My first "real" quilt

January 2007 - from a Beginner's quilting class

If I was sure I'd stick with it, I might name this post "Time Travel Tuesdays."  Alliteration seems to be the style for blogging titles.  I'd like to share my photos of older quilts with you because I'd have a much easier way to find them.  (Labels on posts are really handy!)  But alas, I'm not ready for that kind of commitment.   So Time Travel Tuesday might just be an every-once-in-a-while Tuesday.

After getting hooked on the idea of quilting as we prepared for a quilt themed Ladies' retreat, I decided to take a class and learn a few techniques.  The ladies in my class were a lot more experienced beginners than I was!  They already knew terms like "sashing" and "piecing."  I brought along my sewing machine manual, just in case I had to re-thread my machine or wind a bobbin.  I was intimidated by our weekly homework and by all the seam ripping we had to do until those blocks were just the right size.

I'm glad this class was so challenging!  It gave me confidence to try new techniques.  Since I wrestled with the LeMoyne Star in the center of the quilt (Y seams!), I later made another quilt using this block to improve my skills.

I think it's funny that I can still hear Barbara's voice guiding me along as I piece tops.  She's still prompting me to pay attention to press those seams well, fully open and toward the darker fabrics.  She reminds me to walk my hands down that long ruler as I make a cut so that the ruler won't wiggle.  And later to cover the blade before I set the rotary cutter down.  I know it's her voice because she's one of the few people who call me Kimberly.  So do you think she could read her students in each class, predicting which ones would tuck their half finished class project in a closet and forget it?  Looking ahead to see others who would start with her excitement and build their own enthusiasm for expressing their creativity through fabrics....

The only hand quilted one I've finished so far.

This quilt is one of the ones I've kept at our home.  It's a nice reminder of starting this journey.  The tips of my stars don't touch the outer edges just like they're supposed to do.  And I love it all the more because of that fact.

It gets used a lot and you'll often find it draped over my shoulders to ward off the chill as I sit at the computer or read a book.

Enjoy your day!
-SeeingStars 

More quilting over batiks

This quilt top was made from a jelly roll of batiks.  I loved this design when I saw it on Dee's blog Bitten by the quilting bug.  It holds dear memories of my first quilting retreat.  Some wonderful quilters who helped me arrange and rearrange the blocks until they were just right.  Libby, aka SouthCarolinaLady was a special part of helping balance those lights and darks.  They didn't want to behave!

I couldn't wait to start quilting it ... until it was loaded on the frame.  Then I began to feel that intimidation set in.  Other than being certain this one didn't need an overall quilting design, I wasn't sure where to start or what it needed. 

What am I gonna do?  What if I mess it up?  What if ... 
How silly.  Don't we all do that to ourselves at some point?

Texture!  I really love it.

I'm thankful that we had a full house last week with a few extra teens and their activities to keep me distracted.  During that time, I could doodle and brainstorm, but didn't have any time to sneak into the studio.  It made this weekend's free time more precious to me and more productive.

More texture!

 
There are 2 customer quilts waiting patiently for now, but not forever.  So, this weekend, I knew I needed to get over the fear and Just Do It!

Next, I might test out my new circle templates on a Project Linus quilt top.  Then I can repeat those circles on a baby boy quilt.  It should be fun!

Whoops!  I see a thread that needs to be clipped.

Once it's bound, this one will reside in our rec room for snuggling while watching movies or ball games.  It needs a name.  Hmmmmmm. Something besides the obvious reference to a brick wall.

Back fabric is actually a little more caramel colored.  Photography & lighting.  Sigh.  I still have lots to learn.

From the back, you might be about to tell that I stitched in the ditch around the inner portion of each block.  I have rulers and like to use them.  But ... decided that for this one, the little bobbles and wiggles would be more at home than the perfection of lines made with rulers.  I don't regret it at all, but I probably wouldn't do it on a customer's quilt.  I guess the trendy adjective "organic" works here.

Next week:  a full house again.  More giggles and even full bellied cackling at the dinner table.  It's amazing how the dynamics change with 2 more teens!  Everything's a little more magnified.  More rowdy.  More clutter.  More laughter.  More shoes strewn around the laundry room.  More last minute needs to be handled.  Much more food consumed as everyone's appetites seem to increase.  I would have expected that it would be overwhelming, but instead, I miss them when they leave.

One more photo ... just because.

Also, my husband returns home tomorrow from visiting his momma.  It will be great to have him back here even though I'm happy to share him every once in a while with Roxy.   They've tackled a to-do list as usual this weekend.  From what I've heard, some parts of the list have been more successful than other parts.  For instance, the UNC basketball game was attended and the good guys where able to be victorious with the aid of their loyal fans enthusiasm and cheers.  However, the ceiling fan installation still has issues.  Somehow, it came to the house a decade ago with no instructions and a rebellious heart.  I'm thinking a fan shopping trip during the President's Day sales might be the answer.

