Distractions …

Posted on September 15, 2013 by quiltify

For September I have planned to do other things besides quilting.  I recently retired so I can allocate more time to sewing, piecing quilts and longarm quilting…travel, life…I could go on, but before I do all these things I have chores to do.  I have worked from home in one form or another for most of my 37 year insurance career. My daughter is returning to the USA (yay!) after living in Europe for seven of the last eight years, and bringing her husband with her.  They will stay with us while they get settled here.  As my APQS longarm took over my daughter’s bedroom, I had to change my office into a bedroom.  Conveniently, I retired!  As it turns out, I still manage to involve quilts as a minor character in my September endeavors…so far.

Unfortunately, I did not think to photograph my office before taking it apart.  I will say the three by six foot standing desk at the entrance of the room concealed the size of the room.  This room was originally my daughter’s nursery, hence the blue wall (see my Quilt for Baby blog entry for the explanation).  Here’s what the room looked like once it was cleared and before the makeover.

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So here’s the blue wall.  I retained the shelf, a little sentimentality with a nod to the nursery.

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On my sewing machine, I pieced and free motion quilted a wall hanging to serve as a headboard to the bed.  However, I don’t know how much I like the wall hanging.  B. likes it a lot. I heard H. said he liked it, but he might be humoring his MIL.  C. doesn’t like it.  When I designed this, I was trying to be a little modern, and wanted negative space to free motion quilt.  I might make another wall hanging for this spot.  I’ll see…

I have made a quilt top to match in color, but to not match in design.  I just have to quilt it.  I’m not sure I’ll get to it before they arrive.

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Here’s the rest of the room.  It is really a nice, light and airy room.

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And to show the prospective occupants that Honey and Charlotte (their cats) will be at home here, when they arrive in advance…

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This is their water fountain.  I haven’t figured out how to put it together yet, but I will.  This water fountain isn’t supposed to be near their food or litter.  So it was an easy choice, the fountain goes in the bedroom!

On a side, I have had cats most of my life, but I don’t like how they jump on the kitchen counters, so I have devised this temporary fix to keep them out of the kitchen:Image

This is some of my practice muslin on two tension rods in the doorway to the kitchen.  Here’s hoping it works.  Oh, and yes, I know, the feathers are upside down!  OK, so that was my week!

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Blending Old and New …

Posted on September 1, 2013 by quiltify

I have a dilemna.  Here it is:

IMG_2655Emmie made this quilt over twenty years ago, sewing the dresden plates by hand.  Amazing.  She hates it.  At the time, a friend offered to quilt it for her to see if she’d like it any better.  She stitched in the ditch.  But Emmie doesn’t like the off-white background and blue borders, so all the quilting in the world won’t change that.   It’s been in her closet for twenty years.  She’s asked me to fix it.

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IMG_2657The colors are vibrant.  She’d like to tone it down.  The background and borders do not match her present tastes.  How do I turn this quilt into a more modern quilt while preserving the hand stitched dresden plates?  Oh, and there is one more problem:

IMG_2659The plates were hand stitched onto all three layers…background, batting and backing. Consequently, I can’t just remove the plates.  I’m thinking of cutting within 1/4 inch of the  plate, removing the batting just from under the white section and see if I can turn/press the white fabric under the plate.  The plates would then have extra batting under them but that would be fine, I think, adding a little extra dimension to them.  However, then there’s the problem of sewing the plate onto the next quilt top…did I say I don’t hand sew…without compromising the beauty of the handstitching.  She’s thinking of a black and white large check for the background, or perhaps varigated dark gray?  But no decision has been made and the trip to search the fabric stores for the proper color top is waiting for the mechanics of the change to be worked out.  I would love suggestions on how to reposition the plates and suggestions for the background color.  So please, feel free to opine!

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Quilt for Baby (or for baby’s vision)

Posted on August 26, 2013 by quiltify

I’ve been working on designs for quilts for babies as compared to baby quilts.  As adults we are attracted to lovely pastels for baby quilts, which often match the nursery or are indicative of the baby’s gender.  These baby quilts look pretty to us, but do they visually stimulate the baby?  I don’t think so.  Please note that this is my opinion based on vision experts; such as, the AOA, and also based purely my own experience from studying art and from motherhood.   As I interpret the experts, initially babies prefer high contrast as well as light, shapes, and movement.  They then start working on focusing and later on differentiating between colors.  Knowing this, can you imagine how boring a pastel quilt would be to a baby?  I think I can.

Some people talk about black and white for the high contrast, but who wants to only surround the baby with black and white?  I wouldn’t.  So, I am working on a general design with high contrast, some color, and detail with contrast.  For my daughter, I concentrated on a deep red, deep royal blue, and white.  It raised quite a few eyebrows at the time.  Before she was six weeks old, I was daily creating numerous construction paper mobiles, which would entertain her…for a bit.  She never slept during the day more than 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the afternoon.  She was bright, alert and ultimately became artistic.  Is this due to her soul, genes,  color work or many influences?  I think all of these, but who really knows?  However, if the color work helped to stimulate her and kept her less bored in the early stages of life, then it was well worth it.  I believe babies are very smart souls stuck in a body that does nothing!  This is why I want to make some quilts for the baby, not for the adults.

