And Now For the Word of The Year......

To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong.



---American Patchwork and Quilting Magazine, April 2002, page 53

 

 

 

I fear the venture into the unknown.

But that is part of the act of creating and the art of performing.

---Martha Graham, dancer

 

 

All that is necessary to break the spell of inertia and frustration is this:

Act as if it were impossible to fail.

 

---Dorothea Brande, writer

 

 

 My goal for the reader of (my book) is for you to listen to that little voice that says, “I could do that,” and go with it.  No matter what your insecurities say, do it anyway and ignore the fear….What is the real secret to winning quilting awards?  Being fearless when you are scared out of your mind.

---Karen McTavish from the book “Quilting For Show”

 (On-Word Bound Books; 2007)

 

 

 

And a reminder that is posted in my "studio" and is always at the bottom of my blog:

 

 

Click on the picture to read this if it's not clear)

(As Seen in Quiltposium magazine, Fall 2011)

 

 

Enough said!

Time to "Process" A Finish!

Here's a closer look at the baby quilt I made:

The pattern is "Go Baby!" from Quiltmaker's January/February 2013 issue.

Throughout the year, Quiltmaker took a block from one of the projects in each issue, supersized it and made a baby quilt pattern from it.  Go Baby! was made from a block in the Lavender Bouquet quilt by Linda Hahn.

The concept is similar to what Evelyn Sloppy did in her book "Sew One and You're Done:  Making A Quilt From A Single Block".  So if you can't get the QM back issues, you can get her book from Martingale or Amazon.  Even better, if you'd like to try just one of the patterns from her book, Martingale has most of them listed for sale as individual patterns.  Just click on the "E-patterns" tab on the book listing on their site.

I made this quilt as a gift for the new grandchild of  the President of our townhouse cluster's Tenant's Association.  Her daughter used to teach at the middle school my sons attended and I had served with her on the school's Leadership Team.   I thought a baby quilt would be an quickie project and for the most part it was but every project has its zigs and zags so this took a little longer to finish than expected.

Wanting to make this from stash I played with the color placement in Quilt-Pro a bit to make use of some things I already had in house:  a 3/8 yard remnant of the balls print and some coordinating solids pulled from a fat quarter bundle purchased three years ago when we had visited my MIL in North Carolina.  Still from stash, I added the plaid and the black and white kids print and thought I was fine.  Turned out I didn't have quite enough of the first B&W print so a second one was added for the center bars.

 What looked good in Quilt-Pro was a little underwhelming in person and my first thought was that it needed more red.  So I considered adding a red piped binding even though I had nothing suitable in stash for that so had to buy that fabric:

And then tried adding more of the balls print to the center:

And then finally both:

Ah, now that worked for me!  When it was pieced and ready to quilt, I knew I would simply stipple it but with what thread?  I pooled a number of colors on the top but truthfully, the only thing I liked with it was a "Red" Connecting Threads Essentials spool that I hoped wasn't going to be TOO much red!  For once I was able to do the stitching itself just fine but had a lot of problems with the thread constantly breaking.  I tried a number of things to correct it (changing feet, thread tension and needles) but eventually found that I was just moving my hands way too fast.  Once I slowed down so did the breakage issues (reduced but not completely eliminated!).  Eventually I got it all done although my one disappointment is that the stippling is not as even as I would have liked.  I started out with the intention of doing it really large but as I moved around the quilt, it got fairly close which I believe reflected the tension I was feeling about all the thread breakage.

With the quilting finished I could prepare the binding and attach it.  I learned this "piped binding" method from Debra Henning's Triangulations Bed Quilt book and first used it back in 2009 when I finished my basket quilt.  Recently, I found a great tutorial of the technique on the web done by Trisha at her TLC Stitches blog.  My only issue is that the piping fabric I got is flannel so I should have cut the binding bigger to accommodate the extra bulkiness.  However, I love that this method also allows for a completely machine applied binding which for me is standard practice anyway!

In the end I think it worked out pretty well.  I purchased the backing too and it was a fun blue flannel print which is a perfect complement to the piping fabric.   For the back, I used a blue Aurifil thread (also from stash) in the bobbin although I used "Invisible" monofilament thread in the bobbin when attaching the binding (something I also pretty much always do when doing a machine binding). 

So a fun little diversion!  I recently saw another baby quilt in the latest (March/April 2014) issue of Quiltmaker that I think could use up the rest of the solids scraps.  I may also use what I have leftover of the backing and piping fabrics to make one of Mary Johnson's Strippie Quilts.  I had wanted to make a couple of baby quilts last year to donate to Victoria's Findlay Wolfe's Bumblebeans Basics initiative to benefit "The Retreat", a shelter for victims of domestic violence.   Hopefully I can get a few other projects out of the way before she puts out her next call for quilts.  It would be great to have some already made up when that happens!

