tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51299357625365059312024-02-19T08:24:11.403-06:00Sonnet of the MoonCrystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16246323377929476660noreply@blogger.comBlogger575125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129935762536505931.post-87425973005382663392020-09-02T14:56:00.000-05:002020-09-02T14:56:13.001-05:00Working from Home Capsule Wardrobe: Goals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYMbeiOQkcHYQYn43cFBE6g0UXIdRxGqpUM7V5bhz-L9qwyQK2Qxkr9bUuZrVaSaHiOVYGsIc-tZUt2ULHDSjKsg73oCFxUabx0sf0NvE83nbr5bUOx803mTewj8F-00qBsqAjuqTZM8/s4032/20200829_091640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYMbeiOQkcHYQYn43cFBE6g0UXIdRxGqpUM7V5bhz-L9qwyQK2Qxkr9bUuZrVaSaHiOVYGsIc-tZUt2ULHDSjKsg73oCFxUabx0sf0NvE83nbr5bUOx803mTewj8F-00qBsqAjuqTZM8/s640/20200829_091640.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Working from home is presenting some different clothing challenges than I'm used to. I no longer have a use for my slacks, blouses and fitted blazers. I don't really need to coordinate an entire outfit that looks good from all angles. </p><p>Instead, I need clothes that are comfortable, are good colors for my complexion and that look nice on a video call. I want to look and feel professional but in a more casual way than if I were at the office.</p><p>I also need clothes for a variety of temperatures and weather conditions. At the office, it's a consistent temperature with very little humidity and I mostly wear cardigans/blazers all year round. But at home, with no central air conditioning, I'm at the mercy of the weather. Fall in Minnesota can be 90 degrees and humid one day, 50 degrees and dry the next. </p><p>With these conditions in mind, my fall/winter work from home wardrobe must be flexible, contain mix and match layers and also various types of stand-alone shirts ranging from thin 3/4" length sleeves to warm winter sweaters. I would like to keep a consistent color palette, most likely navy and forest green for now (although I might not be able to resist adding in berry pink at some point).</p><p>Usually bottoms are part of a capsule wardrobe but for my purposes, I will mostly be focusing on tops. I have a pair of shorts to wear on the hot days, I'll wear jeans most days and maybe lounge pants on days I don't have meetings (or "casual Fridays"...is that still a thing?). </p><p>I will be incorporating items I already own into my capsule wardrobe, some handmade, some store-bought. I would like to make use of my perfectly good clothes that fit me right now and don't see the need to start from scratch to have a 100% handmade wardrobe. That is a dream for someday but right now I prefer practicality.</p><p>And finally, I would like to use fabrics and patterns I already have in my stash. It's tempting to go on a buying spree but after taking a look, I see I have some perfectly good fabrics that will go with my color scheme. I also have a few patterns I'd like to focus on to keep things simple, at least at the beginning. </p><p>I'm excited to get started. I'm working up a plan so I know what items I have and what I need to make or buy. More on this soon!</p>Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16246323377929476660noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129935762536505931.post-83156832566303351112020-08-29T08:58:00.003-05:002020-08-29T09:05:45.545-05:00Handmade Wardrobe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFGNDVT5OnTIkP0rsrI7D4kv9LoD6XW1_Iqwe3wLfYbR_HwFqxmaMJnpfMO9E5D6P5mpQql1G566wSigiRpK-0FebpbAxH_QG-3yTKL8jHLuHSkBu9FXq9T5jlKwQu61NgDsRFYqZnbI/s4032/20200620_081651.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFGNDVT5OnTIkP0rsrI7D4kv9LoD6XW1_Iqwe3wLfYbR_HwFqxmaMJnpfMO9E5D6P5mpQql1G566wSigiRpK-0FebpbAxH_QG-3yTKL8jHLuHSkBu9FXq9T5jlKwQu61NgDsRFYqZnbI/s640/20200620_081651.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />How many hours of shopping would it take to find a specific article of clothing that fits well, is a flattering cut for your body type and a flattering color/pattern that you actually like in a pleasing fabric?<br />
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Most of the time we must settle on a slightly imperfect item, something is usually off...but what else are we going to do...not wear clothes?<br />
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So we buy something that's not quite right and we wear it and feel okay, or wear it and feel bad, or don't actually wear it at all and it just takes up space in our closet.<br />
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I always thought my aversion to fashion, to shopping, was because I just wasn't that interested in clothes. But after giving this a lot of thought, I realize that I was tired of being disappointed. And that disappointment slowly transferred to the clothes themselves, and looking at, shopping for and wearing clothes became disappointing too.<br />
<br />But what if it didn't have to be like this? What if everything we owned fit us well and was flattering, if it was made with quality fabrics in the very colors that flatter us the most? <br />
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I return to the idea of a handmade wardrobe often, at least once a year when I get fed up with all my clothes wearing out or not fitting well anymore. This year I decided to get serious and scoured Blueprint/Craftsy for help. I found "Sew to Flatter: Plan Your Best Wardrobe" taught by Nancy Nix-Rice and people, this class was a game changer!<br />
<br /><b>Did you know that all our bodies are 100% fine as-is and it's the clothes' job to make them look even better? It's not our body's job to make our clothes look better.</b><br />
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Nancy talks about your best colors/neutrals for your specific coloring (skin + hair + eyes) as well as intensity of colors, the lightness or darkness of colors, some fitting techniques and types of fabrics. She also goes over a totally attainable, totally easy plan for a capsule wardrobe where everything mixes and matches and looks great on you.<div><br /></div><div>I'm currently working from home which changes the types of clothes I need/want to wear to work. I'm in the process of planning my stay at home fall/winter capsule wardrobe and can't wait to share more information here and link tutorials and patterns as I go. It will be a hybrid of clothing pieces I already own as well as new items that I'll sew over the next few weeks and months. </div><div><br /></div><div>I can't believe I'm <i>finally </i>making this dream come true! It should be a fun adventure.</div>Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16246323377929476660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129935762536505931.post-11506254213047693382019-07-18T08:33:00.000-05:002019-07-18T08:33:18.820-05:00Modify TraditionIn 2009 I started a project with a friend I met online through quilting blogs. She asked if I wanted to start a quilt-along blog where we would take traditional quilt blocks and re-imagine them in a "modern" way. We called the blog "Modify Tradition". At the time, there was much discussion about what "modern" was. I was never really comfortable leading discussions on this subject. It's all so subjective and I think it rubbed some people the wrong way.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbt4LsOBIykNPQxZhgbveRrctgj_QIwLzkUn2kxDLg9Ey_Z75W5l7cv46uLEZ_cy7KMTKu-skXo5wGBWmT1_8cedbv8g7cGP-T9ylgC-weealH1gChaxaVROyHXjwVL95ReoLjQVoIn0/s1600/20171215_090906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbt4LsOBIykNPQxZhgbveRrctgj_QIwLzkUn2kxDLg9Ey_Z75W5l7cv46uLEZ_cy7KMTKu-skXo5wGBWmT1_8cedbv8g7cGP-T9ylgC-weealH1gChaxaVROyHXjwVL95ReoLjQVoIn0/s640/20171215_090906.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div><br />
It was a lot of work, making blocks and posting tutorials and inspiration. It was rewarding too. I met so many super nice people through that blog and I learned a lot about quilting and about myself.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQiSVMZ-Z_CU0bEwLlVeudcz9lYwdLfzOU9c8iojh7kjInMtplsUrpUOGYuOlPcUNyTyZC2RfgSFkkjXFvi9qHBJE2gc4pLwSblbLM9nFGbDRAb-YREbrOs7rjDo6OxRTxavG9jnBFSh4/s1600/20171215_090937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQiSVMZ-Z_CU0bEwLlVeudcz9lYwdLfzOU9c8iojh7kjInMtplsUrpUOGYuOlPcUNyTyZC2RfgSFkkjXFvi9qHBJE2gc4pLwSblbLM9nFGbDRAb-YREbrOs7rjDo6OxRTxavG9jnBFSh4/s640/20171215_090937.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div><br />
This quilt is the result of our first quilt-along on the blog. I both loved and hated making these blocks and this quilt. Inspiration is a fickle thing and I found that when I had to make blocks or finish the top, they were the last things I wanted to work on. I was really happy the day I finished the top and I pretty much never wanted to see it again. <br />
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It wasn't the quilt's fault, or the blog. I remember feeling really accomplished and totally worn down all the time. I just needed a break from all of it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73eah3Tm7G8lONqsaZhFFOlndkHgixjiJmhQyoiv9dhLD_FRE3NPDm8zqj0Oc3j8vrRSMa0PYdQ2MZHo8cJGwfS6tYxx_xFbj1CMSXv4OMcoNuYGsl5ZEt0DbuITrx_N6G42-P9eEKZU/s1600/20171215_090947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73eah3Tm7G8lONqsaZhFFOlndkHgixjiJmhQyoiv9dhLD_FRE3NPDm8zqj0Oc3j8vrRSMa0PYdQ2MZHo8cJGwfS6tYxx_xFbj1CMSXv4OMcoNuYGsl5ZEt0DbuITrx_N6G42-P9eEKZU/s640/20171215_090947.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div><br />
And yet, there are good memories too. To this day, I think the Starflower and Antique Tile blocks are just about the prettiest blocks I've ever made. And at the time I HATED sampler quilts (maybe this is where some of the stress came in?) and it was a fun challenge to figure out a layout that didn't look so "traditional" and "boring". <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Lqm1EGIbv5_RCb1EQCCHUo9R-ZBafmuMbAkgU0iWmo6fZJ-jSEMwrnqz5cfKbu9oIkkh_uxRdFjK4mqJDbydghFDgfYJWGfjbKIcoqrucP_KfzRORGtGXqWxHbQi30hpQwbz868Y254/s1600/20171215_111634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Lqm1EGIbv5_RCb1EQCCHUo9R-ZBafmuMbAkgU0iWmo6fZJ-jSEMwrnqz5cfKbu9oIkkh_uxRdFjK4mqJDbydghFDgfYJWGfjbKIcoqrucP_KfzRORGtGXqWxHbQi30hpQwbz868Y254/s640/20171215_111634.jpg" width="480" height="640" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div><br />
Ten years later and now I love traditional and boring and sampler quilts! I don't like wonky and "modern" and I'm not that into bright colors anymore. It's interesting how our tastes change, you know?<br />
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I feel like I've finally come to terms with this quilt and the time in my life that it represents. I can't change what happened, I can't take back things that were said. But it has made me a more thoughtful person, more aware of other people and their feelings. I'm also more aware of my limitations and have been very careful about taking on only projects that are right for me. I'm also grateful for the people who put their trust in me way back then. I'm grateful for their support and their time and their community. I doubt I will ever find that again...the online quilting world has changed so much since then. It was a golden age...and I can't wait to see what comes next!Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16246323377929476660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129935762536505931.post-59335576747578811342019-07-02T15:31:00.000-05:002019-07-02T15:31:41.480-05:00Return of the Wonky Log Cabin!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDYvreQU3XrH0pub55M15yfhKirVCZrTn65hPwVceWj38_HwEKx1nVMrYg5XGrlFNxiKXxR6q26z19dthdC-f5ClrYSpxdA0zqA8IYgZ0b-WviYZuaPwhuVdMSZKghHlDwo93hkNUpus/s1600/20171202_122739.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDYvreQU3XrH0pub55M15yfhKirVCZrTn65hPwVceWj38_HwEKx1nVMrYg5XGrlFNxiKXxR6q26z19dthdC-f5ClrYSpxdA0zqA8IYgZ0b-WviYZuaPwhuVdMSZKghHlDwo93hkNUpus/s640/20171202_122739.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a><br />
