Traditional blocks into Modern Quilt

Let's play some catchup on one of the things I've been up to this year...

I just finished up a challenge with  the Augusta MQG. It started out as a giant stack of orphan blocks donated by Branum's, the LQS where we meet. They were distributed in paper bags and we did not know what we were getting. I got some real lovelies and most of them looked about like this...

I did get two Amish blocks, you can see them in the first photo, and one paper pieced Asian block, which I will share at the end of this post.

Our challenge was to make these mostly traditional blocks look modern and the resulting quilts would be donated to charity.

I started by slicing up my generic traditional blocks. These represent non-Amish communities.

I saved my two Amish blocks intact because I LOVE traditional Amish quilts. I placed them in the top and bottom rows.

The black patches with red and orange improv triangles represent Amish buggies with caution signs on the back traversing through the countryside.

I started out with  solid green patches but then I Googled Lancaster, PA and could not believe how similar my layout was representing the lay of the land with two large swaths of Amish areas divided by Lancaster. The big difference was the green on the satellite map was very striated. I then sliced up my greens to replicate that detail.

The rows of blues and purples represent Amish girls standing in rows. I am going to add a few more strips.

The gray strips are roads and I'm still on the fence as to how much to include.

So far, I have one and a half rows complete and the others are still in preview.

I plan to quilt the town area in criss-crossing straight lines to represent electrical wires and the green areas will be in channeled rows to give a sense of planted fields. 

I am calling this quilt Lancastered. 

My husband is crazy about this project and does not want me to donate it. I am with him, not because I am crazy about it. I want to keep it because I do not see this making a very comfortable quilt. It is better suited as a wall piece. I may have to see if I can work out a cash donation in lieu of this project with my guild.

Now, here's the finish...

But, I did create one quilt that I think fits the challenge.

I took my single Asian paper pieced block, which was beautiful on its own, and floated it in an asymmetrical background of Kona Snow.

I backed it in this cut I picked up at Jeff's, our other LQS. I found it on the sale rack and it's a Deb Strain pattern. I had a more pinky-peach piece that I was planning to use but it was a bit off so I was thrilled when I got this home and realized it was perfect!

I put it on my Grace frame and quilted it in this overlapping wavy line design. I love it and will be using this design again.

I finished it with a binding of Kona Snow to keep with a minimalist look.

We turned in our projects at our meeting last week and we voted on whose project best represented the challenge of re-making traditional into modern. We only had to turn in a complete top but mine was so simple I finished it. There were several finished projects but mostly tops were turned in. The winner will be announced at our next meeting. I'm on pins and needles.

Thanks for visiting!

Linked with Let's Bee Social #117

Quilt Fabrication's Midweek Makers #12

Don't Sweat It

With the exception of a few very ambitious walks and a few spins on the Precor, that title may be my theme for 2016 if I don't get off my duff more often.

My quilty set up, which is visible beyond the elliptical, is even more neglected this year. The Juki spent weeks in my sewing room working on small projects and then went on retreat so the cradle has sat empty and alone for more than a month. 

It's hard to tell, but that is the latest episode of Sherlock on the iPad. Loved it!

So here is the final reveal of my Michael Miller Challenge that did not make the QuiltCon cut. My aversion to metallic fabrics only allowed me to use the Glitz to piece the word 'Glisten' so it is a little light on the feature fabrics.

The letters are paper pieced using Diane Bohn's My First Alphabet and the apostrophe is from her My Numbers & Punctuation. I purchased these on Craftsy.

All of the solids are in MM's Cotton Couture.

As I've mentioned before, the back is made with a Michael Miller fabric that I repurposed from a Tag Sale blouse purchase.

The 'photos' double as the tag.

I am very happy with this project and it is set to go keep my neglected elliptical, Juki and Grace Frame company in the bonus room. I am hoping this will give me the incentive to go visit my machines more often...say five times per week? I think a frequent glistening would do me good.

Thanks for visiting!

Pedal's 2016-Finish-A-Long Q1

Here's my list for the the the Q1 2016 Finish-A-Long...

