Finish: Seamstress Stars

I feel I am always apologizing for bad pictures. My sisters visited me this weekend and since the quilt was made for one of them, it went home. I had planned on taking some pics while we were at a strawberry patch, but we never made it there due to extenuating circumstances. I'm sharing what pictures I do have.

This quilt reminded me of my mama the whole way through.  It was probably the reason I lingered just a little longer.  I raided the scrap bins for fabric that was big enough to go through my accuquilt diamond die.  I used my $2/yard Benartex houndstooth for the background and I decided to add a border only to the top and bottom.  It just felt right to me for some reason.  I bound the quilt in the same lime green I used as my stop borders.  The triangles for the background were cut from a paper template I made.  That was definitely the scariest part!

 I didn't really plan on a color scheme, but I've noticed I use a lot of the same colors over and over, so I think everything worked out ok.  It's mostly American Jane stuff with Denyse Schmidt here and solids there.  It reminds me of the quilts of a real seamstress...someone who everything for her family- not just a quilter who buys coordinated fabrics.  I like that look.

 

 I added a hand pieced mini version of the block for a label.  I put that it was by me, for my sis, in honor of my mom.  This sister has the rattiest scrap quilt on her bed.  Batting is literally falling out right now.  I knew she would not only appreciate it, but might need it, as well.  She has another quilt by me with lots of white in it, but she has a dog and is afraid to put the quilt out because of the white fabric and the dog.  I hope this one will make her feel a little more at ease.

 

I got a sweet new fridge, too.  It's not magnetic which, if I'm being honest, is a total blessing.  I keep their art and they can still use the fridge in the garage.  I just don't have 50 pieces of art to manouever to open the doors or constantly pick off the floor. 

I have another scrap quilt in the works.  I cut everything into half square triangles with my accuquilt (no, not getting paid for this...just loving the convenience) and the rest I put away for another crumby stars quilt.  Lots of scrappiness coming to the blog!  It's kind of addictive.

Drugs are bad, y'all.

I was digging through my camera from February and saw this little gem I just had to share...it's a project my twins did for President's Day.

  I was so glad to have two kids in the class, because for a minute there I was freaking out.   They had to copy a little mini bio from a sheet the teacher had given them.  I read the one on the right first and my eyes bugged out when I saw that George Washington apparently liked mEth.  My brain was racing...did they even have meth back then?  I don't remember hearing about this when we toured his house...  I ran for the other twins backpack and found that George Washington actually just loved MATH...huge relief, guys!  Please notice that the meth free George Washington looks loads happier with his choices in life.  Further proof drugs are bad!

I have a finish to post about soon, but I couldn't resist sharing a little glimpse into what keeps our household lively.

Peter..not the cottontail variety

I have been enjoying reading the Bible passages about the Resurrection this week. We should think about it all year long but the flesh is weak so it's nice to have the reminder on the calendar to think about Jesus, his love for us, and his sacrifice...and of course his victory over sin & death! Every time I read the scripture about the crucifixion and resurrection I come away with something new. It's just so rich and filled with goodness.

 This year, I thought a lot about Peter. You know...St. Peter? Peter said that Jesus was son of the living God and Jesus said the church would be built on that kind of faith (Matthew 16:17).

But ya know what...Peter wasn't perfect!

He fell asleep on Jesus when Jesus said he needed him the most (Matthew 26:40).

He denied even knowing Jesus three times (John 18:15-27).

His faith shook even as he walked on water toward him (Matthew 14:31).

And yet this is the Peter who Jesus loved dearly and even gave the keys to the kingdom of Heaven to! (Matthew 16:19). This is the same Peter who went on to tell many others about Jesus and even perform miracles in the name of God (Acts 9:6-43). God used imperfect Peter to do so many wonderful things.

I know that just like Peter, I screw up. I make mistakes. I have moments of weakness. Heck, I had one even this morning within 10 minutes of getting out of church. My comfort is knowing that just like Peter, God can love me if I'm imperfect. He can use me to do His will even in my weakness and imperfection.  You know what else... I don't have to be perfect to be FORGIVEN. I just need faith in the One who was.

 Happy Easter to you all!

making the move...

After google dumped piknik, I've been a little lost with photo editing.   I decided with Google Reader shutting down, I would just go ahead and make the move to another feed reader before crunch time.  I chose bloglovin.



Just click the link if you would like to follow The Tulip Patch on BlogLovin'...and if you sign up for an account they have a very easy way to import your entire google reader.  I really like the setup..much easier to follow and unfollow.  Give it a try...I think you'll like it!

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A Finish & some thoughts..

