Will Work for Yarn

I take in the occasional quilting project to support my yarn habit.  The latest project was a Dresden Plate Comforter that I finished today.  Hooray!

When I was first asked to complete this project, I had some reservations about it.  Goodness knows that I have enough of my own UFOs.  Now, here I am taking on someone else's!

Alas, I am a sucker for yarn money...

How much time can a 6 block quilt take???  Well, in this case, it took 3 months. Life has a way of getting in the way of what we want to do.  This time work and Quilt Show preparations got in the way of quilting.

Have you ever worked on a project that someone else started?  That can be a challenge in itself.  We don't all operate at the same skill level.  Nor do we all work with the same attention to detail.  (Not to mention the fact that I wasn't provided the original template for the Dresden Plate!)

Another thing that I found is that it takes a LOT longer to hand applique a Dresden Plate block than the sum of the time it takes to apply one blade/petal x the number of blades/petals making up each block.  Considerably longer!

All in all, the piece turned out well and the recipient was pleased with the end result.  (And I got a bit of yarn money, too!)

Photos will be added when they become available.

Until next time...
Happy Quilting!

Simple Gifts. Give Thanks.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and/or friends.  My (nearly) local extended family enjoyed a delicious feast.  We all ate too much and had too much fun!

In a pre-Thanksgiving Day "light bulb moment", I made a small mug rug for my SIL's mother as a thank you for a thoughtful little gift that she sent me this summer.  In a moment of spaciness, I forgot to take a photo before delivering it to her yesterday.  :o(

I used one of my six-and-a-half inch "Crumb" blocks for the mug rug.  I had set it aside with a group of extra blocks to make pillow shams to match the quilt.  Before I did the quilting, I inked the words "Simple Gifts. Give Thanks." While quilting, I added the recipient's name.  She appreciated the gesture.

I'm sorry that I neglected to take a photo.  I would have liked sharing it with you.  Hopefully, my next completed project will be accompanied by "picture proof."

Until then...
Happy Quilting!

Quilt Show Results

Durham Orange Quilters Guild had a very successful show at American Tobacco Campus in Durham, NC this weekend.  It was great fun viewing all the quilts and attending some of the technique demonstrations.  I still have some "Raffle" Tickets available for our beautiful opportunity quilt.  I'm hoping to sell them between now and the December guild meeting.

I have news of my show entries.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, I entered two quilts and one jacket.  My quilt, Purple and Green Coins, was for "display only" due to the tardiness of the entry.  (Yes, I missed the deadline!)  The jacket that I finished for the Spring 2012 UFO Club, Patriotic Improv Jacket, received Honorable Mention.  (I managed to get that entry in on time.)  That leaves one entry unaccounted for...

What quilt was that?

The (Glencoe) Mill Quilt was entered, as part of a 13 part series, in the group quilt category.  Twenty-one feet of quilty goodness was prominently displayed at the main entrance to the show.

Why such good placement?

The grouping won 1st Place!

OK, so what?  That doesn't explain why it got such a primo spot.

You're right.

What if I told you that it received Best of Show???

Let me tell you...

The Mountain to Sea Trail quilt WAS awarded Best of Show.  There are 13 VERY happy quilters (all busy doing a happy dance!)  Thank you to all of the participating members of the DOQ Art Quilt Bee.  I am so thankful to share this honor with such a talented group of quilters.  It's a shame that we also have to share the actual ribbons because they would look REALLY good hanging in my studio!  LOL

The AQB is now plotting and planning for future showings of this display.  I'll be sure to post updates as The Series travels to various venues over the course of the next year or year and a half.  You will also be informed when it reaches its final destination (in full or in part.)

Until then...
Happy Quilting!

Quilt Show Weekend!!!

I have two quilts and one jacket in a Quilt Show this weekend.  For those of you in the Raleigh - Durham area of North Carolina, please read the following notice:

Quilt Show

October 19-21, 2012

“A Thread Runs Through It,” Durham-Orange Quilters' Guild’s 2012 quilt show at the American Tobacco Campus, 324 Blackwell Street, Bay 7, Durham, NC 27701. 

The biennial show includes over 225 quilts and wearable art in a judged exhibition, vendors, a boutique featuring members’ creations, fat quarter raffle baskets, a raffle quilt, 

a junior show, and charity quilts, all in a beautifully restored former tobacco warehouse.  Come enjoy the show, then have lunch or dinner in one of the fine restaurants at 

this lovely venue in downtown Durham.  

Hours are: Friday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

Admission $5 (children under 12 free), parking is free, and the site is handicapped-accessible. 

