Another Baby Quilt Getting in the Way

Lots of stuff going on around here what with Father's Day, my moms birthday and now, a new little niece to admire. You know how it is with a big family, everyone tries to step up and help out the new parents! So very thankful we don't have to entertain the older munchkins every day though. Wowsers, I am totally, completely out of the habit of running herd on kids aged seven and under!

Sweet Tart Baskets

Regardless of all the distractions, hand quilting did get accomplished, and finally.... it was time to pin the next quilt for the hoop. This one {Sweet Tart}, definitely wasn't anywhere near the top of the queue, but it's basically the only one that I looked forward to working on, at least for this moment in time. How do you argue with that?

Getting ready to pin the quilt...

Mostly, I think the next-up-in-the-hoop needed to be happy, convey positive vibes or at the very least, trick me into thinking I am happy with my world! I'm so very weary with the roller coaster of emotions these days. But here we are and it's only June. I don't think I'm alone in wistfully looking forward to the year 2021? Which is so sad. Wishing away our days is rarely an uplifting feeling!

Never enough baskets in my quilts....

So I just keep pushing off the news of the day and end up making my world a little bit smaller. Though our quilting stores are now open {even if with limited hours}, it's become a habit to shop in the quilting room first. Antique Crows already has the first round of binding stitched down. Most of the it came from the binding scraps tote, which of course, is something that never fails to impress me. Whether or not it looks very good is probably open to interpretation, but somehow it's almost become a signature look around here! The fabrics that actually come straight out of the totes for binding purposes are rarely magnificent, hard-to-cut-into specimens either. I generally shoot for a certain color range and then settle on the fabric bits that seem most reluctant to incorporate themselves into any one of my quilts.

Binding ready for the hand stitching

The new niece warrants a new baby quilt being made. Absolutely! Can't leave the littlest sister feeling left out! Since mama likes the old fashioned look just fine, I went ahead and challenged myself to work with more of those 'So-Tired greens' I've been trying to get rid of all year. The stack is surprisingly getting much reduced, which makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. Love seeing a good plan come together!

Ohio Star blocks on the wall

A simple color palette, non-flashy fabrics and an easy, oldish style block all came together very fast with almost zero dithering about the details. I couldn't resist adding a floral sashing {cut-offs from the back of another quilt!}, and at the last moment when cutting out, I impulsively added an extra 1/2" to the width. It just seemed like the right thing to do. That skinny little sashing 'look'  didn't seem nearly as much fun after the flowers were cut down to nothing. The corner stones were potentially going to be a bolder green than used in the blocks, and then looked so tame and 'flat', I ended up going in an entirely different direction color-wise.

Getting ready to sew the rows together

In the event you are interested, the Ohio Star blocks are 9" finished and sashing strips a finished 1 1/2", all adding up to a 40 1/2" quilt. Should have been fine and dandy at that size, but no.... You know me, big fan of the border addition! So I played around with several different options including this floral in the picture below, a deep green and then various pinks etc. Blah, blah, blah. Quickly decided that pieced borders were a 'no-go', and then finally settled on a random fabric that caught the corner of my eye.

Auditioning border fabrics

It was a really pretty {though odd} yellow-green plaid hanging out in one of the simmering stacks of fabric. I don't know what it is about raiding the stacks of fabric lately, but sooner or later I'm bound to regret all this indiscriminate pillaging! It perfectly lightened up the whole quilt though and made me a happy camper as to overall look and vibe. These things are important even if this is just a baby quilt! It was sandwiched and pinned late last night after running an errand with my husband, and this afternoon I was able to machine stitch-in-the-ditch around the sashing. Now the plan is for it to receive a little bit of hand quilting in the star blocks areas. 

A little binding prep

Yep, after only one evening of stitching on Sweet Tarts, that quilt gets to be shoved out of the way for the new kid on the block. I wrestled mightily with myself while machine quilting, because the baby quilt could have been finished off so very quickly and then been done. Why do I do this to myself? I suppose it all boils down to being truly satisfied with the end results. That's probably just as important as 'gifting' the quilt, knowing we did our best work within the perimeters of what the project is and how important it is in our creative journey. If I gift a quilt that feels 'less than' and it's for my precious little niece, well.... How precious is that niece exactly? One or two nights of having it in a hoop in my lap is nothing in the long term! And we all know the limits of my machine stitching skills. They are most definitely 'less than'.....

