Quilt News! Hand Sewn Rice Bag with Sashiko Stitches Finish! Improv Log Cabin in Furrow Formation Binding Finish! Temperatures Warmed up a Little Here, Yey!

My Rice Bag finished @ 3.5" Sq. sides and bottom @ 4" Sq. , it's lined.

I was inspired by several different patterns; mixed and matched, to get to this finish.

Red Amaryllis flamboyantly blooming in my kitchen window, it now has four blossoms opened.

 

Hello Quilt Friends! 

The temperatures have warmed up a few degrees and the frozen rain on the ground is starting to thaw here. I braved a walk to the mail box and was very careful to avoid the slippery spots. I made it back safely. It was good to get out for a walk. Last post I said I was glad that there had been no snow yet. Well now there has been snow and frozen rain plus wind, but as I said it's now warming up and thawing a little. I'm thankful.

And I've finished my Rice Bag project. I wanted to make one up so I researched different patterns and tutorials. I decided the first one was going to be small because I wanted to hand stitch it. I did stitch most of the seams by hand but finished around the top and tabs with machine because I figured they would get more wear and I think machine stitching is a bit sturdier. I used scraps and improv piecing for the sides and used Sashiko Stitches for embellishment. Fun project, I will make more in different sizes. Jean Wells has interesting tutorials on her rice bag pattern and it's worth a watch!

My Red Amaryllis now has four blooms open and what a treat to see on a dark stormy morning. They will grow and thrive out in the yard in a protected spot (from the heat) in S CA. As my daughter-in-law said, "O those, my dad grows those in his back yard." Wonderful for him. Here in the PNW the bulbs have to brought in for the winter of course.

My Improv Log Cabin in Furrow Formation, 42" x 42" is done! I finished the binding last week. I was inspired by Temecula Quilt Co.'s quilt pattern Down Home Darling. And that quilt was inspired by a vintage quilt Sheryl Johnson, owner of Temecula Quilt Co. found. My blocks were a different size than the blocks in Down Home Darling and I made the starting red square different sizes to add challenge and interest in piecing, thus the 'improv'. Next post I'll have photos of the finish.

That is the quilt news from the valley where projects are getting finished and I'm dreaming up more!

I'll be by to visit!

Quilt News! Color for the New Year by Tula Pink, Improv Log Cabin Blocks Progress Inspired by Mary Hogan's Book, Log Cabin Improv, Applique Center Medallion Challenge Design Process

My Improv Log Cabin blocks, 12 blocks, approx 11" x 11" ea.

Solid colors by Tula Pink, half yard ea. with a stack of similar batiks to the left.

This is where I'm at with the Applique Medallion Challenge project, slow and easy does it.

   Hello Quilt Friends, Happy New Year!

And prayers for our friends in Japan suffering in the aftermath of the earthquake. Life can be tough at times, if anyone tells you different they are lying.

I have decided on a color theme for the start of this year and it centers around my half yard solids by Tula Pink. Tula's way with color is energizing and speaks right to my heart. 

I took some time to piece additions to my Improv Log Cabin blocks, 12 of them and they will all soon measure 11" square each. I'm still debating whether to add borders. If I do add borders they will be wonky/improv style. These blocks were inspired by the book by Mary Hogan, Log Cabin Improv Quilts with a Twist on Tradition. Mary's book is full of great ideas, tutorials and color choices.

And I have made design choices on my Applique Center Medallion Challenge project. The challenge is by Audrey @ quiltyfolk. I'm a slow stitcher and in absolutely no hurry on this project. But some small decisions have been made, that's what I tell myself.

That is the quilt news from the valley where we've had rain and no snow yet, and I am thankful. Snow is beautiful but I can live without it.

Happy New Year, I'll be by to visit.

Quilt News, Happy Holidays! Four Small Scrappy Quilts Finished with Yellow/Brown Sunflower Batik and Burnt Orange Print Binding! Spreading Holiday Cheer One Cookie at a Time!

A scrappy table/hot mat with Burnt Orange print binding finish for a gift.

Another finish, Two Hour Glass Blocks and a Wonky Flying Geese Border with Sunflower Batik binding.

I changed the binding on this small quilt from a solid purple to a Sunflower Batik in yellow/brown.

Binding finish here in Burnt Orange and Brown Print.

 

 

Happy Holidays Quilt Friends! from the valley where we have rain and clouds.

I have been baking Gingerbread cookies and Oatmeal cookies to share around the neighborhood. Nothing like a good cookie to spread holiday cheer!

I finished my four table mat quilts last week for gifts, yes! I found a beautiful Sunflower Batik at the local JoAnn Fabric and I knew that would work for a cheerful binding on a couple of my table mat projects. 

I had sewn a purple binding down onto the front of one of them, ( you can see it in my previous post ) but wasn't happy with the solid purple. So I unpicked it and sewed on the Sunflower Batik instead for binding, a lot better for a bright look for the kitchen.

And that is my quilt project finishes. I'll see you in January!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family!

I'll be by to visit.

Improv Log Cabin Blocks Hotmat with Borders Almost Finished, Fabric Choices for New Sunflower Medallion Quilt, Improv Hourglass/Flying Geese Hotmat with Borders Now Quilted

 

Fabric for Sunflower Medallion Quilt Borders.

Quilting done, back and binding on my Hotmat project.

Hotmat Improv Logcabin Blocks with Borders, binding pinned down on back.

Improv Hourglass/Flying Geese with Borders now quilted, binding next.

Hello Quilt Friends, it's almost Thanksgiving! 

We do have a lot to be thankful for don't we?

