This one is done (well, the label needs to be attached). It was a collaborative effort by eight people, including the donation of long arm quilting. I put the binding on yesterday. It goes to a family whose story brings tears...
Scroll down to the September 28 post on this blog for more about the reason we made this quilt.
I'm working on my PhDs... making progress but nothing worth a photo. That Black and Red quilt is being quilted. Also, the binding for the group project blue and yellow quilt goes on today. Photo soon.
In the meantime, this is a Celtic Bell Pull that I did for Christmas a couple years ago. I have another one in blue/green. This was a joy to make. The applique patterns are from my own collection of Celtic clip art. Every house has a long narrow place to hang something like this.
Actually, I'm thinking seasonal ones would be cool... oops, I already have more than twenty UFOs so better put that idea on the back burner. LOL.
Yesterday I took a lesson in long arm quilting. The gal who has done a few of my quilts offers her machines for rent, but she says, "You cannot drive my Porsche without taking at least one lesson."
It was humbling, to say the least. I love free-motion, making up the pattern as I go with a rough idea in my head or a sketch taped to the wall in front of me. But following a design marked on a quilt is another story. I can't stay on the lines. Of course, my lesson lady thought this would be the easiest for beginners, so gave me four hours of about 95% following lines.
As I tried to follow the patterns and "loosen up" as she suggested, my mind was working the same way it does when I write by hand. I cannot write with my whole arm like you are supposed to without really thinking about it. This is not natural. Same with the rhythm of swimming and dancing. It is not easy for me and requires a certain way of concentrating, not "letting myself go" as most would suggest.
My husband says golf is a "muscle memory game" and I'm now convinced that long arm quilting is the same. This will require lots of practice --- unless some of you long arm quilters can give me a quick cure for my preference to color totally outside the lines!
However, it was fun in a tormented sort of way. The result is the ugliest quilt I have ever seen... and sorry, no photograph. My pride is bruised and bleeding so I didn't take one.
I decided a blog is not the best way to post my UFOs, so have made a web page that seems to be the answer, at least for me. So if you have my PhD blog bookmarked, you will need to change it. The link is at the right side.
I know there are a few typos and other little details yet to correct, but otherwise, I hope this will be a good way to hold myself accountable to get these quilts finished!
Last night our small group of quilters got together and assembled a joint project, shown here on the design wall before we started putting it together. We each made a bunch of 6" blocks, either strip-pieced or nine-patches, in mostly light blues with a touch of yellow. Some of them are hanging a bit crooked here, but this gives you an idea of the results.
Altogether, five people made the blocks and six people (some different than the five) sewed them together. We had one person who doesn't quilt come in and just press as we sewed. Later it will be quilted by another volunteer with a long-arm machine.
I'm really excited about working together like this. It was risky (how can five people all do exact 1/4" seams, never mind get colors that work together), but we are pleased with it. I think the quilting will add much to it. We are not sure about borders, and think maybe just a darker blue binding. Any thoughts on that?
This quilt is going to a family who lost their daughter. We also had a few blocks leftover, enough to make a lap quilt for someone in a wheelchair. I will post a picture as soon as I have one.
I just posted all my UFOs (I think) on another blog. The link is at the side. I'm hoping that knowing the whole world knows that I have not finished these will spur me to greater effort!
Today I'm going to start quilting the second one from the top on the list. I will not mind anyone offering a tiny boot in the behind to keep me going.
C&T Publishing just invited me to allow a link to this blog on their new blog. Likely everyone who has a quilt blog was invited, but this is still exciting. Do pop over there and have a look. I will also add them to my blog role, because next to quilting, I love quilt books! Many on my shelf are by C&T including the first quilt book I ever bought, Art & Inspirations by Ruth McDowell. It used to be out of print and used copies were pricey but I see that she has it on her site for $30. She has become my favorite mentor, by books. One day I'll catch up to her and take a class!
Note: labels will not let me use an ampersand
I'm working on my PhDs... making progress but nothing worth a photo. That Black and Red quilt is being quilted. Also, the binding for the group project blue and yellow quilt goes on today. Photo soon.
C&T Publishing just invited me to allow a link to this blog on their new blog. Likely everyone who has a quilt blog was invited, but this is still exciting. Do pop over there and have a look. I will also add them to my blog role, because next to quilting, I love quilt books! Many on my shelf are by C&T including the first quilt book I ever bought, Art & Inspirations by Ruth McDowell. It used to be out of print and used copies were pricey but I see that she has it on her site for $30. She has become my favorite mentor, by books. One day I'll catch up to her and take a class!