A Glimpse into the Process

I thought I'd show my method for making the hexagons into stars.  Bear with the fact that Blogger loaded every photo sideways!

This is the basic paper-piecing template.  It is a 2"x6" triangle.

It is seriously the simplest paper piecing ever - 3 pieces...a triangle with black batik trims.

 Here it is from the backside... trimmed to a 1/4" seam allowance.  Nothing magic yet (or maybe ever!).

 I remove only the papers behind the black trimmed area.

 That plastic thing is Templar - heat resistant plastic.  It is often used to iron the seam allowances around appliques.  In essence, that is what I am doing too.  It has a pencil line at 1/4", as these black trims are intended to be 1/4" thick.

The finished stars will be hand appliqued to the background fabric.  Using a paint brush and liquid starch (spray it into a little cup). lightly paint the edge of the black fabric, then press it into position. From the back it looks like the next photo.  The seam allowance just pressed is a tad floppy.

 Because I am concerned how well this pressed edge will hold with time (I have no idea how long it will be before I get around to appliquing the blocks), I am doing one further step.  I dot the orange fabric 4-5 times with clear Elmer's glue, and heat set this seam with the iron.

 The finished unit is all held in place, and shouldn't move until I move it!

 I also have to trim these zebra-hexies to size because the zebra stripe pieces were slightly oversized.

 This is easy using a hex template.  I just mark w/ the 1/4" seam allowance and then trim.

 The 6 triangle units are carefully centered on the sides of the hexie, pinned and stitched on the paper line.  In theory, it should be creating a perfectly shaped star.  Theory...

After stitching, remove the papers and press the seam towards the center of the hexie.  This will also turn the edge of the small remaining zebra print points (which I do starch press to hold).

Viola! I am working on stars 7 through 9 this week.  This process takes me 1 hour per block, so no fast production line here~  The finished look is interesting though.

Jack of all Trades

Just as many women feel like they wear a multitude of different hats, that is just how this week has felt.  I am not completely back into the "just quilting" mode, now that my kids are back to school. That said, I did get a couple of client quilts through the studio, and another will come off the frame this weekend, but the list of customs, and larger customs increases daily.

One of my very much time-sensitive items -- the binding of this purple whole cloth -- is well, done enough.  To hand finish the scallop piping and hand stitch the binding has taken by best record about 30 hours.   I have about 16-18" around one corner to remove though because the corner looks crappy.  It doesn't pass muster with me, and won't get past a judge unless her glasses are lost.  When I said "done enough" I meant that it is ok for me to get the photos I need to enter it at Road to California, which are due by end of this month.  I have until mid-Dec to actually finish it.  Let's just assume that early December will be crazy here!

 Last weekend, against my better judgement, I started adding the solid-colored points to these hexie stars.  If I had good sense, I'd just let this sit for a few weeks, but we all know that isn't the case. They are fiddly and time-consuming, taking right at 1 hour per block.  I am considering doing a little tutorial next week on how these were added, as it's not your usual sew-n-attach method.  The colors for the center 9 blocks will all be different shades of pink and orange.  When I finish these 9 (with 12 still to go), I'll do a layout and figure out what the remaining blocks will get.  There aren't 12 other shades so I'm not quite sure! Once these are appliqued onto the silk background (which of course the studio fairies have not pieced yet!), then the top will be done.  My projection is December-January or later!

Here's the component of my week that apparently I could have skipped.  I am starting an article on feathered borders.  I sort of need another sample for that, but sort of I could have just used what I have.  I also had put in to teach a class at MQX on feathered borders.  I figured that this would be a nicer teaching sample than what I had.  Teacher contracts came out this week, and go figure, sheesh...this class was not on my list of classes! I'm a bit unhappy about that, but oh well.  They take a variety of classes, and fill the available schedules.  I'll beg for it one last time, and then it will go into my stockpike of things to use in my book.  Thing is, this class was in theory going to be my catalyst for finishing that!

