I am not sure I will make these bags again. I might, but I have made enough to last me a lifetime. I have taken making more than one from the same pattern to new heights of crazy.
Orange Jane Market Tote
The funny thing about making the same pattern over and over is that I get used to making it. For this version, I cut the pieces out at the last BAMQG meeting. Cutting is a good thing for me to do at the meetings.
On Sunday I spent the day finishing up some smaller projects. I didn’t want to start another project just yet and I had some blocks to make and bags to finish.
This bag was one of them. I bought the fabric to make a bag, but I think I bought it to make the Eco Market tote. Somehow I never got around to it, but I thought it would be good Jane Market tote. I think it turned out well.
One of the annoying things about the pattern is that I always forget to cut some part of this pattern out. This time it was the lining. This is such a pain and totally my fault.
2011 Jane Market Totes
These are all the totes that I have made this year. Lots of nice fabric, don’t you think?
Actually, I might make one more. I have a lot of miscellaneous parts from various bags that didn’t work out for some reason and I might just put them all together in a mish mash kind of bag. We’ll see.
Please check Sarah’s blog for details of her lost quilts. One is Fields of Gold (left). If you hear about it, see it posted on another blog or have any news, please contact Sarah via her blog, Art and Quilting in Camden.
Another in the series of Double Four Patches. This block may not be original. It looks familiar, but I wasn’t able to find it in EQ7. If I find it, I will correct the name.
I have been using my color wheel a little bit to choose colors for the blocks. I am gearing up to research the color section of the Design Principles and Elements podcast that I do with Sandy over at Quilting…for the Rest of Us, so I am trying to get into the habit of using it.
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.
Lil Sissy took upon herself to complete the letters. Recently, she brought over the rest of the letters. I stitched two pictures together so I could see how they looked together, thanks to the Photoshop Elements Class I took a few months ago.
I’d love to paint, get new furniture, but I am just going to put them up. I have some off pretty soon and will see about doing it then.
To those of you who live in places that require you to jump in the car and drive for 20 minutes every time you want an ice cream, a loaf of bread or some fabric, my idea of a trek probably has you rolling your eyes. I drive about 2 miles a day and then spend the rest of the day’s transportation allotment on a train with some buses and streetcars thrown in for good measure. I also walk a lot.
Today was a bit different as I was heading to C&T Publishing to return a quilt from the Primal Green Show, go to lunch and do some other errands that were out that way. It was a long haul, but a good day in general. Drivers weren’t too idiotic, people did not zoom through the Fastrak lane and then try and swerve to the cash lane at the last minute, the rain didn’t pour down while I was driving or while I was walking around without a hood or umbrella: all in all a good day.
Where the Magic Happens
First stop: C&T Publishing
This unassuming industrial type building, in an industrial neighborhood, hides a lot of colorful goodness! I walked into the building and saw the most beautiful C&T commemorative quilt. I am sorry I didn’t take a picture of it. It was really gorgeous!
I also liked the wall of tear sheets they had opposite the reception desk advertising their current titles. It was a great decoration/advertising idea.
Lisa was kind enough to show me all of the different departments. It was funny to think that I have a mystical, awe inspired idea of working in a quilt publishing house, but the people there were just working. I am sure they enjoy their work, but I am also sure that it is a job to them. She took me out into the warehouse where I saw a lot of palettes covered in industrial strength Saran Wrap! I also got a peek inside the photo shoot studio, which is also in the warehouse. Very interesting!
Slightly damaged
I was allowed to pick out some books from their slightly damaged shelf. I didn’t have much time so I just grabbed books. These look interesting, don’t you think?
We went to lunch and, afterwards, I showed Lisa Kissy Fish, which I had in the trunk.
Talking with Lisa reminded me that I have been wanting to try TAP, so I decided that that would be my excuse to go to Thimble Creek, which is just a mile or so up the road from the C&T headquarters.
I hadn’t been to their ‘new’ location. They moved at least 3 years ago. There was a theme a few years ago of quilt stores moving to industrial or office park areas, because of less expensive rent. It worked for some stores not for others. I was nervous about going, because I don’t know the area and I was afraid I would have trouble finding it. Sometimes the stores that have moved to these industrial areas have been hard to find. Silly, I know, but there you have it.
