tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69241863594960558392024-03-13T21:27:47.437-07:00C and M Scrap QuiltsCookies and Milk quilts are inspired by the leftovers from a previous project. When new fabrics are added to a new creation, the scraps always intice one to a new design or variation of a previous one. And so it goes like Cookies and Milk.Carmen Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514200527046509243noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924186359496055839.post-34991802086525711672013-04-07T07:34:00.001-07:002013-04-07T07:34:51.434-07:00New Scrap ProjectsHow much goes on in 2-1/2-years between posts! Time truly slips away when you don't keep a visual record of the happenings. <br />
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In September of 2011 our quilt group began making placemats to be sent out with our local Meals on Wheels program. With 450 meals bring delivered on a daily basis, we'll never run out of recipients for nice home-quilted placemats. The first year we delivered over 200 mats. I have a huge pile that are pieced and ready for the finishing stitching. and a larger pile of wonderful fabrics and orphan blocks waiting for creative joining. <br />
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These are a small sample of the mats I have made. It has been enjoyable to combine prints with design and have something completed and useful in a short time.<br />
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Most recently I have been working with the Mock Log Cabin design. Our quilt group celebrates National Quilt Day with a day-long community service sew-in. I selected this design to work with as it can be made with scraps. We cut squares and triangle units in advance, and sewed and squared the triangles so we could stitch blocks at our Celebration. The divided 9-patch square can be set in all the log-cabin variations. This quilt top is one I made using reds for the center squares of each block. With a few hundred squares not yet sewn we will be making lots of these quilts!<br />
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I have many sewn triangle units and have been looking at a variety of quilt designs that use triangles like ocean waves and baskets. Will these triangles be cookies or milk? And what about leftover square? Scraps are endless! <br />
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Carmen Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514200527046509243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924186359496055839.post-30050196434588543432010-09-13T11:40:00.000-07:002010-09-13T12:51:42.171-07:00I Am Still Using ScrapsIt has been a long time since I have made a posting, but I truly have been working on my scraps.<br /><br />I had a dear quilting friend pass away almost two years ago, and I have received a great deal of her fabrics from her family. I have decided that I am a "topper" and need to work harder at the finishing part of the process. I love the creating of the multi-fabric designs. However, starting near the first of the year I have been working on sixty-degree designs, lots of string variations, and little else.<br /><br />I started working with a Moda American Jane pattern called "Pretzel." I was intrigued with the design and was very interested in it. I had hoped for an easy strip-piecing type of assembly. No, traditional y-seam assembly was required. I instantly re-sized the design as the 2-1/2-inch strips seemed large for the variation I was working on, so I cut from 2-1/4-inch strips. Then I had to change the hexagon size. I hand-pieced the first variation, then decided to hand-quilt it, too. With my deterioration of vision and agility through the past few years, the black on black quilting may not have been the best idea. From across the room it doesn't look too bad, and the stitching doesn't show much, so after adding a binding it will be ready for the wall.<br /><br />I received a box of 2-inch strips from the family of my friend, and after cutting two 6-point star variations from them I had enough red and black strips for two quilts in the Pretzel design. I made one variation that I appliqued to a background, and a second set have been appliqued to blocks.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4YlfyOTHllJzwpA6J1S23FdjBjK9uS8k7tpClEc_6NwoCqeWQYaNlUMlS7kDvspofOm_9qRfQJrwG-JbSkk1O1G9yfBoKs8KAHVQcyduqMkpBOxu17ls5dsItUUdtwbSwFGS00hCJLci5/s1600/Pretzel+Applique.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4YlfyOTHllJzwpA6J1S23FdjBjK9uS8k7tpClEc_6NwoCqeWQYaNlUMlS7kDvspofOm_9qRfQJrwG-JbSkk1O1G9yfBoKs8KAHVQcyduqMkpBOxu17ls5dsItUUdtwbSwFGS00hCJLci5/s400/Pretzel+Applique.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516476733520222370" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17cfUZ0uPc_53BaWy2T0FkvDSQ_xOK8HDcU93dsTrS2Jrcu__hPsyEBlkx_-rap73wzpVfipss_LXhR73pcjk-lL2S3b3i2i_umLyPWAjcco_iWB0Y_XMur6Q5N7TKXzC_YFGk6kseQdo/s1600/Pretzel+1.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiCQFHhReHTXGKVR5OfHVTtCwlEy6Ci_hyphenhyphenWieKOPd1ItGKLhVVmhrMIXnd9bW6b4pwjgLQZ8cT0cpiYnAcYwRnxHLcD-PYLeegwS_YYkyvWPtGZUu88mzzI2JCV3XQs8QGMga-aIn4T1gI/s1600/Pretzel+1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiCQFHhReHTXGKVR5OfHVTtCwlEy6Ci_hyphenhyphenWieKOPd1ItGKLhVVmhrMIXnd9bW6b4pwjgLQZ8cT0cpiYnAcYwRnxHLcD-PYLeegwS_YYkyvWPtGZUu88mzzI2JCV3XQs8QGMga-aIn4T1gI/s400/Pretzel+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516476043017392914" border="0" /></a>This small lap quilt is ready to be basted for the quilting.<br /><br />With another pile of the two-inch strips I cut hundreds of diamonds. I am working on two tumbling block variations, one with 9-patch blocks and one with 25-patch blocks. I have the 175 required 9-patches pieced, ready to be pieced into blocks.<br /><br />I took a large pile of the scraps that I had been given and cut 2-1/2-inch diamonds, and my quilt group started piecing a tumbling blocks variation. This top is the one that is ready for quilting:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_Q2pBJMTbIn-GxzmN95SRKPCp1Mr2kTa5Vsm7QMTeHgHorTEIqQSsfttVakLEhC3Ky2CDqfR60BvAaPb_12_cCbbOEM69M-pwzHRYNI4OljHlcoczDhBetw6xs086phpQlZLWv0QA7JA/s1600/NFQC+Tumbling+Block.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_Q2pBJMTbIn-GxzmN95SRKPCp1Mr2kTa5Vsm7QMTeHgHorTEIqQSsfttVakLEhC3Ky2CDqfR60BvAaPb_12_cCbbOEM69M-pwzHRYNI4OljHlcoczDhBetw6xs086phpQlZLWv0QA7JA/s400/NFQC+Tumbling+Block.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516480746510702546" border="0" /></a><br />I am working on 19 other quilts with the leftovers--more cookie and milk quilts. Twelve tops will be baby quilts with a stack of the blocks in the center. The other seven are variations, each one different. Am I out of diamonds? Hardly!<br /><br />I cut leftovers into strips for string variations. Longer strips are used for diagonal piecing, and short strips I stitch into spiderweb designs. These tops are ready to be basted for quilting:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHPMQ_cO3fyvjUziF3IGo2M8erMxkyhYZVaBVHjHn-1osJDMtr7JXKK5L2iiie59wPqch_9F7HOi9TvIRESaYlzzeR3q1WHFbBhaFAhrnS-IDOovBGEF0u_lsoXq4qGEE0VIvb6VIoUhE/s1600/Six-inch+diagonal.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHPMQ_cO3fyvjUziF3IGo2M8erMxkyhYZVaBVHjHn-1osJDMtr7JXKK5L2iiie59wPqch_9F7HOi9TvIRESaYlzzeR3q1WHFbBhaFAhrnS-IDOovBGEF0u_lsoXq4qGEE0VIvb6VIoUhE/s400/Six-inch+diagonal.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516484276588209858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQef3trRxZPMbx1AAaOmwOf8E9jqTPhZ2RPlVc-pCtTiJuczQG3jdcB_ieHCUW5e-RwpAeP7uPVvSROw2DQOkQuB1AY6c0wXFebvJuBhqkHCDuNPyVokIY-mhqpzIpgV0YNBsXHmfBD7LN/s1600/Sept+Diagonal.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQef3trRxZPMbx1AAaOmwOf8E9jqTPhZ2RPlVc-pCtTiJuczQG3jdcB_ieHCUW5e-RwpAeP7uPVvSROw2DQOkQuB1AY6c0wXFebvJuBhqkHCDuNPyVokIY-mhqpzIpgV0YNBsXHmfBD7LN/s400/Sept+Diagonal.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516484255294015650" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8zEvvrw_5G5E-DVsXjntyd1tOweHnSweOnTWacs-CqsxDBMfD-yrnVjOknRMKF-LiaVypkGijW2CnpkvximOhyphenhyphenqyrj8IeWEaCXJF0Phn31LCfATji4zkIu071hXWSR97hXkwxPrhe1W9/s1600/Sept.+Spiderweb.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8zEvvrw_5G5E-DVsXjntyd1tOweHnSweOnTWacs-CqsxDBMfD-yrnVjOknRMKF-LiaVypkGijW2CnpkvximOhyphenhyphenqyrj8IeWEaCXJF0Phn31LCfATji4zkIu071hXWSR97hXkwxPrhe1W9/s400/Sept.+Spiderweb.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516484240999883026" border="0" /></a>It is impossible to be out of strips. There are many more string quilts coming.<br /><br />Our quilt group has decided to use the Bonnie Hunter Pineapple Blossom for our retreat design for this year. Time to get out the ones I have in progress and cut the new ones I want to do. And from the leftovers from those quilts....Carmen Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514200527046509243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924186359496055839.post-56245451318156406512009-07-24T12:39:00.000-07:002009-07-24T12:51:55.889-07:00A Finish Again<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbcOPP8mqH1Pkhig0aC8Emj62_rq4tPQaRf4oDjQb3SKzgDoMRtluoAkeBug6uX0qSk08pmDVz6Ftqp-xt8CtYvGMu2H7zR0Ni1XF3ojNANtMwXlRtigCxkTjaRYd5ydR709Zxfg1-zTH/s1600-h/July+2009+102.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362115718202399074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbcOPP8mqH1Pkhig0aC8Emj62_rq4tPQaRf4oDjQb3SKzgDoMRtluoAkeBug6uX0qSk08pmDVz6Ftqp-xt8CtYvGMu2H7zR0Ni1XF3ojNANtMwXlRtigCxkTjaRYd5ydR709Zxfg1-zTH/s400/July+2009+102.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrTVR5SUFC8GshmpaI_wzzDs4fxtBMnmTTl76lsPegwZTRzygUzABVpW9CPo24xbHuZXetBW4kimpEFKUaHLSEMI2Te9dX8QwHIcTHkrR0spwUhV7rQQhRWsnXz15rH-9_JIVbpMhcmDg_/s1600-h/July+2009+103.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362115709985998210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrTVR5SUFC8GshmpaI_wzzDs4fxtBMnmTTl76lsPegwZTRzygUzABVpW9CPo24xbHuZXetBW4kimpEFKUaHLSEMI2Te9dX8QwHIcTHkrR0spwUhV7rQQhRWsnXz15rH-9_JIVbpMhcmDg_/s400/July+2009+103.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Dishrag Soup -- My Version</div><br /><div>For the 2005 fall retreat of New Friends Quilt Circle the commercial design called Dishrag Soup was selected for the group project. Necia Doty had previously completed two colorway variations of the design which were very appealing to the group. Although patterns were ordered from the California designer for the retreat participants, New Friends were preparing for our annual quilt fair in the following month of March and had just completed an exchange of fabrics for nine-patch units. Since the size of these unts was already determined, I decided that I would use what I had and designed the rest of the quilt to fit them.</div><br /><div>I selected fabrics that "read" as red for the churn dash part of the design, and fabrics that read as blue for the quarter-square triangle units. I selected nine-patch unts that had light corners for the centers. A single background fabric was used. Most of the print fabrics were sample fabrics purchased or donated to me. Everything, including the back, were stash fabrics. I turned the backing fabric inside out as it was a white on navy print with too-high contrast for my taste.</div><br /><div>My 12-block set made a nice large lap-size quilt with 4-ounce polyester batting being used as the filler. The quilting was done with mono-filament nylon thread on my Juki machine and red solid fabric was used for the binding.<br /></div><div>The quilt was on exhibit at our 2009 Steel Days quilt show, and following the show was ready for donation in our quilt group ongoing community service.</div></div>Carmen Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514200527046509243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924186359496055839.post-75026609557014169462009-03-20T13:06:00.000-07:002009-03-20T13:36:46.936-07:00Progress on Old ProjectIn December I got out a very old project, started years ago while teaching at a quilt shop and rescuing fabric scraps from the waste basket for scrap quilts. This Joseph's Coat began with the templates from an Oxmoor House series publication which included the plastic templates with the instructions. I used these scraps for the ovals, and began on the journey to hand-piece a quilt top. When I got my pieces out I found I had about 3 circles pieced together, and a pile of cut out shapes.<br /><br />I cut many more pieces in December and January, and then began to make units of 3 ovals with a center, mixing all of the old pieces I had cut in with the new ones so they could be scattered throughout the quilt top. It's interesting how fabric styles and colors change and how ones collection of scrap fabric differs through the years.<br /><br />This week I was finally able to finish one row of the quilt (of seven) and got it pressed. Through the years I have learned much more about seam allowance and how to get my points more sharp. I was amazed that the row lies quite flat (so far) and that I just might be able to make a success of this quilt.