Other tid-bits of progress (just no photos)... The backing for my next show quilt, very soon to be on the longarm (maybe in a week!) is pieced.  That was no small feat, as it is a Paula Nadelstern directional print which I am pleased to say I actually pieced to appear that the pattern matches!  I am also creating templates to trace so I can start marking this beast.  It will be different from my usual quilts in that it's darker colored, and I can't mark with blue pens.  I have some experimentation in the coming days.  I am also almost done with the little fixes that the piecing needed - just one to go.  Now, it's no picnic to deal with what I have, but it can be done simplest with a little handwork.

A couple of magazines came this week...Here are a couple pages from the NQA's Quilting Quarterly. This magazine is terribly bittersweet -- it is showing the Masterpiece quilt (below), but yet last week NQA formally announced that they are disbanding.  This rocks my world.  NQA judges are the best in the business.  They are formally trained to judge based on technical merits, and we all know I am most definitely a technical quilter.  There have been rumors that perhaps their Masterpiece Quilt program and the Certified Judges programs may try to be chaired by others, but time will tell.  Gosh I hope so.  Getting this award was sweet, but it would mean way more if others can also receive it.

 One last mag...The current Quilter's Newsletter has a blurb about HMQS, which was in May.

 BTW, this is a busy show month.  If you are in Wisconsin, the Quilt Expo is this weekend.  I hear that there are lots of great quilts there.  Next week is AQS Chattanooga.  Cross your fingers that they like what I sent there!

Monterrey Medallion

Erin makes some of the prettiest quilt, and this one is just no exception.  It is called Monterrey Medallion, and measures about 72x90".  The colors are soothing, and the piecing is so nice and flat. She asked for a custom.  This is the last of the quilt tops she sent me back in the early spring...Yea Me!! Love when I actually get to the bottom :-)...especially since she has sent another one already too!

I knew I wanted to do mostly a filler around the smaller stars to conserve the budget a little.  It is so easy to let the time get away from you when  you are custom quilting when there are a zillion little designs here and there.  Because she tends to press seams open, I limited the ditching to hardly at all, and chose designs that diverted the eye from the lack of ditching.  With stars, my first inclination is that every point must be outline stitched to preserve the crispness, but not always is true.

 This has a single layer of Hobbs 80/20 batting.  Because the showier quilting is in white, I knew that it would show just fine, negating the need for the expense of a wool batt.  I used 2 colors of thread - white Glide and a tan-ish YLI polished poly.  The two rings of feathers in the above photo are actually stitched in the tan, so they show more.

The center medallion shows really beautifully.  It has multiple frames, some cross-hatching and plenty of feathers on the star.  The log cabin blocks are a little different - an attempt to give nice texture w/o needing to ditch.  Believe it or not, these squiggly lines are quite time consuming, more so than I thought.  It does look great though.

 The outer border brings life to what is otherwise fairly simple piecing.  That is one thing that I love about quilting.  You can quilt this as squares and a white chain, and be bored to tears, or just ignore the lines and create your own playground.  I like to play...There is a fun cross-hatched and feathered inner border, with more of the squiggly lines along the outside.  It ties the outer border to the rest of the quilt beautifully.  At the very end, when I was at that "I'm done!" stage, I took one last hour and put pearls along the white squares to set them off.

 Here's a couple more looks...

 and here...

Time to get to business now and figure out what is next.  Happy Sunday~

Winter Wool Applique quilt

I have gotten to the bottom of a large box of Erin's quilts.  I'm trying to remember when the box of about 8-9 quilts arrived, but it was probably February or March.  I whipped out the edge-to-edge quilts quickly, and then it was summer and my custom quilting factory went on strike (that's code for "the three kiddos were all home!").  The last week, when they were finding things to do, I started digging out some of the summer's stockpiles.

Actually, they only went back to school yesterday.  After I wandered around the studio for half an hour wondering what to do, I pulled this quilt out, realizing I probably could get it quilted in a day.

It is 34"x41", and is wool applique on pieced cottons.  There is a lot of print in the blues, so my aim was to just show texture.  This quilt has only a single cotton batting.  Typically, the wool has enough thickness to show nice loft with just the cotton.

