Quilter in Quarantine

The devastating news came through that the California State Fair was canceled. Scheduled for late July/August, it was my bellwether that everything just might be ok. Not. 

For two years I had been imagining how to construct this quilt, mainly the cubist quilter block. That section came together quickly, it was easier to piece it than to do applique. I pulled completed blocks from my orphan block stash, and incorporated them into the piece. One section kept nagging at me, good for another quilt but not this one.  

First flimsy

The inclusion of a house block kept niggling at me, I wanted one kinda log cabiney. The house block section I ripped out twice, unhappy with the quilt's composition.  

Second flimsy

Final flimsy

(Cancelled) State Fair Quilt glamour shots:

My work is much improved from two years ago. I bought the large spool of Coats turquoise thread, I wasn't about to run out on this special project!

It was the first time I had done a binding in scrappy solid colors. I really like the look so I will do that again. 

Fabric pull for 3-1/2" x 5-1/2" borders

I could not believe how incredibly fast this quilt came together. I intended on matchstick quilting but after I had marked lines and completed the first pass, starting from the middle and quilting out to the edges, it told me it was done. Quilts have a tendency to do that (quilters out there nodding their heads in agreement). 

I went through the whole creative process.
 
That one and where you start off great guns, then the hard work starts and you question whether your artistic vision is going the right direction. Then you turn the corner when it starts to come together, the piece might not be exactly as you envisioned it but has a beauty all its own. 

State Fair quilt would have been entered in the Needle and Fiber Arts Division as "Other Fiber Art." I won't be able to enter it next year as it won't be relevant. It will give me one more year to refine my technique. I also made a serious error in the quilt's backing. The material skewed and puckered. I should have learned my lesson to use a heavier quilting cotton in the backing. 

American Patchwork and Quilting Challenge on Facebook pulled the number 12. On one list, it is my black and white/dark blue quilt. I am not sure I am ready to work on darkness. One my second list, it is a coffee block quilt where I will "float" those blocks with a Moda jelly roll. 

I am going to turn my attention to my Retro quilt and start cutting squares for my Summer quilt now called Flamingos in the Cabana. I am hoping that will help assuage my disappointment on the fair cancellation. 

Linking up with Cynthia for quiltingismorefunthanhousework
for:

Here is one thing I bought thrift that I hesitated to list a few months ago. I haven't hesitated now, it is a perfect craft project for the times. https://www.ebay.com/itm/184275394527

Freebies Made My Day and Back to Baking

Talk about a shot in the arm, on one of my infrequent trips to the post office, I noticed a "Free" sign in front of one of the residences and large bags of clothing and linens. Nothing could have made me happier. I found a few items for myself, over half of the haul is consignment worthy, and a few pieces of boy clothing I can sell as a lot. I may list some of the women's clothing. A couple of pieces require some mending that means Clothing Rehabilitator to the Rescue! The little boy's shirt only needed a replacement button and reinforcement of the remainder. 

Cutest piece of boy's clothing
Muscle cars and Tikis print

Bags of clothing laundered and folded

I will take the majority of the clothes to Freestyle for exchange. Then, if they don't want them, I could list them. I know why the clothing was out for free like that, people are shut in and spring cleaning and they can't donate to thrift. 

Segueing to cooking, in particular baking. As a teen, I loved baking, making pies, cookies and other desserts. I continued to bake for my family, things like chocolate chip cookies and those delights. When I became an empty nester, I stopped baking. I had also packed on a few pounds so I didn't need the extra calories. Having returned to my "fighting weight" or no longer chubby, I can indulge in a few sweets now and again. 

I like to highlight the strawberry rhubarb pie I make in the warmer months and-then-there-was-rhubarb. Recently, I made a granny smith apple pie and banana bread.

This post is about Applesauce cookies. One key ingredient for this recipe is All Bran cereal. Not sure of the original owner, it has been a family recipe for many years. 

I do substitute Splenda for sugar and use unsweetened applesauce. 

Quilting update: Like many others, I organized my sewing studio. All of the fabric remnants are in some semblance of order and, fingers crossed, I hope I don't discover more batches of purchased fabric. 

I have two lists I am running for the American Patchwork & Quilting Challenge on FB, one for quilts and one for hand sewing projects. I average one quilt completion per month. As I move into more intricate piecing on some projects, my average will decrease. 

Still hoping for the opening of thrift/clothing consignment shops and the return of my hairstylist. Takes very little to keep me happy. 

Ending the post with Sally Stand-In wearing this adorable Sunny Leigh skirt, part of the Freebie Haul that joined my wardrobe. 

Devoting a Day

When I have a full day to devote to my projects, I surprise myself how much I can accomplish. I made great progress in my state fair quilt. I will have an entire blog post devoted to that process. I will say I was going great guns and thought I had the whole thing put together but a whole section was "off." I seam ripped it out. Piecing some blocks to fit my theme is what I have planned. 

