Commentary about works in progress, design & creativity
I had just read Friend Julie’s Late Spring Flower Friday post when I went off to a work event and saw this bed of foxgloves.
The nice, but odd thing is that this is right next to a parking garage. I didn’t really have to crop the photo much to keep the concrete out of the photo. This bed was quite large and even included a few small trees. It was really nice to see some nature near a shopping mall.
This is another piece donated by my Mom.
In the course of looking at the other pieces, we decided that we (meaning me) would put a border on this one and call it done. The pieced rows that are not joined to the larger piece will not be used for this quilt. There is something wonky about the piecing and we will repurpose them in the yellow and blue piece I talked about yesterday.
The hardest part will be deciding which fabric I should use for the border.
At the last Sew Day Mary and I decided we would make another donation quilt in an hour. Neither of us brought a sewing machine, so we just played around with some blocks and shards that Mom donated.
Mom is clearing out stuff she doesn’t want and quilt projects she won’t finished.
These are not really my style and they are all odd sizes, but we can make them fit together in some way.
We started out by just putting them on the design wall and looking at them. Tim stopped by Sew Day and helped us play around with them. Three brains are definitely better than one.
We got rid of one block that was the same pattern, but just much busier than the others (bottom center block). It didn’t really go. The butterfly was not sewn by my Mom and that one was out, too. I really wanted to put all the blocks in so there were none left, but that isn’t always possible.
We tried spreading out the blocks and imagining other fabrics or blocks in between.
I think it is harder to imagine what could between blocks when you don’t have any extra fabric with which to work. When we did the Improve charity tops, Maria and Cyndi both brought big bins of solids we could use.
Still, we thought we had a good selection of blocks and some possibilities.
We automatically put the largest block in the center, but started talking about not having it in the center. What could we do if we put it somewhere else in the top?
Moving the largest block down and the Ying/Yang blocks (those with the crazy circle fabric prominently placed) to the center made the piece a weird shape, but we liked the location of the blocks better. We will probably cut off the yellow square on the bottom and use the yellow in some other location. We finally started to feel like we were getting somewhere.
Part of the issue is that none of use these types of fabrics. My Mom has a unique fabric selection style that people love and is hard to imitate.
We finally ended up adding some of the leftover purple and lilac squares from the Celestial Squares quilt to bring out the purples in the batik. Those fabrics are unconventional choices, but I think they work.
We have plans to sew it together next time, but we will see.
I have received three of the Sew Hungry Hippie Happy Boxes. You saw the Rainbow Pincushion I made from the first box. I really enjoy these boxes, partially because they are not 100% sewing supplies and partially because they are fun.
There is always a theme. This month’s theme is ‘Radical 80s’. Did people say ‘radical‘ in the 80s? I seem to recall they did. This month has some fun smelly erasers, which I remember my sister having in the 1980s.
The box also contains a boom box project. Boom boxes were big in the 80s. The nice thing about the projects in these Happy Boxes is that everything is there: fabric, interfacing, pattern, hardware, everything. You don’t have to think; you just have to sew. The project has some of the Ruby Star Society novelty prints with roller skates and boom boxes.
There is candy, too. From the other boxes, I noticed that it was candy with which I was not familiar, but always fun. This time it is Hubba Bubba chewing gum. I am not really a gum chewer, but Hubba Bubba and Bubblicious are the most fun gums to chew, because a person can blow HUGE bubbles.
The box also always includes a good card with a profound saying.
I won’t get these forever, but for now it is fun. I am two projects behind now that I have gotten the latest box, so I need to get sewing.
I noticed on Saturday that there were two left, so check out the Happy Box subscription and consider getting one of your own. There is also a Happy Box Mixer, which gives you the opportunity to get a box one time and see what is inside. No affiliation!
I spent Sew Day on Saturday cutting and basting my La Pass Month 10 pieces. There are under 100 pieces, fortunately, and they are now basted and ready for stitching. I am relieved as I thought I might not have enough time to baste all the pieces.
First, I had to decide on a new center fabric. I am not using the Curiouser and Curiouser cats. They are too scary looking. Tula might like them, but I don’t.
The Carrie Bloomston text fabric is the one I chose for the diamond pieces in the center. It is not the same gold color as the cats, but will work just fine.
I actually changed quite a few fabrics in this month. I hope it works with the rest of the quilt.
The Take a Stand** bag (which for some reason I keep wanting to call the “Without a Trace” bag) bag is done and I am on my way to give it to my Mom for Mother’s Day.
