I worked last Saturday on Carpenter’s Wheel blocks and some other stuff, which you heard about over the weekend. I am really having fun playing with the Carpenter’s Wheel blocks. So much fun was making me feel guilty about the other projects. In the course of resolving that problem, I made good progress on my variations on Deb Tucker’s Carpenter’s Wheel blocks as I mentioned a week or so ago.
#2 is made the way Deb Tucker showed on the Fons & Porter episode. Note that this one has the extra half square triangles along the outside of the block next to the Flying Geese. This definitely gives the piece a different look
Carpenter’s Wheel #3 – in process
I was able to finish #2 and cut everything for #3, but not get get much sewing done on it. I thought of the #3 variation as I added some HSTs to #2. This variation has HSTs as part of the ‘wheel on the inner row of patches. I hope that the HSTs in the corners will make the piece look more round.
In do this variation I thought of another variation, which I will also try.
I also opened my second pack of Modern Backgrounds – Paper by Zen Chic, which I bought in Corvallis. I don’t love all the prints in this pack, but most of them will work for me. The ones that don’t work are ending up in donation blocks, which I also worked on in between the Improv quilt and this project.
I spent almost the whole day last Saturday working on the Carpenter’s Wheel blocks and the Red and Black Improv quilt.
I was really struggling with the Improv quilt and it was taking up space on my design wall so I wanted to get it done and off. Done and off the wall meant making more blocks. Somehow making more blocks has lost their appeal.
3 Carpenter’s Wheels + a Stepping Stone
I decided as I worked on the Carpenter’s Wheel blocks that I would intersperse pieces and parts for the Improv quilt and make some progress at least. I am so pleased with the progress I made! And I had fun.
The Carpenter’s Wheels are very cheerful and that makes them fun to make. I sewed the second block together (top left) on Saturday and am enjoying looking at the two blocks together while the third block is in process.
Improv Quilt – Late October
I had started out on these blocks, but the Improv quilt was nagging at the back of my mind, so, as I said, I pulled out some black and red strips and started to work on an Improv block in between working on the second Carpenter’s Wheel block. When I finally pulled my nose away from the needle and assessed my day’s work, I found that I had completed a whole side of the quilt! I only have three blocks more to make to finish the top!
This quilt is a monster, which should surprise nobody, which makes it hard to photograph, but you should be able to see some of the work and the progress. There will be no border and sewing the blocks together should be a challenge, but not so much of a challenge that I can’t do it. The seams will be long, but over quickly, I think.
I was doing such good work that I was angry that I had to leave on Sunday for a work trip. I was looking forward to the work trip, but it just came at an inconvenient time and I was hoping I wouldn’t lose my momentum, especially with the Improv quilt.
I decided to enter the Blogger’s Quilt Festival put on by Amy’s Creative Side since, for once, I have a really great picture of a quilt that fits the criteria.
Russian Rubix was finished this year.
Materials
100% cotton fabric
100% cotton thread
Techniques
Machine pieced
Longarm quilted
Russian Rubix
Details:
Year: 2013-2015
Size: 85”x85.5”
Fabric: various
Quilted By:
Colleen Granger
Details
I saw this pattern at Always Quilting when I was visiting there with Susan, the History Quilter. After some back and forth via email, we decided to both make the quilts. I used a selection of fabrics I chose carefully, which I subsequently used for two other projects. I wanted to make the pattern, by April Rosenthal, my own, so I changed it up a little bit by dropping some of the octagons in the center and adding an octagon border. The octagons were a bit of a challenge, but I got into a routine and they went together with no problem.
As you know I have a sincere but underdeveloped interest in making books. I have had a new one on my mind for awhile.
3 Postcards
It was this plus Maureen’s booth, and the fact that Nancy would go as well that sent me to the Book Arts Jam last Saturday.
I had never been before and I found it to be a really interesting experience. I was expecting a PIQF but with books experience.
It was not like that at all. The show was much, much smaller and the people there were, mostly, selling their book art rather than selling supplies to make books. There were a lot of interesting shaped books and interesting sculptures made from books. I also saw some interesting supplies (mull was one) used to make books and related objects.
