Go, Big Red!

"Go, Big Red"

Two blocks down, four to go, a lap quilt is born. I attended Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival in Hampton, VA last week; you'd never know that from the number (zero) of photographs I took while away, you'll have to take my word for it. I had my camera with me but had left the memory stick at home in the laptop! The only internal memory the camera has was occupied with photos of the grandchildren and  I was not deleting those. Can you blame me? No way could I erase these all-too-fast fleeting moments in their lives (and mine): 

So, instead, I'm sharing the initial results of the workshop I took from Augusta Cole last Saturday. These blocks are big; measuring 24", they are easy to piece and use up LOTS of scraps, making a really big dent in the red section of my stash! I chose to use all scraps and a consistent white background fabric. Red and white always reminds me of high school, our colors were crimson and white; "Go, Big Red!" was an oft chanted cheer back in those days. In honor of that and the BIG bite this took out of the stash as well as the BIG block size I feel like a cheerleader at a pep rally for this quilt. Before I left home I divided twenty two different red fabrics into three stacks and prewashed them using the method pictured below, it worked great.

Back home now, I've recovered from all the fun and frivolity and put away all of  the treasures that I found in the vendor's mall. Thursday morning we awakend to heavy snow falling in Hampton, VA; the show and merchants area at the Convention Center was nearly deserted, it was eerie in there... those if us who shopped that day felt like we had our own private quilt shops open exclusively for us! I felt bad for the vendors, I know they were anxious, but the attendance did pick up on Friday and by Saturday the crowds appeared back to normal volume. All tolled, I believe nine inches of snow fell and was a record for the area on that date. For me, it was the best of all places to be snowed-in!

Today I've got my work all cut out for me, this one should go together quickly; so much so that I feel a cheer coming on: "Go, Big Red!"

Life is Good!

String Quilting

The quilting's done; this close up of the front (and back... lighter blue) is the most color-accurate  of the pictures that I took on this cloudy day. I'll spend the afternoon today working on a hanging sleeve and binding for this one. I put a hanging sleeve on every quilt that I make, no matter where the quilt will be used. I apply the sleeve (from extra backing fabric) before the binding, incorporating it into the finishing process, that way I never have to think about adding one again... it's already there! This one is destined for the back of the rocking chair in our guest bedroom. This quilt is the result of a workshop on String Quilting that I took from Ami Simms three years ago at Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival in Hampton, VA.; I'm extremely happy with the final outcome!

Life is Good!

Inspired!

I took a screen printing workshop from Jean Ray Laury at Mid-Atlantic quilt festival back in 2004, it was a day of pure inspiration. I only just learned of her passing upon returning home, Quiltkeemosabe sent me this link to her obituary that she had written herself, even in death she continues to inspire! I have been thinking about her the last few days, and about that workshop in particular. I still have the handouts, and my class samples; I rooted around in the closet and dug them out. My attempts are primitive and naive; but they still hold enormous appeal. The quilt pictured here was our class example that day, she encouraged us to work with simple shapes and familiar objects. I don't know the name of this piece of work, I found the photo here (click to read a terrific interview with her from November, 2000). If any of you can help me out with a name/title of this piece I'd be very grateful. I remember at the conclusion of our workshop she informed us that her teaching schedule was ending, she was planning on staying home after from then on and concentrating her energies there. I recall feeling so very fortunate that I had signed up for that class, and more than that I can still sense the sheer joy and unbridled giddiness that she sparked in me that day. I am compelled today to dust off that screen and print some more fabric squares! Thank you, Jean Ray Laury, you fed this quilter's soul with creativity seven years ago; it nourishes me still. I've removed her charming children's bedtime book, No Dragons On My Quilt, from the shelf. The next time Mason visits we'll read it together. The legacy of this talented quilting pioneer will live on~and on!

Life is Good!

Quilting Christmas Lights...

I've been quilting Christmas lights, strings of them! I've had this smallish-sized quilt hanging around for awhile, too long; it's finally time to get it finished. I marked the design with a water soluble pen and used red/green/white variegated thread. This particular thread would be much more effective on a medium to dark fabric as the white portion will "fade away" when the ink is washed out. Oh, well... the learning curve increases! This is all part of living up to my new motto: "finished is better than perfect" and so it goes.

From the basement workshop: my husband participated in community "Days of Caring" last week through his company and the United Way. His team worked at a group home doing exterior improvements to the facility and grounds, as well as providing a picnic table. I snapped this photo before the table that he built was loaded into the truck and taken away for installation.

Pretty neat, huh?
Life is Good!