This is the first time I have made this bag and it has the usual things that annoy me about a ByAnnie pattern: quilting all the pieces and lots of binding. It is also a great size and shape. It might be a good replacement for my Travel / Go-to-Sew-Day Bag. Or at least a partial replacement.
Yes, I used the Tula Pink webbing for the shoulder strap. It isn’t the perfect color, but works ok and Mom can unhook it and use it for other things. Using webbing means that I don’t have to make straps. I seem to remember making straps with webbing as the inside a la ByAnnie, but I can’t remember (or find) what project they were used on. It wasn’t a completely smooth process, but the strap went together pretty quickly and I am happy with them.
I adore the rainbow hardware!
I am pretty proud of the inside/lining. It is hard to see in the photo, but easier if you make the photo larger. I used a text print with color wheel type paint blobs on it. It is perfect for my mom and came out really well in terms of placement in the bag.
I have two more in the works, meaning that I have two more cut and quilted (such a chore), so you’ll see at least one of those soon. I decided that I want to make the larger size as well, but will have to cut and quilt that one before I can decide if it will be a good replacement for my Travel / Go-to-Sew-Day Bag.
I hope Mom likes this bag. She is getting quite the collection.
**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.
I finished Frolic! a long time ago, or what seems like a long time ago. Then, I entered it in the Fair. THEN I realized it didn’t have a sleeve! YIKES! I needed to make one fast in order to have enough time to sew the sleeve on. I often fight with sleeve making despite the great instructions in Free Expression** by Robbi Joy Eklow.
I was able to make and sew the sleeve on in, what felt like, record time. It may only need a sleeve one time. I am happy that it is ready to go.
**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.
La Pass Month 10 arrived FINALLY. It seems like it took forever to get here after I sped through Month 9. Really, it has only been about two weeks and I had a lot of other hand work to do that I really needed to get done.
It’s more green again, but also tending towards yellow. I know they wanted to include more yellow, but the Tiny Beasts fabric was delayed. I am not using the cats and may use the same fabric I used for the Month 7 small rosette center for the Month 10 center. I pulled out some other yellows, but they were brighter than the cats and I wanted to stay in the color range.
I thought I would have time to start basting during a 4 hour meeting yesterday, but i really had to pay attention and take notes, so no basting. 🙁
This is a shop we visited when we went to Portland in March. For some reason, I never got around to writing about it.
When we had to leave the AirBnB, but before we could check into the hotel, we had some time to wander around the Portland Metro area. We happened to wander into Washington and visited Just for Fun in Vancouver.
In case you don’t know, Vancouver is not too far from Portland. I liked this shop. The people were super friendly – verging on too friendly, but just shying away from it.
They had an excellent selection of fabric, samples and a great notions area.
The shop wasn’t large and the first thing I did was look at the Kimberbell items. Do I have an embroidery machine? No. I don’t know why I look at the patterns and supplies all the time, but I do. The lady in that area was super friendly and very chatty. I had to work hard to get away from her.
The shop isn’t large, but they had an appealing selection. They did have the fabrics on those slanted shelves, which I don’t usually like. I did feel like I could see the fabrics pretty well, angled as they were.
I think they all the Kona solids, though i didn’t count.
This is where I saw the Birthday fabric from Sarah Watts of Ruby Star Society used in the Cha Cha Cha table runner. I didn’t do anything special except buy the charm pack and the pattern. Mine came out a little differently, but I still like it.
There were a number of good sample projects around.
I also found the Easter fabric at Just for Fun. As mentioned, I thought I would make masks for Easter, but then decided to make napkins.
I noticed the shop had a kind of pastel-ly vibe. That is probably not true, but that was the impression I got. Perhaps there was a larger selection of light fabrics? Or there were just Easter fabrics in profusion, which are typically pastels.
Above where the people are standing (photo left) you can see some panels. They had a nice selection of panels. Mom bought one or two for future baby quilts.
Remember when I talked about Golden State’s new space and the longarm machines? I have no problem with any shop dedicating space to longarming, but the noise breaks my concentration. Just for Fun had two or three machines as well. Those machines were in a corner of the space and blocked with doors from the retail space. Customers could look into the space and see the longarms running, but not hear them. It was GREAT (no photo, sorry).
Just for Fun
Address: 1503 NE 78th St, Unit 12, Vancouver, WA 98665, United States
Phone: +1 360 882 9101
Website: https://www.justforfunquilting.com/
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 Hooey 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.
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
Small Projects to Make or in Process
Most of my progress involves thinking or just cutting.
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
In the Quilting Process
In the Finishing Process
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!
**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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.