Finally getting back to these little houses, after being gone to Montreal for a few days, then stuck in the Grading Galaxy when I returned. I could make lists of the things I’m working on, but today — a little progress after a long time away from quilting. And yes, you can still see my autumn quilt up on the pin wall behind the ironing board. Add that to the list!
Thanks, Lee, of Freshly Pieced Fabrics, for hosting us all.
Plugging along?
How did that phrase ever come to be in my vocabulary? But it suits perfectly what’s going on with my quilting right now. I’m making progress, but it should be measured in nano units, smaller than crumbs, weensier than a speck of dust.
Square on Square, my autumn quilt got to this place by the end of last week.
Then all sides/pieces on and up on the wall by Sunday.
Then I start messing with my mind and thinking. . . sashing?
Version 1. Not really.
Version 2. Bluey lavender strips–possibly with a gold cornerstone at the intersections?
Version 3. Nothing, letting the squares interact with each other.
All this started with a comment I read on Lee’s blog last week about updating old designs with new fabrics. Well, that wasn’t happening here, because I wanted to use up these fabrics (and I love them) but I thought about ways to update a TNT (Tried and True) design, and started playing around with sashing. But I’m still a fan of block mash-up, when they’re interacting and talking to each other.
Another reason the progress is so miniscule is that I have a lot of company coming this week/weekend, and I’ve been trying to work ahead in my lesson plans so as not to be overwhelmed. This translates to no time for quilting. But isn’t that the beauty of it? While it’s true that the blocks and the quilts won’t get done by magic fairies in the night, they won’t get UN-done either. They’ll still be waiting for me when I’m ready for them. Unlike housework and dishes, which accumulate and fall into chaos, the patches wait patiently right there on the cutting table, faithful and loyal. True to the end.
I love quilting.
See what other patches and fabric and quilts have waited patiently for other quilters, here at WIP Wednesday, over at *Freshly Pieced Fabrics.* Thanks, Lee! (And take a gander at her lovely fabric designs, as well as her Moda Bake Shop quilt!)
So glad Lee is back from Freak-Out Land (her words) and is hosting WIP Wednesday. Thanks, Lee. You don’t look the worse for wear.
Grading has arrived with a vengeance (see previous post), but I started putting borders around my autumn-colored Square on Square quilt.
Some have a nice contrast, and others disappear. It’s hard to know if I’ll like those in the end, but I know how to disguise them in a quilt: put them at the corners, or along the edges in the middle. I believe that sometimes it’s okay to not have all my blocks be the same: same style, same fabric, same contrast, as the variety can keep my eye moving around a quilt. Last night I went to see Kaffe Fassett speak and he showed a red and white quilt that had multiple reds and multiple whites. I love the punch of a two-fabric quilt, but multiple fabrics can be interesting as well.
And I decided I needed a new purse for fall. I’ve had a “Think Freddy” purse pattern for ages, and today was the day I dragged it out and started making it. I love her designs, but did remember that sometimes her directions really make you work hard for your results.
I finally had to stop tonight and clear away the sewing as I have to get back to grading tomorrow. This day of playing hooky has been fun. Here’s one finished side. I used my new pieces of Children at Play for the sides and scraps for the pocket. Inside is another piece of Children at Play — the soft aqua background with the paper airplane directions.
And here’s what I’ve chosen for the handle: colorful modernish art design. I’ve already got the lining already made (with 4 pockets, including a zippered one for my phone). So tomorrow after class, I’ll finish the handle, stitch it on, insert lining and sew it all up. I’m thinking I may put some buttons on here and there, but then again, maybe I won’t.
Click *here* to return to Freshly Pieced and see more WIP Wednesdays.
Now that we’ve found our new Six-Step process to alleviate fabric-aholism (see previous post, below), I wanted to show you my constructed closet (vs. de-constructed, all over the floor, spilling off the shelves, closet). This only took two days of moaning and then sending my husband on an out-of-town trip to take care of. And like I mentioned in the post last week, I found lots of interesting things. I mean, I knew I had them, but they had been back-burnered so many times as to be invisible.
Like this group of fabrics. No, they are not a “line” like we’re used to buying now (kind of like voting a straight party political ticket). I do like doing buying a line because everything coordinates, but this is from the early 90s, when variety was considered a virtue. I was inspired by a friend’s autumn-colored quilt that positively glowed on the wall of her book shop.
Covet.
This week, I rinsed then washed the batiks to rid the fabrics of excess dye, then ironed and folded them all.
This is my mock-up of what it could be. Nine-inch blocks. Elegant in its simplicity. But it will be richer looking with all those different fabrics shown above.
I decided to try it out.
Here it is for the dress rehearsal, all laid out. Yes, this is one of my famous I’m-in-my-jammies-nighttime-photo-shots.
Stitched! Now on to make 29 more of these. The colors are so much more subdued than I’m used to working with, but I don’t know–isn’t it just time for a quilt in fall colors?
That’s what I’m working on. And good luck to Lee on her fabric line. I may go back there to Freshly Pieced from last week’s WIP to see what you’re all doing THIS week.
OccasionalPiece--Quilt! 