While hunting through the binding tote, I went ahead and pulled pieces for Sweet Tart and also one other quilt that's quickly coming up in the queue. The baby quilt binding ended up being yet another of the 'So-Tired' green fabrics and the only thing that would have made me happier, is if that binding would have needed ALL of it. Wonderful to having these bindings prepped and ready to go. While it feels like I'm just spinning my wheels and getting nowhere really fast, in reality, there are two quilts here almost on the verge of being totally, completely finished! Ahh... you know I'm just itching to dive into another fun quilt start. Something a whole lot more open ended than making a baby quilt! Just have to tidy up the quilt room and decide which particular fabric stack is calling out to me the loudest....

Linking up to Wendy's Peacock Party. She's got some really great advice on how to write the little blurb that ends up hanging with your quilt in a show. Interesting to think about though I don't have to worry about it for at least another year. Maybe you're lucky and actually have some quilt shows to look forward to this year?

It's Like Running Into a Brick Wall

I was cruising along, working on the border to Sweet Tart and getting a lot done. So much cheddar, it just about makes me cross my eyes from the glare! Then after the little basket border was sewn on, I was thrown to a screeching halt by the realization that the quilt top was already finished. Wow. It was just over and done with.

Sweet Tart quilt top

What? There is still another border to go, right? I couldn't believe how quickly this quilt decided to call it quits. I played and played with a couple different ideas, from simple one-fabric borders to multi-colored pieced or applique ideas and nope. No dice. The only thing that seems to make anything look better {in my imagination} is using some of that lovely grass green as a binding. That's all I could come up with!*sigh  If I would have known this was the one and only border, those little baskets would have definitely been sewn up in other, probably darker colors. Don't you hate that? Second guessing the previous decisions when the future decisions are moot 'cuz they aren't even happening anymore?

Loving the big flowers

So now I'm a little bit miffed, feeling rather restless and questioning my creativity. {There was a really good border idea waiting to happen!}. I've been spending way too much time scoping out other peoples fabulous quilting efforts and feeling pretty meager in comparison. It's really probably more like Summer blues hitting early and a little too much chaos in our life. We're trying to get things scheduled so we're better prepared for the big weekends, but it's just gonna be one of those fast, crazy summers.

Just won't let me make it any bigger...

Had to go to the airport and pick up our youngest son. Took the opportunity to buy a new pair of summer, wedge, high heeled sandals while we were in the big city. Now if I could just convince myself to quit wearing pantyhose! I'm so old school it's terrifying, but in my defense I am married to a minister. Also, being a redhead and one with very pale skin there is no trying to tan. My legs are either white or sunburned red, so really, there are no good options. And I won't fake tan so that's out too. Thus the never ending quest to find great hose in the appropriate color. My fave aren't the most durable in the world, but mostly I stick to Hanes Silk Reflections in the 'Barely There' color. They feel pretty breathable, which is a plus in summer, and I don't have to buy control top in that particular brand. Ugh..  Most companies assume that because you're wearing hose, you must also want to squeeze all your innards into a sausage casing too. Umm..., why are we having this conversation? Oh yeah. Lack of creativity and a jam packed summer. You never know. I may have to start five new projects just to overcome...  Linking up with Wendy at the Peacock Party

January Progress on Several Projects

So here's my start to the latest AHIQ 'Red is a Neutral' challenge. I had a stack of fabric already pre-selected for making a quilt for a certain someone. The red is not that gorgeous cherry red that looks so wonderful in most quilts, but most are the deeper, darker shades--more maroon. Very, very difficult for me to imagine working beautifully into a quilt, but exactly the shades this particular person prefers.

AHIQ: Red and U&U

I went ahead and combined the AHIQ prompt with the UANDUQAL challenge hoping to end up with something charming rather than flat out ugly! To further the challenge for me personally, I'm using the reds in the background {or neutral} position. I know it's confusing when you look at my practice block, but flip the colors and that's how it will look. All the lattice pieces will be blues and grays with maybe a few in a bright red fabric. Crossing my fingers it will be fast and easy and more importantly, look amazing. hehe  Well, maybe just look good. I have another idea for U&U challenge that feels more 'me' and also, now that I'm thinking about red as a neutral? Lots of things to consider there...

You probably forgot all about these baskets, but I've also been plugging along with the applique work for a long time now. Just little bits of time here and there when I was in the mood. I am positive that there were four identical green print leaves at the beginning, but somewhere along the way, one leaf apparently went missing.

Sweet Tart Baskets

We searched high and low, but never did find it. And of course, as usually happens, that was the very last of that particular fabric so had to find a substitute! The green plaid actually makes me very happy as I always love incorporating plaids and directionals into every quilt possible.  Then, imagine my surprise and dismay when I realized that somehow I had miscalculated the amount needed for the chosen sashing print! If I had a brain, I'd probably take it out and play with it! The closest matching fabric to this one looked very yellow/green and sallow when placed side by side, thus the decision to go with the almost solid green. Some of you might have ditched the original sashing print altogether when coming up short, but I just couldn't. It's absolutely perfect for the look and feel that I was aiming for and that was that.