The location was in Palo Alto at a community center and, in true Palo Alto fashion, the room was gorgeous.
Maureen’s booth at Book Arts Jam 2015
Maureen was there selling her postcards and doing fairly well. She had a simple to set up, but very effective for display, booth. She had cards displayed on the black slant board and then she had cards in the little baskets. Those in the basket were arranged by event, occasion and holiday. Very clever! She said that she had sold almost all the Hallowe’en cards before we got there (around 1:30pm).
I thought it was an interesting experience. I kind of wish there had been some kind of exhibit of vendor’s art with more explanation. I was glad I went, because I had my eyes opened and my creative energy inspired. I was also glad to support Maureen.
I was looking forward to visiting PIQF this year. It ended up being a mixed bag. TFQ couldn’t come down, but Julie and I went together. I didn’t have a lot of time to look at everything, but I also didn’t spend a lot of money. So both good and less good.
I was excited about the changes that the Mancusos said they were making. Last year they said they would make changes to freshen up the show. I didn’t see many changes and that was disappointing. They added a Modern category and there were a few quilts I would classify as modern, including some from BAMQG.
Historic quilt from SJMQT
Of course I saw quilts, which always makes me want to run home and sew. One I saw was in the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles special exhibit. This historic quilt from SJMQT is double anonymous (1915 with no named maker and an anonymous donor). It is a very modern design in the sense of the modern quilt movement aesthetic. I am sad that I don’t know who made this because I want to know what she was thinking when she (he?) designed the quilt. This is a good reminder to LABEL YOUR QUILTS!
TQS put up some posts about winners at PIQF. I didn’t look much at the award winners, because the area was always mobbed, so…
You may need a subscription, but I don’t think so. The videos look like they are just on the blog. There may be ads.
Song of the Sea by Kathy McNeil of Tulalip, Wash
After manning the BAMQG Opportunity Quilt booth, I did stop and snap a pic of Song of the Sea. I love this quilt. I love the colors and the movement. Kathy McNeil of Tulalip, Washington did a wonderful job. The design looks inspired and if you have ever seen an octopus, it does look like they are dancing when they move. I was on my way out after the show closed so I had to be quick.
Manning the booth was fun. People stopped by and said hello and I got to invite people to the meetings while trying to sell them tickets. I left the booth with about $140 of sales. Some were from earlier in the day, but that was a good day’s total.
Julie and I did a quick circuit on Thursday of all of the quilts except for some to the left of the entrance. I only had 4 hours that day to see the quilts, because of my schedule for the rest of the weekend, but we had a good time and were pleased to see the quilts we saw.
Cherrywood had a Wicked Quilt Challenge and the quilts were at the show. I really enjoyed looking at them. There is something very appealing about quilts that are made with all of the same colors. I also like the gear and clock details.
Crazy Time (The Clocks Quilt) quilt by Alethea Ballard of Walnut Creek, California
Gears and clocks appeal to me, I think, because I saw the Crazy Time (The Clocks Quilt) quilt by Alethea Ballard of Walnut Creek, California right when we walked in. This quilt could be a hot mess, but it really works and I love the clocks. I also like the cascade of flowers. I am sad that I didn’t have time to study this quilt, but am glad I snapped a photo, so at least I can study the photo.
I really didn’t take many photos. There were a lot of the same looking quilts that I have seen in previous years.
The few I did photograph really appealed to me or inspired me in some way.
Caroline Wilkinson of the UK did a fantastic job on Not Much Sunshine, Plenty of Shadows. I stuck my nose right up to the quilt and must have looked at it for 5 minutes. I love the grid (do I have a geometric thing going?) and what the artist did with the stitching over the grid.
Caroline Wilkinson, UK, Not Much Sunshine, Plenty of ShadowsCaroline Wilkinson, UK, Not Much Sunshine, Plenty of Shadows detail
I didn’t have much time to look at the vendors, but I did pick up FOTY 2014 from Colleen who was vending there. Normally, I stop and chat, but her booth was mobbed and she was rushing around cutting fabric, so I said I would catch up with her later.
