Project Quilting 15.2 Kansas Sky

So, I've been known to complain about the challenges that dear Trish comes up with each week during Project Quilting.  This week, was no exception.  The headline on the challenge was colors of the sky.  Immediately, I was thrilled.  I have a pent up desire to make a blue and white quilt.  I was going to do it.  YAY!  It would even be a traditional quilt.  No stretching the rules at all.  

But then, I read the fine print.  No blue.  Harumph!!!  I openly declared that I was going to make a quilt that was puke green Kansas tornado sky.  That seemed to strike a chord.  Down in the comments, Robyn Wimmer said "Don't forget the flying monkeys."

Oooooooo......  I got it! I'm going to make a monkey quilt!  You might think that the background color is a pretty jungle green.  However, it includes that puke green Kansas tornado sky.

 

I didn't have any puke green, or the appropriate shades of brown in my stash.  So I ended up getting the proper colors of grunge fabric.  It has a frankenbatting stitched together from scraps.  Remarkably the backing is a VERY old piece of flannel from my stash.  I mean very old.  It is at least 10 years old and probably a whole lot more than that.  

Because it is basically a baby quilt, I decided to tie it with embroidery floss rather than FMQ.  I rounded the corners (it has been a while since I've done that).  It finished at 40 x 40".P

PQ 14.2 An Effort Was Made

 I should have known when I was pulling fabrics a noon on Saturday that I would probably not finish.  However, I was determined not to make a cozy of last resort. Yep.  Week 2 of Project Quilting.  

 

I didn't finish, but I did get the top finished, the back pieced and the binding cut.  The hold up was the unfortunate reminder that one of the spuds stole  asked for the soundproofing boards in the basement.  One of which, I was using to make my quilt sandwiches.  It was about the size of a 4x8 sheet of plywood, but made of something much lighter.  It was upholstered in a gray woven furniture grade fabric.  That fabric grabbed onto the quilt backing and held it tight.  I didn't even need to pins or tape or anything.  And I could put it on a table so I didn't have to crawl around on the floor.  I completely stalled out on finishing when I realized I would have to go back to plan A.  I couldn't even.... By the time I got over my snit, I no longer had the time or energy to make the sandwich.

But then I remembered that the way I easily did my free motion quilting on my last several quilts was by renting time on the sit down long arm at the LQS.  And, would you believe it, they don't stay open all hours on Saturday night for my convenience.  So...  Another project gets added to my WIP pile.  The only benefit is that this one doesn't require any special skill or problem solving to move to the done pile.  It just requires a little less whining and little more enthusiasm.  

On the plus side, I was able to make this entirely out of my stash AND I was able to use up a couple different fabrics without generating a pile of scraps.  So far (OK, I've made it to week 2) I haven't purchased fabric for PQ.  I think that will be my personal challenge this year.  Well, that and at least attempting to get something made each time. 

PQ 12.6 AB INTRA: Crowded

 

My inner 5 year old is happy with the pink and lace.

 

My inner 12 year old is happy with the denim.

My inner environmentalist is happy with upcycling a messed up shirt into something useful.

My inner fashionista is happy with having something no one else will be wearing.

 

My inner quilter thinks we are nuts for starting on half in half square triangles the night before the challenge is due.

 

My inner old lady says what the heck. I always said I was going to wear purple.

And we all told the inner perfectionist to get back on that galloping horse 'cause we don't see anything wrong with it!

 

This week's Project Quilting challenge was AB INTRA, from within.  Well, there is a lot going on in here but what else would you expect?  

 This is an upcycled denim shirt made with lace and quilter's cotton. The wee small quilt in the pocket is a prairie rose block (from moda bake shop pattern).  It measures just under 4 inches square.  

 

Bearly There. Project Quilting 12.3 Virtual Vacation

 

 Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you a true "cozy of last resort".  Well technically it is a mug rug of last resort.  