So…this is what I’ve come up with for the first quilt.

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IMG_2605This picture shows the quilt top on the longarm before quilting.  I have the high contrast with the black and white, but in a limited quantity so the black isn’t overwhelming.  I have the strong solid color, the orange, for another contrast.  The bicycles are detailed, which will work on the baby’s focusing.  And maybe the baby will grow up to be another Bradley Wiggins type?  Did I mention this is gender neutral?

IMG_2617 IMG_2618 IMG_2625 IMG_2637I quilted large free-hand swirls to bring some motion to the bicycles.  I made the quilting loose so the it would be soft.  In addition, I have washed the quilt so it will be fresh and clean for the newborn.  This way the parent will not be afraid to wash it.

Opinions?  Any suggestions for the next one?  If you are an opthalmologist or child development expert, am I nuts?!   Let me know.  Happy sewing!

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Fabric addiction surfacing…

Posted on August 11, 2013 by quiltify

I ran over to the fabric store to pick up a backing fabric for a toddler quilt that I am making…2 yards, which would equate to about $20.00.  That’s it.  One of the sales people, who knows me, said she had to tell me about their sale.  I, of course, said I wasn’t interested.  I was just picking up one item.  “No,” she said, “you need to listen to this sale”.  She proceeded to tell me they were selling much of their fabric for $3.00 per yard if I bought what was left on the bolt.  Now, fabric at this, my go to fabric store, generally runs between $9.00 to $11.00 per yard.  However, it recently changed owners so they are changing fabric styles.  Hence, this amazing sale.

I was flustered a bit while I figured out how to approach this unbeatable, possibly once in a lifetime, fabric sale.  B. thought this was going to take a while so he said he’d go sit in the car and to take my time.  However, once I had a plan of attack, my purchasing took me all of five minutes. I decided to fill my stash with accompanying fabric; ie, generally plain fabric or one color and white.  This way, I’ll have something to turn to when I need just one more fabric or a backing or just want to sew an on the spot project without having to run to the store.  B. was amazed when I walked out of the store five minutes later with these under my arm.  Or, not really fitting under my arm…

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So  41.5 yards cost me $124.00 with the sale, but the value is over $410.00.  How could I resist?

…And, I had ordered more of this bicycle cloth over the internet, because this same store had run out.  This fabric is Cruzin’ by Barbara Jones, who was wonderful to deal with by the way.  This arrived on Saturday as well.

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For comparison, this lot is 2.75 yards, which cost me, with shipping, $32.17.  I received a deal on shipping because there was an odd cut, so I purchased it and Ms Jones paid for some of the shipping…big difference, nonetheless.

So, all in all, an expensive weekend.  But it was also a weekend of savings, as ultimately I would have paid full price.  Do I dare return to the store?  Happy Sewing!

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Feathers…

Posted on August 2, 2013 by quiltify

I’ve been practicing feathers.  It’s not exciting, but it can be rather hypnotic.  I get into a zen-like trance and go with the flow, but then suddenly I’m out of it and that’s when I lose the shape, assuming I had the shape.

IMG_2574I need to get to the point that it is second nature.

IMG_2576Practicing going sideways…

IMG_2575And…IMG_2581Well, I think you have the picture.  I think this weekend will be more of the same, if I get into my ‘studio’.

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Travel Accessories

Posted on July 24, 2013 by quiltify

Those who know me well, know that I have a travel packing addiction.  My perfect bag must be light and efficiently packed.  In fact, I’m surprised I hadn’t mentioned my general container addiction before this…or maybe I have.  I can’t tolerate a room without a purpose or a container without a function.  So in the area of travel, I am always searching for the perfect suitcase and organizers.  Did I mention my daughter and her husband live on a different continent?  Well, yes.  That’s another tidbit of personal information, which is off topic.  Nonetheless… Consequently, seven of the last eight years I have traveled frequently and have thought about packing even more often…because I am crazy.  However, no matter how often I travel, there is always something that needs perfecting about my bag.  Several years ago, just before leaving for the airport, I decided my hard-sided eyeglass cases were too bulky and heavy for my purse.  Yes, I know contact lenses would solve that problem, but I never have been a fan.  Anyway, in a few minutes I whipped up a rough solution for the trip.   initial caseThis was just a machine quilted remnant, folded over and sewn closed with a zigzag stitch, using the color thread that was in my machine at the time.  There was no thought to this, just a quick solution to a problem.  I used these for years.  I even whipped one up for B. for his shirt pocket so his glasses would not continue to slip out of his pocket any time he bent down.  The other day Bob asked for some more cases for his assorted sunglasses.  So I improved the design.IMG_2589These are made for my reading glasses.  They are made out of my practice quilted muslin and a colorful fabric. They are light but protective.IMG_2594These larger cases are for my sunglasses.  B.’s containers are slightly more manly.

