Jaye – Page 118 – Artquiltmaker Blog

FOTY 2012 – Mid May

Many of the fabrics in this group are from the back of the Flowering Snowball. I am also diligently pressing and cutting pieces from fabrics that have been washed. The chair on which I hang just washed fabric is no longer falling over. That is a good thing.

There is some Half Moon fabric there, which I need to figure out how to work into a project. No ideas there yet. I have to say that I really came to like that large grey dot and ended up buying a few yards more to use as a background. This, dear readers, is why I do this project. By working with the fabric a little bit, I find out if I like it during a time where I have a chance to get more. I know I am repeating myself, but perhaps one reader will be enlightened. 😉

Fabrics from the most recent A-B-C Challenge blocks are also represented as are fabrics from the NSGW pillows. Kind of like a fabric diary of my recent work, huh?

26 Projects – May Update

Here is the list, again, still in no particular order. This time I have moved the finished pieces off. 23 WIPs left! I had to add two more projects to the list. I can’t believe I forgot about the Stepping Stones. Also, I have a Super Secret project that I did, but it took me such a short time that I don’t know if it really counts.

Original Bullseye: needs border, backing, quilting and binding. Went rummaging through my fabric closet to find this top, because I was fired up to put the border on. I couldn’t find it. It is lost. I know it is in there somewhere. I am also working on my border idea and have definitely decided not to put that particular border on this quilt, if I ever find it, but I am glad I am doing the test.
Corner Store: 106 blocks made, need to cut more foundations with the little bit of Kona Snow fabric I have left. Waiting for more Kona Snow. Need to continue to pin triangles to new foundations, then sew.
Spin Wheel: really not started, but supplies gathered. Cutting fabrics as I go
Infinity blocks: Am starting to think this would make a good nephew quilt.
A-B-C (A-Z) BAMQG Challenge – I am actually not sure if this should be considered a WIP (Please say no!), because I don’t really have enough blocks with which to make anything yet. I am making good progress. I made Q and R blocks and am thinking about putting sashing around all of the blocks and then trimming the sashing a bit so the blocks are all a uniform size. They are not wildly off, but they are a bit off…
Aqua-Red Sampler – steady progress has stopped and the class more than the quilt is really weighing on my mind. As far as I know Frances has nearly finished her Dresden Plate, so perhaps we will start up again soon. The next class was going to be fusible machine applique’, but I haven’t gotten past cutting out the templates. Perhaps I should skip to machine piecing curves?
The Tarts Come to Tea: I haven’t quilted on this since April 2011. I need to work on the quilting. I was making good progress and then got sidetracked.
Garden: used this piece for my beading demo for the 2012 EBHQ Voices in Cloth show (March 17), which means that I added some beads. I started on the machine quilting late in April. Haven’t done anything since I started working on the Flowering Snowball.
Flower Garden: I still find the ‘flowers’ too spiky. I think I need to soften them up a bit.
Moon and Stars: need to finish handquilting. This quilt is not interesting.
Pointillist Palette #4: needs tiny square patches sewn together.
See: needs satin stitching.
Self Portrait
Spiderweb: need to make sure that I have the right number of blocks for the size quilt I want to make. Need to make sure I have the border pattern and start sewing border blocks.
Under the Sea: class project; like the design, but not the colors much.
Flower Sugar Hexagon: sewed more hexagons together. Sewing Y seams is a bit of a chore, so I get tired of doing it after awhile.
Young Man’s t-shirt quilt: have cut up the t-shirts and am in the process of applying fusible.
New: Super Secret Project: top, back and binding made. Ready to go to the quilter. Stayed tuned.
~~FOTY 2011~~: at the quilter, needs binding.
~~Flowering Snowball~~: Top and back finished 5/13/2012; ready to go to the quilter
~~Stepping Stones~~: at the quilter, made binding, which she will sew on for me and then I need to hand sew.
~~Food Quilt~~: sewing binding.
~~Jelly Roll Race~~: at the quilter. Needs binding, quilting, sleeve.

Finished or Abandoned projects that were on the list:

Stars for San Bruno #2: Finished! YAY!
Pavers. Finished! YAY!
Kissy Fish: Finished! Yay!
Pineapple: Abandoned; will remake blocks at a later time with more care.
Stars for San Bruno #3: Finished! YAY!

