Not So Fancy Nancy

Outside the Box Wall Quilt, Knitting WIPs & a Girl's Twirl Skirt

Boring title, but accurate.

As a birthday/Father's Day gift I made a quilt for behind my husband's desk at work. I've told him it'll give his employees something to groove on while he's droning on talking without being so obvious as staring out the window (I was joking, but he said there are sure to be a few who agree). Seriously, I thought it would add some vibrancy to his otherwise austere office. It's only propped up on a bookshelf here - it is straight and flat. I thought I'd leave the background junk for scale.

Outside the Box from The Modern Quilt Workshop
45" x 45"
Loni Rossi prints plus Micheal Miller Fairy Frost and black, water-spotted batik
King Tut quilting multi-colored thread

Played around a bit with the quilting. Meandered in the background, squiggled in the blocks and followed the lines in the floating squares. Much more heavily quilted than my usual style. I wasn't sure at first, but after washing I really like the way the texture looks in life as you move around it. Couldn't really capture that in a single photo, but here's a quilting detail:

I didn't want to buy more batting with so many large scraps around so I finally tried zig-zagging them together. Easy as pie and it works perfectly. You just feed them through abutting each other with a wide zigzag stitch and you've got what works like a single piece.

Lizard Ridge is coming along. Just finishing the 10th block. Let's just ignore that pesky seaming for now and call it halfway. Still in love with the Noro colorways, which is what keeps this project interesting.

Summer of Lace is underway and I've got two projects on the needles so far. Going to keep this post short so I can go and knit right now. Somehow all that "slow summertime knitting" has not come about yet, but I think we're getting our groove now. It's only week two, so I have hope.

Icarus in Misti Alpaca Handpaint Lace. Triangular shawls just don't look like much on the needles, especially straights, but I think this will be beautiful.

Hanami Stole in Filatura Di Crosa Superior cashmere and silk laceweight that's so incredibly soft. I love the beaded edge.

We presented the Kindergarten teacher's quilt at the end of the year picnic and I was thrilled to see the kids so excited about finding and showing their blocks to the teacher. She says she'll hang it for next year. This scene made the work worthwhile.

A party needs a skirt. Emily likes a touch of glam.

 

That dangling middle tooth finally fell out! We were all getting pretty tired of seeing her push it out between her lips (she's got a good dose of boyness when it comes to gross behavior). Now I've got a classic gappy 6-yr-old. She was pretty excited about school letting out. Can you tell?

Off to do something rather than think about what I might do. ACTION is my goal this summer!

Joel Dewberry Chocolate and Eggshells Quilt

June 2:  Revised title and added these three new photos. These show the the variety in the prints the best. After this the post is the same. 

Julie's comment made me understand why I didn't quite like my title last night, but couldn't put my finger on it. Eggshell blue has always been a favorite color of mine. Also captured in the "eggshell" name are the four different cream on cream fabrics by Joel Dewberry. They're really hard to photograph, but in person your eye gets caught by the different prints. I just took a couple of new photos this morning in better light. I've been tidying the house waiting for the marine layer to lift. Voila, 10 AM sunshine, right on schedule. Now that's it's been properly documented I'll give it over to the girl.

BTW, Husband's story about the long drive was in his favor overall. They were led on an adventure by some guys in the group who were looking for a swimming hole. He regrets not taking the full state map since they went off his PC printout of driving directions. He had to take someone else's word for the best route back and it was the long way. I didn't mention the concept of stopping and asking since I know it's a genetic improbability. How long do you think it will be before a GPS appears in this house? He redeemed himself by complimenting my quilt.

My darling daughter picked the fabric, the pattern and the quilting style. We were in Sowing Sisters and the fabric had just arrived. They were cutting fabric packs and she just fell in love. I think we all know how that feels!

She's been gone this weekend with my husband on a father/daughter YMCA trip. They went white water rafting on the Kern River. Should have been back around 4-5 PM, but the cell phone call I got around 5:30 had some mention of "bad driving info" from another dad, so they were on the 99 just passing Bakersfield. What? For those of you not familiar with that area, we live about 4 hours south of their rafting campground and the call came from well east of it, and on the wrong side of the mountains. Something tells me that mountain passes and roads without exits for many miles were involved. This will be good for some major ragging from me next time he tries to give me directions anywhere! Driving the Grapevine and then LA on a Sunday night is not a good thing. He's with another dad/daughter pair, so I'm sure they're both pretty chagrined, but that won't stop me. Maybe for tonight, out of pure kindness, but it's fair game in the future!

When I set up this photo below I wanted to stop, run and get my knitting and a cup of tea and settle in to enjoy the last light.

But there's been no rest for me today. I'd promised to have it finished before she returned. My DH had the nerve to roll his eyes at that, but my DD had faith, bless her sweet little 10-yr-old heart! Finished it this afternoon if only to spite him (don't tell her, it's an adult thing) and just pulled it out of the drier before the sun went down. Ran around trying to find good light, but this much contrast in the fabrics is challenging in any light. I'm amusing myself here with the multiple exposures.

I adore the old Amy Butler fabric on the back. That's been waiting in stash for just the right project and this was it. Only had 5 yards, so I've got about 10" leftover.

