A Supply of Soft and Stable

Soft and Stable is a foam underlining of a purse or bag that needs structure.  It's what makes a bag able to stand on its own.  I have bought bolts of this stuff when I was deep into bag making.  I kind of tapered off.  But now?  I've been bag making non stop.  For whom you may ask.  And I may answer I don't know.  All I know is that I have to keep making. The two bags above are Noodlehead's Super Tote.  It's a great pattern and may be made with a recessed top zipper.  One side of the bag has a huge pocket. The picture below shows a pleat in the side of the bag.  This is a great pattern.  And having a supply of Soft and Stable is a lot like having an open bag of M and M's:  they cannot be ignored or forgotten!

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My other favorite tote bag pattern is also by Noodlehead - the Fika Tote.  The Fika is a bit bigger than the Super Tote.  One side of the bag has those wonderful pockets. The other side has a recessed zip pocket, the kind you can put a file folder in.  And of course there are interior zip pockets.  Both of these bags go together so nicely and require lots of interacting and Soft and Stable.

But every so often I venture into something new like this backpack below.  It's the Chickadee from Sara Lawson Sew Sweetness.  This pattern uses metal frames so that the bag opens wide and can also zip shut.  It has two side pockets and interior zip pockets.  

There is a pretty nifty front pocket which zips open to reveal yet more pockets and a zippered net pocket.  

While Ive been playing with all things Soft and Stable in the studio, evenings I've been hand quilting this piece which has some glorious hand-dyed Cherrywood fabric. This is a very gentle quilt and has a wonderful feel.

This past weekend I joined about 40 of my guild mates at a local three-day retreat.  Its hard to describe what a nice group we had and how much fun it was to work together.  Seeing what and how others create is always just the best.  And we have several new young members!  I used my time to learn how to make pillowcases, work on enlarging a quilt for my sister, developing relationships, and starting this quilt above.  So far I have 20 blocks and will make another 20ish more.  Each block is 12 x 12.  This pattern is Jelly Roll Sizzle, a free download from the Fate Quarter Shop.  

My studio overflows with projects - the nearly finished, the in-progress ones, and the ones I want to start.  Good times! And I love my Chicago Modern Quilt Guild!

One Quilter’s Trash is My Treasure

I have a shelf of fabrics that are too ugly to live.  Yet others will look at the shelf and say I’m nuts.  Every CMQG retreat has a scrap table.  And I try to stay away from it because…well, you know.  But at a recent retreat I spotted this cheater panel, and I do love clam shells.  Recently my SIL in Orlando asked for a baby quilt.  I started something with blue and white strips and then remembered this panel  Chris liked it more than the blue and white.  So I added some borders and it’s 46” x 56”    Special thanks to guildmate Rebekah who put this panel on the scrap table.  

Another Scrap Quilt

I am overwhelmed by my scraps.  No matter how many scrap quilts I make,  I still have more.  And more. I joke that my scrap baskets have scraps baskets.  But that's not far from the truth.  Fellow MQCG Jane Shapiro spearheaded a community quilt project using the above design. She supplied us with the background fabric and directions, and then several of us made 4 blocks.  Those 4 blocks?  I really enjoyed making!  So I enlarged her pattern from an 8" block to a 12" block.  Scraps?  No problem.  Background?  For some reason I have two hunks of grey that are very similar.  So I used those for the background.

And then I got to work. And I like how this is turning out.  This napping quilt will be 60" x 72"

And in keeping with this scrap theme, I went through my stash for big hunks of neutral fabrics.  So, voila! the backing.  For another day I will Frankenbatt my scraps and come up with a batting.  

While I've been working in the studio, I've been handqulting this cheater panel. My SIL needs a baby quilt, and this appealed to hear.  It really is lovely, and I need to discover who put this panel on the retreat scrap table!  