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315366816184495410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-NnNgl-6hkE_GCkWcOnBxcAycdYGcIz2_7_fsPwYHNrbaHjCjzieNYztkvXJUPMOw8gOHHHtFO41e8v7Z9lkg6Zktk_XLkI8emuUct-iVyIXtB_NF8HZi09HfKcC9qp9nDA3pi-CshOh/s320/March++2009+061.jpg" border="0" /><br />I have it flat so far, and for the most part the colors are working together. I have more work to do in getting sharp points, and I will gain plenty of practice as the quilt progresses. I'm very slow at the stitching, but only one can be taken at a time, so stitch by stitch, I'll continue on.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOlB3hej4QJ6umHJn4eZZRdCklp8OW6fiOjmwwuV53sHqID0FAqYulWVw6dybbkmc6a182GRuSEUB5F7oI69rONVAQl-rX9ptikkkvH1Zao72zcxQEs_2VWli3ZsDQjBKD33YYUchIAaeB/s1600-h/March++2009+062.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315366827378447490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOlB3hej4QJ6umHJn4eZZRdCklp8OW6fiOjmwwuV53sHqID0FAqYulWVw6dybbkmc6a182GRuSEUB5F7oI69rONVAQl-rX9ptikkkvH1Zao72zcxQEs_2VWli3ZsDQjBKD33YYUchIAaeB/s320/March++2009+062.jpg" border="0" /></a></Carmen Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514200527046509243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924186359496055839.post-8864185209091188092009-03-17T20:47:00.000-07:002009-03-17T20:58:04.436-07:00St. Pats DayI called my family in NH tonight to check on healing from surgery on my Son. My little Sofia told me that I had forgotten to mail them something. I asked what, and she replied I had forgotten their pillowcases. Mom. Joanna, said that nothing had been said to her. I'm glad that the children are looking forward to my pillowcase gifts, and that is the good news. My injury prevented me from stitching out the designs I had created, and that is the bad news. However, there will be a St. Pat's day next year, and that, too, is good news! Meanwhle, another holiday is coming, and I purchased the "perfect" fabric for new sets of pillowcases. They'll be welcome when mailed to NH a coming spring day!Carmen Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514200527046509243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924186359496055839.post-19238792932703466952009-03-16T04:21:00.000-07:002009-03-16T04:48:41.884-07:00March-ing AlongMy granny square odyssey is continuing, and I completed my 6th afghan last week. With a huge plastic storage tote full of completed squares, I have plenty to keep my busy as I stitch afghans together. I have purchased all the black yarn in one JoAnn Fabrics and two WalMart stores now, and it's almost time to make the rounds again.<br /><br />Winter is slowly changing to spring, but we can never tell what season it is. Just as I have been getting anxious to start digging in the dirt again I had a fall (not that unusual), but pain has kept me confined. I've been happy to have those squares near by to work on.<br /><br />A quilt celebration project has been my main focus for the last few months, and I have five new quilt tops ready to be basted and quilted. I designed a sampler with large scale blocks to feature novelty prints. A day-long public invited sew-in was successful and pictures can be seen at <a href="http://www.newfriendsquilters.blogspot.com/">www.newfriendsquilters.blogspot.com</a>.<br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0O5xXVKt93IvHH1gJk7DFijZY6tKmSZCcaPUxISgccJDWYmGEm-AEmw9a9ew2jYUpKVsfdnP_WsPiLp6-UoAPrzxsFOi8IkVl34YkPZP93txZ-MYcxB8WAd80qeVVd0xeXLtN7KEIrpa/s1600-h/March++2009+036.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313747154416069986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0O5xXVKt93IvHH1gJk7DFijZY6tKmSZCcaPUxISgccJDWYmGEm-AEmw9a9ew2jYUpKVsfdnP_WsPiLp6-UoAPrzxsFOi8IkVl34YkPZP93txZ-MYcxB8WAd80qeVVd0xeXLtN7KEIrpa/s320/March++2009+036.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgouEHJ97qknOoI2wrfvYekzhdP23WeXbzP0A0eReGkU1qwjCAzKlF-F6hRaC5W6pPoODC6HjS9z7Dw1NmlHAWyWKayRF-te6zwMhpxrLwNcz8uyZ9i_fuicIfbRwN63nq3OFYystWZPH4p/s1600-h/March++2009+037.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313747135135629458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgouEHJ97qknOoI2wrfvYekzhdP23WeXbzP0A0eReGkU1qwjCAzKlF-F6hRaC5W6pPoODC6HjS9z7Dw1NmlHAWyWKayRF-te6zwMhpxrLwNcz8uyZ9i_fuicIfbRwN63nq3OFYystWZPH4p/s320/March++2009+037.jpg" border="0" /></a> The fabrics shown in the corner will soon be used to create similar quilts. The baby to lap-size quilts are all to be donated along with others made by our quilt group.</p><p>A quilt group associate commented that she likes my idea of "cookies and milk" and is starting to cut multiples of blocks while she has the fabrics out. She has decided that two blocks made alike at the same time makes for more quilts much more quickly. She's adopting my "use it up" theory, and in the pictures (link above) she has a stack of her quilts made with sampler blocks to show the results of her work. </p><p>I look forward to warmer weather and the ability to sit at the machine again. There are quilts waiting for me! </p>Carmen Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514200527046509243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924186359496055839.post-3966620578724694842009-02-16T01:44:00.000-08:002009-02-16T02:16:09.340-08:00Is Winter Almost Over?This time of year is hard with re-occurring winter depression and nasty weather that keeps me confined, neither condition that I have any control of. Daylight lights and plenty of projects to work on keep me marginally functional during the winter months.<br /><br />My piles of pieced blocks are growing, and I have quilted 4 quilts with two more in process. A couple of days binding and I will have something to photograph.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2sBLAiHt89OhZvfjJuyfCVCWWM_ssn4rkshdwIz0dRmOGB6G3WjDQJaHKJqo4YZjnrfEVa0kKz4bzn4UaqsT2MMZr9KEEI5zaGuyzm3taKFbnDhwkB_eC2kc5hyphenhyphen9tVFAPbGubhuTQdxE/s1600-h/Jan.+2009+019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303330370442032866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2sBLAiHt89OhZvfjJuyfCVCWWM_ssn4rkshdwIz0dRmOGB6G3WjDQJaHKJqo4YZjnrfEVa0kKz4bzn4UaqsT2MMZr9KEEI5zaGuyzm3taKFbnDhwkB_eC2kc5hyphenhyphen9tVFAPbGubhuTQdxE/s320/Jan.+2009+019.jpg" border="0" /></a> I pulled out a box of granny squares I had set aside some time ago, and found that I had several variations in progress. A friend had volunteered at a thrift shop several years ago, and when incompleted crochet projects came in she would purchase them and bring them to me. Needing some hand-work to keep my hands busy in spite of my mood disorder, I started to count, and arrange.<br /><br />I hate, I mean HATE to weave in ends, and most of these squares had starting and ending yarns not worked in. That was depressing on its own! However, I spent two days and got all those ends woven in with a needle, and clipped neatly. I made 4-patches of the small blocks and bordered them. I accidently turned the top twice as I was doing the assembly, but the accidental placement looks better than how I had planned it. This oversize afghan would have been made smaller, but when I tried to take some rows out my stitching (in the black) was so good I couldn't see it well enough to take it out, so there it stays. This cuddle-couch cover-afthan is ready for donation.<br /><br />I finished one slightly smaller afghan, not yet photographed, and am in process of the 3rd, with squares ready for assembly for the 4th.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5KLzVOPqWbFyRZrYLoPxbwo70yqh8w8KeS1tRBhEQ2phRGbhvIaBL7vbnya-wdfZVnxBTruakm2rhVcKMtlsnlOmT7WagT7mMqZCVCTePGJ-zfrK4ww50tB2oIpEaKsmzrLX-7giaPoS/s1600-h/Jan.+2009+022.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303333251331640114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5KLzVOPqWbFyRZrYLoPxbwo70yqh8w8KeS1tRBhEQ2phRGbhvIaBL7vbnya-wdfZVnxBTruakm2rhVcKMtlsnlOmT7WagT7mMqZCVCTePGJ-zfrK4ww50tB2oIpEaKsmzrLX-7giaPoS/s320/Jan.+2009+022.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-6HbSyKC8aOJqwFkMnbkYZ8rZveoyiftl4hsxn4FSNjTSeX41DLS62uRkFoxSvFpncJq6WTLaOnj-mXgOiIlPGVV9qdr6BltuwwjTTAZzoaM1tQMGPhSgttA_5UPc8zuHEPvO0PUXRQz/s1600-h/Jan.+2009+023.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303333252301590930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-6HbSyKC8aOJqwFkMnbkYZ8rZveoyiftl4hsxn4FSNjTSeX41DLS62uRkFoxSvFpncJq6WTLaOnj-mXgOiIlPGVV9qdr6BltuwwjTTAZzoaM1tQMGPhSgttA_5UPc8zuHEPvO0PUXRQz/s320/Jan.+2009+023.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5ZbfMLY9Hfz3cR_O4atGfGs8H8ETdo2rL76qm6ZGKxU8XH40KISLc_7RlPPLn5KeWy9LaSaOqrSkSzL3aO68m5TJP7vEffawBl1xaFGqxoaCknG3SmpCD0pKuuNfNMjsmzUikLfgcJ5A/s1600-h/Jan.+2009+020.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303333249440706898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5ZbfMLY9Hfz3cR_O4atGfGs8H8ETdo2rL76qm6ZGKxU8XH40KISLc_7RlPPLn5KeWy9LaSaOqrSkSzL3aO68m5TJP7vEffawBl1xaFGqxoaCknG3SmpCD0pKuuNfNMjsmzUikLfgcJ5A/s320/Jan.+2009+020.jpg" border="0" /></a> My grandchildren received their Valentine pillowcases in time to use them <em>before</em> the holiday.<br />Embroidery on both sides of the pillowcase cuff challenged me for a couple of days. I'm still struggling with placement and correct stabilization and tension, but I guess little kids don't notice that so much. Another season is in the planning as spring should be here before too long!</div><div> </div><div>Although these projects are not scrap "quilts" they are start of the C&M theme--there is more yarn and squares to be used, and there are scraps of the bright print fabric waiting to be used!<br /></div>Carmen Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514200527046509243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924186359496055839.post-14833916890062691572009-01-09T10:45:00.001-08:002009-01-09T11:31:37.997-08:002009 QuiltmakingI have not posted for a bit, but I have been sewing. The 2009 Project Linus block from Quiltmaker magazine has kept me quite occupied, and I have approximately 150 blocks done. I have to do more cutting of background fabric to continue on. Pictures of my progress will be coming at a later date<br /><br /><br />I have been concentrating on stitching up pinwheels from that huge pile of trapezoids in my stash. Pictured here is the pile upon which I stitched triangles to the end. It took 5-1/2 hours to clip them all apart and press the seams, and to stack them up into sets of four pieces.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xOCVyqj01NzTle1QojOXHHmZIIfOeH5AwDQjo89IkeFy26LJnBOe-JLnvzIYtvsN9qNX5OaSg4_Cgak3oUPSIa6hzQpY4OdutvZaTXe2Ui9jWdw6do0XkqMsH8fxA0sA71sbfrHsNpSf/s1600-h/Jan.+2009+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289377902263273490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xOCVyqj01NzTle1QojOXHHmZIIfOeH5AwDQjo89IkeFy26LJnBOe-JLnvzIYtvsN9qNX5OaSg4_Cgak3oUPSIa6hzQpY4OdutvZaTXe2Ui9jWdw6do0XkqMsH8fxA0sA71sbfrHsNpSf/s320/Jan.+2009+008.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlK4y0OMVN_4tavxPvrpPZh5TFH3yE5ovxWYUevoRUBVQF7WomWkac_-XLF7E2oGvGweWcqf3xcJ3N1dBFejUBD77Tde_q59393EC221VJ7_vRjawQj5o1hJ6EODr09vWhSmk2cKebn8r/s1600-h/Jan.+2009+007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289368741895424082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlK4y0OMVN_4tavxPvrpPZh5TFH3yE5ovxWYUevoRUBVQF7WomWkac_-XLF7E2oGvGweWcqf3xcJ3N1dBFejUBD77Tde_q59393EC221VJ7_vRjawQj5o1hJ6EODr09vWhSmk2cKebn8r/s320/Jan.+2009+007.jpg" border="0" /></a> I recently was asked to teach some beginner quilters, so I nade some stiletto tools from bamboo skewers for them. I used polmer clay to make a topper, and used a wooden spool wrapped with thread for decoration. It gives just enough weight to the top for it to handle well, and keeps it from getting hidden under my fabric as I sew. Two of my favorite uses is to help me separate fabrics from a pile of cut pieces, and to help me keep my seams aligned and facing the correct direction while I sew. There is no scratching of my machine bed or damage to the machine if a needle should accidently hit it.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLyk6nWamvq3D1L8hiiIwy9ZlXQXiHaZvhXFPyOuKs3msSDNALUWVgVEFZ6ELiLPjyZx3aCXpl3zHZrvsi_8AOl3O7tLQKUQWaps1ZZTFdFLrzn4oy0lkvWEWNEBVqFvmQ0eFb6Pj2EKj/s1600-h/Jan.+2009+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289368741717622546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLyk6nWamvq3D1L8hiiIwy9ZlXQXiHaZvhXFPyOuKs3msSDNALUWVgVEFZ6ELiLPjyZx3aCXpl3zHZrvsi_8AOl3O7tLQKUQWaps1ZZTFdFLrzn4oy0lkvWEWNEBVqFvmQ0eFb6Pj2EKj/s320/Jan.+2009+009.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ5fEAHCwYf1Hx3soiTof75WD9zVQPy3til29QrRU27oJXqHXt4DEGL0vC4Evd22FmP_Ng_U4DYE9WQd2dMkItP4WnXw8m00SDgIh7vdQaTAyhCy3ST6_lp2IQxfg_sUKmSjLsMj7uoeDG/s1600-h/Jan.+2009+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289368746966743922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ5fEAHCwYf1Hx3soiTof75WD9zVQPy3til29QrRU27oJXqHXt4DEGL0vC4Evd22FmP_Ng_U4DYE9WQd2dMkItP4WnXw8m00SDgIh7vdQaTAyhCy3ST6_lp2IQxfg_sUKmSjLsMj7uoeDG/s320/Jan.