not-so-final end of the basket medallion sew-a-long, fourth border, something fishy

This last round had the theme "something fishy".
The round came as my semester was getting started so not much is done for it yet.

I have always thought the Old Gray Goose block (Nancy Cabot, 1933) looks like sea horses. I am working with a half block. A sample block 6 by 9 was way too big. Scaled to 3 by 6 inch size was much better.
When this current border is complete it will measure 66 inches. It isn't finished--beyond this border something else is needed. I don't know what yet.

Thank you, Lori at Humble Quilts and all the hosts for making this sew-a-long a successful project for so many of us! It has been a fun sew.

Wendy –http://theconstantquilter.blogspot.com/
Cynthia-http://wabisabiquilts.blogspot.com/
Cathy- http://wwwbiglakequilter.blogspot.com/
Katy- https://katyquilts.wordpress.com/
Lori- http://humblequilts.blogspot.com/

olympics sew-a-long with Temecula Quilt Co., top completed

Temecula Quilt Co. did a sew-a-long on their blog during the Olympics.

I had all the fabrics already out in my active pile for the weekly Circa 2016 blocks, ready to cut the 4 1/2 inch squares, and the 2 1/2 squares and many of the 1 1/2 inch squares were already in my bins, so it was quick work to get this started. I've been grabbing time here and there to finish it up and it was always a pleasure to get a bit further along.

Temecula Quilts based their pattern on this wonderful antique piece. I love how it looks like someone without great skill but pragmatism took a quilt in progress and finished it up. Thank you, Temecula Quilts!

This photograph is from the Temecula Quilt Co. blog

project is available for download in their Project Patchwork series at their site:

http://temeculaquiltco.com/patterns.html

basket medallion sew-a-long third border, stars

This is part four of the Gwen Marston Style sew-a-long.
Lori at:
http://humblequilts.blogspot.com/
started the medallion sew-a-long with the theme basket for the center.
Cynthia at:
http://wabisabiquilts.blogspot.com/
chose the first border theme--childhood.
Cathy at:
http://wwwbiglakequilter.blogspot.com/
chose log cabins for this next round. 
Katy at:
http://katyquilts.wordpress.com/
chose stars for a theme.
For next month, Wendy at:
http://theconstantquilter.blogspot.com/
Her chosen theme is something fishy. I am not sure where this will lead me!

Star Theme:
I have loved the Missouri Star Quilts Falling Triangles design and thought it might look like twinkling stars if made smaller.
I scaled it down and used different piecing methods (I don't like the bias edges in Missouri Star's method) to come up with a 3 inch finished block (3 1/2 inches unfinished).
The pink is cut from 2 1/2 inch strips with an EZ angle ruler, as is the grey triangle. The rectangles are cut from 1 1/2 inch strips to 2 1/2 inches and 3 1/2 inches.

My first set of blocks were made from a slate grey that turned out to be too dark for this top. They are set aside for another project.
These I made with a steel grey and about 20 different pinks.

At this point it measures 51 inches square plus seam allowances.

I have discovered that when I want to make a rectangle quilt, and the quilt wants to be a square, I will be making a square quilt.

See what others are doing: 
http://humblequilts.blogspot.com/2016/09/gwennie-inspired-medallion-round-4.html

attribution/derivatives/inspiration

Monica at Lakeview Stitching has a very good post on the current Modern Quilt Guild's statement:
http://www.lakeviewstitching.com/2016/08/sunny-and-derivative.html

Here is the Modern Quilt Guild's post:
https://themodernquiltguild.wordpress.com/2016/07/30/all-about-derivatives/

The current turmoil of attribution/derivatives/inspiration brought back an issue I had several years ago.
I saw a simple block used on a blog, scaled it down and re-worked a bit and posted my resulting quilt to my blog. My version was (yes) much better. It was noticed by a publisher who asked if they could include it in their magazine. I said I would ask the blogger for permission and she said no.
A few months later I found a doll quilt I had made about a decade previously that used the same block. Made long before the blogger posted her block.
A bit of there is nothing new under the sun.
The whole experience left me sad.

I post my designs with the encouragement for readers to use at their pleasure.
My designs are based on what I think is my own take on traditional patterns and methods, but who knows.
It is tricky to stay in the law and yet let our individual work and the state of quilting progress. Especially when the law is so vague.
I hope that others find inspiration here on my blog and run with it.

tip #37--go negative

I have to be careful with this post. No pictures are included.
We usually look at quilts and think, "I like that. That one too."
Take a bit of time to "go negative".
What is it about the quilt that you don't like.
This is TOTALLY subjective.
It doesn't mean it is a bad quilt, it just means I would make different choices in making it.
This helps me define my own style.