This is the eve of my 74th birthday.  How lucky and blessed am I?  John just turned 84, we are both feeling very good, and we love where we are living. I cannot think how happy I am without thinking of how sad I am at life's changes, the biggest one being Doug's death last March.  Why him?  why not me?  Ah, life's mysteries...

Mid-September - Heading into my happiest time of year

 

My Left-handed Leftover Liberal quilt has found its owner.  A lovely Iowa friend with whom I travelled years ago has made contact after almost 40 years.  It’s fun getting to know her again - we have both changed so much.  And I’m delighted that this quilt will be living with her.

I’m putting the finishing touches on this piece which will hang in my dining room.  Windham fabrics has issued a challenged using these this palette selected by Jacquie Gering. These shot cotton fabrics are wonderful.  Some shot cottons are so thin.  And some shot cottons, like the peppered ones that I have loved and used, are so meaty.  These?  They are wonderful.  I feel like the Goldielocks of shot cottons!  I tried to pleats these fabrics and think I was successful, thanks to an Aussie quilter who did a video on all things pleated.  

I love this time of year because the weather is getting so much cooler. Morning waking has been wonderful.  And soon the leaves will fall, and it will be even prettier!

And I’m slowly machine quilting my way through this!  But I gotta get back to purses! 

Projects - Past, Present, and Future

 

This is an organizational post.  I’m losing track of what I’ve done, what I’m working on, and what I want to do. I loved so much how the small backpack - Sew Sweetness Park Sloan pattern - turned out that I made the bigger version.  What I’ve discovered is that this bag is not cross body for me - instead it is over one shoulder, which works fine. The  other discovery is that unlike other back packs, this one is not meant to carry heavy books.  It can.  But my great niece is using hers as a dance bag, and I think it’s perfect for that use!  Does this mean I have to take dance classes? 

This scrap quilt, started last winter at a CMQG quilt retreat, has been completed, bound with a scrappy binding, and hand quilted.  It is on its way to former Hyde Park student Bridgette,  she who motivates me daily to get out and walk or elliptical or do weights, with monthly  challenges to her team of warriors.  I’m committed to walking 130 miles a month.  Last month I almost made it. This month, even with a soft issue issue on the top of my foot. I think I’ll make it.  I’m thankful for her daily support and her friendship.  

Buddy Lauren gave me a lovely pack of Cherrywood fat quarters, and this top has been pin-basted and has had some machine quilting.  Now I’m adding some handwork to each one of the blocks, following the subtle shadow line.  Instead of using wool, I’ve used Quilters Dream, a poly cotton batting.  And the quilting is a bit slow.  There’s nothing like sewing with a wool batting. But wool batting is pricier.  

My red door just needs an outer border on three sides.  And then?  Perhaps some hand quilting.  I think I’ve identified where I want to hang this, despite objections from the other person in this house.

The remaining fabrics I need for the Windham fabric challenge using their artisan shot cottons have arrived.  So now I need to make more of these twisted pleat blocks and figure out a layout and finishing techniques.  Some quilters in my guild are so good at sketching things out and having a plan from the beginning.  Although I can work like that, usually I don’t.  And with this project? It’s taking shape as I go.

  

I love working with jelly rolls because they let me touch various fabrics that I normally wouldn’t buy.  And look at this Jelly roll pattern.  It’s striking!  And the pattern was a free download. This is on my to do list and would be perfect for retreat sewing,  and we just happen to have a retreat coming up in November! 

Last spring we stopped in Paducah on our way to Atlanta.  This pattern was at the check out counter.  And of course there was a kit to go with it.  I picked up the pattern and have been looking through my black and whites to see if perhaps this pattern might work.  These blocks are mosty a variation of a log cabin, just set on point.   To be determined…

These fabrics from Zen Chic are lovely, just not in my house.  I am reverting to my favorite pattern, Trip Around The World.  Who will this be for?  Like most of what I do, I don’t know but somehow quilts find their way to owners. 

