Two more finishes

These are simple and easy. One is a panel growth chart and the other a combo of two blocks. Both used up some scraps, which makes me smile. I've another growth chart panel on the long arm. It might be done by the end of the day. It is only 11 am and only two interruptions so far!

Color is awful on this first one. It is a medium blue, not nearly as dark as this. The name, "Stuffies in Pale Moonlight" tells more about the colors and the lighter fabric. . . lots of teddy bears, etc. on it. It is 38 x 50." 

The other photo is not any better, but it is grey/black with a bit of color tossed in. it is 31 x 49" and called, "Mommy, I Can Read."

Lesson learned: Don't take pictures in artificial light. Even the excellent camera on my i-pad needs a little help (or tweaking).

 

 

More from absent-minded me

Just noticed that I didn't title my last post nor post the most previous comment. This does not mean I've stopped quilting or that I've had too many birthdays (well, maybe not) but am so booked up with new things that I keep forgetting some of the important necessities.

This past couple of weeks have consisted of dinners, visits, a funeral, meetings, much email, running errands, writing Bible study material, a birthday party for a 100 year-old friend, and having a few unexpected and bizarre things like a dream with a name in it of no one I know so googled it and found out the person is friends with people I know in two generations and on both sides of my family. I've never had names for the strangers in my dreams before. Love the mystery of it. 

Enough of the busy list. I have been finding moments here and there to sew. . .

So this is a little progress. The top one is a simple panel with a simple border, made for Basically Babies. The next one is another panel, two borders and the binding matches the animal eyes. Double click to see them. It was in my stash and perfect -- at least I like it the best so far. I used the same panto on all of them. 

I've several more panels and kits to make up for children and give to charity so am only collecting ideas or drooling over patterns for anything else after that. These little ones are quick to make and fun. I heard a quilter on TQS say that when we hit a slump or feel between a rock and a hard place, to make simple quilts to get out of that low mood. Our move didn't make me low, but it did make me tired, so that advice was perfect. Using the same panto also made these baby quilts quick and easy!

Lighthouses

Someone gifted me with 6 yards of lighthouse panels. I was going to cut them up and make table runners, but didn't like the way they looked. So I cut them up and put them back together with some sashing between the blocks. There was enough trim to go all the way around as an outer border. It is big, about 90" x 92" or more. I ran out to the nearest fabric store and found a perfect backing. It is now on the longarm, batting on top of it, and waiting for me to have enough energy to finish the sandwich. It has been a busy week and I'm tired, but also procrastinating. Not fond of doing big quilts. I could not put the top on the design wall as it had a gift quilt up there, can't show it yet as it is a surprise. Anyway, here is a hint of one of the lighthouses. There are four different ones and the top is 4 x 5 blocks. The drawing is the quilting design, sort of a mariner's compass that can be done in a continuous line, sort of. I'm hoping to do each one tracing it like a pantograph. The border fabric is about 4.5 inches and I'm not sure how I will quilt it yet, but it will be simple.

Growing so Big

Finished this in a few hours. It is much like the last one only it took less time to sew and quilt. I've several more panels for children and do them when the bigger quilts tire me out. It will to to Basically Babies.

Also still working on my 'squirrel' distraction, but other things keep interfering, like cooking, laundry and keeping the house uncluttered. Hubby is good to pitch in but he has been getting calls for work and now has three PCs, four keyboards, and five monitors in his den, plus printer, full-size copier, and you get the picture... he has other things to do besides clean up the messes I make!

Oh, he is also making our itsy yard look lovely and runs errands. We are in phase 2 of getting out of social distancing etc. and so far so good in our neck of the woods. Our provincial government has been superior in guiding us through this. Only a few have broken protocol and unfortunately paying the price.

Our local guild, over 200 folks, has been having monthly meetings on ZOOM. What a hoot! We are quilters and most haven't much familiarity with this way of communicating. Lots of laughs to say the least!

Stay safe!

An easy finish • Jungle Stuffies

Here is another charity quilt. I've a pile of panels suitable for children that will go to a charity called Basically Babies. They make layettes that will cover one year, including duds, quilts and blankets and even match colors etc. These go to families in need. This one was fun. I added borders to the panel and had fun with the quilting. It was a Panto called Gingersnap, but I added eyes and ears to the concentric circles and made them look like stuffy faces.

I'm also working on a guild challenge quilt. The first person gets a photo of a landscape and must make a 18" x 24" quilt inspired by the photo. They send a picture of their quilt (not the original photo) and an artist's statement to quilter number two. 

That person makes an 18" x 24" quilt inspired by the photo and statement from quilter #one. They email a photo of their quilt and statement to #three. And on it goes. There are 10 in each group and the resulting 40 quilts will be on display at Quilt Canada next year. This is exciting, sort of like that telephone game aka known as the gossip game. By the end, the last quilt will be a huge departure from the original photo. I'll post a picture when the rules allow it!

