Welcome Fall; We've Been Waiting!

At long last some cooler temperatures have arrived and it's feeling fall-like; the wait has been well worth it-- brisk mornings and pleasant afternoons under sapphire-blue skies. Quiltkeemosabe and I got together this week to work and compare notes on our progress with making, and writing up directions for, every one of the 202 six inch blocks from Rosemary Youngs' Quilt Block Bible. We have one more session scheduled and we'll be done! Hip, hip, hooray! I have three BIG binders full of blocks and notes.
           
This arrangement, above, contains 121 blocks; I will have a second, smaller, quilt with 81 blocks. After our final session we will set our quilts together and have a grand finale reveal party-- likely with lunch! 😉 We began this joint project five years ago. It will be a HUGE sense of accomplishment to finish this one up. After that we'll probably find another one; it's been a wonderful experience.

We celebrated my birthday and she gifted me this beautiful sampler kit as well as a pair of the teeny, tiny scissors (the package claims that they're the world's smallest functional scissors), they're 2.5"!

Speaking of that recent birthday. Both our daughter and our son gave me subscriptions to Sipsby; a tea gift box that arrives monthly. Neither one knew that the other was giving the gift, that's perfectly fine, my subscription is now twice as long! I filled out a form indicating my taste preferences and Sipsby takes it from there, putting together my own unique collection! The first box arrived yesterday. Such fun to discover what's included and try new (to me) and different teas. 

When the weather changes that's usually an indication that it's Fair time! This year was no exception. We spent yesterday afternoon walking around our local fairgrounds enjoying the exhibits and the grandchildren. Lynnleigh was surprised and thrilled to find that her "Hot Air Balloons" artwork from school was awarded a blue ribbon! 

 As always, a stroll through the quilt exhibition area is in order. I loved this colorful Kaleidoscope. 

But, this one truly drew me in; I love the graphic appeal of the spokes. I want to make one of these.

No trip to the fair would be complete without a walk to the midway. Lynnleigh broke a balloon and won a stuffed turquoise sloth. 

Gregory and Nana took a turn racing down the giant slide; 

you can see who won! A great time was had by all! 

Life is Good!

Back to the Bible

If you have read my blog for a while, you might remember that a few years back Quiltkeemosabe and I embarked upon an adventure: we challenged each other by committing to Rosemary Youngs' book: The Quilt Block Bible by making, and writing instructions for, each of the 202 six inch blocks pictured in the book!

We kept up pretty well for a time-- meeting monthly for an exchange of information and to eat lunch together. But then, as often happens, life crowded in and our progress was halted. The last time that I even posted about this project was back in September of 2017; at that point I had this much done and was working on more. We realized this summer that we have well over the majority done, and with one final push we can get over that finish line! I began piecing and writing again (above, left).

We will meet again next week. I have almost all of my assigned twenty blocks prepared and ready. 

These "Split Square" blocks emerged as a "leader-ender" bonus from all that Bible block piecing.  

And in the meantime:  Hexie Garden is off the frame today, I am really fond of this "Diamonds Are Forever" pantograph by Urban Elementz. I believe it really adds to overall quilt design. I will bind it in navy.

Life is Good!

Bible Block Day!

Today is the day! Quiltkeemosabe and I have been at this for several years now; working our way through Rosemary Youngs' book: the Quilt Block Bible. Our get-togethers have been few and far between of late, life has gotten in the way. Somehow, even with a litany of other commitments between the two of us, we have managed to prioritize and get a Bible Block Day back onto our calendars! Our days together are much more than sharing our tips, tricks, construction directions and progress with one another; we also catch up, make plans and eat lunch (alternating homes each time). I have prepared a slow cooker beef roast this morning for French Dip sandwiches (the house smells heavenly right now) and a batch of Dr. Pepper cupcakes for dessert. We need to make room in our lives for what is important to us; those obligations and commitments will always be there, clamoring to clutter up our calendars and push other tasks to the bottom of the list. I have to take special care to guard against that. The latest ten blocks, pictured on the left, bring me to 141 completed out of 202, I am almost 70%  finished! These blocks will finish to 6" square. If you are familiar with the book you know that there are no instructions included, it is a book of beautiful quilt block pictures and an accompanying CD with each block diagrammed in black and white for printing out. Quiltkeemosabe and I have written out directions, and proofed each other's, at every step. The bonus, in addition to our our burgeoning quilt block stacks (and holding each other accountable) has been our enriched friendship, new recipes from meals shared together and a whole lot of fun and laughs along the way.

