Well, what do you know?

 I don't think I've taken this long of a break in blogging in the 15 years since I started this blog.

I have to admit I've been bogged down with the hand quilting of  my Blackbird Designs "Love Letters" quilt.  I started quilting on January 1st and just finished on June 30th - WHEW!

I did tight rows of echo quilting in the center (that took a whole month) and then decided to do something different from diagonal lines so I would stay interested.  I know me and I get bogged down with the same thing over and over.  I absolutely love the diagonal grid when it's done but I sure don't like actually sewing it.

So, I made a cable template and used it to quilt up and down in the North and South blocks, side to side in the East and West blocks, and diagonally on the corner blocks.

The cabbage roses block is quilted up and down

The pomegranate block is quilted diagonally.

I used my blue water soluble marker to to mark everything and so I had to rinse out the whole quilt when I was done.  I'm a little disappointed - after all that work - the hand quilting doesn't show up very well at all.  

The sun is pretty bright so the colors are bright too.

Sigh, it's done and ready to use.

In between times I have been working on other things.

I finished my Moda Blockheads IV quilt top using Minick & Simpson fabrics, primarily Prairie Paisley II.  I sent it to Ray LaGrange for Quilts of Valor.  He sent me a lovely thank you note that made me feel so good.

One day I felt like sitting at my sewing machine and I didn't have anything to sew.  I had this pattern sitting out on my sewing table.  It is one that I cut out of a Quiltmaker 2002 magazine.  It just looks homey.

 

So, I gathered some OLDIES, a bunch of UGLIES, and some definite HAS BEENS and started cutting out a new quilt.  It took a while to put together and it is no beauty but I enjoyed putting it together (if you don't count all the ripping out).   I'll probably tie it for a car quilt or a picnic or a camp quilt, .

  It will be made to be used and used.

Judge for yourself  ~

The bright sun makes it look a lot prettier than it actually is.

I made the tiny quilt from the Temecula quilt Co.  I think I must have been on Instagram because I can't find the directions on her blog.  It measures 6 1/2" X 4 1/2".  It was really fun to make.

I'm also working on the border (finally) for the Roseville Album quilt.  I didn't like all the Monkey Hands in the original border.  I wanted something much more simple.  So I just appliqueing a scallop. 

 

 

So I've been keeping busy, quilting is never far from my mind

Robin

I'll leave you with some pictures of our trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico at the first of June.

First up is the most amazing bathroom your have ever seen.  I just can't get over how delightful it was.  And I think it's right up at the top as the cleanest bathroom I have ever been in.  I know, I know. . . I went to Sante Fe and I'm talking about a bathroom.  Unbelievable on both counts.

The bathroom was located inside Adelita's.  The food did not disappoint either, I ordered it Christmas.

It was actually that green.  Copper perhaps. . . 

We'd go for miles and miles and suddenly a rock formation would appear all by itself.

It was a rainy day on the way home.  Doesn't this formation look like a early American sailing ship in the ocean on other side of the bank?

Well, it should,  This is Shiprock.  The formation that Shiprock New Mexico is named after and located  right smack dab in the middle of the Navajo reservation.

We saw a lot of rocks that had tumbled down,  I assumed it was because of all the snow last winter and the freeze/thaw cycle.  It went on for miles.

Well, if you've lasted this long - you're a real trooper.  All I've got to say is that I went to Santa Fe New Mexico and was so caught up by all the sights that I only got pictures when I was holding still.  There's so much more to see.

Be sure and check out Design Wall Mondays on Small Quilts and Doll Quilts to see what beautiful things others have made.

I just finished Jane Austen's Persuasion

  I've seen the movie numerous times, the BBC version.  Click on the BBC link for the video trailer,

Most Faithful to the Book and Most Critically Acclaimed: Persuasion (1995 Film) Similar to Ang Lee's Sense and Sensibility, Austen fans and film critics agree that the BBC's 1995 adaptation of Persuasion is both truest to the original text and the best crafted film.

But, I realized I had never read the book.  I'm so glad I did.  It explains things that either weren't addressed in the movie or they just went over my head.  Sometimes I miss the innuendos and clues of a period piece because I'm so enamored with the spectacular scenery or the décor in a room, or the fabulous costuming.

It went into more depth of personalities, family ties, and the relationship Anne has with her school chum.  I might read it again just to get all those things firmly in my mind.

There a Robin building a nest in the crook of the Wisteria.  He was busy for two days and then stood sentinel for a couple more.  I haven't seen him all day today.  I think he realized that there's too much people traffic on the sidewalk nearby.  No female wanted this nest which is a shame because in just a few days. . . 

