I really am quilting every day... but all of them are surprises for friends so I cannot post pictures. Sigh. Don't give up on me!

Pattern for Sale

Just to let you know, the pattern for this quilt is finally available. I got copyright permission to create it from an old Christmas card, even though I changed the background (minarets were not used at the time Jesus was born). The copyright holder gave me permission to only sell a few patterns. If anyone wants one, they are offered on my Etsy site where you can pay by PayPal, credit card, etc. The pattern is for the smaller size (about 32" square) with directions and permission to enlarge it for the larger one in three panels. It is about 80" wide and a bit longer. The method is fused raw-edge batiks on the black sandwich, then quilted with invisible thread.

I made 24 of them and have already sold 11. Sales are first-come, first serve. The Etsy sight tells how many remain. I will not print any more patterns after they are all sold.

Progress Report: Kali's quilt is quilted and ready for the binding and putting on the crests. Not perfect, but I'm happy!


UPDATE: April 13, 2016. I've managed to secure worldwide, exclusive copyright to use this design in a quilt pattern... so it is for sale again. Please check my Etsy Page for details!

The finish is in sight

LIfe keeps getting in the way of my good intentions - or is it procrastination? I've loaded my GD's quilt and looked at it for several days. Finally, last night I quilted a row across the top border. I'd been practicing with a pantograph for awhile, but this particular design had no practice because my hand/eye coordination finally started to work. I discovered that if I squeeze my body with my elbows, following the lines and getting smooth curves is much easier. So I just jumped in and did it.

This turned out much better than I expected. It is not perfect, but neither is anything else (but God) so I qm delighted. This queen-size has a long way to go, but this border took less than ten minutes, so maybe this will be finished before the end of the year?? Stay tuned... 

More triangles

Good week for sewing -- DH on the golf course and lots of time to make 6 more triangles. We also took a day trip to Tucson and have checked out a few other places in the area. Next year we hope to come back. 


It is raining here today. Bob is at the Ping factory and I am enjoying the quail that come up under our window every day to get their quota of something from the ground. Today their little top knots that normally bob with every step are soaking wet and look as if they put gel on them. I couldn't get close but if you look close you might see one in this photo.

More Crazy Jane Triangles

Seven more done. I'm taking my time, making mistakes, but what does a poor grass widow do when her DH is golfing 3-4 times a week!! Note that I have the names of each triangle pinned on, but keeping track doesn't matter much since they will be rearranged differently on my quilt from the original Dear Jane.

We are doing all sorts of things besides golfing and quilting. One is seeing some of the best fine art in the southwest. As a child, I remember wanting to go to Scottsdale to see the paintings. What we have seen in the past couple of days was worth the long wait!
 

Crazy Jane progress

I've finished five, nearly six, of these Dear Jane triangles, part of the border of the original pattern, but I'm making another quilt from them. They are 5" wide at the bottom and 8" to the point (finished size). You can easily figure out why I am calling this one "Crazy Jane" or something like that! In case you are not familiar, DJ has no directions. Quilters share online various ideas about how to make them, but what works for one person, might not for another. All I have are printouts from my DJ program, and I went and did them 4.5" instead of 5" so have to redraft all the patterns by hand. I didn't put the DJ program on my laptop and don't have a printer here anyway. I have 30 more to make, some hopefully will be easier than these five.

Arizona is okay, but typical for me, by day 10 of any holiday, I'm starting to think about home. The weather helps keep me here. It seems Scottsdale / Phoenix has had the nicest weather in the USA all week. DH is golfing and we have done some sights. Food is good and Scottsdale is so clean -- no trash anywhere.
 

Progress Report

Check my PhD page for at least one better picture of these skinny quilts, and progess on the ocean one... it now has a sand dune and fence. Lots of thread work and quilting yet needed.

PROGRESS REPORT

This is the result of a few days working on my PhDs. This one goes by the working name of Black and Red Grad Challenge. A group I attend was challenged to make a 12" asymetrical block, then move it around to make the quilt. I added one small extra plain block in the center so I could arrange these like I did. I've a dozen photos of other placements, but this one pleased me most.

Anyway, it is finally quilted - heavily, in a whimsical floral and leaves, free-motion pattern. I used variagated black and red thread so the quilting appears and disappears, but really shows up well in side lighting. It has been trimmed and blocked, so is still on the floor with pins around the edges. I couldn't get high enough to take a picture of the whole thing. When I get the binding on, I'll post the entire quilt.

I've another one not on the UFO list yet. It is a simple design that uses up some small pieces of florals. The top row is sewn together. The squares finish to 6" and the sashing to 1 1/2" to make a quilt about 48" x 56." I'm not a flower person, but am enjoying this one so far.