It's a Snow Day!

Like most, here in the city we're buried in this:

For me, it was a great day to check out the winning quilts from the recent "Road To California" quilt show here.  There are some really gorgeous works, truly the best of the best and something to aspire to.  To be especially admired is Fairy Ernest who at the age of 88 entered and won first place for "Wall - Traditional Applique" for a beautiful hand appliqued Pearl Pereira design (and those of you who are familiar with her patterns, know they are not for the faint of heart)  --- you go girl! 

I was also glad to see that many of the entries had been started two, three, even seven years before (the earliest was the "Best In Show" by multiple award winning quilter Sharon Schamber which she had started in 2000).  This went perfectly with Lori's latest post at "The Inbox Jaunt" on esablishing your priorites for your UFOs.  She had also done a previous post on "what our UFO's say about us" and I took some time to add my answers to today's post and firm up my "To Do" list.

Lori's post was about establishing your "Top 3" projects.  After that it was time to play catch up on mine by:

• Fix things up in a couple of spots and add the label on this gift (it's already been quilted and bound since this picture was taken):

•  Attach the last strips for the January panel of my calendar quilt and start the February panel (this one is being done quilt-as-you-go):

 

 

BTW, if you don't know what a Calendar Quilt is then check out some that were finished or in progress when quilters hosted a challenge back in 2009.  You can get the instructions for making them in the book "Pat Sloan's Favorite Techniques" which can be purchased here or here.

• I also need to prepare to get back to quilting this gift:

I hope to (no, will have to) do detail posts on all of these.  Hope you are in and warm, toasty and busy where ever you are!

The mystery is over...over there on the design wall that is!

I hope it's true what they say: that what you do on New Year's Day is what you'll do all year.  Here's what I was doing on New Year's Day (and the 2nd, and the 3rd!) and certainly is the kind of progress I'd like to make all year.

I finished the blocks for Planet Patchwork's New Years Day mystery quilt (Case #136).  The mystery was titled "An Oldie But A Goodie".  All the Planet Patchwork mysteries have been designed by “Merry Meyhem” which is the alter ego of Merry May, a quilt designer and co-author of the book “Insiders Guide to Quilting Careers” with Linda Hahn.

This will be the last one Planet Pathwork will be hosting because the site may be closing down this year.  They are already in the process of closing down their web store but the final fate of the website has not yet been decided.  I really wanted to participate in it since I had participated in last year's New Year's event and the Day-After-Thanksgiving event in 2007.  Their website was one of the first I discovered when I started quilting and was a great information and tip resource in those early days.

While I am not planning on participating in any "official" UFO challenges this year, UFOs are still a personal priority for 2014.  Doing their mystery one last time is also a chance to focus on finishing up the previous mystery projects.  The 2013 project (Modern Twist) is still awaiting borders (and the backing is already in house) and the 2007 top (Check It Out) needs layering and quilting.  So my personal UFO challenge for this month (or maybe more realistically, for the year) will be to get all three finished as my own commemoration of the site.

My hope is to sew the blocks together and finish up this top today so I can go back to the quilting I have to finish on a panel for my friend and get back to work on the comission quilt I promised to do.  Just trying to keep 2014 moving!

2013 Year In Review Part 2 -- Early Finishes and Plans for 2014

In Part 1 of this post, I talked about my recent (since November) finishes.  As for the early part of this year, my other finishes have been detailed in previous posts and they included:

January: UGRR/Pioneer Samplers

March: Merrimac Dresdens

May: Brrr!

and the "Tribute" fabric line series all completed in June:
Valor

Tribute Mini and Star Spangled Runner  

Looking back I guess I really can't complain about my productivity but that also doesn't guarantee that the REST of the UFOs will get done either!

So what's up for 2014?  Well, the UFO fest must continue because I want (need?) to clear out some of the stuff sitting under my cutting table so that it can be fully functional (that is, be closed down when I need it to be).  My Double Wedding Ring  project is one of those gremlins under the table that comes to mind since it's one of my original bucket list projects and right now only needs borders and quilting.

More than a couple of my UFOs are TBQs (To Be Quilted) so I hope to sprinkle in more than a few those as well.

I'm realizing more and more that I am comfortable with doing the actual quilt stitching so now it's only the "quilt whispering" (deciding what to quilt where) that I have to get more confident about.  In a conversation today with Teri Lucas (check out her work and blog) at Hartsdale Fabrics a LQS, she gave me a lot of ideas and a challenge to try in the coming year to help loosen up my willingness to let my quilting get "Foot Loose and Fancy Free" (which just happens to be the name of one of her many classes, check out the details of that and all her classes here).

