Bramble Blooms 2 Again

Life is like writing with a pen. You can cross out your past but you can’t erase it.

~E.B. White

Quilting

Yes, I started BB2 and it progressed into some very light blues… which are not in the original fabric pull. That doesn’t matter except the fabric is still pulled and taking up floor space. Now I’m trying to use a few of the orange and red squares I cut so profligately. 

First, a simple alternate diagonal. Nah.

\

Trip Around the World was another, “No.”

Finally set them randomly with alternate dark browns. No photo of that step because it wouldn't upload. 

Of course, I still have some Crossroads blocks, this time with red backgrounds. And of course, it’s still a great border.

But… they don’t play well with the center. However, the green and orange print makes a good inner border. There’s about a yard so I’m cutting the border wide now. I can cut it down later. Once I made an appliqué border a mere six inches wide and had loads of difficulties fitting things in. 

I’m determined to appliqué this round. There are several yards of leftover stems in my binding box from the Spiderweb quilt that are much too narrow for this wider inner border. Yuck.

I’ll cut some wider stems using Audrey’s method. I think another quilt teacher used that same technique years ago. More recently, someone suggested the bias fold method and I bought several of those tools. It works well until I get to a seam, then I always have an unsightly bulge. Audrey’s plan eliminates that issue.

Reading

Mike Duncan wrote a well-researched book on the Marquis de Lafayette. I didn’t know much about his life in France. Did you know he went to school with one of their future kings? And I learned more about his time in the US. 

Happy Thanksgiving. 

Enjoy the day, Ann

Bramble Blooms II QAL

Habitually creative people are prepared to be lucky.

~E.B. White

Quilting

Remember all those months ago when we divided our fabric into three stacks? It's been a while since I looked at the others and I couldn't quite recall everything in them. Last time I was inspired by the white fabric with pastel circles on it. This time I'm driven to use this little bird print remnant from our darling sister who passed away almost a decada ago.  

There is so little that centering the design in each block isn't possible. Also, the shortest length is 5.25" so that will be the size of the squares.  I managed to cut seven squares and one is a bit funky. 

Audrey used X blocks for her center but there are loads of those on my outer border. I skipped four patches so that seems a better place for me to start. There's a shoebox of squares that have been aging on the shelf. I mixed some of those with some stash. Despite wanting to make 4 or 16-patches, these will have to be nine-patches. But there's no reason to make them match. Here they are set as "semi" four-patches.  And it's not working. 

Thinking it needed cooler colors, I tried again with blue and green squares but didn't like it much better. 

Finally, the penny dropped. It needed the darker colors to be O's instead of X's. I added an outer round with cream alternate blocks. 

Success. And fun. Of course, there's now a bunch of orange squares in that shoebox. Somehow it never empties. 

Reading

In Tokyo, an enigmatic librarian researches just the right books to resolve the problems of each patron. Plus she gifts each person with an hand-felted ornament that relates to their issues. Charming story and another look at modern Japanese society.

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

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

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

Slow Progress on Bramble Blooms QAL

Your voice matters. If it didn't why would some people keep trying to take it away?

~ US Rep. John Lewis

Quilting

Very slow progress. I changed the curvy leaves that were my first choice and constant downfall. You'll notice a couple still have curves and I may replace those later. 

Bramble Blooms QAL - Improv roses

Taking a cue from the striped stems and Audrey's post, I added a second leaf color. It looks much better.  

I also turned the background 180 degrees so the bubbles show up more. They inspired the stem and leaf colors. Although it's hard to see in the photo, I'm hand basting the seam allowances. It's a pain but less painful than trying to needle turn.

Reading

DH and I saw Wonka over the holidays so I pulled Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to re-read. Although it's classified as juvenile fiction, it was still enjoyable. I think my grandchildren may like it when they're older. BTW, we both loved Wonka. What a delightful adaptation. 

Enjoy the day, Ann

Working on the Center of Bramble Blooms and Ocean Waves

God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December.

~J.M. Barrie

Quilting

The quote made me consider using roses in the centerpiece but my applique skills are rusty to say the least. Red circles are more my style... and ability. A pink center was much too soft/ill-defined; the black center is better. After rereading Audrey's post, I went back through my stash for stronger yellows. Here are three that might work. 

The one on top was too green. I thought the one on the lower right would work but it's still too light so I'll be making petals from the remaining yellow. 

The stems are a stripe that both Audrey and I purchased. I thought of it as binding but immediately noticed {and admired} when she used it in this quilt. My two-yard cut is a bit of overkill for stems only. We'll see where else it works.

On to leaves. The large olive green leaves match the darker strip but are making the bottom too dark. What about adding blue polka dot leaves, too. And why are my first leaves always wavy? This needs quite a bit more thought. 

I'm behind schedule quilting Ocean Waves and need to double down. Fortunately the quilting is now free motion and that usually goes faster.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. 

Enjoy the day, Ann

Finally Starting Bramble Blooms QAL

I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.

~Gilbert K Chesterton

Quilting

Are you as busy as I've been? All summer it was too hot to move. Now there are a multitude of projects to finish {and some that still need to be started} from summer as well as the swell of fall, family, and holiday activities. Additionally, some sinus/allergy issues continue. 

I finished my jacket before the start of cold weather; however,  Ocean Waves is intended as a Christmas present. Lots of quilting still although it doesn’t look different than last time. Forty-one center squares need to be quilted as well as the border and binding. That means five to six squares daily, two to three days for the border with a final day or two for the binding. Having a schedule should help me finish on time. 

I decided to alternate it with Audrey's Bramble Blooms QAL. The first step in this project was to pull fabric. My, oh, my. So many value gaps. The whites are fairly diverse but there is no progression from beige through brown. The same problem with light and dark greens. 

Nevertheless, I divided them into three groups and chose this assortment to start BB1.

Creating a center background was the second step. That lovely piece with printed circles is all that remains of that fabric. I've been determined to find a place to showcase it, so it was the first bit pulled. Everything else was chosen because it worked with that.

FUR (Fabric Use Rate):

This statistic was left off the previous post but November used 9.5 yards and the yearly total is now 58.25 yards. Quite the slow down.

Reading

Originally I thought On Fire Island would concern protagonist Julia's last summer of cancer. Instead, it begins with her death. Julia's spirit follows her husband, Ben, as he works through his grief and learns to live again. A teenager facing adult life and an elderly widower are the main supporting characters. Jane weaves them all into an engaging read.  

Enjoy the day, Ann