Pumping Up The Volume

After getting the Star Flower quilt all quilted and the binding attached, I needed a bit more color saturation to brighten the day. I dug deep into my bin of 4.5" square scraps and after a quick pass through the die cutter I set to work on this scrappy hexagon quilt. It's vibrant and fun. I have half of it pieced as it's shown here on the design wall. It will measure 56" X 72" at completion, containing 280 bright/medium/dark scraps out of the bin. Yay! Waste not, want not! 

So, here's the Star Flower quilt with the binding all basted in place for this evening's hand work. I love this quilt! There's so much to love: the softness, the "Puddles" quilting design, the ultimate binding choice (after load of auditions and consultations!), the pop of color on the backing, the fact that this one has been YEARS in the making! I'm claiming this one and keeping it forever.

Here is a sampling of the binding fabrics up for their audition.  Ultimately, I chose the one on the right.

Once the selection was finally decided upon, it was applied for stitching- a first view of the backing.

Another month has passed and a new one's begun. I'm SO READY for the warmer spring days. A dear friend gave me this Quiltfolk calendar at Christmastime. It hangs right over me desk space in the sewing room and where look at it every day. This month's photograph depicts a stack of stitched squares with this explanation: "my mother, who's battling dementia, finds familiarity in taking stitches on small squares of linen, filling them with circles, sweet meandering lines and and tiny hearts, forming new memories for herself and for her family." 💗

March 1st is my parents' wedding anniversary, this year they've celebrated 69 wonderful years! 💗💗

Star Flower is all ready to curl up under. As winter slips into spring I'm to celebrating with brighter, louder colors! For me, that means back to the scrap bins; I've got well over a hundred more hexagons to cut, that might just make a dent! 😉 Maybe. 

Life is Good!

The Quiet Road

There's a kind of quiet the descends on the house after children leave; it's a weird stillness that settles around you like a blanket, one that's impossible to shake off. You're aware of the hush all over again each time you pick up a forgotten Lego, book or sock from its resting place left in their wake. It's the same every time, sweet memories of time shared together filling up the empty spots and spaces that only days before were filled with activity and punctuated with laughter, jokes, music and hugs. Today is one of those days. I completed a quilt top last week, a Yellow Brick Road pattern made up of low-volume prints with an autumn theme. I'm calling this one "The Quiet Road". Sometimes a super-easy pieced quilt top is just the thing to satisfy that need to sew and desire to accomplish more than weeding the flower bed or vacuuming the house, those things that become all-too-soon undone. Sure, I've already got a sizable queue of quilts-to-be-quilted in the closet but this was begging to be completed, it was jumping up and down with its hand raised shouting whispering loudly "pick me, pick me" from the stack of UFO's. I'm pleased to have listened ; the result is vintage-y in appearance and calming by nature.

"The Quiet Road" ~ 57" X 75"

I've chosen a dark orange for the backing and a meandering pumpkin pantograph for the quilting, in burnt orange thread. Isn't it ironic how sometimes it's the quiet things that should, seemingly, fade into the background and remain unnoticed; but, instead, they grab all of your attention and move themselves forward? 

That's the way today is~ it's the silence that's wrapped itself around me. 

It's a peace that has filled my heart providing energy for planning that next noisy adventure;

sometimes we need only take a stroll down a quiet road to show us where and what we require!

💗

Life is Good!

Transitioning

I teased with this picture of stacked stars in a previous post. This quilt is a welcome transition from all those bright fabrics used when making Frank.
This is a long-abandoned project that needed to be brought to the front burner. I am inspired by Country Threads and their "Dirty Dozen" challenge this year. (The premise: identify 12 UFOs and give each a unique number from 1-12. Each month a number is selected and announced on their blog; that is the "assignment" for that month.) With determination and focus, the years' end will bring twelve completed projects! When I began collecting low volume prints I made a series of quilts for family members and cut this one out for myself. It was promptly forgotten. (I still collect low volumes; they're so appealing in their own, quiet, way. Sigh. Some habits are hard to break.) I absolutely LOVE this quilt and it is growing, it easily could become a master class in set-in seams!🙄 I have named it "A Kind of Hush" in honor of a old favorite Herman's Hermits song.

