AHIQ and a Liberated Finish 2016

'Santa Clara Fog' 10" x  13" by Janie.

My 'Liberated Diamonds' small quilt, 12" x 16".

It's still cold and snowy here in New Hampshire!

I'm teaming up with Ann and Kaja working on improvisational, liberated, art quilts.

'Santa Clara Fog' is all done. It's part of my Santa Clara series; working with clear, saturated colors using white as a strong background or contrast. It has a lot of grey but it still belongs in the series.
I started with strip fabric I'd sewn and using a template I cut squares and added white strips to those squares. I squared those again this way and that and then arranged and sewed the blocks together.

My 'Liberated Diamonds' is also in Santa Clara style but has a strong dose of 'liberation.'  It's almost done just needs the binding hand stitched down on the back.
It's put together with 'x's and o's' style blocks.

I love working small I can get a lot of my ideas worked out quickly. 

Hope you're all staying warm and enjoying the season. I'll be by to visit!!

Fun Ideas for Holiday Break Time.....

 Holiday break time! Relax with family, read good books, watch movies, eat cookies, etc.
Here are a couple of enjoyable places to visit while relaxing.

Missouri Star Quilt Company comes up with so many great ideas. They have a wonderful take on a butterfly block, fun.
Butterfly tutorial

And over at Pam's blog, Hokkaidokudasai.blogspot , she's enjoying holiday with treats and stitching projects with friends.

Enjoy!!!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

"To us a child is born, to us a son is given...

and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 9:6 

Let the festivities begin!

Art/Modern Quilt finish, more Blocks, more Snow.

The sweet little prince who lives on the west coast.

More snow anyone?

Improv experiment #1 finish,  13" x 10".

More improv blocks made up.

Greetings from the North Pole!!

Not really, I'm in New Hampshire, but it's starting to look like the North Pole.

I hope you're having a Merry Christmas time. It's so close I'll just call it!

I've finished my small art, improv quilt, #1. It's the beginning of working out some of my designs from my design book. More to unfold, more blocks to play with.

The picture of my grandson, our oldest grandson, 6 months old, in front of the Christmas tree was so adorable I had to include it to cheer everyone up, he's the sweet little prince who lives on the west coast. He's learned to sit up and is now eating and enjoying bananas.  I'm in love again.

Have a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!!

I'll be back in January some time.

I'll stop in to visit.

Liberated Small, 3 1/2" Strip Blocks, Snow, Creative Fire

Time to get the snow blower out.

The little prince, unhappy.

The little prince, happy.

Cutting blocks to size, 3 1/2" sq.

Rows sewn together, 9" x 12".

Happy Friday from New Hampshire!!

There's been snow and there's going to be more snow. I'd better get used to it, right?

We're here helping my daughter's family with the arrival of their third child. He's now 2 months old and full of cuteness, time flies. 

I had a bit of time to experiment with some liberated blocks I'd made up. I cut them down to 3 1/2" sq. using state of the art technology, a cardboard template. It worked well, actually. 

I followed Gwen Marston's advice and didn't over think block arrangement. I bought her online course from iquilt, 'Abstract Quilts in Solids.' I love the way she talks about 'play time at the sewing machine,' in the course. That's the way to get into the flow; to relax and enjoy the process.

Hopefully you're able to stay warm where ever you are and keep the creative 'fire' burning.

How do you keep your creative 'fire' burning?

I'll be by to see what projects you're working on!

Butterfly for December, Butterfly Four Patch, New Blocks Liberated Style

Interviewing new block arrangement.

Design book ideas.

Butterfly for December 2016, Gaudy Commodore & Common Jay.

Finished the 2nd quadrant of my butterfly four patch quilt.

Liberated butterfly blocks, 4" x 4".

Happy weekend!!

Hope you got a lot done on your projects! I had a little time here and there which adds up.

I've started a new art/modern quilt. I don't know whether to call it minimal or maxi in style. Those are fun words to use sometimes when I'm in the right mood.

I've also finished another quadrant of my butterfly four patch. I decided to make it in quad fashion to help with color arrangement. I might design like that again it makes decisions easier and keeps me from getting over whelmed.

My calendar butterfly, the Gaudy Commodore is native to Africa and feeds on nectar. It's blue in winter form.

The common Jay Butterfly is a tropical swallow tail. They feed on nectar too. The males are often found cavorting in mud puddles.

