Sunday, January 20, 2019
Sunday Quilt Inspiration: modern triangles
Not just modern. Not just triangles. Modern triangles!
All of these and over 8,000 more quilts are on my "heart, quilts" board. By all means, do visit!
Friday, January 18, 2019
Big Sky ~~ a slow quilting finish!
I've been working on a small art quilt for a couple of months.
A stunning sunset here at home reminded me of a picture that I took in Montana on our last vacation. Thank goodness Google photos has a search feature, because even then it takes a while.
That sunset--the day fading into blue, the streaks of whitish cloud, the navy blue of the impending darkness--held me spellbound until finally the last rays of light melted away. The clouds were floating in front of the blues of the sky and I tried to pick that up with my stitches of bluish white thread. Hopefully the lines help to move the eye from one side to the other.
The dark bottom is navy in person. No matter how many photos I take, I haven't any idea how to adjust the color. In most of my photos, the fabric looks washed out or faded.
This little quilt took quite a while to complete because, while I carried it around with me to work on when away from home, it seemed that every time I opened it, something or someone pulled me away. However I know that even five minutes here and there eventually add up. Of course, it was encouraging to have an occasional 20-30 minutes to quilt a large chunk of space.
I didn't plan any of the quilting. I had an idea of what I wanted and made every decision when I opened the work. So what I thought I'd do one day could change completely the following day. I like working like this, without a plan. It allows me to move from one section of the quilt to another, quilting lines meeting in the center somewhere.
Dragging the quilt around means it raveled somewhat along the cut edges, but I like that as it adds another dimension to my little 5 X 7 piece.
A stunning sunset here at home reminded me of a picture that I took in Montana on our last vacation. Thank goodness Google photos has a search feature, because even then it takes a while.
That sunset--the day fading into blue, the streaks of whitish cloud, the navy blue of the impending darkness--held me spellbound until finally the last rays of light melted away. The clouds were floating in front of the blues of the sky and I tried to pick that up with my stitches of bluish white thread. Hopefully the lines help to move the eye from one side to the other.
The dark bottom is navy in person. No matter how many photos I take, I haven't any idea how to adjust the color. In most of my photos, the fabric looks washed out or faded.
I didn't plan any of the quilting. I had an idea of what I wanted and made every decision when I opened the work. So what I thought I'd do one day could change completely the following day. I like working like this, without a plan. It allows me to move from one section of the quilt to another, quilting lines meeting in the center somewhere.
Dragging the quilt around means it raveled somewhat along the cut edges, but I like that as it adds another dimension to my little 5 X 7 piece.
Thursday, January 17, 2019
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
What Have I Done?
Last year, on January 15, I finally wrote this post looking back at 2017 and, maybe, thought about what I'd do for 2018. A couple of things before I go any farther:
1. I'm right on time.
2. I didn't actually write down what those thoughts or plans were.
3. I surely do not remember. Even after reading that post. So,
4. I'm probably not getting much of this right.
That's okay. If you're reading this, you probably know me. And don't have very high expectations. Good point. So what did I accomplish? Well, it's been difficult figuring it out, but I think I have a good inkling.
Memory Quilts! It must have been the year of the memory quilt. I made five. Wow! And I don't really like making tee shirt quilts.
Studio cleanup! Most of my gain this year was something I don't think I really intended to accomplish. I was inspired by the many beautiful photos that I've seen in a Facebook group called "Sewing Room Ideas." I've cleaned, folded or rolled fabric, downsized, purged, and generally improved the studio.
Richard built two pieces of furniture for me. The "hutch" above, which is within arm's reach of the long-arm and this cubbie tower in the closet. It is meant to fit perfectly in the approximate 2½ feet of wall space that had not already been filled with shelving. It's been a life saver in a sense. I fold anything that won't roll on a cardboard and stack it here. Separating prints and solids has also been a real time-saver. I don't have to dig through one to find the other.
I absolutely need to keep working on this "scrub and clean" project!
Month by month outline
January: Something for Jake, Cotton Quilters' Guild presidency begins
February: The Harley Quilt
March: pincushions, Billy's Memory Quilt
April: Paducah Quilt Week
May: Two single block quilt finishes, Alan's Crown Royal
June: Mrs. Bertha's quilt top
July: Milly's dresses
August: LSU Memories, Row by Row
September: Bipolar art series (4 complete in two months)
October: Faith, Write 31 Days "Quilting teaches me..." posts
November: Gina's Surprise, small items, Father Ibe's 50th birthday quilt, Dropcloth
December: pillows, wedding dress alteration
So I completed only seven normal size quilts. But there were lots of small art quilts and other projects in the mix. Some of those are the Bipolar Art series, of which I have four complete; the cotton paintings, I think there are now 6 or 7; and lots of little dresses. Lots. I have no idea how many. There's even one that Milly hasn't worn. I'm hoping it will still fit in the spring as it is sleeveless. Of course, we can add a long-sleeve tee on a chilly day.