Projects that are ready to quilt & bind:
QOV/Mystery at the Library
MIL's Pink
MIL's Yellow
MIL's Bright
Christmas Tree Pants

These blocks are ready to join:
Lotta Baby Blocks

Here's what I am currently piecing:
Cotton & Steel Basics Dog Gone Cute
Melanie's Quilt

Misc. Projects:
Christmas Pizza Box Pillow

Projects on deck:
4 Quilted baskets
3 Dish Drying Mats
4 Outdoor Pillow Covers

I am going to a three day retreat with my traditional guild this month and I am confident that the ready to quilt queue will get longer before it gets shorter!

I'm linking up with Debbie at A Quilter's Table

2016 Quilting and Social Media Goals

Quilting Jetgirl has created a 2016 Planning Linky Party and it was just the nudge I needed to finally sit down and tap out a blog post. Thank you Yvonne!

I knew I would have a number of goals for 2016 and in preparation to meet them I invested in a planner a few months ago. You can read my Fluropink Filofax intro post HERE.

I have been making and testing out inserts and I have settled on using simple black line pages. I used and made some with color and realized that they were just too busy for my taste.

Here's my second attempt at a Swap Tracking page.

I like it much better than my colorful original that had two swaps on the front and notes on the back. Now each swap has its own leaf with more room for planning and a few more checkoff details.

Next up will be a redesign of my Project Tracking page. As you can see, I have two quilts per leaf and I like to remove the pages when the project is complete. Now I can't do it until both projects are complete. It's not fun having to delay that 'finished' satisfaction of getting to pull out a page.

This planner will hopefully go a long way in keeping my 2016 goals front and center.

So, on to my 2016 Goals:

Get back on the blogging wagon. Goal two posts per week.

Quilt my QOV and the three projects my MIL gave me (she fell out of love with) so that they can go to loving homes and bring comfort to others.

Create a share worthy original design. Maybe host a sew-a-long. (Real long shot)

Revisit my 2015 Goal Fails and either cut them from 2016 or get them done. I'm a newish quilter, my tastes are still in development so not all of my 2015 Fails still hold priority.

I am the Program Director in the Augusta MQG and I want to dial into the job better. I'd like to book a workshop for the guild during our 2016-2017 year. We are still small (but growing) and would need to piggy back a visit with a high profile personality or book a budget friendly personality from our region. Feel free to contact me if you have a program to share.

Participate in more swaps. I've done two and I find them fun.

Try EPP. Our guild is having a demo next month so this may be a gimme.

Try a variety of Appliqué methods. I did some iron-on in the 90's but I need to revisit that technique and move up to the big girl table and do some Needle Turn.

This is a biggie, fight my Night-Owl predisposition and become more productive in the AM hours. This will be hard since I'm well into my 50's.

Lastly, I'd like to get proficient with Periscope. This will take personal practice and I need to fix the wifi dead-zone that I call a sewing studio.

Thanks again Yvonne for this great Linky Party!

I'll leave you with a few more Filofax shots because who can resist that shocking pink!

My soon-to-be revised Blog Tracker/Planner page.

Thanks a bunch for visiting!

Michael Miller is In the Can

This has been a project of running with those first thoughts that jump in my head that I don't even know are coming. "Whoa, where did that come from?" kinda thoughts that happen when I'm not in brainstorm mode.

My mild potty humor blog title slithered through my brain as I was putting the final touches on the binding so, of course, I had to run with it too. It didn't start out as potty humor but as a phrase I have heard used to signify that a film project is complete. It took a few seconds for my mind to take it around the corner to the old Sir Walter Raleigh phone prank.

As this is my first foray into QuiltCon Challenge Land, I am not sure of the sharing protocol so I am not going to give a full reveal today. The weather is also too dark and gray to get good photos and I want to do the quilt justice so I have two excuses to just share snippets.

How "Let's Glitz Physical" came to me:

I just happened to be on my computer when the initial challenge invite popped up and I quickly filled out the form and waited to see if I would get the a bundle. Yes! I wasn't a day late and a dollar short this time.

