Freefall Spring Quilt Along

Freefall Spring Quilt Along 2017

My dear friend, Sandra, at mmm! Quilts is in the midst of her Spring Quilt Along, and I'm finally getting to show you my progress. Details can be found HERE, and the second linky HERE. The pattern is being issued biweekly for free so be sure to download it as it comes out.

About that black leaf: First of all you're thinking, "That doesn't look very spring-y." And I would fully agree with you. But I would also say I thought this project through ahead of time--for once, and knew I would be more inclined to use this as a late summer/early fall wall hanging than spring. The first fabric I had to choose with that in mind was the background. Moda Grunge in a rusty orange was an obvious first pick. Then I raided all my Art Gallery Fabrics, and without regard to color or print, I combined them. It was like making Kitchen Sink Soup. They were all going in. The one factor that they would have in common was they had nothing in common. But these are really beautiful fabrics and gorgeous prints! I had faith. It would work.

Friendly Advice About Quilt Alongs

Isn't that just the cutest little block?

I'm beginning to think that sampler blocks are like children. Each one is so different, but they all belong to you, and there's not an ugly one in the bunch! 

From a critical point of view, some of the points got knocked off, and more will with additional seam allowances around it. Do I care? Nah, no way! I think it's adorable! Yup, me who only liked modern looking fabrics for how long. It's so, so different playing with subtle fabrics. It's like painting with a finer brush, in my opinion. It takes a lighter hand to create the same texture a modern quilter does with larger prints and brighter colors.

Tiki Beads Finish

Tiki Beads

This wall hanging laid in a pile with several others for many months. This is typical for me. The main design takes a lot of energy, and then I'm reluctant to put on the last touches. In my opinion, the binding can make or break the whole project. Sure, we can pick something that's just okay--middle-of-the-road choices happen to a lot of quilts, but a good one is harder to pick. Sometimes it is worth the wait. What do you think?

Train Ride from Tokyo Finish

A Hand Quilted Finish

At this very moment I am covered by this same quilt, feet up, and lap top engaged. My cup of coffee is within reach. I've worked a year to make it, and yet it gets used so casually. I wonder if I'd feel this way if I wasn't the maker. But I want to know how a quilt feels and wears with use. I like to record which batting I used, and there is a significant difference in the drape and warmth. There truly are battings better suited for different seasons, and may be too warm for summer so I'm enjoying now.

3 More One Patch Designs & Luminescence

Last Week's Layouts
 A First for Me: All Solids

Something that brings me great pleasure is working in the quilt room laying out comforters and quilts for charity. I've been very interested in different color schemes lately, and how colors interact with another. One color laid next to another will appear to change either lighter or darker. Maybe a dot or figure in it will be drawn out more. A good way to illustrate this is with the top and bottom layouts here.

Quilting Limbo:Finishes, Frolic & Free Thinking

It's been nearly one week since my last post. I've made 2 quilts from scratch, and finished 3 or more UFO's. 

Vintage Look Flying Geese Quilt Finish

A Friday Finish To Show On Sunday

Last week was very productive here. Keester up-- head down. Work hard, and try to keep from getting distracted. I had some long time WIP's, UFO's, etc., which I gritted my teeth and tackled. I'll show those later, but as a treat for cleaning off the shelf I also did some long arming.

Vintage Inspired Nine Patch Charity Quilt

Vintage Inspired Nine Patch

Laying out a one patch design such as this with 5" squares is greatly aided by knowing where the middle of the wall is, and working outward. (I will learn!) Instead, I tend to start with the left side working across through the middle. Don't laugh, but stooping down a lot is hard as we enter middle age, but so is climbing up and down the ladder this required. By the end, it filled the whole wall, and the top row had to lop over to stay put. I was up and down dozens of times before it was done.

This is a copy of a quilt I wrote about in "More One Patch Designs for Charity Quilts." I laid it out for a MCC comforter to be sewn by the many volunteers that work at the Connections Thrift Shop.

More One Patch Designs for Charity Quilts

Queen's Cross

I never board an airplane without my trusty composition books, and sharp pencils. While dear husband snoozes away, I dream up quilt patterns. Lately it's been all one patch designs, and this the most recent. 

*Yoohoo! And to alert you all how to find these designs, check out the new areas of Pink Doxies' header. I've been adding quilts and clickable links to each, and some new sections such as Charity Quilt Layouts and Links on the lower right end. 

Open Studio Day: Quilt Qwazy Queens Blog Hop & Giveaways

Welcome to another stop on the QQQ 2017 Blog Hop filled with lots of goodies and giveaways! Marian at Seams to Be Sew organized this hop to be timely with International Quilting Day, and to me that means community in quilting. Spreading the joy that quilting brings to you with others locally, nationally, and internationally. A long list of sponsors is sharing their love with fabulous giveaways, but first let me share how I've embraced the concept.

