Oops!

Spent last night making more blocks for the Red and White Snowball Challenge. Well, at least the first part of the night.  The second part I spent picking out the stitching.  I had forgotten to switch the needle position to 1/4 inch seam allowance.  Guess how I will be spending New Year's Eve?

Happy New Year to you!

A trisket, a tusket, I made Miss Rosie's Tuffet!

I finally found a reason to make one of Miss Rosie's Tuffet to fulfill the December Schnibble challenge!  I had totally given up on it when, on Christmas day, I decided to work on my Black, White, and Red All Over quilt.  It is my scrap quilt that I play with when I am tired of the math and exactness of regular quilt patterns.  It occurred to me that I could make a tuffet out of black, white, and red and incorporate it in the quilt.  The tuffet would feel right at home since fabric and mis-sized blocks from other Schnibbles are also included.

So, here is my Scnibble made in red and white so it will fit into the quilt.  It is the Double Nine Patch.

Here is the tuffet embedded into a larger section of the quilt.

And here are a few more blocks for the quilt.  Other than the Tuffet, everything is leftover fabric and blocks and scraps.  It is so fun putting them all together.  I have almost enough pieces now to make a double bed sized quilt.

Red and White Snowball Challenge

I have all my Christmas sewing done and the presents are in the mail.  I have only finished one UFO for the Joy in the New Year Challenge.  Perhaps I should be working desparately on the rest trying to make the deadline but I am not.  I would rather finish them to my satisfaction later than rush them now.  I am at peace with that. 

I have skipped the Year of Schnibbles December pattern too.  I don't use pin cushions. I had thought about turning the pattern into tree ornaments. It would not be hard.  But we don't put up a tree and all the Christmas packages are in the mail. Why bother to make it except to say I did it?

So, on to the next project. I have been slow starting on the Red and White Snowball Challenge but I think I will get it finished by the January 31 deadline.  I have all 480 half-square triangles made.  I made most of them using the "Easy Piecing Techniques" on page 10 of the book.  I took pictures so I can create a tutorial if you are interested.

I got bored ironing all those half-squares and trimming them so I do a little at a time and make a few blocks.  Then I iron, trim, and sew some more.  So far I have almost all of my red blocks done!  Yeah me!

Merry Christmas to you!  In with all your unwrapping and feasting and partying and family fun, I hope you have time for some quilting!

A little balance

I am starting to think that to be a true quilter/fabric artist, it is essential to have a cat.  Many of the blogs I follow post pictures of their cats.  I don't have a cat.  I have a dog.  But in this case, it is not a lot different. Chang is a Pekingese who thinks he is a human, which is what most cats believe about themselves. 

I was trying to take pictures of my spring flowers and Chang would simply not get out of the way. When I finally gave up and tried to take his pictures, he flat stopped looking directly into the camera. Therefore, I have this 3/4 face regal view of him (with Bleeding Hearts behind).

My erosion bundle

http:/erosionbundles.blogspot.com/

I have been putting together fabric, rusting things, and old lino prints for my erosion bundle and getting really excited about the idea of making something from the abused fabric.  THEN I get my first copy of Cloth Paper Scissors.  It has an article on wabi-sabi inspiration.  Here is a quote from the article: "Wabi-sabi refers to the qualities of imperfection, aging, cycles of nature, and cycles of life.  It values rust, patina, burnishing, tearing, staining, and decay."  Wooo Hooo!  Not only am I letting fabric rot outside for a few months and thereby adding rust, tearing, staining, and decay but I am creating using an Asian concept.  Cool, eh?

If you want to see what can be done with the wabi-sabi technique of erosion bundles,check out Spirit Cloth.

Shibori Experiment

Here is my latest Shibori experiment.  I learned the umbrella folding technique from Entwinement.

Letter to Santa Baby

http://fatquartershop.blogspot.com/2009/12/deeeaaar-santa.html

Santa Baby


Santa baby, slip some fabric under the tree, for me

I've been an awful good girl

Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa baby, a cone of cotton thread, light blue

I'll wait up for you dear

Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Think of all the fun I've missed

Think of all the fellas that I haven't kissed

Next year I could be oh so good

If you'd check off my Christmas list

Boo doo bee doo

Santa honey, I wanna light and really that's

Oh so right!

I've been an angel all year

Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa cutie, there's one thing I really do need, the deed

To a longarm machine.

