April 2022 – Page 2 – Artquiltmaker Blog

Finished: Friesan Pouch

This was a great pouch. I can’t say I didn’t rip, but it still went together really well.

In a number of the FB groups in which I share my pouches and drool over others’ pouches and bags, people tend to point out the flaws. I always tell them their work is great and not to point to the flaws. Now I know how hard that is. All I want to do is point out the flaws in my work. What is that about people? Is that a way to add to the life’s drama?

As I said before, one reason I made this particular pouch was to use the zippers Julie got me for my birthday. There are three different colors of zippers and two different kinds of zipper heads, so I tried to make the most of them.

A lot of the fabric (maybe all) was purchased on my trip to Portland. I used two different fabrics for the outside to give myself a visual cue as to where something was. I also wanted to use my new fabrics right away.

I used book fabric (from Windham) for the lining as an homage to my librarian roots. It is hard to see, but I can see it when I use the pouch. The book fabric makes me happy.

I like the stiffness of the bag. The center has foam to help it stand up while the sides have foam** and Decovil**. The bag stands up really well. I want to try something with more Decovil**, but I haven’t found the right pattern yet.

Friesan Pouch - sides down — Friesan Pouch – sides down

One thing that makes this an interesting pouch, is that the sides fold down. I was inspired to use the AGF solid pink after using it to good effect in Gerre’s Retreat pouch. I wouldn’t use a solid again on the inside pocket. It just looks too stark even though I like that fabric. A print would give the viewer something to look at.

Also, I would probably put something to hold pens – elastic or mesh – to make those folding down sides more useful. It is hard for me to see what might be better for me in the design when I make a pattern the first time. As I have said before, I like to make things a few times before I get the true hang of them.

Overall I feel like this pouch came out really well. I am pleased. I made it for me. I am not sure how I will use it, but I will find some way to use it, I am sure.

**Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops. However, I use affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this blog.

Maria’s Sew Day Quilt

Maria's Sew Day donation top — Maria’s Sew Day donation top

Maria started with some blocks and sewed a fantastic quilt together.

In real life, it looks like the magenta comes forward and it looks like the blocks are behind the window. The blocks really recede.

Friesan Pouch Start

What I wanted to do at Sew Day, since all of my La Pass month 9 pieces were basted, was cut out a bag. I had been thinking about the Friesan Pouch for awhile and I chose to cut the pieces for that pouch out.

As I have said, cutting out large-ish projects at Sew Day is great. The larger cutting table and space to spread out are very helpful.

I prepared everything I could at Sew Day, so I was ready to sew when I had time on Sunday.

I basted all the pieces like Sara says to do instead of being lazy and wanting to get to the finished product. It took forever to get through the basting and making the zipper panel, but I had everything ready so it went very smoothly.

I used the zippers Julie got me for my birthday. I was able to put the zipper heads on (using my zipper head tutorial) with the zipper heads that Julie included in my gift and I think they look really good. I am ridiculously pleased with how the zipper panel came out.

I used two different fabrics (from my trip to Portland), one for each side of the zipper, because I used on fabric for each side of the pouch. I hope it comes out like I imagine it.

I am in the process of installing the zippers on the outside pockets.

Sew Day Donation Top In Process

I finished cutting out the Friesan pouch at Sew Day and had an hour until it was over. I could have left, but instead Mary C and I decided to work together to make another donation quilt top in an hour. It was a charity Sew Day after all and both of us had been working on our own projects.

We used some fabric from one of the first retreats that had been sewn together into a block of rectangles. It was not very attractive.

The first thing we did was to cut it in half and they cut the halves on the diagonal so we could insert some strips and break up the parts that were unattractive.

Mary C had some strips and strips sets leftover from a quilt she had just finished that we ransacked to make the improvements.

I selected some grey from the abundance of solids that Peggy has and we used that color to fill in other places.

Adding the seafoam green strips REALLY helped that rectangle go from unattractive to attractive. The addition also lightened up the piece.

To make the two halves large enough, we added the strip set and sewed the pieces together.

We decided we wanted to use the ‘bird’ blocks as well. They were mostly made from the same fabrics, so they fit in well. I had to build up the green block, which was not nearly square.

