Computer issues

 Be back when it gets fixed

Crazy velvet postcard

Yesturday afternoon, I was quilting for a customer and taking in another, so I don't have anything I can share at the moment.  In the morning I brought my machine in for service.  While we were out, my husband suggested we swing by Sheridan Nursery for my 3 bushes I wanted, and while I was walking down the isles I was admiring many of the plants.  A few of them jumped into my cart...lol.  I couldn't resist.  I still have customer quilting to do today, but I think I will delay it to the afternoon in order to plant all the bushes and plants.

Quilt related, I will take you back to Sept 24/2019:

This was the time that I signed up for the postcard exchange at the guild.  There were 7 participants in our group, which means I had 6 cards to make.  This was the beginnings of one of the cards.  I thought I would make a velvet crazy postcard with all the fancy stitches.  For a long time now, I've been working myself up to making a real old fashion crazy quilt, like the ones that were made in the Victoria era. 

I had the foundation all cut out and sewn to the pallion stuff that you use to make the postcard stiff.  I selected all the threads for making the fancy stitches.

I even drew out a diagram with all the fancy stitches I was going to do.  Talk about overthinking things.  At times I can really get carried away with the planning stage...lol...but oh well...sometimes it works and other times it doesn't.

This brilliant idea didn't make it...  

Fast forward to now:  

I unpacked this piece last month and starred at it...a really long time...   In theory it will look beautiful...if I ever get around to doing it.  I was tempted to call it a loss and throw it away...but I just couldn't.  It's only been stewing for what, almost 3 yrs...lol...what's another few....lol.  Maybe one day I will surprise you (and myself) with this beautiful (in my eyes) completed postcard...

Judy's crazy scrap bag & My crazy scrap bag in solids (QW)

One day a little over a month ago Judy came by to drop off her quilts to be quilted and at the time I noticed this bag of hers.  I like scrappy and crazy scrappy is one of my favorites.  She told me a bit abought learning the method and how she enjoyed the making of this bag.  She also spoke about having to go home and start cutting up some of her fabrics into usable shapes to make more quilts.  This was when I asked her why cut it up.....if you like making these blocks, why not make more...

So on Canada Day she send me an email that started with....It's all your fault....lol......now look what you've got me into...lol.  I just had to chuckle, because I didn't have to twist her arm much...lol.  Isn't it pretty.  She started a crazy block using her Baltics.  I love it and I can't wait to see what she ends up making with it.  This reminded me of my crazy blocks... 

Back in time to Oct 26/2021:  I was working on this (pardon the bad lighting). 

This was a time that I was still heavy into renos here at the house and didn't have everything unpacked.  I had my bucket of solid scraps to play with and I started making my own crazy blocks.  I had a plan...  I was going to make different sized blocks from 2", 4", 6", 8" and 10".  I was going to put them together like a puzzle to make a large quilt.  The picture above is where I was in the process, when it came time to participate in a bag making workshop for the guild.

The workshop suggested that we use up our orphan blocks to make the bag, but the problem was I didn't have much unpacked, so didn't have anything at the ready to take with me to Susan's place to sew.  As it was still during covid, the workshop was restricted to zoom.  I went to Susan's place to set up the video camera and help with the computer set up and in a last minute pinch, I brought my few crazy solid blocks and my bucket of scraps.

While I was at the workshop, I made another scrappy panel, shown above.  Bordered it with a blue fabric and made the background in grey, to make the workshop bag.  The other side is where I put my previously made blocks and Susan shared some of her faux leather for the straps.  I think it turned out cute and the bag is just the perfect size for almost anything.

I haven't abandoned my initial plan of making a quilt...I just haven't had time to play in my scraps...  At the moment, when I do have time to sew, I am concentrating on my WIPs and UFOs.  Since making the goal of not starting anything new in August until I complete at least 10 quilts from my UFO list, I did get 5 completely done and one to the quilting stage, and two are getting borders.  I am glad that progress is made and I don't anticipate that it will take long to get the 10 done.

We will just have to see at that time, what will be my choice of starting something new....lol.  Too many ideas in my head to know for sure which one will win out...lol.

Three quilts with three meters of fabric

I've been sewing up a storm these past two days.  Had some time off work.  Nothing to write about at the moment.  Been doing a bit of this and a bit of that.  Taking stock of what I have to do and what I can do in a reasonable amount of time.  Since my last post, I got another quilt binded and a top complete with an assembled backing both ready to go on the longarm once I have a chance to quilt it.