Creative Prompt #157: Write

Write what you know

writing practice

Palmer method

freelance

comedy writer

wrote code

copy writing

written communications

write me a letter

cursive

write a cover letter

write fiction

write a song

write your own ticket

writing classes

WriterCorps

Definition: (transitive verb) 1. a : to form (as characters or symbols) on a surface with an instrument (as a pen) b : to form (as words) by inscribing the characters or symbols of on a surface c : to spell in writing <words written alike but pronounced differently> d : to cover, fill, or fill in by writing <wrote ten pages> <write a check>; 2 : to set down in writing: as a : draw up, draft <write a will> b (1) : to be the author of : compose <writes poems and essays> (2) : to compose in musical form <write a string quartet> c : to express in literary form <if I could write the beauty of your eyes — Shakespeare> d : to communicate by letter <writes that they are coming> e : to use or exhibit (a specific script, language, or literary form or style) in writing <write Braille> <writes French with ease> f : to write contracts or orders for; especially : underwrite <write life insurance>; 3 : to make a permanent impression of; 4 : to communicate with in writing <we’ll write you when we get there>; 5 : ordain, fate <so be it, it is written — D. C. Peattie>; 6 : to make evident or obvious <guilt written on his face>; 7 : to force, effect, introduce, or remove by writing <write oneself into fame and fortune — Charles Lee>; 8 : to take part in or bring about (something worth recording); 9 a : to introduce (information) into the storage device or medium of a computer b : to transfer (information) from the main memory of a computer to a storage or output device; 10: sell <write a stock option>; (intransitive verb) 1 a : to make significant characters or inscriptions; also : to permit or be adapted to writing b : to form or produce written letters, words, or sentences; 2 : to compose, communicate by, or send a letter; 3 a : to produce a written work b : to compose music.

Make your response simple. It doesn’t need to be a masterpiece. Take 5 minutes. Just respond and create a creative habit. Please 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/or your blog, and how your work relates to the other responses.

The Creative Prompt Project has a Flickr group, which you can join to post your responses. Are you already a member? I created that spot so those of you without blogs or websites would have a place to post your responses. Please join and look at all of the great artwork that people have posted.

Nota bene: Daisy Yellow is having an Index Card a Day Challenge in June & July. I think this project fits in well with the Creative Prompt Project and I agree with Tammy that an index card is a great canvas size.

Corner Store Progress

I think this project will progress in fits and starts. I made the new blocks (on the right) while I was piecing the Flowering Snowball. I used the Corner Store blocks as leaders and enders. Such a useful, productivity improving technique.

I find that I put the blocks up on the design wall and I become uninspired to make more. Not sure why. I like them; I think the piece works well, is interesting and pretty. As a project I work on steadily, it wasn’t working for me yesterday. However, as leaders and enders in between a different project, I make a lot of blocks. What is that about?

And, the other question is, if I don’t work steadily on the Corner Store, what should I work on? I need some bang for my buck. Can I finish another top next weekend? VIMH#1 says I have to enjoy the process not just go for finished product.

I put all the blocks up. I have quite a few. They are small, though, so it isn’t enough. There is still a lot of red and pink. I made an effort to make blocks with no red or pink, but I have a lot of red and pink triangles, so it is hard.

This is not the final arrangement. I slapped them up on the wall and did a tiny bit of rearranging.

I also have to buy some more Kona Snow as background. The Pure Elements Linen, of which I have plenty, is different enough to be noticeable.

NSGW Pillows

I was back in pillow hell on Monday, except that it wasn’t really hellish. I made four pillows using embroidery panels my SIL and I created on her embroidery machine when I was in Maryland/DC last year. My part in that was saying yes or no to colors of thread and whether the letters should be curved or not. She is the embroidery queen and I was just her humble assistant.

While I was in Maryland, we made a few pillows for the Native Daughters, of which we are both lurker members, but I took the embroidered panels home to make the Native Sons pillows later. As I have mentioned, my DH in on the Board of Trustees of a non-profit. When they are running for off their parlor (e.g. chapter) sponsors a hospitality suite at the Grand Parlor (e.g. annual conference). In the hospitality suite, they play cards, offer liquid refreshments and raise money for their Cleft Palate charity using raffles. For the past year or two, since DH has been running, I have made pillows for him to raffle off. They were wildly popular the first year and he raised a record amount for the charity.