I also stopped at Deb Tucker’s booth, which happened to be right across from Colleen! I wanted to see the Square2 ruler, which was recommended in the Fons & Porter show I watched that got me on the Carpenter’s Wheel bandwagon. Her booth was also mobbed and there was no chance of me getting to talk to her. Deb was demoing away like a crazy woman. Makes me wish I had gone to the preview. Oh well.
Anyway, I looked at the ruler and just couldn’t see how I could use it for more than the Carpenter’s Wheel block. Also, I like the way I am using two Flying Geese units rather than the Diamond Square unit. The FGs add more interest to the background, IMO. So I passed, but being the ruler junkie that I am I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I remembered the YM’s scout patches and how I want to put the patches that don’t go on his uniform on a block and make it into a quilt. Lots of work! I realized that I could use that ruler to make Diamond Square units in a lot of different sizes that would work with his patches. I had a friend buy the ruler for me and I will pay her back. I better start thinking about that scout quilt. 😉
Of course, Russian Rubix was on display, so Julie snapped a photo of me standing in front of the quilt. I was pleased to see it hung for the first time, especially when I saw how flat it hung. Hooray!
Definition: “A crown is the traditional symbolic form of headgear worn by a monarch or by a deity, for whom the crown traditionally represents power, legitimacy, victory, triumph, honor, and glory, as well as immortality, righteousness, and resurrection. In art, the crown may be shown being offered to those on Earth by angels. Apart from the traditional form, crowns also may be in the form of a wreath and be made of flowers, oak leaves or thorns and be worn by others, representing what the coronation part aims to symbolize with the specific crown. In religious art, a crown of stars is used similarly to a halo. Crowns worn by rulers often contain jewels.” (Wikipedia)
Crown Royal Canadian Whiskey
Crown Battery
The Slime Crown is used to summon King Slime, a Boss-type enemy in Terraira.
dental crown
Crown Castle is the nation’s largest provider of wireless infrastructure.
dental crown
Triple Crown
Violet Crown Cinema is a locally owned and operated cinema with four screens devoted to art, independent, documentary and international films.
Crown Princess is one of the largest Princess cruise ships
Crown College, University of California, Santa Cruz
Crown Plaza Hotel
Crown Equipment Corporation is a global manufacturer of material handling lift trucks and technology
Arts
Crown (comics), a fictional character in the Marvel Universe, and an enemy of Spider-Man
The Crown (TV series), an upcoming television drama series created by Peter Morgan for Netflix
Crown (British coin), a heavy silver coin, parallel in size and weight to the United States silver dollar
Crown (currency), a monetary unit used in the countries of Czech Republic, Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and the territories of Faroe Islands and Greenland
Crown (English coin), originally known as the “crown of the double rose”, an English gold coin introduced as part of King Henry VIII’s monetary reform of 1526 with the value of five shillings; later a silver coin of the same value
Estonian kroon, the official currency of Estonia for two periods in history: 1928–1940 and 1992–2011
Hungarian korona, the replacement currency of the Austro-Hungarian Krone/korona amongst the boundaries of the newly created post-World War I Hungary
The grooved knob or dial on the outside of a watch case, used for setting the hands of the watch.
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 get familiar with your blog or website.
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.
We are also talking about this on Twitter and Instagram. Use the hashtag #CPP
My last batch will make a cohesive quilt. This group less so. I had one leftover from the previous batch. When I returned home from the meeting on Saturday, I decided to cut up some cream and green squares for a background and make more donation blocks.
I pulled out a small bin of 2.5″ squares that I cut up for donation quilts a thousand years ago and began using those to make more squares. There is a lot of blue.
Last Lone Green & Grey Donation Block
The blocks are interesting. They aren’t as cohesive, as I said, but they make an interesting group of blocks. I don’t know that they will all be put together in the same group.
