Just a Quick "Hello"

The second birds quilt is finished.

I made more fabric boxes.

I need to find a new, larger project to get going on.  It might be a "Jewel Box Quilt", which is the pattern I am teaching to the next beginner's class.  I have one that I pieced and hand quilted YEARS ago but I think I need a new, updated version.  I always end up starting another when I demonstrate anyway.  Hmmm.  I'll think about fabric choices and color schemes .....

Little Projects

I'm working on the binding of the second birds quilt - it will soon be ready for viewing.  I've also been distracted by an assortment of little projects.

I'm going to meet the 2-month-old grandson of some friends next Saturday and wouldn't want to arrive empty handed, so I made a whimsy ball.  There's a commercial pattern by another name, but this is a public domain type thing. They've been around for years.  When I first learned how, the lady who taught me drew the pattern pieces out on cardboard.  Anyway, here's my gift for little Tristan:

Here's a little fabric box that I made with instructions from the blog Seaside Stitches.  Fun, I've made several, and I'm going to show some of my friends how to make them, too.  I also have an idea for a denim version.

I've been learning some things about jewelry making with wire.  These are a few of my practice pieces, in a variety of gauges.

After more practice, I made these links with beads and I think I've got the start of a bracelet!

Catching Up

So here I am, catching up again.  I see that the last post was done over a week ago.  Sorry!

I have not been idle.  I quilted the second, brighter BIRDS quilt.  That's my choice for binding on the side.  It will be finished soon.

Last weekend, I taught a couple girls how to make the itty bitty project "Tiny Treat Bags".  They really are tiny - you start with charm squares!  The pattern is from Buttons & Bees.

Kathy quilted my Pagodas wall hanging and I finished the hand stitching on the binding just last night.  Pagodas is a great Maple Island Quilts pattern and this is the second time I've used it.

Now I'm trying to come up with a simple idea for this tropical group of fabric. It would be nice if I could get it figured out by the end of the month, when I go to the big quilt show in Wilmington, NC!!

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.