Author: JayeL

Quiltmaker who enjoys writing and frozen chocolate covered bananas.

Various & Sundry 2022 #5

Admin

The tutorials page has been updated. Look for links to the posts on how to make bullseye blocks. These are older posts. I ramble quite a bit more on my tutorial posts from back then than I do now. I might rewrite the posts, but for now I am leaving them as is. You can enjoy a small glimpse of my 37 year old self.

Other Artists

C&T has posted a video of me showing most of the quilts from Red, White & Blue Star Quilts at the Springfield quilt show. This book is now available. Judy Martin is awesome and you should buy her book. She also now offers acrylic templates for some of the shapes in her books. Read this page to order.

Create Whimsey has an interview with Judy as well.

Friend Julie’s April Cornucopia post is up and always worth a look.

Projects, Classes, Patterns & Tutorials

Take a look at this useful and fun needle pie. The pattern is from Etsy. I think it would be a great addition to sets of gifts or swaps. A clever stitcher could have some fun with the design. Note that one picture shows storage for WonderClips**. There is ample opportunity for embellishing in different creative ways on the outside as well.

I really miss the short-lived magazine, thr3fold, by Linda and Laura Kemshall. I recently saw advertisement of a video by them on making Tyvek beads.

Remember when I talked about the bag Mary M made for the guild door prize? I found the pattern. It’s from Ginger Cake not Gingiber and it is listed on the Modern Quilt Co website. Mary M said she would add pockets next time.

I don’t really think you need a tutorial on Sawtooth Star blocks., but Blossom Hill has a slightly different take on the block she calls Star Stamp. She also links out to Accuquilt** instructions. Every month she has a Scrap Buster block, which might be a great way to use up scraps if you aren’t making journal covers or strip blocks.

Tools, Books, Fabric, Notions & Supplies

I talk about, or maybe allude to, my fabric tracking exercise. The spreadsheet I use is from Pam of Hip to Be a Square podcast (no longer in production). I recently found one by Jeni Baker of In Color Order blog (and those fabulous drawstring bags).

Judy Martin has come out with another book. Red, White & Blue Star Quilts: 16 Striking Patriotic & 2-Color Patterns was released in late February. The cost of the book is $28.95 plus shipping. Order it through Judy’s website.

Some interesting and unusual fabrics as well as some usual fabric can be found at My Handmade Space. They also have bag hardware and zippers. Some of the zipper tapes have stripes and florals.

I like the way Stitch Supply Company displays their fabric on their website. They also have a lot of Aneela Hoey patterns.

I keep getting ads on FB for My Favorite Quilt Store. That always makes me suspicious, but they do have some super cute fabrics. I might be starting on a pillowcase project for two nephews who are heading off to college in the Fall. If I do this project, the florals from Philip Jacobs that I love are not going to cut the mustard. They have a variety of Pokemon fabrics, a lot of great Disney fabrics, including a fun evil witch option, steampunk Halloween, holiday and many others. I haven’t ordered form them, so we will have to see.

Paintbrush Studios has more solids. Not as many as Kona, but you know how I feel about Kona. Check out their new and upcoming print collections as well.

Articles and Other Information

The essay by Franklin Habit is brilliant, sad and and makes you want to hug him. It is also nominally about knitting. I like it because I felt the same way when I moved to Austria and again when I came back to the US. It also talks about not being able to knit for someone whose life is knitting. You can link to his YouTube channel and buy him a cup of coffee via Patreon.

Inspiration

Subscription boxes are (or were???) all the rage. I subscribed to a few, as you know, but quickly unsubscribed. I finally found one I enjoy, the Sew Hungry Hippie Happy Box. One of the things I like about it is that it is not all about sewing. Natalie describes it as about mindfulness, wellness self-care and happiness. I don’t get things I already have or fabric I don’t want. The other thing I like about it is that there is a project, with all of the pieces, parts and pattern, included. I just have to sit down and sew it like I did with the rainbow pin cushion from March. I received a new one the other day and actually watched the video that Natalie made about it. I loved hearing the stories about the items and their makers. The April theme was bananas. I thought the execution of the theme was pretty clever. The project that came with the box was for a banana bag. It is kind of hilarious. I haven’t made it yet, but I will definitely make it, though I will probably gift it. I may still not keep this subscription forever, but for the moment I am enjoying the bit of fun.

 

 

 

 

 

**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.

26 Projects 2022 #4

Finished 2022 Quilt Projects

Finished 2022 Small and Non-Quilt Projects

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

Doing Good

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
  • Rose Petrillo bag – I found the pieces for this bag cut out, but not sewn.
  • Superbloom tote using Hindsight fabric – not started
  • Take a Stand bags** – I am making three of them and have started the first one while I wait for more Soft & Stable so I can quilt the other two. I have made the straps
  • 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.

