Quilter's Journey
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The Queen of Blog...And What I've Learnd From Her
I love to read. Hands down, it's my favorite thing to do. All day long, I look forward to the last hour of my day. Peaceful quiet reigns through the house, my kids sleeping snuggly in their beds, and my husband spending his last few moments on the computer with all of his computer-land buddies. This is my reading time. As I slip into bed and open my book, picking up where I left off from the night before, the cares of thee world slip away from me. And lately I've been reading a great book about a great blogger, "Julie & Julia" by Julie Powell. It's the book that the movie by the same name was based on. It sparked my interest, and I read "My Life in France" by the great Julia Child. Now I need to get my hands on one of her cook books and cook my way through it. (Anyway, I digress from the point I wanted to make.)
So, I've been reading the words of the highly entertaining Julie Powell, who cooked her way through Julia Child's first cookbook. And she's inspired me. I want to be more serious about what I'm putting out here for my two faithful readers to read. And I want to find something better to write about. So here's where I'm headed.....
I'm going to really begin the journey that Quilter's Journey symbolized for me. I want to (metaphorically speaking, of course) cook my way through some of the greats in the quilting world out there. I feel I can really learn more from all of these people who have gone before, so to speak, and apply to my own journey towards becoming a master quilter. So I'm going to start with the great Kim Diehl. Now, she's a personal fav of mine (same names not withstanding) because I've actually met her and taken classes from her. Kim's teaching techniques set a high standard for anyone wishing to take up the instructional part of quilting. So I'm going to start with one of my favs that I have been longing to make: the cover quilt for "Simple Traditions". It's a beautiful wall hanging, with a dahlia in a basket gracing the exact center of this eye catching quilt. So I hope ya'll will join me on this journey toward learning from all of the greats in the quilting world.
So, I've been reading the words of the highly entertaining Julie Powell, who cooked her way through Julia Child's first cookbook. And she's inspired me. I want to be more serious about what I'm putting out here for my two faithful readers to read. And I want to find something better to write about. So here's where I'm headed.....
I'm going to really begin the journey that Quilter's Journey symbolized for me. I want to (metaphorically speaking, of course) cook my way through some of the greats in the quilting world out there. I feel I can really learn more from all of these people who have gone before, so to speak, and apply to my own journey towards becoming a master quilter. So I'm going to start with the great Kim Diehl. Now, she's a personal fav of mine (same names not withstanding) because I've actually met her and taken classes from her. Kim's teaching techniques set a high standard for anyone wishing to take up the instructional part of quilting. So I'm going to start with one of my favs that I have been longing to make: the cover quilt for "Simple Traditions". It's a beautiful wall hanging, with a dahlia in a basket gracing the exact center of this eye catching quilt. So I hope ya'll will join me on this journey toward learning from all of the greats in the quilting world.
Boy, It's Been a Long Time, Hasn't It?
Soooooo.....for the 4 people who actually read this, I've been experiencing major computer difficulties. Like my trusty laptop contracted a nasty virus (I'm still convinced it was a electronic version of the swine flu, but the techie who fixed it said it was just a Trojan. Horse, pig, what's the difference?) that it took almost 6 weeks to recover from. Of course, my working full time didn't help out the situation. So now it's back to the good life, with work only a few days of the week, and lots of time to sew in between.
Today's "Third Saturday Extravaganza" at Marilyn's Pickets and Patchwork over in Nyssa, OR turned out to be a total hoot. Pat, up to her usual ploys, dressed as the great pumpkin and delighted us all with witty descriptions of the happenings at the shop. We laughed and giggled collectively like a bunch of school girls, and it's sad to say but I'm probably the closest person to a school girl attending these monthly soirees at a respectable 32 years of age. Today I took a project I've been working on for the "Finally Finished" show-n-tell part of the day, and I proudly displayed my little wall hanging I've been working on since this time last year. The oohs and aahs of the crowd properly puffed me up, and I'm feeling quite pleased with my little masterpiece. I plan on displaying it for the upcoming holiday of Thanksgiving, and I'll include a picture for all of you when I've got it displayed properly.
