BENTO BOX

I have been anxious to start a quilt using fabric fat quarters that I recently purchased.  Some are from Tone Finnanger's Tilda collection.  Others are fabrics with a similar look.  A variation of the traditional 'Drunkard's Path' block works with the fabrics.

The quilt seems to me to have a Japanese look; so I named it Bento Box. Years ago, I made a quilt from 1930s reproduction fabrics using black as an accent to the pastels.  The look still appeals to me.

THE STATS:  "Bento Box", 2023, 34"x34", Machine appliqued, Machine pieced, Machine quilted.

Owned by Caitlin Cosat Masters

MY FAVORITE QUILT

I think I am considered a prolific, dedicated quiltmaker.    The numbers if anyone cares -- over the years since 1951, I have documented and photographed 208 quilts, including 31 made in 2022 alone.  Of the un-documented items there are several more quilts gone as gifts and with the ravages of time.  All this is said to explain that I am, however,  a 'process' not a 'product' quilter.  It is the creative and mathematical PROCESS I'm interested in and not the end result.  Once they are completed and photographed, I rarely touch them again.  My mind, for some reason, is wired by some geometrist's love of shapes and how they interact; and that is why I have quilted for 70+ years.

I'm often asked if I have a favorite quilt that I have made.  The answer may be a surprise.  Since the stored quilts are rarely used, the one I grab when I'm cold (the obvious normal reason for making a quilt) and therefore my favorite is this unnamed and totally unexciting one.

It's simple and made of wool lined in flannel for warmth and totally made by machine. It also appeals to my frugal nature made of thrifted wool, washed and felted, and is lap-sized.  It will be the one quilt that goes to the nursing home with me when the time comes.  The rest of those surviving quilts; all of those time-consuming, intricate, with hand-work quilts will be up to the discretion of my family to disperse.

I'm keeping this one.  

And, that is my story!!!

  

CODE BREAKER

 You never know what inspiration for a quilt might be.  This was on the back of my morning Cheerio box.

 The design of this quilt, however, turned down a different road because inspiration often just spurs my thought processes further.  

  

I find that if I don't quilt at least a little every day, I get 'out of sorts'.  The pre-Christmas projects were done, and I had about 10 days until the holiday.  This is what you make when you can't get to the quilt store for an infusion of fabric and you scrounge in your stash for every suitable scrap and strip.

   I figured nothing better with plaid than the color of blue denim. 

One of the math brains in my family, at first glance at this quilt, was trying to figure out the code I used.  Sorry, no code just an old-school quilter using the 'grab and sew' method. 

This is a good (or bad) example of quiltmaking to the excess.  There are about 390 pieces in a 36" square of random patchwork selected from available in-house scraps.  For my frugal nature, this creative activity was very appealing. With me it's always the process, not the outcome!

THE STATS:  "Code Breaker", 2023, 36"x 36", Machine pieced, machine quilted.

GRATITUDE

I'm back in my comfort zone with a simple 2"x4" directional block.  It was enjoyable to work through my scrap bins picking out fabrics and colors that I find comfortable.

   I began this quilt on Thanksgiving day with the idea in the making of each of 56 blocks, I would think of something I am thankful for.  Those thoughts ranged from gratitude for my relationship with God and my family to the mundane thankfulness for my washer, dryer, and dishwasher.

THE STATS:  "Gratitude", 2022, 33"x34", Paper pieced, Machine pieced, Machine quilted.

I'm thankful every day for God's grace and blessings!

TRAIL TALES

 A traditional quilt block that looks more difficult than in actual construction is "Snail Trail".  It is really just a simple "square within a square, within a square, etc".  The difficulty is in keeping track of fabric and color placement to bring out the snail's trail.

  

I wanted to get out of my usual color and fabric modes plus I got a deal on some batik fat quarters; so I decided to give it a go.   A four-inch snail trail is perfect for a new quilting adventure!!

THE STATS:  "Trail Tales", 2022, 31"x31", Paper Pieced, Machine Pieced, Machine Quilted.  584 pieces.

These photos were taken at the entrance to Skyline Drive which was built by inmate labor in 1905 and rises about 800 feet to overlook the town of Canon City, Colorado.  It is said that each inmate received 10 days off their sentence for every 30 days worked.  Each of the then 48 states contributed a rock to be included in the entrance arch built in 1932.  In the picture below you can see the rock from Maine, the original home of my Colorado pioneer ancestors.

I enjoy getting out of my comfort zone once in a while!

