Trunk Show Thursday–March 31, 2011

This week I thought I would feature my courthouse step quilt.  As you can see it is made using scrappy batiks although all the centers are consistently a Hoffman black batik. 

As I’ve told you before, my BFF, Marilyn, is famous for coming up with quilt ideas and asking me to design a quilt.  The story behind this one started a very long time ago.  I made a bunch of these blocks and then put them aside.  Then one day, several years ago, while vending at a quilt show in Orange County, Marilyn described to me a quilt she wanted me to design.   I went home that night and found these blocks and brought them with me the following day.  Sure enough, they were exactly what she visualized (great minds think alike) but of course she wanted the quilt to be on-point.   So here is the result.

At the time we talked about trying to put together a book featuring my on-point method instead of another quilt pattern, but that never happened.  I’ve thought many times about writing a pattern but so far it’s still on the back burner.  Who knows, maybe sometime. 

Enjoy,

I’m slowly working on the Logo Quilt

This morning started off good.  I managed to tape my enlarged logo to my sliding glass door, center the quilt on top of it and sketch the outline  on to the quilt.

If you look closely, you can see the drawn outline.

I used this to draw it.

This is the marking pen that I used. It is supposedly erasable with friction.  I don’t know about that but I do know that the line disappears with heat.  I’ve done quite a bit of testing but here are some words of advice.  After you iron the lines you’d swear they completely disappear, however, if you put it in the freezer the line does come back.  I tried the refrigerator and nothing happened so the “come back” temperature is somewhere colder than my refrigerator but probably slightly warmer than my freezer.  I’ve been told that once you wash the fabric the chemical ink is completely gone and will not come back even if you do put it in the freezer but I haven’t tested that.   Since I live in Southern California and the chances of me ever putting a quilt in the freezer or taking it somewhere that is below freezing is pretty darn slim, I’m not the least bit worried.  So, I’m using the pen and loving it. 

So now I’m ready to fuse the bias tape in place.  This is what I’m using.

The next step is figuring out how to iron it in place before I sew it.   Here are my options.

 

 

After playing with each of the irons, I think the little one will work just fine and will give me more control.  Wish me luck as I tackle the next step.

Enjoy,

Working my Logo Quilt

I’ve received many suggestions about how to add the color to my logo on my logo quilt that I’m making.  Everything from paint, fabric, wool and colored pencils.  Yesterday I was looking for some kind of resist to outline the area so that if I used paint it wouldn’t spread to the surrounding areas.  They didn’t have anything like that but while there I had a light bulb moment and thought of chalk.  All they had were sets of chalk and all I needed was red so I left thinking I would go to the “real” art supply store and buy red chalk to try.

On the way home I remembered that in one of my past lives I made note cards and I vaguely remembered buy a set of chalk at a craft show.  Sure enough when I got home I found this (who knows how old it is). 

 

And look at all the pretty colors.

You can tell, I didn’t exactly use them very much. 

So now for the testing. 

Here is the chalk rubbed on a piece of white fabric.

The top one is the red from the box and the bottom is a regular old piece of pink chalk.  Obviously since it’s chalk it rubs off.  Luckily Marilyn had bought a can of fixation. 

She bought it to go over a acrylic painting her granddaughter did for her but lucky for me the one she bought didn’t say anything about acrylic paint but it sound just right for my project.  I sprayed the surface several time with just a light spray, letting it dry in between.  It looked good but I decided to throw it in the washing machine on warm with a little detergent and then in the dryer.  Check out the results.

It’s perfect and I think will give the exact look I was looking for.  The only negative is that the surface is now a little rough and ever so slightly stiff.  But the color remains exactly the same and the fixative didn’t discolor the fabric.  This is a wall hanging so the fact that it is a little rough to the touch is not biggy but it probably wouldn’t be great for a cuddle quilt.

I also tried crayons.   I tried several colors on the same white fabric.  I then heat set them and threw it in the washing machine.  The results were disappointing.  It really faded, a lot.  I didn’t try spraying with the fixative but I’m pretty sure that would solve the problem.

Here’s the before and after.

I’m sticking with the chalk. 

Enjoy,

Design Wall Monday–3/28/11 and The Winner Is . . . . .

This has been on and off my design wall all weekend long.

