Current projects

At this moment in time I am working on several large quilts in progress.  "Home Sweet Home" is about 2/3 done.  All but one block is appliqued and I need to do the appliqued borders which will have the addresses of all my husband and my residences in San Diego, both singularly and collectively.  I bought San Diego Fabric for the backing and this will be our "San Diego Living" quilt.

I am also working on a batik quilt that has a  pattern called "Pies and Tarts".  It is an English paper piecing pattern that I am doing with an applique process using starch and a hot iron instead of sewing the material onto the pieces.  Then the pieces are stitched together in the traditional way. The border will either be appliqued vine with small English pieced tarts or piano tiles.  Just want to finish the 100 large and 100 small circles-42 finished as of today.  My goal is to have this done by June.  I have 2 circles that are off but I am leaving them!

"Dear Jane" is the third quilt that I work on regularly.  I do not expect to be done with that one until 2014.  I have approx. 20 out of 200+ blocks done-oh, my.  However, I am learning a lot and my piecing is improving tremendously working on 4.5 in. finished blocks. No current pics.

Road to California

This was my first year at Road to California and it was soo worth the trip.  However, I was surprised that most of the quilts were applique-there didn't seem to be a 50/50 ratio.  I love applique but I was surprised.  Another thing that was not what I expected was the quilts were all so heavily quilted that they looked like tapestry rather than quilts.  I went to the San Diego Quilt Show in September and saw more what I expected.  I was just surprised-not disappointed.

Best of Show and no wonder!

I notice that I am taking many pics of this shape:)

I just loved this one!

Striking on a metal fabric that was heavily quilted.

The Monet Gallery in Paris had nothing on this beauty.

Would love to try this snail trail!

These were so tiny-unbelievable detail

This was breathtaking

I am taking the class to make this type of quilt next month

Our happy band of 5 got there about 10am after stopping for breakfast along the way.  I came away with a pressing sheet for fusible applique, a 4x6 inch stamp for postcards, 5 packs of steel buttons and some wonderful threads for the postcards I am planning to make.  I also ordered 1 1/2 yds of a graduated turquoise fabric that will be the backing of my next seascape. Got a ton of ideas and a great day altogether.

Only borders await!

This is a small table topper, but it has taken hours and hours to complete the middle.  It felt like putting together a jigsaw puzzle because there were so many Y seams to wind around.  However-i am happy with the center.  it fit together and the seams are flat-quite miraculous as far as I'm concerned:)

Had a respite today and had lunch with a special friend.  Some people's lives prove to me that God exists and this friend is one of them.  Thank-you Jesus for your redemptive power, I am so very grateful.  I also got to give Chris her table topper before her sister's tea.  She cried-that is soo Chris.  She loved the plaid.  I knew her little Scottish heart would be glad for the plaid:)

Getting closer

Stars and Streams is still on the design wall, but I have to say, I am getting proficient at the Y seams.  The first few were painful and I had to rip and resew a few, but the last 1/2 went smoothly-actually got into a little production line.  The top left 1/4 of the top is complete, the remainder of the diamonds have been attached to their respective squares so tomorrow I finish the top because I really should be working on the girls rooms (curtains, bed skirts, quilts and sheets).

Having our first Tea With Thee meeting tonight.  It is a tea that a few of us from different churches coordinate together to benefit the local pregnancy center in town.  Looking forward to getting started-the last two years have been a lot of fun. Got to go vacuum and make dessert-yike

My favorite Things

Once a month I attend the Dear Jane Clinic at The Crazy 9 Patch in Ramona.  Our teacher, Susan Axelrod is excellent and I learn new things each month.  I got all my applique pieces prepped this week so I'll have some handwork to do.

Susan teaching template making

Monday, I joined my quilting buddies, Jan and Patsy, and we headed to Quilter's Paradise in Escondido to quilt 2 small quilts on the longarm machine.  We took a class together to learn how to use it-however, it seems as if we have to relearn it every time we go.  Then we went looking at sewing machines as Patsy needs a new one.

