I'm Adding my Blog to Facebook

I've recently joined facebook, and don't do much there. I decided I would add my blog to facebook...so here I go.

Journal Page

Thought I'd post to show what kinds of things I will be doing in the journal. I've been saving pictures to an inspiration file for a while. One of them was peeling eucalyptus bark, which led me to look for some more pictures of eucalyptus. I found this one of leaves (these are the type I remember from growing up in southern California--I could almost smell the eucalyptus while I was looking at the pictures.) I then made a palette by pulling colors from the picture, printed the picture and the palette, then taped them into the journal. I have colored pencils, so pulled out the colors that were inspired by the palette. I used pencil to draw--tried a fine tipped marker, but the journal pages are too thin and it bled through--to sketch something that might be a quilt one day, and made notes of what I was thinking, or what ideas came to me about what should happen in the quilt.

I enjoyed the process, and will do some more. I don't know how many, if any, of these will become quilts, but here is a place to start thinking.

Journal Cover

While I was in Grand Junction about 3 weeks ago, I bought this book. I bought a sketch book to use while I was working on the exercises in the book. Sometime in the past week or so, I saw a journal cover that was sewn to the journal, instead of slipped on, so today I decided to make one. I have some hand-dyed fabric from guild programs, so chose one of them. It's not perfect, but for a first one, it's OK. I have to figure out a better way to attach it. I think if the cover of the sketchbook was heavier stock that would have worked well, but I like the way it looks. I'll let you know how it holds up. You can click on the picture to get a bigger view.

QFAH Picture with Better Lighting

Sunny today, so I got a picture of the QFAH in natural light. This is much closer to the actual colors than the previous pictures. I decided to look for a different light (maybe lavender or aqua) but didn't find anything that was speaking to me, so I'll go with white.

Show Your Stash

Judy has good ideas. She wants to clean up and use her stash, so is posting pictures now, and again in January, to see if anyone can see progress. Publicly saying she is going to do something helps her (and me) keep on track, so I'm joining in. Here is my stash. I reduced it a lot in the past 2 months by sending lots of it away. I gave 52 yards of solids to a reader who wanted it, then made up 6 IBOLs. I didn't measure, but I would guess I put between 8-15 yards of fabric in each box I sent, so I now have some empty spots in my closet. I am going to get some of the stuff up from under my table into the closet so I will see it. If I see it, I am more likely to use it. So, here is my "before" picture. I guess you also have to count the fabric on the table, I'm using it, but not all of it, so it's part of the stash too.

Thanks again, Judy, for the nudge.

One More Time QFAH

I'm all caught up. I'm going to try to take this outside this weekend to see if I can get a picture that has truer colors. I'm liking this more. I'll have to wait and see with the rest of the blocks. Kaleena mentioned that it was calm when I was thinking it was boring, I'll go with that.

Since I'm caught up, I'll be able to work on the dancing 9-patches that I started last week. If I get 6 more done, the top is done and I'll have to figure out a border. I'm actually thinking of a pieced border--I never do that.

24 Hours Later

What a difference a day makes! You sure can tell we're in the Rockies, weather is VERY changeable.

I've decided to go through the pain for the moment, and see if my original vision will be palatable. So, here are the center blocks. I still have plenty of blocks around the outside to make. If you want to see what the whole thing is supposed to look like, check this out.

QFAH Step #2 finished

It's gloomy outside, so no natural light. I'm liking it a bit better. Paula suggested a bit of zing with a red/orange. I'm not much of a red/orange girl, but I'll look through all my bits and pieces and see if I can come up with some. One of the problems is that it doesn't photograph at all well, but I'll take a picture once I get the red/orange in there and see what you think.

If you want to sew along, Judy has directions up on her website.

Weird Weather

About a mile away and 500 feet lower there is little to no snow. We have obviously had it falling all day, but a little farther down it's just been melting. This is very odd. The green tree on the right is an aspen--the leaves haven't even changed yet.

2nd Hour QFAH-more blocks

I'm reserving judgment. Right now I am a bit underwhelmed, but maybe it will come together. It's not that pattern that I'm doubting, it's my color choices. If my light background was black I bet I would like it.

