Quilt News!! Piecing Experiments and Progress in 'Quilt Block Piecing Land,' Cindy Grisdela's Book Artful Improv Review....

I checked Cindy Grisdela's book Artful Improv out from my local library and followed her improv circle tutorial, one block so far.

 

My Checkerboard small quilt 12.5 x 12.5" is finished with binding, hand quilted/tied.

Boken Dish Blocks in batiks, solids and prints.

This little art improv quilt is my current inspiration for my new projects, 15" x 15".

Six Broken Dish Blocks, each block is 5" square when finished.

I've finished more scrappy hot pads for gift giving.

Strips cut to be subcut into squares to make more Fourpatch Blocks and Broken Dish Blocks....

 

 

Hello Quilt Friends!! Happy August. 

Sunny, summer afternoon here in the valley.

 I was just thinking my sewing worktable is beginning to look like Sherlock Holmes' laboratory. I have several projects scattered and piled on it in various stages of progress... Maybe the longer daylight hours have something to do with it???

Last week I finished more potholders for gifts, using up more scraps.

And I finished binding my small art improv 'Checkerboard' quilt using 1 1/2" squares cut from scraps. The small squares finished at 1". I hand tied every other square and hand quilted the borders.

Then to be on a different track I decided to use one of my small improv scrappy quilts that I keep on my bedroom wall as inspiration for starting some new scrappy projects. It has Broken Dish Blocks, Fourpatch Blocks and improv triangles and measures 15" x 15". What's not to like about Broken Dish blocks, Fourpatch blocks and improv triangles??? I'm having fun with the planning.

 Just last couple of weeks I've been reading through Cindy Grisdela's book Artful Improv. She has great communication ability and excellent tutorials as well as lots of tips on color choices. I followed her improv circle tutorial and it worked okay, obviously practice is the thing!! And I'm looking forward to reading her recent title Adventures in Improv Quilts too. I have it on hold at my library. It has good reviews.

 That is the news from the compound where we are all busy as bees. I hope you're enjoying the longer days of summer too. Progress reports anyone???? 

 

 

Quilt News!! New Broken Dishes Quilt Blocks Started, Hand Quilting and Hand Tying Finished on My Small Checkerboard Design Quilt with Borders and New Scrappy piecing for New Logcabin Quilt Started...

New Broken Dishes Blocks pieced with HST's.

My small Checkerboard Design Quilt with 1" finished blocks with borders ready to have binding sewn on now...

My stack of scrap piecing for the centers of new Logcabin style scrappy quilt.

 

 

Hello Quilt Friends!! 

We're enjoying cooler summer weather today in the valley, a relief from the heat. 

 

This last week I've been pulling out scraps and bigger pieces of fabric to interview for some new projects.

The smaller scrap pieces got cut into 1.5 to 2.5" squares and the bigger pieces were cut into strips 2.5 - 3.5" wide then into squares. I always save out pieces of yardage for use in backs. That way I feel like I have a head start on my coming projects. And of course I didn't get all my scraps and big pieces of fabric cut up but I now have a big pile of squares to have fun with.

 

I finished hand quilting and tying my small Checkerboard Design Quilt with Borders, the squares are 1" finished. I pieced them together as four patches to begin with, using a light dark, light dark pattern which of course is the checkerboard pattern. I then decided on two borders both light and approx. 3/4" wide finished. When I read Jesse Cutt's book Freeform Quilting and Patchwork I liked the look of a few of her quilts that she hand tied so I decided to hand tie every other small square on my quilt. And then I stitched a line of hand quilting along the borders. Binding is next.

 

A couple of days ago I read Linda's post @ kokaquilts about her piecing adventures and I noticed her Broken Dishes Block. I haven't stitched up a Broken Dishes block in a while and I like their puzzle effect pattern. So I have two blocks started, this will be a good adventure.

 

Then I like to have a Logcabin block project going on the back burner. I like the piecing process, figuring out the configuration and then sticking to it is a fun challenge and I'm using up small scraps as I go. I've started a new pile of centers. Here you can see my last Scrappy Logcabin Quilt top.

 

And that is the quilt news from the valley where I'm busy planning while walking in local parks enjoying the summer energy and color.  Bar-B-Cue anyone?

 

I'll be by to visit.

