Bloggers Quilt Festival

It's that time of year again! Time for the online quilt show at Amy's Creative Side!  I love looking at all the quilts in the categories every year.  So many talented quilters out there!  Since I love to hand quilt, I definitely need to enter that category . I named this quilt Simple but Not!  It has simple scrappy pumpkin seed shapes appliqued to a  solid cheddar background.  I absolutely loved working on this quilt.

Just four big blocks in this one!

I added a few feathers here and there!

And I added a striped binding to finish it!

I hope you can join in the fun by blogging about one of your finishes  and entering it into one of the many categories!  So much fun to go thru the categories and vote for your favorite too!

Simple But Not's Debut

I know it seems like ages since I have had a finish!  Yes these quilts do take time to make especially if we are hand quilting them.  But, I happen to think they are worth the wait. Simple but Not came from a book called Small Pieces, Spectacular Quilts. In fact it was featured on the cover.

But I really really wanted a cheddar quilt, so I changed up the background and added this wonderful Marcus Brothers centennial cheddar.  I have had more compliments about the color in this quilt. I have to agree that the cheddar is spectacular, isn't it?  Enough said, on with the photos!  I don't know if it's because of the season, but I found it more difficult to get some good shots.

No verdict on the trapunto yet!  But I am leaning the other way, thinking I won't add it!  

More feathers!

Yesterday, was a very productive day, quilt wise.  I was able to turn the third corner on Simple but Not.  So now we are heading toward the homestretch!   I turned on my current audio book and really got lost in my quilting.  I am listening to Killing Lincoln and was captivated by the description of some of the last battles fought in the Civil War.  It made me think about the mom's and wives that were at home wondering if their sons or husbands would come home. It made me think of the civil war era quilts and how important it must have been for those women to be able to stitch as they waited for their love one to return.  Do you have a quilt that has special meaning to you?  A quilt that has special memories stitched into it!  Quilting for me is so much more than cutting up fabric and sewing it back together. It is more than a craft that I enjoy.  I think of it more as therapy.  In this busy old world, it is nice to slow down and reflect about what all of it means.

So today, I hope to continue with my book and stitch another section of Simple but Not.  Hopefully, this section of feathers will get look more like the picture below when I put down my needle today. I hope you can also enjoy some meaningful stitches today. I am also linking up with Kathy and the other slow stitchers that share their beautiful work at Kathy's linky party.  Hope you can join us!

Turning the corner

Turning corner number three!

Life's Up and Downs!

Well, it has been a successful week!  I was able to put spend at least one hour a day hand quilting. The weather has been just perfect!  I bet you weren't expecting that statement today.  The truth is, it is perfect for hand quilting.  Just so you don't think I am a Pollyanna, It has had it's downs.  I thought I was deleting a draft and actually deleted my last post.  I have looked around and from what I can tell it is lost forever.  Oh well, as they say no reason to spend time crying over spilled milk.  This morning as I was finishing up my hour of stitches I noticed that some distortion happened on the very edge of the quilt.  I really have no reason to complain about it, since it was my own doing. There is only one solution and that is to remove some stitches.  I know why it happened and it is completely my fault.  So, as soon as I get done kicking myself, I will get over it and redo that area. It happened because,  I  usually take the time to stay stitch around the very edge of my quilt, but with this one I did about half of it and quit so that I could start stitching. You know that feeling!   Then the other night, I ran into the area where there was no stay stitching and continued to stitch. It really makes a difference as you can see in the photos below.

Wrong!

Better!

So lesson learned!  I will remove a few stitches, stay stitch the edge and continue the journey.  I hope everyone is staying warm with the frigid weather a lot of the country is having.  Cold here too, but the sun is shining!

Back to Normal

Oh the weather outside is frightful, but oh so wonderful for staying inside and enjoying some slow stitching.  I have been busy this last week entertaining guest that arrived on our doorstep.  So good to see family as we live so far away, but I have been really looking forward to getting back to normal.
I have been able to get some stitching in here and there.  So thankful to have my Barnett Hoop and plenty of room to keep it up in the great room.  So between loads of laundry and visits I could slip into my chair and put in a few stitches.   I do find sometimes it is hard to relax and take the time to put in a few stitches.    So I took the advice of Hilda of Every Stitch and downloaded an audio book from the library.  Oh my, what a wonderful way to stitch.  With my earphones on, I am in my own little world.  Thanks Hilda for the inspiration to try this.  If you have never been to Hilda's blog, you are really missing out.  She has made some very inspirational quilts.  I should warn you however that you could easily spend several hours going back reading and enjoying her wonderful photos.  Today, I will be continuing on block three of Simple but Not.  Two blocks completely done is really giving me an idea of how this quilt will look when it is complete. I am leaning towards adding the trapunto, but time will tell.  I wish we had some sunshine so that the quilting design would show a bit better.  It is so hard to get great pics when the weather is so gloomy.

Four block quilt

Completed block

Partially completed block

 Last night when I finished up block two I noticed that my hands seemed  tired, that is always a sign that I need to start with a new package of needles this am.  It makes such a difference.   I will be linking to Kathy's Slow Stitching Sunday and  enjoying what others are slow stitching today!   I am so thankful that Kathy is continuing the linky party we have every Sunday.  Hope you can join us!

