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?
Gorgeous quilt!! So bright and cheerful!
Posted by: Julie | July 25, 2007 at 03:21 PM
Your quilt is just wonderful! I love the colours. Great post, and I especially love the shot of your daughter.
Sounds like you're having a grand summer!
Posted by: Gaile | July 25, 2007 at 03:43 PM
The quilt is fantastic.
Posted by: Jessica | July 25, 2007 at 04:45 PM
What an accomplishment! You are very talented. Simply beautiful.
Posted by: JoNana | July 25, 2007 at 05:43 PM
I've just discovered your blog and am bowled over by the quilt. I don't quilt, but if I ever do, that's the one I'd want to make. Such color! Love it!
Posted by: Meg in North AL | July 25, 2007 at 06:39 PM
Wow, that binding fabric really IS perfect!
Posted by: --Deb | July 25, 2007 at 07:12 PM
That.Is.So.Beautiful!!!!! Great work - love seeing it and enjoying (vicariously of course) your time to yourself!
Posted by: Ruthanne (in Seattle) | July 25, 2007 at 07:35 PM
So vibrant!
Posted by: Siow Chin | July 25, 2007 at 11:04 PM
What a wonderful collection of eye-candy and temptations. Your week sounds heavenly, a perfectly, titillatingly described haven. And a beautiful quilt as well.
Posted by: Mardel | July 26, 2007 at 04:25 AM
It is just stunning!
Posted by: Melinda | July 26, 2007 at 10:49 AM
The quilt is just stunning! I want one ; ) Sounds like a fabulous time on your own. Oh, how I savor those moments. I don't believe I've ever had 7 days though....I'm jealous. Your daughter is just beautiful!
Posted by: Donna | July 26, 2007 at 01:02 PM
That quilt is fierce! And how cool to get some time to yourself - you know I dream about that all the time. One day... And thanks for pointing to the interfacing tutorial - that was really well done. I am having a horrible time finding the right interfacing in my town. We just don't have one decent fabric store with anyone who knows what they are doing or selling. The contest blog has som many fabulous bags I am starting to stress again at my lack of daylight hours to do all my crafts. Damn job.
Posted by: Julia | July 26, 2007 at 01:43 PM
Your quilt is absolutely gorgeous! I just wanted to delurk and tell you how much I enjoy your beautiful photos and thoughtful words as I too am both a quilter and a knitter.
Posted by: Toby | July 26, 2007 at 07:27 PM
It's spectacular! I love love love it.
Posted by: Emily | July 26, 2007 at 07:47 PM
As if the quilt was not gorgeous enough, that very clever use of the feather fabric as binding is stunning! You have to be thrilled with it. Breathtaking!
(I love the *human child* shot, too. What a cutie.)
Posted by: Jan | July 27, 2007 at 12:01 PM
What a wonderful week you described. I was just in Germany and saw the Grotto designed by Niki de Saint Phalle in Hannover. It is a treat to be inside a work of art! I 'll put a picture on my blog soon; please check in.
Posted by: ellen | July 27, 2007 at 01:24 PM
I am soooo envious of your time alone!! I can certainly understand the negative effect of interruptions on creativity. Sounds like a magical week.
The quilt is spectacular.
Posted by: Paddy | July 28, 2007 at 06:48 AM
You are one talented quilter - it looks amazing. Great job!
Posted by: Anne-Caroline | July 29, 2007 at 05:46 AM
That quilt is stunning. I love it (and the binding!), after wanting your cat as a freebie with the bag, I now would like a daughter just like yours too, she looks so sweet - Miss 12 is going through a recalcitrant phase that means you have to be careful what you ask for... sigh. I totally envy your week to yourself and the chance to admire the beautiful ceramics as well as the chance to go shopping (with your money by yourself - not sure I can even imagine this) and the Berroco pattern book looks great. But I just love the quilt.
Posted by: Juliet | July 29, 2007 at 06:11 AM
Oh my! your quilt is absolutely stunning! Wow! what a wonderful week you had!
Posted by: Moni | August 02, 2007 at 03:53 PM
Fabulous! All of it. Glad you were able to relax and pamper yourself for the week. I'm so totally envious :)
Posted by: Risa | August 06, 2007 at 09:20 AM
What an absolutely beautiful quilt! So bright and clear--I'm in awe!
Posted by: Malagueta | August 11, 2007 at 03:39 PM
The quilt is fantastic! I love the vibrant colours. Sounds like you've been having alot of fun indulging yourself for a few days.
Thanks for your comment on my Sunrise Circle Jacket! I love the one you bought a pattern for too.
Posted by: di | August 19, 2007 at 12:37 AM