Another thing I did on PlayDay was to cut up my Ta Dots fat quarters into 10.25″ squares. I did this in anticipation of making half square triangles. As I did that cutting, I took the opportunity to cut up a lot of FOTY 2015 quilt rectangles.
I am not planning on letting these patches lay around all year next year. I am working on cutting pieces I need for various projects from the yardage I have pressed and plan on working on this piece early in the year.
Note that I said “plan”. We’ll see how it goes.
This plan was set in motion by my need to cut a lot of different fabrics for the HSTs and Flying Geese I needed for the Carpenter’s Wheel. The Ta Dots HSTs were an added bonus. Getting fabric off of the ironing board has made me feel like I am making progress, even if I am just cutting.
The black and white stripe at the bottom is one of the stripes that will be used as the other half of the HSTs.
I haven’t posted a Design Wall Monday for awhile, because there is no point in posting a boring design wall. I don’t think you should look at a boring design wall.
Design Wall Monday -10/19/2015
Flying Geese – these are the most recent Flying Geese from my exchange with TFQ.
2. Stepping Stone block. I just put it up there for inspiration and because I like these blocks.
3. Most recent FOTY patches
4. Newest donation blocks
5. 3rd Carpenter’s Wheel block
6. 1st Carpenter’s Wheel block, which looks more like a quatrefoil
7. 2d Carpenter’s Wheel block
8. Donation blocks in process
I think my design wall looks quite cheerful at the moment and that pleases me. What project is on your design wall? Leave a comment with a link to a picture of your design wall.
Yes, I have made another softie owl and also called him Henry. It could be confusing, but think of those Tudor Kings. There were bunches of them. Wait until I make a Henry VIII. I’ll have to put something on him to reference the old king.
There is something about these owls that makes me think of them as Henry. There is also something about these owls that I really like.
Henry IV – wings open
I had worked on the mosaic pieced brown for awhile and finally had a large enough piece to make another softie. On my Playday (what I am now calling the day I sewed the Carpenter’s Wheel) I also worked on Henry IV. It was just a whim and it panned out.
I am not done putting blue on the inside of the wings. Not sure why I like that so much, but it seems right.
Henry IV’s backside
This time I had real problems following the directions. I am not sure why, but my Henry is together and sits up very well. I stuffed him with schnibbles again except for the weight that keeps him up.
This will also go to a friend after I am finished having him decorate my sewing table.
The exercise wasn’t completely useless, because I got to look at the pieces for awhile. I really have a lot of warm colors in this piece. I like that it makes the quilt feel warm, but I wonder if I need more cools. Also, as Julie said at one point, the solids do look a bit like holes. I think I can mitigate that by having Colleen quilt in each one.
Also, in realizing I couldn’t put all the blocks up, I figure out that I needed to count the blocks and decide on the layout. Sounds stupid, I know, but I always think the piece will just come together. It would if I had an infinite design wall, but I don’t so I have to count.
I had a brilliant idea after deciding to count, but not wanting to count only to have to count again in a week because I forgot the number. I pinned the blocks together in groups of 10. Yay! or DUH! depending on how daft I feel at the moment.
Snowball blocks: 110
9Patch blocks: 111
Without really trying, I have a very similar amount for both types of blocks. Perhaps I counted before?
Now comes the math. I have to figure out how to lay out the blocks – basically starting with a nine patch or an octagon is mostly what I need to figure out.
The other thing I was wondering is if I need to put another row between each row.
Definition: “A taxicab, also known as a taxi or a cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice. This differs from other modes of public transport where the pick-up and drop-off locations are determined by the service provider, not by the passenger, although demand responsive transport and share taxis provide a hybrid bus/taxi mode.
