Yes, I Can Make Quilts Bigger

I am back at the keyboard. I spent several years mending and finishing vintage quilts for my etsy business. It may sound strange, but I got an ego boost from the compliments I received for my work. I have always struggled with the inner critic and lack of self esteem for my work. When I repaired old quilts and was told how I had made them cry with joy, or worked miracles, I felt good about myself. Some of the quilts were fabulous. But some were really bad, and needed to be tossed. After some struggles I decided to retire from that work and spend all my time creating my own epic stuff. I had to turn one person away since then, and turns out saying NO isn't so hard after all. A year ago I did a job that seemed impossible. I made a nice quilt bigger. Here is the before:

I was sent a nice full sized quilt, well made with quality fabrics. Nicely machine quilted, well bound. She wanted it to be about 12 inches bigger on each side. So. First I took the binding off. I bought some lovely batik to quilt and attach. I did Free Motion Quilting (FMQ)which I found tedious. My cat helped.

Then I used home made batik bias tape to attach the layers. I sewed the back layers together first. I used a coordinating color.I used quilt as you go techniques.

I continued to get help from my cat.

Then I pressed the bias strips and sewed them down on the front. I chose pink because that was an accent on the main quilt.

Here is the front after I finished. I chose to do machine binding.

And here is the after, cat included. The review was glowing and I think you can see why my ego was fed. "Jane’s work was perfect. She took the quilt my friend made and extended it so it would fit on my bed. It now looks like it was designed that way from the start. I attach a photo from the day it arrived when I immediately threw it on my bed, replaced my cat’s bed, and the cat approved the change. I think you can see the quality of Jane’s work."

Who Needs to Practice?

I recently bought a Grace long arm quilt frame that works with my domestic machine, a Brother PS 1500. It is a very slightly used model and I got it for a good price. I think it is going to be a great adventure. I see LOTS of practice in my future. I had help from Mr. Thimblepie setting it up in my quilt studio. He corrected a few gaffs that the prior owner had made in building it, ie., he turned the leg segments around to make the feet face out correctly, and adjusted bolts on the take up bars. He even leveled it for me. Ok ok, now let me get to it!!

I loaded a quilt top, batting, and backing onto the frame while referring to several tutorials and the printed directions. Not as straight forward as it would seem. Undeterred, and with all the courage I could muster, I started sewing and turned up the speed. Having some practice at my sister's studio on her long arm (Stretch) I felt very capable until I took the first stitches. Ha ha, not so fast. Some of the best advice I got besides practice was to start on something plain rather than a lovely quilt top. Does that sound like yours truly? phhhh I decided to start with an ancient UFO that is nice but not a favorite, and is relatively small so I can finish it sooner rather than later. I chose thread that blends. I chose a pattern that is my go to free motion style, the wave. After all, why can't quilting a quilt be the same as practicing? I foresee some unsewing and finishing quilting it off the long arm, on my domestic machine. I have a life long history of persevering when it comes to skills I want to have. I am happy.

Keep it Simple

   I have connected with my youngest cousin, Hope, who had a new baby and received a baby quilt from me that I blogged about in May. When she talked about going to her mom's house for Thanksgiving last month along with 28 other close relatives, I learned that her mom has dishes like our Grandma, the lovely Franciscan Ware Dessert Rose pattern. I thought a table runner to highlight the dishes would be so sweet. The next best thing to being there is to make a quilted table runner.

    I saw a table runner pattern on social media and went down the rabbit hole. The pattern uses the mini QCR (quick curve ruler.)  The mini runner calls for 2 fat quarters and one half yard background and  is supposed to be 14" x 35". Simple. Easy. I didn't even need to go to the fabric store.

   But!! For a Thanksgiving dinner, wouldn't my aunt need a long table runner? Wouldn't a short one look dumb? So I figured 14" x 46" would be better. I love that the mini QCR uses charm squares, the 5 inch precuts. although I cut my own, it sounds so sweet and simple. So, first I matched fabric colors with the computer screen. Reminded myself that I don't do matchy-matchy and slight differences look better. Inner Critic making noises. I had some Jinny Beyer green that appealed to my wild taste and some peachy apple blossom.

