Random Blocks

Since grades have been submitted and I am out of school for the summer, I have been doing a bit of catching up on various projects. Through the winter semester I was totally faithful about printing out patterns for two projects that interested me, both of which are quilt-alongs. One is a block-of-the-week, the other is block-of-the-month. In quilter's lingo those would be referred to as BOW and BOM.

Making any headway on these two projects just didn't happen while I was teaching, and this first week of the break has given me a chance to breathe a little bit and devote some time to them. It feels really good to work on things without the stress of grades and lessons and deadlines.

The BOM project is hosted by the well-known quilt historian Barbara Brackman. I have followed her blog Material Culture for years because she is so knowledgeable about dating quilts and fabrics. She has hosted many quilt-alongs which I have just watched from the sidelines. The current quilt-along, Antebellum Album Quilt BOM, I am going to try keeping up; a new block pattern is released on the last Wednesday of each month, and it started this past January. Here's the link to the first block which includes some of the details about the quilt-along.

My first block, Wandering Lover, was made way back in February. I shared it on Instagram and even got a comment from Barbara Brackman herself approving of my fabric choices! Whoo-hoo!

Above is block #2. It is called Lend and Borrow. My color is off in the upper right corner of this photo; must be a lighting thing. The truer color for the neutral is what you see in the lower left corner.

And I have also made block #4, Quaker Pride. This was super-easy, as you can see. You also might have noticed that I skipped block #3. It was a template-made design, and I cannot for the life of me figure out how to get that bugger to print at the proper size. So I will hold off until I can get some technical help. (Usually in the form of my kids!)

Now the second quilt-along, a BOW, is hosted by a pair of quilters I have "met" through Instagram, Maureen Cracknell and Sharon Holland. Both links are to their blogs.In March I made Dovecote, shown below.

I decided to use my leftover scraps called A Day In The Country by Joanna Figueroa and Lisa Quan of Fig Tree Quilts/Moda - ages old stuff. I know I will not have enough to do all the blocks, I may begin searching the interwebs for some bits of this long-lost line.

This week I have made the second block (they've now released 10 or 11 blocks), this one is called Kitty Corner.

If you are trying to figure out where you've seen this fabric before, think back to last year when I was doing my UFO challenge and my July project.

So, one of these days I will get back to houses for my Village quilt, but this week I have just felt like playing around a little bit. It definitely is giving me some steam to get going this summer.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

The Modern Sewist

In yesterday's post I mentioned a quilt shop located in Siesta Key/Sarasota, FL, where we vacationed last week - The Modern Sewist. A check of its location on the map app showed that it was practically within walking distance of us.

Thankfully, my DH is one who doesn't mind (too much, anyway) hauling me around to find quilt shops. I know he has a limit, though, so I keep 'em short and sweet. He really is supportive.

But I digress...

I enter a "modern" quilt shop with a bit of trepidation; my tastes typically lean to the traditional standard or classic styles. However, I have been salivating over some of the fabrics coming out by some of the new designers - I wanted to see them! And, more importantly, touch them! I hoped this shop would carry those fabrics.

They did!! Yay!

The shop is bright and cheery, decorated quite full-to-brimming with all manner of samples and inspiring projects. I met the incredibly hospitable store manager Jenni who made me feel quite welcome. We talked about fabrics and blogging and Instagramming and all the fun stuff that makes this hobby of quilting increasingly accessible to people of all ages. These are the very things forcing this old traditional gal to break out of her "comfort zone" and experiment with some of these trendier, modern designs.

Jenni was excited to learn that I am a Bernina-owning gal, as she will travel with the shop owner and another employee to Chicago to become Bernina dealers. I am catching their IG posts about all their adventures and learning. Exciting stuff, indeed.

I found lots of fabrics that wanted desperately to come home with me, but just three won out. I had to exercise restraint, for sure. Jenni was so helpful; I quickly chose my two florals, and needed a nice solid-type to accentuate them - she knew just the options to show me. I decided on the perfect dark blue shown in the photo and I can't wait to dream up a terrific project for these sweet fabrics.

My exciting fabric purchase consists of that navy by Rae Ritchie of Dear Stella Design. This is a pretty tame piece by some standards, but to each her own, right? I still have that foot firmly planted in traditional-quilt-land, you know. *wink*

The florals are both by Art Gallery Fabrics - AGF - called Ethereal Fusions, and aptly so, I must say. Have you ever seen such loveliness?? The minute I saw these, I was enamored by them. They are so delicate and dreamy.