A deep navy blue Glide thread was used for the background, and a tan-ish YLI polished poly thread was used for the lighter areas.  These threads give a subtle sheen to the quilt.  All of the appliques are SID too. Because the wool is thicker, I can get away with ditching with almost whatever thread I am using.  No real need to run the clear thread.

 I love how the star turned out.  It has the perfect combination of the motifs I love most - feathers and ruler work.  Just a hint of dense filler makes the ruler channels pop, setting the star off from the swirly background.

 One thing I should note is that this quilt has EVERY seam pressed open.  This makes ditch stitching very challenging.  If you quilt down the ditch, you run the risk of that seam popping open.  I have to be very careful to sew a scant distance 1/16" off from the actual seam.  Believe it or not, it is hard when your brain has trained itself to quilt IN the ditch.  While pressed open seams does create a nice flat quilt, I really do not recommend doing this for custom quilted tops.

OK, here's one last look at the back...it is a dark blue, so all of the lighter taupe bobbin shows!

I have one last quilt of Erin's on my machine, approaching the half-way point.  It's more than double the size of this quilt though, so it may go a couple more days.

Happy Humpday~

Wednesday

That's a nice non-descriptive title, huh?!

If I wrote, "More Hexagons", then half of you would take for the hills.  But reality is, I have been doing relatively mundane things, and the hexagons are at the top of the interest list.  I am putting a binding on the silk wholecloth.  Yippy-do-da!...see, I told you...not so thrilling.  I also did a client quilt last weekend, but because it has rained here for 6 days (kind of getting like Scotland), I have crummy, dim-light photos that I may just not post.  I was more interested in getting it sent back to the owner than holding onto it until I could get a clear picture!

Today is my youngest's 9th birthday.  It's the last year of single digits in our house.  The past 2 days have been about cake making and other things for tonight's family party.  Because her day always falls before school starts, we hold off on the kid-party until mid September, when she knows who is in her class.  Yea for me - school resumes next week!

 I endeavor to make pretty cakes, but it is very clear I am a better quilter than cake decorator!

 Almost 9, and sporting all her Paris couture, in Paris no less!

 I have (I think!) finished the 21st and final hexagon block.  The layout I have been gravitating towards requires 21, but as you know, I have been through several possible layouts, including the one sketched above.  Clearly it is in all the wrong colors, but it was drawn in a heated moment when I just wanted to get these blocks machined together, and quickly.  The triangles would possibly be the only background fabric.  Some days I like its simplicity, others it just seems boring.  Who knows.

Here's a layout using 23 blocks.  The lighter ones at top and bottom center may be omitted to yield the next placement.  It would give me enough open space for quilting.  I think I like how the colors are arranged.  The blocks just need the final star points to be stitched on.  I am (again, I think) using Michael Miller Cotton Couture solids for these points.  It comes in nice bold, almost sherbet-like colors.  I have some small pieces in several colors ordered.  Next week I will make a decision about what color will go where.  I am hoping seriously that these points will bring further cohesion to the placement, as one bolder color will be for the center 9 blocks, and a softer, cooler color(s) will be used for the other 12.  My thinking is that the background will still be the silk Radiance.  Pricey, but I think the effect is worth it.  I will first get the stars done, then rethink the background.  Lotsa applique!

Here's the final hexagon... Whoo-hooo!

 One last look at how I make my hexie blocks, as it is a bit different from the traditional EPP method.  I use Marti Michell's cutting template for a 1" hexie.  This means it is 1" per side.  I use this to mark where to cut.  The smaller Templar template is exactly 1" per side, and this is used to mark the back of each fussy-cut hexagon.  This line is where I sew, bu hand.  I stitch each seam separately, back tracking with 2-3 stitches on each end before knotting.  Yes, this is 90 seams! These blocks are more secure than anything you'd machine stitch!  The front is pretty and the backside is too.  My reasons for making them this way are this -- the seams can easily be pressed to the side.  I don't want open seams because it's a pain for quilting should I choose to ditch stitch.  There is no ditch!  Also, I don't like the added step of gluing or basting onto the papers.  My block is easy to hold as I am stitching because it is not filled with paper.  It is my version of Inklingo, which many quilters use, but easier because there is no printer involved.

