Strata Progress

Here's where I last stopped in the strata story:

I continued to cut and sew, cut and sew, finally laying my blocks out in no particular order.  (Most blocks contain six different fabrics.)

Many layouts were possible.  I settled on a "barn raising" setting.

That was just a tiny bit boring.  It would be more interesting if it was asymmetrical.  So, I went back to work and made more blocks.  I just finished sewing the blocks and rows together.   

All that's left is the quilting.  This piece does not need a border.  For now, I'll just look at it hanging on the wall.  Another quilt needs quilting attention today ...

Curves and more Curves

Sorry that I didn't show any of my own work in the last post.  Here are a few of the fabrics I chose for my Strata Quilt:

Most of the fabrics come from a collection called Tuscan Breeze by P&B Textiles.

Here are some of my blocks in progress.  There are many more curves to cut and sew before I think about putting anything together.

Fun With Scott Murkin

I attended a quilt workshop with Scott Murkin a couple of years ago and saw what a good and enthusiastic teacher he is.  I couldn't wait to sign up when I hear that he was coming back to little old Washington, NC.  The subject was "Strata Quilts".

Early birds getting set up and plugged in.

Close-up of one of Scott's strata quilts.

You start with squares.  These were Diane's my table mate.

And here's what she had mid-way through class.

The more slicing and sewing you do, the more interesting the blocks become.

Scott explaining one of the first steps.

More cutting, more sewing.

We left after seeing a multitude of ideas for using our finished blocks.  It was great fun!  Now I just have to find some TIME!!!

You knew it had to happen!

 I LOVE SELVAGES! 

 So naturally, I had to try out some selvage birds!

I had one block left from the bright batik birds project, so I made a word to go along (another fun thing to do, see Tonya Ricucci's book Word Play Quilts.) 

Then I tried some LITTLE BIRDS.  It's coming together, but I think I'll have to let it simmer for a while. 

Some of my friends answered the call for dog and cat tags.  Why do I want them???  They make fun earrings, light-weight and conversation starters!!

Yes, I admit it, I haven't been able to settle down and work on any one thing too long.  But, remember the pile of green fabric from a couple of days ago?

It has become Kwik Scrappy Log Cabin blocks.  (Yes, I carry these patterns in the store).  Karie of Two Kwik Quilters has devised a wonderful system for piecing twelve blocks QUICKLY.  I've just come up with the layout I like, you see the numbered stickers still on the centers of the blocks.  I am making up kits to take to the quilt shows this season also. 

Thank you, Svetlana

ALWAYS give credit where credit is due.  I found the pattern for a darling little drawstring bag on Svetlana's blog "S.O.T.A.K. Handmade".  Her tutorial was very clear and the resulting bags (fully lined) made me happy.  Here's my first, made from leftovers from a recent project.

Here's the second one, looking ahead to Easter.

And here is #3, is it ever too early to start on Christmas?

Recently I made a couple examples of the "Prairie Point Pincushion".  It is from the commercial pattern from The Teacher's Pet.

I also added buttons to the little runner I just finished.

Now it's time to think about a bigger project.  Here is just a tease ...

Notice that in front of the nice stack of cut fabric is another stack .... the selvages trimmed in the process that I couldn't throw away.  Seed for yet another project!

Runner Update

Just a quick post this morning.  Here's the table runner, quilted and bound.

Here's the wacky back.

You may see this runner one more time.  I really think that some little navy blue buttons would add something.

Now it's time for making a new store sample.  I'm going to revisit one of my old favorites, Kwik Scrappy Log Cabin by Two Kwik Quilters.  Stay tuned. 

Finishing Up UFO's

Back on March 19, I showed you a little puppy block that almost hit the trash can.  Instead, I finished the buttonhole stitch around the shape and came up with the plan to make a pillow.

THEN:

NOW:

In yet ANOTHER salvage operation, I came across a partially finished table runner.  The whole point of the class was to show how to set blocks on point. I hadn't been too picky when I grabbed the fabrics to make the blocks.  Kind of wacky colors?  I had to strain to find a border fabric, but finally did so.

Thank goodness I had just enough of the leftover purple fabric for the binding!

It's been stipple-quilted and I'll give you another glimpse when the binding is on.  I'll also show you the crazy back!

The Details Make the Difference

In the last post, I showed a little UFO that I had recently unearthed.  It was the partially finished sample from a reverse applique class.  It was a simple flower shape with stem and leaves.  After I finished the flower, it looked a bit plain, so I added the orange layer and reverse appliqued a border.

Here's the finished applique:

Now it needed a bit of quilting.  I chose navy blue pearl cotton and did some echo quilting in big stitch.

With binding on, I couldn't resist adding some buttons in the corners just for fun.  Don't all of the details add something?  And now it's not just a rag folded up in a box!

Sampler Quilts

My birds are temporarily on hold.  I'm getting ready to start a new beginner's class tomorrow.  Yesterday, some of the members of the last class gathered to show off their sampler quilts.

Dianne W. was a little camera shy.  Isn't her quilt top wonderful?

Diane A. is finished except for the binding!

Look what she did on the back!

Joan's is hand quilted and completely finished.

I was looking for something today that I never found, but I found a little UFO that I can finish quickly.  It's a left-over from a reverse applique class.  I finished the flower this afternoon, but it looked a little plain, so I added another layer so it will have a border.  Only about 11" x 14", it shouldn't take long.  Then I will only have 9999 UFO's left to go!