Another Finish for 2015

Another finish for 2015! I had this quilt done in time to enter an application for the Primitive Quilts and Projects quilt show in Texas later this year. Alas, it did not get accepted. Apparently I'm not primitive enough, nor modern enough, honestly traditional or really, anything you can put a label on. Oh well. I do love my quilting and am quite happy with whatever it is that I do!

X's and O's--the LV log cabin quilt

And this quilt was enormously fun to make. It flowed from the very start in a constant stream of 'what if's'. Nothing about it ever seemed to be those major risk taking types of  'oh no! I could be ruining my quilt right now' decisions. You know the ones--they that cause us to chew on on fingernails until we can see positively that it was the right and good decision.

Looking at the stitching

The color isn't just right in these pictures {a little too much sun and not enough time to do it up properly} but I think you can see the bit of whimsy I added to my quilt. It makes me smile, these busy, busy birds. I love the big stitch quilting too as it adds to the primitive, antique, perhaps vintage look. And those floral fabrics I added.... swoon....  I really need to get in the habit of buying more of them.

The scalloped border probably seems a bit odd to some persons as it sort of blends into the large floral fabric, but it was one of those ideas. I really had no choice because it just had to happen. Yep, and I love the way the color in the big flowers adds unexpected energy around the outside of the quilt. And in such a 'formal' setting too! So interesting to me for some reason. Because of the whimsy? The unexpectedness?

My busy birds

I do so love those quilts that make people question 'what was the quilter thinking, anyway?' So happy to add my quilting to that part of history!

And the quilt below is my second entry, finished sometime last year. I've always thought it had a slightly primitive vibe even if the color isn't quite true to the genre. I don't regret trying at all.

The red and blue 'My Tree' quilt

Oh well. On to the rest of my week which is crazy busy. You probably won't be hearing from me until sometime next week as I have a funeral and a wedding to attend and all the family that is coming into town to take care of, feed, and keep stocked with clean towels. Some day soon I will have more time to quilt. Some day soon I will have more time to quilt. Some day soon I will have more time to quilt.......

A Bit of This and That

I've really enjoyed picking up these Quarter Circles blocks and spending some easy time doing the applique work. It's been so amazing to me how much the colors and fabrics just speak to me. Like in song.

Quarter Circles Round #2

{Or something weird like that.} But I don't mind. It just reminds me how very important the fabric and color really are in quilting. I always say, buy what you love and use it well. It makes quilting fun. Plus, it can easily transcend into extra moments lost in stitching because it doesn't feel like work. Which is what my last project was feeling like there towards the end of getting the quilt top together. Lots of work.

Low Volume Log Cabin quilt

And so I took a breather and piddled around with other things. I'll show you all of the Log Cabin quilt in due time, promise. The camera and I definitely need to get reacquainted!

A baby pic of my youngest (14 yrs. old now)

And look at this pic of my youngest son. Ahh.... Wasn't he precious? We had to search high and low for a baby/toddler pic for the 8th grade promotion coming up next week. So hard to believe he'll be moving on to high school already! Where has all the time gone?

Taking a Break

It's time for a blogging break. Too much going on for the next week or two and other things need my concentration.

My low-volume log cabin quilt still in the hoop

I'm sure there will be lots of stitching going on in my hoop{s} and I'll probably still be lurking here and there. Till next time!

Hand Quilting Away

I can't believe there are two different quilts in two different hoops and I'm okay with that. Wowsers, am I crazy or what? The flower quilt is not being very quilted very densely, unlike the log cabin quilt which is getting a line of stitching per 'log'. It makes it interesting to go back and forth. On different days of course!

Happy Flowers in the old hoop....

And well, I did leave off stitching those dark patches in the middle of the log cabin quilt. I'm pretty much ignoring them for now--kinda enjoying the way they puff up {a little} if you want to know the truth of the matter. Will have to deliberate more and see what I think later on! Still loving both of these quilts and enjoying every single stitch. It makes me very happy to be working on quilts that are very much 'me' quilts.

The log cabin quilt in the newer hoop.....