Guess what?

“Later” is this weekend! Can you say last minute? I wasn’t planning on spending my day off making pillows, but this coming Saturday would be even more last minute, so I did the job. I was prepared for drama and there was none. I think I only had to rip out one seam. I measured correctly, counted properly and generally made 4 pillows in record time.

The big difference was that Cathy, my SIL, suggested using batting as a foundation. It makes the block look nice and gives the maker a goal. You cut the batting the size (including seam allowance, so if finished is 14″ you cut the batting 14.5″, etc) you want the pillow and then sew on top of it. I don’t know how this would work if you didn’t have a flip and sew friendly pattern, but I am sure there is a way to figure that out.

Anyway, the pillows are done and packaged ready to head to NSGW Grand Parlor. DH was pleased and I am going to the dentist and then am going to work on something fun that doesn’t feel like “quilt work.”

The Sunday Stash Report (a la Pam at Hip to be a Square podcast) is 2 yards. More on that later.

Nota bene: if you think there are photos missing, there are. I am having trouble uploading some pictures to the blog. Check back later. It will be resolved eventually.

Flowering Snowball Top & Back

Sunday was a nice day. It was Mother’s Day and, though nobody in my house said anything specifically, I did whatever I wanted and didn’t have to do too many chores. I received a depressing, if very true card and an iTunes gift card from the Young Man and then spent the rest of the day finishing the Flowering Snowball. Not finishing as in quilted and bound, but finishing the top and the back.

So, the top, back and binding for the Flowering Snowball are all done and will be sent off to the quilter soon.

I am pretty pleased with the top. Since the project spanned several years, some of the fabrics are fabrics that I would not choose to work with now. Also, since I wanted this to be a scrap quilt, I should have stuck to using each foreground fabric only once.

Still, none of the fabrics jump out and demand attention and the variety of fabrics is significant, so there is a lot to look at.

Of course, I can think of things I would do differently if I did the quilt again and the VIMH#1 is musing about making one on the machine and color schemes while VIMH#2 is getting ready to slap her. I have plenty of projects on the design wall that need attention before I can circle back and make another one of these.

I have to admit that after I started chunking the top, I thought that I could have made more blocks so that the center would be wider. I was thinking that two more rows of blocks down the center would be great. I am not doing it. What I have is enough and I will think about this as a lesson and carry it forward.

I am doing backs in a little different way now. I decided that the large Philip Jacobs and Martha Negley prints I love so much would be great backs. I am taking some of the giant pieces I bought recently and putting them on the backs. I am still committed to piecing my backs, but am taking a break from tiny pieces. I am trying to use larger pieces. This makes making the backs much faster to piece. It also means that those large prints are shown off to their best advantage.

In this case, I tried to pick fabrics that went with the Martha Negley print and, further, with each other. I ended up with a very pink back.

the librarian in me has to tell you that I called the pattern “Cross Blocks” until I found that Barbara Brackman had cataloged it. In EQ7, the notecard lists it as “Barbara Brackman’s Encyclopedia of Quilt Patterns #3081 – Aunt Kate 7/65.” It is from the Classic Pieced, Orange Peel family.

The Sunday Stash Report (a la Pam at Hip to be a Square podcast) is 8 yards. More on that later.

I can’t believe that this approximately 6 year project is finally done. this means that I am down to 20 projects which need serious work. Some of the 6 are still at the quilter or need to be bound, but I consider this to be good progress.

I don’t know what project is next. I’ll have to work on the Flower Sugar Hexagons again just to get some more of them sewn and added. I also have some blocks to make for the A-B-C Challenge.

Nota bene: the WordPress media uploader has not cooperating. I have been having trouble with it for the past few days so I added the photo of the top, but it is large. If I can make it smaller, I will.

Block-a-Long #55: Three Columns & a Square

This is related to last week’s block, Four Columns Squares.

This block is suited to 4 or 5 fabrics. I think that it would look best with multiple fabrics.

Directions for Three Columns & a Square are included.

If you have made blocks or a quilt from these patterns, please post a link in the comments section of the relevant block or on the AQ Block-a-Long Flickr group. I would love to see what you have made.

Nota bene: The AQ Block-a-Long is ending. I am starting to repeat myself and run out of ideas and since this has not been very popular, I don’t feel bad about ending it. I am going to try and make it to #60 so you have an even number with which to work, but we will see.

