tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-161055422024-03-13T15:41:23.225-05:00jovaliquiltsjovaliquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04658198685121310571noreply@blogger.comBlogger321125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16105542.post-7847493435685081422013-02-06T09:13:00.003-06:002013-02-06T09:13:42.169-06:00Elephants!<div>
I love this elephant block! The elephants' trunks join in a snail's trail. It's a tough block to piece, and you can see I didn't do a perfect job. I'll have to fix it a bit, but I absolutely love the design. It finishes at 24" square. I found the pattern <span style="background-color: red;"><a href="http://www.winnowing.com/patterns.html">here</a></span>.</div>
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I have been doing a lot of quilting -- went to a really fun retreat and worked on a bunch of stuff. This is the center back to the quilt I showed on the last post, and I'll save the rest for another post. </div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/134/E524B21B000F9A0FB316D32A7F7A8CF1.png" style="background: transparent; border: none;" /></a>jovaliquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04658198685121310571noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16105542.post-41185417530622825122013-01-22T12:26:00.001-06:002013-01-22T12:26:47.667-06:00<div>
I have not been playing catch up on this blog as I had intended, so here's the latest quilt instead. Just finished piecing this top to the size of a baby quilt (currently 36" square). Babies like high contrast, so I figured this would be a good design. I plan to add borders -- I think a very narrow black followed by a larger white & black (lots of white, a very little black) and an occasional wonky red diamond. I made 2-1/2 blocks of this several years ago, but once I decided to finish it, it was very quick.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dplxeHSKKdk/UP7YfvQCijI/AAAAAAAACgU/7LxYQXKAlfk/s1600/photo+(23).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dplxeHSKKdk/UP7YfvQCijI/AAAAAAAACgU/7LxYQXKAlfk/s320/photo+(23).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The back will be fun -- red, white and black elephants! Stay tuned.</div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/134/E524B21B000F9A0FB316D32A7F7A8CF1.png" style="background: transparent; border: none;" /></a>jovaliquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04658198685121310571noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16105542.post-79712677440802310382012-11-03T10:51:00.004-05:002012-11-03T10:51:59.573-05:00Another way to label a quilt<div>
I hate labeling quilts, probably because I'm not very good at it. I should learn to print one on fabric, though I hate stitching those on. I had seen somewhere that a quilter had machine embroidered her label on the binding, and I thought I'd try something similar on the quilt I made for my husband. (You can see that quilt, the purple kaleidoscope, <i><a href="http://jovaliquilts.blogspot.com/2012/10/two-kaleidoscopes.html">here</a></i>.)</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ygkWqTyvGRI/UJU72gZPXOI/AAAAAAAACf0/KC-rxYurwdc/s1600/photo+(13).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ygkWqTyvGRI/UJU72gZPXOI/AAAAAAAACf0/KC-rxYurwdc/s320/photo+(13).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I used hand embroidery with 3 strands of floss. I wrote the words on the edge of a piece of paper and laid that next to the binding so I could get the spacing right. Nothing, not even a white pencil, showed up well, so I just tossed both paper and pencil and did freehand stitches. I got looser as I went, and I think it shows. This was much faster than making a traditional label, and I like the way it looks!</div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/134/E524B21B000F9A0FB316D32A7F7A8CF1.png" style="background: transparent; border: none;" /></a>jovaliquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04658198685121310571noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16105542.post-42155194200640330952012-11-02T16:03:00.000-05:002012-11-02T16:03:38.906-05:00Challah coversMy daughter got married this summer and when her future mother-in-law invited me to a bridal shower last spring, I wanted to give her something personal but also something she would use. Something homemade, I thought, would be perfect, but nothing so big that it would be awkward for the newlyweds if it didn't suit their taste. I finally decided on challah covers.<br />
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What are challah covers, you ask? On Friday night in Jewish homes, the sabbath is welcomed by lighting candles and saying blessings over the wine and bread. The traditional challah, a braided bread rich with eggs, is covered with a decorated cloth.<br />
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This challah cover says, in Hebrew, <i>shabbat shalom</i> -- peaceful sabbath. I think Hebrew letters are absolutely gorgeous, but I don't read Hebrew and so I wasn't at all sure that I could make free pieced letters that would still be recognizable. My son-in-law's family are Israeli and would definitely know if I botched the Hebrew, so I was pretty nervous about this. Google to the rescue! I saw this fabulous challah cover on Malka Dubrawsky's blog, <a href="http://stitchindye.blogspot.com/2009/02/sigh-week-ends.html">A Stitch in Dye</a>. Armed with that and free piecing techniques I learned from Tonya Ricucci (see her book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Word-Play-Quilts-Techniques-Patchwork/dp/1604680172/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1351888979&sr=8-1&keywords=tonya+ricucci">Word Play</a>), I stitched this up. I love the colors! Now that I know it's legible and actually really and truly says "shabbat shalom," I may try another that's a little wonkier. How much fun would that be?<br />
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The design of this batik challah cover has a history. In one of the Renaissance synagogues still standing in the Ghetto Nuovo in Venice, there are floor tiles set in a design that I copied (above). But the tile was laid with an obvious mistake in one of the sections, as a reminder that only God is perfect. Check out the lower left block here and you'll find the mistake. As I told my daughter, I sketched the tiles from memory (no photos were allowed) and may not have gotten the basic block quite right -- but after all, only God is perfect!</div>
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The third challah cover I made from the Circle of Life I posted about <i><a href="http://jovaliquilts.blogspot.com/2012/02/circle-of-life.html">here</a></i>. I knew when I posted about it that I wanted to turn it into a challah cover, but didn't say anything because I didn't want to spoil the surprise! I'm thinking of turning the small kaleidoscope quilt in my last post into a challah cover, too.</div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/134/E524B21B000F9A0FB316D32A7F7A8CF1.png" style="background: transparent; border: none;" /></a>jovaliquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04658198685121310571noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16105542.post-19615697948797691282012-10-28T16:50:00.000-05:002012-10-28T16:50:06.487-05:00Two KaleidoscopesRather than playing catch up with this blog, I'll start by posting my two most recent finishes, both of them made following Ricky Tims' <a href="http://www.rickytims.com/online-store?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=504&category_id=1">Kool Kaleidoscope Quilts</a> instructions. He explains the process very clearly, step by step, and it's really pretty easy. He has a method that you learn, but the rest is up to you -- choice of size, division of wedges, fabrics, final layout, etc. Although he tells you to "be surprised," I couldn't help but try to plan how it would come out. This one is going up in my husband's office. The quilt is about 42" square.<br />
