tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27978318584097743162023-10-17T15:55:17.547-04:00Stitching TimesKay Stephensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10458275929077812452noreply@blogger.comBlogger144125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797831858409774316.post-73725170523562049072014-09-23T14:28:00.000-04:002014-09-23T14:37:09.288-04:00An Aside: Why I Should Blog About FoodAs a blogger who writes mostly about quilts and occasionally about other crafty projects, I sometimes wish I blogged about food. I mean I don't find time to quilt every day, but I always eat. Most days I even cook. How great would it be to have something new to write about every day. Take today. My dog was feeling lazy so our walk was cut short. That gave me an extra hour in my morning. So zippity zip...<br />
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a few ingredients</div>
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rolled together</div>
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in about an hour and a half we have a pretty pie!</div>
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Write down the recipe just so...</div>
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<b>Apple Pie Recipe </b></div>
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<i>Filling</i></div>
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6 large apples, peeled, cored, and sliced</div>
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1/4 - 1/2 cup sugar (depending on the tartness of your apples)</div>
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1/2 teaspoon cinnamon</div>
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1 tablespoon lemon juice</div>
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1 tablespoon butter, cut into small pieces</div>
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<i>Crust</i></div>
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2 cups all-purpose flour</div>
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1/2 teaspoon salt</div>
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1 cup vegetable shortening</div>
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4 tablespoons ice water</div>
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Combine flour and salt, then mix in the shortening with a pasty blender. Add just enough cold water to bring dough together, and divide into two sections. Roll out the bottom crust and gently place it in a pie plate. Peel, core, and slice apples and mix them in a bowl with cinnamon, sugar, and lemon juice. Pile fruit into the pie plate and mound up. Roll out top crust and place it on top of the pie. Trim excess crust from edges of pie plate leaving about an inch all the way around. Fold crust under and crimp to seal. Cut 3 - 5 vent holes in top of pie. Bake in a 450 degree oven for ten minutes then reduce heat to 350 and cook for an additional 35 - 40 minutes. </div>
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Voila! Cooking I was going to do anyway and all I had to do was take a few pictures.</div>
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On those days when I don't cook, how easy is it to write a review of the yummy or not so yummy dishes I ate at the restaurant. Now I'm sure my food blogging friends will howl, but life would be simpler if I was a food blogger. </div>
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Unfortunately, what this post misses is the real love of subject that I feel for quilting, apparel and home decor sewing, crochet, felting, and holiday ornaments. Guess I will just have to be satisfied with far less than a post a day.</div>
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Still, Bon Appetit!</div>
Kay Stephensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10458275929077812452noreply@blogger.com0Atlanta, GA 30306, USA33.7845409 -84.348946733.7317534 -84.4296277 33.837328400000004 -84.2682657tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797831858409774316.post-56741954884774747462014-08-29T06:00:00.000-04:002014-08-29T06:00:02.632-04:00Making Half Square Triangles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I've been a busy bee lately finishing up
projects and writing new patterns, so today I thought I would give you a little
snippet of one. I made the quilt at right for the Michael Miller challenge to
the Modern Quilt Guild. I call it tilt. I'm not quite ready to release the
pattern yet, so here is a tutorial from the pattern on making half square
triangles<br />
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">When quilters talk about half square triangles,
we are really talking about a square block that is made up of two right
triangles. There are several ways to make them, and today's tutorial is about my favorite.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Obviously you could cut two right triangles and
just stitch them together. But that is always a little tricky. You have to line
them up just right to end up with a truly square block. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The easiest way for me to make perfectly square
units quickly starts with two squares that are larger than the finished half
square triangles. In today's example, I cut two 4 inch by 4 inch
squares to end up with two 3 ½ inch half square triangles which when sewn
into a quilt top will finish at 3 inches square.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Other tutorials will tell you to calculate the
size of the square you need to cut by taking the size of your finished square
and adding 7/8 of an inch. However, I like to add a full inch as it gives me a
bit of fudge room to square up the block after sewing and pressing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Layer the two squares with right sides together,
and with your ruler and a washout marking pen (or any fabric marker you prefer)
make a diagonal line on the back of one piece of fabric. Generally choose the fabric
where the line is going to show best. Here I have drawn the line on the white
fabric.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">At the sewing machine sew a scant quarter inch
seam on one side of the line, removing pins as you sew.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Flip the piece around and sew another seam on
the opposite side of the line. Trim your threads and return to the cutting
board.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Use your ruler and rotary
cutter and divide the piece along the line you drew (and between the two seams).
Now take the two pieces to the ironing board and press each open, pressing seam
allowances toward the darker fabric.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">If you are anything like me these two half square triangles
might be a bit wonky. This generally happens because the steam used in
pressing has stretched the fabric just a bit. Never fear! That is why we cut
the original squares at 4 inches instead of 3 ⅞ inches. Go back to the cutting
board and using a 4 ½ inch ruler (or whatever ruler you have), trim up your
square to be exactly 3 ½ inches. The advantage of this specialized ruler is
that you can line up the diagonal on the ruler with the diagonal on your square
to make sure you take extra fabric from the sides equally.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sg2mNdvCjUU/U_9mQdIZDPI/AAAAAAAADCc/cz5mCzaB8mU/s1600/IMGP4735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sg2mNdvCjUU/U_9mQdIZDPI/AAAAAAAADCc/cz5mCzaB8mU/s1600/IMGP4735.JPG" height="260" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Voila! Two half square triangles in the time it
would have taken you to make one. This is the method I always use if I want to
make lots of half square triangles but they need to be from different fabrics.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">If you need a big bunch of half square triangles
that are all the same, the easiest way is to take two much larger squares, sew
around the outside edges and then cut twice diagonally, but that is a story for
a different day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Kay Stephensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10458275929077812452noreply@blogger.com0Atlanta, GA 30306, USA33.7845409 -84.348946733.7317534 -84.4296277 33.837328400000004 -84.2682657tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797831858409774316.post-7668229390615360442014-07-25T12:00:00.000-04:002014-07-25T12:06:56.270-04:00Fabric Friday - American Made Brand <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-veQvVwSFIN4/U9EMiEvkmoI/AAAAAAAAC_Q/3HsoDnmyxC4/s1600/American+Made+Brand+Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-veQvVwSFIN4/U9EMiEvkmoI/AAAAAAAAC_Q/3HsoDnmyxC4/s1600/American+Made+Brand+Small.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I couldn't be more excited. This week I received my first shipment of American Made Brand fabrics. Have you <a href="http://americanmadebrand.com/about/" target="_blank">heard </a>about them? </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v4I1ceAwMuA/U9J2cbE0bbI/AAAAAAAADAk/LDMaHYDE8W4/s1600/amb_quiltmaker_4_23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v4I1ceAwMuA/U9J2cbE0bbI/AAAAAAAADAk/LDMaHYDE8W4/s1600/amb_quiltmaker_4_23.jpg" height="320" width="249" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">American grown cotton, spun into yarn here in the United States, woven into greige goods at one of our oldest weaving mills, and then on to an American dyeworks. I notice their latest marketing materials read "farm to fabric" and "not just made here, grown here", but I really love an earlier tagline.. "from dirt to shirt".</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This may not sound so impressive until you realize how dramatic the decline in our textile industry. This may well be the only all cotton product (farm to fabric) produced in the United States. Oh we still grow lots of cotton. The South was built on cotton. But now over 70% of the cotton grown here is shipped overseas to textile mills with cheap labor, and (in some cases) questionable work practices.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Making the fabric here must make it really expensive, right? Not the case. <a href="http://www.hawthornethreads.com/fabric/designer/american_made_brand/american_made_brand_cotton_solids" target="_blank">Hawthorne Threads</a> is selling it for $7.25/yard. Some high volume online stores have it for even less!</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vMUH7enrfZI/U9ETZEsxF9I/AAAAAAAAC_g/DpZzWjZy8ks/s1600/amb_standard_ad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vMUH7enrfZI/U9ETZEsxF9I/AAAAAAAAC_g/DpZzWjZy8ks/s1600/amb_standard_ad.jpg" height="400" width="307" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">American Made Brand has a <a href="http://americanmadebrand.com/farm-to-fabric-challenge/" target="_blank">challenge</a> on right now for quilts that will be displayed at International Quilt Market at the end of October. Unfortunately I just saw the notice and submissions (i.e. photos of finished quilts) are due by August 15th. Ah well. I didn't really need another deadline. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What am I going to make with my treasure trove? Well a few more fabrics showed up that tell more of the story, and it might have to do with a couple of adorable youngsters that need more "grown up" sleeping bags.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B7-Cpm0xDok/U9Jxx8Kv_gI/AAAAAAAAC_0/CN8DR5qO2JU/s1600/Emily+Fabric+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B7-Cpm0xDok/U9Jxx8Kv_gI/AAAAAAAAC_0/CN8DR5qO2JU/s1600/Emily+Fabric+small.jpg" height="243" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And what girl doesn't need a pink camouflage flannel lined sleeping bag. I'm also going to have to incorporate a figure skate into this somehow. Hard to believe, but I searched high and low and couldn't find any figure skating themed fabric that would work with pink - hardly found any period.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AYrPAOMccNo/U9J1W2WibqI/AAAAAAAADAY/gtDtr0f8iho/s1600/Kam+Snaps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AYrPAOMccNo/U9J1W2WibqI/AAAAAAAADAY/gtDtr0f8iho/s1600/Kam+Snaps.jpg" height="279" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm planning to use <a href="http://www.kamsnaps.com/" target="_blank">Kam Snaps</a> instead of a monster zipper. That way they can open the bag out flat and use it as a beach or picnic blanket for years to come.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zqOB-lxZtFY/U9JxxEi2EnI/AAAAAAAAC_s/4sQ40QvdJ4w/s1600/Amy+Butler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zqOB-lxZtFY/U9JxxEi2EnI/AAAAAAAAC_s/4sQ40QvdJ4w/s1600/Amy+Butler.jpg" height="284" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I thought this Amy Butler print might work too, but you know what? I'm just not an Amy Butler kind of girl. </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i4qXTi-I6_g/U9JxzlCStTI/AAAAAAAADAE/OC3o2d6Smqo/s1600/Star+Wars+Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i4qXTi-I6_g/U9JxzlCStTI/AAAAAAAADAE/OC3o2d6Smqo/s1600/Star+Wars+Small.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">For the grown up young man, I'm thinking Star Wars. After all, even my 40 something husband still thinks Star Wars is cool. Might have to applique an X-Wing Starfighter on the carry bag!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And the best news? Thankfully these gifts won't be due until Christmas!</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d6Cn0udCQPY/U80Qv9DAmnI/AAAAAAAAC-Y/wkcVm20lDVc/s1600/IMGP2545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d6Cn0udCQPY/U80Qv9DAmnI/AAAAAAAAC-Y/wkcVm20lDVc/s1600/IMGP2545.JPG" height="372" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Way back in February 2013 I got them all color sorted</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P8G2ZU_PcZs/U80RNZuRQyI/AAAAAAAAC-g/Gp5_iP5bRXk/s1600/IMGP2535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P8G2ZU_PcZs/U80RNZuRQyI/AAAAAAAAC-g/Gp5_iP5bRXk/s1600/IMGP2535.JPG" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I decided to make a long narrow wall hanging to replace this painting, which I kinda hate. It's boring and mundane and I was pressured into buying it at one of those art by the yard house parties. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Voila!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now that it's hanging in that little piece of wall space between two doors I kind of wish I had added more neutral border at the top and bottom, and then added a dark narrow border to frame the whole piece. Ah well, next time. This went together so quickly - probably a total of five or six hours over two days - so I may well make another one soon. I am loving these quick projects.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1x2Us7ZmmJo/U80UYHf5F3I/AAAAAAAAC-0/UAaOuYgLjHY/s1600/IMGP2555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1x2Us7ZmmJo/U80UYHf5F3I/AAAAAAAAC-0/UAaOuYgLjHY/s1600/IMGP2555.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To make one of your own, select the selvage strips you want to use overlapping the finished edge on top of the raw edge of the piece below. Sew the strips together, sewing a scant 1/4 inch from the finished edge. Cut a couple of pieces of background fabric that are the height of your selvage collection and the desired width to go on both sides of the wall hanging. Now lay these strips on each side of the selvage collection overlapping by about two inches. Use your rotary cutter to cut a wavy line through both, and discard the scraps. Now pin, pin, pin those curved edges and sew the sides on. Clip the curves and press the seams towards the center. That's it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Quilt and bind to suit, including either a hanging sleeve, or corner pockets for a hanging rod. I've been using this method with corner pockets and a simple piece of dowel from the hardware store lately. Easy Peasy. I hope you decide to make one and if you do, please leave a comment here with a link to where we can all see it.</span></div>