Now I just have to decide if I'm going to put it on her bed ... maybe not. I guess I should since she was kind enough not to complain a bit when this was put aside in the home stretch so I could make the teacher's quilt. Might let her have it ... as long as I retain napping rights! This loveseat in the courtyard is my favorite spot. Looks perfect there to me.

Pattern:  Turning Twenty. Yeah, I know I've used it a bunch, but it is so fast, makes great use of a fat quarters, and really shows off big prints well. I've definitely gotten my money's worth with this pattern. Tried to interest Rachel in other patterns, but she had her heart set on this one. She was also very set on straight line quilting, so I did a 1/4" offset to amuse myself (though about halfway through the fact that I'd doubled my seam runs was not lost on me).

Fabric:  Lots of Joel Dewberry with damask prints from Robert Kaufman's Hot Couturier line and polka dots added to the mix. Backing fabric is an old print from Amy Butler I had stashed. The binding is Joel Dewberry.

Quilting Thread:  King Tut multi in shades of cream/brown. With the huge color separations on the fabrics whichever way I went - light, aqua, brown - the thread would pop some of the time. Decided on the muted approach, and the multi softened it another step.

The edge is not as wavy as it looks here. The evening breeze was blowing under it and kept lifting the side. Hard to take photos because I kept lunging to keep it from falling into the not-so-fresh fountain water. I didn't want to wash it twice the first day.

Used the bias maker tool again to make the binding (see previous post for info). Learned a lot on that last one and this one looks exactly like I'd hoped. Found a zigzag stitch very suited to this application. So nice to cut that last thread and be FINISHED! The bias tape is sewn from the front side with the zigzag right along the tape edge. The back side of the tape is ever so slightly wider, so you get a little fudge room back there. I know this is untraditional, but I like it a lot.

As always, I had kitty and canine helpers during my photo-shoot. August (orange boy) was rolling around behind me and Cami dog kept rushing the lens to say hi (that tongue can be dangerous), but of course Raven Star found her way on screen.

Well, youngest daughter is asleep on the office futon behind me. She expected to see Daddy tonight to show him her face painting so I'll let her skip a bath. He can wash it off in the AM. Save this, get her tucked in, empty the dishwasher and I'm knitting lace. Next time, Icarus.

Tutorial: Kids' Artwork Quilt with Fabric Bias Tape Binding

Quilted, bound and washed. Signed, sealed and delivered. It's DONE!

Objective:

Create an art quilt for Kindergarten teacher to celebrate her marriage and name change. I wanted to the kids' artwork to be the focus, so I choose black and white fabric to frame each square. Hand lettered the name and info boxes with the same lettering I use when writing for my daughter to copy. I thought about doing something on the PC, but I wanted the relaxed, fun look that went with the kids' handwriting. Kept it small (32" W x 40" H) so she could hang it in the classroom.

Materials:

* 1 yd Kona Cotton (Snow)
* Freezer Paper (avail. at Grocery store, stocked with foil, etc) cut to 6" squares
* Pentel Fabric Fun pastels (avail. at Blick art supply and on line for less than $4 a set) (I bought three sets to make it easier to share, but you could get away with two)
* Elmer's Painters acrylic paint pens (avail. at Michaels)
* 1/2 yd paper doll pattern by Micheal Miller
* 1 yd rulers & patterns from the Moda Peas & Carrots line
* 1 yd backing fabric and 10" of binding fabric, both from an older line by Andover
* 1 package of "craft size" 100% cotton batting
* Clover bias tape maker (1/2" size) (avail. at sewing stores and on line)
* Neutral cotton thread to join and black to quilt
* Basic sewing tools and machine

Making the 6.5" Art Blocks:

* Prep the artwork squares by cutting to 6.5" and backing each square with freezer paper to stabilize for drawing. I cut the freezer paper to 6" to show the seam allowance (and keep the iron clean). 

* We did this in class as a center activity (just asked the teacher not to pay too much attention), which meant working with only 5 or 6 kids at a time for about 10-15 minutes. Several other moms were nice enough to come in and help, so we had lots of adult management.

* Before class I did a sample square with the edging fabric sewn on to make the concept of seam allowance concrete. They want to write on the edge, as is usual with K artwork, so you have to make it clear that their name won't show if they do that. I'm making a big point about this here because even with the paper backing cut 1/4" short and all the instructions, we still had to catch a few edge writers. They were all really concentrating and did great work, but it's a new concept to them.

* We had the kids do most of their art with the pastel sticks. They feel enough like crayons that the kids were very comfortable coloring with them. I LOVE these pastel sticks! The color goes on rich and stays that way after heat setting and even after washing. I did just the quilting on one of these projects in the past where the basic fabric markers were used and the color faded miserably. Those kids were bummed and so was I. For this project I wanted bright, vibrant colors that could be washed.

* We encouraged them to fill the square completely with one SIMPLE image and lots of color. We suggested flowers, their hands, butterflies, hearts, rainbows, etc. As you can see, the power of suggestion is pretty strong at this age, but all the artwork is their own. We stressed that it was like making a card for their teacher and they should think of things she would like. Given the thickness of the pen tips and the kids' ages, I said no writing except for their names.

