We started with our focus fabric and then selected our darks, lights and medium values from our fabrics. We fussy cut 18 patches at 6- 1/2 inch size.
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We then made 48 four patch units at 3 1/2 inch ( 3 inch finished)
puss in the corner blocks – 6 inch finished x need 17 blocks
We then made 17 PUSS IN THE CORNER blocks, again 6- 1/2 inch in size ( 6 inch finished.) I think that is a silly name for a block and I can not imagine how it came about.
Half SQ triangles – 3 by 6 inch finished x need 164
We made 164 half square triangles from which we made flying geese units from. These finished at 3inch high and 6 inches across.
These units sometimes surrounded the 6-1/ 2 inch blocks … I was able to see 12 different setting for these units.
I will be posting more pictures with sample lay outs this week. These pictures will go along with my podcast whic I hope to post some time this week.
She does what any sensible WOMAN would do, she QUILTS. But today is the day of my Mystery Class at Elaine’s Quilty Shop in Hadley MI. there were things I had to do to get ready… like load the car with my sewing machine… Thank goodness , for garages. I do not plow the drive we have a guy come with a snow plow, so hopefully it will be done by the time I get home. I back up into the turn around and headed out.
I am getting a head of myself. What I did do last night along with preparing my supplies and fabric. I set up my scant quarter inch in anticipation of sewing a lot of strips and other types of patches. (I could tell there would be strips because we had some many width of fabric , to cut prior to the class.)
In order to set up my “ painter tape seam guide” I got out one of my favorite tools the Perfect Piecing Seam Guide / for scant 1/ 4 inch seam.
This little guide will help you set up your painter tapes seam allowance guide. You hand turn your needle until it goes through the little hole in the yellow plastic. YOU then line up your painter’s tape so that extends down your table or support. This allows you to feed your fabric through and maintain a straight seam. This is helpful to me since I have some nerve issues in my dominate hand. This really helps when you cannot move your needle to the right or left on a basic/ class machine. I also like using the “LITTLE FOOT” as my machine foot.
Presencia Thread 60 weight / 3 ply is my favorite piecing thread.
I love the 60 weight / 3 ply thread because it is VERY STRONG but thin enough not to add bulk to the seam allowance. This weight and ply of thread is recommended by Harriet Hargraves in her Quilt Academy series of books. I am finding that this thread works really well at helping me sew accurate size blocks.
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The second technique that I use to maintain a SCANT quarter inch is to move my needle on my ‘GOOD’ machine to the right one notch. I use the standard quarter inch foot that comes with my machine. I frequently set up the painter’s tape seam guide, when I plan to sew a lot of patches together. It helps a lot.
I know this is basic stuff to a lot of people but I think the basic are important to review. I lot of newbies need these tips. The reason I go through all the trouble of setting up a scant quarter inch for patchwork, is I get more consistently accurate finished blocks. My blocks now measure what they are suppose to measure. A 12-1 / 2 inch block measures 12-1 / 2 inches. It makes my life / my quilting so much less stressful.
It is time for me to go and podcast. I think I have a good one in my soul since I just finished that Mystery class. …. So stay tuned.
Happy Quilting, NONNIE
Easiest way to find me is to GOOGLE ME at NONNIE’S QUILTING DREAMS
Unfortunately the internet is very slllllllllllow this morning, do not know why. May have something to do with excessive downloads / over our fair use limits…… So I am spending the morning sewing. Such a hardship. Plan to upload my pictures when my internet speed is back to normal.
Our guest speaker this month was Sherrie Jaqua. She is a quilt shop owner from Oscoda Mi. I did not hear and have not read the name of her quilt shop. She gave out directions to her shop but a person knew where her shop was. I have never been in the Oscoda and I would not have found her shop from her directions. I would provide a link to a web site but I did not have any. Usually I can find information on the internet but I did not this time.
Sherrie’s lecture was titled, “THE FABRIC MADE ME DO IT!” When I had read the preview of her lecture in the newsletter, I thought to myself here is a kindred spirit.
