STEPPING STONES

Not much thought expended on the design and choice of colors/fabrics for this quilt; plus just some mindless sewing on these hot summer days. 

In the past, I have struggled working with high-contrast floral, pastel fabric.  Not over- thinking about choice seemed to work better.  However, I'm still not satisfied with the  pattern definition of this type of fabric in a very scrappy quilt!

All fabrics were pulled from my scrap bins.

THE STATS:  Stepping Stones, 2023, 25" X 25", Paper Pieced, Machine Pieced, Machine Quilted, 494 pieces.

HOORAY FOR HOOPLA

I was in the mood for something fast and easy, so was perusing one of the books I wrote in the 2000s for an idea.  In the book, "Traditional Two Block Quilts", I came upon "Hoopla".  At the time I designed and made it, the publishing process was in a rush; and there was no time to remake it.  I was not satisfied that the stars did not show up in the quilt because of the fabric I chose.  It was shipped off for photography anyway.  Major regrets!!!!  

In this remake, I think I rectified that; plus changed the connecting block design to simplify.  Because of the more definition of the pattern with these fabric choices; I decided to forgo a border and just use a yellow binding.  Do-overs are satisfying.

STATS:  "Hooray for Hoopla", 2023, 28"X28", Paper pieced, Machine pieced, Machine quilted.

The original, regrettable "Hoopla":

TREASURE CHEST

My favorite fabrics, Civil War repros, are calling.  Not all quilt blocks need to be square, so I decided it was time to develop a rectangle block design that has been stored in my brain for awhile. 

Here is "Treasure Chest":

The Stats:  Treasure Chest, 2023, 33"x 34", Paper pieced, Machine pieced, Machine quilted.

This was an enjoyable one to machine quilt.

Photographed at The Winery at the Holy Cross Abbey in Canon City, Colorado.

OUT AND ABOUT

I have made pineapple-block projects in the past.  In the beginning I was apprehensive about maintaining accuracy; but decided paper piecing was the way to go.  That makes it super easy, accurate, and fun to do.  It also involves using scraps only 1.25" wide.

THE STATS:  Out and About, 2023, 33" x 33", Paper pieced, Machine pieced, Machine quilted.

The only large quilt I have hanging in my house is an antique log cabin from the 1800s of 81 blocks primarily in the colors of red, blue, beige/tan, and black.  I never tire of examining the fabrics and colors used in it, and how they interact.  I pulled these same  colors from my scrap bins to use for this pineapple-block quilt. 

This is my favorite for 2023 so far.  It checks all of my boxes.  176 different fabrics, 721 pieces in a 33" square -- (I'm a numbers nerd!!)  Using that many different fabrics in a small quilt reminds me of all the years of 'being out and about' to quilt meetings, national teaching gigs and symposiums plus family travels.  I've always been on the lookout for fabrics that appealed to me, and would purchase a fat quarter to take home to use in a future quilt.  Plus, there have been many trips to my local (within 50 miles) quilt/fabric stores to pick up a needed color to complete a project.  Building a stash of scraps over 45 years has been easy -- 176 fabrics is only a drop in the bucket!

P.S.:  Below are photos of the other projects I have done with the traditional pineapple block.  In the new quilt above, I used a different distribution of the light and dark fabrics and sashed the blocks. The different outcomes from the four projects shows how the choice of color, fabrics, and layout change the look.

"Pineapple Salad", 2018, 24"x24"

"Scalloped Pineapple", 2021, 18"x36"

"Down the Rabbit Hole", 2021, 22"x22"

FUSION

Kathleen Tracy (https://sentimentalquilter.blogspot.com/2023/03/simple-sewing-mindless-piecing.html) recently did a post on simple sewing, mindless piecing with the thought that it promotes creativity.  I needed some mindless piecing, so decided on a simple bars quilt from the scrap bins.

THE STATS:  FUSION, 2023, 33" x 33", Machine pieced, Machine quilted, 424 pieces sewn together to make one entity - a fusion. 

After all of my quiltmaking years, I'm still experimenting with how colors and patterns in fabrics react to each other so this wasn't completely a mindless task.   No representational thoughts, however -- just simple sewing and fabric.

It was so beautiful at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs that I couldn't stop taking photos!

HOME SWEET COLORADO HOME

  My family homesteaded in southeast Colorado in 1876, the year that Colorado became a state.   One grandmother, both of my parents, and I were all born in a small town in southeast Colorado.  Our roots run deep!  I've been blessed to be raised and live here; never wanting to reside anywhere else.  There are many places and things that remind me of how special Colorado is to me.  In this quilt, I wanted to highlight some of those memories. 

