Nesting – Chopin – A Passionate Quilter From Texas

August 8, 2018August 17, 2018

York Lodge

Greetings! I will not have to find a sauna to sit in – just take a 30 minute walk in 75 degrees and 99% humidity!!! The good news is that we probably have about 20 more days of the hottest month! Maybe we will settle into the mid-90’s, but that humidity will still be here.

York Lodge is coming along. The new foot for the HQ D1 is really working great! I have found that some of the errors started when I did the initial strip piecing. It is imperative that each strip set must be checked before cutting to ensure seams are an accurate 1/4”. I cut the strips in 11” strips rather than the 22” now to prevent other issues The longer the strips the easier it is to have issues with wavy seams, or accidentally moving the fabric as I am sewing. Additionally the new Creative Grid rulers are working great! Keeping the fabric stable when cutting the 45 degree angle strips. I am concerned that a few may have to be re made but I will deal with that problem when I finish the 30 blocks. I have now finished 13 blocks – back where I had hoped to be 3 weeks ago. But looking back is not worth the time so I am going forward and enjoy the process – besides – it is too hot to do anything else so I am making ‘hay’ while the sun shines.

I do believe that I am addicted to this quilt project! I have no idea how it will be quilted, but I will not hand quilt it for sure – Batiks are not conducive to that!

Nesting is down to 2 red birds and some embroidery work! I am so pleased with this quilt.

I follow Tazzie Quilts Blog and she has just finished Phoebe! What a masterpiece. This quilt is going on my Quilt Bucket List. She Is now going to finish up her Honoring Our Quiltig Heritage Quilt which is a BOM stated last year using Reproductions and Shirtings only! Lori Smith designed the quilt. I miss working with my Reproduction fabrics so either this quilt may be the next piecing project.

Tummy Update! I have now realized why I felt so bad with the tummy! One who eats 2 flour tortilla tacos, 2 pieces of ham, a peanut butter with jelly sandwich, bacon, and eating Cheetos two times in a period of a week = Not feeling so well. I did not eat all in one day – it was spread out over a week and I really paid for it as it affected my breathing this time. Now this is a normal diet for some people, but not me, and it can be so difficult at times to just live on eggs, chicken, yeast free rice bread, Lays Lightly Salted chips, and Almond Breeze milk, but if I do not want anymore days where I feel bad, I just have to become more disciplined again and quit thinking I can eat normally! It is not fun, but better than where I have been the last week. Celiac and Gastroparesis and food intolerance’s (corn, wheat, sugar, salt, dairy and preservatives) are just not fun to live with but IT COULD BE MUCH WORSE! I wish that they would not have started the GMO food supply in th early 1990’s because it has really impacted my ability to eat the foods that I love like Salads, vegetables, and other heathy foods but fiber is not my friend. I have never been a junk food eater, but now that I cannot eat them it seems that I crave them.

This morning as I am writing this post I have been enjoying watching our Deer eating. We have 2 young babies (who are growing fast) and one of them is the instigator! It loves to jump up and down and then run off and do circles around the Mothers, and then it will get the other baby to start chasing her. This morning the Doe’s were even feeling frisky! So much fun to stop and just watch them!

Have a great sewing day, I am hoping to finish more than 1 block today as they go together much faster now.

Nanette

July 8, 2018August 17, 2018

Nesting, and York Lodge!

Happy Sunday to all. The weather is hot and so humid, but we have been getting some rain for the last 4 days and then back to the horrible heat! I have been working on 2 projects, Nesting and York Lodge blocks. The border for Nesting is not complicated so I am pretty sure I can finish it by the end of the month or before! Tomorrow is Radio Frequency treatment for my back – they cauterize the nerves from the waist down and it really helps! So while ‘resting’ I will work on Nesting as soon as the twilight wears off!

Progress is being made on Nesting. The top border has 2 Red Birds, and each border side there is a Blue bird. On the bottom border there is a nest with eggs! Each corner has the 4 leaves. There is some embroidery left to complete, but I usually do this when all the applique is complete. This is going to be a striking quilt and will be hand quilted! Hummm maybe this will be one that is going to be loaded on that new Grace Z44 frame that I purchased over a year ago.

The other project I am working on is York Lodge. I have completed 10 of the 30 blocks that make up this quilt. I am excited because each time I make one it takes less and less time! Guess the saying ‘practice makes perfect’ still goes! I am thinking that Wednesday or Thursday I will begin to cut some HSTs and add them to each corner in order to square each block. The blocks will square to 10″ finished and 10 1/2″ unfinished so these are not large blocks I am making! A lot of work, but I do believe this will be a great Show Quilt next year. I have not seen anyone else making it. The pattern is neatly tucked away in a Quiltmania book!