Ready for Quilting

  • Nothing at the moment

In the Quilting Process

  • BAMQG Improv Round Robin – The quilt is ready to be sent 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 the completed stitches.
  • The Tarts come to Tea – no recent progress,but I did pull it out to take a look at what I had done. I was thinking that I could rip out the stitching, but I have done a lot and the stitching is pretty good. I didn’t rip anything out and will get busy on at it again at some point.

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.

I am annoyed that some of these are still WIPs. I just need to work on them!

  1. 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?
  2. Lobster – I still want to 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Pointillist Palette #4: Fourth is a series of 6 quilts; needs tiny square patches sewn together. No progress.
  5. 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.
  6. Serendipity Lady – I am still planning to take this piece to be framed. It might need a bit of quilting first.
  7. 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!

 

 

 

 

 

 

**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.

Craft Day

Saturday was Craft Day. The weather did not cooperate, though Friday was beautiful with no wind just a light breeze. I was hoping for beautiful weather for once just so I can say that my town is not always foggy. Oh well.

Craft Day Attendees 2022
Craft Day Attendees 2022

Regularly my sorority alumnae group gets together for fun events. During the pandemic we did them on Zoom. Teaching people to bake pies on Zoom was one of the great events.

I often do not host, but I was willing to host Craft Day as it was pretty easy and I did not have to dress up.

Also, I wanted to get started on a knitting project and needed some help. Knitting is good for meetings where I do not have to present and I have two four hours training sessions this week and I need a knitting project.

Craft Day: spinning and knitting
Craft Day: spinning and knitting

A lot of knitting went on on Craft Day. My SIL was knitting along with 2 others. Juliette was spinning, which is related to knitting, but not knitting. She will knit the yarn she was spinning at some point in the future.

Juliette has a very quiet portable spinning wheel. It wasn’t the big wooden machine like in Sleeping Beauty, but it got the job done. I really enjoyed watching her spin. As I knitted, it was soothing to see.

Craft Day
Craft Day

I was more prepared than I thought. All of my yarn was in balls. I did a gauge swatch, which help my SIL help me know what I needed to do next.

Of course, there was plenty of food. Terri made a nice fruit salad and Beth brought salami and cheese. I made coffee cake and banana bread. There was plenty of both leftover.

All in all it was a good time and not too taxing. My knitting project is started, so I am ready for my meetings. I also got to reconnect with friends I hadn’t seen in awhile.

April Donation Blocks

I know its May, but I didn’t have a chance to post the donation blocks for April yet. I didn’t have a lot of time to sew donation blocks this month, but my commitment is still to the guild’s community quilt project.

I made the green blocks for the Rainbow Strip donation quilt. I realized that even thought I made a green strip donation quilt and a green improv donation quilt, my green scrap bin is full again. Sigh.

Take a Stand Start

Take a Stand cut pieces
Take a Stand cut pieces

Finally, I started the three Take a Stand totes. Yes, I decided to make three.  I had all the supplies and, of course, plenty of fabric, but just couldn’t start cutting. I went on Saturday to sew with a friend and that was the impetus I needed to do the cutting.

One bag is due next month so I focused on making sure I had all the pieces for that. I am just waiting for one piece of webbing for that one, but it is already on its way, so I am not worried.

Take a Stand Straps
Take a Stand Straps

I am not making straps out of fabric.  I am using Tula Pink’s webbing. I wish ByAnnie’s patterns would say “if you are using webbing, start here –>”. Of course, I have only used webbing twice (this time and for the APfE v.2. Still, I am a convert. I really like it. Tula has fun colors, but they are not for every instance. I’ll have to explore some of the other colors available.

I am resigned to all the prep ByAnnie bags take. I am trying to teach myself not to want to get to the end as ASAP as I seem to demand of myself. It is that old problem for my brain of process vs. product. I can’t seem to get over it, though I do try.

I ran out of Soft & Stable so there are a few pieces of that I need to cut. Since I have that deadline, I quilted as many pieces as I could.  I have now started sewing. I want to do the three at once, but have to get the one done.

Swan Gift

Swan Bag gift
Swan Bag gift

I received a surprise gift the other day from my friend, Amanda. She sent me this fantastic swan bag. It is kind of amazing, because not that long ago Friend Julie and I were talking about the plethora of swan fabrics that have recently appeared.

I really like this fabric. The swans are so delicate looking. DH commented that it would be cool to make a bag shaped like the motif of the swan.

The swan’s neck could be the handle and the swan body could be the body of the bag. Definitely something to think about.

Half Hexie Fills in the Gap

Half Hexie to date
Half Hexie to date

Because of the light La Pass month, I have been working quite a bit on the Half Hexie Star. It is not as fun as La Pass, but I do want to get it done. I have put so much work into the piece that abandoning it is not an option.

I looked at the piece on the living room floor and it might almost be wide enough as well as long enough. Both ends need some filling in.  Two columns on the right (photo top left) need to be finished.

