Hand Project Completion

 This project, which measures 72" x 94" and was done by hand, is complete.  I started it (and blogged about this) in April of this year.  Each time I headed to my parents', I had these blocks with me.  Through my dad's hospitalizations, I continued to work on these blocks.  Just as he died, I finished piecing the this top.  And then I decided to quilt this by hand while sitting with my mom.  Each time I got to my mom's I would take out this quilt, show it to her, and tell her that I now sew because she taught me how to.  And each time she smiles and says, "I did?"  My stitches are big and primitive.  I used a No 8 perle cotton.  Some of the stitches are with No 5 perle cotton, which is just too difficult for me to work with. 

The batting is wool.  And the texture of this quilt is wonderfully lofty and airy and warm.  This project has provided me with solace and purpose as I have sat with my parents.  And I love it.

I'm heading to Camp Stitchalot (***squeel***)in Ann Arbor with Sarah S and Melissa today.  And I am packing this quilt. 

"City Spokes" is home!

After traveling with the International Quilt Festival for several months, "City Spokes" is home.  John hung it in a space intended for something not quite so tall - the grandchildren and travel tchotskis seem to be blocking the bottom of this piece.  And I'm surprised at how much I like this piece (she modestly says...) in this particular location.

The wall hanging made from t-shirts bought in Nairobi now hangs in the first floor hallway to the bathroom. 

Today was spent quilting this gorgeous piece made from shot cottons.  I was torn between which binding to use.  But just taking these pictures and looking at them has clarified what I need to do.  The sedate grey wins over the multi-colored.   Love love love the fall time change.

Hello, Winter! Goodbye, Summer...

All pieced - and I love it

The final version - all pieced and ready for quilting.  70" x 70"

Final Layout

This  might be it.  Seeing the layout on a screen will help tweak certain bits. 

Quilting Tip from "Macbeth"

Today's layout features horizontal color arrangement and staggered columns.  This layout is closest to the layout of the inspiration quilt by the Australian Helen.  But actually I like the first of these layouts with the cluster of colors.  Lucky for me I am busy for the next two days and can't do any sewing.  But when I do get back to this, I think I will need to be "bloody, bold, and resolute" and just pick a layout and do this instead of dithering for days about which one is better.  All these are beautiful, right?  (I think I will try a column of warm neturals and cool neutrals on both sides to make this 66" wide.)  To be continued...

Design Wall Goal

A new design every day.  Here's #2.  I still have a set of blocks to do in warm neutrals.  I think they need to go into this mix.  And today the staggering on the columns is less pronounced.    Do I have this upside down?  Note to self:  Put iPad on ScreenLock and study.

Wordless Wednesday

Thinking Out Loud

 A couple of things are in my head. One is one of the projects being taught at Camp Stitchalot in November. Carolyn Friedlander is teaching her Aerial Grove technique. This picture is an illustration of this hand applique technique. I want to honor learning the technique, but I also want to do something that I will like and want in my house. .

I have a couple of panels designed by Yoshiko Jinzenji, and I'm thinking that one panel from these fabrics might be the perfect sized wall hanging.   And perhaps draw from that pile of fabrics for the appliqued parts. 

 And finally - some progress with the ellipitcal Drunkard's Path blocks.  A bundle of Pepper Cory shot cottons, the template from Australia, one retreat, one sew-in day, and now something on the design wall.  A small quilt?  Two small quilts?  I have yet to trim the many greenish blocks, and there's also a set of pumpkin/brown/tans blocks.   Kind of fun to play around with no end goal in mind, so not the way I work.

Runaround Bag

Welcome to the October 15, 2014, installment of Purse Palooza.  Like the previous purse enthusiasts, I'm very happy to be a part of this online purse extravaganza.  While I have made several of Sara's patterns - Aragon, Aeroplane, Arabesque - and love them, the one purse/bag that I have made again and again AND AGAIN is the RunAround by LazyGirl Designs.  This bag thrills girls of all ages, is simple to make, and very practical.  It finishes at 7" x 9".  This pictured bag?

Eileen's Bag

Reverse of Eileen's Bag

I made for my buddy Eileen.  She uses it to "runaround" and it becomes an insert for her bigger purses.  There's a zippered compartment on one side, and a pocket on the other - it's that simple.  Plus a strap that can be used for across-the-body or just knotted to be grabbed.  She's been using this now for over a year.

MATERIALS NEEDED:  Two fat quarters, a zipper, some interfacing like ShapeFlex, and some fusible fleece.    Plus this fabulous pattern.

Because I am a quilter, I always have tons of scraps in my studio.  When I sew these scraps and make new fabric, they turn into some lovely Runarounds.  (Note:  all pictures are in pairs so you can see the front and the back of these clever little purses.)

These purses can be playful and whimsical, like the ones I made for my great nieces.

 Or they can be formal, like these: 

So, you know I can make these RunAround bags.  But so can anyone else.  My neighbor Jo, a high school junior, came over and made this Runaround within two hours.  If you have zipper fear, this clever pattern will help you get over it.  Seriously, the zipper insertion is the simplest I have ever done.  Both Jo and her sister had no difficulty at all with this part of the process. 

Here are some pictures from that afternoon with Jo. 

Jo's fabric palette - she's a musician

Putting pieces on the floor, just to keep track of her project and mine.

Jo and my Husqvarna becoming friends - she had no sewing experience.

A few weeks later Jo returned with her little sister Kate (also a musician), an 8th grader.  And here are the results of that two-hour session:

Smiling at the end of our session!  and both girls are ready to return to the studio

One of the things I have learned from Sara through her SewSweetness blog and patterns is that the more pictures the better.  Here are more pictures of various RunArounds.  What a great pattern!

Batiks and Shot Cottons

Pieced fabric and a funky print 

Marcia Derse fabrics, zippers, and the pattern

And Voila - bags!

Treasured scraps become perfect Runarounds

Making them can become an addiction

This favorite scrap became a RunAround.

Study this last picture because it shows two bags in process.  The two left bags are the finished bags.   I made twins so you could see the components.  The top pictures are the back of the bag, including the pocket.  If you're very clever, you'll figure out a way to put a little pocket on the inside.  The bottom pictures are the zippered component.  This pattern shows you how to very clever layer these components, leaving the zippered part open.  Then you sew all the way around the four sides, making sure you've accounted for the straps, and turn the bag inside out through the zipper.

Good pattern directions.  Clever but easy construction.  Practical results which can be dressed up or down.  I estimate I have made 40 Runarounds so far.  And I don't think I am finished yet.