Just Be in progress and sliding on in to Halloween

Once I have found a thrift shop swimming in fabric remnant donations, I know textile goodness is to follow. 

The Wounded Warrior quilt kit I found earlier this month is at the binding stage. Now, two more delightful quilt kits that include blocks and precuts have found a new home. Thanks again to mystery quilter.  

Quilt kit no. 1 is this valentine block with two rows of hearts. That I can make into a cute cubicle wall hanging - a forever keeper.

Quilt kit no. 2 is a study in red and white. Some really neat blocks but only one of each. Lot of cut little pieces I am unsure whether I will take the time to assemble them.

One of the selvages from my thrift batch shown above. 

Work on "Just Be" first introduced as the Super Secret Statement quilt is at the pre-basting stage. Front and back were laid flat to dry after ironing and spray-on fabric sizing was applied. 

On this go around, I pressed the seams open rather than to one side. Some of the joined pieces were already pressed to the side to I just left them that way. 

Amazingly enough, the pink backing for the quilt, along with the batting were just the right size. Each piece of the quilt had been thrifted, not a skosh of retail fabric. I had considered adding side panels to the quilt but I think it told me it was just the right size and that I shouldn't monkey with it. Quilts do take on a life of their own. 

I am still participating in Mrs. Brimbles boo daily prompts on Instagram through month's end. Check out my posts as tamaschen. 

Posting a 1969 Simplicity Pattern of the Day with fall inspired outfits.

Northern California forecast for the week is 80 degree temperatures, not quite time to bring out the cooler weather clothing. 

Super Secret Statement Quilt

Never say "never" because a statement quilt was not going to be part of my agenda. I could content myself with sewing together little pieces of fabric and then giving my creations away to friends and family.

A statement quilt requires an artist's statement. What message are you trying to convey? What was your process? 

Some statement quilts sport offensive terms and phrases (mine will not). The focus of my quilt will be long-term caregiving and the challenges faced by caregivers. My project must be completed prior to November 1, so I have once again put my feet to the fire and bumped my other WIPs. Here is a link to another quilter who terms them "political" quilts -
http://www.quiltyhabit.com/2017/05/why-make-political-quilts.html

My project is not really super secret but I don't want to post the final product until after it is accepted by the panel of judges. Even then, I may not be able to post as I might have to give up my rights to the project once it is submitted.

I am considering tying off the quilt sandwich rather than quilting it. It is a basic, beginner-friendly method of finishing off a quilt.

Thrifting produced my usual finds of clothes, vintage patterns, remnant fabric and a few Christmas CDs. I have almost made my goal of 25 thrifted holiday-related CDs for the Countdown to Christmas posts I will begin preparing next month.

Have you ever made a statement quilt or would you consider making one? 

Art with Fabric Blog Hop and the George quilt

Quilt compo ala Mother Earth o/k/a George - my latest creation. This is not a traditional quilt, traditional materials but not traditional method.

(George quilt in the wild)
So glad I was able to join in with the Art with Fabric Blog Hop. When Alida (the blog hop hostess) asked if I had a name for my quilt, I admitted I hadn't given it one. "George" seemed good enough. Like how they name hurricanes, maybe I should give my quilts first names.

Alida describes the hop where "artists can pick can pick an inspiration piece that shows a landscape, plants and flowers, animals, the universe or humans" to interpret the theme of Mother Earth. 

I knew exactly which publication I wanted to pick for my artwork inspiration - Movements in Modern Art, Abstract Art, (date of publication unknown, best guess from the 1960s). 

I chose earth tone fabrics and freestyle patchwork pieced. I didn't want to pieces to match up exactly to better represent the image above. When I say freestyle patchwork, my process is to sew together pieces cut somewhat to length and then true them up square them off (whichever term you prefer) after assembly. 
On the backing, I had a vintage piece of what I believe to be Western men's shirt fabric and then it just took off from there. I think it just hollers "country western." I should learn my lesson on  working with fabric that is not a true stiff cotton. The majority of the backing fabric slipped around and skewed to one side. (I promised myself I wouldn't point out my mistakes ...)