You learn something new every day!

Well I have to run, a trip to the craft store is next.

Have a happy Friday!!!

First Snow, 'Liberated' Design Process, Batik by Laundry Basket Quilts

This is my design 'book', a simple writing tablet.

First snow, view out the front door.

Time to put up Christmas decorations and take fall decor down.

My order from Missouri Star Quilt Com. came.

My 'Butterfly Four Patch' quilt design in my design book.

My version of X's & O's liberated style in my design book.

Hope you all had a good Thanksgiving. I know I have so much to be thankful for. I used to hear my parents say that a lot and it kind of went over my head. But I'm on board now with being thankful and grateful, I totally get it.

Last week the first snow blanketed everything in Salem, New Hampshire. Lovely.

It melted in a couple of days. Back to cold and sunny today.

I wanted to share my 'design book' with you because I enjoy 'designing'; doodling a lot and it helps me stay focused. The more I take time to draw out my ideas the more satisfied I am with the outcome.

I highly recommend it. Nothing fancy or complicated but it works for me.

My order from MSQC came;  a Laundry Basket Quilts batik by Edyta Sitar. Her batiks are so fabulous. Her fabric designs are great too but her batiks are Wow. I do have a weakness for good batiks, so organic, so layered, so real life color. I must get a hold of myself.

Also, I ordered Missouri Star Quilt Comp.'s 'Mod Block' magazine, I think it's published once a year.

They have a lot of inspiration packed in that magazine, super!

Hope you have a good week full of design/dream opportunities. 

Designing is dreaming isn't it?

I'll stop by soon to see what you're up to!

'X' Blocks "4 x 4" Small Quilt Top Finished, November Butterfly

Pressing and trimming squares for X blocks.

November butterfly from my butterfly calendar.

'X' Blocks, liberated style, ready to sew rows together.

Beautiful fall picture out the front door.

The princess and her unicorn at the coffee shop.

Coffee and lunch @ local FarmHouse Roasters .

Happy Weekend!!!

From Salem, New Hampshire.

Didn't this week fly by?? Time goes fast when you're busy.

I got 'X' blocks pieced and sewn into rows to make my little X's & O's quilt top, 3 blocks by 4 blocks.

Each block is approx. 4" x 4", so the little quilt top measures 12" x 16".

The weather was clear and bright so we went out to a local coffee shop for lunch.

Great coffee and BLT's.

Thanksgiving week coming right up. Don't we have a lot to be thankful for?

 I look forward to stopping in to see what you've done on your projects. Have a good day and remember to take time to enjoy some fall goodness where you live!

X's and O's New Row Added, 'True Grips' Product Review....

Three X's across now, liberated and scrappy.

True Grips keep my ruler steady while cutting.

New turquoise batik added to the mix.

Happy Weekend from the Shire!!

New Hampshire that is. 

This week just flew by. We are still helping my daughter's family after her third baby. There's a lot to do in keeping a family and home running smooth.

I still get a little time in to work on quilts and stitching. I think it's more obsession than work as some of you can relate to.

This week I picked up a pack of 'True Grips' and a new ruler from my favorite local quilt shop, Pine Tree Quilt Shop. The 'True Grips' keep my ruler from slipping while cutting, I highly recommend them. They aren't paying me to say that either, they really work well.

While there I picked up a turquoise fat quarter because it's not only one of my favorite colors it's also going to look great in the mix.

One of my blogger/quilt friends, Maureen @ Mystic Quilter also claims turquoise as 'one' of her favorite colors, visit her and find out more.

I hope you're having a wonderful fall weekend and that you're getting work done on your projects. As always I look forward to stopping in and seeing what you're up to!

Liberated Scrappy X's & O's Kona Solids....

X's & O's blocks are 2" x 2" sewn.

I'm using Kona solids and some prints.

Happy weekend from New Hampshire!

The people who've lived here a while like to use the word 'traditional' a lot. It must mean something to them. I'm getting comfortable driving around town and finding the local markets. I like to strike up conversations whenever I get a chance while shopping, very friendly folks around here.

In my newest three projects I've used Kona solids. Kona cotton is generally less expensive but I notice it frays easily. It can snag easily and then 1/4" can be lost. But I wanted to work with it to get some solid colors and for that it's fine.

This small version of X's & O's is scrappy, using Gwen Marston's liberated approach. I bought Gwen Marston's course, 'Abstract Quilts in Solids' through iquilt.com . Excellent resource whether you're an experienced quilter or a newbie.

