Counting down to the "Big Show"!

The Museum Quilt Guild, of which I am a member, holds a quilt show every other year. The Next one is ONLY FIVE WEEKS AWAY!  (Oh, sorry, I panicked there for a second)
I registered three pieces for the show which were not finished at the time. I never do that.  I work well with deadlines, but not under pressure.
The piece on the machine is the last of the three.  It's actually the first of three One Block Wonder quilts I pieced.    I struggled with this one, because I  just couldn't find a layout I liked for the blocks I made from this fabric.  The final solution was a layout from the second book, I think. Make two separate panels of the kaleidoscope blocks! 

Then I had to decide how to quilt it.  I turned to Leah for help, as I often do.  The pattern she calls "sunflower seemed to look like the flowers in the original print.  So that's what I have so far.  I hope to do some feathery things in the purple parts.  Stay tuned.







This piece is the last of three "Mosaics" made from a techniques Kathi shared with us at art group.  I have been playing with random piecing and more free form sort of settings and this is the result.  The quilting is meant to look like the sun shining on the lower parts of clouds.  It also looks like fire. Maybe that was done subconsciously as there were wildfires in the news that week.





Once I get finished with the deadlines, I'm going to do something just for fun!  I've been reading Robbie Joy Eklow's book.  She tells how to design an art quilt from free motion quilting designs. But I'm thinking this "zentangle" tile might make a really interesting quilt!

Thinking "Green" this week allows me to tell you I have made the digital switch.  When I renewed one of my magazine subscriptions, I chose the digital only version.  Saves me some money and reduces the burden on our resources on two ways:  No paper used to print the magazine, and no energy required to deliver the paper copy to me.  If I want  pattern or picture to use in the sewing room, I can print ONLY that page!

I am grateful for:
Some cool nights where I can sleep under lots of covers!
A new recipe soon to be a favorite.
Time spent with a friend.
A call from one son and a visit from the other!
I think that young cardinal found his way out of the garage!

Dreaming of Feathers, and making do!

I brought my sock bag with me on the airplane when we went on vacation.  No one ever said a word about the (bamboo) knitting needles in my carry on bag!  As we sat on the runway, I cast on the stitches for a sock and started the ribbing.  We took off and I was still knitting- you don't have to put them away or turn them off or anything like you do the electronics!  So I got quite a lot done even on the short first leg (no pun intended) of our trip.  On the second leg, I was on the aisle and wasn't even distracted by the view out the window.  Soon it was time to start the cables in this pattern, from "Socks a la Carte 2 ".  But it was at that point that panic struck and I realized I had forgotten to pack my cable needle.   I could have continued on with the ribbing, but decided to rummage around in my bag since I had a LOT of stuff in there!




Ta-Da!  I found a paperclip!  Unbent the one end and it worked like a charm!  I'm still using the paperclip- mostly because I'm not sure where my cable needle is and I'm too lazy to look.

This is a quilt I pieced not long after beginning to use the "Scrap Therapy" system for dealing with my scraps. (in 2008 maybe?) I had cut so many scraps into the squares that when I found this pattern called  Squares in Squares, by Benita Skinner of Victoriana Quilt Designs  (although I didn't see it at her site the last time I checked), it seemed perfect! 

 I am trying to learn the "Dream Feathers" technique from the book of the same name by Peggy Holt.  (I really have no affiliation with Amazon, but when the authors have no website, it's the easiest place to get information!)





It's a pretty easy- and fun!- technique, but the artistry she has achieved will take some time!

This quilt will be donated along with some others I am working on.  I like using my scraps and helping someone who will appreciate it at the same time!

With the heat many of us are suffering this year, I thought my "Green tip" should be about beating the heat without increasing the electric bill- and the demand for energy!
The easiest way is one  I learned from my Grandmother:  Open every window you can at night and let the natural cooling over night cool your home, then close it up to keep it cool.  The first thing I do every morning is close all the windows and curtains to keep the hot air out.  It was 94 degrees today and my house only warmed up to 79.  With only the ceiling fan running, I am comfortable!  The cost savings alone is a good reason not to use AC!!  If you can manage with a room air conditioner- like I have in my bedroom- do!  You'll save  money there, too. Turn it on 15 minutes or so before bed and you have a comfortable room to sleep in.  ( my biggest issue in this kind of heat)  There are a lot of "green" ways to beat the heat , some are things to do when you do repairs.  On my wish list is a whole house fan, especially if I can get the one that runs on solar power!