Santa cutie, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa baby, I'm filling my stocking with a pattern, and gift checks

Sign your 'X' on the line

Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Come and trim my Christmas tree

With some notions bought at FQS

I really do believe in you

Let's see if you believe in me

Boo doo bee doo

Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing, a jelly roll
I don't mean a pastry.

Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Hurry down the chimney tonight

Hurry down the chimney tonight

Miss Rosie's Tuffets

I had been debating whether to make the Tuffets this month.  I am working on a number of things and don't care for pin cushions.  The biggest plus in the positive column for making the Tuffets was that I thought I could sew a hanger and a tassel on them and call them Christmas Tree Ornaments.  They would make wonderful presents for my tutors.

Well, my quandray was solved with a "snow day" and my work closing for the day.  So with an extra 10 hours today (work time, lunch, and travel time) I figure I can make a few tuffet Christmas Tree Ornaments as presents. LOL  Hmmm...where is that pattern?

Playing with rust

Deborah's piece at While I was Waiting reminds me of a piece I made last year.  All the fabric started out the same.  I wrapped some of the fabric around a rusty tin can and let it soak in vinegar for a while.  I fell in the love with the results and could barely stand to cut it.  Here is the very simple de-constructed quilt wall hanging I made with it.  I stiffened the fabric in the back so that it would lay relatively flat on the wall without support. You can see the three blocks of fabric in the piece that were not exposed to the rusting process.  Embroidery floss make the simple cross-stitches that serve as quilting.

Guest Pass

Over the weekend I got my membership card from the New England Quilt Museum in Lowell MA.  It came with a guest pass.  Anyone in the New England area want to visit the Museum?  I will mail you the guest pass.  Just let me know by Friday, December 11, why you would like it.

(Warning: the rest of this email is publicity for the New England Quilt Museum)

I live a couple of hours away from the Musuem but their classes and exhibits have been good enough to justify the drive to the museum.  Currently they have an exhibit of 40 contemporary quilt masters from around the world. The quilts are spectacular!  I even like the neighborhood the museum is in--full of cobblestone streets, art galleries, art supply stores, and restaurants!  (I can tell you which ones we have tried.) 

I keep trying to talk my husband into making a weekend out of our day trips--you know, an hour or so at the museum, a meal at a small local restaurant, a night at a local theatre (lots to choose from), and a stay in a luxury hotel.  So far he is not showing sufficient interest (well, at least not POSITIVE interest).  Perhaps it will be my Christmas Present to him.  LOL

Christmas presents for family almost done!

Here is the front and back of the Cars quilt.  Not an artistic masterpiece but the litte boy will appreciate the Disney's Car fabric better than the G-Bend influenced style that I adore.  Later today the front and back will become more intimate with only a thin batting between.  After their indiscretion, they will be get bound together.

I have aslo finished the Pocket Doll.  Here is the 1) outside of the pocket,

2) the inside of the pocket showing the dresser (three pockets stacked to look like dresser drawers with buttons as drawer pulls), the closet (a ribbon with three buttons and 3 little hangers made from copper wire) and the bed with its own quilt,

3) and lastly Dolly in her nightgown in her bed. Nighty, nighty Dolly!

Now to find a mailing box.

Working on Christmas

I know that there is plenty of time for my Christmas Spirit to go south but right now I am feeling pretty good!  I think the most exciting part of the holiday is Giving.  This year the extended family is gathering around a member of the family who is having a difficult Christmas.  Family, isn't that what it is all about?

My sister became aware of the family's situation, asked permission of the anonymous family member to swing into action for the sake of the children involved, and was given permission.  So, the whole family from Oklahoma, Florida, Maine, Ohio, and Indiana are all chipping in to help Santa.  We might guess who the family member is but no one is mentioning names.

I volunteered to make another pocket doll for the little girl in the family. This will be my 4th.  I have all the little clothes made, the pocket with her closet and bed almost finished, and the doll herself yet to be started.  I'll post pictures when it is finished.  

For the little boy I am making a small quilt.  It won't be fancy--no time--besides I am sure he would rather have a fancy print than an intricately pieced design.  I went through my stash and found some panels from the Disney Movie, Cars.  Perfect for a little boy!  Even better, when I was shopping over the weekend I found a coordinating print for the back on sale.  Was this quilt meant to be or what?!  With a lot of luck, I will finish it this weekend.  I'll post pictures.

Ho Ho Ho!  I hope you are feeling as good about your Christmas!