My new Logo Quilt is about 30 inches square and the Robin is about 18 inches high.  The binding is just about finished then it’s time to put the Robin in the center.  I will be using fusible bias binding for the outline and I’m still puzzling on how I’m going to make the breast red.  Suggestions are definitely encouraged .

I received 41 suggestions for naming my new quilt pattern.  Thank you  everyone.  There were so many great names is was hard to choose.  But after much thought, voting and discussions  we finally made a selection. 

The winner of the “Name the Quilt Contest” is . . . . . . . . . . . .

Congratulations to Geniene of Renny’s little things.  Geniene, please send me your mailing address and let me know which prize you would like.

Thank you everyone for your help and support.

Enjoy,

 

 

P.S.  To see what others have on their design wall, head on over to Judy’s Patchwork Times. 

Logo Quilt–Progress is being made

On Friday I bought the 9 fat quarters to make a scrappy background for my Logo Quilt.  Yesterday morning I decided I might as well get started so I unfolded and ironed the fat quarters and started cutting out 10” squares.   I just kept plugging away and looky look I not only finished the center of the quilt, I added the borders and even started quilting it. 

I still have to quilt the borders but I decided I needed to wait until today, I was way too tired to continue.  After the quilting is finished, I will go ahead and bind it and then add the logo using fusible bias tape.

Here’s a picture of the quilt with the logo just pinned to the front.  I was checking for size and I think this is about right. 

I see a couple of challenges.  First is how am I going to get the markings on the quilt so that I know where to put the fusible bias tape?  You’d think I would have thought of that before now but somehow I didn’t.  I’m sure I’ll figure it out but I sure didn’t make it easy.  Second, how am I going to make the breast red?  I’m going to use fabric, I think, but I’m still puzzling over that one.   I wonder if a red marker would work?  Any thoughts?  Suggestions are welcome. 

Don’t forget, the family is voting on the name for my new quilt tonight.  If you haven’t made you suggestion yet.  You can go to this blog post and see the quilt as well as the choice of prizes.  I’ll announce the winner on Monday.

Enjoy,

A Fun Day Shop Hopping

Yesterday was a wonderful day hanging out with my BFF Marilyn and visiting 8 fabulous quilt stores in North Orange County.  Twice a year many of the local shop join together to have a mini shop hop.  So of course twice a year we take off and spend the day hopping from one shop to the next.  The great thing is that it’s doable in one day and includes time for lunch. 

Here’s my haul . . . . . . .

-  It’s hard to see any detail but I collected nine WOW fat quarters.  I’d like to think I’m going to have time to make a logo banner quilt before spring market and those will be used for the background. 

-  A really cute jelly roll that I bought just because it was really cute and it was 25% off.

-  A spool of red thread.  A person can always use red thread and it was on sale for 25% off.

-  Ric Rac -  One of the shops had a really cute flower made from rick rack and I also want to make an apron and decorate it with ric rac. 

-  A cookie cutter in the shape of California (this will be a gift).

- A new 7” x 24” ruler.  My old one broke and could now be used as a weapon.  This one is made by Nifty Notions and is one of my favorites.  It is really accurate.  The only problem is that it doesn’t have a non-slip back like some of the others. 

-  A package of TrueGrips to adhere to the back of the ruler.  I like these better than the sand paper ones.  These are clear so they don’t interfere with the markings on the ruler. 

Not bad for a day of shopping and it didn’t ever rain on us, YEA!!! 

My sewing room is a mess so hopefully today will be spent alternating between sewing and cleaning. 

Enjoy,

Friday Funny–3/25/11

Are you noticing a trend here?  Am I the only one getting old”er”? 

 

Have a great weekend.

Enjoy,

Trunk Show Thursday–March 24, 2011

This is a quilt that hangs on the wall in my living room.  I took a class many years ago from someone (I have not idea who) teaching from the book Strips and Curves by Louisa L Smith.   I just checked and Amazon has the book both new and used, you can see it here.   Anyway. the class wasn’t great but I had the book and was able to eventually finish the quilt.  The way the teacher had you cut the drunkards path pieces was time consuming and didn’t make for very accurate pieces.  I’d love to make one of these again using the GO cutter, what a difference that would make in the accuracy. 

By the way, I got a second place ribbon at my guild’s quilt show  so I guess it turned out OK. 

Enjoy,

Name the Quilt Contest

On Monday’s blog post I announced my Name the Quilt contest.  If you missed it, I showed this completed quilt that is in the process of becoming a new RQe pattern.