For information or directions please see the show web site:http://www.durhamorangequilters.org/2012-quilt-show/

Fall 2012 (Ravelry) UFO Club - The List

It's that time, again.  Time to profess to the world which quilts I intend (read HOPE) to finish during the next three months.  My list for the Summer session will morph into my list for the Fall session.  I only completed ONE quilt so 9 remain to be finished!

Follow the link to view the list:

http://thejoyfulquilter.blogspot.com/2012/07/summer-2012-ravelry-ufo-club-list.html

(Ignore the Mill Quilt.  That's the one that I completed.)

Summer 2012 (Ravelry) UFO Club - The Results

The Summer 2012 UFO Club session is now CLOSED.

This session began on July 1, 2012 and any qualifying UFOs were completed (and posted to the thread) by midnight (EST) on September 30, 2012.

Membership: (15)

NO SEND (9)

ThePoch
loisbemis: 1 completed project
basketcase9702: 1 completed project
KK454
needleb: 1 completed project
aerieiris
monicarose51
fishandstitch
PickKnitTime: 3 completed projects

SEND (6)

Lucky13: 1 completed project
Estieknits: 1 completed project
dancergrrlliz
nhsarab: 3 completed projects
fidissimus: 1 completed project
andimc13: 2 completed projects

Session Totals: 9 quilters have completed 14 projects. Thanks to all who participated in the Summer 2012 UFO Club and Congrats! to all of our finishers! I would also like to say a big thank you to everyone who cheered us on. THANKS!!

Mill Quilt (Completed)

Quilting 015, a photo by basketcasejoy on Flickr.

This quilt is part of the Mountain to Sea Trail exhibit created by members of the DOQ Art Bee for the 2012 Durham Orange Quilt Guild Show. The show runs from October 18 - 20, 2012 at Bay 7, American Tobacco Campus, Durham, NC. Admission is $5.00.

My quilt depicts Glencoe Mill, Burlington, NC. The river section shown at the top is my portion of the actual "Trail." This piece was quite the test of my creativity! I was afraid to begin for months. (If memory serves me correctly, the challenge was issued in August 2011.)

I was finally able to wrap my mind around the project in April 2012, when I went out to the site to take some photos for inspiration. These photos were then translated into a "quilt pattern" in June (Thanks, again, Hilary!) and I finally began the task of turning my vision into a completed quilt. Ultimately, I am pleased with the result.

All of the fabrics came from my stash. I used quilting cottons and even some bits of an old T-shirt or 2 from a T-quilt that I made last year. The only fabrics not in MY stash came from my good friend Britt, who can often be found "shopping" in my stash, too.. (Thanks, B!)

Remember, if I can do this... so can YOU.

Happy Quilting!

NTB4 Quilt Retreat

Last weekend I was off to my Quilt Retreat.  I packed up all of the quilting "stuff" on Wednesday night, can't recall when I packed up the projects, and packed up my clothes on Thursday night.  Friday morning I was off to my regularly schedule Knit Group and got home in time to load the car for the trip.

My driver and I were the first to arrive.  We set up the sewing space and unloaded our gear.  We each chose our spot and set up our machines.  The minute everyone else arrived, we were off and stitching!

I got a LOT done on my 100-Patch quilt.  Too bad things were a little wonky!  It turns out that I may have to rip out all of the stitches that attached the sashing to the pieced blocks.  :o(

When I noticed there was a problem, I trimmed everything down.  Under normal circumstances, that might have worked.  This time?  Not so much!

The next step in the process is to add a pieced border onto the sashed blocks.  Well...the border pieces no longer match up to the sashed blocks.  :o(

Not a problem!  If you sew, so shall you rip.

Ripping off the sashing and cutting wider sashing pieces will be my next step in the process.  I'm not happy about it, but it will look a LOT better than the mess that I now have.

Adventures in quilting...you've gotta love it!!!

Until next time...
Happy Quilting!

Heart Pin

Heart Pin, a photo by basketcasejoy on Flickr.

Who KNEW that one little 2" quilted item could take (at least) TWO YEARS to complete?!?!

This little pin began as a group project. My quilt bee had a little lesson on making them at our February 2010 (?) meeting. We each brought scraps of pink and/or red fabrics for the occasion. The "teacher" provided the felt for the backing. Members took turns stitching and by the end of the meeting, everyone had completed one.

It was SO much fun that I decided to make more!

I made them for everyone in our group (at the time) who was unable to attend the "workshop." I passed them out at subsequent meetings, but never quite got around to finishing my own.

I found it in the case for my "sewing glasses" the other day and thought enough was ENOUGH!!! It was time to finish my own little heart pin.

All that remained was sewing on the clasp. It took 5 minutes...tops!

