Three Quilts Done and Dusted

Twin Quilt No.1

I started twin quilts for twin girls back in January 2023. I had a sense I wanted them to coordinate, but not match, and be nothing too fussy. The girls are early school age, and I hoped they would grow with the sisters.

Star Upon Stars #4 Finished

Star Upon Stars Block 4 Finished

It goes without saying I'm ready to have this block done. Summer has been long, and aside for a tiny dry spell it has been green throughout. Nice weather meant less time I could sit inside guilt-free to sew, and more spent with my head and hands in garden beds. It's not even every other day now I get to sit down to piece, and that certainly slows a big project. But 4 are done with pieces to do some half blocks already stripped from leftovers, and I hope to do a few of those before moving on to a whole new block.

Stars Upon Stars July

Plugging Away

If I was going to make progress on this block, I had to give something up. So the minute I finished breakfast, I was at the sewing machine in my pajamas. Yesterday I squeezed in 2 half blocks, and today the same plus a corner. The final 3 are underway, and I should be able to finish it by tonight. We've had house and garden projects without end to work through this spring, and sometimes I'm just too tired to work on something hard. 

Aeroplane Blocks

Aeroplane Blocks

You know the scenario. Your niece/sister/neighbor is having a baby, and you think, "Oh, I'll make them a quilt." Then Quilter's Block kicks in. Not like a quilt block, but the mental block as in, "What will I make?"

To tackle that block on my creativity, I started with rules such as, "What can I make with my Accuquilt die system that will be fast and fun, and can I learn something in the process?" No, this isn't an ad for Accuquilt, but I've invested a lot in one, and haven't used it as much as I'd liked. I purchased and used several specific dies, but also the 10" QUBE kit, and the cellophane was still on the QUBE. It was time. 

More Tools for Star Upon Stars: Mirrors and Pins

Next Star in Progress

April and May are the busiest months in my year. If I'm starting seeds for the garden, I'm paying as close attention to them as I would a baby. Well, almost. But it does take a lot of time to get everything ready to get your own seed starts into the garden at just the right time, and I'm still figuring that out. Last Sunday I decided I needed a lot more space than I had planned, and we tilled another plot inside the fence. I'm a no-till gardener at heart, but conditions weren't optimal to go that route now. It's rained ever since we tilled, and I've used that time to catch up on the next block. Let me show you that along with a neat tool and technique.

Star Upon Stars 4: 3 Tools that Rule

Third Block in Star Upon Stars

Let me say this block was a trial to see if I liked the two color stars. I did! I think it helped tie the red, white, and blue theme together well, and will definitely employ the technique again.

This quilt is not fast paced for me. I have a greenhouse full of seedlings and plants, and am quilting for customers several days a week. Forgive me my gaps in posts. I have a sewing space at home that affords me the convenience of popping in to work a few minutes here and there, and that time adds up to a new block every few weeks now. It will get better next month when the garden fills up, and I'm not so busy. Now let's talk tools.

Star Upon Stars: Block 3 & Color Process

Block 2 Is Finished

I finished this block up Sunday morning. It was completely fiddly, and I was lucky it came together. The outer circle of stars were all off enough to make me sew and rip, sew and rip. I will say I'm developing a sense of how to see where I need to mismatch seams a bit to make it fit. That's good progress. 

Star Upon Stars: Block 2 and Backgrounds

Star Upon Stars: Block 2 and a Background Fabrics Discussion

A beautiful star in the end, but not exactly what I was looking for. And that is the whole question when we create any block. "What exactly do you want it to look like?" Being so new to this pattern, I'm was still not completely sure. Remember I said I knew I had a lot to learn by making this quilt. Watch the video below as Edyta explains her theory for picking colors, and method for construction.

While Edyta Sitar was explaining her take on the quilt, she remarked about the setting stars being darker than the center star. That says to me that the center star is the focus, and the outer stars are in more of a support role for the block. The outer stars should include some of the colors from the center, but ideally be a darker shade. This one is the same shade as a green within my star. Let's get into backgrounds, and see what happened.

Star Upon Stars: One Done, One In Progress

Block One: Star Upon Stars

Pink and Brown

There were a several people that said this was their favorite combination with pink in the center, and blue on the tips. And to be fair, it was my original intent so I sewed the block this morning. It was quite a relief to see it come together the way it should or nearly there. If the rest fit this well, I'll be delighted.