This week's challenge was to make a quilt that interprets the idea of virtual vacation, where you've been, where you want to be, where you actually are.  It was the perfect opportunity to pull out some of my 'travel' fabric.  I have a small set of cuts from Hawaii that my mom and my sister picked out for me when they were there a few years ago.  Since Spud 3 was known for his Hawaiian shirts it is a quilt project destined for him.  I also have a stash of fabrics picked up in Alaska on a trip with my sister, the mister and Spud 3. 

Our trip to Alaska was primarily a fishing trip for the spud.  My sister has taken all of the spuds to Alaska for their graduation present.  I just happened to figure out how to tag along one time.  It was a tightly scheduled vacation with lots of people and one car.  I figured I could finagle in one quilt shop during our travels.  I researched.  I really researched and settled in on the Quilted Raven in Anchorage.  It seemed the most Alaskan.  We had a few days there as we waited for my mom, my brother and my cousin, who summers in Alaska to arrive.  

So my sister and I ventured out shopping one afternoon.  We looked at art galleries.  We tried on mukluks.  We had a blast looking around and spent quite a bit of time in the Quilted Raven.  I carefully considered my options and I purchased a restrained amount of fabric and patterns.  

This table runner was made for a PQ challenge a couple years after our return.  It is from the that little stash of fabric.   

Much to my surprise, my sister declared the following day at I needed to go back to the quilt shop. I was happy to oblige.  I could look around again.  There was so much to see.  So we all piled into the car and went back to the quilt shop.  Much not to my surprise, after a very few minutes, my sister decided she was bored with the quilt shop and she and her husband went off to the mukluk shop next door.  

The mister and the spud found fabric.  They found lots of fabric.  They insisted I needed more fabric.  I ended up buying waaay more fabric than the day before.  It took up most of the spare space in my suitcase.  It really, truly wasn't my fault.  

So... I have a stash of fabric from Alaska.  I never had a plan for it.  It was purchased as blocks and fat quarters, a few yards here an there and a couple panel-ish cuts.  None of it is in my usual selection.  All of it is big bold prints with designs that need to be featured.  It has lingered in my stash for quite a while as one of those sets in need of a plan.  

 So I had fabric from Alaska where I have been and want to return and from Hawaii where I have never been but want to go.  Both fabrics seem destined for spud 3.  Fortuitously he was home this week.  So we looked at the fabrics and came up with a plan.  

North to Alaska.  North the rush was on.  

We decided to use the pack of 7 inch squares and one of the panel-ish pieces of fabric.  Spud 3 has an amazing eye for color and design.  He suggested we use brown as the sashing color.  Of course, my selection of brown was limited so.... off the the store to purchase what looked right.  And we auditioned them all.  We sent pictures to the mister to get his opinion.  We selected the perfect fabric and I got started.  

 

I had to do some math to figure out what size to cut the center panel so that the blocks all lined up and fit.  OF COURSE, there were 18 blocks in the pack and needed 22 blocks no matter what.  That meant I HAD to fussy cut four more blocks.  Those of you who know me, know that the two two things I truly dislike in quilting are fussy cutting and sashing.  Yep. This whole project depended on both of them!  

But I persisted. 

I love using clips to label each block.

I got everything cut and laid out and had to wait for the spud to approve the layout.  He can be very fussy about block arrangement and can see patterns that no one else will ever notice but will make the quilt over the top better when you follow them.  I carefully sewed the rows of blocks together.  I was extremely careful to make sure the seams were consistent so that things would line up in the end.  Things were going swimmingly.  And then.... 

My math was correct but I set up the story problem wrong.  Those  perfect 7 inch blocks actually finish at 6.5 inches.  Yep.  Amateur mistake.  So.  I had to figure out how to fix it.  It threw me for a loop and I lost a day. Then I had to work of the nerve to actually cut the panel down.  No way I could get a replacement.  Fussy cutting an order of magnitude worse.

I did get it done, with an assist from the mister.  I did get much of it pieced, just a few things left to do.  But by late Saturday, I knew I was not going to do the quilt justice if I pushed through and tried to finish it up.  This one is too special to risk making more amateur mistakes.  So I had to come up with the cozy of last resort.  