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The following one, only about 15" square, was made using the same method. I made fewer divisions in the wedge and was much more adept at planning what I wanted the second time around. I think it looks like a star that wants to be a snowflake.</div>
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The outside is made with leftover yardage from another project, but the kaleidoscope part of the quilt is made with leftover jelly roll strips from some placemats I made for my mother-in-law to use in her new home:</div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/134/E524B21B000F9A0FB316D32A7F7A8CF1.png" style="background: transparent; border: none;" /></a>jovaliquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04658198685121310571noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16105542.post-7318350814803967562012-02-13T12:34:00.000-06:002012-02-13T12:34:20.534-06:00Circle of LifeThere is so much exciting stuff going on in the quilting world that I jumped at the chance to join the newly formed Modern Quilt Guild (Central Illinois chapter). Our first challenge was to make a Circle of Geese block and turn it into a finished piece. You can find the free Piece by Number pattern <a href="http://piecebynumber.com/circleofgeese.htm">here</a>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QIaSU5_pvDY/TzlSBKvWxmI/AAAAAAAACYo/nlDfcEljLwU/s1600/IMG_0586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QIaSU5_pvDY/TzlSBKvWxmI/AAAAAAAACYo/nlDfcEljLwU/s320/IMG_0586.JPG" width="315" /></a></div>I made mine a circle of life (geese, after all, qualify as living!) and went dark to light in the circle, and then made borders that went light to dark on two sides, and dark to light on two others. The outer red isn't part of the quilt, but the white borders didn't show up on my white design wall!<br />
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My friend Mary made a tote from her geese block. The front is the basic block done in purple and teal batiks, but running out of fabric made her get creative on the block for the back -- look at the amazing star that forms in the center when you do it in a different fabric from the background. Wow! (Sorry about the poor lighting in the photo.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a3a4nNoPqYY/TzlWZa9pWaI/AAAAAAAACYw/pVpRhV9mzvs/s1600/photo+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a3a4nNoPqYY/TzlWZa9pWaI/AAAAAAAACYw/pVpRhV9mzvs/s320/photo+(4).JPG" width="240" /></a></div>I've been doing a lot of quilting and no blogging lately, so I'm starting with the most recent and will catch up in subsequent posts. Here's a Project Linus top I just finished -- it had been almost done for a couple of years and when I finally pulled it out, it took only an hour or so to finish it up. It's a Disappearing 9 Patch with a bear theme for a local summer camp for children with cancer.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/134/E524B21B000F9A0FB316D32A7F7A8CF1.png" style="background: transparent; border: none;" /></a>jovaliquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04658198685121310571noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16105542.post-14917296311736143392011-05-31T20:44:00.000-05:002011-05-31T20:44:41.577-05:00Love and a swapI'd been putting off making a block for <a href="http://quiltdivajulie.blogspot.com/p/white-coat-project.html">Julie's White Coat Project</a> because I didn't know how to do it. I decided I wanted to make something using selvages since Julie has made quilts with them, but I've never worked with them before. I also wanted to make something with free-pieced letters, but I didn't know what I could do in a small block. Finally, I decided to try <a href="http://lazygalquilting.blogspot.com/2011/04/one-step-closer-to-unruly.html">Tonya's classic LOVE block</a>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IWyIaKLoIRI/TeWUJ22ODeI/AAAAAAAACWo/h-G6wu6lHK8/s1600/P1010274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IWyIaKLoIRI/TeWUJ22ODeI/AAAAAAAACWo/h-G6wu6lHK8/s320/P1010274.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>This is 6-1/2" unfinished, with each letter block finishing at 2-1/2". The selvages are stitched down only in the seams -- is that how it's done? Well, it's how I did it! I hope it plays well with the other blocks Julie receives.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tf1S7pRdMZg/TeWUVHXDKQI/AAAAAAAACWs/Ts4jABdR4_E/s1600/P1010272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tf1S7pRdMZg/TeWUVHXDKQI/AAAAAAAACWs/Ts4jABdR4_E/s320/P1010272.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I participated in an I Spy swap, so much fun! I make lots of I Spy quilts and a swap is a great way to get a variety of fabrics. I had a few plans for what I'd do, but the squares started out at 5" (so they finish at 4-1/2"), and that's awkward for using them with other blocks. I've been seeing some rainbow I Spy quilts -- like <a href="http://mermaidspurse.blogspot.com/2011/04/i-spy-quilt-finished.html">this stunning one at Mermaid's Purse</a> --and thought I'd like to try one. The swap didn't provide me with 10 squares of each color, so I had to supplement from my stash, but that just means I have leftovers for another quilt! I bordered each square on 2 sides with solids and arranged them stepwise (the picture is sideways). I've sewn much of it together, just haven't taken the photo yet. It's fun and quick.<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/134/E524B21B000F9A0FB316D32A7F7A8CF1.png" style="background: transparent; border: none;" /></a>jovaliquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04658198685121310571noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16105542.post-16591978732648264382011-05-19T14:41:00.000-05:002011-05-19T14:41:53.314-05:00Zig zagsI really hated that strippy quilt I posted yesterday, so I am inspired to post something I like better! I wanted to put a zig-zag border around my <a href="http://jovaliquilts.blogspot.com/2009/11/think-ahead.html">sticks and stones quilt</a>, and thought maybe I'd use black and white fabric that's mostly black for the zig zag, and use scrappy reds for the background. But my quilt group convinced me that a multi-colored background would be more fun. One hundred and twenty-eight HST's later, I started laying them out. (There will be an inner border, not shown here.)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mbhZqFfU2Gg/TdVuJi8lDlI/AAAAAAAACVk/_KcipeBYCsQ/s1600/photo%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mbhZqFfU2Gg/TdVuJi8lDlI/AAAAAAAACVk/_KcipeBYCsQ/s320/photo%25285%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The zig zag did not pop -- too much distraction! So I put the same colors together and it does emphasize the zig zag more.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L4zY1UlGorc/TdVuF4tYv5I/AAAAAAAACVg/ZGUzAFq4rFc/s1600/photo%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L4zY1UlGorc/TdVuF4tYv5I/AAAAAAAACVg/ZGUzAFq4rFc/s320/photo%25284%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>But of course, being scrappy, I didn't have even amounts of each color, and I found that a little too boring...so I started joining different fabrics of the same color and similar tone.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xZJZ92_tHwQ/TdVxNP3W-oI/AAAAAAAACVs/HziO7eQITJU/s1600/photo%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xZJZ92_tHwQ/TdVxNP3W-oI/AAAAAAAACVs/HziO7eQITJU/s320/photo%25284%2529.jpg" width="87" /></a></div>And now I'm thinking of perhaps stretching it a bit further -- same color but tones just a little bit further apart.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DCpHfJukN9Y/TdVuVIR-zTI/AAAAAAAACVo/1V6Ai573zFM/s1600/photo%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DCpHfJukN9Y/TdVuVIR-zTI/AAAAAAAACVo/1V6Ai573zFM/s320/photo%25285%2529.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>Aren't design decisions fun?<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/134/E524B21B000F9A0FB316D32A7F7A8CF1.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: medium none;" /></a>jovaliquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04658198685121310571noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16105542.post-12471664111590939512011-05-18T11:27:00.001-05:002011-05-18T11:37:23.570-05:00Jelly rolls and t-shirtsThings do pile up when I don't post! I have several projects underway, but here are just two.<br />