Once I got back home and in the sewing room, I opened these fabrics out a bit and shot a fuller picture of those florals. Aaahhhh! I'm swooning!

After a bit of study, I noticed a hint of gray in both florals which prompted me to recall a gray piece tucked away in my stash - maybe?? Yes! I think the gray (Weave by Moda) will work with these perfectly! Oh my, serendipity is at work here, people!

Now, tell me, what will I make with these???

So that sums up my quilting adventure in Sarasota, FL, and my trip to The Modern Sewist. I highly recommend! I am now following the shop on IG as well as Jenni (her handle is @jenglebelle). She told me about their on-line shop, which I will definitely keep in mind.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

I've Been Away

And I hope you hadn't even noticed!

So here's the story. Two weeks ago, while having dinner with my sister and brother-in-law, they tell us about a trip to Siesta Key they are taking and why don't we drop everything and come along, too? Ooooh, great idea! However, we had obligations and just couldn't see how we could swing it. But the more we thought about it, the more we decided to figure out a way to make it work. And we did!

I changed my finals to online finals as opposed to in-class. Submitting online meant that I could begin grading from Florida. (I didn't, but I could have.) Kevin arranged a substitute for his Mennonite school bus route and we hired a young college grad, one of Kevin's former runners at MHS, to house-sit and dog-sit. We canceled a couple of engagements, and then we bought our tickets!

And that's how you do retirement, ladies and gentlemen!!

I had enough time during the week before we left to write a full week's worth of blog posts, scheduling them to appear daily while we were away. I fully expected to get home Saturday and write up something for the weekend, but that required a bit too much brainwork; my brain was still on the beach! Ha!

We had a fantastic week, and I have to recommend vacationing to beach resorts like this before the summer tourist season begins. We had absolutely no crowds to deal with anywhere - airports, highways, restaurants or beach. Conditions were perfect.

Our condo was situated on what is known as Crescent Beach on Siesta Key in the Sarasota area of Florida. Not only did we enjoy gorgeous, uncrowded beaches by day, but the sunsets were magnificent each evening. And - really cool - someone who lives there full time plays taps just as the sun sets each evening. That added such a solemnity to the experience. One never typically thinks deeply as the sun is setting each day, but the playing of taps really makes one pause, reflect and appreciate.

I very rarely take selfies, but I just had to try it with the sunset reflecting on my glasses. Not too bad, if I do say so myself. (A selfie with no pouty lips. Ha!)

As any self-respecting quilter would do on vacation, I looked for quilt shops in the area. I found The Modern Sewist just 2 miles from our condo! It was a wonderful little shop that I will write about soon. Two other shops were in the area, as well, but this was so close we HAD to check it out.

So, Monday morning is here and I am beginning my summer break. I finalized and submitted grades yesterday. Today, I am wondering what all I can accomplish in the months ahead. You can be sure I am list-making and project-planning. And through it all I will keep you all updated along the way.

Have a great Monday, y'all!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Frankfort Girls At Becky's

A week ago, the Frankfort Girls met at Becky's for a morning of sewing and fellowship. What a great group. Most of this group attended the recent Canter's Cave retreat. We squished around the dining table to chat and sew like we hadn't seen each other in ages! Below is a sweet table topper which decorated Becky's table. Tiny thimbles! I love 'em!

Sheryll missed much of retreat due to illness, so she had several finishes to show and tell. I managed to photograph a couple.

I am crazy for this sweet 4-patch quilt. Navy background! Red inner border! I just love it.

I was with Sheryll when the fabrics for this homespun quilt were being purchased. She and Terry went together for they both were going to make it. Terry's is done, I believe, and now so is Sheryll's.

Finally, from Sheryll, she shared her swap quilt. Several of these were shared at retreat, and this was our first chance to see Sheryll's.

Jan shared this t-shirt quilt she made for an upcoming high school grad. She can turn a project around faster than anyone I know.

The rest of us had nothing new since retreat. We look forward to our next get together; there will surely be more pretties to share by then.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Special Delivery

About a week ago when I stopped at the mailbox, I was greeted by the most pleasant surprise.