 

There were 18 blocks in the pack I was using.  Seventeen of them were gorgeous and graphic and wonderful.  And then there was the one that stood out like a sore thumb, or paw as the case may be.  This print was just plain awful in the quilt.  So I had to fussy cut yet another block.  ARGGGHHHH!

This little patch of paw prints was left over.  I decided to take one of the rejected browns, applique a bear on to it and make it a mug rug.  It reminds me more of Colorado than Alaska but as I am always going there on vacation it still works.  So.... Bearly There is my cozy of last resort.  

The real quilt will be finished in short order.  I want to have it ready for the spud to take with him when he heads back out.  

Bearly There.  PQ 12.3.  Virtual Vacation.  7 x 7 inch mug rug.  Raw edge applique.  Outline quilted.  Hand stitched binding.  Made near St Louis, MO. 

  

 

The RULZ of Quilting

 

 For any of you who are wondering...

There are only three rules in quilting.

1. Make sure it is structurally sound. (This can one can fly out the window if you are doing a wall hanging or art quilt.)
2. Done is warmer than perfect.
3. If you can't see it from the back of a galloping horse, it isn't there.

Any other RULE anyone tells you is just noise and can either be learned from or ignored.

Yeah, I might have an attitude. I respect and appreciate competition quilters. I admire the quilters who are able to match every corner, keep every point and make tiny perfect stitches. I aspire to their level of quality. I learn from them. 

 

However, it makes me sad to see quilters apologize for their work and point out tiny mistakes that no one else can see. Everyone should be able to enjoy the process and celebrate their successes and finishes. Few of us are actually doing this because it is essential to keeping our families warm.

 

And it hurts my heart to see self-appointed quilt police shut down the enthusiasm of other quilters. I was fortunate enough to have my first experience with an expert turn out to be incredibly supportive. I took my first effort to a quilt shop where the kind lady ever so politely explained to me how to match up corners. I was so green, I didn't even know that was a thing. When I asked if I needed to rip it all apart and start over, she said, "finish is up and move on, dearie. Learn what you can from this one and the next on will be even better." Had she treated me as I have seen some treat others, I would probably have trashed my first effort and never done another one. But she was kind. She was helpful. She encouraged me. And almost thirty years later whenever I am discouraged by a project, I hear her voice in my head saying " finish it up and move one, dearie." And so I do.

PQ 6.6 D9 Finally Finished

 This is my finally finished quilt for Project Quilting season 6.  The challenge was charm pack. 

I was slow finishing this one.  But it is finally done.  It is a disappearing nine patch, thus the completely uninspired name.

In addition to the one charm pack, I added in 5 inch squares of linen to give it a bit of texture. 

The backing is flannel.

It is tied with embroidery floss and measures approximately 24 x 36 inches.  Perfect size for a stroller or to cover a car seat.

Photographed it on my nephew's truck.  So you get lots of pictures and little description.

Project Quilting is the brainchild of Kim Lapacek and her evil genius mother-in-law Diane who dreams up the weekly torture challenges.

Hayduke's Cabin (PQ FTTP: Challenge Monkey Wrench)

There is an off season challenge for Project Quilting.  PQ, as you may recall is the brainchild of Kim Lapacek and her evil genius Mother-in-Law Diane. Fortunately, the off-season challenges go for an entire month instead of just one week!  This year the dynamic duo has teamed up with Cherrywood Fabrics to drive us all over the quilty edge!  Their plan:  create a batch of rainbow colored hand dyed fabrics and have us choose only one each month.  Then we have to be inspired by the block design they choose. The final quilt must read as one color.  It must be precisely 20 inches on each side.  It must have a hanging sleeve.  And it all has to be done in one month.

When I heard the block for this month was Monkey Wrench, I immediately thought of the slick rock of Canyon Lands.  I had the great fortune the camp and hike there in my youth.  It was the perfect time and place for reading Edward Abbey.  In particular, it was the perfect time for reading "The Monkey Wrench Gang".  It tells the stories of a band of eco warriors (before there was such a thing) led by George Hayduke.  Hayduke is a beer drinking, Jeep driving, wilderness surviving sabateur with grand plans to blow up the Hoover Dam.