* Outlines and lettering were done with the markers. We discovered immediately that it was best to keep the markers off the table until the pastel artwork was done. The paint pens write well on top of the pastels, but not the other way around. The paint stays wet for a bit, especially if on top of a heavy layer of pastel, and too much paint can saturate and bleed, so again, it's best if these are used last and with adult supervision.

* Came home and ironed the squares with a hot, dry iron to set the pastels and paint. Be sure to remove the freezer paper first. It's important to place a piece of tissue paper under and over each square to soak up the extra pigment. After heat-setting the colors will not blend or rub off. They're permanent.

Making the 10.5" bordered blocks:

Cut 2.5" strips of black & white fabric selvage to selvage.

From each strip cut two 6.5" x 2.5" strips and two 10.5" x 2.5" strips.

Arrange the art blocks to balance the themes and colors. Then match the b&w pattens to each block, again balancing the prints. Don't get too stressed - just avoid obvious pooling.

Sew the 6.5" strips to each side of each block and press seams toward b&w fabric.

Sew the 10.5" strips to the top and bottom of each block and press seams toward b&w fabric.

Cutting the 8.5" tilted blocks:

Tilting the blocks adds movement and keeps the fun feel of the artwork, especially with the strong lines made by the ruler prints. After finishing all the 10.5" blocks, lay the quilt out again and tilt each block right or left, some a touch more than others, and alternating each block.

Cut each block to 8.5" square as described below, double-checking the tilt direction before beginning to cut. I love strip piecing and assembly line work, but cutting the blocks one at a time with the layout in sight is good here so you can check the direction of each tilt against the whole before cutting.

I used a square ruler I had, which was larger than the finished block size, so I marked the center and edges with masking tape to make alignment easy. The swiveling 12" cutting mat (Olfa) isn't required, but it's fun to use and keeps you from having to shift the block between cuts.  

NOTE:  I'm left handed, so your rotary cutter blade, tape marks and cutting direction may all be reversed. I just thought of this - I don't really know how a right handed person cuts! So, sorry to you unlucky 90%, but you'll just have to work it out to suit you the way we lefties have to do every day.

Using your center bit of tape, find the middle of the block, check the tilt and then make the first cut. 

Without moving the ruler or block, turn 1/4 rotation and make the second cut. I put the first cut back for this photo, but you will have scrapped it.

Lift the ruler and turn the block so the two cut edges are under the taped marks. To be sure your block will be square, double check these edges. Don't watch the fabric or seams, which are tilted - watch the cut edges and the ruler marks.

Make the third cut. Again, without moving the block or ruler, rotate and make the final cut.

Finished! Place the block back in the layout and do the next one.

Join the blocks and complete the quilt top as usual. We only have 17 kids in the class, so I ran the teacher's name across two blocks and used the last one as the info block. I just stitched in the ditch with black thread because of time constraints and to keep it simple.

Making the binding with Clover bias tape maker:

This is easy peasy. I'm very happy with this little tool.

For the 1/2" tape size, cut 1 7/8" strips from selvage to selvage and join as usual for binding (with angled joins pressed open to reduce bulk).

Trim one end of the binding to a blunt point make it easy to load into the tape maker.

Slide it through the slot. The slot guides the fabric to a perfect tape fold. There are no moving parts - that little metal bar just flips up to give you something to hold while you gently pull the fabric through the gadget.

Iron the binding as it slides out of the tape maker. DO NOT slide the iron - lift it up and down and press. Sliding warps the fold.

Pay attention to the seams when they reach the tool. Guide them in smoothly while keeping them flat.

I've found it faster to do the second step of ironing it folded over to 1/2" while each section is on the ironing board. (Please excuse my nasty looking ironing board cover - those are just plain water stains from steaming - makes me scared to drink the tap water!)

I cut this fabric on the straight, but of course you can cut your fabric on the bias and get a true, stretchy bias tape.

Just like with purchased bias tape, one side will be slightly shorter than the other. Sew the shorter side up.

Because of the widely spaced quilting, before trimming the quilt I did a 1/4" line of stay-stitching (longest stitch setting on the machine) around the edges. If you do heavy quilting you might not need it. 

Trim the edges. 

Leaving about six inches at the beginning, place the bias tape around the raw edges and sew the binding around the quilt.

At corners sew to just short of the end (not over) and cut thread (NOT tape). Take the quilt off the machine and fold tape over next side. Tuck the ends to create a mitered corner - it happens naturally, just fiddle with it to make it nice and even. Start sewing again over the mitered corner with a short back-tack.

Finish the binding as usual (check a quilt book if this is new to you).

If you want to hang the quilt with a dowel rod, be sure to apply loops before binding. Space five 1.5" loops across the top on the back of the quilt. Sew the raw edges aligned with the edge of the quilt. The raw edges will be caught under the binding. (That blue fabric isn't part of this quilt, but it does make a nice background for the photo!) 

 

Isn't this backing fabric fun! All this fabric came from the depths of my stash, so I was thrilled to see how well it all went together. This pattern is based on art from the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe New Mexico. I visited years ago and loved it. Definately worth a side trip if you're in that area. 

Wash the quilt in cold water and dry on low. The previously stiff artwork squares will soften and everything will come together nicely. Add a $.79 dowel rod and you've got classroom wall art and a great teacher's gift! Have fun.

Rowan Flora Quilt Finished!

