by more forward thinking quilters than myself.  Oh, how I regretted not buying this fabric when I had the chance!  Now it is too late, with most stores sold out of parts of the line.  Well, guess what?  The layer cake concept was the answer to my problem!  A jelly roll would have done the trick as well.

If it happens that you miss out on a fabric line you end up loving, don't despair.  Many shops who are out of big cuts of the yardage, may still have jelly rolls, layer cakes or even charm packs on hand.  You can still get your fix of a favorite group, even if it is late in the season!  Check online sources such as http://quiltshops.com/.  You can do a search for your fabric of choice and be amazed at how many shops around the country still have what you want.

Can We Talk? About Pins.......

I have been breaking an awful lot of pins and needles lately.  I sew over them and something makes a big clunk and I am left with a bent or broken pin, or worse, a snapped off needle.  It occurs to me that perhaps I am using pins that are too thick.  Can you friends out there tell me what kind of pins you use?  Mine are the ubiquitous blue and yellow glass headed pins that are marketed as being especially for quilt piecing.  I think I could do better.  Any advice would be appreciated.

Speaking of pins, have any of you tried the U shaped pins that are available now?  The wonderful thing about these pins is that it holds your underneath seam allowance flat and in place, so that when you sew over it, it doesn't fold over.  They are also terrific for achieving nice sharp points.  Here is what it looks like on the top side.

And here is what it does on the underside.

They are fabulous, really.  When you use them, this doesn't happen:

All this talk of pins makes me start thinking about pin cushions.  When I was a littIe girl, my Nonnie had just one pincushion.  It was red and shaped like a tomato, with a strawberry hanging off of it on a black thread.  I diddled and diddled with the strawberry until it fell off the tomato.  Besides the similarity of color, I never did understand why a tomato and a strawberry would go together.

Today most of us have way more than just one pincushion.  In fact pin cushions are a very popular craft project lately, and I have been the fortunate recipient of a few.  I have my favorite pin cushions however, which I would like to share with you.  This one I have had for years and years and years.  It is my Number One Pincushion, living right on my sewing machine table, and the one I use most.  It reminds me of a wedding ring bearer's pillow.  Ozzie is fond of grabbing the tassels and pulling it off the table, where it lands upside down and leaves pins sticking up out of the carpet for me to step on.

This is the one that travels with me when I go to retreats or to sew with friends.  The cool thing about this one is that it is magnetic AND has a cover!

Here are a couple of other magnetic pin cushions that sit on my cutting table.

Some gift pincushions are shown below.  The fishy was made by my friend Lisa, and was given to me last summer when I went to visit her.

 

Can't remember who gave me this one!!!  But it's a sweetie.

This last one I made ages ago before Sara was born.  I did the needlepoint and used the pincushion to hold diaper pins.  (That gives away my age a bit, doesn't it?)

I would love for some of you to share on your blogs what kind of pins you favor and what your favorite pincushions are!

I Just Can't Help Myself

I admit it.  I am weak.  My goal this summer was to finish a good percentage of the unfinished projects that are filling up my stash closet and plastic project storage boxes.  I had this fantasy in my mind that at the end of the summer I would pose for a picture next to a stack of empty project boxes taller than I am.  Well, it isn't going to happen.  Not that I don't still plan to finish A LOT of projects this summer, but I can't seem to help myself from starting new ones and filling up the boxes again.

This new project is based on a layer cake I bought from someplace, Homestead Hearth, I *think*.  The fabrics are primarily At Water's Edge, a dreamy group by Blackbird Design for Moda.  The shop tossed in a number of other fabrics from various Fig Tree groups that worked well.  They recommended a book called The Sweet Life, and a pattern in it called Vanilla Latte.

The fabric came, and I looked up the pattern in the book, which I already owned.  Hmmmm.  I didn't care for the pattern, Vanilla Latte.  Just didn't like it at all.  But, it was my lucky day, for in the book was another pattern I DID like.  This one is called Citrus Punch and I had just enough fabrics to make it!

Had to use my imagination here, as you can see, the picture in the book shows a much more vibrant color palette.  Okiedokie, I can go with that.  Just substitute my dreamy greens, pinks and browns and Bob's your uncle.  This quilt is such a quickie and shows off the fabrics so well, I just dived in and made all the blocks. 

The block centers are made up of a yummy cheddar solid, and a yellow polka dot background fabric I had on hand.  My friend Pamkittymorning always says if you find yellow polka dot fabric on a white background, you must buy everything the store has.  So I do.  Good rule of thumb Pam!

Here is the border fabric, which pulls in all the colors in the blocks.

Maybe you'll see this one as a Friday Finish!