Having this challenge helps me keep my mind off of other things. Another challenge I have going is one on FB with the American Patchwork & Quilting group. No. 1 was chosen for this month and that is my Retro Quilt, also ready to assemble. If I keep my feet to the fire, maybe I will complete the State Fair entry and move on to the Retro Quilt.  

Reseller update: I made a milestone of 111 listings. Mainly books and CDs, I am sourcing from my own possessions. There is still more! I have tons of sewing and craft patterns that will be my focus on the next round. This is all found money, items I have purchased over the years. It is like shaking the coins out of a piggy bank. Granted, it does require work. It has to be one of the top 10 things I do that produce a feeling of accomplishment. I hope I have encouraged those who do resell and those who are thinking about entering the business. 

YouTubing It and the IG Quilt Fest

The leaping last day of February meant a $5 bag of remnant fabric was another violation to my Buy No Fabric Challenge. It was all for me at thrift with that and some 50 cent fun things of vintage thimbles, hair ties and a beaded fabric embellishment.  

The remnants were a good purchase though, higher end manufacturers, some novelty prints, some Christmas (which I don't need) but intend on whipping up into a quilt at some point. 

There is a story behind Christmas fabric. Early on in my quilting career, I tried to link up with a certain group of quilters (who shall remain unnamed). I was too late to get in on the ones who were highlighted in the hop, so I linked up my creation in the comments. One would have thought I violated a Biblical rule of quilting blog hops because I received a lengthy STERN email from said blog host. Linking up my post in the comments was simply not allowed, she told me. I obliged by deleting my comment and any reference to her and her blog. It has since left a bad taste in my mouth for holiday-themed quilts. I never finished the quilt I made, it remains a flimsy to this day. 

On to American Patchwork & Quilting UFO challenge. No. 7 was posted for March, on my first list it is a rooster needlepoint, in the queue but awaiting its turn after completion of the magnolia needlepoint. My No. 7 on my second list is a Monet's Garden needlepoint kit up for sale. If it doesn't sell, I won't shed a tear because I will keep it as one of my projects. 

I bought a bobbin winder and think it will be a good purchase because I have heard other quilters say they like them. It is the first sewing machine related purchase that I have bought retail, other than my sewing machine. 

Here is my first YouTube tutorial on my Franklin sewing machine. I hadn't been able to find exact information on it so I am posting what I have learned. I hope to do more of these on how to use the attachments (a lofty goal) and free motion quilting with the machine. 

March is also National Quilting Month and festivities have begun on Instagram with the #igquiltfest2020. I will post on a few prompts as tamaschen.

Half Off Days are sooo much fun!

I was able to catch the first day of hospice thrift's half off weekend sale. Grabbing what I could, I reviewed my purchases and put half of them back while waiting in the long line. My $10 total included a couple of Christmas CDs for resell, a bag of buttons, an apron, and this entire outfit, including hat. It all just seemed to go together! Can't make out the label on the hat, sweater is Possessed Clothing Company, wrap-around double layer skirt unmarked, the black leggings, ankle socks, and BCBG Girls heels are part of my regular wardrobe. The outfit was a splurge for me and so appreciated. I have been working hard trying to reduce unnecessary purchases and focusing on reselling. Being "good" can be tiring. 

Close up of hat and wrap around skirt

Linking up with Patti at notdeadyetstyle.com/get-happier-at-any-age-visible-monday.

Quilting update: 5-1/2" squares cut for the 30s repro 4 patch quilt. One advantage to this hobby, when you can't sew, you can cut fabric, or complete a binding (I hand sew mine). I have two quilts in to the longarmer awaiting their return to me. 

I always seem to have lots of blue fabric (4 blue print blocks). Those irregular pieces at the top of the image I will use to create cornerstones. It really is great progress when you have moved into the preparing the fabric phase. 

Now I can watch the Super Bowl guilt free knowing I am have made forward movement in my personal challenge. 

Here we are into February

30's reproduction fabric

I will have this project precut and ready to go prior to month's end. 

Feedsack(ish) prints

American Patchwork & Quilting 2020 UFO Challenge number for this month is 9. My intended project has morphed into a 4 patch 30's repro. It was in my feedsack project bag. I completed a mini last year. Since I am entering month two of my no-sewing Babylok in the shop, I began preparing the material. I separated the feedsack from the 30s repro and will be piecing the blocks similar to the ones shown in my bed-sized quilt.

Reseller's update: Confirming what I had seen posted by others, my holey lot of cashmere sweaters sold. Some crafter will upcycle them into something wonderful. 