I am also only a few more projects away from completing my first "quilt gallery" in my home.  I've always wanted to create quilt displays around my home tied to a theme.  The UGRR/Pioneer Samplers and Merrimac quilt are part of a series of quilts I have done using Civil War reproduction fabrics.  In the TBQ pile (bottom left) is my CW Chronicles BOM a bed size top that once finished will be displayed on my bed.  The UGRR/Pioneer Samplers have been hanging at the top of my entry stairwell since they were finished in January.  Also in the works are sampler blocks for not one but TWO lap quilts that will be displayed on my couch.

I've got about half the blocks done for both and already have border and backing fabrics purchased so hope to get those finished in the early part of the year as well.  Lastly will be a couple more mini quilts as well as the "Soldier Cot Quilt" from Kathleen Tracy's book "The Civil War Sewing Circle".  Along with the Merrimac Quilt these will be displayed in the stairwell  that goes upstairs to our bedrooms.  I had hoped for this to have all been completed by the end of this year but now am shooting for a finish by June of 2014.

What's the biggest project on my "To Do" list?  Early last year a quilting friend and I initiated talks to do a quilted project for the Bronx division of the New York City Family Justice Center that aids victims of domestic violence. The plan at the time was to make three quilts for display in their offices.  The projects will include some fabric squares embellished by the clients of the office.  We procured some donated fabrics back in July and the embellished blocks were delivered at the end of August.  I was able to do some preliminary work on it but have not been able to proceed on it as the school volunteering and  holiday commitments got under way.  I realize now that the problem is that this is not something I can work on in between other projects, I'm going to have to clear the time and space to focus on this by itself if I am to move it forward.  So this will have to be a priority project for the New Year because I really want to deliver something wonderful for an important organization that is doing work for a very worthy cause.

But before all that can happen I have a quilt date tomorrow!  Tomorrow the Planet Patchwork website will be holding its VERY LAST New Year's One Day Mystery!!!!!   This website will be shutting down for good in 2014 so this is my last chance to participate in one of these.  They have held these Mystery quilts on either the day after Thanksgiving or New Years Day for years.  The projects are designed by Merry Meyhem, the alter ego of quilt designer Merry May and co-author of the book "Insider's Guide To Quilting Careers" with Linda Hahn.  I have participated in two previous mysteries, one last year and in 2007 so I really wanted to participate in this one last time.  The good news is that if what they say is true, the fact that I'll be at the machine at the very start of the year will be a good omen for how I will (or hope to) spend the rest of the year! 

This also sets me up for more UFO/TBQ quilting in 2014 since last year's mystery needs the borders finished (I changed the design of the original) and the 2007 one is TBQ.  I am sorry to see this website go since it was one that was very informative for me when I first started quilting.  However, the bonus for me was that I finally scored a copy of the "Dear Jane" book from the their store closing sale.  Doubt THAT will be added to my 2014 project file but definitely some "Janey" work will be in my quilt future! 

So that's it for me and 2013.  Here's hoping that you and yours have a joyous New Year's Eve and a healthy, happy, prosperous and productive 2014!!

2013 Year In Review Part 1 -- Recent Finishes

Once again I didn't expect to be this long from the blog but things have been both busy and stagnant since my last post in November.  But I wanted to close out the year by taking a moment to look back on what has happened and what I can expect for the New Year.

Getting Back To the Teaser

In the last post I had teased  this.....

....and thought I 'd get back soon for a detailed post.  This STILL isn't THAT post but here's a look at the whole project:

I've used that white shoe cubby in my quilt space for years to store my fat quarters.  When we moved in 2011 and I set up my studio in our dining room, I felt that the box (which hangs over my cutting table) would need something to make it a little more interesting.  Early in 2012 I saw this dresser when Monique Reynolds of the Monique's Stitches/Sew Fun By Monique blog did a guest post on Allison Rosen's Within A Quarter Inch blog.  I loved it and it reminded me of a project I had wanted to do for my old quilt space:  make curtains alternating selvedge string squares with panel blocks I had purchased from Block Party Studios (Note: the link is to their latest panel "What Quilters Really Think V" although my project used panels from versions II, III & IV).   I was a little disappointed when we moved since the curtains wouldn't work for the dining room but when I saw Monique's dresser I realized I could retrofit the idea to my storage box.  The result is what you see here.  I leave it open on a day to day basis (I love to see my FQ's!) but can close the front down when the dining room space has to do its normal duties.

I have two other projects planned for my quilt space which I hope to get to in 2014.  When they're done I hope to do a "my quilt studio" posting.  This year was a very special one for my little quilting space but I'll say more about that in that future post.