So, in the meantime I thought I would share a fast quilt method.  This method uses 3 coordinating meter cuts to make three different looking quilts.  I saw this method many years ago, but don't know from where or by whom.  The way you do this is layer the three meter fabric pieces on top of each other.  Clean up the two cut ends to ensure the three layers are the same size.  Cut off the salvages on each side.  Start cutting a 10 1/2" strip off the right hand side for the full length and repeat this for the left hand side.  Try to leave all the pieces together in the same placement and lined up at the edges.  Now you are going to cut 10 1/2" off both the top and the bottom, similar to what you did for both sides.  At this point you should have an irregular shaped nine patch.  Take the top fabric of the centre and place it at the bottom of the pile.  Lastly, take the top two fabrics of the corner pieces and place them as you have them underneath the remaining pieces.  

What you should see now is that the four corners, the centre and the four borders are different from each other.  The four corners are the same, the four borders are the same and centre is on it's own.  Sew the top layer as you would a nine patch and repeat for the following two layers.

Ta da! You now have 3 different quilts.  The quilts will measure approximately 40" square, or in my case 40" x 48" as I had a bit more than 1 meter each.

These quilts started out as a challenge to use up the striped musical instruments fabric. I added the grey fabric which has multi coloured polka dots which remind me of musical notes and the orange was one of the colours in the musical fabric.

All three were quilted on the same backing fabric and quilted together with the same design.  The design looks like the musical notes on a music sheet.  It is kind of cute.  I finished these last month.  Once I get the recent quilt finishes binded by hand, I'll post pictures.

I changed out my leader/ender yesturday and got a lot done while working on the last couple of quilt tops.  I'll try to get pictures to share shortly.  

Enjoy your quilting time!

Burgoyne Surrounded (QW)

I had the chance to quilt a Burgoyne surrounded quilt.  This is a very traditional quilt in the traditional colours.  A new customer had started and completed the top over 20 years ago.  The top sat in her closet all that time.  I think it is pretty in the traditional colours.

Here is a closeup of the quilting.  She chose to quilt this in Trumpet Vine from Urban Elementz.

 

I've been wanting to make a Burgoyne surrounded quilt, but in the newer updated version.  I really like the traditional version too, but when I caught my eye on the newer version during a magazine quilt along, it grabbed my attention.  I like the scrappy neutral low volume background and the stronger colour variation, which allows you to see the diagonal grid more.  That and the fact that the pieces are smaller in size.

One day....maybe....but first I have to finish many more WIPs and UFOs.  Lol....I specifically wrote on my list of quilts DO NOT START ANYTHING NEW IN AUGUST!!!  I want to finish at least 10 before I start anything.  

Do you think it is possible....well....I am going to try....though today while my daughter was helping me move my sewing table out about 4", I found two containers that had a lot of parts cut out already.  One container has parts from a Texas braid quilt by Bonnie Hunter, that I downsized. Many pieces were left after making it, so I'm going to have to find another design to use them all.  The second has half squares in silk given to me from a friend a while ago.  I made a quilt with some of them, but I still have many more to use up.  I guess I should have added these two to my list, way back when...

Today being the second day of August, I have to say I am doing good.  Didn't add these to my list yet as they are basically just leftover parts.  I did put the binding on two quilts, plus finished assembling the blue reversable quilt and added the binder on this one too.  So, not bad!  Three quilts completed of the ten that I want to do before I can start anything new...not bad...

A weekend of quilting for Ukraine

A few weeks ago I quilted four quilts, made by a friend/customer, that are going to the Ukraine cause, to provide comfort and show our support.  It gives me comfort, knowing that I am helping to give someone else in need comfort.

Judy made this first one in two shades of blue for the half square triangles with scrappy four patches, assembled in a straight furrow layout.

This second quilt is beautiful and bright with a under the sea fabric scene set off with solids using hour glass units.  I forgot to get the backing of this one, but it was a quilt in itself with large rectangles of under the sea fabric separated by a lime green solid.

The third quilt is a unique pattern, not sure of the name.  It is using 2 1/2" scrappy square sewn together into larger rectangles and separated with a white on white fabric, making what appears to be a chain.

This fourth quilt is a simple alternating 2 1/2" squares in a rainbow of colours, alternating with a white fabric.  All the colourful squares have white pins on them.

I am sure that whoever receives any of these quilts will be comforted by the thought that here in Canada we are thinking of them and the trauma that they are going through.