I had no idea what I was going to do with this sparkly fabric. I am not a metallic fabric fan. I am very tactile and metallic ink/dyes ruin the touch for me. I wear minimal jewelry and am not comfortable with a lot of bling. And the kicker is that I am super sensitive to glitter. It smells funny, hurts my eyes and makes my skin crawl. Just looking at metallic fabric can give me the glitter heebie-jeebies.

I was in a bit of a panic about this project and then the little bundle of joy arrived in my mailbox.

As soon as I touched it I had one thought....My theme was set in motion. The whole quilt top flashed before my eyes. My only decisions were what color Michael Miller Couture solids to use, which pieces of Glitz I would use for the centerpiece feature and what pattern I would use for the feature.

I was to make one major change to my layout. A few days after the bundle arrived I had a short visit with Son #1 and when I shared my idea with him it was met with a very ominous and pensive silent stare. I thought he hated it but he was actually just laying out the top in his head. His first comment was "How are you going to justify it?" 

Um, I am the Mom, I don't have to justify anything to you Son, I brought you into this....

Not really, I knew exactly what he meant. 

Me : "Well, I was planning to center it..."

Him: "Did you ever think about Right?"

He was spot on and another snap decision was set.

My original thought was to use up the extra Glitz for the back but a few days later another unsolicited thought erupted.

That handmade camp shirt I bought at a yard sale in 2013 that I thought was quilting fabric and when I researched it at home didn't I find it on the Michael Miller site? Yes! And it compliments my theme! Perfect!

So I ordered my Couture and my pattern and set to work when all arrived and the project turned out just as my mind's eye pictured it. I love it and it may be my favorite project of my short quilting career.

I fussy cut my camp shirt and created a photograph look for the back. This allowed me to eliminate a traditional label as I have written my quilt information on the white photo frames.

The title, Let's Glitz Physical popped up one day when I was laying the quilt out on my design wall. It turns out "Glitz" is one of those words you can plug into other things. I told a guild mate my title and she immediately popped it into her title too! 

My repurposed fabric even has the Michael Miller brand printed on it in a couple places. I love these ladies!

My binding skills have improved since I started quilting and this one turned out beautiful.

So, now I'm waiting for the clouds to clear so I can get some good photos. I'll probably get the Hubs to shoot them since I have such dismal photography skills and his are above average. 

Can't wait to see all the other Michael Miller QuiltCon West Challenge projects.

Thanks for visiting.

Pedal's Pups on the Dog Gone Cute Blog Hop

Week 6 of the Sew Fresh Quilts Dog Gone Cute Blog Hop

I've always had a thing for little white spotted dogs. I think it runs in the family because I have some adorable photos of my dad as a little boy with his own spotted pup sitting on the running board of his dad's car in the 1930's. Then, my Great-granddad Smith had a Fox Terrier named Pooch that I just adored when I was a chubby little toddler in the early 1960's.

Our first Jack Russell Terrier was a sweet little girl named Agatha and now we have a scruffy little broken coat guy we call Cooper.

So, Lorna, of Sew Fresh Quilt's, Dog Gone Cute pattern was a project that I had to make at least once. My first go round was the large block that I modified to resemble Cooper. (For more Info CLICK HERE)

But one Dog Gone Cute project was not enough for me so I purchased a bundle of C&S basics to make a colorful version on a three by three grid using the small block. I have six of my nine blocks finished.

I chose to use Charcoal Kona for my background and White Kona for the faces. I really like the perky ear with the pink HST so all my pups sport that look. It reminds me of that intense Jack Russell gaze that tells you they are always ready for fun.

Here's the colors I have on deck. I'm partial to that vaseline green color and I can't wait to add that block to the pack.

My plan is to do the thin sashing, border and binding all in the Charcoal Kona.

I'm not even finished with this version and I'm already contemplating a third.