Doing the finished quilt dance! Here's Flora just out of the wash. Drug-free mood enhancement in fabric form. We've got a heavy marine layer today, but this quilt's colors still glow in the gloom.

Yep, that's little black cat's tail disappearing under there. She's always such a help - knocked this off three times at least as I was trying to get it artfully draped. It got noticeably gloomier in just the few minutes I was taking photos, but I'm just so excited that I had to take pictures today.

The details...

Pieced in Oct 2007 and quilted and bound in April 2008. Approx 54" x 63".

Pattern:  Flora by Valori Wells
Fabric:  All Rowan except solids
Quilting Thread:  King Tut multicolored cotton color 922 (I LOVED working with this thread)

I must admit I liked it so much I was afraid to finish it. Then in a big jump, I decided this past week that I would learn to free-motion flowers on it and play with binding ideas. When I get brave it's always just-this-close to stupid.

Started safe by stitching in the ditch down each side of the narrow color lines. Almost stopped there, but knew I had to break out of my funk and conquer my fears. Thought a curving line with pansies down each patterned block line would look simple and fun. Because the narrow color strips are made up of blocks the same length, but the placement is staggered, they made an easy way to keep the pansies spaced evenly, yet appear randomly placed along the patterned blocks.

For the binding I fudged the "right" way, probably to the point of giving a classic quilter hives. I sewed the strips to the back, the turned them to the front and zigzagged it down. I use standard methods for joining the strips as well as for turning corners and joining the final edges, but I just don't care to hand sew the binding when this is just a fun throw quilt. Anyway - and this may be a massive rationalization - I like the playfulness of the multicolored zigzags.

Sometimes I went round and round inside a flower, sometime not. I kind of embarrassed to admit it, but I only practiced once or twice before getting bored and starting on the quilt, so I learned as I went. My darling eldest daughter comes by her bad habits naturally. Anyway, they're fun to make and as in nature, no two are alike.

 

Here's what the quilting looks like from the back:

Here's a larger view of the back. It's a Kaffe print I bought last year. I found it just after I'd pieced the whole top or it would have been on the front too. I love it on the back, but I was kind of bummed when I found it so soon after finishing the front because it's so perfect with the other prints. It probably would have been the lead fabric. Have to admit I considered ripping and splicing it in, but even I deemed that insane and put the seam ripper down and backed away.

We've lived here over two years, and all this time the kitchen table has been pushed to the side of the room and loaded with the PC, then the fish tank too. Of course it became the instant magnet for piles of crud (not the first word my fingers typed I admit). I'd gotten to the point of looking past that area, even though I walked through it every day. Funny how you can do that huh? Anyway, finally got a bookshelf for the fish tank and a small desk for the PC and voila, it's like a new room appeared! I even cleaned the fish tank (whoo hoo) -- with sparkling clean glass we found out that our fantail girls are fertile Myrtles.

For now the maps of the world and US are just tacked up because my DH has plans to install a wall-sized metal sheet as magnet board for the maps plus postcards, kid's artwork, etc. I think it will be cool, so I hope he gets time soon. When I was in my twenties a boyfriend and I house-sat for two UCSD profs who loved hiking. They had their entire kitchen nook wall covered in raised topo maps of the Sierra. We'd eat our cereal and plan hikes. I've wanted to do something like that ever since.

The girls are on Spring Break this past week and next so we all went to the Carlsbad Farmer's Market on Wednesday. We bought the best strawberries of the season so far and I let the girls pick three colors of gerbers. They choose well didn't they!

Now I LOVE my kitchen nook!

Seeing this quilt on the table makes me want to get started on a table runner and bench pads.

Soon... 

Belle of Kaffe's Parade - new quilt top

OK, totally cheesy title, but I couldn't quiet resist. Sue me. But the quilt is certainly not cheesy. I think it's more annatto ... "slightly peppery with a hint of nutmeg."

Pattern:  Kaffe Fassett's Parade from Quilts in the Sun
Fabric:  Amy Butler's Belle plus Kaffe's shot cotton for the sashing

This is pure stash-busting goodness; nothing new was purchased in the making of this quilt! Two weekends ago I was digging around my AB fabrics, musing about a patchwork tote bag, when this quilt just demanded to be made. Picked the fabrics quickly and started working last Monday. Thought I'd include the following photos because I know I like to get a peek into other people's creative process. This sounds a little silly after saying that, but I've struggled with sharing my own process on this blog. We all have our ways and I generally don't ask for input while I'm working. I often don't show my interim renditions even to family because, to be honest, I'm not taking votes. I like to let things percolate in a vacuum. So many self-deprecating places I could go with the vacuum/brain metaphor, but basically, I don't want to be influenced while I'm creating. And after, well, it's done so nothing to be gained from sharing options that were dismissed. Yep, I HATED group projects in school and still avoid committees like the plague. I'm not being at all snarky or sarcastic when I say I'm very thankful that many people are good in groups so I don't have to be.

Anyway, my creative process generally starts small with me kneeling on the floor with a couple of fabrics placed to one side while I dig for more. My fabric hiding place storage is in the armoire on the right. When the mood is right ideas start flowing and soon I'm tossing fabrics left and right to test the combinations. I often start "safe", then go looking for interesting outliers that will move it beyond matchy-matchy. I'm not so perverse that I eschew coordinating fabrics, but one goal is to keep it from feeling so balanced that it's bland. This quilt is going on our bed and that room needs some good, strong colors to dominate the room.

