Recent Finishes 11/22/2010

I've finished several quilts in the past couple of months.  I've been so busy sewing that I haven't taken the time to post photos or to write as detailed as I usually do.

That being said, here are photos of the finished quilts.  I'll post more details about each of them in the near future.

Superman

For my son Robbie--a Superman fan for most of his 30 years

Features Superman themed print

Blocks:  Heroes and Rockets, Bed of Stars, Sky Rocket

63" x 75"

Original Design

Partly from stash

Completed mid-October

Superman fabric

Baby Q

For newborn daughter of co-worker Albert Q.

Fussy cut centers frame a chandelier-like motif

Modified Square in a Square blocks

54" square

Original Design

Completed early November

Close up of modified Square in a Square block

Center fussy cut

Road to Half Moon Bay, California

For my supervisor Lena R., who loves to explore the tidepools at Half Moon Bay, CA

Road to California blocks

Features large scale tidepool print

54" Square

Original Design
Completed mid-November

Tidepool fabric

Betty's Delight - Quilt Blocks Finished

Betty's Delight Block

Tonight I finished the blocks for It's Been a Delight, Betty.  Betty plays violin in the church orchestra, so I used music fabric in the block.

Blocks laid out on design wall

Four quadrants sewn together

I chose a setting that is quieter than the one I found at QuiltersCache.  I think it's more suitable to Betty's personality.

Next I'll add a narrow border of black, then a wide border of the pink tone-on-tone.  The back will be plain white.  I'll do a pillowcase finish and tie the quilt with embroidery floss in pink and white.

My goal is to finish the quilt in time for Betty's going-away party tomorrow night.  I'm home all day tomorrow, so I should be able to pull it off.

Betty's Delight Quilt

I'm working on a quick quilt for Betty, a fellow church orchestra member.  Betty has been playing violin in the orchestra for over 30 years.  She will be moving soon to Southern California with her daughter, son-in-law and family.  We're having a going-away party for her on Tuesday evening.  Of course, I need to make a quilt for her.

I found a block called Betty's Delight, which I'll be making in 12" finished blocks.  The blocks will be made with a white-and-black music-themed fabric as well as a pink tone-on-tone, and more of the pink will go in the border.  I've named the quilt It's Been a Delight, Betty.

I started sewing the blocks on Saturday and they are nearly done.  I'm on a sort of furlough from work this week, so I have all day today and tomorrow to finish the quilt.  I think I can pull it off.

Road to Half Moon Bay, California Quilt

I finished the Road to (Secret) quilt last night and gifted it this morning to my supervisor Lena R.  Lena loves to go to oceanside Half Moon Bay, CA and explore the tidepools.  About two years ago after hearing about a couple of Lena's trips to the tidepools, I decided to make a quilt for her.  The design would include Road to California blocks, a print that showed seashells and such, and the title Road to Half Moon Bay, California.

Lena's quilt features a large print that looks like tidepools; I used the print in the border and two good-sized leftover pieces on the back.  The quilt has 9 large Road to California blocks and some four-patch blocks in the border.

Lena was surprised to get the quilt, and she seems to really like it.  I'll post photos and details about the quilt, now known as Road to Half Moon Bay, California, in the next few days.

Enjoy your quilt, Lena!

Almost Finished

Last night I got Road to (Secret) quilted.  Tonight I should be able to get the binding attached, and it'll be a done deal.  My plan is to deliver the quilt tomorrow or Thursday.  Can't wait to see the surprise on the person's face!

Update 11/15/2010

I made some progress on Road to (secret), a quilt based on Road to California blocks.  While I was piecing together the quilt top, I started thinking about how I would handle the back, which would be pieced using leftover theme and solid fabrics.  Originally I had planned to divide the quilt top vertically for quilting in sections, but in the end I decided to split the quilt horizontally.  I think this plan will maximize the amount of theme fabric on the back.  The theme fabric will be oriented toward the center area of the quilt, surrounded by the same solid blue from the front.  After sewing together the back sections, it looks good and I really like how the large print is featured in two good-sized pieces.

Last night I got one of the two quilt sandwiches spray basted.  It was pretty late by the time I was ready to begin machine quilting, my machine is pretty loud when I quilt and I have common walls with neighbors in my condo.  So I set it aside to do tonight at an earlier time of the evening.  I hope to have the quilt fully quilted by bedtime tonight.

Sewing Quilt Top for Road to (Secret)

I woke up at 6:00 this morning and couldn't get back to sleep.  I am not a morning person, but I figured I'd might as well make good use of my time.  So I started sewing together the quilt top for Road to (Secret).  I got one quadrant sewn together, including theme fabric border pieces.  I'll have the rest sewn together shortly.  As usual I'll machine quilt in sections.  I've divided the quilt roughly in half vertically.  The sections are wider than I like to deal with, but I'll get through it.  I'm planning to do an enclosed seam to join the sections.

