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!

Halloween

Over the weekend I worked on one of my "retirement" quilts. I got all the blocks put together and the borders picked out. Progress! (I will be retiring next July and am making quilts for each of my staff members (12) as my retirement gift to them.) (We've been together a l-o-n-g time and I love each of them dearly!). I really need to focus more on this endeavor! I have the patterns and fabrics picked but need to get moving on the actual sewing. Life keeps me busy! Almost finished with my MA in Philosophy and yes, I have a full time career (in IT) as well.

I also did a little more work on a shawl I'm knitting. It's in a beautiful hand-dyed (not by me!) wool called "Black Purl". Egad it's gorgeous stuff! The shawl is also working up nicely. I hope to have it finished for a trip to the beach that is planned for mid-December. It should be just enough for walking along the sand. I'm going to pull together my project plans for my stay at the beach and post here as well (adds a bit more of an incentive to "git 'er dun").

As for the current quilt (no name yet ... hmm.... how about "retirement quilt 3" for now?), my goal for the weekend is to have the top put together, then bundle up the backing, batting & top to deliver to one of my (3) long arm quilting folks for the quilting. I think I'll increase that goal to also have the "packaging" done for "retirement quilt 2" as well. (It doesn't seem like much but hey - full time job, full time student - time gets eaten up!) OK ... one more weekend goal. Since the repeat on the shawl is 8 rows, I'll shoot for having 16 more rows done.

I hope your Halloween (if you partake) is wonderfully spooky in fun ways! Enjoy!

Day 1

Hello. My name is Gale and I am a quilter.

If that sounds like an introduction in any 12-step program, well .... read on and you will see that quilting IS an addiction!!

I did not know when I took my first "learn to quilt" class that this would lead to an intense love affair with fabric, quilts and sewing machines. I have been quilting for 20 years ... I have more fabric than I will ever use in one lifetime ... more sewing machines than I care to admit ... UFOs too numerous to even want to count ... and I embrace my addiction! Many quilters have a sewing room; I have a sewing HOUSE (that just happens to also have a bed and a kitchen).

I have long wanted to blog - about sewing, quilting, those unfinished projects, (as well as politics and philosophy, but those blogs will live under a different name), so Day 1 is my start.

My intent is to blog about what I want to finish "next", commit to a date to have it completed, then meet that date. My hope is that the "publicness" of a blog will provide me with just the challenge I need to actually do what I've planned. Although I would not consider myself even an amateur photographer, I will post pictures of where I'm at and where I'm going in my UFO world. I will also post about works-in-process and where they might be headed.

I hope this will be a FUN experience, and I hope to meet many other quilters that share my passion (and a long list of UFO'S!!). Your comments are welcomed!

Welcome to my blog. Who knows what comes next