What is Your Specialty?

Finally made a decision to use the purple sashing to finish this quilt.  This one has taken me awhile.  The setting triangle you see in the photo is actually a large square of 25 smaller squares that I thought might work as off setting squares but when I got them all up there it was a no.  They overpowered the baskets.  In this case simpler seems better.  As of right now I have no ideas for border but all in good time.  If you have any thoughts or ideas please pass them along.  I would love to hear your suggestions.

In my pursuit of finding places to teach this craft of quilting I have been asked what my specialty is.  I confess I am stumped.  Do I have a specialty, and the answer is, I don't think so?  I find too many things interesting and want to try new things.  Yet, the question is there; should I have a specialty and what would it be?  Do you have one and if so what is your quilting specialty?

The thunderstorms we have been having has really greened everything up and increased the humidity levels.  Humidity I am not fond of but the green is good.  I am also just enjoying watching it rain.  I had forgotten how satisfying a summer thunderstorm could be.

May your days be filled with things that satisfy.

Dee

Remember

Six of my brothers served in the military.  Thankfully none of them lost their lives during their time of service.  My husband's father also served.  As you celebrate and enjoy this memorial day remember those who have and are serving for the freedoms and land we live in and may none of us ever take what we have for granted.  In a few minutes Steve and I will go across the street for a private concert.  Our neighbor is a classical pianist.  On summer evenings when she practices we have noticed other neighbors bringing their lawn chairs and beverage of choice and sitting on their lawn outside her window to hear the music.  It has been a most pleasant way to get to know our neighbors.  Today we will listen to patriotic music and military hymns.  I am so excited.

Friday was a total bust.  I completely wasted the day and don't quite remember how I was able to do absolutely nothing and let a whole day slip by.  Hmmmm!

The last two days I finished putting the interfacing on the last of the T-shirts for the quilt I am making for our realtor.  My husband, the organizer, placed them all for me so that all I need to do now is sew them together.  It will feel so good to have that project done.  Do you have projects like that?  The kind that linger and weigh you down and you have to force yourself to get it done.  I haven't had too many of them but when I do I find motivation hard to come by.

Following is a song from my childhood music class;

Flag Song

Out on the breeze o'er land and seas, 

a beautiful banner is streaming;

shining its stars, splendid its bars

under the sunlight are beaming.

Over the brave long may it wave, 

Peace to the world ever bringing;

While to the stars, linked with the bars,

Hearts will forever be singing.

Hail to the flag, the beautiful flag,

The flag that is red, white, and blue!

Lydia Ward and Jean Hoover

I pray we all continue to enjoy the many blessings of freedom.

Dee

Design Decisions!

As you know I have been working on a challenge to update the traditional with a modern fresh look.  It is difficult to change directions and I am relearning that with this challenge.

I decided what blocks I wanted to use, made a few and then ditched them because they just weren't working for me.  I continued with my basket blocks and came to the point where I needed to decide how to set them and finish the quilt.  So far, I have tried about seven different variations and still don't think I am there yet.  My neighbor and Steve so far have given some input but still not there.  I hope to let you know soon what I decided.

It has been very muggy and overcast with the promise of rain the last few days.  Waking up this morning to that gentle, steady summer rain was wonderful.  Our yard desperately needed it and the cooler temperatures are lovely.

"Let us have faith that right makes might; and in that faith 

let us dare to do our duty as we understand it."

Abraham Lincoln

May all your decisions today be easy ones.  :)

Dee

                                                            

           

Special Days!

We all have those special days that reverberate in our memories.  Yesterday was one of those days for me.  It was my son's 23rd birthday and just like 23 years ago it was also graduation day at the university where my husband taught.  A picture perfect beautiful day in May.  Our lives changed dramatically on that day 23 years ago.  It became filled with love and so much laughter.  Years of giggles from big sister because no one can make her laugh like he can.  Tired buns from sitting on bleachers across the state of CA and cheering on the best little center fielder in the game ;).  Today he is a most amazing young man with a bright and happy future stretched out before him.  Praise God for the blessings.

Another joy of the weekend was attending an open sew at a local quilt shop with my neighbor and new found friend.  I love when quilters come together and share projects, tips, laughter and encourage each other in our pursuits.  The food and company was wonderful!  I hope that each of you reading this has had those joy filled evenings as well and if you haven't I do hope you will make time to do so.  It is worth it.

As with any graduation weekend there are parties and festivities to attend.  Here is a dip I took along that was met with raves.  Hope you enjoy it as well.

Salsa

1 can kidney beans

1 can white beans

1 can black beans

1 can corn

1 jar of chunky salsa

1 package of mexican cheese

Drain and mix.  Good to let sit a little while to blend the flavors.

Hoping your day is filled with beautiful memories and laughter,

Dee

Quilting Outside of my Box

I've spent some time delving into what is going on in the contemporary and art quilting world.  It is interesting and exciting.  The top picture is a start on a traditional sampler with a contemporary feel.  The second is my first attempt at painting on fabric and using thread for texture.  I can see all kinds of possibilities but the question becomes-can I make any of those ideas reality?  