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First, I saw the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=EomX7t7to_o">Jelly Roll races video</a> and thought it would be a fast, fun way to make quilts for Project Linus. And in fact, my guild had a worknight and made several -- you can see photos <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ICS.Historian?ref=ts#%21/media/set/?set=a.197843486924474.47028.100000964734662">here</a>, and Maggie's race-winning quilt (with explanation of how it was put together) <a href="http://maggiemayquilts.blogspot.com/2011/05/jelly-roll-races.html">here</a>. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jUg1WlGKpGg/TdPthQtpjGI/AAAAAAAACVc/JIEEkhLvoco/s1600/photo%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jUg1WlGKpGg/TdPthQtpjGI/AAAAAAAACVc/JIEEkhLvoco/s320/photo%25284%2529.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>Unfortunately, I couldn't be at guild that night (though I was having a great time instead at the <a href="http://www.ethnic-grocery-tours.com/">Chicago Ethnic Grocery tour</a>!), so I decided to make one at home (photo above). I had purchased a roll of twenty 2-1/2" strips of child-friendly fabrics at a quilt shop in Indy and thought I'd use those. With an added border, it ended up just about the 40" x 60" standard for Linus. I think it's bright, cheery, quick to make, and <i>I really don't like it!!</i> I'm great with scrappy and with letting things happen while I make a quilt, but with this, I had absolutely no control over the design. By using only 20 strips -- half what's in a jelly roll -- the strips end up going vertically, and there is just not enough space in the quilt to compensate for odd groupings when fabric strips end up overlapping themselves in the next row. The most successful jelly roll race quilts I've seen have been mostly monochromatic, or black and white with a single color added. You can see some of these, as well as some tips for making this type of jelly roll quilt, on <a href="http://floribunda.blogspot.com/2011/05/each-of-these-is-not-like-others.html">Floribunda's blog</a>. I think next time I make a strip quilt, I'll try a design where I have more control -- I really like the design of the strip quilt on the <a href="http://butternutstreet.blogspot.com/2011/05/im-so-excitedgiveaway.html">Butternut Street blog</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_DCgfEhYr4k/TccI8lmqUAI/AAAAAAAACVU/S1RSk9wIYfI/s1600/IMG_8491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_DCgfEhYr4k/TccI8lmqUAI/AAAAAAAACVU/S1RSk9wIYfI/s400/IMG_8491.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I'm also working on a long-promised project -- a t-shirt quilt for my sister and her husband. I didn't want to use the standard same-size blocks with sashing, and I've been having a bear of a time figuring out how to juggle the pieces to fit everything together. My small quilt group gave me some great ideas, and that has helped me to finally get going again! It's my first t-shirt quilt -- should have started by making a less-complicated layout, but where's the fun in that?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/134/E524B21B000F9A0FB316D32A7F7A8CF1.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: medium none;" /></a>jovaliquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04658198685121310571noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16105542.post-26412681784408616002011-05-02T12:57:00.000-05:002011-05-02T12:57:42.218-05:00Accidental LandscapeSo much fun! <a href="http://www.quilted-lizard.com/">Karen Eckmeier</a> taught her accidental landscapes class at my guild recently, and I made this.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e9k3B1pj_BM/Tb7tYjm34aI/AAAAAAAACVQ/kvRt2YPQyus/s1600/P1010233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e9k3B1pj_BM/Tb7tYjm34aI/AAAAAAAACVQ/kvRt2YPQyus/s320/P1010233.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>It's not quite finished -- I want to tack down the wave so it looks like it's breaking on the rock, and I think I want a little more embellishment before I quilt it. Can you see the one sailboat off in the distance? I think I may put another set of boulders into the border, too, not quite sure yet.<br />
<br />
Karen's technique is really fun and improvisational. You <i>can</i> control what your landscape will end up looking like, but you can also just play around until something serendipitous happens -- or do any combination in between. Karen also has a clever way to make a wavy inner border, which you can see on my friend Mary's blog, <a href="http://comfyquiltsandagoodbook.blogspot.com/2011/04/accidental-landscapes.html">Comfy Quilts and A Good Book</a>. <br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/134/E524B21B000F9A0FB316D32A7F7A8CF1.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: medium none;" /></a>jovaliquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04658198685121310571noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16105542.post-17861244345011341192011-04-23T09:01:00.000-05:002011-04-23T09:01:52.151-05:00Yvonne Porcella quilt exhibitI so lucked out! I saw in <a href="http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/blog.php/blog_id/3655">The Quilt Show newsletter</a> that Yvonne Porcella was having a quilt exhibit on Stanford campus right when I was heading to California to visit my daughter, just a few minutes from campus. Yay! I love her style. This is one of the first ones I saw, and there are so many things I like about it -- the piecing, the applique, the quilting, the use of color, the binding.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rYL1W7JD83E/TbLWE73K5gI/AAAAAAAACUk/FrmpooiMqVw/s1600/photo%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rYL1W7JD83E/TbLWE73K5gI/AAAAAAAACUk/FrmpooiMqVw/s320/photo%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The lighting was not great for photos, but I wanted to show this flower basket quilt...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wh0l4cwwzdY/TbLWKpCC-RI/AAAAAAAACUo/bwdWlAWsVn4/s1600/photo%25287%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wh0l4cwwzdY/TbLWKpCC-RI/AAAAAAAACUo/bwdWlAWsVn4/s320/photo%25287%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>...because I love how she interspersed broderie perse with her own flowers, as you can see in this closeup.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ew4vgwOimnY/TbLWLHokrgI/AAAAAAAACUs/7lfiMS4OrwY/s1600/photo%25288%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ew4vgwOimnY/TbLWLHokrgI/AAAAAAAACUs/7lfiMS4OrwY/s320/photo%25288%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I really like the one below. Yvonne Porcella's quilts are free and fun, but not chaotic. I love her mix of black and white with brights, and it seems to me it's not overdone.