Blogaversary!

One year ago I started this blog after being inspired by so many other wonderful blogs I had read and enjoyed for several months--I wanted to be part of that world!  Some very kind bloggers left comments early on and I was on my way.  My little blog has trucked along and here I am a year later, having gathered some followers, whom I thank so very much for visiting and commenting.  To celebrate this blogaversary I am having a modest giveaway.  This little quilt is called "Diamond Orts", as I made it from scraps leftover from hubby's quilt "Grant's Gibson Diamonds".

I hand quilted this with a brickish red thread and really enjoyed doing it.

Though not an exemplary hand quilter, ahem, I am mostly pleased with the result but probably will add more hand quilting before I send it off to the winner.  I'm thinking all the triangles around the squares need quilting too.

Astute observers will notice that the quilt is not bound.  That is intentional--the winner is going to get to choose the binding!  Either this caramel/cheddar dot:

Or this blue pindot:

And to go along with this little quilt is a collection of paper-pieced patterns of little quilts (sorry for the glare).

To enter, just leave me a comment and tell me which binding choice you prefer.  Non-bloggers can email me at vtaannieo@gmail.com with their entry.  The giveaway will be open until Wednesday, February 10, 2010. I will have Grant select the winner either by random number or slips of paper, depending on the number of entries.

Thank yous and affection to everyone who has stopped by my little blog and visited or commented over the past year.  I'm planning on sticking around in blogland for a great while, so please drop by anytime!

Moda goodness

I misspoke on my previous post where I calculated that I was behind 6 blocks for my Moda Greenpiece BOM.  There's that pesky math thing again--I forgot to count the wool applique blocks so I was actually behind 12 blocks because there are two pieced and two appliqued blocks per month.  Oops! So over the weekend  I cut out six of the blocks and got four sewn.  So now I am behind 8 blocks AND a pieced border that came with the 3rd month.  But here are the first two months' pieced star blocks:

The colors seem a little dulled out in this photo but are actually rich and warm.  I had a hard time between the very yellowy light from the sewing room lamps and my not so perfect camera.  The two blocks on the left are deep brown and warm tan prints.  The blocks on the right are burgandy dotted and brown with red print.   The instructions for the flying geeze blocks are very interesting and quick. Mine came out better with this method and all my points stayed pointy! I also felted all the pretty wool pieces below and hope to get started on the cutting the shapes for the applique blocks this weekend.

There was also some heart block assembly for another couple of projects but my picture turned out too blurry and poor to share right now!  My sewing machine is going in for a maintenance check on Friday at my local LQS.  I got a call from the shop saying there were quite a few signups so my machine might not be ready by closing Friday and I could either come pick it up Saturday or leave it at the shop til Tuesday, but they would let me know if it didn't get done.  Glad there's an option because I want to sew!   

My one year blogaversary is coming up on Friday... so stay tuned for a little giveaway announcement on the 5th. 

Blogland curiosities

I'm wondering if it is just me, or has it been difficult to post comments for anyone else lately?  A couple of times late last week I would hit the "comments" button and nothing would open.  I could neither read the comments nor leave one.  Once, the comments window pop up was UNDER everything when I closed all the internet windows as I was logging off!  Mostly I notice it with word verification--it sometimes takes three tries for a comment to "take".  On some blogs, first I hit comments, scroll down to the bottom, make my comment and hit Post.  It takes me back to the top of the comments, so I scroll down to make sure my comment posted.  I get a message that my "request could not be processed".  So I hit post again.  Only then will it pop up with the word I must copy and finally when I hit "post comment", it actually happens.  I first noticed this phenomenon during the Fall Quilt Festival.  I wonder how many comments I made in the months prior that disappeared into cyberspace because I had not checked to see if my comment took? 

If anyone is encountering this on my blog, I would love to know!  Its such fun to get comments and I would hate to think something is happening to prevent them sticking here.  I have no idea what I could actually do to fix it, but at least I can bring it to Blogger's attention.  Happy Commenting!

Two finishes!

