January’s Three Finishes–FAL

January 31, 2013March 31, 2013 Elizabeth E.8 Comments

I’ve always wanted to say that I’ve had three finishes in one month. Well, in my mind, I’ve had FIVE, but two of the tops (the wonky Christmas stars and the wonky Christmas log cabin) are at the quilter and won’t be back until next month, so technically the binding and label is all that remain (and I’ve already cut the bindings!).

The first (or third) is my art quilt for our Four-in-Art group, which has its reveal tomorrow. I have to say I don’t think of myself as an artist, but instead, a creative person. But like anything in life, when that deadline starts looming, all of a sudden I start getting ideas. Tons, this time, but I only made one of those ideas. See you tomorrow for that.

The second is Into the Woods, my autumn quilt (follow the link to see that). And the third finish this month is Summer Treat.

I started Summer Treat last summer. I finished up the top, and it sat–like all good UFOs–but this one was all backed and pinned and ready for quilting. When I saw that I had a few hours to myself yesterday, and realized I could say those magic words: “three finishes in one month,” I pulled it out and started quilting.

Then binding.

And so here it is: Summer Treat. This is #105 on my list of 200 quilts. (Yes, I know I need to get the list updated.)

Detail. I stitched on either side of some of the rows and then diagonally on the side of the white Xs.

The backing and binding are the same fabric: some wild dots.

So, yay! I’m putting this up on the Finish-A-Long Flickr photo-sharing site, hosted this year by Leanne. I had resisted joining this group, but it’s been very good motivation to get some of these quilts finished up.

Update: Original Post showing all planned finishes is *here.*

Something to Think About · Textiles & Fabric

Fat Quarter Shop Dreaming

January 30, 2013 Elizabeth E.5 Comments

My fabulous sisters sent me a Fat Quarter Shop gift certificate for my recent birthday and I’ve had the most fun dreaming about what to buy. I think I’ve clicked on every category in their online shop at one time or another, but after picking out my purchases (one was that Noteworthy charm pack in the lower right), I went onto their “What’s Coming” section to see what I can look forward to. Here’s my list:

Ashbury Heights, by Dookikey Designs–I read her on Instagram and am happy to see that I like her upcoming line, with a modern twist, but different colors. Like all of us, I trend towards medium brights in my purchasing, and I like that she has some lights and darks in her line.

Madhuri, by The Quilter Fish–These are many of my favorite colors. Love the Far East references.

I need Christmas fabrics like I need a hole in the head, but that hasn’t ever stopped me before. I’m not really in the market for anything holiday, but I’m a total fan of Martha Negley, so just had to look at her Poinsettia and Holly line.

The Boo Crew–what can I say, but that’s it’s very cute. And the fact that it has text (one of my “traps” in buying–but not just any text–I have to personally like it) and is by Sweetwater, also recommends it. I know lots of lines have a fabric with words and writing on it, but like anything in life, there’a “bell curve” as to how useable it is. And if I want to give up shelf space in my stash to house it.

2wenty Thr3e, byt Eric and Julie Comstock–Okay, all text fanatics, here’s a good set. Their traditional picture is below, but I can’t quite tell what the base color is: grey-ish beige (photo below)?, or a true cream (middle stack in above image)?

Thesaurus, by Thomas Knauer–I saved part of my gift certificate to buy this when it lands this spring. I loved Thomas Knauer’s first line of fabric, then was so-so about the next two. This one looks like it will be another winner, if you ask me. (And yes, the fact that it’s named Thesaurus doesn’t hurt.)

Last one is Return to Atlantis, by Jason Yenter. I used his wintery line for a Christmas quilt I did a couple of years ago, and liked the quality of fabric. While I said Madhuri has all my favorite colors, this does too–only it’s as if you added black to the Madhuri line, or lightened up the Atlantis line.

So strolling through all of this made me wonder: do we let the materials of the artist determine the picture? Do paint artists see a certain blue in the paint store and run home to throw it all over their canvas? I think not. So do you think that quilters should let a certain line determine the quilt they are going to make? I’ve done this–my Harvesting the Wind quilt came about because of a stack of their fabric and a desire to make a quilt after a tile from Portugal I’d seen on Flickr.

Many days the trend pulls quilters one way, as I saw with January’s Scrappy Trip-A-Long quilts. We love groups, quilt-a-longs, tutorials, Moda’s bake shop, and so on. And I remember the brou-ha-ha over Emily Cier’s quilt out of Kate Spain fabrics (have we forgiven Ms. Spain yet?)–this came about because the quilt was exclusively made from Spain’s fabrics, and yet — -if you noticed the above post — I’m falling into the rut? trap? groove? of shopping complete lines of one designer’s fabric, rather than considering the artistic impulse, figuring out what I want to do and pulling fabrics from my collection to suit the artistic vision I have. I’ve learned that while a designer’s fabric line may prompt me to plunge into a quilt, if I don’t begin with the block and my layout first, the fabric tends to sit on my shelf because I’m buying THEIR vision, not my own.

But it’s still fun to dream.

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I went to Road to California — the quilt show — last weekend. Photos coming soon.

Four-in-Art

Four-in-Art, quilt 2

January 25, 2013January 21, 2013 Elizabeth E.3 Comments

This little pathetic, collapsed piece of dangly bits is where I found myself at the end of a day of invention as I worked on my second entry in our Four-in-Art art quilts group. We are still holding, the four of us. And from the dead place I spoke of last week, I’ve made progress.

Although I know it doesn’t look quite like anything yet, the quilt is coming along. Nicely, even. Reveal date is one week from today. I’ll be ready. Hey! I already have a title.

Quilts · WIP

Still Plugging Along

January 23, 2013January 21, 2013 Elizabeth E.7 Comments

Well? The name of this linky party is Wednesday Works in Progress, right? I’ve made great progress, for I’ve gotten some projects off the pin wall and other blocks out of the box.

This is the project I removed from the wall–the pillow shams for my wonky star quilt.

And here’s what took its place. The first version. I had made a lot of wonky blocks in blues, and then a bunch in green/reds. I had made these in November of 2011–so it’s been a while since I’d seen them, or even remember the idea I had. I think it was to intersperse the green/reds inbetween the blues, but when I tried that, I hate it. Of course, I was also watching the Inauguration and kept breaking off my concentration to wait for Mrs. Obama to appear so I could see what she was wearing to the Inaugural Ball. Jason Wu, apparently.

I like it better with just the blues. Now somehow I’ve got to get it together. Probably not this week–too many interruptions. Like going to Road to California quilt show. Or as I like to refer to it (because the jurors who pick the quilts seem to LOVE spangles and crystals on their quilts), Road to Hollywood. But still, it is a quilt show and there are vendors and lots of interesting people and old friends and good things to see and I’m totally jazzed about it. Any one else headed there?

So now I’ve got 19 green/red blocks that don’t have a home. Maybe I’ll put them on the back? However, I already purchased some lovely blue/white variegated thread to quilt it with. So two quilts? I only have enough energy to do one more Christmas quilt, so these will probably go back in the box until November.