Commentary about works in progress, design & creativity
I know I finished this tote YEARS ago, but I see it every day. It sits next to my desk with the zipper end hanging over.
I know I fixed this end before, but it is still bugging me. I either need to fix the zipper again or turn the bag around so I don’t see the zipper end all the time.
I don’t like how big the zipper tab is. I like my zipper tabs to be as wide as the zipper.
In this case, I have done a nice job of fussy cutting, but the size still bugs me.
My friend, Sherri D, sent me this pattern out of the blue. I had a really good mail week that week and this pattern was one of the items I received.
I really like the photo and I am kind of amazed at how much stuff is in the bag. This could be a handbag in itself. As soon as I looked at the pattern, I thought of what would happen if I put a strap on it and made it into a handbag itself. I just can’t help myself. 😉
It is from Studio Kat Designs. I went to the website to see what it said about and couldn’t find it there, so I think it is one they don’t sell any more. Still, I plan to make it to see how it works.
Thanks, Sherri, and go take a look at her blog. She does beautiful work!
Erin brought the Pink & Black QST donation top to the guild meeting as well. She was just finishing the binding as she watched the proceedings.
I don’t know who quilted it, but it looks great and I am so pleased that it is done.
SueG’s entries were amazing! I didn’t know she entered so many projects into the Fair.
This is Breakage by one of my friends (and student). It is her own design and I am so proud of her. She won a ribbon at the Fair as you can see.
She said that she was able to make this quilt, because of what I taught her in the quilt class. That made me feel SOO good.
I have been wanting to write about her quilt, Breakage, for awhile and seeing it at the Fair meant that I could take a photo and then would be able to write about it.
One of the things I teach is that knowing all the techniques allows you to have the skills to not only design your quilts, but actually put them together. Sue knew how to sew and how to make quilts when she joined my class, but she has much more confidence now and is really making some amazing works. Breakage is just one of them.
I still haven’t glued the Mette Ring together. I wanted to see how it looked with all the legs. I like the way it looks, but it also shows that I am a little out of practice. I didn’t use the bone folder as much as I should have. I am working on another Mette Ring and am using the bone folder this time. We’ll see how the two look in comparison.
At the meeting the other day, Erin showed the Black Strip #2 donation top, which was quilted and she had finished binding. Hooray!
I finished the top in January so it hasn’t been that long. She wanted to pick up the blues in the blocks, so used more blue than I would have in the binding. It looks nice however!
I have permission from Laura M to repost this email I received from the Fair. I have edited some parts that no longer apply.
If you didn’t read Monday’s post, I talked a little about my entries and the guild entries. I’ll write some more about other quilts and entries I saw.
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Message from Home & Floral Arts Department Supervisor Laura McHugh
Thank you for entering the 2024 Home Arts Fair, sponsoring an award, volunteering and providing a demonstration. We had 225 quilts and 475 entries overall in Home Arts and 53 people participate in the Community Quilt we gave away today to a lucky winner of the raffle.
We are seeing an uptick from the impact of COVID closures on our department and hope to continue that upward trend with even more entries.
Sweepstakes Award for Home Arts Exhibitor of the Year
We will be reintroducing the department Sweepstakes Award for Exhibitor of the Year in 2025. This award goes to the entrant with the most total points award for winning entries (1st is 5 points; 2nd is 3 points; 3rd is 1 point). This is your combined department total, not just in any one area such as quilts. So get your pieces started now.
Home & Floral Arts Theme for 2025
The theme for 2025 will be 50 years/1975. This was the unofficial year of the revival of quilting, so get your 1970s game on for this special award.
Suggestions
Please do send me any suggestions you have for improving the Fair and our part in it to me. We start planning meetings with Fair Operations in August, so I will be happy to pass along your comments.
Special Award Winners
Here is a list of our 42 Special Award Winners in Home Arts. Congratulations to all the winners. I am humbled by the beauty of all your entries.