I would have liked to have done a closer representation of the art piece with the fabric but time constraints meant I barely made the deadline binding the quilt.

This will be a gift to a co-worker. State buildings don't allow personal heaters so we use lap blankets to keep warm. It is a hassle to get medical approval for that kind of device. I kinda got carried away when I was translating this piece to fabric. When I made the decision to do 6-1/2" panels, the size just exploded.

Improvements I have made to my technique to produce more professional looking results:

I bury my thread. When I am quilting and either the bobbin thread runs out or I have to stop for some reason, I will pull those loose threads into the quilt sandwich. 

For this project, it was the first time I used a spray fabric stabilizer on the top and backing. I know others recommend starch but I thought it would be too stiff. The stabilizer did help working with the fabric. I might try the spray starch.

When I start a row of quilting, I quilt about a 1/2 inch into the backing/batting. When you are binding the quilt, it finishes off the stitching on the back. 

Someday I hope to be able to tap into the wisdom of guild members, but for now rouge quilter is on her own. 

Listed below is the Fall 2017 schedule for the blog hop:

Monday, October 9th, 2017

Wendy: http://www.kwiltkrazy.com/
Yanicka: http://yanickahachez.blogspot.com/
Barb: http://www.bejeweledquilts.blogspot.com/
Alida: http://tweloquilting.blogspot.com/

 

Tuesday, October 10th, 2017

LeeAnna: http://lapaylor.blogspot.com/
Krysia, Hosted by Alida http://tweloquilting.blogspot.com/
Heather: http://heatherquilts.blogspot.com/
 

Wednesday, October 11th, 2017 

Janeen: http://quiltartdesigns.blogspot.com/
Andrée: http://quiltinglearningcombo.blogspot.com/
Carol: http://www.quiltedfabricart.com/
Karen: https://tunaquilts.wordpress.com/ 

Thursday, October 12th, 2017 

Kat: https://www.katknapcrafts.com/
Terry: http://www.terryaskeartquilts.com/
Anita: http://quiltlovefordomesticfelicity.blogspot.com/
Chris: http://chrissquiltinguniverse.blogspot.com/

Friday, October 13th, 2017 

Patty, Hosted by Andree http://quiltinglearningcombo.blogspot.com/
Edith: http://ediscraftinglife.blogspot.com/

Betty: http://sewnoworries.blogspot.com/
Dione: https://www.cleverchameleon.com.au/blog


Updated post to link up with Amanda Jean at crazymomquilts.blogspot.com for Finish it up Friday.

So Good to be a Senior

I know that post title is not going to get a lot of hits but it is my lead-in to 1/2 off for seniors $15 haul. Look away if you are fabric phobic!

Inside of the Wounded Warrior Quilt project was the front and back of a completed quilt. It is beautifully done. Since my Mr. is one of those wounded warriors, I will finish this one up for a place of honor in our living room. Thank you Mystery Quilter! I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to have stumbled onto this find. 


In addition to that amazing quilt, there were calico precuts all color coordinated in their container. More than enough to make a patchwork quilt top. Really beautiful material. I am positive from the same quilter. All the work is precise cut.

Because of these beauties, I am going to cull my stash and donate the not-so-pretties.

I have submitted my initial images for the Art with Fabric blog hop and the project is nearly done! It was a study in freeform piecing and organic quilting. 

Let's end with a Pattern of the Day, a 1967 McCall's.

Post update, I have bumped a Christmas lap quilt to quilt the WWQ shown above. The Mr. has indicated that he wants uber loft on the batting (and I just scored a bag of the same thrifting) and very little quilting. More along the lines of this quilt shown here. 

Linking up with Kelly at myquiltinfatuation for Needle and Thread Thursday.