Author: Jaye

Quiltmaker who enjoys writing and frozen chocolate covered bananas.

Quilt Shop Review

Scruffy Quilts - outside view
Scruffy Quilts – outside view

Recently a new brick and mortar store opened in a nearby town. I heard about it at a recent BAMQG meeting, but I wasn’t able to visit until last week when SIL and I escaped the family for a couple of hours. I would have really liked to visit a few stores, but this was the only one we were able to visit. It was definitely worth it.

Scruffy Quilts - inside view
The shop is filled with light and has a variety of fabrics, patterns and notions. The owner was friendly and, clearly, thrilled to see us.

Scruffy Quilts - inside view 2
Scruffy Quilts – inside view 2

I thought the inventory was a little sparse, but I know that many new businesses need time to build up their inventory – the old dance of selling allowing the owner to buy more.

Needless to say, I was able to find a few things to satisfy my desire to buy some new fabric. They have a discount on pre-cut fabric. They had a number of FQs, 1/2 yards and yards already cut. I am not sure what the discount was, but any discount is welcome.

In addition to Mettler thread, they also had a rack of Aurifil small spools.

There was a nice selection of batiks and lots of tone-on-tones. There was a little of everything, I think.

You know what else? They use Square for payment, which is awesome! I don’t like it because it is hip and cool, I like it because it is straightforward and easy to use. There is no complexity for the staff and no issues with taking credit cards, etc.

The parking was pretty easy, even on a Saturday afternoon in the middle of Winter Break. The shop is easy to find. We went past and had to do a blocky, which was a little tricky because the neighborhood surrounding the shopping area has a lot of twisty streets. We had to drive a few blocks up before we could head back down the correct street.

The owner said that they have had a web presence for a decade. I wasn’t aware of that site, so I went looking just to see more than their hours and indeed they do sell online. I think it is smart to start a business online before committing to a brick and mortar presence.

Attack of the Hexies Border

As I mentioned, all of a sudden, I am working fast and furiously on the Attack of the Hexies (Flower Sugar Hexagon). I spent all weekend trying, in vain, as it turned out, to finish the top, back and binding of Attack of the Hexies.

Attack of the Hexies border - in process
Attack of the Hexies border – in process

As I have said, Y seams are not hard, but they do take time. I decided to put a border on the piece and I needed to do it using hexagons. I don’t know another way to piece fabric into a hexagon piece without using hexagons. I could have cut off the hexagons on the edge, but I have always disliked that look for my own quilts and didn’t want to do that for this piece.

I also didn’t want to buy new fabric. Fortunately, I had enough of the Art Gallery solid Linen to use for the border. I didn’t even use all that I had, though my stock is significantly diminished.

The border is on the piece. I intend to trim it so the edges are square and still need to do that. I am all for wonky borders (Case in point: the Zig Zaggy Quilt), but not in this piece. I want the border to be square and subtle so that the center looks like it is floating on the border.

I am partway through the back as well. I lounged around for a long time on Sunday and didn’t have enough time to finish it. I had big pieces left over, so I didn’t have to piece a lot of small pieces together.

Almost there!

Fabric of the Year 2013: Jan 2014 Update

FOTY 2013: Jan Update
FOTY 2013: Jan Update

I know it is January 2014, but I am not quite ready to pack in the cutting for FOTY 2013. I’ll start arranging and piecing it later this month, with any luck.

I wanted to include these fabrics, because some of them are from projects in December. I also added a few from Attack of the Hexies and may add a few more, if I have any left.

I also have  washed a few fabrics that I thought I would use for pillowcases, but it didn’t happen. I’d like to add those in as well.

 

Round Robin Round Four Complete

Kelly's Round Robin
Kelly’s Round Robin

I spent some time with Kelly’s Round Robin over the past week. I finished my portion on January 1 and was pleased to be able to move on to the Attack of the Hexies.