Eventually it will measure 56" X 72" when squared up, a good size; I'm already excited about quilting this one too! With all those set-in seams, though, there are lots of starts and stops. Quiltkeemosabe reminded me that I could make this without the set-ins by dividing the hexagons in half and sewing it in straight rows. yes, I could. But, I already had this all cut and ready. If nothing else, I am tenacious. 😉

Which means, with all those set-ins, that a bonus(!) quilt is growing at the same time; Leader-Ender style. You might remember that I cut oodles of tumblers this summer when cleaning out my charm square bins. I am in no danger of depleting the still-burgeoning tumbler basket! One can only use so many tumbler quilts, this one will be donated to a worthy cause. Waste not, want not. 

Speaking of using up what's on hand: a handful of leftover WOF scraps from the most recent nap blanket workshop (and a free afternoon) yielded enough to make this Streak of Sunshine child's quilt; another donation in the making. Yes, the machines are humming around here. We're finally transitioning, albeit VERY s-l-o-w-l-y, into fall and cooler temperatures here in the south. 

I discovered this friend when transitioning our front porch planters to colorful fall flowers!

Have you said your prayers today?

Life is Good!

Up next: leaving it all on the table. 

Keeping It Quiet?

 It all started innocently enough (don't all great adventures?), I was having lunch with Quiltkeemosabe and she mentioned to me that she had been playing with Deb Tucker's new Shaded Nine Patch technique sheet. "Do you have it yet?" she asked. That's all it took. No, I didn't have it, but now I knew that she did; and, of course, I wanted to play too!
I had one of these technique sheets in my hot little hand that afternoon before returning home. "I don't need to start anything new-- I don't need to start anything new", I kept repeating that over and over to myself on the drive home. As are all things Deb Tucker (Studio 180 Design), this sheet was quite compelling. "How bad would it be to just quickly work up one block. One teeny, tiny, 6" block"? I have an ever-growing collection of low-volume prints. I cannot force myself to stop collecting them! And, I must say, for low volume prints they can get mighty boisterous when they want to be used; I was powerless to ignore them. Yes, there's a pattern of loss of control here, I am aware of that! 😉 Well, as you can see, one block combined four of those teeny-tinies into a usable 12" size block. One thing led to another, as it usually does.

"I wonder how two blocks would look, side by side, with scrappy sashing from a jellyroll that I  just happened to have on hand?" Hmmm... in my own humble opinion they look twice as nice. 

Oh, yeah; you know where this is leading. This Shaded Nine Patch technique is a winner. If you would like to watch Deb demonstrate this herself in a short video click here.  Don't say that you weren't warned. Even though I am using soft, low volume fabrics it's hard, for me, to keep this one quiet!   

Life is Good! 

On The Plus Side

"Think Positive!" ~ 46" X 56"

Some things are worth the wait, this flimsy is no exception! I began this small quilt over a year ago. Somewhere along the line I got distracted... who, me?... and simply didn't get back to this until a few weeks ago. With a dedicated spirit I worked on it a few hours every day and finally got the borders on it yesterday. I designed this quilt in EQ7 and posted about it late last May, shortly after that I was contacted by them for permission to include this pattern in their "Do You EQ?" blog, I was flattered. At the time I was looking for a way to showcase my vast collection of low volume prints and this scrappy idea fit the bill. Since then my collection has only grown; but, on the plus side, this one is now a full-fledged flimsy! You can access the pattern here. It's easy, and fun! 

Life is Good!

Developing A Plan

It's a great thing when a plan comes together... this sneaky project tip-toed in before one was even developed! I've got one now though, "Jackstones" will ultimately finish to be 63" X 84".  This photo represents  the left side of the top row; I'm happy with the integrated pieced border, I like the effect.