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I have finished with this quilt for a while but the sunlight has been pretty terrible and I wanted to get gorgeous pictures. We went to a beautiful park this morning and I brought the quilt and camera along, but 3 hours later and my tiny walnut sized bladder struck before I ever took the first picture...backyard pics will have to do!

 I added my scottie block on the corner.  I have yet to make his yoyo collar, but I do plan on it.  My middle son picked out the fabrics for the scottie, so this is his quilt.  It's between twin and full size.

 Here is a wide shot.  I really love the black cornerstones.  I've never been a huge fan of sashings or cornerstones, but I really think these help sell the crochet look. 

 I quilted leafy vines in the sashings, loops in the white areas of the block, and a spiral flower in the granny square itself.  I was very happy with the quilting except for the spiral flowers.  They are not that visible so really the texture is most important on those...and they do deliver on that front.

 All American Jane fabrics from my stash or from Cindy's scrap bin.

 Here is my scottie inspiration.  He's really funny because he thinks a quilt in any stage of production is a dog bed.  I have a quilted pillow cover that he will literally fight me for.    We found out he is deathly allergic to chicken (he's like those peanut allergy kids who can't eat anything in a place that processes nuts).  We have found he does great on a prescription venison food from the vet that does not share equipment with chicken.  I really hoped to get another vacuum cleaner dog, but it was not meant to be.  Luckily for me, the kids panic if food gets on the floor because it could make the dog very sick, so the floor is getting clean (ish) just the same!  He is kind of shaggy right now.  I'm letting him keep a little extra fur til the good weather is here to stay.

 I really love this quilt and I am thankful to Lori Holt for the inspiration.

 I backed in this awesome American Jane fabric ($2.99/yard HOLLA!!).  This is the AJ fabric that was inspired by a piece of vintage fabric that fellow blogger Amy Smart gave Sandy Klop.  I have since shamelessly begged Sandy Klop for scottie dog fabric, so FINGERS CROSSED!  I have zero connections or pull, but I think she might think I'm unhinged with my AJ obsession so she might oblige me.  I can't help it...it is just so sweet and timeless.  I look at some of the designer fabric that is newer than some of these prints and it already looks dated.  Just my opinion...I'm not a fan of the very trendy.

Speaking of trendy...

I have read some blog posts about QuiltCon that, while not surprising, are disappointing.

Modern...traditional...art...who needs the labels?  In my mind, the labels we have in the quilting community have are less about defining who we are than who we AREN'T.   Why must we even define it?  Because...the world loves a box.  To me, saying you are a "modern quilter" is a roundabout way of saying "I quilt...but don't confuse me with a grandma doing a sampler in civil war repros."  Saying you are a "traditional quilter" kind of says "I do quilting the way it was meant to be done...not like those unconventional hipsters with their freeform piecing.  I just don't get having to identify your style of quilting to others.  It's divisive and it just hems us in.    I've made all kinds of quilts and even been a winner of a modern quilt guild challenge...yet I also enjoyed making this traditional great granny quilt tremendously! 

I leave you with an very traditional quilt.  A woman made this from 1/2" hexies during her daughter's nap time and it was hanging at IQF.  It was impeccably made.  It brought me to tears...literally.

If we pour that kind of craftsmanship and soul into something, that it moves a complete stranger to tears, that's the best kind of art...no matter the style.

Australian awesome...or just too much?

 Australian awesome... you know what I am talking about, right?  I'm talking about those awesome quilts that are busy & full of unexpected choices that just somehow work.  The kind of quilts you could stare at for hours. 

 The kind of quilts like you see in...

or

or even in blogland

www.redpepperquilts.com

www.quiltjane.blogspot.com

I don't know why, but these quilts seem not to have the problem I have, which is OVER editing.  You aren't going to find embellishements or funky borders or daring fabric choices in my quilts.  I think I make some nice quilts, but I would love to have that little oomph to make WOW! quilts.  I am trying to get brave.

Having said that, I found a bolt of houndstooth fabric in a shop closing for $2.50 a yard.  I bought the entire bolt.  I also got the white fabric for $3.99/yard there.  I was really just auditioning the idea of a black print and the houndstooth is all I had on hand that was a large hunk of fabric still. 



So here is where I need your help...I am really digging the houndstooth background!  I texted a pic to two friends who quilt, and the reviews were mixed.  Solid black is out, by the way...it is way too stark and overpowering.  Do I find another black print, use the houndstooth, or go with my normal safe choice of an off white?

