5 for $1.00

Off My List

I love crossing things off my UFO list. I really don't think of any of my projects as UFO's; more like WIP's. I got the binding sewn down on the drive home from Tacoma on Sat.

This project started from a charm pack. I only bought one and I've learned that 2 definitely give you more options. I sewed this up and pieced together the background to fit.

Using a Gwen Marson pattern as inspiration, I hand appliqued the flowers. This has kicked around my place as a finished top for quite some time. Actually, it was in my "hand quilting" pile and I only had intentions of basting it on my longarm. Once I got it loaded and looked at it, all I saw was feathers in the background so I got out my blue wash out pen, marked the heck out of it and quilted it.

I put the corner hangers on this piece; I've never used this method to hang small pieces before. Now to get doweling cut to the right size!

SewBatik was at the quilt show last weekend and while D was buying a few pieces, I mentioned to her that these batiks were the nicest ones and the very nice salesman gifted me this bag of scraps! How's that for a compliment paying off. They price these at $9 and after pulling it all apart, it's definitely a great buy at that price.
Thanks Mr. SewBatik
Now to make a scrappy batik, I already have some ideas from all the art quilts at the show last weekend.
Sharon

Quilt Show Part 2

Machine quilting is the focus of this post, although you might see some hand quilting.
Below - Elizabeth Spanring  This was quilted on a domestic machine. Amazing work!

Below - Sherrie Rogers-Harrison  Whole cloth quilt, painted after the quilting was done. 800+ hours.

The big winner was Renae Haddadin

After seeing these amazing pieces, do I dare show my "masterpieces"? Of course, because I remind myself this is a business for these people, and I, like most of us, have a day job and it's too many years to count before I get to retire!

Photo Heavy Post

Saturday was filled with inspiration and motivation. D and I drove to Tacoma to see the quilt show put on by the Association of Pacific West Quilters.
There were a few quilts hanging among all the fiber arts. I know this is the trend of quilt shows now, the room was full of amazing inspiration and ideas and color and talent. I could go on and on, but instead I'll let the photos do the talking. I have very few artists names, but if you click to enlarge you might see the name to the right of the quilt on some pictures.

Below is Jean Wells from the Stitching Post in Sisters, OR  This was one of my favorite pieces in the show.

I'll show more tomorrow. Winners names are posted on the APWQ website.

Sharon

Beautiful Finish

This is not my quilt. It's D's quilt, one that she made for her niece. Asian influenced and bold. It's for a birthday this fall.

The quilting took some time, this is a labor intensive design. By the time I got to the end of a row, my arm and hand would be asleep! Hmmm, a computer was sounding right up my alley a few times. Then I reminded myself why I love quilting; it's because I get to do the quilting!

When D saw the finished piece, she commented on how she would like to keep it. I told her to keep it! She has enough time to get another top whipped up before the fall birthday! I'm sure she will gift it, but I'm not so sure I would.

The quilting pattern in Annie's Garden by Ann Bright. I used SoFine in color 403. It's a few shades creamier than white. It's nice on the white and not as stark as what white would be on the black and red portions. Bottom line in the bobbin.
Sharon

Light at the end.....

August 11, block is prepped and a couple of leaves have been turned and stitched.

August 23, I've been packing this piece all around with me. I get 15 - 20 minutes of stitching at lunch, a few minutes here and there at home, and I'm almost finished.  There is one more "corner" piece, the ones with all the fingers, and that bottom layer with the fingers takes me about an hour to stitch down.

On Point??

Straight sets??

As I move along with customer quilts, I always take a few minutes before and after longarming to work on a project.  This has been the one that's gotten the attention the past few weeks.  Slowly, but surely, it's coming along.  I've working on the 3rd set of 10, I have a stack of sashing with corners piled up beside my machine and a tupperware container of the 1/2 sq tri's that I have been cutting off. 
I'm going to have to look at the math with the on point, it might turn into a carport cover! Maybe some night stand covers with the extras?  I'm a long way from that point, so I'll just keep sewing along!
Hope you've got to sneak in a few minutes of sewing, it really does all add up!
Sharon

Worth a Look

If you don't follow Pippa's blog, Welsh Quilts,  you've missed some fabulous quilts from a show she attended.
Take a peek through her last few posts!
Sharon

Final Photos

OK, if you can stand one more post about this quilt, hang in there. I promise, last time I show this.  That's because I have the binding on and I just need to turn it to the back, sew it down, and gift it out.  The recipient has seen it, Friday night, in fact. I was soooo close to having it finished, I just had to show it to her.

Here is a close up of the quilting, doing it by hand made all the difference. I love how it turned out.

This was a no mark, no measure border. I wanted the lines to be a bit organic and off kilter in places. Some was intentional, other times it was just how they ended up. I did try to use the needle as a measure between each set of lines. Rust thread was used throughout. Most of the solids are Kona. I've named this The Second Half. I'm keeping my first one for myself. It needs quilted and I'll be doing it that by hand to. It's in the line up!

