Sweet Land of Liberty Month 8

When I first decided to join in this SAL I knew that there were a few blocks that didn't strike my fancy and I would probably do something else in their place.  The freedom angel was one of them and the fairy angel was another.   I have been looking for ideas all year long and have come up with a few good ones.

1.  A simplified soldier
2.  Civil War drum
3.  IN GOD WE TRUST in cross stitch
4.  a punched tin lantern
    and the list goes on. . . . . . . .

Here is a link to my pinterest board to see some of the other ideas.

I ended up putting the hand with the heart in the palm (from the top border) instead of the freedom angel.

 I misplaced the papers that had the fish block and the remembrance embroidery so I came up with a little basket of fruit that says "land of plenty".

I've been looking through a lot of my old quilting magazines to try and come up with an idea for the ADHOC IMPOV Challenge of maps when I accidentally came across  a pattern for a trumpet.  I left the valves off so it would look like a bugle.  Perfect for the fairy angel block.  A bugle is as patriotic as a fish don't you think? VBG

I just pinned that bow on there for the time being.  I'll replace it with something permanent in another color.

I'll add the word Freedom from the freedom angel block across another section of the quilt.

I think I'm finished changing things.  So on to getting my ducks in a row and finishing up this quilt top in the next few months.

I also added the liberty bell on the snails trail blocks.  It doesn't show up at all so I'll probably move it.

I guess that's all,
Robin

one of my UFOs bites the dust

After making my list of UFOs in my last post I was motivated to get busy and finish one of them.  I decided to pick the "Chicken in a Basket" quilt since all I needed to do was fix one of the blocks.

Something that should have taken an hour - two max, has taken me three days because I keep getting interrupted.  That's probably why it wasn't fixed years ago.

 The problem was that one of the basket blocks had a black background and if you'll notice all the basket blocks except the center one have light backgrounds.  So I unpicked the block (3rd block down on the left) and replaced it's four corners with snow fabric.  I noticed that it was next to the other basket block with a pointed handle so I had to unpick another block and switch them.  Much better~

It's kind of a quirky quilt with goofy baskets and chicken fabric but it was fun to make at the time.

It's now completely "complete" and #9 on my UFO list is done.  Now I only have 14 on the list.  (And 14 is a lot less that 15. . . )
Robin

I will be linking with Kathy at Slow Sunday Stitching

Just a little self-motivation musings. . .

For some reason I am unable to correct the tiny font in part of this post.  I've tried to do it twice and it's still little.  I apologize.

 I'm trying to get some of my UFOs done (as in the quilt in the previous post) and it's taking some concentrated effort to keep from starting something new.

Through the years I've wanted to try a lot of different quilting techniques and patterns; 
different fabrics, 
                           different styles, 
                                                    different difficulty levels, 
                                                                                            different themes or genres.  

But, now I think I have a better idea of what feels like "me".  

 I've tried the hard things and some of them are worth the extra effort and time. . . others are not.

Some things are easy for me like "Y" seams or needle-turn applique.  But, there are other techniques that just aren't on my list of things I want to do, like wool embroidery or tedious paper piecing (I'm not talking about hexies, I'm talking about the intricate scenes and still life florals that are sometimes paper pieced)  or working with really tiny pieces or machine quilting.    They are beautiful, they just don't give me as much pleasure when I make them.

I usually make bed size quilts and that can be very time consuming.  I think I'm now satisfied with smaller sizes.

It's a sweet blessing that we can all do different things.  There is such a great diversity of creations out there.  Isn't it fabulous that we all have the freedom to do what we like best.

So, back to the UFOs.  One of the things I do well is finish things.  I can't just let them languish in a closet, drawer, or shelf.  It make take me a while but I know they're there and I know they will get their time eventually.


Here is a list of my current quilting UFOs.  (And a few pictures)
I'm not including the quilt tops that are waiting to be quilted.. 

1.  Sweet Land of Liberty by Cheri Saffiote Payne  (almost done)

2.  Double 9-Patch - Zip a dee doo dah (just needs borders)
3.  Butterfly Round Robin (11 blocks needs to be set)
4.  Lori Smith's Ode to the 1930's (I have two in progress for a double sided quilt)   

Remember this one?

  
5.  Calendula Patterdrip (This one is just started)
6.  Hexagon Quilt (traveling project)

7.  Red & White Quilt (8 blocks + made)

8.  Rising Sun Quilt (just needs borders)
9.  Chicken in a basket Quilt (one block needs help)
10. Baraboo Quilt (just needs borders)

11. Old Maids Patience (revamping)

I think it would look better with red or blue alternate blocks.

12. Sleigh Bells (just needs borders)
13. When the Cold Wind Blows (lots of work here)
14.  Florence Peto Quilt (two more 3' applique blocks)
15.  Stamp Quilt (8 blocks made)

That's a do-able amount, don't you think?  Four of the quilts just need borders.  After appliqueing the Roseville Album Quilt and almost finishing the Sweet Land of Liberty Quilt. . . most of these will feel like 'PLAYTIME".