My fabric is sorted by general vibe and color, so I didn't realize the fabrics I ended up with were almost all from Amy's Belle group until I opened the fabric and started cutting. I'm perfectly willing to mix and match designers and lines, but this one just worked this way. I wanted big, loud, dramatic prints, very little white, minimal negative space, and this strong color mix of orange, blue, chartreuse and olive. That orange peacock fabric framed by a striped fabric was used in the book as the center of another pattern, but I wanted to use the Parade pattern because I've been thinking about a quilt with large prints and solid sashing, so I combined the two. Tested several colors of Kaffe's shot cotton, but this one took the lead immediately. What's interesting is that the cinnamon color is not actually matched in a single one of the fabrics I ended up using, but I think it holds the orangey, brighter fabrics together with the darker, earthier tones. Not too dark, not too light ... just right. I am well aware this is not a palette to everyone's taste, but boy is makes me happy.

Started cutting last Monday morning. Took a little planning because the pattern calls for a bunch of 5/8ths cuts and I only had 1/2 yard or less of most fabrics. Analyzed the pattern to get a feel for the weighting of the prints - how many big and small blocks of each fabric are used. Because I used more fabrics I was on my own from there, so after getting the measurements I didn't use the pattern again. By the end of the week I had this first version:

When we rearranged the living room I lost my mantel-as-design-wall, but it turns out I like this set up even better. Laundry pins clip the batting to the tops of the window cornices to make a workable, if temporary, quilt design wall. I've said this before, but it really is so much easier to design vertically.

I was pretty set on this layout, even to the point of taking it down in sewing order, but the next morning I looked at this photo and just didn't like the blue geometric pattern just below the right corner of the center medallion. It technically has the right colors and even had the cinnamon of the sashing, but it just stuck out as too sharp to me. Once I took it out, it's sister (bottom row, second from right) had to go too. Went back to my rejects and decided to jack up the yellow side of things by adding the blue/yellow eyelash fabric. For the other new blocks I sorted through my remaining scraps to pull in certain colors for balance. Rather than struggle to keep the layout with so many color changes I started over. You easily can see some of the additions in the photo below because I didn't add the sashing until I was sure about the changes. Took this photo at the end of the night then slept on it.

This is an example of a point when I don't ask for input, even from family. The fabric I took out was safe and the quilt would have been just fine with it. The one I put in is kind of loud and probably doesn't appeal to many people, but I like it. I wanted to brighten the overall design and provide a little tonic to the bigger motifs. Photographs flatten colors, but in person everything moves and blends nicely. In the morning I still liked it, so I cut more sashing and started joining the blocks.

Finished the quilt top over the weekend (OK, 12:15 AM on Monday) but I'm not ready for quilting yet. This baby is large - about 90" x 90", so I'm having to piece the back from several fabrics. The pattern's worked out but I'm still cutting and sewing. Planning simple stitch-in-the-ditch quilting with some free-motion in the middle.

When I have the free-motion foot on the machine I'll quilt the story block (upper right) I missed on the Funky Monkey quilt, but otherwise it's done. The chenille-it behaved as advertised and after washing fluffed up nicely. This is the third time I've tried to photograph this. Finally found some good spots for quilts that are big enough with bright, indirect light. I have to stand tiptoe on the edge of our squishy mattress to get the best angle, so if I fall and crack my knees it will be in the service of this blog.

Of course I still have my helpers, who waited until I was perfectly situated on a step stool before running in from stage right like sword fighters in a Shakespearean comedy to literally tear up the scenery.

Here's a quick update on a few other active projects:

Yo yo's are multiplying like tribbles (if only!) ...

Blocks are tumbling...

The geraniums are finally potted ...

 

Those poor geraniums sat neglected in nursery pots for months and months. Man those plants are tough! There's "limelight" licorice in there with them that will tumble down the sides in a few months. I've been grooving on the lime/chartreuse and red combo every time I go out the door.

Orchid fever has struck again! The tell me this guy, paphiopedilum pinocchio, is ever-blooming. Bought him back in February with one bloom and the other developed a week or two later. Apparently when the oldest one drops another will come on and you can already see another bud on the right stem.

Put it in this very cool pot weighted with beach stones, but I still fear for it's life between cats and kids.

The best light for it is also in the highest traffic spot in our house, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

The curse of perceived perfection

Have you ever been working on a project and realized it was going ... well ... perfectly? So perfectly that you became scared to touch it?

For a week I've ignored my Flora strips awaiting the final seaming.

Last Thursday evening after the first round of strip pairings was sewn, I was ironing the seams and chatting with my husband (who was giving me his most engaged uh huhs while staring at the PC). I looked down and saw just how darned well I'd sewn the narrow strips. This pleased me greatly as I've been working hard to improve my 1/4 inch seaming. I glowed in my little happiness for a bit, then went to bed. Fully intended to get up the next day and move forward, but I've been stuck. All those beautiful seams could go to hell from here. Had to wait a bit and glance guiltily at the strips this whole week to work up my nerve.