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Kay Stephensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10458275929077812452noreply@blogger.com3Atlanta, GA 30306, USA33.7845409 -84.348946733.7317534 -84.4296277 33.837328400000004 -84.2682657tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797831858409774316.post-69126970150126754882014-07-14T09:50:00.000-04:002014-07-14T09:50:06.222-04:00Love Quick Finishes - Here is "Prairie Bloom"<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-68WXhRWdeCg/U8PcrrWYTiI/AAAAAAAAC-I/DBf_Ak4Y9hs/s1600/IMGP4512+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-68WXhRWdeCg/U8PcrrWYTiI/AAAAAAAAC-I/DBf_Ak4Y9hs/s1600/IMGP4512+(2).jpg" height="375" width="400" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This is so unlike me. I started this project last weekend and here it is finished. I'm not that inclined to dawdle when I do apparel sewing or make bags. Those are often start to finish in a day or two, but quilts? Never,</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It does help that this one is a small wall hanging or table topper - it finished at about 25 x 23 inches - but consider: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I didn't know what I was making when I started building the equilateral triangles (look <a href="http://athousandneedles.com/2014/07/equilateral-triangles-twist/" target="_blank">here </a>for the technique); The background material was still sitting at <a href="http://www.fatquartershop.com/" target="_blank">Fat Quarter Shop</a> and had to be mailed; used a different quilting design than I had ever tried before;</span><span style="font-size: large;"> and, the binding was done by hand.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Udla6mw0lv4/U8PcoUhAUVI/AAAAAAAAC-A/SENIm17hvxk/s1600/IMGP4507+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Udla6mw0lv4/U8PcoUhAUVI/AAAAAAAAC-A/SENIm17hvxk/s1600/IMGP4507+(2).jpg" height="320" width="292" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">You can really see the quilting in the picture of the back. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I may have to do more small projects just to get that burst of happiness that comes from accomplishing something more often!</span></div>
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Kay Stephensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10458275929077812452noreply@blogger.com1Atlanta, GA 30306, USA33.7845409 -84.348946733.7317534 -84.4296277 33.837328400000004 -84.2682657tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797831858409774316.post-54885617818511466442014-07-10T05:00:00.000-04:002014-07-10T05:00:02.232-04:00Delightful DistractionsI'm so easily distracted. One day last week my guild-mate, Allegory, posted about the technique she uses to make <a href="http://athousandneedles.com/2014/07/equilateral-triangles-twist/" target="_blank">scrappy string triangles</a>. The idea of piecing on muslin instead of paper seemed brilliant to me. So did I file that away for some future project? Heck no, I hightailed it straight down to the studio, pushed everything I was supposed to working on to one side, and started making my own scrappy gems.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K6LGCZwmPiI/U72sdKJ3ltI/AAAAAAAAC9o/h3Akw_Lo1qk/s1600/IMGP4418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K6LGCZwmPiI/U72sdKJ3ltI/AAAAAAAAC9o/h3Akw_Lo1qk/s1600/IMGP4418.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Pretty, pretty</div>
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Even with a couple of days off to work on some outdoorsy growing stuff projects, I've now completed two dozen of these six inch equilateral triangles, and purchased some lovely mushroom colored sashing fabric. Yep. That's me. So easily distracted.<br />
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Until next time...Kay Stephensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10458275929077812452noreply@blogger.com0Atlanta, GA 30306, USA33.7845409 -84.348946733.7317534 -84.4296277 33.837328400000004 -84.2682657tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797831858409774316.post-26898016724237158302014-06-30T12:27:00.003-04:002014-06-30T12:27:55.148-04:00Quilt Label Brilliance<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I know I tend to rhapsodize about the West Atlanta Modern Quilt
Guild, but here is reason number one zillion and two for why it's great to
belong to a guild. A couple of months ago we were talking about quilt labels
and I mentioned that I buy special ink jet printer fabric on rolls. I can cut
the fabric to size and because it has a paper backing attached to keep it firm
enough, I can run it right through my printer to make labels. The only problem
is that it comes in one color – white. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">One of my guild mates piped up and said
that she didn't bother with special paper. She prints right on a scrap of the
fabric from her quilt. How does that work you ask? Perfectly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Just start with a scrap of fabric - in my
case 8 ½ inches wide by 4 inches tall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7r_FS9RqPPM/U7GKa0XE7QI/AAAAAAAAC8A/8H-GG0Q4-EU/s1600/IMGP4402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7r_FS9RqPPM/U7GKa0XE7QI/AAAAAAAAC8A/8H-GG0Q4-EU/s1600/IMGP4402.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Spray the back of the fabric with some spray adhesive. I use <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0038REULW/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0038REULW&linkCode=as2&tag=stitchi-20&linkId=BAZF54EUI4BICIIN" target="_blank">OdifUsa 505</a> brand. Make sure to place the fabric on a scrap of paper so that you
don’t end up with over-spray on your table or cutting mat.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9eTnbJkVMzU/U7GKf2pWnyI/AAAAAAAAC8I/R4xYBExDwIs/s1600/IMGP4403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9eTnbJkVMzU/U7GKf2pWnyI/AAAAAAAAC8I/R4xYBExDwIs/s1600/IMGP4403.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Affix the fabric to a piece of regular computer paper, and
trim to the proper size.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now use whatever application you prefer to design your label. I use
Microsoft PowerPoint, but as long as you can position the text and print, it
really doesn't matter what you use.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S3UIw2z45cs/U7GKgtR5tVI/AAAAAAAAC8Q/DEGftDoBIO4/s1600/IMGP4410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S3UIw2z45cs/U7GKgtR5tVI/AAAAAAAAC8Q/DEGftDoBIO4/s1600/IMGP4410.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Once your label is printed, let it dry completely (about fifteen
minutes), then use a dry iron to heat set the ink.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-daZISo0q9d0/U7GKjLhnQeI/AAAAAAAAC8Y/6eI2iDi4Kn4/s1600/IMGP4411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-daZISo0q9d0/U7GKjLhnQeI/AAAAAAAAC8Y/6eI2iDi4Kn4/s1600/IMGP4411.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Peel the computer paper off the back of your label, fold the edges
under and give it a good press, and you are ready to stitch it onto the back of
your quilt. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Brilliant right? And I never would have known to try this if I didn't belong to a guild with talented and clever quilters!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gfwJ_pW82rY/U7GMJmXi5vI/AAAAAAAAC8s/7pGKHhKw_DY/s1600/IMGP4414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gfwJ_pW82rY/U7GMJmXi5vI/AAAAAAAAC8s/7pGKHhKw_DY/s1600/IMGP4414.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I also made the label for my Michael Miller challenge quilt but you will just have to wait until I can get some decent pictures to see more of that. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Until next time, happy stitching!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span>Kay Stephensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10458275929077812452noreply@blogger.com0Atlanta, GA 30306, USA33.7845409 -84.348946733.7317534 -84.4296277 33.837328400000004 -84.2682657tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797831858409774316.post-67566601572548478622014-06-17T06:00:00.000-04:002014-06-19T07:13:53.190-04:00Pouch CrazyLast week I wrote about the pouch I made for my sewing buddy. Well it didn't end there.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c5CfVnYJvIM/U59VVrX7VII/AAAAAAAAC5g/UiLLpbXZwIg/s1600/IMGP4253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c5CfVnYJvIM/U59VVrX7VII/AAAAAAAAC5g/UiLLpbXZwIg/s1600/IMGP4253.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I made a three pocket pouch for my grandniece for her birthday. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sCpFVdRgM3M/U59VYQa3lJI/AAAAAAAAC5o/D_fkLDqywdA/s1600/IMGP4256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sCpFVdRgM3M/U59VYQa3lJI/AAAAAAAAC5o/D_fkLDqywdA/s1600/IMGP4256.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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See... three lined pockets with matching zippers. I followed <a href="http://aquilterstable.blogspot.com/2012/08/triple-zip-pouch-tutorial.html">this </a>tutorial with a few modifications. I don't usually sew from other people's patterns as I like the design component so much. However, I learned some really neat tricks working with that pattern, which I was able to incorporate into the pouch for the guild swap.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dmpS5VlJ8Ns/U59WvB7ykAI/AAAAAAAAC6s/g3z4nIjRCpE/s1600/IMGP4364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dmpS5VlJ8Ns/U59WvB7ykAI/AAAAAAAAC6s/g3z4nIjRCpE/s1600/IMGP4364.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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And as my reward, I received this adorable thank you note. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy to know that there are still kids who write thank you notes.</div>
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I had no sooner sent this pouch off and received the sweet note when my guild announced - you guessed it - a pouch swap. Because it was for someone in my guild, I wanted to make something original, so I went to the drawing board.</div>
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First I tried to think about a type of pouch that I would really use, and hope I've hit on something others will appreciate. </div>
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Here in Atlanta it is festival season. Every neighborhood has their own festival to raise money for parks, and other improvements that taxes just can't cover. Ours is called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/vahisummerfest">Summerfest</a>. Typically a festival is held on Saturday and Sunday and kicks off with a parade and road race in the morning. Key streets in the neighborhood are closed off to set up an artist market, food trucks, a stage for bands, beer sales, and did I mention an artist market? You get the picture. Me wandering around listening to music, sipping a beer, and needing a place to keep cash, ID, and a credit card - 'cause did I mention the artist market? </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-05TLhBEAvGs/U59VbduJcVI/AAAAAAAAC5w/Fpgqa2pa4BU/s1600/IMGP4346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-05TLhBEAvGs/U59VbduJcVI/AAAAAAAAC5w/Fpgqa2pa4BU/s1600/IMGP4346.JPG" height="320" width="193" /></a></div>
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Based on that need, I came up with this idea for a zippered pouch with a very long strap so it could be worn cross body.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W3QurW3ZrMQ/U59hVYLk4rI/AAAAAAAAC68/5pyONbVMTLc/s1600/WP_000872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W3QurW3ZrMQ/U59hVYLk4rI/AAAAAAAAC68/5pyONbVMTLc/s1600/WP_000872.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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As you can see, I used English paper piecing to make a fabric piece about</div>
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nine inches wide by 20 inches tall. The finished bag is closer to eight by nine. </div>
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There it is all pieced with the papers still attached to the back. You can see that I used two different shades of orange combined with some gray scraps all left over from another project. The fabric shown here is from the Spot On and Metro Living collections from Robert Kaufman, and they differentiate the colors as orange and tangerine.</div>
