Back to Cute

 Well, surprise, surprise.  Not only do I do cute, I also free-motion quilt!  I am stunned at how fabulous this quilt turned out.  As luck would have it, the last guild meeting was all about free-motion quilting.  And it gave me the courage I needed to tackle this quilt.  

I have several wonderful nieces, and one of them, a lawyer in the Marines (yes, I know she has a title but I don't know what it is) is pregnant with her first baby, a boy.  Niece Candace is fierce, and I'm sure her baby boy will be, too.  So no delicate colors or smiling animals.  This in-your-face jungle quilt is meant to be a dragger and not a hanger.  Im eager to see her baby posed among these cute little animals.   And I'm lucky that my stash included some animals prints, like the tiger binding and the giraffe backing.  These animals are from an Elizabeth Hartman pattern.  45" x 57"

Pretty Batik Purses

These Sew Powerful purses are unique for a two reasons.  First, I used some pre-made straps instead of making my own straps.  And I must admit that this streamlined the process.  I do like how bright these straps are.  However these are nylon, which means I must be careful when ironing.  Second, these batiks are from former guild mate Mary Radnor.  So I use these batiks, think of her, and smile.  and I'm just barely making a dent in the pile of beautiful batiks she gave me.  

So here are 13.  I know this is dorky, but I won't mail them until I do seven more.  After Easter will be a great time to tackle these seven and then get all in the mail!

A Big One - Finished

When I finish a bigger project that can't be photographed on the floor, then I ask John to hang it over our balcony while I go outside to take the photograph.  But this quilt needs two people to hold it. So my brother Doug came over and took these pictures. This is a new bed quilt from a collection of favorite fabrics, and I hand quilted it.  I worked fast the past month because as it gets warmer, this quilt is just too much to keep on one's lap.  It has a terrific airy feel.  The pattern is The Libby Quilt by Erica Jackman.  

A new version of American Gothic, featuring the back of the quilt.  

 My current bed quilt features the same fabrics, most of which are by designer Marcia Derse.  And these fabrics have been my crush for almost 10 years.  Next up?  a headboard using these fabrics!

Look who’s working cute!

 

I tend to not work cute.  I'm capable - its just not a personal preference.  But when a niece is having her first baby and knows it's a boy and has decided on a jungle theme...  C'mon, I just gotta do cute!  Elizabeth Hartman has some terrific patterns.  I did her Koala pattern for Aussie friend - so sad a koala isn't a jungle animal because it was really cute.  Three animals are finished, and I am going to add some leaves and then try to corral these into a cohesive quilt.  

What a special time for my brother Al and his wife as they welcome their first grandchild!  

Mid-March Pursing

 Here's a batch of 8 purses.  I've been more productive in other months.  What's special about these purses is that they are primarily from scraps and odd bits that have been begging to be used.  Working with scraps is satisfying, but it is also a slower way of working.  And for now?  That's ok.

The black-and-white fabric for the straps started this grouping of 4.  You can see a red-white-and-black print, enough for a couple of flaps and bodies.  The black polka dots are left over from a quilt.  And the red and black fabric is from a UFO I never finished.  TRUTH:  I was trying to make a train trestle but actually it looked like an apron.  

The bottom four purses all include denim pockets from recycled blue jeans. The orange straps help to dress these up.  So do the quilted flaps from deconstructed quilted clothing.  

The next purses?  I 'll start with some of the fabric I've been putting aside just for the Sew Powerful girls.  Just a wee reminder:  the pattern for this purse is free and available at  sewpowerful.org. 

What? it’s mid-March already?

 

We’re in the middle of house repairs - new counter tops in kitchen and master bath, removing a whirlpool tub and converting that space into a closet, and just some general updating.  While things are going well, there’s always some discombobulation.  I’m embarrassed by the amount of wonderful scraps I have and am using them for purses - that will be the next post.  But meanwhile, my little piece of sanity is nightly stitching on this new bed quilt for us. It’s so big that it’s hard to see the quilting. So this is a mid-process post.  Now I can see that the quilting is defining the woven look of this pattern.

The backing is a mixture of a couple of low-volume Art Gallery fabrics.  This quilt is wonderful to sit under.  But there is some urgency to finish this while it’s still cold out.  Guess I better give some thought to a summer hand- quilting project! 

Big Ones, in Process

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This week many of my Chicago Modern Quilt Guild are in Phoenix at QuiltCon.  Last year's event was virtual.  Two years ago, right before the pandemic, I shattered my wrist and missed out on the event.  While I'm sad to not be there, I'm thankful for Quilty buddies who do the best job of photographing the quilts.  There is a guild meeting tomorrow for those of us not in Phoenix, and that will have to do.  This quilt, Downstream by Yvonne Fuchs, hung at QuiltCon 2020.  I bought the pattern and have shamelessly made it in almost the same color way.  I'm busy hand quilting it, starting with the white and grey areas.   

The backing in an Art Gallery fabric.  The batting is wool.  I've been working on this for just two weeks but its coming along nicely.  and I love how the pattern is emerging on the back.  

A few posts back I was working on a big woven quilt that will match my current bed quilt.  And now I'm making the backing for this huge - 96" x 116" quilt.  Above are three Art Gallery fabrics along with the black from the quilt.  Somehow, these will be turned into the backing.  I'm thinking I will hand quilt this beast, and its what is next in my queue.  For any hand quilting I find that the Art Gallery fabrics are ones I like to hold for the 8 - 12 weeks that I'll be working on this.  I used to ask my mom to do all my handwork because I just hated working with needle and thread by hand, How things have changed!   

Purses, because…

 

1.  These purses let me use my talent.

2.  I like designing and making them.

3.  I believe in Sew Powerful’s mission.

4.  Sew Powerful is changing the lives of poor communities in Zambia.through education, nutrition, and supporting the goals established by local people.

5.  The on-line community of purse makers is warm and affirming and a place to escape from politics.

6. I have enough fabric to keep me in production forever.

Isn’t making a difference a goal all of us want?  With each purse I wonder what little girl will choose it and whether she will feel all the empowering love that went into it?  

I’m still struggling with the notecards though.  Odd,  guess some things will always be a challenge.  

SewPowerful.org

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Still in Process

 

It just needs squaring off, basting, quilting, and binding!  Dilemma: slowly hand quilt or send to a long armer. It’s big…94” x 108” , something like that.  

Loving what I’m working on: a process post

When something starts to come together and you’re pleased, it’s worth sharing.  Although I’m following a pattern, there were no directions about using fabrics and arrangement.  So I’ve just been winging it.  And I’m liking what I’m seeing.  I need to get all these bits together so that I can regain my second sewing surface.