Com'mon, we've all done it - there's no use denying it. We've all totally screwed up something perfect. The freaky moment when the rotary cutter is possessed and your finished quilt top is carved. The dropped stitch that runs for its life through hours and hours of lacework. I still clearly remember a moment from my late teens that taught me about hubris. I was hungry and darned excited about a plate of pasta I'd made all by myself. Cooking was never my forte, so this start to finish creation was a big deal and I was feeling quite proud. Plate and fork in hand, I swung around quickly from the counter to the table and the entire pile of spaghetti & tomato sauce demonstrated Newton's first law as I and the plate stopped, but it didn't. Properly humbled, I scooped it up off the floor looking much worse after its flight. No, I didn't die. 10 second rule.

Well, as you can see, I've overcome my nerves and started joining again today. All is well, but the next potential crisis looms:  quilting. In the meantime, my roses are quietly supporting my color choices.

Notice the photo above of the strips on the towel rack? Seems like a rational thing doesn't it? The ironing board sits just three feet from the guest bath and that rack is usually empty. So why did it take me almost TWO YEARS to notice it was the perfect spot for just ironed patchwork, all that time draping my ironed patchwork bits on the back of the office chair or sofa where half the time a visiting child/dog/husband sat on them? Sometimes I feel mentally deficient.

Whenever I get too excited about a crafty perfection I walk outside so Mother Nature can knock me soundly on my all too human arse.

The butterfly bush is living up to its name.

This bee is one of literally 30+ swarming over the basil at any given moment. The bush gives off a beautiful hum all day. I have a neighbor who's scared of bees, something I honestly can't fathom. They don't want me - they want my flowers. Here's how big this basil bush has gotten. Sorry for the overly bright light, this is the only photo where I managed to get Cami to sit nicely for a size reference.She wanted to play ball and couldn't figure out what was so special about that spot. That orange plant is sunset agastache. I try to go out at least once every day and listen to that hum as my personal Om.

 

Swap score and new projects

I've set a goal with my quilting to break through my seemingly endless thinking loop into action. I've collected loads of fabric and books, many of which carry post-its and bits of paper as testament to my dreaming. I'm still trying to improve my sewing before I do the wall quilts I have in my imagination, so I've started grabbing a palette and saying "Just Sew It!" May not be much of an athlete, but I can apply that attitude to a creative marathon.

The pastel quilt and quiltlet are both almost ready to quilt, but to finish those would be much too linear for my tastes; instead, I cut the Flora quilt over the last few days. The pattern called for over a yard of a lead fabric and I wanted one of these, neither of which I had in the required yardage, so they're co-chairing the lead spot.

I opened the running to any and all fabrics, but as time when on it became an all-Rowan quilt. I give them credit - they do a great job with blending their colorways across designers and over years of collections.

I've been trying to loosen up on my stingy nature with cutting, so I let myself cut some fabrics that I wasn't 100% sure about. These were eventually rejected. Some hung on valiantly until the last minute.

These were the dark horses that overtook them:

I'm sewing these strips today, so a full shot will be coming forthwith. In the meantime, because things really should be grouped in threes for balance, I started pulling fabric for my next project. (I'm choosing to ignore quilt tops already finished in this count.) During September I joined the Scrap Swap and was so lucky to get Corrie in Australia as my partner. We traded a few emails to suss out what we each liked and she answered my wish list with a neat collection of Japanese storybook prints plus other fabrics I can't find here (there's much more under the pile). I had been considering a pattern that uses this type of focal fabric and here's a collection! Corrie sells these fabrics, so pop over to her website Retro Mummy if you're looking for Japanese fabric and craft books.

Knitting is picking up around here now that my hands don't sweat at the sight of yarn. I've got a scarf in Koigu over a foot long and five swatches going. Books and mags are lying around in every room. Trying to get some content on my Ravely page, but I keep getting sucked into the vortex of other people's projects. All you Ravely types know just what I mean.

I've shown my nice little swatch blocks before, so attractively piled in a basket. Pretty, but not practical. I'd put little sticky notes on them with the gauge listed, most of which had fallen off or stuck to the wrong one after too many rifling's through the basket. Took an hour last week to remeasure each swatch and record the gauge and any other info I had on tags. I've already used this several times already to match up gauge to potential pattern, so I'm happy with the effort.

My husband insinuates that my doodlings with reorganizing my yarn and fabric are "make work"; no dear, this is my idea of having work made for me:

Teacups, a Twirl Skirt and a Clean Shelf

On my last day of freedom when the crew was gone I went to my LQS for a free-choice class. Christine, the teacher, had shown her interpretation of Kaffe's Cups at the workshop in January and her finished quilt now hangs at the store. I really like the changes she made to the pattern from the book, and while I don't intend to make exactly the same quilt, mine will be closer to hers than the book's version.

Applique and decorative stitching were mysteries to me, so I was happy to get some pointers for this first foray. It was a treat to examine the quilt with her and talk one on one about the choices she made to give it more movement and pop. I rarely take classes, but this was relaxing and rewarding. I left the store for a long lunch with an old friend who just happened to be driving through town that day, so I didn't get loads done, but I'm happy to work on my own now.