Now I can get back to the work at hand... where I was before that project snuck in and took over my brain and cutting table! Somedays it's just hard to demonstrate self-control and ignore those pesky creative distractions, I have to remember who's the boss.

Life is Good!

Jackstones

Jackstones

I have an ongoing love affair with Low Volume fabrics; my burgeoning collection was begging to be used, or at least some of it was, it's hard for me to cut it up. Anyway, after Bible Study on Monday Quiltkeemosabe sent me a link for website tutorial on "X" or Hummingbird blocks, thinking I might be able to use the technique on next month's block assignment. Well, as sometimes happens, I decided to experiment with a few larger blocks. The tutorial requires an EZ Dresden ruler to cut the wedge shapes, I didn't have one but I did have a 9 degree wedge and pulled out some brights to pair with the LVs, I had this pretty 10" block stitched up lickety-split.  I really liked the effect. I decided to make a few more blocks (of course I did!) and stitch them together to get a good idea of how they would appear set block to block, they reminded me of playing jackstones on the concrete porch floor in the summer when I was a little girl.

One thing leads to another and I tried auditioning the reverse block on the outside as a possible border option. You see how these trains can become runaways in no time?

It was okay, but it wasn't as great as I had imagined. 

I found the larger, brighter triangles to be too distracting.

I had some pale gray shot-cotton in the stash closet... "I wonder" I said out loud...and I set to cutting. Yes, that was exactly what I had in mind for this idea! I still have a LOT of planning to do: size being the main consideration; from there I will know how many pieces to cut. A plan is a wondrous thing! But, for now, this is but the seed for a larger quilt-to-be; one that harkens back to long, lazy summer days playing jackstones with a little red rubber ball on a smooth, cool concrete floor. Isn't that what summer is all about; taking the time to have some fun... playing a little? If the first thing you do doesn't excite you, feel free to scrap it and move on. In this case, I am SEW happy that I did just that! Don't worry about those border units I have removed, one can't ever have too many potholders, can they?

Life is Good!

Shhhh...

... it's quiet time around here; by "quiet" I am referring to low volume (low contrast) fabrics. It's no secret that I am in love with them. I'm not only obsessed with collecting them but I do use them all the time occasionally!  Let the record show that I've made three low volume quilts, have another one in the works and, yet, still have a healthy collection that is fast outgrowing a bin the size of a small suitcase. The thing that I love the most about low volume fabrics is how anything made from them has an instant vintage, timeless look. I enjoy using lots of various fabrics and, with these, things don't ever get too loud; they remain fresh, soft and quiet! Plus, my collection is almost entirely made up of fat quarters; there's always just enough on hand to whip up a cute little project without a lot of leftover scraps. Does that sound like rationalization to you? I was eager to stich up something quick the other day; who doesn't always need just one more adorable zippered pouch? I used Soft and Stable (new-to-me product!) to give this pouch more body; it's great, adding nice stability, I found it easy to work with and simple to sew through. The pouch pattern can be found here.  Happy spring, everyone; I wish you a productive National Quilting Day tomorrow no matter what you have planned. I will be quilting, Snowbird and I have a long-standing date.

Life is Good!

Somebody STOP Me!

You most likely remember that 2013 was my year for collecting low volume fabrics. In fact, I had so many that I gave away precut tumbler shapes through this blog back in the fall. You may also recall, just two posts ago, that I admitted to having a well-stocked fabric stash; that would imply that I need no additional fabric. Well, old habits are hard to break. I continue to collect low volumes. These two bundles are the results of a low volume monthly "club" that I am enrolled in; plus, I also participate in a swap group of the same type fabrics, it's a happy addiction. Just when I thought I could, perhaps, lose interest along came this STUNNING line of fabric from StudioE designed by Pepper Cory. I purchased the "Fog" color shown here (beneath the bundles). Isn't it the perfect complement for these soft and subtle prints? It was enough for me to fall in love with low volumes all over again. If you think it looks good in the photo you should FEEL it; it has a luxuriously silky "hand", look for it at your own LQS, the jewel tones are magnificent too! I know I will see and be tempted by more low volume fabrics while I'm away later this week. If anyone else is at Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival and you happen to see me shopping you have my permission to stop me... and STOP ME! I know Mr. Goodneedle would be most appreciative.