Wish I could just write up a formula and get it right every single time, but the process of getting there is never, ever a sure thing. I'm almost ready to launch into a brand new quilt project, or two or three or maybe even four of them. Yes, four.*wink  I can feel it sort of bubbling up inside me and all it's gonna take is the right piece of fabric or some random idea that finally clicks securely into place. I'm sure there are a few of you out there that are thinking, 'yep, been there, done that'. I'm starting to resign myself to the fact that my quilty bucket list never gets smaller. It only expands....

Finding Balance or Finding my Quilty Self. And Never the Twain Shall Meet...

I think I'm in a bit of a sluggish, slummy slump lately. Never really feeling like I get anywhere. I play, dribble and dabble at things but it never seems to add up. Am I ill? Look at this gorgeous fabric! And I haven't even cut into it yet. So indecisive. What if I ruin it I think to myself.

A potential quilt top

And I'm being sneaky and working on this quilt already. 'Cuz I just can't stand not to. Plus, my word for the year is 'mindful' and I've tried to think about what and how I work. What my goals are or if I even have any. I'm not sure about that yet. But for now I'm thinking this particular quilt may go into a show. If I get it done in time and if I don't chicken out. Oh yeah. And if they like it well enough to give the go-ahead. It's part of my 'what is my style' considerations. I seem to be all over the place and it's a curious thing to me.

The log cabin quilt...

And Yay for me! I got 2nd place with my marlsala entry in the quilt top category! When I opened up to the announcement post, I was so very shocked! Wowsers. The hosts and judges are primarily modern quilters and my stuff really isn't. Am I slipping over to the dark side? hehe Totally kidding. I think there's room at the table for all of us dedicated quilters and no labels required.

Marasa and An Uncertain Crossroad

The biggest source of my sturm und drang is no doubt the quilt project below. As of yesterday, I finally feel like I got through the very worst part of the dreads with it. {I hope.} The part that makes my arms feel enormously heavy as I'm stitching and causes me to feel incredibly restless the whole time it's staring me in the face. It's so painful and yes I'm whining. blah, blah, blah... Don't bother reading, I'm just getting it off my chest.

It takes me an hour {an hour!} to sew about four or five letters and the entire time, I'm think, think, thinking. I'm sooo.... tired of it and I just want to be done. Yet at the same time I'm getting very excited to see it start coming together. It's exhilarating to lay it out on the floor together and imagine what it will look like all together. Exhilarating is good. I don't even care if it turns out to be a mess, it's exhilarating! And now you think I'm crazy.

Auditioning some fabrics....

So it all adds up to not having much mental energy to put into any other quilt project 'cuz I'm a bit drained. Plus my kids are crazy busy with tennis matches and baseball games and I'm back to the book work in the office. Ughh. Let's not go there.

Lovin' these thoughtful and/or funny posts lately too.... so funny, too funny, and something to think about. There's something to be said for balance. In everything.

The One That Won't Wait For Attention

This quilt has just sort of snuck in under the radar. Every now and then I have one that kind of demands my full attention no matter what! I have kept up with the goal of working on a certain amount of applique for the fire quilt each week and then... well, I gleefully pulled this one out and got right to work.

Low Volume Log Cabin with the borders attached

It was simple work to stitch the primitive star onto the quilt. Easy peasy. The appliqued scallops were next up. They have been getting worked on here and there in what feels a lot like stolen minutes. Finally, {ha! it was very speedy work really} they reached the point of being ready to sew onto the main part of the quilt.

With some applique work....

I fussed with the corner blocks for a very short time and then decided to go with another log cabin style of block. Afterall, there was plenty of those leftover strippy lengths to play with. I am so very happy with the soft, relaxed look of this quilt. Hopefully it can be quilted in a way that only emphasizes its best points. You know, later on, when it finally gets a turn in the hoop....

Interesting in black and white....

