Friday, January 5, 2018

Cabin Under the Stars Quilt



I'm Back to Sewing &
Oh, Baby, It Feels So Good!


My urge to sew finally returned. (Did you ever wonder about me? I did.) It came back with clear, strong intentions. 

Make what you love. Use what you have. Listen more. Talk less.

I can't say these are resolutions or even goals really. Simply put, they are intentions.  I want to live like this right now--not when I figure it out or jump through impossible hoops. Resolutions have such high expectations, and great chance of failure. Without success, we give up and quit. My daughter termed that kind of resolution-centered thinking as, "New Year--New Me." No, that's never worked for me or the other 92% of people who tried it.

This positive idea of living with intention has more to do with envisioning the kind of life I want to live. It has so much to do with my recent purging and clearing, as you might guess.


I read similar stories from many other bloggers these past few weeks. I heard it from friends. There seems to be this giant pause, and we feel it's time to tie up loose ends. We are getting more selective with our time. It's valuable to us, and we want to pursue passion driven projects. It's exciting for me to feel a part of this rhythm or heartbeat! To be still--to listen--to feel the pulse.

And so, in this happy bubble of time, I am sewing again. Yesterday I pulled out a stack of log cabin blocks I had made in December, and arranged part of them on my design wall. While I have already done a few log cabin quilts, I'd like to take more time to explore the pattern in depth this year. I like both the history, and the design possibilities within the pattern. 

The one thing that always shocks me about making log cabin blocks is they are not quick. To keep the block square, you must stop and press, and it's time consuming. And while the prints in these blocks are beach themed, a whole quilt made from them was rather dull. I need some quick baby quilts, and thought the stars added quite a bit of movement. My 2 Peaks in One ruler made fast work of cutting out the stars, and also preserved my limited amount of fabric. 



Another hour or so, and these stars will be finished. Each block will finish at 7.5" in this baby quilt with an overall size of just under 40" square. Babies are tiny! They need smaller quilts.

Drum Roll, Please!
Are You Ready?


Before: 2001 Kids' Play Space



And After! 2018 Almost Empty Nesters

Doesn't this look like a cozy spot for a sewing group?


Sure there is still a long way to go, but I can see the possibilities. Our little sewing group is not as nimble as they once were to go up and down the stairs to my studio, but we don't want to lose those members either. This space will soon be ready to host everyone with one floor level walk in. 

The ceiling lights have been converted from incandescent can lighting to cooler LEDs. These are warm lights, 3000K, which lie in between soft white and daylight values.  This changeover was important to save energy on one hand, and see truer color on the other.


And Once More...Before


Not Quite There...

This is two gallons and two coats of Zinsser 1,2,3 Primer Plus, and one coat of a pale grey that is cold, blue, and depressing. I was so disappointed! It took a whole Saturday of agonizing, and 5 samples of warm neutrals to pick out a better color.



And After! 'Warm Putty'


I still have some touch ups to do on the ceiling where I overshot with the roller, but it's done. Outlet covers on and clean up not withstanding, it's ready to be our official spare bedroom.


The Room Looks Twice as Big Now

And don't you know, I have the perfect new quilt in mind for this new paint job, too! I see some orange and turquoise or melon and hot pink in here. Don't you?

Come on, Doxie girls.


17 comments:

Brooke said...

wow, wow, wow!!

thanks so much for sharing and linking up!
brooke@sillymamaquilts.com

Sue Daurio said...

Wow love the make over of the new space. Grey's a funny and a bit tricky. I like the warmer putty colors rather than the blue greys too. It's going to be amazing when it's done. And that new quilt for a new year is going to be spectacular!

Angie in SoCal said...

That's going to be a fabulous room for sewing. I can see those walls with the quilt and design walls for your members. It will be so colorful. Welcome back. Love the baby quilt. Do visit Michelle and link at Let's Make Baby Quilts. I need to go there myself. Blessings!

Claire said...

I too love log-cabin blocks and all their various settings. Your mix of log cabin and stars is working very well. Claire aka knitnkwilt

audrey said...

Love this 'Make what you love. Use what you have. Listen more. Talk less.'! So very true. Every year I re-dedicate myself to making what I truly love the best, what is my current interest and passion. So interesting that such a simple quilt block can intrigue so many quilters through the years. I'm hoping to play with some of them again in 2018 too. Your new room make-over is coming along very well!

Shelina said...

That space is going to be fabulous! I can see lots of potential there. Love the colors of the log cabin quilt. Those stars really add a lot.

Linda Swanekamp said...

What a world of difference taking out clutter and painting makes. Have been wrestling with the direction of my work. Blog post today of my muddle. Love this quilt. I have an Accuquilt die for the triangle/squares block and was thinking of using my made fabric in the square and dark batik triangles, but have not thought of an alternate block. Congratulations on such magnificent progress!

Stitchin At Home said...

The new space looks terrific and will make an ideal meeting place for your sewing group. Love the log cabin and stars!!!

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

The log cabin & stars is a great combo, very pretty. And your new space is looking almost done, lovely!

Janine @ Rainbow Hare said...

You quilt is beautiful. I love the way you've arranged the colours. Your house is coming on very well too :)

Anja @ Anja Quilts said...

I like those stars with the elongated points. Log cabins are time consuming. Good luck with the new sewing space. It's great to sew with others.

Lynn said...

The stars really enhance the log cabins (and they do take a long time). Love your interior changes too.

Barb Neiwert said...

We moved into a house once where everything - all the walls, carpets, countertops, blinds, exterior - were that same light gray/blue. OMG. Took several years to remove it all from the premises. I really like your new paint and I think you'll be very glad you took the time to repaint it. And your new sewing space will be lovely for everyone! Lots of work, but worth the effort for sure. Oh yes, I do like your new quilt!

Charlotte M. said...

Sew glad your sewing mojo has returned. The room looks great!! Please share more pictures when it's finished!

Laundered Cotton said...

You said: "Resolutions have such high expectations, and great chance of failure. Without success, we give up and quit." I must tell you I read that as 'give up and QUI-L-T'. And my first thought was, yup, that's what I do too. But your post of course was entirely different, lol. I'll have to ponder my own deep Freudian slip in reading.... (while I sew). And also, what a difference a change of color makes on your room; amazing.

Lynette said...

Wow! Lots of renewing going on in your home - LOVE it. :) I've got some happening, too, but I'm very slow at it. I love the effect of new paint, hate-hate-hate doing it. And isn't it weird about log cabin blocks that way? They seem so harmless, but they take so long - or you get bowed and skewed blocks. This set is really pretty with the stars going in.

Glenda said...

Ohhh Julie I'm quiet tired just reading what you are up to LOL Your spare room and new group room will be so cosy, lots of work and ahrd work but think of the joy of walking in to the rooms and relaxing at last. Loved the star quilt with the log-cabins. Happy slowing down and sewing . Cheers Glenda