The wisteria will be in full bloom and the leaves will disguise and hide the nest.  

So, going along with my theme - Maybe he will come back and be more persuasive the second time.

Those little spikes coming off the stem are actually buds, very large buds, that will turn into the 12" long strands of lovely purple wisteria.

And, in quilty news. . .  I finished this table topper from over 10 years ago.  It has been waiting impatiently for me to get around to it

And it will be used Friday for our Cinco de Mayo family dinner.

Ole,

Robin

I wanted a little quilt with cheddar.

I finished my wheel quilt top.  We're expecting a big snow storm so it's really cloudy and dark and this picture is rather shadowy.  My DD#2 is holding the quilt up for the picture.  It measures 50" X 45".  She makes a great quilt stand.

I loved the wheel and wagon wheel quilts I have seen online.  Especially on Lizzy's gone2thebeach.blogspot.com and Hat Creek Quilts.

So I took (stole) some ideas from the quilts I saw and came up with my own take on it.

I made the circles by tracing around a bowl on some lightweight paper.  I marked the center and sewed a piece of fabric (wrong side down) from the center to the outside of the circle.  I folded it over so the right side is up.  Then I pressed it and trimmed it to form a wedge.  I put the edge of the next fabric on the unsewn edge and sewed a 1/4" seam.  I fold it over and pressed.   Then I again trimmed it to form a wedge.  I did this all the way around the circle until I overlapped the first wedge.  I trimmed it so I could turn under 1/4" and then I sewed it by hand.   I also removed all the paper from the back.

I wasn't sure how many circles I wanted so I kept sewing until it was about the size I had in mind.  It turned out I made 12 wheels.  I only wanted a wall hanging so I thought that would be enough.  I wanted to set them with cheddar fabric.  And, this is how I did it.

First I appliqued an orange circle over the edges that come together in the center.  I auditioned black and red for the circles but the orange looked best.  I trimmed the back of the wheel where I had appliqued the center so it wasn't so bulky.

Now it was time for reverse applique.

I cut a 10" square out of the cheddar.  I centered the wheel on the cheddar, right side down, and machine sewed around the outside edge using a basting stitch so it would be easy to unpick.

This picture shows the block from the other side.

I pinched a small portion of the back only, 1/4" from the stitched line and made a small cut.

I slipped the point of my scissor between the layers and trimmed 1/4" around the circle being careful not to cut the wedges of the wheel on the other side.

This picture shows that I have trimmed all of the circle and am ready to clip all the way around,

I then appliqued all the circles onto the cheddar by pulling out a few basting stiches at a time, turning under the 1/4" to the inside, and applique stitching all around the circle.

 

I auditioned a few fabric for sashing and borders and ended up using black baby wale corduroy for the sashing and inner border.  I made small hourglass blocks that are also in the border.  I love the richness and texture that the corduroy gives to the piece.  I'll have to take a picture in the sunlight so it's more obvious.

I added a little bit larger red outer border and I'm going to bind it with the orange to repeat that color from the center of the wheel. 

The corduroy was a little bit tricky to sew on.  It wasn't bulky just soft and rich.  It was hard because it doesn't stretch at all like regular quilting cottons can do.  So, I had to cut the strips a little bit longer than the measurement and ease them to the end.

I made this quilt entirely without a pattern.  It's as close to improv as I get.  Some of the wheels are a bit wonky but I left them in . . . adds to the charm.

I'm not sure how I'm going to quilt this.  I don't think it will be that hard to quilt on the corduroy because it soft but I'm not sure I want to see quilting stitches on the corduroy, if that makes sense.  So, I'll have to give it some thought, I'm in no hurry.

Thanks for checkin' in,

Robin

Picture of the snow built up against the back door.

If you look closely there is a 12" ruler stuck in the snow and you can just see the tip of it peeking through on top of the banister.  Notice the snow on the bird house.

Snow on the cars outside

We have received over 12" in the last 24 hours and it's still snowing out there.

Slow and steady

I've been working on these little wheel blocks and finished the 12th one on Monday.  I think that I have enough for the wall hanging I want.  I was going to put red circles in the center to cover up where all the wedges come together but I think I like orange better.  So, I made the circles today and will sew them on this week.  I'll trim behind it and then it will lay flat.  One step at a time.

I finished the echo quilting on the "Love Letters" quilt.  I really like how it turned out but it took me four weeks to complete. There are different shades of color because I pieced different fabrics together to make the backgrounds.  I need to send more time in front of my floor hoop or I'll be working on this all year - sigh  We've had quite low temps and so it's cold in the room I quilt in.  I need to get wrapped up and brave the 20 degrees days.

