Lone Stars

Like a lot of quilters I collect magazine patterns and instructions into a binder. I have several. Some of the patterns are 'someday' quilts. You know the ones, Mariner's Compass, Russian Sunflower, Broken Star. Will I ever make those? I knew it would take time, effort and energy, just the opposite of my 'no thinkum' sewing. So I decided recently, while I'm between jobs maybe I have the time and energy, maybe today was someday. Here's the first one I came to, I didn't stop to consider whether I 'should' or not. Just DO it!

I went to Electric Quilt 'to begin to start to commence' as we say.

Queen, 94" x 116"

I worked a lot on the color scheme. The colors in the quilt are so soft and beautiful, but I knew I'd never be able to reproduce that, so I chose turn of the last century; indigo and cadet blue, chrome yellow, shirtings, no black or purple, poison green, vintage brown, you get the idea. Drafting blocks in EQ helps.

But EQ drafts can only take you so far, at some point you have to start cutting.

First group

The stars are 22 inches, made from strips cut 1 and 3/8". I decided it would be helpful to stablize the fabric to minimize stretching, so I starched the strips after they were cut.

The first unit is pieced from fabrics 1-5, the second, 2-6, the third, 3-7 and so on. This way you don't have to cut and sew diamonds and worry about the bias edges stretching as you sew.

Trim the strip set at a 45 degree angle.

Then cut eight strips from each strip set.

For each arm of the star you take one strip from each strip set and sew them together. *phew* what a lot of effort!

Once I finished the first arm, I felt like I'd accomplished a whole bunch. But I have to do this how many more times?? I scanned the first arm and 'pieced' the star in Photoshop. I was too impatient to see what it's going to look like.

This is a photo composite, that's why the center is off. Not too bad for two days worth of sewing. Oddly enough, I received a job offer the next day. I begin my new position October 18!

More String X Blocks

I've been piecing a few of these every once in awhile, no plan of action, just enjoying the easy way the blocks come together; but I decided I should figure out how big I wanted to make the quilt. Oh don't bother me with details, I'm just having fun sewing...

I created the block in Electric Quilt and played around with a pieced border.

It's fun, I like it...

... but in the end I decided on a simple, solid black border, it lets the eye rest. This size will also allow the quilt to hang in the kitchen where I rotate wall hangings. My friend Rosy saw the blocks and said it looks like Black Licorice and Jellybeans. I think that's a great name for it!

Shampooing An Eight Week Old Kitten

Spunky had fleas, but all the literature said not to use flea powders or collars on a kitten less than 10-12 weeks old. At the same time, the literature (Googled kitten care) also said fleas can cause anemia in young kittens. Dilemma, do I try to shampoo her? I prepared for the worst, imagining all sorts of yowling, scratching, clinging to everyone and everything within reach in shear terror. I filled the kitchen sink with a few inches of tepid water and braced for battle. This is what happened.

It was a non-event, she was completely docile as I wet her down, rubbed soap into her fur and used a ladle to rinse.

9 weeks

A good rub with a warm towel and a comb through and she was free of fleas and smelling like the dawn. I've had a number of cat owners tell me some cats grow up liking their bath. I had no idea.

Beach Break

A couple of weekends ago the late September weather was over a hundred in our valley. We packed the car and headed to the coast. Once we crest the ridge we can see the fog sitting off the shore and know it's going to be cooler.

It's nearly impossible to quilt at the beach, but I found knitting can be done. We went home refreshed by the sights and sounds.

Streak of Lightening

It's done! Top created August 2009, bordered, May 2010, finally quilted! It's amazing how long some things can sit, but when I get down to it, it doesn't really take that long.

I did the meander and thought it was 'okay', but once I washed it, the quilting really added nice texture. I should get out of my comfort zone more often. This quilt was made as a donation, but I haven't found a home for it yet. Usually as I make the quilt, it lets me know where it should go, but this one's not talking. That's odd, guess it'll have to sit on the quilt rack awhile until it decides.

Aid to Machine Quilting

I recently used some of my husband's car wax and put a coat on the bed of my machine and the surrounding table. Not only does it look great, but now quilts move with ease when I machine quilt. I read about this in blogland, can't remember where. Thank you for the suggestion!

Candy Box Flimsey

When I originally made the blocks for this, I envisioned the outer border from a bright, multi-colored print that echoed the colors in the top, but when it came time to put on the border, the quilt asked for something a little more classic.

It doesn't matter what lighting you see this quilt in, it *is* bright; I love how cheerful it is.

Merial

She's finished.

Click to enlarge

I like it even better than the digital image, the batiks just add so much.

One Patch Strippy Done!

My favorite long arm quilter and I collaborated on the quilting designs for the One Patch Strippy quilt and it is a dream come true!

click to enlarge

I love this quilt. I loved making it, but the quilting makes it sing.

Some long arm quilters are true artists. As we always say, "Quilting makes the quilt." Thanks Marian!

My Newest Project

Frank and I found an orphaned kitten night before last while we were out walking. She showed signs of hunger and exposure, both her eyes had a cold; but she was crying loud enough to be heard in the bushes. We took her home, cleaned her up and fed her from a pipette. What an appetite, she was chewing on the pipette!

I fixed a box for her for the night, complete with an electric cat mat and she slept hard.

I got Kitten Milk Replacer and a bottle and began feeding her. She seems to be about six weeks old, but didn't know what kibble was, so bottle feeding seemed best. The internet sites said every three to four hours, but she was yelling her head off every 50-60 minutes in the first 36 hours.

She's fearless. Now that she's fed and rested, she motors around the kitchen or living room with amazing speed, what a live wire! She climbs just about anything, including us; you put her in your lap and the next thing you know, she's on your shoulder.

I fed her with a bottle the first 48 hours, but about the time she chewed the nipple off the bottle I decided she was older than I originally estimated. After her initial panic to eat when she smells the formula, she settles down and laps from a bowl just fine. Now she only wants to eat every two hours. Progress is being made!

We have a new baby in the house, complete with feeding schedules and everything. Who knew we were going to be adopted. :) We named her Spunky.

Quilter's Yard Sale

Last Saturday I was up and out the door early to attend a quilter's yard sale. The flyer said:

Quilters Yard Sale Special:
Boxes and boxes of all kinds of fabric
All kinds of patterns
Yarn and cross stitch kits
All kinds of needlecraft books
Lots and lots of thread.

YowZa! How could I NOT go?

Her selection was really amazing and the AMOUNT was almost overwhelming, boxes and boxes was right. I tactfully asked another shopper if this was a quilter's estate, did someone die? She said, "No, the woman said she just has too much stuff. She needs to pare down."

I found the "Free, take as much as you want" scrap fabric. OMGosh, several large Rubbermaid totes. I sorted through and when I went to the table to pay for other yardage she snorted at me, "Is that *all* you're taking? Maybe I need to give you a bigger bag." She was serious.

You can see my scissors on the left top

So I sorted by color, prewashed each group and then dried them outside.

Orange, pink

Cream, tan, yellow


Green, aqua


Blue, lavender


Red, purple

I asked the previous owner if she prewashed and she said no. She felt current fabrics and those you pay ten dollars and up for, don't bleed. When I got home I prewashed anyway; the water for the red wash was dark like cherry Kool-aid, and the purple, like grape. A lot of these will be used in a pieced block set with white. Prewashing saves misery later.

Interestingly enough, the first and third fabrics above were washed in the yellow, tan, cream load and the second and fourth fabrics were washed in the orange, red load. They're the same fabrics, but got over dyed as a result.

I'm excited by the new colors and prints I'm adding to my stash, these will certainly brighten up my palette. What a windfall!