I'm without a car at the moment, have been for about a week.  I'm not sure how long that will last, but hopefully not too long.  People have been wonderfully generous about giving me rides.  I work in a large office, and two co-workers who live within a few blocks of me have been getting me to and from work.  My son and daughter-in-law took me to and from church on Sunday.  A fellow church orchestra member gave me a ride to/from rehearsal last night. 

Today I needed to go to Joann's for extra backing fabric and some thread for the Road quilt.  Fortunately I live near the mall where many buses are.  I missed a bus to take me the half mile to the mall area, so I walked.  Not a big deal.  Among my errands, I needed to go to two banks which were by the mall and across the street from one another, so that worked out.  I stopped at a nearby restaurant and had lunch, then went back across the street to wait for the bus that would take me to Joann's.  Things went pretty smoothly.  I did my research before I left home, so I knew which bus I needed, what time the bus stopped, etc.

All the public transportation I've done on vacations paid off in my own home town today.

Catching up 11/10/2010

I'm working on Road to (secret).  I've completed all of the half-square triangles and most of the four-patches.  Tonight I'll finish the last of the four-patches, then lay out the quilt top on the design wall.  I don't think I'll sew the Road to California blocks together in the usual fashion because I'm doing something different with the border, which I'll assemble as an extension of the quilt blocks. 

Here's my plan for the border:  I'm using a large-scale directional theme fabric and the 1.5 yard piece isn't long wide or long enough to cover a side.  So I'm planning to piece the border with sections of theme fabric, broken up with small blocks.  For example, for the top border I'm planning to cut a width of fabric, split it in the middle, and insert a solid colored square or a four-patch.  There should be some continuity between the left and right sides, almost like a tryptic.  It works in my head.  We'll see how it goes.

Update 11/2/2010

I plan to finish Baby Q tonight and deliver it tomorrow.  Tomorrow night I plan to continue working on Road to (secret).  I don't expect it to take too long to finish...hopefully sometime next week.

Catching Up 11/1/2010

This past week I made a Little Bo Peep costume for my granddaughter Reghan for Halloween.  The outfit didn't cost much, since I used fabric from stash and lace given to me by quilting friend Judy P.  I spent less than $10 on a zipper, spool of ribbon and elastic to make an outfit which included a dress, pantaloons, skirt and a bonnet.  Not bad!  Reghan looked really cute as Little Bo Peep.  Her baby sister Piper was darling as a lamb.

Last night I started working on Baby Q again.  It's a baby quilt in a square in a square pattern.  I pieced together the backing using leftover chandelier fabric and solid pink, both used on the quilt top.  I should be able to finish the quilt by Tuesday night at the latest.

Later this week I plan to get back to the Road to California quilt which I started on my quilting retreat.  I expect it to be a quick finish.  The next step is to create lots of four patches, then assemble the Road to California blocks.  I made the half square triangles on my retreat.

I haven't taken the time to upload photos of my son's Superman quilt yet.  I'm hoping to post about it this weekend.

Weekend Retreat in Pacifica

I'm on my way to seaside Pacifica, CA for a three-day quilting retreat.  As usual, I'm going solo, staying in an ocean-front motel where I can see the ocean and hear the crashing waves as I sew.  This is the third such retreat for me. I love it.

I'm taking along my tiny Janome Sew-Mini sewing machine, which is the size of a toaster.  It sews straight and zigzag, very slowly, but it gets the job done.  I'm leaving my nice Bernina at home because it's too valuable to replace.  I'm not as concerned about my little machine walking away.  Of course, there are lots of tools and fabric to bring.  I'm driving this time, rather than taking BART and bus.  I'm hoping to fit my ironing board in the car.  Otherwise, I'll have to use the motel's small tabletop ironing board as I've done in the past.

During my retreat I'll be working on a couple of projects.  The first is another mystery quilt, details about which I won't share since the recipient reads my blog now and then.  The pattern is Road to California, with just 9 large blocks and a border in a theme print.  And that's about all I want to say about it at this time.

The second quilt is a Liberated Quiltmaking version of Shoo Fly.  The center of each block is a print in a dark yellow background with blue, red and brown stars--kind of a country palette.  I plan to alternate backgrounds of blue and dark yellow, with the Shoo Fly triangles in blue, red or brown.  I raided my stash for the quilt, and it will be fun to try to work with only what I brought with me.  The quilt will be donated to my church to be given to someone going through a difficult time.  I'm hoping it will have a masculine feel.

I'm looking forward to sewing by the sea.  I don't expect to finish either of the quilt projects before I go home, but I'll make some progress, and that's enough for me.

Catching Up 10/19/10

It's been a little while since I posted.  I've been busy.  I finished the Mystery Quilt about a week ago, and delivered it.  It was a Superman-themed quilt for my son Robbie, who has been a Superman fan since he was small.  To my delight it was a surprise to him and to my daughter-in-law Laurie.  Both of them have keys to my place, and I thought Laurie might drop by some time to see what I was working on, since she reads my blog.  Luckily for me, she assumed the mystery quilt was a different project that I planned to work on this month--which is what I hoped she'd think.  Aren't I sneaky?  I'll post photos and details on the Superman quilt later.