Of course, my quilt this month had to be orange, although my stash was more driving into Vegas neon than sunrise on the slick rock orange.  I used the log cabin blocks to represent the order imposed upon the environment by the developers Hayduke so despised.  The quilting is done is straight orderly lines as well.  The monkey wrench block  represents the disruption caused by the Monkey Wrench gang. The blue color represents the water in the rivers that Hayduke wanted to set free.

The quilt measures 20 x 20 inches. It is made of quilter's cotton.  It is machine pieced machine quilted with invisible thread (a new thing for me).  The binding is machine stitched and hand secured.

Project Quilting Off Season Challenge June: Panel

How is this for outside my box?  I bought a kit and followed the directions exactly.  Now that it NOT my usual pattern. 

I bought the kit to make for Mr-I-am-from-Michigan-and-only-moved-to-Ohio-because-even-the-dog-license-was-less-expensive.  I didn't put it together because I was very stressed about sewing the panel in place evenly and getting all the little patches to line up. I've been practicing.  So when I remembered that I had it and that  this month's challenge was to use a panel I decided to go for it. 

I know.  A lazy offering and it isn't even finished.  But there is a reason for that.  Some one else WANTS to quilt it.  And I'm not going to turn that offer down.  So this one is finished enough for me even though it doesn't qualify for the challenge.  Be sure to head over to Persimon Dreams to check out all of the really cool FINISHED projects from this month's challenge.

Luna-see Quilt

 
Well, I did it!  I managed to finish the luna-see quilt.  It was almost named the bad word quilt but it really is deserving of a better name than that. 

The quilting turned out better than I had hoped.  I did a simple cross hatch across the blocks and a couple of straight lines to frame them.  (The faded spots are actually sunlight that filtered through the trees and was picked up by the camera.)

To fill in the scallops I drew a kind of-sort of lotus pattern that I figured I could repeat with a degree of consistency.  Fortunately, the variations don't really matter. I am almost (but not really) sad that I did black quilting on black fabric because it doesn't really show up all that well.  But then, that is why I did it.  So it wouldn't show up that well. 

 It took me quite a while to get the hang of sewing the scallops on both by machine and then again by hand.  I did quite a bit of quilt wrestling to get it finished.  Actually, I would stitch about two and half scallops and then I had to walk away.  It took me about two days to get it all done. 

To stitch the binding you have to clip the low points almost to the seam allowance, bunch up the quilt and sew straight across.  You do the same thing for the hand sewing and then it all falls neatly into cute little tucks.  No need to miter anything.  Well that is the theory.

By the end of the quilt I was able to stitch across pretty reliably.  The same with the hand sewing.  I kept wanting to pull the binding too tight.  That was a double problem since I refused to make a bias binding which is REQUIRED for scalloped edges.  Phoey.  My curves were gentle enough to make it work out OK but it probably did require a wee bit of extra fussing. 

The details:  This quilt measures 40 x 44 inches.  It is made of 100% cotton quilters fabric with the exception of the binding which is a cotton poly blend.  The batting in cotton.  It will be a lovely baby quilt or table topper.  This one is destined for the shop or the shows I am doing later this Summer and Fall. 

And Side by Side

After much figuring and ripping, I finally finished piecing one.  It went from one long string of blocks to this diamond pattern.  Spud 3 approves!  It is a twin sized top.   I need to find backing and figure out how to quilt it.  I am open to suggestions.  I want it to be vaguely historic. 

I keep naming this one different things.  So much so that I have a couple different picture folders.  One is called Riverbed.  The other is historic trip around the world.  I wonder what it will be once it gets quilted.

The Cost of Quilting

This article was posted on the Sew Mama Sew Facebook page today.  It is on the Mollie Sparkles Blog.  She meticulously costs out the labor materials, shipping and intellectual value of making a quilt top.  You have to go read the whole thing to get the total. 

