The exercise wasn’t completely useless, because I got to look at the pieces for awhile. I really have a lot of warm colors in this piece. I like that it makes the quilt feel warm, but I wonder if I need more cools. Also, as Julie said at one point, the solids do look a bit like holes. I think I can mitigate that by having Colleen quilt in each one.
Also, in realizing I couldn’t put all the blocks up, I figure out that I needed to count the blocks and decide on the layout. Sounds stupid, I know, but I always think the piece will just come together. It would if I had an infinite design wall, but I don’t so I have to count.
I had a brilliant idea after deciding to count, but not wanting to count only to have to count again in a week because I forgot the number. I pinned the blocks together in groups of 10. Yay! or DUH! depending on how daft I feel at the moment.
Snowball blocks: 110
9Patch blocks: 111
Without really trying, I have a very similar amount for both types of blocks. Perhaps I counted before?
Now comes the math. I have to figure out how to lay out the blocks – basically starting with a nine patch or an octagon is mostly what I need to figure out.
The other thing I was wondering is if I need to put another row between each row.
Definition: “A taxicab, also known as a taxi or a cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice. This differs from other modes of public transport where the pick-up and drop-off locations are determined by the service provider, not by the passenger, although demand responsive transport and share taxis provide a hybrid bus/taxi mode.
There are four distinct forms of taxicab, which can be identified by slightly differing terms in different countries:
Hackney carriages, also known as public hire, hailed or street taxis, licensed for hailing throughout communities
Private hire vehicles, also known as minicabs or private hire taxis, licensed for pre-booking only
Taxibuses, also known as jitneys, operating on pre-set routes typified by multiple stops and multiple independent passengers
Limousines, specialized vehicle licensed for operation by pre-booking
Although types of vehicles and methods of regulation, hiring, dispatching, and negotiating payment differ significantly from country to country, many common characteristics exist.” (Wikipedia)
Yellow Cab
Etymology: “Harry Nathaniel Allen of The New York Taxicab Company, who imported the first 600 gas-powered New York City taxicabs from France in 1907, coined the word “taxicab” as a contraction of “taximetercabriolet“. “Taximeter” is an adaptation of the French word taximètre, coined from Medieval Latintaxa, which means tax or charge, together with meter from the Greekmetron (??????) meaning measure.[1] A “cabriolet” is a type of horse-drawn carriage, from the French word “cabrioler” (“leap, caper”), from Italian “capriolare” (“to jump”), from Latin “capreolus” (“roebuck”, “wild goat”).
The taxicabs of Paris were equipped with the first meters beginning on March 9, 1898. They were originally called taxamètres, then renamed taximètres on October 17, 1904.[2]“(Wikipedia)
cab fare
A natural analogue to angles and trigonometry is developed in taxicab geometry.
“Taxi Cab” song by TWENTY ONE PILOTS
Checker cab
United Taxicab Workers – CWA
Taxicab Industry. In the United States, there are approximately 6,300 companies operating 171,000 taxicabs.
Taxicab Confessions
Taxi ( TV Show 1978–1983)
The Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) Board of Directors established an Advisory Taxicab Committee in September 1994.
Taxi Driver (1976 movie with Robert DeNiro and Jody Foster)
cab driver
taxicab with the doors open. A phrase used to describe a person who’s ears stick straight out from their head (at about a 90-degree angle) (Urban Dictionary)
In mathematics, the generalized taxicab numberTaxicab(k, j, n) is the smallest number which can be expressed as the sum of jkth positive powers in n different ways. For k = 3 and j = 2, they coincide with taxicab numbers. (Wikipedia)
The A-Team: Season 2, Episode 7 The Taxicab Wars (1 Nov. 1983)
Post the direct URL (link) where your drawing, doodle, artwork is posted (e.g. your blog, Flickr) in the comments area of this post. I would really like to keep all the artwork together and provide a way for others to see your work and get familiar with your blog or website.
The Creative Prompt Project, also, has a Flickr group, which you can join to post your responses. I created this spot so those of you without blogs and websites would have a place to post your responses.
We are also talking about this on Twitter and Instagram. Use the hashtag #CPP
This third tally runs hard on the heels of my last Christmas Pillowcase update. I won’t keep you guessing, if you didn’t read that post. I finished the task I set out for myself. I am finished with the Christmas pillowcases.