A quick look at quilts with this mindset shows my aesthetic is irritated by:
-scale that is just a bit too big
-strong checkerboard effects in scrap quilts (hard to define this one, but I know it when I see it--when there is too much planning in layout, no seridipity of things falling where they may)
-primary colors
-30's repro quilts with no brown or black in them
-too much repetition of value
-use of one fabric line in a quilt
-odd proportions--table runners irritate me!
-quilts that are "girl" or "boy'--I was more of a unisex dressing mother
-bed quilts to the floor

THEN, after going negative, let it go and appreciate the work of the quilter.
But, know and own your own style!

patience corner--an 18 year old heads to college

Seth is nearly all packed up. We shipped a guitar and record player (vinyl is as popular now as it was in Andy and my college years in the 70s). Off to Los Angeles in the morning--take good care of my sweet midwest boy, California!
I told him to pick a quilt and he selected this Patience Corner, made in the year 2000.

Block finishes 6 inches.
Light squares are cut 2 1/2 inches; green rectangles are cut from 1 1/2 inch strips into pieces 2 1/2 long and 3 1/2 inches long.
My design from a traditional block.
Use at your pleasure.

tip #36--clean your machine bed

The picture shows just one hand (the other was holding the camera), but you see how my wrist and thumb are on the machine bed? Even thought I wash my hands before sitting at the machine (thanks, Mom!*) oils and dust accumulate. Even if you can't see it, you may feel it as drag as you sew.
Wipe it down with a gentle cleanser and a soft cloth.

*Mom made us wash our hands before sewing and before playing the piano.

geese in flight--top completed

99 blocks set 9 by 11
72 by 88 inches
Block finishes 8 inches
solids--4 geese cut with companion angle from 2 1/2 inch strips
prints--8 half square triangles cut with EZ angle from 2 1/2 inch strips; two rectangles cut 2 1/2 inches by 8 1/2 inches

I decided on the north and south straight set.
My design--use at your pleasure.

Working on a back. And, I have started a framed nine-patch with this solid on prints series of quilts!

Faculty week is coming and my summer of sewing is winding down.

tip #35--have a picture taken of you sewing

I asked Andy and Seth to take pictures of me sewing the other night. Between the two of them there are about 20 images, most of which I will delete, but I liked this one.
My mom has been sorting photographs and I especially like the ones that show family at work or doing something. The face the camera and smile ones are fine, but I love the ones that show what was important in people's lives.

seeing stars sew-a-long, quilt completed

Tricia Cribbs at Turning Twenty had a sew-a-long last year with a design by Sue Carter, Seeing Stars. 12 block patterns, each made in two sizes. The book is now available:
http://www.turningtwenty.com/store-detail.php?ID=2762

I changed the set a bit and made an additional eight large sized blocks with different star patterns to make my variation work.
78 1/2 by 99 inches

I used several yellow solids for the backgrounds and 30s repros (plus one vintage!) in the blocks, and a great yellow print for the setting pieces.

A cheerful quilt! Thank you, Tricia and Sue!

The back is made in what I call a "storybook" style, with a variety of light prints with figures on them. I will post later on how I put these together.

...she doesn't have the sense God gave geese

 

North and South, staggered set 

We had geese when I was little--until they kept knocking me down so they became meals. We had the same trouble with a rooster that kept knocking me over and pecking me--my Grandma made soup with him.
And my kids wonder where my pragmatism comes from.

84 geese in flight blocks are made and I am playing with sets. Leaning towards the staggered north and south right now, but the straight set north and south is appealing to me more and more.

 

North and South 

  

Woven Geese 

Every Which Way

Roundabout

East West staggered

basket medallion sew-a-long second border, log cabin

This is part three of the Gwen Marston Style sew-a-long.
Lori at:
http://humblequilts.blogspot.com/
started the medallion sew-a-long with the theme basket for the center.
Cynthia at:
http://wabisabiquilts.blogspot.com/
chose the first border theme--childhood.
Cathy at:
http://wwwbiglakequilter.blogspot.com/
chose log cabins for this next round. 
Katy at:
http://katyquilts.wordpress.com/
is up next and has chosen stars for a theme

The second grey border again is cut 2 inches and finishes 1 1/2 inches.

I made 3 inch finished half log cabins in the Sharyn Craig style. I like this block because you have very good control about how big it will be without over-thinking "now, how many rounds?"
Instead, it grows in inch increments without worry.

I kept it monochromatic yellow, with a few oranges and greens and others thrown in so it wasn't too boring.