I am not sure, but that orange star with that dark background may be the first to square – just in case there is a problem. It will not hurt my feelings if I have to make another orange as this background really sticks out like a sore thumb. But that was my mood for the day! LOL I am very happy that all my points are turning out perfect, and crossing my fingers that all works out when I square the block or I will be one upset puppy!

I am off to cut out 5 more blocks and then hopefully I will complete one more for today. the block on the bottom is the one I completed this morning. My goal is for 2 per day and hopefully 3 a day as I get closer to completion. Final goal would be end of July to have it completed. The quilt will be put together with a sashing and there will not be a need for a border as this would take away from the floating star effect. I am not sure which fabric I will use for the sashings, but thinking about the P&B white or a Batik white.

Have a great week and happy quilting!

Nanette

June 24, 2018

HQAL and York Lodge

Greetings from back to the Desert South Texas. The roof projects are on track now. We were concerned about the roof on the house where an issue might arise, but no it was the Studio Roof that needed to be upgraded to the standing seam tin roof. Thank goodness we did this massive undertaking! Tomorrow they will start putting the new roof on.

The borders are on Nesting and will be I marking the border where the birds and leaves will be placed. This is a 2003 pattern and the placement pattern leaves a lot to be desired, so I will mark the borders, then I will decide how I will place the stems. I have the applique pieces cut out and ready to select the fabric for them. I always keep a bag of the fabrics that were used for applique on a quilt, so all I will have to do is to decide the color placement of the leaves! This is a simple applique pattern, it took me a lot longer due to those fun things going on in the last year or so!

Nesting by Darlene Christopherson (2003)

Progress on York Lodge quilt project has been slow. Thursday was my best day for ‘really’ starting the project. I vacillated between the P&B fabrics (the pink and white one), Reproduction fabrics, and then back to my original selection – Batiks! Once that decision was made I made the first block of 30! It took awhile because of the precision involved in sewing the strip pieced diamond sections together. There are 2 things to note that have made this a little easier (or should I say more accurate) is to take the first 2 diamond sets (cut on a 45 degree angle) and mark where the 1/4″ seam allowance will be! Along with the pinning, it is less likely for me to have to rip to get the points accurate! This block took me about 5 hours to make (this included a few interruptions) after I made the fabric selection. This quilt will have a lot of movement with the different background fabrics for each block. The quilt will have blues, turquoise and greens. I will consider a few reds, yellows, and orange, but not a lot. I do not desire to make a rainbow quilt.

The iPhone camera would not pick up on the actual blue, it is a lighter blue. I have not done the corners yet. I was just elated to have it completed!

I cut out the fabric for a block from the P&B fabric with the white that I really liked I used the pink fat quarter because I knew if I did not like the effect that it would not matter if this met is fate in the trash can – and it did! Absolutely no movement to this at all. The practice block is one I love, but I did not have anymore of the crackle with red dots and they do not make any of the lightest beige crackle! DARN! I would have made the entire quilt out of this fabric.

I am pleased with my decision to reduce the computer time because I am slowly getting more accomplished! This week I will need to do my 3 blocks for the RSC 2018 challenge as this will be the one and only RSC quilt that will be in my collection and I do not plan on doing anymore.

Have a great week, I am looking forward to working on Mountmellick border, York Lodge, and Nesting. This is my favorite time of summer – as of Thursday the days start counting down to end of October when we go back to normal time! Yea. DST is NOT my favorite! Maybe our hot days will be numbered and by September we will have a ‘Fall’? Enjoy quilting.

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; 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;

Kathy, Lori, Kerry, Emma, Tracy, Deb, Connie, Deborah, Susan, Jessisca, Sherry, Nanette, Sassy, Edith, Sharon and Bella.

December 27, 2017December 27, 2017

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and 6 in 6 in 2018!

Merry Christmas (belated) and a Happy New Year – 2018 is 4 days away and I could not be happier to see this year over with! 14 days sitting in the chair, not wanting to do anything of value is on a downhill slide – Still have to continue taking it easy so my immune system can get over the shock and awe of the wonderful 2017 Type A Flu! I do not recommend this trip for anyone – In fact, carry a container of wipes and hand sanitizer around your neck along with a mask. Run from anyone coughing! If you see a nut job in public with all these goodies hanging around their neck it is ME! Thank goodness for HEB Curbside! Go on-line, order groceries, drive up and they load you up! I will be doing that until the Flu Season is GONE!

