Long Rambling Thoughts About Making

Make Beautiful Things is a very bright, bold looking quilt for me. It was started initially in response to an AHIQ 'words' challenge. Sort of a 'What would our quilt say if it could say anything at all' prompt. The solid yellow and dark brown fabrics were chosen quite by default, if only because they had sufficient yardage available without going out and buying new.

Make Beautiful Things is finished!

Most usually, I am adding words after a quilt is started. There I go, plodding along with my latest masterpiece and the quilt suddenly insists that it needs certain words added. That is something that happens fairly regularly around here as I find joy in the quirkiness of including words or a phrase in fabric. This time, the words would essentially BE the quilt and so it made it all the more important to find the very best wording.

The Rising Sun blocks make me happy

As the years have flown by, most of my local quilting friends have all moved on from quilting. They have aged, {died in one case} or perhaps never became interesting in challenging themselves to grow in the same way that feels important to me. Though I am very blessed to have a wonderfully supportive family rallying behind my interests, it's not like they are invested in the details of what it takes to arrive at the finish line. They are much more interested in the finished product and where, or to whom, it might be going. lol

Very simple but effective

It might seem to some like the projects careen from one idea to the next without a lot of thought, but the truth is something altogether different. There is almost always a story or theme behind every quilt. A color palette that I am ardently pursuing, a pattern, design, block {or style?} that is currently intriguing, an antique quilt that is needing interpretation, a particular challenge that I'm earnestly trying to meet, or perhaps even a stack of orphan blocks that are feeling miffed about being left behind. Whatever the case, you can be sure that I am doing my very best to make the finished quilt absolutely as beautiful as is possible.

Hand quilting makes everything even better

The quilting process is incredibly personal as it pertains to the 'journey'. Decision after decision is made that stems directly from personal experiences, current skill level, preferences, and/or the lack {or plenty} of supplies on hand. This quilt for instance, includes some largish Rising Sun or Twirly Wheel blocks that were languishing in the orphan totes. Would any of you have similarly unused colored/patterned blocks tucked away in your quilting room? Maybe the blocks or the colors, but probably not both.

Hmm.. love it with sunflowers too

The quote, 'I just want to make beautiful things even if nobody cares' {attributed to Saul Bass}, really jumped out at me as the starting point for this specific quilt. It says so much! Yes, I have good, quilty friends here on the blog who 'care'. My family 'cares'. Sometimes even the people who receive a quilt from me 'care', even if only in the abstract.

My motto

For me, the quote zeros in on something integral to making authentic and/or original looking quilts. It's become a motto sorts. Basically, I don't care if you or anyone else likes my quilts. Not to be rude, but it's really that simplistic. Oh, I get a great big smile on my face when people appreciate whatever it is that I'm doing! It feels really good and I'd be a liar to say that it doesn't matter at all.

When we make for ourselves and the furtherance of whatever journey that WE are on, then the decision making process can become greatly simplified. It only has to make sense in our heads to be 'right' which saves a lot of time lost spent testing the winds.

Do I wonder sometimes if what I'm posting on the blog here will be well received? Of course that happens! I just don't let it bog me down either way. It feels much, much better when we quit over-complicating progress with ideas and worries such as, 'Nobody likes yellow quilts!' or 'Oh yeah, these blocks are so obviously imperfect that I should be terribly embarrassed to think of using them!' or worse yet, 'This is a really dumb idea!'. Uh huh. Because every idea can be a dumb idea. Or NOT. How do we know until we try?

Don't misunderstand. You will still THINK these things and you might even be right about some of them. Many people do not and will never like predominantly yellow quilts. That's a fact. What is important is that you don't let these 'facts' diminish your desire to play with the color 'yellow' or whatever weird color that is currently tickling your fancy. Over and over again if that's what makes you happy! I can tell you that if you love a color and it shows to the point that somehow you make an amazing looking quilt with it? {'Cuz you will if you love it that much.} It won't matter if that's my least favorite color in the whole world! Suddenly, I'm gonna start thinking of ways to incorporate that very same element into my own quilting!