There are a variety of ways to transfer the pattern from the book to the applique sheet. Because I'm insanely frugal when it comes to this kind of thing (more $ for fabric), I can't just run the Steam-A-Seam through a copier. Instead I traced each piece onto the sheet using the space as efficiently as possible - you get three times the pieces to a page this way. I followed Christine's instructions to cut each piece out, then stick it to the back of the fabric and cut again. Fiddly work, but so much like collage and paper piecing from my stamping and scrapbooking side that I fell right into that trance - kind of relaxing actually. There's just one thing I will definitely do differently on the remaining cups:  I'll rough-cut each piece, stick it to the fabric, then fine cut it just once. It will save time, and more importantly, I hope it will reduce fraying at the edges, which I've found doesn't get completely fixed by the embroidery.

I've always thought the blanket stitch look cool, but didn't know how easy it is. Like knitting, the trick is not in making the stitch but getting it even. Here's my first, slightly wonky attempt:

Here's my second one in progress:

So much better. Going to retire that first one from the quilt and make it into a tea cozy or something.

Found embroidery is excellent pool-side handwork. It's been too hot and sticky for knitting with this air blowing up from Baja, but this was light and portable. Just load up four or five needles with floss and go. Rowan's River in Kidsilk Haze is five rows from finished, but I can't bring myself to handle mohair when it's over 80 degrees.

Ta DA! My first sewn clothing ... The Twirl Skirt:

 

Took a break from quilting to whip up this skirt. The little imp would not let me get a good still photo, but she wore it all day, so I know she likes it.

Followed the instructions originally posted by 3 Peas (now blogless, but you can find photos on Flickr) and now on Kuky Idea's blog. I went looking for them and found the old link broken. Was so happy to find that Kuky had gotten permission to post them. Got smart and printed them this time!

I followed the instructions, but next time I will do a better job with making the gathers and finishing the inside seams. Looks good from the outside, so I'm happy this time. Should have thought to look at my resources first, before I got frustrated. Found these books used and they're great. Not a thing wrong with the tutorial, but I'm so new to clothes sewing that the more detailed info in the books helped a lot.

Started cutting a new quilt for Ems yesterday. This pattern has nice written text, but I'm so visual it's better for me to work off a diagram. I colored it in to show which fabric cuts match, not to indicate color.

The fabric shelf got a good straightening yesterday so I could pull this pastel fabric and some dark colors for a gift quilt. Timing was perfect because Sew Mama Sew's blog asked people to comment on how they organize their sewing spaces. Like most people I make use of plastic tubs, but I thought I'd show my recent additions. This over the door shoe organizer is the cheap one from Target. PERFECT. I love it - I open the door and can find things in an instant! The front room across from the living room is my craft room, so I claimed the coat closet as mine too. Because it's the first room you see when you walk in the house I try to keep it somewhat organized.

This 12-year-old cheap shelf from Crate and Barrel keeps my fabric in sight, but in a corner and out of sunlight. I found that when I stored it in bins I didn't create as often, fast or fully (always missed options and half the time didn't feel like dragging it all out). Last month I brought home groceries from Costco in these very strong trays and realized they were great for holding projects and large scraps. I do my cutting and layouts in the dining room, so I have to carry works in progress back and forth and these make it easy to transport. Since it's out of sight of the doorway I usually just shove em on top of the fabric, but they can be tucked away if needed.

Finally. another reason to eat your oatmeal. My favorite new storage ... a cutting can. Don't know why this took me so long, but now I love it. The can's sturdy, wide-mouthed enough to hold the blades and shallow enough to see what's what.

My family knows upon threat of death that no tool in this can may be used without permission and never on paper. This segregation is necessary because everyone goes to my craft room when they need a tool. Mom's the man.

Finished! Farmer's Market Quilt from the Kaffe Fasset workshop

I LOVE this fabric for binding. Love love love. It a Carla Miller Feather print cut on the straight. You can still get it at Glorious Color. The pattern runs about 1" wide and starts at the edge, so it's easy to fussy cut the strips. One yard will yield 360" - enough to bind a good sized quilt. I like machine finishing the binding when I can make the seams fit in with the quilting. I also sometimes like a wider binding on the back - whatever feels right.

More on the quilt below, but before I forget ... if you're sewing bags or just thinking about it, you MUST check out what's happening over at Sew Mama Sew's shop and her blog. The bag contest entries are here (special thanks to Julia, who alerted me to this). Oh my! Loads and loads of ideas here with great links. Inspiration galore. And she saved me! Check out the Interfacing Guide. I was thinking about discussing interfacing, but the folks at Amy Butler did 10X the job. Interfacing counts - it's a must for giving body to lighter weight quilting fabrics for making bags.

So, where have I been lately? Well, home of course. But that's not all bad. What can one do when one's husband and children leave the house for seven wonderful, delightful, relaxing days? Hmmmm...

1) Go to Balboa Park to savor a latte and knit while waiting for the museums to open. Wave at children playing on the Niki de Saint Phalle sculpture, happy not to be the one managing the snake slide. Wander the Mingei International Museum and dream of being this creative in one's nineties. Yes Eva Zeisel was in her 90's when she designed this set and oversaw the production! She's now over 100 and still working. She describes her life's work as "The playful search for beauty." A true inspiration.

