A new place for the quilt journal

Well it's certainly been awhile since I posted here! Oh well life has a way of taking priority, doesn't it?

The weekend was spent at Cinnamon's quilt shop for our bimonthly "retreat". I think there were about 18 of us. I got so much done that it inspired me to post here. I don't seem to be keeping up my quilt journal as I should, yet I'm blogging more, so I'm switching to this blog as my "quilt journal". Especially now that I know I can have it put into book form!

Over the weekend I finished all the blocks and the piano-key border for the pink/Kaffe H-block quilt that I saw in West Palm last weekend. I also finished the last of the half-square triangle blocks for the guild give-away quilt. I should be able to get both those tops together this week and get them to the quilters. (Funny that I would still take quilts to the long-armers since I have one myself. But I'm not yet practiced enough on my long-arm to do my own quilts. Soon, though!!)

I'm not ready for pictures of these yet but they'll come later. I also have a whole new direction for my Ace of Spades piece....I think it's going to be fun! And I've picked "stitches" as my theme for my first year of journal quilt experimentation.

2011 will be a busy year for me! I'll be retired (in just a couple of weeks - YAY), I'm traveling to lots of quilting classes, and I'm experimenting with new "stuff". I also plan to do some experiments when dying fabrics. It'll all be journal "stuff" so there are no failures - only experiments. I've picked up 2 block-of-the-month (BOM) projects from Quilting by the Bay (QBTB) and there will probably be a Kaffe-usage group meeting at Cinnamon's each month. Whew I'm going to be one busy woman!!

I need a name for the H-block quilts because I have two more noodling around in my brain. Something will come to mind. Till then it will have to be just H-blocks. I'm thinking about another in Aunt Gracies, one set on point, and then there's the H-block alternate where the center is the different color and the rows are offset. That's 3 more, I know, but maybe it's the Aunt Gracie that will get set on point.

OK I'm off to see the wizard!

Other Stuff

This is the cutest dang pincushion!

The Infomercial Quilt

I've been so busy making quilts I haven't had time to blog! I named this quilt the "Billy Mays Infomercial Quilt" because when I was finished, I still had more blocks and pieces, so I made pillows. You know in informercials they always say "But wait! There's more!"?? That's exactly how I felt!

This was made from a Bali Pop and some of my hand-dyed fabrics. My own design. (The bubble border is from a photo editor - to hide the ugly stuff on the wall :)

More pics soon!

Ah, Sand!

Heading out to the beach for a couple of weeks. I'll be working on samples, though !!! Here's one that's ready for quilting. It's made from one jelly roll. I like it a lot - very soothing. The back is dark aqua with seashells (I'll post a pic of the back when I'm home from vacation.) The sashing is a jacquard - sheesh what a nightmare!! But the results are lovely. I'll use it again but use scads more starch than I did in this one.

My new Bernina 630 is sweeeeeeeeet!

Playing Around

I made these string pieced blocks today. I think they're way fun! I'm doing these in "quilt as you go" style (except - oops - forgot to add backing!!)



Here's what the block looks like before trimming - they clean up nice, don't they? I keep a basket of 2 1/2" strips and "not 2 1/2" strips - I used the "nots" for these blocks.




What about THIS mess??!! Can these blocks be saved? I thought the strip/solid mix was a great idea - but it's not looking good so far! But ... I suspect that creative quilting will save the day! (That and a terrific border!)

Again, weeks have passed!

The past weekend was spent at The Olde Green Cupboard at our semi-monthly retreat.  It's so much fun!  I worked on samples for my 3rd quarter classes.  I'll be doing a series of quilts based on Jelly Rolls (and other 2 1/2" strips).  I got tons done!  I'm going in search of a new digital camera so I can post pics of the finished quilts.  (I think my students will like these classes, particularly since they'll be able to use fat quarters as well as Jelly Rolls.)

I brought my hand-dyes to show - lots of folks wanted to buy them but I won't sell since they're so labor intensive.  I WILL teach them how to do it, though.  It's easy - just labor intensive!  But WOW the results are worth it!

I bought a new Bernina yesterday; Artista 630.  Didn't want to go top-of-the-line since I don't have THAT much interest in the embroidery function.  I wonder how new quilters manage! Damn, but the machines have gotten expensive!

I'm planning my 1Q2010 classes now ... amazing!  Will I be this organized when I start teaching Philosophy?

Sometimes Life Gets in the Way

I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted.  Well ...  nevermind that.

I did NOT retire last year; the economy had the bigger trump card!  Ah, well - having a regular paycheck is a GOOD thing.  I've also started teaching quilting classes and "care of your Featherweight" classes at Olde Green Cupboard, one of our local quilt shops.  I'm making progress on my retirement quilts, though.

Now that I'm teaching, I look at patterns, fabric, and books much differently!  I want to encourage all quilters - even those just starting out - and I want to continue to grow as a quilter in my own right.  I'm finding that teaching gives me a whole new insight to my own work.

I've been dyeing fabric for the past week.  I always love the results.  I'm going to use most of it in the samples I'm making for my 3rd quarter classes.  That's unusual!!  It's not becoming MORE STASH!  A success!!

I'm also de-cluttering around the house (See:  "Throw Out Fifty Things" - Gail Blanke).  Having been a stasher all my life, this is quite the challenge!  But I'm making progress.  I'm keeping my list so I can see my progress.  I'm also decluttering to quilt stash - by actually finishing things.  Decisions need to be made; will this ever be a finished project in my house?  While that seems a simple enough question, it isn't.  I tend to use UFO blocks in other mysterious ways so it's really a stretch for me to say it will NEVER be finished in my house.  Yet ... I've managed to "get rid of".

Right now I'm working on a quilt from the Waffles pattern, my Kaffe fabric "5 & dime", and about 6 or 7 "jelly roll" quilts for 3rd quarter classes.  I'll post pics as I get them!