My own Quilt Block Bible blocks as of June last year.

What do you need to make room for in your life today? 
Find a way to make it happen, you won't be sorry!
Life is Good!

Blue, Blue and Blue(bird)

The quilting is done, this quilt's been a long time in the making. I suppose the label should reflect the fact that this one was begun in 1997 and took nineteen years to complete! I've decided to name this one "Out of the Blue"; not because it is anything that came about suddenly, far from it! But, rather, because this already vintage quilt came out of a blue storage bin and into the light of day; and, ultimately, onto the longarm! The darker blue ombre backing fabric is just the same age as the top, purchased when I began the piecing; medium blue sashing and quilting thread help carry through with the theme.

"Out of the Blue" ~ 115" X 79.5" ~ Jessie's Swirls pantograph

Thanks to everyone who helped my decision making process for the sashing choice between The Quilt Block Bible blocks-- blue it is!

And lastly. the bluebird (not of happiness, at least for me) who has a wife and five eggs in the nesting box just outside the sewing room window has taken to attacking the omnipresent predator (his own reflection) in the windows of our house! This goes on constantly; the windows and sills are disgusting with droppings, we can hardly keep things cleaned up. Hopefully, when the babies fledge, this will be done and they will move on. I don't know how much more we (or Hannes!) can take. I certainly hope this weird character trait of the father isn't passed down to his babies.

Life is Good!

One More Time

This photo represents some randomly chosen The Quilt Block Bible blocks laid out on two different background fabrics as possible sashing choices. I am coming to you one more time. Thoughts? I promise you, this won't go on forever. I would love your opinion on this but I believe I'm closing in on a favorite. What say YOU?

Life is Good!

The Auditions Continue

Last week I posted photos with 121 blocks up on the design wall from Rosemary Youngs' The Quilt Block Bible. I auditioned indigo as well as red sashing strips between some of the blocks to try and decide how I will set this quilt; I asked for your opinions, you offered them and I am grateful. Among one suggestion was a soft gold color. The above photo shows twenty five blocks sitting on top of a yarn-dyed linen fabric, the color is called "leather"; I absolutely love this piece of fabric, but it it right for the sashing between these blocks?  I am coming to you again for your opinions.

In all honesty, the fabric pictured in the top photo isn't entirely different from the color of my design wall; which means, that the overall effect would look much like this when it's all said and done. Thoughts? I've mocked up a section with the soft gold sashing and indigo cornerstones as one more option; yay or nay? Weigh in and let me know what you think.

Life is Good!

Now, That's Better!

121 blocks made from Rosemary Youngs':  The Quilt Block Bible

So, as you might imagine, it was a lot of work just putting all of these blocks up on the wall! My intention in getting them all up there was exactly as you might imagine: to view them all together. The effort paid off, there's reward in simply looking at them. That's when I noticed it-- there, smack dab in the center of the layout, the block named "Twin Sisters" just wasn't doing it for me, the contrast was too low. Can you find it? I remade it and replaced it in the arrangement. Now, that's better! It was time to start thinking about sashing, as I indicated last week. You all made marvelous suggestions and I am carefully considering my options. The photo below shows the layout with a dark indigo sashing mock-up as well as a red. Thoughts?

I'm going to leave the blocks up a while longer while I mull over the decision. Who knows, I may just remake another block or two before these are returned to their rightful places (for now) in the burgeoning binders! After all, I still have eighty-one more blocks to make. I need a larger wall!

Life is Good!