I walked in and there was a feeling of comfort and light in a country/shabby chic sort of way. The place wasn’t as large as their last location, but they had a lot of fabric The arrangement by color, mostly, but also by style/type. There was a section of large florals including Kaffe Fassett, Philip Jacobs, etc. There was a section of reproductions (some Civil War?) and the choices were very appealing. I didn’t buy any, but loved some of the colors – some of the pinks and blues, especially. There was also a section of dots,and another with fabric that looked like the forthcoming Malka Dubrowski fabrics. There was a section of wools. They had a small section of notions, quite a lot of thread and a nice selection of specialty rulers, but not many Creative Grids.
Kissy Fish Framing
Third stop: Framing
Kissy Fish is finished – my part at least. The back looked unfinished, because I stitched through to the back. I originally thought I would put an additional back on. As I got near to finishing I decided that I would frame it. It is an art piece and I want it to be considered art.
A few years ago, I had a number of different types of art pieces framed. The frame shop to which my mom took the pieces did a really great job. Unfortunately, that outlet closed. Fortunately, I found that they had a second shop near C&T, so I went there. I was really pleased to find the shop and added it to my list of tasks for yesterday. I was really pleased the the service. The above mats and frame color are what I chose. It will be ready in a few weeks and I’ll let you know if I like the final result.
Whole Foods was right across the street so I was able to get the gluten free pie crusts I need for Thanksgiving and then I headed home. I thought about stopping at The Cotton Patch and getting the TAP, but I decided just to head home. I’ll get it another time.
Finally: I decided to stop by the Young Man’s school and see if I could find him and if he needed a ride. Boy, was I lucky! He was right out front and ready to go.
Definition: A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills often have a distinct summit, although in areas with scarp/dip topography a hill may refer to a particular section of flat terrain without a massive summit (e.g. Box Hill, Surrey).
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, also, 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 and websites would have a place to post your responses. Please join and look at all of the great artwork that people have posted.
Jelly Roll Race: this quilt does not have good design. I am thinking of cutting it into different shapes and using the shapes for something else. I could make a bunch of interesting 9 patches.
Original Bullseye: needs border, backing, quilting and binding.
Corner Store: foundations cut; blocks not made
Spin Wheel: really not started, but supplies gathered.
Infinity blocks
A-B-C (A-Z) BAMQG Challenge – I am actually not sure if this should be considered a WIP, because I don’t really have enough blocks with which to make anything yet.
Aqua-Red Sampler – steady progress and isn’t really weighing on my mind, except for the fact that Frances has still not finished her Dresden Plate. What am I going to do with her?
The Tarts Come to Tea: I haven’t quilted on this since April. I need to work on the quilting. I was making good progress and then got sidetracked.
Kissy Fish: Need to get framed.
FOTY 2011: not finished with cutting. Plan to sew at the end of January 2012.
Flowering Snowballs: I think this is a candidate for abandonment. Hand piecing doesn’t do anything for me and I am bad at it. I think I should make an effort to square up the blocks before I completely abandon the project.
Garden
Flower Garden
Moon and Stars: need to finish handquilting. This quilt is not interesting.
Pointillist Palette #4
See: needs satin stitching.
Self Portrait
Spiderweb
Under the Sea: class project; like the design, but not the colors much.
Pineapple: horrible mess. None of the ideas I have to salvage this project make me happy.
Young Man’s t-shirt quilt: have cut up the t-shirts and am in the process of applying fusible.
Pointillist Palette #4
See: needs satin stitching.
Original Bullseye: needs border, backing, quilting and binding
FOTY 2011: not finished with cutting. Plan to sew at the end of January 2012.
Pointillist Palette #4
See: needs satin stitching.
Hunting & Gathering Stage:
Corner Store: foundations cut; blocks not made
Spin Wheel: really not started, but supplies gathered.
Steady Progress:
A-B-C (A-Z) BAMQG Challenge – I am actually not sure if this should be considered a WIP, because I don’t really have enough blocks with which to make anything yet.
Aqua-Red Sampler – steady progress and isn’t really weighing on my mind, except for the fact that Frances has still not finished her Dresden Plate. What am I going to do with her?
Not a Clue or I Have Lost Momentum:
The Tarts Come to Tea: I haven’t quilted on this since April. I need to work on the quilting. I was making good progress and then got sidetracked. I think I do have a clue; am just not inspired.
Garden
Flower Garden
Moon and Stars: need to finish handquilting. This quilt is not interesting.
Self Portrait
Spiderweb – I know I want to put a self bordering border on this quilt, but just can’t seem to get it done. I think I may need to make two quilts, because I have way more blocks than I need for a bed sized quilt.