 When I spread out the quilt for a picture I thought it looked really well with the rest of the decor in the room.  I love my little churn dash quilt (a Kim Deihl  pattern) and always get it out for the month of February.  

I've been trying to come up with an idea for little Valentine gifts and this heart is what I came up with on Monday.     The center heart is embroidered onto a piece of white with fusible fleece on the underside.  I'm not sure if I'll quilt it or stuff it. 

Happy Groundhog's Day,

Robin

Moseying along this week

I finished the ring around the star, it took two arcs of 11 pieces and two arcs of 10 pieces.  So, the final piece has two solids together and two neutrals.

I decided I wanted a red star instead of a blue one so I made another.  I sewed the center block to the outside ring.  But, it just didn't have the feel that I was after.  I decided it was because of all the neutral pieces.  I wanted more color.

So, I cut some circles out of paper and began sewing from the center point out and trimming as I sewed along.  I like this a lot better with more color and more dark.  I think it contrasts well with the cheddar fabric as a background (or red or black - we'll see).  There is a really wonky one center front.  I thought about replacing it but then I decided to replace an offending fabric and leave it off center.  I want to make 12 to make a little bit larger than normal wall hanging. 

I took a picture of my sewing table because I couldn't believe how messy it was.  I don't usually sew like this - it's all very organized.  I'm getting a feel for the "sew n' go method".  It is fun.  I can see why so many of you just sew and plan as you go and if it doesn't work, something else will. . . 

I made two pies this week.  The one on the left is Toll House Pie.  It is pretty good but I made it so my granddaughter would eat some so I left out the nuts.  She has had about 3 pieces.  I had one skinny wedge.  It just isn't worth the calories without nuts in it.  The other pie is a cherry pie.  Who doesn't like cherry pie!?

My husband harvested some carrots this week.  He likes to take them to the neighbors all winter long.

This was an unusually good batch.  No scary or infested or unusable carrots in the whole batch.

It has been snowy and cold for weeks.  We now have a stretch of no snow and lower temps.  Look at this wren outside my window all puffed up to keep warm.  You'd think it was a robin but nope - it's a little house wren.

I saw this on one of my walks this week.  I just thought the colors were so pretty.  And a perfectly dried maple leaf.  

 

I was looking for a specific pattern this week and came across an article about Sarah Sporrer.  It was in  American Patchwork & Quilting February 2005.  I'm not very familiar with her work so I looked her up and found this delightful hare (along with lots of other pieces).  She does more primitive stuff and raw edge applique.  It was fun to learn about someone new.  

While I was quilting at the floor hoop in the living room yesterday I noticed my neighbor's front door and what looks like a pineapple decoration.  It probably isn't a pineapple but what I see is a star with a pineapple hanging beneath it.  Wouldn't that be fun to make?  I think it's really a sign with a tied ribbon hung on a nail - not nearly as interesting as a pineapple 😁

Well, I need to go make some lunch.  I thought I'd make a small batch of lasagna but the cottage cheese is no longer edible so, what to do with the Italian sausage. . . 

Robin

More or less

 Still working on my hand quilting project.

I'm over half done with this 20" block and I've decided that the center block is the only one that is getting echo quilting.  This is just too time consuming.  I'll do cross-hatch on the rest which will still take months but maybe not 9 months like it would if I continued as I am.😟

I am experimenting with  a interesting new project.

Click here to find out more.  I explained it in more detail on the improv blog.

I'm making lima bean and ham soup today.  The ham bone is from Christmas.  The house smells delightful.  I made Gingerbread with lemon frosting last night,  It's been years since I made gingerbread.  It doesn't make me think of the holidays so much as warm cozy times. 

 (We had a light snow last night.)

I went to a funeral last Saturday.  That always makes me pause and reflect.  I now only have one uncle (out of eight) that is still around.   Sigh~

Robin

New technique, puzzles, and snow

I've decided to do echo quilting around the center block.  I've never done such tight quilting before - it's a new experience and I'm on a learning curve.  I'm not sure I want to do this in every block but I really like this one so far.

My husband and I spent a contented day doing this puzzle.  It's called the Cozy Room.  

I love puzzles and would love to have a space to leave one up and just work on it a little each day.  It's so calming.  But, that wouldn't work around here because DH thinks once you start you can't leave till it's finished.  Sometimes, I have to walk away because I feel his intensity and I'm hurrying to keep up with him.  That's not why I puzzle.  I wouldn't say anything to him though. . . I'd rather have him there than not.

 We had enough snow for a snowman.  It's about time.

Robin