Long time comin'

I began this quilt in May, writing my first blog post about it on the 17th. 

Today, September 26, the top is finished!

I don't have a whole lot to say about it, the process, or the result. 

I am simply so glad that it is done.

"As swiftly as the world is changing,
like racing clouds,
all that is finished
falls home to the ancient source."
                                Rilke

A little of this and a little of that...

Although I have been fairly absent from the blog world this month, I have continued to be very busy discovering news things all around me. I have just opened my home to an international student from Taiwan who arrived in the States on Friday. He will be with us until July. He is an absolute pleasure, and we are ALL very excited to share this year with him. Needless to say, the past four days have been overflowing with activity.

As you all know, I have recently begun this adventure of learning how to embroider. Sharon b of Pin Tangle offers a wonderful opportunity to both beginners and experienced stitchers. Take A Stitch Tuesday, commonly referred to as TAST, is a place where you can learn a new stitch every week. Although they are up to week 38, you can jump in at anytime. I decided to do what I could to begin this learning process, so I began a small sampler that uses the French Knot, Oyster Stitch, Buttonwheel Half-circle, Cast-on Stitch, and the Pistol Stitch. I began by brushing some color on a white-on-white fabric with PaintStiks....then began stitching. Sharon b also has a Work In Progress Wednesday...an opportunity for you to share a piece that you are currently working on. 

Another project I have recently become involved in is the Autumn Colors Sew Along. What is unique about this opportunity is that you are required to dye your own fabric, lace, and motif for a CQ block. You divide all these into three kits and send them to three people. When you receive your three kits, you stitch three CQ blocks and then send your completed work to three different people. So, when you are all done (whew!) you will receive three blocks that have each been made by two different people...one did the dying, and one did the stitching.  Fun, yes??

Now, I have never dyed fabric. Going into this, I had absolutely NO idea what I was doing....actually, I am still clueless. I started by dying four pieces of fabric. One of them is in the trash....not redeemable. The second was the wrong color for the autumn color scheme. I was left with two that I felt I could possibly work with, but I was really not happy with either of them.

The colors of the one above faded significantly when I washed it, so I got out my PaintStiks, thinking they would help add interest. The kits need to be sent out by October 1rst, so I have a week to keep experimenting.

The above piece was first tie-dyed. That was something I could do having done it with my children in the past, but, for me, it still wasn't enough...hence, the leaves!

Finally, I keep plugging away at the borders of the Millennium Compass quilt. I finished the top and bottom border last week, and sewed them on....tackled some of the tedious paper removal...and began working on the side borders.

Sides are now done, and the paper is removed from one strip. I did that while watching the first Lord of the Rings movie :) The end is finally in sight. By the end of this week, this quilt top will be done and ready to hang in the shop so we can begin the block-of-the-month on October 2nd. Just in time!

Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by!

Reflections...

I'm sitting on my porch with my Yorkie, Mr. Darcy, by my side thinking about these past eight months and this blog. Two-thirds of the year have passed. My profile says that I have been a blogger since 2005. I did start "Spilling Energy" back then but only for a very short while, and it had nothing to do with quilting. It sat fallow for six years. This blog was started the last day of December 2011. By definition, I am totally a newbie.

My original intent was to reach a personal goal. I needed some motivating force to help me finish the myriad of projects that sit unfinished in my closet, in drawers, and on my shelves. I believed that blogging about my progress would do the trick. Here I am with more unfinished projects than I started with. Now, if I was so inclined, I could consider this a failure. However, I am choosing to put a different spin on it.

I am having so much fun! 

I'm meeting people, making new friends, learning new things, and writing about it here. What more do I really want? Do I care about the number of followers or daily views? No. Do I really care about all those projects that I have yet to complete? No. My children can have a blast discovering, when I'm gone, all the things I set my hands to. It really matters little that some of them will remain unfinished. Every cut and every stitch was the beginning of something new, and I love new beginnings.

This month, for my block swap, I was asked to make a log cabin block in creams and purples. Well, everyone knows that my favorite color is purple, and who doesn't love the versatility of that pattern. So I made one for my partner and six for myself . Ok, so maybe that's the beginning of yet another unfinished project, but I couldn't help it. When you're making one, it's not a big step to make seven.

Now that the body of the Millennium Compass quilt is done, it was time to tackle the final border. So, there are sixteen colors I used for the rainbow spread, twenty-two pieces needed for each, which, when you do the math comes out to 352 pieces. Then add to that the background pieces...well, just saying, it was a lot of cutting!

Then it was time to organize each set on the appropriate template in the right order. Must admit that I didn't get it right the first time.

Two sets done and two to go. Corner blocks next. Then on the quilt they go.