Half Hexie column in process
Half Hexie column in process

I am pretty sure it is long enough, but it is definitely not wide enough. First, I assembled as many stars as I could, then I started adding stars to the larger piece. Most of those were foreground stars.

The column on the left (photo right) consists of the stars I have added. The background column to the right of the new stars is pretty complete, so I can add a number of stars and keep my hands busy in the evening.

Half Hexie fill ins required
Half Hexie fill ins required

Soon, I found that I didn’t have any of the white with dots I am using as background stars, so I had to cut more of those. I didn’t have enough paper, which meant I had to remove some of the papers from the larger piece. I like the structure leaving the paper in gives, but needs must. I also ordered some more papers from Paper Pieces.

I started assembling more of the background stars over the weekend. I’ll figure out where to insert them as soon as I get several. I’ll need to cut more fabric and assemble more of the background stars.

La Pass month 10 will be here soon, so I’ll put this back on the back burner except for cutting background fabric.

Clematis Inspiration

Tim's Clematis
Tim’s Clematis

I saw this flower at a friend’s house over the weekend and just loved it.

I really want to draw it and play around with the lines.

I thought it was a Stargazer Lily, but after searching I found it was a Clematis. This one looks a little different than the others on the web, but I still think it is a clematis. I wonder how it would do in my yard, if I would need to pamper it too much. I’d love to look out into my backyard and see these giant blooms.

Thinking about EPP

Green Hills Country Club tile
Green Hills Country Club tile

I went to a luncheon the other day and the restroom had beautiful tile. It was also in very good condition. As mentioned, I am thinking about what project to make after. I am not very inclined to design my own EPP.

However, looking at these tiles makes me think about how I would go about making the design using EPP. It might be fun to make one block.  The single tile would be a great design.

 

Green Hills Country Club tile
Green Hills Country Club tile

I really like the ease of the EPP BOM. Lots of hand stitching, but relaxing, because I don’t have to do much. In an ideal world, they would set up another Wilynne Hammerstein design as an EPP, but who knows? La Passacaglia is the best known.

Charming Donation Finished

Charming donation quilt finished!
Charming donation quilt finished!

As mentioned the other day, I missed the March Guild meeting, but Joelle’s kindness and effort in posting the show and tell PDF allowed me to find a few quilt tops I made that were finished. I mentioned the 16 Patch Plus quilt the other day. I also saw that Joelle quilted the Charming Donation Quilt. It shows up in my 2020 donation quilts and blocks post as well.

I feel so happy when I see the finished quilts which were my tops and backs. Thanks to Joelle for quilting it! She used really intricate and interesting quilting motifs.

16 Patch Plus Finished

16 Patch Plus donation quilt
16 Patch Plus donation quilt

I missed the March Guild meeting, but Joelle was kind enough to post the PDF of show and tell. There I found a finished donation top I made in 2020, the 16 patch Plus quilt. It shows up in my 2020 donation quilts and blocks post as well.

I feel so happy when I see the finished quilts which were my tops and backs. Thanks to Lee Ann for quilting it!

Orange Bullseye

I thought the last bullseye I sewed with Julie and Adrienne was Passionate Purple. I looked back on my blog and found that the Original Bullseye was actually the last one that I finished. I am not sure when I started that one, but from my various blog posts, it sounds like I had stuck it somewhere and then found it again. The Original Bullseye was part of the project with Adrienne and Julie, but it was the kernel that started the whole Bullseye project.

Passionate Purple, Feelin’ Blue (I don’t think I actually wrote a post when this quilt was finished), and Seeing Red are all part of the series.

We are now working on an orange bullseye. We will cut 48 squares of fabric at 10″ and then send them on to the next person, who will add a circle and send it on to the third person who will add another circle. Then the squares will come back to each of us. We will add another orange circle, cut the blocks into 4 and keep two. The other two quarters will be sent to each other.

Orange You Glad squares
Orange You Glad squares

Friend Julie has also started cutting and I think she landed on a good name, Orange You Glad. I have finished cutting my squares, but will press them so the centers are clear and to make it easier for my team members to line up their second circles. I cut my squares bigger so I can square them up, if necessary, later.

I also started cutting the small squares for the last  round. I am getting ahead of myself, but I couldn’t help myself.

In order to find enough squares, I rummaged through my entire fabric closet. I found a lot of orange in random places and will take this opportunity to rearrange it.

I am considering the strip for the binding, though it isn’t quite the right color. I’ll have to see once the top is done.

Orange You Glad?

Entering the Fair

After a two year hiatus, I entered the County Fair. I entered 3 items and hope I get free tickets.

My three items are:

I kind of wanted to enter more things, but wasn’t sure what else to enter or I don’t have the thing anymore. Also, I am busy, I don’t have time to figure out all the divisions, etc, especially now that they are only giving prize money for first place. Phooey on that! I really wanted to enter Flying Around, which has had no outing at all. It was, however, finished in 2019 and that seems like a long time ago in Fair years.