Another UFO Down

For the last two years my goal has been to clear out UFOs and WIPs.  Unfortuately, I've found myself bottled up lately when with the year rushing to a close, I realized that there was still a (too) LONG list of things I had wanted to have done before the year ended.  With Thanksgiving and Christmas and a spate of volunteering at my DS2's school I was pretty sure I wouldn't get to all of it.   But wanting to get at least something knocked off the list, I had gone back to working on another old UFO and managed to get it done at the start of December.

This is called the "Sage Sampler".  None of the fabrics are actually sage colored --- it's named after the color of the frame I put it in.  The blocks finish at 3" and was an attempt to work from a limited pallette of scrap fabrics.  Started way back in 2004, I had six of the blocks done and made the green Fleur De Lis applique in 2010 after I took a Hand Applique course.  Wanting to take as few old UFOs into the New Year as possible, I pushed to finish this one.  And now after all these years it is finally hanging in my bedroom as originally intended.  Hopefully for 2014 I can finish the three other quilt projects I have planned for that room as well as finally work on the wood I bought to make some quilt display ladders.

The Magi Were Better Gifters

Another thing I wanted to finish up were some projects for a friend of mine.  My friend attended her first quilt show with me earlier this year (although she is not a quilter).  It was the New Jersey Quilt Fest and will be coming up again in March 2014.  While there we went to a lecture by Kaffe Fassette and all the quilts from his last book "Shots & Stripes" were on display (and for a great review of the book see this post at the Quilt Inspiration blog).   My friend had particularly loved his "Girder" quilt.  At the time, I got the idea to make her a mug rug "snapshot" of it as a remembrance of attending the show.  Here it (finally) is (finished size  6-3/4" X 5-1/2):

The mug on the back  is a quarter size version of the "Big Mugs" block from the Dec '/Jan '14 issue of Quilters Newsletter Magazine and can be picked up from their website here.  Unfortunately, I still owe my friend two other gifts, a cat panel print that she purchased at the show that I am now feverishly trying to finish quilting up for Christmas for New Year's before her next birthday in February!  The other is a jewelry pouch I started years ago for her that is complete except for embellishment (I want to try some beading and couching) and binding (in more of those shot cottons!).  As I said, she'll definitely have it for her birthday at the latest (and hopefully THAT won't be famous last words!)

Well that's it for the recent finishes, Part 2 of this post will review the finishes from the beginning of the year and the additional things I hope to accomplish in 2014!  Stay tuned!

Back (Again) From the Abyss

Whew!  It's been a very long time since my last post.  I still haven't got to the point where blogging is integrated into my life well enough that I post regularly.  It seems it's always feast or famine with it.  But I'm back now even though I've also missed out on a lot.  But I am hoping to finish out the year with a bang rather than just whimpering!

When I last posted I had just purchased some long desired rulers, one of which I had hoped to use on a commission charity quilt project that I had signed up to do with another quilter.  I also had started the very big job of painting about half of our home and I had an upcoming week-long trip down south to three states.  Added to that my oldest son, having graduated high school in June, was still in the process of deciding whether to attend college or start working.  Oh and throw in that I had made a very big and ambitious list of projects to try to tackle for the Third Quarter of Leann's 2013 Finish-A-Long.  For some silly reason I thought all those juggled balls would fall neatly into place one by one.  The plan was that by September, I would be cruising, smoothly, to finishing up my own summer quilt work as well as the commission project.  After that I would move on to a few fall projects I wanted to tackle and then set up my "To Do" list for the final year end push.

Ha!  What's that saying: "Announcing your plans is a good way to hear God laugh” (attributed to author David Milch).  In the end, only some things got done and none of those finished up as quickly or smoothly as expected.  When delivery of part of the materials for the start of the commission project was delayed, my need to focus on all the life stuff only delayed the start even further.  My son made his decision at the final hour (choosing to go to school) but then that added additional chauffeuring work to my daily schedule further changing the rhythm of my days.  So I am only now getting settled back into my little quilting world.

I can tease a picture of one project that did get done during this time and hope to do a post in the coming weeks about how it relates to bigger changes in my "studio" space.

Oh, before I leave, I also want to shout out the Fall Bloggers Quilt Festival hosted by Martingale author Amy Ellis that is going on right now at her website, Amy's Creative Side.  This is the wonderful biannual on-line quilt show that happens during the big Quilt Market weeks.
 

So first chance you get, go on over and check out what the entrants have posted for this round.  I've still got a couple more categories to check out too.  Don't forget to vote for your favorites!

Hopefully, I'll be back with another post sooner than last time!