   Then, choosing the backing. I thought a waffle cloth piece would add sturdiness. It had to be pieced to fit, but I had just enough. I was hurrying to finish in time and did a simple arced FMQ pattern. I feared that the green fabric was bleeding, but turned out to be not the case. A quick wash with synthropol, and toss in the dryer actually perked it up. My inner critic kept chewing at my heel, and I'd think, well, it will work to hold the turkey. 

14" x 46"

It looks like the Oregon State University O.  Whatever. Here is the lovely finish on the big day:

 BTW, My aunt Jackie was thrilled, and called me to say so.  Me: 1, Inner Critic:0.   .

Sticky Mess

I entered a giveaway offered by Laura of slice of pi quilts and won a package of quilting templates designed by urban elementz. Laura included a note and asked me to let her know what I thought about the tear-away pantograph paper. Well... since you asked...

The directions said to use spray adhesive such as 505. I had a little bit left in a can, so perfect. The tissue paper was the right length, it fit my project perfectly, and I used up the last of the spray to adhere the paper to the quilt. I didn't want it to slip around and get weird. My little quilt is 31" x 47." I used iron adhesive batting as well, so that I wouldn't have pins under the tissue paper. It quilted quickly, in less than 30 minutes. I got to practice my FMQ, which was a little trickier than I thought it would be. The pantograph kept me from spiraling into smaller curls. I recall looking at this when I entered the giveaway, thinking "well that looks easy. Who needs a pattern?" I'll tell you who: people who don't practice their FMQ.

So, next the directions said, "once quilted, rip the tear away sheets off the quilt. Note: use tweezers to remove any small bits of tear away paper that might be left under stitches."

I used my seam ripper and found it helped with slicing the paper inside the loops. There was very little ripping of tissue paper because it was stuck to the fabric very well. It took me over 3 hours to remove all of the paper in a very tedious process. I tried using tweezers and my finger nail to remove small bits of paper, but was worried that I'd disturb stitches. Side note: the fabric was sticky! Well, duh.

The paper was sticky. My hands were sticky. The whole process was sticky. It didn't want to let go into the garbage can. By the end of this process I was a teensy bit tense. I figured that I would rinse the quilt and the rest of the tissue paper under threads would dissolve. Wrong. And, the fabric was still just as sticky. So against my better judgement and usual practice for a quilt made from vintage blocks, I used spray wash all over the quilt and washed it again with detergent. Twice. Finally it was not sticky. But the tissue paper was still hanging under threads like Al Gore's chad's in Florida election booths. So I finished picking out the tissue with tweezers as I thought about how to do this differently next time.

My sister Pam, who does custom long arm quilting entirely FMQ said just practice and toss the templates. Sure, but I wanted to try this product. So other than practicing, which is for losers, I thought of using dressmaker's carbon and a tracing wheel. The templates could be reused that way, as well. The quilt would still need to be washed.

The little blocks that had seemed dingy and boring really sparkled after the triple washing. Major bonus. And the quilting, very different for me, was a nice amount for this little baby quilt.

 I used lilac and orange for the flanged binding.

Here is the backing, repro vintage red and white. And my little label with my thimble insignia.

This is one of the finishes for /finish-along-2018-round-2. It will be gifted to a niece who is expecting a baby girl in July.

Leaning in for the First Kiss

   I wrote my annual New Year's Resolutions which included "to NOT start any new projects." Those of you who are creative types will get that one, the fun, the joy of leaning in for the first kiss of a new project. Finishing just isn't the climax we dream of. It is usually more like a sigh of exhaustion. There, the baby fell asleep after crying all frickin' afternoon and evening.
   So, completing my UFOs has been more of shushing the fussy babe, mixed in with "WTF was I thinking when I started this? " As I worked through the projects, I noticed an inner shift. Looking procrastination right in the eyes and winning a staring contest. Small quilt projects only take a day or two to sew, quilt and bind. Even when they need remedial design help they don't take too long.
   Here are some lovelies that had been collecting trolls (as they say in Norway, translation: collecting dust.)

