lesmel ignores the craft room in 2016

Ok. I'm not actively ignoring my craft room; but it's turned out to be that way so far.

I do have a promised baby clothes quilt that I need to make and finish before the end of the year. Anyone done a baby clothes quilt? This is sort of what I'm aiming for:



I've been trying to decide if I should cut the clothes apart to make the applique easier. I'm about 99% sure that's my plan. I also just realized I probably will have a better applique process if I use fusible webbing. Huh. Now that I've written about it, I'm no longer stressing over how to put this thing together. Ha. Typical.

Very nice! I know nothing about quilting or applique though.

Kids clothes are so cute these days it's a shame NOT to keep them somehow. Not that there weren't any cute clothes in 1970s-80s, but other than specific dress up stuff it's all pretty plain in my family pictures.

That's a cute idea. I've not seen this done before, but I shouldn't be surprised. Good luck with it.

That's cute. It reminds me of the "t-shirt" quilts you see for teenagers or runners, etc. I believe you do need some type of interfacing to stabilize the material. Can't wait to see the finished project.

>5 dudes22: I made a HUGE (largest project I've ever sewn) t-shirt quilt in 2013!



https://www.flickr.com/photos/bloglass/tags/skillstrade/

It was a trade in skills for this tree mural:

Nice!

That tree is wonderful! Nothing like a visible treasury of the past. The shirt quilt is very clever. I've seen a couple of others out of shirts, and I'm always amazed at the extra work piecing all those shirts must be.

>6 lesmel: I always love those family photo trees!

The tree is so fantastic. Absolutely love it.

>6 lesmel: OMG, I was just saying to my husband that I need to paint a tree mural on the wall of the guest room for the very same thing! (I've decided not to do it, but I am going to do something clever for all the historic "dead people" photos. There really isn't a place for them in this house as there was in the last). Maybe I'll do a mobile!

I'm ready for applique...sort of. I REALLY stink at zigzag and satin stitch. So, I'm practicing first. But when I'm ready, the quilt is ready!



Right now, I'm calling the project the Red Crowned Phoebe. The little girl is a redhead named Phoebe. Her mother is a birder.

Cute name! I have seen a few of these quilts on FB recently. It is a lovely idea. Yours is looking good so far. I love the 70's style border.

The Red Crowned Phoebe is done & waiting to be delivered! This was yesterday before the binding (which I always hate). Finished project photos later!

I have two UFOs I plan to finish this year. I probably have more. I know I had friendship star blocks. I should probably do something with those.

Halloween Wall Hanging from Nov 2014


Tortilla Quilt from Sep 2010

Story and pattern here: http://www.quarterinchpublishing.com/oldsite/books/book_tortilla.htm

>15 lesmel: What a lovely picture in the Halloween Wall Hanging!

>14 lesmel: Congratulations on finishing! The pants in the middle is probably my favorite touch.

Mischief Managed! Quilted & delivered -- Mama cried. Mission accomplished.

The quilts and wall hanging look great!

Nice work. I'm glad the Phoebe quilt was so well received.

Happy for you that the Phoebe quilt is finished and delivered! It looks great. Perhaps I'll be inspired by you finishing some UFOs! I've been thinking about some of the UFOs I have (most are quite small) but then my brain runs off in new directions.

Wall hanging done as of Friday night!



I'm thinking I may work on a wall hanging for each month...maybe. I know I'm doing an American flag as the next wall hanging.

Next up. The Tortilla Quilt. I would have worked on it this weekend; but 1) I had a handful of other things to do Saturday and 2) I was glued to the news outlets Sunday. Tonight, my plan is to sandwich the pieces and practice free motion circles. Have I mentioned I've never done free motion OR circles before? This should be an adventure.

>21 lesmel: I still love that picture. It's really eye-catching.

You are keeping busy. Lovely wall hanging (love the color!)

Working (slowly) on the Tortilla Quilt.



My cat seems to think I need help...



I need to decide on the size of the circles I plan to quilt.

Tortilla Quilt done!



I'm thinking about sewing a sleeve to the back and hanging it in my office at work. Anyone ever used the "Hang It Dang It" rod and clip?

