Getting It Together

These Lemoyne Star blocks are from last year's block-of-the-month at the LQS. They'd been neatly stored away (well, truth be told: eleven of them had been, I had to catch up and make that twelfth block!) and practically forgotten about until this week. Schools  began classes again around here on Wednesday, the summer has ended for all intents and purposes. This time of year always puts me in a deliberate "focusing" mindset. Maybe it's years of conditioning: back-to-school always triggered something in me along the lines of planning, organizing and goal-setting. Nothing like thinking along those lines to begin getting these blocks set and this quilt on the way to being completed!

I found this setting idea in a booklet called "Mix & Match Sampler Settings" by Scott Flanagan. It has some terrific ideas! Plus, I have piles of orphan blocks that could use some getting setting together; I'd better keep the book handy!

SEW, all the setting pieces are organized, in place and ready to go. 

I've got a nice terra cotta piece saved for an outer border too. There's no stopping me now.

I'm not headed back to school but I am focused, and ready to accomplish some newly-set goals. 

Life is Good!

Brother Bear

"Brother Bear"  ~37.5" X 43"

Working from the stacked, numbered, boxes in the closet I am endeavoring to finish one UFO each month until the end of the year. May's box contained all the elements for this precious little hand embroidered baby quilt, I even had all of the fabrics selected for the setting "logs" but scrapped them because it was too busy. I did keep chosen the border and backing fabrics, hence the name of the quilt.
See that baby bear roaming between the trees?

Here's a close-up with the backing fabric that I have chosen. 

Naturally, (if you're a fan of the Berenstains, like me) you know that there can't be a Brother Bear without a Sister Bear! Here's "Sister Bear", the girl version of the same quilt, currently under the needle.  I hope to get Brother Bear loaded and quilted right away; back-to-back bears 😉, successfully meeting my goal for May. These patterns are from Kristyne Czepuryk's book: S is for Stitch.

A current view from the design wall: Brother Bear and the first half of "Milk Money". 

Adapting in an upside down world: 🙃 We went out to dinner last night, at an actual restaurant, to celebrate our recent milestone anniversary! It's hard to describe that feeling, after all these weeks of quarantine; it was like we'd been set free. Everyone was extremely kind and all social distancing protocols were observed. It was a joyous occasion, certainly one to remember!

I'm happy to report that all of your prayers for Quiltkeemosabe's husband have worked and he is doing quite well; he continues to recover at home and grow stronger every day. We were so happy that he drove(! YAY!!) out to our home for a short visit yesterday, he and Quiltkeemosabe sat with us out on our new porch; it was just like old times, catching up. Thanks be to God!

"You are wisdom unimagined
Who could understand Your ways
Reigning high above the Heavens
Reaching down in endless grace
You're the lifter of the lowly
Compassionate and kind
You surround and You uphold me
And Your promises are my delight

Your plans are still to prosper
You have not forgotten us
You're with us in the fire and the flood
You're faithful forever
Perfect in love
You are sovereign over us"

 These words are from Michael W. Smith's "Sovereign" (you can listen here). 

You're welcome, the refrain has been playing in my head for two days. Amen!

Life is Good!

 

Simple Math-- It's A Process

The simplest of math functions: addition and subtraction; I've been occupied with both when it comes to putting together blocks accumulated over the last several years. Most of these are blocks made in two separate block-of-the-month sessions at my local quilt shop, with a few orphans thrown in for good measure. The bin that held these, plus all of the other trial blocks and odds and ends made up in reds and lights have been kept together for someday quilts. Well, someday has arrived at long last! The bin's contents were emptied and everything was placed on the design wall at one time.  
There were too many disparate elements; from this point plenty of subtraction took place-- the eliminations went back to the bin. After that, slowly, blocks were added back in; one at a time until they all fit together (above, left), some coping strips were added as needed.

The first border was attached. A neutral "floating" border, a place for the eye to rest.

I wanted to bring red back to the outside edges, but not another single shade. I began a half square triangle border, equal in width to the first border and incorporating many reds and backgrounds for variety. I liked it.

