Lincoln, Roseville and Sacramento

A couple of Saturdays ago I traveled to Lincoln, CA (near Sacramento) for the Sacramento Modern Quilt Guild Meeting. This was my first time to Lincoln. It's a combination of quaint downtown and modern outskirts. The meeting was held downtown at Sew Katie Jean, a quilt store owned by guild member Katie T. Since the store opened last year I'd been meaning to visit, so I was glad to have this chance.

Sew Katie Jean - downtown Lincoln

Sew Katie Jean is a nice quilt store, with an emphasis on vintage-looking fabrics, all so very pretty. We had a great meeting, and afterward guild leader Jennifer K. and I went to lunch.

Awful Annie's Restaurant

About a block away from Sew Katie Jean

Great American style food

Jennifer and I walked about a block to Awful Annie's Restaurant, which I chose among Jennifer's various suggestions, admittedly because of the name. I am easily amused. Awful Annie's is decorated in a country style with lots of antiques, old photos, etc. It's like going to Grandma's in the best sort of way. I ordered Eggs Benedict, one of my favorite "vacation" meals. It was wonderful and I'd go back again. I really enjoyed talking with Jennifer and getting to know her.

Peet's Coffee at The Fountains in Roseville

After lunch I drove a few minutes to Roseville to meet up with former neighbor and my daughter Lisa's best friend Jennifer A. The girls have been friends since elementary school, and Jennifer is very special to me. So Jennifer, her son David and I got together at Peet's Coffee in Roseville. We spent about an hour talking, strolled to Z Gallerie (my favorite decorating store) to look around a bit, then parted ways in the parking lot. I'm really glad I got to see Jennifer.

Next I headed to West Sacramento Ikea, in hopes of finding a certain fabric for my granddaughter Piper. I didn't find the fabric, there was little fabric there, and no more would be coming in until after the remodel was completed in late April. So I decided there was no point in going back until the mid-May quilt guild meeting. Maybe I'll get lucky then.

Usually I stick around Sacramento until dark, generally hanging out at Barnes and Noble for a couple of hours. But I had a tight deadline with the Spring Flowers quilt and headed on home.

Have Fabrics for Darrell Quilt

Fabrics for Darrell Quilt

Lighter gray is on standby. May use it, may not.

I've gathered the fabrics for Darrell, a quilt for musician friend Darrell N. I'm quite happy with the collection. I'm favoring the darker gray, so the lighter one will be a benchwarmer unless and until it's needed.

I'm washing fabrics tonight and I'll probably start sewing tomorrow.

WIP Wednesday 3/21/2012

Spring Flowers

For retiring co-worker Diana T.

49" x 59"

Original layout - block adapted from internet image

Partly from stash

Completed 3/21/2012

Close-up

 Notice the white paisley print. I don't like large expanses of plain white, so I usually choose a subtle white print. The paisleys are on the large size, but the scale works well with the tall flowers.

I just finished Spring Flowers quilt. After a couple of days of preparation I started sewing the quilt last Friday, a little less than a week ago. The quilt is a surprise gift and I'll post more about it after I present it shortly.*

The flower blocks are paper-pieced. I wanted each individual flower to be unique, so I hand-drew the interior detail lines of the paper-piecing sections. As a result, there are variations in the stems and petals, which I really like.

Next on my list is a quilt called Darrell, for a musician friend. It features two music-related fabrics. I'll probably start working on the quilt this weekend.

*Update: I gave the quilt to retiring co-worker Diana T., whose last day was Thursday, March 22. She loves the quilt.

Spring Flowers Blocks Done

Spring Flowers Blocks - 8.5" x 15.5" unfinished

Look closely and you'll see slight variations in stems and petals, as planned.

Variations were accomplished by drawing detail lines free-hand style on the paper pieced pattern sections.

Here's another brief update on the Spring Flowers quilt. Last night I got all of the flower blocks sewn together and trimmed to size. Originally the blocks were supposed to be 8.5" x 16.5" (unfinished). But when I laid out the template, it was too tall. I cut off an inch from the template, so the flowers will finish a little shorter, at 8" x 15". That will take a couple of inches off of the finished length of the quilt, as well, but I'm not worried. It will still be plenty long at approximately 66", about 6" longer than I normally make for a woman of average height.

Tonight I'll cut sashing and cornerstones, piece the top, then add a couple of borders. I would love to get the quilt sandwich prepared for a pillowcase finish before bedtime. We'll see how it goes.