+2009+011.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Z6XNu9Uy_KbRhN_CkK01NluV2JXCL-Z6ZR27cJY1ZCGtcTvrm8ji1zODpou_Z6mYNaHwWZ9epBtp2_7FuVH6UbPQfrFci1OvlYM7TACsAu-t5gR4TWkAR7UBWFATHdDip2ozn_9bEXVS/s1600-h/Jan.+2009+016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289368749247180802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Z6XNu9Uy_KbRhN_CkK01NluV2JXCL-Z6ZR27cJY1ZCGtcTvrm8ji1zODpou_Z6mYNaHwWZ9epBtp2_7FuVH6UbPQfrFci1OvlYM7TACsAu-t5gR4TWkAR7UBWFATHdDip2ozn_9bEXVS/s320/Jan.+2009+016.jpg" border="0" /></a> I have stitched up 55 blocks now, but have barely started on the pile, so there will be many more to go. Pictured below are the steps to creating a block:<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBA4_S4oVd_UCbpuXzzqkisIyuoTcuxJ1rZVCYOXhF3GvAVzLd9uNf_zUFLmNbraEnZecYSqpR7lIRf-RfqdthVJnByKPZF80RBcKEwNTreOhwUrgRT1DXKP_ZRhQUsHq8RhEmIuJJRR0/s1600-h/Jan.+2009+013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289372311937767570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBA4_S4oVd_UCbpuXzzqkisIyuoTcuxJ1rZVCYOXhF3GvAVzLd9uNf_zUFLmNbraEnZecYSqpR7lIRf-RfqdthVJnByKPZF80RBcKEwNTreOhwUrgRT1DXKP_ZRhQUsHq8RhEmIuJJRR0/s320/Jan.+2009+013.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCieks-uU3vo8IXbIydqo1t4Ge4v1lyCG2ZGMP5n6EXcTL5PgfYoFeRqkmIjhkRIgOcokitRRiLpkUlQxGHoctwwrmUUf5bUK-0zWUE207yMlCEkGepE6_T3pnMldKkLMt5WwE7yI8mUKr/s1600-h/Jan.+2009+017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289372314951266850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCieks-uU3vo8IXbIydqo1t4Ge4v1lyCG2ZGMP5n6EXcTL5PgfYoFeRqkmIjhkRIgOcokitRRiLpkUlQxGHoctwwrmUUf5bUK-0zWUE207yMlCEkGepE6_T3pnMldKkLMt5WwE7yI8mUKr/s320/Jan.+2009+017.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVr3YIusceOHglp5pfsn9JfJ2va5q5DiWp0YFUk7UEsEAaxRmMi5TsnyHK-zrfBoRWQk9HV9YpdpPvPUqQvPZb2W1nil9-XgQTI2NLYUdVW5eBhdoAhYGABO1Wuiel3ve_mGzUZBvrBK8n/s1600-h/Jan.+2009+018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289372320190471602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVr3YIusceOHglp5pfsn9JfJ2va5q5DiWp0YFUk7UEsEAaxRmMi5TsnyHK-zrfBoRWQk9HV9YpdpPvPUqQvPZb2W1nil9-XgQTI2NLYUdVW5eBhdoAhYGABO1Wuiel3ve_mGzUZBvrBK8n/s320/Jan.+2009+018.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HIzqbAnmtkd6JcgmB5y7gX3xUNGfrD8I9-7mI08P_PMWank1zi_bIlEBKbeWzxs5_lFJkX3a7BA2dBwuWhrpP59A5mW8TKEkZfS5szaoKZAtAwjhd0eHre6JyjeRmc0qJq2sZlfIZToW/s1600-h/Jan.+2009+019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289372321986258882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HIzqbAnmtkd6JcgmB5y7gX3xUNGfrD8I9-7mI08P_PMWank1zi_bIlEBKbeWzxs5_lFJkX3a7BA2dBwuWhrpP59A5mW8TKEkZfS5szaoKZAtAwjhd0eHre6JyjeRmc0qJq2sZlfIZToW/s320/Jan.+2009+019.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2DSCcu7gxJtACNZczZOGFz2DL7VK0-aSty3zlC_xf_WSk0xQvbCQ1oCBybL8fRkpfwGDlwHHrDqUyl8Q2subvFkZQCbChg23806mAzWDIaEh7_u-v-qMI_Y4tl_wQukYRUUbfX-Qyubb/s1600-h/Jan.+2009+020.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289372322784553490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2DSCcu7gxJtACNZczZOGFz2DL7VK0-aSty3zlC_xf_WSk0xQvbCQ1oCBybL8fRkpfwGDlwHHrDqUyl8Q2subvFkZQCbChg23806mAzWDIaEh7_u-v-qMI_Y4tl_wQukYRUUbfX-Qyubb/s320/Jan.+2009+020.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJhqyHBbDvIwudMDQlUM7hwoxkNYgqRBM5f6NRiWLMpLNDFWo_RWBG80a-4pkY5soHU7rRcXH4YUZvnIU5L45r99Z4lahndcJP1oGMH412sl__TgPcKsIkLg8AMKfuOkLujJ4Y-syCQD9/s1600-h/Jan.+2009+021.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289374696648082466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJhqyHBbDvIwudMDQlUM7hwoxkNYgqRBM5f6NRiWLMpLNDFWo_RWBG80a-4pkY5soHU7rRcXH4YUZvnIU5L45r99Z4lahndcJP1oGMH412sl__TgPcKsIkLg8AMKfuOkLujJ4Y-syCQD9/s320/Jan.+2009+021.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQ6bh1LLm4Vs8L2ee4uWYJjdKW2jAjVC4DiwlP-mHRS9E1VDyYDMbBdyC7wgZNyemrtTV82fYHIOszDj4H_g0ZcSa36ugKXQFN3NEST6_YMJuxKdxfJEO6UPVfWNpY5-SXZlBWzEESada/s1600-h/Jan.+2009+022.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289374729262134866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQ6bh1LLm4Vs8L2ee4uWYJjdKW2jAjVC4DiwlP-mHRS9E1VDyYDMbBdyC7wgZNyemrtTV82fYHIOszDj4H_g0ZcSa36ugKXQFN3NEST6_YMJuxKdxfJEO6UPVfWNpY5-SXZlBWzEESada/s320/Jan.+2009+022.jpg" border="0" /></a> A final pressing and the block is done. All seams were pressed to the dark. Sorry about the colors which in the last pictures got reversed--I turned the block when I stitched it and got the seam on the wrong side. It didn't matter--the block finished up the same. My blocks finish at 8-inches. I've done some sample sets with my EQ software, and believe that an on-point set looks the best. Hopefully I will soon have some nice quilt tops to share. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Carmen Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514200527046509243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924186359496055839.post-78612873715980325502008-12-15T04:56:00.000-08:002008-12-15T05:57:44.184-08:00More of those T's<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIlfoi5dCTxk56L4A1AJdAmCvoo2xs6hz_488uW54lwr-GjW6CVFZ-NwRppXTRifaxu1XEmcBDyaFtnS5W3RmagZAWIuRcZHQnihraFwFU4-yBztU6eYD32CpP9X5HlwgqBPuYUonmT5IG/s1600-h/December+2008+037.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280000492175252962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIlfoi5dCTxk56L4A1AJdAmCvoo2xs6hz_488uW54lwr-GjW6CVFZ-NwRppXTRifaxu1XEmcBDyaFtnS5W3RmagZAWIuRcZHQnihraFwFU4-yBztU6eYD32CpP9X5HlwgqBPuYUonmT5IG/s320/December+2008+037.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhOwooOM56rj5vthPQ-h4UW_2fJ8448O1M3w48QORBwASo-5rDfBy1gOVgjB3c7wy5yrEpBAHNMEqoEDXUU3cy__4La290y5bBt4e_3wcCbdcMYU0NbD1x1MOtDTi71InzN60LhLKKIxv/s1600-h/December+2008+036.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280000488392278850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhOwooOM56rj5vthPQ-h4UW_2fJ8448O1M3w48QORBwASo-5rDfBy1gOVgjB3c7wy5yrEpBAHNMEqoEDXUU3cy__4La290y5bBt4e_3wcCbdcMYU0NbD1x1MOtDTi71InzN60LhLKKIxv/s320/December+2008+036.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here are the last of the braid quilts. When photographing them a friend commented that she didn't like the bright yellows in the braids, and she said they seemed to jump out. I don't think that is the whole problem. I think the yellows are too close in value to the muslin background and they <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">disrupt</span> the design, leaving a "hole" in it. I think your eye goes there because it is drawn to the disrupted part of the design.</div><br /><div>I stitched up all the old leftovers of trapezoids that were facing one direction into picket fence blocks.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkluoZH3ivVs8XtPiexEvulrw-gE8jpzqAiGLGrEIzoHuTbB1znZsHSeb1nNjpvruwRBNKrahHdJacjPl0GjuecCT43kl4QTGLYVWGE0pnsYG9p9xGw-gEiQySEqIZMUWo4WITWHj-5AxQ/s1600-h/December+2008+019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280002217707505794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkluoZH3ivVs8XtPiexEvulrw-gE8jpzqAiGLGrEIzoHuTbB1znZsHSeb1nNjpvruwRBNKrahHdJacjPl0GjuecCT43kl4QTGLYVWGE0pnsYG9p9xGw-gEiQySEqIZMUWo4WITWHj-5AxQ/s320/December+2008+019.jpg" border="0" /></a> I have tried to use the yellows in the center section of the blocks so that I won't have the same problem with this quilt design. </div><br /><div>Part of my purpose for starting this blog was to share some of the tools and tips that help me in my scrap work. There was a real challenge in squaring up these blocks. They should be 6-1/2-inches, but I had to square up to 6-1/4-inch. When working with a block that is divided as this one is, cutting off the outside can lead to elements not matching up when stitching the blocks together. I was fortunate that the center section was just a bit smaller, too, so I used a square-up ruler which I remarked with a red permanent pen. I marked where the center <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">secition</span> of the block needed to be, and used the diagonal line on the ruler to position the ruler on the diagonal of the center of the block. To square up the second side of the block the block was turned and not the ruler. I marked where the new outside line would be so that I was not having to hunt for it when cutting the second sides of the block. <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbc8uaChFbzqqerltJ3swhhh0dQvsDAkn_PznrufXyXAHOIBaVaqNl0jQ_Kqnd5jMFQDYic9T9ODKBOW3TCQel5-XbfKlHQP6r6QT6Pj6ciF0pBshX97x_0jTr6OUdHyLOc3U3e1PFIDj3/s1600-h/December+2008+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280005404168503426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbc8uaChFbzqqerltJ3swhhh0dQvsDAkn_PznrufXyXAHOIBaVaqNl0jQ_Kqnd5jMFQDYic9T9ODKBOW3TCQel5-XbfKlHQP6r6QT6Pj6ciF0pBshX97x_0jTr6OUdHyLOc3U3e1PFIDj3/s320/December+2008+008.jpg" border="0" /></a><a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280005403161625042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfVYcU3_6seyMYSRI5-7xRemI2D6haTsFdNGFT14eJtQVddBPLwGXtcDoiSnSZlVNlf-_KBy_xmiEei31STMpKn6StZWuYrjTzATxSd-M5wTePYSySgAVfkwiO3eDQtYMq8ZuPzQS3Mm9/s320/December+2008+012.jpg" border="0" /></a> My messy pile of blocks has grown in the past few weeks until after stitching all one night (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">SADD</span> dysfunction) I decided I had enough of these blocks.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8LXRNRwVHgRwSYetOtInCNgkCmvuANOECW9h9tFhJlIFTCDMSkzollwo50k-iYCRUYkLQsdlJBiEwhszUqsEF_lKaFWDX1iK4hIEKbuIG8JlVaQCQdPFclkAA9SW0X5jKJ5D4iqaITtZd/s1600-h/December+2008+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280006773743387698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8LXRNRwVHgRwSYetOtInCNgkCmvuANOECW9h9tFhJlIFTCDMSkzollwo50k-iYCRUYkLQsdlJBiEwhszUqsEF_lKaFWDX1iK4hIEKbuIG8JlVaQCQdPFclkAA9SW0X5jKJ5D4iqaITtZd/s320/December+2008+004.jpg" border="0" /></a></div></div><br /><div>After they were all pressed and squared up I counted them--245-and here's the kicker--just enough to make 5 quilt tops with no leftovers!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQJ5gliqW3K9Teubg1CFKMj8CQkiICaM55-L2yjv_A2ZXIMxaE8Y5oXHlluTv9UuHXNtAmB5Xe2uXUs6D-aVaL8Vwpuu7LPloBI73Pj7pSeLzmyVNmkSVuJhjj0BsgN5BunfJ_zZaqjp_/s1600-h/December+2008+020.jpg"></div></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280007644016465602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQJ5gliqW3K9Teubg1CFKMj8CQkiICaM55-L2yjv_A2ZXIMxaE8Y5oXHlluTv9UuHXNtAmB5Xe2uXUs6D-aVaL8Vwpuu7LPloBI73Pj7pSeLzmyVNmkSVuJhjj0BsgN5BunfJ_zZaqjp_/s320/December+2008+020.jpg" border="0" /> I'm stitching the blocks into pairs, then <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">foursies</span>, then into sets of 3 x 4 quilt tops. Meanwhile, back at the machine...<br /><br /><br />I took a class from a noted <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">national</span> teacher who had designed a set of rulers that worked together to cut very wide strips. When students asked her if she wouldn't put out a shorter 12-inch ruler she touted that she would not as her rulers were not designed to "work that way." She later did produce this very ruler, and I have used it a great deal in my work. Rulers may be designed for one purpose, but should not be so limited as this instructor saw them. I often use rulers designed for one purpose to meet another need.<br /><br /><br />I have had to cut more trapezoids as my color selection was getting too thin and needed to add some more so that what I had cut was able to be used. I chose to use this <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">EZ</span> International ruler made to cut diamonds to make my diagonal cuts easily. I used freezer paper taped to the ruler so that the ruler could be aligned with the strips that I cut. The ruler was rotated for angle and straight cuts along the strip.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtOfDkaNgr24cOAxp7wGvkLHoq7kXx_0_ZZxiZuChZM8W_fCIvLOarWe1BcwCdBbmXYbhFBcrjET9a_m7jElKhe4EFdGYALNO7elvzwJ5c2PtGU32-hs2oTPTdD2jNTDC22WuupeGCUwU/s1600-h/December+2008+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280011204715494466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtOfDkaNgr24cOAxp7wGvkLHoq7kXx_0_ZZxiZuChZM8W_fCIvLOarWe1BcwCdBbmXYbhFBcrjET9a_m7jElKhe4EFdGYALNO7elvzwJ5c2PtGU32-hs2oTPTdD2jNTDC22WuupeGCUwU/s320/December+2008+014.jpg" border="0" /></a> Permanent pen marks are easily removed with rubbing alcohol, and paper pieces can be removed easily. There are many useful tapes available for marking, but I find they move too easily when many <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">repeated</span> cuts are required and often do not show up as well as my eyesight requires.<br /><br /></div>Carmen Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514200527046509243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924186359496055839.post-42882414503086175582008-12-08T12:41:00.000-08:002008-12-15T05:58:41.646-08:00Trapezoid FeverIn 2001 the quilt market was flooded with tin cans packaged with 2-1/2-inch strips of fabric called "worms" as a result of Debbie Caffray's book "Open a Can of Worms" featuring scrap look designs using these strips. Today it's "Jelly Rolls", but the idea is the same.