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After I removed the paper templates, I fused a lightweight piece of interfacing to the back of the fabric to give it a bit more body and stability - I don't honestly trust my hand stitching all that well, but fusibles can fix anything.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qBNKU8jAwI8/U59haBzXaqI/AAAAAAAAC7U/2wTJ9IF7r3M/s1600/WP_000892.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qBNKU8jAwI8/U59haBzXaqI/AAAAAAAAC7U/2wTJ9IF7r3M/s1600/WP_000892.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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Next I squared up the fabric, </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O_NTFuxa_SA/U59ho1XWiCI/AAAAAAAAC7c/JZAPTuWt8m8/s1600/WP_000894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O_NTFuxa_SA/U59ho1XWiCI/AAAAAAAAC7c/JZAPTuWt8m8/s1600/WP_000894.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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and cut it in half. </div>
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Fortunately I had purchased a bulk package of YKK zippers a couple of months ago, so matching zippers were in my stash. You can see with this photo where this is headed.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rhDonfcROo8/U59VnrW2aPI/AAAAAAAAC58/cG15yMJfECg/s1600/IMGP4352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rhDonfcROo8/U59VnrW2aPI/AAAAAAAAC58/cG15yMJfECg/s1600/IMGP4352.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HeeaDq98pow/U59Vsz5SVdI/AAAAAAAAC6A/PcGfJjdU8So/s1600/IMGP4354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HeeaDq98pow/U59Vsz5SVdI/AAAAAAAAC6A/PcGfJjdU8So/s1600/IMGP4354.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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I love this neat technique found in the triple zipper pouch tutorial for finishing the zipper ends. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bvACapXlsas/U59VuWzRtOI/AAAAAAAAC6M/fImjv3Elf4w/s1600/IMGP4357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bvACapXlsas/U59VuWzRtOI/AAAAAAAAC6M/fImjv3Elf4w/s1600/IMGP4357.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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And I was able to line each pocket (one shallow pocket on each side and a large full sized pocket down the middle) with more Spot On (snow on white). The instructions for how to insert the zippers and line the pouch pockets in one fell swoop are included in the tutorial from Debbie at <a href="http://aquilterstable.blogspot.com/">A Quilter's Table</a> mentioned above. And yes, Debbie is a much more prolific quilter and blogger than me. Hats off to that, and to her awesome quilts.</div>
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The exchange happens on Thursday, so I really hope whoever gets this one likes it. And I have full plans to make another for myself. I'm noodling with using up some prized selvage strips for mine instead of the hand sewn hexies. What do you think?</div>
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Until next time!</div>
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Kay Stephenson for Stitching Times</div>
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<br />Kay Stephensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10458275929077812452noreply@blogger.com0Atlanta, GA 30306, USA33.7845409 -84.348946733.7317534 -84.4296277 33.837328400000004 -84.2682657tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797831858409774316.post-45962936801745486102014-06-13T06:00:00.000-04:002014-06-13T06:00:04.943-04:00Everyday Inspiration<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pWID-0LQjU0/U5XmaGnziSI/AAAAAAAAC34/MeFCfLvgStI/s1600/WAMQG+Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pWID-0LQjU0/U5XmaGnziSI/AAAAAAAAC34/MeFCfLvgStI/s1600/WAMQG+Logo.jpg" height="127" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">The West Atlanta Modern Quilt Guild has hosted some of the best swaps and challenges in the past year and a half that we have been in existence, but I think the recent "Everyday Inspiration" is my favorite so far. Our President, Robyn Webb, challenged us to take pictures of things we see in our everyday life, and then to select one and create a quilt that is inspired by the photo.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VlcPz3cqwS0/U5Y7I-kKVMI/AAAAAAAAC5Q/vPAvedgtbfw/s1600/IMGP4293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VlcPz3cqwS0/U5Y7I-kKVMI/AAAAAAAAC5Q/vPAvedgtbfw/s1600/IMGP4293.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">As with most assignments, I chose not to completely follow directions. On a recent trip to San Francisco, I toured <a href="http://www.heathceramics.com/sausalito">Heath Ceramics</a> in Sausalito with family and friends. Even the historic factory design by Marquis and Stoller in 1959 is inspiring. Read more about that <a href="http://www.heathceramics.com/home/pages/discover-heath/studio-stores/sausalito">here</a>.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gDQt8Q0jYuM/U5XriNPnuUI/AAAAAAAAC4I/NCJUn1mAgaY/s1600/Heath+Ceramics+Tiles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gDQt8Q0jYuM/U5XriNPnuUI/AAAAAAAAC4I/NCJUn1mAgaY/s1600/Heath+Ceramics+Tiles.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">But I was most taken with glaze samples that I saw hanging on the walls. The image immediately put me in mind of all the Kaffe Fassett shot cottons I had sitting in my stash - some dark, some light, and some just that shade of gold. I knew before we left the </span><span style="font-size: large;">place that this image would somehow figure in my entry for the challenge.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A_cdiv6hG7A/U5Xr4elwKEI/AAAAAAAAC4Q/Mc0eHSnExB8/s1600/Bang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A_cdiv6hG7A/U5Xr4elwKEI/AAAAAAAAC4Q/Mc0eHSnExB8/s1600/Bang.jpg" height="320" width="218" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Later that same day we were in Berkeley and stopped in a restaurant called <a href="http://www.eurekarestaurantgroup.com/about-us.html">Eureka</a>, (which I am determined to call Bang because of their signage). When I saw that sign facing me as I sat down, I loved it! For those that aren't in the know, this is an exclamation mark, or exclamation point, but for printers and programmers, it is commonly referred to as the "bang". </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Not to stray too far afield, but the symbol was thought to derive from medieval copyists who used to write the Latin word <i>io</i> at the end of a sentence to indicate joy! what a perfect summation for what had been a perfect day in the bay area.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nbLU1dqeSjA/U5Xx1wKfMvI/AAAAAAAAC4g/NrUzQ5NoYIA/s1600/IMGP4331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nbLU1dqeSjA/U5Xx1wKfMvI/AAAAAAAAC4g/NrUzQ5NoYIA/s1600/IMGP4331.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-size: large;">So I didn't choose just one photo for inspiration, but two. However, I didn't noodle on those images for long after we returned to Atlanta because we left a few days later for a week at the beach. I needed a hand project for the car ride and this was it! I printed out two inch squares on freezer paper, grabbed fabric and scissors and off we went. I never would have thought to make this sort of straight-forward grid using English paper piecing, but it worked out great. In the past when I've tried to work with the Kaffe Fassett shot cottons, I've found them to be a stretchy pain, but there was none of that with this method. </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AcYDMjNBh-A/U5Xx7-po9rI/AAAAAAAAC4o/w57PQb7SF54/s1600/IMGP4324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AcYDMjNBh-A/U5Xx7-po9rI/AAAAAAAAC4o/w57PQb7SF54/s1600/IMGP4324.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-size: large;">I did have a bit of a fit with the big gold bang, as it wanted to move around quite a bit, and I wanted to do some thread painting prior to quilting. I compromised by spray basting it to the background and then stitching all around the raw edge to start. given the barn wood decor of the restaurant and the sign, I wanted to let the edges ravel and be a bit more rustic. For quilting I decided to use straight-forward stitch-in-the-ditch to make the "tiles" pop. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This was a truly fun challenge that had our members stretching to try things they had not done before - like designing their own piece and working without a pattern. Check out some more of our finishes <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.483355485129636.1073741843.237225159742671&type=1">here</a>, and consider a similar challenge for your guild in the future.</span></div>
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Kay Stephensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10458275929077812452noreply@blogger.com0Atlanta, GA 30306, USA33.7845409 -84.348946733.7317534 -84.4296277 33.837328400000004 -84.2682657tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797831858409774316.post-32100125705749776672014-06-11T06:00:00.000-04:002014-06-11T06:00:06.376-04:00Sewing Buddies Pouch Swap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sewing Buddies is a program put together by Deborah Moebes over at <a href="http://whip-stitch.com/ecourses/">Whipstitch</a> which I've watched for a couple of years, but finally decided to join for 2014. She describes it as,<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> "<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.5px;">a fun opportunity to meet other folks who love sewing. That’s it, in a nutshell. I hope you’ll find that the videos, challenges, giveaways and other fun stuff that comes along as 2014 unfolds adds to that for you, but at the core, the Sewing Buddy Project is about making this virtual sewing community immediate and tangible for each of us, by giving us a friend to share ideas, make nerdy sewing jokes, challenge us to keep our goals, and to grow our sewing with."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.5px;">One of the challenges this year was to make your buddy a pouch. My buddy needed a pouch for her iPhone, and she asked for, "</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">one with a zipper. That would be really useful. And maybe the pouch could have an inside pocket for the ear buds. I like most colors but prefer that it not be pink - pink has never been a favorite. When you choose the fabric, think "fullness of color" ...I like color, color, color! (I think that is why pastels are not my favorite.)</span><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RTXObkievnY/U5W_FzyEdzI/AAAAAAAAC3g/hxPN1MDNJFQ/s1600/AAQ-11209-163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RTXObkievnY/U5W_FzyEdzI/AAAAAAAAC3g/hxPN1MDNJFQ/s1600/AAQ-11209-163.jpg" height="139" width="320" /></a><br />
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I think I nailed it with this fabric. Nothing pastel here :-) The fabric is called Effervescence and is by Amelia Caruso for Robert Kaufman. It was screen printed in Japan with 15 different colors. </div>
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The pattern runs the full width of the fabric with an awesome border that I thought would look great for a skirt or dress hemline. I've no idea where or when I bought this, but it's been in my stash for awhile, and I was happy to use a bit of it for this gift. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WXfR9wVHJrM/U5W6Kr6UP1I/AAAAAAAAC3E/KKdIpWbAiDc/s1600/IMGP4238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WXfR9wVHJrM/U5W6Kr6UP1I/AAAAAAAAC3E/KKdIpWbAiDc/s1600/IMGP4238.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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As requested, the pouch has a zipper</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Avb1NByeSaI/U5W6KBzpIrI/AAAAAAAAC3A/GLnz4mos4jc/s1600/IMGP4248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Avb1NByeSaI/U5W6KBzpIrI/AAAAAAAAC3A/GLnz4mos4jc/s1600/IMGP4248.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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and a little internal pocket for ear buds. I sort of used <a href="https://www.etsy.com/transaction/186676261">this pattern</a>, with some modifications.</div>
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This was a fun swap and project, though I've got to say that if I was making this pattern again, I would rework it so I didn't have to put the zipper in by hand. That was a serious pain, and I wasn't happy with how messy the stitching looked. Ah well. "Tomorrow is another day"...</div>
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Kay Stephensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10458275929077812452noreply@blogger.com0Atlanta, GA 30306, USA33.7845409 -84.348946733.7317534 -84.4296277 33.837328400000004 -84.2682657tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797831858409774316.post-29890584856050871012014-06-09T06:00:00.000-04:002014-06-09T06:00:01.096-04:00Remember that DIY Bath RemodelI realized today that I never posted any finished pictures of my do-it-yourself bath remodel. I mentioned it nearly a year ago way down at the bottom of <a href="http://www.stitchingtimes.blogspot.com/2013/07/its-not-you-its-me.html">this </a>post. <br />
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The photo on the left shows the room at it's very best... blah even at Christmas, and what were they thinking with that honking big sink in such a tiny room? At the time of my post last year, it looked like the photo on the right. I had pulled up the 1980's marble floor tiles and (as expected) found wonderful 1930's hex tiles underneath.<br />
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And then I started pulling tile off the walls. Oops. Guess I'm not going to be slapping new tile up over that backing. </div>
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So I hired a handyman to help me with the wall board and a bit of carpentry.</div>
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While he was working on that, I decided I needed to strip 80 plus years of paint off the doors and door hardware. That old crock-pot works great to get the paint to loosen up from the nickle plated brass hinges and door knobs. Just put the metal pieces in the crock-pot with warm water and a bit of dish soap. Turn it on low and let it "cook" for several hours. The paint softens up and slides right off. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EY68BkuS58Q/U5IA4P1GMfI/AAAAAAAAC0Y/kDh2xjTyUJ8/s1600/WP_000449+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EY68BkuS58Q/U5IA4P1GMfI/AAAAAAAAC0Y/kDh2xjTyUJ8/s1600/WP_000449+%25281%2529.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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Once the handyman was done I added some glass tile for a back splash, and painted the walls a bright sunny yellow.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-41p_4WLRUf8/U5ID7h6XBHI/AAAAAAAAC1M/D-IzjcjaTB0/s1600/IMGP4339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-41p_4WLRUf8/U5ID7h6XBHI/AAAAAAAAC1M/D-IzjcjaTB0/s1600/IMGP4339.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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The whole color scheme was worked around this fabric I fell in love with and had to have for a shower curtain. Designed by Pat Bravo for Art Gallery, it is from the Retro-Spective line described as "bringing you back in time, ...features designs from the 40's with the original colors of that period". </div>