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Remember when everyone was making "wonky log cabins"? The year was 2009 and I thought I'd try my hand at making some. I didn't have a lot of fabrics then, I wanted this quilt to be scrappy but I only had a few greens that "went together". I don't think I really understood scrappy back then.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglnqETIPFs0UicbZFcjFGjKcH1NR54-ErzKII8OcL5CyWFUCcGM0z_2EtOZiyaYelIzL5SsV_-vIaEQxd9ngNm-Tnj6OLd3qCz3g1-ikcEonWf9ZKdyMk91si2PVwrpm1HUhG0gPvfZ40/s1600/20171202_122749.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglnqETIPFs0UicbZFcjFGjKcH1NR54-ErzKII8OcL5CyWFUCcGM0z_2EtOZiyaYelIzL5SsV_-vIaEQxd9ngNm-Tnj6OLd3qCz3g1-ikcEonWf9ZKdyMk91si2PVwrpm1HUhG0gPvfZ40/s640/20171202_122749.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a><br />
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I made a big stack of blocks with much enthusiasm but I had no idea what I wanted to do with them so I put them away for six years. When I found them again, I decided to just finish up the quilt with a white background. Then the quilt top sat for another 2 years before I quilted it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUUabW3aZr_U2wN29WUzQAE0N_SUgbLz9ExRRB5nuyh3omg_MAOhEmDWBddDoI3K0xV6ATpuf8JInRaw_FYZ2Fdq61q9pOYPMcJ98O-yhBm34EdECXe3gbjiyQfwzVskokJK3jrr-PWI/s1600/20171202_122759.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUUabW3aZr_U2wN29WUzQAE0N_SUgbLz9ExRRB5nuyh3omg_MAOhEmDWBddDoI3K0xV6ATpuf8JInRaw_FYZ2Fdq61q9pOYPMcJ98O-yhBm34EdECXe3gbjiyQfwzVskokJK3jrr-PWI/s640/20171202_122759.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a><br />
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It's weird how dated this quilt seems to me. There was so much talk then about the modern quilting movement. What it meant to be modern, what qualified as modern. All that drama only to have those quilts feel old-timey just a few years later.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFKqdFDUElPgxuIt5zG-BvsEVpIQ4sg1RcgZ5XuzwGudP1IynjN2itTnzwhdIrFm4-QyM87esbHoy3qqKp3jo4H_otAOTiRUDO9RpahelTsPBwH116YP_n63P_wAwtukpv9S-ytyYA7Y0/s1600/20171202_123211.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFKqdFDUElPgxuIt5zG-BvsEVpIQ4sg1RcgZ5XuzwGudP1IynjN2itTnzwhdIrFm4-QyM87esbHoy3qqKp3jo4H_otAOTiRUDO9RpahelTsPBwH116YP_n63P_wAwtukpv9S-ytyYA7Y0/s640/20171202_123211.jpg" width="480" height="640" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a><br />
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This quilt reminds me of the good and bad of those days. I met some of my very best friends through modern quilting blogs but I also worry about having offended people at that very same time. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPreB5I6xqvfUKVKBSfcSV3CuIGKc-tvElM3WFJAOLcCxNEB1E-Io_DMoUvc9iJjE9RpSU5Fy5uajNfhz28o0Lka_XbXIoZ8LzrP3ZLOoY5JJhO3ZYFlPOvue600E_s5SwnYpkkt0rrmY/s1600/20171202_123053.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPreB5I6xqvfUKVKBSfcSV3CuIGKc-tvElM3WFJAOLcCxNEB1E-Io_DMoUvc9iJjE9RpSU5Fy5uajNfhz28o0Lka_XbXIoZ8LzrP3ZLOoY5JJhO3ZYFlPOvue600E_s5SwnYpkkt0rrmY/s640/20171202_123053.jpg" width="480" height="640" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a><br />
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They were good times, though. Such a spirit of community, such dialogues! People had opinions, people commented. It wasn't about "liking" and "friending". It was about thinking and pondering and putting in the work, crafting beautiful quilts and blog posts where real thoughts and real people not only lived but thrived. This quilt is a part of that, a time capsule of days long gone. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNt20jLjj1cR4c0brxnqL7d0hEmb10rTI8H3mLaZeL7n57moggCETYRdjTtAaIYPZmqm2KrNhY7Mvvk4MiEo2SLQeiToiJTKWjMEQI2AaTjIsp67MbB5qYctYbrv7N_2b7YDAiaRjJCYE/s1600/20171202_122954.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNt20jLjj1cR4c0brxnqL7d0hEmb10rTI8H3mLaZeL7n57moggCETYRdjTtAaIYPZmqm2KrNhY7Mvvk4MiEo2SLQeiToiJTKWjMEQI2AaTjIsp67MbB5qYctYbrv7N_2b7YDAiaRjJCYE/s640/20171202_122954.jpg" width="480" height="640" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a><br />
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While I may not love this quilt anymore, I absolutely LOVE the quilting! I need to remember to try this again sometime. I also love the fabric I used for the back, the floral fabric feels both soft and crisp, like a summertime sheet on a tiny twin bed in a lakeside cabin in the woods. You know what I mean, right?Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16246323377929476660noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129935762536505931.post-70328359059656982262018-06-08T08:00:00.000-05:002018-06-08T08:00:04.487-05:00Bzzzzzzzzz!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSHexhGjADGsYnFejRFv_bgr2omkKS3gWP7YgFMjrHZWjkAfsN1Bsk5Hcax9GRtxP7uJiAvDo598XIOgowkNTuuWcA1OSv8j6C8ujUxoUU6OJbE1ubl_CO5On1DGoAk4pWhUr-D5-vGQ/s1600/20171202_101833.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSHexhGjADGsYnFejRFv_bgr2omkKS3gWP7YgFMjrHZWjkAfsN1Bsk5Hcax9GRtxP7uJiAvDo598XIOgowkNTuuWcA1OSv8j6C8ujUxoUU6OJbE1ubl_CO5On1DGoAk4pWhUr-D5-vGQ/s640/20171202_101833.jpg" width="480" height="640" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a><br />
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Once upon a time I wanted to make a quilt using large orange and yellow hexagons. It was inspired by the bee episode of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pushing_Daisies">Pushing Daisies</a>. <br />
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I paper pieced a million hexagons, sewed four of them together, hated them...and put them away, no longer interested in my idea.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidM_1StD_qoSSpk4wlUMEbUm_KlNia7mo6SXBtUg_MI6RZIgQwAIAY7XSlRP8FlWTNkGB0fWsEsbuGhyZdcZU_9JBN6KXPKzWZmMCXDd3I7CDLyJZS0JhCaYuNynSes-4UHREEvESyM14/s1600/pushing-daisies-201-chuck-612x380.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidM_1StD_qoSSpk4wlUMEbUm_KlNia7mo6SXBtUg_MI6RZIgQwAIAY7XSlRP8FlWTNkGB0fWsEsbuGhyZdcZU_9JBN6KXPKzWZmMCXDd3I7CDLyJZS0JhCaYuNynSes-4UHREEvESyM14/s640/pushing-daisies-201-chuck-612x380.png" width="640" height="397" data-original-width="612" data-original-height="380" /></a><br />
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But I had a million little trimmings from all those hexagons. I started sewing them together which made wonky, scrappy little hexagons. Which I loved!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6U9xLI-WW7TymOsn0mVv12ohc_tpUUkTeZKo83yzi96MVFsSp1hiyioM6ID0wZ-AHvuFUTX1oG2Ola0fi37KU32ZS-2aYMDVi089PQsy0kVguHwQbmwoWHiHR3TRUwCZqVlprtxbOOkQ/s1600/20171202_102018.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6U9xLI-WW7TymOsn0mVv12ohc_tpUUkTeZKo83yzi96MVFsSp1hiyioM6ID0wZ-AHvuFUTX1oG2Ola0fi37KU32ZS-2aYMDVi089PQsy0kVguHwQbmwoWHiHR3TRUwCZqVlprtxbOOkQ/s640/20171202_102018.jpg" width="480" height="640" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a><br />
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So, that's how this tiny baby quilt came to be. It was finished years ago but never had a good home. My friend Linda gave it to her nephew which made me very happy.<br />
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The end.Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16246323377929476660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129935762536505931.post-87680222496371328352018-06-01T08:00:00.000-05:002018-06-01T08:00:08.351-05:00Zig Zag<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjujgZRI2hbGpGZNnEUno1ZWmbk2U8fm6pOTE4Liv4QvJ-Gvs1zlRLpzlp4Ja9KF80L8r7Y-XRyVZbek-TLkYoGmpm-NnRNyfgffujl8-KGoD4Qga4hfgdKJeN_6rXMel4RY7TRC7yLwgE/s1600/20171117_092908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjujgZRI2hbGpGZNnEUno1ZWmbk2U8fm6pOTE4Liv4QvJ-Gvs1zlRLpzlp4Ja9KF80L8r7Y-XRyVZbek-TLkYoGmpm-NnRNyfgffujl8-KGoD4Qga4hfgdKJeN_6rXMel4RY7TRC7yLwgE/s640/20171117_092908.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div><br />
Way back when I was a new quilter, I didn't have a lot of money to spend on fabric. But, I was drawn to designer quilting fabrics like a moth to a flame. One fabric line that came out around this time was Freshcut by <a href="http://www.heatherbailey.typepad.com/">Heather Bailey</a>. I was <i>obsessed</I> with it!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYZLKyPuzxPP1Fr9NOOkwFTQq_fzoV7fFWn9b86pMxrI9hcg3MsqPOTyoKV5rny7EfzQXvAoI8ZznWluBianp6BvO-aYgRNmVmwB6BRggEPogC3heMntFbStjgh39SrGMemWsLfka5gA/s1600/20171117_093140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYZLKyPuzxPP1Fr9NOOkwFTQq_fzoV7fFWn9b86pMxrI9hcg3MsqPOTyoKV5rny7EfzQXvAoI8ZznWluBianp6BvO-aYgRNmVmwB6BRggEPogC3heMntFbStjgh39SrGMemWsLfka5gA/s640/20171117_093140.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div><br />
I bought a half yard of one entire colorway (the peachy one) and it sat on my shelves for a few months before I finally decided on a pattern. I wanted to make a zig zag quilt (they were all the rage at that time). My stash was so tiny, I could only find one other fabric that would go with the Frescut, a light green print by Amy Butler. I had such a fun time cutting up my fabrics to make my <a href="http://sonnetofthemoon.blogspot.com/2009/04/zig-zags-again.html">zig zag quilt</a>. I paid special attention to the direction of the prints and worked out a way to have each row be a new print (<a href="http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2013/10/how-to-make-zig-zag-quilt-without_30.html">here is the original tutorial</a>). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHgDh0u5rVBjcoEcp_6m9oV0UFKleaaDR52IPtVbU-i5cHnyUl7bEH9Pz4N9jYFAF85mxBTXw5OiKqv-H42-o7E_SUjOv4L3NQdh6puV1Ol5-Jy47B2i-UfJaJ9d2DDxGB72mey1le64/s1600/20171117_093502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHgDh0u5rVBjcoEcp_6m9oV0UFKleaaDR52IPtVbU-i5cHnyUl7bEH9Pz4N9jYFAF85mxBTXw5OiKqv-H42-o7E_SUjOv4L3NQdh6puV1Ol5-Jy47B2i-UfJaJ9d2DDxGB72mey1le64/s640/20171117_093502.jpg" width="480" height="640" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div><br />
This quilt was going to be for me (up until that point, I'd given all my quilts away) and it was going to be hand quilted like <a href="http://annamariahorner.blogspot.com/2010/03/stitch.html">Anna Maria Horner's zig zag quilt</a>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyI45SJIIfRDuiItTBoeZ_9akLo7IM-CfRRBTpbxY2aYQg1sS7-WahLnpYLmdrkdqG19T24no90VSuTpz6iRLJ2HTWdYAVGHpzTLx0dWMmrGWr8R6cyLp1UbRZ7YNk_TNaMcadA8e5Fm0/s1600/20171117_093207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyI45SJIIfRDuiItTBoeZ_9akLo7IM-CfRRBTpbxY2aYQg1sS7-WahLnpYLmdrkdqG19T24no90VSuTpz6iRLJ2HTWdYAVGHpzTLx0dWMmrGWr8R6cyLp1UbRZ7YNk_TNaMcadA8e5Fm0/s640/20171117_093207.jpg" width="480" height="640" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div><br />
And then, like most of the quilts I make for myself, the finished top ended up in a closet for years. Nine years, actually.<br />