Mary sewed the brown bird into a large-ish chunk with the intention of putting on the bottom of the piece. I thought it came out well.

While she did that, I built up the green bird block into a shape we could use. The green strip along the bottom allows that darker green and orange section to float a bit which was a happy accident.

Eventually we ended up with several large chunks. We wanted to add those half circle pieces, which took a bit of time to work out.

In this endeavor, Mary did the sewing and some ironing while I trimmed, pressed, matched fabrics, cut strips and brought her stuff to sew. We had to make little bits to allow us to fit the chunks together. There is a freedom in this kind of improv quilt. I happily hacked off pieces of the blocks and chunks to make them fit.

La Pass Month 9 Basted

Month 9 is very light, so I was able to mostly baste it at Craft Night last week and finish during a work meeting.

I am now stitching the pieces together and I think I will finish soon. It is nice to have a light month, but I don’t know what I will do when I finish. More half hexies, I guess.

Missouri Star Donation Top/Back

I finished the Missouri Star donation top and back on Friday night before Sew Day last week. I wanted to make sure I could give it to Peggy and I just didn’t have time to work on it during the week, even though I thought I would.

Adding the top and back to my Fabric Usage Report put me slightly back into the black, which makes me happy.

I am pretty pleased with how it came out. Making a top like this was a good use of that block.

The fabrics I used for the back have been around for a long time. The middle piece is a Moda and I never cut into it. I was thinking that I would use it for something, but since I hadn’t up until now, I went ahead and used it for the back. There’s always more fabric, right?

How Big is M8?

In a comment, Mrs. K asked how big my M8 rosette ended up. I know the paper pieces are larger than the original, but I didn’t know how big the rosette was, so I measured it.

I know the photo is small, but the tape measure says 40 inches! WOW! I am glad there are only a few of these in the quilt. They are pretty hard to maneuver when they are this large. I know I will be challenged when I put the whole thing together.

Finished: Cha Cha Cha Table Runner

I finished the Cha3 table runner pretty quickly. It is already on my buffet, replacing the Red Text table runner I made during the Journey to Nebula. I was getting sick of looking at it.

I realized that I really didn’t follow the directions very well. I explained a little about why in a previous post, but I also could have made the edges of the center a little more wonky. I have more of the squares from the charm pack and maybe I have enough to do that. We’ll see.

Cha Cha Cha Table Runner Finished-detail

I even quilted it myself. The quilting isn’t as good as Tim’s or Colleen’s, but I am happy with it.

I had to unbaste it, because my first attempt was terrible. The second time was better. Lesson: use masking tape not painter’s tape.

Color Change

The other day I talked about changing out one of the colors. The fabric I will use is show here.

I was pleased that I was able to find it as soon as I went looking for it. I could do without the crosses, but I don’t sincerely dislike them. For a green, I really like the color.

Before I absolutely decided to use it, I compared it with some of the other fabrics. First, I wanted to see how close it was to the green solid Pink Door sent.

Look at them together, even with the issues of color on screens, you can see that they are not at all alike. The AGF is a lot brighter and clearer. NO brown undertones (sorry, Marty!). It is also not so busy that it would act differently in the La Pass pieces.

After I saw it with the solid, I wanted to see it with the green mineral fabric to make sure it wasn’t too close to that one either.

I think they are both in the emerald family, but the mineral print has a touch more yellow while the AGF has a touch more blue.

What do you think?

La Pass Month 9 Received

The day after I finished La Pass M8, Month 9 arrived. More green.

I am still in awe of the way Pink Door gets these out every month.

The fabrics are nicer than last month’s fabrics – brighter, more clear, not as dull. I am replacing the solid with a more emerald color. I just don’t like that solid green. It reminds me of camouflage, the military and the less of that I have to think about right now the better. My only concern is that it will be too close to the mineral green (top center). The fabric I will use is from Art Gallery. It is the perfect color.

26 Projects 2022 #3

Finished 2022 Quilt Projects

Cha Cha Cha table runner – finished March 27, 2022
Gelato – finished January 2022
Scrap Dash – finished January 2022

Finished 2022 Small and Non-Quilt Projects

This category covers bags, toys, aprons and knitting as well as other non-quilt projects.