I saw Camille Roskelley’s Round and Round quilt and liked the basic block so much that I wanted to make it. The version from Around the Blocks blog really inspired me. I love the way the triangles seem to flutter or twirl on the background. The basic component is a Friendship Star, a block that I always thought had potential, but never quite liked. Now I know that making it smaller and combining it with others like it was the ticket. Camille Roskelley is a genius.

I didn’t think the block was the right size for the piece, but I decided the piece could use something bold. I resized the block and worked on the whole piece in EQ7. I could only get an idea of the outcome. The piece has special fabric and I didn’t feel like scanning and uploading it. From what I could see, I thought it would work.

Round and Round - one block
Round and Round – one block

The block has 85 pieces. I reworked the piecing as well as resizing it, because some of the pieces didn’t need to be small squares. Also, I didn’t want, for example, to piece 4 squares together to make a larger square.

Chunking Round & Round
Chunking Round & Round

This made the final piecing of the block a little different than just piecing the block together in rows. I was able to chunk it. Once I was able to see how to chunk the piece, the piecing was no problem. I used the Triangle Technique to make all of the triangle squares (half square triangles).

Fussy cutting in Round & Round
Fussy cutting in Round & Round

SIL suggested that I fussy cut the special fabric and use that for the center rectangle in order to echo the original focal point of the piece. I thought that was a good idea and fussy cut different portions of the special fabric for the centers.

Kelly's Round Robin
Kelly’s Round Robin

I think it came out well and I hope that Kelly is happy with my work. I was really pleased with the block. I can’t make it to the meeting in January, so I sent it off to Kelly.

Related Round Robin Posts

Attack of the Hexies Returns

Hexies - January
Hexies – January

For months I didn’t work on the Hexies project, then on the first I just dove in and added rows. I am not sure why except that it didn’t require cutting. The hexagons were there, the piece was there and I needed something to sew.

I got my head around the Y seams and did it. I didn’t want to sew one hexagon on at a time and I had a row started, so I finished the row and worked on sewing the whole row on at a time. It was a lot of stopping and starting, but I just did it. I developed a system and kept at it.

Things I have to figure out:

  • How big to make it. It seems small now, but I know that if I fill my design wall it makes a pretty big quilt.
  • Whether to unsew a section where I sewed two of the same fabrics together.
  • How to finish the border – to square it off or leave it jaggedy. I am not sure I can face all those mitered binding corners

I  plan to just work on it until I am done with the top.

Hexagon Related Posts:
Little Bluebell’s Cutting Instructions
May 21, 2011 – Hooked on Hexagons
June 1, 2011 – Hexagons Follow-up
June 7, 2011 – Attack of the Hexies
June 9, 2011 – Hexagons tutorial
October 20, 2011- Hexagons Return
November 13, 2012- Blue Chair Blog Hexagon Sewing tutorial
June 28, 2013- Hexagon Clarification

September 5, 2013 – Hexies Return

January 2014 To Do List

I had 25 items on my list last time. I have removed the ones I completed (you can see them in the December 2013 To Do List post) and have crossed off the ones I completed since December 4. This list is in no particular order. ;-)

To Do List:

  1. Kelly’s Brown Round Robin
  2. Sew on sleeve for Original Bullseye
  3. Pillow from cake tea towel
  4. Try plain square for center of Russian Rubix blocks
  5. Sew green and red striped 8 pointed star
  6. Sew white on black wavy line 8 pointed star
  7. Layer, baste Christmas table runner
  8. Quilt Christmas table runner
  9. Quilt/stitch fish postcard
  10. Wash fabric (I am guessing this will never be off the list) ;-)
  11. Make stiff bucket or box for TP in main bath
  12. Make stiff bucket or box for TP in second bath
  13. Dragon Box (gift)
  14. Anna Maria Horner Multi-tasker tote (gift-due Holiday 2013)
  15. Make 3 notepad covers (gifts)
  16. Hand sew bottom opening in Shopping bag for BAMQG