Here is the grand total of what I have finished:
SIL#1: 4 kids, 2 spouses/SOs
3rd oldest nephew + SO (Dear Santa theme – DONE for both)
Oldest niece + Fiance (flannel – DONE for fiance, lights with white background theme – DONE)
Youngest niece (black Gingerbread and Toy Shop theme – DONE)
SIL#2: 3 kids, 1 spouse, 2 great niece-phews
Oldest nephew + spouse + 2 kids (old fashioned Christmas with green cuffs for nephew and niece-in-law: DONE, 2 kids (Olaf for boy, Anna/Elsa for girl): DONE)
2d oldest nephew (present theme – DONE)
middle of the pack nephew (blue lights theme – DONE)
Wash fabric AKA The Great Unwashed-I washed more loads in September. I washed all the fabric I bought during the Great College Travel Adventure and have used a number of piece. Now I have a huge pile of the Great Unironed
Make stiff bucket or box for TP in main bath
Anna Maria Horner Multi-tasker tote (gift-due Holiday 2013- sigh. Missed 2014 deadline as well)
Cut out 3 notepad covers for gifts
Finish cutting out Day in the Park backpack variation
Finish cutting out 3rd Petrillo bag
Sew Bon Appetit apron
Fix button on DH’s California shirt – he decided it was fine
Art supplies Sew Together Bag
Art supplies pincushion
Purple Sew Together Bag
Purple pincushion
**More Christmas Pillowcases
**Thanksgiving tablerunner #1
**Thanksgiving tablerunner #2
**Thanksgiving tablerunner #3
**Thanksgiving table mat
**ATCs for CQFA October meeting
To see the 26 Projects Lists, which list quilt WIPS, visit the October 26 Projects update. August’s To Do List has a couple of changes, which is heartening.
The other day I watched a Fons & Porter episode that had been saved on my Tivo. Deb Tucker was the guest and she was making the Carpenter’s Wheel block (quilt project is called Country Fair). She has updated the pattern to make quicker work of the piecing. I stopped the recording and gathered up pen and paper, drawing out the design as the show went on. I do that sometimes as much for the opportunity to draw as to remember a pattern I might want to make. I think the stars and lots of pieces made this block catch my attention.
The top drawing has a lot of mistakes, so I made the bottom drawing as the final, even though it is much smaller.
I really like Deb Tucker. She is smart, sensible, confident, excited about quiltmaking and doesn’t simper. I have her Flying Geese ruler and like the way it works. I haven’t watched any, but she has a lot of videos on her website. I may have to go watch a few. TQS has a recent episode with her that I’ll have to watch as well.
On the show, they use a ruler called the Square2 ruler, which Deb Tucker designed. They use it to make the Diamond Square units. I didn’t really want to buy the ruler before I could make the block*. I really just wanted to see what the block was about, thus the drawings.
Deb Tucker’s Carpenter’s Wheel on Fons & Porter
I also took a photo of the block off of the TV. I didn’t think it would come out as well as it did. It is a good reference and they don’t have a good photo on the F&P website.
I am not a really big fan of the fabrics used, The look of the piecing offered enough interest for me to soldier on and fabrics are easy to change.
If you look at the block and break it down, it is not that difficult. There are squares, HSTs and Flying Geese. Change that Diamond square unit into two Flying Geese and there is absolutely no scariness.
It occurred to me that I could make one block and have it be part of the low volume challenge at BAMQG. I could make the one block into a cushion cover or something. I decided to try out one block. Not sure what, but something grabbed me and I wanted to make this block. Not a quilt. One block.
By my estimation it had 82 pieces and, once sewed, turned into about a 16″ block when finished. I decided to use the low volume mini-charm packs I bought at Quiltwork Patches in Corvallis, Oregon. I got a pang of fear and that fearful voice in my head started whispering “what if you need them for something else??” I ignored the voice, opened the packet and began to lay out the block.
There is JOY is using something right away or nearly right away. I am not sure there is joy in saving things for later. I’ll have to think about that and report back later.
My “Carpenter’s Wheel”
On Saturday, I made it. I reveled in the the piecing. I ended up making a version of what I saw and drew. I forgot some HSTs.
As I said, there are a lot of pieces in this block and, thus, there was a lot of cutting I had to do. I used some of the 2.5″ squares I have been cutting for the Goodnight, Irene pattern I plan on making, but haven’t started. There is always more fabric to cut, right? I used the opportunity of using the Flying Geese units instead of Diamond Square units to mix up the fabrics even further.
So, it is a version. I like it, but I forgot those HSTs. I am not bothered by my mistake as I like what came out. I like the cheerfulness and the scrappiness. I just want to see the block as Deb Tucker made it, but in my fabrics with the low volume background. That means I am making another. Just one more block. Perhaps another cushion cover?
A couple of worries: do I have the low volume concept down? Is it ok to have a low volume background and a bright and cheerful foreground?
and
The mini-charms aren’t washed. I didn’t smell anything when I pressed the parts as I made the block, which was good. I don’t have a rash, which was also good.