I'm starting on a new project. A US flag wall hanging for my father. Amazingly, this is the first handmade project I've done for him. I still owe him (in my mind) a lap quilt since I did one for all the girls/women in the family. I also owe a lap quilt to my brother for the same reasons.

The flag wall hanging will probably be my most challenging project to date. If I counted right, it requires 336 1.5 x 2.5 pieces of white fabric & 384 1.5 x 2.5 pieces of red fabric. Enter strip piecing! Hopefully, I don't eff up the measuring or cutting. I'm going to need to be extra patient with this project.

>25 lesmel: What a lovely quilt this turned out to be! Where's the closeup of the circles? I always admire the quilter's work, considering how little skill I have in that arena. I love the old-fashioned look in this one.

"Hang It Dang It" sounds pretty funny. Now I'm going to be looking for it.

>26 Lyndatrue: I'll have to get a better shot of my drunken circles. You can see a little here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bloglass/27183884063
I've already washed/dried the quilt -- I was aiming for as much shrinkage as possible so it was hot water and high heat dryer -- and I'm pleased with the results. Even if the circles are a little drunken.

>27 lesmel: You are quilting by hand. I think I knew this, but I'm still astonished. The sound you hear is applause. :-}

I love your tortilla quilt! It's really gorgeous and I didn't realize you were hand quilting. WOW.

Also, your cat is quite a beauty!

>28 Lyndatrue: & >29 lauralkeet: Nope nope nope! All machine quilting! I don't really have the skill for hand quilting...and the hand strength. Even machine quilting kills my left wrist.

>29 lauralkeet: She's a tortie...and has the attitude to prove it. She's developed this funny habit of recognizing a blanket on me is the signal that it's perfectly acceptable to climb in my lap for pats. That makes sewing...interesting...to say the least.

Ok. The drunken circles!





I know with practice -- and maybe a better setup -- I can improve on my free motion quilting. I can say that the Bernina BSR is da bomb! I love that thing.

Oh, loveloveLOVE the quilt! Gorgeous!!

>32 scaifea: Thanks!

Working on all this quilting has me wanting to see if I can find a quilt restoration place for my great grandmother's quilt. My grandmother had 6-9 handmade (I think) quilts from her MIL.

In 2008, my grandmother got deathly ill and never really recovered enough to ever be on her own. True to her spirit and nature, she refused to leave her house. That mean in-home care.

Unfortunately, the in-home care staff didn't care for her things the same way we would have. Two things were damaged and/or lost beyond repair: the quilts and a pieced carpet/rug that always was in my grandmother's den.

The carpet that my grandmother hand stitched together from carpet samples was soaked by an A/C leak. Rather than tell us, the ladies rolled the carpet up, and stuck it in the garage. The garage that was more a wish and a dream of a garage with no HVAC and lots of...critters.

In 2009, when my grandmother died, my brother and I found the carpet and we both just about fell apart. He and I already had plans to split the carpet in 1/3rds with our cousin. Then came the really blow.

All my great grandmother's quilts were missing....except the one that had a mouse nest and a giant chewed out hole (probably a 10" x 10" area). I refused to let anyone have that quilt. I folded it and put it in an medium packing box when I moved to my house nearly 4 years ago.

Even now, I absolutely fall apart thinking about the lack of respect for my grandmother's things. Not to mention the damage to completely irreplaceable items. My mother and Aunt say they have the remaining quilts. I don't believe it. Also, my Aunt had a devastating house fire at Christmas in 2015. If she DID have 1/2 the remaining quilts, I don't know if she had already put them in the packing pods.

Maybe this weekend, I will carefully unpack the damaged quilt and check it over. If it can be saved, it will need a serious cleaning. the fabric feels disgusting from mice living in it for months, IIRC.

Here's hoping you can find someone to restore it!