Gonna have to keep this one!

If I would have started out by capitulating to all these silly {mostly imaginary} external pressures, this quilt would never have been. It would have died in its infancy and those fun Rising Sun blocks would still be buried in the orphan totes or maybe even in the garbage! Where's the fun in that? I just want to make beautiful {to me} quilts even if nobody else will ever be moved by them, understand them, appreciate them or possibly even be inspired by them. By starting from a place of  'even if nobody cares', then we free ourselves exponentially to the making of more and more beautiful things. It's like a perpetual motion motion. We make. We like. We respond positively and enthusiastically. We make more. Others like it too? That's just bonus and oh yeah. Inspiration flowing to them. See how that works?

Funnily enough, this is a quilt that I stare at sort of in amazement. I did this? Made this? SO not me and yet, very, very me all at the same time. I'm constantly learning and growing and pushing myself and slowly, slowly the quilts show signs of that forward progress. When this quilt was laid across the foot of my bed, there was this huge feeling of achievement. Wowsers! What a bright, happy quilt! The challenge was the perfect impetuous to try something a little different and overall I'm beyond delighted with where it ended up.

Easier to stitch the letters to a background fabric first

Next up was the Coins and Baskets quilt. Yes, it's finished too. It was another challenge from our AHIQ friends that involved 'coins'. This one seemed super easy at first and the ideas flowed very quickly. For some reason I immediately fell in love with the idea of using up older fabrics from the stash. Where have you heard that one before?

A mix of hand quilting and stitched-in-the-ditch

Eventually, it became obvious that the original spark for the quilt was proving to be a spectacular fail. Of course, that doesn't slow me down for long as frustration is an unacceptable resting place. The ideas were parceled out into two separate projects for two completely different looking quilts. Other ideas got dumped, as well they should be.

Last minute words that seemed like a good idea

Can I just say that improv. coins are sheer fun to cut out and sew together? There will definitely be more of these in the foreseeable future! I thoroughly enjoyed the idea of grouping together several narrow rows and then creating an every-other block out of the result. Of course, something needed to be done about the rest of the quilt, but as you can see, my beloved element {baskets} to the rescue!

Really glad it has the brighter greens included

It was a fairly interesting quilt to make once the proper direction were sorted out. You can read more about that here. Lots of quick, simple decisions with the minimum of stress. Will that fabric work? yes. How about green for most of the baskets? Yes. Things like that.

Count Your Blessings is the obvious new name

Though I wanted this quilt to look good, it always felt like it had unspoken limitations. Sometimes its not a bad thing to know absolutely that the current project is never going to win the beauty pageant. We do our best to make it into the running and then just finish it out. By starting with the old gold, rusty reds, browns and black, {not to mention the improv. coins}, my default position went immediately to the 'primitive' vibe and never veered off of that particular path.

Always good to get in another finish....

I talked at the start of this post about making 'beautiful things'. You can believe that this quilt got plenty of attention too though I never believed it could end up looking 'amazing'. Close-up, there are some lovely fabrics used and I for one, happen to think that the baskets are very sweet. I even allowed myself to be persuaded into adding words onto the quilt--at a point where it probably seems ridiculous!

This quilt washed up very nice and wrinkly, giving it the proper cozy feel that every good snuggle quilt needs. It's being gifted to a friend as a comfort sort of quilt. Hopefully no-one would ever assume it was meant to be an heirloom {hands-off the precious textile!}, but rather, sit and drink coffee or tea while having it draped comfortably across their lap. No doubt you've gleaned that this quilt isn't nearly as exciting to me as the previous quilt, but I'm not a bit reluctant to claim it as one of my 'makes'. I gave it lots of love and now it's going out to spread some love. What can be better than that?