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AXcxx1POEqw/TbLWQxEdJtI/AAAAAAAACUw/0Q3uUTu9ScI/s1600/photo%252810%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AXcxx1POEqw/TbLWQxEdJtI/AAAAAAAACUw/0Q3uUTu9ScI/s320/photo%252810%2529.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>Here's a closeup to show her amazing quilting -- really enhances the design.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vw-y2rya4L4/TbLWRcrTSJI/AAAAAAAACU0/8jos67G_HZo/s1600/photo%252811%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vw-y2rya4L4/TbLWRcrTSJI/AAAAAAAACU0/8jos67G_HZo/s320/photo%252811%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Another fun one, with people and chili pepper appliques (again, lighting is not so great, and I had to use the camera on my phone since I dropped my other camera):<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MaJLtf3V12w/TbLWfQnJ4GI/AAAAAAAACU4/IMZEr1TRqEM/s1600/photo%252812%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MaJLtf3V12w/TbLWfQnJ4GI/AAAAAAAACU4/IMZEr1TRqEM/s320/photo%252812%2529.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>And I think you can see the quilting in the closeup, especially if you click to enlarge the photo. This is much more lightly quilted, and I love how the lines work -- they don't follow the checkerboard or stripes, but are a design of their own that fits the quilt. Never would have thought of this, but it looks terrific.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tfJ7Y4ud3lc/TbLWfxFRNwI/AAAAAAAACU8/j0iFainjGJ0/s1600/photo%252814%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tfJ7Y4ud3lc/TbLWfxFRNwI/AAAAAAAACU8/j0iFainjGJ0/s320/photo%252814%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>This is a closeup of Purple Dog Green Hair -- awesome!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D9bWt3ju4R4/TbLWj8FXyAI/AAAAAAAACVA/MrHhJaTZBns/s1600/photo%252815%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D9bWt3ju4R4/TbLWj8FXyAI/AAAAAAAACVA/MrHhJaTZBns/s320/photo%252815%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>You can see the full quilt hanging here (with another of her quilts, Moo 2000). I love how these quilts were displayed -- a few quilts along a wall, in several hallways, on a few floors, of 3 neighboring buildings on campus. There were also two other artists, working in different media, whose works were displayed with hers. Wouldn't it be awesome to sit in this lounge to study and look up from time to time to see the quilts?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3sqTnt1hxlQ/TbLWkWkOJOI/AAAAAAAACVE/zjKWs5TKFU8/s1600/photo%252816%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3sqTnt1hxlQ/TbLWkWkOJOI/AAAAAAAACVE/zjKWs5TKFU8/s320/photo%252816%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>You can see more of Yvonne Porcella's work <a href="http://www.yvonneporcella.com/">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/134/E524B21B000F9A0FB316D32A7F7A8CF1.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: medium none;" /></a>jovaliquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04658198685121310571noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16105542.post-32410480053717708662011-04-05T09:28:00.000-05:002011-04-05T09:28:57.621-05:00The other New York City quilt show I was in NYC in March to visit my daughter and my inlaws, but our flight home was the day <i>before</i> the big red and white quilt exhibit opened. Aargh! Fortunately, it's <a href="http://www.folkartmuseum.org/masterworkquilts">The Year of the Quilt at the American Folk Museum</a> (right next door to the Museum of Modern Art), and I took in quite a show there. And they allowed photos! No flash, of course, so some of mine are a bit blurry, but when I was there for a Paula Nadelstern exhibit a couple years ago, they didn't allow any photos at all. Here are a few of my favorites.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8FMVRhDZ7ro/TZseTQrB8PI/AAAAAAAACTw/l4PTGIRARKE/s1600/IMG_8393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8FMVRhDZ7ro/TZseTQrB8PI/AAAAAAAACTw/l4PTGIRARKE/s400/IMG_8393.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> This double wedding ring quilt was made in the 1930s by an unknown quilter (guess that's why we should label our quilts). I loved her use of color.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kgrtj7BiJVc/TZseaMHltPI/AAAAAAAACT0/2ICbKK5bwSw/s1600/IMG_8397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kgrtj7BiJVc/TZseaMHltPI/AAAAAAAACT0/2ICbKK5bwSw/s400/IMG_8397.JPG" width="300" /></a></div> I thought this quilt was amazing -- it has an incredible look from a distance...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1zLFRiR2pRI/TZseguh_h8I/AAAAAAAACT4/T4eVveC41sw/s1600/IMG_8398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1zLFRiR2pRI/TZseguh_h8I/AAAAAAAACT4/T4eVveC41sw/s400/IMG_8398.JPG" width="300" /></a></div> ...and up close you can see the tremendous amount of work that went into it! Unfortunately, the photo I took that gave info about the quilt is too blurry to read.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-koK236tq8ds/TZsetUduAOI/AAAAAAAACT8/eCceq7qpW7c/s1600/IMG_8403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-koK236tq8ds/TZsetUduAOI/AAAAAAAACT8/eCceq7qpW7c/s400/IMG_8403.JPG" width="300" /></a></div> Low lighting means I also can't read the info on this quilt. It has a very elegant look to it, but the close-up below also shows how wonderfully scrappy and homey it is.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zmKaEsF5-Gs/TZsezusMilI/AAAAAAAACUA/pFdrT56W1PY/s1600/IMG_8402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zmKaEsF5-Gs/TZsezusMilI/AAAAAAAACUA/pFdrT56W1PY/s400/IMG_8402.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Below is Jessie Telfair's famous Freedom quilt. It really packs a whollop when you see it in person. I was really moved by it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kS22NG0f5NA/TZsfO6s0LCI/AAAAAAAACUI/Yme2PcWqzeM/s1600/IMG_8407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kS22NG0f5NA/TZsfO6s0LCI/AAAAAAAACUI/Yme2PcWqzeM/s400/IMG_8407.JPG" width="300" /></a></div> Take a look at the close-up to see how it was constructed. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2GdAP4WpmMg/TZsfWJKm9PI/AAAAAAAACUM/HJK2bQqh9HY/s1600/IMG_8410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2GdAP4WpmMg/TZsfWJKm9PI/AAAAAAAACUM/HJK2bQqh9HY/s400/IMG_8410.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> This is a late 19th century crazy quilt map of the US -- what's not to love? The piecing in the background is pretty amazing, too. My photo is a little blurry, but there's a better picture of it on the museum website, click <a href="http://www.folkartmuseum.org/?p=folk&t=images&id=6652">here</a>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0jHplYL0PFU/TZsffsblDtI/AAAAAAAACUQ/8Mb93z_oYbU/s1600/IMG_8429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0jHplYL0PFU/TZsffsblDtI/AAAAAAAACUQ/8Mb93z_oYbU/s320/IMG_8429.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> After seeing the exhibit, I stopped by the <a href="http://www.cityquilter.com/">City Quilter</a>. They had just expanded into the space next door, and they're going to turn part of it into an art quilt gallery. As I looked around, I saw one of <a href="http://www.quilted-lizard.com/">Karen Eckmeier</a>'s Happy Villages quilts -- this one of NYC, quite a village! It was a great find for me, since I was taking a class from her at my guild the day after I returned home. More on that in another post. I really like her Happy Villages quilts.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_eN6PYTkP9I/TZsfqBuYgAI/AAAAAAAACUU/nEZhOmsvubs/s1600/IMG_8450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_eN6PYTkP9I/TZsfqBuYgAI/AAAAAAAACUU/nEZhOmsvubs/s400/IMG_8450.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And finally, walking to meet my daughter later that day, I went by the most amazing shop filled with old, old, old (even treadle!) sewing machines. Wow! It's a boutique clothing store called All Staints.</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K35DI3zY0-I/TZsf91wwMWI/AAAAAAAACUY/fvBI7HGCGjU/s1600/IMG_8452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K35DI3zY0-I/TZsf91wwMWI/AAAAAAAACUY/fvBI7HGCGjU/s400/IMG_8452.JPG" width="300" /></a><br />
