Sew. Much. Fun

I am at summer camp!!  This week I am with 20+ like-minded crazy women individuals and fabulous teachers for a stitching extravaganza.  It is Country Sampler's (Spring Green, Wisconsin) Grand Olde Flag event.  Unlike some of my table-mates this is my first time partaking of a Country Sampler event.  I certainly understand why so many come back time and time again.  Let's try a visualization exercise...close your eyes and imagine six full days of quilting and stitching workshops with Paula Barnes (front row, right), Linda Lautenschlager (front row, left), and Carol Hopkins (front row, second from right) along with an incredible hostess, Jeanne Horton (front row, second from left).  Are you picturing it?  Okay, now add in breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday, kits for every class packaged with ribbons and extra treats, space to cut and sew and press from morning 'til night and tell me what you think.  Heaven?  You betcha!!  Wait a minute, I forgot to add that you are doing this at the Country Sampler store in Spring Green, Wisconsin.  If you need a break you can wander over to the shop and browse the shelves of fabrics and drool over the complementary decorating items for sale.

The first workshop was with Paula Barnes, fabric designer for Marcus Fabrics and pattern designer with Red Crinoline Quilts.  The  pattern is Sampler Star by Paula and the fabrics were selected by Country Sampler staff with their impeccable aesthetic for combining country/primitive fabrics that result in a completely modern combination.  That red sashing in the middle of the class model is from Paula showing us an alternate idea.  Going this dark in fabric choices isn't something I would have braved without a push but I am so thrilled to get the chance to try it and love the way my own top is turning out.

After a full day of sewing on day 1, Paula treated us to a trunk show of her quilts.  I love hearing the stories behind the designs.

Did I mention the food here was de-lish?!?  Yesterday we trooped over to a local restaurant for a Greek pasta salad lunch, followed but some chocolate treats awaiting us on our sewing machines when we returned and then dinner was a lip-smacking chicken and rice casserole, phyllo wrapped asparagus, green salad, homemade rolls and strawberry shortcake.  I know I am repeating myself but what beats quilting all day and not having to cook?  Uh, not much.  Today, after pancakes for breakfast and healthy nibbles at lunch we had an early salad with shrimp and homemade chicken soup at another local restaurant.  Then, this evening we were treated to root beer floats in mason jars and s'mores over a real fire.  I took my picture after the treats were scooped up but you get the picture.  As anyone who uses Pinterest can tell you, everything is more fun to eat from a mason jar!

One more photo of the event hostess/organizer (Jeanne in the front) along with our great teachers.  My next post will show the wonderful cross-stitch project by Linda.  I wasn't even a cross-stitcher until I saw the project we had in store.  Now it's time for bed.  Breakfast is at 8am.

Dear Jane!

(photo courtesy Linda at Quilts in the Barn blog - used with permission)

Have you ever had a dream - perhaps nightmare - where your shortcomings were right out in the open for all to see?  That's what I felt like when I saw the photo above on the Quilts in the Barn blog.  Row after row after row of completed Dear Jane quilts.

I started my quilt just before the year 2000.  I kept thinking the turn of the millennium was just a year or two ago until someone referred to it as "last decade."  Wow, it's been about 14 years since I started my quilt.  I've made 29 blocks which, by my count, is an average of about 2 per year.  So, time to get cracking and work on my two for this year!

I've been saving this fabric for this block pretty much since I started the quilt.  When I first saw the picture in the book I thought it was just about the ugliest fabric I'd ever seen.  It's grown on me and I have nearly a yard saved up just in case I want to make a few dozen more these blocks.  

So, block A-13 is complete - hand pieced. I've completed 30 Dear Jane blocks now.  There are a few hundred quilters in Europe and Australia who crossed that mark a l-o-n-g time ago.

This going to take awhile

This is a quick post so I can whine just a bit.  You are forewarned.  My hubby had an unexpected business trip this evening so I thought I was going to get lots of sewing done.  Instead of tackling my list, though, I tried putting together one of the blocks for my son's quilt.  Actually, I was supposed to cut more strips for my half square triangles but I messed up on the first fabric (the yellow above) and, trying to make lemonade from lemons, decided to test out a block.  I cut the triangles for the outside of the block and then realized all the outside edges were going to be bias.  Did I stop and read the directions?  Nope, plowed right on.  Then, I headed to the sewing machine but when I stepped on the foot pedal, the machine started sewing...backwards.  &^%*(#  Not this again.  I tried turning it on and off, unplugging, whatever.  It still went backwards.  But I plowed on.  I wound up trying everything; literally pushed all the buttons and turned all the knobs.  Finally, it went forward.  Then I couldn't keep all the triangles pointing the right direction.  I had to "unsew" at least four times.  I haven't ripped anything out in two years until tonight.

