Homely Quilt, a re-built Log Cabin

Yeahhh - it's done! It turned out so much better than it looked when only a quilt top! Quilting DOES make the quilt. This starts out as a traditionial Log Cabin, but with some manipulation, I call it a ReBuilt Log Cabin. Look at that unexpected zig-zag effect. On the lower photo, you'll see the bunch of nearly ugly fabrics that were used. The sandwiching was done last Sunday, and it was finished Friday night. The border, (Jewel Box, or Buckeye Beauty blocks) works well as a border, but I'm not sure it 'goes' with this quilt. However, the entire project is quirky enough to be OK.

Look at some of my nearly-uglies used.

Quilting Makes the Quilt

In my last post, I showed a Rebuilt Log Cabin top, that I call my "Homely Quilt." It didn't have much going for it, but I felt sure when it quilted, it would be just fine - I am right! I have 3 more wide borders only - my goodness I couldn't stop once I started quilting it!

Below are some photos of free-motion quilting in the 8 inch border. I'm liking it!

These snakey things are 2 flexible rulers I have that I use to get a similar curve on each corner and side.

Sandwiching, MQ'ing, last of Fall

What a lovely afternoon - probably the last of our fall season. My back yard is very small, but I LOVE the shadows. Below is the last of our hail-damage issues to be resolved. What a mess this room was for days, but the ceiling has been replaced, walls painted, and mess was cleaned up nicely. EVERYTHING had to be covered, taped with plastic to keep the 'popcorn ceiling' stuff from spreading everywhere.

This outfit on MY DH is HIS version of proper "Retirement" garb. Being properly dressed is no longer for him - I will see this on him all winter. Groannnn! I'm getting ready to sandwich a quilt in the garage.
Helen in the UK, posted photos of HER Mq'ing that she learned from the Pajama Quilter. I watched that segment 6 times today, and think I've got it! Here is my practice sandwich.
I'll call this my "Homely Quilt" for now - it's another Rebuilt Log Cabin done entirely with all the junky strips in the drawer. I tried out a different, totally unrelated border. But it's ready for machine quilting and I'm thinking that when completed, it will prove that "Quilting Makes the Quilt!"

Anniversary Trek

In late summer, we celebrated an anniversary and decided to participate in an historic wagon ride (Oregon Trail) and cowboy steak dinner not far from here. This area is very close to the Oregon Trail, Mormon Trail, and history is extremely ALIVE. One can still see wagon ruts across many fields. The wagon ride was brief and informative - there is a LOT of jouncing in those wagons - NO ONE could possibly ride in the pioneer wagons -- the pioneers walked the entire way. It was hot as Hxxx and the A.C. on our vehicle had quit, so we were glad for a breeze and shady area at our destination.
Do you see the light shining on the right of the rock formation? That is Chimney Rock, a beacon for the pioneers - they knew they were on the right path when they saw it. It used to be taller, but has been damaged by lightning and artillery fire. This area was also overrun with buffalo and no trees were anywhere due to the heavy buffalo grazing and wallowing.

Here's a better photo.
The evening turned lovely and cool, and sunset was an additional bonus.
I have to include a photo of these two pioneer/cowboy wannabes, stuffed to almost overflowing from the steak dinner, finished with home-made ice cream.

Blah Blah blocks

These blocks are so bright and perky - better than the photo. I need 96 and as of a few minutes ago, I had 36. This is another example of a simple block that makes a dynamite pattern. Again, I'm using what I have with a few new FQs of red, and then my friend Jody (Goddess) donated some also. I stuck with really LIGHTs and really DARK. I have many in-between that are kinda 'spotty', and were not included.

Below is a possible border (BLAH BLAH), although it is REALLY graphic, isn't it? Many of the reds have bits of black in them.
I'll have a LOT of fabric left over.

Most of the pieces are already cut out into 2 and 1/2 inch squares, and I'm using up a Triangles on a Role for the HSTs. Each block only take less then 5 minutes to actually sew and press. The hardest part when making these blocks was deciding the pressing directions. It's difficult to decide when you don't yet know the setting, isn't it?

