I love the idea of a square-block sampler quilt. It is a BOM designed by 2 Australian quilters, Sue Belleli & Kerry Buckingham for the Block of the Month club on Facebook.
Block #1 (Adori) is very unique, and while I followed the cuts and pieced with 1/4", it still came up short of the 12.5" square. I added a 1 1/4" border and it works. Another time in my life, I might have tried to 'fix' it, but think it looks mighty fine.
I didn't really like the cross in the center of the block and that silly little fact kept me from wanting to make it. I planned to make it seem less noticeable but in the end, it shows. I think that the dark parts could have gone on the very outside, yet it is done, and done is done.
I am listening to an audiobook by Viktor E. Franklin MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING read by Simon Vance. I first read this book while in high school, lo these many decades ago. While listening rather than reading is different, so is reading it as a teenager different than listening as an elder.
It seems that age has a way of slowing us down, and while I have always been fast and busy, the pace I keep now, so I've been told, is one most average people have. Hmm...finally. I have become average. Well, maybe.
As my scraps start to get used (a big YEA here), it becomes more difficult to make something work.
Last year I joined some quilt alongs or blocks of the month, and one block of the day. Previously, I joined swaps, so as my closets got more organized, I discovered the orphan blocks & decided to put what I had together in a quilt top and call it. Then I auditioned fabrics for the sashing and border. There was this chunk of dark purple with a sort of glitter to it that was the same shade value of the navies and grays in the blocks. After washing the purple twice, it seemed to be perfect to add and not detract from the blocks. I don't have much purple fabric so couldn't find anything for the outside borders. I decided to used a light green/white stripe as a faux-piping and just use the purple for 2 borders. There is also enough for binding!
I had planned to back it with the BOD mood quilt. Its made of 5" squares or HSTs cut from them. One a day. I am going to finish it and see what they look like together. I pressed it and want to finish the remaining rows. The pattern calls for borders that would make it the size of the other side of a quilt. I will see what happens.
It’s never easy to go back to work that is set aside. While I’ve written about that before, I still don’t understand.
I want to finish things before putting them away, but I either get frustrated or bored. My current thoughts are that it is better to set something up than to put negativity into it.
The Solids Mystery designer showed her finished quilt and it looks great. I worked on Month 6 all day and haven’t got a finish. Nor a photo.
Seven is cut. More tomorrow.
I don’t know why it is hard to return to a UFO or a WIP. Why anything. I baked biscotti, did laundry, dishes. They are tasks I set aside and pick up. What’s different?
All the math I did wasn’t correct. Logic told me that I mixed the sides. However, I did more calculations, cut the fabric, and pieced the strips and it is still short. Then I pressed it and set it aside. I pulled out the Solid BOM to try and catch up. First it was fabric selection and cutting. I’ll do the next steps tomorrow.
It’s so frustrating. I moved onto more cleaning, making a casserole and trying to organize my To Do List.
When I think of life, symbolism, energy, it’s almost like falling backwards into a different part of my life. A part where I thought I had the answers and thought I knew where I was going. Not so much these days.
I am still a private person who doesn’t easily share. I am trying.
Math. I thought I knew basics. Measured the strips. Re-measured the top and the blue/green for the back. And like Jon Snow in Game of Thrones, I know nothing. I want that clear wall mathematicians use on TV to solve their mysteries. I want the futuristic ones a person uses with their hands. Instead I have paper, pencils and pens that I scratch and rewrite so I can’t figure out one solution to the next.
So, I cooked, shopped, cleaned, even moved furniture.
I couldn’t let it go. I remeasured the top and bottom, calculating it over, and now I need to piece more strips. I just realized that I need to calculate the cuts for the back piece.
My math skills are not good. Funny because this is really simple addition.
I have a piece of blue and green that is just short of the top measurement. Then, add a 3" overlay (that's 6" top/bottom and 6" for the sides). I thought I made a huge dent in the holiday fabrics, and there is still so much left over.
I have to measure the strips for the length first. The width is 4" which takes away half an inch for piecing. Its worth trying.
It has taken me a lot of time to finish the Test Quilt, and I am under a promise not to reveal it, so cannot upload the pic. Needless to say, it was a surprise that I am shaking my head over and over. How lovely it turned out. I put it in a container where it can sit until the regular quilters finish. At that time, I will add the border, batting, back, quilting and binding.
Trying to catch up to my other projects. I finally finished the Merry and Bright scrap BOM. All the BOMs or Quilt-Alongs are Mystery quilts. One never knows the end product.
And by using scraps from my stash, it is a lot of work to make it work.
While you cannot tell, there was not enough of the light blue to make the first border. I used a different fabric on the top and bottom rows to make it work. Then, the dark blue. I measured and consulted a calculator for borders and cut away. There was enough left on the 2/3 to make the borders half an inch larger. Maybe. It is nice. It is fine.
My plan for the back is to use a larger piece cut to extend 3" beyond the final top measurements. I'll make a scrappy middle of the sections. Just not today. I need to be done for today and happy with my finishes.
Quilting/making the numbers gave me an idea for this year. On so many of the quilting lists, quilters complain about how recipients of baby quilts are unappreciated. The last baby shower I went to, the Mother received 9 blankets. Most were store-bought, but then, also came with a lot of extras that the home-made quilt lacked. They were 'pretty'. Baby blankets are an easy shower or baby gift.
AND people don't say thank you in this era. Quilters are often appalled when their quilts are given to animals or seem to get dragged around. Non-quilters do not understand the long hours and hard work that goes into a quilt. Animals are a part of our family and LOVE quilts. I gave up waiting for a thank you, & ensure each quilt has a signature request from UPSP.