  Using the medium of wool applique, I decided to showcase vignettes in a format similar to a gallery wall.  That was the concept; this is the quilt.

THE STATS:  Home Sweet Colorado Home, 2023, 26" x 26", Machine Appliqued, Machine Pieced, Machine Quilted

I have done wool applique small quilts before, however this is definitely a design-as- you-go quilt with no pattern  --  just scribbles and scissors. 

ROW 1 (left to right)

 1.  The Colorado State flag -- to me it is beautiful in its simplicity.

2.  Fond memories as a boarding student at St. Scholastica Academy in Canon City with a nod to the Holy Cross Abbey now a winery.

3.  A field of sunflowers in Colorado makes my heart happy.

4.  The Clock Tower on Canon City's main street was originally on the top of the county courthouse, a beautiful building but demolished c.1950s.

ROW 2:

 1.  Canon City's annual Blossom Festival was begun in the middle 1800s and continues today.  Fun times over the years!

2.  The Royal Gorge Bridge and Park owned by the City of Canon City with lots of family time spent there over the years.  My mother was there on the opening day of the bridge in October 1929.

3.  The river, ponds, and mountains abound in our area.

ROW 3:

1.  My family's homestead in southeast Colorado established in 1876.

2.  A sunset in Colorado -- always beautiful setting behind the mountains.

3.  The state flower, the columbine, and the beauty of the aspen trees in the Fall.

ROW 4:

1.  Colorado's license plate with the mountains supposedly as the view of the foothills west of Canon City.

2.  The picket fence in front of our home in Canon City.

3.   My birth place, Rocky Ford, was once known as the "Melon Capital of the World" and for the fields of zinnias grown for seed.

 There is no place like home!

WHEELHOUSE

 I'm attracted to pink/red and brown quilts especially if they involve curves. I also like a  challenge in drawing a workable pattern with geometric theories learned 65+ years ago.  In trying to find an old protractor, my mathematical son told me they don't divide a curve in equal segments that way any more.  It is all done on the computer --- well, guess I'm just old-school!  Fortunately, we found a larger protractor in a drawer from our old engineering business days.

There are innumerable ways these 5" blocks can be set together.  I experimented, but decided on this way.  I never can resist a large, floral print for a border.

THE STATS:  Wheelhouse, 2023, 28" x 28", Paper pieced, machine pieced, machine quilted.

 PS:  I thoroughly enjoyed making this quilt including this family of nerd's discussion over dinner about the different ways a curve can be divided into even divisions.  It reminded me of road trips with Mike when he was a preschooler.  The three of us would pass traveling time by working simple algebraic and geometric problems in our heads. He was quick even as a 3-year-old to understand the concepts. At the time, we didn't realize his lifework would be in mathematics and science.  We've made a lot of parenting mistakes over the years.  Exposing him to math was not one of them.  Also, teaching him where middle C was on the piano at 18 months of age was a good one.  He is a very respectable pianist today.  Unfortunately, the joy of quiltmaking isn't in any of our kids' or grandkids' wheelhouse.  Win a few, lose a lot -- that's parenting!

ANOTHER ROW TO HOE

There seems to be a resurgence in row quilts.  I thought it would be time for me to revisit this popular traditional quilt setting.  Running vertical, they are usually called strippy quilts; and horizontally they are called row quilts.

 Smaller units can be used together as connecting blocks to produce secondary patterns or they can also stand on their own.  In my design files, I have a collection of  4", 5", and 6" units; and refer to them often when searching for an idea.  Here are a few of my favorite 4-inchers.

THE STATS:  Another Row to Hoe, 2023, 30"x 40", Paper Pieced, Machine Pieced, Machine Quilted

I did something with this quilt that I prefer not to do.  After finishing the top, I started another project before completing this one.   I decided that it needed to sit and percolate before the quilting process. The concept was okay but I'm not all that comfortable working with pastel floral with high contrast fabrics; therefore I struggled with balancing the color placement.   It is now finished hoping the quilting redeems it!

Back to my comfort zone----

COLORADO SNOWBALLS

February, March, and April are usually the big snowy months for my part of Colorado.  I enjoy the cold, snowy days as it gives me time to stay home and quilt.  In honor of that joy, I decided on an old traditional block called "Snowball" for this quilt.