Scully the Granddog received his quilt:

Backing is some microfleece and a couple of strips of plaid to make up width of the remnant.

Love those ears!

Scully loves to be under the covers!  He already started to chew on the "S" but I told Elaine not to worry about it--it is an inexpensive quilt for a dog and not an heirloom so he can drag it around and chew on it all he wants!

On Sunday, I completed my nephew's quilt.  In record time (for me!), in one day I pieced the backing, sandwiched and pinned, machine quilted the quilt with simple diagonal lines per the pattern, attached and sewed down the binding by machine, and even made and attached a label!  It was a long afternoon and evening but I am really happy to have it finished well before John's March birthday. 

My goals for January were to complete three projects...only one is left and I have already started on the hand quilting of the mini.  Progress is good!  I'd like to keep that up all year.  Imagine, three finishes a month would give me a big pile of quilts by the end of the year!

Of course, their was a new twist thrown into this mix: DD Erica picked out the quilt she wants me to make for her and on Saturday we picked out fabrics for the pieced blocks, lots of pretty prints in purple, green, pink, and cream.  This quilt pattern calls for dupioni silk for triangle points on the blocks and the outer border is cotton velveteen, which we have yet to pick out, as well as the background fabric.   The pattern is "Material Matters", from the Fall/Winter 2009 Quilt Sampler magazine.  It called for 12 fat quarters but we couldn't find enough that we liked so bought 1/3 yard cuts, which were very generously measured by the shop clerk (meaning lots of yummy leftovers!).  Erica says she wants the quilt by her birthday--which is the first week of March!  Hmm, we shall see...

Also, yesterday I received the Month 3 BOM set for the Moda Greenpiece quilt and that means I am now behind six blocks!  I'd better get started. I've been a little afraid to cut into that gorgeous fabric so have been acquainting myself with the directions thoroughly and will get the wools washed tonight.  The fabrics are truly luscious.  So, onward and forward, lots of interesting and beautiful fabrics to work with and different projects to keep my interest :)

Quilters--vive la difference!

I have been thinking about several conversations about quilting that took place in the last couple of months.  My grandmother's sister, one of her brothers and his wife and son from Nebraska came to visit in early November--they had planned the trip before my grandmother died in October and didn't change their plans, as they came by train.  I was especially eager to talk to my Grandma's sister, Clara.  Unfortunately, her memory has deteriorated significantly and it was apparent why the photos and letter I sent to her earlier in the year asking about Grandma's quilts had gone unanswered.  My Aunt Jean was able to answer some questions and as a sometime quiltmaker herself, understood my desire for documentation.  I was correct in my thought that this quilt below was made by several of the sisters, but my Great Grandmother did not also work on it, as I had thought.  I had never seen this quilt before Grandma showed it to me about 5 years ago, but by that time she told me, "I think I made this quilt, but I just can't remember", which about broke my heart! 

Aunt Jean and I talked about some other quilts of the family, including a story that had been shared at Grandma's funeral service. Grandma and Grandpa had arrived at a niece's new house before the family got home for the day and were settled in comfortably when the family arrived home from school and work.  When asked how they found the place without getting good directions, Grandma stated she knew it was the right house because she recognized the quilt she'd made for her niece's graduation hanging on the line! Aunt Jean said Grandma had made quilts for all the Nebraska family members for their high school graduation, another story I hadn't known. These were backed with sheets and many were tied--Aunt Jean seemed a bit apologetic about this. But she didn't need to be--to me the gift of a quilt is in the love stitched into it, no matter the materials used! 

When my sister Kathy was here for Christmas we also talked about quilting.  I originally got her "hooked" in late 2005 when I took her to my local quilt shop to have her pick out fabric for a quilt I wanted to make her. While there she picked up a Ricky Tims "Convergence" book.  She was fascinated by his methods and was really excited about trying them.  I was not so taken as she by that style of quilting but was happy to have my sister join me in the quilt cult!  We even went to a Ricky Tims weekend seminar the following year which was one of the most fun trips I have ever been on.  This past Christmas Kathy brought a convergence quilt she had started for me several years ago, which was still unfinished.  I asked her if she had made any more convergence quilts since then and she said "not really".  Pictoral quilts grabbed her attention and she almost exclusively does them now.  I marvel at her free and instinctive feel for translating printed fabric into "painting" a picture, and she marvels at my cut and pieced squares, triangles, and rectangles.  We share a passion for quilting from totally different spectrums (Kathy's Lilypads below).