Little Butterflies

quilting detail, batik cording inner border

Scrappy Trip Around the World

I like the curry colored inner border. It brings out the other colors.

Backing of the trip; Japan prints, Kitty-San and Butterflies of Kobe by Alexander Henry, and Kaffe chrysanthemums

Lots of straight line quilting was perfect for this modern baby quilt.

The backing flannel is just right, as is the striped bias binding from my sister Pam, and my little tag with a thimble.

"Nacho Pussy" quilt. 

   It is hard to stay out of the spitting contest on social media when it comes to politics. Such extremes are a phenomenon. The day after the Inauguration, there was a huge protest march that took place on all 7 continents. Estimates gauge the attendance at over 5 Million. The common attire was "pink pussy" hats, to protest the president's comment about his ability to grab pussies. Since I had my own personal tiff with Mr. Thimblepie about the march here at home, I decided in time honored quilter's style, to put my political opinion on a quilt.  The result is "Nacho Pussy." What flavor is my pussy? Nacho. It's Nacho Pussy.

5 yr old UFO remade into Cobblestones, with elephant flannel back. Kaffe stripes.

I took myself on an artist's date to McCall to see the snow sculptures and to buy some new fabric. It was a lovely sunny winter day.The sculptures were pristine, and huge snow berms were everywhere. I stopped at Huckleberry Patches to pick up a flannel charm pack I'd won in a drawing and to buy 5 different yards of solids for new, modern projects and to sparkle up my UFOs.
   It looks like my resolution is to lean in for more kisses rather than shush the baby.

It's All About the Quilts

  Every year end I write up my goals, resolutions, and dreams for the coming year. As I was pondering this stint, I found a link up with rewards by Yvonne of QuiltingJetGirl. A good omen if I ever saw one! I spent a day ruminating on my goals, not the dreary "lose 10 pounds" kind, but the fun ones, because we know it's all about the quilts.

My not so secret to personal growth as a quilt artist is writing the Daily Pages, ala The Artist's Way. The link is actually to a woman who inspired me to give it a go, someone who found her success through the process. So my first goal is to continue writing the daily morning pages. It cleans the brain gears. It sweeps away the dust bunnies. It tortures the Inner Critic into a whimpering mass of jello. It opens the gates to creation.

Creation is fun.

My next goal is a yearly hope for almost every quilter and creator: to NOT start new projects.  I have whittled down my stack of UFOs, but there are still a whole bunch. One blogger said she would let herself start a new project for every 3 she finished. Maybe it is more realistic to go 1 for 1. If I get a big inspiration how can I not start a new project? It is more about progress than perfection, folks.

Another UFO, DONE!! 

This is a 14 x 24 Tlinget Button Blanket art piece. My inspiration came from the logo of a soul catcher, a symbol for physical and spiritual well being. It was originally created for the U W School of Public Health by Marvin Oliver. I adapted it in colors I love, hand appliqued, machine quilted, and embellished it with antique mother of pearl shank buttons. It is a graduation gift for my daughter, Diane Jensen Donald.  I called Lisa at Huckleberry Patches to brainstorm about the best way to hang this pushme-pullyou. We thought framing, so I called Nels Jensen at Picture This, and made a plan. I will mail this wrapped around a tube and inside a priority mailing tube to him to frame. He told me he is booked 3 weeks into January, and of course I need it today, December 17th, so I replied that my daughter Diane is used to being disappointed. 

So, since I finished this one, do I get to start a new one? 

I have had a goal to write pdf patterns and sell them in my etsy shop. I even bought the Adobe update pdf tool this year, and had a fine tutorial by Diane on using it. Well, I need a refresher course. But I have at least one design, Superhero Undies, that I want to get drawn up. I found this poster on etsy, and wrote to the artist several times with no response. If I give him credit in the pattern, maybe he won't come after me with his copywrite infringement superpower and slap my hands. I have a secret wish to try EQ7. Or maybe that is complicating things? 

