Monday, October 31, 2011

Once again my "Wheel" is on the design wall.

Last time I worked on this quilt was in September,.2010. You will see why one should not take this long to finish a quilt!

This wheel started out from the leftover wedges from another quilt. There is a big hole in the middle that needs to be covered!


I had added some confetti and some strips to finish the quilt as a wall hanging in Sep. 2010.


And now more than a year later, with more scraps added to it, I feel that it lost it's boldness.


Should I add more of those bold strips to it?  This image is very close to how all the pieces fit into each other. I am open to any and all suggestions.


Saturday, October 29, 2011

Cindy's thrift store find

Previously blogged that Cindy was collecting these tourist-focused, linen towels to make a quilt. This summer her husband biked across the US to raise money for the Lung Association. Cindy followed along with truck and Hobo trailer (think very small). She, of course, stopped at quilt shops and thrift stores on the way. She found this piece which is already on its way to being a quilt top.
She claims she paid $2 for it. That would be a bargain price for 8 linen dish towels!

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Lady Bug panel quilt top, 56" x 64"

Vintage panel found at thrift store. Started to use this on quilt back, but Bug told me "No, I want to be my own quilt." It was supposed to be a Lady Bug Bag.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Machine Quilting Journal #7




Quilt #5 of 10: Turned to Sue Patten’s Adaptable Quilting Designs for this pattern. Needed a freezer paper pattern of the basic paisley-shaped spines to start the block, but able to remove it and do feathers and swirls freehand. Still not always smooth, but making progress. Able to do border all freehand, by first doing a freehand spine. Used same thread in needle and bobbin. i.e. Superior’s Rainbows, 40 wt poly. It comes on a 2000 yard cone. I finished with about one yard of thread left! My machine service man has tuned up my Juki, so that the tension is perfect. It’s a joy to see those beautifully balanced stitches roll out. This took most of the month of September. I need to quilt a little less dense, if I’m ever going to catch up. I’ve given up counting the number of unquilted tops. They just keep growing. Can’t seem to stay away from piecing. It is a quicker reward.


Monday, October 17, 2011

Miki's Cow


This one is based on a pattern by Mary Lou Weidman from her new book, Out of the Box With Easy Blocks. It is co-authored by Melanie McFarland. I resized the quilt to make it considerably smaller than the book calls for.

Friday, October 14, 2011

September Rebels: Miki's V of G

This one is my own. It started with a challenge by Victoria to find an inspirational piece of clothing, and build a "quilt 15 minute made fabric" style. Then you gave me the Virgin panel, and I am growing it from there.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Miki: a Star at piecing

This one is my own pattern. I call it Hokule'a. Hokule'a is the guiding star for the Polynesian navigation system. I wanted to start with that and I will finish it up with sort of log cabin blocks to symbolize the journey we are all taking.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

September Rebels: Mary's Amazing Color work

Seems like she mentioned inspiration from Quilting Arts Magazine.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Nifty is quilting her Stripes Quilt

Hand quilting with pearl cotton, following the lines of the stripes. No marking quilting at it's best. Fabric is from men's shirts, thrift market, of course.