Red Ohio Stars

 That happily ever after story I referenced in this post from last month is about to reach it's conclusion. 

This quilt went onto the long arm machine about a week ago, and late Monday I took it off. Tuesday was devoted to the binding and label. Now it's ready for a show and tell with the Frankfort Girls on Friday, if I don't deliver it to Abby beforehand. Conclusion to story.

The quilt shown in this photos is laid out on a king-size bed, so it will be suitable for a child's twin or double bed. Or a couch quilt. At 68'x74" the kids can even commandeer it for forts and tents and picnics by the pond or s'mores by the firepit. Oh, the life this quilt will have! 

Doesn't it seem odd that idea for this quilt was 'birthed' almost exactly a decade ago? That link above shows my drawing out the pattern and selecting the fabrics. I think I can even recall the show I binge-watched on the iPad while I stitched. Funny how that association remains after 10 years.

Feeling pretty good over her about getting two quilts quilted (click here to see the first one done) and delivered to a family that truly wants them. I'm going to get another quilt loaded on ASAP.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne

History Day - 2023 Edition

If it's the first Saturday in October then it must be History Day. Yes, once again I set up my quilting frame to demonstrate the lost art of hand quilting. I took a brand new quilt this year. On many previous occasions, I have taken the same quilt year after year. 

In 2020, the Frankfort Girls had a fun little project in which we made blocks assigned on a monthly basis by each member of the group. By the 7th month, we had 7 blocks - I believe they were 9" blocks - and  we could proceed with whatever we liked to finish. (That's my best summation of the project; it could have been more involved.)

 

In studying this pic from 2020, I think I must have made two of each block, and since one more block was needed to complete the top, I have three Ohio Star blocks and two of all the rest. The setting block was Stepping Stones, one of my faves. I just love how it creates chains through the quilt.

I decided that this would be the quilt for History Day 2023, so I prepared a backing a couple of weeks ago, then sandwiched the layers and loaded the Q-Snap. It is such a lightweight frame, and is so very easy to transport. I had my station set up in no time.

Since marking a quilt is not my favorite thing to do, and since I am notoriously slow about finishing these hand quilting projects, I decided to make things really simple, easy and straightforward. I would stitch diagonally in the stepping stones, outline each block, and outline each design in the pieced blocks (not the setting blocks). 

In the one day of quilting, I did quite a bit -7 needles' worth! - and by the time I'd finished that last needle, my fingers were growing tender and History Day festivities were winding down. Worked out perfectly.

Now that I'm back home, I set the frame up in front of the television with the hope that I would continue quilting. I haven't yet, but it's only been two days. I will do more this week. Promise.

Hope you all are having a great Monday!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Don't Judge!

You wouldn't dream of judging me, right?

Even if I told you that I'd had several yards of red fabric languishing on the far end of my cutting table since July? And even if said fabric has been languishing thus since finishing the red and white Double Irish Chain?

Red  & White Double Irish Chain; July '22

Calling it a cutting table hardly seems honest. Mostly it is a foundation for massive piles with a corner exposed for actual cutting. So, you won't judge for that either, am I right? Below is a typical picture of the "cutting" table - not current, but since this is the general state of things at any given time, it will suffice. That bit in the foreground is the only part fit for cutting most of the time.

 

These true confessions have some background which, in my opinion, gives merit to languishing debris from old projects.

When Sharon came yesterday for sewing, I honestly did not have a single idea of what I would work on. I have a couple of machine-sewing things in progress, but for one reason or another, I need more time to think about the directions I am going with them before proceeding. It seemed fruitless to start a Christmas project - I really don't have anything specific that I want or need to make. Likewise, it seems ridiculous to start yet another project that would require digging out more fabric and patterns which would add to the already chaotic space.

Instead, I began a quilt that I have had on my radar for several months; the inspiration pic caught my eye many months ago while scrolling Pinterest. I screen-shot it and have revisited it regularly. That red fabric stayed out on the end of the table because of this picture.