Now it's back to fun projects for me. I'm currently working on what I'm always working on this time of year -- Halloween costumes! And yes, I am making one for each member of the family, including Mya's pet puppy, which is luckily stuffed and doesn't require walking or feeding, although she does take frequent naps. I hope to have those finished by later next week so I can get back to work on another quilt I've had on the back burner for about 6 months. Perhaps I'll have it finished by the next 3rd Saturday, earning me another (much needed) puffing up.
Today's "Third Saturday Extravaganza" at Marilyn's Pickets and Patchwork over in Nyssa, OR turned out to be a total hoot. Pat, up to her usual ploys, dressed as the great pumpkin and delighted us all with witty descriptions of the happenings at the shop. We laughed and giggled collectively like a bunch of school girls, and it's sad to say but I'm probably the closest person to a school girl attending these monthly soirees at a respectable 32 years of age. Today I took a project I've been working on for the "Finally Finished" show-n-tell part of the day, and I proudly displayed my little wall hanging I've been working on since this time last year. The oohs and aahs of the crowd properly puffed me up, and I'm feeling quite pleased with my little masterpiece. I plan on displaying it for the upcoming holiday of Thanksgiving, and I'll include a picture for all of you when I've got it displayed properly.
Now it's back to fun projects for me. I'm currently working on what I'm always working on this time of year -- Halloween costumes! And yes, I am making one for each member of the family, including Mya's pet puppy, which is luckily stuffed and doesn't require walking or feeding, although she does take frequent naps. I hope to have those finished by later next week so I can get back to work on another quilt I've had on the back burner for about 6 months. Perhaps I'll have it finished by the next 3rd Saturday, earning me another (much needed) puffing up.
Back to Work
Well, I've finished my big summer travel, so it's back to sewing I go. I've actually missed spending time at my sewing machine. Except for a small stint with a quick paper piecing project, I haven't touched my machine (or even fabric!) for the past month. However, I've spend plenty of time thinking about new projects. There are quite a few great small projects floating around in my mind, just waiting for a chance to jump out and become reality. Tomorrow I'll have time to begin on the first one. Stay tuned for more to come...
Summer Slump
The lazy, hazy days of summer are settling here. I've actually spent the past 5 days traveling. I had high hopes for getting some quilting in at my mom's, but the fabric I packed stayed that way the entire trip. I may just have to put everything on hold for the next three weeks except writing while I spend some more time at my mom's with my sister and her family that are visiting from Texas. Hopefully.... I'll keep ya posted on what's happening.
Patching It Together
Today I originally planned to attend the Council Quilt Show, but Judy and I both had surprises pop up, so we've postponed it until a later (to-be-determined) date. Luckily, I still managed to find a couple of hours to work on my current project.
My second "This & That" quilt is coming together quite nicely. I always love repeating a quilt pattern and implementing the tricks I figured out the first time around. Shaving off time and figuring out ways to speed the process are part of what make quilting so inviting to me. I happened upon a tip in a favorite pattern book that cut out an entire step in making 1/2 square triangles the way I usually do. I was almost giddy over the discovery, and I completed all 300+ pieces in a third of the time I took on the previous example of the pattern. I'm hoping tomorrow to finish up the blocks and get the entire quilt top constructed.
Right now, I still need to conquer the mountain of laundry before I hit the sack for the night.
My second "This & That" quilt is coming together quite nicely. I always love repeating a quilt pattern and implementing the tricks I figured out the first time around. Shaving off time and figuring out ways to speed the process are part of what make quilting so inviting to me. I happened upon a tip in a favorite pattern book that cut out an entire step in making 1/2 square triangles the way I usually do. I was almost giddy over the discovery, and I completed all 300+ pieces in a third of the time I took on the previous example of the pattern. I'm hoping tomorrow to finish up the blocks and get the entire quilt top constructed.
Right now, I still need to conquer the mountain of laundry before I hit the sack for the night.