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I thought the yellow was a little too mustardy for the walls, so went with a shade more like lemon pudding.<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 2px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"> </span></div>
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Now that I have lived with it for several months, I must say I don't love it. Kind of wish I had chosen something a little more </div>
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And I may get around to painting in there again this summer. Fortunately it's not a big space to paint.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vof9jVXKzlk/U5IA_NeDRxI/AAAAAAAAC0g/x3uodlTh_i0/s1600/WP_000505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vof9jVXKzlk/U5IA_NeDRxI/AAAAAAAAC0g/x3uodlTh_i0/s1600/WP_000505.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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I do love this cute little basket I made out of fabric scraps. It's all wrapped - not a bit of stitching. </div>
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And the work to strip the doors was probably worth it. Of course there is no telling how many brain cells the chemicals and lead paint killed off.</div>
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This was my real nemesis. Don't let anyone tell you it's easy to drill through ceramic tile. Even with a great drill and the correct bit, it took hours. Never again.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iThoYSeTj6A/U5M7gHCP-MI/AAAAAAAAC2g/4XIiy3drmxw/s1600/IMGP4345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iThoYSeTj6A/U5M7gHCP-MI/AAAAAAAAC2g/4XIiy3drmxw/s1600/IMGP4345.JPG" height="320" width="236" /></a></div>
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But I adore the top down/bottom up shade. It is just the color of the tile and lets in lots of light, and a view of the trees and sky, without letting anyone peer in. All in all I'm happy with the project, and would definitely DIY again with some handyman help. </div>
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Kay Stephensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10458275929077812452noreply@blogger.com0Atlanta, GA 30306, USA33.7845409 -84.348946733.7317534 -84.4296277 33.837328400000004 -84.2682657tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797831858409774316.post-33829617672360834222014-03-31T07:00:00.000-04:002014-06-07T12:39:47.493-04:00A Gaggle of GeeseI might have mentioned that I've been a bit obsessed with hexagons. Well add flying geese to the list. I'm working on a block quilt where each block is made up of a different design using flying geese - those cute triangles that veer in one direction and another.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yCREBDtdcuc/UxnhFq6LE2I/AAAAAAAACu0/K4LYtM15_Aw/s1600/IMGP4107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yCREBDtdcuc/UxnhFq6LE2I/AAAAAAAACu0/K4LYtM15_Aw/s1600/IMGP4107.JPG" height="400" width="246" /></a></div>
I've also done quite a bit of experimenting with making the geese fly in a circle and paper piecing is my savior. I made three gifts with a similar theme for three friends who had birthdays in January and February.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l4ZA14eymjw/UzR8gJGOrAI/AAAAAAAACww/47CDsOF04Zc/s1600/IMGP4119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l4ZA14eymjw/UzR8gJGOrAI/AAAAAAAACww/47CDsOF04Zc/s1600/IMGP4119.JPG" height="320" width="251" /></a></div>
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Jim was gifted with a two bottle wine carrier and a pouch that holds a reusable ice pack in case the wine is white - or in case room temp is just too hot as is often the case of a Southern summer.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ea7KooqAPF0/UzR8qJNJv8I/AAAAAAAACxA/BN78kRV0R48/s1600/IMGP4112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ea7KooqAPF0/UzR8qJNJv8I/AAAAAAAACxA/BN78kRV0R48/s1600/IMGP4112.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Alice, an inveterate knitter who seldom ventures out without a project, received a project bag along with an accessory pouch to hold all the etcetera that usually floats around in the bottom of a craft bag.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a5f2oTqAzSM/UzR8pgANsZI/AAAAAAAACw4/gdJFMj_K_DQ/s1600/IMGP4117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a5f2oTqAzSM/UzR8pgANsZI/AAAAAAAACw4/gdJFMj_K_DQ/s1600/IMGP4117.JPG" height="320" width="203" /></a></div>
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Here is another view that shows detachable shoulder strap.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XgFEV5gDCMM/UzR8ueJYo_I/AAAAAAAACxI/kVe4iuG2Uzg/s1600/IMGP4124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XgFEV5gDCMM/UzR8ueJYo_I/AAAAAAAACxI/kVe4iuG2Uzg/s1600/IMGP4124.JPG" height="315" width="320" /></a></div>
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And Joan received this table topper/hot pat/wall hanging. Yeah, I know, but it really could work as any of those. It has pockets for hanging, is insulated, and could be just decorative on the table.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_de5aizXB2U/UzR80OHnneI/AAAAAAAACxU/TQSymNdkPak/s1600/IMGP3924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_de5aizXB2U/UzR80OHnneI/AAAAAAAACxU/TQSymNdkPak/s1600/IMGP3924.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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Each of the circles is made up of four paper pieced sections, and though it looks a bit complex, it really is easy peasy. Paint by numbers for quilters!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qv9iMsA8XYI/UzR8z3qYzqI/AAAAAAAACxQ/cyOO-1pu3-E/s1600/IMGP3923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qv9iMsA8XYI/UzR8z3qYzqI/AAAAAAAACxQ/cyOO-1pu3-E/s1600/IMGP3923.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here you can see how the sections were assembled for each piece.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cgRhAO_IaTE/UzR_mss-I-I/AAAAAAAACxs/E7zpzJtKC7Y/s1600/circle+of+geese+template.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cgRhAO_IaTE/UzR_mss-I-I/AAAAAAAACxs/E7zpzJtKC7Y/s1600/circle+of+geese+template.gif" height="319" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is the template I drew up. I made my template at 6 1/2 inches so that the finished circle would be 12 1/2 inches, but you really could make it any size. Feel free to reproduce it either by copying the picture and inserting it into another document or application, or by using this as a guideline to draft your own.</div>
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And if you aren't an expert paper piecer, by all means take <a href="http://www.stitcherydickorydock.com/">Amy Gibson's</a> free class on Craftsy.com. In the <a href="http://www.craftsy.com/class/The-Craftsy-Block-of-the-Month/50?_ct=sbqii-sqjuweho-qbb&_ctp=50,2">2012 Block of the Month</a> class she gives and excellent explanation of how to paper piece. </div>
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The only thing I would add to her instructions relates to perforating the paper. Amy recommends that you use your sewing machine without thread to quickly perforate the paper along the seam (and future tear) lines. While this works really well, it is hard on the sharpness of your needle. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YcCls99Yd5E/UzSBZp1nj_I/AAAAAAAACx4/IYyDuPjh_HM/s1600/41K4AD9+5ZL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YcCls99Yd5E/UzSBZp1nj_I/AAAAAAAACx4/IYyDuPjh_HM/s1600/41K4AD9+5ZL.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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I recently learned a new trick and now I use my tracing tool to quickly perforate the seams. I like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dritz-Ergo-Serrated-Tracing-Wheel/dp/B003VWFNN8/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1395949824&sr=8-7&keywords=tracing+wheel">this one</a> from Dritz. Give it a try and let me know what you think.</div>
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<br />Kay Stephensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10458275929077812452noreply@blogger.com0Atlanta, GA, USA33.7489954 -84.387982433.3266004 -85.0334294 34.1713904 -83.7425354tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797831858409774316.post-48904956396036525912014-03-27T12:04:00.000-04:002014-03-27T12:04:45.809-04:00And goodnight to the Old Lady whispering "hush"<div class="MsoNormal">
Don't you love <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Goodnight-Moon-Margaret-Wise-Brown/dp/0694003611/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1395934264&sr=1-1&keywords=goodnight+moon">Margaret Wise Brown's classic bedtime story</a>? The illustrations by Clement Hurd </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_2l5d6E0LUo/UzREsTjGaEI/AAAAAAAACvk/G2mY9dSwQTU/s1600/41GJ4RRW6VL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_2l5d6E0LUo/UzREsTjGaEI/AAAAAAAACvk/G2mY9dSwQTU/s1600/41GJ4RRW6VL.jpg" height="132" width="320" /></a></div>
are brought to life in a new collection of licensed prints by Cloud 9 Fabrics. When I saw the fabric being offered by one of my favorite retailers, I thought immediately of a friend with a new baby and decided I needed to make something for her.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2c1BFYCdLlc/UzRIi8238FI/AAAAAAAACwY/ZF5mNjyWrpc/s1600/IMGP4163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2c1BFYCdLlc/UzRIi8238FI/AAAAAAAACwY/ZF5mNjyWrpc/s1600/IMGP4163.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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In the past, I've made quilts for baby showers, and then followed up with a gift when baby is born of some bookends and a starter collection of board books.<i> Goodnight Moon </i>is always among them. </div>
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This time I decided to make something that would work as a baby quilt, but also hold up to rougher use as a playmat as baby grows through toddler stage.</div>
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And I love that <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Cloud
9 produces only organic cotton fabrics using low-impact dyes, so you know it is
safe for baby.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EyXAhqPiwB4/UzRHjro-evI/AAAAAAAACvs/b5SY8IpaXYc/s1600/IMGP4175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EyXAhqPiwB4/UzRHjro-evI/AAAAAAAACvs/b5SY8IpaXYc/s1600/IMGP4175.JPG" height="320" width="312" /></a></div>
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How is that for bright primary colors?</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jJXIiaMkwVE/UzRH3KRx3qI/AAAAAAAACv8/09XCJP7AqO0/s1600/IMGP4165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jJXIiaMkwVE/UzRH3KRx3qI/AAAAAAAACv8/09XCJP7AqO0/s1600/IMGP4165.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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There's little bunny....</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W-FesbFKNlc/UzRH5NcyzKI/AAAAAAAACwE/PRR-Yiy-lYs/s1600/IMGP4166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W-FesbFKNlc/UzRH5NcyzKI/AAAAAAAACwE/PRR-Yiy-lYs/s1600/IMGP4166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W-FesbFKNlc/UzRH5NcyzKI/AAAAAAAACwE/PRR-Yiy-lYs/s1600/IMGP4166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W-FesbFKNlc/UzRH5NcyzKI/AAAAAAAACwE/PRR-Yiy-lYs/s1600/IMGP4166.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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and pesky mouse.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rdlBKn09ti8/UzRHxWgAz2I/AAAAAAAACv0/-6UKPx0R4c4/s1600/IMGP4169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rdlBKn09ti8/UzRHxWgAz2I/AAAAAAAACv0/-6UKPx0R4c4/s1600/IMGP4169.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Clementine Glory. What a perfectly Southern little girl name!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oRiFE_qpLp4/UzRH74sEVBI/AAAAAAAACwM/9_7LQTf5_74/s1600/IMGP4167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oRiFE_qpLp4/UzRH74sEVBI/AAAAAAAACwM/9_7LQTf5_74/s1600/IMGP4167.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I used this dark teal solid for the back, which coordinates with the prints, but also won't show stains as much as a lighter backing. We are talking children playing on the floor in a house with dogs.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gAJTOnunlIU/UzRK1Tdm_cI/AAAAAAAACwg/Q7mzyPWoYXM/s1600/IMGP4171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gAJTOnunlIU/UzRK1Tdm_cI/AAAAAAAACwg/Q7mzyPWoYXM/s1600/IMGP4171.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">If you are looking for a
quick and easy gift for a new baby or a toddler, this is it. This play mat is made
up in the wonderful “Goodnight Moon” collection from Cloud 9 Fabrics. The
design is a very simple large block patchwork that even the most novice quilter
can easily master. Consisting of only three sizes of blocks, it’s also really
quick. You can cut and pieced the top in an afternoon, and the quilting design
(a simple diamond grid) is just as straightforward. No special skill required. Find the pattern <a href="http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/quilting/other/goodnight-moon-baby-quilt-or-play-mat/90961">here</a>.</span></div>
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Kay Stephensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10458275929077812452noreply@blogger.com0Atlanta, GA, USA33.7489954 -84.387982433.3266004 -85.0334294 34.1713904 -83.7425354tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797831858409774316.post-38375462439951283422014-02-19T06:00:00.000-05:002014-02-19T06:00:13.323-05:00Improvisational Quilting: Floating Frames<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For most of the quilts I design and make I start out with a pretty complete design on paper before I begin cutting into fabric. The quilt I made for my niece Coleen, dubbed <i>Floating Frames</i>, was not like that at all. When I saw<a href="http://www.hawthornethreads.com/images/fabric_handmade_images/32896.jpg"> this fabric collection</a> from P&B Textiles in the Hawthorne Threads newsletter, I really loved it and ordered a half yard of most of the prints in the line, plus a couple of recommended coordinating fabrics. I always love it when online shops take the guesswork out of finding coordinates, don't you?</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sVNuu5AUwzk/UwOOYMmwwPI/AAAAAAAACuA/a28hPcOE5Vk/s1600/32909.jpg" height="256" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo courtesy Hawthorne Threads</td></tr>
