Friday, September 23, 2016

A CHALLENGE

I decided to revisit some of the patchwork techniques I've enjoyed from the past ----- all in a small table runner.
Challenges:
Medallions, fussy cutting, Y-seams, machine piecing using hand piecing techniques, templates, paper piecing, odd shapes requiring some geometry, and bias binding for non-45-degree angles.
In the process, my frugality gene popped up using only fabric scraps from previous quilts.  This proved to be the biggest challenge of all -- finding pieces of fabric large enough to fussy-cut the number of pieces required.
In the end, the idea was to have a small top on which to practice more machine quilting.   After miles of hand quilting in the past, will I ever be satisfied with my machine quilting?
No pattern available -- this was definitely a design-as-you-go project!

I'm joining the following:
What a Hoot Quilts for BOMS Away Monday
Love Laugh Quilt for Monday Making
Cooking Up Quilts for Main Crush Monday
Quilt Story for Fabric Tuesday
Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social Wednesday
Busy Hands Quilts for Finished or Not Friday
Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get a Whoop Whoop Friday
Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it up Friday

Sunday, September 18, 2016

THE DEMISE OF QUILTERS NEWSLETTER MAGAZINE AND A QUILT FROM MY PAST


  I'm sadden by the demise of "Quilter's Newsletter Magazine" in print form --- the last issue is the current Oct./Nov. magazine.
I've had a subscription since the 1970s, and have eagerly looked forward to receiving my issue every month for years. They have always stressed the importance of the tradition of quiltmaking; but still pushing us into the modern movement of the art/craft. 

 In addition; the editors, including Bonnie Leman, were so kind and encouraging to me over the years.  I've been honored to have been published in 14 issues of the magazine and in 7 issues of their sister publication, "Quiltmaker". I was further honored with a one-woman show, "Quilts in Print" in 2002 in the gallery at their offices.

Our quilting community has lost a true class act, and their expertise and excellence will be missed.

- - - - - - - - - - 

From my archives, here is a quilt called Sunday Drive that was published in Quilters Newsletter Magazine Issue #294.

When I was a child, one our family activities was to go for a car ride on Sunday afternoons.  Actually, it was so my father could check out the headgate for the arrival of the irrigation water for our farm.  The headgate was located about 20 miles from home, and I hated this trip looking at nothing but farm land and then prairie and sunflowers!
My mother would often appease me by buying me a pinwheel to hold out the car window for entertainment.

As a quiltmaker, I always knew I wanted to make a pinwheel quilt.  Thus, in 1995, I made this quilt using the stripe fabric to simulate the dusty country crossroads as an alternate block with the pinwheel block.
The quilt measures 65" x 65", and is machine pieced and hand quilted.  

 I'm joining the following:
Love Laugh Quilt for Monday Making
Cooking Up Quilts for Main Crush Monday
Quilt Story for Fabric Tuesday
Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social Wednesday
Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it up Friday

Monday, September 5, 2016

CRAZY QUILT TABLE RUNNER

This was fun --- something different for me --- crazy quilting on the machine.  
 My machine is two years old, but nothing fancy with just a few embroidery stitches built in.  I had never fully experimented with the embroidery function.  It gave me some fits along the way, but I think I finally proved that I was the boss!
My original purpose in doing table runners was to practice some simple machine quilting skills.  And with this runner, I think I've finally mastered quilting-in-the-ditch.
 My inspiration for the Fall colors was my great-grandmother's punch bowl.
Nothing better than Fall in Colorado -- I'm ready with my first table arrangement for the season.

I'm joining the following:
Love Laugh Quilt for Monday Making
Cooking Up Quilts for Main Crush Monday
What a Hoot Quilts for BOMS Away Monday
Quilt Story for Fabric Tuesday
Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social Wednesday
Quilting Readers Garden for WIPS Be Gone Friday
Busy Hands Quilts for Finished or not Friday
Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get a Whoop Whoop Friday
Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it up Friday