<br /><br />Our quilt group had a year-long exchange of "worms" where we had a planned theme of prints or colors for each month's exchange. After a year of collection, we each had plenty of fabrics, so we started to use one of the quilts in the worm book each month for our community service project and at the same time learn the techniques for each design.<br /><br />My records show that in March of 2002 I presented the "Friendship Braid" pattern. After completing one top I set aside the pieces I cut until I uncovered the stash last month. OH MY! I had a huge shoebox full of cut pieces, both of prints and muslin for background, and a large pile of strips sewn together. Since our monthly quilt group challenge was trapezoids, I decided to accept the personal challenge and use up my stash of cut pieces.<br /><br />I discovered that I needed to piece a few more strips to have enough for three quilt tops, so piece I did. I really did not enjoy the joining of the strips or adding sashing as all of the outside edges of the strips were on the bias. I have decided that I will work with the "Picket Fence" design that I started before the pieces were put away years ago. I must have tired of the braids and the bias edge even then.<br /><br />I have completed three braid tops now, and they are ready for quilting. I think I really must stop piecing and quilt! The first top I made six years ago is not quilted, either. Although I am not done with trapezoids, I am DONE with this pattern for braids.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPEUhOE2n4XcH8mrTTJFOZNhqEFk9WXbDcfLPU98v1JbK6KHhkCCJgcmjJ9aEElyGEBKD1izF3SV6pBEoZyo93MERWwkfqLDDUDXOTKEuozNl7RH90emVcbHbn8hgptW5BultQj_wLaiW/s1600-h/Movember+2008+108.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277526638289268514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPEUhOE2n4XcH8mrTTJFOZNhqEFk9WXbDcfLPU98v1JbK6KHhkCCJgcmjJ9aEElyGEBKD1izF3SV6pBEoZyo93MERWwkfqLDDUDXOTKEuozNl7RH90emVcbHbn8hgptW5BultQj_wLaiW/s200/Movember+2008+108.jpg" border="0" /></a> I had torn yards of stripe fabric that had been donated to our group into strips of various widths due to the type of print, so had plenty of fabric to set all of the quilts. In fact, I'll have to come up with something else to use all of these strips up! But all those strings from the torn edges! My sewing area is a mess with dog ears and strings. I'll think hard before sewing hundreds of trapezoids and tearing yards of fabric again.Carmen Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514200527046509243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924186359496055839.post-1314124294277368592008-12-08T11:55:00.001-08:002008-12-08T13:28:07.561-08:00Trees Again<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WBYVhotkxtwtq_9X3CgzqTrUu6qy-aHXgsFk4J6q12dVNfG9gxJLZnG8NKfzmlDA97S3BnKuohIIoxFVo7UkkuF4UMg3Ts7FRpAC1a2jzJ2Ze-iFILZdM6K4jRQ6CtCMmfHL5CLnNmyo/s1600-h/Movember+2008+107.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277510807332735330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WBYVhotkxtwtq_9X3CgzqTrUu6qy-aHXgsFk4J6q12dVNfG9gxJLZnG8NKfzmlDA97S3BnKuohIIoxFVo7UkkuF4UMg3Ts7FRpAC1a2jzJ2Ze-iFILZdM6K4jRQ6CtCMmfHL5CLnNmyo/s320/Movember+2008+107.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here hang seven beautiful autumn tree quilts ready for quilting. As I reported in an earlier post, our group has been working with a new technique each month, and trapezoids were the challenge for October . I designed the block and wrote the instructions to go with the pattern and then started to cut for a sample quilt. Did I write "a" sample quilt?<br />The trouble is, when you get out a piece of fabric, cut out a few pieces, fold it up and put it back, the whole process has to be repeated over and over until that piece of fabric is used up. That is a huge waste of time, especially when you are wanting to use up the scraps and get nice quilts done at the same time. So, the result is the seven quilts you see here, an 8th new one now hanging, and a 9th on the way because some blocks were left over or squared up too small. The blocks are cut and will be stitched soon. <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1i9qNn20BCEkek_mGxzIobtkNPvnb8Qwz3bcgXnpIp2q2uJVdQS6ugILlLKawYgDisQGPcwQ5dVcSgdfPpBFWR1fc6CvtBKh3MO9pdzoKS5kdj9M3TV0F9ePHIlBX4JRO_lSBAUkMdRo/s1600-h/Movember+2008+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277510800329174898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1i9qNn20BCEkek_mGxzIobtkNPvnb8Qwz3bcgXnpIp2q2uJVdQS6ugILlLKawYgDisQGPcwQ5dVcSgdfPpBFWR1fc6CvtBKh3MO9pdzoKS5kdj9M3TV0F9ePHIlBX4JRO_lSBAUkMdRo/s320/Movember+2008+001.jpg" border="0" /></a><a>A photo of a tree in my front yard shows that the traditional "pine tree" shape works to represent the autumn theme by use of other colors, even though a shape that represents another type of tree was used in the quilts. It's amazing to see all the qhilts hanging in one row and view all the colors and fabrics used that one would not think of as representing "trees."<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_6jlSPFHgCxS001erlpne_Lb_t6VXYzGRv-ElDXPTNGkeMDZw-EjqSISj4XF3NUnLFQxABISnFH9vzo5ZOHBIptb4fl7RVaRAE1kXABpsp733W6R4VywzMNtS3UbqXddx_K91QWVFUcf/s1600-h/Movember+2008+086.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277514368722243186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_6jlSPFHgCxS001erlpne_Lb_t6VXYzGRv-ElDXPTNGkeMDZw-EjqSISj4XF3NUnLFQxABISnFH9vzo5ZOHBIptb4fl7RVaRAE1kXABpsp733W6R4VywzMNtS3UbqXddx_K91QWVFUcf/s200/Movember+2008+086.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277514386620618738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczaqoFjZoKDj0P6GdWNlLJKasbHiIkrXibk_ZGDFwLngFkKDgL5bg1_WqKrmV76j_7UZgKEEevRReXCzW-wtBvWgzXy7LaLH48EYc4kY6GWIwZhuBY9JufDQzjC1SL04l6_-l7ChTiedg/s200/Movember+2008+105.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQhXiqgw-1FI1rq7TAetKy9bK1Tb0P7XkkrwVKEfAxFfG2NjNIhZIJkuciPHXGx_Jhz1e8BOw4T0Yzg4gdXRmlWZOoYPjVCHvG18p8p0YZnpWdKw1kSRv9b70YMLBP8sDlHWXjgK1vprqX/s1600-h/Movember+2008+104.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277514388480621890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQhXiqgw-1FI1rq7TAetKy9bK1Tb0P7XkkrwVKEfAxFfG2NjNIhZIJkuciPHXGx_Jhz1e8BOw4T0Yzg4gdXRmlWZOoYPjVCHvG18p8p0YZnpWdKw1kSRv9b70YMLBP8sDlHWXjgK1vprqX/s200/Movember+2008+104.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1YpVKmaGItzTZm8eeI6AuAa9JR1g6WWAzh7g4wE_0_cha4xJtArx7_Ffwv3xrp88UOf4asX70NypN3RqPSMwDnaDXZvEdA6e6dq52zv8vHVMBFrLK-ORtVL8AOVXpKPCirkrHSxVVJGFg/s1600-h/Movember+2008+102.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277514377662408018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1YpVKmaGItzTZm8eeI6AuAa9JR1g6WWAzh7g4wE_0_cha4xJtArx7_Ffwv3xrp88UOf4asX70NypN3RqPSMwDnaDXZvEdA6e6dq52zv8vHVMBFrLK-ORtVL8AOVXpKPCirkrHSxVVJGFg/s200/Movember+2008+102.jpg" border="0" /></a> You will notice that not all of the trees are alike. When I started to run out of a fabric so that I did not have enough for four tiers of trapezoids, I just cut a wider top and loger trunk. The ladies in the quilt group did not notice that right away, and it was quite a surprise when they discovered the changes. They were subtle, but provide more interest in the quilt top.</div><div></div><div>I stitched up about 130 of the tree blocks during the month, and I amazed myself with what I got done. I should almost be a master at trapezoids now, but I'm not. I need to get out that "point trimmer" from my notions box to inprove accuracy.</div><div></div><div>I used donated quilt room fabrics and stash to make the tops--and it did not seem to dimish the pile at all. Why is that? </div></div></div>Carmen Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514200527046509243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924186359496055839.post-3919668775198601712008-11-22T12:44:00.000-08:002008-11-22T13:37:05.509-08:00Autumn Sewing<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIZML3x7SkpVszsErXXIo8obyzYyaop03c6ikgrpQnWMThsTU-1kR6fGgQPcADLmTT2p92QDFAe4YnMeAZ-CKK2uO3OqIy5jI8gq_FuWJifizhpfwoS_XPVgs8XqB5IxyYJ3HCMZ5rf2m/s1600-h/October+2008+158.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271587456718123650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIZML3x7SkpVszsErXXIo8obyzYyaop03c6ikgrpQnWMThsTU-1kR6fGgQPcADLmTT2p92QDFAe4YnMeAZ-CKK2uO3OqIy5jI8gq_FuWJifizhpfwoS_XPVgs8XqB5IxyYJ3HCMZ5rf2m/s400/October+2008+158.jpg" border="0" /></a> I found this delightful pre-print while shopping with a friend in a local fabric store, and just couldn't resist it. I found a piece of blue solid that matches the background, and did some outline quilting by machine. I even added a spider-web to the quilting. I bound it in a solid black. It decorated the walls in the New Friends quilt room for the fall season.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOLrt1918RkaKZTjqf7zOsckF4R4VciAAXDp_n98K8FdlnePTTRPqfianS3sl2OXMpWptwdABiNVQDn31T5bJHEAOegeUU1RY1szwS2SablCkA8UmUZgwoEQ9X7JxaVtR_wQhVyalUBjh/s1600-h/Movember+2008+040.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271587452645902338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOLrt1918RkaKZTjqf7zOsckF4R4VciAAXDp_n98K8FdlnePTTRPqfianS3sl2OXMpWptwdABiNVQDn31T5bJHEAOegeUU1RY1szwS2SablCkA8UmUZgwoEQ9X7JxaVtR_wQhVyalUBjh/s400/Movember+2008+040.jpg" border="0" /></a> A few years ago I learned of the "Picket Fence" at a guild meeting in Provo, Utah. I was just learning to use my quilt software and started playing with value shadings. When I came upon this shading, I saw dancing monsters and "had" to create one. The orange I had just purchased because I liked it, the yellow and black were leftovers from something else. As the design "came to life" I added buttons for eyes. I hung the completed piece in our group quilt room and had the ladies suggest names for the quilt. We had a vote of the group of my favorite names. I didn't make the label, so I don't remember the selected name, but one of my favorites was "Mrs. Arachnids Garden Party." Fortunately, in my files are the ballots and the chosen name, so I can still label the quilt properly. It is fun to get it out at holiday time. It is a quilt that is never missed visually.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8O9NG3JemJN8ZOxtbjU9Er36QhZDw1IRMNQUzkaf9Uc6ux1WTnZACmdi8N-xCGl71bvRR-qdQtpgfOIT7DkBs7x2nOzXKdfK88dqTfr-3EzodkvJ9W9885kS4N4z0Tz11fzJocJ6jJx0O/s1600-h/October+2008+150.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271587444452135586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8O9NG3JemJN8ZOxtbjU9Er36QhZDw1IRMNQUzkaf9Uc6ux1WTnZACmdi8N-xCGl71bvRR-qdQtpgfOIT7DkBs7x2nOzXKdfK88dqTfr-3EzodkvJ9W9885kS4N4z0Tz11fzJocJ6jJx0O/s400/October+2008+150.jpg" border="0" /></a> The scarecrow is another "cheater" that I loved. I have been a "crow" collector, and this print was appealing because it can be used all fall season. I did a quick-turn of the backing, front and batt, and then hand-stitched down the backing and batting all around the edge so that the backing would not roll to the right side. I did some outline quilting with monofilament on the top. I forgot to change the bobbin thread, so it has crayon-colored variegated thread on the back--not that it matters at all. Tubes on the back hold dowels that will keep the head upright and the arms extended. I was rather pleased that I got both of the pre-prints completed in-season this year!</div><div></div><div></div><div>The small pumpkin wall hanging is a design that was taken from an instruction book a few years ago; a project that was presented as a quilt group workshop. I had the top finished except the border for a couple of years before it was finished . I have another waiting for border and completion that I made at the same time. I guess I need a recipient and a deadline to get going on the completion. </div><div></div><div></div><div>I will take them all down on Tuesday, as it will be the last group meeting for this calendar year. It's time to go through the quilt collection and find something to hang up to start the new year. The theme for our instruction this coming year is "Everything Old is New Again" so maybe this is time for some of my old uglies?<br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div>Carmen Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514200527046509243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924186359496055839.post-28199348994291848302008-11-13T20:02:00.000-08:002008-11-13T20:13:48.227-08:00TreesI have not blogged for a couple of weeks, but I have been sewing. Although I do not have pictures to share today, I have stitched up over 100 tree blocks, and have the first lap-zize quilt sewn. Several members of our quilt group have also sewn up blocks, so at the end of the month we will be setting several quilt tops.