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A couple of months later, after looking at it for a bit, I decided the colors would work for a quilt I wanted to make for my niece. However, I knew I was going to try something improvisational, so guessing the amount of fabric I would need was a bit of a challenge. Just to be safe, I ordered a few more prints and solids. Well and then I didn't think I had enough fabric for the backing... Before I knew it, I had 14 1/2 yards of fabric.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bbFqdp9SnJg/UwOMPqS-faI/AAAAAAAACtM/t26Jjr0PIss/s1600/Fabric+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bbFqdp9SnJg/UwOMPqS-faI/AAAAAAAACtM/t26Jjr0PIss/s1600/Fabric+4.jpg" height="320" width="293" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fabric</td></tr>
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Hah! Talk about crazy town. The good news is that after making a quilt that measures approximately 50 by 60 inches, I still have almost six yards left in pieces ranging from more than a fat quarter to more than a yard. That's enough for another whole quilt top! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UM_53QKs5CA/UwOMM0YlxtI/AAAAAAAACtE/vgkeJ2Yb3-c/s1600/Front+hero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UM_53QKs5CA/UwOMM0YlxtI/AAAAAAAACtE/vgkeJ2Yb3-c/s1600/Front+hero.jpg" height="238" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished</td></tr>
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But enough about stashing building and busting. The real question is this. How do you write up a pattern for a truly improvisational quilt? My conclusion is that I can't. Others have, I know, but I could never tell you at this point how to precisely measure and cut to make a quilt that looks exactly like the one I made.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oxJZ4K8mg-Q/UwONSxDL0jI/AAAAAAAACtw/mxevSLGxuWA/s1600/IMGP3692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oxJZ4K8mg-Q/UwONSxDL0jI/AAAAAAAACtw/mxevSLGxuWA/s1600/IMGP3692.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SWWO-tEoI20/UwOb5qJpCOI/AAAAAAAACuM/_eRnm6SR8Mw/s1600/IMGP3688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SWWO-tEoI20/UwOb5qJpCOI/AAAAAAAACuM/_eRnm6SR8Mw/s1600/IMGP3688.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I needed that big red dahlia for the center!</td></tr>
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However, I can share a bit of process. The first thing I did was to cut out some large blocks (six by six inch) of the prints I wanted to be focal points. Next I cut strips of all of the other fabrics in widths of 3 inches, 2 1/2 inches, 1 1/2 inches, and one inch. I used these strips to build frames around the center blocks, building them up and trying to maintain a contrast of light and dark with small pops of red.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PerlQtETebk/UwONI7VmupI/AAAAAAAACtg/xmsW3bP_MH8/s1600/Quilt+Top+Hero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PerlQtETebk/UwONI7VmupI/AAAAAAAACtg/xmsW3bP_MH8/s1600/Quilt+Top+Hero.jpg" height="264" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frames floating on a black wall</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: left;">After looking at the resulting big framed blocks, and laying them out against a black background this way and that, I decided that I wanted to set them on point and add lots of smaller blocks scattered in and around the larger ones - much like a modern grouping of photographs on a wall, but all askew.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H_jP1tF-I7A/UwOb8jtHvkI/AAAAAAAACuU/NZr-gVJnvzY/s1600/IMGP3697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H_jP1tF-I7A/UwOb8jtHvkI/AAAAAAAACuU/NZr-gVJnvzY/s1600/IMGP3697.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This little block almost fell off the edge</td></tr>
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This is where things got interesting. It was easy enough to cut various pieces of the colorweave black (my background fabric) and to join and square the blocks up into rows. What I hadn't counted on was the corners. In order to finish the corner pieces I cut a bunch of triangles. What I neglected to pay attention to was where the bias edge was going to fall on these triangles. As you can imagine, I had some fits (and colorful language) when these bias edges tried to warp the whole thing out of shape. Next time I would cut more carefully to place the bias edge (if there must be one) in the least difficult location. In my opinion, that is along an outside edge where the whole thing can be squared up if need be.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Io7Wg0o1fSE/UwOMRb0F28I/AAAAAAAACtU/f43JXlwhvWk/s1600/Back+hero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Io7Wg0o1fSE/UwOMRb0F28I/AAAAAAAACtU/f43JXlwhvWk/s1600/Back+hero.jpg" height="229" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quilt back</td></tr>
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Despite my whining, this whole project really was fun, and I will definitely continue to do more improvisational piecing - even on point projects like this one. I even did a wonky piece job on the back of the quilt. Just a glutton for punishment I guess. Though I learned a great trick for making sure that a pieced back is lined up with a pieced front in <a href="http://www.craftsy.com/class/Machine-Quilting-Free-Motion-More/37">this</a> Wendy Butler Burns class on Craftsy.com.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xRcY_SeWSo4/UwONOtjC9UI/AAAAAAAACto/KlsBNuBAS_E/s1600/IMGP3747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xRcY_SeWSo4/UwONOtjC9UI/AAAAAAAACto/KlsBNuBAS_E/s1600/IMGP3747.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Labels tell the story</td></tr>
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So I can't give you a pattern to follow, but I can give you a suggestion. Buy a stack of coordinating fabrics and start to play. When you are finished, you can add a label like this one that tells the world, "I made this".</div>
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<br />Kay Stephensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10458275929077812452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797831858409774316.post-78649576620766124152014-02-17T09:45:00.000-05:002014-02-17T22:07:23.673-05:00The Modern Quilt Guild Riley Blake Challenge<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EsrxmW-Yl3I/UwIX493JyYI/AAAAAAAACsQ/9oTU-TY9ObY/s1600/IMGP4050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EsrxmW-Yl3I/UwIX493JyYI/AAAAAAAACsQ/9oTU-TY9ObY/s1600/IMGP4050.JPG" height="640" width="352" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quilt Front</td></tr>
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Last fall I signed up for the Riley Blake Challenge with the Modern Quilt Guild, and today is the day! All quilts have to be finished and photos posted on the guild website. today. I finished mine a couple of weeks ago and posted it there, but waited until today for the big reveal here. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HGZbmkyBxdg/UwIYAEbZQDI/AAAAAAAACsY/C6DqrSig5oo/s1600/IMGP4046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HGZbmkyBxdg/UwIYAEbZQDI/AAAAAAAACsY/C6DqrSig5oo/s1600/IMGP4046.JPG" height="232" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quilt back</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4UoqaBS8JX4/UwIYphOhZNI/AAAAAAAACsk/dYuVYBGIX4s/s1600/IMGP3854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4UoqaBS8JX4/UwIYphOhZNI/AAAAAAAACsk/dYuVYBGIX4s/s1600/IMGP3854.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fabric I was given</td></tr>
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I was provided initially with this stack of fabrics. There were
six cuts that were each ten by ten. Though others have made quilts for the
challenge that used all of the fabrics, I just couldn't wrap my mind around including
all of them, so I pulled the blue check and yellow dot and decided to work with
the rest, plus more fabric I purchased and pulled from stash.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lUoiByGoInI/UwIYtrXj5bI/AAAAAAAACso/FqiNaCCKkvw/s1600/IMGP3858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lUoiByGoInI/UwIYtrXj5bI/AAAAAAAACso/FqiNaCCKkvw/s1600/IMGP3858.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fabric I used</td></tr>
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A couple of these fabrics are ombres, which means that they shade
from light to dark and back to light across the width of the fabric. As you can
see in the finished quilt photo, I tried to leverage that gradation in the quilt so
that the background values are lighter at the top shading to darker at the
bottom.<o:p></o:p></div>
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You may also recognize the design of the quilt as a simpler version of Tetris Hex that I made for one of my nieces. I've finally managed to write the pattern for that one, and you can find it <a href="http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/quilting/other/tetris-hex-quilt/86289">here</a>, along with comments to make this Riley Blake quilt as well. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jVVkiSIVx68/UwIcd0TTb0I/AAAAAAAACs0/2LUOl-SHwlM/s1600/Hero+1+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jVVkiSIVx68/UwIcd0TTb0I/AAAAAAAACs0/2LUOl-SHwlM/s1600/Hero+1+Front.jpg" height="320" width="234" /></a></div>
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Isn't it great to start the week writing about something that has been accomplished? Now on to the next.</div>
Kay Stephensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10458275929077812452noreply@blogger.com0Atlanta, GA, USA33.7489954 -84.387982433.3266004 -85.0334294 34.1713904 -83.7425354tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797831858409774316.post-71451423839286303482014-02-05T08:00:00.000-05:002014-02-05T08:00:05.911-05:00Soothing Shelter Animals<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ySC2Naa5YRg/UvFI9n-AAJI/AAAAAAAACpc/gljeZ8tXt8s/s1600/image+(3).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ySC2Naa5YRg/UvFI9n-AAJI/AAAAAAAACpc/gljeZ8tXt8s/s1600/image+(3).jpeg" height="320" width="240" /></a> Pet lover?</h4>
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My friend Alice isn't a woman I would have described as either a dog person or a cat person. When I first met her our whole circle of friends had dogs and/or cats, and though she never seemed afraid of them, and was concerned for their welfare, she had no real interest in petting or playing with them. Over time that attitude has changed, but I still never expected to hear that she had adopted a trio of stray kittens. Life does indeed still hold surprises!<br />
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In addition to our interest in animals, we share of love of crafts. Alice is a bit of a knitting addict, and, as this blog will attest, I'm more than a little obsessed with quilting, and crochet, and, and... This has led us to share back and forth little snippets of interest we find on the Internet about projects and the work of other crafters.<br />
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Comfort for Critters</h4>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8PrmkJMcvmo/UvFI7KxmnOI/AAAAAAAACpU/U_EK5xyjFIE/s1600/image+(2).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8PrmkJMcvmo/UvFI7KxmnOI/AAAAAAAACpU/U_EK5xyjFIE/s1600/image+(2).jpeg" height="240" width="320" /></a>A few weeks ago, Alice circulated a story amongst her crafty friends about <a href="http://www.comfortforcritters.org/">Comfort for Critters</a>. This is a wonderful organization that in their own words, "is a 100% volunteer program that creates handmade blankets to comfort homeless pets living in animal shelters. While these animals await adoption, the blankets provide a comfortable bed year-round. When they are adopted, their blanket goes with them, providing something familiar as they adjust to their "forever family." Now don't worry, there is plenty of yarn and fabric in the future of this post, but first a bit more background.<br />
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If you have ever volunteered at an animal shelter or rescue, or just visited one to pick out a new companion, you know that a shelter can be a terrifying place for an animal who is lost or has been abandoned for one reason or another. The noise of dogs barking can be deafening, and the smell of chemicals necessary to keep such places safe and sanitary can be overwhelming. Add to this the fact that dogs and cats may be housed in close quarters with animals they do not know, and moved from cage or kennel to kennel as cleaning and adoptions take place. Though shelter staff make heroic efforts to give these unfortunates the care and loving attention they need, it is not uncommon for formerly well adjusted animals to become shut down and depressed.<br />
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How do blankets help? </h4>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kf4GiNbpVCU/UvFI2BHR3TI/AAAAAAAACpE/Wk3VWyWc0KU/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kf4GiNbpVCU/UvFI2BHR3TI/AAAAAAAACpE/Wk3VWyWc0KU/s1600/image.jpeg" height="240" width="320" /></a>These blankets are given to an individual animal, and move with them from cage to cage, providing a bit of something soft and warm, and that smells like them. This can be a great comfort in that stressful situation. And when they go to their forever home, the blanket goes with them to ease the transition to yet another new environment. <br />
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Comfort for Critters gathers the donated blankets and distributes them to participating shelters, which makes it easy for volunteers to just make the blankets - knitted, crocheted, quilted or sewn of soft fleece - and leave the logistics to someone else. Unfortunately the only shelter on their list in our state (Georgia) isn't all that closeby, and we wanted to do something local.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yFQfxj2A8CQ/UvFI4tuI7EI/AAAAAAAACpM/s_A3L0HeHUg/s1600/image+(1).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yFQfxj2A8CQ/UvFI4tuI7EI/AAAAAAAACpM/s_A3L0HeHUg/s1600/image+(1).jpeg" height="240" width="320" /></a>
