About Damn Time

A long while back I had mentioned I was digging

this project up out of the deep well of UFO's.

Well - that didn't happen.

I had all these log cabin squares completed but needed

 to make about another thirty.

I sold long ago the Bernina that these were pieced on,

and try as I might I couldn't reproduce them

to my approval on my Viking and with a different foot. 

Then my Viking went kapoot needing repair and the squares sat some more.

Yesterday I hauled them out and tried to figure

how to enlarge the quilt using these finished squares 

and adding borders or other piecing- whatever.

I remembered these pieced stars from even farther back.

These were made with hand drawn templates for petes sake!

So over twenty years ago. It was for a very ambitious quilt that bit the 

dust went my marriage imploded. 

Luckily my color pallets don't change much with the years,

as look how well this will work!

I did a few calculations and a primitive idea took shape. 

Dug out a new machine that I bought 10 years ago

 and had only used twice.

Took me hours to read the manual and figure how to thread etc,

as this one has many more bells and whistles.

 I have really lost my sewing mojo.

Use it or lose it - is very true. 

A couple hours this evening, and we are on our way.

Two rows are done and the third will be before bed.

Nine rows total, forming the center of quilt. 

There is one problem

This little bugger was not happy that his mama was ignoring him 

for so long. He is spoiled rotten thanks to covid and our isolation. 

There is a very comfy daybed up in the studio, but NOOOOOO

he wants lap time, lots and lots of lap time. 

I'm hoping that stating my quilt intentions

will force me to get this done or be embarrassed by failure.

Hold me to it alright?

Z

 

Whatcha Been Doing?

Several folks have called and written

 and asked "Whatcha Doing?"

I've been invited to a "sew in" B-Day bash soon

 and I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to

work on a quilt I started YEARS ago.

I used to sew all the time and then life, 

issues and other interests got in the way

 and I stopped quilting entirely.

I love the fabrics in this quilt..very much

my old primitive favorites but it will still

go quite nicely in my blue and brown bedroom.

It requires 96 blocks and I am at 64 as of today.

Every block is random and includes plaids and checks

in browns, beiges, blues and a touch of yellows.

I opened the basket where the blocks and strips

 were stored and just 

threw them out on the chair and desk

 and started sewing.

I'll see how far I get before the sew in and

then an entire day there just may "get er' done"

Sew a side, trim/turn, sew a side, trim/turn

and so on.

A Log Cabin

I just toss them to the floor as they are completed.

Funny they look crooked here but they're not. I did 

not cut the strips with anything but abandon 

so the plaids and checks do not always run straight.

I wanted it that way, to appear primitive and I 

will most likely overdye it when finished also.

 I was thinking I will add a solid border with some appliques 

perhaps because I love doing those also.

I miss doing needlecraft.

Maybe this will resurrect my first love.

Needle and thread

A painters pallet of fabrics

It is all connected

In other news I shared a lovely day on Monday

with a photographer Tracey Perry, 

who shot my home for a Holiday Book 

to hopefully be published next year.

It is a major undertaking and I will keep 

you posted as I proceed.

I am thrilled to be able to get 

Christmas taken down, and do some more purging

and a thorough cleaning of the house.

I have NEVER had it up this long before,

it has made me a little antsy.

Because of my organized box system

it will come down lickety split.

WOOT!

So that's my story

What's yours?

ONCE UPON A TIME...

I was a quilter...

 for years and years and years.

I used to adore all shades of green.

All my green primitive furniture pieces are now 

in the studio or on the porch, no longer 

suited to the rest of the house.

Things change, interests change.

I taught this series of quilts many years ago. 

I had the girls make extra blocks and lattice 

strips from the first bed size quilt.

From those extras we made the next table top quilt,

with some moons thrown in for good measure.

From the extra strips from the tabletop
 quilt we made log cabin blocks 
that became a wall hanging.

This was one of my favorite series of quilts.

Using up, making do, repetition,

a very organized method of quilting.

The bed size one now resides in my studio
 and is my comfort in the big chair in the winter. 

I adored all types of log cabins back then,

 in fabric, wallpaper, birdhouses etc.

I was always drawn to the shape.

( a work in progress)

Recently, I have been fiddling with mixed media.

Similar techniques required, color and balance.. 

yet a totally new creative outlet for me, 

with a huge learning curve.

Then this morning I realized that perhaps 

I had not strayed too far from my roots after all.

Modern cabins anyone?

Z