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Once I rescued the quilt from the closet and ironed it, the basting was fast. Since I was using flannel on the back (Freshcut Flannel...it's SO soft!) I skipped the batting to make this a lighter quilt and to make it easier to hand quilt.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWjWMH2H1vokZEbufI_a8-MwFa4zm2w7l1L80-JU2nHG8ty9I6WiMCFq6a0Q7gBbc_HnVxEU7XSPXesR-kaHyQahhsKZ2uKFF4gAg0G59KdusG_ghAGnVCnm-W-luXpU0JrH8s694X4k/s1600/20171117_211113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWjWMH2H1vokZEbufI_a8-MwFa4zm2w7l1L80-JU2nHG8ty9I6WiMCFq6a0Q7gBbc_HnVxEU7XSPXesR-kaHyQahhsKZ2uKFF4gAg0G59KdusG_ghAGnVCnm-W-luXpU0JrH8s694X4k/s640/20171117_211113.jpg" width="480" height="640" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div><br />
And after hours of hand quilting and hours of hand pain and months of the quilt sitting unfinished in the studio because I didn't want to hand quilt anymore, I decided to just finish up the quilting on the machine. <br />
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I worried that I'd be disappointed that I took the fast/easy way out. I almost went back to hand quilting. But I made the right call. In a year, two, twenty, I'm not going to care that this wasn't 100% hand quilted. At least it's finished and I can actually use it. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAFt7QMDpRlEv3LL5SjTw57rXf5N3GdVGmRfw4MI8jtOmZ0_b92O-SD7r92FqI2duDVvLx5-QcScGrYJSPTAU5t0wA50MahLKtkjIAxxXL2Xue6NllJr-c8ILMVCa1qMqL8cmI8nDMzA/s1600/20171117_211029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAFt7QMDpRlEv3LL5SjTw57rXf5N3GdVGmRfw4MI8jtOmZ0_b92O-SD7r92FqI2duDVvLx5-QcScGrYJSPTAU5t0wA50MahLKtkjIAxxXL2Xue6NllJr-c8ILMVCa1qMqL8cmI8nDMzA/s640/20171117_211029.jpg" width="480" height="640" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div><br />
This was a real moment of growth for me. I'm a perfectionist and I feel no shame in that. I want to do my very best because it makes me happy. <br />
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But hand quilting this quilt wasn't making me happy. And I didn't believe that pushing through the pain would be worth being a tiny bit happier with the finished product. I came up with a compromise and it made me happy in a different way.<br />
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I believe so much in challenging myself and improving my skills. That's why I'm currently hand quilting another quilt. I don't want to give up on it, I want to find a combination of needle, thread, thimble and hand position that work for me. I won't let it beat me.<br />
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But it's about choosing your battles and being happy with the result. And this quilt makes me (and Extra-cat) very happy.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWZeTB8rY0nFT95pKAjUHtvKQUDDK9A4OC7DfcVDvI5T0MYEjgqcKDU2q9csDfrACL42btARUKJUWCDaq_l-dPhDWacN4MiNbJ324V1CzRDOtSLDmMmbAVux9vd4t6afb1Nszm44ti2I/s1600/20171117_211125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWZeTB8rY0nFT95pKAjUHtvKQUDDK9A4OC7DfcVDvI5T0MYEjgqcKDU2q9csDfrACL42btARUKJUWCDaq_l-dPhDWacN4MiNbJ324V1CzRDOtSLDmMmbAVux9vd4t6afb1Nszm44ti2I/s640/20171117_211125.jpg" width="480" height="640" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div>Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16246323377929476660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129935762536505931.post-62436289547593021862018-05-25T08:00:00.000-05:002018-05-25T08:00:03.185-05:00Around the World<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgSrsrTgesAoV4mQ393PmpVVEfdYobP_7t-2c-Nx7pdK4mLhkknwi2Zzl9X4ElMC9lWEg3cB-133_VTMZshNL3Q2bNIF8o2U9sX2WuNJCpy06E-_X8y6WdHt-XK5BOxnFQ61Zqb_E5z8/s1600/20171202_101901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgSrsrTgesAoV4mQ393PmpVVEfdYobP_7t-2c-Nx7pdK4mLhkknwi2Zzl9X4ElMC9lWEg3cB-133_VTMZshNL3Q2bNIF8o2U9sX2WuNJCpy06E-_X8y6WdHt-XK5BOxnFQ61Zqb_E5z8/s640/20171202_101901.jpg" width="480" height="640" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div><br />
Remember back in 2012/2013 when everyone was making Scrappy Trip Around the World quilts? There was a Scrappy Trip-along hosted on flickr and it was all so exciting!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAv9nO-4cqJ9_r_GwSBOAHFQq27Qtr0i3dMDZZE8mxG27SkZyBxJshO86iXgCWjxIKnHZ_QfRevfRSQEJUbRtMsRNw682F04tji-j3rKIqFVNn3QDMnkvOtVoaoaqBLgGNYuBKLlClwM/s1600/20171202_102048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAv9nO-4cqJ9_r_GwSBOAHFQq27Qtr0i3dMDZZE8mxG27SkZyBxJshO86iXgCWjxIKnHZ_QfRevfRSQEJUbRtMsRNw682F04tji-j3rKIqFVNn3QDMnkvOtVoaoaqBLgGNYuBKLlClwM/s640/20171202_102048.jpg" width="480" height="640" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div><br />
I started <a href="http://sonnetofthemoon.blogspot.com/2013/01/a-scrappy-trip-along-of-course.html">my scrappy trip quilt</a> bright and early New Year's day, 2013. I was planning to make 36 blocks in a 6x6 layout. <a href="http://sonnetofthemoon.blogspot.com/2013/02/scrappy-trip-along.html">I cut 1,296 squares out of 156 different fabrics</a> and whipped up a few blocks and was totally in love!<br />
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And then the thing that happens every time happened: I got bored and put it away. For years. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiadD8g8bg_xabVtAGD304iL7fyQX9Ul2-t8aXLx2cer5D5JPGrLcB__3ZxcGHdpBELaymhyphenhyphenmdrOHTlCkzRKVA7J23EPXP1i6ehvRXR1W214NiZTKm36AI94Ep2cmtDYNv-zvyIuU2wbnI/s1600/20171202_102102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiadD8g8bg_xabVtAGD304iL7fyQX9Ul2-t8aXLx2cer5D5JPGrLcB__3ZxcGHdpBELaymhyphenhyphenmdrOHTlCkzRKVA7J23EPXP1i6ehvRXR1W214NiZTKm36AI94Ep2cmtDYNv-zvyIuU2wbnI/s640/20171202_102102.jpg" width="480" height="640" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div><br />
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Last year I went through a phase of wanting to finish up old projects. I found my scrappy trip blocks and stacks of 2.5" squares and started whipping up a few new blocks...only to remember why I quit in the first place. All those tiny squares! Sometimes that's fine and sometimes they just grate on your nerves!<br />
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I went back and forth about how to make the quilt bigger without making more blocks. Maybe alternate with 12" squares? In the end, I decided to just make a tiny quilt and stop worrying about it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTp5QnHeefnSiVqCqnwiojp2N_VGD3azw0tcPUnfz9xqQ95DtZsUH-l2p8NEo9mCPeryokopWifbIceeOV-EoYCeEvDgHFWxx5NrKR3syys2Lme7NupfFvItYjF8bDjJ5ATxMCbiaLqbc/s1600/20171202_102215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTp5QnHeefnSiVqCqnwiojp2N_VGD3azw0tcPUnfz9xqQ95DtZsUH-l2p8NEo9mCPeryokopWifbIceeOV-EoYCeEvDgHFWxx5NrKR3syys2Lme7NupfFvItYjF8bDjJ5ATxMCbiaLqbc/s640/20171202_102215.jpg" width="480" height="640" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div><br />
I think that is probably, for the most part, the way to go. Large quilts are great but so are small quilts. There's always a picnic or a baby shower or a lap that needs warming and sometimes bigger isn't better.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr-3Kn-O7ZgSUQBftqIi6OmOTH1R7q44hvraxcf0OLIa9D5gQPZgBI7z7rRhRrORCa1bdyiSqLOltwUCc_ysJz9MI-UZICeSEHaBbGagSDMhN9ynGTTMMv241EOC-Fi0w1WZWVijR1hIM/s1600/20171202_101905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr-3Kn-O7ZgSUQBftqIi6OmOTH1R7q44hvraxcf0OLIa9D5gQPZgBI7z7rRhRrORCa1bdyiSqLOltwUCc_ysJz9MI-UZICeSEHaBbGagSDMhN9ynGTTMMv241EOC-Fi0w1WZWVijR1hIM/s640/20171202_101905.jpg" width="480" height="640" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div><br />
I do love the look of this quilt, though. I love the riot of color and the diamond quilting (which would have been hard on a larger quilt!).<br />
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I also loved using this great print on the back, lots of pink and green to match the front and so pretty. My friend Linda loved this one as well so she has it now. She has a tiny apartment and a tiny couch and needs tiny blankets. See, I told you that was a thing!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKNt5biu1d13oRpanSsZv8_o1TAYmw1ZNEb_DxqGUkMMXbEc549cAsFH2uqaBZVxi3g8wSgQUADk64dBNUv0xl0_ugl_oXQ1d_FwfYcKJrPRQZnJWSHHoN6yIAjm4UZUX1CfIj8eLDLwU/s1600/20171202_101923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKNt5biu1d13oRpanSsZv8_o1TAYmw1ZNEb_DxqGUkMMXbEc549cAsFH2uqaBZVxi3g8wSgQUADk64dBNUv0xl0_ugl_oXQ1d_FwfYcKJrPRQZnJWSHHoN6yIAjm4UZUX1CfIj8eLDLwU/s640/20171202_101923.jpg" width="480" height="640" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div><br />
Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16246323377929476660noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129935762536505931.post-62643381996403028432018-05-11T08:00:00.000-05:002018-05-11T08:00:03.564-05:00All the Vintage Ladies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4tvHoR5-_Z7Szehx13CbluObIWLN07hHauqLdxds7SmKVTiG35ofKWhPPnpgTcluilcMCbU59xosGnNemW8LrXKkYUoMkRQ4U4hrGKkxEa1He3rv0MIhAKrWMRhoOGsaRUWuNWoGsG4/s1600/20170916_150554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4tvHoR5-_Z7Szehx13CbluObIWLN07hHauqLdxds7SmKVTiG35ofKWhPPnpgTcluilcMCbU59xosGnNemW8LrXKkYUoMkRQ4U4hrGKkxEa1He3rv0MIhAKrWMRhoOGsaRUWuNWoGsG4/s640/20170916_150554.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div><br />
It was 2005, the year I started quilting. And this, my friends, is the very first quilt I started. Thirteen years! It took me <I>thirteen years</I> to finish this tiny quilt!<br />
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And do you know why?<br />
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Because I ran out of black fabric for the outer border. And then once I finally bought more (years later), I didn't know what binding to use. And I had no idea how I wanted to quilt it.<br />
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So, I just kept it in the closet for 13 years. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIshCIP9cgvIgfYCOjkDX7mpMKC8YWn6kWfSu02ZUX8wC0PpiDa6PfpbJwZsjKChClmhcD_oYt413BQIlw0HDcvYf4Ly5SGgKqr1xCQT5A1lnCV37dzhzisc1oVd2XB73wqd1ldt-fOVo/s1600/20170916_150609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIshCIP9cgvIgfYCOjkDX7mpMKC8YWn6kWfSu02ZUX8wC0PpiDa6PfpbJwZsjKChClmhcD_oYt413BQIlw0HDcvYf4Ly5SGgKqr1xCQT5A1lnCV37dzhzisc1oVd2XB73wqd1ldt-fOVo/s640/20170916_150609.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div><br />
I remember finding this fabric at the store near my house and I HAD to have it! Vintage ladies smoking and drinking martinis?! I thought it would make the best, most inappropriate baby quilt ever. I didn't have a baby to give it to, but I knew someday I'd have cool friends who'd make cool parents who would love a non-traditional baby quilt. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVg51MMasJE0fanvdoD1lB1qIcQp6CxUvXVQXx7koH6qoEWBYN3R9b_XXv7FOBoXP7poJ6TTqPtTFQE6klDomFFyr0_cp_IIX_ecyEEyqOnbCN4f5WNT_tluwwdIBFFclzLFE7xhet2G4/s1600/20170916_150700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVg51MMasJE0fanvdoD1lB1qIcQp6CxUvXVQXx7koH6qoEWBYN3R9b_XXv7FOBoXP7poJ6TTqPtTFQE6klDomFFyr0_cp_IIX_ecyEEyqOnbCN4f5WNT_tluwwdIBFFclzLFE7xhet2G4/s640/20170916_150700.jpg" width="480" height="640" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div><br />
I was reading a lot of quilting websites back then and found a tutorial for these diamond borders. I thought they would work well with the fabric and continue the retro theme. <br />