Happy Mother’s Day!

KQED, my local public radio station, has a feature called Perspectives. Perspectives are small audio essays by regular people on a subject. On Friday, in the half awake state before I have to jump out of bed and start my day, I heard a Perspective by PeiPei Zhou. Ms. Zhou talked about all the sacrifices her mother made for her so she could have a better life. Immediately my mom popped into my mind.

I knew we weren’t rich. I never had the trendy clothes and shoes that my classmates sported, but I never felt deprived either. I traveled, I went to college all because my mom made sacrifices. I didn’t even realize the magnitude of her sacrifices for me until I was an adult. I am not sure I can fathom them now. I only know I have what I have and have accomplished is due to my hard work, but the unfailing, unquestioning support of my mother.

I probably wouldn’t be writing this blog without my mother. She sewed a lot when I was a kid — at least I remember her sewing a lot. You know how kids and time are: they think you did something all the time when you only did it once? I remember her sewing costumes for Halloween, school play costumes and doll clothes.

Cara of TalknT said it very well this morning on Twitter. She said “Happy Mother’s day to all the moms, mommys, Grandmas, mom in waitings, Stepmoms and caregivers. Blood doesn’t make a family. Love and you do.”

If you like this blog, or tolerate it 😉 head over to Mary’s Art Musings and say hi to my mom, Mary, and thank her for everything she has done.

My 3 Moms: Ruth (l), Edeltraut (m), Mary (r)

Various & Sundry 2012 #7

What I am Reading: Just finished Isobel’s Story by Jennie Walters on my Kindle; started An Age of Innocence, but think it might a better book to which to listen, which means I might jump to Creating Time: using creativity to reinvent the clock and reclaim your life by Marney Makridakis
Audiobook playing on my iPod: Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand
What I am Working On: Flowering Snowball, Corner Store, Garden and a lot of pressing and cutting of recently washed fabric

Design
You may be following along with the Design Series I am doing with Sandy of Quilting…for the Rest of Us. I came across a blog post about Rhythm recently in the Cloth Paper Scissors Daily. I thought my post was much more in depth, but they did use one of the sources that we used. Susan of the History Quilter had some nice things to say about the Rhythm episode in the History Quilter episode #24. Nonnie also did some of the homework and put her thoughts up on her April 21, 2012 blog post.

I came across an artist named Dottie Moore when I was reviewing a book recently. Her quilts are quite textural even in photos. Once you listen to the Texture podcast and read my blog post, go take a look at her quilt gallery.

Around and About the Web
Can’t make it to Paducah? Now you can purchase the lectures and watch them after the show. Purchase must be made before the end of 90 days after the show. I haven’t tried it, but if I do, I’ll let you know how it goes.

The quilts that were lost after being displayed in the C&T Booth last year have been found! Amy Marson wrote about a brief update in the C&T blog recently.

Sandi Colwell from Quilt Cabana Corner is upping the podcast game by posting a YouTube video instead of her normal podcast. the video is very similar to her podcast, but with images. During the vidcast, she dyes fabric, gives a book review and talks about some of her new patterns. I enjoyed seeing Sandi, her quilts, and another sewing room tour.

I wonder if I mentioned Lori Nix before? Deanna Raybourn pointed her out to me again and I just love her dioramas. It revives the love of miniatures in me.

Have you checked out the International Quilt Study Center’s Quilt of the Month? May’s is a red, green and white applique’ quilt. Gorgeous!

I have a boatload of HSTs to use some way, so I was attracted this tutorial over at the Molly Flanders blog on matching points. I was attracted by the piece she uses to demonstrate. Simple, yet effective tutorial. Thanks to Adrianne over at Little Bluebell for pointing this out.

Jill, over at the Quilt Rat blog, has a great post about how Gels, Mediums and Extenders work.

Peeps
Friend Julie put up some photos of her very springy, cheerful Bullseye quilt. I love it! I alove that it is done, but I really love the color combinations she used.

Thanks to Deirdre for this link to a polka dot house! I would love to pain my house like this. The painter has done such a great job.

Tanesha of the Crafty Garden Mom podcast posted about getting through crafty temper tantrums. The fun part of the post was Tanesha’s biting wit with regard to stories parenting magazines publish.

