029.Violet Bick's Sunrise - aka E-5, Rising Sun

This one's for all the 'Violet Bicks' out there. A little nod also to Hatch Show Print - definitely on my list of things that make me happy... check it out - http://www.hatchshowprint.com/ 

Finished block.

 

 Prepped the pieces - extra large - what a concept!

Pretty fast assembly when you're not dicking around with trying to use pieces that are just big enough.

 Trimming, keeping an extra 1/4" til it's all put together.

1st half

Here's the back after sewing it together. I think i tried to pin it but it was just too bulky in the center. I basted it first a little outside the seam allowance. inside? anyway, then I went back with the smaller stitches and got lucky - it all lined up. I was gonna enjoy splaying the points to make that nice rosette but it wasn't cooperating so I just took a scissors to it. No apologies. No regrets.

Ah, that's better. phew.

Removing paper. Isn't this a thing of beauty.

A play-by-play: Removing the paper...

Pick a seam and "pop" it by pushing up a little on the front of the seam toward the back.

Folding back the seam - makes it easier to remove paper.

Tear toward the seam but a bit away from the beginning or end of the stitching line. This puts the least stress on the seam and helps avoid pulling the stitches loose.

Take it easy... this is not the time to be a cowboy.

Gee, kinda wishing i had pressed that material before I used it.

Time to trim her up. OK, i should have waited to remove the paper and to trim it til the center applique was finished. But it worked OK. (but it was harder)

On to the Purps!

It's time... the purps are here! Translation: I am moving on from the blue diamonds to the purple trip! I'm laying out my purples and purply shirtings to make sure I have enough to cover it - looks like i need 16. Then there's the issue of value and hue... oh dear. what to do what to do.

The blue violets... 

the lights

the grays

The red-violets

Gee, could have sworn I had about 30 more purps than this.

T10.RS4, Dutch Apron

 

Oooh, loved making this so much. Something about the fabrics and the design.

Still need to trim it with the triangle ruler.

028.H-5, Michael's Motorcycle

What's wrong with this picture? Well, if you figure it out, let me know cause
i'm honestly not sure how that happened... But "I'm OK with it."

T09.The Women of Qumar - aka BR5, Gay's Glory

Finished block

The "little bit more than halfway "mark. Loved this background fabric! Not sure what it is though. Wish I had bought more to use as a backing for something.

I swear at this point it was trying to turn itself into a 3-D triangle. I had to beat it down. It's never pretty seeing the sausage getting made...

Done sewing all the rows together but - Ack! Can't.... Find.... The Dear Jane rulers!!! don't panic... don't panic...

I panicked. 

I ended up disemboweling the crap room searching for the needle in the haystack...

DJ triangle ruler... L O S T   &

F O U N D . phew!

It's All About the Org.

Take one glance at my "guest" (hahahahhaaaa) room or my basement ::shudder:: and you would never know I am capable of great organizational feats. Well, you would never know I'm not a complete disaster. Well, (hey if I keep digging down for the truth on this one it's gonna get ugly...)

When our Dear Jane club leader challenged us to document how we organize our quilting stuff I had to laugh. I can't even quilt right now -- that room is *that* bad. 

Still, I wanted to show up for class and not have to say the dog ate my homework again. So I pulled off an adrenaline-fueled cliff notes kinda thing and here it is:

C L E A R  .  P L A S T I C  .  S T O R A G E  .

Why?  It's see-through. You can see what you have. It's a little more elegant than colored totes with colored lids. It minimizes the cluttered effect of a very cluttered space. You never need to worry about matching anything or getting enough cause if it's all clear/white, it will always match. I stand by it.

Magazine Storage. I keep a handful on file - design reference only...

Panning down we see my wide array of plastic storage options... Bins, large & small, envelopes, folders, shoeboxes... OK, this looks pretty bad I suppose, but it is actually organized. That box that says "Bills" is just to see if you're paying attention. There really aren't any bills in there. I can't go any further down though, it wouldn't be pretty.

Little bins in big bins... This is what remains of my craft & scrapbook supplies... I'm completely converted to quilting and I don't think I'm ever going back.

Large bins for large collections... I swear these were folded when I put them in this cabinet.

Fabric by type: modern/colorful, 30s repro, sock monkey, batiks... My largest collection, the civil war repros are broken down further by color and value. When I started my 'Jane's Addicted' quilt a couple years ago I went through the whole shebang and reorganized specifically for that quilt. I think I need to hit it again though...

Smaller bins for smaller collections...

Plastic pouches & ziplocs for needlework...

Smallest bins - my collection of charm packs.

Teeny tiny boxes for teeny tiny projects... Here are my hexies... So cute. 

B O O K S   &   B I N D E R S

This is about a third of my creative books/catalogs. I keep old Hancock's of Paducah catalogs for fabric reference... You can't see this but there are a zillion post its sticking out the other side of all of these.

Besides clear plastic storage, the other thing I'm a little obsessed with is Binders and sheet protectors. This is from my fabric binder. For awhile there I was printing out swatches of every fabric line that interested me. Organized by manufacturer, then designer, then line. I couldn't keep up with it but I wish I could.

Sometimes I use it as an inventory tool... I just note what I have of each fabric. Again, good idea but hard to maintain. The little tabs on the side are handy for customizing your binders.

N E E D L E W O R K

Just a bunch of silk floss in a bag. Gotta keep things contained. I got most of these
at a thrift store (!!) for a couple bucks total. Yee haw.

These clear plastic envelopes are great for a needlework project. The plastic is rigid enough that it helps protect a pattern book. The clear is handy cause you can see at a glance what you're packing. And they fit neatly in your briefcase...

Another needlework storage solution. Large plastic vinyl zippered pouch for the instructions and fabric. These are very durable. Probably at least water resistant - maybe not water proof... Small one (or ziploc) for the thread and other notions.

Q U I L T I N G   .   P R O J E C T S

I use 12x12x6-ish totes with a handle on top. They stack and you can easily pick them up and take 'em with you when you're leaving the house. I wish mine had clear or white lids but they have blue. Yes, it annoys me but what can you do.

In the bottom I put the bulkier/uncut fabrics.

Then the cut scraps.

Then the finished blocks or block components...

Followed by the design notes & pattern.

Finished quilt top on top.

Here's another example... larger fabric pieces on the bottom.

Scraps.

Design notes and pattern. This one is done but it's out for quilting...

Always helps to put a color, large-ish photo of the project on the end of the box so you can see at a glance what's what.

T O   .   G O   .   K I T S 

Our club leader Val is a master at this. I could learn a thing or two from her on this topic - and have ! Here's what mine usually looks like... english paper piecing templates, fabric scraps for that, finished pieces, mini sewing kits, smaller scale notions... 

Tins and little cases are handy. I really love that thread bobbin tin. The magnetic grommit is great for holding threaded needles.

That's it for now. If I ever get the floor cleared off and reorganize the room I'll post pics. : )