On a different subject -- Below is what my office desk looks like under the work area. I'm getting my new computer hooked up soon and hope this jumble of cables "goes away." This mess has become too much for me and I had to call for help. Something happens to my eyes when I see this collection - they just glaze over! Another photo of my finished Double Delight -- now named, "Twenty One O Two", (the # of pieces) just because I like to throw it on the rail and look at it from inside the house.

Quilting designs, and NOT shopping

I wanted to show some quilting examples that I thought were easy to quilt on a DSM. Quilters who use a DSM, cannot make (well, I can't) long sweeping movements - our designs need to be somewhat smaller. This is one that works for me. This dark green fabric sucks up the light - I'm surprised it's viewable. It starts in the corner as 2-3 shells, then just curves nicely to fit the space, and echoes back.

I learned this one recently -- called something like FERNS. They can be large or small, again filling the space.

I LIKE my quilting -- but it's fairly utilitarian, and one day, I would like to reach to a higher level of proficiency on my DSM. Friday, I'm taking a MQ'ing class with Nebraska teacher Sandi McMillan. Hope I learn lots of new techniques.

Different subject - Monday was so beautiful and I wanted to go ... uhhhh somewhere, yet didn't have any reason to. Ah hah!, I'm starting a black/white quilt and really need to get more fabric and take a long drive to my LQS! But I was sensible and forced myself to check my own stash. uhhhh what do you think? Do I have enough already?
How embarrassing! I don't even remember purchasing, nor HAVING it!

Double Dutch, Dutch Delight, Double Delight - what the heck???

Virtually DONE!!! -- "virtually" means "almost entirely", "for the most part" -- I just have the binding to do, which will hopefully, be completed today -- uhh after groceries, laundry, etc. This is the largest quilt I've done - about 86" x 104"!

The name has changed over the 21 months because I couldn't remember the RIGHT name -- many of you recognize it from Quiltville.com, a mystery started January 2009, and made mostly of stash. I machine quilt on a DSM, a Janome MC 6500. The center is quilted in one pattern, my loosey-goosey plumey thing learned from a DVD from PatsyThompsonDesigns.com.

Each of the side setting triangles is quilted in a different motif or pattern, as is each of the individual SIDES of each border - I wanted to practice and I DID PRACTICE!!! I also used different brands of thread which was interesting.

Photos on these dark fabrics so not show well.
A number of the border quilting in the style of Sally Terry, (above, that middle border) "Hooked on Feathers." If you've not tried her "hooked" feathers, you are in for a pleasant surprise. Not difficult -- so effective!

Hint for today - I marked "implied" spines with a chalk wheel. I press hard and sometimes it doesn't go away. My friend Vonda crocheted me several kitchen scrubbies, one for my cutting mat. One side of the scrubbie is crocheted with regular yarn -- that softer side works perfectly to brush the chalk off.

Growth, and Quilting, and Q. Books

I had a birthday recently. LAST year on my birthday, we bought a Linden tree and I want to see how much growth there has been. This photo is from 2010. The tree grew some, but so did the other subject!

Below are some of my favorite machine quilting books. I have many but these are the ones I like the most. Back - Hooked on Feathers by Sally Terry - a 'new', and far more sensible way of MQ'ing feathers. The next, Machine Quilting, another basic, start at the beginning book, although there more complicated designs included also. Next is Freehand Patterns, by Nan Moore, another basic showing a multitude of border patterns and more, and last is my favorite, favorite, by Kathy Sandbach, who has written several machine quilting books. You might recognize her name as she has quilted a BUNCH of quilts for other names in the quilt business. She is totally free-form (in this book), and I really LOVE her style. It is carefree, not to worry, don't fret, etc. Remember, all of these books require practice. All these books are about the LINES, and DESIGNS, with little mention of threads, or machine set-up.

If you pick just one idea from each book, you will find that in time, you will have a bunch of designs under your belt! This one turned our really nice and curvy although my photo is a bit washed-out. I have numerous side setting triangles on this Double Dutch, and could not stick to one pattern, so quilted them all differently. No focussing for me!