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To this day, I have no idea how I managed to match those diamonds so nicely! I remember I was using 1/2" seams and I used to mark every seam with tracing paper. That had to help! Thankfully, I got over both of those habits pretty quickly. <br />
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In the end, this quilt was not destined for a baby with cool parents, but for a cool parent herself. My friend Linda saw it and loved it and now this piece of my treasured past lives in her house. Her cool husband thinks it's cool too!Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16246323377929476660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129935762536505931.post-75797659165713038152018-05-04T08:00:00.000-05:002018-05-04T08:00:07.120-05:00A Purple Quilt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6zIV4ct4YuxtWviQ41mPXejnLPDQcyi_NckaGwrTWlYF0iSPsYN7PiIO4hl7GYWPoEJzRKHnPygP-PiTyxwJ5BQFSHxxIwtZ9qzkFnOfp2g9zoaCrbmhCZf2daRP10sL9JuTjn8aSes/s1600/20170930_094843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6zIV4ct4YuxtWviQ41mPXejnLPDQcyi_NckaGwrTWlYF0iSPsYN7PiIO4hl7GYWPoEJzRKHnPygP-PiTyxwJ5BQFSHxxIwtZ9qzkFnOfp2g9zoaCrbmhCZf2daRP10sL9JuTjn8aSes/s640/20170930_094843.jpg" width="480" height="640" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div><br />
After our cat Vector died last August, I didn't feel like doing anything. What matters after the loss of a beloved friend? Not much. All I remember doing for a long while is crying a lot and eating a lot of junk and feeling the emptiness he left behind.<br />
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And then I got an idea. I wanted to sell my quilts (at cost of materials only) and donate the money to help other kitties (at our local shelter: <a href="http://felinerescue.org/">Feline Rescue</a>). I started quilting like crazy! Finishing up tops that had been hanging in the closet for years and making quilts from scratch when I had a little extra energy. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiV-h3JahCK77_0ugF8sUCYmuCnnOXFY6wbWfs_lTiwZxa4Zvqzc8EZO_zM570Z7s7OAtELLNoNyr1KH0-WzCJJawrb42HxEl5b2IW4wctsq32xHhQ2stEUilwKGh5UArCJi0DspLc-Sw/s1600/20170930_094654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiV-h3JahCK77_0ugF8sUCYmuCnnOXFY6wbWfs_lTiwZxa4Zvqzc8EZO_zM570Z7s7OAtELLNoNyr1KH0-WzCJJawrb42HxEl5b2IW4wctsq32xHhQ2stEUilwKGh5UArCJi0DspLc-Sw/s640/20170930_094654.jpg" width="480" height="640" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div><br />
The purple quilt was a product of that energy. I wanted to help kitties, I wanted to keep my mind off my own sadness and I wanted to rid my stash of every scrap of purple fabric I could find. (If you've been reading for a while, you know I don't like purple!)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQS0M2CJvVjQ9bvlKOLg1_4U-yRcuuciBrqUpcyHQa1LRqGo4bXDa9gjgP2eJrI__8W_mR5EXOJPq4njMYFrnebiRh3lXn7AmQxpgw5gmcvIOIL5_AjP-6LrcO-n9pTh0Ad11f1G4pkA/s1600/20170930_094759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQS0M2CJvVjQ9bvlKOLg1_4U-yRcuuciBrqUpcyHQa1LRqGo4bXDa9gjgP2eJrI__8W_mR5EXOJPq4njMYFrnebiRh3lXn7AmQxpgw5gmcvIOIL5_AjP-6LrcO-n9pTh0Ad11f1G4pkA/s640/20170930_094759.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div><br />
While this quilt top was up on the design wall, my friend Denise came over and fell in love with it. Denise is such a special person and really helped me through the hard time after Vector died. She sent emails and checked in to see how I was doing. Her kind words meant so much to me. I knew I wanted to give her this quilt when it was done. <br />
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Sadly, Denise's dog died shortly after Vector. I tried to be the friend she was to me. I finished the quilt as quickly as I could and sent it to her. She offered to pay for it to help my "quilts for cats" campaign but I declined. Quilts for friends are important too. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrOhGsWl0qXA8mePzBzPgj7pXvYmejOyci8AGPrw5hMZERCComkC4x66o9vpBzmMCPP-6-pW1zemGvRAUkQ_ThW48yHPGG77YZsB0hUVKkYskQAX5cFqFMZTqZiUgLQQx4mh-l-Ku3CM/s1600/20170930_094642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrOhGsWl0qXA8mePzBzPgj7pXvYmejOyci8AGPrw5hMZERCComkC4x66o9vpBzmMCPP-6-pW1zemGvRAUkQ_ThW48yHPGG77YZsB0hUVKkYskQAX5cFqFMZTqZiUgLQQx4mh-l-Ku3CM/s640/20170930_094642.jpg" width="480" height="640" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div><br />
Despite the sad times in which it was made and the fact that is has SO much purple in it, I actually really love this quilt. I love the mix of colors and the half square triangles (and some hourglass blocks when I didn't have quite enough fabric). I love the business of it and I actually don't mind the purple. It makes me so happy that Denise loves it and I know, because he loved purple and crazy quilts, that Vector would have loved it too.Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16246323377929476660noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129935762536505931.post-14804405035072718812018-04-25T12:12:00.000-05:002018-04-25T12:12:27.405-05:00A Little Quilt Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZ8EvKsGPB5hvZpqwxoRpu0p0KF8ydKkBVRd-SCpsQnXaQRJFOQjmeapFcDtKC2h3AuCwMlzhT8GlN4wY0jRSLuKpahjvG-vuXGS011zxSP6WjP0wAJykVmgvM_55o0SXPjmaiEP6Em4/s1600/20171117_092607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZ8EvKsGPB5hvZpqwxoRpu0p0KF8ydKkBVRd-SCpsQnXaQRJFOQjmeapFcDtKC2h3AuCwMlzhT8GlN4wY0jRSLuKpahjvG-vuXGS011zxSP6WjP0wAJykVmgvM_55o0SXPjmaiEP6Em4/s640/20171117_092607.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div><br />
Years ago, my friend <a href="http://littlescrapsofhappiness.blogspot.com/">Jen</a> and I were working on a Dresden Plate quilt together. We were each going to make half the Dresdens she needed for a bed quilt. She sent me a bunch of fabric which I used to sew up a bunch of Dresdens. It was a fun project, I'd never made a Dresden Plate before. And they turned out really cute!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqtz1OHHMeodvibbYbHDOICZZanFSOxYAwMmMk26NoiP9Kkyob53PQpVQueNkw4rJUHKZWRpmKmUKt04ns99mul28k43JcMfzOJBh7vIJy15XIVI0eD3LJp48uoUP1yB8HARtoI1oqE3M/s1600/20171117_092554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqtz1OHHMeodvibbYbHDOICZZanFSOxYAwMmMk26NoiP9Kkyob53PQpVQueNkw4rJUHKZWRpmKmUKt04ns99mul28k43JcMfzOJBh7vIJy15XIVI0eD3LJp48uoUP1yB8HARtoI1oqE3M/s640/20171117_092554.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div><br />
Jen let me keep the leftover fabric and one day, years later, I just felt like making a little quilt top. No reason, just for fun.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNH5GWD0lyk6_OyYLX8JBvAbZUNz_UpdNnDZyJTVQKuBF3HTPA0k8pxkGZuDFUX0n0OVsIU8QJn3iKm-k85ZwIMWXHK0xbOZaYFNfatfoZwI5ffq5cr-QdrYRiSwzKei1SjsfowkiAOM0/s1600/20171117_093042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNH5GWD0lyk6_OyYLX8JBvAbZUNz_UpdNnDZyJTVQKuBF3HTPA0k8pxkGZuDFUX0n0OVsIU8QJn3iKm-k85ZwIMWXHK0xbOZaYFNfatfoZwI5ffq5cr-QdrYRiSwzKei1SjsfowkiAOM0/s640/20171117_093042.jpg" width="480" height="640" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div><br />
Jen and her family bought their first house this last fall. I was so excited for her, finally a space to call her own, to decorate and change however she wanted! And, a sewing room just for her!<br />
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I finished up this little quilt and sent it to her as a housewarming/birthday gift. It's just a little quilt with a little quilt story. Sometimes those are the sweetest.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-4vcPiUqRv-xlTmPuGaVkhyphenhyphenCfQFPmAElp1IVpJyUt5tlC5ZMnP6jA2NEGjGyQ_8QgjTRDnMLNMJcJ8z1YsZW-SBUcu0EPIv27zqxpIy-AaLnEfDh3KECcIHdmLjmCQwcZJhyphenhyphen8-PbiiEY/s1600/20171117_093057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-4vcPiUqRv-xlTmPuGaVkhyphenhyphenCfQFPmAElp1IVpJyUt5tlC5ZMnP6jA2NEGjGyQ_8QgjTRDnMLNMJcJ8z1YsZW-SBUcu0EPIv27zqxpIy-AaLnEfDh3KECcIHdmLjmCQwcZJhyphenhyphen8-PbiiEY/s640/20171117_093057.jpg" width="480" height="640" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div>Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16246323377929476660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129935762536505931.post-82870594279306275292018-02-02T14:49:00.001-06:002018-02-02T14:49:32.092-06:00Nested Diamonds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlPlUwIV694vtct8dPPKUpscoKUTHqzRGJePDn_sK9PNYHXfMx1sE2M9L1mG2VWsyBkL5Z9A9R-XF-3A2oodjjPrF-b1sI8YkLRnbHNWAimYHmBMyaMNWk8xiKkL1zphJKCwCPTG2KCLM/s1600/20180114_102531_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlPlUwIV694vtct8dPPKUpscoKUTHqzRGJePDn_sK9PNYHXfMx1sE2M9L1mG2VWsyBkL5Z9A9R-XF-3A2oodjjPrF-b1sI8YkLRnbHNWAimYHmBMyaMNWk8xiKkL1zphJKCwCPTG2KCLM/s640/20180114_102531_2.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div><br />
January has been a fun and creative month! I've mostly been quilting and planning stashbusting quilts. For my low volume strips quilt, I decided on the nested diamonds quilting pattern from the book "Walk" by <a href="http://tallgrassprairiestudio.blogspot.com/">Jacquie Gering</a>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXEr6q5v70qeXKPkijj3PEhhBKPmJDNWPTsBJlN9x-wFW4yTOf-gzYdSZhuMNYRuo_GGzTPhkRgnL523RxrclnxIg-m25kyB6_2-b4XxuRAtLx8uT1r4AlBzpc_JCJJDQ89dAySO7eM4/s1600/20180114_102441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXEr6q5v70qeXKPkijj3PEhhBKPmJDNWPTsBJlN9x-wFW4yTOf-gzYdSZhuMNYRuo_GGzTPhkRgnL523RxrclnxIg-m25kyB6_2-b4XxuRAtLx8uT1r4AlBzpc_JCJJDQ89dAySO7eM4/s640/20180114_102441.jpg" width="480" height="640" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div><br />
I'm just so in love with the whole thing! The diamond pattern is so pretty and I loved taking my time, both with the marking and the quilting. I love how it really takes the quilt to a new level. More professional, more special. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKE2uOFUFfliTYXNyrlSjBl23bOEnJIogYUotoldCC3CV1GjzZJsV3-Y_zXOms2GXKLxRrAuO7nd9DfVZbSBJuB8-PVBPBn6oEJ1d1uGJ_8LcdtHHkMkr3R1ZRO7hZwVvR6C0gvqLIO6w/s1600/20180201_102926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKE2uOFUFfliTYXNyrlSjBl23bOEnJIogYUotoldCC3CV1GjzZJsV3-Y_zXOms2GXKLxRrAuO7nd9DfVZbSBJuB8-PVBPBn6oEJ1d1uGJ_8LcdtHHkMkr3R1ZRO7hZwVvR6C0gvqLIO6w/s640/20180201_102926.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div><br />
I also started sketching quilting ideas in my project notebook. A friend introduced me to some nice erasable pens (Pilot Frixion) that are super awesome for sketching. They're not smeary like pencils, they come in fun colors and really do erase! <br />
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My next goal is to choose a fun quilting pattern, then design a quilt that will show it off. I'm enjoying pairing that with my stashbusting goal. I'm really starting to see a dent in my stash!<br />
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And finally, my little helper cat Extra wants to say hi. She's totally into laying on quilts, rolling around, testing them out, you know, important helper type things. The two of us are looking forward to more quilting this weekend...we're hoping to finish quilting one quilt and binding two...but we'll see how it goes. We might want to cuddle and watch movies instead...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPr7-UdUnAdHBTWh3Kjg8Jrc8tD9h6P4KEavWMBep7aR609qvSLRXIMnpvEvGgYRSBinlZsENGyaDi1yZSQ8UjDJjfTJSmAloQOT6W4sGgUCOTOOVDPhexiD7iDiArNCOQU9jk0JtPCJA/s1600/20180112_090734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPr7-UdUnAdHBTWh3Kjg8Jrc8tD9h6P4KEavWMBep7aR609qvSLRXIMnpvEvGgYRSBinlZsENGyaDi1yZSQ8UjDJjfTJSmAloQOT6W4sGgUCOTOOVDPhexiD7iDiArNCOQU9jk0JtPCJA/s640/20180112_090734.jpg" width="480" height="640" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div>Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16246323377929476660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129935762536505931.post-28659948441068294492018-02-01T09:38:00.000-06:002018-02-01T09:38:27.329-06:00Graph Paper Days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC202BcaebDlKhrOfTvzTt-090DtleFwh9BqsROCeIlNQAWAFArrCk5sZ_1-5EDhfjKXg5EBz04Wx0K9_L8iP1SodUvw6dvxOSxAb-O-ce2pyZxG-aJxfnch4ck1KPq-UtL4M817c3FMc/s1600/20170820_094538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC202BcaebDlKhrOfTvzTt-090DtleFwh9BqsROCeIlNQAWAFArrCk5sZ_1-5EDhfjKXg5EBz04Wx0K9_L8iP1SodUvw6dvxOSxAb-O-ce2pyZxG-aJxfnch4ck1KPq-UtL4M817c3FMc/s640/20170820_094538.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div><br />