I also showed you some blocks up on my design wall that were destined to become a smaller version of this un-named quilt.  Well I finished the quilt top today and it’s on it’s way to the long arm quilter tonight.  Here’s a picture of it.

Sure looks different doesn’t it.  The picture doesn’t do it justice, it’s very soft and feminine.  

So back to the contest.  I am collecting names for my new pattern and my family will vote on their favorite on Sunday.  At that time I will announce the winner and award someone their choice of prizes. 

If your name is picked you can choose the Bali Pops or the fat quarters.  Don’t forget you can suggest more than one name for a better chance to win.  I am happy to mail internationally.   Also, remember I have to have a way to get ahold of you.  If you are set to no-reply, please include your email address in your comment so that I can contact you.

Now I’m off to figure out a backing for the new quilt.  I must have something in my stash.  Wish me luck.

Enjoy,

Midge’s Letty’s Bag

I received this in an email yesterday.

Robin, Had fun with this bag. I used half of a Jelly roll! The inside is pieced with more strips for the pockets. I made it for my daughter in law’s birthday. I thought you might like to see the bag done with a bit of a twist. Thanks, Midge

Midge, you did a great job.   Thank you so much for sharing, I’m sure you’re daughter-in-law will love it, she’s a lucky girl.

Enjoy,

Design Wall Monday–3/21/11 and Name the Quilt Contest

This is what’s up on my design wall today…..

But it will turn in to something like this, hopefully by later this week.

This is a quilt I made several years ago while in Las Vegas with my sister Melinda.  I’ve been asked many time if I would write a pattern and until now I haven’t done it.  But the time has come and the pattern is in the works.  Obviously the  original one was made with fruit and vegetable fabrics, where as the current one is being made with a Moda layer cake called Boutique by Chez Moi. 

Now for the contest.  I am the worlds worst at naming patterns so I need help.  Please I really need help.  Leave me a comment with your suggestion.  I will solicit the help of my family in the selection process.  If I use the name you suggest, you will get to pick from one of these two great prizes.  Now isn’t that worth suggesting a pattern name?

On the left is a package of Bali Pops (strawberry fields) by Hoffman or this stack of fat quarters (Where the Boyz Are by Mary Lou Weidman) from Benartez. 

International suggestions are welcomed, I will ship wherever the winner lives.  I will decide by next weekend and announce it right here, same time, same place.  Don’t forget I need to know how to get ahold of you so make sure I have your email address. 

Thanks for your help.  To see what others are up to on Design Wall Monday, check out Judy’s Blog. 

Enjoy,

What’s Wrong with this Picture?

Believe it or not I’m pretty good with numbers and math has always been a strong point of mine.  So yesterday I was playing around with the idea of how to use the Jelly Roll Race method to make a smaller baby quilt.  I did all the calculations and figured out exactly how to do it.  After digging around in my stash I found three flannels that were perfect for a baby quilt.  I knew that three wouldn’t give me much variety but I figured it would still look cute and someone would love it.  So this morning I cut up some strips, set the timer and started sewing.  Here it is.

I wonder if there is a verrrrry looooong, skinnnnnnny baby out there that this would work for.  I think not!  When I did the math again today, this is exactly what I came up with and had I done my math correctly yesterday I wouldn’t have made this, that’s for sure.

Oh well, I still have some fabric so I’ll add some side borders and make it work but I’d sure like to know where my head was yesterday. 

Enjoy,

Celebrating National Quilt Day

Today quilters all over are celebrating National Quilt Day.  It is an annual event celebrated on the third Saturday of every March.   That’s today folks!  What are you planning on doing today?  I plan on spending a good portion of it in my studio, designing, sewing and continuing to quilt one of my UFO’s. 

Remember back here?  I shared a link to a YouTube video showing Jelly Roll Races.  Well several of the gals in my friendship group have been on a roll.  Get it?  Roll as in Jelly Roll!!!!!  LOL!!!!   OK, humor me and at least chuck a little bit at my corniness.  Here are a few pictures that I took the other night. 

Some of these were made with purchased jelly rolls while others we made by digging in their stash.  I think I’ve figured out how to make a baby quilt using this method.  At least it works in my head.  If I get a chance I’ll play with it today and make sure my math skills are still working. 

Have a great day doing what we love . . . . . Quilting!

Enjoy,