I'd cut extra 2.5-inch strips of the red when making the DIChain. And you all know I have a ready supply of 2.5-inch squares in my scrap collections. With those pre-cut red strips and the supply of scrappy squares, it was meant to be - a project ready to begin, and I could start sewing immediately. Perfect.

I sewed all afternoon. Oh gosh, what fun! Creating on the spur of the moment like this was absolutely heavenly. I did not want to stop. Also, I didn't really have to even think! Sharon and I talked and talked, stitching all the while.Total perfection. (Sharon had an equally simple project which I will share another day.)

 As I often do when making lots of blocks, I count out groups of 10 and clip them together as a way of easily mapping my progress. I have 23 blocks with red squares, and 24 blocks of multi squares. That was a good day of sewing!

When I lay them out, the beginning of the red diagonals begin to appear. It will become more evident as I make more blocks. I am absolutely chomping at the bit to get back to the sewing machine.

And this productivity may never have happened had I been a diligent, tidy seamstress who clears her workspace and puts things away. I knew that red was meant for this quilt, and if I'd put it away, I might have taken ages before beginning it.

I have no deadline for finishing this quilt; I do know that it might be finished faster than expected because I am enjoying the process so much. Whenever the finish comes, the details will surely be shared here with all of you.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Red and White Double Irish Chain

Way back at Christmas time, I happened upon a box of red fabric in my grandmother's quilting stuff. 

The box was full, but the fabric had been used for something because the pieces were torn into long, long lengths and had evidence of stuffing attached. My guess is that Grandma helped put together a Christmas display and this red was used for background. The white stuffing would have been snow. Anyway, she'd cleaned it up as best she could, folded it neatly and kept it in this well-marked box.

I got into it at Christmas time and made a couple of Christmas gifts, and while I was sewing an idea came to me. With this red fabric, I would make a red and white Double Irish Chain quilt. In fact, when I shared the idea with my sewing buddy, Sharon, she wanted to make one, too, and already had fabric for it.

Game on! We decided that we'd do it in July - and here we are in July already! Time to get busy.

Backing up just a bit, the fabric was old - this may have been stored since the 1960s or 1970s. It was very cheap-feeling, and I just knew it had absolutely zero color-fastness. This made me decide to wash it in hot water. While I didn't think I would ever be washing my quilt, who could say that it wouldn't somehow get wet? Or someone after me might try washing it, only to end up with a pink quilt.

Look at that water! My intuition was correct - no colorfastness. I hand rinsed in the hottest water all the yardage - three times. The water never lightened up. So, I know I still have a danger on my hands, but I wanted to start. The month is half-gone already!

I now have a few 25-patch blocks assembled. These are fun to make, and with an audio book going, I can churn 'em out quickly. Note: I did catch that white squares should be in the corners, and have corrected these 4 blocks. 

I don't know that this will be a finish for July or not, but I am going to have a pretty good start.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Sister's Windfall

The estate of a friend of my sister is being  dispersed, and she has become the newest protector of the most gorgeous red and white quilt. Simply put, this is a thing of beauty.

When she showed it to me, we didn't have much time to do an up close and personal inspection. I just took these few pictures.

Sandy said that before she spoke up for this quilt, it was destined for donations going to the humane society. Now I love that people donate old bedding this way, but for goodness sake! This heirloom in a dog pen? I am so glad Sandy had the gumption to ask for it. Basically, she is preserving its life for at least one more generation to enjoy and appreciate.

I wish I could know its story. We don't know who made the quilt, how this gentleman came into possession of it, or anything. We suspect that his mother might have made it, but it could as easily have been made by one of his grandmothers, or aunts, or great aunts. 

Other items of particular interest here for our quilters, are the contents of a sewing basket. I don't know if Sandy is keeping these or not; the daughter might be donating them. Whatever becomes of them, the items contained therein are interesting.

Sandy said that one spool of thread had a price sticker of 18 cents. Would that be 1960s pricing? Earlier?