One Day a Month I Share My Studio Space

Looking at this picture really brings a smile to my face. This was Open Studio Day here, and we honestly have so much fun no matter who turns up! Today we had my mom (front right), and mother-in-law (middle front) join our group, too. We celebrated Mom's birthday with cupcakes, learned SLQ, pinned a charity quilt in the long arm with group effort, and drank a pot of coffee. The sun shone in through the windows, and the laughter was steady. It was the warmest, fuzziest feeling you could get!

A Discussion About Walking Foot Quilting

Practice Piece On An Orphan Block

Life in a small town can get very busy, and pulls me in harder than I'd like sometimes. The balance between quilting & blogging, and taking care of the every day things is tough. One thing I've found that helps me is having an online Craftsy class to watch in my spare minutes. We all have those dead minutes we're waiting for something, and this keeps my brain engaged about quilting even if life prevents me from actually doing it. I download lessons to my iPhone, and they're ready when I am.

Jen & Jan's Mini Blog Hop QAL

The Little House On Daisy Street

I stumbled on Jan & Jen's QAL a few weeks ago, and though I said no more extra things for a while, this little house block spoke to me. It was so darn cute I said, "Count me in." From the first moment, I saw it in the 1930's reproduction prints on my shelf. I set to work, and it was a quick make, though my chimney found itself on the opposite side. 

Happy Quilter's Mail & Mishmash

Happy Llama Mail

I love when Desi Arnez says, "Lucy, you got some 'splainin' to do!" I think that's why I titled this post as mishmash. So many things to explain today.

Llamas: Our daughter keeps llamas. They are darling, cantankerous creatures! Everyone who meets them falls in love, though ours have some special needs. Sandra from mmm!quilts had the same experience, and when she found this enchanting llama fabric we were on her short list. Visit the link, and she will do the 'splainin' for me.

Quilt Designs: Fabs, Failures & Why

The Best of Three
Navy Nine Patch

Most people will tell you there is no such thing as an ugly quilt. Let me bite my lip and rephrase it. (Let's be honest. We know this down deep.) There is something redeeming in every quilt made, but not all quilts 'work.' Most of the time we feel it when we're putting things together, but we know it when it's assembled. A color, a pattern, a border width, etc., just don't make the cut. We have a couple of choices. Rip it out and fix it if it's valuable, or live with it and learn. I chose the second option this week.

Charity Chain Quilt Pattern Free & Easy

Pink Doxie's Charity Chain 
Quilt and Free Pattern

This pattern came out of a 'play session' I had while cutting up fabric for a charity quilt. While not a true Irish Chain pattern, it's simple and sweet, and a fabulous scrap buster. I've made it here in prints for the blocks and a solid background, but I'm just as eager to try it with a busy background and solid blocks. The dimensions are easy as pie, and very beginner friendly. I'll show you how to make one section, and you will need 3 sections for a quilt. 

You will find it's so easy you can make one for yourself, and another for a charity donation in no time.

Making 2.5" Unfinished HST from a Jelly Roll

My First Jelly Roll Quilt: Date Unknown

The first jelly roll I purchased many years ago was "Saltwater" from Tula Pink. I fell in love with the "octopuses". (Check here if you use another form for the plural.) There is a seriously cute factor to the faces in her prints. I snapped up a jelly roll in the line, and set to making an easy quilt. I imagine this was among my first 5 so you know it's old!

The Positive Aspects of a Slow Design Process

Blocks Are Together

Design Process seems to be my theme this week. I like hearing how other people make design decisions, and it actually helps me to share my process with you. Your feedback is another component to it, and I enjoy listening. The one thing that keeps resonating back and forth is design can't be rushed. I'm glad to know you put things up and take them down, too, waiting for inspiration. 

I think the negative feelings expressed about Works In Progress (WIP's) are far over-rated. I have many, and will bet you do, too! But waiting for an idea to surface is showing patience--not procrastination. It's not rushing forward to get it done just to say you did it. 

Slow Sewing for the Soul

A Slow Stitch Saturday Morning

This past Saturday was filled with light. I have a north window in my studio, and the light was perfect to sit and hand stitch these last few pieces. The turkey and deer kept stopping at my window as if to say, "Just passing through to see what you're doing this fine morning." It was soothing to the soul. The few seams I had to complete were with Aurifil's Invisible Monofilament Thread, and unless the light is perfect it is darned difficult to see! I really love this thread.

The Joy of a Quilt Room Volunteer

The Quilting Room at the
Connections Thrift Store In Kidron, Ohio

I travel about an hour each way to volunteer at a MCC thrift store and quilt room. It's such a pleasant drive because this is what I'm thinking about. A bright, sunny room full of quilts, comforters, fabric, and the nicest people. Who wouldn't want to be here? I feel so lucky!

Be Mine, Quilted Valentine!

Be Mine!

To be quite honest, I'm not a big fan of sappy Valentine's Day things. We don't exchange anything extravagant--or anything at all most years. A simple, "I love you," suffices. A special dinner at home may be the extent of it for the Mister.