Why do we stop a project so close to completion?

That's the question, but I haven't been able to come up with a reasonable answer.

Oh, well... I'm just glad that this little UFO is DONE.

Until next time...
Happy finishing!

In My Defense...

In My Defense, a photo by basketcasejoy on Flickr.

Sometimes a girl's just GOT to knit! My friend, Threebagsfulled (on Ravelry), is a knit wear designer. I tend to be her "Test Knitter." This is one of her latest designs.

I finished "Alibi" some time ago, but I'm not the best at blocking. Thus, the delay in post time.

This shawl measures 65" (wingspan) x 28" (drop) and was knit from a single skein of Malabrigo Sock that I purchased at The Hillsborough Yarn Shop.  Who could resist the Ravelry Red colorway?!

Beautiful!!!

Progress on the Mill Quilt

Progress on the Mill Quilt, a photo by basketcasejoy on Flickr.

Can you say PROCRASTINATION???

I've really made progress on my Mill Quilt this week. Nothing like the LAST MINUTE to light a fire under your (my) creativity!

When there was "plenty of time", I simply couldn't wrap my mind around this project. Now that it needs to be completed by NEXT WEEK, I was finally able to "buckle down" and make a concerted effort at working out the design challenge set before me.

Perspective. From photo to drawing and from drawing to fabric. "Hey! Does this angle look funky to you?" That was the question of the week.

Next week's question:

How am I going to quilt LIFE into this quilt???

Until then...
Happy Quilting!

The Cutting Bee...

...a quilt workshop with August Cole.  That's how I spent my day today, thanks to my friend Maggie, who had signed up for the class.  Unfortunately, for her (fortunately, for me), she wasn't able to attend.  I figured that I had PLENTY of fabric to meet the requirements of the class.

Goodness knows I can ALWAYS make room for another quilt!!!

Augusta's basic units are the 4-Patch and the Half-square Triangle.  With those two units (and maybe a few other bits), a quilter can create any number of quilts!  The class packet showed how to make about 15 different layouts.

How is a quilter to choose???

Well, first we began with choosing fabrics from the assortment that participants brought to share.  If you brought 10 pieces of fabric then you chose 10 pieces of fabric.  If you brought 20 pieces of fabric then you chose 20 pieces of fabric.  Utter chaos?  No, there was order to the chaos.  Augusta had us drawn numbers and stand in line for the first pick.  Once everyone had chosen, we were lined up in reverse order for a second pick.  Oh, the fabrics!  What a wonderful selection for  wonderfully scrappy quilts.  Yes. Quilts, plural.

Did I mention that I actually started THREE quilts today?

The Simple Cross was my first choice because I wasn't in the mood for making HST units.


Then the Star option caught my eye.


But I couldn't resist Augusta's Confetti Quilt and my table-mate, Jean, was getting rather twitchy about the fact that I'd been there for HOURS without sewing a stitch.  You'll have to go to Augusta's website for a peek at that.  All I got done during the class was the first step on some 4-Patch units!  (I made these two blocks pictured after I got home.)

All in all, I'm am happy that I attended The Cutting Bee workshop.  Even though I now have THREE MORE UFOs,  I had some "me" time.  I had fun visiting with quilting friends that I don't see often enough.  I used some stash.  And, I'm not telling my UFO Club a word about it!  The members are all about FINISHING the quilts that have already been started!  How could I possibly tell them that in ONE DAY there are now THREE new projects on my list?  YOU better not breathe a word to them.    I wouldn't want them to disown me!

:o)

Until next time...
Happy Quilting!

Baby H's Quilt (top)

Baby H's Quilt (top), a photo by basketcasejoy on Flickr.

The first week of the Summer 2012 (Ravelry) UFO Club yielded a new quilt top. Hooray!

I started with a stack of strips on one afternoon and by the next afternoon, I had a quilt top for Baby H. It's a good size for a baby quilt and it's not too big that if they wanted to put it up on the wall, that would work, too.

You DO realize that this progress means NOTHING when it comes to the question of how many quilts will actually be COMPLETED this quarter, don't you???

Never fear...

There is always HOPE!!!

Until next time...
Happy Quilting!

Summer 2012 (Ravelry) UFO Club - The List

It's that time, again.  It's time to commit to another round of UFO Finishing Fun.  (This session actually begins our 3rd year of UFO Finishing Fun.)  Well, I have to admit, sometimes it feels more like work!

That's OK, though, because whether work or play, the result is typically (at least) one completed quilting project.  Who knows how long the poor thing has been waiting to be transformed into an FO (finished object)???  In the case of the Mill Quilt - not very long.  In the case of Circle of Friends - a VERY LONG TIME!!!

