COLOR PLAY

While geometry is my primary inspiration for quilts, I equally enjoy playing with colors.  In this quilt, I'm reverting back to my 11-year-old self back in my grandmother's sewing room by playing with colored squares of fabric.

 When I've been working on other projects, I have been stockpiling 2 inch (1 1/2 inch finished) squares.  Now is the time to do something with them.  

There have been questions about how I do most of my work on just an old 1958 adjustable ironing board.  Guess I wouldn't know how to function any other way - it's easy for me to just swivel from layout/pressing to my machine.  I do have an old dresser to the left that I use for rotary cutting then lay them on the flannel board on the edge of my ironing board.  Simple is sometimes best!

THE STATS:  Color Play, 2025, 29" x 29", Machine Pieced, Machine Quilted. Number nerd report - 328 1 1/2" squares

ARCHITECTURAL JUXTAPOSITION

I've mentioned before that as a youth I wanted to become an architect; and was told that girls didn't do that in the 1950s.  I wasn't particularly prone to buck the system in those days; so I said okay, I'll do something else.  No regrets here; as the observation of architecture and structures continues to be a pleasant part of my everyday life and travels, a great avocation.  I especially enjoy the juxtaposition of the old and the new, plus the regal with the mundane.  What ties it all together is usually the geometry involved.   Quiltmaking is a great extension of that theory for me.

So, in this quilt I juxtapose a log cabin variation with an architectural triangle.  The  inspiration is from two buildings located in our town.

THE STATS:  Architectural Juxtaposition, 2024, 33" x 33", Paper Pieced, Machine Pieced, Machine Quilted, Ninety-three 3-inch blocks.

It's always interesting to me to see the pattern develop when the body design intersects with the border.

A very enjoyable project to make and photograph for my final 2024 project.

May your 2025 be full of creative endeavors.

STAR PATH

I've had this design in my head for some time, and thought it would be perfect for the Minnick and Simpson new "Grand Haven" fabrics.  My quilts are usually scrappy in nature, but occasionally I splurge on several pieces of a collection. 

I have had questions about the fact that I don't purchase a pattern for my quilts. Reasons:   #1  Basically, I'm just too frugal in all aspects of my life.  #2  A commercial pattern, to me, takes the fun out of it; as I don't want to see the finished result pictured.  I like the journey to see how it turns out (good or bad).  #3  I enjoy trying to figure out how simple geometric units can be arranged to develop secondary patterns.  

I begin my process with a piece of graph paper, and start by drawing a simple geometric unit or a traditional block.  Then, I just repeat and rearrange units until I achieve my perceived goal of the finished project.  I consider ease of construction; the importance of light, medium, and dark values; then the choice of different fabric motifs. Then, I enjoy drafting out my individual patterns and figuring yardage requirements (I'm a bit of a simple math nerd).  I am always open to changes of the original idea along the way.

This is part of my original graph paper drawing for this project.

THE STATS:  Star Path, 2024, 28" x 28", Paper pieced, Machine pieced, Machine quilted, fussy-cut.

BOOK OF FOLLY

I have been intrigued for some time with paper junk journals; always wondering if I could transfer some of the methods into fabric.  One of the construction methods was the idea of "slot and tab".  It was time for a new learning experience, so here we are ---

FRONT COVER WITH BELT FASTENER

THE STATS:  Book of Folly, 2024, 6" x 6", Paper pieced, Machine pieced, Machine embroidery, Hand pieced, Cotton and wool, 12 book pages including the two covers.

The pages -- WARNING -- picture overload ----

BACK COVER

The buckle on the belt fastener was from my grandmother's button box, and all fabrics were from my scrap bins.

I don't have the patience or words left to explain the "slot and tab" method.  If interested, you can google it!  I enjoyed making the pages; but, at times found this construction method using fabric cumbersome and/or confusing.  This project, for me,  was probably a "one and done" experiment.  However, I like the finished project!

NOSTALGIA

In an effort to use up some of my fabric/scraps, I need to make more quilts!!!  In this effort, I thought I would make a new table runner to use with my pink transferware dishes.  I've had a yard of solid blue fabric around for probably at least 20 years; and, also, a bin marked 'depression era reproductions' left over from projects in 2001 and 2004.  I like pastel quilts with a black background; but since I had this blue I thought I would give it a try.  I think it kind of works???

It is always interesting to combine two different blocks to produce a secondary pattern.   I have combined a traditional pineapple block and a log cabin variation block in this runner.

I'm surprised that these fabrics marketed as 'depression era' fabrics are actually quite uplifting and charming.  That might have been their purpose to give the home sewer a reason to carry on in those depressing times.

THE STATS:  Nostalgia, 2024, 18" x 30", Paper pieced, Machine pieced, Machine quilted.

I was a depression era baby, and my baby quilt (a Sunbonnet Sue) contains very similar fabrics.  My baby quilt was made by my grandmother so I hope I have the "carry on" gene in my DNA.

THE GOLDEN YEARS

As an octogenarian, I feel so blessed to have arrived into 'The Golden Years".  I'm  fortunate to still be able to do what brings me joy each day.  Among those blessings include being able to create quilts.  Due to age and health restraints; my methods have changed some what, but I hope my aesthetic has not.  I now only make smaller quilts, which I consider just 'idea quilts' -- quilts that I would make in larger scale if I didn't have physical limitations.  The quilts are basically simple; nothing too complicated and based on traditional frugality.  I've never claimed to be innovative nor particularly creative; but my brain keeps spewing out ideas, so I just keep at it!

