Top row finished

Three things to be happy about:
(1) election day - finally!
(2) colorful paper clips
(3) Lindt chocolates

I especially like those little red chocolate balls that come in a large jar - delicious!  I don't buy them any more but ahh, the memory of how they would melt in my mouth!

I finished the top row of my 12 Days of Christmas quilt, I like the way it turned out!

I used the improv techniques we were taught at guild retreat to make two black and white strips.

I've made these strips before, but it's always good to get a refresher on this technique.

Now, on to the second row!

While I'm waiting for ladies 5 and 6 in the middle row to tell me how they want to be set, I made a few more flying geese to be used in a horizontal strip.

I like making these little geese, you're never quite sure how they'll turn out when you put them together - and that's good!  That's the beauty of these crooked geese.  The length and width of the geese affect the overall shape of each one.

Go out and vote if you haven't done so already, get that out of the way.  Sew forth and sew on

Challenge quilt, top row

Three things to be happy about:
(1) reading blogs
(2) fresh croissants
(3) eating breakfast for dinner

Making the units, pieces and parts for this quilt is really tedious, it takes a lot of time! 

I pulled some of the wonky square in a square blocks from my inventory and made a 16 patch for the dancer on the right hand side. 

I also pieced a couple of improv strips that will fit in nicely!

Now I just need to add two vertical strips between the blocks, even out the bottom, clean it up a bit - the top row will be done!


I haven't even started looking through my stash for the Quiltville mystery fabrics, I want to knock this quilt out first. 

Distraction has a way of creeping in on little quilty feet!  Sew forth and sew on.

Slowly getting there

Three things to be happy about:
(1) a new sweatshirt
(2) colorful paper clips
(3) an accomplishment - any accomplishment

As I'm writing this the gutter people(?) are installing a new rain gutter at the back of my house, such a relief!  Been waiting a lonnng time; it had to be when it wasn't raining and, as you know, there's been a LOT of rain lately!

Can these cute little geese fly?

I created these in my EQ library, and I can print foundations for any width, any height.  Any time!

And there they are, at the top of the drummer!  I sewed them with their crooked little noses pointing toward the center

It's been slow going, getting these settings together because I have so many ideas that keep flying into my head.  The fabrics you see are not necessarily the final pieces, they're just added to stir my creativity.

The blocks will be set in three horizontal rows; I'll take the tallest block in each row, add a sashing or whatever to the top or bottom, then make the other blocks on that row the same height.

Sounds good in theory, right?  Sew forth and sew on til later!

One block and other stuff

Three things to be happy about:
(1) peanut butter with grape jelly
(2) a back rub
(3) traditions

Well, we're at the end of another month - where did October go??!  This is the day Bonnie at Quiltville reveals the color palette for her 2018 mystery quilt, been looking forward to it.  It's also the day of the Great Pumpkin!! 

 It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown was created in 1966 as a prime time animated TV special, based on the comic strip Peanuts by Charles Schulz. Did you know it was nominated for a 1966 Emmy Award?  Go figure.

*****

I'm asking for a little quilty help here - I have a friend who really really wants to get ahold of a soft cover book - Scrap Quilts Through the Seasons - published by The Quilter magazine about 10 years ago.  It's out of print, but if you know of a source please let me know - thanks!

*****

Progress on my challenge quilt?  Not so much! 

I discovered that the blocks I intended to use are way too dark; your eye goes straight to that area, and they look out of place.  As an alternative I'm making wonky flying geese and other units using a light fabric instead of the black.  But on second thought, I might be able to use the dark units, depending on the other fabric I throw in - we'll see!

This is all I had time to do for the sashing fillers (just ignore those two little strips) ...

Life does get in the way!

Sew forth and sew on

Dancing ladies layout

Three things to be happy about:
(1) refrigerator magnets
(2) salmon cakes with lots of onions
(3) a jar full of crayons

I like what I did for lady #8 -

I wanted to have a second drummer, and to make it different from the first one I changed her short fitted skirt to a longer one with a slit in the front.

Showing a little leg, hah!

This is the first time I used this lady, #9. 

I didn't like the head wrap I used on another one earlier, but to save fiddling time with the hair I went ahead and used it again. 

It's not half bad!

So now comes the boring part:  I have to decide on a setting that won't overpower the quilt, so I arranged them at random on my design floor.

Now, I'm a very clever lady, but if I'd been a bit cleverer I'd have made all the blocks divisible by 2 to make the setting easier.  I think I can get away with it though, with a little fancy footwork!

Then I grabbed some random hunks and chunks and strips of African fabrics to see how they'll look as fillers.  These will be used along with the little wonky 2-1/2" square-in-a-square blocks that I mentioned in this post. 

My first thought was to make more, but I'll just use what's already pieced.

I found these leftover blocks from some long-forgotten project that'll probably fit in nicely, I must have more leftovers someplace.. 

Also, I can see some very classic black and white being thrown into the mix somewhere.



That's it for now, sew forth and sew on til later!

Still getting dressed

Three things to be happy about:
(1) "funny books"
(2) pretty kleenex boxes
(3) aromatherapy oil

I don't know how I managed to do it, but somehow I tacked Tuesday's post onto the end of Monday's.  I kept saying to myself "I know I put up a post for Tuesday!  Am I cracking up??"  Sometimes life gets in the way doesn't it? 

Oh well.

I thought it would be fun to show you another before-and-after pattern, so you'll know the kewl way my mind works sometimes! 

This is how lady #6 looked originally as printed out. 