And just last week The Quilt Show website had a video of the interior of this store, which they also discovered when in NYC for the big Red and White quilt exhibit. Take a look <a href="http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/blog.php/blog_id/3684">here</a>.<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/134/E524B21B000F9A0FB316D32A7F7A8CF1.png" style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; border: medium none;" /></a>jovaliquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04658198685121310571noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16105542.post-12565342122501357992011-03-30T13:26:00.000-05:002011-03-30T13:26:12.690-05:00Another BI wanted to make a B with a spiral base for <a href="http://scrapsandstrings.blogspot.com/">Brenda's Big Birthday</a> -- I imagined lots of swirls and elegance. Not so easy to stitch since I don't do applique! But when I looked at my drawings, the swirl looked like a cat's tail. And the top could be a cat's head, couldn't it?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2qWCuMu0glc/TZNxnKpdkNI/AAAAAAAACTM/PYqfAcdK2Js/s1600/IMG_8488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2qWCuMu0glc/TZNxnKpdkNI/AAAAAAAACTM/PYqfAcdK2Js/s320/IMG_8488.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>So I added ears and voila, a cat! I'm thinking about adding embroidered eyes, but am not sure. Thoughts?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tkVgk9TWWLo/TZN0R1R9FCI/AAAAAAAACTU/ognr-kwTXtw/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tkVgk9TWWLo/TZN0R1R9FCI/AAAAAAAACTU/ognr-kwTXtw/s320/photo.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>I made the cat by cutting 1-1/2" strips. I was going to cut some squares to make half square triangles (for the ears and the indentations in the B) when I remembered my Easy Angle Ruler. It lets you make HST's using the same size strips as your squares. I learned about it from <a href="http://quiltville.com/myblueheaven.shtml">Bonnie Hunter's website</a> and absolutely love it! <br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/134/E524B21B000F9A0FB316D32A7F7A8CF1.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: medium none;" /></a>jovaliquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04658198685121310571noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16105542.post-59210610645139638522011-03-14T13:20:00.000-05:002011-03-14T13:20:54.442-05:00Brenda's Big Birthday BHappy Birthday, Brenda!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-PB8wMqzJUqk/TX5aVgkvDnI/AAAAAAAACSw/c5MkgWqhIw8/s1600/IMG_8378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-PB8wMqzJUqk/TX5aVgkvDnI/AAAAAAAACSw/c5MkgWqhIw8/s400/IMG_8378.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>Brenda at <a href="http://scrapsandstrings.blogspot.com/2011/03/brendas-big-b-birthday-bee.html">Scraps and Strings</a> is having a Big Birthday, and she's asking fellow Bloggers to send her a Big B for her Birthday quilt. Happy Birthday fabric seemed in order, so that's what I used for my Big B. I'm toying with the idea of another B but don't know whether I can pull it off. I may give it a try, and if it works, you'll know.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7no2yslYQAg/TX5aXpjyf9I/AAAAAAAACS0/FAsS5VtY43g/s1600/IMG_8380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7no2yslYQAg/TX5aXpjyf9I/AAAAAAAACS0/FAsS5VtY43g/s320/IMG_8380.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>This fabric is for valences for our bathroom windows. I knew the fabric I wanted (I had designed it in my mind), but of course no designer had read my mind. This fabric has the right colors and is cheery, so it will do -- especially as it was on half price sale! It's outdoor fabric and fairly stiff, which got me thinking that it would make a wonderful satchel. I think I should have just about enough fabric left over for that, too.<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/134/E524B21B000F9A0FB316D32A7F7A8CF1.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: medium none;" /></a>jovaliquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04658198685121310571noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16105542.post-47543141834158493402011-03-11T17:36:00.000-06:002011-03-11T17:36:18.710-06:00At home with Sweet Baby James<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-VVD6IImOzO8/TXqsAxcashI/AAAAAAAACSg/zUzkyElkZ3U/s1600/IMG_0244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-VVD6IImOzO8/TXqsAxcashI/AAAAAAAACSg/zUzkyElkZ3U/s320/IMG_0244.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
How cute is sweet baby James? Adorable! See what he's lying on? That's right, that's his very own quilt!<br />
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This is the "back" (aka, the fun part). My friend <a href="http://www.pbase.com/filer/longarmquilting">Joe File</a>r quilted it and did an amazing job!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-0Zf8GWmEa-0/TXqsjFVOmJI/AAAAAAAACSs/Afa3nMPV-A8/s1600/CRW_3467-Cheri-2-8-2011_2_2_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-0Zf8GWmEa-0/TXqsjFVOmJI/AAAAAAAACSs/Afa3nMPV-A8/s400/CRW_3467-Cheri-2-8-2011_2_2_2.jpg" width="377" /></a></div>To appreciate the quilting, you have to know that the front is a matching game. There are two squares of each fabric, and James (when he's older!) can try to find the two that go together.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4zMcYU9zfCM/TXqsiQf0ZaI/AAAAAAAACSk/TfOCHj_llUY/s1600/CRW_3467-Cheri-2-8-2011_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4zMcYU9zfCM/TXqsiQf0ZaI/AAAAAAAACSk/TfOCHj_llUY/s400/CRW_3467-Cheri-2-8-2011_2.jpg" width="368" /></a></div>So Joe made 6 matching pairs among the starbursts in his quilting design -- and he did it with glow-in-the-dark thread! Awesome!<br />
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-6zho_Ij4Z3s/TXqsiqdLutI/AAAAAAAACSo/vLHPtxN3E5U/s1600/CRW_3467-Cheri-2-8-2011_2_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-6zho_Ij4Z3s/TXqsiqdLutI/AAAAAAAACSo/vLHPtxN3E5U/s400/CRW_3467-Cheri-2-8-2011_2_2.jpg" width="361" /></a><br />
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Sleep tight, Sweet Baby James!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-km9Q8mpkh68/TXqsAq2EuJI/AAAAAAAACSc/FlXyjYJPy5g/s1600/IMG_0240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-km9Q8mpkh68/TXqsAq2EuJI/AAAAAAAACSc/FlXyjYJPy5g/s400/IMG_0240.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img height="95" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/134/E524B21B000F9A0FB316D32A7F7A8CF1.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: medium none;" width="200" /></a>jovaliquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04658198685121310571noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16105542.post-43966748260267631682011-03-07T19:40:00.001-06:002011-03-09T06:21:50.207-06:00Twists and embroideryMy friend G has an embroidery machine with some mola-inspired designs and she made this one for me! It's beautiful -- much more vibrant than it shows in the photo. I think it will make a great panel on a satchel.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-G2VCcJo-OLA/TXWGwKEGVNI/AAAAAAAACSU/S3Dgtov7QaY/s1600/IMG_8369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-G2VCcJo-OLA/TXWGwKEGVNI/AAAAAAAACSU/S3Dgtov7QaY/s400/IMG_8369.JPG" width="398" /></a></div>All my strip twist blocks are now spider blocks! <br />
