making the move...

After google dumped piknik, I've been a little lost with photo editing.   I decided with Google Reader shutting down, I would just go ahead and make the move to another feed reader before crunch time.  I chose bloglovin.



Just click the link if you would like to follow The Tulip Patch on BlogLovin'...and if you sign up for an account they have a very easy way to import your entire google reader.  I really like the setup..much easier to follow and unfollow.  Give it a try...I think you'll like it!

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A Finish & some thoughts..

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I have finished with this quilt for a while but the sunlight has been pretty terrible and I wanted to get gorgeous pictures. We went to a beautiful park this morning and I brought the quilt and camera along, but 3 hours later and my tiny walnut sized bladder struck before I ever took the first picture...backyard pics will have to do!

 I added my scottie block on the corner.  I have yet to make his yoyo collar, but I do plan on it.  My middle son picked out the fabrics for the scottie, so this is his quilt.  It's between twin and full size.

 Here is a wide shot.  I really love the black cornerstones.  I've never been a huge fan of sashings or cornerstones, but I really think these help sell the crochet look. 

 I quilted leafy vines in the sashings, loops in the white areas of the block, and a spiral flower in the granny square itself.  I was very happy with the quilting except for the spiral flowers.  They are not that visible so really the texture is most important on those...and they do deliver on that front.

 All American Jane fabrics from my stash or from Cindy's scrap bin.

 Here is my scottie inspiration.  He's really funny because he thinks a quilt in any stage of production is a dog bed.  I have a quilted pillow cover that he will literally fight me for.    We found out he is deathly allergic to chicken (he's like those peanut allergy kids who can't eat anything in a place that processes nuts).  We have found he does great on a prescription venison food from the vet that does not share equipment with chicken.  I really hoped to get another vacuum cleaner dog, but it was not meant to be.  Luckily for me, the kids panic if food gets on the floor because it could make the dog very sick, so the floor is getting clean (ish) just the same!  He is kind of shaggy right now.  I'm letting him keep a little extra fur til the good weather is here to stay.

 I really love this quilt and I am thankful to Lori Holt for the inspiration.

 I backed in this awesome American Jane fabric ($2.99/yard HOLLA!!).  This is the AJ fabric that was inspired by a piece of vintage fabric that fellow blogger Amy Smart gave Sandy Klop.  I have since shamelessly begged Sandy Klop for scottie dog fabric, so FINGERS CROSSED!  I have zero connections or pull, but I think she might think I'm unhinged with my AJ obsession so she might oblige me.  I can't help it...it is just so sweet and timeless.  I look at some of the designer fabric that is newer than some of these prints and it already looks dated.  Just my opinion...I'm not a fan of the very trendy.

Speaking of trendy...

I have read some blog posts about QuiltCon that, while not surprising, are disappointing.

Modern...traditional...art...who needs the labels?  In my mind, the labels we have in the quilting community have are less about defining who we are than who we AREN'T.   Why must we even define it?  Because...the world loves a box.  To me, saying you are a "modern quilter" is a roundabout way of saying "I quilt...but don't confuse me with a grandma doing a sampler in civil war repros."  Saying you are a "traditional quilter" kind of says "I do quilting the way it was meant to be done...not like those unconventional hipsters with their freeform piecing.  I just don't get having to identify your style of quilting to others.  It's divisive and it just hems us in.    I've made all kinds of quilts and even been a winner of a modern quilt guild challenge...yet I also enjoyed making this traditional great granny quilt tremendously! 

I leave you with an very traditional quilt.  A woman made this from 1/2" hexies during her daughter's nap time and it was hanging at IQF.  It was impeccably made.  It brought me to tears...literally.

If we pour that kind of craftsmanship and soul into something, that it moves a complete stranger to tears, that's the best kind of art...no matter the style.

Australian awesome...or just too much?

 Australian awesome... you know what I am talking about, right?  I'm talking about those awesome quilts that are busy & full of unexpected choices that just somehow work.  The kind of quilts you could stare at for hours. 

 The kind of quilts like you see in...

or

or even in blogland

www.redpepperquilts.com

www.quiltjane.blogspot.com

I don't know why, but these quilts seem not to have the problem I have, which is OVER editing.  You aren't going to find embellishements or funky borders or daring fabric choices in my quilts.  I think I make some nice quilts, but I would love to have that little oomph to make WOW! quilts.  I am trying to get brave.

Having said that, I found a bolt of houndstooth fabric in a shop closing for $2.50 a yard.  I bought the entire bolt.  I also got the white fabric for $3.99/yard there.  I was really just auditioning the idea of a black print and the houndstooth is all I had on hand that was a large hunk of fabric still. 



