Author: Texas Quilter

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The Long Awaited Nesting

Good Afternoon from “no rain event” LV. SA may be getting rain but not here!

I have finally finished the blocks for Nesting!!! SHOCK!

Next step is to add the border and that means more applique. This will be the first time I will be doing an appliqued Border.  So tomorrow I will read the directions, cut the border strips and then prepare the applique and stems.

Have a great day. This is Day 1 delay on roof project due to RAIN?

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York Lodge – A New Project

Greetings from South Texas where now that we have a scheduled date of tomorrow to have 2 new roofs installed, the weather forecast says that we have high chances of rain all week.  Go figure!

I have not worked on any hand projects for the last 2 weeks – I had a pinched nerve that took a few days out of my life, then stupid Unforeseen Requirements (UFR’s) happened.  But through that I have been working on a new quilt and a technique that I had never done before.  I have been wanting a challenge and this was a big one!

Here is the book where I found the pattern:

The York Lodge Quilt:

I have the perfect fabric for this quilt and will change the fabric placement for all blocks.   The block is made with 1 1/2” strips and then sewing 4 different strip sets together.  Then cut them on a  45 degree at 1 1/2” strips – attention has to be paid to this cut or it is hair pulling time – which is why color placement is critical. This is definitely not for the faint of heart quilter as it takes 100% precision!  As I made my practice block to see if I really wanted to do this quilt, I learned where I would have problems if I did not take my time.  There are 30 blocks in this quilt and I will not be making all 30 at one time.  It is just too taxing to work on it from start to finish each without stressing myself to the maximum!

My friend Gretchen gave me some valuable guidance on this project and that was to make a goal of making a block a week.  Before I finished my practice block (which took about 5 days (not full-time) I almost gave up on making the quilt.  One thing I figured out (Duh) was that each EACH seam has to be pressed open – no exceptions!

Now I feel so much more confident about the block and I know how much time is needed to achieve the desired result, I am going to begin my making either 1 or 2 blocks a week, or one block every other day.  Then I will not suffer burnout.   The other days will be devoted to other ongoing UFO’s.

Most magazines and books like Quiltmania ASSUME that the quilter knows all there is about quilting techniques.  This particular quilt is marked as Intermediate.  I do believe that this is an Advanced quilt, based on the precision that it requires for each strip piece, 45 degree cuts, pressing seams flat on EVERYTHING, and matching points precisely.  No room for errors or points not matching!  Ah my kind of “blowing the mind” time.

This is my practice block.  The beige HST corners should be the same color as the crackle fabric, but I grabbed scraps for this one.  There are a few slips in this one but I let them go.  This block requires working with bias – no fun there – and care has to be taken when sewing the stars strips together.   It is imperative to have that 1/4” when adding the corner HSTs and the other 4 points or the effect of the star will be lost!

These are the fabrics that I will be using.  I had originally thought I would use them in Star Dancing, but have decided to go with batiks on that quilt.

I have some beautiful White P&B fabric called Grace II that I will use as a background.  I do feel that the white will not overwhelm the quilt if it does then I will go to a light beige.  The secret is going to be sure that the fabric is matched closely by thread count or there will be Heck to pay!  Each block will be made with the same color – not like the pattern.  There will be 2 each of the above colors!

I would love to have this one completed before Fall and if it turns out I will enter in the SA show next year. (Crossed fingers)

I am almost through with Nesting – a little embroidery on 2 blocks, and one more Blue Bird to applique.  I am thinking that I can work on piecing one day and my hand work another day, but must be careful to not overwork my hands!

I have an update on one of the quilt tops I gave to my cousin Susan.  This was my RSC 2017 Challenge quilt.  She is a very talented seamstress and here is how she finished the quilt!  So creative!  Beautiful job Susan!  She added the crosses in the middle of each block!  This is a graduation present to Susan’s niece and my cousin Kay’s grand daughter who just graduated from high school!

Happy Father’s Day to all the quilter’s husbands and enjoy quilting!

Nanette

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Awakening Hearts!

Good afternoon from lovely Desert South Texas – Yup reaching 100 out here in the sticks!  I have completed my SAL Hearts for May project that Deb at Happy To Be Scrappy hosted last month!  I am very pleased with the outcome!  I named it Awakening Hearts because it turned on the light bulb in my mind why I was not progressing with UFO’s!  I can already see the difference in not spending so much time on mail!

Enjoy!

This was an easy quilt to make but adding up the time to applique the hearts (including preparation time) 15.5 hours to applique the hearts, cutting out 270 (2 1/8″ squares) for the 9 patches (some fussy cut), sewing them (10 hours) and sewing the quilt together 6 hours (including borders).  Total amount of time to make this quilt top was 31.5 hours.  I usually do not count the hours it takes to make a quilt so you can imagine the hours that it takes to make a very complex quilt!

I enjoyed the journey!   Mountmellick is next – hoping to see you soon when there is a finish!

Have a wonderful week!

Nanette

My Quilt Infatuation; Confessions of a Fabric Addict; Finished or Not Friday ; Sew Can She; Em’s Scrap Bag; BOM’s Away; Fiber Tuesday;   Esther’s Wednesday WOW; Sew, Stitch, Snap, SHOW; Sew Fresh Quilts; Crazy Mom Quilts;  Oh Scrap; Scrap Happy Saturday; Show and Tell Monday with Bambi;

 

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HQAL, Hearts, and No More Goals

Good morning all from lovely 100+ South Texas for the last 14 days!  I am just loving the fact that when I go outside (even at 6:30 AM) to walk I may as well take a hose and wet myself down after that walk!  I guess we are in for 3 or 4 months of this, unless the weather pattern is so messed up that it will be cool in August – What a dreamer I am!