Life is Good!

Pieceful Playtime

Late this past summer I decided to take all of the leftover low volume fabric scraps from the two Chicken Soup quilts I was making for my children for Christmas and, following the Star Flower tutorial over at A Crafty Fox's blog, cut them into sixty degree diamonds. I needed three hundred diamonds to make fifty star flowers, as luck would have it, because I didn't know when to stop collecting fabrics, that wasn't a problem at all!  The stars themselves went together as easy as could be.
I was fearful of setting the stars into rows though, I worried about setting in the hexagon shapes and getting all those star points to line up. As it turned out the worry was for nothing.

The first two rows went together without a hitch this weekend. It took some time, careful attention was paid to pinning and to pressing, but as you can see it went together smoothly. This project isn't one for the "Quilt In A Day" crowd; not at all! This is one quilt that will grow and develop over the next few months. I will work on it when I have long, free afternoons and evenings...on those rare occasions when I can take my time and really enjoy the piecing process. I absolutley love what is unfolding here; all from those Chicken Soup leftovers. Can't you just imagine this one quilted? I can...

Life is Good!

Liquid Quilts

Things are settling down around here once again, to a dull roar! Christmas came and went, it was a magical time with the grandchildren this year, blessings abound. Here are our two families with their Chicken Soup quilts, a double dose! I won't subject you to any more Chicken Soup quilts for a while... that is, until I resurrect my own unfinished one with sixty degree diamonds! We gathered together as a family again yesterday to celebrate Mr. Goodneedle's birthday with a celebratory luncheon here; we were fortunate to have his sister and brother-in-law visiting this year, along with our children, their children and his mother we were four generations singing "Happy Birthday" over his cake, what a happy day it was! Just when you think I'm through for a while stitching liquid (Chicken Soup) quilts, look what's hopped up onto my frame!

"Strawberry Lemonade"!
60" X 60"
A certain little girl will be one year old in a few weeks;
she needs a birthday quilt... doesn't this one look like a party?
Life is Good!

My Soup Pot Overfloweth...

Chicken Soup #2  ~  60" X 80"

If you've been following along with my "Chicken Soup" quilt making adventure you'll understand my delight in posting a photo of Chicken Soup #2 this morning, in all it's full-fledged flimsy glory! Chicken Soup #1 is completely quilted and is now awaiting binding. The really wonderful thing about using all of these low volume prints is that while the fabrics are fresh and modern, when combined one next to the other they produce an instatly soft, quiet, vintage look; how is that possible? I am in love with the resulting visual effect and overall feel (Click here for more low volume inspiration). And so, as a way to celebrate getting this far with two out of three quilts from the same batch of fabrics, and commemorate a recent blog post milestone of 1500 posts; I am happy to send you some soup! If you would like to receive a small helping just leave me a comment below and watch for my drawing at the end of this week. I'll select a random winner at the end of the day on Friday, 25 October. The weather's getting cooler and it's a perfect time for Chicken Soup; plus, I can use some companions on the low volume bandwagon! 

Here you go~ 165 die-cut tumbler shapes, the exact fabrics used in the quilt above.
The tumblers are 4" (finished length), there are enough here to piece a small quilt,
 approximately 44" square if set 15 across and 11 down, or anything else that you can think of. 
Good luck!
This giveaway has ended, thank you for your interest.

Watch this blog for another giveaway too, coming also at the end of this week,
it's a double book (2 winners!) giveaway sponsored by the Penguin publishing group.

Life is Good!