Out of season but only till Fall

 

I finished sewing my wheel quilt  It measures 51" X 45"  I used baby wale corduroy for the black sashing.  It really has a saturated texture and color - love it!    I thing I'm going to call it Vernacular after a post by Barbara Brackman.  Your can see it here.  

Robin

Getting the #AHIQColorPalette Prompt Figured Out

 The first picture is where I left off with the #AHIQColorPalette at the end of December. It was at this point that I sort of fell out of love with the look of the tulips. The colors seemed to be a bit brash for my tastes. The first painting below is the original inspiration for my answer to this #AHIQColorPalette challenge. There was just something about those colors that felt really, really challenging to try and duplicate in a positive manner. I very briefly even considered trying to copy the entire painting in fabric form, but no. Been there, done that. What sounded better was to use the colors, feel and vibe in a whole new set-up.

A bit too much

Much earlier than I expected, this week I started actually wanting to revisit this project. Maybe look at it with 'new eyes'? Was it really yelling at me? Or had I just not been feeling well enough to deal with the reality that when the tulips were finished being stitched down, then design decisions would HAVE to be made. You know how it goes. All the while you're working on something, there is always the 'next step' after. Very relaxing to hand stitch, but the after doesn't ever totally leave your mind!

Trying to make everything look like it belongs together

When I started doodling with different ideas to try and start the project, I remembered a picture that my sister took at a restaurant one time--the trio of odd looking tulip paintings. Hmm... Those rigid, formal tulips looked like a fun twist on what I've been gravitating towards lately anyway. And you know how I like series work!

It was all good until I went to cut out the fabric tulips according to scale {from the loose design that I had doodled onto paper}. That's where things really started falling apart. Just from a quick audition of the prepped applique laying over the top of the background blocks, it was obvious that what looked good on paper wasn't translating well at all in reality! The color palette that I had intended to use for this quilt didn't love the silhouette form and/or the plain Jane style from those restaurant paintings. Maybe if I had made the tulips out of the dark blue? And so I was a bit stuck until one day seeing the clunky looking flowers on one of my BlueQ reusable bags. Okay.... maybe my tulips needed to be fussied up a bit after all. Don't you just love when the lightning bolt of inspiration strikes at the perfect moment?

Original inspiration

I'm still working out the details of the applique, but at present, all the blocks are {mostly}stitched down with the exception of the little one at the very far, top, right corner. None of the leaves are stitched down on any of the blocks as that was another one of my creative blocks. While actively stitching on these blocks, I just could NOT 'see' that sour green from the original inspo. painting working well with my tulips or these particular colors. When doing the auditioning, I finally just started grabbing leftover leaves from the orphan applique pieces totes and arranging them here and there. My thinking was if I somehow got the look and vibe to 'work', then I would cut the real ones out in better colors. Ha! After doing one more re-arrange to move the leaves up tighter to the flower bloom, I pinned these in place and I'm calling it good. These orphaned leaves have found their new home!

The restaurant paintings

Since the creative flow was going so well, I also took the opportunity to try and decide what to do about fabric, color and various applique motifs in the long, narrow in-between sections. Way back at the beginning I intended to sew some appliqued scallops into those areas, but I'm liking the look of these circles just fine. Am still playing with the three blocky blue spots in the quilt and also the red/white fabric fill-ins at the sides and bottom of the quilt. Will probably try and keep those areas fairly simple, though I'm loving the look of the blue and white stripe fabric. Might have to add a little strip of that here and there for good energy in the quilt.

BlueQ inspiration

Overall, the #AHIQColorPalette quilt is coming together nicely and I'm starting to enjoy the puzzle piece of getting it 'just right'. As to what I'm wanting to work on later in the year? Something unexpected, impulsive, and maybe even a touch gaudy looking? I feel the need to push the boundaries of my color palette comfort zone a tad bit more. Get really uncomfortable with what I'm seeing right in front of me and make it all come together anyway! That might mean that I will have to make some sweetly boring quilts at the same time just to survive the ups and downs of this particular creative roller coaster!

Quilt News! Fascinating Hourglass Quilt Blocks and String and Sawtooth Borders are in my Near Future! And some Sashiko Hand Stitching.

Hourglass Small Quilt #2 'interviewing' borders process.

My Hourglass Block experiments in sizes.

More Hourglass Blocks in Christmas & Kaffe fabrics for another project.

Finished Hourglass #1, 27 x 27", on top of my Mostly Green Quilt Top, 60 x 60".

Hourglass Medallion #2 started, 8 x 8".

 

Hourglass Medallion #2 border progress.

New Sashiko needles bought at Gossipium Quilt Shop in Issaquah, WA.

Challenges for 2023 - Too Many!!

Have you ever been in the situation where you find yourself unable to move forward because of overload? That's where I am at the moment, bu I've spent a little time trying to come up with a short list.

Too many projects started without enough thought/preparation and they land in the parts box along with leftover pieces from previous quilts - need to work on this.

Quilts waiting to be quilted - unbelievable! I have the two quilt ladders in the hall with tops waiting

and more in the closet.

Heaps of scraps to be sorted, what to make with them, older fabrics which no longer appeal, where could I use those.