  I have a lovely heart applique quilt started on my machine.  Next week I should have something beautiful to show!

Client Valentine's Day Lone Star

A week ago, with barely 2 weeks left of my kids' summer vacation, I decided it was time to load a couple of quilts and start trying to get caught up.  I avoid the custom quilts during the summer because they take much longer, and my windows of quilting time are short...1-2 hours.  I can have a custom quilt on the machine for over a week before it is done.  More than that, because we all know I have show quilts on the machine for several weeks at a time, I tend to just forget what I am doing if I only do a little bit each day.

This quilt was made by one of my very prolific Iowa clients, Erin, and it is only 54" square.  It is a relatively simple pattern to quilt too (and not forget what I am doing!). For those interested, it has a layer of Hobbs 80/20 batting and is stitched with mostly Glide thread.

 There is ample white background to showoff pretty designs.  She wanted a background reminiscent of my Zen Garden quilt (which has more going on in it's setting squares).  I have hopefully kept the essence of this quilt with the curved cross-hatching and feathers.  I chose a filler around these using hearts to bring some of the fabric into the quilting.  It is all about cohesion.

 The star is the show, so the quilting does not need to overpower it (that is what the neutral white aeas are for!).  I did a single row of continuous curves in the white thread through this area.

(Before...)

But after stitching this, I decided it was just not done.  It appeared underquilted compared to the background.  Using a pale pink and deep burgundy thread, I went back and doubled the curves, creating double continuous curving.  It is more textural and just prettier.  Now, I could have certainly quilted the star more heavily, but it just didn't seem to be the place for heavy quilting.  Sometimes the simpler route is really prettier.  FYI - these curves are all stitched with a 6" circle template.

(after...)

The center of the star lays beautifully.

 Lone Stars are a lovely and classic pattern.  She plans to use this either on a wall or as a decorative element on a bed.  I'd love to have the time to make some seasonal/holiday display quilts!!

Facebook

I have been on Facebook for several years.  I have just recently, however, set up a business FB page. Check this out, like it, whatever...I tend to be better at posting to FB than to this blog on a regular basis.

Here's the link... FB

Little sewing, Little Vegging

The stash of the hexagon blocks is coming, slowly.  I thought I'd make up the last 3-4 blocks while I was traveling, but never found uninterrupted time.  I got one done, and two started though.  Now, if I could hone in on that layout for the blocks, I'd be getting somewhere...

 This block is wildly fun.  The outer row is in progress.

 Love this one...all done too.

And this is now done too.  Individually, some are a little bold, but all together their boldness seems to meld nicely.

My attentions are soon to be diverted though.  I have 6 weeks until I really want this quilt all done so it can be entered at Road to Ca. The show isn't until January, but photos of a quilt which "appears" finished (yes, including the binding) are due by Oct 1.  It was off the frame for weeks months so I could pick out 6-7 pleated areas.  Yesterday I restitched them.  I made a critical error with my very solid pink backing...I prewashed it, but failed to heavily starch it afterwards. The Live-n-learn list grows... Today I am calling it done-enough, and will get it onto the blocking surface.  No doubt that the binding will take a long time.  Here's an earlier post if you want to see more quilting photos.

 I am reveling in a nice win at the AQS Grand Rapids show, which is on right now.  My From the Bride's Trousseau quilt won a best machine quilting award!  It won a 1st 3 weeks ago at AQS's Syracuse show, while I was away in France.  I am very surprised how well this little whole cloth quilt has done.  The competition in Grand Rapids must be fierce.  My Bouquet Royale did not even place. Try again next month :-)

I will leave you with some pics from the gorgeous open markets of France.  The veggies and other are endless, and so very lovely to look at.

 dried fruits

 these are actually a tomato

 needs no explaining! Yumm!