One of the things I enjoy is finding the repeat of motifs in a piece of fabric; then repeating it and rearranging it in a quilt block, also known as 'fussy cutting'.  Time to enjoy that process again in this quilt.

THE STATS:  The Golden Years, 2024, 30" x 30", Paper pieced, Machine pieced, Machine quilted.

ANXIETY AND OVER STIMULATION????

I had the opportunity to visit some out-of-town quilt stores in the last week.  The minute I walked in the doors, I felt just a pang of anxiety.  There were so many bolts of really bright color, wild prints, theme (Christmas, Halloween, Dinosaurs, etc. etc.) fabrics, unusual motifs that I have trouble relating to, racks of patterns, to me useless notions, and numerous samples.  In addition, there was background music to distract my mission.  I know that I am an old-school, traditional quiltmaker; and, obviously, out of touch and not trendy.  I've been quilting for at least 50 years; and just want to make pretty quilts relying on inspiration from the natural and architectural environment; and my own creativity.  

So, I put on my grown-up mindset to search for what my personal aesthetic deems to be beautiful fabric.  I'm not good at estimating the number of bolts of fabric I saw, but I figure that there must have been 2000+++!  Not counting the 'blenders', I only saw maybe 10 bolts of focus fabric that I would consider building a quilt around.  I didn't purchase much.

I know, I know; I am seriously out of touch with the current quilt industry.  I do not wish to disparage any other quiltmaker, designer, or shop owner.  I understand economic theory.  You do what you do; I'll do what I do.  I guess that is what makes the quilting world go around!

I'm just interested to know if I'm alone, or if there are others who experience the same feelings.  Comments?

LIGHTNING STRIKES

The idea that quilt blocks do not have to be square is always fun to explore.  In the middle of the night (my usual time to think about those things), this idea came up.  The first thing the next morning, I drew this up; and put it in my pile of designs I wanted to try.  While I wait to go shop for some fabric I need to finish another quilt, this seemed the right time to start this one.  I knew I could raid my scrap bins for the fabric I needed to get started.  The story continued as I had no idea of what else I would need to complete the idea.

I have spent the last 40 years always searching out what might be a suitable striped fabric to use in a future quilt, but never knowing where or when I might find one.  Well----- I found one; and not in a store or my own sewing stuff, but in a box of our memorabilia.  

  Fifty-five years ago, we hung some wallpaper in the dining room of our house in Montana.  At the time, I also purchased the matching fabric to make the curtains.  We moved back to Colorado before I was able to make the curtains.  So, packed away was this wonderful five yards of 100% cotton quilt-weight striped fabric from Waverly.  I had forgotten about it, but there it was!!!  Part of this wonder-fabric is now in this quilt and on the back.  And, this is one reason I continue to quilt -- the mystery, discovery, and challenge of it all.

THE STATS:  Lightening Strikes, 2024, 32" x 30", Paper pieced, Machine pieced, Machine quilted.

P.S:  We have moved to 7 different houses since that house in Montana.  Guess it is time to go through stuff and downsize.

Here's a poor 1970 picture of that dining room wallpaper in the Montana house!

"H" IS FOR HUMANITY

 Since we recently visited the Amache Japanese WW2 internment camp site; I have been thinking how I could honor, with a quilt, the courage of these American citizens that were interned during this inequitable part of our history.  All humankind deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.

 Thanks to my friend, Marsha, who gave me the scraps from a quilt she made that had a Japanese aesthetic; combined with the traditional H block, it all came together.

THE STATS:  "H" Is For Humanity", 26" x 28", Paper Pieced, Machine Pieced, Machine Quilted

My Story:  As a child during World War Two, I remember hearing about the Amache Japanese internment camp.  My family, as farmers, secured work release permission to hire and to bring some of the interned young men to our farm to help in the harvest.  They were paid the going salary, given transportation, and a place to stay during this temporary employment.  I inherited a significant amount of paper work that documents the salaries paid, etc., which I have donated to the Amache museum.  My hope is that the internees were treated with the respect that they deserved while they were at our farm.  Several remained as friends with my family after they were released from the camp and returned to California.  Some of the most cherished gifts we received at our wedding in the late 1950s were from these courageous and special people.

P.S.:  Our son has visited Japan several times; and has, in the past, brought me back Japanese fabric.  I have included pieces in this quilt.

DIAMOND SPARKLE

I first envisioned this block to be in a quilt combining two different blocks to produce a secondary pattern, and it may still show up in that layout in the future.  However, I decided that these little gems needed to sparkle on their own; and have decided this time on a simple setting with a narrow sashing.  Sometimes simple is best.

THE STATS:  Diamond Sparkle, 2024, 30" x 34", Paper Pieced, Machine Pieced, Machine Quilted.  Number Nerd Report:  126 different fabrics used; 591 pieces total.

This quilt is of the type I enjoy making the most.  It involves frugality; all are pieces from my scrap bins (down to 1" wide); small (3 1/2" square) blocks; and muted colors (usually reproduction fabrics).  I like the challenge to use what I have on hand to make a quilt project (in this case, sewing together five pieces of fabric to make the backing). 

 I'm really fond of this quilt!!