 
 I am also branching out a little bit in fabric choices.  I got this big piece of fabric (which is really NOT 54", but is regular width) and I am not really sure what it is.  I did a flame test and the best I can come up with is linen or mercerized cotton.  I paid $2 for 4.5 yards.  I just LOVE the feel.  I also burned the individual fibers and they seem to be natural.  I think this is linen.  Thanks to Dora at Dora Quilts for the fabric test advice...she is an avid charity quilter so I knew she had come across some mystery fiber and would know what to do.

 

I am thinking of pairing it with these shot cottons (and maybe more) to make a quilt version of the sewing machine cover from Fresh Quilting by Malka Dubrawsky:

I hope to hear some opinions from you guys!  I'm trying to branch out but I wouldn't mind a little hand holding and direction!

Y not?

I don't know if the rest of you are like me, but if I am about to go on a trip and needing to pack or clean, the logical step for me is to start a brand new quilt. I was looking at my little paper pieced diamonds and thought "I wonder what this would look like if I used my accuquilt diamond die." That thought was followed by "oh, but then I'd have to learn Y seams." Since I'm in a time crunch, the only correct answer was "Y not?" 

 I made a test block (and discarded it...I use junk fabric to test).  I liked it.  I decided to use some of my 1/8 yard cuts plus American Jane bits that were almost used up...just scraps  Everything is starting to look very weird and random like quilts you see in an antique mall.  It looks like a quilt my mom might have made- just random fabrics from other projects that don't really all go together but are cool in their own right.  She might have used leftovers from clothing projects or something someone gave her.  I don't remember her ever going to a fabric store and matching up stuff for a quilt.  When she bought fabric, it was for another purpose....quilts were probably an afterthought.

I am not sure how this will look when it is all together.  I normally pick out my fabrics first instead of just grabbing the right sized scraps.  We will see!  I am thinking of black setting triangles but I might just Y seam them up together!  Lemme know if you have seen an amazing setting for hexagons!

 My youngest son loves trains and I let him play vulture with this train quilt I was making (and hating).  It had been in my "never gonna happen" pile.  He was sooooo proud of himself for all his arranging.  He even cut out extra cars for the trains.  The white squares on pale blue are ducks in a duck pond.  He is so like me...he kept coming back and surveying his work later...letting out a satisfied sigh and talking happily about how much more work he had to go.  So sweet.  I had him glue stick the pieces to the back.  Today I FMQ some of the pieces to the background (very sloppily, I might add).  My needle broke which I always take as a sign to stop the machine and go do something else.  I am really proud of him, though.  We will finish up when I get back.

just a tiny bit...

I have gotten to a standstill on my son's Mississippi State quilt...need more fabric.  Why is Kona Ash so hard to find in real life???

Looking for the Kona Ash (in Joann's) I decided to treat myself to just a *tiny* bit of DS Quilts fabrics. 

They are so pretty!  I really shouldn't buy more fabric, but I needed wanted those oranges and blues to add a little color depth to those areas of my stash.  I wish I could have bought more, but I only got 1/8 yard of everything.  Yup, $12 for all of the above.  I loved the buttery yellow and I'm a sucker for green and leaves, so the other 2 snuck into the buggy.  I just wanted a tiny bit to add in for a scrappy project...

This is inspired by this quilt.  I just kinda fell in love.  What appealed to me most was using all my scraps (and in fact, the scraps of this will go into another crumb quilt...I am WORKING this fabric).   I printed off a 1.5" diamond grid, drew extra diamonds using my quilting rulers, made copies on cardstock, and then cut the diamond papers out for the paper piecing.   To my delight and surprise, it is all fitting together perfectly.  This is a very time consuming project and I am not sure what my end game is, but it's so nice to be able to sit with my family and do a quilting project besides binding. 

If anyone knows the name of this quilt pattern, please tell me.  I am a sucker for knowing the real name of old patterns.

Have you seen this missing quilt?

I know this is a long shot, but one of my quilts has gone missing while it was not in my care and I would desperately like to be reunited with it. I poured a lot of love into this one and was planning on saving it for future grandchildren.  

 If you have seen it, please let me know.  If you have it, please contact me for my address and you can ship it back to me with postage due upon receipt..no questions asked.   I don't have facebook or twitter so if you can spread the word for me, I would very much appreciate it!!!

How about a Round Robin?

I just wanted to let everyone know (in case you wanted to join in the fun) that I will be designing a row for Patchwork Posse's Round Robin.

This year's theme is Winter Wonderland, and my creative inspiration on that theme is pretty limited.  Christmas Day is usually t-shirt weather here near Houston, Texas.  Still, I absolutely promise no palm trees or flip flop blocks to ruin your quilt if you decide to sew along.  The Round Robin posts start Monday with Jo of Jo's Country Junction. 

Have fun and let me know if you are quilting along!