*It looks like Deb Tucker will have a booth at PIQF, so I’ll have a chance to check out the ruler sometime at the show.
I finished the last Christmas pillowcases. Hooray!!! I just sat down and did a bit of sewing one day. I had about an hour so I only finished a couple, then I finished the stragglers a few days later. Voila! I am done.
Dear Santa PillowcaseDear Santa Pillowcase
The two Dear Santa Pillowcases are some of my favorites. On the left will go to Raymond, the SO of my 3rd oldest nephew and the right will go to the actual nephew. I hope they don’t look too girly.
I really like the sense of humor that Cotton & Steel has with some of their designs. I also like the 50s look of the design. I am waiting for some Christmas designs that include the Shiny Brite ornaments I like so much.
Blue Lights Pillowcase
The blue lights pillowcase is similar to the white lights pillowcase I made the other day. This will go to one of the middle nephews (so many nephews!!!). I think the lights might be a little smaller, but I am pretty sure the fabric is from the same line as the white lights pillowcase.
I have more fabric and am tempted to make more pillowcases, but am going to hold off. I had some fun just doing some tests the other day and want to keep that feeling alive.
Now, guess what I am worrying about? Packing up and mailing all of these things out to the Niece-phews! Sheesh! I have over a month and can do it a little at a time.
I finally got down to cutting some fabric, especially working on the pillowcases last weekend. You can see all sorts of different projects in this group. This is a good thing as it means I am actually using fabric. Yes, there are some fabrics that will go into the stash. I am working on using fabrics. I really am.
I did the last bits of the binding on Field Day Zipper on Friday Night. It is finished. I should hold it for the BAMQG meeting, but I want to get it off to the recipient. It is a nice quilt and I hope she will like it.
I showed it at CQFA and people really liked the Sangria background. I was and wasn’t surprised. I am pretty happy with how it turned out.
Post the direct URL (link) where your drawing, doodle, artwork is posted (e.g. your blog, Flickr) in the comments area of this post. I would really like to keep all the artwork together and provide a way for others to see your work and get familiar with your blog or website.
The Creative Prompt Project, also, has a Flickr group, which you can join to post your responses. I created this spot so those of you without blogs and websites would have a place to post your responses.
We are also talking about this on Twitter and Instagram. Use the hashtag #CPP
Definition: “an implement, container, or other article, especially for household use.” (Google)
“Utensil may refer to:
Kitchen utensil, one of the tools of cooking and baking — cookware and bakeware
Eating utensil, a tool for shaping and carrying food to the mouth
EcoSecurity Utensil (ESU) offers solutions for safety and humane treatment where utensils may be misused.
knife
Based in San Francisco, Utensil Recordings releases artist singles on vinyl and digital downloads. Our musical focus is the underground dance floor.
spoon
implement
writing utensil
utensil tray
Trongs – finger food utensil (who knew?)
spork
Boon ModWare toddler utensils
The Vision 1321/1327 Cart and Utensil Washer/Disinfector is a high-capacity mechanical washer intended for use in the efficient cleaning of reusable items.
Improve your customer’s dining experience with your custom Utensil Buddy™ …raising silverware to a safe, new level! (I didn’t know I needed this.)
The Russian Rubix was accepted into the New Quilts of Northern California. I had to drop off it off this week and took the time to make the drive to New Pieces yesterday. I could have sent it, but decided that if I went sometime late morning – mid-afternoon I could miss most of the traffic and it would be less hassle than cramming it into a box and sending it.
I did my normal morning routine and then headed out.
I don’t go over there that often. The bridge is such a barrier, for some reason. I didn’t grow up with bridges and when I was in college I thought nothing of crossing the bridge every weekend for some adventure. I brought a sandwich just to be on the safe side. 😉
I was pleased to go to New Pieces again. It has been while and, after I had been there for a few minutes, turning in the quilt, I took some time to look around the store. I was really impressed with the selection of fabrics. They had so much fabric – more fabric than I have seen in a shop since I went to QuiltWorks Northwest several years ago. I distinctly remember practically tripping over bolts as we walked around at that shop. It wasn’t quite that bad at New Pieces, but there was a lot of fabric. There was fabric that I had never seen before, which I LOVE! They have lots of Asian fabric, which is not my favorite, but it was more than I had ever seen before.
I was trying to be strict with myself about fabric purchases since the ‘fabric cup’ in my workroom runneth over. I did find a couple of fabrics – one I never expected to find and the same motif in a different colorway – that needed to come home with me. I also found a grey and a fabric for a gift.
