Note to Self...

 
Note to self: objects may be bigger than they appear in hoop.  There was much rejoicing at my house when I finally got to the "last" corner of Katie's whole cloth---the end was in sight!  That was a good thing because the wedding is almost here----17 days from now!  Ack!!!! Not that I'm not perfectly chill about this whole thing.  Really. Ahem.

Anyway....the thing about that last corner is that it's a really big corner.    Really, really big.  This is what happens when one quilts round and round the center and out to the sides in a sort of (but not really) circle:  rectangles have corners.  Really, really ....oh, yeah, said that already.  

Undaunted, however, I am determined to: 

Coming Up For Air

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Well, once again, I'm surfacing for a little breath of air.  As many of you know, 2013 is proving to be an eventful year for my family.  This week, my daughter presented her senior piano recital--she was amazing!  Yes, I know moms are prejudiced, but it's really true.  She played Debussy, Mozart, and Rahbee, with so much confidence, so beautifully.  She looked beautiful too.  Now it's on to bridal showers, college graduation, and wedding.  Whew!

Next big thing in my quilting world is finishing the wedding quilt--you've seen a glimpse here and there--I'll try to get a picture up soon.  I showed three quilts in Crossroads Quilters' show and was awarded 1st and 2nd place ribbons in the small applique quilt division.  That was fun--some beautiful quilts there.

One last thing---I'm making the move to Bloglovin, so check it out--I love the reader experience there,and I think you will too.  You might want to try subscribing to Material Blessings and other blogs by email so you won't miss a one.  

I'll see you again soon---promise!

Ta Dah!!!!

Do you remember those nature films teachers used to show years ago?  The ones where a seed would sprout, grow into a plant, and bloom in just a minute or two?  I loved those movies!  I'm pretty sure they used to show them on Sunday nights on the Disney show, but we were always at church on Sunday nights---except for the one Sunday night each year when my brother and I were suddenly taken ill.  Strangely, this seemed to coincide with the broadcast of "The Wizard of Oz," which is really a terrifying picture if you think about it....

Any way---last night I posted pictures of my Baltimore Album quilt top.  Tonight, I am happy to present.....(drum roll, please!).....the finished quilt.  Ta-Dah!!!!

A million thanks to Mimi Dietrich and her book, Baltimore Basics.  Although it is now, sadly, out of print, my very wonderful husband ordered a copy of it directly from Mimi for my birthday.  I really challenged myself with this quilt--new techniques, fabrics that were out of my comfort zone--and I'm really happy with what I've learned.  And now....on to the next quilt....'cause there's going to be a wedding.....:)

Stage One--All Done!

Oh, my goodness--it has been entirely too long since I updated this blog.  I don't think it's laziness exactly--more like distraction.  All kinds of exciting things have been going on, but first.....ta-da!!!

Here's the top--all the blocks and the appliqued border!  It isn't the greatest photo in the world, but I hope you can see the little bluebirds of happiness in each of the corners.  They may be my new favorite--I've always included hearts in my quilts, usually in the quilting, but there just may have to be a bird or two in every quilt in the future....

The top has been finished for quite a while--in fact, long enough so that I put the last stitches in the the binding today.  It's drying after its wash (have to get rid of all the washout blue marker and any oils from my hands.  Just barely in time--my quilt guild's "big reveal" (doesn't that seem like it should be in capital letters---the BIG REVEAL---followed by a drum roll?) is Monday night.  I can't wait to see what everyone else has been doing!

P.S.--Thanks to Karen for asking how this quilt was coming along--I needed a little nudge to get busy posting again!

Blessings!

More Baltimore Blocks

I have finished a few more of the blocks for my guild challenge quilt.  If you remember, I decided to combine two challenges--using the fabrics for the challenge without buying more of any of the fabrics, as well as making a beginner Baltimore album quilt.  I'm using Mimi Dietrich's Baltimore Basics and having a blast!  Anyway, here are five more of the blocks--just two more to go, then sashing, borders and on to the quilting!  I have until the end of January, but that isn't all that far away, is it?

 Well, there they are--not perfect, but I think they look pretty good.  

Time Zooms!

Time isn't flying by--it has been zooming by!  Sorry it has been so long since I have posted--it isn't because I'm not quilting.  Actually, I'm not sure why--I suppose because I have been so busy quilting.  I shared a picture of the whole cloth quilt I'm working on.  Still working on it, but I've finished the inner medallion and am quilting the swags around it along with the grid as far as my frame reaches as I go around.  Is that clear as mud?  I am working in circles because the lovely Quilter's Dream wool batting I'm using has a good bit of loft--beautifully fluffy--and I don't want to let it get bunchy in any one place by working too far out.

More mud?


Here's the other project keeping me busy~

These are the fabrics for my guild's 2012  Challenge.

Here are two of the blocks.  I'm making a very simple Baltimore Album quilt, using Mimi Dietrich's book Baltimore Basics.  That book is out of print, but she has just come out with a new book for anyone who wants to try making a BAQ.  It's called Baltimore Blocks for Beginners.  I haven't seen it yet, but I'm betting it's just as great as her others.

Here's the one I've been working on today--it's finished and clean, just waiting to be ironed and put on my design wall with the others.

Now I'm getting really ambitious---just ordered Barbara Burnham's book Baltimore Garden Quilt.  I may be getting in over my head, but I'm looking forward to trying!

Blessings!

What I'm Working On Now--Summer 2012

Welsh Beauty Whole Cloth by Benartex

Budsgram over at A Few of My Favorite Things me to share what I'm working on now that I am finally (and joyfully) through with the Tetris quilt.  Check out the beautiful Klojes she is hand piecing, along with her other  WIPs.  Here's what is going on in my neck of the woods.  In my hoop, I'm hand quilting a queen size whole cloth quilt.  The top is made by Benartex, and I'm using a Quilter's Dream wool batting in it, quilting with Gutermann hand quilting thread.  This quilt is a "someday" quilt for whenever my daughter gets married.  It's a joy to work on---the needle glides through the batting, and there are no seam allowances.  I can easily see why some hand quilters move to making just whole cloth quilts!

This is the first block for a Seven Sisters quilt.  I enjoyed English Paper Piecing so much when I pieced and quilted My Daddy's Garden that I wanted another EPP project to work on---perfect for traveling, waiting in doctors' offices, or when it's just too hot to have a big quilt snuggled up against me.  I'm using a variety of 1930's reproduction fabrics and 1 3/8 inch diamonds.

I feel like I owe an apology to this one---I think I started cutting out this Double Wedding Ring in January 2010, so it's about time I got busy on it again.  This one goes in the frame to be basted as soon as I can set it up in king size (not a task for the faint-hearted).  I'll miss Benjamin's help on that, but will take him up on his suggestion that I put the frame in his room---there's hardly anything else in there now!

Finally, here's what is in the planning stage.  Our guild challenge deadline is in January, and I know it will be here before I know it.  I'm thinking about a four-block Baltimore Album quilt using Mimi Dietrich's Baltimore Basics book---only problem is that I love all the blocks in the book.  I guess this is where that thing called "discipline" comes in?  I think I used all mine up with the Tetris quilt....

Blessings!

Joana