Jan and Patsy and the Longarm

I love the swirls on the back

The binding makes such a big difference!

Seattle Event

I left San Diego last Saturday the 12th.  Our 2nd granddaughter, Sloane Elizabeth, was born on the 14th.  8lbs 15oz.  It was so neat being able to hold her hours after her birth.  Everyone doing fine.  Ava wants to "pet" her sister's head:) She was excited to be a "big" sister.

My DIL loved the seascape, the arms fit the chair and Ava liked her doll.  All in all a successful trip.  I came home late Wednesday night and had my eyes dilated on Thursday which put me out of commission for the day. Friday I worked on a Tea Topper for my friend, Chris.  She has had a "Sister's Tea" with her 2 sisters, all of their daughters and soon the grands will come. They spend a whole weekend together-as an only child, I think that sounds like sooo much fun-so, I made her a topper.  The plaid is because like me, my friend is Scottish (her mom was born in Scotland).  I will edge it in the plaid after I quilt it on the longarm tomorrow.

Scottish Stars and Scones

Close-up of star block

Eleanor was my first quilting teacher about 28 years ago

I am always surprised how different a quilt can look with a change of fabric. If I make this pattern again I would use a different material for the small squares and triangles so that the pieces wouldn't melt into each other-however, when quilted and bound I think I am going to really like it.

Diamond Edges Chosen and Sewn

TaDaaa!  As my granddaughter and her superhero, Dora would say.  Edges attached to diamonds in the middle star.  I can't help myself-I have no time to sew today but at 6:30 am was at the machine attaching edges to diamonds.  Had to rip a couple of seams because it was 6:30.  however, I was fully awake when I eased into the pool this morning with an outside temperature of 34.  Everything inside the pool was fine but the tip of my nose was frozen:)  Won't be posting for awhile as I am heading for Seattle in the morning.

Dolls and Clothes

The last 2 days I have cut, sewn and embroidered dolls and clothes.  It is my first time as we had a wonderful son but no daughters.  I have been having a blast.  Who knew doll clothes could be so much fun.  Not sure if my granddaughter will like it or not-but if not-there is always granddaughter #2.  There is a cute kitty that the doll holds that is done except stitching the stuffing vent.  Will finish Dolly today and hopefully have time to work on Stars and Streams shown below.

Bunting, blankie, bonnet, bib, diaper and body parts

Decided on the borders with corners and using that same Fassett material to outline the center star.  Had a hard time convincing myself not to use the striped dark turquoise.  Under the overhead light it washed out the lavender stripe.  When the lightbulb went out overhead, it looked entirely different.  The lavender showed more than the dark turquoise.  That light has been in there for at least 3 years.  I love God's timing:)

Stars and Streams

Finished!!! Yay.  It was really a fun day and not bad for my first cloth doll.  I made porcelain dolls years ago but those were much different than the cloth sister.  I am going to give this to Ava the day her parents leave for the hospital to have #2. Our Ava has beautiful blue eyes and brown hair with a reddish tint.

Miss Ava's baby

Getting ready for birth of Number #2

I leave for Seattle on Saturday to take cake of Ava while her parents give birth to #2.  I need to start packing but I have a few things to finish before I go.  I am recovering the rocker and brought home the pink snap-on arms when I was there in October.  I just finished them last night.  Took a couple of months to find fabric to blend with the designs of the nursery-which will be done by the time I go back up next month. 

Arms snap onto the wooden rocker frame

Wish I could decide-now I think I like the lighter stripes at the top!

I am auditioning the 1/4  inch trim on the outside edges of the star quilt.  I think the turquoise wins out.  I need to make a doll and finish the cat she is holding in the next 2 days. I am so glad I am retired and have time to work on these things!

