Salvaged Pumpkin Patch in Spring

What am I doing making a mini pumpkin quilt in April?! But isn't it cute?

This is a modified design based on what was leftover after my son took a pair of scissors to it!

This is what I found when I came back after making lunch... Even the dog knew something was wrong. haha

At this point I could see something really bad had happened...
This is just a tiny little quick project but I still stood there, frozen with my hands over my mouth.

Surveying the damage...

Three out of six of the rows had been pretty well maimed. I decided to try a layout with just the large pumpkin but found that I was still short about 4 oranges. After diving (picture dumpster diving) into my "stash" I surfaced with a couple acceptable replacements and swapped them in. I don't know about you, but it takes me a really long time to figure out how to make everything random. Isn't there a quilting term for that? If not, there should be.  I had to disassemble a lot of it to remove the cut up pieces and make the new design work. I still had fun even though it was pretty annoying walking in and finding that situation under the table. But I couldn't get mad. I know he wasn't trying to wreck anything - he was just trying to quilt! And who can fault him for that... I'll tell you though - it made me realize I need to step up my security system for my Jane Stickle quilt. Right now I have all my blocks in a couple bags and was planning on basting them to a king-sized sheet til I can finish it

So who needs two pumpkins anyway... There's still some stitching and finishing to do.

New Fabric & Old Letters...

 New Fabric...

 I say "recovering" fabric hoarder - and I'm pretty good generally, but I have my moments of weakness...


I bravely bought 4 yards of this great vintage postcard backing - probably going to use with the Christmas Twist kit I bought a few years ago... Also bought a couple more yards of the primitive gatherings background thinking it was a new, lighter color. NOPE. It's the same one I already have four yards of for the Sweet 16 quilt. arrrgh. so annoying. But it's a great color and I will be able to use this for my Jane's Addicted quilt or any number of others.

I'm always on the hunt for great shirtings... Shirtings often seem to have dark red, navy or black prints which make them too harsh a lot of times - you don't want high contrast in a background... you just want shirtings to chill - which these all do - love 'em. The stack above includes:

• Pam Buda's "Heart of the Prairie" shirtings #4996, #4994, etc. by Marcus Bros. These are so great with the mottled background, ivory tones and soft color prints. Keep it coming, Pam!
• Paula Barnes' "Bonnie Blue Basics" #3380 by Marcus Bros.
• Nancy Gere's "Women of Courage" #34107B by Windham
• Jo Morton's #5688 by Andover

picked up a few homespuns on clearance...

and a small set of batiks...

 ... and Old Letters

The photos below are of correspondence between Fred Jones and my grandmother, Telsa Edmunds. These are special not just because they're completely charming old letters, but his handwriting - both the script and the incredible 1920s style print - are just amazing. I suspect Mr. Jones must have been an artist of some kind. I hope he didn't waste that penmanship clerking like Bob Cratchett for some cold banker... Plus, you can tell he was sweet on her, although as it turned out, my grandfather won out in the end, not poor Mr. Jones.

Jones' father emigrated from Wales to America with Telsa's father (my great grandfather)... The senior Jones returned to Wales but my great grandfather stayed here - and the rest is history. I would L O V E to go to Wales and see the sights. My mom and dad, aunt and uncle have gone there and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

 

"THREE HALF PENCE"

St. Louis, MO - Jan 19 - 5:30pm - 1925

 

 

 

022.Seesters - aka I-2, Kaye's Courtyard

This one was a little bit of a challenge fussy-cutting the ladies into the four corners. Not perfect but kind of cool. I'm calling this one Seesters as a tribute to sisters, sisters-in-law, sisters-by-choice, and sisters in our communities of interest. That sounds real formal but I just mean the women you have a lot in common with whom you cherish having in your life.

fuuuuuddddggggeeee.

This Fons & Porter seam ripper is not recommended usage.
1) the cap doesn't stay on. 2) it's so ergonomically chubby, it's hard to store
3) since it's round and heavy, it has a tendency to roll off my sewing desk
and put holes in my feet. I need a new seam ripper stat!