It is a 72 x 72 inch quilt.  The real cost is staggering. The materials cost is high but certainly what it would be if we truly added it all up without some congressional grade accounting tricks like already in stash is free! 

What we truly under-value as quilters is our time and more importantly our creativity.  If you think about it, what does a consulting firm get for designing a new logo?  What about the cost of designing a webpage.  Creativity is not cheap. 

Quilters likely don't do the sort of statistical market research a logo consultant does.  However, we do survey market trends (read blogs, search on-line patterns, visit fabric stores, consult with the client or carefully consider the recipient).  How many times have you tried to use a piece from your stash only to decide it is out-of-date or doesn't fit the vibe?  How many times have you gone back for a different piece because the color doesn't play nicely or the contrast is too high or low?  It is all time.  Time well spent but seldom counted in the value of making a quilt. 

And like web-page design, making the design look good is just half the battle.  We need to do the back end construction to get all the parts to function properly.  A great design only goes so far.  The seams need to be solid and the project needs to be finished. 

The bottom line is that materials x 2 or even x 3 just doesn't cover it in terms of the real cost involved in making a quilt. 

I bring this up, because as I make more quilts I have more quilts I am ready to send on to a good home... for a price.  I've donated a fair share.  I've gifted plenty.  But I would like to sell some of them.  I want to get a fair price for them.  I tend to price them high.  (No where near where I should based on this calculation) but higher than seems seemly.  I always figure out a price at which I am willing to see them go.  Or as my husband says would you rather have the quilt in your closet or $ in your pocket.  Some of them have a price.  Some don't. 

So what do you think?  Do you sell quilts?  Make them on commission?  Do you only give/donate?  What are your quilts worth? 

Restored Kitchen

My sister is restoring her kitchen to the 1870's.  She has a few nods to modern conveniences: the cookstove is actually gas and the ice box is a real fridge.  But there aren't any counters or cabinets.  It is all furniture.  She is going to have some soapstone window seats.  They will need cushions.  Mom picked out the fabrics.  I have made some pillow covers and a the worlds most schizophrenic table runner you will ever find. 

Spud one and Bug the niece both HATE it.  One end is purple and mustard.  The other is green and mustard.  But the room is mustard and she wants purple dishes.   I figure she can always put a big bowl on the end that doesn't match today. 

Oh, the important thing.  These fabrics are a strong reference to William Morris, pretty much the dominant designer during the time her house was built. 

Low Volume or "Next Time Use More Contrast"

I had the opportunity to join the St Louis Modern Quilters on a sewing day yesterday.  It was wonderful.  We went to the  meeting room in the Webster Groves Library. It was a very nice facility and perfectly arranged for us to work as much or as little as we liked.  I have to say it was a fantastic day.  I really enjoyed getting to know these ladies better.  It was even more amazing to see the quilts they were working on.  What incredible quilters! 

Never having been before, I took a BUNCH of projects.  I figured seven hours of sewing time would be more than enough to get at least two or three projects done.  HA!

I spent the entire time I was there sewing and trimming the half square triangles for this quilt.  I know.  There aren't even that many there.  I even skipped lunch.  OK so there was a major fire in the area and getting out to find lunch seemed more hassle than not but I still stayed and sewed the whole time.

In my defense, I was an hour late and had to leave an hour early.  But still I spent five hours making half square triangles. I do have to say the time was well spent.  Ever since my precision sewing crisis during the craftster.org block swap, I have been making a conscious effort to do better.  It was absolutely horrifying to me to see how far off these blocks ended up being.  I used my swanky hst ruler to mark and cut them.   The original blocks were pretty darn close to accurate.  And still the final blocks were off by as much as a quarter of an inch.  Not any more.  They are all the same size now.

These pictures show them all laid out on the design floor.  Spud 3 came up to work his color positioning magic.  I was pretty close.  He didn't have to shift much but he did identify one pin wheel that didn't follow the 'rules' for this quilt.  On his way out the door he said, "next time use more contrast." 

(This is a project for a special person.  I'll tell you more about it when I can.)  