A Step Into the Wild Side

My plan this year is to :

1. Make some pieces for my home
2. Move away from the totally traditional quilts I have made in the past.
3. Work on my compulsion to match everything
4. Go jewel, bright, and out of the box.

I went to a Jan Krentz workshop today and was sooo blessed.  I had such a good time learning something new (I've never done diamonds) and enjoying Jan's incredible trunk show. She was a fabulous teacher and now does a class on Craftsy.

This is my beginning piece.  I stuck to the 3" diamonds and didn't split them.  I want to get it done in a timely manner and really just wanted to learn the techniques not make a large quilt. A mix of batiks and Fassett.

A present for my dining room table that is presently naked

Sewing Machines Past and Present

I was at my quilting day yesterday and got a call from my husband.  He was garage saling in our little town when he came upon a find that he thought his wife would like.  After his brief description I flew out the door, promising to return in a flash.  I was back in 15 minutes and later that night after a little cleaning my husband's find looked like this:

 This is a 1925 Singer model number 128
It runs beautifully and has amazing graphics.  The wooden arched cover still has its graphics and single key.  I need to find a foot pedal to use it.  But if I were 87 years old-I'd need more than a foot pedal.

Can't wait to get it running so I can try it out.  It is the first machine that I have seen that has a stick like bobbin and the bobbin goes from side to side rather than around.   This machine came out on Dec 8, 1925.  Dec. 8 is my Birthday.

 I have a 1947 (my birth year) Singer featherweight that I take to workshops and a 1960 Singer featherweight that my mom bought me in junior high that I use at The Comforter's.  I think Singer made a great machine back in the day:). The 1925 machine was made in the US, the 1960 in England-I'd have to look at the '47 to see where it was made.  I need to research why they may have moved locations for manufacture.

The machine I use most often is not a Singer but a beautiful Babylock Elegante that isn't something I like to move-but a wonderful machine to sew on.

Finally and entirely finished!

I am happier with this quilt than anything I have made.  I didn't mean to make it nor ever really wanted to do a seascape but I volunteered to help the programs lady at our quilt guild and ended up being able to attend the Tuesday workshops that she couldn't cover to be "teacher's helper".  My first workshop was with Rob Appell and that was an experience in itself.  Rob is a wonderful designer and character and the workshop was entirely enjoyable.  I took home my pieces and gradually got it put together.  I needed turtles however, so found a panel on sale and split it with my friend, Jan, who is also working on a seascape after attending the workshop (she is quilting it as I type:)).

 My daughter-in-law is the daughter I always wanted and this is for her birthday on the 9th (I will be taking it on the 12th when I visit for the birth of granddaughter #2).  They have moved into a new home and this will go beautifully in it.  "Come to the water" reminds me of a hymn that has always been my favorite and it reminds me that Jesus is the "Living Water" and that he is always there-cooling and refreshing, peaceful and calm-with life teeming all about.

Come To the Water

Going to an all day session with my quilting buds "The Comforters" today to work on prayer quilts-haven't met for 2 weeks so am looking forward to seeing my sewgirls!

The Hobbit movie day

Going to water aerobics and then to see the Hobbit today with my BFF, Chris.  She is such a good friend that she is going just because I want to-she isn't into fantasy or Tolkien at all. Amazing.  Was doing the binding on the seascape and googled how to do the corners to see if I could come up with an easier way or one that would yield greater results and came up with this great tutorial  on a sweet little blog:

http://thelittleredhen.typepad.com/my_weblog/quilt-binding-tutorial.html

Happy quilting!  I don't have anything on my quilting calendar to do today which means I can work on anything I want when I get home! Love that!

New Things

This year is going to be my BRIGHT year.  I have always loved antiques and Victorian influences, however, I remember wearing the hot orange/pink combinations and the lime green/torquoise-my personal favorite so it is no surprise that I am leaning in that direction again.  I filtered through the stack of auditioned fabrics and came up with ones that I think work and that please me no end-can't wait for that class!