The star itself was about 13.5" tip to tip before adding on the corners, and I was nervous. While I assembled each corner star to the large star, I checked against my cutting mat markings. When I had both corners in, I needed to be fairly in range to 12.5". If I wasn't, I ripped and readjusted until I was.  Adding the half stars took it down just to where it needed. 

FYI: A shocking amount of each star tip got swallowed into the seams. 

Star Upon Stars

Star Upon Stars

Pattern by Edyta Sitar inspired by an 1846 antique quilt from the Grand Rapids Public Museum. 

Re-created with permission.

I am tentatively saying this 12" block is the first of many, but I'm honestly not sure yet. I've never done such a labor intensive block. It took days, and isn't together yet. I had decided a few months ago to do a challenging project this year, and first bought the pattern Common Bride by Edyta Sitar. While I gathered my ideas for that quilt, I came back again and again to look at Star Upon Stars. I wasn't sure I could actually make it, though, as I had practiced those pesky stars for months, and still wasn't great at it. 

Quilt, Hutch, Dogs

Barron's Debut

Before you wonder aloud, the Doxie girls are still with us, and doing as well as14 years old dachshunds can do.  Their days are full keeping one step ahead of this incredibly sweet, but rambunctious Japanese Chin named Barron. He turns a year old in a few weeks. He came to live with us last May, and we haven't had a dull day since.

Ocean Waves Blocks Ready

9  Kind of Blocks

Sewing has saved me this week. I find it calming, and when life gets to be a lot--and it has lately, I dodge into my sewing room at home for some therapy. To explain, I mainly longarm quilt in my studio, but I also come home to sew after work. If I have a quilt with an edge-to-edge going on the longarm, I can sew at work too, but often I'm engaged with other client work. At home I can do my own thing. It's more conducive to be creative when I'm not listening for an empty bobbin. 

Ocean Waves In Progress

Ocean Waves

Getting back to sewing was good, but I still wasn't in the creative mood just yet. There's still a lot on my plate. Grabbing a kit I had sitting on my shelf for some years meant I could sew, but didn't have to think much. Pure therapy.

Simply Sparkly Quilt Top

Simply Sparkly

This is a free quilt pattern available at Robert Kauffman Fabrics designed by Kay Koeper Sorenson. It has the vibe of a Gees Bend style housetop quilt, or that same style you see in many Nancy Crow quilts. 

Nancy Crow lives in Baltimore, Ohio, while Lunn Studios is just south of her. Some of her earlier pieces were made with their hand-dyed and surface manipulated fabrics. The fabric featured in the pattern is Pointillist Palette by Lunn Studios, coincidentally, and shows an ombré effect. One of my year's goals is to use fabric that's been aging in my studio, and free up space. This was an ombré yardage bundle I purchased from Craftsy years ago when they had the Boundless line.

The Sabbatical Is Over

Sanibel Bridge in the fog

A Long Time Away

Our roles in life change fairly often--perhaps more as women, but more so as care givers. While our families are young, we look forward to the day when each child becomes independent. Ours all did, thankfully, and afterward there were several carefree years. I had time to grow my garden, sew for myself, and quilt for others. I look back at that now as a blissful, golden period. 

Summer Quilt Catch Up

Simple Summer Quilt

Life has been anything but simple for nearly 2 years now. I know I'm in good company across the planet when I crawl out of bed after midnight because I can't sleep--again. My neck and shoulders are sore from canning apples and making applesauce all day. My head is full of swirling thoughts like, How the heck are we going to get through this mess? (Certainly not by depending on the government!) 

My last post was early August when I was still working on the quilting of this summer quilt. I needed an uncomplicated project to stitch on, and I loved having something in the frame to pick up for even a few minutes at a time. But August turned into a difficult month healthwise here, and funneled us right into September and a local outbreak of Covid. We were included as well as many friends and family, but thankfully all came through without serious complications. I was out of the studio more than a month, though, and feel like I'm still catching up on sleep.

7 Year Blogiversary & 700th Post

A Quiet Celebration

If this past year has taught me something, it's that we should celebrate milestones, and keep with traditions in our lives. So you and I will celebrate this together. (Cue the horns!) Seven years is nothing to sneeze at. It's ancient in the world of blogging! I know I'm here, though, because of you all, and because I'm still fully in love with life! And the things that make me most happy are quilting, surely you knew that, my garden, and sharing my enthusiasm for both. Helping people learn is important, too, but encouraging people to just try something is the big one. 