Priorities of a Quilter
Today, as I stood over the mountain of laundry shouting at me, I thought about how if money was no object, I would hire someone to do everything but cook and quilt for me. No more laundry, dishes, mopping floors, scrubbing showers, or dealing with greasy hand prints on the walls and just cleaned windows. But, alas, I am no privileged princess, so to work I went. Finally, at 12:30, I sat down at the sewing machine and went to work. I spent two blissful hours stitching, pressing and admiring my handiwork. Tomorrow I plan to attend the Council Quilt Show and enjoy others handiwork, and be inspired to come home and spend Friday morning making something beautiful.
Shopping Trip
One of my very favorite places on the face of the earth is a quilt shop in Rupert, Idaho called The Gathering Place. Rupert, what? you say....Trust me, even though the town is small, the quilt shop is not. With over 10,000 bolts of fabric (that's over 100,000 yards of fabric!) and lots of other goodies cutely displayed throughout the store, it's a quilter's paradise. Even though I don't live 5 minutes from The Gathering Place anymore, my mom's house is only a 10 minute drive away from all that bliss. Whenever I get to spend some time there, I make sure to reserve an hour or so for browsing and dreaming.
Well, this trip, I got to do more than just dream about what I would do with the fabulous fabric lining all those beautiful shelves. I just got my last stipend check from the community college for costuming, and I earmarked it all for quilting. I took a couple of patterns I've been working on with me, and then I just let myself be inspired. My kids played happily in the toy corner (who needs toys when there is all that fabric goodness around?) and I slapped bolt after bolt on the cutting counter, feeling my delight grow in relation to the height of that stack. Finally, after an hour I bellies up and had the gals start cutting the lengths for me. When it was all said and done, I'd just about spent my wad, but I had enough fabric for 4 new projects, and countless ideas to incorporate into my new quilt pattern designs.
I've got a bunch of new ideas brewing, and I just survived another drive home from my mom's -- a drive that's supposed to take 3 hours, but somehow ended up taking 4 1/2 this time -- and I've got to make supper, unpack, start the laundry, and get the (grouchy) kids to bed on time. Hopefully tomorrow I'll have time to actually dive into creating something beautiful from all of my new fabric.
Well, this trip, I got to do more than just dream about what I would do with the fabulous fabric lining all those beautiful shelves. I just got my last stipend check from the community college for costuming, and I earmarked it all for quilting. I took a couple of patterns I've been working on with me, and then I just let myself be inspired. My kids played happily in the toy corner (who needs toys when there is all that fabric goodness around?) and I slapped bolt after bolt on the cutting counter, feeling my delight grow in relation to the height of that stack. Finally, after an hour I bellies up and had the gals start cutting the lengths for me. When it was all said and done, I'd just about spent my wad, but I had enough fabric for 4 new projects, and countless ideas to incorporate into my new quilt pattern designs.
I've got a bunch of new ideas brewing, and I just survived another drive home from my mom's -- a drive that's supposed to take 3 hours, but somehow ended up taking 4 1/2 this time -- and I've got to make supper, unpack, start the laundry, and get the (grouchy) kids to bed on time. Hopefully tomorrow I'll have time to actually dive into creating something beautiful from all of my new fabric.
Sweet Summer Vacation
So things are settling down into our summer vacation. My kids and I have established a routine, and I'm actually still finding some time to quilt. I haven't had a lot of time to actually quilt this week, but I've been working on patterns like mad. I've come up with 6 new designs that I'm very excited to get started on.
Starting a new project includes getting new fabric, so yesterday I visited a quilt shop in Nyssa, OR (about 15 minutes from where I live). Luckily, a really great gal named Pat was working, and she filled me in on all the great events going on at Marilyn's Pickets and Patchwork this summer. I got signed up for a really cool paper piecing block of the month and picked up some fabulous orange - or maybe I should say burnt sienna - fabric for one of the new designs I'm working on. It's supposed to be rainy and cooler for the next few days, so we'll see how much I can get done.