To see the 26 Projects Lists, which list quilt WIPS, visit the December update

Creative Prompt #239: Gold

All that glitters is not gold

white gold

black gold (oil)

Definition: “Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and atomic number 79. It is a dense, soft, malleable, and ductile metal with an attractive, bright yellow color and luster that is maintained without tarnishing in air or water.” Wikipedia

Congressional Gold Medal

Gold’s Gym

World Gold Council

“WE BUY GOLD!”

gold bars

gold coins

gold bullion

pure gold

Gold Rush

pot of gold at the end of a rainbow

Microsoft Gold Certification

Gold Beach: ”

Gold, commonly known as Gold Beach, was the code name for one of the D-Day landing beaches that Allied forces used to invade German-occupied France on 6 June 1944, during World War II.

Gold lay in the area assigned to the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division commanded by Major General Douglas Alexander Graham, and the 8th Armoured Brigade. These were part of XXX Corps, commanded by Lieutenant General Gerard Bucknall, which in turn was part of Lieutenant General Miles Dempsey‘s British 2nd Army. Gold had three main assault sectors – these were designated (from west to east): Item, Jig (split into sections Green and Red), and King (also in two sections named Green and Red). A fourth, named How, was not used as a landing area.[1]

The beach was to be assaulted by the 50th Division between Le Hamel and Ver sur Mer. Attached to them were elements of 79th (Armoured) Division. The 231st Infantry Brigade would come ashore on Jig Sector at Le Hamel/Asnelles and the 69th Brigade at King Sector in front of Ver sur Mer. No. 47 (Royal Marine) Commando, attached to the 50th Division for the landing, was assigned to Item sector.”

Gold fever

gold chain

Gold Panda

The Gold Card provides unemployed post-9/11 era veterans with the intensive and follow-up services they need to succeed in today’s job market.

Fool’s gold

Public television series with Huell Howser provides history and travel information about a range of California locations.

Gold fields

pan for gold

gold mine

Venturing Gold Award

red-gold

Gold Award (Girl Scouts)

mining for gold

Gold Eagle Co. has been an industry leader in the production and distribution of aftermarket fluids and additives since 1932.

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.

We are also talking about this on Twitter. Use the hashtag #CPP

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.

First Finish of 2014

Tea towel pillow
Tea towel pillow

A few years ago, TFQ gave me a tea towel which I thought was too pretty to cover with kitchen yuck. i really liked the motifs, which echo,in shape, if not color, the Tarts Come to Tea. It hung over the door of the fabric closet for quite awhile. The door of the fabric closet is a hybrid inspiration wall and I-know-what-I-want-to-do-with-this-but-haven’t-gotten-to-it space. I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do with the tea towel, but one day it came to me that I could fold it over and make a pillow.

I sewed it as described except for a space to stuff it last week. It was a quick trip around the edge with white thread. Yesterday I stuffed it with a combination of shards and tiny scraps and leftover batting. Then, I sewed it together on the machine.Voila! back pillow.

I really like finishing something on New Year’s Day as I like to think it sets the tone for the year. We will see.

Tea towel pillow - back
Tea towel pillow – back

Gifts for Me

Scrissors from Paul
Scrissors from Paul

I am finally getting around to posting the gifts I received for Christmas. It was actually, comparatively, quite a haul. DH and I didn’t really buy each other very many gifts. We usually buy a big gift for the house instead of individual gifts, but we couldn’t really think of anything we wanted. I want a new bed frame, but DH isn’t enthusiastic, so we are still at an impasse.

 

Batiks from Mom
Batiks from Mom

You can give me batiks any time! Yum!

Kona from Amanda
Kona from Amanda
Quiltworks fabric from Paul
Quiltworks fabric from Paul

The above fabric from from a shop in the City to which I have never been. I have heard that they buy up partial bolts from shops that are closing. They also have space that they rent to those who want to have an event. Now that DH has been, I will have to go as well.