Under the Sea: class project; like the design, but not the colors much.
Abandoned:
Pineapple: Yes, I am going to abandon this project, because the work I have done so far is a horrible mess. None of the ideas I have to salvage this project make me happy. I do plan to start it over.
I want to make another Anna Maria Horner Multi-tasker tote.
“But, Jaye,” you say “you have so many works in progress, don’t you want to finish them before you start something new?”
I did finish something!!!!
Stars for San Bruno #3 Top
The top for the Stars for San Bruno #3 is pieced, the back is pieced, the binding is made. All the parts are hung up and waiting to go to the quilter.
I feel like I have made a significant step in the Stars for San Bruno Project. it feels SOOOO good to say: All of the piecing for all of the quilts in this project is COMPLETE!! Yes, I finished the piecing for Stars for San Bruno #3 on Sunday. I also made the back and binding.
Stars for San Bruno #3 Back
The back took a lot of time. I have mostly used up the value of blue fabric that I planned to use in all of these quilts, so I spent a lot of time piecing bits of fabric together. It was soothing in a way, but as you can see, some of the fabrics are not blue. They were in the blue bin, so I counted them as available to use.
Also, a note on the photos. My quilt hanger’s wingspan is smaller than the quilt, so the photos aren’t terrific. Hopefully, you get the idea and will come back and continue to read and not be horrified by my terrible photography skills.
I can’t believe I haven’t posted triangles since mid September! But it’s true. I haven’t posted triangles since mid-September. I guess if I had actually pressed fabric in the past 2 months, then I wouldn’t be so behind.
It turns out that I have to press fabric, because the chair I lay the fabric over while it waits to be press keeps falling over. I spent a few hours on Sunday, after finishing a big project pressing and cutting the bits and snippets I need for various projects. I got quite a little pile going after not too long. I think the chair is a bit more stable now, but I just need to get the fabric pressed. AND stop buying new fabric.
I received the following in my inbox this morning and thought I would pass it along. I bought a grab bag and will give them as gifts, if I don’t want to keep the books. I have to say that the hardest part of the transaction was entering my credit card number! It went so quickly and smoothly. The text below is copied and pasted directly from Judy Martin’s email.
No affiliation and I am not getting paid to post this!
“Greetings quilters,
Just in time for Christmas, we’re bringing back the Grab Bag Quilt Book Surprise. We haven’t done it for a few years, so it seemed like a good idea. Here’s a summary of the details. Please read all the way to the bottom before clicking through.
First off, this offer will expire at 4:00 PM Central Standard Time on November 16, 2011. If the latest winter storm knocked out your power, and you didn’t get this newsletter until the 17th, sorry. Or if your spam filter delayed this newsletter until it was too late, sorry again. These things are always a ton of hard work, and we have to have a firm cut-off date so we can get back to things like working on new books.
The price is $25 plus shipping and handling. For that you will get 3 books with a total current retail value of at least $40.85, but it might be as much as $83.85! In practical terms, it means you are guaranteed to get at least one of our full-price books (Scraps, Judy Martin’s Log Cabin Quilt Book, Stellar Quilts, or Patchwork Among Friends). You are guaranteed a savings of at least $15.85. All 8 of my current books will be made available for this deal. And we will send out at least one order that has all 3 of our $27.95 books. At least one lucky quilter is going to hit the quilt book jackpot!
Specific requests will not be honored. Every book shipped will be randomly selected. We can’t promise you won’t get a book you already own. If you do, you now have an inexpensive Christmas present for your best quilting friend!
We can’t promise that you will get different titles. You might get 3 of the same book or 3 different books or 2 of one title and 1 of another. If you receive duplicate books, you can give them away as gifts to your quilting friends. After all, giving is as much fun as receiving, and it’s more emotionally satisfying.
This offer is open to customers all over the globe. We are limiting it to 1 order per customer.
Special shipping rates will apply on orders outside the US. We sometimes lose money on foreign shipping, but we make enough on the books that we can ignore that fact. At this greatly discounted price, we can’t afford to lose money on the shipping.
In the United States shipping for the 3 books by Media Mail is $7, plus $1 for any additional books ordered. Shipping by Priority Mail is $10, plus $1 for any additional books ordered.
In Canada shipping for the 3 books is $16. We cannot ship any additional books with a Grab Bag Quilt Book Surprise when we ship to Canada because it would push the weight over 4 pounds and cause the shipping rate to go sky high.