I hope we all continue to be friends. You are important to me, and the many back channeled conversations that go on among us makes my--and I hope your life rich. Thank you so very much for sharing this wonderful journey!

Bees & the New Summer Quilt

A Simple Summer Quilt

This has been a good summer. Those of you who know me well will think I'm nuts for saying so, but after last summer, well, it is good. To top that, this has been a doozey of a week, and without explaining the gory details everything panned out well. The involved party is recovering, and it's almost nice to have a slow down for a few days. For one, it's given me time to sit, to stitch, and to write. I really want to tell you about this new quilt for summer--for just me.

Easy No-Knead Bread Recipe

Easy No-Knead Bread Recipe

I am a gluten free gal with a gluten loving husband, who needs a homemade loaf of bread once in a while. Carefully stirring the ingredients vs. kneading and tossing flour helps keep my kitchen as gluten free as possible, and still delivers the goods. And remember, there are hundreds of simple bread recipes out there if this isn't just what you're looking for, but it's a good place to start. Experiment! 

The Kitchen Garden in July: Preparing

The Kitchen Garden: July 2021

Pictures of my kitchen garden are helpful to me in spiritual ways. I see such a difference week to week in change, in growth, and it feeds my soul knowing I had a part in this. Yes, there's a lot of work and planning, but the payoff is sweet.

One of my major goals this year was to grow food my family could and would eat, and to put some of it up through canning, dehydrating, or freezing. I believe food security is a real issue facing us. Last year's struggle to source food and basic supplies was a lesson to many of us, and should not be wasted on those who think it's past. The supply chains everywhere are fragile, and each of us should think in terms of what we need or want to be comfortable in our homes. How do we maintain our lives in case of future shortages and scarcity? It wouldn't be the first time in history people have had to ask this question, but perhaps in many of our own short lives. This is what I'm doing.

Spindrift II: It Floats

"It Floats"

I have some amazing, supportive friends around the world. I traveled young, and am lucky several of those friendships are still strong. But the blogging world has also been a road onto itself connecting me with other like-minded souls. I am grateful for that. One dear friend who hails from Australia, Jan, said, "Oh, Julie! It floats!" about this quilt. I think she summed it up well. It Floats is together, and the class at Berlin Quilter's Gathering is just around the corner. I am hoping to have it quilted by then, but if not, there is a lot to learn by looking at the back. I'm not worried.

By the way, there are a few spots left in Thursday's class, and one in Friday's. I'd love to see you there!

Dresdens & Fish: Spindrift II

Spindrift II

Slowly, but surely--no, that's a lie. I am hammering away at this quilt every chance I get. The 4th is upon us, and we celebrate here with a big party. A rock band at night, this year we have Road Dog, followed by this small town's stunning fireworks. Everyone is welcome here, and we love meeting people who've driven in from several counties away. So there is a lot to do to get ready yet, and I want this done before. 

The Quick-i-est, Fabulous Baby Quilt!

Original Concept Post by Jen Eskridge

Based on "Huge No-Waste Flying Geese with Fat Quarters"...but My Way

A dear friend called with a quilt emergency. Could I make a super quick quilt for a baby shower in a matter of weeks? There were boxes we had to check, and one of them was a hint of something with aviation. Sure! I know something about that.

Custom Quilting Finish: Vintage Windmills

Vintage Windmills 

Isn't this just the neatest quilt? It's a Krista Moser pattern, and can be purchased through Mercantile on Main LLC in Coshocton, Ohio. The Mercantile also carries the beautiful Tula Pink True Colors line--yum! The brick and mortar store is one of my favorite quilty haunts, and also has an easy to navigate website. And better than most sites, you can always reach the store by phone, if you have a question. Follow the link, show her some love, and tell her Julie said to say hello. 

I'm Teaching at Quilter's Gathering at Berlin 2021

Quilter's Gathering at Berlin 2021

August 26, 27, 28th

Quilter's Gathering in Berlin on Facebook

Early in 2019, I was asked to teach at Quilter's Gathering at Berlin 2019. Then Covid took center stage in the world, and all our lives were put on hold. 2021 slowly opened up, infections continued to go down, and plans were made again. The site went live the end of May with my class for Spin Drift. Yes, it was very exciting to see happen after the long wait! It's time to live again.

Meadow by Jen Kingwell: The Quilting

The Close Ups

I want to get this post out this morning as there's so much happening. May is a crazy month between garden and studio. Some days I think I've got things hammered down, and a day or so later I'm backed up both places. 