Quilt News!! Four Sixteenpatch Blocks with Improv Sawtooth Borders Quilt Finish! and a Book Review of Free Form Quilts and Patchwork by Jessie Cutts

Finished my Four Sixteenpatch Blocks with Improv Sawtooth Borders small quilt, 15.5 x 15.5"

Jesse Cutts' book Free Form Quilts and Patchwork, checked out from my local library!

This is my Snowball Blocks with Improv Sawtooth Borders quilt that inspired my Sixteenpatch Blocks with Improv Sawtooth Borders quilt, a red and white series just for fun.

 

 

Hello Quilt Friends!!

Sun and cool summer temperatures this morning, lovely!!

 

I finished my small quilt, Four Sixteenpatch Blocks with Improv Sawtooth Borders, 15.5 x 15.5", a few days ago. I wanted to use up some 1 1/2" strips of white and red I had on hand so the sixteenpatch blocks were made with 1 1/2" squares. I enjoyed the piecing challenge of sewing small squares, they remind me of small "jewels." I then decided to seperate the blocks with off-white sashing strips and then a white border and then of course the improv sawtooth borders. 

And the inspiration came from another small quilt I had just finished up, my Snowball Blocks with Improv Sawtooth Borders finished at, 19" x 24", also red and white. See here, Snowball Block quilt, for the inspiration behind my snowball block quilt.

 

My local library just made available to me Jesse Cutt's book, Free Form Quilts and Patchwork and I quickly checked it out and brought it home! It's a great book, good photography and excellent inspiration for projects, color and design. This book is designed with beginners in mind and experienced quilters who enjoy the process and thinking behind project and color choices. Jesse is a good communicator.

 

That is the quilt news from the valley where projects are being worked on and good quilt books are being read and studied! How are your projects coming along?? Read any good books lately??

 

I'll be by to visit! 

 

 

 

Quilt News!! Red and White 4 Sixteenpatch Blocks with Sawtooth Improv Borders Quilt Top Progress, Scrappy Small Squares Quilt Top with New Border Added.. June Rose Garden Walk Through..

My Scrappy Small Squares project, now 12" x 12".

4 Sixteenpatch Blocks with Sawtooth Borders small quilt top in red and white, finished approx. 16" x 16."

Local Rose Garden is gorgeous in June. 

Rose garden pathway and rose trellis. The air is full of the sounds of birds singing and bees humming.

.

 

Hello Quilt Friends!! 

It's been a cool summer here in the valley so far, excellent for walks through rose gardens and state parks.

 

I've been patiently piecing/sewing 1 1/2" scappy squares and red and white squares into two new small quilt top projects these last couple of weeks. And there is a method to my madness, this works for me: I sew the small 1 1/2" squares into 4 patch squares and then sew those together in rows or groups. In the 'scrappy squares project' I decided to use a specific pattern in the four patches. The offwhite and off white dot fabric 1 1/2" squares all went to the right top position and bottom left position in the 4 patch square with scrappy prints and Kona cotton solids filling in the other two spaces of each 4 patch square.

 

 

In my 4 Sixteenpatch Blocks with Sawtooth Borders quilt top in red and white I obviously used various red and white Kona cotton solids and an off white print by Tim Holtz, alternating red and white. And yes, I used a Kona cotton solid in orange for a few pieces, just to mix things up a little.

 

So as you can imagine with all the concentration required for small piecing/sewing and color arranging in these two new projects, I've needed to take breaks and get outside for walks and relaxation.

 

Also I have a new interesting quilt book soon to arrive on my local library holds shelf by Jesse Cutts, Free Form Quilts and Patchwork. I'm always on the lookout for color inspiration and a new spin on the 'quilt journey.'

 

That is the current quilt news from my sewing room to yours. What quilt books are you reading for color and inspiration lately?

 

I'll be by to visit. 

         

Quilt News!! Red and White Snowball Blocks with Sawtooth Borders Quilt Leads to Another Red and White Project, Piecing Small 1 1/2" Squares for New Improv Scrappy Quilt Projects

Piecing process for Scrappy 1 1/2" Squares project.

Another quilt project started, see photo below, here I've added a thin white border to the 4 sixteen patch blocks.. they are laying on my finished Snowball Blocks with Sawtooth Borders small quilt... seeing how a Sawtooth border would look with the 4 sixteen patch blocks...

