She's been too quiet ...

As with a small child, quiet usually translates as busy - good busy or otherwise.  That's exactly how I have been since my last post.  Blogging falls by the wayside as the day comes to an end and all I want to do is relax and sleep.  So today I decided I'd just do it and check one more thing off my list.

Here's the quilting related list and some photos:

** Teaching at the local fabric/art shop, Fiddlehead Artisan Supply - five different classes.
- Introduction to Quilting - a four week class - Done.  Another session is in the works for mid April.

- Planning and "practicing" for teaching a class about using the Quick Curve Ruler (a Sew Kind of Wonderful notion). Here are the quilts/ tops I have made for this project. The title of the patterns are in parentheses)
From a free pattern ("Fun Poinsettia") on the Sew Kind of Wonderful web page:

This version follows the free pattern instructions. It  has been made into a pillow cover.  Hand quilted.

These two versions are also made from the above pattern, but I played "what if?" to see how the pattern changes.

Double Wedding Rings ("Metro Rings") - using solid colors and white on black and black on white fabrics to make the bits in the ring.  I chose the gray background to highlight rings that were made with black on white. The white background goes with those made with white on black.



("Deco Shimmer")

A variety of fabric was used because I didn't have enough of any one color/fabric to complete the pattern as directed.

Strings of Beads ("Urban Chained")

Again, limited background fabric, hence the stripes.

- Planning for teaching three liberated classes: Stars, Houses, and Windmills. I have photo-samples of the first two topics, but my windmill pieces are hanging in the store and I don't have a photo.

the smallest star in this galaxy measures 1 inch.

** Digging into my stash and making a little dent with Slashed Squares - influenced by Lynne Tyler's recent projects:  (She provided a tutorial)

From this:

and this

  

to this

** Making a baby quilt for my niece's little one. I made an amish style quilt for the parents' wedding. It made sense to do likewise for the baby. I make small baby quilts, which can graduate in time to being a doll or teddy bear quilt. This one is 24" x 32",  A little bit bigger than I usually make.

** Planning three I Spy quilts for slightly older nephews and nieces.  I have all the patches, just haven't put them on the design wall to see what lay out I want.

** Making  mug rugs for two very special people whom I will see very soon.




** Keeping a BIG Secret, which can now be whispered about.... SSOBB. The Secret Society of Barn Builders!  See the link on my sidebar.

It may be a little while before I post again, but I will try to be more timely.

Swap blocks and more

As many of you know, one of the pleasures of quilt blogging is the opportunity to join in projects distant from home base.  What better way is there to try out different techniques or designs?  Plus, the internet contacts are very rewarding.

I joined the 15 minutes play  scrap  "New'Bee".  For December, V asked us to make an ethereal star and surround it with dark scrap background.  She sent us two swatches of fabric to incorporate however we wanted. These swatches were a bright orange print and a navy with bright green ikat.  We could also include another star if we wanted or send her an extra star.  Any kind of star was legit, so I went liberated.
This is going to NYC very soon:

I also joined the Blogger's BOM, hosted by Jackie.  I love this BOM.  I can raid my own stash.  I can experiment with color combinations. The blocks have been fun to make. Each is designed by a different quilter and each month is presented as a surprise. And the BOM is free.

 I decided to make 4 of each block.   I am using different light orange and yellow backgrounds (the color is washed out in these pictures) and plan to put all the blocks together in a good size happy quilt.  Here's what I have so far:

September:  Block designed by Sherri McConnell
                                                             

October: Block designed by Vicki Welsh

November: Block designed by Stephanie Dunphy















I also joined Beth Shibley's Neighborhood House Party.
Here are my houses:

I'm sending them to Beth. She will be 'redistributing' the gathered blocks to some lucky winners on January 1. The number of winners depends on how many people join the party.  Everyone has only ONE chance, regardless of how many houses she may have contributed.    I look forward to seeing all the different houses.

Hey!  Anyone can do this.  Check out the link above and join the fun.  Just remember, your house needs to be in Beth's hands by Dec. 31.

Just the beginning

This is the beginning of another project. I think I may take a whole year playing with this one, so you will see it from time to time.

In her blog,  Lynn of Patchery Menangerie suggested a quilt along of wonky houses and wonky trees through the seasons. I have joined in the fun.

I have made many liberated houses, but not trees.  My yard is full of trees.  Different trees are really beautiful at different times of the year, so I decided that my focus will be the trees in my yard in appropriate seasons. I also decided that I would make just one house. You never know,  I could make other views of it in the future.

 I really do most of this kind of work on the fly. I seldom sketch anything out, because I end up ignoring it anyway.  The way I start is to choose a fabric and begin cutting, thinking about what should go next to it, thinking where the ground is, where the sky is, etc.  I make each piece and put it together as I go along.  I don't try to match seams, so there is plenty of odd tilting, which I think makes a more interesting "picture" in the end.

As I said,  this is just the beginning...  It is autumn. Here is my house with a Norway Maple and a Norway Spruce.  (I live in SE Michigan.  Norway varieties of trees were popular in neighborhoods developed in the late 60's.  They grow big very quickly.)  I will be making more "autumn" trees soon.