I'm doing the old "wait and see", but I'm not giving up. Even if I hate it, someone out there will love it...and on the plus side--I'M CAUGHT UP!

Quilt for an Hour-Freeze Frame

So far, I'm not too impressed with the colors I've chosen. We'll see how it comes together. I tell you what, I do NOT sew nearly as fast as Judy. She has these directions in one-hour chunks and this took me longer than an hour, probably about double that. The white I used is more loosely woven than I usually use and I am pinning so it doesn't get pulled out of shape. The colors are not very accurate here, but it gives you an idea of what to expect.

How to Make the Dancing 9-Patch

Sandra asked how I made the block. I already had this schematic made up in Excel (I use it a lot for designing quilts) so, here is the information for one block. Sandra, if you need more information, let me know and I'll do a more in depth description of how I made the blocks. By the way, you can click on the picture above and it will get large enough for you to see.

Last Day of Summer

How's this for the scene out my window...the last day of summer!

What's on My Design Wall 9-21-09

Here's what I'm working on. I saw this online some time ago, and liked it a lot. Each block is 18" finished, so it won't take too many to finish it up. It kind of looks like dancing--maybe that's what I'll call it, Dancing 9-Patch. Just need nine more to finish the top. Again, no idea who it's for, but it better be someone neat with all that white. Means I can't keep it! If you want to see what others are doing, check out Judy's website.

What's up...

I feel a great sense of accomplishment. I just finished publishing a website I've been working on. The pain of that is the interface for every web host is different, so you have to figure out how they set it up that is different from the last web host you used.

YIPPEE!

Now, I'm working on making more 12 1/2" 9-patch blocks to be cut up for the swap I am in. I find it kind of boring, but I'll move on anyway.

Disappearing 9-Patch Fabrics

Here is a sample of the fabrics I've used for the disappearing 9-patch swap I've joined. I'll be sending these off to be mixed in with the others' blocks, and get new ones back. It will be fun to see what I get, and how they will all go together.

Fall?

Well, I guess it's that time again. Here is a picture of the aspens in the yard. They are already going gold. I was looking at the mountains today as I came up the pass, and sure enough, you can see the light green/yellow aspens against the pines. Huh, that was a short summer.

What's on My Design Wall 9-14-09

I joined my second swap. An aqua and red disappearing 9-patch swap. I had neither color, so I bought some 1/2 yard pieces. I was gone this weekend, so I'll start working on them today after work. I think a nice collection. I have to make 25 12-inch finished 9 patches, and cut them in 4 pieces, so I end up with 100 smaller blocks. These will then be sent in and mixed in with all the others that come in, and then sent back out. You can find the information at Jane's Fabrics and Quilts. If you're interested there might still be a place for you.

To check out more folks' design walls, check Judy's blog.

The Kilts

Here's my husband, posing for me...and the two kilts below. Considering I've never done this before, and I just had instructions, not a pattern I think I did pretty well. I fitted Joe's while I was making it, but Jake's I just had the measurements. His just fits so I'll have to move the velcro to be sure he can wear it again.

They both are enjoying the kilts, and we're off to the festival today

Kilting today

I've been doing some kilting in the past couple of days. We are going to the Estes Park Highland Games this weekend, and I promised my husband a kilt--made from Hawaiian fabric. It's done. Then last night I made one for my nephew. Don't know how his will fit, but it's done too.

Quilted, and working on the binding

Here's the hidden wells quilt. I've backed it, quilted it (simple straight line quilting) and now I'm binding it. I'm using lots of pins to see if I can make a machine sewn binding look pretty good. I should be done with it in a few more hours of work, and then it will be ready to go...somewhere.

Done, and I figured out who it is for. It is a little odd, but lately as I've been finishing quilts that have no specific destination, I think of someone and I know that's who it is for. This one is for a niece in California. I just have to get her address and it will be on the way. Here is a link that shows the whole quilt. I forgot to take a picture before I boxed the quilt for sending.

Mystery Quilt--What Knots?

Well, here's the top. I like it. I even have the backing already-a light brown-very nice.