Four Spring Flowers Sewn Together

Spring Flowers paper-pieced blocks, still to be trimmed to 8.5" x 16.5" unfinished

Here's a brief update on Spring Flowers quilt, which has a very quick deadline. After much preparation and planning, I started sewing the paper-pieced flower blocks last night. I got one completely sewn together, and one in three sections. I took them to the Sacramento Modern Quilt Guild meeting today as part of my show and tell. After working this evening, I now have four flower blocks sewn together. I'm waiting until all of the blocks are sewn together before I trim them to the desired size of 8.5" x 16.5" unfinished. I need to get eight blocks done tomorrow to stay on track.

I usually have the television on while I sew, but I can get distracted and end up watching TV instead of sewing. When I have a tight deadline, as I have now, I leave the TV off and listen to Pandora radio through my smartphone. (I used to listen to music on Dish, but I lost all of my music channels when I downgraded.) I get entertainment without distraction. It works for me.

WIP Wednesday 3/14/2012

Echoes - Frog Quilt

Made mainly of leftovers from the original Frog quilt

To be donated to Redwood Family Center

Original design

70" x 90"

Completed 3/14/2012

Close-up of lily pad block. There's a little yellow frog top center of the block.

A peek at the back of the quilt. There's no purple on the front of the quilt, but the fabric fit the theme and was on clearance. Done deal!

Tonight I finished Echoes - Frog Quilt. The quilt is made mostly from leftovers from a frog quilt I made last October. The quilt will be given to Redwood Family Center.

The next project is Spring Flowers - twelve paper-pieced flowers in a variety of purples. I plan to draw each paper pieced pattern separately, so each looks slightly different, aside from purple fabric. I'm thinking of doing a needle punch circle in yellow to go in the center of each flower. I bought a needle punch last weekend and I'll practice to see how it goes. This will be a quick project, so I've got to get moving.

Shin Zen Garden in Fresno

Last Saturday friend Lena R. and I drove to Fresno, California to Woodward Park, to visit the Japanese Shinzen Garden. I used to go there two or three times a year, but it had been a couple of years since I'd visited. It seems that since I started going to Sacramento once a month for the Sacramento Modern Quilt Guild, I stopped going to the garden. I had a free weekend, including a Sunday off from playing the piano from church, so I decided to go.

Just outside the entrance

View of the gardens - just inside the gate

I knew there were peacocks in the garden, and I kept hearing a loud one nearby. I was very surprised to see the noisy peacock high overhead in the tree. I didn't know they could fly like that. Wow!

View of the garden, not far from my favorite bench

Waterfall near my favorite bench. I love to hear the water and look on the gardens. It is peaceful and quiet there, with very few visitors.

View from the moon bridge,across the koi pond, looking back toward my sitting area

The trees were beginning to bloom, as were the flowers. I don't think I'd ever been here in spring. How beautiful!

Closer look at what may be cherry blossoms. I love the mix of green, white and pinks.

Blue flowers making an appearance

Pretty white flowers

Another waterfall, this one quieter

Little river and bridge

On the way to the restroom Lena and I came upon this fellow. I don't know if he was the same peacock that was high in the tree.

The view from my favorite bench. The waterfall is to my left. I've spent many an afternoon here in the tranquility...sometimes in the rain. For $3 admission (plus $5 per car to get into the park), it's a great value.

Cottage Quilts

After the leaving the garden, Lena and I had lunch at P.F. Chang. I love that place and we had a wonderful meal. Then we headed to Cottage Quilts for our first visit. I was looking for a purple fat quarter or two for the Spring Flowers quilt, but walked out empty-handed. Next we drove to Quilter's Paradise in Clovis, where I picked up a fat quarter. Following that, a stop at a nearby Hancock Fabric, then we headed home. It was a fun day. I won't wait so long to come back to the Japanese garden.

Winters, Vacaville and Sacramento

In February, the Sacramento Modern Quilt Guild met in Winters, California - west of Sacramento. Friend and co-worker Sharon E. came along with me. Sharon isn't a quilter, but she was with me for a purpose. More on that later. This was Sharon's and my first time to Winters. It seems like a nice, quaint mining sort of town. It reminds me of Sonora or Jamestown in the foothills of the Sierras not so far from me.

The guild meeting was held at the City of Winters Visitors Center, right next door to the Cloth Carousel quilt shop, where most of us browsed after the meeting.

I found the tan and black music fabric at the Cloth Carousel. I found the guitar fabric later in the day. Both fabrics were on my Wish List at equilter.com, part of an upcoming project for musician friend Darrell. Happily I was able to buy both fabrics without paying for shipping. Woo-hoo!

After the quilt shop Sharon and I had lunch at Putah Creek Cafe, seen on Food Network's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. The food was great and the restaurant didn't feel crowded even though there were lots of tables and people. I'd go back there again. It would have been nice to hang out in Winters for a while, but we had a schedule to keep.