You can see my little sketch marks.

And this is after I changed her clothing from a skimpy top and slim skirt, to a wider top and a pair of pants.  I wanted them to be sort of like harem  pants but the darned things just wouldn't cooperate! 

I turned her in the opposite direction and substituted hair for her head wrap.  She looks expectant, doesn't she?  It's okay, I think ladies-in-waiting can dance too!

This is the same lady I used in the block with the two ladies together, by the way.



Lady no. 7 - I love that purple fabric!

 I also used her earlier, but she was smaller and wearing a yellow and blue outfit.

That's it for now, sew forth and sew on

Two more ladies

Three things to be happy about:
(1) a phone call from an old friend
(2) ruby red slippers
(3) dance choreography

As I'm writing this post I'm watching Michael Jackson's This Is It rehearsals (2009) on Starz.  I tell you, that young man had so much talent!  That would have been one heck of a show!


To me it seems like if I have to go out of the house for anything, it takes a large chunk out of my day, even if it's for a short time.  I was only out for about 4 hours yesterday and the day went "pooooof!"

Anyway I finished one more block for my guild's 12 Days of Christmas challenge, two ladies in this one:

On the next one I'm going to try dressing her in pants, it'll be cute I think.  I wish there were an easy way to change that top, it's getting sorta old!

Time to start on those heart pillows, right?   Sew forth and sew on ...

Having fun with the ladies

Three things to be happy about:
(1) home-made granola
(2) hearts and flowers
(3) a soothing tea

You ever tried hibicus tea?  It's said to be one of those "super" teas that you hear about. 

Not only does it have all natural ingredients, but it tastes good and is supposed to be good for lowering the blood pressure too - bring it on! 

I've only been able to find this particular one at Wegman's, though.



I'm having fun playing with my 9 ladies, there's a lot you can do with the 6 basic shapes I'm working with.

For example, this first one started out like this:

Now doesn't she look just like a basketball player?  

I turned her arms in a different direction, now she looks totally different, even without wearing any clothes!

Final product - notice her hands on her hips...

Dance, girl!!

This is a cutie, I like that yellow fabric...

doing the swim!

As for the first block I made, the drummer, I decided that I like that background!  The problem with her hair went away when added a headband, to separate her face from the hair...

Looking good!  I might add another drummer, facing in the opposite direction.

Three completely finished except for bracelets and/or anklets and beads, 3 more waiting for a background, and 3 waiting to be traced onto fusible.  

That's it for now, sew forth and sew on til later.

Begin the dance

Three things to be happy about:
(1) bunny slippers
(2) pumpkins
(3) a grandfather clock striking the hour

I prepped the last four appliques for my 12 Days of Christmas [nine ladies dancing] quilt. 

They all look so much the same now, but using different fabrics for their clothes and skin tone, along with a different pose will make them all look different enough.

Over time, for no particular reason, I've been making little wonky 2-1/2" square-in-a-square blocks, and little wonky flying geese from scraps. 

I'll forego the geese, but some of the squares will be used in this quilt, simply because they were pieced with African fabrics. 

I believe I've been piecing these little things off and on for more than 5 years!

I fused and cut out the applique pieces for the first block (which will actually be the last block); I started with the most complicated one just to get it out of the way. 

I'll let it sit for awhile because I'm rethinking that background, and I'll probably change the hair to a black - or maybe a fun bright color, who knows!  That chicken-wire fabric makes it look a bit weird for some reason. 

Let me look at it for a day or two; sew forth and sew on...

Last challenge of the year

Three things to be happy about:
(1) well-mannered children
(2) birthday celebrations
(3) Sunmaid organic raisins

Why is it I can't resist trying something new?? 

A few months ago I saw this Honey Citron & Ginger Tea at Costco and just had to try a jar - delicious!  About two weeks ago I went back for more and I couldn't find it, although I looked in three different stores. 

Last week I saw this New York Big Apple Cider Jam and grabbed a jar, although I'm not a fan of apple jelly.  I'm pretty sure it was the word "cider" that got my attention. 

Actually it tastes really good!  It has a mild taste and isn't overly sweet.  I need to get some crumpets next time I'm at Wegman's....

Now that I'm all caught up with the challenges and deadlines, I'll start working on more of the heart pillows that my bee is making for breast cancer patients. 

I won't be fussy about what fabric I use because I have some that I want to move, so out it goes!  This time I'll also add carrying straps.


But, there's one last challenge of the year ...

My guild challenge is to make a quilt based on the Twelve Days of Christmas, and I've chosen the ninth day - Nine Ladies Dancing.

This quilt won't focus so much on the "Christmas" aspect of it, with bells and bows and angels and stars - although that would make a lovely traditional quilt.  To be honest though, that'd be just a wee bit too boring for me!  Instead, I'll dress these ladies in African fabrics and head dresses! 

So far I've only sized a few of the applique pieces, wish me luck!

Sew forth and dance on

It was a challenge

Every year our guild is invited to submit quilts for the SewExpo in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and this year our challenge was to make 36 x 36 quilts using half square triangles.  I didn't make it to the show to capture all the entries, but here are some that were shown at the guild meeting:

I apologize for all the "head shots" - I wasn't standing in the best place for pics!

I like how each quilter put her own spin on the challenge, making it uniquely her own! 

And last but not least!  Remember this disobedient quilt? 

I swapped the first border for one with a smaller print.  Although it isn't super perfect (the sunflowers are too large for one thing), it got finished and put into the show!

That's it for now, enjoy your Monday ... sew forth and sew on