FOLAGE, FLORALS, AND THEN SOME

 The days are getting shorter and cooler.  It's time to do a wool applique project.  I always enjoy a break from the usual cotton patchwork with the opportunity to work with wool.  I'm from a sheep ranching family that homesteaded in Colorado in 1876 four generations ago, so wool is just embeded in my DNA.

I don't claim to be a good or trained designer, and try to keep things simple within my basic skill set and ability.  Design as you go is my mantra, so no pattern is available. I've discovered that I'm much better at cutting than at drawing.  The leaves and some of the flowers are all freehand cut; the other flowers, etc. are from using cookie cutters, thread spools. and even my thimble for a pattern.  The stitching is all freehand with the exception of my machine's decorative stitching. With wool applique, I use a light- weight heat and bond fusible product.

I save every scrap as you never know when you might need it!  One of the joys of working with wool is there are no seam allowances to deal with.  All of my wool has been felted by washing in hot water and drying in a hot dryer so that it doesn't ravel.

THE STATS:  "Folage, Florals, Etc.", 2022, 23"x23", Machine pieced, Machine appliqued, Machine embroidered, Machine quilted. This is all machine stitched including the binding.

AUTUMN ALBUM

 I was in the mood for something traditional and easy in the colors of Fall.  This two-block design satisfies on all accounts in a table runner format.

A simple cross-hatching quilting design is easy, fast, and effective for a geometric quilt.  Sometimes simple is the best solution for the situation!

THE STATS:  Autumn Album, 2022, 22"x34". Paper pieced, machine pieced, machine quilted.

IN THE BACK 40

 When I was little, it always seemed like my Dad was out "in the back 40" plowing.  In my childhood mind, I thought that must be where they grew the flowers.  In reality, he was actually growing sugar beets, corn, and/or alfalfa in the remote part of the farm.  Farmland was divided into a section, which was one square mile or 640 acres; a quarter section was 160 acres, and that was divided into four quarter-quarter sections of 40 acres each.  And, that is your farm math lesson for today.  That's about all I know about farming, even though I grew up in a farming family -- I just wasn't the outdoorsy, get dirty type!!  

Actually, several farms in our area, did grow flowers for seed on their back 40s.

I made my "back 40" quilt full of flowers!  Even though small in size, this table topper seemed to take forever --- all those small pieces with bias edges.  I didn't plan a border; but with those bias edges on the outside of the quilt, it needed something to stabilize it or it would never lay flat.  Amazing how a quilt usually tells me when it needs a border even a small one!

THE STATS:  "In The Back 40", 2022, 23"x23", Paper pieced, Machine pieced, Machine quilted.

RED SKY AT NIGHT, SAILOR'S DELIGHT

 Whenever I see a red sky in the evening, it reminds me of an old mariner saying, "Red sky at night, sailor's delight. Red sky in morning, sailor's warning." The saying is based on Matthew 16: 2&3 in the bible.  It has special meaning for me now that my grandson is in the U.S. Navy submarine fleet.  I've had this quilt in mind for awhile to honor him and his fellow mariners.

THE STATS:  SAILOR'S DELIGHT, 2022, 32"X32", Machine pieced, machine quilted.

For this quilt I have used the "star sashing" concept that adds another design element to a quilt. I always like the look of those little stars in a quilt, but I now need a break from star points after doing these 200, 3/4" points!  

Here are three of my other quilts with "star sashing"; just different choices of color, fabric placement, and size.

KEEPSAKE STAR, 2001

"SPANGLED STARS", 2015-2022

"KEEPSAKE STAR RELIVED", 2021

LEGACY

 This is the last of the unfinished projects hiding out in my closet! It was a quilt top I made in a class at Quilt Colorado '98 entitled "Mason-Dixon Memories" taught by Marianne Fons. It was a great class about the fabrics and quilts of the Civil War.  We were instructed to bring to class fabrics and an idea using a Civil War era block.  There was some trading back and forth with other class members of fabrics in our efforts to construct quilt blocks under Marianne's tutelage. I loved the class and finished up the quilt top when I returned home, but never got around to quilting it.  Now is the time to quilt up the last of my favorite Betsey block projects.

THE STATS:  Legacy, 1998-2022, 50"x50", Machine pieced on my Singer Featherweight in 1998, Machine quilted in 2022 on my Bernina.

I enjoy quilt history; I enjoyed Marianne's class; and now I finally have my finished quilt to enjoy!  After so many years in the making, I regret only that now my shoulder and eye issues prevent me from quilting it by hand; or at the very least, doing a more condensed machine quilting design.  As the younger generation say today, "It is what it is!"

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!