Beneath the busyness, I'll think, "This is something I think people would enjoy seeing," and then I'll forget. That's irritating. Also, subjects and threads are easiest for me to write about while they're still relevant. When I'm deeply involved with a subject, I have a swirl of emotions along with the process. It's that I hope to convey.

Blue Skies Inside and Out

Commuting

Surely you expected I'd wear pink Crocs to work. I have a raspberry pink shirt on right now, too. Color is a powerful thing.

The Garden: My Other World

Grounded to the Earth

Like so many quilters, I have another life. Quilting elevates me, and sustains a need I have to create with cloth. But the Garden is my alter world. Most days this time of year you'll find me barefoot, grounding myself with the earth. I dabble in everything, but especially heirloom varieties of flowers, vegetables, herbs and edible weeds, and the quest for a righteous compost bin. This spring has been a windfall of salad crops, and diabolical episode of gray mold. It's nothing short of Lord of the Rings out my back door.

A Quilty Catch Up

Currently On the Frame

How's this for a happy spring quilt to lift the mood of a rainy day? Isn't a beauty? Donna Young made this appliqued and pieced top from a Jen Kingwell pattern. I've had it in the studio for several weeks working out how I would quilt it. At the 11th hour the light bulb went off, and I'm so glad it did. Sometimes you have to let a project brew until you see the perfect answer--even on another person's project.

Another Spin Drift in the Works

The Gnadenhutten Quilt Project Pulls to a Close

The Gnadenhutten Quilt Project Closes

Posing with the last quilt bound by the Gnadenhutten Quilt Project are a few of our unofficial team members. Our core group was made up of 7 talented women that worked at every aspect of quilt and comforter making over nearly 3 years. We estimate we made and shared over 200 quilts and comforters during that time! 

My Daughter's House Exploded and All Survived

Isabella with Pippi and Vera

Gas Explosion in Port Washington, Ohio

January 14, 2021

It's been a long time since I've posted anything, and I didn't want you to think I'd disappeared completely. I haven't given up quilting in the least, but life has been complicated. This post will explain a large part of it. While I'm not one to share often about my family life, we felt this went beyond the needs of our privacy.

It started with a phone call after we'd gone to bed. It was the middle of January past. Our daughter, Isabella, said she thought there might be someone in her basement. She heard what she thought was her man door being kicked down. I remember saying to go outside, and we would be there as soon as possible. While trying to get my shoes on in the front hall, our house shook some 4 miles away. I tried and tried to call her back, but she didn't answer. My shaking fingers wouldn't do what they were supposed to by then. We were panicked, but steady running for the truck. She called when we had reached the end of our driveway screaming that her house was gone! It had exploded! Her dog and cat inside were gone, but she had Pippi in her arms. She said she was okay. 

Writing this now still makes me cry. The pictures are still hard for me to look at, but please do. Izzi has a public link to an album at the top of the post which reads Buy a Gas Detector. There is also a video of a camera at the end of her road. 

She stood 5 feet from the house when it blew up if you can imagine. Our family wants people to understand what happened, the absolute miracle of it all, and how to protect your own home. Gas detectors are inexpensive, and can save your life. She didn't have one because we didn't know there was such a thing. Now we do, and now you do, too.  

Thank you for reading this important story.

The Morning After

When another daughter and son went back the next morning to look for the missing animals, there was just wreckage. My daughter took pictures, and when she blew this up she saw Vera sitting in the middle of a still smoking house waiting for someone to find her!

Petra, found in a piece of tin after 4 days, burned badly with very little hair left. She lost part of her ears, but otherwise fully recovered including her whiskers.

Hi friends, As many people have heard (and literally felt from miles away), my house was leveled in a natural gas...

Posted by Isabella Stocker on Friday, March 26, 2021

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Teapot Cozy: No Math

Teapot Cozy

Keep Your Teapot Warm

No Pattern Needed

Quilters are made to believe they "need a pattern" for the most basic of things, but breaking out of that thinking is incredibly freeing. We don't need a set of numbers or directions for everything we want to do or make. The makers before us drew mainly on their own ingenuity, imagination, and make-do attitude. If you've never done worked with a pattern, I encourage you. There is a satisfying feeling of creating with your own ideas! 

If something doesn't go as planned, it may be reframed as a positive design element instead of a mistake in understanding poorly written pattern instructions. It stimulates your critical thinking, and creates a one-of-a-kind object. Whatever the outcome, it's a feel-good-thing, and we all need that now. Right?