I also received 3 quilt books: Quilt Maps, Little Bits Quilting Bee by Kathreen Ricketson and Quilting Happiness. Look for reviews in the not too distant future.

2013 Year in Review

Good-bye 2013! I can’t really believe it is the last day of year already. Soon, I’ll have to go back to work and real life.

In the meantime, here I am again telling you all about my accomplishments. Here are the finishes:

Quilts

  1. Corner Store: Finished on 1/1/2013
  2. The Garden. Finished on 1/5/2013
  3. Stepping Stones: Finished on 2/14/2013
  4. Fabric of the Year 2011: Finished on 2/27/2013
  5. A-B-C Challenge: Finished on 3/31/2013
  6. Calm: Finished on 3/15/2013
  7. Super Secret project #1: Finished
  8. Super Secret project #2: Finished
  9. Sparkle Pink: Finished on August 20, 2013
  10. Swoon: Finished on August 27, 2013
  11. Original Bullseye on October 24, 2013
  12. T-shirt Quilt on November 14, 2013

Doing Good Projects

  1. Cat Bed: green with white dotted fabric
  2. Cat Bed: green with white dotted fabric
  3. Cat Bed: Dark Blue, Lion fabric
  4. Cat Bed: cotton fabrics
  5. Monkey dot cat bed
  6. Happy Cake cat bed
  7. Froggy cat beds

Bags

  1. Petrillo Bag
  2. A Day in the Park Backpack tote
  3. Fabric Handbag
  4. Gift bag for SIL
  5. Gift bag for Secret Santa
  6. Gift bag for BAMQG

Blocks

  1. Star Sampler blocks
  2. Color group blocks

I didn’t have the opportunity to make any blocks for group quilts this year, that I remember or noted on the blog. Perhaps the Star Sampler did me in for blocks. 😉

Journal Covers

Pillowcases

Merit Badges and Scout Patches

Crafty Projects

Still WIPs

  1. Aqua-Red Sampler – Frances and I finished our fusible machine applique’ blocks and I am supposed to be preparing the next class on curves.
  2. The Tarts Come to Tea: I haven’t quilted on this since April 2011. I really do need to work on the quilting. I was making good progress and then got sidetracked. Quilting the Whole Cloth quilt sort of got me back in the swing of quilting, so perhaps there is hope for this piece?
  3. Pointillist Palette #4: Fourth is a series of 6 quilts; needs tiny square patches sewn together. Mrs. K. gave me more PP fabric and I won some from a giveaway. I think it is a sign that I need to work on this.
  4. See: needs satin stitching. Small, also a possibility for finishing.
  5. Self Portrait: started in 2006 at a class at Quilting Adventures in Richmond, Virginia. I like the piece, but don’t know where to go from where I am. Mouth? Hair?
  6. Top is together, binding is made. I am working at ripping out the foundation paper (what a pain and what a mess!). I need to make a back and then take it to the quilter.
  7. Under the Sea: class project; like the design, but not the colors much.
  8. 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.

I still have a few more WIPs than I do finished projects. I am pleased with the progress I have made.

Ready for Quilting, at the Quilter

  1. New: Wonky 9 Patch: needs quilting and binding. Not on original list
  2. Infinity blocks: at the quilter.
  3. Spiderweb: at the quilter
  4. New:* FOTY 2012: top, finished. Back and binding are complete; at the quilter.
  5. New:*Star Sampler: Top finished, back and binding finished; at the quilter. (not on original list)
  6. New:*Fresh Fruit: Top finished, back and binding finished; at the quilter. (not on original list)

It is kind of fun to review everything I have done in the year and revisit the projects I worked on when the year felt new. Welcome, 2014! Let’s have an even better year!

A Few Gift Bags

Gift Bags
Gift Bags

I had some fabric left over after making the pillowcases for the nephews and used it to make some gift bags.

These are on the small size, but I really like the cheerfulness of the fabric and didn’t want to waste it.