Now, here's the Blog Hop line up:

Tuesday, October 6
Karen of Run Sew Fun
Kris of Kris Loves Fabric
Anja of Anja Quilts
Kelly of Quilting it Out
Tish of Tish’s Adventures in Wonderland

Thursday, October 8
Carol of Just Let Me Quilt
Nina of Inchworming
Doris of The Quilting Queen Online
Brandy of Pampered Pettit
Leena of Creative Instincts

Tuesday, October 13
Ruth of Charly and Ben’s Crafty Corner
Tanya of Tanya Quilts in Colorado
Laurel of Quilts by Laurel
Kathy of Kathy’s Quilting Blog
Deb of New Creative State

Thursday, October 15
Anita of Daydreams of Quilts
Gina of Quilts and Cakes
Beth of Words & Stitches
Rachel of Quiltineering
Julie of Mack and Mable

Tuesday, October 20 - Current Week
Cathy of A Quilting Chick
Selina of Selina Quilts
Shauna of Shauna’s World
Gayle of Pedal Sew Lightly
Kathy of Kayak Quilting

Thursday, October 22
Sandy of Upstairs Hobby Room
Heide of Heide’s Quilty Hugs
Britt-Inger of Hill Valley Quilter

Judy of How ART You?

Louisa of Sewmotion

Tuesday, October 27
Teje of Nero’s Patch and Post

Stephanie of Jak and Will
Valerie of Val’s Quilting Studio
Ellen of Georgia Florida Studio
Cristina of Pretty Little Quilts

Thursday, October 29
Abigail of Cut & Alter
Magdalena of iloveneutrals
Jenn of A Quarter Inch from the Edge
Anne of Batiks by the Bay
Susie of Susie's Sunroom
Tracy of Tracy’s Bits N Pieces

Thanks for visiting!

Gotta Excuse for Cheeky Lotta

I've got a new excuse to do some shopping. It's called a 2007 David Winick Airstream International 75th Anniversary Edition Bambi. Quite a title for 19' of fun. We are driving up to Charlotte on Thursday to pick it up and will have a two night shake down trip in the South Carolina mountains.

It's been a couple of years since we sold our 2007 Airstream Westfalia and I have incorporated much of my camping equipment into our home and I passed even more of it on to Son #1 when he transitioned into apartment living. That means I have been replacing some of those missing essentials. 

My favorite RV haunts are Ikea, Target and Marshall's. We stopped at Ikea after we put the contract on the Bambi last week. 

I made the trip to Marshall's and Target yesterday and I had to have a little cheeky Lotta while it's available. Here's my haul.

Paper is not our default but it's handy to have on hand. I know why I chose the bright blue bowls and yellow cups, that was all they had available. I am just not sure why I didn't opt for any of the lighter blue options. Are you ever surprised at your choices when you get home and unpack?

The yellow is a great choice since the David Winick interior is gray and yellow. The bright blue, not so much, but it's Lotta!

Here's some snaps we took when we met the Bambi for the first time.

Love that porthole door!

She's number 57 of the 75 Airstream made.

Love the wood, aluminum, tweedy fabrics and Marmoleum floor and counters.

Another porthole, this one's in the bathroom door.

Special David Winick touch for the screen door.

We are so excited to be in the Airstream family again. We said good-bye to the Westy in August of 2012 when we were going through our big life retooling. This Bambi is like a cross between our first two Airstreams.

Our first was a 2004 28' International CCD with orange interior. Loved it to death and we had some memorable family experiences in it but it was too big for our life stage. We wanted something that was easy to use that we could park in a single space so we moved down into the tiny Westfalia.

The Bambi is a nice compromise between the 28' CCD and the 19' Westy. I wish I had photos on this computer to share but you can go HERE for the CCD and HERE for the Westy if you are interested. They are both pretty mod looking beasts.

Here's the only CCD photo I have on this computer. It shows Cooper as a youngster playing in a rare snow covered yard.

Here's the Westy at a rowing regatta in Oakridge TN. It was great because we were the team cooks and we could usually camp right at the venue.

Here's a mockup of the new rig:

This will fit into two end-to-end parking spaces.

One great thing about the new Bambi is it gives me a reason for some selfish sewing! Can you say Pillow Covers!

Thanks for visiting!