Quilt News, Color Calendar Color of the Month, Nine Patch Border Pieced On, Yoko Saito's Book Patchwork Bags and Accessories

Color for September, brown!

Wood furniture brown.

Wild Rabbits are brown.

Late summer browning landscape.

Different browns in tree bark.

And more brown, dry grass.

Brown Feathers on an Osprey.

My Summer Quilt 2 with Nine Patch Border pieced on.



Quilt News and it's September almost fall!

My color calendar color of the month is brown. It's a color that's everywhere, sometimes easy to overlook. I've posted photos with brown objects we see all the time, brown adds depth and fullness. 

This week I got the Nine Patch border pieced onto my Summer 2 quilt. I used light shirting plaids with Kona Cotton solids, a blue calico and grey bird print I found at Jo Ann fabric several months ago.
I'm planning to add a few more borders. All the fabrics are scraps and pieces I've used in other projects.

And that is the news from the valley where the color brown is being appreciated. I'm still studying neutrals and brown tucks neatly into that world.
I have Yoko Saito's book, Patchwork Bags and Accessories, published by Stackpole Books, the collection of brown, neutral and taupe fabrics used in the projects is gorgeous. It's a great book for appreciating construction techniques and beautiful, Japanese fabrics.

That Quilt Friends, is the news from the valley, where we are looking forward to fall. 
How are your projects coming along?
I'll be by to visit.

Quilt News, Happy Friday From the Valley! Piecing & Arranging Summer Quilt #2, Piecing Nine Patches for Border

Beginning of Summer Quilt #2, arranging units, several months ago.

Wild flowers along Coyote Creek Trail, goldenrod and thistle.

The trees in the background are cottonwood and willow.

This small quilt, Grey Star, finished last summer, has a sawtooth border and Summer Quilt #2 will get a similar border outside its nine patch border.

Piecing and arranging nine patch blocks for next border on Summer #2 quilt.

This ornamental plum tree is outside my window, I like the red-purple leaves.

More wildflowers along Coyote Creek Trail.

Nine patch border getting longer.

This is Coyote Creek, mostly dry right now.

The Coyote Creek Trail is on top of the levy here.

Wild Fennel and thistle, note the dry grass, that's where the Gold State gets its name.

Quilt News and Happy Friday from the valley!

The big move is over, adjusting is currently on the ticket.

Yes, I've mixed up the order of my photos because I like the colors mixed up.

The temperatures are cooler here but it's still dried out. Last week there were some wild fires in the surrounding hills and for a few days air quality wasn't good. But this week the wildfires are under control and the air is a lot better, thankfully.

And I've been piecing a nine patch border for my Summer Quilt #2. A sawtooth border will go outside that next, similar to the sawtooth border on my small summer quilt I named Grey Star. That little quilt, Grey Star, was finished last summer. 

That, quilt friends, is the quilt news from the valley where progress is being made!

What projects and colors have you been dreaming about?

I've been thinking about and studying neutrals/low volume colors lately.

Stop in and visit Jean Wells, she has some great ideas on color for a class she's putting together. She gets a lot of inspiration from her garden.

Always remembering to be thankful.

I'll be by to visit soon.

Quilt News: Primary Plaids Quilt Finish, a Visit and a Move to Cooler Temperatures Coming Soon.

Color calendar color for August, blue!

Canoeing on the river, this is for celebrating blue.

Hand quilting in process, some basting threads still in.

I trimmed the backing 1/2" over and folded that onto the front for binding, then hand stitched it down.

My 'Primary Plaids' small quilt mostly finished, just a bit more hand quilting maybe.

Plaid patchwork close up.

Soft cottons, lovely.

My Grandmuffin and I doing pattycake. She is a sweet little one!

 

Hello from beside the river!

We'll be moving this week into cooler temperatures. The river has been so enjoyable, the walks and wildlife fascinating.

And our little grandmuffin came to visit us, with her caretakers of course, who are doing a fine job. We had a wonderful time.

Quilt news, this week I've mostly finished up 'Primary Plaids'. I might add a little more hand quilting. It's a small utility quilt, and has a homey, comfortable feel and look. Piecing and quilting were done by hand.

I also figured out my roadblock with the new Google blog interface! My oversight entirely. But I still think  Google customer service should be improved.

And that is the quilt news from beside the river. I'm looking forward to getting to use my sewing machine again and cooler temperatures. Remembering to be thankful right where I'm at.

How are your quilt adventures coming along? 

I'll be by to visit.

Quilt News, Primary Plaid Small Quilt Layered Ready for Basting, Calaveras Big Tree Visit, enjoy Summer!

Calaveras Big Trees State Park

My small quilt, 'Primary Plaids', hand piecing in progress.

Primary Plaid backing in yellow plaid and my copy of Liberated Quilt Making ll.

Yellow plaid backing in morning light.

'Primary Plaids', layered ready for hand quilting.

Closer view, of improv piecing, fun don't you think?



Quilt News from beside the American River.
And it's hot and sunny here, I hope you're enjoying your summer.