Books
Dottie Moore, one of the authors in the review of Art Quilt Portfolio I did recently has a book out. I haven’t seen it, but will review it if anyone wants to send me a copy.

I heard about Creating Time: using creativity to reinvent the clock and reclaim your life by Marney Makridakis on Mark Lipinski’s May 2, 2012 podcast. Ms. Makridakis was a great interviewee and I went straight out and used a gift card to buy the book. I would much rather work through the book with her, but that isn’t possible, so I hope to start reading it soon and really get invigorated.

Media
Mark Lipinski had a great discussion about art (what is art? art controversies, censorship of art) in his May 2 episode with Luke Haynes and Nathan Vincent. The Modern Quilt movement does not leave the conversation unscathed. If you can stand a little heat in the quilt kitchen, I suggest that you take a listen. It certainly made me think.

Intellectual Property
Kate Spain has more explanations about the C&T/Emily Cier situation on her blog since last time I looked.

Completely Off Topic
And if you want something cool to look at various intervals during the day, check out the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Great Blue Heron web cam. Thanks to Leslie for sharing this. Aside from the fact that I love the large water birds, I don’t know why I like this so much.

Watch live streaming video from cornellherons at livestream.com

Creative Prompt #156: Rose

Floated up in the air

rose petals

Joanna Rose (of Infinite Variety)

The Rose (movie)

rose bush

Berkeley Rose Garden

Rose Garden in Golden Gate Park

Poem: A Red, Red Rose by Robert Burns

O my Luve’s like a red, red rose
That’s newly sprung in June;
O my Luve’s like the melodie
That’s sweetly play’d in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I:
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a’ the seas gang dry:

Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi’ the sun:
I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o’ life shall run.

And fare thee well, my only Luve
And fare thee well, a while!
And I will come again, my Luve,
Tho’ it were ten thousand mile.

Pete Rose

The Name of the Rose (movie)

Rose Bowl

Rose Pistola

The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley

He rose up

rose in the morning

The Rose Family by Robert Frost

The rose is a rose,
And was always a rose.
But the theory now goes
That the apple’s a rose,
And the pear is, and so’s
The plum, I suppose.
The dear only know
What will next prove a rose.
You, of course, are a rose–
But were always a rose.

stocks rose on news that….

Symbolism: Roses have been long used as symbols in a number of societies. Roses are ancient symbols of love and beauty. “Rose” means pink or red in a variety of languages (such as Romance languages, Greek, and Polish). [In the classical era] The rose was sacred to a number of goddesses including Isis, whose rose appears in the late classical allegorical novel The Golden Ass as “the sweet Rose of reason and vertue” that saves the hero from his bewitched life in the form of a donkey.^[1] The ancient Greeks and Romans identified the rose with their goddesses of love, Aphrodite and Venus.

In Rome a wild rose would be placed on the door of a room where secret or confidential matters were discussed. The phrase sub rosa, or “under the rose”, means to keep a secret — derived from this ancient Roman practice.

heirloom roses

American Rose Society

Rose Parade, Pasadena, New Year’s Day

Stinking Rose (Garlic Restaurant in San Francisco)

Charlie Rose

color

Rose wine

Tournament of Roses

My SIL’s middle name

Definition: A rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae. There are over 100 species. They form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Flowers are large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows and reds. Most species are native to Asia, with smaller numbers native to Europe, North America, and northwest Africa. Species, cultivars and hybrids are all widely grown for their beauty and fragrance. Rose plants range in size from compact, miniature roses, to climbers that can reach 7 meters in height. Different species hybridize easily, and this has been used in the development of the wide range of garden roses.^[1]

The name rose comes from French, itself from Latin rosa, which was perhaps borrowed from Oscan, from Greek rhodon (Aeolic wrodon), related to Old Persian wrd-, Avestan varda, Sogdian ward, Parthian wâr, Armenian vard.^[2]^[3]

Derrick Rose

The Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University

FOTY – Early May Update

Such pretty fabrics!

So cutting for the Fabric of the Year 2012 quilt continues. As I have said, I am really enjoying cutting up patches for this quilt. As you can see, I seem to be doing a lot of cutting.

I am cutting for other things as well, which is what I call the Hunting and Gathering stage. For scrappy quilts, it is better to cut for a long time and save up the patches until you have enough to make the size of quilt you want. I am doing that for a couple of someday projects.