Those Leftover Stars

Oh, for a book and a shady nook, either indoor or out.

~John Wilson

Quilting

We lost power during Hurricane Beryl for five days. After trying to keep some food in an igloo and on the counter, eventually I dumped it all. We still have canned goods and a few restaurants are open near us. We had water the whole time which helped a lot. Although I knew we’d lost power {and therefore air conditioning} I kept trying to turn on the fans. So silly.

Remember those leftover stars used in the corners of BB1? Now that they are resurrected from the depths of the closet, I wanted to use them up rather than reinterring them. I can't remember exactly why I made them but they were supposed to have wonky points. They still look good to me. 

Anyway, this baby quilt is pretty straightforward. The yellow centered stars are grouped in the center. Scattering them was another option. Didn't work as well and I forgot to take a photo. The posts are a lovely red print with large yellow flowers. Cutting a large scale print so small makes random color movement across the quilt. 

Now it needs a border. Digging through the stash brought up these possibilities. Neither works although the yellow print made the backing and binding. The light colored binding looks better than expected. I usually go with a dark binding as a final frame for the quilt. I'll have to try it again. 

 

So brown sashing and the red plaid border were purchased at the last store closing specifically for this quilt. {Oh, joy! Reducing the stash is finally working.} Of course, now I have leftover fabric from both of these new purchases. 

Red and Yellow Wonky Stars baby quilt

I thought briefly about fancier quilting but went with the spiral. The echo quilting aspect shows well on busy patterns. It's also easier on my arms. 

The quilt is already gifted. And there's still a few more stars left. Let's see what they turn into. 

Quilt Specifics

Size: 41" x 41"

Design: Wonky Stars

Batting: Mountain Mist Cotton

Thread: Superior white cotton thread

Quilting: walking foot spiral

Approximate yardage: 3.75 yds

Reading

During this slow, hot summer I've been rereading a variety of books on my shelves. Helen MacInnes {adult spy novels} for one. The other is a teen/young adult series by Suzanne Collins that starts with Gregor the Overlander. She wrote this before The Hunger Games. It's such a favorite I've given copies to my oldest grandchild, too. When Gregor's baby sister falls through a grate in the laundry room he follows her into an entirely unknown world with inhabited by giant cockroaches, bats, spiders, and rats who are about to go to war.

Enjoy the day, Ann

Jane Sassaman Workshop Projects Finished

I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he would spend less time proving he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority.

~E.B. White

Quilting

Jane Sassaman is a fabulous teacher. While I would have preferred to take a week of classes from her, even one day was great. She shared details of every step to complete a quilt in her style from design to construction to quilting. This was the sample I made in class. As Jane told all of us, enjoy the process; this is not an award-winning quilt. That freed me up to absorb as much of her technique as possible. 

Quilt Specifics

Size: 18" x 30"

Design: Mirror Image Applique, Jane Sassaman workshop

Batting: Mountain Mist Cotton

Thread: Superior cotton 12-wt and topstitching threads in various colors

Quilting: Walking foot

Approximate yardage: about 3 yds

When I returned home, there were so many leftovers - each already prepped with interfacing - that I decided to make something to use them up.  The peach background was the one fabric I too to class but didn't cut. That became the background by default. I gave the bright yellow to classmates; it turned out to be a good color to add pop. And I lost most of the light green. I guess I dropped it on the way out. 

There were some big chunks of purple and black but the greens were already long, narrow cuts. 

Quilt Specifics

Size: 18" x 18"

Design: Applique, original design

Batting: Mountain Mist Cotton

Thread: Superior cotton 12-wt and topstitching threads in various colors

Quilting: Walking foot

Approximate yardage: about 2 yds

My zinnias are flowering profusely and the butterflies are frequent visitors. A giant swallowtail comes by for every meal currently.  

Enjoy the day, Ann

Bramble Blooms 1 Quilted

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.

~William Arthur Ward

Quilting

How grateful I am to Audrey for hosting the Bramble Blooms QAL. Having done one myself I know how challenging it is to plan for students with varied skills, to explain each step, to answer questions, and to simply get it all together. I adore applique but don't do much so this QAL was the prompt I needed to try it again. Thank you, Audrey!

Not only that, but I used many of the last color group in my old stash - pink/coral/orange. Most other colors are seriously depleted; I can purchase some new fabrics {although I'm trying to be more selective.} What was that acronym? SABLE? No longer a problem for me... as long as I don't go wild replacing it.

Another part of my plan to use everything is to try to finish each quilt as it's made. This was a bit difficult with the Jane Sassaman workshop one month and a visit by Sujata Shah the next. 

Sujata stayed with me before speaking to out guild. We became friends in California; it was delightful to have her visit here. Lots of time to chat, sew, share ideas, and cook.