There are people who do conservation work (and there must be some in TX), but I imagine it is expensive. And one would reluctant to repair with new fabric, the difference in the fabric and thread strengths alone would be undesirable. I know what you are going through.. I have an old appliqued butterfly quilt my grandmother made in the early 30s and some of the butterflies have deteriorated. I have thought about replacing them but the same issues prevail. There is always the choice of leaving something for the next generation or enjoying it now (thoughts passed on to me from the NE Quilt Museum when I inquired about displaying the Victorian Crazy Quilt I have from my great grandmother).

I think you need to do what is meaningful to you. You clearly loved your grandmother and you may be the only one who cares about the quilt/quilts in the way you do.

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Love the tortilla quilt (and the kitty who is helping). Keep at the machine quilting, it does get easier (but I find it's always an awkward thing on a regular sewing machine)

>33 lesmel: If that packing box you're referring to is plastic, it would probably be worthwhile to remove it, and find a cedar box (or similar). It's often best to (at least) wrap it in a clean cotton cloth, for protection. You might also consider using acid-free tissue to insulate the folds against further wear. Everyone I know always says not to use a professional dry cleaner, so I'm going to add that one in.

Restoring or repairing (either one) may not product results that you'd like.

I feel so sad for you on this. I have some of my great grandmother's crochet work, and my grandmother's wedding dress (among many other things), and they're very precious to me.

Cats are so helpful like that! Mine has never been much for tables or trying to play with my yarn, but she's a great fan of deciding to snuggle as soon as I start winding a hank of yarn into a ball.

When I watch the free motion quilting super-professionals on Quilting Arts I'm always just amazed anyone can do what they do.

That's heartbreaking about the damage to your great-grandmother's quilts and your grandmother's carpet. Maybe with the quilt if the hole can't be patched to your satisfaction it could be cut and divided into wall hangings?

I have thought long and hard about the quilt. I would be happy if I could find someone that could trim up the damage and maybe apply a binding. I would be happy with that. And I would hang the quilt at that point. >37 mabith: Cutting it into smaller wall hangings might crack my heart just a bit, but it is better than never getting to see it again.

>36 Lyndatrue: It is a cardboard box. Not any better, really. I truly need to do something other than ignoring it.

>35 avaland: There used to be a place in Old Town Spring. There's also a quilt museum in La Grange. I wonder if I can find someone. I know it will probably be costly...but if it is the last quilt from my great-grandmother, I am willing to consider my options.

>38 lesmel: Cardboard, in your area, is worse than plastic, because it invites insects. I may ask some friends in TX (yes, I do have friends) whether or not someone in your area might be able to help. Actually, I have cousins, now that I think about it, and some of them are of the quilting world.

The quilt museum is usually a good place (at least I've found the ones I've visited to be knowledgeable and helpful).

>39 Lyndatrue: Rubbermaid has an underbed storage thing with cedar inserts. It is breathable instead of plastic. Hrm.

>40 lesmel: That would be MUCH better than what you have now. Cedar inserts are very good; I've recommended them to others when they were trying to put aside a wedding dress, or other special item.

>41 Lyndatrue: Cedar inserts worry me with respect to the acid in the wood. Obviously, I could buy a clean, plain length of muslin or unbuffered tissue paper.

I couldn't stand not knowing another minute. I pulled the box out of my craft closet and pulled the quilt. It is not as terrible as I remember. Granted, my grandmother had just died and the entire process of clearing her house was traumatic for everyone. More photos here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bloglass/tags/bigmamawsquilt/

>43 lesmel: It's really lovely, and clearly older, both in the pattern and in the fabric.

I wouldn't worry too much about a conservator at this point (although I haven't yet looked at your other photos). I have all my precious things in my cedar chest, and every once in a great while, I pull them out, and admire the work. I think the point about the cedar inserts is to protect, not harm.

I do have some of the most precious things wrapped up in muslin.

Okay, I just went to look at the quilt, and I see the damage. I'd check first with the quilt museum you'd mentioned. I think it can be gently repaired, if that's what you want to do. How amazing to see those stitches on the quilt, from all that long time ago!