Triangles and a couple of appliques. 

I have been working on my FMQ (free motion quilting.) A goal that needs to stay as loose as my shoulders is to practice my FMQ. I find it more useful to just practice on my real projects, rather than mess around with scraps and toss things in the garbage. I will post a photo after Christmas of a project waiting to be quilted this weekend. I need to restate a personal skill I have. When I FMQ, as my hands move the fabric around under the needle, my tongue sticks out and moves in unison with my hands. This is a natural talent, not something I had to learn. I will see about posting a video of this amazing feat.

Of course I will continue with my usual yearly goals, go to yoga 3 days a week, eat healthy, smile lots, connect with others more, comment on every blog I read, and keep sewing every day.

Hold 'Em or Fold 'Em

March appears to be going out like a lion here in the Seven Devil Mountains of Central Idaho. My log cabin home is shrouded in clouds and the snow line is just above us. I am going to cover the flowering apricot tree tonight since the forecast is high 20's.

Chai waits for a junco to land. 

I have been working on my Ugly Christmas Sweaters as promised, and have proof of my progress. I am having a blast with this pattern and my Christmas/Holiday scraps. I have seven completed sweaters and five in the works. The pattern can be found on Sew Fresh Quilts, under the quilt-along tab. Theirs are made with tropical solids. I have halfheartedly attempted to choose prints that are low volume. In this photo they seem to work. Yay!

Abby has a round butt. 

My Stash Bee block exchange month is March, and it is more fun than a rodeo clown in a barrel. I picked the pattern Cowhands, designed by Pam Rocco for June 2014 Quilter's Newsletter Magazine. She adapted the cowboys from the traditional tin man block. Then she made a cow block. The creativity and generosity of my fellow quilters is over the moon. One gal is even sending a purple cow block!

I never saw a Purple Cow,
I never hope to see one;
But I can tell you, anyhow,
I'd rather see than be one.

That was written in 1895 by Gelette Burgess and has been favored by lots of silly people ever since. So far I have a dozen cowboys and two cows, and I have also got a cowgirl block coming. Here is a layout of the blocks so far. My new pal, Susan sent a fun print of a cow and calf that looks to be from a feed sack. It might go on the back, where I like to piece the rest of a quilt's story. 

On my queen sized bed. Quite a posse! 

I will have a good time with some free motion quilting on this bunch of cowhands. Happy Trails.

I Heart February

February is the month of paradoxes. Groundhog day silliness. Signs of spring. Slushy icy on Payette Lake. Gorgeous seed catalogs and dreams of gardens. Mud. Days getting longer. Teaser warm days followed by surprise snow storms. Cold winds.  Lots of time in the sewing studio. Relaxed resolutions and lots of new project starts.

I pieced my wonky churn dash quilt top. The blocks were gifts from my stash bee honeys. I chose the pattern and colors, they sent me the blocks. I love the coral border. It is  "Charlevoix = Summer...Beach...Rural Americana 1910-1935 By Minick and Simpson for Moda." The surprise was how many of the blocks contain my favorite fabrics, prints I assumed were obscure. This is a quilt top I am finishing for myself.

In other cheerful news, I have started making myself a Christmas quilt. The color challenge is red and black, a combination I have never cared for. I am making ugly sweater quilt blocks, in a quilt along offered by Sew Fresh Quilts.

I am falling in love with the color combination. There are going to be 20 different ugly sweaters in all. Each sweater will have a different quilt block in the center. Two blocks a week, stay tuned for more homeliness.

The next photo is a lovely tiny quilt I finished for a friend who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. My intention is to send her love and happiness, which I believe is the secret to healing energy. Pineapples are the symbol of hospitality and welcome. I did a lot of Free Motion Quilting (FMQ) and was pleased with the results. Yay for my new Brother sewing machine. The binding is striped Kaffe.

The tiny disc says, "handmade." 

Now I return to my secret Valentine sewing.... do you heart February?