Act Local</h4>
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Enter Audrey Shoemaker, the Volunteer Coordinator at Fulton County Animal Services. Fulton County runs a huge shelter with as many as 100 cats and 250 to 300 dogs at any one time. We decided that was much too large a commitment for our small group. However, right now there are only about 30 cats and kittens at the shelter. Finally we decided that we would try to make enough blankets for all of the cats and puppies, plus a few larger blankets for the dogs that are going out to adoption events. And we want to have them all done by the end of February. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qx0dceKP9a0/UvEBwfcshcI/AAAAAAAACnw/XDoR62UudrI/s1600/Blankets+Hero.jpg"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qx0dceKP9a0/UvEBwfcshcI/AAAAAAAACnw/XDoR62UudrI/s1600/Blankets+Hero.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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We are making progress. Here is the first batch<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4rT9DVlGpnY/UvEBwxbyEDI/AAAAAAAACn0/RlmRHR9kb48/s1600/Basketweave.jpg"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4rT9DVlGpnY/UvEBwxbyEDI/AAAAAAAACn0/RlmRHR9kb48/s1600/Basketweave.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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the blankets for cats and puppies are small - just 20 by 20 inches square. This one is crocheted in a cushy basketweave and used up a bunch of leftover yarn from other projects<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_TWL0mHLqBo/UvEBxMsRiRI/AAAAAAAACn8/sDczZIlT6_w/s1600/Big+Dog+Quilt.jpg"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_TWL0mHLqBo/UvEBxMsRiRI/AAAAAAAACn8/sDczZIlT6_w/s1600/Big+Dog+Quilt.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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This quilt will be for a larger dog, and uses a cute animal print with some flannel borders<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TwFyNPQx61c/UvEByxWDEQI/AAAAAAAACoM/z47YsyzWgUQ/s1600/Large+Fleece.jpg"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TwFyNPQx61c/UvEByxWDEQI/AAAAAAAACoM/z47YsyzWgUQ/s1600/Large+Fleece.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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Another large dog quilt made out of fleece<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bn2SZtDn7Sk/UvEBylF81LI/AAAAAAAACoI/_bPVV6Csbeg/s1600/Fleece+Edge+Closeup.jpg"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bn2SZtDn7Sk/UvEBylF81LI/AAAAAAAACoI/_bPVV6Csbeg/s1600/Fleece+Edge+Closeup.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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Fleece is the obvious choice for a person who wants to participate but doesn't have the skills or time to make something. Just cut fleece to the right size - perhaps use a rotary cutter to make a wavy edge as in this example - and you're done. Fleece doesn't ravel, so no hemming required.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UouqcYa3D5g/UvEB2CIK4aI/AAAAAAAACog/4czdcnIiPbg/s1600/Quilt+Top+Repurposed.jpg"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UouqcYa3D5g/UvEB2CIK4aI/AAAAAAAACog/4czdcnIiPbg/s1600/Quilt+Top+Repurposed.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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I'm repurposing an old quilt top that I originally pieced as a queen size quilt to be sold for charity. I kind of hated it after it was pieced, so never finished it. Now I'm cutting it up and should have about ten of these puppy quilts ready in no time. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Rs5ZtGaNa8/UvEB0bO4izI/AAAAAAAACoY/RcrTuUd6wZg/s1600/Puppy+Quilt.jpg"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Rs5ZtGaNa8/UvEB0bO4izI/AAAAAAAACoY/RcrTuUd6wZg/s1600/Puppy+Quilt.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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Cute quilt back right?<br />
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Join in the fun!</h4>
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Are you interested in joining us? Shoot me an email at stitchingtimes@gmail.com and I'll coordinate with you on what to make and how to get the finished blankets to me. This really is a labor of love, and something that is so easy to do. <br />
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First off, I had a few projects that have been sitting around for a long time waiting to be finished. This was an insulated table runner I pieced for myself but never quilted or bound. I did finish it this year, though I have to admit I no longer love it and don't know how often it will be used.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ngHxzDuyxWc/UufLqFDuQTI/AAAAAAAAClM/_oB_iJueY8s/s1600/Table+Runner+Hero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ngHxzDuyxWc/UufLqFDuQTI/AAAAAAAAClM/_oB_iJueY8s/s1600/Table+Runner+Hero.jpg" height="224" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front of Table Runner</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1w4FvDbr5Z0/UufLniPdEDI/AAAAAAAAClE/UkCrMfKPs-M/s1600/Table+Runner+Back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1w4FvDbr5Z0/UufLniPdEDI/AAAAAAAAClE/UkCrMfKPs-M/s1600/Table+Runner+Back.jpg" height="246" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back</td></tr>
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I also had planned to make this whole cloth baby quilt for a new addition to a friend's family a couple of years ago. Oh well. Now I'm thinking I might just donate it to a worthy cause</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T2lK02G6EsU/UufgEb7BH6I/AAAAAAAACms/p8Go6xlZIa4/s1600/Sully's+Animals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T2lK02G6EsU/UufgEb7BH6I/AAAAAAAACms/p8Go6xlZIa4/s1600/Sully's+Animals.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zoo Animals Baby Quilt</td></tr>
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Now for a few projects that were started and finished all in the same year. I know right?<br />
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I joined a the West Atlanta Modern Quilt Guild at the beginning of 2013 and I have to say that the gang inspired me to get quite a few projects finished. We had a few cute swaps including mug rugs, pin cushions, and holiday ornaments. I have to admit that we did the ornament swap in November and I just didn't have my act together for the holidays yet, so I swapped an ornament I made a couple of years ago. And, of course we made name tags to wear at meetings. I had a few too many ideas, so I ended up making four.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-17-DWe9wI30/UufKVjR0qUI/AAAAAAAACkk/l7AsVzqXuJo/s1600/Mug+Rug+Collection+Hero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-17-DWe9wI30/UufKVjR0qUI/AAAAAAAACkk/l7AsVzqXuJo/s1600/Mug+Rug+Collection+Hero.jpg" height="320" width="176" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mug rugs</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-58DLbwqF9OM/UufLdSxXheI/AAAAAAAACk8/TdRgIEbj5rk/s1600/Hero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-58DLbwqF9OM/UufLdSxXheI/AAAAAAAACk8/TdRgIEbj5rk/s1600/Hero.jpg" height="220" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pin Cushions</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D2xiQxd_AzI/UufRKl9y4vI/AAAAAAAACmM/pp2bas00IlU/s1600/finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D2xiQxd_AzI/UufRKl9y4vI/AAAAAAAACmM/pp2bas00IlU/s1600/finished.jpg" height="320" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2011 Ornament</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7hMi_h8enLE/UufLCYymuwI/AAAAAAAACks/uow0NrpXqzA/s1600/IMGP2725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7hMi_h8enLE/UufLCYymuwI/AAAAAAAACks/uow0NrpXqzA/s1600/IMGP2725.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">name tags</td></tr>
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Most of us also participated in the Blend Hip Holiday Challenge. What luscious colors for Christmas. I designed another table topper with lots of flying geese. I became a bit obsessed with flying geese this year, but more on that later.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HSbT9awaIr4/UufH8N2hZII/AAAAAAAACjU/rbeKGlFJjlo/s1600/Blend+Challenge+Front+Hero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HSbT9awaIr4/UufH8N2hZII/AAAAAAAACjU/rbeKGlFJjlo/s1600/Blend+Challenge+Front+Hero.jpg" height="203" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xcU7ob_AP8E/UufH-SgRhBI/AAAAAAAACjc/H9J0b7IXlqk/s1600/Blend+Challenge+Back+hero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xcU7ob_AP8E/UufH-SgRhBI/AAAAAAAACjc/H9J0b7IXlqk/s1600/Blend+Challenge+Back+hero.jpg" height="139" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back</td></tr>
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Speaking of the holidays I made some cute "wonky hash tag" place mats (thank you Amy Gibson BOM 2012), and complimented them with a set of matching napkins. They made just the right touch for our holiday beer tasting dinner with friends.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OCS2VWAACBc/UufQX1rHQaI/AAAAAAAACl8/Z7SgEdC4T6w/s1600/Placemat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OCS2VWAACBc/UufQX1rHQaI/AAAAAAAACl8/Z7SgEdC4T6w/s1600/Placemat.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Place mats</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0lVvhkSwqoc/UufQWQ2D3II/AAAAAAAACl0/RAg9LWV6fDU/s1600/Napkin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0lVvhkSwqoc/UufQWQ2D3II/AAAAAAAACl0/RAg9LWV6fDU/s1600/Napkin.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Napkins</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oJDQUwdkVIo/UufQZbv6EVI/AAAAAAAACmE/8APQ8Y6A5SI/s1600/Beer+Tasting+Dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oJDQUwdkVIo/UufQZbv6EVI/AAAAAAAACmE/8APQ8Y6A5SI/s1600/Beer+Tasting+Dinner.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Table Setting</td></tr>
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And I did finally get around to designing and making some Christmas ornaments</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c7XrpRHsWQM/UufPdqhemVI/AAAAAAAACls/dkHnN2Ui8Dw/s1600/2013+Ornament.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c7XrpRHsWQM/UufPdqhemVI/AAAAAAAACls/dkHnN2Ui8Dw/s1600/2013+Ornament.jpg" height="311" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2013 ornament</td></tr>
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And then there were "the niece quilts". Somewhere along the line last year I realized that I had made quilts for me, quilts for the babies of family and friends, but I had never made quilts for my nieces. All of them are grown and live far away from me, so I didn't have as good an idea of colors and tastes as I would have liked, but what the heck.<br />
For Coleen I designed "Floating Frames", which is bold and geometric, but also improvisational. I didn't even make a pattern for this quilt - just started cutting strips and let it grow organically. That led to a few fits when bias edges wanted to stretch out of shape (all of those square frames are set on point), but in the end I liked it. And luckily she told me after she opened it that her bedroom is red. Win!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B4-igONgGbk/UufIURO4_MI/AAAAAAAACj0/tdnz01Z1y_M/s1600/Front+hero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B4-igONgGbk/UufIURO4_MI/AAAAAAAACj0/tdnz01Z1y_M/s1600/Front+hero.jpg" height="238" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cye3UTxfEf0/UufIW4LJN_I/AAAAAAAACj8/VoB5-aYjirI/s1600/Back+hero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cye3UTxfEf0/UufIW4LJN_I/AAAAAAAACj8/VoB5-aYjirI/s1600/Back+hero.jpg" height="229" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back</td></tr>
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<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For Cindy, I wanted something a bit more orderly, but warm and making you think of home and family. I called this "Urban Map" because when I looked at it the colors made me think of city blocks with green parks interspersed. The big bold flowers on the back gave me pause, but it did make me think of the riot of color that was my grandmother's rose garden (carried on for years by our grandfather after she passed). That seems like a fitting tribute to family, home and hearth. The pattern for this quilt is available <a href="http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/quilting/other/urban-map-quilt/86294">here</a>.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3tIEZno8Z10/UufILZ8ey1I/AAAAAAAACjk/cSJH6NCJRRM/s1600/Front+Hero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3tIEZno8Z10/UufILZ8ey1I/AAAAAAAACjk/cSJH6NCJRRM/s1600/Front+Hero.jpg" height="244" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EzymA1QmSkk/UufINVc8unI/AAAAAAAACjs/yD0UVD2MiNk/s1600/Back+Hero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EzymA1QmSkk/UufINVc8unI/AAAAAAAACjs/yD0UVD2MiNk/s1600/Back+Hero.jpg" height="252" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rFqpl3NjHYc/UufMhGPKyTI/AAAAAAAAClc/cPrRYagOk0k/s1600/Front+hero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rFqpl3NjHYc/UufMhGPKyTI/AAAAAAAAClc/cPrRYagOk0k/s1600/Front+hero.jpg" height="249" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front</td></tr>
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Wendy, the youngest, was the biggest challenge. "Tetris Hex" speaks to me of a young woman with so many talents. The falling hexagons reflect both an orderly mind, but the ability to try and succeed at many things. I wasn't sure about the yellow. I mean it is YELLOW. But Wendy is a ray of sunshine AND a strong individual that others can and do lean on. Whether it matches her house or not, it did seem to suit her. The pattern for this quilt can be found <a href="http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/quilting/other/tetris-hex-quilt/86289">here</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SNrM9IXysJI/UufMjbwW-GI/AAAAAAAAClk/imV50WHzFkc/s1600/Back+hero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SNrM9IXysJI/UufMjbwW-GI/AAAAAAAAClk/imV50WHzFkc/s1600/Back+hero.jpg" height="320" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back</td></tr>