There are four distinct forms of taxicab, which can be identified by slightly differing terms in different countries:
Hackney carriages, also known as public hire, hailed or street taxis, licensed for hailing throughout communities
Private hire vehicles, also known as minicabs or private hire taxis, licensed for pre-booking only
Taxibuses, also known as jitneys, operating on pre-set routes typified by multiple stops and multiple independent passengers
Limousines, specialized vehicle licensed for operation by pre-booking
Although types of vehicles and methods of regulation, hiring, dispatching, and negotiating payment differ significantly from country to country, many common characteristics exist.” (Wikipedia)
Yellow Cab
Etymology: “Harry Nathaniel Allen of The New York Taxicab Company, who imported the first 600 gas-powered New York City taxicabs from France in 1907, coined the word “taxicab” as a contraction of “taximetercabriolet“. “Taximeter” is an adaptation of the French word taximètre, coined from Medieval Latintaxa, which means tax or charge, together with meter from the Greekmetron (??????) meaning measure.[1] A “cabriolet” is a type of horse-drawn carriage, from the French word “cabrioler” (“leap, caper”), from Italian “capriolare” (“to jump”), from Latin “capreolus” (“roebuck”, “wild goat”).
The taxicabs of Paris were equipped with the first meters beginning on March 9, 1898. They were originally called taxamètres, then renamed taximètres on October 17, 1904.[2]“(Wikipedia)
cab fare
A natural analogue to angles and trigonometry is developed in taxicab geometry.
“Taxi Cab” song by TWENTY ONE PILOTS
Checker cab
United Taxicab Workers – CWA
Taxicab Industry. In the United States, there are approximately 6,300 companies operating 171,000 taxicabs.
Taxicab Confessions
Taxi ( TV Show 1978–1983)
The Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) Board of Directors established an Advisory Taxicab Committee in September 1994.
Taxi Driver (1976 movie with Robert DeNiro and Jody Foster)
cab driver
taxicab with the doors open. A phrase used to describe a person who’s ears stick straight out from their head (at about a 90-degree angle) (Urban Dictionary)
In mathematics, the generalized taxicab numberTaxicab(k, j, n) is the smallest number which can be expressed as the sum of jkth positive powers in n different ways. For k = 3 and j = 2, they coincide with taxicab numbers. (Wikipedia)
The A-Team: Season 2, Episode 7 The Taxicab Wars (1 Nov. 1983)
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 get familiar with your blog or website.
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.
We are also talking about this on Twitter and Instagram. Use the hashtag #CPP
This third tally runs hard on the heels of my last Christmas Pillowcase update. I won’t keep you guessing, if you didn’t read that post. I finished the task I set out for myself. I am finished with the Christmas pillowcases.
Here is the grand total of what I have finished:
SIL#1: 4 kids, 2 spouses/SOs
3rd oldest nephew + SO (Dear Santa theme – DONE for both)
Oldest niece + Fiance (flannel – DONE for fiance, lights with white background theme – DONE)
Youngest niece (black Gingerbread and Toy Shop theme – DONE)
SIL#2: 3 kids, 1 spouse, 2 great niece-phews
Oldest nephew + spouse + 2 kids (old fashioned Christmas with green cuffs for nephew and niece-in-law: DONE, 2 kids (Olaf for boy, Anna/Elsa for girl): DONE)
2d oldest nephew (present theme – DONE)
middle of the pack nephew (blue lights theme – DONE)
Wash fabric AKA The Great Unwashed-I washed more loads in September. I washed all the fabric I bought during the Great College Travel Adventure and have used a number of piece. Now I have a huge pile of the Great Unironed
Make stiff bucket or box for TP in main bath
Anna Maria Horner Multi-tasker tote (gift-due Holiday 2013- sigh. Missed 2014 deadline as well)
Cut out 3 notepad covers for gifts
Finish cutting out Day in the Park backpack variation
Finish cutting out 3rd Petrillo bag
Sew Bon Appetit apron
Fix button on DH’s California shirt – he decided it was fine
Art supplies Sew Together Bag
Art supplies pincushion
Purple Sew Together Bag
Purple pincushion
**More Christmas Pillowcases
**Thanksgiving tablerunner #1
**Thanksgiving tablerunner #2
**Thanksgiving tablerunner #3
**Thanksgiving table mat
**ATCs for CQFA October meeting
To see the 26 Projects Lists, which list quilt WIPS, visit the October 26 Projects update. August’s To Do List has a couple of changes, which is heartening.