I just read the directions.  I cut the yellow triangles wrong but I'm still using this block.  The rest of the blocks will not have bias edges on the outside.  Duh!  Tomorrow I am working on a different project and will stick to cutting and sewing the half square triangles.  If it takes me a whole evening to complete a block this is going to take awhile!!

Unleash the Scraps!!

When I saw Kathie's post today with photos of all of her 1.5" strips all I could think of was one of those cans of snakes that explode everywhere when you unscrew the lid.  They looked like they were squiggling.  She's looking for another project to use them and I thought turning them into 1" half square triangles would be a brilliant idea.  Simply brilliant.  So, I suggested it.  She's still laughing, I think.

So, when I got home this evening I took a look at my own scrap box to see if there were some hst in the making for me.  My bin has been getting a little bloated lately so, surely, if I made some 1" hst then I could pare it down some.  I've got a lot of scrappy projects going right now so I thought I would do something more orderly.  Red and white!  Digging around in my box I discovered that there weren't too many red scraps in the size I needed for some quick and easy hst.  I was looking for 2" squares so I could get two 1" hst from each one.  Time, patience and supply lasted for twenty little triangle squares.  If you have the urge to make your own, cut a light and dark 2" square, draw a line diagonally on the back of the light square, pair it with a dark and sew a scant 1/4" on either side of the line.  Cut apart along the line and press open.  Trim the square to 1-1/2".  I pressed my seam open  I'll let you know how the quilting goes.

As I said, my patience only lasted for 20 triangle squares.  That is enough for what I like to call "bulletin board" quilts.  They work out to be about 6"x9" and are perfect for pinning to a bulletin board for a little bit of quilty fun.  I've rolled them up and put them in jars, too.  

Once I had all the triangles together, I measured and added 1-1/4" border strips.  Ta-da!  A "quilt" top made from 1" half square triangles.  I used most of the reds in my scrap box that were 2" or bigger and there were plenty of light pieces available.  But, it definitely did not make a dent in the scraps.  In fact, I had enough scraps left over from my weekend project to more than make up for what I used.  So, I squished everything back into the box and locked down the lid.

Above is my weekend project!  The Temecula Quilt Company "Spring T" top.  I have a particular affinity for "T" quilts and this was a super easy block to make while still being clearly a "T."  I bought the kit because I just love the colors in the "T" blocks.  The kit was generous enough to prewash the fabric and still have some usable scraps left over.  The block was easy enough to crank out the top while the hubby was at Pilates.  (Yes, Pilates, but I'm am not going there)  I want to thank Jan from "What a Load A Scrap" blog for permission to prewash small fabric pieces.  It was her post here where she mentioned she washed her 5" squares of fabric that freed me up to do the same.  It's a personal preference but I can't stand sewing with unwashed fabric. I dumped my whole kit into the washer and it turned out great.  That is rarely the case with kits I am sorry to say so if you prewash be prepared to augment from your stash.  Anyway, this little top is destined for hand quilting, too.

Finally, a "work in progress" shot of my various scrappy projects currently in progress.  To the left are my own 1.5" strips (A-ha! we are back to where this post started!) that are destined to become 5-1/2" strips for my scrappy rails project ripped off inspired by Kathie's project here.  In the middle are more strips that will be come MORE (and bigger) hst for that pattern peeking out at the top of the photo.  To the right are the hst for my Edyta inspired quilt for my son.  I am currently up to 264 half square triangles.  I need 720 for the quilt but I've decided I also need more variety so I will be making more and more and more.  My goal is at least 120 different fabrics.  I am at 44 fabrics right now.

Paint by numbers

I finally got some quality quilty time this past long weekend.  I fought the urge but had to start a new project just to kick start things again.  Last month I had the pleasure of attending a lecture by Edyta Sitar and came away with such an urge to make half square triangles.  I also came away with a new book and some fabric but I digress.  My middle child was the first to leave the nest and he asked for a special quilt.  I've spent the last two years trying to settle on the "perfect" one to mark such a milestone.  Fortunately, when Edyta showed her "Mountain Top" quilt I knew I'd found it.  It is the perfect pattern to marry my repro fabrics and something much more modern for a young man.  It also allows me to squeeze in some pinks and purples while camouflaging them with something a little more masculine.  I am pasting my fabrics into my quilt journal so that I can get a sense of how they are playing together and so I don't re-buy any of the batiks when I head to the local quilt shop.