Meanwhile, I've been working on a quilt I'm calling Baby Q.  It's a quilt for pay, for the new (less than a week old) daughter of co-worker Albert Q.  I'm doing modified Square in a Square, with four rounds and a fussy-cut center.  I'm nearly done with the 25 paper-pieced blocks.  I'd love to finish the quilt by tomorrow night and deliver (so to speak) on Thursday.  However, I'm not sure if Albert will be here this week.  If not I'll just hold onto the quilt until he comes back to work.

This weekend I'm going to seaside Pacifica, CA for my annual quilting retreat.  I'll be working on two quilts:  Mystery Quilt #2, as well as a charity quilt--a Shoo Fly pattern in a Liberated Quiltmaking style.  I don't expect to finish either one during the three-day weekend, but I'll enjoy working on them while I'm there.  I have reservations for an ocean-view room, as usual.  Although I've done a few staycations during the past few months, this will be my first, and probably only, vacation away from home this year.  I'm looking forward to it.

Oh, by the way, I'll be making a Little Bo Peep costume for Halloween for my 4-year-old granddaughter Reghan.  Her baby sister Piper will be a sheep.  Cute!

Mystery Quilt Progress 10/5/2010

I laid the first set of border pieces on the design wall tonight.  They look great.  The fabric is directional, and I decided to follow the orientation of the same fabric in the central block nearest each strip.

I'm auditioning two fabrics for the next border.  Fabric A is in the large central block, and it would be nice to repeat it.  But it seems kind of heavy.  I really prefer Fabric B, which is found in the smaller blocks, and I will probably go with it.  I don't know if I'll be able to use Fabric A again in the design.  At this point throwing it in somewhere seems a little forced.  But perhaps a nice opportunity to use it will present itself later.

Mystery Quilt Progress 10/4/2010

The mystery quilt blocks are finished!  I pieced together the last set of four corner blocks tonight.  The next step is to cut several border pieces, which I may do tomorrow night.  I have another quilt due soon, so I may set aside the mystery quilt to work on it.  We'll see how I feel tomorrow.

Mystery Quilt Progress 9/28/2010

Tonight I finished the first set of four corner blocks.  They look good.  I have another set of four corner blocks to make.  The pattern is a smaller, less detailed version of the large central block.  When those are done I can do borders and begin assembling the top.  I'm really hoping to have the quilt done by this time next week.

Mystery Quilt Progress 9/25/2010

I finished the 27" sq. central block last night.  It looks good.  Tonight I'm working on four small (9" fin.) corner blocks.  They're fancy nine-patches but pretty straight forward, so they shouldn't take long.

Piper's Polka Dots on Display

Here is Piper's Polka Dots quilt on display in my granddaughter Piper's room.  The walls inspired the quilt design.  The quilt looks good with the inspiration wall.

Mystery Quilt Progress 9/21/2010

The four most intricate sections of the central block of the Mystery Quilt are finished.  There are four arms that form an X in the block.  I got two of those done tonight.  Although the remaining two arms wouldn't take long, I don't know how much quilting I'll be able to do tomorrow night.  I've got a couple of other items on the agenda that will occupy most of the evening.  I'm hoping I'll get an hour or two before bed to sew.  Good thing I'm a night owl!

Mystery Quilt Progress 9/20/2010

First of all, I'm the mother of a 30-year-old today!  My wonderful son Robbie is 30.  I am officially old.  Happy Birthday, Bud!

I've made progress on the Mystery Quilt.  My paper-pieced sections are all drawn and last night I got one intricate section paper-pieced.  Tonight I'm hoping to finish the other three--identical to the section I finished last night.  I expect the process to go faster tonight, since the fabric pieces are already measured and cut.  It seems that the planning takes a while, but things move right along after the deep thinking is done.

Mystery Quilt

I've got a few quilts at the beginning stages.  The one that is farthest along is a mystery quilt.  I have to be careful what I say about it because it's a surprise and I don't want the recipient to read about it on my blog.

I've bought fabric and created a design for the mystery quilt.  Last night I began drawing up the 27" block that goes in the center of the quilt.  I had to piece together three separate sheets of paper to get a size large enough to accommodate the pattern:  a gridded sheet that wasn't quite wide enough and two large pieces of tracing paper which were also a little too small.  I plotted a few points, then had to check my drawing on EQ6 for more details.  That's as far as I got.  Tonight I'll finish drawing the large block, then decide how I'll create 4 identical, intricate triangles for paper piecing.  It sounds complicated, but it's kind of a fun challenge for me.

I may have to drop the project when some ordered fabric arrives.  The fabric is for another project that is due soon, and will have to take priority, since it has an absolute deadline of the middle of October.  But until the fabric arrives, I can work on the mystery quilt.