Let's get creative!

The Family & Pets Issue

The Anna Quilt

I have said before I come from a long line of Anne's, and one Anna. Edyta Sitar has a line of beautiful reds, pinks, and creams right now called Anna, and a quilt pattern to highlight them. It's simple, and perfect for the not-quite-a-jelly-roll I had from a Tim Holtz line. (It was closer to 2 5/8" than 2 1/2".)

This quilt is for a son who never asked for a quilt because he didn't need one. I do think it's finally he would like one from me more than than a need to stay warm now, and that makes me very happy, if you must know. When he asked, I started sewing. The fabric had already been bought, and I was just waiting for the cue. I knew he'd come around sometime.

Secret Surprise Quilting on Back

ABC Child's Quilt

I realized the other day I had not posted in some time. I'm keeping very busy quilting for clients, and at a time like this that's good. Each day seems to bring a new twist with the sunrise. Ohio has had rising Covid cases like most other states, and it has inched closer to my circle. Many members of the extended family, and our children's families have it, and we are hoping for uncomplicated cases. I'm thrown back to the days in the past when I'm sure many women felt helpless with the diseases that swept through their own lives, and like them am finding relief in turning fabric into something useful.

Having so much on my mind makes me long for simple projects, and small quilts. When a few last minute Christmas quilts came in, I was tickled with this small one. It was for a little boy, and he loves trucks of all kinds. Instead of a basic E2E, I wanted it to be special when he flipped it over to the red backing.

Kansas Troubles Block: Improving Accuracy

Kansas Troubles Block 

Do you want to be a better quilter, and improve your accuracy? It's not as hard as it seems. Think while you sew. Keep your brain engaged, and focus.

• Don't depend on a pattern or directions to tell you everything because most often they don't. 

• Use logic and geometry to figure measurements out. It's a few formulas, and pretty standard stuff.

• Watch for bias edges.

• Square for accuracy as often as necessary.

Little Blue Baskets Block

Little Blue Baskets

I don't know how I missed the fact that this sampler was the 1865 Passion Sampler, but I did. So giving credit to France Aubert who blogs at Passion Patchwork is due. She combined the blocks from Barbara Brackman's Civil War book along with 40 others to create a sampler quilt which was also published in the recent edition of Quiltmania magazine.

That said, I'm sticking to the block schedule loosely. Where I can substitute a block that pushes me to work harder, I am. That's how the Little Blue Baskets block came to be. It's fallen in line with some of the other things I've been working at in skill building: accuracy, and working in a smaller scale.

Farmer's Wife 1930s: Bride, No. 17

Farmer's Wife 1930s

Bride, No.17

This week has been a flurry of cleaning up leaves, and summer. Rarely do I cut down my perennials preferring to leave them to wither on their own schedule, but something made me go through the gardens and tidy this year. The saying, "Never leave for tomorrow what you can do today," pops up over and over. My compost and leaf piles are enormous. It will be a rich spring for fertilizer.

Civil War Blocks: Round 2

 

Civil War Blocks: Round 2

Indiana Puzzle

I've had an internal dialogue going whether to write much about these Civil War blocks, or just let them stand on their own. Because it's supposed to be joyful sewing only, I've decided to say little. I won't titter on about missing points or meeting seams. I'm sure that wasn't so much of an issue in those times as I have some of those old quilts, and I've seen it firsthand. I would venture it was much more about the fabrics then, and how they added so much color to fairly plain interiors in many cases. The fabric and quilts might have been the stars of the room all their own so I will try to allow these blocks do the same unless necessary.

Enjoy!

Modified Paper Piecing: Farmer's Wife 1930s: Blossom, No.15

The Farmer's Wife 1930s

Blossom, No.15

Years ago I was involved in a round robin, and introduced to a modified paper piecing technique that didn't require me to sew through the paper. That was a revelation because I hated that part with a passion. I had avoided all paper piecing projects. But the idea of folding back the paper, and sewing beside the seam made a lot of sense, and saved the paper to use again. No ripping!

Yesterday I posted on a Facebook site for Farmer's Wife 1930s blocks, and another poster mentioned a book called Painless Paper Piecing by Marjorie Rine. This is a modified version of her technique, I believe, by the little bit I can read in the look inside option on Amazon. I learned it from another quilter, and will pass on the rough details I used. The book is still available used, and I suggest you purchase it if you want the exact details of that method.