2) Browse a quilt store until they start to think "Is she still here?" Fight off the disturbing jolt around 1 PM that continues about every 1/2 hour throughout the afternoon that screams "You're late! It's time to pick up the kids!" (Took me two days to loose that sensation.) Fabric for my ironic apron (my DH laughed out loud when he saw this), flouncy skirts for my youngest and other projects to come.

3) Drop by the Japanese marketplace and actually look at the craft books (each one must be pulled out and examined, nigh impossible with nagging children and husband in attendance). These bowls were 3/$10. It's a wonder I get anything done with all my helpers around here.

4) Order Thai takeout, and while it's being prepared, pop into a yarn store and indulge in Berroco's Ultra Alpaca and booklet 262 Yin and Yang . Sadly, the swatch is 18/4" rather than the 20/4 called for in the patterns, so no fast cast on for me. I've got several yarns knitting up at 20/4 and loads of patterns calling for 18/4, so things will work out.

And that was only the first day!

Before you think my at-home holiday was all so glamorous, I'll continue with my week. The next day I got the carpet cleaned and no one walked on it for the prescribed three hours. The day after had my hair cut and colored - 1st time ever for a pro color! To round out the fun, the day after that had the car serviced. Not sexy, but easy when you're not entertaining kids and there's a coffee shop next door. After the tires were rotated I went to Target (by myself -- be still my heart). Does my self-indulgent craziness know no bounds?

What can I say, I have been with my kids all day everyday since mid-June and will be again until mid-August -- doing these chores alone was fantastic. I lived on blueberries, left over takeout and Fig and Anise bread from Bread & Cie drizzled with raw honey bought roadside from a 78-year-old man who swears that bee stings stave off arthritis. Was reading recently that eating raw, local honey may help fight against pollen allergies. Tasty medicine.

I front-loaded my to-do list for good reason. At 11:50 PM on Friday I drove over to the book store, got my ticket, then disappeared into the craft section to peruse the latest releases while waiting. For those of you learning to sew, I recommend Bend-the-Rules Sewing by Amy Karol, the blogger who writes at Angry Chicken. It's fun, approachable and the beginning sections are very well done and informative. The projects are hip, cute and doable.

Home just after 1 AM, I cracked the cover and read the first two chapters of Harry Potter (no photo, you know what it looks like by now), then put it aside because I didn't have to stay up all night. I had Saturday to indulge. My Saturday. It's been over 10 years since I've been able to give myself over to a book like that. Standard MO when I was single, but impossible with family. Read, eat, sew on this quilt, walk the dog, nap, repeat, with the emphasis on read. Didn't change out of jammies except to walk the dog (I'm not that eccentric yet). Finished it exactly 24 hours later and had a little cry for the end of a era. My DD is immersed in it now and pops up every few hours to discuss plot lines.

I know some people don't get it, especially why some of us adults care so much, but it's been fun. Such anticipation for a book is wonderful. I read the first, second and third HP books aloud to my daughter 3X each (really) and the forth book once. Hours upon hours we read those books, sometimes until I was hoarse. After Goblet of Fire she'd matured enough to read them on her own, but I've stayed with her so we can talk about it and because I've come to love these characters. We've gone to the release parties. R was Harry Potter for Halloween three years running. I made an "H" sweater that she wore almost daily through kindergarten. We've spent this summer discussing the various plot lines and guessing outcomes. How often do you get to really share a ten-year-old's passion? I just can't muster it for Legos, Littlest Pet Shop, WebKins or Nintindo DS.

It started five years ago this week when my husband picked up a paperback copy of HP 1 to read aloud on a very long driving trip. We were all immediately hooked. R was still four (almost five) so up to that point the books we'd been reading were typical of the age and not terribly engaging to us adults, especially after the tenth read. I can now do many kid's picture books in my sleep, which I must admit helps when I'm tired while reading to youngest. I remember so clearly driving by Las Vegas with all its over the top glitziness and I stopped Harry's story to ask R if she wanted to look at the skyline. She barely glanced out the window and said "No no, don't stop reading. I don't care about that." My child indeed.

With my HP fix out of the way it was time to quilt. Another jammie day and it was finished.

Pattern from Kaffe Fassett's Kaleidoscope of Quilts. All fabric by Westminster's various designers. This is the pattern we worked with in the workshop I took in January with Kaffe and Brandon. I have another one in the works in pastels.

I cut the pattern short in length because I wanted a throw to brighten up the courtyard. I like the way the colors pop in outdoor light.

It's perfect for hiding (that's August above and Raven below, plus the human child playing at being a cat).

And lounging.

OK, one more binding shot, just because it amuses me.

It's always so nice to finish something. Maybe I should try it more often eh?

Oh my! It's a FO!

I am now working on some tote bags (w/tutorial), but when I finally turned on my cleaned and tuned machine I felt a deep need to FINISH something. Anything. I'd run the first three quilting lines of this before the repair, so this one was the closest to being finished.

I've not washed the finished quilt yet and the fabric was bought cut and not pre-washed, so hopefully the fabric will change a bit at that first run through the machine. I'd be happy with a little old-fashioned puckering to go with the look of the prints. This is pretty far from my usual style, but I like the simple look.

It was made to go in this room where I work on the PC and the dog sleeps (that's any room for her, but I only work here). The IKEA futon underneath is covered in plain cream canvas, so it warms it up a bit.

A c