That's lovely. When my grandmother died she left behind a partially pieced quilt that she started working on before having children. She must have set it aside and never got back to it, but it traveled with her to many different houses over some 60 years. My mom, who was a fine quilter in her day, went crazy when the quilt was found, and was able to finish it. The design differs from yours but there's some similarity in overall style,

I have nothing new to add about fixing - I'd try and check with a quilt museum I think. But I did want to say that it's such an interesting design and I love the solid/plaid combination and colors.

I whipped out the top on my newest project over the weekend...and then crashed and burned b/c the project does not resemble what I had in my head. It's taken me until now (studiously ignoring it on my dining room table) to actually like the project.

Everyone who has seen it as liked it. Thus, I know it's the disconnect between what I wanted and what I created that has caused me to hit the brakes on the project. I even have a coworker that wanted to pay me to create another wall hanging like this for her mother. There's a first!

Tonight, I'll piece the backing and start the quilting. Has anyone quilted back to front? There are stars on the backing I want to outline. I thought I would use either white or invisible thread. Good idea? Bad idea? Suggestions?

I took a class in machine quilting way back when and I remember the teacher talking about using a pattern on the back to quilt. But I don't remember anything more than that. I would say white., although depending on how big the stars are and how much of a statement you want to make, you could do blue - or what about gold?

I usually don't get excited about flag patterns, but I love the fabrics you've picked for this one! Very cool. And I'm eagerly awaiting your solution to the back-side quilting question, which I've often wondered about myself...

Let me add a vote for white thread. I love the idea of the stars on the back being faintly echoed in white on the front.

RE: your antique quilt. I see the damage now. It will be hard to repair as new fabric would be needed to fill in some of the open areas. It would be tough but maybe not totally impossible to match fabrics. It was probably used and well-loved! The design is: Grandmother's Flower Garden.

I would disagree with white and go with an off-white. How big are the stars on the back? It might be very cool if the stars, which one might expect in the navy blue field. were instead on the whole quilt in your machine stitching.

I've started quilting back to front. I picked a brassy gold for the bobbin (aka the top) and red or blue depending on the star. Here's the backing:



The first star I quilted...in case I had to pick the thread and start over. The result is very faint. Which I wanted. You can see the quilting a little bit more on the blue:

 

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This is how part of my night went (conversation with a friend)

8:40ish PM
Lesli
I think i got myself high on spray baste
Lesli
I am debating how to spray baste the front side of the quilt. And avoid the contact high
Jen
In a room with a box fan positioned in the window to pull air outside.
Lesli
Well. That would be intelligent.
Jen
Once and awhile I am.

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I should not be allowed to craft after 9pm. I do stupid things like spray baste a quilt in a closed room. Partly, it's that lack of sense of smell. I forget stuff like fumes since I can't smell them.

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In an odd quirk, I counted the stars on the back. There are 54. I mentioned this to a friend. Our conversation:

10ish PM
Lesli
You are brilliant & I am not high. WOOHOOO
Jen
Yay!!
Lesli
Even quilted the first star & i am super giddy b/c it actually worked the way i wanted it to!
...
Lesli
I have 53 more stars to quilt.
Jen
Isn't that 4 too many?
Lesli
Technically, yes, but i didn't even think about that. Ha. You are BRILLIANT!!

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So, yeah. I'm quilting 50 of the 54 stars on the back. The red ones are done. I may do some of the blue tonight. Maybe.

I love that quilt back. Using that for your quilting pattern was a great idea. No marking, etc. Can't wait to see it all done.

Oh wow, it's looking great. The backing is really nice and I like the faint stars in your quilting.

Oh, I LOVE the star quilting!

The choice of thread (before I forget) was perfect. It's just enough to make the tracing of the stars faint, and keeps them from intruding on the work, while making that delicate statement. I may not quilt (no patience for it), but I know good work when I see it.

I like it. Great idea to have the stars on the back. It's going to look great! (Your late evening conversations are a hoot!)

Love the star quilting. I'd probably just do all 54, because why not.

THE QUILT OF DOOOOOOOOM!!!!

Why are some projects a nightmare? From day one this thing as been a pain. From first trying to decide if I was going to attempt a tiny rail fence pattern to now pressing the binding the wrong direction and SEWING 1.5 SIDES WITHOUT REALIZING THIS!!!