I thought, here was a lady who understood fabric and would not think I was crazy for wanting to listen to my fabric. Best still she is a quilt shop owner and she would have lots of fabrics. I settled in to see what marvels I was going to be shown. Her quilting experience dates back to when she made her first quilt 37 years ago. Sherrie showed us 50 quilts she and her cohorts have made this past five year as shop samples. Sherrie said she designed many of the patterns herself (She had self published patterns, TIME TO SHINE PATTERN COMPANY, available for sale.) and also made / had quilts made using the free patterns from the fabric companies. Unfortunately, Sherrie did not allow us to take pictures of her quilts so I have no pictures to show.
What I do have to show are pictures from the ART QUILT CHALLENGE. The guidelines/rules were simple, use any technique, medium, embellishment as art is subjective. Only stipulation must be larger than 15 by 15 inches. I will post the pictures and you select which ones you like best, then I will tell you the winners and a story next pod cast.
The guild voted, now it is your turn to vote…. but I think they are all winners.
It is my own fault and it could have been a heck of a lot worse.
I should know better but I was in a hurry trying to multi task and get several things done at the same time, cooking dinner, washing dishes and a load of laundry done. I had my art quilt project out as I was planning to work on it after dinner. My grandson was playing on the kitchen floor with his cars, but we had been finger painting earlier in the afternoon. I had left the paints in a box but my grandson found the box and painted on my project while I was in the basement doing a load of laundry. I tried to salvage the project but it is beyond redemption.
It could have been worse:
The art project was not going well so I really did not care it got ruined. My grand vision was a STINKER.
He did not paint my floral hip to bee square quilt which was on the design wall.
My grandson did not eat the paints… which he has done in the past when left unsupervised for a few minutes. No evidence eating. Three year old boys are not to be trusted.
My project was simple fused flower based on pictures I have taken of my spring garden. It was kind of flat and uninteresting looking but I had not gotten to the embellishing part of the project. The art project is toast now I have to come up with a new project by Wednesday.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I am calling this the quilt from HEXX because of my own stupidity. I have been messing around with this but I plan to continue till it is completed. I am taking a quick break then I plan to sew at least two more blocks together, tonight.
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Playing with my quilt on the design wall.
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I have been working on my quilt for a couple of hours…. I have only sewn two blocks together. The rest of the time I have been trying to find a pleasing design and playing with different design options including introducing an additional fabric (nice brown.) That option lasted for only a short period because it changed the whole character of the quilt. It is an interesting option but not for this quilt.
I have taken several pictures and decided this is the best option considering I have just enough fabric to piece the quilt. Some of the sections might end having an extra seam, but oh well.
I am liking, the grid effect that is being achieved by the dark golden fabric, that was evident in the original pattern. Because of the change in the pattern due the fabric cutting mistake a whole new but pleasing design is evolving.
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Some Unexpected design elements
Up-Date: 11: 30 PM… January 22, 2011
Three hours sewing : Four Blocks assembled
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I spent the last three hours putting together FOUR BLOCKS. Each block measures 26. 5 inches in size. I had to measure each piece of sashing individually to get it to align correctly. I have FIVE more blocks to assmble and add to the quilt. I do think it is going together better then I though it would. I want to have it finished by the end of the month. I estimate another 6 to 8 hours until I am able to sew on the sashing. I have a lovely paisley fabric for the border from the same collection as the flower fabric. I will keep you updated.
Happy Quilting,
Nonnie
Not quilting, but if I feed my family they let me quilt ! ! ! When I make soup it makes everyone feel warm and toasty. This one is a family favorite.
4 dried black Chinese mushrooms
1/ 4 cup dried fungus ………..
Soak in hot water in separate bowls over night. Reconstitute then remove woody parts.
Cut into fine julienne: 1/ 2 cup cooked pork or chicken. 1/2 cup each of bamboo shoots, water chestnuts. You can also add chopped scallions, leeks, celery, pea pods, broccoli, bean sprouts and your other favorite vegetables. If you are desperate add canned Chinese or Chop Suey vegetables. I also add chopped assorted types of fresh mushrooms. Slice thin firm tofu.
IN a cup of chicken broth add of 2 Tablespoon cornstarch, set aside.
In a pot of chicken broth (6 cups or more) Add the meat, vegetables and tofu. Add 2 Tablespoons light soy sauce, 1/2 teaspoon salt and black pepper, 3 Tablespoons Vinegar (rice.)