2024 Home Arts Special Award Winners
* * * Congratulations * * *
Best 90s Theme in a Home Arts Entry
Best Floral Theme in a Home Arts Entry
People’s Choice Quilt
Best in Show Needlework
Best in Show Sewing Entry
Best in Show Textiles Entry
Best in Show Crocheted Entry
Best Needlework Depiction of Flowers
Best in Show Knitting Entry
Best in Show Smocked Entry
Best in Show Arts & Crafts
Best in Show Miniature Fairy House
Alice Lam Memorial Award – Best Use of the Color Blue in a Quilt
Margaret Ann Niven Memorial Award – Best Use of the Color Green in a Quilt
Lynn Simms Memorial Award – Best Use of Purple in a Quilt
Jeanne Matysiak Tribute – Best One Block Wonder Quilt
Lynette Rodriques Tribute Quilt – Best Hawaiian Themed Quilt
Best Traditional Quilt
Best Modern Quilt
Best Applique Quilt
Best in Show Quilt
Best Division 620 Quilt (Original Design Quilted by Maker)
Best Division 621 Quilt (Original Design Quilted by Another)
Best Division 622 Quilt (Original Design Quilted by Maker)
Best Division 623 Quilt (Original Design Quilted by Another)
Best Division 624 Quilt (Group Quilt)
Best Division 625 Quilt (Specialty Quilts)
Best Division 626 Quilt (Challenge Quilts)
Jeanne Matysiak Tribute Quilt – One Block Wonder
Lynn Simms Memorial Award – Best Use of Purple in a Quilt
Best Coastal Theme in a Quilt
Judge’s Choice Awards
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It is really interesting to see the various special awards, like the ones about using purple and green. I made a One Block Wonder once. Remember The Peacock? I probably won’t make another quilt in that style, but I could make a tablerunner to enter into the theme category next year.
I finally had an hour to sew the blocks for the Green & Grey Diagonal 9 Patch together!
I am pleased with how it looks!
Next up: backing, label and binding.
I attended the Fair last weekend with my wonderful SIL#3 and some great friends, including the fabulous Friend Julie. Her terrific husband Marc came along, too.
First, my quilt, Colorblocks #3, won second place. I always want first, but Julie won first and she deserved it. Her quilting was much better than mine.
I might need to make this quilt over again. I like it, but am not sure it hits the points I was hoping to hit. I need to look up my original notes on the iteration I wanted to make after I made Colorblocks 2. Good thing I have plenty of silk left.
Sadly, neither my nor Cindy’s Enigma pouches won anything. The big bags always win even though the one that won had NO zippers, NO hardware, nothing complicated.
Fortunately, Laura said she is breaking up that category so small bags are separated from large bags.
I only put in two entries, so I only got one prize this year. They are reintroducing the Sweepstakes winner next year, so I’ll have to start collecting various projects to enter.
The challenge quilts were well hung (except for mine, which was at knee level) and there were many ribbons on them: 4 total. There is an award for the best quilt in the challenge category, but none of us won that one.
I’ll have some time this year to beef up my entries, so I will work on that. There is something really satisfying about entering the Fair. It’s a feeling I don’t get from entering regular quilt shows.
A year and a half ago Julie bought me 5 yards x 60 inches of Soft & Stable. I remembered 10 yards, but looked it up and it was only 5 yards.
The other day I realized I had less than a yard left and I went looking for the 60 inches wide version. Amazon has 1 yard by 58 inches**. They also have a 2 yards by 58 inches** pack. I have bought both of these in the past and they are reasonable to store. I kind of wanted another large roll. I found a 15 yard by 60 (or maybe 58) inch roll on Etsy. Impulsively I bought it. Then I got a message saying it was being shipped from ByAnnie directly. I went to look at the ByAnnie site and found that they sell the rolls to anyone.
Well, a 15 yard roll is HUGE. It doesn’t fit in the spot my old roll fits in, so I have to find it a new home. Also, I better get sewing!
**N. B. : Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops and small businesses. However, if you are too busy or can’t find what you need there, I use Amazon 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.
At Craft Night the other night, I decided to do some paper folding.I wanted to sew, but work is hard and I didn’t feel like jumping up and down. Also, it is hard to hear other people when I am on the other side of the room from the computer. Paper folding was a good solution.
I decided after attending the Fair the other day that I wanted to enter some rings or wreaths into the paper category. I have three rings already and I’d like to follow what someone else did and make a chain of them. I was thinking my theme could be seasons, but I may need to make more than just one more since I think I already glued the first 3 together, so I would have no way to link them.
I can make one ring in a little over an hour. I have a pack of 50 sheets of paper I bought in Japantown a long time ago, but I don’t have enough left to 1) make rings of all one color and 2) make 3-4 more rings. Maybe I’ll buy a 500 pack** and make a set of rainbow rings.
I looked up my tutorial for Mette Rings and started another ring.
It looks strange at the top, because I haven’t connected it to the rest of the pieces. I am kind of waiting to see if I want to link it with the others.