I am grateful for:
Surviving that nasty summer cold!
"Boo" purrs when I pet her now.
The "garage raising" crew!
When things could have been much worse but weren't.
A cold washcloth on the back of my neck.

Moving outside for the season!

 This is my front porch- my outdoor living room in the summer.  The only time it's not  wonderful out there is late in the afternoon when the sun is shining directly in your eyes.  That's usually the time I'm cooking anyway.

 This is along the walkway to my back door and the deck.  I need more old shoes if you have some.  :-)

 Look who I found near the perennial bed out back!  If she hadn't set up a ruckus when I walked by, I'd have missed it.

 I couldn't see how many eggs without sticking the camera back in there.

 Even Mr Bunny is happy to be outside enjoying the fresh air!

 Meanwhile, here's what I've been working on in the studio- which is a complete mess these days.

Pieces for the May calendar quilt.  I cut back the number of ants.

 A scrappy donation quilt.  I love this pattern, Romantic Rosy by Kaffe Fassett in his book Quilt Road.  The nine patches use  scrap therapy size squares!!!

 At the ArtCGirlz meeting last week, Sarah Terry showed us some beading techniques. 

I've been practicing feathers, inspired by the book "Dream Feathers", on this scrap quilt- also intended for donation.










Thinking Green this time takes me to the garden. Often when I'm working out there, I find worms and larva and other yucky looking creatures- like the little green worms who ate all the leaves off my Columbine a few years back.  Before I spray them with pesticide, I try to find out what kind of creature they are.  That pesky little green worm might become a rare butterfly if you don't kill it.  So take a few minutes to learn about the creatures you share the world with before you exterminate them!

I am grateful for:
Magnets and arnica
the chance to help a friend in need
sharing a private joke with a friend
gentle breezes and warm sunshine
Tiny newborn kittens

Feels good to finish!

I was thrilled to be the recipient of an iPad for Christmas in December.  Although it came with the cool magnetic cover (as a separate gift) I wanted to have a case to carry it safely when I decide I need to carry it with me.  I looked at what others had made, patterns available and cases for sale to decide what features I wanted.  This is what I came up with- designed by the seat of my pants as I went.  You can't see it well, but it has hotfix crystals on the front flap, since I just love sparkly stuff.

 The sides of the case have velcro so it can be opened up like a "folio".  It has a pocket for a small pad of paper, and a pen.  At the right end you can see the charger and cord sticking out from their pocket.  Next to that is the pocket for headphones.  The iPad itself (at the left end) fits neatly into its own pocket- padded and reinforced with Timtex. The blue is the magnetic cover.  I really should get the lime green one to match the case, right?   It wouldn't survive being dropped from a bridge, but I won't worry about the rest of the crap I carry in my purse damaging it now!

I also made myself a new bejeweled "port-a pocket".  This is a sort of necklace bag- although I often wear them around my waist. (many skirts and dresses just don't look right with pockets added!)  I keep my brain in there!  I started doing this years ago.  I needed a place for the little reminders to myself I can't live without.  Currently I am using little books made from a single sheet of paper.  (Here's how!)  I have lots of these little pockets, which are also handy for carrying cell phones, tissues, cash and credit cards... whatever small items you don't have pockets for, but want to keep in a handy spot.
The sparkles on this one were added by hand.

I also got another section of my "liberated" project quilted , bound and attached to the previous pieces.  This is a cover for small bookshelves in my guest room/ studio.







 I played with some quilting designs from Modern Quilting Designs
along with some of the same designs I had used on the other sections. 




I haven't figured out if you're supposed to do the feathers first, or make the swirly shapes and then fill them with feathers, but enjoyed doing it enough to try it again.












