Sunday, September 30, 2012

A Little Porch Time

Here's my September sections. I opted to put in some flowers from a Sue Spargo book instead of the hands applique.

I can't wait to see everyone's sections!! I have a hunch I may be the only one who didn't sew D-E sections together!!

For next month this is what we'll do:
Sew section D and E together.
Applique the two birds and make a row of flying geese to go below section D-E.
Applique large basket and star flowers on section C. Sew to section D-E.

It may sounds like a lot but I think it is very doable!! I'm excited to see it coming together.

Friday, September 28, 2012

Mountain Trail Quiltalong Part 2

I had to show off my goofy wool cat. I found it on Pinterest as a freebie on Bird Brain Designs website.
The only thing we will do for step two is some cutting. 

From your red cut eighty (80) 1 1/4 squares. 
Grab a variety of dark 1 1/4" strips and cut:
twenty (20) 2"  strips
 (20) 2 3/4" strips
 (20) 3 1/2" strips
(20) 4 1/4" strips

Ah, admire your handiwork!! 
The only color I didn't use for the strips was red . I  saved that for the "trail".


For those of you doing A Little Porch Time Quilt be ready to show last month's sections next week!!



Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Mountain Trail Part 1

 Here's the finished quilt! I love it, although I see a couple of little problems and I'll address those with you when the time comes so you don't do the same.  You can see in my sample I put in a few off color strips. What jumps out in the photo is the brighter pink (used as a dark) and yellow (used as a light) . Keep your fabrics interesting although they will finish at 3/4" so don't fret over them!!
 We are going to start by make 20 four patches, using 2 reds, 1 light square and 1 dark square. These are all cut 1 1/4". You can cut a strip of red, then chain piece the colored print squares onto it.
 You will need twenty (20) of these. Easy Peasy huh? Oh yeah, they should measure 2" at this point.
Love this eyeball backing!! lol I'll be back with part 2 on Friday and that will give you the weekend to work on it. These will be simple steps.

Monday, September 24, 2012

It's Autumn- Quiltalong!!

Here is the inspiration for my quiltalong. poor little rag tag quilt looks like it has been loved and used for many years.
 This quilt reminds me of a log cabin and it is some sort of variation. I couldn't find it in Barbara Brackman's book, but I liked that it was a bit unusual and it took me a little bit to figure out how it was constructed.
 I'm calling ours  Mountain Trail. If you recall my hubby and I climbed South Sisters in August. Toward the summit it was all red rock, hence, the red "steps" is the trail to the top.

Aren't these fabrics fun? Feel free to use whatever fabric you want. I used reproduction prints with a solid red for the centers and two borders. Dig into your scraps because this won't be a big stash buster.

You'll need a variety of lights and darks cut into 1 1/4" strips. We will be using  lengths from 1 1/4" to 4 1/4".
For the red, a fat quarter or a little less will be plenty.We will wait to cut this red. I opted not to put in any other red strips in my quilt.

My quilt will finish (I'm hand sewing the binding down tonight) approx 23"x22'. My EQ drawing has a size of 18"x25". Either way we will make 20 blocks and you can decide on an arrangement.

Step one will be on Wednesday as it shouldn't take too much to get your fabric ready. 

I'm excited for you to see my quilt! I love it and hope you will join in and make one too!!


Friday, September 21, 2012

From Heartbreak to Hope

I was already committed to working today and Saturday so I made a trip to Portland to the NW Quilt Expo yesterday. My main motivation was to see the traveling Alzheimer's Exhibit. It was more moving than I had expected.


If you don't know anything about the exhibit please go here and read about it. My mom's name is somewhere on the purple panel. It's probably a good thing I didn't find it. (I wasn't looking for it)
The quilts tell a personal story of Alzheimers. I read about each and every one.



Especially in photos I see a vacancy in my mom's eyes. So many of these quilts and stories I could relate to. I understood because I'm in the midst of it.
Joanne Cunningham

Barb Vlack
Artist statement: Essential things to say to a loved one who is dying include: Please forgive me; I forgive you;Thank you; I love you; I will never forget you; Good bye. As a Christian, I could add, "I'll see you later," I am grateful that I had the time to share these very emotional thoughts with each of my parents before they died.  The last words I heard from mom, and later from Dad, were, "I love you, too." I had closure and peace. The bouquet says the essentials in the Victorian language of flowers: roses for love and forgiveness, rosemary for remembrance, forget-me-nots for everlasting love and remembrance, sweet peas for farewell.


I didn't get the information from this piece, although it seems self explanatory.


I overheard two women talking, one sharing about how her mom was fixated on some issue she was having with her.  We had a little chat and hopefully I was able to impart a little help in a situation that is so hard to understand.

