Monday, February 29, 2016

Progress

My husband thought that viewers of this blog might like to see the progress and process of making this quilt.To that end he will be taking photos to document what is going on with the quilt top. Below are the first week's photos, more or less day by day.







It is easy to see that embroidery will enhance this top when the applique is done. I don't usually work on a whole top but since this project is primarily in the corners, I had to change my usual practice.

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Order Out Of Chaos--Keeping My Fingers Crossed

My husband took this picture without my approval since he found the process so interesting. I have so much fabric that I like to take out the prospective pieces while I am making the multi-layer applique. So here is what the new project looks like right now.

I draw out my designs on large sheets of paper, then make freezer paper templates for everything, then pick out the fabrics and lay out the design. Then if it seems that color adjustment is necessary, I have other choices waiting in the wings.

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Basket Quilt Finished

I spent yesterday finishing the binding and the hanging sleeve. Given that this only took a month I think it looks great, cheerful and happy.

It hangs very straight, something that is not immediately apparent since my husband used the alligator clamps in only four places to position it on the wall for a photo. I have liked this quilt for more than twenty years in its original state so I thought it was probably time I made my own. That's what getting older does for you--you think about the things you haven't done more  than when you are young. At least that's what I do.

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Applying the Binding (Updated)

I am sewing the binding on A Tisket, A Tasket so for sure I will be done some time tomorrow. I have the hanging sleeve sewn together and ready to put on. I still have to make a label but some time tomorrow the quilt will be blocking and drying on the dog bed. I need a cheerful boost right now since our air is so bad that we aren't supposed to exercise outside and we can't see our 9000 foot (3000 meter) mountains.

My next project will be loosely based on Ted Storm's ElaTed quilt as well as on some china that we saw in Bordeaux last fall. If you haven't seen the quilt from the well-known Dutch quilter, you should check her work out on Google. Anyway I think it will be interesting to go back to very elaborate applique. I can hardly wait until I start the whole design and drawing process. I have no idea when I will be sewing.

Update: I did finish the quilt today except for the label but I don't have a picture. Come back tomorrow.

Monday, February 8, 2016

City Quilter and the Big Apple

My husband and I just returned from a long weekend in NYC. Yesterday was our 46th wedding anniversary and we got married in New York plus there are several restaurants that are always on our "gotta go back" list so we had four days there. We saw the new Whitney museum and the Frank Stella retrospective that just ended. Both were marvelous. We also went to the Tenement Museum and took two of their educational tours. I found out after we got back to our room that my grandfather might have even lived in the museum building and certainly lived in the immediate area because his very first job, at 13, was as an apprentice at the Brewster Carriage Company whose building is only a couple of blocks away.

I did go to City Quilter too. My husband, of course, went with me. All the ladies were amazed that he had come with me but he is my biggest fan. He even picked out a fabric that he liked. What a wonderful spot in the middle of the big city. Nice people and a fabulous selection of fabrics and notions. They do have an online presence as well and some of their fabrics are unusual enough that one just doesn't see them everywhere. So check them out at www.cityquilter.com.