I was curious to see the quilt in a black and white photo. Does the value hold up under close scrutiny? Hmm... It definitely needs some fine tuning in the stitching department. Maybe some big stitching work on this one? Ahem! Later. Stitching to be done on this one LATER.*wink

My Current Applique Round Up

I am on complete and total applique overload lately. It's not terribly unusual around here, but once it hits, then it's almost deadly, at least to my motivation. First of all, there is my Sunburst quilt. I've firmly deemed it a 'forever' project by now, so it only proceeds in little fits and starts. A leaf here and a leaf there. Not a lot of progress ever, but I think we're good. Aren't we? It almost always makes me happy, if a bit bored in the 'doing'.

Sunburst

Next up is the low volume Log Cabin quilt, which was very sneaky about inserting itself directly into the mix. I was very happily making my free looking Log Cabin quilt top and then the idea of adding applique just sort of crept into my thought process. Ha! No sneakiness about it now. It's been like a runaway train getting all the parts prepped and on their way to completion. Just a minute there buster, you are NOT a priority concern at the moment! So weird how that happens. I've had to make myself slow down in order to concentrate on a couple of other projects!

LV Log Cabin

Quarter Circles Round #2 has been placed on the back burner for now. It just needs a little sewing done on the machine before I can attack the hand applique, so for now--no pressure. It still makes my heart go pitter patter every time I pull it out though and you know what that means.... It's one that I'm very eager to start working on! Hmm... I could probably just power through this one in no time....

Quarter Circles Round #2

The Eagle QAL quilt is basically in the simmering stage for now. I really want the next border to be an applique border, but have no brilliantly clear picture in my mind. Perhaps a classic looking vine type motif? I'm definitely leaning in that direction, but am fairly content to let it incubate--for now. Deadline is July 4th! Just curious, how long can 'for now' last?

The Eagle QAL quilt

Lately I've also been very intrigued by the Marsala Challenge, if only because I have plenty of that drab, uninteresting color in my stash. Why I ever bought it in the first place is a question that is impossible to answer, but for some reason my mind has seized upon the idea of trying to make something work. This fabric pile keeps growing larger as I wonder, hmmm...? The main problem to starting this particular project {any justification will do} is the issue of what I would clearly want to use for a pattern. It, ahem! has a lot of applique involved.*sigh  Insanity, thy name is woman... But you know, it's not like the applique would be ready right away! The initial phase of the quilt would involve a lot of sewing on the machine???

Thinking about making a 'Marsala' based quilt

And then there is the quilt that is the culprit of all my quilting stress--the 2014 Fire in Pateros quilt. Stress is NEVER, ever allowed in the quilt room, but somehow sneaks in through the back door occasionally regardless. It's a quilt I really, badly want to make {sort of feel compelled to make actually}, but it's driving me insane. The creative stage of figuring out the details was fun and a bit thrilling, but the implementation is so, very difficult and yes, a lot tedious as well. I love and adore words on my quilts. Getting them there is the problem. Arghhh!!

2014 Fire In Pateros quilt

It's also possible that I've bitten off more than I can chew. Why oh why did I plan out such a largish quilt for such a crazy, emotional project? I now have most of two 'thoughts' appliqued onto my first panel, but there are six more to go, plus two or three other areas that have words included. Not to mention a panel of other applique 'shapes' and other various appliqued bits to be placed here and there. It's the real deal, 'whole applique' quilt and would be very, extremely interesting if I could just mix it up. The problem is, this first panel needs to be completely finished before I know for sure how to proceed with the rest. The colors, balance etc. depend primarily upon this first {very wordy} panel that somehow gets me all churned up. It's not like I was at war people! 

I've recently challenged myself to complete one 'thought' per week in an effort to make some real progress, not this namby, pamby, dinking around stuff. If this means all the other applique work gets shoved aside for now, then so be it. It really need to be determined if this quilt is actually 'doable', before it gets shoved in the back of a closet somewhere out of sheer frustration and temper tantrum type antics. Who, me? haha We all know some quilts are very, very difficult to implement, but this one feels like it could be well worth the effort if I can just tackle my antipathy towards sewing on so very many of these fabric letters. {And no, I don't want to do an iron-on type of applique. I don't like how they feel in a to-be-used quilt.}

So there you have it--a complete overview of my recent applique overload. It's important to make quilts we're gonna love, right?*wink