Last couple of days I've quilted two of my hotmat projects, Improv Logcabin Blocks with borders and Improv Hourglass/Flying Geese with borders. The binding is now sewn down onto the back of the Improv Logcabin Blocks hotmat. I'm using one layer Insul Bright and one layer cotton batting for the inside. Three more are waiting to be quilted and finished for gifts.

And I've been adding to the stack of fabrics that will go into the borders for my New Sunflower Medallion Quilt. As I choose the colors and lay them next to each other I begin to see new possibilities for new projects. Always moving forward, right?

That is the quilt news here in the valley where I'm looking forward to celebrating Thanksgiving with good food, family and friends. Please pass the Pecan Pie!

What colors are inspiring you lately? I'll be by to visit.

Quilt News! Sunflower Fabric Panel for New Medallion Quilt, Piecing Quilted Hot Mat Project, Quilty Folk's Bramble Blooms QAL started and Sharing Fall Colors....

Fall colors on the dogwood tree in our back yard.

I pieced the applique center piece for Audrey's Bramble Blooms QAL.

Solid colors added to my stash for borders around the sunflower panel.

Sunflower fabric panel, approx. 44" x 22", bought at the Quilt Barn in Puyallup, WA.

 

Piecing progress on one of my hot mat projects, red violet strips added.

Happy November Quilt Friends! 

Fall leaves, pumpkins/squash at the local markets and shorter days are here! I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving and I'm sure you are too.

This last week I visited the Quilt Barn in Puyallup WA and found a beautiful fabric panel of sunflowers. I also snapped up a few solids to mix with my stash for adding pizzaz to the borders of my new Medallion Sunflower Quilt I envisioned right there! Fall colors are my inspiration.

Also last week I found time to add two red violet strips to the borders of one of my Hot Mat projects. I'm piecing several at the same time for holiday gifts. 

Audrey at Quilty Folk is hosting Bramble Blooms QAL. I'm in! She emphasized the relaxed spirit of the QAL so that sounded like a winner. I pieced the applique center with 'obscure' neutral fabrics from my stash. Maybe I should have pieced it a little more wonky but I used my ruler and it will have to do. See, here I am over thinking it already. Next will be designing the flowers to be appliqued.

And the dogwood tree in the backyard looks so gorgeous in fall colors I had to share a photo of it. Orange, red, yellow,  yellow green, green....

That's the quilt news from the valley where for me color inspiration is in the fall leaves. What fall projects are you working on? What color inspiration are you looking at?

I'll be by to visit.

Quilt News! Hand Quilting Wonky Squares in Purple Finished, Sashiko Bookbag Finish, #4 in Liberated Small Quilt Series Final Border

44"x 12.5" Wonky Squares in Purple runner hand quilted, binding in progress.

 

Binding has been machine sewn onto the front and I'll hand sew it down on the back.

My Sashiko/Boro bookbag is finished! Approx. 16" x 15".

Finally #4 in my Liberated Small Quilt Series has its final border sewn on.

Hello Quilt Friends from the valley where glorious fall colors are showing up everywhere!

This last week I finished hand quilting my Wonky Squares in Purple Quilt runner and sewed the binding on the front and started hand sewing it down onto the back. It measures about 44" x 12.5". I was inspired to make Wonky Squares in Purple by Debbie @ aquilterstable when she posted about one of her Bee Sewcial challenges called Albersesque. The challenge called for designing quilt blocks with the artwork of Josef Albers in mind.

My Sashiko/Boro bookbag also got finished up and it's just perfect for transporting books to and from the library, very useful. I used some trimmed scrap corners from one of my quilt projects, they were too colorful to just throw out, and I boro/sashiko stitched them down on the front. The back is just as beautiful with a pocket done in rice stitch. The pattern is from one of my many Sashiko project books.

#4 in My Liberated Small Quilt Series has its final border pieced on. I think fall colors have influenced my color choices because I see a lot of orange, yellow and green in that quilt.

And that is the quilt news from the compound.

I hope you're breathing in the fresh fall air and enjoying the color like I am.

I'll be by to visit!

Quilt News! Improv/Wonky or Liberated Small Quilt Border Piecing Progress, And a Quick Look Back Paying Homage to Quilter Gwen Marston, Happy Fall!

Purple strip on the left new, plus yellow/green border all around.

New improv/wonky Flying Geese border on the right.

Border in solids added all around.

Four rows of small improv blocks with yellow/green strips between blocks from this to....

...this, strips of yellow/green between each row.

 

 

Hello Quilt Friends! Happy fall! The rain has cleared and we are off to a sunny fall day.

Some progress to report on my small quilts to be used as table toppers, mug rugs etc. for gifts for the up coming holidays.

I'm having fun piecing improv/wonky/liberated borders. Many quilters prefer to use the word wonky or liberated instead of improv and I can understand that. Some improv quilters have made improv to be a very complicated process maybe because they are trying to sell their book as well as their particular method of improv.

Which is just fine but it can add a little confusion.

 

Gwen Marston in her books, Liberated Quiltmaking ll and Liberated Medallion Quilts, both published by American Quilters Society, cuts through the fog and explains that liberated quilt making has actually been going on for a long time and it's not as difficult as you might be led to believe. Gwen left us with many excellent quilts and books to document her thinking and we are all indebted to her. Thank you Gwen.

 

Also visit Audrey to see her fabulous liberated piecing projects. A couple of her quilts were chosen to be on display at the New England Quilt Museum now showing a fine selection of Gwen Marston Quilts.

Now back to liberated scrappy, piecing.

Have a wonderful day and I'll be by to visit.