Quilt News 4 August! New Piecing for quilt 'Suppose', 4 Challenges in 1 'Mostly Green' Quilt Layout Progress, Hand Quilting Progress on Orange X Block Quilt, Garden Photos

A walk through the neighborhood.

I believe this is a Dutch Iris.

'Mostly Green' quilt layout possibility, deep brown 'Espresso' squares have replaced the 2 purple squares.

Garden lights.

More hand quilting progress on Orange X Block Quilt.

Mostly Green Quilt 'interviewing' layout possibilities in b/w.

Blocks and units that might be part of my new quilt 'Suppose.'

 

Quilt News from the valley!

Where it's August and summer temps are making life easy.

The last couple of weeks I've been hand quilting my Orange X Block quilt, pieced with left over parts and scraps. Hand quilting gives an organic, soft look to quilts, just lovely.

And I've been pulling out scraps and putting together units and blocks to be added or considered for my newest improv quilt, 'Suppose.' It's going to be the sampler kind and probably asymmetrical.

Then I finally finished the nine patches and four patch blocks that I wanted to go into my 'Mostly Green' quilt.

This quilt has been in progress for quite a while, it has a long history!

It first began as Sixteen Patch blocks for a green block challenge. I finished 9 sixteen patch blocks, mostly green, each block measures 8". What to do with them I didn't know so I put them away. Once in a while I took them out and looked at them.

Time went by and I noticed a challenge in AHIQ, I think it was, and it was making a quilt similar to one of the quilts in Rodney Kiracoff's book showing his collection of quilts, Unconventional and Unexpected.

Linda @ kokaquilts pieced up a great quilt using one of the quilts in his book as inspiration.

And the design idea of scale was an aspect of that particular quilt design.

Then another challenge came up in AHIQ, Scale, Aha! I started thinking, what if..?

Then wouldn't you know it another challenge comes up in AHIQ, asymmetrical/symmetrical.

Another Aha!

I thought, 'Why couldn't I combine 4 challenges into one quilt? Then I had a reason to solidify a design!

So the color green block challenge and the AHIQ challenge for making a quilt inspired by a quilt in Rodney's book and the challenge of using scale and the challenge of using asymmetry/symmetry is being met in my design of my 'Mostly Green' quilt!

Maybe I should call it 4 in 1 Mostly Green.

The blocks I have now, when pieced will measure 48 x 48".

 and that, Quilt Friends,  is the news from the valley!

where I'm remembering to be thankful.

I'll be by to visit.

New Improv Scrap Quilt, 'Suppose?', Orange X Block Medallion Quilt Hand Quilting Progress, Finished Photo of Improv HSTs & Broken Dishes Quilt

My newest improv quilt, 'Suppose?' with two more improv 'starts' on top.

I'm calling this one, 'Suppose'. Starting with the center medallion going out, I used scraps and fat quarter stash.

'Suppose?' borders in progress.

What if HSTs border next, using these solids and more scraps?

Hand Quilting in progress, Orange X Block Medallion Quilt.

Hand quilting progress on scrappy Orange X Block Medallion Quilt.

Finished last summer, photo of 'HSTs & Broken Dishes', my design.

This light is fairly accurate, 44" x 44", Orange X Blocks Medallion Quilt.

 

Hello Quilt Friends from the valley!

Where summer weather and bbqs make life easy.

I found three improv pieces, pieced from leftover strips and blocks, one square, two rectangles. I had stashed them away and now decided to start on one and get borders pieced around it. 

I ended up calling this one 'Suppose?' mostly because that was what I was thinking as I began interviewing scraps and orphan blocks for borders. Also in looking through my leftover squares I noticed that I had cut the squares to include as much of the Cotton & Steel selvedge as I could to include the words printed on it.

 And so one of the small hourglass blocks ( toward the top right hand hourglass border) has most of the word SUPPOSE on.

Kind of knit picky but sometimes little details are fun.

Then I've been hand quilting my Orange X Block Medallion quilt, 44" x 44", slow but steady.