Have a wonderful weekend and have fun!

The Sense of Accomplishment

The sense of accomplishment comes in many packages. It is like a precious gift. 

Often, it comes when you simply try something new. You take the plunge, maybe with a bit of trepidation. You might start slowly tickling your toes in the water....but you try, nonetheless. In the process, maybe you uncovered a new passion that has been lying dormant within you.

Here is my first finished crazy quilt block. When you try something new, it's wonderful to have a teacher, someone seasoned and brimming with wisdom.  Sharon b, teacher of the Encrusted Crazy Quilting class has been that to the fullest. Every comment and direction has been full of support and encouragement. Take the course if you can :)

Then, there is the sense of accomplishment that comes when you have completed something fairly quickly without painful effort. At the end of a weekend, you have something to show for the time you invested. You probably had lots of fun in the process. You might even choose to do it again.....maybe even three times.

This is the last time, hopefully, that I will be "talking up" the Eleanor Burns method for assembling a Trip Around the World quilt. This is my third one and probably my last, for a while anyway. Was it easy? fun? a weekend project? Absolutely Yes!!!

There is quite a different feeling of accomplishment when you make progress or even finally finish a project that you have been working on for a long time. The process is much slower. The piecing is more tedious. You may even get bored with it for a period of time, put it away, and come back to it later. However, at each milestone in its construction, you rejoice a little knowing that are that much closer to the finish line.

Anyone who has ever undertaken a Block-of-the-Month quilt, knows exactly what I'm saying. This quilt is for my new class. I'm still not done....one more border to go...and a crazy one, at that!

I'm getting close, though, and it's a good feeling.

No matter what you do for a living, no matter what your creative endeavors are, I encourage you to fill your life, as much as possible, with a variety of activities that gift you with a sense of accomplishment. It  really does come in many packages. Rejoice in what you do, even the smallest of things!

More stars...

I guess I never really do get tired of stars. There are endless ways to construct them and endless fabric and color combinations you can use to piece them. Also, I never get tired of batiks!!!

I have finally finished all of the star blocks for the Millennium Compass quilt that will be a block of the month class at Cloth and Bobbin starting in October.

I find myself rejoicing in the beauty of all these vibrant colors. For this quilt, you need sixteen colors spanning the full color wheel...four for each quadrant. How much fun is that?

There are borders to come and several of them. Just picked out the fabric yesterday and can't wait to get started.

Here's wishing you a wonderful week ahead full of color and fun!

Blues and Browns....

I recently finished another sample for the store from Norman Wyatt Jr.'s newest collection for P & B Textiles called "Earthtones/Art in Motion." The pattern is another from Maple Island Quilts called "Show Off." How appropriate! Great pattern to showcase fabrics with bold large prints.

When I was done, I texted this to a friend: "I finished the pb textile quilt last night...i think i'm in love"

Later, I was thinking about that text and thought that the "being in love" comment was pretty stupid. Believe it or not, I spent a lot of time thinking about why I said that....what I meant by it, etc. Eventually, the ruminating paid off, and I made sense of it in my own head.

What I realized was that I interact with color in much the same way that I interact with people. Sometimes, I want to go out with friends who are a bit riotous, fun loving, and full of laughter. Other times, I want to sit with a friend, have coffee, and talk about life....in a serious way.  During particular events in my life, I choose to surround myself with certain people. I'm the same with color.

What I discovered about the text to my friend was that I have been surrounding myself with blues and browns these days. Looking back, I have had periods where I chose to work with crazy vibrant colors, but right now I find myself gravitating and responding to muted earth tones. There is a reason for this....I think.

This is the block that I am working on for Sharon B's online class "Encrusted Crazy Quilting." Blues and browns again...

So I think that I'm loving my life right now because all the crazy stuff that was going on recently has finally stopped. I feel a wonderful sense of calm and stability. These colors are expressing what I'm feeling. That explains my text. 

Right now, these are, in fact, the colors that I am in love with. They are the colors I am choosing to surround myself with. These are the colors that I am breathing into and giving a new life....like mine.

Go and fall in love with some color. Make a quilt with it, paint with it, stitch with it....surround yourself with it...go ahead! Enjoy :)

Road Well Traveled...

So, it was time in the shop for a new BQ quilt (Maple Island Quilts). This pattern can used again and again  with amazing results. It is a fabulous pattern for showcasing fabrics as the colorful blocks are 6 inches.

This quilt was done with Marcus Fabrics' new collection called Road Less Traveled...a fun combination of paisleys and elephants...lemon-lime, orange, brown, and aqua blue.

The border fabric is wonderful. with a wide 10 1/2 " repeat pattern. The collection is now available at Cloth and Bobbin.