Two projects I really do want to make this year are the following:

Fonthill Quilt from Kaffe Fassett Passionate Patchwork

but I find I'm not happy with the various fabrics I've auditioned for the 1st and 4th borders. There are two colourways in the book, happily written on the page of instructions is the suggestion that experienced patchworkers might like to try the alternative colourway (to the one above) or their own colourway - hooray, the green light to go with my bright and bold look.

Same issue arises with Daylesford, I really do like the colours here (Jen Kingwell Quilt Recipes) but

I'm not sure whether I could follow through with the softer look, going with bright and bold again would be my preference. I could also change up a few designs in the border should I wish too.

Going on now to the post from  Ann with her project of a jacket for her son. Last year I signed up for a lecture online with Victoria Findlay Wolfe covering tips and ideas for the patchwork coats she had made. I immediately bought a pattern from a local store, somewhat easier than the ones in the lecture, not as many seams but still the scope for blocks or strips and so on. The longer jacket is my choice.

Last of all - my blog set up is in real need of being updated, that's going to tax me!

So, there we have it, just a snippet of the thoughts whirling around in my head, hopefully in a few days I will have plans more settled.

Oh I forgot, I want to make a quilt just for me!!! Everyone in the family have two/three each from me but I seem to be missing even one, need to address that asap with something special.

See you later

Maureen

I don't have big plans

 I'm into a large hand quilting project

And I really want to reduce the number of quilt tops in the closet, I'm down to 14.

So I've tried to put the brakes on as far as starting any new projects.

But, I just can't get a certain pattern out of my mind.

I want to make a wagon wheel quilt with cheddar, black, and prints.  I don't know exactly what I want but I found this pattern in an old magazine of my MILs from 1984.

I picked out a few fabrics and made plastic templates from the pattern.

The pieces are rather small DON'T YOU THINK?  I really don't know if I want to go to this much work.  I figured I would try one block and then decide what my options  are.

I made the center.  It was pretty straight forward and went together well.  The points and seam allowances are quite accurate and it was fun to put together.

And then I cut out enough wedges for one block.  44 to be exact.  I can only work on it a little bit of time each day so you're looking at a over a week of work.  That is a bit discouraging in and of itself.

Today I was able to sew two quarter arcs together  to get an idea of how this is going to look.  The cutting out is quite tedious but it sews up quickly.

I hope to be able to work on it more this week and then decide if I want the background pieces to be cut out of black, cheddar, or red.

I really think I probably want something more free spirited and fun to sew.  Maybe something with 8 or 10 wedges and a smaller block.  This block finishes at 14".  

On another journey . . . 

Robin of I LIke To Create.

My Biggest "Challenges" for 2023

It took me a while to sort through my "wishful thinking" list of projects to choose the "biggest" ones.

The first (truly a squirrel project) has to be my version of the Lancaster Diamond quilt shown above.

You can read my introductory post on my blog by clicking HERE.

 

After considerable thought, I've decided to go with this scrappy color palette to make my diamonds.

I posted a second time on my blog about my go-forward plan - click HERE to read that one.

Number Two:  A while back I made the decision to go ahead and finish out my series of Dumpster Diving quilts with number twelve - aka Confetti. 

The color palette inspiration comes from our grandson's stash of Lego bricks.

Here is the initial group of bits and pieces pulled from the resource boxes - these will be die cut to 1.5" strips before being chopped into smaller lengths.

I've narrowed my design choice to a block format akin to the very first DD quilt I made named Willy Nilly.

The end goal is to be able to use all twelve DD quilts for my 2024 calendar that is gifted to family and friends at the end of 2023.

There's a page on my blog dedicated to the DD series - if you are interested, it is HERE.

The third challenge is this - "Inspired by Memphis" for the November 2023 Davies Manor Quilts and Fiber Arts Show.

(I have a vested interest in the success of the show since I'm on the Board for the Davies Manor Association.)

I've found my inspiration and chosen my palette (not my usual brights).  

The dark print at the bottom of the stack will be my backing and the print at the top of the stack is what I think I'll use for binding.

The range of Bella solids will be used to create the body of the quilt - time will tell if I can really turn my idea into reality.

(Much as I'd like to, I will wait to post about this one until after the show happens.) 

* * *

Of course there are plenty of other goals for the year  -- quilt the tops waiting in the closet, finish up a baby and big brother set of quilts for early April delivery, chase a few more squirrels, and continue to USE the stash for a long list of "I really want to make" projects.

Time will tell how any or all of these develop.

Quiltdivajulie

Nothing wrong with a bit of ambition

My biggest challenge this year will be simply to maintain momentum and to make sure I don't waste precious time when it is available to me.   However, here, in no particular order, are some of the thoughts/ideas/plans that have been buzzing around the back of my head.  

• I have enjoyed sticking with a shape over several quilts recently.  I made several with variations of a chunky wedge shape and it was enjoyable and challenging to come up with a new way to take it each time.  I am now on my second top using an improv quarter circle as a starting point.  I think I want to keep on with this shape for a quilt of two more (though not necessarily all in a row!)
  

• I have a number of small elements that have occurred in earlier quilts that I would like to revisit.  Here's an example.
  
  
  
• Also, more denim, more printing words, and maybe making a quilt to go with one of the titles that have occurred to me and never been used.
• Finally, though I may not hold myself to this, Ann's post has made me want to consider making a quilted coat. 

Of course, it will be good going it I meet any of these challenges, but I am choosing to aim high.  Wish me luck!