A Place for Everything v.2 Bag – finished 1/24/2022
Blue Journal #1 – finished January 22, 2022
Blue Journal Cover #2 – finished January 22, 2022
Cactus Flower Flapper Apron – finished February 2022
Canvas totes – finished February 2022
Christmas gift bags – finished January 23, 2022
Christmas gift bags (grey dot) – finished February 2022
Christmas gift bags (masked)
Duck Bones Apron
6 months of La Passacaglia
La Passacaglia
- Rosettes Month 7
- Month 8 Rosette
Rainbow Pincushion – Finished March 2022
Scissor Cozies
- Leaf version – finished March 2022
- Pickle version for Maria- finished January 2022
- Sugar Skull version for Gerre – finished January 2022

Doing Good

Ends n.13 (Pink & Black) - top — Ends n.13 (Pink & Black) – top

Pop Parade Ends donation top in progress

Ends n.12 (Pop Parade)- finished February 2022
Ends n.13 (Pink & Black) – finished February 2022
HST Sawtooth Star – finished February 2022
Yellow Improv Donation Top & Back – finished February 2022

In Process or To Make
The ‘In Process’ is used to denote projects on which I am actively working or are on the design wall waiting for me to stitch. I am continuing to try not to put away projects. I find putting a project away ensures I never work on them, because I just lose steam.

Quilts

The circle quilt is on the design wall waiting for what comes next

Small Projects to Make or in Process

Most of my progress involves thinking or just cutting.

One Hour Basket for my stuff that tends to accumulate on the dining room table. I may switch to one of the Minikins projects or a Catch All Caddy for this purpose.
One Hour Basket for DH’s stuff that tends to accumulate on the dining room table. I may switch the pattern to one of the Minikins projects for this purpose.
Retreat Organizer – another project from the Crafty Gemini Organizer Club, also on my list, but not yet started. Recently, I saw one of these made up and I am not so nervous about it
Superbloom tote using Hindsight fabric – not started
Ultimate Project Organizer – another project from the Crafty Gemini Organizer Club, also on my list, but not yet started
Westchester shirt – this is a Crafty Gemini pattern. I bought the fabric at PIQF in 2018. I have the pattern pieces cut out and ready to sew. I was held up by the supply list which wanted a Jersey needle. SIL #2 and Mary C said that a regular knit needle was fine. We may start a garment sewing group in the guild. I could use the support.

Handwork

I decided that some of my projects are in a different class because they are hand piecing or embroidery or beading. They take longer. Thus I created a new category and have moved some projects here.

English Paper Piecing Project– half hexies – I worked on this a little at the guild meeting as it is easier to transport than La Pass.
La Passacaglia – I am up to date on this project and waiting for Month 7 to arrive.

Ready for Quilting

Nothing at the moment

In the Quilting Process

BAMQG Improv Round Robin – I am ripping out the quilting so I can send this quilt to Colleen. I like the look of Big Stitch, but I have enough handwork and wasn’t enjoying working on it. I am kind of shocked at how much I got done. I do feel some regret at ripping out what I have done.
The Tarts come to Tea – no recent progress

In the Finishing Process

Nothing at the moment

Still WIPs
I still have WIPs. Who doesn’t, after all? A project in the ‘UFO’ category means I am stalled. A nicer way of saying UFO is a WIP. The list is a lot shorter and the projects are newer, for the most part.