<br /><br />I got out a box of Pioneer Braid strips that have been paired and pinned ready for stitching. The pattern was from "Open a Can of Worms", and trapezoid pieces were cut for it. I've sewn all the braids I want to do--after these strips are sewn into a quilt top--and so I was playing around with the "picket fence" design. I have at least a shoe box full of cut shapes. I've been stitching them together while waiting for some machine embroidery to be completed. I have two machines front to front, so I can turn in my office chair from one machine to another. My main problem is focus on the task at hand when moving from one machine to another. Older brains do not function so well at changing gears!<br /><br />I'm getting better at getting the trapezoid ends aligned correctly so the opened pieces lie straight and flat. After all of these pieces for the trees and the picket fence blocks, I should be well experienced in this technique!Carmen Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514200527046509243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924186359496055839.post-42344034636399659472008-10-30T08:41:00.000-07:002008-10-30T08:57:15.620-07:00Autumn Trees<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8PBcdFANbAE-VJicUVtBT9IYEUDBoAXmo_HLs8TnrQbpSKjjKcllLpGsKO-EgnBcP8IRMpjqbM7pGm34Ru3y9rJxPKQfmW0iyWcHdbhxWnWxEognzciCa4W0nB3IjVKj9WZCJWpLsz36-/s1600-h/October+2008+153.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262974893900688114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8PBcdFANbAE-VJicUVtBT9IYEUDBoAXmo_HLs8TnrQbpSKjjKcllLpGsKO-EgnBcP8IRMpjqbM7pGm34Ru3y9rJxPKQfmW0iyWcHdbhxWnWxEognzciCa4W0nB3IjVKj9WZCJWpLsz36-/s400/October+2008+153.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Our quilt group is woking on mastering trapezoids this month for our technique challenge. Sometimes no matter how hard you prepare, things just go wrong. I made a nice instruction page and used my quilt software for the tree block so we could measure seam allowance requirements to understand better how to use them. I used my home computer for the master, but somehow my print settings were off, and the design was innaccurate. I found myself looking into 20 confused faces which was very disturbing. </div><br /><div></div><div>I chose to use our community service day to try to undo the confusion and so cut 126 tree blocks (15 pieces in each block) so that we could stitch them up together to master these trapezoids. Well, wouldn't you know it, I shorted each block by 2 background pieces, so had to rob from some kits to give enough pieces for others. It took another whole day just to get the correct number of pieces back into the kits. Since I had used quilt-room donated fabrics there just was not more background fabric to be cut for some of them.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>We got a good start at our monthly community service day, and quite a few blocks went home with members to be completed. With a corrected copy of the pattern and with better cutting and stitching instruction, hopefully this project will lead to at least 5 more lap-sized quilts for donation.</div><div> </div><div>Oh, just a C&M note, the ends of the strips where the 45-degree cuts were made for the tree trapezoids? They are being sewn up to make triangle units that will finish at 1-12-inches. Now just how can I use all of these autumn-color triangle units?</div>Carmen Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514200527046509243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924186359496055839.post-12601556243605092732008-10-30T08:12:00.000-07:002008-10-30T08:41:05.159-07:00Creative Surge, Cont.<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vUYHE2pv5lDh5UgvFi_yVcxTiO74HnDpEYehmyJy1huoUpVYV-kdp_ykKjEorVOAZ6DyJRPyAdhDDHK8qaULKe3N360Bf_rHX9DCVPiwPlfm1sH2rOuXsbDpsYgpkRB4j9tqQjprzh_G/s1600-h/October+2008+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262966271245590162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vUYHE2pv5lDh5UgvFi_yVcxTiO74HnDpEYehmyJy1huoUpVYV-kdp_ykKjEorVOAZ6DyJRPyAdhDDHK8qaULKe3N360Bf_rHX9DCVPiwPlfm1sH2rOuXsbDpsYgpkRB4j9tqQjprzh_G/s400/October+2008+005.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7gtn0wo50kCNGAwJFI2E8yn8RaxwXbpkW5IXsFkedPVqS8uPs-pkp1tkFDBIbbwKA6bl7EypMXXvq6jIM4vqDnTvS0pxt7123ICBZLQeZzWPUjjn3agFHirAkR8xcIV9iVFWnvjdU5m5-/s1600-h/October+2008+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262966259167932482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7gtn0wo50kCNGAwJFI2E8yn8RaxwXbpkW5IXsFkedPVqS8uPs-pkp1tkFDBIbbwKA6bl7EypMXXvq6jIM4vqDnTvS0pxt7123ICBZLQeZzWPUjjn3agFHirAkR8xcIV9iVFWnvjdU5m5-/s400/October+2008+004.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here is the second chicken bag, front and back. Inside are several pockets made with the navy lining fabric. I've decided that contrast fabric pockets would be better as it is easier to find them when looking inside the bag. Bag #1 is now in Texas with it's new owner, and this one is hanging near my recliner for whatever purpose meets my fancy.</div></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ljHSWo6lQMvq1Q836tB84dm7A6IwVucNXnjZAlaT6QMDquCHuUEk5PPruf3XFD0Pc42UFVDS2t9KXhGdqf1ZCyZ45qR2K69KXXJZjLENkTx2GuC1e2cpCSDJBWfYpcIXPSXe5_Jg8G0i/s1600-h/September+2008+320.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262967562276801810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ljHSWo6lQMvq1Q836tB84dm7A6IwVucNXnjZAlaT6QMDquCHuUEk5PPruf3XFD0Pc42UFVDS2t9KXhGdqf1ZCyZ45qR2K69KXXJZjLENkTx2GuC1e2cpCSDJBWfYpcIXPSXe5_Jg8G0i/s320/September+2008+320.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIk4jYRPvAuIm9EICidGlq0ipr2PResA6fwb6NsgwcL65vFADDnGoreQmDopzF0XwbdHeJ1NEpQnirskALwupP8P4hPGx-pIWWmaOmWwLIHAjq1CnZR2T92ZvMx79K_-G9k9IODgdp0bVS/s1600-h/September+2008+322.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262967558356757378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIk4jYRPvAuIm9EICidGlq0ipr2PResA6fwb6NsgwcL65vFADDnGoreQmDopzF0XwbdHeJ1NEpQnirskALwupP8P4hPGx-pIWWmaOmWwLIHAjq1CnZR2T92ZvMx79K_-G9k9IODgdp0bVS/s320/September+2008+322.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqqcRBXK2EaW73um1bysS7Fx4VxpYlktB4FRcK60VP3kQnBWZWARPNYtvHsikqO3He0z4GhrWalaj6KlqFprgThUug-j2uZYpHNaxdQvHPFLg8qGxPziohF1ZJ8EAY86R8W-oJPy0rzgpO/s1600-h/September+2008+314.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262967547243515202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqqcRBXK2EaW73um1bysS7Fx4VxpYlktB4FRcK60VP3kQnBWZWARPNYtvHsikqO3He0z4GhrWalaj6KlqFprgThUug-j2uZYpHNaxdQvHPFLg8qGxPziohF1ZJ8EAY86R8W-oJPy0rzgpO/s320/September+2008+314.jpg" border="0" /></a> Fleece hats for my grandsons with flashing pumpkins fastened to the brims, a fleece jacket for my granddaughter with a scarecrow applique and slashed edges all around, and Halloween pillowcases made their way to New Hampshire to be enjoyed this holiday season. The jacket was a little snug in the sleeves, but the mom has been advised to cut out the sleeves, do a stay-stitch like was done around the jacket edges, and slashing to finish the edge and she will have a vest to enjoy another year. The granddaughter wore the jacket to have her school pictures taken in, so we'll enjoy this vest for a long time.</div><div> </div><div>I have to admit that these projects all came out of "scraps" starting with the scarecrow applique that was from a pre-print leftover, and the fleece was given to me by a friend. The printed squares of the border of the pillowcases was given to me, as well as the yellow for the small accent strip. I always find that when working with scrap, you usually "get to shop" to get something to go with them. The black print and the orange and purple stripe were my purchases.<br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Carmen Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514200527046509243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924186359496055839.post-28171870364764985012008-10-16T21:39:00.001-07:002008-10-30T08:12:44.190-07:00Creative Surge<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6bVAZqIH_eVRxuMEmOWALC2mdJux5uydz6YtmVxcjnctusHE5ca3qmSqg1XUq9BjC5IgK2AXI8jh6tGrvmsBtPpjCjn3Njr1OM65wm0UKd5wC5NECOWeZG6t0skZihsMfrNj7sNkPcu4s/s1600-h/September+2008+310.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257987107581272738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6bVAZqIH_eVRxuMEmOWALC2mdJux5uydz6YtmVxcjnctusHE5ca3qmSqg1XUq9BjC5IgK2AXI8jh6tGrvmsBtPpjCjn3Njr1OM65wm0UKd5wC5NECOWeZG6t0skZihsMfrNj7sNkPcu4s/s320/September+2008+310.jpg" border="0" /></a>This weekend I was feeling a wee bit creative. I had found a piece of chicken print fabric that seemed perfect for a pieced bag. I don't know where it came from--one of those common donations of scrap that I receive, I guess. The print was just right for cutting between the chickens on the border print to make the whole outside of one bag and the front for a second. I had purchased a fat quarter selection at a Jo-Ann Fabric's sale a few months ago because the stripe and prints in the package were perfect for a pieced bag, especially the stripe for a top. I was delighted that the two fabrics paired together so well. <div><div><div><br /><div>While I semi-watched the series re-run of Project Runway I started developing the ideas for how to assemble this purse. Working with a pattern is sometimes frustrating, but when you are designing and stitching and making up everything as you go along, the process can become very complex. For instance, I forgot to stitch handles into the bag top as I added the stripe. Okey, I guess it will be a shoulder bag instead of a hand bag, and so then I had to hunt up the D-rings I had in the supply drawers--somewhere--and had to figure out how to attach them so as not to ruin the nice top trim. The handles had to be made to fit the D-tings as both sets were slightly different in size. I used batting trimmings from a friend (leftovers from a commercially quilted quilt that were just too large to throw away) in the handles, and I should have used more in the bag and trim . Lining and pockets were another creative decision and I used the leftovers from my grandson's quilt I made earlier in the summer. Then since I only had half a bag of the chicken print I had to decide how to back the bag, and how to do a pocket, or pockets on the outside as well as the inside. Then how far do I box in the bottom to make the purse bottom and sides. </div><br /><div>Fitting in my C&M concept, I have about a 10-inch square of the back, lining and handle fabric, and a 2-inch strip of the stripe fabric left following my creative surge. It seems to me they about evened out with this project!</div><br /><div>I'll have to post pictures of the second bag later. The camera has been used too much this week and the battery has to be charged. In the meantime, know that the bag will be visiting in Texas with my friend, Cathie, who used it today while driving me to funeral services. I have to admit it looked pretty nifty, and presently holds some holiday redwork so it will serve a useful purpose!</div><div></div><div>I also worked with some fleece and pre-print scraps during this surge, but will post about them later as the package has not been received by the intended "victims" so will post after they receive it.</div></div></div></div>Carmen Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514200527046509243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924186359496055839.post-23917649056407041892008-10-08T15:29:00.000-07:002008-10-08T16:17:41.642-07:00Perfume on a Pig<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2tUa-2ziTwgan1Pn35SR54GQmU2eusQaKthPWK93BxlxTVuJYgiakbkN_tawXS-dcEDYHCIlKeuAjg-eFvMfrT0ElDcQxh0KvXS2lLESovHmdeDBphuZyvTIiWdUDdP3N8EFCXFG4WGCd/s1600-h/September+2008+036.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254915427100457890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2tUa-2ziTwgan1Pn35SR54GQmU2eusQaKthPWK93BxlxTVuJYgiakbkN_tawXS-dcEDYHCIlKeuAjg-eFvMfrT0ElDcQxh0KvXS2lLESovHmdeDBphuZyvTIiWdUDdP3N8EFCXFG4WGCd/s200/September+2008+036.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-RHO7oF_ViwlVMb8OluPJe1-n4l-4ALKbHqoBe18OXmW5Apu3nXh_eGq3INCpG_cuialCAYL6enBikQjbzpmH9qmwOZa3TWXBsPcjsQiua2VTWzOtFPbC_nKHMLohGYoMWpRyV8lboKyp/s1600-h/September+2008+037.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254915427577516594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-RHO7oF_ViwlVMb8OluPJe1-n4l-4ALKbHqoBe18OXmW5Apu3nXh_eGq3INCpG_cuialCAYL6enBikQjbzpmH9qmwOZa3TWXBsPcjsQiua2VTWzOtFPbC_nKHMLohGYoMWpRyV8lboKyp/s200/September+2008+037.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha13SyhPZFmM0xkUaXtxqpxh-jAAeErUR99nId1l9u902j9Gj67a2hw9iMZI8suK3DwvSTuvrQ_xgD9zZLhJD6HugMTV29SjBC8SYwEPtcT4JtNVidtHDSH9PesUPlojrh4tJUNg5x4ZxF/s1600-h/September+2008+040.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254915430510178066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha13SyhPZFmM0xkUaXtxqpxh-jAAeErUR99nId1l9u902j9Gj67a2hw9iMZI8suK3DwvSTuvrQ_xgD9zZLhJD6HugMTV29SjBC8SYwEPtcT4JtNVidtHDSH9PesUPlojrh4tJUNg5x4ZxF/s200/September+2008+040.