Thanks for stopping by,
Robin

***

Ahhhhhhh!

I have completed all the applique for my Rejoice quilt from the pattern "The Roseville Album Quilt" by Kim Mclean.  It still needs a border but for right now I'm just basking in the euphoria of having the center complete.

I love the brightness of the fabrics but I have to admit I don't like working on them as much as I enjoy working with fabric that is more subdued like Jan Patek or Jo Morton or CW reproductions.

When I finished the applique, I boxed up all the leftover fabric to give to a friend, folded the quilt top rightside inside, hung it in the closet, and was finally able to relax.  Silly I know but, after all that work I was just ready to be done.

Hope it's not too hot where you are and that you aren't in any fire danger.
Robin

Joe the Quilter on the History Blog today

The Beamish foundation in Northern England has constructed Joe the Quilter's cottage from the remains that were excavated. 

Interesting 15 min video here.

Go check it out.
Robin

Unrelated thoughts and projects

I decided I wanted to do something different - instead of the fish weathervane block for the Sweet land of Liberty quilt.  I have the SLOL liberty pattern but have inadvertantly misplaced the fish block (along with the remembrance embroidery block).  I like the fish block.  It has a bit of whimsy that I can identify with.  But, I wanted to add some more words to the song, so this is the block that I came up with.

I found a sheet of Cheri's lettering.  I don't know if I found it on her facebook page with all the free patterns or if it came with the SLOL pattern but I used those letters to stitch this line from the "My Country tis of Thee" song.

I'm pleased with how it turned out.  The tree trunk looks a little like the mast of a ship and the flag is the right shape to be on  a golf course.  But, I'm satisfied and since it's all stitched down. . . it must be finished.

I sewed the two blocks for July together and finished appliquing the tree branches.  Now on to finishing up other projects. . .

Or not!

My quilt group is having a scrap quilt challenge for the next 6 months.   I have my small scraps sorted in these bins from Costco.    So, I thought I would start with them.

I got out the bin with the red fabric in it first.

I've decided to make 179 nine-patches to make this little quilt.  It will be something easy to work on for a few moments at a time.  I have finished 38 red nine patches, 2 green ones, and am working on the blue next.  Those 2 green patches sneaked in because the fabric was in the wrong bin.  This is kind of like a leader-ender project.  I have till December to finish.

I mentioned (in an earlier post) that my friends husband had died unexpectedly.  I've wondered if she will try and make something in his memory when the shock wears off.  Losing someone or a pet can really leave a void in our lives and it's so comforting to spend time making something in their memory while we are grieving.

When our son David died at age 3 1/2 ( he would be 34 if he were still alive) I wanted to keep my hands busy with a significant project.  I wasn't into quilting yet but I was into cross stitch.  This is the project I chose to do.

Maybe some of you remember this pattern from the 80's.  It had a matching little girl with a tea set.

It was a comfort to make and has been a comfort to view and remember our sweet little boy.

I hope my friend can find some solace in working on something to keep her husbands memory alive.

This is a picture of my closet with the tops waiting to be quilted.  I think I counted 17 on the hangers and there are 3 tops on boxes underneath.  Sigh~

I still think they're great (except maybe that green one on the right) and want to finish them.  I guess it's a good dilemma.  I could have nothing to do and no fabric to play with.  That's much more discouraging than having this closet full.

Robin

Stem replacement, new quilt on the frames, and rising sun blocks

Original block with red floral stems

I finished replacing the stems on this unusual block for the Roseville Quilt.  I actually like the look of the brown stems better.  I don't know why I didn't just make them brown to begin with - like all the rest of the blocks.  This took far longer than it needed to because of all the interruptions.  It took me days and days.  Now on to the tree I need to replace.  See here for the full story.

Block with replaced brown stems

I was able to put my "Grandma's Kitchen" quilt on the frames yesterday.  It's made from the "Farm girl Vintage" pattern.  I'm quilting it using a big stitch with crochet cotton #12.  I want to finish it for a Christmas gift.  I should have plenty of time.  Better picture below.

My friend had a quilt retreat at her house for three days last week.  I managed to put together this top with my hand-pieced rising sun blocks. (A LOT OF UNPICKING) I love the fabric for the sashing.  It is an American Jane fabric by Sandy Klop.  Now, on to the border that will have words in it.

I was trying to duplicate this quilt .

I used a line from 2002 by Deb Strain called Saltbox Farm.  The little wooly fabric was used for the cornerstones.

A good quilting friend lost her husband yesterday.  Her whole life will be different from now on.  She won't be able to keep up her big house and the acre of land by herself.  It makes me so sad and also reminds me I need to makes plans so I will be prepared if this happens to me someday.

Robin