Bring all to a light boil, add the cornstarch mixture, then turn down the heat to a simmer. (about 30 minutes)
Just before serving beat two eggs in a small bowl and pour into the hot soup. Pour small amount seasame oil and garnish with chopped scallions. Serve Hot
If you want the soup spicier add more soy sauce, and vinegar. I have also been known to add a couple of tablespoons of MAGGI SWEET GARLIC CHILI SAUCE.
This is a great soup to take to a party. My grandson won’t eat it but then he never wants to eat anything.
WARNING: This is the original base recipe I modify it by what I have in the house. I often double the recipe. I often add leftovers.. ie rice or Thai noodles. It makes the soup more substantial. The flavoring are modified / increased according to taste. My food never tastes the same way twice… good but different.
Soire’s by Lila Tueller for Moda – Meadow Paisley: moss and sun
………..I signed up for a Mystery Class at Elaine Quilty Shop in Hadley MI. I picked up the class cutting sheet the other day. I had purchased some fabric for border and focus at the Village Quilt Shop for my grandniece a while back. I have the fabric in two colorways…. A limey green back ground called moss and a yellow colorway called sun (MEADOW PAISLEY; I am calling this a MEDIUM VALUE.) I am planning to use this fabric for my focus fabrics and borders.
The fabric is SOIRE’E by Lila Tueller for Moda fabrics. I went to my stash and of course I had NOTHING to match or blend with the focus fabrics. I have been going all over town trying to find some fabrics that I can use to meet the criteria of the other fabrics in the cutting instructions. I need light background / medium print or solid / and Dark print or solid. I can probably go back to Village to pick up the mediums I need to match the fabric I have. I have called and they still have the collection available with about 12 bolts to select from.
The fabric I am going to have trouble finding is the very lights and the very darks. I am not sure if the photos are true on the blog but the pink has a violet cast to it. I picked a simple blender in the medium and dark colorways and use this with my original focus fabrics to select my other fabrics. I have been able to find a vibrant, dark raspberry fabric and a dark moss green for my darks. I also went back to my stash and found some medium dark gold prints. I am not sure which of the fabrics will end up in the quilt at this time.
I am just going to wash and press and get the fabrics ready. We, are suppose to have the fabrics cut out before the day of the class, labeling all of our cuts. That is what I am doing the rest of the time before the workshop. What I did want to discuss is something I frequently do when I am getting my fabric ready for a quilt. I lay out all the fabrics and take a picture of fabric laid out. I then in my PAINT SHOP PRO software take the picture and convert it to black and white. This helps me evaluate the VALUES within the fabrics I plan to use in my quilt. I can see if my fabrics have all the values I need and which ones are actually medium dark or dark and how lights my lights are when compared to the background of my focus fabrics. You will notice that the values are OUT OF ORDER in the black and white picture. I was surprised that the green was actually much darker then the raspberry blender. I had to take a second look. I do this whenever I plan a quilt.
I have viewed several of Jinny Byers videos on YOU Tube and I agree with color selection techniques. Jinny says, that WHEN you need to add ZING, INTEREST, Pizazz to your quilt, you should add darker and lighter values of your colors, to the quilt. (This is my understanding and I apologize if I have it wrong, but I think I am on the right tract.) You should not be matchy, matchy but add values from both ends of the spectrum. Adding the values that are missing. You can use the colors of the quilt for guide but the darks and the lights of your color will bring interest to your quilt. I will frequently find a blender or solid fat quarter that matches the colors in my focus fabric and use that to help me find the other shades / hues/ tints that go with my colors.
Black & White picture for VALUE evaluation
………..I was recently told I was a CONTROL FREAK and YES I am unapologetic a control freak. I think I spend too much money, heart, time, spirit, energy in my quilts not to maintain control. A lot of joy comes from the planning of my quilts. It is not that I do not trust my instructor it is just that the planning of the project, the dreaming of the project is what causes me to dream my happy dreams.
I had to stop working on my quilt top. Things got a little crazy here. I was going to sew on Monday but instead spent the day tearing my bedroom apart and then putting it back together. Things had gotten out of control in there and I needed to fix it before the health department closed it down. I finally found several of the books I had misplaced in the bedroom. I think that was the main reason I cleaned. I knew I had things in here that I needed but have not seen in eons. I also found stash of fabric I had forgot I had purchase … that really makes me happy…. cause I still like it.