I plan on opening an Etsy store in a couple of months, The Quiltify Shop, so perhaps I’ll put this product on the virtual shelves, along with this tablet container:IMG_2451

…which I’ve already shown to you.  And maybe a camera case…colorful hidden pockets…and I can see my container addiction going wild!

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The Final Lily Quilt

Posted on July 20, 2013 by quiltify

The fourth Lily memory quilt is finally finished and delivered.  These quilts were fun to make and quilt.  This last one was particularly fun.  I deviated slightly from the norm in this one.IMG_2553IMG_2555I varied the type of rows to give the quilt top a little more movement.  I also slashed down one side of it, because I felt like it.  I’m happy I did.  I like the over all effect.

IMG_2559I had wanted to make the back out of the material that I used on the prior three quilt backs.  Unfortunately,  when I went to do this, I realized I didn’t have enough of the black fabric with red circles.  I had to add a material that I had in my stash so I chose a material that I love, but hadn’t been able to find a use for yet.  Now that I see this material with the black, I might just use these two materials alone in another quilt.  Anyway, the quilts are finished and it is time to move on to another project.

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Pilfering tools from the workshop

Posted on July 18, 2013 by quiltify

I am slowly pilfering tools from B.’s workshop.  Although considering how large his workshop is and how minimal the tools look in photographs…I don’t think he’s going to notice.  Nonetheless, I’m feeling rather like Tim The Toolman, “ARARARAR…”IMG_2545 So I have a level to make sure Millie is standing upright and straight.  The tape measure works much better than a sewing tape measure, and is easier to use squaring quilts.  The Allen wrenches are for all things Millie.  One lone plumber’s wrench…which I am sure has an official name, but that’s what I call this style.  And then a few extraneous parts and rulers for Millie, which I did not pilfer.IMG_2546I did abscond with these squares.   I really like them for squaring my large quilts.

IMG_2564 IMG_2565I particularly like this square as it acts as a measure also, which is particularly handy when trying to square a large quilt on the floor.IMG_2561And this flower shaped holder (definitely not from B’s workshop) is on top of Millie holding a various assortment of found screwdrivers, a thread cutter, and yes an ordinary, short, tape measure.  Now that I have documented my ‘finds’ and they don’t look like so much, I think I’ll see what else I can pilfer from B’s workshop…knee pads might be nice because I inevitably end up crawling around the floor for one reason or another.  Do you find you tend to ‘collect’ handy tools from around the house to use in your sewing/quilting area?

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Some Accessories for Millie

Posted on July 12, 2013 by quiltify

I know it is silly to get excited about this, but I am.  I placed an order with APQS for the first time.  Not that I want to order from them too often, but the experience was a pleasure.  The APQS parts department, Brenda (I think that was her name, but don’t hold me to it) actually listened to me and Millie’s accessories arrived with no errors.  They arrived on the exact day that I was told they would.  And I even received the instructions I might need in the future.
IMG_2541 Here are my new micro-handles for when I am ready to do small details in my own quilting designs.IMG_2542I am prepared also with more 4.0 needles, a hook finger, and a hook assembly.  I’m told that I should hope to need the hook assembly as it means I’ve been quilting a lot!IMG_2543 Here is my new base extender as I am now ready to incorporate straight lines that are not horizontal or vertical into my quilting play.IMG_2548It looks pretty sweet, I think.   I believe I only keep it on when I plan on using it, but I have not researched this.  So if anyone knows if I can just keep this on for every quilt, please let me know.

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Choosing the best quilting…

Posted on June 23, 2013 by quiltify

To refresh your memory, this is the final quilt top from Lily’s bandanas, which were apparently her favorite accessory, next to her people, of course.  Lily, was a lovely golden retriever who resided with her family on the coast of New England.  I worked this quilt top up a little differently from the other three.  First, I wanted some negative space to really play with some custom quilting.  Second, I varied the size of the block to break up any monotony.  But then, the pieced top just looked too square.  It was probably just the mood I was in at the time.  It just looked too…expected.   So I slashed down one slide, which gives it a slight baroque effect.  B. was a bit horrified when I told him what I was going to do.  Now he says it is different, he likes it OK, but he doesn’t know what the experts would think.  I’ve never been one for necessarily following experts, unless they agree with my gut.  However, I would like the owner to like it.

My issue is that now that it is finished, I’m not sure I want to custom quilt it after all.  I don’t want too much noise on and about the colorful squares and rectangles.  On the other hand the negative space, the three black squares and my black sliced area, does call out for some attention, I think.  And on someone else’s hand, a pantograph might look really pretty.  So how do I decide what to do?  Here’s the top:

ImageImageImage Keep in mind, that this is on a hill, slanting in two different directions, but it is the flatest area in the yard.  I can assure you the top has been squared.

Any ideas on pantograph versus edge to edge versus all custom?  What would you do?  Would you have kept the quilt top square or do you like my slice off of one edge?

And, my gosh, aren’t there a lot of weeds in my lawn?

 

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