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-dvBqC7Wr28A/TXWGV9y8UDI/AAAAAAAACSM/tb_ElOaPfKY/s1600/IMG_8368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-dvBqC7Wr28A/TXWGV9y8UDI/AAAAAAAACSM/tb_ElOaPfKY/s400/IMG_8368.JPG" width="300" /></a><br />
I had to rummage through my stash to find fabrics that coordinated with the jelly roll strips I was using in order to get enough blocks, but I think they worked really well. I'm going to join them with white sashing and borders to make a summertime twin bed quilt. Woo-hoo! I haven't made a real bed quilt yet that I'll keep in my house -- this is my first!<br />
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Also, I have been trying to redesign my blog but the template designer shows only grey no matter what I do. Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong? Thank you!! <span style="color: purple;">**UPDATE -- After much searching on the help forums, I discovered that the new template is incompatible with the older version of Firefox that I was using, so I updated that and now I can play around with the new templates!**</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/134/E524B21B000F9A0FB316D32A7F7A8CF1.png" style="-moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: medium none;" /></a>jovaliquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04658198685121310571noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16105542.post-46462965467718429692011-02-27T17:14:00.000-06:002011-02-27T17:14:39.092-06:00Flimsies and funHow do you recover from knee surgery? Well, the first few days, you keep your knee elevated -- but then you keep your spirits up by quilting!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-N9TsF5k2O8o/TWrMr0DK1eI/AAAAAAAACRk/TXv_raVRh3M/s1600/IMG_8354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-N9TsF5k2O8o/TWrMr0DK1eI/AAAAAAAACRk/TXv_raVRh3M/s320/IMG_8354.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I can't do anything where I have to crawl around on the floor, or stand up too long while cutting, so I'm finishing up some UFOs. Today I pulled out the strip twist quilt I started a couple years ago. I needed more strips, couldn't find fabrics I was happy with, and put it away. Today I laid it out, thinking I might just use what I have to make a small throw, but then I played around a bit with the layout. The traditional layout is below, but what I'm thinking of now is on top -- setting the blocks differently and putting white sashing between them. I'm a little concerned about some of the dotted whites in the outer edges of the blocks, but I think I like it. Thoughts?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-UXTCW04Ulxs/TWrMwCAzaRI/AAAAAAAACRo/ofKnFY5ZjgE/s1600/IMG_8353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-UXTCW04Ulxs/TWrMwCAzaRI/AAAAAAAACRo/ofKnFY5ZjgE/s320/IMG_8353.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I needed to work on that bright, sunny quilt today because I spent yesterday piecing together blocks I won in a block lotto about 5 years ago. Yuck!! I hate how dull they are, how boring. Not my style at all. The colors are not quite as bad as they appear in this photo, but I didn't enjoy working on it. But it feels good to be DONE! Someone will like it -- I'm donating it and asking that it be quilted with bright thread and butterfly designs (most of the bigger squares have flowers). <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-eX8jC92QQ4s/TWrM5FGV_iI/AAAAAAAACRs/2yXpwCFwAIU/s1600/IMG_8352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-eX8jC92QQ4s/TWrM5FGV_iI/AAAAAAAACRs/2yXpwCFwAIU/s320/IMG_8352.JPG" width="247" /></a></div>I also made some blocks for the <a href="http://blocklotto.blogspot.com/">Block Lotto</a> that Julie at <a href="http://floribunda.blogspot.com/">Floribunda</a> told me about. They do some wonderful blocks -- February was wonky string hearts. Fun! And more fun when I took the huge bandage off my knee. What's that beneath the wrapping? BATTING?!?! Sure looked like it!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4wPJbCfKKWc/TWrM_IHfdzI/AAAAAAAACRw/Q_26ogSM_xg/s1600/IMG_8334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4wPJbCfKKWc/TWrM_IHfdzI/AAAAAAAACRw/Q_26ogSM_xg/s320/IMG_8334.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
And how cool is this?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.dornob.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/refab-chair-ottoman-reupholstered.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="http://cdn.dornob.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/refab-chair-ottoman-reupholstered.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>It's from a wonderful site called <a href="http://dornob.com/">Dornob</a> that has design ideas. It's not a quilting site, but has lots of inspiring stuff. The photo above is from their page where they show vintage furniture rehabed with patchwork -- take a look by clicking <a href="http://dornob.com/10-scrap-refabs-vintage-reupholstery-with-colorful-fabric/">HERE</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/134/E524B21B000F9A0FB316D32A7F7A8CF1.png" style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; border: medium none;" /></a>jovaliquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04658198685121310571noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16105542.post-69306355811634083482011-02-09T13:40:00.000-06:002011-02-09T13:40:29.270-06:00If you can't make it to a quilt show ......the next best thing might just be a computer museum!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/TVLqInxQ6bI/AAAAAAAACQA/-YAf9NUAcHg/s1600/IMG_8309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/TVLqInxQ6bI/AAAAAAAACQA/-YAf9NUAcHg/s320/IMG_8309.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>This is not a quilt, it's part of an old-fashioned computer. (And isn't it odd to think of computers as being old fashioned?) Many of the computer parts on display were simply beautiful to look at.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/TVLqTZCri5I/AAAAAAAACQE/tO2WjmnF7bY/s1600/IMG_8304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/TVLqTZCri5I/AAAAAAAACQE/tO2WjmnF7bY/s320/IMG_8304.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>And this is not skeins of thread -- it's bundles of wires!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/TVLqbYuMNyI/AAAAAAAACQI/68XqoViPE7c/s1600/IMG_8302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/TVLqbYuMNyI/AAAAAAAACQI/68XqoViPE7c/s320/IMG_8302.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>This jacquard was not actually on display, there was just a photo of the textile, but it shows how the history of fabric and the history of computing are interwoven (if you'll pardon the pun). The sign on the poster reads, "A complex pattern woven by the loom needed tens of thousands of individually punched cards. But once made and debugged -- like a software program -- the cards could be used many times to create identical fabric."<br />