Most often, we come from the direction that allows us to pull the car right up to the mailbox and get the mail from the front. I'd seen some grass sticking out the front, but hadn't taken the time to investigate.

From the back, the situation is clear as can be! We are hatching a robin family!

I didn't touch a thing besides the mail. I hope all goes well. That one egg looks like it might not be viable; perhaps all the rest are fine. We shall give Mother Robin all the space she needs until this little business is finished.

Hope you have a wonderful Thursday!
Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jelly Roll Confessions

Back in September, the folks at Moda celebrated their wildly successful little brainchild knows as the Jelly Roll. The event was called National Sew a Jelly Roll Day. I think there might have been some international activities, too.

Anyway, Sharon and I were not able to join any official events on that particular day, but we did want to devote a day to Jelly Roll sewing, and did that in a few days after the official day. You can read my post to get more details. It wasn't until November of last year that I could finally bring myself to mention the total disaster my Jelly Roll effort had been, and I did it in a post about Sharon's beautiful blue work - her JR quilt was made with the blues and greens of Kaffe Fassett.

We had both made the basic jelly roll quilt several times, so we went searching Pinterest to find a jelly roll quilt that would offer something different. We decided on one, and if you use Sharon's quilt, above, as a guide, you see a very simple quilt made from a single jelly roll. We liked the way a border is established with the vertical rows. Even the most beginning level novice could make this quilt with little trouble. I, however, managed to make such a giant mess of this that I stuffed it away for almost 6 months in shame and disgust.

The obvious thing to do would be to sewing the center section first, and trim it when finished before adding the vertical portions. Sharon did that. I did not. I began sewing from the outer border and worked my way in. Duh. I mean DUH! How dumb an idea was that? What was I thinking?

I should have taken better before pics, but this one will adequately demonstrate what happened. I was in the process of fixing it when I took the photo above. The pink arrow in the upper left corner is showing that the border is hanging over the edge of the table. It is nice and straight - even with the table's edge. That blue arrow is pointing to a seam that is slicing vertically on the opposite side. I think this might be a lesson in knowing what will happen if one sews in one direction, cross-grain. After 40 or so are added on, the strips are stretched and stretched and stretched. Every quilter knows to turn those around and sew the other direction to prevent this from happening. I did it anyway. Geesh.

Here's how I dealt with the problem, as best as I can describe it. From the edge with the order (pink arrow), I measured over a certain number of inches top to bottom and marked a cutting line. I removed the uneven part, which sounds funny because what remained was uneven, too.

Then I set that aside while I unwrapped a brand new jelly roll. Yes, I bought a new jelly roll in order to fix the mistake. Thank goodness for Etsy shops! This is French General's Madame Rouge. I carefully cut 12 inches off each strip to add to my center section. Then I sewed them together in matching order.

You better believe that I sewed one direction and then the opposite on every one of these replacement strips. That strip was perfectly straight and even, thankfully.

So then I pinned each intersection and stitched the new with the old. Then I added the vertical strips and the outer border. Whew! It is a far cry from perfect, but it's acceptable, and once it is quilted I dare anyone to find fault with it.

So ends the saga of the ridiculously easy quilt that I made into a nightmare. This is what happens when we get just a bit too big for our britches and think we can just sew without thinking and planning. Maybe some sewists can do it; this humbling effort proves that I cannot.

All's well that ends well, though, right??

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Hello May!

Already we are in the fifth month of 2018 - can you believe it?!? We have had such a long winter and spring; I am betting that quite a few Ohioans are Snoopy-dancing for May.

I am celebrating an end to the OUC semester and will have the summer off. That means I need to accomplish big things both in the quilting room and elsewhere. I've worked on a potential sewing list for the month.

1. Sew items for November holiday bazaar.
2. Finish the Village quilt top.
3. Finally, get a quilt on the Tin Lizzie and quilt something!
4. Continue sewing Best of All blocks.
5. Cut out/start a 2-color star quilt.

Looking back over the April accomplishments, I have to say that the retreat was tremendously helpful in my getting 2 items checked off the yearly goals list as well as a good start on a third.

Checked off were the Thimbleberries quilt from the '17 retreat and the Jelly Roll fiasco from last September. The good solid start was on Best of All.

Feeling very accomplished!

Happy Quilting, Friends!