I don’t need many more gift bags as I have plenty, but I do like to make some new ones to use new fabric that I can’t resist.

You can find the directions for making the gift bags on the tutorials pages.

26 Projects List – December Update

I told you that I was thinking about changing the name of this post in the new year.  I think it is a valuable post for me to write, so I have decided that I will continue, but will just change it somewhat. I will freshen it up a bit to reflect the progress I have made on the old projects and change the focus to WIPs rather than UFOs.

12 quilts finished in 2013 is something of which to be proud, thanks to the 26 Projects post.

Again I need to keep in mind that I need to focus my efforts on not filling up the list with UFOs again. I don’t mind having a few projects going at once, but I continue to feel that I don’t want stalled projects hanging around for years. I really don’t. That is the key: I have to work on the projects. If I work on projects in which I am interested, I don’t think I will let them languish for years.

Finished 2013 Projects:

  1. Corner Store: Finished on 1/1/2013 YAY!
  2. The Garden. Finished on 1/5/2013 YAY!
  3. Stepping Stones: Finished on 2/14/2013 YAY!
  4. Fabric of the Year 2011: Finished on 2/27/2013 YAY
  5. Calm: Finished on 3/14/2013 YAY!
  6. A-B-C Challenge: Finished on 3/31/2013 YAY!
  7. Super Secret Project #1: Finished on June 13, 2013
  8. Super Secret Project #2: Finished on June 23, 2013
  9. Sparkle Pink: Finished on August 20, 2013
  10. Swoon: Finished on August 27, 2013
  11. Original Bullseye: Finished on October 20, 2013
  12. T-Shirt quilt: Finished

Other non-quilt Projects finished

Still WIPs

WIPs Collage Jan 2014
WIPs Collage Jan 2014
  1. Aqua-Red Sampler – Frances and I are stalled. She has a lot going on, but I hope we will get back to it. I am thinking about the next tutorial regardless.
  2. The Tarts Come to Tea: I still haven’t worked on this since April 2011, though, periodically, I think about working on it.
  3. Pointillist Palette #4: Fourth is a series of 6 quilts; needs tiny square patches sewn together. I still haven’t worked on this, though, every once in a while I think about using some of the squares as leaders and enders.
  4. See: needs satin stitching. Small, also a possibility for finishing before the end of the year, though with all the cutting I have done recently, perhaps not so much.
  5. Self Portrait: started in 2006 at a class at Quilting Adventures in Richmond, Virginia. I like the piece, but don’t know where to go from where I am. Mouth? Hair? The attitude I need to have is that I can’t ruin it; there is always more fabric. Possibility for abandonment.
  6. Under the Sea: class project; like the design, but not the colors much. Possibility for abandonment. I have to face reality.
  7. Flower Sugar Hexagon: This piece is up on the design wall and I have sewed a few more hexagons together, but haven’t made significant progress despite looking at it all the time. I am beginning to think I should have added fabrics from different lines to this piece.

Ready for Quilting

Again, I don’t have anything ready to take to my quilter. The machine being in the shop has put a cramp in my style this month. Sigh.

  1. New:* Wonky 9 Patch: needs quilting and binding. I am still thinking about quilting this myself and I am thinking about it more and more. I am wondering how far apart I can quilt it so that it has some drape. (Not on original list)
  2. Infinity blocks: blocks sewn together into a quilt top, borders on. Back and binding made; at the quilter.
  3. Spiderweb: Top is together, binding is made. This is at the quilter.
  4. New:* FOTY 2012: top, finished. Back and binding are complete; at the quilter.
  5. New:*Star Sampler: Top finished, back and binding finished; at the quilter. (not on original list)
  6. New:*Fresh Fruit: Top finished, back and binding finished; at the quilter. (not on original list)

Please note that even if you combine the two lists above, I do not have 26 projects on this list anymore. This is true even though I keep starting new projects. I am thrilled that I have made progress!!!