When you were in elementary school, did you draw mazes and designs on graph paper? I did, all the time! I'd mostly do radiating diamond designs and then color them in rainbow order. Always. I know, I have issues.<br />
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I also loved the drawings where you draw a nonstop line in random loops and they overlap and it looks like a big mess, but then you can color it in so that no two colors are touching. It's hard to explain, sorry.<br />
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This quilt was inspired by a little of both and was my absolute favorite to design. I wanted to make diamond rings in three colors that were nested and all smashed together. But I didn't want diamonds of the same color to touch. <br />
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I still remember drawing this one out and it was so fun! I made a billion half square triangles in the various color combos but it took me <i>years</I> of putting it up on the design wall and taking it down before I finally just finished it up. (I used to have trouble wanting to sew HST quilts because I used to hate matching points...but now I'm pretty good at it and I don't worry so much.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-0Y_gIX7ubk_gfS28DjOWUpbxfRDzN0ogTzo7GWIwrf6f-hOIGfLfItB8phW-pwqdB1Fu2Fua3APTpizXTEBi58WseBETB2BGjOaTsOV4SV-Atn-ufBfue6ZSCzhZ96TBSmu42F7CD4/s1600/20170820_094550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-0Y_gIX7ubk_gfS28DjOWUpbxfRDzN0ogTzo7GWIwrf6f-hOIGfLfItB8phW-pwqdB1Fu2Fua3APTpizXTEBi58WseBETB2BGjOaTsOV4SV-Atn-ufBfue6ZSCzhZ96TBSmu42F7CD4/s640/20170820_094550.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div><br />
I LOVE how it turned out. I love the design and the colors and I was actually looking forward to the quilting...I'd been waiting for years! The diamonds are all echo quilted and it was every bit as fun as I'd imagined.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLlaG-mK-uwPH573mkTGHr7CNxGp1eKAnfsZleeAuMWG1dhdOldKB9cT2yuVR0Mojx5zDd1azTPFLjpNUIoSK95QoAI3uONTsmp02Z8oSMsRvl5u19cLf3FSKH4Lno6p2CDxMnEu7YOVg/s1600/IMG_20170818_142851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLlaG-mK-uwPH573mkTGHr7CNxGp1eKAnfsZleeAuMWG1dhdOldKB9cT2yuVR0Mojx5zDd1azTPFLjpNUIoSK95QoAI3uONTsmp02Z8oSMsRvl5u19cLf3FSKH4Lno6p2CDxMnEu7YOVg/s640/IMG_20170818_142851.jpg" width="480" height="640" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div><br />
I'd really love to revisit this design, using different colors. It also makes me want to sew a rainbow diamond quilt someday. Time to break out the graph paper!Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16246323377929476660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129935762536505931.post-57231700424453358522018-01-23T09:36:00.000-06:002018-01-23T09:36:53.042-06:00Around the World<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdDx9RUd57o8PywKb2iUOA_xAtVMk_mfEUHWXkYnTYbuJUQsY5HfPo4nqPRhoS4y5yuSJi1ngw-J92GJcoL0unEICRd4iGNAqWv8C_F0wnmUsIdGGALTmH9xu-_g74O9TzFul-eP7lY6Y/s1600/20170523_184033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdDx9RUd57o8PywKb2iUOA_xAtVMk_mfEUHWXkYnTYbuJUQsY5HfPo4nqPRhoS4y5yuSJi1ngw-J92GJcoL0unEICRd4iGNAqWv8C_F0wnmUsIdGGALTmH9xu-_g74O9TzFul-eP7lY6Y/s640/20170523_184033.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div><br />
So, there's a bit of a funny story about this quilt. My friend Linda loves my quilts. Almost every time I post a picture on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sonnetofthemoon/">Instagram</a>, she asks if the quilt is available. And so far, every time, the quilt she likes has already been spoken for, or is a gift or it's one I'm keeping for myself.<br />
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One day I posted pictures of two quilts, an <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BQ-r7JGBcmD/?taken-by=sonnetofthemoon">Around the World quilt</a> using my beloved Neptune fabrics and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BQyCziAhQdM/?taken-by=sonnetofthemoon">a patchwork Denyse Schmidt quilt</a> featuring original Flea Market Fancy fabrics. Of course, she loved both so much and I felt bad having to tell her that they were both for me. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq489PfMUXF3A-vR-MFzRyKk_2oR8vPgP8ZU3a74FTLUzKyW_Mje_84otEIFClYuRNzkgRGPY5I4xgYlWraXCZBfRNOndOmGS5TrcSpUe7OEKOXi5dwsWqlOKm0FSfSPNXhxeGfMDJobo/s1600/20170523_184049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq489PfMUXF3A-vR-MFzRyKk_2oR8vPgP8ZU3a74FTLUzKyW_Mje_84otEIFClYuRNzkgRGPY5I4xgYlWraXCZBfRNOndOmGS5TrcSpUe7OEKOXi5dwsWqlOKm0FSfSPNXhxeGfMDJobo/s640/20170523_184049.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div><br />
At this point, I started to feel like Linda was Charlie Brown and I was holding the football. It's sort of funny but I felt bad too. So, I decided to make her a double sided quilt that mostly captured the spirit of the two quilts she liked so much.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSi2R5J7CZ36rGQ-0_1zUrOU1kD098DgW-_Z28G7FRQCUGZ9rnJJpq-LIT8uBOfSzKZBHGWu97Q500xqVgpWV-KyGLltzBIEtdb-MG4IhgYD9gM9xBy6MY8Dw99nT2EN2WAYilg9rEteg/s1600/20170523_184040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSi2R5J7CZ36rGQ-0_1zUrOU1kD098DgW-_Z28G7FRQCUGZ9rnJJpq-LIT8uBOfSzKZBHGWu97Q500xqVgpWV-KyGLltzBIEtdb-MG4IhgYD9gM9xBy6MY8Dw99nT2EN2WAYilg9rEteg/s640/20170523_184040.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div><br />
This was my first try at making two completely different quilts and just throwing them together. I've made a few quilts that are <a href="http://sonnetofthemoon.blogspot.com/2016/09/court-dance.html">"double sided"</a> but they <a href="http://sonnetofthemoon.blogspot.com/2010/09/coltons-castle-quilt.html">always match</a>, you know? This one is just two totally different quilts. But I think it works! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh-yQIRfdEMP9rYW3txkmwSpBtO1KZy7MOf0LQ8svlqs5_ilWK_eyTh0M_U3MFAFkkjiNm9soNPaKC2jyGuZkO-aV59fqJp21HfYzxnxsIgudMPQMEsrMa_43Pg9mOzji3QpT0uyZVO48/s1600/20170523_184100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh-yQIRfdEMP9rYW3txkmwSpBtO1KZy7MOf0LQ8svlqs5_ilWK_eyTh0M_U3MFAFkkjiNm9soNPaKC2jyGuZkO-aV59fqJp21HfYzxnxsIgudMPQMEsrMa_43Pg9mOzji3QpT0uyZVO48/s640/20170523_184100.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div><br />
I'm super proud of how I managed to keep the backing straight and in line with the front. A little careful basting was all it took! Well worth the extra effort and now I'm thinking of all the double sided quilt possibilities. It still freaks me out a bit, you know how much I love to be matchy-matchy. But I'm getting better about that.Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16246323377929476660noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129935762536505931.post-33731637959191161532018-01-22T08:40:00.000-06:002018-01-22T08:40:47.144-06:00Orange + Pink Forever!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBBqpvHXVMOzMomiuUVlRLq3eDj5gq-ILuNmPq6zoem_ckfuK685N1lOtrJluETUy8WlJzG4wuPd22KG9bNYl5XzsBb3PNRAeIyQKmlo1sJV5KKaW8H15MH0mvwCDhj18-f32xEjYWiLI/s1600/20170401_161910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBBqpvHXVMOzMomiuUVlRLq3eDj5gq-ILuNmPq6zoem_ckfuK685N1lOtrJluETUy8WlJzG4wuPd22KG9bNYl5XzsBb3PNRAeIyQKmlo1sJV5KKaW8H15MH0mvwCDhj18-f32xEjYWiLI/s640/20170401_161910.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div><br />
I can't really remember when I started making this quilt. What I do remember is being inspired by all the orange and pink prints in my stash. I mean prints with both orange <i>and</I> pink in them. One day I looked and I just had a ton! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbskoSVKxyAGD25Sf6IuAud8DRBeQ8J35VxgfqZeVIZiKBBlU5IF5m9Xm6w9Obp_DUqfCd3V6VYZN_Ov-NacAXXvTcxZhwthtQSt_Gk4A68TTBgg0J6uUrqj3q_xq8tjFrUlqmX6MWAlU/s1600/20170401_162157_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbskoSVKxyAGD25Sf6IuAud8DRBeQ8J35VxgfqZeVIZiKBBlU5IF5m9Xm6w9Obp_DUqfCd3V6VYZN_Ov-NacAXXvTcxZhwthtQSt_Gk4A68TTBgg0J6uUrqj3q_xq8tjFrUlqmX6MWAlU/s640/20170401_162157_2.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div><br />
It turns out that I love buying multi-colored prints but I don't really use them. Which is a shame because they're so pretty! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4F741y0fhg05PxvqU5QLsv76kbGKbbC89gfQb_6RUjdfV9AJ2dvoBK8Y5guKOt7PRwz6iQYwHYcJ-P2B-TiOVEJxq_E4WvvjsM4mjtu46UW_EHAOD76LbofJ8T7wYjchBnPybgydZXlU/s1600/20170401_161940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4F741y0fhg05PxvqU5QLsv76kbGKbbC89gfQb_6RUjdfV9AJ2dvoBK8Y5guKOt7PRwz6iQYwHYcJ-P2B-TiOVEJxq_E4WvvjsM4mjtu46UW_EHAOD76LbofJ8T7wYjchBnPybgydZXlU/s640/20170401_161940.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div><br />
This is a really great pattern for <a href="http://sonnetofthemoon.blogspot.com/search/label/stashbusting">stashbusting</a>. The large squares are great for showing off large-scale prints and for using larger scraps. And the 9-patches are great for using up smaller scraps. I also like the idea of alternating large squares with 25-patch blocks. There are lots of possibilities!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih23jlqlWetWZ_ppP-R8sYT0T7yTE8_4k3ovhr82n1PPV5Ovxcv_DEX4vgZgDeD9T5iDrFypJuSKLsA-oymvK8dVD-qHDMi8B8wU8F9oCJL1BcpZsIrkGyXTt3Q46z4d4hUBRaidUloYk/s1600/20170401_161843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih23jlqlWetWZ_ppP-R8sYT0T7yTE8_4k3ovhr82n1PPV5Ovxcv_DEX4vgZgDeD9T5iDrFypJuSKLsA-oymvK8dVD-qHDMi8B8wU8F9oCJL1BcpZsIrkGyXTt3Q46z4d4hUBRaidUloYk/s640/20170401_161843.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div><br />
This quilt has inspired me to get back to stashbusting. I have some ideas for simple and fun stashbusting quilts that are designed to show off the multi-colored and/or large scale prints in my stash. It would be really nice to start using up fabric that's been in my stash for years. Exciting!Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16246323377929476660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129935762536505931.post-62021891233541982552018-01-19T15:10:00.000-06:002018-01-19T15:10:26.417-06:00Lemon Bento<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzlcGmoUvm220cFhJeHXCFWyLUf2wRYkkd2NlrR8dpaHTZOQGNPaquV_1w2JG29RJHNvEEkqyVATc248a2PphlhxyCkj6Vikg79Mlc12zTk-Ag226Ff3CC497EADPk3ia6oBAwFJzohg/s1600/20170401_173350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzlcGmoUvm220cFhJeHXCFWyLUf2wRYkkd2NlrR8dpaHTZOQGNPaquV_1w2JG29RJHNvEEkqyVATc248a2PphlhxyCkj6Vikg79Mlc12zTk-Ag226Ff3CC497EADPk3ia6oBAwFJzohg/s640/20170401_173350.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div><br />
Lemon Bento is a fun little quilt that I started way back in 2009 when I (and everyone else!) was <I>obsessed</I> with Bento Box quilts.<br />