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3tVjhTdcZ5cEURNnHUDcy2uJGN7EnuuGQy9RCnq0LnDyW0XVi1zZDdvfxfwjADIn-gFTlqJC7Fv-p-FQInCF5wl26OeXEgAJeOfVTRA33MvTFCXZCcfGOMai_N5Avk2T6Fxx-AfZIrz0/s1600-h/September+2008+041.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254915432631902514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3tVjhTdcZ5cEURNnHUDcy2uJGN7EnuuGQy9RCnq0LnDyW0XVi1zZDdvfxfwjADIn-gFTlqJC7Fv-p-FQInCF5wl26OeXEgAJeOfVTRA33MvTFCXZCcfGOMai_N5Avk2T6Fxx-AfZIrz0/s200/September+2008+041.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here are versions two and three of the rail fence using the muslin strips as the center. These would make great lap quilts for hospitalized teenagers or pre-teens, as the muslin centers would be the perfect place for signatures and best wishes thoughts. Although each are set alike, the prints differ depending upon which scrap fabrics were being added to the stash as the quilt stitching progressed. The last version has many more reds--I think I was running low on other colors.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3xZLkoV6YfGNwrgm7rTC83TOdGnZd8232LESITx2XFeDy580VH6TiAp7m5Mkmtf1f6NtAq86BqMx1O0hdsOP7jwhpNiCUrO5Saq5qinAPSAOunHTx_S3fatP2IsT-JuqjBaBdMoWMuX-/s1600-h/September+2008+025.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254917529955475058" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3xZLkoV6YfGNwrgm7rTC83TOdGnZd8232LESITx2XFeDy580VH6TiAp7m5Mkmtf1f6NtAq86BqMx1O0hdsOP7jwhpNiCUrO5Saq5qinAPSAOunHTx_S3fatP2IsT-JuqjBaBdMoWMuX-/s200/September+2008+025.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXtRp2PeEHbf9nJimZRsHeks9c4dyPrQG2heeKdqSpppMBu_ajQp6Q_YsHvVXfTg0jTe3TLiVw5yjJLdU7GZVO7UKHCnenq6HJiR_NiZTupyouteAd7IC9OgJ1bb8YV4tjPc5XWowthX2k/s1600-h/September+2008+029.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254917529540964354" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXtRp2PeEHbf9nJimZRsHeks9c4dyPrQG2heeKdqSpppMBu_ajQp6Q_YsHvVXfTg0jTe3TLiVw5yjJLdU7GZVO7UKHCnenq6HJiR_NiZTupyouteAd7IC9OgJ1bb8YV4tjPc5XWowthX2k/s200/September+2008+029.jpg" border="0" /></a>These quilts were made from a more calico-type print that was rescued from scrap contributed from unknown sources and from a box falling from the garage because of a borken door. A friend took one look at the relative "ugliness" of the quilt in comparison to the other versions and wanted to know why I had chosen the blue print as setting fabric. Well, it's because I cut it for the former variation, found it not suitable and took out what I had sewn. I used it for these quilts because it was already cut--you know, I had cookies and milk. </div><br /><div>After completing the "grandma style" top I decided to perfume the pig and add some Grandmother's Flower Garden hexagon motifs I had on hand, adding a vine and leaves for good measure. Yes, Jo, I did it all by hand! Beauty is always in the eye of the beholder. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>There is quite a bit of distortion in the top so this quilt may have to be tacked instead of quilted. I'll know better when I lay it out to baste it.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTRL0yLab0jxlFiAF_-uRu2waf6H7e2vRJURmcxZ86DfzaGNxBoIr4A5h_J_PaAV4p3bg7oECT7gvcHKPJb8yeCygJKQELPV3eNuwaLyd_5LDtA8kLLvbJ3RDulvEow-A4441fWa__aDJ/s1600-h/September+2008+Dark+blue+center.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254920072736472674" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTRL0yLab0jxlFiAF_-uRu2waf6H7e2vRJURmcxZ86DfzaGNxBoIr4A5h_J_PaAV4p3bg7oECT7gvcHKPJb8yeCygJKQELPV3eNuwaLyd_5LDtA8kLLvbJ3RDulvEow-A4441fWa__aDJ/s200/September+2008+Dark+blue+center.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHH9XUqQPcSg8bEB3ikTmKjR1XG7ryilPJo-aIf5KsJ2n_BYUZY_vG07w-KyVenA78qlemiTyRrywyIBp7q2c4_EK3di-tQzs68VxukQ8glQkH9RGn0UKhJmyKMQwluk2h9Tr4KGf3Ko-/s1600-h/Dark+blue+close+up+2008+035.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254920069752930658" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHH9XUqQPcSg8bEB3ikTmKjR1XG7ryilPJo-aIf5KsJ2n_BYUZY_vG07w-KyVenA78qlemiTyRrywyIBp7q2c4_EK3di-tQzs68VxukQ8glQkH9RGn0UKhJmyKMQwluk2h9Tr4KGf3Ko-/s200/Dark+blue+close+up+2008+035.jpg" border="0" /></a> This version is made with the same background, but the center of each block is the same print calico in a dark value. The eye rests more easily in this version with the repetition of the same fabric. I decided this needed no "perfume" so it will be finished just as it is now.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><br /><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQ5d6a9TYdrfIAW6vVT-x2YSxlf3MhsM_nxldYioqTBMh4tGwyqhfrzAgIK6y3JSxZJYU523Z2EhkvSnFKzvKJBF_dJvV1d_gHX5_eStkAVfm6X9E_X4HXgK5WwkIFN0z1qIz0GLnxanr/s1600-h/September+2008+032.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254921565014875394" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQ5d6a9TYdrfIAW6vVT-x2YSxlf3MhsM_nxldYioqTBMh4tGwyqhfrzAgIK6y3JSxZJYU523Z2EhkvSnFKzvKJBF_dJvV1d_gHX5_eStkAVfm6X9E_X4HXgK5WwkIFN0z1qIz0GLnxanr/s200/September+2008+032.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p>This final version uses the same 2 x 5-inch strips, but uses a partial seam technique to add the strips around a square. The blocks finish the same size of the rail fence, and when I show them side-by-side, observers puzzle over what is different. The center is a 3-1/2-inch square. The same selection of strips was used to make this quilt as the first rail fence quilts. The surrounding black setting and border give it a bright dramatic look. </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The box is still full of these 2 x 5-inch pieces as I seem to be adding to them all of the time. I'm thinking that a Pioneer Braid would be another fun design to use with the accummulated strips. Now let's see--do I have cookies or milk?</p><p> </p>Carmen Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514200527046509243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924186359496055839.post-89947182315242907132008-09-29T14:15:00.000-07:002008-09-29T14:58:39.505-07:00A Finish, At Last<div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnAHaMjGEFL4oWI7IiffllUfOy1A9gIn2LaSvbNsASpy7a1bHLszip6W7wetf0NejjyfVlLs-UIeXfeQ7vbXbQYAvUZFO4ywZI3l7cYiXwQfLddEx23jzkInoEa-LKWt2iVA9rKv18yBBL/s1600-h/September+2008+015.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251555955921505138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnAHaMjGEFL4oWI7IiffllUfOy1A9gIn2LaSvbNsASpy7a1bHLszip6W7wetf0NejjyfVlLs-UIeXfeQ7vbXbQYAvUZFO4ywZI3l7cYiXwQfLddEx23jzkInoEa-LKWt2iVA9rKv18yBBL/s320/September+2008+015.jpg" border="0" /></a> I completed this mock barjello this weekend. Choosing how to quilt this design was a challenge for me, as I don't follow markings at all well, but stitching just the columns of piecing just was not enough. I decided to so some diagonal stitching to emphasize the design, which got the quilting close enough together to wear well and it didn't have to be marked. It is about 32 x 44" in size.<br /></div><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJUSEJFV7bfF_6_pHhL-mC-aD5Payk7rJov0_rJor3mgrMJp_AD-35pHF7BLxVn9Q18KWVjiByNPMdIfi2ftY03rcIZVRhA7xu7wbzbJRplvcIGHgbSMxj8AXUCbo7GX3EO8YOd2VRLmj/s1600-h/September+2008+016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251557500483632962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJUSEJFV7bfF_6_pHhL-mC-aD5Payk7rJov0_rJor3mgrMJp_AD-35pHF7BLxVn9Q18KWVjiByNPMdIfi2ftY03rcIZVRhA7xu7wbzbJRplvcIGHgbSMxj8AXUCbo7GX3EO8YOd2VRLmj/s320/September+2008+016.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8sPAUQyi9k7K3OQYwNa6DrdVq-TMQt7Bflgtu0IVDkk4Lst11srP0eAyN5kTDXgLHBhmHMlKVf4FgfUYui-n1BlidiSAmnW8W7Aj-n6P3EcZqHGQNZwI2opJZyWJz00Bzjh_BaYhuxpC/s1600-h/September+2008+020.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251557506835056050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8sPAUQyi9k7K3OQYwNa6DrdVq-TMQt7Bflgtu0IVDkk4Lst11srP0eAyN5kTDXgLHBhmHMlKVf4FgfUYui-n1BlidiSAmnW8W7Aj-n6P3EcZqHGQNZwI2opJZyWJz00Bzjh_BaYhuxpC/s320/September+2008+020.jpg" border="0" /></a> This little quilt was made of a strip of a pre-print and some blue print, both donated to our quilt group. I had 8 squares, so made the last one by sewing two end strips together. I had a lot of distortion in my top, so did some fre-motion quilting after outlining the central shapes, and then bound it in the matching print. This quilt finished at slightly under 30-inches, just right for the NICU where it will be donated. With a dot print flannel back it will be soft and cozy.</div><br /><div>I was the recipient of a box of carefully hand cut 3-inch squares and some strip sets started by an 90-year plus dear woman who was dedicated to humanitarian service. Her sister gave me the pieces, and I tried to complete a project that was worthy of all her careful cutting, piecing and pressing. I completed this quilt top by piecing a few more strip sets to complete the design. The top is now ready for basting and the future machine quilting.<br /><div> </div></div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEmxE_NsCo7mvKRx1e3YKNxbzlgZ_VPaWOHmpQMbLdI2ENppNSlDchRvdmdjnUq5PGsUuvBLU4r7B1Z9US-R1ztA0UuAbSPlzhganCZouZziDeTPYRoi7Gu-4JV6Dm4NMpo4zBVx9HEw4/s1600-h/September+2008+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251560832584337090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEmxE_NsCo7mvKRx1e3YKNxbzlgZ_VPaWOHmpQMbLdI2ENppNSlDchRvdmdjnUq5PGsUuvBLU4r7B1Z9US-R1ztA0UuAbSPlzhganCZouZziDeTPYRoi7Gu-4JV6Dm4NMpo4zBVx9HEw4/s320/September+2008+012.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheOoLA__c8xH05QVzMt_gTX0-J0TOlg53O_U7jG9OWRBF18znzVt11hHC1oPxdkGixQEJSrAjpex9JZz15nFlCp-lHv5e8-03M7GEpcA2_WDroFSriKMdfP57rLm9OWg3eMbdrWoauewPT/s1600-h/September+2008+013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251560836630348242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheOoLA__c8xH05QVzMt_gTX0-J0TOlg53O_U7jG9OWRBF18znzVt11hHC1oPxdkGixQEJSrAjpex9JZz15nFlCp-lHv5e8-03M7GEpcA2_WDroFSriKMdfP57rLm9OWg3eMbdrWoauewPT/s320/September+2008+013.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><p>In our area we once had several clothing factories and their cutaway fabric was sold in outlet stores. I believe these pieces came from JoLene Co., or Mini World. They are mostly light-weight poly blends, so require careful handeling. </p><p>As is almost always the case, there were pieces left over, so in Cookies and Milk style, I created two more 30-inch square baby quilt tops. I'm starting to get frightened now, because at the end there was only 1 piece of the red dotted print left! This is the 3rd time in 3 months this has happened. But I didn't let it go to my head. I started a 4th quilt with the leftovers, ran short of 2 pieces, so far, but used a close substitute, and need to go to my stash now for another two reds to complete this top. I found some red dot factory scrap from JoLene Co. in the quilt room today, so need just a few squares of red to finish up. I'n sure I will find something without leaving too many leftovers that will require a 5th quilt!</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7gfEgWLTcRy-JTJxts8Hn58EpMmLq5CykSGtcqt-X8iDeG9KWQhpq6P2FYuODkYjp-QyxXr47s-1Xo0MDim418k9o5bWKGmK1mjHvml51NPFTc7-uPtQhB1ykPBthwJUkSOt3utg9ocW/s1600-h/September+2008+021.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251563575398191394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7gfEgWLTcRy-JTJxts8Hn58EpMmLq5CykSGtcqt-X8iDeG9KWQhpq6P2FYuODkYjp-QyxXr47s-1Xo0MDim418k9o5bWKGmK1mjHvml51NPFTc7-uPtQhB1ykPBthwJUkSOt3utg9ocW/s320/September+2008+021.jpg" border="0" /></a> From a distance the quilt looks like a checkerboard, but close up you can see diagonal rows of prints in the piecing. I will use the red dot from the quilt room for binding as it is in 45" strips and the same weight as fabric used in the quilt, even if it is not an exact match. Now, even though I have completed two projects, I have worked myself into four more--and that does not count the rail fence variations which I will post about another day. I'm told"It will all come out in the quilting."Carmen Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514200527046509243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924186359496055839.post-80420967710012643512008-09-16T06:04:00.000-07:002008-09-16T06:34:11.898-07:00Try AgainA friend suggested that my description of how I prepared my freezer bags for the sorting and short-term storage of squares as I cut my scrap fabric was not very clear. I'll try to give better illustrations this time.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgka-G0iLhe2S-pl3VVeZusYoGEgQs226bttjTyfcoLwvZ44hEdmpfyNdRpa37bcBKRj6wQjEpkRIPaSbrKGdo01cqt7TfnHHcqebFHOdFhGjY_mVbKKIgZ5btIg06oiCApsOFVHf9aNtwt/s1600-h/September+2008+055.