Some bits and bobs from New Pieces
The shop is large and they had a good selection of notions, rulers (Creative Grids), books and thread. It was great.
I only really had Sunday to sew. I am still not focusing well and I decided to work on pillowcases for awhile in the morning. Well, the morning turned into an almost all day marathon of pillowcase making to get the Christmas project done once and for all.
As I have said the hardest part is picking the cuff fabrics. I think I need to do that when I buy future pillowcase fabric. We all know that is not going to happen since I don’t plan that far ahead. A girl can dream, though.
About midday I had all the bodies and cuffs cut and pinned. One thing I learned is that I need to cut my initial pieces (you know the ones I cut out of each piece of new yardage) up the side of the fabric, especially the half yards, because if I cut across the bottom, the half yards won’t be long enough to make a cuff. That cuts down my cuff options. Live and learn.
Phil’s presents
I methodically sewed and this time I used an applique foot so I wouldn’t have to guess on the initial seams. Still, sewing the final seams was less ideal, because of that foot. I used a wider seam allowance. I am sure it will be fine, but it makes me want to invent a pillowcase foot.
Some of the fabrics had purple in them so I chose purple/lavender cuffs. It is an odd choice, but I think it works.
I made two of the gift pillowcases (2d photo in this post) as I had a lot of the gift fabric and figured I might as well, since I didn’t want to keep the fabric for anything. I am not sure where I got it and why I got so much of it, but I have enough to make some gift bags, too.
White Lights Pillowcase
One of the pillowcases I made is really one of my favorites. I like that print. I actually have it with blue and red backgrounds as well.
This one is for my oldest niece. I didn’t have enough to make two with the same fabric, which I would have done if I had enough fabric. I already made one for my niece’s fiance’ and I can make more later.
I have two more pillowcases prepared, but I don’t know if I will get them done until next weekend. I’d like to, but we will see.
TFQ and I are still working on the Flying Geese exchange. We will through the end of the year, at least. I think for both of us this swap is keeping our heads in or keeping us on track.
It is nice to have something to do every week.
The FGs shown in this post are a combination of my contributions and TFQs. I think they go really well together. This group is very bright and cheerful.
I am not sure what I want to do with them. I have been looking at different layouts for all of these FGs and haven’t found one that I like yet. It is early yet.
Due to circumstances beyond my control, this was the first meeting I attended since April. The meetings are only every other month, so if I miss one, time passes quickly. I like these meetings, because I always go home wanting to sew. I also feel like people genuinely like me and that is always good for my ego.
There were no new members this time, but lots of new faces that were new since I last attended. I also re-met Lynette who I know from back in the dark ages when I first got on the Internet. She hosted a local Bay Area quilt listserve and we met up a few times to put names and projects to faces. Back then we could only describe our work. There wasn’t really any economical way to post photos.
Maureen’s Strata Quilt
A number of the members have quilts in shows: Maureen has a quilt in Strata, which I think is an SAQA related show. Maureen started her piece at the most recent retreat, so I was glad to see what happened with the work. Ann M. will be at PIQF. She has a one woman show there. Dolores has a quilt coming back from a show in Brazil and also sold a piece!
A number of the members are selling their pieces at various local events, too. One is the Book Arts Jam. Because of the bookmaking I have done (and want to do more of), I would like to attend this event. We’ll see if I can fit it in.
As usual, Show and Tell was awesome. This part of the meeting is what makes excited to go home and sew. People in this group are so unbelievably creative! I also sort of feel, sometimes, that I couldn’t do what they are doing. Don’t worry, I don’t let that stop me!
Gerre & Dolores with Peace Monument Quilt
Dolores brought a quilt that was inspired by the Peace Monument in Paris. Some of the fabric for the steps is hand-dyed fabric. She told us that she made a conscious decision to use commercial fabric for the other parts of the quilt. I was really impressed with her people. They are simple, but clearly people, too. The whole piece is simple, in a way, but encouraged me to look and look. She did a great job.
Jen made a piece that made me think of my Change of Seasons piece. I have wanted to do more pieces like this where there are 4 parts of one image. It is on the list. 😉
Jen’s piece
Jen’s piece was inspired by a call for quilts for a show. I am not sure what show.
Jen does spinning so there is often yarn type fiber attached to her quilts. She also does a lot of fabric manipulation: painting, stamping, couching, etc. This quilt is no exception. She painted part behind the tree and the pipes on the left are twisted newspaper, a fair trade product from India. The aerial views behind the tree and the building relate each other IMO, but are not traditional backgrounds. I think the whole piece works really well and it makes me think of my own piece again.