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I remember I had to buy yellow fabric for this quilt because I didn't have ANY! Why did I need to make a yellow bento box quilt? I have no idea! I had other fabrics that would have worked just as well.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySj_zfqbqM3BHufmTmhrZ7h1tboxsZa2L-Bm7sEkgY8sOYwxmr9B35nQgtwirm8HbQkI5ZTrgeNhvBporCxEMVKsp8PwWR_jWrSaA3JC3ZFVYo4gc_MGNWm6wHI2LS7druF4g2nqTIh4/s1600/20170401_173710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySj_zfqbqM3BHufmTmhrZ7h1tboxsZa2L-Bm7sEkgY8sOYwxmr9B35nQgtwirm8HbQkI5ZTrgeNhvBporCxEMVKsp8PwWR_jWrSaA3JC3ZFVYo4gc_MGNWm6wHI2LS7druF4g2nqTIh4/s640/20170401_173710.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div><br />
Anyway, I made a few blocks, ran out of yellow fabric and called it quits. But, while I was at it, I wrote up a <a href="http://sonnetofthemoon.blogspot.com/2009/01/bento-box-quilt-step-1.html">tutorial</a> for a faster way to make these blocks.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisvIipLRywqVTPyLC0XBBEHxonFQoSwDuQ3MvWUOS1TqerOO5sQytjqQVek-CPLS4bFvapjGv6-HT3_eiaAO9acYg5riOqWmJ_wuDE-f1Vn2kqvDSa-bU9MyP0uYTqGGSM7RZz-6KuxFw/s1600/20170401_173722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisvIipLRywqVTPyLC0XBBEHxonFQoSwDuQ3MvWUOS1TqerOO5sQytjqQVek-CPLS4bFvapjGv6-HT3_eiaAO9acYg5riOqWmJ_wuDE-f1Vn2kqvDSa-bU9MyP0uYTqGGSM7RZz-6KuxFw/s640/20170401_173722.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div><br />
I have this quilt to thank for "introducing" me to one of my very best friends, <a href="http://littlescrapsofhappiness.blogspot.com/">Jen</a>. In her words: "That Bento quilt is the post I found to start stalking, I mean 'following', you!" Without this quilt, would we ever have met? Who can know but I'm so very thankful that fate brought us together. <br />
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This little quilt lives at Jen's house now which makes me really happy!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq-GAyDBgBVlLycPiNqKWbQ5z8WYWQDOuvCX8cj3omlu7KkE0Epp5ePuUAf258xG_V2UoZ0m8fA6DCmeZRP8_yRPusQLKHt8O1Te4zy6dYixXgBtB1-uRouinW7f7B9ML3ap0J4TMJ5IM/s1600/20170401_173433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq-GAyDBgBVlLycPiNqKWbQ5z8WYWQDOuvCX8cj3omlu7KkE0Epp5ePuUAf258xG_V2UoZ0m8fA6DCmeZRP8_yRPusQLKHt8O1Te4zy6dYixXgBtB1-uRouinW7f7B9ML3ap0J4TMJ5IM/s640/20170401_173433.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div>Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16246323377929476660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129935762536505931.post-50605215527675115052018-01-16T13:06:00.001-06:002018-01-16T13:06:30.760-06:00With Love from GigiVery early in 2017 I got a request for a commission quilt. I'd never had such a request before and I was scared and excited by the idea. But, once I heard the story of the quilt I was being asked to make, there was no way I could say no.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimrckpkwcqQ53daF8pB0bnoPL5mK3Ivo2h31sHgnIQI0Y2a858O5_90mpBNKAJqxF-DR8SxGHiViwDLT0W53Z27BCyY6XztS1ShoOjA7KN93SQruix1o07TAamsap-UeaVBhyphenhyphenVEeq-af0/s1600/20170326_180612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimrckpkwcqQ53daF8pB0bnoPL5mK3Ivo2h31sHgnIQI0Y2a858O5_90mpBNKAJqxF-DR8SxGHiViwDLT0W53Z27BCyY6XztS1ShoOjA7KN93SQruix1o07TAamsap-UeaVBhyphenhyphenVEeq-af0/s640/20170326_180612.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div><br />
Betsy and her mom were working on designing a quilt for Betsy's new baby. It was based on a 1920's quilt and would have lots of fun colors. They'd worked up a sketch with measurements and picked out fabrics...but Betsy's mom passed away before she could begin sewing.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7k0KIHnt8VczExAQMaY16PZAv0YZCGxi-3w1F7dvTC6FPjBSUak_Fo0ND_Sxg2VAQ21UTRJMGTKgPtt-bEa6g3xe6mMfFMLdwtZ-lyCnNOZuBJarCko5pFtWDkDyB_tlwqWzJ8xQCnRI/s1600/20170326_181405_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7k0KIHnt8VczExAQMaY16PZAv0YZCGxi-3w1F7dvTC6FPjBSUak_Fo0ND_Sxg2VAQ21UTRJMGTKgPtt-bEa6g3xe6mMfFMLdwtZ-lyCnNOZuBJarCko5pFtWDkDyB_tlwqWzJ8xQCnRI/s640/20170326_181405_2.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div><br />
When Betsy contacted me, she was in the process of setting up her daughter's big-girl room and bed. She was hoping we could translate her mother's quilt pattern into a twin sized quilt.<br />
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Betsy and I worked together to update the design and talked about colors and fabrics. She sent a huge box of her mom's fabrics for me to use. We talked about which fabrics to showcase and I spent a lot of time fussy cutting.<br />
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We decided the background should be pieced low volume prints, something I'd never tried before. But it was so fun and it allowed me to add in a bit more of Betsy's fabric.<br />
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Betsy decided on a simple backing, an adorable and fun horse print that I matched along the seam line. We decided on a meander quilting and a hand-embroidered label, drawn by Betsy in her own handwriting and stitched by me.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8kEoKTuaUGkq3xwSiQceMpYF30RkIuJuu6OAGIoi7-GibSZYk77Hs6K3jKvdm80OhzPH5Bfg5Z0LJWpL5wiwAV2Ke49a5LXw3BgIfCQl9QiUUmbBrdW20MsNh3dkqK2_lgSS7b1_T0AQ/s1600/20170326_181858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8kEoKTuaUGkq3xwSiQceMpYF30RkIuJuu6OAGIoi7-GibSZYk77Hs6K3jKvdm80OhzPH5Bfg5Z0LJWpL5wiwAV2Ke49a5LXw3BgIfCQl9QiUUmbBrdW20MsNh3dkqK2_lgSS7b1_T0AQ/s640/20170326_181858.jpg" width="480" height="640" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div><br />
It's hard for me to write about this quilt and the experience of making it. I loved working with Betsy, collaborating, bouncing ideas off each other. And knowing that I was helping to fulfill her mom's last quilt-wish...it's almost too much, you know? But the entire process was fun and challenging and emotional and everything wonderful. I feel truly honored and grateful.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO8tZYMWw26h9CQy1MVDKWY-I7u71rHOWoEDs8ZHcDXcwRb9bBxDhhx-3Mj7jAzqg_ljaCPpccdjOe3WMWfXhz-K3widPqjTsPkAEogLoF1drcjeQpXFw0wPFVHVIDbWoBfIJ1mh0W4xY/s1600/20170327_092035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO8tZYMWw26h9CQy1MVDKWY-I7u71rHOWoEDs8ZHcDXcwRb9bBxDhhx-3Mj7jAzqg_ljaCPpccdjOe3WMWfXhz-K3widPqjTsPkAEogLoF1drcjeQpXFw0wPFVHVIDbWoBfIJ1mh0W4xY/s640/20170327_092035.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div>Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16246323377929476660noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129935762536505931.post-21774569117092788412018-01-11T10:32:00.000-06:002018-01-11T10:32:04.247-06:00Cabin Fever<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8N-WBhW3jI8ahPtwxVyiBwgw_itD-wia9GUgsaj5ZATcDF1Z_YFt1Dl7zCfs3_dX78SKDwqG2bjXScUNaqn0xeh0OoEauJKOoAiIwPLqnyIjbKgwzRVdzqUFca-zvW_49lxha9fG9NJo/s1600/20170316_112627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8N-WBhW3jI8ahPtwxVyiBwgw_itD-wia9GUgsaj5ZATcDF1Z_YFt1Dl7zCfs3_dX78SKDwqG2bjXScUNaqn0xeh0OoEauJKOoAiIwPLqnyIjbKgwzRVdzqUFca-zvW_49lxha9fG9NJo/s640/20170316_112627.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div><br />
This quilt (finished March 2017) is 100% inspired by this <a href="https://cauchycomplete.wordpress.com/2011/02/01/simple-insanity/">insanely beautiful quilt</a> by <a href="https://cauchycomplete.wordpress.com/">Completely Cauchy</a>. I started piecing this way back in February 2011!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRyfmOgXgGLiKpjaTL3zGPTi6MMN8CBNlBZfIpLQ2o-9To7gBbhGO1LWbdTVxEo7-REWxw8bSJo5lagHLrGAzdbqCe5NJ206dfCHzshTjh1cl1SiWWcFNYUHsLTwLFCSr0PHDrktvkQY/s1600/20170316_112713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRyfmOgXgGLiKpjaTL3zGPTi6MMN8CBNlBZfIpLQ2o-9To7gBbhGO1LWbdTVxEo7-REWxw8bSJo5lagHLrGAzdbqCe5NJ206dfCHzshTjh1cl1SiWWcFNYUHsLTwLFCSr0PHDrktvkQY/s640/20170316_112713.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div><br />
I loved working on this quilt but it took forever to complete each block. I started by piecing strips of red/pink/orange fabrics together until I got the length I needed. Then I cut that piece into 2.5" wide strips. I'd get a couple of logs from each panel of fabric which saved a lot of time. Any leftover skinny logs got pieced together with other skinny logs until they measured 2.5" wide.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVqnj6fiBhuATuVD8QoI_W78OMA35dAeDRGPOF1lvr4iYJd-BablbqfspZcEfMwf0CcixQbtjeb1lnqgFjMknYjMQz4TqdsFF2cqhissTuSdGRu0Rv844MA10qccZcGYphaGgXuUn_RI/s1600/20170316_113134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVqnj6fiBhuATuVD8QoI_W78OMA35dAeDRGPOF1lvr4iYJd-BablbqfspZcEfMwf0CcixQbtjeb1lnqgFjMknYjMQz4TqdsFF2cqhissTuSdGRu0Rv844MA10qccZcGYphaGgXuUn_RI/s640/20170316_113134.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div><br />
When I pulled this quilt out again, I was mostly just interested in finishing it up and finding it a good home (meaning, I didn't want to piece too many more blocks). I finished piecing just enough blocks to make a 70"x70" top. I thought a rectangle would be a more useful shape so I added some improv-pieced borders on the top and bottom.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-BpdsXyQnBWcMm_0LrhQpvWOHoCd3thz3HRDgsG6K3pWziEfDD8lN_q6xfWiiOBjysk59zmMrws8h1zFAIH5FasTSfAvQ-yGPOe9nMAGW-5OTJ8nSmfPCXTPpQTon-1mjmsz_x5xi8s/s1600/20170316_113129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-BpdsXyQnBWcMm_0LrhQpvWOHoCd3thz3HRDgsG6K3pWziEfDD8lN_q6xfWiiOBjysk59zmMrws8h1zFAIH5FasTSfAvQ-yGPOe9nMAGW-5OTJ8nSmfPCXTPpQTon-1mjmsz_x5xi8s/s640/20170316_113129.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div><br />
The back is pieced with lots of fun prints that have been in my stash forever. I love how they make this quilt even brighter and busier! A bit of diamond quilting and striped bias binding and then it was off to its new home where it's used everyday as a snuggly couch quilt. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36ooAI2-b7ewak8AQIGHQDl5qgfvW4dJfk3D21fgk7Awuxdlt73J4HOaP0ZkGPPakVEyTcY9ECi_C-ysL8RQdqwPC-i1AgaxUiEAzqRDgsP8SrGJWqLachjAF1590fgGcOXpqwHv_pM0/s1600/20170316_113822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36ooAI2-b7ewak8AQIGHQDl5qgfvW4dJfk3D21fgk7Awuxdlt73J4HOaP0ZkGPPakVEyTcY9ECi_C-ysL8RQdqwPC-i1AgaxUiEAzqRDgsP8SrGJWqLachjAF1590fgGcOXpqwHv_pM0/s640/20170316_113822.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div>Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16246323377929476660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129935762536505931.post-49134828557778661012018-01-09T09:48:00.004-06:002018-01-09T09:48:38.159-06:00Hello 2018In 2017, I focused mostly on finishing up old projects. I've never been good at finishing and I wanted to see if I could change that bad habit. I tried hard, really hard, and it worked, I'm good at finishing things now. And that is truly awesome, I never thought I could cultivate that desire or hone that skill. <br />
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But, looking back, I realize that goal had unforeseen consequences. Most of the work I was doing was busywork. Finish one project, move on to the next, repeat. There was nothing there to fuel the fire of creativity. Nothing to challenge me as a quilter.<br />
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On one hand, finishing so many quilts so easily shows how far I've come as a quilter. I'm so comfortable with every step, I hardly have to think anymore.<br />