Here's the final quilt with a more restrained color scheme. 

Bramble Blooms #1 QAL

The first border is leftovers - Coins and wonky stars. Not exactly what Audrey suggested but they turned up and fit better than anything else.

The second border uses QSTs of a variety of coral/pinks and whites. It's stitched-in-the-ditch along the edges then I came back and sewed a diagonal from point to point. The white strips on either side came from an old shirt. 

The center area is spiral quilted. I purchased two-and-a-half yards of pink for the back - a privilege since most of my fabrics are used up {or in the stack for BB2 & 3.} 

Years ago I quit putting labels on the back. Even with archival ink, too many of them faded over the years. My sister offered to embroider some but I usually prefer to free-motion sew my name and date using a narrow zig-zag. You can hardly see it since I usually match the thread to the fabric; however, that green shows up on the back so people know it's there. 

I intended this narrow red and white stripe for multiple bindings but it sat in my stash for years. Because it's so narrow, the fabric looks pink against red borders. Since this border has reds, corals, and pinks, this was the place to use it. Only three more yards left. Haha. 

Finally, here's a visual review of the outer border. As you can see I have a plethora of crossroad blocks. I pulled many colors for the first attempt but decided it took attention from the center. 

Next I pulled all the  "dark" and"blue" backgrounds out. This version is quieter but still too loud {IMO.}

Looking back at the first photo, you can see I pulled more blue and dark X's out. The finish suits me but that doesn't mean it's what you would choose. Isn't it great that we can all follow our own tastes. 

Quilt Specifics

Size: 59" x 59"

Design: Medallion with applique center based on Bramble Blooms QAL

Batting: Mountain Mist Cotton

Thread: Superior pink, yellow, and white cotton threads

Quilting: Walking foot and free motion

Approximate yardage: 7 yds

Prevous posts:

1. Pulling fabric and starting center background

2. Adding flowers to the center of the medallion

3. Continuing center flowers

4. Center finished

5. Border ideas

6. Pulling leftovers for the first border

7. Choosing the zig-zag border

8. Crossroads border

Enjoy the day, Ann

Workshop Leftovers

I think of each life as a flower, as common as a field daisy, and as singular.

~Mary Oliver

Quilting

There were so  many leftover pieces from Jane Sassaman's workshop that I simply had to make a second top. This time I decided to sketch an idea that wouldn't be symmetrical. There was only one prepared fat quarter uncut so that was my background by default. The colors are off in the photos but it's peach.

I pulled all my leftovers out and looked them over. There weren't many mirror-images left but there were some large blobs. I decided to create a bouquet a coneflowers. Since there wasn't enough to make cutting mistakes, I first drew the main pieces on construction paper, cut them out, and played. Once they fit the space, it was time to cut from fabric. About half the paper has been replaced in the photo below.

One mirror image was cut in two, thinking it would make stem and leaf combination. The "leaves" just got in the way. Adding them separately worked better. 

 

There still seem to be just as much fabric leftover but no more background fabrics. Perhaps I'll make a third top some time. 

Reading

Emma Southon focuses on 21 "women of the Roman empire" and revises history by focusing on ordinary lives of people mostly considered unimportant by their society. She begins in 750 BCE with Tarpeia, who convinced her Sabine relatives not to slaughter the kidnapping Romans. Because, you know, blood is thicker than water and they were now all relatives through the newest offspring. 

Her stories continue through Galla Placidia in 414 CE, the daughter, wife {twice}, and mother of Roman emperors as well as the wife of Ataulf of the Visigoths and eventually a co-Augustus.

My favorite may have been Julia Felix, a successful businesswoman who left written records on the walls of Pompeii. 

The British title is The History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women.

Enjoy the day, Ann

Jane Sassaman Workshop

I have one share in corporate Earth, and I am nervous about the management.

~E. B. White

Quilting

For years I've wanted to take a workshop with Jane Sassaman and finally took her one-day class, Wings and Wedges. Basically, Jane machine appliques using interfacing to strengthen her pieces. This class focused on mirror imaging. As she said, this is not a piece to enter for awards but rather a way to learn the technique. 

I had some ideas before class but forgot them and simply cut a few of the suggestions Jane sketched. Then it was just putting them together. First attempt.

Second attempt with leftovers on the bare table. I liked this better and moved it to the background fabric.

And here's where it ended.

While it's not great, I have a much better understanding of Jane's technique. A wonderful class. 