 All kinds of seafood

One of my faves...olives

There are markets of fruits, meats, nuts, dry beabs and every kind of cheese you can imagine.  Not being a cheese-eater, though, I naturally have no pics of this! I probably should have taken a picture of the wine sections at the markets too...it goes without saying that there were many!  And prices for many 1/2 bottles were in the 2-3 euro range...cheap! A glass of wine is cheaper than a can of coke, by close to a dollar!

Happy Thursday~

Summer Absense

Paris.  Yes, I have just been to Paris!  Fortunately for me, I have been twice before, but there is no city like Paris anywhere.  It just has an energy about it.  A Vibe...a happy feeling.  The age of this country is evident everywhere.  Just to go back again was worth every frustration encountered (and there were many).   Still, a week in Paris.  And despite going before, I managed to visit many places I had not seen.

This was not one of them though!

It doesn't matter because the Eiffel tower is iconic.  It is huge, and wonderful, and everyone loved it. We did a tour organized by the Paris tourism board and it was fantastic -- highly recommend.  The behind the scenes things they show you make it worthwhile.  And then we climbed down each and every step, in the pouring rain (the first rainfall in 6 weeks for Paris)!

On this trip, I finally made it into the Louvre and the Rodin museum.  I can't claim to love art museums.  I barely like them.  I enjoy impressionist art in small doses, but most is just plain boring.  I do love the bronze statues by Rodin, and seeing the castings as well as the finished statues was incredible.  I had been to d'Orsay museum 20 years ago, so I didn't bother trying to drag the boys there, even if the building the art is in is gorgeous.  I did manage to get them into Orangerie, where Monet's water lilies are.  Those are amazing.  I have been to Giverny before, but never seen the full collection, in the round.  The Vincennes castle was a hit with the kids, and a nice break from crowds to be out of the city just a little bit.  Crowd lines were a bit crazy this time.  Luckily, there is much to be seen just wandering.  I have more photos of quilting ideas...

The Garnier Opera house is so magnificient, and our tour was just as good.  

My inside photos are a heap of crap, but hopefully some patterns drafted from the mosaic floors (the first of this kind brought to a French building allegedly) will become the basis for a new applique quilt next year.

 After a week of Paris, we flew to Edinburgh.  I loved the one short half-day we spent in Edinburgh -- it is old and has much the same vibe as Paris.  Sadly we drove from there to the highlands.  The roads are dangerous and scary by US standards...narrow, mostly single lane, no shoulders whatsoever, and windy beyond windy up through the mountains.  Oh, and add to that sitting on the wrong side of the car while driving on the wrong side of the road!  What appears to take one hour on a map, actually takes over 2.  Nothing was really as close as it seemed it would be.  We were on the south shore of Loch Ness for 3 days and then in the higher, more easterly highlands for 3 more.  The castle ruins were interesting.  The weather just plain sucks in Scotland -- very cool by our expectations for August, and constantly raining.  If it is sunny at 8am, by 9:30 it will be raining.  We thought we'd do more hikes, but constantly hiking through mud was aggravating.    While some of the scenery is beautiful, there was just too much driving to get there.  I like the walk or subway approach to sight-seeing better.

My kids loved seeing these unusual cows - Highland coos. And the castles (we saw 4) and cathedral (below) ruins were interesting.  My husband would love to go to Ireland, but there's not enough money out there to get me to go somewhere this cool and wet anytime soon...especially when the sights don't often have rooves!

 Here's another fun pattern...may have come from a bathroom wall!

And here's a quick view of the former monastery we stayed at in Loch Ness - way cool.  Convincing the kids that the apartment was not the "destination" was challenging at times.

If you are wondering if I tried Haggis - yes twice.  It's not as bad as the contents make it sound.  In a good meal, it's pretty good.  Blood pudding - I had one disgusting bite.  I tasted scotch too.  That I can say is still the ickiest taste I have known.  Embalming their bodies with this elixir is probably how they endure the climate though!  The food was touch and go, some pretty good, some typically bland and under seasoned.  In 2 weeks, I have seen enough french fries for a lifetime.  The Scots love them as much as the French!  Desserts in France were yummy.  And I did eat my weight in croissants.  Who could blame me?!

Now to get going with the wash and figure out how to be productive for 3 weeks until school starts~