I'm still frequenting the local quilt shop, Pine Tree Quilt Shop. They have a good selection of Kona solids and other great fabrics etc. I've noticed a sample quilt, Blueberry Hill by Villa Rosa Designs 

at Pine Tree Quilts, very cool, geometric,  done in batiks. I'm attracted to that, take a look and see the pattern. Someday I'd like to do that pattern for myself in batiks.

Have a great day and remember to be thankful even for small things, it sure brightens up the day!

Modern Minimilist Square in a Square Blocks, Crocheted Football Baby Hat....

Square in a square blocks approx. 6" x 6"ea.

3 strips, 60" long, will be sewn together to make 18" wide.

Wood stacked for fire around back.

Younger princess doing princess things.

Baby gift from my daughter's friend, Lilian.

Happy Weekend!!

Happy Halloween, that's tomorrow of course.

There will be lots of candy here soon.

I've completed three rows 60" x 6" ea. soon to be sewn together to make a runner size for table or wall hanging. I used neutrals surrounding color squares for a modern look that I enjoy.

Fall is happening around here, wood has been chopped and stacked, football games watched.

In New England the Patriots are huge, of course.

The baby prince is growing and the young princesses are busy around the house.

My daughter's friend Lilian crocheted the cutest little football hat for the baby and crocheted an edging around football fleece for a baby blanket to go with it! So thoughtful.

That's the news from the shire.

Stay warm and dry and enjoy the season!

I'll stop by to visit and see your projects soon.

Butterfly Blocks, Union Oyster House, Fall Color...

We drove into Boston and ate here.

The little prince, 2 weeks old.

Fall color, looking out the back door.

I had time to increase to 20" x 20" this week.

Looking out the front door, fall color, beautiful.

More butterfly four patch blocks made up.

This was a busy week. Not a lot of time to sew but I did get time to increase my butterfly four patch from 16" x 16" to 20"x 20". To some of you with tons of time on your hands that might not seem like a lot but to me that's an accomplishment.

The little prince is growing and likes to cuddle and oh, did I mention snack and nap and then snack and nap again..... His mom of course does most of the work and I help out where I'm needed.

Fall is spectacular here with the show of leaves. My husband and I took a little time off and drove to Boston to see the sights. We got to eat at Union Oyster House, quaint interior, New England style.

The food was good, we had oysters and fish, hit the spot!

Hope your weekend is relaxing and rejuvenating!

I'll be by to visit and enjoy your projects, see you soon.

Butterfly Four Patch Quilt Blocks, New England Sights....

Cutting, sewing four patch butterfly blocks.

We drove through London Derry New Hampshire, the scenic 'apple trail'.

Four patch butterfly blocks sewn together.

Happy Weekend!!

Grand baby #4 made his appearance and is making his demands known loud and clear.

We had a little time for sightseeing along scenic roads stopping in at farmer's markets.

And I've managed to get a little time in for sewing.

Butterfly & four patch blocks work very well together. I like the neutrals as a backdrop.

My daughter crocheted the zig zag afghan under the butterflys.

It's very warm.

Hope you're all getting some walks in the fall air and enjoying the colors of fall.

I'll be by to visit soon!

Quilt design with a Minimalist Vibe, Fall Light....

Coffee station, I found a local grocer that carries Pike Place!

Formal dining room, cool chandelier.

Front lawn, morning light.

My Omnigrid cutting/ironing mat came today!

Happy weekend from the 'shire'! 

If you don't already know, I'm in New Hampshire helping with my daughter's family on the arrival of #3 grand child, which is soon to come. Home is Folsom, CA so we are a long way from home.

 The weather here has turned mild and sunny, delightful.

The little princesses are up to their usual business of play, fun, running around etc.

The cutting/ironing mat that I ordered from Nancy's Notions came today and I'm looking forward to making faster progress on my log cabin blocks. These blocks are for a new project using more neutrals and smaller amounts of saturated color for a minimalist vibe.

Speaking of color, Jeni Baker of In Color Order has a series of posts on The Art of Choosing Color.
She's able to clear up color questions and issues quick and succinctly. 

I hope all of you are having fun with your projects and I'll stop in to see what you're up to. Thanks for sharing!

Have a great day. Remember to take time and enjoy the fall air; invigorating.