Some Blocks, A New Product, and a Finish

First the finish:

"Sit Down -- I Think I Love You"

30" by 36"

I made this as part of the stuff we're doing over at "...And Then We Set it on Fire."  I "accidentally" made a block that looked kind of like a chair.  Then I remembered the chair fabrics in my stash, and I went from there. And yes, I did steal the title from that old song.  Thank you, Stephen Stills.

I wanted to get this finished, photographed, and posted today, so I started out pinning back the binding.  Then I ran out of pins.  Hmmm... I remembered that I purchased some fusible thread at a quilt show a while back.  I didn't know what I was going to do with it, but it seemed like a fun thing to have.  My friend Trish mentioned (quite a while ago, if I remember correctly) that one could use it to hold binding in place for hand stitching.  Hmmmm...!   I couldn't get it to go through the needle, so I wound some on a bobbin and did a zigzag around the edge close to the binding stitching.  Hit it with a steam iron and...  voila!   It still needs some stitching, but I can leave it alone for now.  This just might be a fabulous product for art quilt bindings that don't get a lot of wear and tear.  Thanks, Trish!

And last, but not least, my design wall today sports the rest of the unfinished blocks for my "...And Then We Set it on Fire"  experiments.

Those are the BOM 2012 blocks at the top -- I'm not going to be able to go to the meeting, so I'll buzz up to the quilt shop and get the February "assignment" later this week or next.

To see other design walls, click here to go to Judy's blog.  Thanks, Judy!

Design Wall Twofer

Long time readers might remember that I participate in a BOM every year at Mill House Quilts in Waunakee, Wisconsin (motto: it's the only Waunakee in the world).  This year, even though I am working full time and can't really go to the meetings, I'm doing blocks from the book pictured at the left below along with the rest of the group. 

 

I love the blocks in this book, but I don't really do taupe (motto: I do brights).  So I'm taking my cue from the book pictured above on the right.  I love the stark contrasts in the blocks.  But I'm doing mine in color.  So in the photo of my design wall at the top of this post, the three blocks on top are done in spa blues and browns (which I've been collecting for some time -- although I don't really know why) and the bottom blocks are done in color to satisfy my primal need for color.  After I made the top blocks, I couldn't figure out what to pair the colors with to give the blocks some consistency.  But while I was wandering through my stash, I looked at the pile of black and white fabrics (okay -- I'll fess up:  there were two piles) and thought: "Yes!  Black and white will set off the colors and make the blocks go together!"    And the blocks are pretty complex -- so after I figure out one, I may as well do another.

Yesterday, my design wall looked like this.  I'm working my way through Rayna Gillman's book (pictured at left) along with my fellow artists (and Rayna!) on the blog "...And Then We Set It On Fire."  I hope to start cutting up the strip sets and adding color soon.  While I admire those who can work in neutral tones and I think that the Japanese taupe quilts are outstanding in their beauty, I just don't fly that way.  And it's all about having fun, isn't it?

To see other design walls, click here to go to Judy's blog.

A Finish and Some New Stuff

My design wall has some new stuff today.  I had a productive weekend.  There's a new post at "...And Then We Set it on Fire."  And I started a new bag and the blocks for the 2012 BOM.  ---I'll have more about that 2012 BOM later.

And for those who are keeping track -- I finished sewing together the baby quilt.  Now I just have to find the time to quilt it.

To check out more design walls, click here to go to Judy's blog.

Progress on the Design Wall

Yep -- I finally finished sewing the strips together.  Now I just have to stitch them to the blocks, sew those together, then quilt the whole thing.  Phew -- I'm exhausted just writing about it.


To see other design walls, click here to go to Judy's blog.

Happy New Year's Eve

I know -- I've been absent for a while.  And I apologize for not letting my readers know that I would be absent.  Trouble is, I didn't know I was going to be absent.  I've been working so many hours, all I do at the end of the day is collapse.  And that's pretty boring.  Soooo.... actually, it's been a service.  Yeah, that's it!  A service!  I've done a service not posting about my boring life.

 So while I was working my tushie off, my darling daughter, along with her friend, made this lovely gingerbread house.  It's really sweet, isn't it?

Literally.  But I think it's pretty cool too.  I like the frosting curly-ques on the front.  And the marshmallow shingles are pretty wonderful.  But I think the hard candy awnings over the windows and the door take the cake.  Or make the cake.  Whatever....







I have been in my studio -- I made this gown for her dollie to wear.  So just so you all know that I know how to dress up for the holidays, I'm posting this picture.


She's holding the tiny sparkly bag I made from plastic fabric

And wearing the tiny slippers also.

Happy New Year to all -- I'm wishing everyone a creative and prosperous new year.  

A Little Progress

...very little.

  I managed to stitch the strips together in pairs, then just a few together to see what they will look like.  I was going to do some sashing with more little squares, but I think it will be just fine without.

A lot of people asked what this fabric was -- it's "just hanging" by Alexander Henry.  It's new -- I got it at my LQS last month (they had already sold most of the bolt last week when I stopped in).  But I'm sure it must be available somewhere out there.

To see other design walls, click here to go to Judy's blog.

Sparkly Fairy Slippers

I made these sparkly fairy slippers for my daughter's doll.  They will match the dress I'm going to make.

For the scoop on how I made them, click here to go to my post at http://andthenwesetitonfire.blogspot.com/