Bloggers Quilt Festival: Fall 2013--All Grayed Down

So fun to be able to put 'All Grayed Down' in Amy's Quilt Festival this year! Although it's completely hand quilted, I decided to put it into the applique category as that's the part I'm most proud of.

All Grayed Down is finished!

I very carefully drew this quilt out on graph paper in a random sampler sort of way, leaving big chunks of space to fill in with applique. Then I decided on a few favorite quilt block patterns to do repeats of throughout. The applique itself was based on pictures I saw in an old 1970's Carter Houck quilt book. It was only after I had the surrounding blocks pieced and set next to my empty applique blocks, that I determined size, color and placement of the applique. Lots of struggles and angst with that let me tell you!

75"x75" in all it's just washed & dried crinkly glory

This quilt was started during the time period that I had just started trying to use primarily stash fabric, causing me to dig deep into my fabrics totes. Lots of these fabrics were not stellar prints, but they had the color and range I was looking for. The name itself was a result of me trying very hard to use up some of my gray fabrics. Ha! I ended up using a lot more taupes and somehow ignoring most of the grays in favor of the warmer hues.

Yes I did finish the quilt top in 2012, but didn't even
start hand quilting it until this year...

I had recently purchased some of the Sweetwater text prints prior to starting this quilt and that is what I settled on for background of the applique blocks. I only had 1 fat quarter  of the larger text print and it was all I could do not to rush out and buy more. Oh I wanted more of that fabric in the worst way, but instead I made myself sew together scrapped together applique background pieces. Such a great move really, because those very pieces are part of what I find so especially charming about this quilt!

I added a smidge of the large text fabric
in every single applique block.

This quilt taught me a lot about being much less fearful in using up fabrics that don't immediately seem wonderful and exciting. The green bias fabric for instance in the block above was one that I almost threw out many times before. Then I auditioned it for a bias piece and was amazed at how well it looked in that skinny little strip! Never doubt for a minute the power of fabric you have available right in your own stash!*wink

Had to take pictures of it outside as it always looks
moody and dark when the pics are taken indoors...

Many thanks to Amy for hosting this online quilt festival!  Always a really great way to find new blogs and check out a bazillion wonderful quilts.

p.s. Just so you know, I also entered my Vintage Reproduction quilt into the quilt show. Couldn't leave that one out! 

Hand Quilting Soothes the Soul

My quilting as been very sporadic for the last several days. As always, when I have company in from out of town (this time for over a week) I end up doing more hand work than anything else. It's very soothing and helps me quite a bit to enjoy the visiting times without going stir crazy.

All Grayed Down--binding on
and ready for the hand work

I finished up the hand quilting on All Grayed Down which is really sweet. And would you believe that I managed to find a long remnant of a binding that I still had the fabric floating around in one of my totes? Very easy to add to and make the proper length. It's a soft blue plaid that seems to pull out all the lovely blue colors in the quilt and make it look even lighter. Hmm, do I have a blue thing going on now? There are certain colors I tend to gravitate toward over and over again, just mixing them up into different combinations and trying to figure them out having fun playing with them. There is so very much to learn about color.

Little Fall Mini

This little Fall Mini was just begging for attention, easily sandwiched in like 20 minutes. Then I proceeded to have great fun with my Perle Cotton! Seriously grin-on-my-face-fun the whole time. I know, scary look for me... The whole thing was hand quilted in less than 2 hours and then once again, I happened to have a leftover piece of binding that worked perfectly. Almost makes me want to make more small quilts just because of that box of binding bits! It's a pretty rustic looking mini, but I think it suits the quilt just fine. The more I look at it, the less I think my gift recipient will appreciate the style though.  I suppose it would be good to quit second guessing myself. A gift is a gift is a gift. Right? And just FYI, this entire mini was made out of the scrap bin except for the orange acorn fabric and the backing fabric. Gotta feel good about that at least.*wink

Hand Quilting Because I Just Love To

I've been absolutely wallowing in the fact that I'm home. It feels amazing and I love it. The hand quilting might be the very best part! lol NOT. Although I do love me some hand quilting time late in the evenings.