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I went to the <a href="http://www.computerhistory.org/">Computer History Museum</a> in Mountain View, California, ten days ago when I was visiting my daughter. It's a fascinating tour through our computer past, with well written (and often funny) descriptions, and staff who wander through the rooms giving little presentations and answering questions. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/TVLqh7qiXGI/AAAAAAAACQM/h-K6DuVjf3g/s1600/IMG_8311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/TVLqh7qiXGI/AAAAAAAACQM/h-K6DuVjf3g/s320/IMG_8311.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>And check out the interior doors -- their design could definitely could be translated to a quilt!<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/134/E524B21B000F9A0FB316D32A7F7A8CF1.png" style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; border: medium none;" /></a>jovaliquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04658198685121310571noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16105542.post-11954444941205761002011-02-07T21:57:00.000-06:002011-02-07T21:57:38.105-06:00Colorful CoinsI love scrappy, I love color, and I love using up odds and ends. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/TVC5WYn39HI/AAAAAAAACPo/wcmKJqi4pEU/s1600/IMG_8320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/TVC5WYn39HI/AAAAAAAACPo/wcmKJqi4pEU/s320/IMG_8320.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>At one of our Project Linus worknights a few of us dug through our string bins and started sewing coin stacks by color. We got a few stacks done but then the project just sat waiting for almost a year.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/TVC5dAXBUdI/AAAAAAAACPs/Ks_MedAVqVI/s1600/IMG_8322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/TVC5dAXBUdI/AAAAAAAACPs/Ks_MedAVqVI/s320/IMG_8322.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Today I pulled out the stacks and finished them up, then reined in the colors with a dotted white.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/TVC5g7L3uCI/AAAAAAAACPw/wl1Z7WjX5kQ/s1600/IMG_8324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/TVC5g7L3uCI/AAAAAAAACPw/wl1Z7WjX5kQ/s320/IMG_8324.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>It's so easy for coin stacks to get c<i>r</i>o<i>o</i>ke<i>d</i> and w-O-b-b-L-y, so I like to sew small chunks, trim to size, and then add the trimmed stacks to each other. My gridded ironing board is one of my favorite sewing tools--it's so easy to see what's straight and what's not! Wonky is wonderful as a design element, but not so great as a construction flaw.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/TVC5lT4dHoI/AAAAAAAACP0/XI2dJttO9jE/s1600/IMG_8327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/TVC5lT4dHoI/AAAAAAAACP0/XI2dJttO9jE/s320/IMG_8327.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>This is just the top, not yet quilted. I think I'll use a rainbow of strings in the binding to give a little line of color around the edge. I like this layout color-wise -- in many rainbow patterns the colors are offset by one in each row, which gives you a color diagonal. I offset these by two, which breaks up the color lines and keeps your eye moving around the quilt more.<br />
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Project Linus gets this quilt, and I hope it makes a child happy. It made me happy to make it! And I like it so much, I may make a version for myself.<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/134/E524B21B000F9A0FB316D32A7F7A8CF1.png" style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; border: medium none;" /></a>jovaliquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04658198685121310571noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16105542.post-91309643511285243302011-02-06T14:22:00.000-06:002011-02-06T14:22:37.769-06:00James's quilt is ready to be quilted<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/TU8CiRtEAdI/AAAAAAAACO8/i5S124iR-L4/s1600/IMG_8316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/TU8CiRtEAdI/AAAAAAAACO8/i5S124iR-L4/s400/IMG_8316.JPG" width="326" /></a></div>IMade some wonky stars with the fabrics used in James's name. In the star above, every "square" in the 9-patch is a different size -- whew, that takes awhile!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/TU8Ci18WMsI/AAAAAAAACPE/BPAoJznf_jw/s1600/IMG_8314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/TU8Ci18WMsI/AAAAAAAACPE/BPAoJznf_jw/s400/IMG_8314.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Made some more wonky stars.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/TU8CjYEM_pI/AAAAAAAACPM/H59v3-SoD4A/s1600/IMG_8318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/TU8CjYEM_pI/AAAAAAAACPM/H59v3-SoD4A/s400/IMG_8318.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>And then pieced the back! <br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/134/E524B21B000F9A0FB316D32A7F7A8CF1.png" style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; border: medium none;" /></a>jovaliquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04658198685121310571noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16105542.post-3526274558954295372011-01-21T09:47:00.000-06:002011-01-21T09:47:54.319-06:00PotholdersI made these potholders a few weeks ago, and am about to make some more.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/TTmog2pIxoI/AAAAAAAACOw/uXVhm_-MBhk/s1600/IMG_8271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/TTmog2pIxoI/AAAAAAAACOw/uXVhm_-MBhk/s400/IMG_8271.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I played around with lots of things -- they're the best size for practicing, and you get something useful in the end, too. The one on the right is quilt as you go, and the one on the left was quilted after I pieced the top. They both have different types of bindings and different loops. It's easier to see the loop styles on the back.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/TTmombXky_I/AAAAAAAACO0/6wtOtG6hMCs/s1600/IMG_8274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/TTmombXky_I/AAAAAAAACO0/6wtOtG6hMCs/s320/IMG_8274.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The next set (I'm about to make another pair) will have a combination of the binding method on the left and the loop method on the right. Any suggestions for filling? I used a layer of Insulbrite with a layer of 100% cotton batting. I was thinking of trying a double layer of old towels -- has anyone tried that?<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/134/E524B21B000F9A0FB316D32A7F7A8CF1.png" style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; border: medium none;" /></a>jovaliquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04658198685121310571noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16105542.post-72075389884999948002011-01-17T19:57:00.000-06:002011-01-17T19:57:41.756-06:00James<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/TTTxPfhHHvI/AAAAAAAACOs/jPdB_gAghV4/s1600/IMG_8297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="105" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/TTTxPfhHHvI/AAAAAAAACOs/jPdB_gAghV4/s320/IMG_8297.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The letters are now a word, a name! Joining the letters into a word is my favorite part of word play -- so many options! Well, one of my favorite parts -- I like choosing the fabrics, and deciding on variations, and ... you get the idea. :) The little <i>A</i> in my last post was just too small, so I made a bigger one. My pile of extra letters is growing, and most of them seem to be <i>A</i>'s. Any relative or friend with that initial could be in luck!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/TTTxLBzngJI/AAAAAAAACOo/3j8uBLlxYG0/s1600/IMG_8295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/TTTxLBzngJI/AAAAAAAACOo/3j8uBLlxYG0/s320/IMG_8295.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I love using the pattern in a fabric to make a border. I just measured 1/4" away from the line along the circles and cut, and stitched right on the line. You can see the 1/4" on the left side that will be in the seam once I stitch the backing fabric around the name.<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/134/E524B21B000F9A0FB316D32A7F7A8CF1.png" style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; border: medium none;" /></a>jovaliquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04658198685121310571noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16105542.post-50969701843373719502011-01-16T21:50:00.000-06:002011-01-16T21:50:22.529-06:00Otto has a baby brotherYes, indeed, it's been awhile since I've been in blogland, and I hope to catch up with you all soon. I have quite a few quilting projects underway!<br />