My sister in law Laura has been a collector of fabric for many years.  I've been trying to turn her into a quilter for the last couple of years and finally last summer with my helping a bit by doing some cutting and providing support while she sewed and planned, she completed two quilt tops all on her own and was loving it.  Over Christmas she put together the quilt top we collaborated on for our family friends, and before she left that day, she said that putting together that top had given her a renewed eagerness to sew more.  I have gotten two reports since that instead of working on her paper and stamping crafts once she returned home after the holidays, she is quilting!  As a newer quilter still building confidence she is concentrating on simple patterns and building her stash.  We are both more traditional piecers but when shopping for fabric head in completely different areas of the store.  Florals, pinks, dusty shades and orientals call to her, whereas I head for prints in brighter or deeper shades and lots of geometrics.   

In a very subjective world, I find it fantastic that lovers of  fabric, thread, color and pattern meet under the broad category of "quilters" and share their passion, knowledge, and stories, and I am happy to be a tiny part of that community!      

Down for 2, but a finish

Grant got a stomach flu and was very sick on Wednesday night--he even stayed home from work Thursday, a true rarity for him...I developed symptoms on Friday and was down from mid afternoon with this very unpleasant bug.  Saturday was a bust for doing much, as moving around made me feel a bit nauseated.  Even sitting and sewing was too much activity so off to bed I went again, spending nearly my whole Saturday afternoon doing nothing but watching TV, smashing my plans for participating in Judy's quiltathon.  Watching commercials for food was out of the question!  Barely ate more than a little soup and a few crackers all day.  Felt a lot better Sunday and finally was able to get in the sewing room in the mid afternoon and do some organizing.  Lots of cleanup of surfaces and relabeling and figuring was done to get those project boxes ready for work.  I did some cutting, ironing, folding, and discarding.  It was late afternoon I actually sat down to sew. Scully's the Granddog's quilt is finished!  I'll be taking it over to Elaine's today and will get some pics.  Today I planned to get a lot more sewing done...but now Erica appears to be down with the bug and I will have to cover her at my former Job #3 this afternoon!  Oh, well, best laid plans...

Details, details

I worked on Scully the Granddog's quilt but didn't get the top completed as I need to applique the center square.  We heard yesterday from Elaine that they are moving, after only six months at their current place.  Since they got the puppy and have no fenced yard, I guessed it was coming but not so soon.  They've found another place close to their current one, and will be moving in a month. 

It's a manly flannel quilt for a Boston Terrier who likes to burrow under the covers.  The bear print was a recently purchased remnant and the buffalo check, tan and red solids from stash.  Those are 6" finished squares and I'll do a quick stitch and turn with a fleece backing. 

My nephew John's quilt top went through some color change plans.  Originally the third border was going to be the multicolored dot but I decided to calm it down with the pastel green and use the nulticolored dot for the binding.  I also changed my mind about the four patches in the second border and ended up with brighter colors than the two blues I originally planned.  Those other four patches will get used on the back probably.

 

Love the animals in this print! 

Here's the mini made from Grant's Diamonds leftovers.  I am thinking it is doable to hand quilt as it is pretty small, only 18 x 24 inches.  It will be simple and definitely prim looking big-stitch type of quilting. These were all leftover triangle squares.  I matched them up to make square in square blocks.  The pic should enlarge a bit to see the seams.  Hmm, loking at this pic, I may have to switch the bottom right two border triangles--don't like that bigger brown triangle that is jumping out!

Judy has another Quiltathon this weekend and I am going to play along, probably unofficially!  Goals are to get John's quilt finished and also Scully's.  If I cut the dilly-dorking to a minimum, it will be a great finish to the first three day weekend of the year!