Listened to Pat Sloan’s Podcast with Allison Rosen from Quarter inch. It was interesting. Not sure if I get the concept of SEAMED UP as I have no idea of what Ravlery is or how it functions. It kinda sounds like DATA ENTRY to me and that would be another thing that take me from the sewing…. so it might not happen for me.
I just ordered two Edyta Sitar books from Amazon. I saw her on TQS this past week. Since Edyta is from Marshall MI I have seen her at various guild lectures and always enjoy her presentations.
I think that buying quilt books has become and an obsession. It rivals my fabric stash. I use to buy just with JoAnn coupons but then a quilter is held hostage to the limited selection that JoAnn carries. Amazon books opened a whole world of quilting to me… it also put a serious dent in my piggy bank. I am rapidly running out of book shelf. This is my main vice in life … as vices go … not too bad.
I am getting closer to the end. I cut out the rest of the material I had left to make the sashing between the block. I think I am going to squeak by and have just enough fabric. I am making several design changes to better utilize the fabric I have available. It changed my original vision but in some ways I think it will be better. I will post pictures when I get a chance.
BTW….. I used my JoAnn coupons and purchased a second FONS AND PORTER DESIGN WALL. I have it hanging over the big kitchen windows for now. My DH thinks I should go back to having curtains on the windows again, but I like looking out at the wild life… and I like the morning sunlight streaming through the windows.
This block is BRAVE WORLD. It is made with a fussy cut 5- 1/2 inch block of HAWAIIAN APPLIQUE from the Elm Creek collection. The whites are from my scrap stash, fabrics left from other projects. I will be mixing / matching scraps of white, ecre, creams and pastles as the light color blocks. I have a collection of already cut up 12 inch fabrics gifted from a friend’s stash prior to her moving out of state. The other triangle will be composed of strings from various other projects. There is a second block that will help form the secondary pattern.
I like the TRADITIONAL scrap and string quilt blocks and quilts, but I think I will LOVE this contemporary style. I will be posting more pictures as I progress making the blocks. I am using up blocks cut for other projects at this time. Many of them are actually larger than what is required by the pattern. But I am going to MAKE IT BIG AND WHACK IT OFF. I think this will be the best use of the fabric collection. I am hoping that because the blocks are so huge ( 21 to 22 inches ) in size that it will actually go together faster.
I busted my UFO AND STASH RESOLUTION ALL IN ONE DAY…….I was very naughty today. I am suppose, to be on a stash diet but we went to one of my favorite quilt shop. One of the few quilt shops in the area open on a Sunday. We drove out to Village Quilt Shop in Lake Orion MI. THE VILLAGE QUILT SHOP / http://www.thevillagequiltshoppe.com I only planned to buy my focus fabric for the upcoming mystery class I will be attending at the end of the month. I ended up buying black and gold border fabric, and several more cuts of fabric that will fit into the quilt BUT then I got sale fabric for my stash….. BAD, BAD, BAD. I had planned to make the MYSTERY project from my stash. I also did not plan to start any other project because they will become UFOs. I personally planned to make only four blocks but I now need a gift for a niece so she will probably get this quilt for her gift. Supposedly this quilt goes together easily….. so maybe it will not end up as a UFO.
I have SUCH good intentions, but such poor will power. Do not worry Sandy, none of these new fabrics will end up in your STASH CHALLENGE.
We also went to JoAnn fabrics armed with coupons only to find out they are not good till next week…. Bummer. I did by a new design wall and a book. Like I need another book…. But I loved it. I bought STASH MAGIC by Jaynette Huff. http://www.amazon.com/Stash-Magic-Quilts-Collection-Patchwork/dp/1564779238 . I loved the quilt on the cover…. Why because it has BRAVE WORLD BLOCKS as component of a larger block. I already have plans to use the BRAVE WORLD BLOCKS (20) I already have constructed to make the blocks in the quilt AUTUMN HARVEST. I will have to redraft the other pattern pieces to fit the blocks I already have. Jaynette blocks measure 9 inch finished. Mine will be closer to 22 inches. Since part of the blocks are string quilt patches sewn on a foundation that should not be too much a problem. The quilt will be much larger then the blocks in the book because I am starting out with bigger BRAVE WORLD blocks. I will post pictures as I go along. I have a feeling this quilt will be a lot bigger than Jaynette’s quilt. I am working from my scrap stash because I have a huge basket of left over fabric from the Kool Kaleidoscope and Bargello quilts I made earlier this summer. I paid for that fabric and I need to use them! This quilt will be in production for awhile. This will be my TOO TIRED TO BE CAREFUL QUILT.