The List:
1. Mill Quilt  
2. The Margaret Mystery
3. Crumb Quilt (Make a backing, etc.)
4. Where's Jackson
5. Baby J's Quilt (Layer, quilt, etc.)
6. Baby N's Quilt  (One or the other of these.  NOTE:  Decided on the pink/purple one.)  

7. Baby H's Quilt (Top completed)
8. Inspired by... The Series (All need binding)
9. Calico Ric Rac (Layer/quilt, etc.)
0. Circle of Friends

The Mill Quilt MUST be completed during this session!  Of the others, I'm really hoping to finish the baby quilts.  (For goodness sake!  Baby J is TWO, already!!!)

Note:  Other photos can be found in earlier posts or on the Summer 2012 UFO Club Ravelry pages.

Good Luck to all of the members of the Summer 2012 UFO Club!  (And, please, wish me luck, too.)

Until next time...
Happy Quilting!

Spring 2012 (Ravelry) UFO Club - The Results

Another great UFO Club session has come to a close.  This session began on April 1, 2012 and any qualifying UFOs were completed (and posted to the thread) by midnight (EST) on June 30, 2012.

We separated the Club into two sub-groups, again.  One group remained as before, sending FQ rewards for completed projects.  The second group decided that they either weren't interested in sending FQs or that the mailing costs no longer fit within their budgets.  All the fun and encouragement of the Club, without the added stress!

Club Membership (18):

NO SEND group (13):

thepoch
SunshineMom: 1 completed project
basketcase9702: 3 completed projects
loisbemis: 1 completed project
KK454: 3 completed projects
fishandstitch: 4 completed projects
Lisa-Bird: 1 completed project
LisaS
Distel
needleb: 2 completed projects
AerieIris: 1 completed project
PickKnitTime: 1 completed project
Monicarose51

SEND group (5):

andimc13: 2 completed projects
Lucky13: 2 completed projects
dancergrrlliz: 1 completed project
aksherry
wasieknitstoo

Session Totals: 12 quilters completed 22 projects. (Barring any clerical errors on my part.) Hooray! We had another wonderful UFO Club session. Thank you to all of our participants and Congrats! to all of our finishers. :o)

Dye Frenzy 2012 - The Results

Dye Frenzy 2012 - The Results, a photo by basketcasejoy on Flickr.

I managed to get more of my pieces in the first dye bath this year. I am SO pleased with the results! (I'm wondering how much this has to do with the fact that I used bleached muslin this time...what do you think?)

There were old favorites and a new edition in our color selections this time. We added Jeans Blue to the mix, as well as a combination of Sunflower Yellow and "The Green that No One Likes". You can see that they both turned out brilliantly!

China Blue is seen here (top row, right). I bet you can't guess how many dye baths that one went through...

The answer is THREE!!!

Can you imagine?! Three dye baths (including the first run) and it STILL came out mostly pale. I'm thinking that it will make a nice "sky" fabric.

You can also see an example of layered colors. I can't recall the order (or the method), but the pink/yellow/orange-with-a- hint-of-green-around-the-edges fabric was submersed in multiple dye pots. It feels the most like a "traditional tie-dye" that I have ever done.

Also in the dye pot was a couple of previously-dyed T-shirts that were somewhat less than successful. I haven't managed to get them through the wash and will take photos once that takes place. However, you can see a hint of them in the other photo shown on my Flickr page.

Please consider this activity for your local quilt group. It is SEW much fun!!!  I'm already looking forward to next year!  Perhaps, a gradation series is in order using multiple pieces in one pot with varying times for removal.  Could be interesting...

Patriotic Improv Jacket

Patriotic Improv Jacket, a photo by basketcasejoy on Flickr.

Look! I just finished sewing the binding on my Patriotic Jacket. I can hardly believe that I got it done in time for Memorial day!  (Please note that the resident photographer was unavailable for the "photo shoot.")

This is another season in my Improv Jacket Series.  It features sample blocks, specifically made in patriotic colors, and random bits of red, white, & blue leftovers from the Quilts Of Valor that I have made over the years, to create this one-of-a-kind quilted garment.  The jacket also serves as a showcase of quilting patterns available to those who receive works made by me.

I tried a couple of new-to-me techniques on this jacket.  I included 3-D piecing taught by NeedleB and used a bit of McTavishing as part of the quilting design.  These techniques were incorporated, along with my tried-and-true "old favorites" like Loops & Swirls, various sizes of meandering stitches, and using words as part of the quilting design.