Having all the kids in the house really consumed my studio time. It's hard to believe that for six months we were living in the camper. We transitioned there and back so smoothly that there's no sting in the memory of it.
Now that we're back, we've been working on the house. I say "we" but I mean "he." Richard has been powering through without me. Thanks to the boys, we're almost finished with the master bed and bath.
And here we are in the middle of January. I've tried writing goals in years past, then forget I had planned ahead. I get so caught up in a project, I don't think about those goals. At the end of the year, I have to admit defeat. That's probably why I didn't write much in the way of plans for 2018. Well that and my world was upside down.
But I've decided to make another attempt, so for 2019 I'd like to try to
Not a bad list. Just vague enough to have lots of wiggle room but still be able to call them goals. What is your most important goal for 2019?
1. I'm right on time.
2. I didn't actually write down what those thoughts or plans were.
3. I surely do not remember. Even after reading that post. So,
4. I'm probably not getting much of this right.
That's okay. If you're reading this, you probably know me. And don't have very high expectations. Good point. So what did I accomplish? Well, it's been difficult figuring it out, but I think I have a good inkling.Memory Quilts! It must have been the year of the memory quilt. I made five. Wow! And I don't really like making tee shirt quilts.
Richard built two pieces of furniture for me. The "hutch" above, which is within arm's reach of the long-arm and this cubbie tower in the closet. It is meant to fit perfectly in the approximate 2½ feet of wall space that had not already been filled with shelving. It's been a life saver in a sense. I fold anything that won't roll on a cardboard and stack it here. Separating prints and solids has also been a real time-saver. I don't have to dig through one to find the other.
I absolutely need to keep working on this "scrub and clean" project!
Month by month outline
January: Something for Jake, Cotton Quilters' Guild presidency begins
February: The Harley Quilt
March: pincushions, Billy's Memory Quilt
April: Paducah Quilt Week
May: Two single block quilt finishes, Alan's Crown Royal
June: Mrs. Bertha's quilt top
July: Milly's dresses
August: LSU Memories, Row by Row
September: Bipolar art series (4 complete in two months)
October: Faith, Write 31 Days "Quilting teaches me..." posts
November: Gina's Surprise, small items, Father Ibe's 50th birthday quilt, Dropcloth
December: pillows, wedding dress alteration
So I completed only seven normal size quilts. But there were lots of small art quilts and other projects in the mix. Some of those are the Bipolar Art series, of which I have four complete; the cotton paintings, I think there are now 6 or 7; and lots of little dresses. Lots. I have no idea how many. There's even one that Milly hasn't worn. I'm hoping it will still fit in the spring as it is sleeveless. Of course, we can add a long-sleeve tee on a chilly day.
Now that we're back, we've been working on the house. I say "we" but I mean "he." Richard has been powering through without me. Thanks to the boys, we're almost finished with the master bed and bath.
And here we are in the middle of January. I've tried writing goals in years past, then forget I had planned ahead. I get so caught up in a project, I don't think about those goals. At the end of the year, I have to admit defeat. That's probably why I didn't write much in the way of plans for 2018. Well that and my world was upside down.
But I've decided to make another attempt, so for 2019 I'd like to try to
- continue cleaning and organizing the studio
- finish the last piece in my Bipolar series
- continue work on the cotton series
- make a low-volume, neutral quilt for our bed
- keep going with the modern quilt guild and lean toward that asthetic
- use up some scraps
- have fun with improv quilts
- teach at other guild meetings
Not a bad list. Just vague enough to have lots of wiggle room but still be able to call them goals. What is your most important goal for 2019?
Sunday, January 13, 2019
Sunday Quilt Inspiration: MQG past
I'm getting so very excited at the prospect of attending QuiltCon in just over a month. I can't see enough modern quilts. Enjoy these moderns from previous QuiltCon exhibits and the people who make up the MQG.
Saturday, January 12, 2019
QuiltCon entry update
My three entries for QuiltCon, sadly, did not get juried into the show. I'm disappointed, of course, but I can't wait to see the ones that did get into the show. I fully expect to be in Nashville in February, and that's coming quickly!
If you are planning to attend QuiltCon, let me know either in the comments or in an email at mary.marcotte@gmail.com. I'd love to meet up with followers and friends!
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