And I wanted to remember my HSTs & Broken Dishes quilt, 15" x 16", I finished last summer. It says 'summer' to me. I like to remember finding the two cotton shirts in the thrift store and then sorting through scraps to see what would look best with the blue and yellow plaid shirt fabric. Then I cut out squares using scissors and began arranging. Some of it is hand pieced because at the time I didn't have access to my sewing machine. I have great respect for hand piecing! 

Now it is finished and on my wall saying ' Summer.'

Also if you haven't already, be sure to find Sujata Shah's beautiful quilt, 'Postcards from Thailand' in AmericanPatchwork & Quilting magazine, Show & Tell.

And visit her blog, therootconnection.blogspot.com

That is the quilt news from the valley, where I'm remembering to be thankful.

I'll be by to visit.

Quilt News! New AHIQ Quilt Challenge, Modern Art Quilt or Asymmetrical Quilt? Hand Quilting Progress on Orange X Block Medallion Quilt, June Wedding, Happy July!

One of my most asymmetrical art quilts, finished a few years ago.

My corsage for the June wedding in San Juan Bautista, Ca Mission.

A view of the San Juan Bautista Mission.

Another of my asymmetrical art quilts, this one was published, Santa Clara Rush.

This is one of my symmetrical quilt tops, Ponies.

Hand quilting progress on my Orange X Block Medallion Quilt.

 

Quilt news and happy July 4th!

June was the wedding month around here with a fabulous wedding in San Juan Bautista, CA, 

and with grand children running around and gorgeous scenery it was a blessing.

And 4th of July is here, we have so much to be thankful for!

Kaja put forth a new challenge for AHIQ, and then said that it would be fun to find our most asymmetrical quilt and then our most symmetrical quilt and show those, great idea and lots of fun Kaja.

And maybe I'll start a new asymmetrical quilt, or art quilt, as I like to call them. 

Lately I've been working on projects with a lot of symmetry which is good for a change but my heart will always be in art quilts.

Take time to visit Carol Lyles Shaw and see her classes and wonderful modern art quilts. Her quilt designs and classes look exciting!

And that quilt friends, is the quilt news from the valley, where we are enjoying summer.

I'll be by to visit!

Quilt News! Happy June, Log Cabin Blocks Final Column Pieced, Red and Blue Medallions Backing Finished, Teddy Sweater Finish, Cherries and What we See on our Walks

Close up of sweater I knitted for my Grandmuffin's teddy.

I plan on piecing a 3" border all around, it's now 42" x 54".

Final column is pieced onto my Santa Clara series 21 flimsy.

The backing for my Red and Blue Medallion quilt is pieced, now onto layering and pinning.

Teddy in his new sweater.

We walk down this path in the evening.

Cherries ripe on the tree outside our window, squirrels, robins and crows enjoy them.

 

Hello Quilt Friends!

It's almost summer and it's balmy around here!

Much business around here, hardly anytime to get away. But some progress has been made.

The backing for my Red and Blue Medallion quilt is pieced, another step checked off.

Layering and pinning next.

The teddy sweater is finished! My little grand muffin at first didn't like it on her teddy, the next day she warmed up to it.

Much action outside our window as the robins, crows and squirrels gorge on cherries.

And that is the quilt news from the valley, where it's warm and lots going on!

Visit Beth Shibley and watch her quilt tutorials on YouTube, excellent.

Remembering to be thankful. 

I'll be by to visit.

Quilt News, Small Basket Blocks in Batiks, Kona Cotton Solids and Prints, with Ric-Rac Handles, Log Cabin Style Blocks in Rows Gaining Width...

More Small Basket Blocks with Ric-Rac handles....

Arranging basket blocks, top three rows are pieced.

Piecing rows of Log Cabin blocks this week.

Pieced rows...

 

Quilt News from the valley! 

The Jasmine is blooming around the neighborhood, the smell is scrumptious.

Birds start chirping around 4:00 A.M. , spring is in the air.

Last week I pieced more small Basket Blocks and I'm playing with the arrangement now. I plan on it being 28" by 28" each block is 4". I'm leaning toward no border, not set in stone however.

I've sewed together 5 rows of Log Cabin blocks as of today. The length is about 54", I want to get the width approx. 42". so two more rows to go. I'm piecing the blocks from left overs from other projects.