Working on the center of the quilt...

I did have to take some extra time considering and weighing my options for the little cornerstone squares. Black? Green? Are they needed on the corners? Is this going to look awkward moving forward? Lots of decisions to make and really, it's all about learning to trust our instincts and doing what feels right in the moment.

Another project that I've been playing with lately is my Bullseye Medallion. I've had this stack of fabric sitting on the counters for a very long time and was determined not to let it be one of those projects that never ever gets going.  This blend of colors is quite a bit different for me too, but you know how it is, when something quilty is loudly calling our names! 

Starting the centerpiece for the Bullseye Medallion

This is an idea I drew up after looking at an antique quilt several years ago. Since then, I've looked and looked for that particular quilt and cannot find a picture, so off I go with my own made-up version! I made the mistake of using a lighter weight fabric behind the red circle, but the color is exactly what I was looking for--a charcoal with a blue tinge. It actually does lay flat, contrary to what the picture shows, but I am going to have to be careful when I add the applique stitching. It probably doesn't help that I don't iron and starch to the nth degree and therefore ensure that all my projects are polished and fabulous looking when presented on the blog!

Auditioning a bird

Originally, I had thought to leave the center of the circle bare {like what I remember in the antique quilt}, but the more I considered, it just had to have a bird included. I drew several different options and wound up with something that felt okay. Not great but doable. Then, on impulse, I told my daughter what I wanted and asked her to draw some free hand birds too. After seeing her birds, it became apparent that what I wanted had to be shorter and 'chunkier' looking than what I had settled on as 'okay'. 

Looking at the paper bird folded

Rather than drawing a new bird, I just played around with folding the paper bird until it looked right in my minds eye. Wallah! Applique template all ready for business! After that it was a short time until all the rest fell into place. You can see that all the various parts and pieces are now cut out and waiting on applique stitching. Yes, the centerpiece does look a bit busy at the moment, but should look better after the seam allowance is turned under and out of the way. So funny how any and every idea is completely open to change at any particular phase in a quilt!

Add with applique pieces ready to stitch

And of course, now there is this circular cut-out from behind the applique. Hmm...  It is oh-so intriguing and I find myself very determined to find something interesting to do with it. I'm leaving it on the design wall for the moment just waiting to see if something will spark and yet another quilt will be in the making here shortly. Just can't resist these sorts of challenges!

So many possibilities!

Normally at least part of January is a slow time for us, but wowsers, it feels like we've been on a runaway train. Tonight is Senior Night for our youngest son in his varsity basketball season and later in the week we are having a very delayed 'Christmas' evening with my husbands mother. Sometime in the next month I have to get serious about making a baby quilt too as my next grandchild is due to arrive sometime in March! I have been longing for some quiet weeks but alas, it has not been on the agenda for us at all. Best to keep the applique bag prepped and ready to go and have the hand quilting hoop available at a moments notice....

More Progress on the Applique and the Start of a New Project

The Dried Flower blocks are ready for the leaves now. As of this posting, they are cut out and ready for stitching. Nine blocks of the larger, more rounded leaves and three of the narrow, wavy leaves. We'll see how that works out, but I'm really looking forward to seeing how these odd shaped blocks finish up! 

Dried Flowers

 I've also been steadily progressing through the chunky New York Beauty blocks. Only 10 blocks to go when I took this picture, but as of last night, all that's left to do are the gold arcs across the bottom of the 'points'. Whew! It's been a real slog getting through all 64 blocks! It's time for a break though, so now I'll probably stitch the leaves for the Dried Flowers before coming back to these.

Quarter Circles/Chunky New York Beauty Blocks

I also jumped right into the middle of a project that's been simmering for a very long time. At the last minute I switched the colors around and decided to make the baskets yellow and coral/pink instead of using the yellow for background color like originally intended.

Improv. Baskets

Not sure why I did that, but it made sense at the time. Now I'll probably go with a boring cream as the background but that's okay--the basket is probably busy enough already! The vintagey fabric above was the one I was most worried about, but now that the basket is coming together, it's my favorite. Just have to be careful when ironing as it doesn't appear to be 100 percent cotton. Love, love, love the more intense colors of that block though!

I'm calling it 'Sweet Tart'

No pattern for these baskets, just kind of winging it improv. style. Basically I cut 5 1/2" squares on the diagonal and then crosscut them again, arranged them on the design wall, and then sewed them into rows. I have a certain final block size in mind and so there's a rough template for the outside dimensions too. One more to go and then it'll be time to figure out the handle and start doing the prep work for the flowers that will be stitched 'inside'. After the last bit of marathon applique, it feels wonderful to stop at only four blocks!