After lunch Sharon and I drove to A Quilted Heart quilt shop in nearby Vacaville to meet up with my quilting friend Marilyn L., who coordinates the Vacaville Binky Patrol. I gave Marilyn a bunch of fabric to be made into quilts and distributed to children. I am happy to give fabric to a good cause. 

At the shop I bought the guitar fabric (see earlier photo), a few fat quarters and this funny pin (Quiltaholics Anonymous). For a long time my daughter Lisa has said I should join QA. I'll probably wear it to guild meetings and quilt shows.

After Vacaville we drove to a library in South Natomas and got Sharon a Sacramento County Library card, her main reason for the trip. Now she'll be able to download e-books to her Kindle, just like I do to the Kindle app on my phone.

Then we headed to Ikea West Sacramento. I was hoping to find a certain fabric that was supposed to be back in stock in February. It wasn't there yet. This was Sharon's first visit to Ikea, and I think she liked it. Above is a mirror that reminds me of a baby's head and curly hair. Silly, I know.

Sharon and I had a great time. I'm glad she came along with me.

WIP Wednesday 3/7/2012

This week I did a pillowcase finish on Echoes - Frog Quilt.

Here is the quilt turned right side out.

A peek at the back of the quilt.

My work space in the choir room at my church.

I usually lay out the quilt sandwich on my bed, but the previous Echo quilt was too big to be workable. These tables were a better solution.

Backing fabric - frogs on purple and white polka dot fabric.

There's no purple on the front of the quilt, but the frogs fit the theme of the original quilt, and at $2.97 per yard on clearance, it was a good choice.

My first task was to sew the backing. Here it is draped over one of the sofas.

I laid out the quilt top on the tables to get an idea of how big the backing and batting needed to be. If I cut them a little bigger than the table I should be okay.

Here's another angle.

Laying out the batting. It was king sized, a donation.

The batting hangs off the table quite a bit.

I trimmed the batting even with the width of the three tables, knowing there would be extra.

I trimmed the top and bottom edges, leaving a foot or so. Next I laid the quilt top over the batting. I wished I'd brought tape with me to keep the batting from moving, but I managed. I stuck pins through the layers to hold them in place. 

Quilt top placed right side down on the backing, pinned the layers together.

I made my way around the quilt, trimming to about an inch from the quilt top's edge. The layers are held together with hair clips. The fourth edge was going to be hard to reach, but I figured out that I could get to it easily by moving a table. I have to remember that trick for the future.

Layers sewn together along the edges of the quilt top, leaving a space unsewn for turning right side out. Topstitching closes the opening, and continues all around the perimeter of the quilt.

Once again, the quilt top.

Tonight I began tying knots in the quilt. The quilt should be finished in a couple of days.

Sunday night I added some embellishments to Remember to Play, a mixed media piece. There are marble-looking buttons and little black beads on the red ribbon. The red buttons near the bottom are a little crooked, but I like them. The piece feels finished now. I like its playful mood.

Spring Flowers Quilt - EQ Sketch

Above is a sketch of a quilt I'll be making this month. I'm planning to use lots of different purples, one fabric for each flower - my preference versus several purples in one flower. The quilt will be paper-pieced, but I may not worry about being too exact. I'd like each flower to have its own personality. I may even draw each paper piecing pattern individually, which would give each one a unique shape. I'll start the quilt in a few days. The Darrell quilt (guitars and music) will wait till Spring Flowers is done.

WIP Wednesday 2/29/2012

This week: First border attached to top of Echoes - Frog Quilt

Scrappy strips made earlier in week. Had intended to use these for border, plus plain fabric to fill in gaps.

Quilt top placed over strips to see how it looks. Good contrast.

Strips laid out around quilt top which is folded in half. Not enough to go all the way around quilt top. Need some plain fabric.

Plain fabric against quilt top. I like the simplicity.

Border made of plain fabric. Very happy with it.



This week I worked on the first border of Echoes - Frog Quilt. I made a bunch of scrappy strips and had intended to use these plus some plain fabric, which I needed to buy. When I got home with the plain fabric the next evening, I saw the scrappy strips on the wall and thought they were too busy. They seemed to take away from the pieced centers of the quilt top. I decided to go with all plain fabric for the border, and I'm very happy with the results. The simplicity lets the pieced centers be the stars, and the blue contrasts well with the dark green background and also picks up the blue of the lily pad fabric centers. I'll save the strips for another Redwood Center quilt.

A wide outer border in the dark green will finish the quilt top. I plan to attach it in the next couple of days.