Blocks and blocks...

Life has been so busy lately that I haven't had a moment to post anything here. My second son was married in Belgium a week ago. A whirlwind trip full of friends, family, wine, beer, shopping, chocolate, and very little sleep. I don't think that I ever adjusted to Belgium time before I had to return to the States.

The minute I returned home, I was back at my machine working/playing/creating....

all fun!

The first thing I did was complete the next block for the Millenium Compass Quilt. This will be part of a BOM class starting in October, so I need to get the sample done.

Next thing I did was begin an online class called Encrusted Crazy Quilting with Sharon B. The first week's assignment was to create a crazy quilt block between 6 and 12 inches. I'm happy with the first one but wonder how difficult this will be to embellish due to the bold prints and dark colors. Sharon B assures me that I should go for it.

For the second block, I chose a wider variety of fabrics but toned down the colors and patterns. We'll see how this turns out. For the second week, I am to begin stitching. I have been experimenting with another block, so I already got my feet wet and am ready to go!

I thought that before I get too involved in my CQ class, I would get my Block Swap for August done. This month's partner wanted any block in black and white with a splash of red. Anyone who knows me well knows that this is one of my favorite color combinations. My partner posted a picture on her blog of all the squares she has received so far, so I tried to create a block that she didn't have yet....an offset Log Cabin.

Well, since I had the fabric out, I decided to do another one. I had recently purchased Karen Combs' acrylic template for making cubes, so I decided to give it a try.

So, it's been a great week home. I'm definitely back into the swing of things.

Finally...the elated lovers...my son, Luke, and his beautiful bride, Clemence!

More Trip Around the World

I love the fact that, in spite of the excessive heat in which I wither, my flowers continue to perservere and show their beautiful faces. This is my Purple Ice Plant... a flowering, succulent, perenial from South Africa. The petals open during the day and close at night. The foliage of this plant is so soft, I often kneel down and run my hands over it as I'm walking by.

When I completed the first Trip Around the World quilt

from Eleanor Burns' book, Quick Trip Quilts, it was so fast and easy that I decided to make two more. The one I'm working on now is purple, grey, teal, and pale blue.

Had to sneak in a picture of my gladiolas :)

Here is another Trip Around the World surrounded by Kaffe Fassett feathers.

 I have been very busy lately. I guess that's nothing new. I've been helping with the Shop Hop quilt, a collaborative effort between Johanna, Linda, Stella, and me. We're definitely making progress. 

Also, for all those homeschoolers, I've been assembling portfolios and preparing for the next academic year.

Oh, and planning my trip to Belgium next week???

for my son's wedding???

Am I excited?

Silk Tie Crazy Quilt

The Silk Tie Crazy Quilt is done!

I was chastised by a friend yesterday for not getting the back story on this quilt. I know almost nothing about who or what, I was simply asked to do it. 

Here are some of the blocks...

The walls in my studio are peach, so when I photograph in here the colors get weird. Hindsight, you know? I should have painted the walls cream or something more neutral. The reds in this quilt became more magenta. They are truly a deep red.

The colors in this photo seem more true.

And here is the finished top. Now, I was told that there needed to be a strip of 2" squares across the top and bottom. I believe that this is to be a  replica of another quilt.

Have a wonderful day!

The Anatomy of a Tie

I was recently asked by a friend to piece a silk tie crazy quilt top for her. I spent several hours over two days dissecting ties. I am now an expert on the anatomy of a tie. Having never worked with ties or silk before, I had a lot to learn. I was given two trash bags full of ties. One had a green piece of paper in it that read "First Choice." The second bag was to be used only if I needed more.

The process was actually an exciting walk around the world and through history. There were ties from so many different countries. Many of them depicted scenes from historic events or cultural icons. Everything from The Metropolitan Opera and Harley Davidson to Cirque du Soleil and The Phillies. There was even a tie covered with Jewish themes that included a picture of Chaim Potok's book, The Chosen. That might have been one of the best moments because it is one of my favorite books. Read it if you haven't already!

Some ties still had the price tag on them. After about the first five or so, I got on a roll. Taking them apart became an issue of muscle memory. I was also given 56 8" block foundations. Each block has 5 pieces. I began cutting. 

Silk is a funny fabric with a mind of its own. Some ties were very thick, and others were incredibly thin. The thinner the silk, the more it rebelled. It frays, it jiggles, it morphs....seriously doesn't like to be told what to do. However, my parenting skills kicked in, and I learned some tactics :)

So, as of right now, I only have 8 blocks done but will have 32 completed by the end of the day......UNLESS....some crazy something happens (which recently has been the norm) that totally interrupts the flow of my day!

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday yesterday. Happy Thursday!