Amy brought one of her nature pieces, this time an abstract artichoke. She had an interesting idea for machine quilting practice: copy part of your piece on to fabric and machine quilt that as practice. Later you can use it as a small wall hanging, cubicle art or cut it up and make ATCs. I never thought of that and thought it was a great idea.
I accidentally agreed to run the ATCs swap. Oops! It went fine and Maureen, who is a real pro, had to do some treasurer stuff, so I was happy to do it.
Top to bottom: Bron, Jaye, Maureen, Nancy
Left to right: Amy, Carol, Diane
My ATCs
I was sad not to get one of Nancy’s flowers, but we can’t have all of them when there are more than 4 swappers. People did nice work.
The December meeting will, again, be at FabMo. Guests can attend for $5. We will bring all of our challenge pieces to show. I really need to get on the placemat challenge and do it. While Maureen was talking about this part, I had a flash of what to use for the actual placemat part of the piece. I hope that means I am closer to making the piece.
Still WIPs
I still have WIPs. Who doesn’t, after all, but the list is getting a lot smaller.
Aqua-Red Sampler – Frances and I finished the Basket block and you can make one as well by looking at the tutorial series. Now I am tasked with doing a tutorial on partial seaming.
The Tarts Come to Tea: I still haven’t worked on this since April 2011, though, it is in a prominent location so I have easy access. I was thinking about how this was veering in the direction of being one of my ‘masterpieces,’ but now that it has languished for so long it just looks old and dated. 🙁
Pointillist Palette #4: Fourth is a series of 6 quilts; needs tiny square patches sewn together. I still haven’t worked on this project either, but I do think about it.
Self Portrait: started in 2006 at a class at Quilting Adventures in Richmond, Virginia. My career counselor breathed new life into this project for me. She asked a simple question and the end result was inspiration for this piece, but I kind of lost steam again after printing images on paper to try out different designs. Lately, I have been feeling like I need to finish this piece as it should be a good reminder to keep in my office.
Under the Sea: class project; like the design, but not the colors. Still a possibility for abandonment. Just can’t seem to pull the trigger.
Ready for Quilting
Wow! Everything on this list is new, as in it was never on the original 26 Projects list.
Christmas table runner: Basted; needs quilting and binding. I am still planning on free motion quilting this myself for practice.
FOTY 2014: at the quilter
In Process
I decided that I had better put in an ‘In Process’ category. The difference, at least in my mind, between ‘In Process’ and ‘UFO’ is that I am actively working on a project and that is defined as“In Process.”
Stepping Stones #2 I started out using primarily Bonnie & Camille fabrics Bliss, Ruby, Vintage Modern. I made two test blocks, but wasn’t quite happy with them, so I added a number of other reds and turquoises to the variety to make the piece more scrappy. I ending up deciding against using a solid turquoise for the background.
Spin Wheel: really not started, but supplies gathered. I probably have enough fabrics and just need to decide to start.
Stepping Stones #3 using the Macaron pre-cuts from Hoffman. I have all the fabric in pre-cuts and was thinking about it before I went to sleep the other night. It isn’t started, but I am really trying hard not to start it.
Windmill quilt: Still hunting and gathering. I am cutting a variety of greys for the background,to preserve the pattern. The pieces are too oddly shaped and I don’t want to lose the pattern in a mass of scraps
September College PillowcaseBack-to-School Pillowcase
As I said in my previous post, I was tempted by a “School Daze” theme, but I didn’t want to send him something that will embarrass him. I also want him to use the pillowcases. I decided to make him a really soft pillowcase, which I did. Then In Eureka, I saw the Timeless Treasures fabric. I texted him a picture and he approved so I bought some fabric and made the pillowcase when I got home from dropping him off. It went into his first care package.
October – Done
Theme: Halloween
Fabric: skeleton fabric by Timeless Treasures for the body. The cuff is an old P&B Fabric.
Halloween Pillowcase for YM
This is a gimme. Very easy fabric to choose and I am pretty sure the YM will like it.
I was disappointed I couldn’t find a cornucopia fabric, but this fabric looks very Thanksgiving-y.
December
Theme: Christmas
Fabric: not purchased
YM’s Christmas Pillowcase
January – Done
Theme: Pokemon
Fabric: Robert Kaufman licensed from Nintendo
Pokemon Pillowcase #2
I had the fabric on my ‘to be ironed’ pile and the YM saw it. I didn’t say that it was for a pillowcase for him and asked him if he would want a pillowcase out of it. He, very tactfully, said I should make one for someone else, so I made one with red fabric for the body and a cuff from the Pokemon fabric. I have another pillowcase with a Pokemon body and think I will give it to his cousin, who is 11.
