Oldest UFO Series - Sheryll"s

The UFOs I refer to, as every quilter knows, are Unfinished Objects. And I venture to say that most every quilter has at least one in the depths of the sewing room. Truth be told, most of us have far more than just one.

Several months ago, I asked my quilting friends about their oldest UFOs. Oh the stories! I wondered if they'd be willing to share them with me, and also, by extension, with all you readers of this blog. Several agreed, so the project began. Here is the first installment.

Today's UFO comes from Sheryll, who shared with us an elaborate applique project that she started in 2000 when she bought this pattern in Paducah, KY, at the big quilt show. The incredible detail in this gorgeous scene just intimidates me to pieces. It wouldn't occur to me in a million years to attempt a project with this magnitude of detail.

 

The length of panel above is bigger than you might think. Sheryll is holding her arms completely extended and has a helper at the end to show this top portion of the quilt. Isn't that balloon realistic?! This panel is completely done.

 

More work in progress, above. Some of this has been machine appliqued. It looks amazing. Many other parts are well under construction. Sheryll says that the small details remain to be finished on many of these sections - window panes, store signs, street posts, flag pole, and so forth.

So much has been done on this! I don't know if you can click to enlarge these images - try, if you can because the intricate details are impressive. Tiny windows, feathery tree branches, narrow street lights and fence posts - so much fine detailing. It is hard to imagine that after doing all this, you then have to go back and do even more. What an effort!

I'll bet many of you will relate to this next part. This quilt has a very special memory attached to it. Sheryll says it is bittersweet because in 2002 she worked on this while her father was very ill. She recalls sitting with him and her family as he declined and passed. Every time she thinks of this project, she recalls her father. Do you have a quilt with special associations? I'm sure many of us connect some of our quilts with big life events. 

Another recollection for this UFO: Sheryll says it took her forever to collect the variety of fabrics needed for it. Interestingly, the maker said she did the same thing (included in the pattern was a little blurb from the designer detailing her creative process). Another major stumbling block has been finding script fabric for the various signs on the piece.

She also says that when this is finished, it will be an exceptionally heavy quilt. Each piece is backed with Wonder Under; this makes the applique easier to manage, but does add weight to a quilt. For this reason, Sheryll will likely not use a traditional batting in the quilt. It will already have sufficient padding.

And yes, the plan is to finish it, Sheryll says. Someday. I will definitely bring a follow-up when she gets there!

Sheryll is a prolific quilter, and I will offer up a couple links here so you can see some of her gorgeous creations. Click here to read a post from 2015. Scroll down a bit - she has several at the end.  And this post from 2012 gives you a glimpse at quilts on display at her house. From many of these, it is evident that Sheryll does indeed like applique.

There are more UFOs to share with you; I will try to be more timely with my next installment.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Some Slow Stitching

Since midweek, just about the only sewing I have done has been of the slow-stitching variety. As the week began, I was finishing up the snowball flimsy, then I moved on to prepping a quilt backing, and cleaning up some of the clutter left in the wake of the William Morris quilt.

Late week, the schedule got busy and I have only taken smidgens of time here and there for handwork.

Said handwork has been one or the other of the projects shown in these photos. I carry that hexie kit with me to all the places - this week it went to the regular gathering of the Frankfort Girls. I stitched a few card stock templates into place, and then formed the beginning of a flower.

I thought I was going to stop making these, but apparently I changed my mind somewhere along the line. Probably when I realized I had just cut a bazillion templates a few weeks ago. If I have the templates, then I needn't be stopping. (Giving myself a stern talking-to!)

And I try to sit at the quilting frame for an hour or so each evening whilst we watch television. Baseball season ended for our Guardians, so now it's time for catching up on old shows and movies we've missed.

And that's my slow stitching update for this week. Love that I am making progress on both these projects. Check out all the slow stitchers over at the link-up at Kathy's Quilts.

Have a blessed week! I expect we will be extra-blessed this week, as - at last! - we are counting down to the end of our daughter's pregnancy. Baby girl Dillon due any day now!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Finishing Up Loose Ends

Trying to figure out why I sometimes have such a propensity for procrastinating, and it is completely mystifying. In late August, I cut this fun green print and leftover grunge combination. My plan was to make a snowball quilt. 