T06.Christmas in June - aka TR-5, Michigan Dunes

Christmas in Juuu-uuune... doodoo do dooo dooooo. Here's what you get for making Christmas ornaments in June. You get bitten by the Christmas bug. what?! Well, one block and it's out of my system 'til October. Probably be useful to keep it around through the summer and get all the Christmas gifts made now instead of sweating it out late and not making it like usual. Now that's a chilling thought.

I indulged myself with this - with a fun block and two of my all-time favorite fabrics... and for this fabric junkie, that's saying something. Flash robs her of her beauty, but this is really a beautiful print - both of them really. And together, they're very happily matched.

The irony of it all is after making ma-aaaany of these, assembly-line style, and perfecting the method, I screwed up the big one and had a hell of a time getting the points to match. But I beat it into submission eventually. Only issue is it's a little shy on the Dear Jane ruler and a bit wonky to boot. Sometimes I think when the time comes to assemble these triangle rows, by the time I get to the end they will be laying on their side. Talk about cold sweats... But moving on... Onward and upward!

One of my favorite fabrics of all time. L o v e it.

This guy too.

Christmas in June

Vintage rick-rack hanger... quilted body...
and vintage buttons on the bottom...

It's Christmas in June! Here we are again... the final days of the school year and nothing in hand ready to go for end-of-the-year teacher gifts. With a son with special needs, teacher gifts doesn't mean one or two gifts - it means 13. A thank you note or a $10 gift card just doesn't seem to cut it - I always INTEND to do better next time - something hand-made... something quilty maybe? Which brings me to Christmas... These were actually Christmas gifts (in my imagination) that I never got around to making...

Anyone recognize this block? I took the Christmassy "Michigan Dunes" block, lopped off the top, scaled it down, and started piecing... Turned out cute I think - a lot of work though... Only 2.5 down, many more to go. Will she get it done? Or will she pull something else out of her ass? Will she be able to part with a good stash of vintage buttons to people who may not even appreciate them (?) Well, at the very least, I ended up with a couple cute new ornies.

trying to remind myself to "go this way!" amazing how messy
it all looks before it gets trimmed up.

018.Betty's Blue Skies - aka A-12, Framed Fancy

Betty's Blue Skies

still a little confused on when to/when not to
remove paper-piecing paper on back...

017.Arietty's Got a Case of the Cabin Fever - aka A-9, Cabin Fever

Arietty's Got a Case of the Cabin Fever

So anyway, I was in my happy tree working on another blue diamond late last night. It's hard to explain just how motivating it is to have a blog to come to with updates on the project (not that anyone's really listening) - but there's some illusion of accountability. Hard to describe - but since it's working maybe I shouldn't pay it too much attention. Avert my eyes. Just keep on keepin on. dododododooo.

Recap:  - so happy with the results. 45 pieces?? wow. I am trying to remember to add extra fabric to the outside edges so there's enough to trim down to 5" but I shorted the sides on this one a bit. Still within the seam allowance though. The other technical note is that I've tried to use the "pin trick" where you locate where the intersections need to meet in order to have the corners meet. I have not been having great luck with it. Seemed like when I inserted the pin all the way in it shifted the fabric and when I left the ends of the pin loose it still didn't really hold it in place. This time, I put the pin in and then holding the fabric very tightly, inserted the end in perpendicular to the seam, positioned the fabric under the needle about .25" from the intersection, took a stitch or two with the hand wheel (not the foot pedal) then eased the pin out a bit. Then sewed through the intersection to about .25 beyond and then picked up and did the opposite side, then the middle, then the whole thing from end to end. And whoo hoo - as you can see it worked (this time). But obviously that's very labor-intensive ... I guess I just got lucky with the diamond's intersections - kind of forgot to check for those.