For all other countries shipping for the 3 books is $30. We cannot ship any additional books with a Grab Bag Quilt Book Surprise when we ship to foreign addresses because it would push the weight over 4 pounds and cause the shipping rate to go sky high.
We normally ship within 24 hours of receiving your order. Because of the volume of orders, it will take us several days to get all the Grab Bag Quilt Book Surprises out the door. Needless to say, we’re going to work as hard as we can to get all the orders shipped as quickly as possible. If the volume of orders is particularly heavy, some orders may not be shipped until after Thanksgiving weekend (November 24-27).
This is meant to be fun, so have some fun. Let the joy of receiving a surprise sweep over you. Anyone who wishes to complain about getting 3 good quilt books for $25 plus shipping will be repelled at the gates!
If you think this sounds like fun, share it with your quilting friends. And be sure to tell them you were in on this info first because you subscribe to my newsletter. Encourage them to join the “in crowd” by signing up for the newsletter themselves.
After last week’s block, I thought I had better post a regular Double Four Patch. I should have posted this one first, but wasn’t thinking and had in my mind that I already had. I know you can handle the out-of-orderness.
Looking at this block and last week’s block, it makes me want to do a sort of Double Four Patch Sampler. I think I might get bored, though, with just two small blocks, but it would make a good Leaders and Enders project. Alternatively, I can think up some other Double Four Patch variations and have a variety to work with.
If you have made blocks or a quilt from these patterns, please post a link in the comments section of the relevant block. I would love to see what you have made.
The CQFA Meeting was last Saturday. As I already mentioned BAMQG was on the same day. For me, it was a lot of driving and time away from home for one day. Not sure I can continue to make it to both meetings.
This was our end of the year long, organizational type meeting. While long, it was a good one.The end of the year means we needed to plan for 2012. Now we have the start of a plan.
Belly Dancing Belt
Show and Tell was great as usual. I love seeing what other people make. Bron brought a gorgeous belly dancing belt to show us, which she bought at the FabMo sale. It was made by an artist who used FabMo materials.
Marie, the President of the San Jose Museum Quilt & Textiles Board, talked about the various events coming up on the SJMQT calendar. We decided to donate some money to the Museum to support the upcoming Quilt National 2011 exhibit, which will be held in 2011.
Gingko Monoprint
Marie brought monoprints she worked on in a class.
Marie's Monoprint Quilt
Of course, I liked this one with all the turquoise.
Squares Monoprint
I purport not to like grey that much, especially the grey and yellow combination that seems to be so popular with the modern quiltmakers right now, but I really liked this monoprint.
Diane's City
I know that Diane calls this series something different, but I think it has the look of a city center from overhead. Diane is a silk painter and has been using FabMo fabrics to mount and as mats for her pieces.
Rhonda's Habitat Challenge
I know Rhonda from BAMQG. She brought this piece to CQFA as well. I hope she will join CQFA.
Carolyn's Notebook CoverCarolyn's Notebook Cover
Caroline found an interesting piece of fabric that looked like an Edward Gorey painting. She wanted to use the entire piece of fabric, the back of which had some interesting characters knitting, which is why she made her journal cover the size it is. I really admire Caroline’s finishing skills. Her products look professional..
The cool thing about this cover is that it holds an artists sketchbook. I don’t know how she did the edging (a regular binding?), but I think it looks really nice.
We had a nice ATC exchange. People do such creative work. I would like to start on my ATCs for the next meeting right now, so that my pieces are as great as other people’s. It has been a week and I haven’t started in yet.
I really would like to make some ATCs using the Tsukineko inks. I think it would be a good way to practice with the inks. Sonja did some great paintings when she came to her first meeting where she painted on a piece of fabric and then cut the piece up into ATC sized works. That is on my mind as a possibility.
I was sad I had to leave early to make BAMQG, because I missed Dolores’ presentation. This is what made me start thinking about just attending one meeting or going to BAMQG late on days where CQFA also meets. We’ll have to see. I can’t do everything and I just can’t exhaust myself. Last week was particularly difficult, because I was single parenting and, while I have a wonderful, helpful Young Man, I still have double the chores and no backup. I’ll have to play it my ear in January.
Nota bene: my camera battery died and I forgot to bring the spare, so all the photos are taken with my phone. Sorry about that!
Am I in Judy Martin mode? Yes. I read her newsletter recently and found some great information, some of which I passed on in Various & Sundry #21. That post was getting too long, so here I am again.