So, that was a fun treasure to look at. I know there are collectors of vintage sewing ephemera out there, but I do not know if this man's daughter is willing to invest the time necessary for finding those people. That's what thrift stores are for, right? 

Hope you are having an awesome Tuesday! I've been to the dentist this morning, and later today we are going to see the Columbus Blue Jackets with our daughters and their guys. A fun-filled day!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Books and Quilts

It's no secret that I love reading almost as much as I love quilting, so I thought it time to share some of my recent reads. Since the first of the year, I account for having read 23 books - all but one were audio books.  I will share seven which were exceptionally good in that they left lasting impressions well after finishing. Books with some sort of impact - are memorable, thought-provoking, tap one's curiosity, show evidence of skillful writing, or are exceptionally well-researched - all these factor into my ranking system. Then, I will show just pictures of most of the rest at the end.

The River - Excellent writing; great setting in remote country the of northern Canadian forests; gripping plot. This mystery had me on the edge of my seat. I will definitely read more by Peter Heller.

The Last Days of Night - Exceptionally researched book about the invention of the light bulb and the war of AC vs. DC currents. The big players of the times were all here in this book - Edison, Westinghouse, Tesla - told from the perspective of Westinghouse's lawyer. Fascinating history that I knew little about; I stopped reading more than once to Google information. I kept talking about the book to my husband, and said this would make a great movie - guess what? It is being made into a movie!

The Book of Lost Friends - The setting is the deep South in the years following the Civil War. Freed slaves use pamphlets shared by black churches to post want ads looking for loved ones separated by the ugly selling practices of slavery. Based on factual advertisements, the author creates a fantastic story with memorable, resourceful characters. 

The Echo Maker and The Overstory - two books by Richard Powers are probably the most 'academic' books of the bunch. Especially with The Overstory, I wondered more than once if I were smart enough to read the book. Powers possesses a brilliant mind commanding an incredible range of knowledge. The way he weaves diverse topics into a plot is as skillful as any I have ever read. These were not "light reads;" rather, they required my concentration and attention, but were totally worth it. I will read more by Powers.

Once Upon A River - Wonderful, magical storytelling. Setterfield writes with such impressive attention to details in her weaving of this novel. The Goodreads blurb says it perfectly: "...a glorious tapestry of a book that combines folklore and science, magic and myth. Suspenseful, romantic, and richly atmospheric, the beginning of this novel sweeps you away on a powerful current of storytelling, transports you through worlds both real and imagined, to the triumphant conclusion whose depths will continue to give up their treasures long after the last page is turned." Yes. Yes. Yes.

The Midnight Library - The one book I read the old-fashioned way, rather than listened to. This one might be my least favorite of the best books. The thing that fascinated me was the examination of life's "what-ifs." Consider the idea of how a seemingly simple choice in one's life could result in the most significant impact. The plot is based on the notion that one might stop between life and death to see what might have been. For example, what might have happened if you'd said yes instead of no to to coffee with a complete stranger? In the midnight library, the main character is given a glimpse of what her life might have been had she said yes to coffee, and lots of other what-ifs, too. Issues involving mental health are subtly suggested through a carefully measured melding of magical realism and science fiction.

These seven books top my 23 reads so far in 2021. The rest are just good, entertaining books - they enchant me with great characters, clever plots, captivating settings, and often, historical perspective. I do tend to prefer historical fiction - any era of history suits. Here are some of the others, without commentary.

Note on the next two titles: I am reading Philippa Gregory historical fiction in chronological order, which means I often have to wait awhile on certain titles. Murder on the Rocks is the first of 5 books in the Mack's Bar Mysteries by Allyson K. Abbott; I finished all of them.

And, for you quilters who want to see quilt-related pictures, let me share one in-progress photo of a quilt I am about to have finished to the flimsy stage. I will do a more complete post on it later this week.

Happy Reading and Happy Quilting, Friends!