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Sunday, July 22, 2018

Sewing Machine Block and I captured a cashmere

July color in the 2018 Monthly Color Challenge is yellow/green. I chose this print along with a Tami-revised sewing machine block. I somewhat followed the pattern posted at amyscreativeside, and linked up at inspiring-stitches.com. I made the block more difficult by adding the brown border. My first attempt reminded me of the puppet Ollie.


Updating post to linkup at patternsbyjen.blogspot.com for the July Color Challenge. 

I had hoped to make it in to the Fair awards ceremony but spent the morning feeling punk and having car trouble so it wasn't meant to happen.
I felt as undetermined as this painting

I also captured a cashmere and silk skirt at Goodwill. Very happy finds for me. 

Posting some summer Patterns of the Day
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
Marking quilting lines for the Indianapolis Colts lap quilt and listening to shuffled music on my laptop. 

Saturday, July 21, 2018

Piggy Bank Savings - Money for Quilting Challenge

While most of the time I post on how I spent my money, this time I am linking up with a challenge at Val's Quilting Studio on how much money I saved ... to spend on fabric. Such an ulterior motive! 
I am hoping by this time next year, I will have greatly reduced my remnant fabric stash. I want to retain laser focus on projects and do my best possible work. I don't want to crank out quilts just for quilt's sake. 

Thrifting update: newest find another quilt rack. This one, tall and narrow, holds a thrifted fan quilt and a Pendleton blanket. My lead crystal lamps hold court in the background.

I have also been tidying up my collection room. I was sort of embarrassed to find a vintage Christmas doll in the back of my curio cabinet. She will show up in my lead off post in the Countdown to Christmas. 
Crocheted Yosemite Sam
Heading back to the California State Fair tomorrow for the crafts division awards ceremony. Hope to have some fun fair pics to share. I am already planning my next year's submission. 

Saturday, July 14, 2018

I spent the morning at the California State Fair

And you know where you could find me - at the Craft and Fine Art exhibitions. With my media pass, I signed in and entered the fair via the media center. I was able to photograph these superior creations without having to battle the crowds.
So well organized!

This one I believe took a First Place.
Applique puppy in batik
Ethnic and dramatic
Americana
Jaw-dropping precision needlework on this piece
I knew there was a Steampunk category
so I was particularly interested in this exhibit
This piece you have to see in person
Done in counted cross-stitch
Whimsical and Wonderful
You can see why it took First Place - Applique Quilts

My piece is hanging in the display case to my right

The Sacramento summer heat is oppressive so I am wearing as little as possible. I know a gal isn't supposed to wear a hat inside but I am matching my creation's hat she is wearing. Thought I would look the "artist" part. *grins*
Award of Merit for this oil painting
Lots to see and do and there is something for everyone at the fair. What I didn't find was jalapeno jelly - so if anyone finds that type of vendor, let me know! I will be back at the Fair next week. 

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Could you do - just 2?

Ah yes, another slightly off post title. This one has me intrigued, whether I can pull it off or not is another question, but how about you? The American Patchwork & Quilting Two-Color Challenge has begun.  


Introducing the American Patchwork & Quilting Two-Color Quilt Challenge! For this challenge, participants are asked to create quilts with only two colors. Finished quilts can be any size, but they must use ONLY two colors.
Official category description: Eligible quilts must use only two colors in their construction. Prints may be used as long as they consist of ONLY two colors. Thread color and binding needs to match the two colors in the quilt. Backing can be any color.
  • Solids used with prints must match one of the colors in the print for a total of two colors.
  • Tone-on-tone patterns count as two colors.
  • Shades of the same color count as two colors.
  • Neutrals (white, gray, black, etc.) each count as one color.
The deadline for submissions is November 30, 2018 You can submit entries along with other QuiltCon submissions at quiltconentry.com

The challenge is posted at The Modern Quilt Guild

I may do a tone-on-tone print and then pair it with a color that matches the tone exactly. There are examples posted at the site linked above.  

Side note: I was granted my Media Access pass to the California State Fair so there will be at least two posts upcoming on that event beginning July 13th. 

Saturday, July 7, 2018

Destashing in the heat

What do you do when it hovers around 100 degrees? You Destash!
Some actually aren't fabric uglies - so what did I get rid of? 