So what is this mess above?  It is a box of scrap strips that will eventually used for a design like these scrappy blocks.  These blocks are for a charity quilt organized by guild member Jane.  And I loved making them.  

Ok. This post helps me to keep in mind what I am doing and what I want to do.  The end! 

Working Slowly and Happily

When I was an EQL (emerging quilt learner), I focused on getting things done as quickly as possible.  Before I became an ardent hand quilter, I would make fun of hand quilters and remind then machines were so much faster.  Oh, how wrong I was. And oh, how I have learned to slow down.   I also have been focused on function by making only useable things, no art quilts.  And again, to my surprise, I have been wrong.  There's a Windham artisan fabric challenge for the MQG.  You see the six colors at the left.  Generous guild member Rob treated several of us to six fat quarters.  and not to sound like a broken record, but - again - I decided I wanted to play and began to think about what I wanted to do.  And then?  I spent three days looking at various web sites and using my scraps to make practice pieces.  This is not the way I normally work!  But it's been fun. I'm eager to get back to my notes and this project. Fabric manipulation is something that intrigues me but its not practical for quilt.  But I'm tamping that practical side down for what will be an art quilt. 

While I was working on how to manipulate fabric, I was also working on this Park Sloan backpack by Sew Sweetness.  It was a tricky pattern but I love how it turned out.  My niece has this small version but I am also making the same bag in the bigger version.  

Great niece Eloise is the perfect model and will use this as her dance bag.

That lovely set of fat Cherrywood fat quarters is almost a quilt, and I'm thankful for my design wall. It's like instant gratification before I actually sew the blocks together.  I just barely had enough of the light background fabric.  And I was actually two blocks short of fabrics so there are two improve scrappy blocks in the corners.  

Life's rhythms are changing. I'm working differently.  And it's ok.  

Finding My Mojo

Breaking rhythm has always been a problem for me.  Certainly that was true of the school year and summer vacation and then trying to get back into the swing of things in September.  And this has carried over into my quilting life.  On a week- long cruise of the Columbia River in Oregon, I did absolutely no handwork or plotting or planning.  The most quilty thing I saw was at the Maritime Museum in Astoria, Oregon.  These silk pieces, about 20” x 20”, were carried by Japanese soldiers and pilots during World War II and were made by their family members.  Some of these flags/pennants were returned to families, and some are on display here in this museum.  I think these are lovely pieces.

In approaching the studio once we returned home, I’ve been overwhelmed with how poorly I am using my fabulousstudio space and how much stuff I am holding onto that I just don’t use.  So I started to purge.  I came across a Noodlehead Trail Tote kit, complete with Carolyn Friedlander fabrics.  Of course I had to stop and make it.  The piping joining the purse front and back is a great design feature.  

Quilty buddy Lauren gave me a packet of Cherrywood Far quarters last October.  I love these gentle colors and have been pondering what to do with them.  Each colored rectangle is 7” x 9” and will get a bit bigger with the shadowing and neutral sashing.  I love having a project like this going because once the math and cutting is done, the sewing is kind of automatic.  On those days when I am not sure what I want to work on, I know this project is all ready to go.  A full size quilt is my goal.  

One project that has been on my radar for quite a while is the Park Sling backpack, shown below.  Sara Lawson’s projects are always fun to do, and my great niece in Ann Arbor is at a perfect age for this.  Below the pattern picture is a range of fabrics that I’ll be using   To be determined…! 

 

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A Lazy Summer

 

 My sewing rhythm has been off.  I’m sure I could come up with reasons why.  But what’s important is just to recognize and perhaps even honor this down time.   My red door is now ready for finishing.  It’s a great napping size.  However, I think this should be a wall hanging.  Where?  Haven’t figured that out yet. I know I want to hand quilt it.  Ohhh, a winter hand project!

Friend Lauren gave me a lovely pack of Cherrywood fat quarters.  And I’ve just now decided what I want to do with them. This project will be a great way to resume a normal sewing rhythm once we return from Oregon on the 16th.  The cherrywood fabrics are wonderful to work with - I’m excited about this! 