And I went straight to work on making the blocks. In fact, I shared a couple of posts about my progress - first here, and later here where I am focused on saving the cut-away triangles off the snowballs.

So, started in August; ignored in September. I made all the blocks and then just left them untouched for an entire month while I worked on William Morris. I suppose my thinking was that this quilt would be so easy, while I was expecting quite the challenge with William. And if I were in the mood to work on a challenge, then I'd best do it while my mind was focused.

And so, my precious little snowballs and 9-patches sat untouched for a very long time. Finally this past weekend, I decided that putting this quilt together was long overdue.

My goodness, I had no idea I'd finish it so quickly. It went together like a dream!

I love how it is turning out. Now, it's not very big, as the 6" blocks are arranged 7x9. The good news is I have several snowball blocks left over, and more fabric, so I plan to make the necessary additional blocks for a quilt that will be 8x10. If my sharp, math-calculating brain is correct, that comes out to 48"x60". Still small, but very much acceptable for a cozy lap quilt or throw quilt.

That's my agenda for today. Sharon is coming to sew later on, and this will be my top priority. Pics to follow!

Happy quilting, Friends!

Hand Quilting

Can you believe it? I am still working on Fall Foliage! My History Day demonstration project hasn't yet been tucked away for yet another hibernation. YAY! (Read this post for an explanation of this quilt's long history.)

Thank goodness our Cleveland Guardians continue winning! These ballgames are fun to watch while I sit to quilt. We are definitely enjoying this October baseball.

My cobbled-together quilting space requires this cutting board being commandeered as a table for my light. The family room lighting is too dim for quilting, so this little solution works fine. 

This morning I pulled the quilt out to snap a "full frontal" of the quilt in the frame. I was curious to see if I'd quilted any more than just what I have there on the top. Nope. I really hadn't made any significant progress on this (especially when I know I put it in this frame in 2018!).

I like seeing this view, as it shows quite a bit. First, my Q-Snap frame is showing its age with all that yellowing. She's still in great shape, though, so she stays. Look at the difference in the joints; obviously made with different plastics.

Another thing I see is that with some "stick-to-it-iveness" I can have this lap quilt finished off in relatively short order. The center of the quilt is 5x6 blocks on point; 6-inch blocks. Add the borders, and voila, the quilting will be done. 

And another thing the photo shows me is how cool the quilting looks. By moving the frame out a bit closer to natural light, the grid-lines show up really well. And, I'm getting really close to moving the quilt to a new section!

I just need to stay with it.

My fingers are becoming adequately calloused, so I think while I've toughened them up, I ought to keep at it. Maybe the fine gals over at the Slow Sunday Stitching party will keep me motivated. I will join Kathy and the rest to see what everyone is working on.

Have a wonderful Sunday and...

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Dithering - Avoid If Possible

My best advice to a quilter of any stage of advancement is don't waste time dithering!

Whenever I find myself wasting too much time overthinking something, I force myself to follow that advice.

Case in point: I have a quilt top (above) ready for the long arm, but have not found a suitable backing in my stash for it. While on vacation, I bought yardage, but did not have the quilt with me and the colors just don't work. The bottom fabric in the stack below was intended to be the backing. My quilt top and the purchased fabric just don't have the same "vibe" - they don't work, in my opinion.

Back here at home, it occurred to me that perhaps I should check my tub of flannels; it's been literally years since I've made a flannel project. Sure enough, I did find some promising stuff!

Nowhere in the recesses of my brain do I remember where or when I acquired these two flannels. But by gosh, they are going to be sewn together, and they will make a perfect backing for this baby boy quilt. A much more suitable "vibe." 

Perfect"? Perhaps not, but definitely will work. And I am stoked to finish it!

And this is how you avoid dithering. You don't worry about super-perfect matches. You make do with the best options in your stash whenever possible. A backing need not be a headache; it's a backing! 