I also have to think of an overall design.
**N. B. : Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops and small businesses. However, if you are too busy or can’t find what you need there, I use Amazon 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.
Julie handed me the last three Pantone blocks at Sew Day the other day.
I still have a few to make as mentioned the other day, but I am working my way through them.
I have shown some of the green scrap blocks I have been making in the May Donations blocks post. I am sure you have seen the other blocks and quilts in different colors I have made in other posts.
I decided to show you my process of making these blocks as well as the color improv donation quilts as well.
My scraps start out in a pile on my cutting table. I have talked a little about the processing of scraps that I do. After I cut the pieces I need for future projects, I cut strips and then leave whatever is left and large enough as is. The goal is to not have too many scraps, but the scrap drawers do fill up.
I store my scraps in a cart with rainbow drawers**. This is very handy, because it makes sorting scraps and finding scraps easy. Also, it looks nice. It is on the small side as my workroom is not very large. The drawers can fill up quickly and my process is to work on a drawer that is getting to be too full. I know it is too full when I start to have trouble opening it.
Green is the most recent drawer I have been trying to clear out. I was surprised to find how many green scraps I had. I can really think what I have made with so much green. I made some green donation quilts early on when I had the idea of Color Strip blocks and quilts. Maybe I only made one quilt when I first started? I don’t remember.
Anyway, I have a lot of green scraps and I am getting down to the odd shapes. I have made about 50 green strip and chunk blocks, but the strips don’t last forever. Eventually, I need to make some improv tops with the weird shapes, like I am still working on with the grey and black improv tops. I am at that point, probably with the green. I am still eeking out a block or two, but they are becoming more chunky and less strippy.
My drawer looks like this. I position the drawer I am working with by my sewing machine so I can grab some pinned pieces as leaders and enders while I work on other projects.
In the photo, I have added some arrows to help you navigate. The blue arrow in the upper right shows pieces that I have sewn, but are not yet pinned to any other pieces. They have already been trimmed and are ready to be pinned to something else.
In the bottom right pile, those are larger pieces that I have pinned together or pieces that probably not going to be used in a green donation quilt, like two triangles that will make a half square triangle and be added to the HST quilt I have in the back of my mind.
The purple arrow, bottom left, also shows pieces that have been pinned together. These are pieces that are generally smaller. They can also be the first two pieces I am sewing together. They will be added to something later. The small pieces get lost easily, so I like to keep them were I can see them.
The area with no arrow on the top left is a pile of pieces that are not yet attached to anything. I can use these to sew to something else.
It seems to take forever to clean out one of these drawers. I haven’t even made a new green quilt yet, though I am still sewing. Soon!
I find that sewing small pieces into larger chunks makes them easier to use. My scraps are really small. What I consider to be yardage, others consider to be scraps. You have to decide what constitutes scraps for you and work out a system that works. These drawers work great for me. I probably couldn’t tolerate more scraps than I have and scraps make great leaders and enders.
**N. B. : Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops and small businesses. However, if you are too busy or can’t find what you need there, I use Amazon 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 spent some time last week finding fabrics for my last group of Pantone blocks.
I don’t have any greens as dark as Deep Forest, so in the end, I just chose a black.
Most of the others I selected from older fabrics that I haven’t even looked at in awhile. I have one more fabric to select, but I have already cut the 4.5 inch squares. I have also started to make the blocks and will show those soon.
This was an easy pouch which would make a quick gift for a little girl as a small purse. I am not sure what else it could be used for.
This is a pouch for the Pink Project. As I said before, this is a Sotak Handmade pattern. I thought it went together well.
Some of the binding was a bit fiddly, but not annoyingly so.
One of the good things about this pouch is the size zipper it needs. It needs either a 6 or 8 inch zipper, which I don’t use that often, though I have several waiting for projects. I am sad that the only zipper I had of the right size and closest to the color of the fabric was orchid. I suppose I could have cut down a longer zipper. Maybe I’ll do that next time.
I have to say that looking through all of my pinks and using them is really fun. I had forgotten about this Monaluna print (is that designer still around?). I like the sunbursts a lot and the pink is kind of a petal pink.
I am not sure the handle would stand up to carrying around heavy things. I sewed over the handles a couple of times to try and reinforce them.
This was the last bag for this year’s Pink Project. I’ll see about making some more pouches for next year. I need to make a large tote as I don’t have one of the organization’s bags to put all the pouches in. I have many tote patterns and it will be fun to look through them and choose one.