Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Quilt News! Pineapple Block Piecing, Big Stitch Quilting Finish on my #1 Hourglass Medallion Quilt , Lake Wilderness Arboretum is Blooming, Hello June!

Spectacular orange Poppies at the arboretum.

Yellow Iris and blue Columbine.

My Pineapple Block so far.

Big Stitch hand quilting done, ready for binding now.

Lake Wilderness, with yellow Iris.

 

Hello Quilt Friends! 

Warm spring weather with a large side of blossoms here, please. We've been walking by the lake and enjoying the burst of blossoms and new green.

This last week I finished up big stitch hand quilting my #1 Hourglass Medallion Quilt with Sawtooth Borders, 30" x 30". I hand quilted it using #8 perle cotton. Now onto the binding then it's done.

 I have other projects I'm currently working on and I do read a lot of books on textile art, quilting and history. And with daily walks there is always something going on, that's why my projects don't get done super fast.

Also I have to add, I just read a super interesting book, Fabric The Hidden History of the Material World by Victoria Finley. History and Fabric, a fascinating read! I couldn't put it down until I was finished.

My first Pineapple block has progressed and I like it. Pineapple blocks devour a lot of scraps which is a good thing. It also takes practice to get comfortable with Improv Pineapple block piecing. Mary Hogan's book Log Cabin Improv Quilts has excellent tutorials on Pineapple Block quilts.


And that Quilt Friends is the news from the valley. I hope you're enjoying spring blossoms and reading some good books. What's your favorite blossom this time of year? Poppy, Iris, Peony?

I'll be by to visit.

Friday, May 12, 2023

Quilt News! Big Stitch Quilt Finish, Two Scrappy New Improv Quilts Started, More Four Patch in a Square Blocks Pieced, Happy Mother's Day!

New Log Cabin/Pineapple Improv blocks started, using lots of scraps.

Another scrappy start with left over Hour Glass blocks in the center.

My Hourglass Medallion #2 w' big stitch hand quilting.

Fourpatch in a Square blocks number 48. Unfinished blocks 6.5".

Finished !  Hourglass Medallion #2, 30" x 30".

 

Hello Quilt Friends, Happy Friday!

And it's almost Mother's Day! Happy Mother's Day to all moms. I hope you enjoy the day and the spring weather.

This last week I have been busy with piecing scraps together for two new projects and finishing big stitch hand quilting and binding my Hourglass Medallion #2 quilt.

I was influenced to start big stitch hand quilting by reading this excellent book, Big Stitch Quilting by Carolyn Forster. Carolyn's tutorials and photography are the best.

Log Cabin Improv by Mary Hogan, another excellent book, encouraged me to piece Sawtooth borders for my Hourglass Medallion #2. Her directions and photography are clear and precise.

With tutorials from Susies-scraps and Log Cabin Improv I've started piecing one of my newest projects, Scrappy Logcabin/Pineapple blocks. I have the logcabin centers pieced and will start the 'pineapple' process in the next round or so, Improv!

I also have to mention that I pieced a few more Fourpatch in a Square blocks for a total of 48. I'm taking my time and I plan to get up to 56 blocks for a quilt 42" x 48".

That is the news from the valley where warm sun is a treat after spring showers.

Have you started any new Improv projects? I'll be by to visit.