My own rules were to use fabric on hand {except for the interfacing.} You know, I'm still trying to use up stuff. Most of these solids are leftovers from my quilted jacket. Turns out, I had to purchase several spools of thread, too... some of which I'm still waiting for. {Sadly, the two fabric stores closest to home are closing this month. Now it will be a long trip to my "nearest' LQS.}

I signed up for the class months ago and prepared the fabric back then. It took most of a week to get it all interfaced and prepped. That was fortunate. Texas has had wild weather the past few weeks. While we didn't flood or lose power, many of our neighbors did. That's where most of my focus has been. Things were settled enough to attend the workshop but I would never have been ready if I hadn’t started so early.

Reading

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi imagines a small Toyko coffeehouse offering clients a chance to travel back in time... as long as they remain in a certain seat and return before their coffee cools. It appeared to be individual vignettes but Toshikazu weaves them together beautifully. 

Enjoy the day, Ann

Final Border for Bramble Blooms 1

Life, though it is a gift, is not a privilege.

~Ross Gay

Quilting

Audrey's linkup encouraged me to push on BB1 but it's still not complete. Here's the second round, a pink zig zag. All those points took way too much time and didn't all turn out as well as my usual work. But I'm pressing on.

These are leftover Crossroads blocks from a class with Sujata Shah. {There are still more. Sheesh.} I love them as a border but it may be too bright. 

So I made a few more. {And this is how I end up with miscellaneous piles of leftover blocks.} Some haven't been trimmed because the border needs some coping. 

And this is where it sits today. 

Mostly I've been working in the yard. The zinnias are coming along.

I found a solar fountain sprinkler and created a temporary water feature with an old melamine bowl. The basin needs to be wider so I'll keep looking.

My son helped put the new glider chairs together. Acutally, he did the work and I helped hold a few things. Now we have a place to sit and enjoy the flowers and pollinators. 

Enjoy the day, Ann

Second Border on Bramble Blooms QAL

Earth’s crammed with heaven,

And every common bush afire with God,

But only he who sees, takes off his shoes, 

The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries,

And daub their natural faces unaware.

~Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Quilting

I quilted and mailed the quilt my granddaughter put together while visiting last month. Just in time for her sixth birthday. How exciting to see another generation of quilters in our family. It took most of the evenings. My remaining time involved moving bits and pieces around on BB1.

Yes, Audrey suggested applique in the first border. I didn't do that but thought it would be great on the second border. My grandmother's family joked that she would walk three miles to ride horseback one. That's how I feel about applique. I love, love, love other people's but go to great lengths to avoid it myself. 

Here are several attempts at the second border. Some may have room for applique; many do not.

Reprising the pink/red/coral print would be nice but it's not exciting me as a narrow border. 

HSTs in pink and blue vs plain strips.

Back to HSTs. Or what about QSTs? Better but not quite.

Throughout these pinups narrow blue and brown strips were added as potential coping strips. None work as well as hoped but I may try again. Eventually I recalled the pretty dogtooth borders on Baltimore Album quilts. Much of my fabric is now cut into tiny bits so what about a zigzag with triangles?

Using a coping strip to both offset the zigzag and blend with the background may be my favorite - in actuality rather than imagination. Of course, there's not enough of any white or pink for all the pieces. Here's a test varying the fabrics. I also think I like the zigzag without a center strip. 

Handling the corners will have to wait. Also, I may add some yellow bits. Thinking and testing. 

Reading

DH had surgery recently and I was present for some of the pre-op. Interestingly, they used checklists similar to the ones Dr. Gawande proposes in his 2009 book. Communication and safety are primary reasons for implementing checklists. Some of the best are used in the airline industry. Engaging and informative. I wish I’d read it years ago.

This weekend - May the Fourth be with you!

Enjoy the day, Ann

BB1: First and Second Borders Continued

When I started counting my blassings, my whole life turned around.

~Willie Nelson

Quilting

My leftovers box contains a pile of Ohio Stars. Most have red centers but several have this bright, strong yellow. The four added as cornerstones make me smile. But now the white looks weak. 

Eventually I pulled some of my never-ending Chinese Coins to make this border. Who'd have thought this much pink/coral would work so well with the reds and yellows?

That pushes the white round out. Something needs to go in it and there's not a lot of white fabric left in this pile. While pondering, I pulled more Lattice blocks {another never-ending stack} for the outer border. 

Many of the same colors but it's too bright/varied. It's taking attention away from the center. {Bet you never thought I'd like less color.}

Taking the blue backgrounds out calms the design. I like this better. But now, more Lattices will be needed. And the white background area still isn't resolved.

Reading

What a fun book Cody Cassidy has written. Meandering through current archeological and anthropological research, he answers burning questions such as: Who sparked the first fire; who was the first surgeon; who wore the first clothes and told the first joke? Check it out.