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Of course there are plenty of projects still sitting around unfinished. There is the Craftsy BOM for 2013. I've been noodling on adding some borders and making it bigger.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5GGb1zSXr-o/UufInZ5Ub7I/AAAAAAAACkE/keJYRbbUJFk/s1600/Craftsy+BOM+2013+Unfinished+Hero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5GGb1zSXr-o/UufInZ5Ub7I/AAAAAAAACkE/keJYRbbUJFk/s1600/Craftsy+BOM+2013+Unfinished+Hero.jpg" height="320" width="311" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Craftsy BOM 2013</td></tr>
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The larkspur quilt which I've been working on since 2012. I had a good bit of this quilted before I realized I had a HUGE pucker in the back. So it all had to be picked out. I kind of lost heart after that, but I will start again soon.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9RTo69lXL4w/UufI1AztH3I/AAAAAAAACkM/GmkX64DxLXU/s1600/Pinned.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9RTo69lXL4w/UufI1AztH3I/AAAAAAAACkM/GmkX64DxLXU/s1600/Pinned.jpg" height="187" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larkspur Queen Bed Quilt started 2012</td></tr>
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I also had an idea to make a quilt with all blocks using flying geese. I am in no way drawn to the color purple, but I have another niece, Robin, who passed a few years ago from Cystic Fibrosis. She loved purple, so this seemed a fitting tribute to her. I'd like to finish this one up this year and perhaps give the quilt to her mom.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vAa4V9mRZ70/Uufa37XuJ6I/AAAAAAAACmc/ANYGZRqCyYM/s1600/Blocks+Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vAa4V9mRZ70/Uufa37XuJ6I/AAAAAAAACmc/ANYGZRqCyYM/s1600/Blocks+Small.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gaggle of Geese Quilt Started Summer 2013</td></tr>
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The hex quilt that I've been working on for a couple of years is finally all pieced too, and that needs to be quilted. The idea was to use up scraps from all of the different projects since I started quilting ten years ago. The rounds are organized with the colors of the rainbow (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet) and in the manner that my mom used to sort laundry (darks, brights, and lights) with a few blacks and browns at the center and whites around the outer edges. I'm really struggling with how to quilt it as I don't want to take away from the geometry of the hexagrams or the color gradient.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SOY9xCB5hQU/UufgG2f_MJI/AAAAAAAACnE/1zDPo1FzVqA/s1600/Hex+quilt+top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SOY9xCB5hQU/UufgG2f_MJI/AAAAAAAACnE/1zDPo1FzVqA/s1600/Hex+quilt+top.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One Quarter of Quilt Top</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zftcFYdIDPQ/UufgHqinrpI/AAAAAAAACnM/bPFaiJD1A_I/s1600/Hex+Rainbow+Bright+to+LIght.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zftcFYdIDPQ/UufgHqinrpI/AAAAAAAACnM/bPFaiJD1A_I/s1600/Hex+Rainbow+Bright+to+LIght.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Rainbow of Brights and Lights</td></tr>
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Finally, I had fun in 2013 with Amy Gibson's Sugar Block Club, so that one needs to be finished up. This picture doesn't show it, but in addition to the dozen twelve inch blocks from the club, I drafted and made half and quarter size blocks with the same designs. I just have to make a few more and I'll be ready to think about sashing.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LP9a3JospKw/UufMQE4sl1I/AAAAAAAAClU/H1QzpK0teak/s1600/IMGP3435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LP9a3JospKw/UufMQE4sl1I/AAAAAAAAClU/H1QzpK0teak/s1600/IMGP3435.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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What else is on the list for 2014? Well I have three gifts I need to make for birthdays in the next couple of weeks, a play mat for the new baby of a friend, my quilt for the Modern Quilt Guild / Riley Blake challenge which is due in February, and I want to make quilts for my two brothers. Plus I have three different bags cut out that need to be assembled. Not enough? Wait until I tell you about the cat and dog blankets my friends and I are making for shelter animals...</div>
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Until next time.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GvCMiHJ2B4M/Urn_QJIpjwI/AAAAAAAACh0/is_SEqOnlcY/s1600/WP_000681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="479" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GvCMiHJ2B4M/Urn_QJIpjwI/AAAAAAAACh0/is_SEqOnlcY/s640/WP_000681.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
'Kay Stephensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10458275929077812452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797831858409774316.post-47354130272691473852013-12-20T06:00:00.000-05:002013-12-20T06:00:12.172-05:00Ornaments Past and Present<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For the last several years I've made ornaments each Christmas that reflect a new skill I've learned or as a tribute to an artist I admire. I attach these to packages, give them away as favors at holiday parties and as hostess gifts, and keep a few to hang on our own tree.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d2OyyuIjKDI/UrNIGrPmowI/AAAAAAAACf8/3voXwZkpJqQ/s1600/IM004636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d2OyyuIjKDI/UrNIGrPmowI/AAAAAAAACf8/3voXwZkpJqQ/s200/IM004636.JPG" width="125" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QIuk01R3xTc/UrNIQmXucwI/AAAAAAAACgE/A8zrWAM1LTI/s1600/Red+2007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QIuk01R3xTc/UrNIQmXucwI/AAAAAAAACgE/A8zrWAM1LTI/s200/Red+2007.JPG" width="115" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tluzW13T3yM/UrNIRZZ6OZI/AAAAAAAACgM/brEdtGuhFZU/s1600/Green.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tluzW13T3yM/UrNIRZZ6OZI/AAAAAAAACgM/brEdtGuhFZU/s200/Green.JPG" width="119" /></a><br />
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In 2006 I was interested in needle tatting and made little beaded snowflakes and wreaths<br />
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In 2007 I was all about crazy quilting as I worked on a Victorian bed sized quilt similar to an antique one that my mother had from her mother. More on that <a href="http://stitchingtimes.blogspot.com/2010/09/crazy-about-quilts.html">here</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8MS9EGxXAKQ/UrNJvf5kZ8I/AAAAAAAACg8/5IzNT3cMGr0/s1600/scattered.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8MS9EGxXAKQ/UrNJvf5kZ8I/AAAAAAAACg8/5IzNT3cMGr0/s320/scattered.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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2008 was the year of wet felting. I was crocheting and wet felting everything in sight. If you would like to try making them, <a href="http://stitchingtimes.blogspot.com/2011/12/back-soon-she-said.html">here </a>is the pattern</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qHTkuO-KTkA/UrNIoi5PtVI/AAAAAAAACgU/HAkPyPI_PmU/s1600/Gold+ornament+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qHTkuO-KTkA/UrNIoi5PtVI/AAAAAAAACgU/HAkPyPI_PmU/s320/Gold+ornament+small.jpg" width="144" /></a></div>
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I guess I must have skipped 2009, but by 2010, I was enamored or an embellishment technique I had learned from an article in Quilting Arts magazine. More on this idea <a href="http://stitchingtimes.blogspot.com/2011/01/inspriation.html">here</a>. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CeQrFC_CBJc/UrNJXtGv0XI/AAAAAAAACgs/pv7DH31vU7Y/s1600/IMGP0325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CeQrFC_CBJc/UrNJXtGv0XI/AAAAAAAACgs/pv7DH31vU7Y/s320/IMGP0325.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And again in 2011, I totally stole this technique for a large size reverse trapunto quilt and used it for ornaments. <a href="http://stitchingtimes.blogspot.com/2011/12/new-ornament-new-technique.html">Here</a> is the blog post about the technique.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0K6nYEibpZY/UrNI7g_qjTI/AAAAAAAACgk/UFHHHCHGEwE/s1600/IMGP2182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0K6nYEibpZY/UrNI7g_qjTI/AAAAAAAACgk/UFHHHCHGEwE/s320/IMGP2182.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Last year a friend introduced me to <a href="http://www.creativebug.com/instructors/natalie-chanin">Natalie Chanin</a>, the awesome designer behind Alabama Chanin. After looking at her gorgeous apparel, how could I not make hand sewn cotton jersey ornaments. Natalie offers finished product, kits, and workshops, so take a look at her website.</div>
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This year I was a bit stumped for an idea, and then right around Thanksgiving I was looking at an email from <a href="http://www.interweavestore.com/sewing">Sew Daily</a> right before going to sleep. The message included this image.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3CVyJKe4N8s/UrNODWTIblI/AAAAAAAAChM/rMUwDK1eyKM/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="64" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3CVyJKe4N8s/UrNODWTIblI/AAAAAAAAChM/rMUwDK1eyKM/s320/unnamed.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'm one of those crazy people that problem solves in my sleep. Well of course I woke up in the middle of the night with an understanding of how I could make these.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gBhj9DfUrGA/UrNNegJxJeI/AAAAAAAAChE/fmip2vdUQaY/s1600/2013+Ornament.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gBhj9DfUrGA/UrNNegJxJeI/AAAAAAAAChE/fmip2vdUQaY/s320/2013+Ornament.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It couldn't be easier. Use stiff double sided fusible interfacing and bond fabric on both sides of a sheet. Use a rotary circle cutter (or draw circles and cut them out by hand). I made mine about 3 1/2 inches. You will need a total of four circles for each ornament, but it you fuse up larger sheets, you can cut multiples of one fabric. I fused fat quarters (or scraps from other projects that were about that size) and was able to get up to 16 circles out of each bonding effort. If you have a sewing machine that can handle a really thick stack, then stitch two of the circles together right down the middle (I used a vanishing marker to draw a line in the center of each circle from top to bottom). Now fold both of those circles back on themselves to make two sets of wings. Match up the remaining two circles with the previously sewn pieces and stitch down through all thicknesses. <i>If your machine chokes on that much fabric, these are just as easy to stitch by hand, and a good "in front of the TV" project. </i>Open out the eight wings. If desired you can hand stitch a small bead between each wing to help them stay open. The final step is to take a 7-8 inch piece of embroidery floss and centering it on the bottom of the ornament, bring it up between the wings. Tie it close to the top of the ornament, and again at the ends of the floss to create a hanger. That's it. Easy-peasey!</div>
Kay Stephensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10458275929077812452noreply@blogger.com0Atlanta, GA, USA33.7489954 -84.387982433.3266004 -85.0334294 34.1713904 -83.7425354tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797831858409774316.post-80290904684914767642013-12-06T09:24:00.001-05:002013-12-06T09:29:55.295-05:00Delayed<div class="MsoNormal">
I wrote the following post in the car on Sunday, but of course didn't get around to posting it until today. Such is life at this time of year...</div>
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Another Thanksgiving weekend is coming to a close as we wend
our way south to Atlanta. We had a full house at the Gilliland’s (my husband’s
family) 17 people spread across the kitchen and dining room tables and two more
card tables set up in the living room. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TszgBeCwQNA/Up9fzYwcVuI/AAAAAAAACek/rkdZ6xW9JYI/s1600/1455168_10202461833977570_464452309_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TszgBeCwQNA/Up9fzYwcVuI/AAAAAAAACek/rkdZ6xW9JYI/s320/1455168_10202461833977570_464452309_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The groaning table was set on an old
door propped atop two vintage singer sewing machine tables – treadles of
course. One of the new additions to the family is a delightful teenage girl
participating in a Foreign Exchange program from South Korea. After dinner she
and Grace spent time cutting coupons to go shopping later. Of course none of us
realized until later that we had neglected to explain what a coupon is. We all
had a good chuckle over that.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1rA5RtT9lIU/Up9f5J7mjpI/AAAAAAAACes/JGIVJL0Z_HI/s1600/1466180_10202842802775880_961839865_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1rA5RtT9lIU/Up9f5J7mjpI/AAAAAAAACes/JGIVJL0Z_HI/s320/1466180_10202842802775880_961839865_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Later in the weekend we had dinner out with many of my
husband’s friends from school days. He is so lucky that so many of his close
childhood friends have stayed close together in this rural patch of Southern
Illinois where he grew up. We see them all often and have been able to keep up
with their lives.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NmhHz4xknsc/Up9gtLwQICI/AAAAAAAACe4/Tdz9pdaJOYM/s1600/WP_000641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NmhHz4xknsc/Up9gtLwQICI/AAAAAAAACe4/Tdz9pdaJOYM/s320/WP_000641.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Tucked in here and there were trips to Aunt Pat’s basement
studio to see what she is working on, and I had a little quilt fashion show
with the three quilts I've been working on for Christmas gifts. I even managed
to find a few minutes to finish the binding on the last one. Whew! Didn’t know
if I would ever get those finished in time and now I have time to spare. Patterns and pictures coming after the big
reveal!<o:p></o:p></div>
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On a sad note we and our dog Lady said our final farewells
to Buster, a family dog that has been a joyful playmate for all the years we
have been taking her to the Farm. He isn't doing well, and we know he won't be there