I give up for the night. Seriously. I am tempted to hold a bonfire in my BBQ with this quilt. It has been awhile since I felt this way about a project.

No! No burning! It's way too lovely for that! And I laughed out loud reading your conversation.

If you've been reading my thread, you'll know that I too have one of those quilts going, so I sympathize with your frustration. I just took it for the second time to the quilter. Let's hope my binding goes a little bit better than yours. But no burning!

I think the most important sewing lesson my mom every taught me was when you start to get frustrated, just walk away. So you did the right thing! I don't think I've ever sewn anything without a little help from Mr. Seam Ripper. Gah. Anyway, that's all just to say, Solidarity, Sister!

About 15 minutes after I posted in >59 lesmel:, I fell asleep. Then I popped awake at 2AM...why for the love of all that is holy, WHY!?!?! Then I realized that The Quilt of Doom had its claws in me and I wasn't going to get any sleep for the rest of the night. On the bright side, I have almost all my laundry done! And I can take an early morning nap without feeling the least bit guilty.

I present......
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{insert drum roll here}
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The Quilt of Doom The American Flag Wall Hanging
 

Thank you to everyone for all the kind words and encouragement! I'm pleased with the result, even if it was the hardest project I've had to piece and finish in probably two years.

Oh, it's lovely!! Congrats!

Very nice, indeed!

>62 scaifea: Mr. Seam Ripper?!

>63 lesmel: The sound you here is applause, all the way over here, in the deserts of SE WA. It's really beautiful, and now you should take a well-deserved break. I toast you with my cup of coffee.

I almost wish I quilted, after seeing the chevron quilt, and now yours. Then again, knowing the stories behind them both, and watching the struggles to get there, I'm sure that it's best that I don't.

Congratulations on finishing, and on making something so lovely!

That is AMAZING. Congratulations !

It turned out beautifully!

>65 avaland: Well, I'm general disgruntled when I have dealings with him, so yeah, Mr.

>69 scaifea: LOVE. That needs to be a needlepoint quote or something.

Well done!

I'm finally working on the #quiltsforpulse project. I've actually been rather emotional working on it. It took the entire weekend to cut 60 rectangles, 60 5.5" squares, and 120 2" squares. Last night I drew diagonal lines on all the squares.

This is the first pieced block. I may need to remake it depending on my tolerance for the wonky edge...


Also, I now have to see if I sewed the background fabric on wrong side out. Hrm. Where are the delicate turquoise pencil lines on my fabric?

Beautiful.

>72 lesmel: Bright!

I paused in my #quiltsforpulse project to whip out something for my mother's birthday next week.



This took a lot longer than planned because I wasn't sure if the peltex I had would work (it didn't, but I can fix that), I cut strips that were too narrow (twice) and I sewed squares together the wrong sides multiple times. All because I rushed and worked on this while I was overly tired.

Still, I love this little wreath. It's not really stiff enough for a wreath...though that could be fixed with stiffener; but it's perfect for a centerpiece.

>75 lesmel: I have to admit that, until I read the description, I was trying to puzzle out why you'd made a bread holder out of such odd fabric, and where were the strings to tie it, and what happened to the center...

It's really funny how our eyes are trained to see things, and our brain will happily misinterpret what we *do* see to fit into what we think is there.

It's very pretty, for multiple reasons. I like the combination of the autumn fabric on the bottom, together with the inner fabric revealed with the folds. I don't think I ever realized how complicated and fancy quilting could be until I started reading all the threads here about it.

Now I want to see if I have pictures of the bread holder (it has another, fancier name, but I don't remember it).

Forgive my novice question, but did you have a pattern for this, or was it just a clever idea made into reality?

>76 Lyndatrue: Totally 100% a pattern. Fiery Phoenix happened to have a really good tutorial on it. I'm probably going to buy the pattern it originally came from because I think there's a larger size.

>75 lesmel: - I saw something very similar to this when I went to a quilt show in Worchester, Ma this year. I was going to buy the pattern for a friend until I realized there was some sewing involved. ( she does none)

Love the wreath, those kinds of projects are so neat, and the fabric combination is great.