It was so much fun to be painting again.  Many years ago I took up oil painting and also quit many years ago.  This took me back to that time.  Only this time I used acrylics and water with fabric and even added some paper to the design.  Very fun.  I can't wait to put what I learned into my next project.

I encourage you to test the waters and dive into something you haven't tried before with your quilts.  It can certainly be inspiring and motivational.  

Old quilts are true family treasures.  They convey so much love and hold so many cherished memories. New quilts are also stitched with love and the start of new memories to be cherished.  Creating those memories by making a quilt cannot be successfully formed unless two pieces of material are purposefully joined together.

May you continue to find new ways to purposely join your materials into beautiful cherished quilts,

Dee

Adding Texture

Step 2:  I spent a good portion of the day doing research and then out came the colored pencils and graph paper.  It was fun to create new out of old. With my new fabric pieces I started sewing and am liking it so far. Now I need to find just the right fabrics and get er done.

Doing the research and designing some blocks today I tried to think of ways to add texture to the end product-my challenge quilt.  My texture will come in the quilting.  Other ways you can add texture to your quilts is by manipulating the fabrics into tucks and points.  Sawtooth triangles, prairie points, chevrons, etc add texture to borders.  Yo-yo's are another way to take traditional blocks and give your quilt a contemporary look and feel.  Applique and embroidery work can give your quilts that "wow" effect.  Try adding some texture to your next quilt. If you do, please share with all of us your creative ideas.

Keep finding ways to bring beauty into your life,

Dee

Check, Check and Check!

Are you a list maker?  My husband is an avid list maker and keeps it handy everyday and checks items off the list as he completes them.  It gives him a lot of satisfaction to put those little checks beside the tasks and it also helps remind him of what needs to be done and keeps him from forgetting things.  My daughter is following in her father's footsteps.  Me....I keep my "to do's" in my head, which has proven to be unreliable.  I have tried writing the lists and prioritizing under my husband's careful guidance but I lose the list and rarely follow it.  I am a hopeless list maker.  Yet as I accomplish things it still feels just as good to mentally check it off the list.

That has been my week, getting things off of my mental "to-do" list.  I helped the University students complete a prayer quilt to be given to a fellow classmate who has terminal brain cancer, finished a sampler for a beginning quilt class I will be teaching, copied patterns I needed to send out to several shops and helped a friend complete a binding for her project.  Whew! It has been busy.  But now I get to work on a new project of my own.  Alex gave me a challenge and my head is abuzz with possibilities.  I'm almost giddy!!!!  I'll keep you up to date on how it is going.  Today was step 1: I bought some Kaffe solids and a few fun prints to go with them for a little punch.

I spotted a new notion I hadn't seen before.  It is called, Quilt Sticks.  They are long rulers that are specific widths (ie: 1 1/2", 2 1/2", etc.) so that you can quickly cut a lot of strips without thinking a lot about it.  It has a special backing that keeps it from slipping on the fabric.  If you have a lot of strips a particular width to cut it looks like a helpful tool.

Another check on the list, aaahhh satisfaction!

Dee

Speeding up the Process

The last couple of days have been busy ones.  A group of ladies come once a month to learn a new tip or technique, to share their quilt projects, to enjoy one another's company and to sew.  I love it and all the warmth and goodness that comes from getting together.

I had the pleasure of teaching a group of 9 and 10 year old girls to make a purse with a zipper in it.  Wow! What an afternoon.  That was certainly out of my comfort zone but I am glad to report they all went home with a purse and were very excited and happy.

Today, Steve and I hosted his students for dinner and a workshop on writing a resume.  It's a joy to see capable young people excited about heading into the real world work force.

Here is what I shared with my quilt club ladies this month.

Making a quicker and more accurate square in a square block.

1. Cut 4 squares half the size of the finished block plus 1/2" for seam allowance.  Draw a diagonal line on each of the small squares.  Place one square on the corner of the large square and sew along the drawn line.  Fold over the triangle and press.  Trim away the excess fabric underneath and repeat on the opposite corner and then repeat on the other two corners.

Example: If your center square is to finish at 4" cut the square 4 1/2" to include the seam allowances.  The 4 smaller squares will be cut half the finished size or 2 inches plus the 1/2" seam allowance or 2 1/2".  Check it out and see what you think and let me know.

Whatever your days are filled with may they also include love and laughter,

Dee

Off to the Seminar!

Do you take the opportunities to go to quilt shows and classes when you can?  I find so much inspiration from seeing what others are doing.  Today was a special one for me.  I had the opportunity to attend the first night of the Ricky Tim's Seminar being held here in MI and visit with my friend Alex Anderson.  She gave me some great advice on a new quilt design and we shared a laugh or two.  I was also inspired by their quilts and the new techniques and quilt "toys" they had to share.    I also learned that Libby Lehmann who does the seminars with Ricky and Alex had a brain aneurysm.  She came through the surgery and is doing as well as can be.  Please keep her in your prayers.

I encourage you to attend the shows and seminars when you can for the inspiration and sheer beauty of the work being done by fellow quilters.

See the beauty all around you,

Dee