Also working on Halo Medallion. All those arcs are finished so need to put them in their blocks and sew them on... then decide what to do next.

A quick finish: Over the Waves

This is my 'cure' or therapy for keeping on when a project takes so much energy... make another project using a panel. This one is simple and cute. I used a panto on it for practice. The only 'extra' is the yellow piping with the red binding. I used the method explained by Susan Cleveland and her excellent tool to help make it. 

Our city has a group known as "Basically Babies" who collect a year's worth of items for layettes to give to needy families. Quilts are welcome, so this one is designated for them.

I have several other quilts ready to go on the longarm, so back at it...

Mmm. . . Music & Motorcycles. . . Enjoy!

My hubby has many 'passions' including flying and golf. He also has a motorcycle and recently bought an electric piano. He played piano in his teens and is getting back into it. The keyboard needed a cover so when I discovered this panel on sale at Hancocks-Peducah, I could not resist. 

The problem was the length. After praying, this great idea popped into my head -- put racing flag design on each end AND use fabric with music symbols on it.

I gathered my supplies Saturday and sewed whenever I could -- until Monday. It was finished it in time to get to bed and sleep a few hours before his plane landed around midnight. (He was in San Diego golfing). He's happy and I enjoyed this project -- quick and easy. The detail photo shows that this panel is really sharp!

Basically Babies – Lions

Our city has a group called "Basically Babies" that makes one-year layettes for babies in needy families. They accept quilts, so I purchased some panels and am planning to give them to BB. This one is my third so far, a cute lion with cubs. I didn't need to do anything to it except trim and add borders. I put a flange in there too, just for the color. The outer border is about 4.5" and the same rusty color in the shadows on the lions. 

Actually, piecing the backing took longer than assembling the front. It will finish at about 44" x 50" — a nice size. Quilting panels is good practice on my longarm also.

Btw, a tip for some: My dryer has two steam cycles that I thought I would never use. However, when I take fabric out of my stash (I don't wash it when I buy it) the wrinkles are heavily impressed... so 20 minutes in one of those cycles 'irons' it perfectly! It probably does a bit of 'shrinking' too. I'll have to do a before & after measurement. This has been a huge time-saver and likely saves electricity too. Give it a try if you haven't already!

Still Practicing

Here is the full panel that I've been practicing on. Besides being a good way to play with my HQ Avante, it is rather cute. It will likely go on the back of a door as I can't think of anything else to do with it! It needs a few more stitches and maybe that ribbon will stay and I'll add a few buttons besides those printed into the design.

Practice, practice, practice

Matt Sparrow, the man-quilter, says he practiced 10,000 hours on his longarm machine before hanging out his shingle. I might not live that long, but am learning the value of practice. For me, the best way is to use a panel. Then if I mess it up it is not a huge waste of time and money like it would be if using a pieced top... but it is also useful when finished, unlike using a big hunk of fabric with no plan for it other than scribbling stitches.

This is the current practice panel. I wanted to use contrasting thread because it is easy to see. However, it doesn't show up much on the lighter areas, so I did lots of texture stitching in those. This has helped with confidence to do the fancy quilting I want for Cobblestone Lane. I'm particularly happy with the zig-zag as I did that freehand. It has a few squiggles, but far less than the last time I tried it. One key: stop telling myself that I can't do this and just do it.

Dancing Animals

This is another panel which gives opportunity to practice quilting, but the main purpose is to take it to our local (and wonderful) children's hospital. 

I have the top done of the Nativity quilt and will put borders on it before quilting, just 2-3" of black to set off the colored 'glass' part. I've black batting, thread, and no more excuses. Pictures later.

Panel quilts?

Does every quilter have a guilty feeling about making a quilt using a printed design? I don't. Every now and then, life either becomes so complicated that I just want to make something very easy, or a baby shows up and a quilt needs to be made right now.

This one falls into the first category. I won't go into my tales of woe, but live is difficult right now, and this cheerful little panel gave me pleasure with its bright colors and innocent motifs.

It will go to an organization in our city called the Zebra Child Protection Centre. This marvelous groups works with our city police to take care of, support, and make safe children who are victims of abuse, neglect and crime. They have a place where the children can feel at home, and a selection of things for each one to "take your pick." This includes basics like toothpaste and towels, but it also includes games, toys, and quilts. I am a big fan of the Zebra Centre, and because this cheerful panel has a zebra on it, this seems a logical home.

Now, confess... do you make quilts from printed panels? and just don't tell anyone? Or am I now about to be scorned as not a "real" quilter?

NOTE: The original title for this post seems to be a magnet for spam (lots of it) so I changed it, kept getting spam, so I deleted it. I also removed the link to the Zebra Centre in case that was the attraction. This is a copy of the original which was posted December 4, 2007.