We had a quiet Christmas (all cancelled due to illness). But Santa was good to us. I upgraded to an iPad Pro 12.9″ with 512GB and purchased a Space Black Milanese Loop watch band for my Apple Watch! Then as a bonus for being sick, I ordered a Dooney and Burke handbag! Santa brought Clay some things that he had on his list and a 1950 Kenmore Heavy Duty sewing machine (coming today or tomorrow) for his leather work! Talk about 2 spoiled kids! We will share our Christmas with Melissa this coming week-end! Santa has left some gifts for her also!

OK – now back to the world of quilting, and hopefully I will have a very productive year!

I am going to attempt to do the 2018 Challenge – 6 in 6 in 2018. This will fit right in with my very low productive 2017 year of quilting.

So here goes:

6 UFO Projects from 2017

A Bountiful Life (version of Civil War Bride) I have 6 blocks completed, 4 ready for applique and a remaining 10 to finish the quilt.
Nesting – 2 blocks completed – remaining 2 blocks waiting for applique
Stonefields – About 6 blocks waiting for applique (they are small blocks) and Section 5 will be complete – AH half way through the 10 Sections
Sweet Stitches – trying to convince myself that I love the black embroidery thread (although getting bored with it) 6 more blocks to embroider
Brinton Hall – I really need to get with the program on this one – just more hexies for the side panels and then I will be piecing the remainder of the quilt. I would like to have it completed by May – not sure if this is doable!
Mountmellick – Will be starting Border Number 3 in January – This one is a must finish if I am going to enter it in a quilt show this summer.

6 New Projects for 2018

Aunt Bea’s Parlor – Embroidery – I am looking forward to working on this one as it will be multi-colored thread – not just black!
Star Dance by Jill Finley – Piecing
Plantation Stars by Heartspun Quilts – Piecing (hum could be the blue and white quilt)
Afternoon Delight by Sue Garmen A mixture of applique and piecing
Work on my Stars and Churn Dash Reproduction quilt – it will need a design setting also.

There could be some changes for the new projects and will update as I make the final decisions. But as you can see I am really behind on my hand work. Could it be those pesky surgeries? I have more projects that I am thinking of working on, but will wait until I am at 100%. I would also like to participate in OMG and 12 in 2018. Maybe I can do without that 8 hours of sleep……

Have a wonderful day – it is nice and cold here in South Texas – 38 degrees for the day and no sun. It will be this way for a week. I am enjoying winter so far – much better than the 100 degrees each day this past summer! Now for more rain!

October 10, 2017

Doing the Happy Dance!!!

FINALLY! We are back into a BORING routine of retirement life! I am always ready to take a short “getaway” but not this month! I am through with the hand surgeries and Clay and Melissa are healthy and Melissa started a great new job yesterday! What else could we want? Well, OK – only one more trip to the hand doctor tomorrow and a few errands in SA and hopefully that will be it for a while. It was a long long LONG 5 months and without a few quilting buddies I think I would have really gone crazy. Thanks to Jaydee and Gretchen! Great friends and quilters!

So one might ask – what does a quilter do when back to back carpal tunnel surgeries and dealing with only one hand to use for a short period with all of those projects gathering dust! PUNT! I had time to work on my RSC 2017 project which was not difficult to do and it was something I could work on between surgeries and all the lovely trips to SA! I worked daily on trying to get this quilt finished by Monday and I achieved that goal! When I started making the 4 patch blocks, I had no idea where I was going with the quilt. Originally I had intended to make 28 blocks of 5 colors, but ran out of patience to just sit and sew 4 patches all day long. I only used 4 colors and could no longer bring myself to make anymore blocks in other colors. Here is the final outcome! Anything that reminded me of this quilt that was not used is in the permanent UFO file!

RSC 2017 Challenge Quilt – Completed but not perfect!

One would think that since each and every 4 patch and 2 1/2″ offsetting squares were squared and doubled checked during the process, that the quilt would come out perfect! Did not happen here and that is a big frustration for me as a Type A personality! The quilt is lucky to have survived the same demise as its leftovers!

Also during this time I have been able to finish preparing the last two blocks (Blocks 1 and 2 the ones with the wreaths) for the Nesting quilt and have started appliquéing on block 1. I love the Red Birds in this quilt. I have only one more block to go and then I will start on the appliqué border. This is an old pattern of Darlene C. Christopherson’s and so pretty. Each block is different. Blocks 1 and 2 had wreaths for the birds to sit on, but the pattern was not accurate so I quickly decided to change that and leave them off.