Enjoy your next week! I'm looking forward to mine.
- SeeingStars

A Few More for Project Linus

We had a fun day with a room filled with quilting supplies, sewing machines, energetic ladies and men, and some awesome BBQ!  It was our quarterly Project Linus day yesterday.  They meet Friday and Saturday, but I was only able to play on Friday. 

Speaking of the men who were there, Norm is a retired gentleman and new local quilting celebrity, who happens to be a woodworker during the more mild seasons, when it's pleasant to be in the garage.  His handiwork is evident in the quilt shop - large spool holders which are sold to benefit Project Linus along with several helpful additions in the shop for displaying all the goods.  However, this past November, he decided to take up sewing in the colder seasons.  We had an impromptu quilt show with either 18 or 22 quilts that he donated to Project Linus.  His daughter is a gifted longarm quilter, so she was able to help him by quilting them once the tops were made.   I am positively sure that I have made no where near 18 quilts since November!  Way to go, Norm!  Each of these was beautifully pieced.  Many were patriotic and simply amazing.  What a generous spirit Norm has to pass these on to so many who will never meet him and have the opportunity to thank him for the hours and care invested in each quilt.

The Bottled Rainbows quilt was finished, including hand stitching the binding down.  (My preference).  Maybe it should be called the Color Wheel instead.  


Then, since I noticed a stack trying to topple over with quilt tops and backs just waiting for a quilter to sandwich them, I took home a few small projects.

First, there was a puzzle quilt. 

Quilted Top for Project Linus

Fun sashing details

Back of the puzzle quilt shows the funky stars quilted over the puzzle pieces

Next, a strip quilt.  It's a quick way to practice border ideas so they're fresh in your muscle memory.

Very small strip quilt for Project Linus

I liked the swirls in this orange strip.

More quilting detail.  The white bobbin thread is showing a little bit here. ... Tension.

Cute backing fabric ... the colors went well with the strips

Finally, a fun purpley-pink simple squares quilt.

Backing shows off the wiggly sashing stitches and the flowers

Whole top

One block from the top

I worked yesterday evening and this morning to get them ready for binding.  Then delivered them back to QC for anyone who needed something to do today during Linus Day.  Gail snatched them up and began to trim them before I dashed out the door on my way to the grocery store.  Actually, since there were so many friendly faces there, my dash out the door took 30 minutes or so.  The stack of to-be-quilted was still high today, so I took an armful home.  They should be quick finishes when I don't feel like getting involved in a large project.

Enjoy your day!
- SeeingStars

Bottled Rainbow ...

Bottled Rainbow in progress

There's a fabulous stitch-along at Stitched In Color's blog.  It's been a long time since I started this project with the first 3 blocks.  I'm not expecting to make a huge quilt, but this will make a nice size for Project Linus.  I'm thinking about adding an appliqued watercolor set in the center.  With a little more effort, I'll be ready to hand sew the binding when I next meet with the Project Linus group here in early February. 

It's a quilt-as-you-go easy quilt to make.  But I've still managed to make several mistakes along the way.  First, I forgot that I'd resized the blocks from the pattern.  So I have a huge purple block that wouldn't play nicely with the others.

I think it could make a nice pillow top!

I also managed to flip the blue and green row.  Not only were the colors wrong, but the sea turtle was swimming upside down.  Whoops!  The seam ripper came to the rescue and everything was rearranged to work out nicely.  Sorry - no photographic evidence of that mishap!

Now it's time to make a grocery run.  Family will be asking about dinner soon and we'll have guests over tomorrow for lunch and again in the evening.

Enjoy your day!  It's been so sunny and cheerful here.  The birds have shown off all day long.
 - SeeingStars

Seuss with a Twist!

Baby Quilt for Amanda's little one

This quilt top was made last Spring from the remnants of a Twister quilt.  I posted about it on Last March's Twister Blog Entry.    Since I just found out that Amanda is back in the country for 2 weeks, I was excited that I had enough time to quilt and bind it for her daughter.  I'm really excited about how the quilting turned out.  It's playful and fun, just as a Dr. Seuss quilt should be.

quilting the border ... details

The outer border was done with double wavy lines in turquoise Isacord threads (top & bottom).  Although I like the idea of piano keys, they would have been too orderly for this quilt.  The no-marking, no-rulers improvisational wavy lines were fun to do and added whimsy.

The narrow striped border just seemed like it would be too busy if it was quilted, so it remains as-is.  I considered filling it with circles, but decided against it.

Then the inner red border and piecing sports a red cotton YLI thread (top & bottom).   From Myrna Ficken's DVD's I grabbed this border motif and gave it a try.  The texture and movement it added makes me smile.  Although it's super simple, I should have practiced on paper how to deal with wrapping around the corners of the borders before I armed myself with the machine.