So here is where I need your help...I am really digging the houndstooth background!  I texted a pic to two friends who quilt, and the reviews were mixed.  Solid black is out, by the way...it is way too stark and overpowering.  Do I find another black print, use the houndstooth, or go with my normal safe choice of an off white?

 
 I am also branching out a little bit in fabric choices.  I got this big piece of fabric (which is really NOT 54", but is regular width) and I am not really sure what it is.  I did a flame test and the best I can come up with is linen or mercerized cotton.  I paid $2 for 4.5 yards.  I just LOVE the feel.  I also burned the individual fibers and they seem to be natural.  I think this is linen.  Thanks to Dora at Dora Quilts for the fabric test advice...she is an avid charity quilter so I knew she had come across some mystery fiber and would know what to do.

 

I am thinking of pairing it with these shot cottons (and maybe more) to make a quilt version of the sewing machine cover from Fresh Quilting by Malka Dubrawsky:

I hope to hear some opinions from you guys!  I'm trying to branch out but I wouldn't mind a little hand holding and direction!

Y not?

I don't know if the rest of you are like me, but if I am about to go on a trip and needing to pack or clean, the logical step for me is to start a brand new quilt. I was looking at my little paper pieced diamonds and thought "I wonder what this would look like if I used my accuquilt diamond die." That thought was followed by "oh, but then I'd have to learn Y seams." Since I'm in a time crunch, the only correct answer was "Y not?" 

 I made a test block (and discarded it...I use junk fabric to test).  I liked it.  I decided to use some of my 1/8 yard cuts plus American Jane bits that were almost used up...just scraps  Everything is starting to look very weird and random like quilts you see in an antique mall.  It looks like a quilt my mom might have made- just random fabrics from other projects that don't really all go together but are cool in their own right.  She might have used leftovers from clothing projects or something someone gave her.  I don't remember her ever going to a fabric store and matching up stuff for a quilt.  When she bought fabric, it was for another purpose....quilts were probably an afterthought.

I am not sure how this will look when it is all together.  I normally pick out my fabrics first instead of just grabbing the right sized scraps.  We will see!  I am thinking of black setting triangles but I might just Y seam them up together!  Lemme know if you have seen an amazing setting for hexagons!

 My youngest son loves trains and I let him play vulture with this train quilt I was making (and hating).  It had been in my "never gonna happen" pile.  He was sooooo proud of himself for all his arranging.  He even cut out extra cars for the trains.  The white squares on pale blue are ducks in a duck pond.  He is so like me...he kept coming back and surveying his work later...letting out a satisfied sigh and talking happily about how much more work he had to go.  So sweet.  I had him glue stick the pieces to the back.  Today I FMQ some of the pieces to the background (very sloppily, I might add).  My needle broke which I always take as a sign to stop the machine and go do something else.  I am really proud of him, though.  We will finish up when I get back.

just a tiny bit...

I have gotten to a standstill on my son's Mississippi State quilt...need more fabric.  Why is Kona Ash so hard to find in real life???

Looking for the Kona Ash (in Joann's) I decided to treat myself to just a *tiny* bit of DS Quilts fabrics. 

They are so pretty!  I really shouldn't buy more fabric, but I needed wanted those oranges and blues to add a little color depth to those areas of my stash.  I wish I could have bought more, but I only got 1/8 yard of everything.  Yup, $12 for all of the above.  I loved the buttery yellow and I'm a sucker for green and leaves, so the other 2 snuck into the buggy.  I just wanted a tiny bit to add in for a scrappy project...

This is inspired by this quilt.  I just kinda fell in love.  What appealed to me most was using all my scraps (and in fact, the scraps of this will go into another crumb quilt...I am WORKING this fabric).   I printed off a 1.5" diamond grid, drew extra diamonds using my quilting rulers, made copies on cardstock, and then cut the diamond papers out for the paper piecing.   To my delight and surprise, it is all fitting together perfectly.  This is a very time consuming project and I am not sure what my end game is, but it's so nice to be able to sit with my family and do a quilting project besides binding. 

If anyone knows the name of this quilt pattern, please tell me.  I am a sucker for knowing the real name of old patterns.

Have you seen this missing quilt?

I know this is a long shot, but one of my quilts has gone missing while it was not in my care and I would desperately like to be reunited with it. I poured a lot of love into this one and was planning on saving it for future grandchildren.  

 If you have seen it, please let me know.  If you have it, please contact me for my address and you can ship it back to me with postage due upon receipt..no questions asked.   I don't have facebook or twitter so if you can spread the word for me, I would very much appreciate it!!!

How about a Round Robin?

I just wanted to let everyone know (in case you wanted to join in the fun) that I will be designing a row for Patchwork Posse's Round Robin.