Trying my hand at selling books again. The Mr.'s lot all went unsold, being a test of whether they would move or not. It really is tough to say what is on trend. When I buy a bag of books, I grab anything that might be interesting. Six are now listed for a total of seven being offered for sale.

All of my remnant fabric has now been corralled into 2 drawered containers. Going through my quilt project bags, I had yet another project bag that included completed quilt blocks and a Moda jelly roll. 

Lot of coffee blocks for sale

Entire lot of blocks, coffee block pieces, including my fabric pull
and a Moda jelly roll

How many coffee block quilts can a person make?  For me, just one and even then it is way down on the project list. Why not release the rest into the world so someone else can appreciate them AND recoup some of the money invested? 

It really feels good to sell some or parts of my projects. Ultimately, I would like to have all of my remnant fabric used up and I can then buy fabric collections. Or, if I keep finding completed blocks at this pace, I won't have to do any complex patchwork piecing. 

Not sure what progress I will make on anything tomorrow because it is Superbowl Sunday! 

Craft Project Denial

I had teased one participant of the American Patchwork & Quilting 2020 UFO Challenge that she had the courage to list all of her projects. She had at least 3 full charts, maybe more. 

I knew I had more than 12 projects. In fact, I have at least 26. I added back a project from last year's list, my bonus item at the bottom of Chart 1, The Americana. I only have this source image from a quilt magazine from the 1970s. Look at those magnificent blocks! One quilter termed projects such as this - Quilts in Waiting.

Then came my second chart where I included two new projects that were born this year, Grandmother's Flower Garden on Steroids and the red Vintage Vignettes quilt. 

I listed ALL of my needlepoint projects - 7. I included another bonus item on Chart 2 of the plaid quilt. If I feel particularly frisky when I start that project, I will attempt the Storm at Sea pattern. Otherwise, it will be minimalist, piecing together the remnants as they are then squaring up to a final bed-size. 

I have found another challenge where I hope to have at least one entry for prizes. At Persimmon Dreams kimlapacek.com/scrap-quilt-challenge
The host provides the inspiration block, January is a 9 patch. Quilters then have a year to link up a completed quilt for potential prizes. Minimum size is 45" x 60" and must be compiled of 80% scrappy remnants. 


Reselling update: 26 listings, made my goal of at least 5+ weekend listings that include: Batik quilt kit, stitchery kits, a book and 3 CDs, and some yardage. I have a better camera than when I first listed fabric so we will see if that makes a difference. 

5 year retrospective

Re-upping for my second year with the American Patchwork & Quilting UFO challenge. Each month a number is drawn and participants are to work on that project. No. 2 on my list is my daughter's atomic starburst quilt. Templates are printed, fabric has been purchased, just awaiting the return of my Babylok from servicing. 

One quilting blogger suggested a decade in review for quilt projects. I began quilting in May of 2015 so mine will be a 5 year retrospective of certain highlighted projects. 

It all began with processing shirts from a Hawaiian shirt hoarder. Admittedly, I threw away my first attempt because it was so wonky. You can see where I go wrong in the bottom right hand corner (and I didn't even photograph the worst of it). 

A couple of months later in that year, the mom quilt came together. She still loves it and it adorns her condo couch. At that point, I was appliqueing over piecing mistakes. 

At year's end, I made a cubicle wall cover, still one of my favorites. I could have quilted it more but could always go back and do that.

My first real baby quilt was Hello Kitty using that fabric as the backing. Even though I missed a border and cornerstones at the bottom of the quilt, it's still cute. 

2016 meant a couple of smaller quilts. 

A Christmas flimsy that was never finished and eventually sold on eBay. 

 

This creation quite beautiful but a mess as far as stitching (don't look at the back!)

By the summer of 2017, I had finally finished my son's quilt. 

The fall of 2017, the George quilt was born and gifted to a friend.

I finally made a quilt for myself that still adorns my bed. 

I took a different direction for the Gypsy hanging curtain for our spare bathroom.  

Kitsch quilt is in frequent use by the Mr. in the living room.

2018 Seed Packet Quilt - gifted to my mom, now returned to me. 

The summer of 2018 I finished the Encounter, an abstract in fabric, raw edge applique. 

Fall of last year, I finally finished the composition quilt. A study in matchstick quilting with numerous thread colors. 

I've got two quilts in to the longarmer: OBW to the graduate and Gypsy Wife Meets Jelly Roll, so I can showcase those in February. I am finishing the quilting on two lap quilts I will also post in the near future, both remnant projects from 2019. 

Finally, if you haven't seen my post on the 2020 Buy No Fabric Challenge, here is the link.  Here also is a link to a writer's nothing-new-2020-im-embarking-year-secondhand-purchases article, basically buying no brand new things in 2020. Lofty goals, let's see how we do.