Stop in and visit Debbie at A Quilters Table to see her new improv project, Salsa Medallion ll, very exciting!

 And that Quilt Friends is the news from the valley. 

Where I'm remembering to be thankful and I'll be by to visit!

Quilt Blocks, Happy May/Mother's Day! Orange X Block Medallion Quilt One More Border Added, Basket Blocks Progress, Rose Garden Visit

We visited San Jose Rose Garden the day before Mother's Day.

Look at that rich color!

The light shining through my basket blocks.

My Orange X Block Medallion quilt with final border, 44" x 44".

Rose covered pergola, romantic, yes?

These white roses smelled sweet.

Obviously the height of the season.

Progress on piecing my basket blocks, each block is 4"sq.

How gorgeous is that?

Then I found these pink roses....

Close view of some of the prints in Orange X Block quilt.

 

Happy May and I hope you enjoyed Mother's Day like I did!

Some family came over and cinnamon rolls were on the menu.

This last week I sewed another border onto my Orange X Block Medallion quilt. In my last post I claimed that it was finished but I kept looking at it and I just knew it needed another border, sometimes that happens.

Now it measures 44" x 44".

I had bits of time to piece some of my basket blocks together and then to piece more blocks together after that. How big will it get? I'm not sure but I'm having fun.

In one of my previous posts I mentioned that I followed Mieko's Basket Block Tutorial, a good tutorial with clear instructions.

Then on Saturday, day before Mother's Day, we took a trip to the San Jose Rose Garden and it was a slice of heaven. It wasn't too crowded, sometimes on the week end it can get that way. I almost hyperventilated breathing in the smell of roses and being in peak season they were blooming seriously as if their lives depended on it. Volunteers keep the rose garden in top notch shape, I believe they've won competitions.

And do stop in to visit my quilt friend Queenie , who is hand piecing a gorgeous Log Cabin quilt in blues.

A work of art!

And that quilt friends is the quilt news from the valley!

Where I'm remembering to be thankful and making progress. 

What quilt news do you have to share?

I'll be by to visit.

Quilt Blocks, Weekend Progress, Orange X Block Medallion Quilt Final Borders, Piecing Scraps into Sixteen Patch and Hour Glass Blocks

I've pieced more baskets and hand sewed on orange ric rac handles.

Growing stack of small Hour Glass blocks pieced from scraps.

This is what I see on my morning walks.

More morning walk photos, Red Wood Tree makes lots of shade.

Neighborhood land scape planting, Marigold, Pansies.

Orange X Block quilt with final border, a Cotton & Steel print.

Big picture, Orange X Block Medallion Quilt, 38" x 38", my design.

Left over 2 1/2" squares sewn into Sixteen Patch Block.

Left Top Corner view, there are three Nine Patch Star blocks down the left side.

Half Square Triangles pieced from scraps, bordered with Cotton & Steel print.

 

Happy Weekend from the Valley!

Where we're enjoying cool, sunny spring weather.

I've had time to make plans and progress this week. Orange seems to be predominate in my sewing projects lately but that's all right, orange is cheerful and plays well with other colors. And I did choose 'Peach' as my color of the month after all, and peach is a lighter version of orange as we know.

Last week I remembered I had a big piece of orange print by Cotton & Steel stashed away. And that it would probably work as a final border for my Orange X Block Medallion Quilt. Whew! Because I had been puzzled about what to do for that last border, whether to go dark as in dark blue or maybe a dark red.

But that darkness wasn't going to work. The spirit of that quilt was warm and light and needed to stay that way, so a medium orange was what I decided on. Then the medium orange print that I had squirreled away came to mind, aha!

And having bits of time, I've been able to grab scraps and start piecing them together, which is calming to me and feels like play. I don't know what the final outcome will be for those parts, maybe a zipper bag or a scrappy tote bag?

Taking walks with our little grand muffin is enjoyable and I've posted some photos of what we see on our journeys. Color inspiration is an important part of creating and it's all around us.

Again, as in my last post, I encourage you to visit Jean Wells to read her inspiring photos and insights into using color.

What color adventures have you been on lately?

Remembering to be thankful and I'll be by to visit!