Happy Memorial Day (weekend)!  Please remember those who have served our country and lost their lives in the process.  I hope your weekend includes a bit of "pieceful" sewing time, as well.  I know I'll be heading up to the studio to get to work on another project.

Enjoy!

3rd Annual NT Dye Workshop

This past Saturday was a day that I've looked forward to all year!  It was my quilt bee's annual Dye Workshop. We had THE most beautiful weather and great fun was had by all.

I took a piece of bleached muslin (*washed* just that morning).  This was divided into 6 equal pieces and I applied several different techniques.  A couple of T-shirts that were dyed last year also went into the dye bath.  Less than pleased with the results, I decided to give them another "bath."

Just WAIT til you see the results!!!

(Photos can be found in the following post:  http://thejoyfulquilter.blogspot.com/2012/05/dye-frenzy-2012-results.html)

Purple & Green Coins

Purple & Green Coins, a photo by basketcasejoy on Flickr.

Hooray!!! I completed ANOTHER quilt for the. Spring 2012 UFO Club. This is my 2nd finish and I couldn't be more pleased.

It began as a stack of fabric that I wanted to "do something with" and took the shape of a Coin Quilt (a pattern of my "list of quilts to make" for many years) after my good friend, NeedleB, completed a Coin Quilt top in purple and yellow.

I cut the remaining strips (some had been cut earlier) and they sat on a studio shelf for more than a year. Once I began to sew, the "columns" were completed in no time. However, those completed "columns" sat around my studio for many months before inspiration struck again!

Enter a January 2012 Sew Day....

The previously sewn quilt top, minus the borders came with me. But a completed quilt went home with me!

What happened next?

Why, MORE time went by, of course. Even though the quilt top was completed, MORE time passed because I couldn't decide how or WHO should quilt the quilt!

With that question answered, Suzan de Serres of Singing Stiches quilted the quilt. I determined that I wasn't in the mood to wrestle a quilt of this size.  That brought us to March.  The one month turnaround time brought us to April.

Can you guess what happened next???

You're right!!! I couldn't WAIT to have the quilt done, so I started on the binding right away. NOT!!! (But only a short period of time passed before I got the binding made and applied.)

I'm happy to have this 60" X 92" quilt completed. It may even be cool enough tonight to snuggle up with this UFO No More!

Fiesta Cinco de Mayo, Ole'!!!

I am happy to report that I am putting the final stitches on my Alibi Shawl by Threebagsfulled.  Hilary is an amazing designer!  She creates knit patterns that even I can follow.  You can find her on Ravelry.com (and you'll find me there, too.)

Photo to follow...

Liebster Love Awarded

Last week, I received the following comment here on my blog:

Hi, I was sent the Liebster blog award earlier this week, and I would like to pass it on to you! There are details at my blog at http://beautyinthelonely.blogspot.co.uk/
You make beautiful quilts and as someone who is new to quilting I find your blog an inspiration!

All the best,

Cathy xx


 


Here is an excerpt from Cathy's blog, Beautiy InTheLonely, at http://beautyinthelonely.blogspot.co.uk/:


"Rachel-Lou of MadeWithWhimsy very kindly awarded me a Liebster Blog award.  This is sort of like a blog equivalent of Herman the German Friendship cake.  What you do is:
1. Thank your Liebster Blog Award presenter on your blog.
2. Link back to the blogger who presented the award to you.
3. Copy and paste the blog award on your blog.
4. Present the Liebster Blog Award to 5 blogs of 200 followers or less who you feel deserve to be noticed (see below.)
5. Let them know they have been chosen by leaving a comment at their blog."

Thank you for the recognition, Cathy!  I appreciate this honor.

Here are my 5 blog choices, in random order:
1. Monsoon Calamity at http://www.monsooncalamity.blogspot.com/
2. Silly Ewe at http://www.unraveledagain.blogspot.com/
3. Rona at http://genuinelyrona.blogspot.com/
4. Liddy at http://www.liddyscreativeplayground.blogspot.com/
5. Just Jenn at http://quiddity-quilts.blogspot.com/p/ufos.html

Go have a look!

These bloggers are all members of one quilting forum or another over on Ravelry.com, where I hang out a good bit of the time.  Monsoon Calamity has an interesting technique for "binding" quilts, Silly Ewe makes some absolutely incredible quilts, Rona is determined to finish up her UFOs,and  Liddy believes that "she who dies with the MOST projects wins"

Jenn holds a special place in my heart and without her, I might not be here on Blogger right now.  She was my "partner in crime" when the UFO Club began over on the Quilters Knitting group at Ravelry.com.  Her encouragement prompted me to start this blog.  (Plus, I love almost EVERY quilt she makes!)

Until next time...
Happy Quilting!