I am still working on the Mary Mannakee block 2.  There are plenty of more complicated applique blocks but this is the fussiest one I've every attempted.  That funky flower on the top left that looks like "jazz hands" took me f-o-r-e-v-e-r.  And, there are two in the block.  Sigh.  I do like the way the block is gradually filling in.  It makes me think of a paint by numbers project.  I am still pondering how to tackle the middle flower that has some very small little holes.  At least everything is relative...compared to the middle flower the jazz hands are seeming quite simple now.

And...what's a post without my Lemoyne Stars.  Did I mention they were hand pieced?  Of course I did.  Anyway, I've sewn some together and couldn't resist showing off my piles of completed star blocks.  It might be time to commit to a finished size quilt and determine how many stars I actually need.  Hmmm... maybe not yet.  I would hate to get discouraged to find that I am still about 200 stars away from my goal.

A good week

Normally, I like to keep this blog to quilting but once and awhile I gotta be a mom and show off the chicks.  Our youngest had her Columbia University commencement last week.  Can you tell she has a very proud papa?

She's enjoyed her time in NYC.  This fountain is a favorite site during her runs through Central Park.  People were so friendly when we took our photo walk through the park.  She was wearing her robe and got countless well wishes from passers-by.

And...my oldest and his fiance bought their very first house yesterday.  They worked so hard to make this happen and we couldn't be happier for them.  I can't wait to visit!

No pictures but our other son started his dream job at the beginning of this month.  All in all, our children are doing a good job at this growing up thing.

Baltimore Album quilt revival - onto the fourth decade

I am a proud member of the Baltimore Applique Society.  I know I've mentioned it before but last night's meeting was one of the best I have attended.  BAS is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2013 and the program chair is doing a terrific job of securing speakers that could turn even the biggest applique cynic into an applique lover.  Elly Sienkiewicz was the program speaker and she was fantastic.  She wove her own history working with album quilts into the history of quilting generally and the Baltimore Album genre specifically.  Along with that were musings on what draws us to these quilts and she finished up with members of the audience sharing what is so appealing about album quilts to them.  For me, it's difficult to pick a precise reason.  On some days, I see one of those quilts and just want to drink in the riot of color (and touch all the quilting).  Other days, I am enamored by the control of a red and green quilt.  Still others, I find peace in stitching my own blocks or relief that, with so many things out of control, I am master of my own needle and thread.

Above is a photo of Elly with seven current and past BAS presidents.  These women have been very brave taking on leadership of that organization.  I've been a member through at least four of their terms and each has her own style and ideas but all have done the job well.

If you ever took a Baltimore Album quilt class you likely used one or more of Elly's books as a text or source of designs.  I took my class with Mimi Dietrich in 2000 and I confess to not finishing my quilt.  But I learned many skills and acquired nearly all of Elly's books.  Yesterday, I took some time to browse through them and reveled in the history and eye candy they contain.  If you aren't familiar with them, visit your guild library and see if they have copies of Baltimore Beauties and Beyond: Studies in Classic Album Quilt Applique, Vol. 1 and 2, and Papercuts and Plenty (Baltimore Beauties and Beyond: Studies in Classic Album Quilt Applique, Vol. 3) for a place to start.  The photo at the top of this post is Elly with her quilt from Papercuts and Plenty.

 

This block, above, is from one of Elly's quilts.  It's the one I blame for me not completing my quilt started in the applique class I took.  Everyone has their favorites among the variety of blocks used in Baltimore Album quilts.  Mine turned out to be roses, eagles and ships.  Once I completed my own rose block I decided I wanted to pitch all the rest.

This block (above) has all those funky flower petals done in reverse applique.  Most of the time when I am with people who see something complicated done in reverse they will ooh and ahhh.  But, really that shape is a little easier done in that method.  Still, I think it looks cool.

This is Elly's copy of Dena Katzenberg's Baltimore Album Quilts which is the exhibit catalog from the Baltimore Album quilt exhibit at the Baltimore Museum of Art in 1981.  I loved seeing her book which had post-its all through its pages and had been taped and re-taped to hold it together.  I can't tell you how gingerly I open my own copy because the book is so hard to find now and, if you do, the price is dear.  Oh, and under that book?  It is Elly's original Spoken Without a Word.  She has a new edition coming out in fall 2013.

Well, thanks for sharing my musings about BAS and the album quilt revival.  I've switched from doing a Baltimore Album reproduction to the Mary Mannakee (not Baltimore, but a Maryland quilt from the same county where I grew up).  Yes, I went straight home after the meeting and started appliqueing.  I should have a finished block to show by this weekend.