Moving right along, I found out that I could embroidery as soon as the cast was removed, but took it slow and easy. I have finished 2 more blocks for Sweet Stitches project. Today I have prepared the April Easter Bunny Block. This was a BOM that I purchased in either 2013 or 2014. It is fun and really fast to complete. Kathy provides embellishments for each month that are fusible and really add to the block!

I have 3 projects going concurrently for appliqué, Nesting, Stonefields, and A Bountiful Life. I still have to prepare Section 5 of Stonefields though. I also have other projects that need attention, but am thinking that I am ready to start on a Di Ford quilt – something that will be more challenging than 4 patches. (Hummm if I have the problem with 4 patches, maybe this will not be a good idea – LOL) I am going to start on one of the quilts from her books Primarily Quilts and Primarily Quilts 2.

In 2014 I purchased some of the beautiful Dutch Chintz fabrics to use in her quilts and it is now the time to get back to that time when I first started with Reproduction Fabrics and the Australian reproduction quilt patterns. I have fabric for 3 of her quilts in the books so it will be fun to work with them.

All in all, I am finally at a place in 2017 where things are peaceful and calm and uneventful. It has been a long 9 months of a not so good year. So this is the beginning of my 2017 and I only have 3 more months in this year to produce! I have almost forgotten that I have that wonderful new Grace quilting frame waiting for a quilt, but think it will be December before I attempt any hand quilting.

Our trip for the year will be in November as we are going to go to Santa Fe and Gallup New Mexico and on to Winslow, Flagstaff, and Sierra Vista, Arizona. We will enjoy the new scenery and visiting for a week with our friends Doug and Jean who have already arrived in the Sierra Vista area for the winter. Then back home for the winter, or whatever we end up with for cold weather. It will be fun and a great chance to visit with our friends. I miss our RV travel, but not the work involved!

An update on my new toy the Cutter Pillar I purchased at the SA Quilt Show. It is a great and must have tool for quilters. Today I used it as a light box – unbelievable! To be able to use it as a cutting mat and then for the light box for tracing patterns for appliqué and embroidery is great and a time and space saver to boot! To see how it works go to Cutter Pillar!

Have a great week and enjoy stitching!

May 5, 2017

Robin’s Nest is Resting and some May 2017 Goals!

Today is day 5 of May 2017!!! Can you believe it? It seems like the months fly by after May and June and before we know it – it’s Christmas! I hope this month goes by slower. Today is a great day – feeling like my old self! Did my stretches, walked, vacuumed the house, and made it out to the Studio by 10:45 to work on 2 post that were not finished Monday.

I have left Robin’s Nest for a few days (how about 5 days) to work on some applique and Brinton Hall. I am still wanting to work on some embroidery and knitting (someday). Now that I have RN started and know there may be pitfalls, I have had a nice break from it and will start sewing the 2nd ring tomorrow for sure.

I am working on a quilt called Nesting for the SA Show in September – BUT if I cannot get it completed it will be next year’s quilt to show. I have completed Block 1 and started on Block 2 – there are only 4 large blocks and a beautiful border.

Here is Block 1. It is an easy quilt to applique so I should be able to finish this by July.

When I appliqué, embroidery or sew my bindings and sleeves, I take small stitches – like 1/8″. Here is a picture of the back of this block. And of course I am a traditional needle-turn appliquér – no glue or starch. I cut about a 5/8″ of bias strips for the vines and sew one side down, trim and sew the other side – these are less than 1/4″ stems. I always trace the pattern on my background fabric with a pencil (lightly) so it makes it easy to follow a line when doing stems.

I finished the top and bottom hexagons on Briton Hall this afternoon (finally!). Next week I want to start working on the 4 left and right hexagon sections (probably more slowly). This hand work is definitely hard on the ole’ hands so I will take a day when I want to just sit and sew a section at a time. Maybe by the end of May I will be ready to start making the rest of the quilt – which MIGHT be easier! I love Batiks the colors really pop don’t they?

Each section will have to be laid out very carefully and sewn together even more carefully. I made a few mistakes and had to rip a couple of times and I do not like that because of the small stitches that I do.

I am going to load a quilt that I made in the 2003-2004 timeframe first thing in the morning! It was one of the first appliqué quilts I made. I used all different Christmas fabrics in it and thought it looked horrible. I was looking at some of the hearts and I had fussy cut some Santa’s for the hearts! Heck I did a scrappy quilt without even knowing what I was doing! Too funny.