This is where I ended up. Simple math: adding, subtracting, adding some more. The solution to the problem is pictured above. I have enough blocks still remaining in the bin to begin this process all over again; plus, I still have four more months to go with this years' block-of-the-month sessions (can you guess the colors chosen?)! A friend told me a while ago that when she tests blocks she always makes them in the same color family, I listened and followed suit. Oh, for the record, I have a bin of blues and lights too; I keep tossing them in and they continue to add up. How's that for simple math?

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!

Squaring The Circle

"Squaring The Circle" ~ 74" X 74"

I was pretty excited when I designed this setting for a group of blocks-of-the-month in EQ7 last summer; I wasn't sure, though, that I could do it. Today I am thrilled to bits to have the top all pieced and the borders in place. I cannot wait to get this one loaded on Snowbird and commence with the quilting! My two year old granddaughter can often be heard saying "I did it"; I can appreciate and relate to that feeling of accomplishment this morning.

 I I decided to name this one "Squaring The Circle" based on a phrase; defined as follows: Try to do the impossible, as in Getting that bill through the legislature is the same as trying to square the circle. 

This idiom alludes to the impossibility of turning a circle into a square. John Donne may have been the first to use it ( Sermons, 1624): "Go not thou about to square either circle (God or thyself)."

It seemed to fit... like a square peg into a round hole.

Life is Good!

Adding Curves

 I'm on a roll... with curves! I've been putting together quite a few of these double "football" units, they measure 12" X 6" and are border pieces for the quilt I'm currently setting together. Unlike the Winding Ways blocks that I posted about yesterday, these aren't cut out using a die cutter; but, rather, by the old-fashioned method of drawing around templates and cutting the shapes with shears! I can be very patient to get the desired results.

Templates, marking pen, pins and shears: cutting the pieces by going back to my quiltmaking roots.

Why all he trouble? For this: "Adding Curves" (74" X 74"). The Orange Peel blocks and borders were all hand traced from templates and hand cut; then machine pieced to set these blocks-of-the-month from last years' $5 quilt workshops at Sew Original together. I wanted a unique setting. I haven't attached the border units to the center yet, but have only pinned them in place to the design wall to give you an idea of how it will look; it will be bordered on all sides, I'm halfway there.

These are the very same blocks, made up in a different colorway. This quilt is called "The Last Straw" and measures 56" X 70". It was put together late last summer; I believe that it has an entirely different visual appeal from it's sister quilt. I'm looking forward to quilting both of these in the near future; but, for now, I have a few more curves to navigate; I'm taking my time and enjoying the process.

Life is Good!

Slow Down, Curves Ahead!

I had leftovers cut out from the challenge wallhanging of last year; I found them when it was time to purge that bin of its contents and reassign it to something new. So, what to do with the leftovers? Pitch them? Nah, I decided to put them together and add them to the burgeoning Orphan Block bin. I had never been too excited about the piecing order on the Winding Ways block and tried something new this time. I put together the top and bottom sections and decided to join the block along the gentle "S" curve center seam.

Pin, pin, pin... never too many pins on curves; and slower stitching, let up a bit on that foot pedal!

Voilà!

Voilà  times four! These have now joined the other orphan blocks for a someday quilt.

So, I'm on a roll... plenty of pins and a deep breath; there are more curves just ahead... stay tuned!

Life is Good!

The Last Straw

"The Last Straw" ~ 56" X 70"

I've set together these blocks from the latest of block-of-the-month series at my LQS. This colorway offered a variety of indigo and white on white fabrics plus the option of adding an additional fabric of the quiltmaker's choice. I had a length of a straw-colored, sketch-y, print in my stash and began incorporating that into each block for continuity; I liked the combination. By the time I had added the straw print into block #12 it was clear to me that my dwindling supply of "straw" was going to make using it in the border a carefully planned exercise in conservation. Using EQ7, I came up with this setting; and, based on the yardage calculations in the software program, it showed that I should have just enough! Fingers crossed, I set to work, carefully measuring and cutting. It worked; I didn't have very much left over, but I had enough; and that's all that mattered!