Unfortunately you can't see the cool feather swag I did in the pale floral print on the front.  It looks pretty good on the back, though.

I'm putting the finishing touches on the spiral quilt today.  I titled it "Never Together Never Apart".
I hope you can see the quilting.  I'm pleased with this piece because it in no way detracted from the beauty of the fabric, but when you look at it, there's a whole different design.  Sort of two pieces of art in a single quilt!



All in all, I had a good week!


My "green" tip this time is one I hadn't thought of until I saw it in a list of tips I read!  Do you go to the car wash often?  Do they recycle their water?  If you don't know- ASK!  If they don't, find one that does!  In the summer months you can help your lawn and wash your car by doing it at home with a bucket of soapy water, a sponge and your hose!

I am grateful for:
Jake wasn't seriously hurt in his fairly serious accident!
Pretty flowers from my boss for Valentine's day.
Audiobooks (how did I ever sew before I tried them?!?)
Salad!
It wasn't an actual emergency.

Just because!

So I have begun working on some of the projects I wanted to do "just because". Because it sounded like fun, or because it's a UFO I want to finish, projects just for me!

Last weekend, I decided to finish quilting the front panel from my "liberated" project.  It was begun in a class with Janet Root at Guild nearly TWO years ago!  Not only did I stretch myself with the piecing of this project, but I have been using the quilting as practice and a way to stretch my abilities.









Of course, Leah is my inspiration!  I don't know the names she gave these designs, but they were fun to do.

 

This week, I started doing the quilting/ thread sketching on this wondrous piece of ice dyed fabric Mary Lee gave me last summer.  I work in a program that teaches people to become sleep technologists.  So I am quilting a sun and moon design into it.

Here is the progress so far.  Not bad if I say so myself.  :-)  I'm looking forward to seeing it when it's finished.
















I have to rant for a minute about the increasing number of public places that feel the need to "freshen" the air by spraying chemicals into it that we are all forced to breathe. I have allergies and/or a chemical sensitivity to scents.  I can't even walk into some public places, especially restrooms!!!  Try holding your breath for the entire time it takes you to relieve yourself sometime and you may get a glimpse into why I am ranting.  I cannot imagine why even people who are not sensitive to it would want to breathe dangerous chemicals! 
I guess, then, that I will make this also my green tip of the week:  THINK about the chemical pollutants you are putting into the air, the water and the garbage.

I am grateful for:
The nights I can sleep.
Being able to help a friend when she needed it.
Snuggling under quilts when the weather outside is frightful.
Having enough.
Letting my inner 6 year old out to play .

Too bad nobody will see it!

This carrot just cracked up!

I've always been easily amused.  For example....
  I pulled this carrot out of the bag and burst out laughing.  Not sure why.  I think I've watched too many episodes of the Muppet Show.  This carrot should be singing!


 I'm still working on last year's UFO's, which I think I mentioned before.  Last week I noticed there was no quilt on the table at one end of my living room.  I'm not sure there was one before the Holidays.  Now it looks so bare!  So I decided to finish this piece to use as a table topper.  I went to my favorite place for quilting inspiration, and got started.  I had a blast doing this one!

The picture here is the back.  My best friend Mary thinks she's odd because she's always flipping her work over to look at the back.  I think we all do it.  (Why else would Leah show us the back of all her samples??)
I chose grucky fabric for the back since I would be facing this quilt and the backing wouldn't be visible. I turned it over when I was done quilting for the day and realized it was pretty enough to hang on a wall just the way it was!

This is how the back looks now, with the facing in place.

And this is the front of the quilt. It's from a "Little Charmers" pattern, by Anka's Treasures.  The fabrics are by Amy Butler.  The charm pack was a gift from my friend Sharen a couple of years ago. (Thanks Sharen!)

The quilt is on the table, but I'm not sure I like it there after all.  :-)

 

 

 

Close up of the quilting- hardly visible on the front!

 

I am grateful for:
Relatively warm winter days.
A good grilled cheese sandwich
Being so anal, er- organized.
Good things to look forward to.
My hubby, cos he loves and puts up with me.