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But on the other hand, I was initially drawn to quilting because it was challenging. Choosing a pattern, doing the math, picking out the perfect fabrics, figuring out just the right quilting. It was all so fun!<br />
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And that's what I want for 2018...to have fun and to challenge myself, to turn the spark of creativity back into a flame. <br />
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I need to do more thinking about this but I know for starters, I want to work on improving my quilting. I'm excited to branch out to new patterns, try new designs and techniques. My free-motion quilting needs the most work but for now, I really feel more interested in straight line or walking foot quilting. I've started reading "Walk" by <a href="http://tallgrassprairiestudio.blogspot.com/">Jacquie Gering</a> and it's filled with great quilting designs and tips.<br />
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I've already picked out a fun design for my newest quilt and the marking phase has begun. For future quilts, I'd like to think more about quilting in the early design phase instead of after the top is finished. Or, even better, pick a quilting design first, then design a quilt to show it off. It's refreshing to think about quilting in a new way! <br />
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So, here's to 2018: a year of challenges and growth and exploration!Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16246323377929476660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129935762536505931.post-21494392102336111202018-01-08T11:05:00.001-06:002018-01-08T11:05:07.119-06:002017 in ReviewHello 2018 and hello friends! Blog-wise 2017 was a quiet year but in reality it was very busy.<br />
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My friend <a href="http://littlescrapsofhappiness.blogspot.com/">Jen</a> visited for a weekend this spring. It was SO good to see her again and it was so much fun to have a friend to quilt with all day. The rest of her visit was fun too but after she left, the studio felt empty. I wish I had some sewing friends nearby.<br />
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Ian and I went on a trip to England and Scotland and walked <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadrian%27s_Wall_Path">Hadrian's Wall Path</a>. Actually, we walked the entire way coast to coast which added a few miles to our total...we estimated 100 miles over 7 days. We saw three plays at the <a href="http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/">Globe Theater</a> during our three days in London and visited a real Scottish Loch!<br />
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<center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1zj9HeVO1AJwg9nRFqQuDh_UR07A1-ThGGk_en-WbWwpqRk94JH4r1Px5wUWiIdHsTFW8Ps2Rvq1Yis_hdGhuTwK0wyaum__fkrys4Sk_Frw8ZgQNRqCrIoeW_YkNtiy4NMuTZk3H4M/s1600/20170707_113529.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1zj9HeVO1AJwg9nRFqQuDh_UR07A1-ThGGk_en-WbWwpqRk94JH4r1Px5wUWiIdHsTFW8Ps2Rvq1Yis_hdGhuTwK0wyaum__fkrys4Sk_Frw8ZgQNRqCrIoeW_YkNtiy4NMuTZk3H4M/s640/20170707_113529.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></center><br />
We had some sadness in 2017. Our beloved Vector-cat passed away in August. It was sudden and unexpected but we don't think he suffered. If I can be honest, this was and continues to be the saddest time of my life. I'm still angry and hurt and confused and most of all, I miss my dear, dear friend. But, every day my heart heals just a tiny bit. <br />
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I finally (finally!) took a class at the <a href="https://northhouse.org/">North House Folk School</a> in Grand Marais, MN. The class was really fun (felted rugs) but what I loved most was the quiet campus and sense of community. I'd love to go back again.<br />
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I also spent a lot of time quilting, starting some new projects and finishing up old ones. 2017 quilt totals are as follows:<br />
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9 quilts started or worked on but didn't finish <br />
1 quilt that I finally photographed and gave away even though I finished it ages ago<br />
21 finished quilts (gave away 18, kept two and have one left to give away eventually)<br />
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Last year I only got around to posting three finished quilts which means I have a lot of catching up to do. I'll try to post once or twice a week until I get through them all. But first, I'll likely write a post about my 2018 goals. See you soon!Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16246323377929476660noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129935762536505931.post-40466769974546833382017-04-06T15:56:00.000-05:002017-04-06T15:56:06.165-05:00Diamond Rings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVxV0q5rPaLX6vRQp53jNeaZ1ZhV70U4Y7FrREZMe4ndKmRH4XlzxTBDyGtnw1-L-hSqZkqDWhctmAO5Jw9_STw3-DZUbDxvT9VoLnJ5tF9bgibhgiGPQ8BvnieVREnRKylA0uf_asTg/s1600/20170401_145616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVxV0q5rPaLX6vRQp53jNeaZ1ZhV70U4Y7FrREZMe4ndKmRH4XlzxTBDyGtnw1-L-hSqZkqDWhctmAO5Jw9_STw3-DZUbDxvT9VoLnJ5tF9bgibhgiGPQ8BvnieVREnRKylA0uf_asTg/s640/20170401_145616.jpg" width="600" height="450" /></a></div><br />
A long time ago, I started making a 4-patch quilt like <a href="http://sonnetofthemoon.blogspot.com/2012/10/plan-for-sunday-instead.html">my great grandma's</a>. Matching prints, vintage aqua background instead of the green. Lots of 4.5" pieces left over.<br />
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As you know, I LOVE making quilts out of scraps of other quilts (like <a href="http://sonnetofthemoon.blogspot.com/2010/07/mermaid-quilt-finished.html">Mermaid School</a> and <a href="http://sonnetofthemoon.blogspot.com/2017/03/tiny-seas.html">Tiny Seas</a>). <br />
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As I was sewing the top for my great grandma quilt, I couldn't stop thinking about what I'd do with the scraps. I was pretty sure I wanted to try a stacked coin quilt. Once the other quilt top was finished, I quickly sewed scraps together into rows and put them up on the design wall. <br />
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I didn't like it. I wasn't inspired by the layout. I started moving things around, playing with the stacks.<br />
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When I finally tried this diamond design, I was hooked. Except, I didn't have enough scraps! So, I cut more 4.5" pieces and got back to sewing.<br />
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I absolutely LOVE how this quilt turned out. It's so fun and pretty. Of all the quilts I've ever made, this and the unfinished great grandma quilt are the most "me" in terms of colors and fabrics. Vintage feedsack reprints, pink/green/aqua/navy, apples and chickens and flowers. Perfection!!<br />
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I gave this quilt to my friend Mary, a fellow lover of vintage fabrics and chickens. She, like me, is a maker of things, a creator and doer. I love giving quilts to people who know what it takes to make things. There's a common bond, an understanding, an appreciation. It's a good feeling, one of the best.Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16246323377929476660noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129935762536505931.post-66406516699975287702017-03-27T15:53:00.000-05:002017-11-13T10:31:14.158-06:00She Thinks of HerFabric petals fall, a field of wildflowers cut and left to blow away. Picked up by loving hands, gathered together.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglO51O9f-Rg-b2pWmjBhL7daNGVDgbGbTVkPUlyBQ3lucfyxQHiyKagNwAmW_3X9B9vVAxL9Amwt9YCS8eFm0Kq5QWJ9PVaZVU1EgbBkzOqpfsZ2m3rgPmN051jsz6XpT1nM2P1PwI_7s/s1600/20170211_085338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglO51O9f-Rg-b2pWmjBhL7daNGVDgbGbTVkPUlyBQ3lucfyxQHiyKagNwAmW_3X9B9vVAxL9Amwt9YCS8eFm0Kq5QWJ9PVaZVU1EgbBkzOqpfsZ2m3rgPmN051jsz6XpT1nM2P1PwI_7s/s640/20170211_085338.jpg" width="480" height="640" /></a></div><br />
A daisy chain of fabric. A little quilt top, too small to be of use. Too precious to leave unfinished. In the darkness, patiently, she waits until she's needed. Sleepy flowers, nodding heavily.<br />
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When it's time, she wakes. A backing, a bed of moss. Tiny stitches, sewn by hand, footpaths through the woods. Her rough edges bound in cotton voile, soft as wildflower petals. All this time, she thinks of <i>her</i>.<br />
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She is on her way, a dandelion seed on the wind. A silly little quilt, light as air. She wants nothing more than to be loved by <i>her</i>, a quiet friend, a lovely mystery. A kindred spirit, a field of wildflowers cut and left to blow away. She is coming to gather <i>her</i> together. She holds out her hands...<br />
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Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16246323377929476660noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129935762536505931.post-78912378092344035972017-03-07T17:07:00.003-06:002017-03-07T17:07:48.611-06:00Twinkling StarsHave you met <a href="http://littlescrapsofhappiness.blogspot.com/">Jen</a>, my very best quilting friend in all the land?<br />
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Jen and I have spent countless hours planning quilts, talking about fabric, calculating sizes, working through ideas. We talk about more than just quilts, of course. And she even talked me into going on a cruise and we had so much fun!<br />
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Our friendship started after she found my blog years ago. I remember she emailed me and it was so funny...she basically said "I've decided we're going to be friends."<br />
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And that was fine with me! <br />
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One of our best crazy quilt schemes was inspired by the <a href="http://thelittleredhen.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/12/twinkling-stars.html">Twinkling Stars quilt</a> by The Little Red Hen. We both really wanted to make this quilt and we got the idea to share stars. I'd make enough for a quilt and send her half my stars. And she'd send half of hers.<br />
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Friendship quilts are so much better than friendship necklaces!<br />
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For Christmas 2015, Jen sent me her stars...only, she sent me ALL of her stars. Rather than sending half back to her, I decided to send a finished quilt instead. <br />
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I had such a fun time making this quilt! I backed it with all the mustard roses print I had left in my stash and filled in the rest with scraps. And check out that sweet Anna Maria Horner plaid binding! My favorite binding ever!<br />
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Jen loves her quilt which makes me so happy! And I'm excited to make mine someday, maybe this year? My plate is filling up quickly, I have 5 quilts I want to finish this weekend which means, of course, I <i>might</I> finish <i>one</I>. <br />