I have enjoyed the process of this project and I'm very pleased with the final results.
Sharon

BASICS Quilt Drive

It's that time of year to get going on quilts for BASICS. If you are not familiar with this program, click on the logo on my sidebar and that will take you to Bumble Beans site. Victoria and Pat Sloan have spearheaded this drive and I'm thrilled to help them reach their goal.

BASICS/Promesa, is a community based organization in the South Bronx, New York City.

Our goal is to assist disadvantaged families and individuals,

as well as to enhance their ability to thrive in the community.

The organization offers housing services, primary care, substance abuse,

mental health and harm reduction services—

everything an individual needs in order to recover

and actively participate in the betterment of our community.

We are writing to ask for your participation in the Organization’s Quilt Drive,

an ongoing initiative to supply the homeless families that we serve with quilts.

Victoria Findlay Wolfe and Pat Sloan are now helping in soliciting from quilters from all over the country.

Now this is where I come in. I have volunteered to quilt, bind and ship 5 quilts.  I have 2 quilts completely done and now I need 3 more tops.  If you would like to participate and have me quilt your donation quilt, I would need the top and the binding sent to me no later than September 19th, 2011.  I will provide the batting and the backing, I'll quilt the top and bind it, and ship it off to BASICS by their Nov deadline. 

Please leave a comment or email me at sharon at grassrootsquiltstudio dot com  I only need 3 tops, they will go to kids, adults, teenaged boys and girls. 

Please help me help Victoria and Pat in this wonderful cause.    Let's help those who need a hand up!

Thanks for sticking to the end of this post, I hope you can help!
Sharon

Transformation

I've taken this....

and turned it into this.....

I had the blocks sewn into each half and pinned together. All that is what I call production work. The fun part of this is designing it on the wall. It still needs a few more seams, border ideas are swirling in my mind. This WIP has been in a box for some time, and now I needed a comfort quilt. I think this is perfect for her.

Sharon

Metal Quilts

OK, my camera was on B & W so I don't have a great photo to show, but you HAVE to check out this guy. He makes metal quilts and baskets!red rivet studios
I have no affiliation, I just thought that other quilters/artists might want to see something unique and colorful.
Sharon

Summer Festivals

Saturday was a beautiful day for a drive. Road trips are so much better in my sisters rag top sports car. We headed south to Anacortes, WA for their annual street festival.

 Yup, I had put my camera on black and white in my studio Friday night, and forgot to change it back. Because it was sunny and I had on my sunglasses, I couldn't see the screen while I was taking photos.  When I went to take the next photo shown............well, so much for my colorful pictures of the street fair.!
I was prepared, a large bag for purchases, straw hat, sunscreen, camera and a list  colors in YLI hand quilting thread. The Quilt Shop is the only place that I've seen that sells YLI hand quilting threads.  I had seen their selection when we did our shophop but this time I was prepared with my list.

I might never use all this thread, but if I need it, I'll have it!

This was a fun photo, no color needed.

I hope your Saturday was colorful!
Sharon

Pink Power

I finally have the top pieced and it's ready for quilting.  It will have to wait for a couple of customer tops to be quilted first. 

Can you see your pinks?  If not, rest assured that they will go into another Pink quilt for breast cancer.  I have left over blocks from this one so I have a jump start on next years quilt.  Knowing that we can raise $1200 is the biggest  incentive for donating this to Safe at Second Base.  This team is walking 60 miles over 3 days in September.  They are doing the walk in Seattle, WA
Go Betsy, Go Corel!
Thanks again to everyone who participated in this project, it is so appreciated! I will post once it's quilted.
Sharon

BTCT Updated

I've done the "hump" block, that was block # 13.  Now I only have 12 more to go and then I can work on the borders.  Hmm, maybe I could work on one border, then a block, then a border....etc.  This will keep the momentum going and I won't get dragged down in doing 4 large borders one after another.  I'll keep that thought in mind once all the blocks are posted.
Here is what I have so far.

It was hard to impossible to get the 4th row completely in the photo, this is also a block with a pot.

I'm loving this project, I'm staying on task, my applique skills have grown by leaps and bounds.  I still keep thinking "hand quilting" on this, and I know for sure that I will be keeping this quilt for myself.
What did you work on that stretched your skills? 
Sharon

I've Shared my Addiction

My friend D wanted to make a memory quilt, then it became two, and then she started down the slippery slope of quilting as a full time hobby. She was very clear to me that she would work on one project, get it finished and THEN start her next project. Hmm, I have 2 quilts to quilt for her, and this is one that just arrived. It's from a McCalls magazine in late 2009, but here is the story of this pattern. Thank you Barbara Brackman!

Welcome to my world, D. I started this project as a Four Block quilt, but not D, she had to make the full sized pattern. She mixed it up a bit with the borders, did fusible applique and did a zig zag stitch around all the pieces.  I've basted one other piece that is going to be hand quilted, she has several tops in process and a room full of fabric and books and patterns! As for the quilting on this one, she said "whatever I want"  Well, you just know it's going to have feathered wreaths in the center of the circles.  This won't get started until the fall, I know it will be on my machine for at least 3 - 4 weeks.
Sharon