My intention was in this round to make it oblong, but decided to keep it square for now. Maybe next round.
At this point the quilt measures 33 by 33 inches.

tip #34--drape the machinery

These recent tips are reflections on my housekeeping skills which are sorely lacking.
I have some lengths of silk habotai 12 momme from some long ago project that I use to drape my Accuquilt Studio. I go through periods of much use of it, followed by it sitting idle. The drape helps keep dust out of the mechanisms.
If away from my sewing machine for a while I also drape it. You can buy dust covers for machines but they look a little crafty to me, and the silk is so much more elegant.

churn dash, over a decade in the making

I finished the binding on this churn dash this week.
It was started when I was teaching two friends quilting techniques in classes at my home, about 15 years ago. The border is a very lovely early Hoffman I believe. Maybe a Cranston.
I look at the fabrics in this quilt and love the fabrics. Many are still in bits in my stash and cut scrap bins.
The blocks finish 7 1/2 inches
57 1/4 by 65 inches
My design, use at your pleasure
Beautifully quilted by Suzette Fisher
I finally got it to the quilter last year, and have been binding it this summer.
Seth was an adorable child when I started it. The picture of with Eve shows him with a popsicle on his face, about age 4.
And, now, an adorable young man heading to California for college, age 18 with a beard on his face.

up on the roof--210 North Wells

Looking southeast.
Another in a series of roof top parking garage views.

tip #33--keep a lint roller near the iron

Some pieces of fabric love to collect threads and bits.
Keeping a lint roller near the iron makes it easier to lift off those threads. I usually don't roll it, instead just touch it to the threads.
I have an Accuquilt Studio and use it to roll over the die after cutting. I am very methodical, rolling over the entire die. It picks up much you cannot see, stuff that might damage the blades.

I do not use the lint roller on myself. I am easily identified on the street as a quilter by all the threads clinging to me.
(Every Christmas I give a package of lint rollers to the kids as they do not like to be identified as coming from a quilting household.)

coxcomb, antique quilt

A friend is moving to a retirement community in Arizona and asked me to take this quilt.
It is a lovely coxcomb.
My guess from the fabrics and the feel is it was made in the 1880s
All the green is nearly gone. The red is in shreds where there was printing. The gold and the white background and backing are in perfect shape.
It is the most closely quilted piece I have ever seen.
Measures 76 by 96 inches,
Evelyn wanted to make sure I knew the quilt wasn't abused and I agree--other than the shattered fabrics, the quilt is in beautiful shape and feels so nice to be under. I am sure it kept many people warm over the years.
I am honored to be it's caregiver and, when the time is right, I will pass it on to another quilt lover.
Safe travels, Evelyn!

welcome Oak Fabrics!

The Needle Shop has re-opened as Oak Fabrics at 3738 North Lincoln Avenue here in Chicago.
My neighbor Sharon, with whom I share and celebrate a birthday month, and we do celebrate all month, stopped in today together to check it out.
It is a delightful place. A small but very interesting selection of great fabrics. A selection of Kona solids at a good price. AND, a free scrap barrel we were welcome to tumble through.
We will be back!

The scraps I scored!

flying geese

I had such fun making the flying geese shape for the pinwheel quilt I decided to keep with them and make a geese in flight block for the next in this series of solid figures on wild fabrics.
(I hope you aren't tired of seeing these, because I am not tired of making them.)
So far there have been ships, churn dashes, shooflys, pinwheels, and now the geese in flight.

This is an old block I've seen in antique quilts. It is a simple idea--sew 4 geese in a row, put a strip of fabric on two sides, and then you have a square block to play with. I have a few blocks done and will see if I end up with the geese in a predictable pattern or all over the place.

Block finishes 8 inches
All cut from 2 1/2 inch strips
Solid: 4 geese cut with Companion Angle ruler
Print: 8 half square triangles cut with EZ angle and 2 rectangles cut 8 1/2 inches

pinwheels--top completed

It turned out bigger than I first planned.
120 blocks set 10 to a row for 12 rows.
84 by 96 inches.
I used rectangles at the beginning or end of every row so the pinwheels would stagger.
I decided to make all the pinwheels spin the same direction to bring a little order to the chaos.
I like how some pinwheels stand out strong and others are so low contrast they become ghost blocks.

The blocks finish 8 inches.
All cut from 2 1/2 inch strips
4 geese cut from solid with Companion Angle ruler
4 rectangles cut 4 1/2 inches and 8 half-square triangles cut with EZ Angle ruler
The edge rectangles were cut 4 1/2 inches by 8 1/2 inches.

My design, use at your pleasure.

Time to make a backing!