This was pretty much my weekend:



My machine, table, and project are now in my living room at least until this coming Sunday -- closing ceremonies.

It took six tries to find the color layout I liked. TOP FINISHED!



Now to spray baste, sandwich, quilt, and bind. As if that's the easy part. HA!

The blocks are 10" finished. My bed is a king. I'm tempted to add a wide border; but really want I want to do is add a column (or two) of hearts. I'm not sure I like how narrow the quilt is.

Thoughts?

>80 lesmel: I have a thought, but it's not about your quilt. Your headboard is lovely. That almost looks like a sleigh bed. It's early (for me). I don't have room in my brain for a lot of thinking.

I do like how much orange there is; it's awfully pretty.

>81 Lyndatrue: Thank you. It's a Rice Bed. I am thoroughly spoiled by the bed. I used to think my old queen bed was huge until I started sleeping in this. Although, my mother's California King is glorious.

I really like the basic-but-not-identical symmetry of your heart layout.

I like this a lot. I think the way you've organized the striped fabric hearts helps give it a pattern without a pattern.

ETA: I think you're right that another row of hearts on each side would make it fit just right.

No pictures of the progress (yet); but the QFP project is quilted. Next is cutting the fabric for the binding and getting it finished. I have to mail the quilt on Sept 10. It will be just perfect timing. Mom comes in town the day before. She has been asking for daily updates. I think I may be making her a heart quilt at some point. She really really really loves this quilt.

Finished the #quiltsforpulse project just in time for Mom to see it before I mailed it off on Sept 10!





I added a label that could be snipped off if the recipient wished to. This was my Facebook post after I'd finished it:

It has taken weeks of work to finish my #quiltsforpulse project. I have fretted and worried over the design, colors, & layout. I've sweated and sworn and chased both furkids off the fabric more than once.

Now, with the quilt finished, I am SO EXCITED to see a tangible piece of human kindness. I see quilts...all handmade quilts...as a physical manifestation of love. Of compassion. Of kindness. What else can it be for a person to expend hours of time and effort? I hope the person that receives my quilt will feel that kindness. That compassion. That love.

God bless, little quilt! May you bring warmth and comfort to someone.

>86 lesmel: Aw, you made me get misty on the inside. What a sweet thought! Also, the quilt is really lovely.

I'm curious. If you "delete" an extra message, and then you edit it, does the edit overrule the deletion?

Interesting. Turns out it does. What the heck, I'll say it again. Your quilt is lovely.

>86 lesmel: that's a gorgeous quilt and a lovely sentiment.

I'm sure they will feel all that kindness from your lovely quilt. I actually cried when my friend Christine sent me an afghan she'd made for Christmas, it felt so immense that anyone took that much time to make something for me.

A beautiful quit and a beautiful sentiment to go with it. Well done!

I like this quilt a lot. I think the arrangement of the hearts is spot-on. There's enough movement in the fabric and enough quietness, too. I'm sure whoever gets this will love it.

>86 lesmel: Gorgeous!

>75 lesmel: That's a lovely wreath. How big is it?

>87 Lyndatrue: What a cheerful quilt! And it's wonderful that you have donated it. Your FB post is lovely. I feel the same way. I have donated many quilts, large & small (and quilt blocks) over the years.

>94 avaland: The squares are 6 in finished and there are 12 of them...eh, maybe 24 inches across? The patterns I have seen say 21 inch diameter.

>94 avaland: It took me the longest time to figure out your comment. I finally realized you were referring to >86 lesmel: and not to my comment (what can I say, I'm slow on the uptake now and then).

>96 Lyndatrue: Mooooooore coffee! Heh.

>96 Lyndatrue: Yes, sorry☺️

Back to ignoring the craft living room. I have been dog sitting my mother's poodles (two standard) for the last six weeks. With three dogs in the house, one of which loves to bark at supersonic levels when she is ignored, I have buried myself in Netflix. The poodles are going home in a few days. I'll probably dance a jig and then make something crafty in celebration.

I love babysitting the pets. I love sending them home again too.