I have tried the last 2 years to make monthly or annual goals in order to catch up on my UFO’s from the last 3 years.  This is just not working for me.  I find that I spend more time doing posts, keeping track, feeling like I am still working, etc.  I do enjoy posting when I have something to show.  Pre-2014 I always started one project and then on to another one, but somehow I have become distracted.  Now there are reasons for the last year, but that year is over with now and I must start to enjoy my passion, or I will give it up.

Deb started a Heart SAL for May and I enjoyed it for 2 weeks, then it became a “have to”, and I could see that it would be the last time I would commit to something like this.  Another thing that made me realize that sometimes, life gets in the way, and days that are planned are just not turning out that way and I do not like to feel guilty if I have not accomplished the plan!!!

For the next 6 months I will continue to Blog but only when I have either finished a project, or achieved something to a point where there is value there.  I love the linky sites where we all are able to link up and have other quilters see our work.  This is the fun part!  But again, I am beginning to see that the Blogging is really eating up my time where I could be quilting.  I will keep up with HQAL because I do a lot of needle turn applique, but Lordy I MUST quit downloading and downloading BOMs and BOWs that I will never ever make!  I also enjoy RSC Challenges so I will continue on with that monthly project.  It is so tempting to do this when we see a project like that available for free!  I have some wonderful patterns that are complex in nature and if I want to make these quilts I cannot keep switching back and forth to different quilt projects.  I like to reserve my evenings for hand work and day time for piecing!

I love reading the progress that others are making and like to comment it is a way for me to keep abreast of what is going on in the quilting world.  The last 2 weeks has taken up my quilting time in obtaining estimates for new roof’s for our Studio and House, and that kept me from even thinking about sewing, hand applique, or hand quilting!  It was during this time that emails backed up that I decided I just had to skip this last week and not take the time to read them all!  I found I was feeling guilty because I did not leave a comment.  Comments of compliments and encouragement are so wonderful to receive from our peers.  Friday morning we finally found a wonderful contractor and negotiated a good price for the Standing Seam roofs.  This took a tremendous load off our shoulders.  We are excited to have this change accomplished and all in all it has helped me to realize that I can manage my time better than I have in the last couple of years!

I did achieve some accomplishments in May, small, but significant considering what has been going on!  I am still working on the 1/2″ Hexagon flowers for Mountmellick and it would be great if I can finish this last border by the end of June, or before.   Right now I am working on 9 patches so I can complete my May Heart quilt.  I already know how I will do the borders and I believe that this quilt will be a special one for me!  It was an awakening!  Hey – maybe I will call the quilt Awakening Hearts!!!!  Thank you Deb for starting this daily dose of applique!

Here are my 31 completed Hearts.  I am almost through with the 9 patches and will, of course, do a Post when I have them altogether!

I purchased the fabric for $5.00 at the Dallas Show in 2017.  They were samples of a collection by Moda that were selling for $1.00 each.  I have enough left over to do a border.  Cheapest quilt I have ever made!  The background fabric is Antique Muslin.  Here is a sample picture of how the quilt top will look once I have finished the 9 patches!  I had to cut 270 each 2 1/8″ squares for them and some had to be fussy cut.  I am really enjoying putting this quilt together!  That is what quilting is all about!

I still have to complete Mountmellick, A Bountiful Life, Nesting, (Applique); Indian Summer (hand quilting), Stonefields (applique and pieced), Brinton Hall (EPP and piecing)  and 5 quilts to load on the long arm and quilt!  Plenty to keep me busy.  The long arm is gathering too much dust! This is why I need to make hay while the sun shines and manage my time better!  Maybe my creativity will come back!

Have a wonderful week-end and see you later down the road as I complete some of my UFO’s.

Linking To:  My Quilt Infatuation; Confessions of a Fabric Addict; Finished or Not Friday ; Sew Can She; Em’s Scrap Bag; BOM’s Away; Fiber Tuesday;   Sew, Stitch, Snap, SHOW; Sew Fresh Quilts; Crazy Mom Quilts;  Oh Scrap; Scrap Happy Saturday; Show and Tell Monday with Bambi;

Also linking to HQAL:   Kathy, Lori, Kerry, Emma, Tracy, Deb, Connie, Deborah,  Susan, Jessisca, Sherry, Nanette, Sassy, Edith, Sharon and Bella.

 

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Last of the Hearts

Here are the last 2 Hearts. I am glad that Deb had this SAL for Hearts. I will have a top done soon as this is an easy quilt. My May goals were not met. I will take inventory this week end.

No quilting done so far the last 3 days.

Maybe next week. Have a great week end! I am playing “find a reliable roof contractor” game!

Nanette

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May 29 Heart

Today was another day to obtain more bids on a new roof for the house and Studio. It swallowed up my day! I did get the heart completed, but no 9 patches. Hopefully the day will be calmer and quieter tomorrow. I looked around in my Studio and I see a “get organized and straighten up” day in my future. It is a mess!

Only 2 more hearts and I will have them completed. It looks like I will not have all the 9 patches completed when I wanted to, but this roof issue will pass and I will get back on track.

Have a wonderful week! I will post my last 2 blocks by Friday and hopefully will have a quilt top layout ready to show!

Nanette