Fitting in a few stitches today!

Wow the year is really coming to it's end quickly!  Tom and I drove to Dallas/Fort Worth area to visit with our son and his family right before Christmas.  It was good to see everyone and visit.  We headed back home on Tuesday and my sister and her husband stopped by our place on Friday and left this morning as they headed to Texas.
So today, it will be nice to sit and stitch a bit 

Simple But Not is coming along nicely.  As I look at the one block that is completely quilted, I feel the feathers are not quite as plump as I would like them to be. So once the quilt is completely quilted I will have to add some trapunto. 

I really like the way it enhanced my string star quilt.  It is a bit labor intensive, but I think the extra time will really make all the difference to how happy I will be with the finished quilt. 

Now back to the hoop!

 

Slow Stitching Sunday

It has been so nice to start my mornings this week by putting in a few slow stitches into Simple but Not!   I have put all the other projects away and am allowing myself to zone out and enjoy the slow stitching. 

I often think about why this is my favorite part of making a quilt. There is something calming about listening to the sound of the thread being pulled thru the fabric. The repetition of making one stitch after another.  When I piece or applique I seem to always measure my progress by how soon my project will get completed.  But when I hand quilt, it isn't about finishing but enjoying each stitch. The transformation of fabric thread and batting into a quilt is magical.  I will be linking with Slow Stitching Sunday to see what other magic is happening. Hope you can find some time in this busy season to enjoy some magic too!

Hand Piecing

Today I hope to add at least part of round 10 on my Trip Around the World.   I started this right before Thanksgivng and have had fun learning to hand piece.  I am just using some strips of fabric that I found in my scrap box. Kind of wild and crazy but I love how it changes with each round that  I add.  I am aiming for 20-22 rows that should make a nice size baby quilt. 

My little start right before Thanksgiving

 

Nine rows completed!

 

I finished up my pickle dish and wonky star tops from the RSC 2014. So they will get hung in the closet. They will have to wait their turn to get quilted.

 

 

 This morning I will continue to work on "Simple but Not". I have the center completely done.  The quilt is comprised of four large blocks, so I think the best plan is to pick one block and complete it before moving to the next. 

I hope you find some time to enjoy some slow stitches too!

No self Control!

When I got back from my trip up north for Thanksgiving it was like traveling back in time. We had a enjoyed a little snow storm while staying at my sister's house over Thanksgiving.  When we arrived home, the leaves had finally started to fall so when I look outside it looks like fall is in full swing. 

So with the cooler temps today, it feels good to get under my current hand quilting project and put in some stitches.  I was suppose to be tracing my templates for my last border of Baltimore Garden. But, as you can see from this post I have absolutely no self control.   But I firmly believe you should follow your desires.  Each quilt will get finished when the time is right!

I started out the year saying no new projects until I finish some of my wip's. I think I have done pretty good and than I said well...................... it's December, if I only use fabric from my stash, it's only a small project 30 rows, it's one of those portable projects you can take anywhere.  Do you ever convince yourself that you just have to start something new? Well, a fellow blogger Suzanne over at Minou's Minute inspired me to try a hand pieced project.   Brigitte Giblin  started a group on facebook that is hand piecing a Trip Around the World.  Something I have always wanted to do and another way to use up some old fabrics in the stash.  I am really enjoying it!  I really love this project as I can just keep adding squares and it reminds me of how quilter's of long ago were so frugal.  Oh my,  aren't my excuses so lame, I just need to admit I am addicted to stitching and have no self control.

 

Calm before the Storm

This week I have pulled out Simple but Not.  With Thanksgiving around the corner, there will be the added stress of a road trip, so I decided to hold off on starting the last border on Baltimore Garden.   I realized that although I love applique, hand quilting is still my favorite part of making a quilt. So relaxing just taking stitch after stitch pulling the thread thru the fabric.  I love when I get into the zone and my mind drifts off to other things and takes me where I want to go.   It's raining outside, so today I will sit and stitch to my hearts content.  I will be joining  Kathy and the others that link up today over at Kathy's blog.  Kathy also reminds us today, that Bonnie Hunter will be hosting Quilt Cam this afternoon at 2pm.  Sounds like a lot of wonderful stitching will be taking place.  As is often said, enjoy the calm before the storm. Monday, brings laundry and preparing for our trip to visit family for Thanksgiving.   I hope everyone enjoys their Thanksgiving Day with family and friends.  But first, let's enjoy some wonderful slow stitching today!

Looks like this a great place to start!  Adding more crosshatching and feathers!

A little progress!

Still working on the borders.  I finished the second one and posted about it here.  That was Tuesday. So what have I been doing since then?  Well not stitching.  I promised my sisters and brothers that I would scan some old family photos and get everyone a copy.  Yes, I have been scanning and scanning!  Trying to name each photo so that we could bring them up and enjoy them whenever we want.  It was a nice stroll down memory lane. But, it also took a lot of time, but the deed is done. Here are a couple of my favorite pics:

My Mom and my sister Liana and I. I am on the right.