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Remember little Otto? I made him a trip around the world quilt, then decided to put his name on the back, then decided to play a little...until the back became the front! You can see the quilt I made for Otto <a href="http://jovaliquilts.blogspot.com/2008/10/happy-halloween.html">here</a>. Well, he's a big brother now!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/TTO3-wvKBeI/AAAAAAAACOk/drJoSppYTNQ/s1600/IMG_8289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/TTO3-wvKBeI/AAAAAAAACOk/drJoSppYTNQ/s320/IMG_8289.JPG" width="289" /></a></div>Little brother gets a match game I Spy quilt -- two squares of each fabric. And can you guess what his little brother's name is?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/TTO3vsDDtjI/AAAAAAAACOc/3t2_Z_2Pmp8/s1600/IMG_8290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/TTO3vsDDtjI/AAAAAAAACOc/3t2_Z_2Pmp8/s320/IMG_8290.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Sweet baby James -- remember <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgUE19A0_BU">James Taylor's song</a>? I used <a href="http://www.lazygalquilting.blogspot.com/">Tonya Ricucci's</a> wonderful Word Play Quilts book to make the letters! You'll see tomorrow what I did with the name.<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/134/E524B21B000F9A0FB316D32A7F7A8CF1.png" style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; border: medium none;" /></a>jovaliquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04658198685121310571noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16105542.post-31796173771043288302010-02-27T17:13:00.000-06:002010-02-27T17:13:21.708-06:00A few thingsI picked up some irresistible scraps from a big bin at a homewares store the last time I visited DD1 in Berkeley. Small pieces, big prints, no way I could think of to use them. How about fussy cutting a house for <a href="http://bumblebeans.blogspot.com/2010/02/call-for-help.html">Victoria</a>'s donation quilt?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/S4mgk8V_GZI/AAAAAAAACJg/3cPvm6jXYVA/s1600-h/IMG_6514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/S4mgk8V_GZI/AAAAAAAACJg/3cPvm6jXYVA/s400/IMG_6514.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I hope to get another house made tomorrow.<br />
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Since I mentioned recently that I am into piano key borders, I thought I'd share a photo of a Project Linus quilt we made.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/S4mgpcMAJvI/AAAAAAAACJo/m9sYBWf5H20/s1600-h/IMG_6515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/S4mgpcMAJvI/AAAAAAAACJo/m9sYBWf5H20/s320/IMG_6515.JPG" /></a></div>A guild member with an AccuCutter cut zillions of squares and strips from our bugs and critters fabric. Boy, what a time saver that is! Several people sewed the strips to make rail fence blocks and pieced the center of this quilt. The layout had been my idea, but I didn't like it at all when it was made! Eek! So I added the green border to give the eye a place to rest and used most of the rest of the strips as an outer border. I just love piano keys!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/S4mgtmmSmvI/AAAAAAAACJw/azQYciCwdps/s1600-h/IMG_6516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/S4mgtmmSmvI/AAAAAAAACJw/azQYciCwdps/s320/IMG_6516.JPG" /></a></div>Today I got back to work on a quilt I started <a href="http://jovaliquilts.blogspot.com/2009/11/stripping.html">some time ago</a>. I love the blue strata, but it seems like water to me and it's not a water quilt. I'm going to have to to make a landscape quilt before long! It's so hard to cut these big strata up, but I now have all the strata made and most of the squares cut. The quilt will also have some wonky log cabins, which I just got started on today.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/S4mgyV5eeqI/AAAAAAAACJ4/hqJ_-q2v0Ws/s1600-h/IMG_6517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/S4mgyV5eeqI/AAAAAAAACJ4/hqJ_-q2v0Ws/s320/IMG_6517.JPG" /></a></div>It feels great to be finishing up some old projects -- they were really weighing me down. If you're feeling that way about your UFO's, you might want to read this post on the <a href="http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/2010/02/finish-the-projects-youve-started-or-call-an-end-to-them.html">Happiness Project blog</a>. I subscribe to the blog and belong to their Facebook group because the posts do help keep me focused on positive things.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/134/E524B21B000F9A0FB316D32A7F7A8CF1.png" style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; border: medium none;" /></a>jovaliquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04658198685121310571noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16105542.post-86327922935190328272010-02-23T15:46:00.000-06:002010-02-23T15:46:35.459-06:00Sruti top done!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/S4RI2sowzmI/AAAAAAAACJE/ogUuAk_vmcg/s1600-h/IMG_6512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/S4RI2sowzmI/AAAAAAAACJE/ogUuAk_vmcg/s400/IMG_6512.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Done! Well, except for quilting and binding, but I'm doing very simple quilting because the top is so busy (and because I only know how to do simple quilting). It is <span style="font-size: large;"><b>loud</b></span> and <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">b</span><span style="color: cyan;">r</span><span style="color: #38761d;">i</span><span style="color: orange;">g</span><span style="color: magenta;">h</span><span style="color: blue;">t</span></span>, but I think a toddler will like it. I hope so.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/S4RI_D-8SsI/AAAAAAAACJU/8Gmp1iWQAFc/s1600-h/IMG_6507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/S4RI_D-8SsI/AAAAAAAACJU/8Gmp1iWQAFc/s200/IMG_6507.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>Remember how I said I always put lots of extra fabric on my letters so I can trim them all to size? Well ... sigh ... I had to redo the T because it was too short. I wish now that I had redone the whole letter to make it jauntier, but I didn't and that's that.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/S4RI7eQrkOI/AAAAAAAACJM/JZD8drJMpXg/s1600-h/IMG_6510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SpqcTFj0Ep0/S4RI7eQrkOI/AAAAAAAACJM/JZD8drJMpXg/s200/IMG_6510.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>This is the first time I've done the piano keys on a paper foundation. I saw on Bonnie Hunter's <a href="http://quiltville.com/">Quiltville</a> site (sorry, I forget exactly where) about sewing strings on a page from the phone book, so I gave it a try and really like it. It's hard to make those little angled pieces form a straight line. This was easy -- everything stayed straight, easy to trim, the paper stood up to ironing and the ink stayed on the paper (whew!), and when everything was done, the paper came right off the back.<br />
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Now, back to work on taxes ...<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/134/E524B21B000F9A0FB316D32A7F7A8CF1.png" style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; border: medium none;" /></a>jovaliquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04658198685121310571noreply@blogger.com14