THE STATS:  Colorado Snowballs, 2023, 25"x25", Machine pieced, machine quilted.

I've been asked about my supply of scraps.  My fabric buying habit is normally purchasing fat quarters when I need an infusion of newer fabric for a specific project. I try not to buy on speculation. Occasionally, I find it necessary to buy a larger amount for borders and/or a backing. I'm a fairly frugal person and save any scrap larger than a 1 1/2" square from previous quilting projects for use in a future quilt. Since I have been doing this process for a long time and have made many quilts, I have built a supply that is contained in a 6-foot fabric closet.

As in the case of this quilt, I can complete a project without any additional purchase of fabric.  I was sad this time to use up small scraps of a couple of my favorite Jinny Beyer fabrics from the early 1980s.  They have appeared in several quilts over the years.  Better saved in a quilt than in the closet!

  I love playing with fabric!

Snow and blue skies gradually transform the prairie into blossoming green grass.  

It's called God's gift of Spring.

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!

MEDALLION MANIA

I'm ready for something I haven't done for a couple of years that is always a challenge  -- a medallion quilt.  I like the "design as you go" format with no preconceived pattern.  Additionally being a frugal soul, I wanted a project to use my scraps.  I did purchase two fat quarters on sale for $2.00 each, and used pieces of leftover batting and a piece of fabric for the back that I had purchased as a souvenir in Maine in 1992.   It feels good to be thrifty, using what I have, and stretching my creativity!

THE STATS:  Medallion Mania, 2023, 25"x 25", Machine pieced, Machine quilted.

I was fortunate to be able to draw on my mathematical education early on in my quilting years, which prepared me to understand the basis of geometry. Plus, I had learned from my grandmothers the idea of being frugal in all things. Then, in the early 1980s I took two classes from Jinny Beyer on drafting designs and making patterns. I easily understood the math concepts that she was teaching, but the big take-away for me was her understanding of effective fabric and color choices.  She has written comprehensive books about designing, pattern drafting, fabric and color theories, and the traditional concept and benefit of being in control of all steps of creativity. She was a great teacher and innovative pioneer of the resurgence of the interest in quiltmaking but still respectful of the past traditions.

I have followed the growth of the quilting industry over the years noticing the changes that have transpired.  Traditionally a quilt was made in the interest of frugality with the bonus of being a creative outlet for the maker combining the process and the product.  In the 1970s, the U.S. Bicentennial created a renewed interest in the making of quilts.  At that time to supplement our scrapbags, we were finding 100% cotton fabric only from the local department stores and an occasional general fabric store.  In the more metropolitan areas, stores specifically for quiltmakers were starting to spring up along with the publishing of more magazines and books for the quiltmaker.  In the 1980s, it became a big industry with state and national symposiums with recognized designers, teachers, and businesses.  That has grown into the modern era of quiltmaking that we enjoy today.

We are now able to access a wonderful, diversive supply of fabrics and tools.  In addition, the local quilting stores have now developed into a community to meet like-minded individuals to enjoy fellowship.  It is enlightening to talk with the shoppers and staff to learn what they are making and see what is new in the market.  My budget doesn't allow buying for speculation, so I am not a very profitable consumer.  Usually I buy only small amounts of fabric for a planned project to be supplemented by my stash which consists of small leftover pieces of fabric.  My gadget collection consists only of a 35-year-old rotary cutter and two rulers.  However, I certainly applaud the ingenuity and success of those entrepreneurs and their welcoming attitude to all.

Quiltmaking has been an important part of my life for 70 years, and I often think about its future. Has the product now become more important than the process? Does the proliferation and availability of patterns, kits, laser-cut-by-machine pieces, and professional long-arm services stifle a part of the creativity, challenge, and fun of making a quilt under your own control from start to finish?  Are there enough classes being taught to new quilters about the skills needed to follow the tradition of frugality and creativity?  Will the skills used for drafting patterns, figuring out quilting designs,  and choosing colors and fabrics be lost?  Is this a skill-set that is best learned by experience?

I have no answers but if interested about old-school quiltmaking, I recommend Jinny Beyer's books entitled "Patchwork Patterns", "The Quilter's Album of Blocks and Borders", "Medallion Quilts", "The Scraplook", and "Color Confidence for Quilters".  In the interest of frugality, start with your local library as the original copies have risen in value.

I thoroughly love what I do, and I hope you also enjoy your passion!