I love her and would go to Iowa (not a bad state; been there at least 3 times, which is another story for another day) for a class with her in a hot minute. Her stars CD for Electric Quilt was awesome, but is now out of print. Lucky you, if you didn’t buy it the first time around, because EQ is bringing it back in a repurposed format by making many of her out-of-print star blocks available for download in their newly launched EQ Boutique site. They are taking the material from the Stars & Sets CD and putting it into what Judy calls families of blocks: Ohio Stars, Ornate Ohio Stars, Variable Stars, Compass Point Stars, and Spikey Stars (first five groups to launch). Others will follow.
According to Judy, the first five groups of blocks range in price from $8.99 to $11.99 and contain anywhere from 15 blocks to 22. Your first purchase comes with a free download of the software you need to play with the blocks.
If you already own the Stars & Sets CD, you do NOT need any of these collections.
Marsha McCloskey has also partnered with EQ in their My EQ Boutique. I have been wanting to make a Feathered Star block since I saw one made from dots in a magazine a few years ago. Now that I know the Triangle Technique and how to make different sizes of half square triangles, I feel more comfortable tackling that project. I did actually buy her EQ Boutique Feathered Star collection, so I was able to evaluate the process.
After purchase, there is an additional piece of software that you download before you download the collections purchased. The software came with a collection of Rose of Sharon applique’ blocks. Too bad I didn’t know about that collection last week before I prepared Frances’ applique’ lesson! After installing and running the EQ Boutique software, I downloaded the collection I bought and it was difficult *for me* to figure out how to get the collection to show up in the EQ Boutique software. Finally, in tiny print on the download page, I read that you have to close the EQ Boutique software before you download the new collection. I did that, re-downloaded and the Feathered Stars showed up very well. Also, I really don’t want to learn new software when I am pretty well versed in EQ7. The EQ Boutique software has a great ‘Link to EQ’ function that shows up on your Start menu (windows) which actually links your EQ Boutique collections to EQ. I would rather just call it up in EQ7 and skip the EQ Boutique software step, but it doesn’t seem like that is an option. I also understand that not everyone owns EQ7 software.
I do have to say that EQ is bombarding me with emails about new stuff every day and I am glad they were all at Quilt Market so I could get a bit of relief. I have just been deleting the emails. There is definitely a fine line between just right and too much!
Eleven, A Free to air digital channel, owned by Ten Network Holdings and CBS Studios International
7-Eleven a convenience store in North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia
11th grader
Carl Hubbell (Giants), Sparky Anderson (Tigers), Jim Fregosi (Angels), Luis Asparicio (White Sox), Paul Warner (Pirates) all wore #11
A football team, so-called because of the number of players on the team
Apollo 11, historic space mission which landed the first humans on the Moon
only 11 more miles
The Symbolism and Spiritual Significance of the Number 11, compiled by Dee Finney: “Number Eleven possesses the qualities of intuition, patience, honesty, sensitivity, and spirituality, and is idealistic. Others turn to people who are ‘Eleven’ for teaching and inspiration, and are usually uplifted by the experience.
In systems such as Astrology and basic Numerology, eleven is considered to be a Master Number. Eleven can also represent sin; transgression and peril. Ten being the perfect number, eleven represents the exceeding of both. It is interesting to note that eleven when broken down ( 1+1=2) comprises the Two of duality. Number eleven is a master vibration and as such should not be reduced to a single number.People with this number could be both idealistic and visionary, and they are attracted to the unknown.They can be both unusual, interesting and magnetic personalities.
Eleven bring[s] the gift of spiritual inheritance, is gifted as the “Light-Bearer”. It is the number of the Light within all. Strengthened by the love of Peace, gentleness, sensitivity and insight. Greatest facility is the awareness of Universal relationship. Is related to the energy of Oppositions and the Balancing needed in order to achieve synthesis. Eleven is The PeaceMaker… Colours : Gold, Salmon, Prune, White and Black.”
A woman at work is expecting a new baby. She is so pleasant to work with and so helpful. I have been wanting to make her some receiving blankets. As I have said many times, receiving blankets are so useful as playmats, swaddling cloths, capes, etc. She is about to go out on leave, so I finally made them last weekend and gave them to her on Monday.
Gift Wrapping
I was particularly proud of the wrapping. As many of you know, I am a very poor gift wrapper, so I was thrilled that this came out so well. I didn’t even plan it!