Handbag Sampler – this is still the forgotten project. It should be on the UFO list. The blocks were teaching samples when I taught a sampler class some time before I started writing the quilt class sampler tutorials. I found one block recently, but otherwise I don’t actually know exactly where the blocks are hiding. I crawled up in the far reaches of my fabric closet to see if I could find them and they weren’t where I thought. I am sort of mystified as to where they could be. I haven’t even found a picture of all the blocks. WTH?
Lobster – I think I might make this into a tablerunner for the buffet. I think that will be a good and fun use of the piece even if the colors aren’t quite right for the dining room.
Pies and Points from 2016 Victoria Findlay Wolfe class. The last time I worked on it was when Julie and I had a playdate in April 2018. I brought this piece with me so I could cut more elements (Julie has a Sizzix). I lost my excitement about this piece shortly thereafter, but I am ready to work on it as soon as I get my design walls back up.
Pointillist Palette #4: Fourth is a series of 6 quilts; needs tiny square patches sewn together. No progress.
Self Portrait: started in 2006 at a class at Quilting Adventures in Richmond, Virginia. After a brief burst of inspiration, I am stalled on this again. As one of my oldest (I am pretty sure) UFOs, I put it on my blog and out into the Twitterverse and Diane suggested that I not consider this as a self portrait. I think that strategy is a great idea. I am now trying to think of a new persona for her.
Serendipity Lady – I am still planning to take this piece to be framed. It might need a bit of quilting first.
Who Am I? – This piece is still languishing. Perhaps having a larger design wall will help me regain momentum. The amount of satin stitching I was facing was a problem until I thought of BIAS TAPE. I am going to make the words with bias tape, perhaps different widths, then I won’t have to satin stitch everything. Red Scribbles and Friend Julie helped me come up with this solution. Now I just have to do it!

Various & Sundry 2022 #4

Other Artists

Valerie has a fantastic sunflower block (quiltlet?) on her blog. It very cleverly uses Drunkard’s Path units to make up the design. This would be a very effective and not difficult design to make. I wonder if I could make it larger? Or with more sunflowers? Great job, Valerie! PS Valerie has an Etsy shop where she sells some of her quilts.

The Electric Quilt Company posted this wise advice. It is a good reminder for non-quiltmaker family members that not every minute is a good one to complain to Mom/Sis/Auntie.

Projects, Classes, Patterns & Tutorials

Charlotte Hawkes, remember my Scrapitude quilt?, has another mystery quilt. Valerie stopped by the blog the other day. I checked out her blog, which I haven’t been to in awhile and saw her progress on on this quilt.

Because I have no will power I bought the Kit Supply Tote pattern by Aneela Hoey. Have I made it yet? No. The link is to Aneela’s site, but I bought it from the Fat Quarter Shop. Although I prefer paper patterns, I bought the PDF downloadable version as that was all they offered.

Mary C is doing the Glitter Ball BOM. I took a look at the site and this is a really cool looking quilt! Quite different from other BOMs. More like a row quilt.

Tools, Books, Fabric, Notions & Supplies

I found a shop called Flying Bulldogs. They have great fabrics including some older Martha Negleys. Not the mixed vegetable fabric with the black background, but some nice ones. Really excellent prices, too – $8.00/yard for many prints. I should make sure they are not based overseas as shipping would kill me. They have Joel Dewberry prints, which I haven’t seen anywhere in awhile.

Molly was machine quilting a doll quilt. She has some trouble opening and closing regular safety pins so she was using straight pins and Pinmoors. Pinmoors are bits of foam you put on the ends of pins to keep them from scratching you while the pins are in the quilt. Really great idea! This happens to me all the time. I almost bought some the other day, but decided to wait until my next order.

If you buy a lot of vinyl and are now addicted to glitter and star vinyl, check out Sew Hungry Hippie’s VIP Membership. It’s $5/month and you get a variety of discounts. Click the link to check out all of the benefits.

I do love Sew Sweetness, but I am always on the lookout for other bag hardware purveyors. I found, somehow, Idleblooms. The look and feel is cheerful and they have a variety of interesting bag hardware:

- - castle zipper pulls
  - Hogwarts zipper pulls
  - teacup zipper pulls
  - zippers with different coil colors
  - all sorts of webbing
  - made bags

Take a look when you need some bag hardware

Tutorials, Articles and Other Information

Remember my zipper head tutorial? Natalie from Sew Hungry Hippie has a video version. She uses a jig, which I believe she sells. You can also use the towel holder I use or a fork. Check my tutorial for more info and other tutorials.

Inspiration

Remember all those merit badges I sewed on to the YM’s sash for Boy Scouts? I have a few by Moda, too, but I can’t find a photo at the moment. I came across merit badges for adults**. These could provide impetus for you or someone else to get things done. Also, who doesn’t want a merit badge for doing something you have to do anyway?

Events

Better late than never: Check out the QuiltCon Winners.

I found a talk from some academics on contemporary quiltmaking. You’ll have to tell me how it is as I haven’t had a chance to listen.

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