Quilt Block Bible Study

Geese Squared

Beginner's Delight

I have been posting for a while now about the monthly meetings that Quiltkeemosabe and I have been having where we exchange the directions we've been writing for each and every quilt block in Rosemary Youngs' Quilt Block Bible. Yesterday was one of those days. I told her ahead of time that I thought "Geese Squared", one of my assigned blocks for last month, might just be my favorite so far. But, that was before I did "Beginner's Delight"; I don't know if I can decide. But then, we've amassed quite a collection since the beginning, it's increasingly difficult to choose. My own body of work, so far, is shown below; 121 out of 202. I just love looking at them!

Can you choose a favorite? I have a question: should I sash this with dark sashing or keep it in the lighter range as it appears on the design wall? I have been thinking dark all along but I'm open to thoughts and opinions.

Life is Good!

This, That and The Other Thing

There's been lots going on: random things-- this, that and the other thing; think of this as a potpourri post, a way to catch up all at once. I wanted to brag on my daughter-in-law. She's been having lots of fun with her Cameo Silhouette electronic cutter; she's created wonderful iron-on transfers for T-shirts, dresses and household items as well as labels for everything... I asked her if she would make me a "water" label to differentiate this spray bottle that I use for thinning royal icing from an identical bottle of homemade granite cleaner for the kitchen (I wouldn't want to mix up those two!). She rose to the occasion, creating word art at its finest! I love this water bottle now, there's no doubt as to its contents.

While on retreat at the beginning of this month I stitched up a whole heap of pretty little Charger Cord-Wraps for myself and for gifts. My drawers are pretty again, no more charger cord tangles! I found the tutorial here.

The storm of last week loaned itself to some lovely photo-ops, I got lucky with this one; our state bird.

Before the snow flew our neighbor completed a gorgeous picnic table and bench for his family; he was proud to take it home. Ben has been a woodworker's apprentice in Mr. Goodneedle's workshop for over a year now. He seems pleased in this photo with the finished product, as does his mentor!

In preparation for The Quilt Block Bible (book by Rosemary Youngs) Study this week, I have completed and written up directions for five more blocks. I'm chipping away, block by block.  These were pretty straight-forward piecing. I have a pile of applique blocks to catch up on. I will do those by hand and am saving them for road trips and down-time handwork.

Through the piecing of "Rustic Rails" (see yesterday's post) and the aforementioned Bible Study blocks I have been adding to a second tumbler charm quilt top (the first was completed last summer) it is also being sewn Leader-Ender (thanks, Bonnie!) style, this one has grown by leaps and bounds as other piecing is accomplished.  I plan to keep both of these quilts in the cars in case of emergencies; one never knows when a quilt might be needed.

Pre-cut tumbler scraps, lights and darks, reside in their own little bins right beside the machine ensuring that every time something passes beneath the presser foot something else is accomplished simultaneously. Can you say efficient?  That's it for this random catch-up post; hopefully subsequent posts will be more single-subject structured and easier to keep up with!

Life is Good!

52%

These are the latest blocks completed from Rosemary Youngs' Quilt Block Bible. Quiltkeemosabe and I are more than halfway through writing directions and making each and every block in the book. At my last calculation I was 52% done; now I am moving onto applique- curves, that makes me smile... I love me some hand work! So, what does 52% look like and how am I keeping track of our work, piecing/cutting directions and the blocks themselves?

52% equals two loose leaf binders, full. Each completed block is filed in order, by number, and slipped into a page protector together with all of of its pertinent data. We're using every method we know: specialty rulers, templates, paper piecing... whatever it takes.

I'm including a few close-ups here of the fussy cutting I did. I had a length of fabric with quotes and these positively charming illustrations by Susan Branch; perfect for these little block centers. This one says: "Millions long for immortality but don't know what to do on a rainy afternoon" - Susan Ertz

 "All the way to Heaven is Heaven" - St. Catherine of Sienna

No quote, but a perfect resting place for this toile fussy cut. 

And, finally... this makes me want to brew a cup of tea right now... and read Little Women... again!

Life is Good!