Anyway, this year, I decided to ask parents if they wanted a quilted piece for their preschooler, and if they had a specific idea of what the kidlet might like. It will be interesting to see if anyone responds. My email is: bellezza.squillace@gmail.com
I am looking for the kidlet's name, age/birthday, and any suggestions as to what they might like. I have a few ideas that are age appropriate, and do not care about gender.
One of the families out here has a little 2-year-old grrrl. Both her parents are literally Rocket Scientists out at Edwards Airforce Base. The Dad wants her to know her numbers and has been using the reward of a cookie if she does them. She's 2. Anyway, one should never criticize a parent. Instead, I made these numbers.
One layer is cotton with iron-on stiffening, 2 pieces of batting and the back is flannel so it can go on her flannel board. I am not good with reading patterns, and don't plan to make another set. The pattern said to trace the lines on the right side of the cotton, and to cut the cotton out with a pinking sheer. I didn't do either suggestion and so created more work for myself, and a blister on my finger from cutting through 4 layers with the pinking sheer.
The 6 is on yellow fabric which is darker than it shows in the pic. I didn't really coordinate the fabrics and yet like how they turned out.
Back to the tester quilt blocks.
I am writing this from my IPad and am still learning.
Its funny how much time I’ve been spending piecing, pinning, pressing, selecting fabrics. I pulled fabrics out to cut Fat Quarters for a Valentine swap, pressed them and got them ready to mail. I did kitchen things, Cat things. Worked on those ongoing projects. Then I drove to the grocery store for creamer and picked up a prescription at the pharmacy.
Nothing to show. By 3:30, I knew I needed to stop and did. I found myself waving off a confusing project, and knew it was better to start again tomorrow. I turned on You Tube and watched documentaries. I learn a lot, relax my body and enhance my curiosity.
I learned that Prince Phillip would have been King of Greece, yet married the soon to be Queen of England. His Mother, Princess Alice, was a radical royal much like Diana decades later. Her good works were simply unacceptable to the royals. Interesting story. In another documentary, I learned more about Fascism. I am still thinking. As I said, I learned.
I also listened to an audiobook from the Crime genre. This one also takes place in LA.
Yes, there was quilting.
And now, I am climbing under that weighted blanket to sleep the night away.
Now this is a huge step for me. I bought fabric for a quilt I plan to keep. It wasn't on sale and it wasn't cheap. I spent time in the quilt shop looking at what I needed, looking around and chatting. A very different experience for me on all levels.
On some levels shopping has been always difficult. I hated spending money on myself when my Sons were young. However, now, its just me. Old habits still cling. But when I first saw this quilt finished, it was the first pattern I ever wanted to make for myself. It is a dark blue sky for night with snowflakes falling. At the bottom is a snow scene with trees. This is where one can adapt to a specific finish. It cannot be scrapped out. Fabric had to be purchased.
At first I wanted to get enough fabric to make two and give one to my Nephew. But suddenly, it got pricey. I know I can get fabric on sale and stopped myself. I'll do this one and if it works easily, I will do one for my Nephew.
Today is a New Moon and an eclipse, which signals to some that 2019 will be a different kind a year. It is blowing like heck outside, and someone said its going to snow today here, and rain tomorrow in LA. Well, it is Winter.
I cut all squares for the tester quilt, pinned and am ready to piece. Early this morning, I finely chopped coconut and toasted it, and also grated lime peel for that cookie. Then I chopped apricots for biscotti. Two cookie preps for baking. I want to ship half of each to my dear friend in Minnesota for her bday.
I went back into the Facebook archives to find the list of people who asked for quilts, and made a hard copy list. I might be a little obsessive about them, yet, everything on the list here is exactly true for me. Guess I am not the only one. I have a notebook my Cousin sent me that she had. Its Italian made and has a softened hard cover and that ribbon-type of bookmark. I use it almost every day and it holds lists and notes and scratches, clips, add-in pages, ripped pages. Definitely a good gift. Thanks again, PK.
Well, nothing will get done if I don't get up and do it. So on with my day!!!
I did a lot of organizing and found that I had 3 BOMs to finish, and only one of them needed on the Sampler quilt. Then I got a text asking if I had time to test the February Floral Block.
All I need is for one more block to make the quilt top. This solved all my issues to catch up. I agreed and made the block today. I pulled out the leftover 2.5" strip box and then had to spend time coordinating colors. OMGoodgoddess, how lovely it is, and now there are 12 blocks to make the throw. This is a huge shift in my projects.
And now onto the other test project.
Its been a busy month for me. I baked, shipped, cleaned and did it over again. Then I took a couple of trips and have more ready to go. The studio is a bit more organized and I've put away a lot, labeled to save my mind, and have a stack of BOMs and BOWs (block of the week) ready to go. Next the holiday things have to come down and get packed away. Its cold outside.
One of the great gifts I got is a weighted blanket. I started sleeping 4 hours, then 6 and today it was NINE hours and I didn't want to get out of bed, so turned over and slept another one. This is huge for me as my usual sleep was 2 hours at a time. Its only 15 pounds but is very heavy to carry, so on the bed it stays. The cover ties at each corner and middles and can be washed. All the hype about it is spot on and I highly recommend them. I have been waking refreshed each morning.
At first I thought I might make one but am glad I didn't go through the trouble. My younger Son and his partner gave me this for the holidays. She works at Bed, Bath & Beyond though I am not sure they got it there. I know they are pricey but so well worth it.
Well, I am pinning and cutting the rest of the day. Doesn't show for much, but is a task needing done.