Traditional design, I started with 1 1/2" red and white squares...

Finished Snowball Blocks with Sawtooth Borders small quilt approx. 19" x 25", this red and white project lead me to another red and white project....

Scrappy 1 1/2" Squares pieced, 8" x 10" so far.

 

 

Hello quilt friends!! 

We've had rain and clouds off and on for while, it's almost like we live in a rain forest.

I keep waiting for the sun to come out and it does once in a while for about 15-20 minutes and then it's gone. You have to 'make your own sunshine around here' and get on with life. So I'm remembering to be thankful and diving into projects with small pieces, that seems to help.

 

Last week I pulled out small sized scraps and trimmed them to 1 1/2" squares with my scissors. Before long I had piles of red and white squares; reds and whites from Robert Kaufman Konas and off whites from a Tim Holtz print. Then I pieced them into 4 sixteen patch blocks and put sashing between the blocks. Next I pieced a white border around the squares, the border will be 3/4" finished. So far so good...

 

And then there was the scrappy pile of other colors which I curated and edited into a mix I liked and added two whites/off whites to add calmness. That was my thinking. And now I'm not sure where the scrappy small 1 1/2" squares will 'go' but it will be an adventure and keep my attention.

 

And talking about piecing adventures you need to visit A Quilters Table and see/read about Debbie's beautiful new projects and her amazing finish, 'Banded' . She shares inspiration for new projects and color/design tips.

 

That's the quilt news from the valley, if you visit bring your umbrella.

 

I'll be by to visit. 

Quilt News! Improv Logcabin Blocks with Sashing Quilt Top Finish, Red and White Snowball Blocks with Sawtooth Borders Quilt Binding Progress...

Improv Logcabin Blocks with Sashing Quilt top finish!

Red and White Snowball Blocks with Sawtooth Borders getting binding sewn on.

 

Hello Quilt Friends! 

It's a cool sunny/cloudy spring day, lovely. A couple of days ago we had a day of heavy rain with hail, yes, hail in May.

I've finished piecing together my Improv Logcabin Blocks with Sashing, 22" x 26". The Logcabin blocks are 3" square, the sashing is 1" wide. I taped the top to the window for a stained glass effect for the photo.

Today I'm sewing the binding onto my Red and White Snowball Blocks with Sawtooth Borders Quilt. Almost a finish!! The red fabrics are various Robert Kaufman Kona Cottons. The white fabrics are various Kona Cottons with an off white print mixed in. The backing is a print by Janet Clare, Astra for Moda.

Looking for new projects, I'm considering a tomato pincushion, not just one but many, maybe this one by Jayne @ Jayne Stitches with a good YouTube tutorial. I like to sew along with tutorials sometimes, it keeps me company.

And Jill @ Sew the Distance has an interesting commentary on an antique quilt she has recently aquired. I enjoy her thoughts and questions and appreciate her coming across as a friend and not a 'know it all.'

That is the news from the valley, where progress is being made and the sun is shining!

Got any new projects in mind, small or big?? 

I'll be by to visit. 

Hello Quilt Friends!!! Improv 3" Square Log Cabin Blocks w' Sashing Project, Spring Blossoms and Color, Binding Finished on 3 Small Scrappy Art Quilts, Happy Cinco de Mayo!!!

Improv 3" Square Log Cabin Blocks (3" square) w' Sashing, layout progressing.

Camellia blossoms, gorgeous, at local arboretum.

 

3 Small Improv Scrappy Art Quilts binding finish.

Done!! Small quilts ready for gifting.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!! Pass the avacados and salsa please!! We lived in Texas for a while and they do know how to celebrate a good Cinco de Mayo!

Last week I finished the binding on my two smallest Scrappy Improv Art Quilts. 'Improv' because I used scraps and left over pieces and designed as I went. 'Art' because I imagined a skillful arrangement of color and design to brighten up a tabletop or room.

And I've been 'interviewing'/arranging my Improv 3" Square Log Cabin Blocks, 42 of them. Now I'm beginning to piece the sashing strips around them. The sashing strips are 1 5/8" wide. That's my current focus this week. Small finishes, small steps of progress, projects get done that way. 

I hope you're enjoying spring! Chips, salsa and a bar-b-que to celebrate a victory!

I'll be by to visit.