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This is officially my first finished quilt of 2017. I finished 15 last year (and 15 the year before that)...do you think I can finish more than that this year? I hope so!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPouPeKgXeHxvr7iSwK8UFBta5-mmYiFRC9-sInhQGGjUQEbJlqD1zwGne7Ul0al8J_MkENySy3PtF4zvp6htnD1FRlC7WknHLRAxnNM_Z4ErS-f-fP6QuH3eDcPnczWQCU_zoo60Id6k/s1600/20170220_093009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPouPeKgXeHxvr7iSwK8UFBta5-mmYiFRC9-sInhQGGjUQEbJlqD1zwGne7Ul0al8J_MkENySy3PtF4zvp6htnD1FRlC7WknHLRAxnNM_Z4ErS-f-fP6QuH3eDcPnczWQCU_zoo60Id6k/s640/20170220_093009.jpg" width="480" height="640" /></a></div>Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16246323377929476660noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129935762536505931.post-27747236206649627292017-03-06T10:09:00.000-06:002017-03-06T10:09:05.549-06:00Hearts and ArrowsWhat do you do when someone asks for a quilt with hearts and arrows on it? You <i>make</I> a quilt with hearts and arrows on it!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDBtfaK5Cc5hZCVWcyKHfJgh7s2wplmC9Rsq_tsV7kaiuvL6czUchhqKhsgiAK_ZtzacEXQ4IByn9MXWwWzQc19anEoZG0M5isX6SfsCJ3rbTHXIpU26UBuJcxLR7J2-ccxQe9nzRQC_o/s1600/20161218_120131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDBtfaK5Cc5hZCVWcyKHfJgh7s2wplmC9Rsq_tsV7kaiuvL6czUchhqKhsgiAK_ZtzacEXQ4IByn9MXWwWzQc19anEoZG0M5isX6SfsCJ3rbTHXIpU26UBuJcxLR7J2-ccxQe9nzRQC_o/s640/20161218_120131.jpg" width="480" height="640" /></a></div><br />
I offered to make my sister in law Heather a quilt last year. And after she finished exclaiming her excitement (she really is the best at showing excitement and appreciation, it's so rewarding!) we got to talking about colors and pattern.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSzCGzHfJJWqQETVo8hAkmngcLeK4MI_DQHGykqs3bLJ-hsz-B970pIImbsSdLa6JHxLD1tBoHIoKDcJabnE_s_Pt1WMjuvwEAEmp1D8aEeVqmLu-K7CacZCCXAdjVqYKiAhVabMJOXVg/s1600/IMG_20160925_152344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSzCGzHfJJWqQETVo8hAkmngcLeK4MI_DQHGykqs3bLJ-hsz-B970pIImbsSdLa6JHxLD1tBoHIoKDcJabnE_s_Pt1WMjuvwEAEmp1D8aEeVqmLu-K7CacZCCXAdjVqYKiAhVabMJOXVg/s640/IMG_20160925_152344.jpg" width="600" height="600" /></a></div><br />
She picked a color scheme pretty quickly and for the pattern, left it up to me to interpret her "hearts and arrows" request.<br />
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After a few sketches and layouts and talking through ideas with <a href="http://littlescrapsofhappiness.blogspot.com/">my friend Jen</a> and asking Ian for his opinion (she's his sister, after all) and toying with the idea of a double-sided quilt and then giving up on that and combining the two layouts I liked most and, yes, buying a few new prints (I wanted some heart and arrows fabrics and some lighter prints), I finally started piecing.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbFiTPbfmnefLLc6WqzbX0KfO66KRxBLTHEhg_OXZUT0mvz-D20q8lTjFVmhGJ6ZTV1vLiaIgUHxW7LKJyF2iJ254s-BS7B6Nmq1hrxRxSHE2aNZzxPZwDQ2DMz0Y1_tWEWCozV1RaLE/s1600/20161218_120227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbFiTPbfmnefLLc6WqzbX0KfO66KRxBLTHEhg_OXZUT0mvz-D20q8lTjFVmhGJ6ZTV1vLiaIgUHxW7LKJyF2iJ254s-BS7B6Nmq1hrxRxSHE2aNZzxPZwDQ2DMz0Y1_tWEWCozV1RaLE/s640/20161218_120227.jpg" width="600" height="450" /></a></div><br />
And I pieced, and pieced, and pieced. I used <a href="http://carla-graceandfavour.blogspot.com/2014/05/arrows-how-to.html">this tutorial to make the arrows</a> and this <a href="http://cluckclucksew.com/2015/01/making-heart-blocks-in-multiple-sizes.html">tutorial to make the hearts</a>. <br />
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And once all the blocks were pieced, I started piecing the background from the same low volume prints as the arrows. And then I pieced a huge blank space in the center.<br />
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And then I traced a picture of Heather's crossed arrows tattoo and blew it up super huge and pieced it and appliqued it to the top.<br />
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And then came the meltdown before Christmas when my machine decided that stitches were for losers and started skipping them when free motion quilting. <br />
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After some tears and a glass of wine, I realized that I was going about the quilting all wrong. What this quilt really needed was echo quilting using the crossed arrows as a guide. OBVIOUSLY!!! <br />
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I marked the entire quilt with a hera marker, quilted it and painstakingly bound it (after quilting beautifully, my machine skipped so many stitches on the binding!).<br />
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And when it was done, I actually thought "if I die tomorrow, I'll die happy." I knew that every second of making this quilt was worth it. Every single stitch! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHq6-vXRhWNUTJh8pBLCiNhq0YQ4tG8Baf4HiDpsRkrDpu0BFQ_xacU7aUwJXHZfwo1eGvvo82Vd0QEK6J4XkdzVzCHuzejn7Jy0Q0hvCOvlTX_dquYPNlUvYE6-zoq8Sti0DgzVCdl9w/s1600/20161218_120150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHq6-vXRhWNUTJh8pBLCiNhq0YQ4tG8Baf4HiDpsRkrDpu0BFQ_xacU7aUwJXHZfwo1eGvvo82Vd0QEK6J4XkdzVzCHuzejn7Jy0Q0hvCOvlTX_dquYPNlUvYE6-zoq8Sti0DgzVCdl9w/s640/20161218_120150.jpg" width="480" height="640" /></a></div><br />
I have never been prouder of a quilt or of my abilities as a quilter. The design was challenging, the color palette and use of low volume fabrics was new for me, and I appliqued a freaking <i>tattoo</I> onto a freaking <i>quilt</I>! I can't believe how much I love the quilting! I'm so proud of myself for figuring out exactly what the quilt needed and for having the patience to do it right. I will be forever grateful to Heather for giving me such a challenge, to have pushed me to a new level as a quilter. I've made over 50 quilts in 11 years and I can't wait to see what the next 50 will look like! I have so many ideas, so little time. I can't wait to make the most of it! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh89Pamsx0kYL6YQSN7ChZO9ogBeLlU6y3bhg_-5ULeCLRd5KPO1D_WZ8HFvs8oBLcyKwM_lC-vDO7yqTVgN7h_D286pYu2SNc4NS0zS5tEZdGQItCw_n1cOT76DchfCE-t_apKOzf6Q50/s1600/20161218_120142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh89Pamsx0kYL6YQSN7ChZO9ogBeLlU6y3bhg_-5ULeCLRd5KPO1D_WZ8HFvs8oBLcyKwM_lC-vDO7yqTVgN7h_D286pYu2SNc4NS0zS5tEZdGQItCw_n1cOT76DchfCE-t_apKOzf6Q50/s640/20161218_120142.jpg" width="480" height="640" /></a></div>Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16246323377929476660noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129935762536505931.post-83823325219290990392017-03-03T15:29:00.000-06:002017-03-03T15:29:56.200-06:00Red and WhiteI love red and white quilts. I know that red and white quilts have been popular for forever but I really don't know anything about the historical significance. What I do know is that I've loved pretty much every red and white quilt I've ever seen and hoped to someday make one for myself. <br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sonnetofthemoon/33188214716/in/dateposted-public/" title="red white"><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/747/33188214716_c4161805e4_o.jpg" width="600" height="450" alt="red white"></a><br />
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I'm happy to say that in September of 2016 I got close to accomplishing that goal. I did manage to make a red and white quilt, but instead of making it for myself, I gave it away to a friend.<br />
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My friend Linda had a bad accident this past summer and I thought a quilt was just the thing to cheer her up. Bright, cheery reds? Check! Simple pattern? Check! Non-wiggly quilting (Linda hates "wiggly" quilting)? Double check!!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sonnetofthemoon/33188214696/in/dateposted-public/" title="red white2"><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/739/33188214696_f7a479b5b8_o.jpg" width="600" height="450" alt="red white2"></a><br />
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I LOVE this quilt. I love simple squares and the checkerboard effect is just so satisfying. Also, I used up a great many number of my red prints. As sad as I was to see some of them go, I just knew they had to go in this quilt. It was time.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sonnetofthemoon/33073357512/in/dateposted-public/" title="red white3"><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3813/33073357512_83343620e5_o.jpg" width="600" height="450" alt="red white3"></a><br />
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I was worried that some of the fabric would bleed, especially since I had issues on <a href="http://sonnetofthemoon.blogspot.com/2016/02/a-quilt-for-jane.html">my last mostly white quilt</a> AND the back for this quilt was also made out of red fabric. But, everything looked just fine. <br />
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To keep the contrast high, I choose only fabrics with little touches of white. But I just had to make an exception for my favorite kerchief girls. I look at this quilt and just feel happy, feel a sense of calm and accomplishment. I love how a simple quilt can do all that.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sonnetofthemoon/33229866035/in/dateposted-public/" title="red white4"><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2945/33229866035_9d665e6ab7_o.jpg" width="600" height="450" alt="red white4"></a>Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16246323377929476660noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129935762536505931.post-55358833853304751762017-03-02T07:30:00.000-06:002017-03-02T07:30:02.321-06:00Tiny Seas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7zoBYdNFzXN_S1v18yBlfZDdNT4nlz8dpEPXibWOkchf9wng4cwOeLCRKlyg3CK3nExKGSDvOq6-U56wr5BuFiXps_NZkRKTOPFmfjRHcxOV1WHT22m2EtGkyBSoW1S04LgPLT0SYOg/s1600/20170228_134140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7zoBYdNFzXN_S1v18yBlfZDdNT4nlz8dpEPXibWOkchf9wng4cwOeLCRKlyg3CK3nExKGSDvOq6-U56wr5BuFiXps_NZkRKTOPFmfjRHcxOV1WHT22m2EtGkyBSoW1S04LgPLT0SYOg/s640/20170228_134140.jpg" width="480" height="640" /></a></div><br />
A lot of the time, when I'm working on a quilt, I'll keep all the scraps together until I'm finished. Oftentimes they're the same size and are fun to sew back together. I LOVE making one quilt out of the scraps of another and usually the second quilt is my favorite!<br />
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Tiny Seas is a quilt made out of scraps from my <a href="http://sonnetofthemoon.blogspot.com/2010/07/mermaid-quilt-finished.html">Mermaid School quilt</a>. Those angled pieces left a lot of scraps. Precious Mendocino and Neptune scraps! You all know how much I treasure both and never want to waste a single piece.<br />
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I really loved what happened when I paired two prints together. To me, these blocks look like an ocean dollhouse, each room a little scene into another world. Some rooms are sandy shallows, some are murky depths.<br />
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This quilt is backed with large pieces of brown, orange and aqua Kona cotton solids and bits of Mendocino. I gave this quilt to friends who were immediately enamored of the sea creatures swimming around. I can't blame them, I do love this quilt!Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16246323377929476660noreply@blogger.com2