I wonder if anyone else making this quilt has set a limit for themselves - a tolerance for imperfection - like if it's less than a 1/16" off let it go - or whatever... Seems like an eighth is too much for such a small block but I do have a few of those anyway. Sometimes 1/32" seems too large. Just depends on the block I guess. This one exceeded my expectations (even thought it's still not perfect) so I'll just focus on that. 45 pieces! Go, self!

almost done - just needs the outer edges...

Stumbled on the 1997 movie "The Borrowers" with Jim Broadbent and John Goodman. After thoroughly haaaating the recent anime inspired "Arietty," this was a genuine treat. Now, I was not much of a reader when I was a kid, but the Borrowers - with their miniature, ingeniously improvised tools and red blotter carpeting - always captured my imagination. The production design (Gemma Jackson) was a-mayyyyy-zing! Eye candy from end to end. Delightful bonus tidbit: she was also the production designer for Bridget Jones' Diary. So, who's the one who really makes every detail so brilliant and perfect? Art director? Production designer? the uncredited slave-team under her? Anyway, it was great.

Since Arietty's got so much spunk, and loves pretty little things, I dedicate this block to her. Arietty: here's to you, little sister. May you always find a way to escape your cabin fever and enjoy the finer things in life and high-speed adventures 'til the end of your days.

Arietty has a bad case of cabin fever!

interesting cloud formations the last few days. pretty.

Lighter blue fabric: #5686 from "Alexandria," Jo Morton/Andover.
Darker fabric: #1037-0120 from "Paula Barnes Basics," (Bonnie Blue), Paula Barnes, Marcus Brothers.
Background fabric: #24381-1 or -2 from "Vintage Muslins," Windham.

011.Mac and Muff

Jane's Addicted block name:
Original position: I-7
Jane's Addiction position: tbd
Fabric/foreground: by Jo Morton
Fabric/background: Primitive muslin by primitive gatherings / Moda #1040 (lighter)
Color Group: medium blue
Wave: diamonds
Date started: 2/24/12
Date finished:
Time: 2+
Pieces: 15
Method: paper piecing & applique tbd. Didn't paper piece outer border. (are you supposed to?)
Notes: love the fabric used in the cross. I think this was from Gretchen.
Watching: reruns of the office on netflix. Ahhh, lovely Jim.

4.5" blocks: 6
Triangles: 1
Kites: 0
Total blocks: 9
Total number of pieces: 158

010.Cathedral Window

Block name: Cathedral Window
Jane's Addicted block name: Mildred Pierce
Original position: D-5
Jane's Addiction position: tbd
Fabric/foreground: Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum Collection 3 by Judie Rothermel
Fabric/background: Jo Morton # 5331
Color Group: medium blue
Wave: diamonds
Date started: 10/28/11
Date finished: 10/29/11
Time: 4
Pieces: 21
Method: paper piecing
Notes: loving this background fabric. Ripped out about 10 seams. Had some trouble removing sewn-in paper from some little corners. Still not clear when to rip paper out and when to leave it. Also fretting a bit about leaving traces of paper in the stitching and glue (lots of glue) in the seam allowances. hmmm.

4.5" blocks: 8
Triangles: 3
Kites: 0
Total blocks: 11
Total number of pieces: 256

Today I also cut paper pieces for a few more blue diamond blocks and pulled paper from the checkerboard triangle block. I have figured out that good things to have prepped to do as busy work are:
- cutting up preprinted paper piecing sheets ---> ziplocs for later piecing
- tracing shapes to be appliqued onto freezer paper ---> then cutting out shapes/ironing on selected fabric, etc.

Other misc. work would be:
- selecting fabric for various blocks and colorways I haven't decided on yet
- removing paper, pressing and trimming down completed blocks
- pre-printing block patterns and instructions
- updating binder
- updating virtual design wall
- updating blog

Watching Mildred Pierce.
Love how she color-coordinates
with my block.

Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum Collection III
Judie Rothermel

Jo Morton