the next time we visit, but we are glad that we all spent time with him, and he
seemed happy despite his infirmities. And it was sweet to see how gentle Lady
was with him. This is how we will remember him.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QjCtqP49WBc/UqHdLNSg5AI/AAAAAAAACfc/NUGhHtlzdlI/s1600/Buster+and+Lady+tugging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QjCtqP49WBc/UqHdLNSg5AI/AAAAAAAACfc/NUGhHtlzdlI/s320/Buster+and+Lady+tugging.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tugging</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EVUwanshnpY/UqHdGTWdMQI/AAAAAAAACfU/zOPHHcgtmx4/s1600/Lady+and+Buster+Swimming.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EVUwanshnpY/UqHdGTWdMQI/AAAAAAAACfU/zOPHHcgtmx4/s320/Lady+and+Buster+Swimming.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Retrieving</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sdDfHdezi-U/UqHc-xuKaoI/AAAAAAAACfM/CVC1gexVBr0/s1600/Buster+&+Lady.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sdDfHdezi-U/UqHc-xuKaoI/AAAAAAAACfM/CVC1gexVBr0/s320/Buster+&+Lady.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running</td></tr>
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So we head back to Atlanta, and our normal life – or as
normal as anyone’s life is in this crazy season between Thanksgiving and
Christmas. The next couple of weeks will be crammed full of busy. Food to make,
a house to decorate, gifts to make, purchase, and wrap. And I have a neat idea
for this year’s holiday ornament. As always, it seems in my head like it will
be a snap and quite unique. Tomorrow I’ll head to the studio and give the
technique I have in mind a try. I hope you are ready for the controlled chaos
to come. Personally I can’t wait!</div>
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Kay Stephensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10458275929077812452noreply@blogger.com0Atlanta, GA, USA33.7489954 -84.387982433.3266004 -85.0334294 34.1713904 -83.7425354tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797831858409774316.post-12506844531435864132013-10-30T08:00:00.000-04:002013-10-30T08:00:00.906-04:00Call it Serendipityor kismet (have always loved that word), or just happenstance.<br />
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For Christmas 2011 I made a quilted throw to hang in front of the fireplace - because honestly in Atlanta even in winter - you almost never use the thing. </div>
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As evidenced by the houseplants still sitting on the porch when I took these photos the following fall.</div>
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Despite my over-the-top affection for Christmas, you've got to love The Grinch that Stole Christmas!</div>
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and all those sweet folks living down in Whoville. Thank you Theodor Seuss Geisel aka Dr. Seuss. And thank you <a href="http://www.robertkaufman.com/fabrics/how_the_grinch_stole_christmas/">Robert Kaufman Fabrics</a> for licensing the designs and making the fabric available. By the way, I notice it's still available at <a href="https://www.fabric.com/quilting-fabric-shop-by-designer-kaufman-designer-cotton-print-fabric-kaufman-how-the-grinch-stole-christmas.aspx">Fabric.com</a> (and elsewhere), and now I see they have it in flannel!</div>
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So here comes the wonderful coincidence. My guild held a pillow swap recently, and when I pulled a number out of the hat, which pillow did I get?</div>
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Why this fabulous bit of Grinchmas of course.</div>
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My fellow guild member, Linda Petersen-Smith made four of these panels with scraps from another project, and then sewed them up with coordinating fabric to make the pillow. I couldn't be happier with the pillow or the little bit of serendipity. Funny how things work out sometimes.</div>
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Kay Stephensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10458275929077812452noreply@blogger.com0Atlanta, GA, USA33.7489954 -84.387982433.3266004 -85.0334294 34.1713904 -83.7425354tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797831858409774316.post-4663308451311241642013-10-28T08:00:00.000-04:002015-01-12T08:23:31.070-05:00Colorful, Crazy, Craftsy BOM 2013 Finished?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z7_AdYZLQ1Q/UmWDMNF7IiI/AAAAAAAACa0/-B_5jTez4l8/s1600/Craftsy+BOM+2013+Unfinished+Hero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z7_AdYZLQ1Q/UmWDMNF7IiI/AAAAAAAACa0/-B_5jTez4l8/s400/Craftsy+BOM+2013+Unfinished+Hero.jpg" height="400" style="cursor: move;" width="388" /></a>I know. This quilt top is crazy busy already, but believe it or not, I don't think it's done. First of all, it's basically square now, and that's sort of bugging me. It feels like it needs to be more of a rectangle. Also, I still have piles of fabric left, and those flying geese and half square triangles seem lonely. I think we need a bunch more of those. I'm thinking about adding more of both at the top and bottom. And maybe some more spools too. Love those spools.</div>
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If you remember, it was supposed to look like this. I did eliminate the flower basket and add the <a href="http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/quilting/home-decor/ny-beauty-circle-of-flying-geese/46256" target="_blank">New York Beauty Circle of Flying Geese</a>, more or less in the center. And I banished all of the pink and blue.</div>
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Somehow none of that made my version look any less busy, and I know I'm nuts to think about adding more detail and making it bigger. In my defense, when I showed it to my husband, he thought it was "cool" and especially liked the "tumbling blocks" (though he did mention that they didn't look like they were tumbling). His appreciation makes me want to press on, but I will set it aside for a few weeks and see if I find enlightenment in my sleep. Maybe if I finish it and use it as the couch quilt, we can snuggle under it and manage not to fall asleep while watching TV. I really can't imagine falling asleep under this one. </div>
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<br />Kay Stephensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10458275929077812452noreply@blogger.com1Atlanta, GA, USA33.7489954 -84.387982433.3266004 -85.0334294 34.1713904 -83.7425354tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797831858409774316.post-38058677788346693912013-10-24T08:00:00.000-04:002013-10-24T08:00:01.361-04:00Tetris HexI really seem incapable of designing a quilt with fabric I don't love. When a guild comes up with a challenge related to a particular fabric line, I'm always happy when they say I don't have to use all of the fabric I'm given because invariably out of ten prints, there are two that leave me feeling somewhere between meh and ick.<br />
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That wasn't really a problem with the latest quilt I'm working on. Yes there are a couple of colors and one print design in the "Glimma" line by Lotta Jansdotter for Windham Fabrics that don't send me.<br />
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But there are plenty to choose from that I love. These are the ones I ordered with no idea how they would come together. Some designers are adamant about not using multiple prints from one fabric line, but I'm so much more interested in the shapes and putting the quilt design together. If the fabric designer has done some of the work and assembled a collection of prints and colors that works together, I'm fine with that.<br />
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Some of these prints are big, so I needed to to design something that worked with the scale. Also, I've been sort of obsessed - as have most of the people I like best in the quilting community - with the hex shape for over a year.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ESPWwV-KU2o/UmV4O2Es5OI/AAAAAAAACaQ/XQnArYZUyyw/s1600/Tetris+Hex+Unfinished+Front+Hero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ESPWwV-KU2o/UmV4O2Es5OI/AAAAAAAACaQ/XQnArYZUyyw/s320/Tetris+Hex+Unfinished+Front+Hero.jpg" width="267" /></a>Voila. The majority of the Hexagrams in this quilt are six inchers, with a few half size thrown in for interest. I wanted a design with lots of negative space to allow for dense texture in the quilting, so when I started laying out the hexies on a solid background with big gaps in between, I quickly started thinking of the old computer game called Tetris. Do you remember it? All those differently shaped blocks (called tetriminos I've just learned) were falling from the top of the screen, and you had to twist and turn them so that they fit into the stack already at the bottom. I was somewhat addicted to the game back in the early 90s. But I digress.<br />
I have a plan for lots of point to point quilting in that negative space to really emphasize the geometric shapes. Unfortunately I went ahead and spray basted this and then rolled it up to get it out of the way. I can see I'm going to have to do more pressing before I can begin on the quilting.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l--wRg3WGC8/UmV4RJPC1bI/AAAAAAAACaY/nTSkiBvfykQ/s1600/Tetris+Hex+Unfinished+Back+Hero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l--wRg3WGC8/UmV4RJPC1bI/AAAAAAAACaY/nTSkiBvfykQ/s320/Tetris+Hex+Unfinished+Back+Hero.jpg" width="247" /></a>Like the last few quilts I've designed, the back of this quilt is also pieced, so it can be reversible. I just hope the dense point-to-point quilting planned for the front doesn't mess up the look of the back. Ah well. Nothing ventured and all that rot.<br />
By the way, those hexagrams aren't appliqued. I actually pieced this puppy, and developed a new love for Y seams in the process. I used <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001UADASI/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1">this</a> specially designed hexagon ruler to cut out the shapes and it was easy peasy to sew them together.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5Qt6atkn40M/UmV9fLj0YXI/AAAAAAAACao/WqSOBSAuQi0/s1600/Tetris+Label.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5Qt6atkn40M/UmV9fLj0YXI/AAAAAAAACao/WqSOBSAuQi0/s200/Tetris+Label.jpg" width="200" /></a>This will also be a Christmas gift for a special woman. I wonder if she will read this post and guess that it is for her? Well that is, it will be a gift for Christmas if I get busy and finish the quilting and binding. I did make the label for the back today, so I'm making progress. And no, I'm not giving everything away with that label. Christmas always calls for a few surprises.<br />
<br />Kay Stephensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10458275929077812452noreply@blogger.com0Atlanta, GA, USA33.7489954 -84.387982433.3266004 -85.0334294 34.1713904 -83.7425354tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797831858409774316.post-2850009804547565502013-10-22T08:00:00.000-04:002013-10-22T17:51:28.802-04:00Modern Neutrals Block of the Month<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lPtUm9O1erQ/UlR3XfkwUWI/AAAAAAAACYg/GtVsVbvCnC8/s1600/October.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="197" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lPtUm9O1erQ/UlR3XfkwUWI/AAAAAAAACYg/GtVsVbvCnC8/s200/October.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">October - Lucky Star</td></tr>
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I'm really starting to love the quilt I'm making with Amy Gibson's Sugar Block Club. The designs are all modern twists on traditional blocks, and making them up in solids instead of prints gives such a different look to the project.<br />
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I fell behind on this one and had to scramble during October to make July, August and September blocks as well. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kJL9aPNtU1k/UlR3P9_-0sI/AAAAAAAACYI/xYvBP1nACgk/s1600/July.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kJL9aPNtU1k/UlR3P9_-0sI/AAAAAAAACYI/xYvBP1nACgk/s200/July.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">July - Lime Sherbet</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B6O7BDaJQnY/UlR3R0nBgVI/AAAAAAAACYQ/QvdUJ5P3Qw0/s1600/August.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B6O7BDaJQnY/UlR3R0nBgVI/AAAAAAAACYQ/QvdUJ5P3Qw0/s200/August.jpg" title="August - Camp Out" width="199" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">August - Camp Out</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MaOCUvN6aiw/UlR3VDmET5I/AAAAAAAACYY/Kuo9hTxO7CI/s1600/September.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="195" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MaOCUvN6aiw/UlR3VDmET5I/AAAAAAAACYY/Kuo9hTxO7CI/s200/September.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">September - Come Fly with Me</td></tr>
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Now I'm starting to think about how I will lay out the entire quilt. As I mentioned <a href="http://stitchingtimes.blogspot.com/2013/03/scale.html">here</a>, I've also been making smaller versions of each block, but haven't begun to figure out how (or even if) they will be included in the final quilt top. Stay tuned with just two more months to go!<br />
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<br />Kay Stephensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10458275929077812452noreply@blogger.com0Atlanta, GA, USA33.7489954 -84.387982433.3266004 -85.0334294 34.1713904 -83.7425354tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797831858409774316.post-86662672866015127562013-10-16T16:06:00.001-04:002013-10-16T16:06:48.485-04:00Blend Hip Holiday Table Topper Update<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Hs2IgXgC7k/Ul7xssz3rQI/AAAAAAAACY8/4oIpUZolrzw/s1600/Blend+Challenge+Front+Hero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Hs2IgXgC7k/Ul7xssz3rQI/AAAAAAAACY8/4oIpUZolrzw/s320/Blend+Challenge+Front+Hero.jpg" width="320" /></a>I've just published the pattern for this holiday table topper <a href="http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/quilting/home-decor/hip-holiday-table-topper/72835">here</a>. It will make a great gift for family and friends, so check it out.<br />
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<br />Kay Stephensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10458275929077812452noreply@blogger.com0