Blogger's Quilt Festival: Wall Hanging

Amy from Amy's Creative Side hosts the Bloggers Quilt Festival each year.  Hundreds of quilts are linked up and it is an amazing opportunity to learn, share and be inspired.  This year I am also linking up my Welcome to Leaf Springs Quilt.

  This quilt was made in response to a prompt from Project Quilting.  We were to choose a magazine, open it to page 28 and use that for our inspiration.  I let my husband find me a magazine.  Page 28 was an article about leaf springs.  With only a week to make the quilt I didn't have long to ponder.  I decided to make a picture of the Willy's Jeep I drove in high school.  I imagined it parked next to a creak in a place called Leaf Spring. 

The Madrona Road mountain has the perfect traveling stories.  The gears are a nod to the constant work on a 'vintage' vehicle.  The fluttery leaves are there to make it clear that this is leaf spring. 

And the daisy fabric on the windshield and headlamp are there because "Silly boys, Jeeps ARE for girls"! 

 For those of you who are new to this site, here are the details:

Raw edge applique fused on to a base of muslin.  All the fabrics are quilters cottons.  It is machine stitched and machine quilted in black thread using a straight stitch.   The binding is exactly 4 inches of my most favorite fabric ever. 
(Asked Spud one to measure it for me.  "1.1 x .6 cubits."   True measurements  14 x 20 inches.   Way off in his cubit estimation.  Blames it on a growth spurt!)  It is finished with fast finish triangles for hanging.

Bloggers Quilt Festival: Art Quilt

Amy of Amy's Creative Side Hosts the Bloggers Quilt Festival each year.   This Spring is no exception.  Quilters get to choose two of their quilts to enter in two different categories.  I am sure that is going to double the already huge number of quilts available for us to look at.

I decided to submit my little lotus flower mug rug to the art quilt category.  The origami flower has taken my quilt thinking process in a new direction.  The improvisationally pieced lily pad continues my experiment with that style of patchwork. 

This quilt was made for the Craftster.org Mug Rug swap.  I was inspired by some origami lotus flower votives, my partner had pinned.  It is approximately 12 x 10 inches.  It was machine pieced and quilted with hand stitching on the origami flower which is made out of muslin.  I have made one follow on piece and I expect I will be experimenting with this more in the future. 

Swamp Water

This is Lilypad quilt v.2.  I made some Sangria swamp water go with it.

2 small cans pineapple juice
Juice of 1- 1/2 oranges
Juice of 1 lemon
juice of 1/2 lemon
1 bottle of Muscato (I use Barefoot 'cause I got a case on a deal.)
Sweeten to taste with honey

Mix and chill.  Toss in orange and lime slices and a few berries for pretty.

Busy Bees

April is always busy around here.  We had our annual stream clean up.  Almost 900 volunteers cleaned up 38 sites plus 6 river miles with the help our our friends in the municipalities, the US FWS and Missouri River Relief.  An awesome crew.  We did Earth Day events and worked with some where in the neighborhood of 1000 kids, teaching them to sunpaint and upcycle.  It is also the time when we make great inroads on the necessary paperwork and planning for the Race for the Rivers. 

To keep it interesting we had two different robotics competitions in April, a regional and the championships.  I love watching the competition, but my job was to support the team, primarily by keeping them supplied with food and drink.  The team rented an RV and tailgated for the 3 days of the championships.  That was an interesting experience.  It was a great crew of parents and mentors who all worked together to keep everyone fed. 

Most of my sewing time was spent on design work and sewing out badges.  That is a good thing.  But it left me short on time for quilting.  I did get a few finishes.  My lotus mug rug went out early. 

I was also able to put together this lap robe for a raffle at the annual Spring Tea at our church.  I put together a few gift baskets and had a blast making the buntings to go in them. 

And then the wee quilt at the top.  It was my offering for the Little Quilt Sew Vote Swap.  It will be on its way tomorrow as soon as the post office opens.  I added some of the extras including an embroidered center to my Sew Mama Sew Give away package.  That is open to anyone so feel free to leave a comment on that post.  That is all you have to do to get entered.