Finally, the pieced top was a cocktail of motifs and doodles.  Jamie Wallen's Mystical Cotton Tracks provided inspiration for those fat leaves.  If you're looking for a new longarm quilting DVD, I recommend one of his DVD classes.  My goal was to use lots of different flowers, rather than just one.  Here's my practice piece to double check tension.  The quilting is easier to see here since it's high contrast.  I return to a piece like this when I change bobbins.   I might use these little pieces for mug rugs.

My backing for this quilt is really busy!  Since the top was made from leftovers, it's only fitting that the back used my last scraps of Seuss fabric too.  I added that gold triangle for the label.  Since I don't have embroidery capability, I use pigma pens to add label info.
 

It's time to tidy the house for a quick visit from my mother-in-law.  She's a blessing to all of us.  I wish everyone could have a MIL just like her!  There isn't too much to do to prepare for her arrival.  We've been hosting a weekly Bible study at our house this month and it's great to know the house will be full each weekend.  It helps all of us clean as we go.  Much much nicer this way!  But the van ... is still is full of pine needles from the smaller tree purchased last month.

Enjoy your day!
- SeeingStars

Let it Snow (part 2)

We did get a little snow!

After my last blog entry, the kids and I watched from the upstairs window as big fat snowflakes swirled all around us.  We had our own snowglobe view of the backyard!  Then, the texture changed and we could actually hear the white stuff landing on the roof and walls.  It began to stick.

There was a little snowdance outdoors and a quick refill of the birdfeeders.  Then we had to dash back inside to warm up.  Brrrr.  34 deg F.  Yes, we're whimpy. 

These snowflakes won't melt!

So I made time to get this quilt done.  It was a challenge making each snowflake unique.  I lightly chalked the 6 lines radiating outward to get the spine of the snowflake right.  Then used leaf shapes, half-hearts, feathers and weird little squiggles up and down each spine.

border snowflake

Here's a closer view of the border.  With the dark grey-blue threads, most of the quilting is for texture more than a design.  It doesn't compete with those terrific batik fabrics.

This afternoon, I braved the 59 deg F sunny weather to help my husband and teen take down a few trees.  They did almost all of the work.  But one pesky tree was leaning in a weird, threatening way and we needed to take it down before we get the fence replaced.  Our neighbor allowed us to tie ropes to his trees to make sure it didn't fall on either of our houses.  Hubby suspended long tree truck sections to those ropes.  They each weighed over 100 lbs and it took coordination, a ladder and team work to get everything ready.  (I should have taken a photo!)  One he began making that chink in the tree, K. began to tighten the last rope with a come-along.  It was me who cheered victoriously as the tree fell just where Hubby wanted it to go - away from the homes.  Those dangling tree trunks buried themselves in the soft dirt/ground up tree stumps.  We untied all the ropes and got ready for late afternoon company to drop in.

Tomorrow, we'll deal with all the tree parts strewn over 2 back yards.  I think we're ready to have the fence replaced.  Big smile.  The mangled one just looks so pathetic.

Since it's slightly after midnight, it's hardly appropriate to end with my usual sign off.  Instead, I'll share this Psalm with you.  I've spent a little time this week studying from it and we'll discuss it tomorrow morning in class.

Psalm 19
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
  The heavens declare the glory of God;
   the skies proclaim the work of his hands.  
 Day after day they pour forth speech;
   night after night they reveal knowledge.
 They have no speech, they use no words;
   no sound is heard from them.
 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
   their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
  It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
   like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
 It rises at one end of the heavens
   and makes its circuit to the other;
   nothing is deprived of its warmth.
  The law of the LORD is perfect,
   refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
   making wise the simple.
 The precepts of the LORD are right,
   giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
   giving light to the eyes.
 The fear of the LORD is pure,
   enduring forever.
The decrees of the LORD are firm,
   and all of them are righteous.
  They are more precious than gold,
   than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
   than honey from the honeycomb.
 By them your servant is warned;
   in keeping them there is great reward.
 But who can discern their own errors?
   Forgive my hidden faults.
 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
   may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
   innocent of great transgression.
  May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
   be pleasing in your sight,
   LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

(text from biblegateway.com)

- SeeingStars

Let It Snow!

Well the weather outside is .... way too warm to see snow.  It's gray and wet with lots of puddles.  Although the Christmas decor is put away, the snowmen are still scattered around the house for January.  And on the frame, a beautiful batik snowflake quilt is resting while I take a break.

Here's what it looks like so far.  Simple snowflake quilting in dark blue.  I don't want the quilting stitches to compete with the top.

Big Blocks with Snowflakes

Cornerstones with improvisational snowflakes

The blocks are on point with pretty pieced sashing.  I had swirly wind patterns in the sashing.  There are more starts/stops than I realized, but the overall effect is nice.  January is a perfect time of the year to quilt with snowflakes!

It's a busy day at the bird feeder (and the ground below).  Doves, tufted titmice, a woodpecker, several cardinals, finches (at least I think that's what they are), a bazillion squirrels and one wandering cat have kept the backyard show alive.

Enjoy your day!

- SeeingStars