More hand quilting on All Grayed Down

I did finally have to do some grocery shopping and then I couldn't escape the obvious any longer, it was time to do some school shopping.  Belated possibly, but still, the kids thought they needed some new clothing. Turns out the sales are excellent this time of year and we picked up some screaming deals.  They have been entertaining me with the 'don't take the tags off till you try it on one more time' fashion show and we're all feeling very blessed that they have the opportunity to enjoy some new duds once again.

For now I'm linking up with Kathy's Slow Stitching Sunday and then the plan involves curling up in the corner of the couch for some much needed wind down time.

Just a Little Time With the Hoop

I don't know why I ever think there will be time in the quilting room in August.  The second half of the month has got to be one of the busiest times of the year!

All Grayed Down in the hoop

Thankfully, every couple evenings I have been able to drag the hoop out and relax to the rhythmic in and out of needle and thread. The applique blocks are being stitched in a freehand baptist fan pattern and everything else is some form of a simple (traditional) echo type quilting. It seems to suit this quilt to a T and it makes me very happy. Which is good.  If the hand quilting is not doing it's job, then well, what's the point?

Simple hand quilting

I had big plans to head over to Reardon this coming weekend for the outdoor Buggy Barn quilt show and it's looking more and more like a 'not happening plan'.  Such a bummer. I love that quilt show to pieces. Kids these days.  Whatever happened to moms making the family plans anyway?*wink

All Grayed Down Finally in the Hoop

The quilt top I call 'All Grayed Down' is next up in the hoop. I have practically been itching to have some hand quilting time and with days like today (my upright freezer decided to call it quits), I am thinking I NEED some time with the hoop quite desperately! This quilt top was one I worked on in 2011 and then finally finished up in April of 2012.  I suppose it is a bit of a Random Sampler quilt, although I did plan it out on paper before I ever started in the individual blocks.

All Grayed Down sandwiched and ready to pin

I know there are other quilt tops that are older and technically next in line, but this quilt top is the one that has been calling my name the loudest. So be it. I started out with a pile of fabric that was way deep in the bottom of my totes and then added few newer ones to help cheer things up. You'd be amazed at how well that can work to make you happier to use some older fabrics.

I love the vintage feel to some of these blocks.

The title comes from the challenge to myself to try working with some grayish fabrics--not so successful with this quilt as I stuck mostly to tannish grays, but still... My husband said this is one of the darkest (and moodiest) quilts I've ever made, but I don't see it that way at all. The applique blocks really bring it to life I think and make it feel cheery in spite of the darker undertones! Regardless, it feels like a 'me' quilt and that's what I've been trying to accomplish for years and years. Hallelujah when that actually happens and when I fall in love with it all over again just bringing it out to hand quilt? In my book that's a roaring success. lol Still trying to figure out what the 'me' actually is though? Is it definable for each one of us?

Definitely an updated version of this block.

The applique blocks are loosely based on some quilts I saw in a (Carter Houck?) 1970's quilt book I had bought at a 2nd store several years ago. Seeing the pictures in black and white really helped me transfer the designs into my fabric selection.  No pattern used for the applique, just looking at pictures and keeping or deleting what I wanted/didn't want to use.

I adore the bird in this block!

Because I was being frugal and stash loving, I made myself be creative with the applique backgrounds too.  What I wanted to do was rush out and buy all of one particular text fabric, but I took my single fat quarter and very carefully made sure I had a piece of it for every one of the applique backgrounds, then added in blending fabrics until I had my set of 7.  It was a wonderful decision and I love the quilt ever so much more for the depth it discretely adds in.

So bright.  And to think I almost chickened out on
using these newer fabrics!