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246606007620239778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgka-G0iLhe2S-pl3VVeZusYoGEgQs226bttjTyfcoLwvZ44hEdmpfyNdRpa37bcBKRj6wQjEpkRIPaSbrKGdo01cqt7TfnHHcqebFHOdFhGjY_mVbKKIgZ5btIg06oiCApsOFVHf9aNtwt/s320/September+2008+055.jpg" border="0" /></a> When I stitch two bags together, the top edge of the front bag is placed directly below the zipper seal of the back bag, and then I stitch the two together. This staggers the bags slightly, and leaves the zipper area of both bags clear so they can be sealed shut if necessary.<br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWG3pgk6O5HIoVWhtseviHstBS-OH6SipfFpzslo_5ZfVK97exdtGnu4XYVLcVB_ENZf0sOivczIjWKUGXZVvQsT3-Y0wNCX5oPh365jMcUu7ZB6SFKYgXMiF4Ayr6qHL72001rqgo8nD/s1600-h/September+2008+060.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246606992525213154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWG3pgk6O5HIoVWhtseviHstBS-OH6SipfFpzslo_5ZfVK97exdtGnu4XYVLcVB_ENZf0sOivczIjWKUGXZVvQsT3-Y0wNCX5oPh365jMcUu7ZB6SFKYgXMiF4Ayr6qHL72001rqgo8nD/s320/September+2008+060.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here several bags are joined together, each in the same manner. I only do a few together, 4-5 at the most, doing several sets to accommodate the number of sizes of squares and values I sort <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivCxlQyQIVMogPHfvAcUKIC_pcNyIruP_Q67IUSjqu0P38r8z6uzMgSTnAzShc2OUVI_uGsn1b8EkTCSZa6Sf9PAepdI11MSrNGD5YymX11Z4zVzOGjHYqDPMUJKLIyT2YQtwXk92USLAz/s1600-h/September+2008+053.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246607962969164642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivCxlQyQIVMogPHfvAcUKIC_pcNyIruP_Q67IUSjqu0P38r8z6uzMgSTnAzShc2OUVI_uGsn1b8EkTCSZa6Sf9PAepdI11MSrNGD5YymX11Z4zVzOGjHYqDPMUJKLIyT2YQtwXk92USLAz/s320/September+2008+053.jpg" border="0" /></a>When the bags are staggered this way the lanels on the top of the bag are easily read and it is simple to insert the correct size and value into the bag. Several sets of bags can be placed in my shoe box and because of the way they are sewn I can place them under each other in a row so all the labels can be seen when the box is opened.</p><p>I've had to spend a couple of weeks as caretaker preparing for and following surgery of a family member. I've been in withdrawal not being able to cut and sew for such a long time. I started work on another rail fence top, #4. amd it is truly a "Grandma" quilt, using mostly calico style prints. Here's a start. Gotta cut more setting fabric before I can go farther. Again I am using 2 x 5-inch rectangles which gives a 4-1/2-inch finished block.</p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvchPMMn4nz5r6uXzuDZFMmaM0MLmjOPDsD2atfcdwsHq-RX7yaTt6pBeu51lp_FIFL_VVAwYTZ_UXqoHAGa5HZBhHXwNnUVrv3Nqw4nO72R6y5_uK5id2NtSKEQwX7wWnYo5dnBfmX4EE/s1600-h/September+2008+035.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246610172089508770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvchPMMn4nz5r6uXzuDZFMmaM0MLmjOPDsD2atfcdwsHq-RX7yaTt6pBeu51lp_FIFL_VVAwYTZ_UXqoHAGa5HZBhHXwNnUVrv3Nqw4nO72R6y5_uK5id2NtSKEQwX7wWnYo5dnBfmX4EE/s320/September+2008+035.jpg" border="0" /></a>Carmen Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514200527046509243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924186359496055839.post-87682803689969711982008-09-05T07:14:00.000-07:002008-09-05T07:50:33.712-07:00Cutting Fabric Again<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkrS8rO52VVPvx6WVep91X7HxUzRlq-7ZVdod7nfFG1R45DLiVwMuB86aY43AvR6rauHq1A2LQTel4xmoqE2Nwnmx2MY7s89GaL444jl7zTike8MKmHZJ0mj1klmT2r63lT9McHmPoe45K/s1600-h/September+2008+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242545939845800370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkrS8rO52VVPvx6WVep91X7HxUzRlq-7ZVdod7nfFG1R45DLiVwMuB86aY43AvR6rauHq1A2LQTel4xmoqE2Nwnmx2MY7s89GaL444jl7zTike8MKmHZJ0mj1klmT2r63lT9McHmPoe45K/s320/September+2008+012.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>I am on my 3rd rail fence variation now, and as I discovered a box of scrap falling out of the garage (through the broken door which won't go up or down which needs repair immediately) which needed to be rescued, I ended up with more "stuff" to cut up. Scraps from someone's dressmaking project gave me enough pieces for the center of a set of rail fence blocks, so this will lead to a whole new variation.</div><br /><br /><div>I thought I would share my cutting table area storage and sorting system for scraps which allows me to quickly put away the random squares that are cut from leftovers from shape cutting.</div><br /><br /><div>I have sewn with a 3-step zig-zag stitch a few zip-top freezer bags. The top edge of the first is sewn to the area right below the zip seal on the second bag, the third bag is sewn the same way. This way the tops are staggered, and the labels on the top of each bag are easily seen. I only do a few in each segment so the row of bags does not get too long. The freezer bags are more heavy duty and last much longer. and the tops can be closed if needed. The rows of bags are placed in a plastic shoe box with a sturdy snap-on lid which keeps everything from spilling all over if it gets turned over. </div><div></div><br /><br /><div>As I am cutting fabric into shapes I cut the remainder of the scraps into usable squares so that it is all cut up. I put the cut squares into my marked bags in the shoe box, sorting the dark from light of my smaller squares because they are harder to pick up and value sort later. When the bag/s get too full for the lid on the box to fit tightly, I remove the cut squares to larger shoe boxxes that hold only one size square, or to a pull-out drawer which also contains only one size square. Then my bags are ready to be refilled again, and only the shoebox with the plastic bags needs to be in the area where I do my cutting.</div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlm79aNoiwAakuCqaYsIgLG9rFNICBGpLH75RASNgqkZDd50Vw9ZLq5YIlgetTh6FtI5LpHUlgu-nnFPZg2ZE1JomKiWIuedeW8sAwryhEhfSx_0zUOglUGRnpxS8YrH7cLJ2FHtIRR-94/s1600-h/September+2008+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242547662128123458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlm79aNoiwAakuCqaYsIgLG9rFNICBGpLH75RASNgqkZDd50Vw9ZLq5YIlgetTh6FtI5LpHUlgu-nnFPZg2ZE1JomKiWIuedeW8sAwryhEhfSx_0zUOglUGRnpxS8YrH7cLJ2FHtIRR-94/s320/September+2008+014.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>The other box shows the 2 x 5-inch rectangles I have been cutting for the rail fence quilts that I have been stitching. The scrapbook paper storage boxes have good snap-on attatched lids and stack well, so have een invaluable in helping me store cut shapes for specific designs. The blue print pieces I cut for the next rail fence variation are shown in the front of the box. </div></div>Carmen Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514200527046509243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924186359496055839.post-60947805823116922802008-09-05T04:40:00.000-07:002008-09-05T05:39:52.776-07:00Quilt Room Scrap Barjello<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HjTDWy_Ihm3U3tX02FwooVjW4Flx8YuRTpweFHLcjmQfnsmVXUv1uqrYdCA6cB86m0XIBAOSrAhwkBs5-K6Q9cwDmLMOc6ogtxrtikJGRFhNblOPSErNceeKiOLFFdkv5228Z0BpEP02/s1600-h/August+2008+056.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242502347115960002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HjTDWy_Ihm3U3tX02FwooVjW4Flx8YuRTpweFHLcjmQfnsmVXUv1uqrYdCA6cB86m0XIBAOSrAhwkBs5-K6Q9cwDmLMOc6ogtxrtikJGRFhNblOPSErNceeKiOLFFdkv5228Z0BpEP02/s320/August+2008+056.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdLMCgWawwGWQxAn2Oi61B576mtLpeUe1lJ_M_-JnnslMXqZKo0hQQYiRV8HxGeBg267J8SLzDPTqVDKUQgw2nztZJsOWn2rXrTsb_qd5fhgF7LlojznjIK8q8p5aEvQRh96h7ltR_V8ZM/s1600-h/August+2008+068.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242502346160662418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdLMCgWawwGWQxAn2Oi61B576mtLpeUe1lJ_M_-JnnslMXqZKo0hQQYiRV8HxGeBg267J8SLzDPTqVDKUQgw2nztZJsOWn2rXrTsb_qd5fhgF7LlojznjIK8q8p5aEvQRh96h7ltR_V8ZM/s320/August+2008+068.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I was asked an interesting question this week. The group was working on another variation of a mock barjello quilt, and I was asked if the design couldn't be created with strips. This was good thinking and deserves an honest reply. The strip segments that were sewn together in the first picture shows the sequence of pieces that were sewn. A floral print, a green print and then a pink stripe were sewn together, then four of these segments sewn together , and we pieced to the top and bottom what was needed to complete the strip segment in the sequence of fabrics required to maintain the design.<br /><br /></div><div></div><div>Although a little difficult to see, the first strip is constructed with 15 full rectangles which were cut 2-1/2-inches x 4-1/2-inches. The second strip is constructed with 14 full rectangles, and begins and ends with a square cut 2-1/2-inches . The odd-number strips are all 15- rectangles long, and the even-number strips are 14-rectangles long with a square starting and ending the strip to even out the length. The sequence of colors in each strip is determined by the movement of the color in the design. Yes, it would be simple to cut a 4-1/2-inch strip of the three colors and seam them, then cut them into 2-1/2-inch segments and the three-color sequence would be more easily constructed. Therefore, the answer to strip-piecing is easy. Now to our quilt....<br /><br /></div><div></div><div>The floral pieces came from some pre-cut 5-inch squares that someone years ago had packaged and sold as quilt pieces. They were probably die-cut from some factory scrap by some industrious person. They were donated to the quilt room years ago and through the years they have been used for a variety of quilt designs. There was little waste of them for the mock barjello as the squares only needed to be cut in half and 1/-2 inch cut off the top. The stripe I selected I cut in 2-1/2-inch strips and cut the lengths so the stripes went across the piece instead of up and down. The position of the stripe is not as noticable with this direction as it would be running the other direction when the seams of two stripes meet. The gren print was from yardage, and could be cut in either 4-1/2-inch or 2-12-inch strips and cut to the required length. This quilt could not possibly have been strip-pieced in the traditional method simply because of the "scrap" fabrics that were being used to construct it.<br /><br /></div><div></div><div>Since the beginning of the year I have created several variations of this design. I have kept the size of the pieces consistent (not so hard to remember the size I am using when cutting a lot of scraps into different sizes for different quilts) but I have varied the ways I have used prints and background fabrics. There are no rules for the sequence in which to move the colors "up" or "down" or how many colors to use. I just decided that 15 rectangles down and 21 across made a nice size lap quilt for a child, and by making it this size I did not have to piece backing fabric.<br /><br /></div><div></div><div>I made a baby-size quilt of the leftovers which was 10 rectangles long and 17 rectangles wide. I made the design sequence different by dropping the color rows one more rectangle which gave more variety to the design. Would you believe it--I only had one stripe rectangle left after the piecing. However, with more packages of the floral print available, more quilts will be created using different colorways and designs to add variety to the mix. More quilts coming!</div>Carmen Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514200527046509243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924186359496055839.post-5568083094008197042008-08-31T11:13:00.000-07:002008-08-31T11:51:03.967-07:00Fabric Cutting<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVuPpqPUr_4YOe8qETdR_2haCgGtswKflE0m5qGPstTinWmB7wocX08uGKisZEvDqRKXrItZhDqYKYsGSxoVHf-kaoVHrp4UHb4FXP_xpU6tAXCWwcgHyIvfvvSQpnlOT-fMzJWEcVsmE/s1600-h/August+2008+051.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240747123256744162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVuPpqPUr_4YOe8qETdR_2haCgGtswKflE0m5qGPstTinWmB7wocX08uGKisZEvDqRKXrItZhDqYKYsGSxoVHf-kaoVHrp4UHb4FXP_xpU6tAXCWwcgHyIvfvvSQpnlOT-fMzJWEcVsmE/s320/August+2008+051.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This week I have been cutting fabric from my stash. I had a stack of light cream pieces that were factory leftovers that were a quilt room donation. I cut some squares from it for applique (another post on that project later), but there were skinny pieces left, so I cut them into 2 x 5-inch strips. I had seen a photo of a rail fence design like this once, so thought these newly cut pieces would be perfect for this variation. Again, leftovers from one project inspired another! I cut some fabrics that were leftovers from other things into the same size pieces, and stitched them into blocks, a print, muslin and then print. I love the on-point set of this design. One top later, and I have pieces left, of course. With a solid blue used for the setting triangles and a border, the lap quilt is very colorful and cheery.