My mom was always taking pictures of us after we got home from Church.

So this evening I need to get back to some stitching.  I did thread about dozen needles so I could get under Simple but Not and put in a few stitches.

But,  I am really making progress on Baltimore Garden's borders.  Sometimes when I get near finishing a top, all of my other projects get put aside and all I can think about is working till it is done.  So I think the applique will win out tonight, although it would feel cozy to get under a quilt and quilt as the weather is damp and cold. But, this third border won't get done unless I keep vigilant.  Hope you will join Kathy and the others at Slow Stitching Sunday and enjoy stitching on your current project.

 

Cheering and Stitching!

Starting the day off with a slow start.  Slept in this morning, it's such a good feeling!  Sundays are usually a day that Kathy reminds to slow down and enjoy some slow stitching.  But my day today will start with watching my grandson Chase play in the Championship game at the  US Youth Soccer event. Yesterdays game was a nail biter.  They were down by two the  whole first half and finally after 90 + minutes they ended with a tie, so the game went into overtime for another 30 minutes. They played hard and gave it their all and won 5-2. 

Chase in yesterday's game

 

Here is doing what goalie's do!

So after the game I hope to get to hand quilting on Simple but Not. It is going to be a very hot day here, with high humidity before the cold front comes thru tomorrow.  So I can't think of a better way to spend the day. The ac will be running hard, Chase will be running hard, and I will be slow stitching the day away!

 

Crosshatching

Did you know that crosshatching is a method used by artist?  I found this site that gives a good explanation.  Unlike line drawings that artist do, quilters use crosshatching as a background.  It adds texture and works well as a background behind applique. I think it helps your eye move across the quilt. 

I am using a 3/4 inch crosshatch on Simple but Not!  This quilt is very simple in design. Just large pumpkin seed shapes made up of scraps of fabric  They are appliqued on top of a solid background.  I am adding feathers around the applique to accent it, and tying it all together with the crosshatching. 

A couple of years ago I really concentrated on what type of quilts I wanted to make.  I found that I was always drawn to the process of applique.  I am so happy I followed my heart.  I love using  colored backgrounds and having negative space to fill with hand quilting.  That balance of hand quilting and design is crucial for me.  I have never been one to use a lot of busy prints and I find when I do I turn to big stitch to achieve the balance that is so important to me.  Do you find yourself making the same category of quilt?

 

 

 So today I will be linking up with Kathy and adding a few more slow stitches to Simple but Not!

Starting with the feathers

I started hand quilting my pumpkin seed quilt a couple of weeks ago.  It has a lot of negative space for some wonderful handquilting.  I thought some feathers would be great to accent the simple scrappy pumpkin seeds.  I have named this quilt Simple But Not.  I think it is fitting since the design is simple but the quilting will make it marvelous.

For Christmas last year, Santa brought me a wonderful new quilt hoop on a stand.  I opted for the 18 inch hoop since the hoop I had been using was a fourteen and sometimes I felt it was a bit small.  Well, when I started quilting the feathers I felt the 18 inch was too big, so my wonderful hubby added some magnets to my old hoop so now I can use it with my new stand  It will be great to use the bigger hoop when I am stitching background lines, but it is so wonderful to have the smaller hoop when I need to turn and reach across the hoops for smaller motifs.

I  feel so much better this week about using the spoon instead of the aunt becky.  It took a while to make the adjustment but I no longer have the urge to go back to using the aunt becky. 

I also finished up block 21 of Baltimore Garden. I thought I would share a pic of some the embroidery that I added to this block.  It was so much fun to add a few accents here and there. I think I need to take a crazy quilt class soon.

  I am linking up with Kathy blog today to see what others are slow stitching.  Slow stitching is such a wonderful relaxing way to spend a few hours each day!

Pay off!

 It has been a long winter, although down here we don't get very hard winters, but we have had our share of lower than normal temps.  I am really getting sick of looking a that bermuda grass that stays brown till we get much warmer temps. Hopefully there will be some signs of spring  soon.  I have kept busy stitching on a few projects, mostly hand work, which is slow going.  So slow, that sometimes, I wonder if these projects will ever get finished, but then I remind myself that I do enjoy the process it is nice to reflect on what those stitches produce. So this morning, after a few last applique stitches, I have the four blocks for my pumpkin seed done! Mind you, I don't have it assembled into a flimsie yet, but sewing four blocks together shouldn't take too long.

 Also after spending a couple of months of basting hexies, I drew out my design.  I wanted to make a frame for a center medallion block, which turned out to be harder than I thought it would be.  I finally got it worked out and started sewing the flowers together adding the background filler.  I  really have enjoyed stitching them together. This is my progress, 181 hexies stitched together!

After another cup of coffee this morning and once the sun comes out I will go back to marking my Quilt of Valor quilt.  I am excited to get it into my new hoop.  Again I will be using perle cotton #16, to big stitch this quilt.  So even though sometimes it doesn't feel like I am making progress, it is good to look back and see how far these projects have come.