I wish I had thought to check the flannels before buying the yardage, but ah well, the next baby boy quilt I need to make will get its start with that new stuff.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Hexies and Hand Quilting

In this post from just a few days back, I announced that I thought I'd stop working on these hexie flowers. 

Then I changed my mind. 

I needed something to keep my hands busy while on the road. With plenty of hexie cardboard templates at my disposal and, of course, fabric - these only take scraps! - I am picking them up and getting back to work. This little plastic container is perfectly portable.

I  made an entire flower and prepped a few additional hexies on this recent trip.

Having that snap-on lid is necessary for keeping all the little parts together - scissors, beeswax, thread, earbuds, templates and fabrics. Here is my little plastic basket of templates cut recently using friend Becky's die-cutter. I grab a handful to take along in the lidded container.

And so, it appears hexies will be another of my ongoing projects. (I do remember that I have Lake Effect waiting patiently for my attention!! )

Now back at home, I find time each evening to take a few stitches on Fall Foliage. It has been nice getting back into hand quilting, and, unlike previous years, I can see myself staying with this to a finish. Keeping it simple helps make the stitching go faster.

My agenda today has been getting ready to host an impromptu bonfire with some friends tomorrow night. Fall bonfires with good friends - what a great way to start the weekend!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Fall Trip Highlights

Narrowing 250+/- vacation pictures down to a few for a blog post is hard work! The beauty of digital snapshots and i-phones is that so many can be taken and later deleted after selecting the best of the batch.

It appears I have this down to an art - well, the first part. I definitely take a gazillion pictures. Whittling them down, deleting the duds, and culling and editing for the primo result - that's the part at which I fail.

But here ya' go. The most representative pics from the 5-day, 4-night jaunt into upstate New York shall be shared here with a bit of commentary; I will try to keep it brief.

And yes, quilts will have a bit part in the narrative. *smile*

Finger Lakes region/New York

Our purpose was to see fantastic fall color. We chose to do a short trip and go as far as the Adirondack Mountains. I can happily report that we far exceeded both goals. Our trusty US atlas and a book called The Most Scenic Drives In America (1997) helped us along our way to slow country roads and top-notch scenic views.

In the Adirondacks.

Lots of shots were taken through the windshield going 55 mph or less. Occasionally we have a glare or road dirt, but this shot turned out pretty good. 

Rural Pennsylvania.

After awhile, all the scenery shots begin to look alike. But not all my pictures are of trees along the roadways. Sometimes we stop and turn around and get out and explore. We are drawn to pretty old houses, barns, and churches mostly. Here are some good ones.

All the windshield "yuck" present in this photo!

We turned around to take a picture of this vintage roadster.

We stopped at Chateau Lafayette Reneau Winery.

We stopped at a winery - there were dozens to choose from in the Finger Lakes region. This one was a good choice! We had a tasting, bought a bottle, and we bought a barrel!

Don't all vacationers buy a wine barrel while on the road??

Taughannock Falls in the Finger Lakes region.

Weasel - they really do "pop, goes the weasel."

One of the wineries we passed - and turned around for! - was this one featuring what we thought was a quilt show. It turns out the woman who made these was a vendor at Hosmer Winery's Columbus Day celebration near Ovid, NY. All these quilts were for sale. What a pretty sight they were, gently floating on the breeze. I talked extensively to Kathy Kline of Winetrail Quilts, learning that she has vended here for something like 25 years and has sold lots of quilts. She definitely has a prime location out on the road to tempt passersby.

On Friday night, we stayed in Bradford, PA, and after a quick search for local quilt shops, I found one just a few blocks away from our hotel. The Little Fabric Garden is a cute little shop with lots of fabric options. She has some great samples on display, and plenty of variety of yardage, precuts, kits, patterns and notions. I did buy some fabric, and my one regret is that I didn't take any pictures inside the shop. That is remedied, though, by looking at pictures on the shop's website. My purchases consisted of baby quilt fabric. No surprise, eh?

That pretty well summarizes our little trip. It sure was fun, and it is equally fun getting back home to attack some of the projects on the "to-do" list. A quickie get-away sorta' recharges the batteries.

Happy Quilting, Friends!