From One Extreme to Another!

 On November 21st, 2017

I showed this 'lifetime' project for the first time 

and here is my progress to date.

Sunrise Scraps by Edyta Sitar.

I fell in love with this quilt when I saw it in person 

at Road to California.

Admittedly,

I have not worked on it consistently for quite awhile.

All those hourglass blocks finish at 1 1/2" each 

and I only need to make 672 of them.

If I would have done the math back in 2017,

I may not of started this quilt.

Construction involves putting 8 hourglasses together with sashing into a unit.

There are 84 units needed.

I have 34 done.

My goal for the summer is to get 50 sewn.

However, I underestimated how many different fabrics I would need to bring with me.

So my quilty friend, Deb,

 sent me a wonderful collection of 4" squares 

of fabrics I did not have.

To make this quilt interesting and special,

I may ask my other sewing circle of friends to cut 4" squares

 of their favorite, reproduction fabrics to add to the mix.

Not that I don't have enough fabric to finish it up!

It would just be fun and give more variety.

In the meantime,

my flannels arrived.

This is a panel by Riley Blake.

I should have added an inner stop border,

but it is too late now. 

Put the borders on in less than a few hours 

and now I have a potential Christmas gift.

Because, who does not love gnomes!

I also pieced this big block, 60" x 72" quilt using

Primitive Gathering Farmhouse flannels.

Cut and pieced it in just a few days 

and I have enough squares for a second one.

It is a completed flimsy, 

but this is the cutest picture of it.

So the last few weeks my piecing has gone from one extreme to the other...

precision small scale piecing to quick, large scale stitching.

Flannel is so difficult for me to work with!!

I cannot for the life of me keep it from stretching, 

therefore very few of my intersections went together nicely. 

I resorted to using my walking foot late in the process, pinning and lots of trimming;

but eventually I just had to accept the imperfections.

Personally, 

I prefer the challenge of small scale, precision piecing,

even if it takes years to complete!

Oh, I forgot to report on the quilt shop I visited in Durango.

The Stitch a Quilt Store on Main St. was recently featured in

BHG Quilt Sampler Magazine.

Lovely, light filled shop with brights, batiks, beautiful color wall,

a Bernina dealer, longarm services and a sweet shop dog. 

Although they did not have what I was looking for,

I will go back!

Happy Easter

Thought I would share these 2 small quilts, 

designed by Edyta Sitar.

I finished them a while back,

but love the spring colors in them.

I am following Sue Spargo's Toned Down Circle Sampler on Instagram 

and I am finding such peace stitching each circle while I drink my coffee early in the morning.

Beats reading the highly disturbing news!

Her video tutorials are so helpful! 

And I can save them to refer back to anytime.

I keep busy by dyeing wool for The Olde World Quilt Shoppe.

You can see most of my wool if you click on the link above.

Sometimes it is just work when I am dyeing colors I have dyed a hundred times before, 

but when I can experiment, that is when I enjoy it.

This has been such a sad week with so many lives lost.

I hope all is well with you and your loved ones.

Stay healthy and stay safe!

A Girl and her Machine

Although I enjoy handwork, my first love is piecing with my machine...

especially small scale piecing!

Here is the beginning of a lifetime project, 

Sunrise Scraps by Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts.

When I saw this quilt last January at Road to California, I knew I had to commit to making it. 

I fell in love with all things she designs.

Just finished this little handful of scraps called Olivia.

I still continue to do handwork and wool applique.

Working on Father Christmas by 1894 Cottonwood House.

Finished my second block of Solstice Dreams

and embellished the first block of Crimson Tweed.

My friend, Deb and I are working together on a shoppe sample for a BOM starting in January.

Garden Whimsy by Norma Whaley of Timeless Traditions.

As usual, I have too many irons in the fire.

Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

Among other things, I am thankful for my machine and the joy it brings me.

Now to the business of cooking a feast for my family!

A Busy Week

Worked on a sample for TOWQS.

Light Show by Plays with Wool.

Hubbie made the frame for me.

But I had the most fun piecing this small quilt from Edyta Sitar's book,

Little Handful of Scraps.

I have not finished piecing one side because I will demo my tip for half seams when I teach my class next month. 

I designed the Wooly Block Adventure block for the shop.  

Worked on Dear Spooks by 1894 Cottonwood House.

And started on this beauty by Kerry Green, Solstice Dreams.

My progress on the first block. 

And then there was the Pumpkin Patch, Arizona style with my grands.

Hopefully, I will be as happy and productive next week too!

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