So many of my friends are readers and even librarians.  And I’m finding some of the best books. When I had reluctant freshmen boys, Hatchet by Gary Paulson was a pretty sure bet.  Quilty/librarian Beth told me about The War That Saved. My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. Despite this book being a children’s or YA book, it is just terrific. And there’s a sequel. Quilty 

Eileen just recommended this book pictured.   And I’m eager to start it.  It’s not in audio format, so I will actually have to sit down and read!  Maybe it’ll be my vacation book…

All In Process

Crafters have different working styles.  Mine is to keep several projects going at once and be okay without a sense if completion.  And I’m pretty happy working like this.  The fabrics above are for a challenge sponsored by Windham.  For a couple of years challenges have not interested me.  But this one? For some reason I’m doing it.  My goal is to do some fabric manipulation using a pleating process.  In the middle is a practice sample in reds right beneath the challenge directions. Guild mate Rob Stoller generously bought fabrics and distributed/mailed them. 

My Chicago MQG is working on a charity project, headed by Jane and Omeleye. They came up with these scrappy blocks and supplied us with the background fabric.  Several of us are doing a total of eight 7.5” blocks.  It’s a fun way to approach scraps, and Jane’s directions gave us permission to throw away the scraps of our scraps.  Perfect!  I’m always searching for ways to use scraps, and I liked making these blocks.  I think I’ll use this pattern again.  

Look at the picture below.  It hangs in the Florida house of friends Dorothy and Greg.  The color and the lines appeal to me.  So here is my version of the red door.  My sister asked if I was becoming Episcopalian because they use red doors.  Who knew?  This door appeals to imagination.  What’s behind it? The big issue with this piece is going to be what to do with it.  Meanwhile I will just enjoy the process of working on it. 

And always purses for Sew Powerful.  Here are some from fat quarters I bought at Joann’s.  These purses1 are what give me the sense of completion I need. 

 

No Longer a Covid Virgin…

I can't believe it.  After being pretty careful for so long - including removing ourselves from  family Christmas 2020 and excluding two grandsons Christmas 2021 - I got Covid.  No, I don't know where or how.  And it wasn't horrible - really a bad cold sort of thing and maybe a bit low on energy.  But I did not feel like sewing at all.  So these six purses were really a push to get back into the swing of things.  And we just got back from Atlanta - we had to check our daughter Julie's new house.  We listened to a Karin Slaughter book on the way there and The Lincoln Highway on the way home.  So I'm still trying to reestablish a new normal.

My big news has nothing to do with sewing.  It really is about a family heirloom.  In the late 50's and early 60's my dad drove all over the area to tune pianos.  He was at the home of a church family in Beverly, and this family was getting ready to move to Oak Lawn.  This leader-glass shade was in their garbage pile.  Dad asked if he could have it, and the family said sure.  So he brought it home, and my mom had a couple of brass-polishing parties.  And then it was hung in the Western Springs dining room until they moved to LaGrange in the mid-70's.  Ad then it was in LaGrange.  At some point, perhaps after my folks moved back into the city, they offered it to Paula, who had the space and house in Freeport for it.  When Paula moved to St. Joe, of course the shade went with them.  When they moved from St. Joe to Benton Harbor, again the shade went along.  Paula is moving again and downsizing.  Meanwhile we have this fabulous dining room space.  Paula said she could part with the shade.  We met in LaPorte, IN and transferred the shade to my car.  Our electrician was here Monday.  And here it is...

If I saw this shade in a shop,  I would probably ask right by it.  But the family history - and my big dining room - makes me love it.  And it really does seem to finish off our dining room beautifully.

I must admit I do feel a bit sullied after Covid. Oh, well - I'll get over that feeling. Meanwhile Ive been thankful for my vaccinated and boosted status.

A little kiss block made by Eileen which sometimes holds my threaded needles.