Enjoy the day, Ann

Relatives

Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, 

and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, 

you should include all things in your gratitude.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Quilting

Since my SIL retired she's enjoying many new hobbies. Fortunately she has a multitude of skilled relatives to show her the steps. She asked me to help her make her first quilt. Some of you may notice these are the same colors, and indeed some of the same fabrics, in the two quilts I made for her previously: a Lone Star baby quilt and the Farmhouse quilt.

She'd already cut the blues and whites into large triangles and sewed them into hourglasses. I spent the weekend talking her through sewing them into a top with setting triangles, adding borders (which included visiting a local quilt shop!}, and pin basting the quilt. 

The next time we get together, we'll work on walking foot and free-motion quilting. Fortunately, we own identical Bernina machines. I'm bringing some extra feet for her to test. 

Our mutual BIL also sews... and welds, rebuilds cars, etc. He made these blocks with leftover and gifted fabric a few years ago. We all helped lay them out and he spent his time sewing them into sets of four. 

While we were at the LQS, he purchased this cheery yellow to make narrow sashing. Now he has to cut it and sew the top.

As if that wasn't enough, Grandchild 3 {G3} visited and worked her way through my scrap bag. She pulled a bunch of leftover pastel squares leftover and laid out a throw quilt for herself. She maintained attention long enough to help sew the rows together. I may be finishing this on my own unless she visits again soon.

Reading

I spent several weeks reading Dress Codes by Richard Thompson Ford and enjoyed it tremendously. Starting in the middle ages when tailored clothing first developed, Richard covers laws limiting every aspect of clothing to maintain the social order. With the Great Male Renunciation where men eschewed colorful and embroidered fabrics to demonstrate they contributed to and supported Enlightenment politics. With pressure from seamtresses, women's clothing began to diverge significantly from men's. 

That's only the first quarter of the book. The rest discusses more modern sartorial effects from flappers and zoot suits to hoodies and the CROWN act. 

Enjoy the day, Ann

Bordering BB1

We are one people, one family - the human family - and what affects one of us affects us all.

~John Lewis

Quilting

With Ocean Waves V sewed {but still missing a border}, BB1 needs its first {and second} border{s.} My fabric stack contains lots of pinks and very limited amounts of other colors so pink was test first. 

Wow. They pump the energy of the center, especially the bright print on the left. That was one of the prettiest fabrics I'd seen in years but it's never fit anywhere. It will work with this project, though.

Next, dark browns were inserted as a narrow inner border, partly because there's not much yardage here. 

What would the dark brown look like as an outer border?

This was the final choice: pink/red print on the inside with a narrow dark brown outer border. 

Now to work on the next border. White with yellow cornerstones? We'll see.

Enjoy the day, Ann

Ocean Waves V and BB1 Centers

'Thank you' is the best prayer that anyone could say. I say that one a lot. Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility, and understanding.

~Alice Walker

Quilting

The quilt became too large to lay out on the floor of my sewing area which made it a bit harder to put together. There may be a few triangles leftover but I'll put them on my guild's Free Fabric table. What a diversity of triangles from dusty reproductions to fairly current clear tones and everything in between. I thought this mixture might look terrible but it may be my favorite of all these quilts.

A quarter of Ocean Waves V

Although my BB1doesn't look different, all the appliqué is stitched - by machine. I deliberately didn't put a blue-green center in the lower right leaf and think I like it. We'll see how it weathers. 

Bramble Blooms #1 QAL center

Now to plan borders for both. Appliqué or some piecing? Time will tell. Audrey and I use a similar method here - we both pull fabric and set it around the centers. I'll try to take more photos.

Enjoy the day, Ann

Round and Round on Ocean Waves V

186,000 miles per second is not just a good idea, it's the law.

~Albert Einstein

Quilting

This is the fourth round and I think there's enough for a fifth. Wow. Someone cut way too many QSTs. At least they are all going into this final Ocean Waves quilt. Although I've complained about the repetitive sewing I want to finish this quilt. 

Ocean Waves V in progress, starting round 4 

And here it is with the next round of triangles sewn. 

Ocean Waves V in progress, round 4 finished

There's at least a yard of the fabric used for Bramble Blossom #1 stems that might make work in the border here. Using up more stash stuff. Win/win.

Kawandi placemats in blues

Meanwhile I've continued working on the kawandi placemats. Four finished; all with this soft brown plaid backing. My previous set is multicolored. With Fiesta plates in a variety of colors, it seemed more monochromatic placemats would better set them off. The top left print on the left-most placemat is a gift from Sujata Shah who is visiting this year. We'll certainly be eating off these. 

The center of BB1 is basted. The next step is machine appliqueing them. Then I can start on some borders. Way behind but still plugging along... very slowly.

Enjoy the day, Ann