Last Tuesday we visited Calaveras Big Trees State Park. It was a hot day but the trees were impressive and the forest smell was intoxicating. Note to self; when going on a hike in hot weather, go early and bring plenty of water. We did both but I saw an older couple who didn't bring enough water and looked heat exhausted, I think the First Responders had to come and rescue them, really.

I finished hand piecing my Primary Plaids small quilt and layered it with batting and backing, ready now for basting and hand quilting. It goes with my color calendar color of the month, Primary. And actually we know that the primary colors are three, red, yellow and blue. But that's okay, I'm flexible! 
I used cotton fabric from shirts I picked up at the local thrift shop. Wouldn't you know it, they were perfect for my primary color theme.

You know what's exciting? My color calendar color of the month for August is blue! I peeked ahead.

And we're probably moving in a week or two back to Santa Clara Valley, some call it Silicon Valley.
I will miss the quiet here and watching the wild turkey families tour for bugs.

And that, Quilt Friends, is the quilt news from beside the river.
Where we're remembering to be thankful and helping others as we can.

Hope you're enjoying color and process and I'll be by to visit!

Quilt News! Color for July Primary, Study in Green, Hand Piecing Project Progress

Color calendar color for July, Primary; red, yellow, blue!

A Study in Green, inspiration photo, taken in Maple Valley WA.

Study in Green, blocks began with hourglass challenge.

New Kona Roll-Up, Spring Meadow Palette.

This is the beginning of my hand piecing project, Primary Plaids.

More progress here.

And more....

This is how it stands as of today.

Back View of Primary Plaids.

                   Quilt News from alongside the American River, where temp.s are in high the 90's, it is July after all!

This week I finished more hand piecing on my quilt project, Primary Plaids, naming it for the July color on my Color Calendar. I want it to be longer than wide, haven't decided on when to stop.

It's fun to work on because I'm doing it 'old school', no rotary cutting, no sewing machine.

Then my Kona Cotton Roll Up in Spring Meadow Palette came in the mail. I'm going to use it to fill out my green blocks started with the AHIQ Hourglass challenge. Slowly but surely things will get done.

I'm in no hurry right now.

So Quilt Friends that is the quilt news from along side the river, where I'm remembering to be thankful and praying for healing for our nation. We don't deserve his mercy but he is a good God.

I'll be by to visit.

                                  

Quilt News Along the River, Hand Piecing Progress and Thankful for the Fourth of July!

Many years ago with one of my darling babies.

Fourth of July fireworks stand in town.

Hand Piecing into sections and arranging.

A different angle.




Happy July and almost the Fourth already!
Quilt news from along side the river where temperatures are in the 90's this week.

There are firework stands open around town and I heard some experimenting with fireworks going on last night. I think sparklers were my favorite when I was a kid. What was your favorite?

And I am grateful and thankful for all those who through the years have held our nation dear enough to serve and give their lives for our freedom and safety. And for those simple folk in my family who immigrated to this nation in hope of a better life. Who farmed and while not ever being rich, they had food and clothes and safety and self respect.
My God we have so much to be thankful for!

More hand piecing has been accomplished. It's not the fastest process but after a while when your hand eye co-ordination improves you pick up speed. And I have found a YouTube video showing the hand piecing technique of Mieko of Mieko Happytime. She does amazing work. Her blocks and fabrics are beautiful. 

That my friends is the quilt news from along side the American River. 

Is freedom really the ability to do anything you want whenever you want? I overheard a veteran say after he had been complimented for serving our country and protecting our freedoms, 
'You know, real freedom is a state of mind.'
God bless him and all those brave veterans who have served and gave their lives for our country.

Quilt News, Hand Piecing Plaid Blocks, Wild Turkeys, Happy Summer!

Fountain at El Dorado Hills.

Folsom, Old Town clock tower.

Neighborhood Wild Turkey.

Hand piecing patchwork, fabric from thrift shop.

Happy summer and Father's Day!

Quilt News from alongside the river.

The weather is hot and good for morning sightseeing. 

The local wild turkeys stroll through the neighborhood in the morning looking for bugs. There are several adults and various sizes of youngsters, peeping as they scratch along. Fun to watch.

I hunted through a thrift shop and found some cotton plaid shirts, just the thing for a summer project.

I cut them up and measured out the fabric and I don't think the price I paid for them was any better than I can get for yardage using coupons at Jo Ann Fabric. And when Missouri Star Quilt Company has a Daily Deal and offers free shipping, it doesn't get better than that.

So I'm not at all won over that using thrift shop clothing is any great deal.

I suppose if you compared that price with the super expensive yardage at specialty shops, $14.00 a yard, well thrift shop old shirts are a better price.

Anyway it's a good experiment, and I think there's an art to shopping at thrift shops, the more you practice the better you get at it, so I've heard.

Happy Father's Day! I was going through old photos and found one of my Dad in his younger days, I sure miss him. He was dedicated and steady, priceless!

Hope you're making progress on projects, I'll be by to visit.

Remembering to be thankful alongside the river.