BROWNIE POINTS

To me, the equivalent in quilting to comfort food is the log cabin block in all of its variations.  I needed that comfort, so here is another variation of a quarter log cabin.  I've chosen 1/2-inch logs for a 4-inch block in browns and pinks.  In the interest of frugality, the border is composed of 15 strips of leftover pink scraps.

THE STATS:  Brownie Points, 2024,  26"X26", Paper pieced, Machine pieced, Machine quilted.  Number nerd reports 484 pieces in the top.

The best view of this quilt is up close looking at all of the different fabrics and shades of beige, brown, and pink.

In childhood long ago, I was a Brownie (the step before Girl Scouts).  I don't think I lasted very long; as they wanted to do all of those outdoorsy things, which I didn't find fun at all!  They must have felt sorry for me, and let me into Girl Scouts for a trial period!  At the very least, I hope I got BROWNIE POINTS for good behavior.  Amazing that I still have my two pins -- why? I don't know.

P.S.:  No surprise that I never earned any Girl Scout badges but I survived, even though I have eaten a few Girl Scout cookies over the years!

WINDING ROAD

For years I have admired and made log cabin quilts.    However, I have never made the curved log cabin variation.

  Assembling fabrics for the quilt, I tried to pick colors from my scraps that are not my usual combinations -- trying purples, olives, gold, rust, and brown together.  Of course, it is hard for me to not include red, but tried to keep to a darker, muddy red.  The one piece of quilting advice that my grandmother gave me was, "Every quilt needs a little red!" Can't go against a grandmother's advice.  (Kids are you listening?)

In the interest of accuracy, I usually paper-piece my log cabins, cutting and organizing the pieces as to size in advance.  I realize that this is not the most expedient way, but I have abundant time and this works for me.

THE STATS:  Winding Road, 2023, 30"x30", Paper pieced, Machine pieced, Machine quilted.

If you have driven in Colorado, you probably have been on one of our many winding roads.  You have to wind around to get over the mountains.  When learning to drive, our teenagers find out fast the perils of driving.  It does add a little excitement to teaching them to drive; but they will travel on a mountain road within a mile of our town and probably with a carload of teenagers.

  

It is much easier to make a quilt!

HOMESTEADING

 I've always loved the architecture of log cabins and wanted to someday own one; but that never happened. That doesn't mean that I wanted to endure a pioneer lifestyle.  I admire my ancestors that did, but I didn't turn out to be an outdoor or make-do, rugged individual.  So, I now live vicariously through log cabin quilts with their many variations.

This is a quarter-log cabin block design. There are so many variations, but this is one of my favorites.

In spite of its small size this quilt turned out to be consuming. I spent a lot of time choosing fabrics, then sewing the 294 half-inch logs.  

Homesteading is never fast!

THE STATS:  Homesteading, 2022, 28"x28", Paper pieced, Machine pieced, Machine quilted. 

My ancestors didn't come west and build log cabins --- not that many trees on the Colorado prairies.  They built their structures out of adobe bricks and rocks made from the available resources.

A picture of my family's homestead is below.  In order to prove up free land according to the Homestead Act of 1862, trees were to be planted on the property.  Notice in the picture my great, great Uncle Asa's effort to grow trees to keep his part of the contract.   The claim was filed by Asa T. Haines in 1882, and patented in 1889.

I'm forever grateful for the time and place in which I am able to live and quilt.

PS:  I have never claimed to be an artist, nor have I ever had any training.  I'm only someone who loves quilts, math, fabric, and to sew.  My creative grandson has had some high school art classes and said this about the quilt:  "I quite enjoy the moments of lapse in color with the black. It feels like a void into the uncomplete."  I said, "Is that good?"  He replied, "Yes."  This proves I'm not an artist -- I don't understand their language!

OBSESSIVE QUILTMAKING

If I wasn't obsessive about quiltmaking before, I'm quickly getting there ----

My latest project was a 24" mini-quilt with 36 4" log cabin blocks.  The quilt contains 468 pieces with 216 DIFFERENT  fabrics.  That's a lot going on in a 24" square.

Unfortunately, it didn't make a dent in my supply of tiny scraps!

Don't call me a hoarder of fabric --- I'm the curator of an extensive private textile collection that spans five decades! 

I'm joining the following:
Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get a Whoop Whoop Friday
Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it up Friday
What a Hoot Quilts for BOMS Away Monday
Love Laugh Quilt for Monday Making
Cooking Up Quilts for Main Crush Monday
Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social Wednesday

TRADITIONAL COMFORT ZONE

I've tried to think a little out of the box on my last few projects. 

So to change things up a bit this week, I decided I would start something really traditional ---- a log cabin with reproduction fabrics.

For me, traditional-type quilts are the most fun to make.  I'm always inspired by antique quilts, as that is where my quilting travels began 50 years ago.  Plus, I'm intrigued by all of the reproduction fabrics on the market today.

If I can pull out 100 (or more) different fabric scraps for a project, the fun just increases.

I'm paper-piecing those little 4" squares.  Is paper-piecing traditional?  I don't know, but I love the accuracy.

Traditional just feels comfortable to me!

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
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