The last of the straw...
and, all of a sudden, this quilt had a name!
Life is Good!

More Challenges!

Just when I felt as though I was finding my way through the "Head For The Border" challenge I am confronted with another set of challenges in these blocks-of-the-month. These "only squares and rectangles" blocks are three quarters of the way complete, nine out of twelve in each of two colorways are pictured here. I have absolutely no idea how I will set them together. I find this side-by-side comparison interesting, the blocks look entirely different. I'll attend the next session at my LQS for block #10 tomorrow; my mind is racing with setting possibilities, it's not to early to start planning. What would you do if these blocks were yours?

Life is Good! 

Curious

I am curious. I found these blocks stacked neatly in the closet, they're from a block of the month class that I attended in 2007. I'm not surprised to have found them, I knew they were there. There are twelve of them, a years' worth, or so I thought! Here's the curious part: how in the world did I (would I?) make two of the exact same block? (Row 2 block A, Row 4 block C). The twelfth block kit, and pattern was folded up neatly with the blocks. I just don't get it... I can't be expected to remember what I did (or didn't do) five long years ago. I have enough trouble remembering what I did five days, or hours or minutes ago sometimes! I'm curious too as to why I purchased one and a half yards of  the very pretty stripe (used in the Row 2, B block), what was I going to do with that amount?  Okay... so here's my new plan: (I'm committing this to print so I can refer to it later) I'll make the twelfth block as prescribed, I'll put the spare pink/purple block on the back or in my Orphan Blocks box. I have a few ideas as to how I'll proceed with this one; how would you sash and or set this one, what would you do if these blocks were yours? I'm just curious! Curiosity may have killed the cat but satisfaction brought her back... "Satisfaction Stars"!

Life is Good!

Doing Battle In A Block War

I have an accumulation of blocks from the Civil War; my battle became one of how to set them together in a cohesive manner, an enormous challenge! As you know, any war is a series of smaller battles that lead to an ultimate conclusion. This conflict was no different.

Armed only with this book I went in, I
crossed the line and faced the enemy.

This is my final battle plan. I am using "Sage Tracks" from the book as the framework to hold all the diverse blocks together; this plan came together after several unsuccessful skirmishes. I'm happy with the way the setting blocks in neutrals recede and allow the Civil War blocks to hold the front line. A pieced border beyond this central portion will allow the lighter colored lattice strips to meet along the outer edges. I may come in and add a final border beyond that using a darker fabric, we'll see how it looks after this setting is complete. One battle at a time.

Life is Good!

"As American As...

A Piece o' Cake!"

Same song, different verse: the UFO/stash closet that keeps on giving has revealed yet another partially completed project; this one, a wallhanging. I thought that perhaps, if I designed a setting for these (imagine these appliqué blocks occupying the blank, alternate spaces in the mock-up below) it would give me a more concrete, achievable, goal. Maybe? These were begun in 2004, I have my original notes and drawings. EQ7 has made my life sew much easier since then! The flags measure 6" X 8.5" and the appliqué designs have been enlarged to fit a 6" format, from the Piece O' Cake book, Appliqué Delights by Becky Goldsmith and Linda Jenkins. Cute, huh? This one is definitely salvagable and I still really like it. Some of these appliqué blocks need hand embroidery accents, making it a perfect summer take-along project. I might just put a deadbolt on the afore-mentioned closet; to be honest, I'm afraid of what else might be lurking in there awaiting discovery. Chances are very good whatever it is won't be completed; I'm not that lucky, or that disciplined!

Life is Good!

Frosty Fingers?

What's an ever-mounting stack of mitten blocks to do without a setting to aspire to? Nothing more than grow taller and eventually topple over. I came up with this layout as a way to corral these hand warmers and turn my idea into something a wee bit more organized. Now, I have a goal: a pair a day for the next forty days and I'll have enough for this quilt top/ matching game. Wish me luck.

Life is Good!

Mitten Match-Up ~ 79.5" X 94.5"