Going back to the topic of the review STASH MAGIC by Jaynette Huff. STASH MAGIC : http://www.amazon.com/Stash-Magic-Quilts-Collection-Patchwork/dp/1564779238 I do think it is a worth while book. Most of the blocks are 9 to 12 inches in size, use up a lot of stash / scrap leftovers in imaginative ways. If you evaluate the patterns they are more contemporary, have many secondary patterns. I would have liked to see the quilts made in other color-ways. Ms Huff used very traditional fabrics for most of the quilt. I am guessing those are the scraps she had to work with, but I would love to see the quilts in MODERN fabrics ie Amy Butler or Kaffe Fasset’s fabrics. Because so many of the blocks have solid patches usually light colors I think they would have stood up to Kaffe’s fabrics. I can see using Kaffe’s fabrics in the strings…. But then I LOVE WILD QUILTS.
The second book I am reviewing is Kathy Daughty and Sarah Fielke book called MATERIAL OBSESSION. I think there are three books by these authors in a series. I read the first book while waiting for my friend to finish her class. I would have bought the book but I ran out of money to spend. ( I have a strict allowance, THAT I break all the time. )
This book did make quilts using MODERN, CONTEMPORARY QUILTS in bright colors. I recognized fabric from Amy Butler, Moda, and Kaffe Fasset. I feel that they tamed Kaffe’s fabric by pairing it with solid fabrics in traditional patterns. His fabric brought the pop to the quilt but your eyes are given a resting place by being paired with solids and calmer colors. I think what works with most of these quilts is the pairing of vibrant bright fabrics with the softer, quilter fabrics. I am hope I might buy the book next time I have coupons and of course money.
Something I did buy is a DVD.. not exclusively quilting but more crafting and art techniques. http://www.quiltingartstv.com/ QUILTING ARTS TV, for 40 percent off the list price. (Yeah, for coupons.) I have not watched it yet, but I plan to review it for the future. I am hoping for some ideas for my ART QUILT PROJECT for the guild. If nothing else this DVD should be entertaining while I sew… at least it is better than sports or the TALKING HEADS.
Here I am again struggling with a too small design wall. I basically make QUEEN SIZE QUILTS but my design wall is only for twin/ full size quilt. I will need to buy a second one in order to put my quilts up so I can actually see them too better effect. I had been hoping to get a INVISIBLE design wall but Santa did not bring it…. I will just have to buy it for myself…. SOME DAY. In the meantime I plan to get a second FONS AND PORTER FLANNEL design wall to hang them together for my bigger quilts.
I spent the last two days working on this quilt. I “CHUNKED” Four blocks together with ths secondary sashing. I was able to sew the smaller blocks into a pleasing patterns and will be sewing the rest of them over the next week. I am still not sure I have enough fabric to cut my secondary sashing ( with the pink setting stones) I will not know for sure until I get all the blocks made. I screwed up and cut several strips incorrectly at the beginning of this project. I saved all the pieces so some of my sashing strips might have a few extra seams in them cause I can just sew them together end to end to get the length I need. The old adage says NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF INVENTION and I am inventing as I go along.
I finished making the paper pieced blocks for my friend and YES I manage to sew one of the four blocks incorrectly. I will be posting those pictures in the next day or so. Paper piecing is not as bad as I thought it would be, but next time I would rather sew on my own project when I am unfamiliar with a technique. I can live with my own screw ups that way.
I plan to do a podcast in the next couple of days… so if you get the chance stop by and let me know what you think.
This is the pattern that inspired my quilt. The kaleidoscope mirror image blocks resulted in a different size block when I sewed the patches together so I had to re-size all the sashing strips.
Here is a copy of the email I got…. I am just so thrilled I thought I would have to wait until next week some time.
Hello, Your podcast has been re-approved.
Regards,
Happy Quilting… I guess I should go and podcast now!
Nonnie's Quilting Dreams 