One other thing I did that seemed to meld the quilt together well was using the same floral print in each of the vases or base of the applique blocks.  That helped me keep my colors true in each block.

My quilt is already outdated--best get busy with it!

So--yes, I did sandwich and pin this quilt before I did the baby quilt. That's because I knew I couldn't delay overlong before I had no choice and this way I'll have a quilt in the hoop even after the baby quilt is done and given away.  You will be happy to know that I pinned that particular quilt just this afternoon after rescuing my soggy freezer items and hauling them up to my wonderful sister-in-laws almost empty freezer. What happened to lazy summer days anyway?*wink

The Last Two Applique Blocks

The last two applique blocks for this project are done, finished, and off of my list!  All of these blocks have went together amazingly well considering I was mostly looking at pictures and winging it!  At first I didn't like how the vase touched up against the edge of the background fabric in block #6.  I had to mull it over for a couple days, then compare it with my other finished blocks until I decided to let it be?!?

Applique block #6
I know, I know, it's a little bit Prim....

Block #7 was mostly the result of impulsive decision making, not rational, deliberate thought.  Well, I did say previously that the fabric colors were very deliberate, didn't I?  What happened was, I had an extra bird cut out from block #1 (I thought the bird needed to point in the other direction in the first block--you know how that goes).  I tried and tried to put the leftover one into the other applique blocks, but it never looked right.  In fact, it always had a 'forced' look about it, like it was unhappy with it's surroundings and getting ready to pout about it or something.  Then, when I was flipping through my book to figure out this particular block design, I impulsively decided to try a circle design with the bird in the center.  Why not?  I took one of the pictures in the book and basically pared it down, making it a little less busy and therefore putting more focus on the little birdy.  I'm so glad I did, because I think it adds much needed whimsy to this quilt and it is looking perfectly at home there!  Now if I can just find the time to sew it all together this weekend.*wink  Who was it that said 'at least I have a life?'

Applique block #7
This block blends in better than it would seem to.

A Little Bit at a Time

Two more blocks done for the 'All Grayed Down' quilt.  Lets hope it all comes together like it should--like I am picturing it in my head.  I'm starting to get a wee bit nervous about that.  So much so that I laid the entire quilt out again on the floor for a look-see, even the unfinished applique blocks with their little bits and pieces.  I'm trying to keep the applique blocks very simple and almost stark because the background is busy. 

Applique Block #4

Applique Block #5

Ad lib quilting is such a blast, but also scary hairy sometimes, at least for me.*wink  Speaking of which, I also found time to sandwich and machine quilt a baby quilt I was working on last April.  Not my normal cup of tea and honestly, my husband does not like it a bit.  I decided since I was prepping the binding for the baby quilt, that I needed to quit dragging my feet and make a decision about the binding for my 'Be Thankful' quilt.  Maybe I can get in a couple more completions before the end of March?!!

Binding prep

A Few More Flowers

Here we go.  Block #3 finished up and looking really sweet.  I'm very happy with the green and blue polka dot fabric on the flower, though I wasn't real sure at first.  Does it take away from the old fashioned look?  Yes, No, Maybe so.  It makes me think that I need to get bolder about my fabric selections.*wink (ya think?)

Applique block #3

I do tend to get stuck in a rut and rely on the blendy, blendy thing which looks great in a background, but not so much elsewhere.  That's been the one good thing about our latest Pieceable Souls challenge.  It has definitely encouraged us to think outside the box when it comes to choosing fabric, something I still struggle with. Quilting--always something to learn....

Having Fun With Applique

Applique Block #2 Completed!

I am having way to much fun with these blocks.  I'm using original patterns for parts of the block, free-hand in other areas, and generally feeling very comfortable to just go with the flow.  I love the old fashioned look of the patterns mixed with the modern and not-so-modern day fabrics.  This is me getting a 'groove on' quilty-wise.  How cool is that?