In the Finishing Process

  • Original Bullseye: Sleeve made. still working on the hand sewing. I have been embellishing Christmas stockings instead of sewing on the sleeve.

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 something In Process.

Hunting and Gathering

  • Spin Wheel: really not started, but supplies gathered. I probably have enough fabrics and just need to decide to start.
  • Windmill quilt: Still hunting and gathering. Need to find a background, because if we use the cut fabrics, the pattern will be lost. The pieces are too oddly shaped to lose the pattern in a mass of scraps.
  • Stepping Stones #2 using Bonnie & Camille fabrics Bliss, Ruby, Vintage Modern: made two test blocks, but still in the thinking stage while I decide on the background colors. I want the contrast to be good.
  • Super Secret Project #3: working on color choices.

Abandoned

Nothing so far for 2013

Last update for the 26 Projects List. Read it. There’s some interesting stuff there.

I thought you might want to take a look at the first list I made, the one with the 26 Projects. I started the list in October 2011. I have made progress. I plan to stop this post when I have no more projects from the original list to write about. I wonder when that will be?

*New – Project started after I started working on the 26 Projects list

A Little More Scrapitude

image

I finally finished the square blocks for Scrapitude. The above photo shows a sample if the two kinds of blocks required for the project. I still have some pressing to do to completely finish this part.

I worked on them on and off using Bonnie Hunter’s leaders and enders method while I worked on other projects over the past few days.

There is quite a bit of pink, which is a little worrisome. I hope it work out.

I think they look cheerful.

 

Previous Scrapitude Posts

Creative Prompt #238: Gaggle

This is the last post of 2013! Take 5 minutes and enjoy!

Gaggle of geese

gaggle ofhttps://artquiltmaker.com/blog/wp-admin/post-new.php girls

Gaggle is a SAFE cloud-based Learning Platform for the real K-12 classroom.

Gaggle is a Vario & GPS for hang glider, paraglider and sailplane pilots. GPS based flight information such as logging, mapping, IGC file upload and glide calculations.

a new book called “The Gaggle: How to Find Love in the Post-Dating World,” by Jessica Massa

Gaggle reinforces keyboarding skills every time it’s used. A teacher can send different writing prompts to differently leveled groups of students

Gaggle is a safe web based email solution for schools and students.

http://The-Gaggle.com is a website that explores modern romance.

Gaggle buggy

Press Gaggle by Jay Carney and Ben Rhodes aboard AF1 en route Washington, D.C..

The Gaggle’s Official Tumblr page, where we navigate the relationship between love, technology, ambiguity and modernity through filtered photos

 

Definition: “A gaggle is a term of venery for a flock of geese that is not in flight; in flight, the group can be called a skein.

In terms of geese, a gaggle is equal to at least five geese.

In terms of salt, a gaggle is equal to eight fifty pound bags of salt. Usually one layer on a skid.

In military slang, a gaggle is an unorganized group doing nothing. In aviation, it is a large, loosely organized tactical formation of aircraft.

In certain regions of The Netherlands, a gaggle can also refer to a group of adolescent females.” Wikipedia

Gaggle Workshop 2012! Bringing software developers and scientists together to promote interoperability in software for systems biology.

In the field of systems biology, The Gaggle is an open source software framework for exchanging data between independently developed software tools and databases to enable interactive exploration of data.[1]

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.

We are also talking about this on Twitter. Use the hashtag #CPP

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.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!

I took this photo back in September at the Alden Lane Nursery Outdoor Quilt Show. The quilts got people to the nursery, which actually sells plants and garden stuff (yes, my technical term).

Although, not all of you celebrate Christmas, I hope that you will project peace and love out into the world in your own way so that we can have a better world this month and next year.

Peace!

Pax!

vrede!

Pau!

Spokoj!

mir!

Rauha!

Paix!

fred!

Hetep!

Solh!

Emirembe!

etc.*

 

 

 

 

*See more terms for peace at Columbia

 

 

5×7 Folded Card
View the entire collection of cards.