<br /><br />I spent 13 hours one day pressing scraps and cutting them into the shapes. I've had a sore arm for a few days as a result. I don't usually do that much at one time, but wanted to get the mess taken care of at one time. I do have one rule about cutting scrap that I have found very useful, and that is that a fabric gets cut up all lthe way while it is on the cutting mat unless it is yardage or I have a specific plan for it. That means that I may be cutting a specific size or shape right now, but if it is scrap, the rest of it gets cut into usuable shapes now and these shapes are put into storage for future projects rather than getting folded up and then have to be pressed and re-cut at a later time. My focus this week was 2 x 5-inch strips, but ends of strips were cut into squares or 1-1/2-inch strips. All of the scrap I cut is taken care of, either the shapes I need now or squares and strips for a future project. <br /><br />A friend donated some great new books on scrap quilting to the quilt room this week, and I brought a few home to browse through. I got a great new idea from each book! I have recently learned how to use my scanner so I have been scanning project ideas and saving them as computer files, and I am getting quite paperless! Ain't technology great? I don't have many skills (as friends comment they need to start charging me by the hour for consultation) but I love to be able to learn new things, especially when they help me save more space for fabric.<br /><br />Today I was going through a binder of quilt designs that I had created for scrap quilts several years ago. It had to be a LONG time ago, as they were printed on my dot-matrix printer. Anyway, I discovered a 4-patch variation I had created and forgotten about. It is an interesting design, and thinking about all those squares I cut from the leftovers this week...Carmen Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514200527046509243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924186359496055839.post-11056369157551223642008-08-27T04:09:00.000-07:002008-08-27T04:49:15.389-07:00Good Week<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiywlqDxTdymz9E-pRlcnI2HUZjBOKZ9lwKmYy32itV8htSH6m0UX42H0l35v3WZkbYupJuaUF1DJGeTWkY2JMY2Hy5Kc8ZpL5c0UnYzVMVUZicVDwuzBXGBd2On0C1NpxLxFrB7ELC9ws/s1600-h/August+2008+053.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239157676751395762" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiywlqDxTdymz9E-pRlcnI2HUZjBOKZ9lwKmYy32itV8htSH6m0UX42H0l35v3WZkbYupJuaUF1DJGeTWkY2JMY2Hy5Kc8ZpL5c0UnYzVMVUZicVDwuzBXGBd2On0C1NpxLxFrB7ELC9ws/s320/August+2008+053.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8NZriLyC_eOCDtJVV8pX1A8c4pXd1grlh3wmW-1IV4oLiLRYi7EyQN8zMNu-idMtIXwBsc2AGx6oO_5cXz8QaZTc06d1Zh1jOryZpLzq_9Xm9mie7W2uere3qJt9BZeVlQ48RD2Q6OAt/s1600-h/August+2008+028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239157683244352626" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8NZriLyC_eOCDtJVV8pX1A8c4pXd1grlh3wmW-1IV4oLiLRYi7EyQN8zMNu-idMtIXwBsc2AGx6oO_5cXz8QaZTc06d1Zh1jOryZpLzq_9Xm9mie7W2uere3qJt9BZeVlQ48RD2Q6OAt/s320/August+2008+028.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_v3s9j5B_xLnARyzjSTIp5gkXJmEScq8Uw2wrea3S_Np_sngSgBZ0nbFDwHD6YOsu2KdBtqjhwKgZxiIi3Nej1-9HkuLkMl23BSt7yLZ0YK1KXRa3uptCKrSUT81B6zWv1939Fl_uWLl/s1600-h/August+2008+053.jpg"></a><br /><br /><div>This week I basted and quilted two baby Trip Around the World quilts, and bound four of them, completing the ten of them pieced this year by our quilt group. As soon as labels are on them they will be ready for donation.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>In a fabric donation from a group member I came across a strip of the cute pre-print fabric that had a nice sawtooth border around the blocks. However, it was cut from the two ends of the strip, and there were only 8 motifs. I hated to lose that border, but with trimming and seaming two scrap pieces together I was able to get enough for this small baby quilt. I will bind it with the blue print, as there is just enough left of it for the binding. The top is ready for basting now. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>I machine quilt my quilts using monofilament on the top. I recently acquired some lovely Superior Thread trilobal varigated which I have been using for bobbin thread and I love using it. My vision is not great, and by using the monofilament on the top my mistakes are not too obvious, and makes a secure quilt which will launder well. I quilt on a Juki industrial which is quick and gives me a wonderful stitch. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>I have been working on four other scrap quilts this week as well. With the purchase of a new camera I will be sharing more photos soon. </div>Carmen Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514200527046509243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924186359496055839.post-81293791856618099792008-08-18T17:56:00.001-07:002008-08-18T18:38:13.211-07:00Fabric Bonanza<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtCz2OaQ-2cV2ZFrHvbxVi585wso8c33KLTCpdQb1va9jX36Ta3xrrU4GaiMNwZ2KGEbuyldItCunx9RG5oD2NKelmAr5gh28kvJGMMwoq0oyNjppxbYB5Ud-ohdGUBk1xLiu6rM9T7g1/s1600-h/July+2008+107.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236026561582056546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtCz2OaQ-2cV2ZFrHvbxVi585wso8c33KLTCpdQb1va9jX36Ta3xrrU4GaiMNwZ2KGEbuyldItCunx9RG5oD2NKelmAr5gh28kvJGMMwoq0oyNjppxbYB5Ud-ohdGUBk1xLiu6rM9T7g1/s320/July+2008+107.jpg" border="0" /></a> After spending 12 hours stitching on quilts at the Sr. Citizen's Center, I discovered a huge donation of fabric on my doorstep. The spouse of a fabric sales representative had spent countless hours pulling sample fabrics from their cardboard backing and had packaged them up and delivered them to me. I was so excited to receive them. Hundreds of pieces of new fabric! It was better than a shopping spree. The pieces are not large, for the most part, but my hands were itching to start cutting and sewing at that late hour.<br /> <br />The next day was spent in sorting the fabric to get it ready to use. How to sort scraps is always a dilemma as each assortment of scrap donations is different. Each quilter has individual taste, so things differ from person to person. My first storting is usually by size of the pieces. I try to sort according to the designs that I most commonly make or have need of pieces for. Narrower strips go into my "string" collection, which is one of my favorite uses of scraps. Using sew and flip technique I can be quite thoughtless about the fabrics that go into a block, and since the base fabric or paper to which I stitch determines the shape of the design, I can stitch for a long time without great convern about what I use. I have a goal to make 100 string quilts, and am at 27 or 28 right now. Why 100? Why not? String strips go into a large plastic tub under the sewing machine which can be pulled out when sewing, and pushed back when not in use. If there are a large number of strips in one color family I may put them in a ziplock bag and then into the tub.<br /> <br />Four-patch and Nine-patch units use squares, usually 2 or 2-1/2-inches in size. Squares and strips go into plastic storage drawers which I can pull out when working on a design using those pieces, and slipped back into place when not needed, awaiting new additions to the collection.<br /> <br />When I have larger pieces that will have to be cut before they can be used I use different methods to sort them. Most often I sort them by style unless there are a large number of piecies in one color. I recently sorted some scrap from a woman who was moving and gave me a box of scraps. There were quite a number of blue and of red scraps, so I put them together with the idea of using them together in a future project. In the case of my new fabrics, the categories of sort were:<br /> tone on tone prints<br /> bright contemporary prints<br /> dark reproduction style prints<br /> plaids, checks and stripes<br /> light background prints and toiles<br /> flannels<br /> theme and holiday prints<br /> wall paper prints (what I might see on my grandparent's walls)<br /> florals<br /> Kiddie theme prints for I Spy quilts<br /> <br />I recently discovered the paper storage boxes of clear plastic that are sold in scrapbook stores for the storage of scrapbook paper. Sizes 8 x 11 and 12 x 12, they have attached lids that close securely, and they stack very well. Shops in our area are packaging their quilt kits in them, and tied up with a nice ribbon they are very presentable. I put all of my nicely sorted scraps in them and sadly, put them away until the next quilt project comes along--which won't be long! I'll report later on about how useful the boxes are for storage of my scraps as well as in-progress projects.<br /> <br />This past week I completed a quilt top from a raw edge applique string project where I used the nice florals I had just received. Alas, my camera has died and has to be replaced so I can capture some pictures of it to post. However I am most pleased with it, and a second one is on the way. When cutting the background squares for it (another donation), I had leftovers, so cut 2 x 5-inch pieces of it. I cut scrap prints to go with it and have sewn the blocks for a rail-fence quilt. I just need to select some setting and border fabric, cut some triangles from it, and then the on-point set of that quilt will be under-way. I also cut the red and blue fabrics for another quilt, and it is ready for the block constructions--also all of donated fabric. I hope to soon have pictures of these projects posted.Carmen Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514200527046509243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924186359496055839.post-89117999474020116272008-08-16T15:45:00.000-07:002008-08-16T16:14:29.774-07:00Great Job, Ladies!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVqQln-d7rfOcQxUC6B4OhGkpYdOUshFaiezlOo-eB56ReKXO4m0EVogomTpLVs9KuxF0UPWXuJ8ij7PTmPRCx314t-em-kfLNOieNfRyx-M705YVYF2fsSpegx2Srw-j_kPtPzd9x5pty/s1600-h/August+2008+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235251414619906258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVqQln-d7rfOcQxUC6B4OhGkpYdOUshFaiezlOo-eB56ReKXO4m0EVogomTpLVs9KuxF0UPWXuJ8ij7PTmPRCx314t-em-kfLNOieNfRyx-M705YVYF2fsSpegx2Srw-j_kPtPzd9x5pty/s320/August+2008+004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><p>The ladies in our quilt group created the strip sets for this mock barjello quilt top at our July community service day. Two lap-size quilts were created this month using donated fabrics.</p><p>The quilt started with some factory scrap of hot pink with black and white dots and large purple and yellow flowers. It was pretty bright and a large print. The challenge was how to incorporate it into a pleasing quilt design that would be simple for a group experience. I have been experimenting with London Stairs variations lately, so selected some colors and prints from the available fabrics, and I had the ladies cut 2-1/2- x 4-1/2-inch rectangles and some 2-1/2-inch squares. On the appointed day I had the ladies seam strip sets of the 5 prints, sewing them in the designated order. Some ladies organized, some stitched, some pressed, and as the strips were completed we began placing them on the design wall.</p><p>Row one starts with 3 strip sets (15 rectangles). Row two starts with a square of the last color in the strip sets, and ends with a square of the next-to-last color in the strip set. We used two sewn sets, and added what we needed to complete the row. The third row started with a rectangle of the last color in the strip set, 2 strip sets, and rectangles to complete the row. Row 4 repeats row 2, row 5 repeats row 1. </p><p>Any number of rows can be used and any number of rectangles in the rows. In this case we were making a lap-size quilt, and I think somewhere in the 40-42-inch width is perfect as a backing fabric will not have to be pieced to fit it. Fifteen rectangles down and 23 across was about right. Also the rows to drop down or up is purely a matter of personal preference. With the fabrics we were using the proportion seems just right. If you are deisgning your own, start at the center and design out to the sides, using an uneven number of rows. It is just easier that way.</p><p>When the second top was finished there were two rectangles of one fabric left, and two pair of rectangles that the ladies had sewn from all the sewing that was done during the day. Some quilts are just destined to be made! Two children will receive cozy flannel backed quilts through Project Linus later this year. Good work, ladies!</p><p>There are a few rectangles left--lots of the hot prink print. New quilts will be coming from those leftovers. Are those scraps cookies or milk?</p>Carmen Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514200527046509243noreply@blogger.com0