Christmas yardage.  I have made a few Christmas quilts and may do another holiday-themed creation but only with the prettiest of fabric I've saved. 

Baby and kid-themed fabric. I don't have any small children in my life. I have one baby quilt in the pre-pin-basting stage for an expectant co-worker. (No one is expecting at this time so this one is on hold.)

Poor fabric choices. You can see one of those choices in the bag, a deep maroon with fly fishing lures. Bought secondhand but regretted a day later. 

The fabric stash is being winnowed down. I am moving more toward collections of higher quality fabric for certain projects. Here are a few: 

Asian-themed fabric - Bento box block
Black and white print fabric - Pineapple block
Black and pink print fabric - Perhaps a country pinwheel block

I have in mind a quilt centered around a retro print of blue and grey. I don't have the block in mind yet to highlight. A country classic block called Patches might be the one. I ordered some companion Kona solids, hoping to highlight some free motion quilting. This project is fast moving up in the queue. 

I am moving more and more toward completing kits or quilt tops that other quilters have left unfinished. I have a batch of Coastal Beacons blocks that will quickly assemble into a quilt top. Each block contains a batik lighthouse, very pretty. 

I am currently working on an Indianapolis Colts lap quilt for the Mr.'s daughter. The flimsy is done and the backing flannel washed. I am pleased with how this one is turning out, I had very little fabric to work with and scored the flannel backing at 1/2 off retail.

My machine is back from the shop so I can get some heavy duty quilting done on this current lap quilt and picnic quilt I have pin basted. 

I also have a retro fan quilt top I need to complete the backing. This one is being saved for a longarmer. I have a promotional interview at the State this Tuesday so if I score the job, I will reward myself with a quilt project sent to a professional.

On a side note, I am a YUGE fan of Mary Fons and Fons & Porter  tutorials. I just discovered Mary Fons has written quite a few articles on the subject of quilting. Link to one of those articles
the-quilt-scout but-is-is-art?  

Thrifting update was a couple of what I like to call "carry alongs" needlework projects, extra fun Halloween costume, and some tie downs for a truck. My son needs those, I soaked them in a bucket and then hung them up to dry. 
Finally, we escaped a California wildfire this weekend. People in the area were evacuated and we could hear the firefight continue into the night. We were able to return to our homes but couldn't leave the area after we arrived home.  

Stay cool, stay calm and Destash! 

Tuesday, July 3, 2018

2018 Mid-year review

It is intriguing to look back at one's goals in the New Year to see what has been accomplished at this mid-point.  I did achieve one of my goals which was to create an art quilt for the twice yearly Art with Fabric Blog Hop.  Even outdid myself by entering it in the California State Fair and earning an honorable mention. I also queued up a hopeful finish to the Pantone Color of the Year quilt challenge but I never got off the ground with that one. I did a fabric pull and didn't have that color, couldn't find the right shade at the fabric store and failed a finding fabric that spoke to me while competing in the FabHopShop. 

Luckily, I only set the two quilting goals for myself this year. Oh, I have lots of WIPs and PIGs that I have organized in ziplocs. I have even posted my quilting hopes and dreams. No time like the present to revisit. 

I am now swimming in batiks, I love them, but have yet to make a quilt with them. 

I also have plaids, more plaids than I will ever need. Once I make the quilt I have in mind either Storm at Sea or a Plaid-half-hexagon.

The Art with Fabric Blog hop will take place some time in the fall and I have another art quilt in mind, this time I will piece it like a proper quilter! *grins* I will enter that one in the 2019 fair, trying for a top placing ribbon.  

Linking up with quiltingjetgirl for the:

Also linking up with lizzielenard-vintagesewing.blogspot.com.

As I have posted previously, I am participating in the 2018 Monthly Color Challenge, making quilt blocks associated with the color of the month. Also with that challenge, there are giveaways and I won for the month of June (birthday gal, uh huh, uh huh, woot woot).  And how appropriate, my love of art and fabric combines into a fat quarter bundle of Art Gallery Fabrics. 
I think this bundle is just begging to be made into a Modern Art quilt with lots of negative space and perhaps some matchstick quilting?  

What would you make with this fabric compilation? 

And my mid-year winnings continue with a $20 gift card win from Snowline Hospice Thrift. Time to buy a lottery ticket?