Starting a new project includes getting new fabric, so yesterday I visited a quilt shop in Nyssa, OR (about 15 minutes from where I live). Luckily, a really great gal named Pat was working, and she filled me in on all the great events going on at Marilyn's Pickets and Patchwork this summer. I got signed up for a really cool paper piecing block of the month and picked up some fabulous orange - or maybe I should say burnt sienna - fabric for one of the new designs I'm working on. It's supposed to be rainy and cooler for the next few days, so we'll see how much I can get done.
It All Comes Together
I love rainy days. I know that sounds weird to a lot of people, but there's actually a very good reason behind it. Growing up on a potato farm in Idaho, rainy days during the summer meant a break from the work outside, and usually a chance to do something just for fun instead. And today it rained. All day long. So guess what I got to do? Quilt!
I worked on This & That pretty much all day. I finished up the final bit of piecing, then stitched the entire block together, then the blocks in to rows, and the rows into a finished quilt top. I'm letting it stew like that for now, decided whether borders are really necessary for this pattern. I'm leaning towards not using them. But we'll see what night of sleep does to that decision.
I've really enjoyed playing around with this pattern, and I've come up with an idea that will allow me to test it out in a few different ways. Just like a musician practices their composing by doing different variations of a well known tune, I'd like to take this pattern and do a little playing myself. I'm thinking of doing an easy and an advanced version of this block.
The easier version will include taking out all of the half square triangles (and therefore the point matching) from the pattern, leaving a simple set of squares to design around. This variation will allow me to play with color a bit more, and how easily you can manipulate a design by changing the colors in tone and value. I'll probably also use more modern vibrant prints in this version, making it more of a project that showcases the fabrics and not so much the sewing a technique.
The advanced version of this block will include more piecing, including in the center square. I'm thinking of creating a secondary design within that block, which will create even more movement and drama within the quilt. Maybe a pinwheel type of design. (Sorry, I'm basically thinking on paper right now). I also know that I want to use really deep colors in this version, with probably some chocolate browns, deep reds, rich purples, and maybe even a pop of bright pink or green. Tomorrow I'll dig through my stash and put together a few scenarios, lay them out on my sewing table, and audition them over the weekend.
Maybe I'll get lucky, and it will rain all day tomorrow again. I can't think of anything that would be better.
I worked on This & That pretty much all day. I finished up the final bit of piecing, then stitched the entire block together, then the blocks in to rows, and the rows into a finished quilt top. I'm letting it stew like that for now, decided whether borders are really necessary for this pattern. I'm leaning towards not using them. But we'll see what night of sleep does to that decision.
I've really enjoyed playing around with this pattern, and I've come up with an idea that will allow me to test it out in a few different ways. Just like a musician practices their composing by doing different variations of a well known tune, I'd like to take this pattern and do a little playing myself. I'm thinking of doing an easy and an advanced version of this block.
The easier version will include taking out all of the half square triangles (and therefore the point matching) from the pattern, leaving a simple set of squares to design around. This variation will allow me to play with color a bit more, and how easily you can manipulate a design by changing the colors in tone and value. I'll probably also use more modern vibrant prints in this version, making it more of a project that showcases the fabrics and not so much the sewing a technique.
The advanced version of this block will include more piecing, including in the center square. I'm thinking of creating a secondary design within that block, which will create even more movement and drama within the quilt. Maybe a pinwheel type of design. (Sorry, I'm basically thinking on paper right now). I also know that I want to use really deep colors in this version, with probably some chocolate browns, deep reds, rich purples, and maybe even a pop of bright pink or green. Tomorrow I'll dig through my stash and put together a few scenarios, lay them out on my sewing table, and audition them over the weekend.
Maybe I'll get lucky, and it will rain all day tomorrow again. I can't think of anything that would be better.
A Minue Here, A Minute There...
Today's the last day of school for my son, and he gets out at 12:30. I'm taking every minute that I can this morning to sneak in some quilting. Today I've been working on piecing the blocks for my recently designed quilt, which I named This & That. It's fun retro print, with the graphic black, white and gray give it real modern punch that I'm loving more and more as I piece it together. I've really been focusing on piecing basics, so that my finished quilt will turn out looking crisp and well put together. I've got just over an hour until I need to walk over to the school, so I'll continue working away at all of these patches.