I am so thankful I had the chance to see this. I really appreciate the quiltmakers and the story they tell through fabric and thread.
Thank you Ami Simms for using such a tragic disease bring such comfort to others.


Ami Simms has this to say about my blog post: Readers, please purchase a quilt from AAQI. Research is the only way we are going to find a way to prevent Alzheimer's. 

I agree wholeheartedly!!

Thursday, September 20, 2012

AAQI Exhibit


I hope to post about it tomorrow. If you ever get the opportunity to see it, then you should and tell your friends about it too!!  The more people that know the better chance we have of finding a cure.

Find out more here: AAQI Traveling exhibit From Heartbreak to Hope


PS, I still have two AAQI quilts for sale!!

Buffalo, #11,280

The Warden 11,281  This one is the most personal quilt I've made for AAQI. Thankfully I've moved out of that dark place.


Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Just Takes Two

 Here are my blocks for mid month. It was so nice they were easy and fairly quick to get together.
I loved the way to the basket block was assembled.
 Applique 4 handles on a background square. Add triangles to make the baskets.
 Add strips that have red triangles added to the ends.

Add background triangles to the bottom of baskets, trim and ta-da! A very unique way to make this block. I loved it!!

Monday, September 17, 2012

American Country Mercantile

I went out of town this weekend and found a great store. I hit the jackpot with American Country Mercantile in Keizer, Oregon.
This greeted me in the parking lot. I knew from the start I'd love what was inside.
A patriotic display in the bathroom of all places!!
Room after room of antiques, hand made primitives, with a little import thrown in. It was a good mix.



This display greets visitors outside.
This was my prim purchase. I was thrilled to find out it was made by the owner, Emily.
Cute hooked and wool sunflowers.
Look at this awesome piece of fall fabric- on sale- sweet price.

I don't make it to the Salem area very often but when I do I'll be making sure to stop by 
American Country Mercantile. If you click on their name it will bring you to their blog then you can find them on facebook and see more great products!! 

The owner Emily was so sweet and allowed me to take these photos!

Sunday, September 16, 2012

AAQI Quilts for Sale

Here I go again. Three more collaborative quilts are for sale at Alzheimer's Quilt Art Initiative. 
Please support this worthy organization run by volunteers,  raising money and awareness for Alzheimer's research!! Click on the quilt title to be brought to the AAQI page. Thanks!!
Buffalo

Sheridan

Off-Kilter

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Challenge Quilt

 The floral fabric on the top is the "theme" fabric for a quilt challenge. The center darker fabric looks brown in the photo but it is actually purple. The funky green toward the left doesn't look like it belongs, but in real life it doesn't look quite so bold.
 This is all I can show you for now. I never feel confident with challenges and never really know what it will look like until the end.
 Here's Sven!! Helping me celebrate my birthday in September.
 We're at an outdoor concert. Thank goodness nothing as vigorous as climbing a mountain!!
Huey Lewis and the News was so much fun!!!

Monday, September 10, 2012

Frixion Pens Part 2

Before you read this post, please jump on over to Susi's blog and see her lovely A Little Porch Time for August. She didn't get a chance to post her link a few days ago. Thanks!

If you missed Part 1 you may want to go back and read the first experiment with the Frixion pens.
I left off showing you the red/white strip after ironing.

Here's that same strip after putting in the freezer. Yes, the lines came back. (I'm not concerned about my quilts freezing, but some people were)


Here's the same strip after throwing it in the wash then putting it back in the freezer.
New piece. Freshly marked with the Frixion pen.
This time I used a hair dryer on it instead of the iron. I don't think I'd want to do that to a whole quilt, but you could put it in a sunny window and it would do the same thing.  The marks disappeared but I can still see the white marks where my pen wrote on the red fabric.
Washed one more time. Not even white marks on the red.


Washed, then froze. No marks.

My lesson is the frixion pens should be washed out once you iron it.
Thanks for humoring me on my un-scientific science experiment.

 The bottom line is always check your pen/pencil/chalk before marking your quilt!!

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Bring on Autumn!

Before I got sick I had a chance to start changing the seasons around my house. Out with the red-white-blue summer decor and in with the fall colors.
One of my favorite quilts!! I think it is one of my favorites because it took so long to make.
I love this one too.
The kitty got a change of pants and his jack 'o lantern. Designed by JoAnn Mullaly and published in Primitive Quilts & Projects magazine.

 
Love my goofy Gourdy's Gang!!

We are having a lovely end of summer here. Yesterday we woke up to 37 degrees and the high was 91 degrees. It's a little confusing but my favorite time of the year.
Have a wonderful weekend!