This year's theme is Winter Wonderland, and my creative inspiration on that theme is pretty limited.  Christmas Day is usually t-shirt weather here near Houston, Texas.  Still, I absolutely promise no palm trees or flip flop blocks to ruin your quilt if you decide to sew along.  The Round Robin posts start Monday with Jo of Jo's Country Junction. 

Have fun and let me know if you are quilting along!

One last thing...

Is it just me or is a densely quilted quilt a lot warmer?  I have finished quilting my great granny quilt and now I just need to do the binding. 

I put loops between the sashing and the printed area.  These were very fun to do.

...

I added leaves in the sashing.  I LOVE quilting leaves. 

I did a spiral rose in the center of each block.  They are kind of "iffy" but I am confident they will have a nice texture when the quilt is washed.  I'm not about perfection but I am really proud that I finally seem to understand the rhythm of free motion a little better.  I think my next quilt will be much better in regards to stitch evenness.  I had a lot of fun quilting this one up and I can see my progress.  WOOHOO!

Now which binding...  The argyle plaid or the black pinstripe?

basting & the mysteries of human behavior.

I woke up this morning and decided that today was a good day to baste this big honkin' Great Granny Square quilt.  I went upstairs to my big ironing board to have more room only to realize that my "real iron" is like a toy compared to my crafting iron. This is how you know you are a quilter for real.

This is my backing fabric...and my spray baste messy iron.

     During this time I reflected on something that happened to me this week...I got my first vitriolic comment.  It was tucked away in comment moderation because it was on an older post.  Before you console me, please know that I am completely ok!  I have read many a rant about keeping it nice on the internet and I agree that you should be a nice person.  The thing I don't get, though, is getting worked up about it.   I know a few people who are out and out rude in every day life.   I'm not talking about blunt, I'm talking completely abrasive & obnoxious.  I'm sure you know a few, too.  In real life, though, I tend to discount these people's opinions...it's just their M.O. to be miserable or bossy.   Anyone who doesn't have the grace & kindness to at least try to get along with others is not someone whose opinion means a whole lot to me...that doesn't change when they are hiding behind a computer screen.   I'm sure if you think about it, you'll feel that way, too. 

I really wanted to put this quilt  "on point" and do a black insta-border like this favorite of mine.  In the end, I had messed up on math many, many times and just could not bear the thought of even MORE MATH and even worse...MORE BLOCKS!  My awesome blog buddy (and Moda Bake Shop Superstar)  Cindy sent me scraps from an American Jane project and when I say "scraps", I mean that in the most generous sense.  I think there was a yard of the black/white alphabet that inspired me to do the cornerstones.  I will always remember Cindy's kindness when I see this quilt. 

I am going to try to get a little fancy on this quilt.  Please give me a suggestion or send me a link if you've seen one of these Great Granny Squares quilted up beautifully!

First 2013 Finish...Charming Crumby Stars!

While some may argue that an unbound quilt isn't truly a finish, I'm calling this one done. Whenever I know a lot of pointless waiting around is in my future, I stop binding quilts at home and make them my to-go project. With 3 boys starting spring baseball, I'm going to save that task for waiting around at practices.

I really love this quilt.  It is about 40"x40".  I had planned on hanging it up, but the little one that helped me with this quilt wants to sleep with it.  Either way, it's claimed and headed for a useful future.  It was so fun seeing all my scraps and I realize I must have busted through SOOO much fabric to have all these scraps.  In fact, I still probably have about a pillowcase worth of scraps, but I am going to pass those on to a friend.  I know hard core scrap quilters would cringe at this, but this friend sews for a missions endeavor so I know she will make better use of them than I will.

These are my 3 favorite stars.  I love their simplicity.  I tried something different in each star...some more successfully than others (I'm looking at you, feathered star).  The area over the prints is just stippled, and quite badly I might add.  I couldn't see where I was quilting with all the craziness going on, so hopefully this will mean nobody else can see the quilting either.  Some of the stars are made with orphan square-in-square blocks from my middle son's jewel box quilt, so those star points are a little different than the ones I made specifically for this quilt.  I don't think it matters too much.

I backed this in a thrift store find- black/white cotton gingham.  How perfect is that...and 99 cents/yard!  I had planned on using the rest of it for binding, but I couldn't find it at crunch time.  I went with plain black instead.  It's probably for the best with all the craziness in the stars.

If you like this quilt, here are 2 tutorials I used to make this quilt:

For making the crumb blocks...
To make the Charming Star block... (the main difference was that my smaller squares for the star points were 3" and not 2 7/8"...this was because it was easier on my eyes to see the grid lines at 3")

Once bound I might take real pictures instead of iphone pictures, but it's just soooo convenient.  Sorry if they are hard to see.