Design Wall Monday 04.30.12

I do have something to put up on my design wall ;0) It's a paper pieced project that I worked on last week for my Paper Piecing class.

These are blocks from Anja Townrow's book call Dutch Flower Pot. It's a wonderful book on paper piecing and I love her designs. This is the easiest block in her book which is why I choose this one for the class (with her permission :0) There are many more in her book plus inspiration from her award winning quilts. I purchased her book from AQS in 2002 and it is available on Amazon, both used and new copies. Here  is a link to her book on Amazon. Anja is a wonderful quilt artist! Here is a link to her website.

I recently found two more of her quilts in a wonderful book called Quilts in Bloom. I picked that up at a local used book store. Just now found the Quilts in Bloom book on Amazon as well, click here for a link to that book.

Linked to Judy's blog Patchwork Times for Design Wall Monday. Check out what other quilters have on thier design wall. Have a great week!

April UFO

My UFO finish for April is Chips 'n Strips...

This started as an online New Year's Day Mystery Quilt hosted by Planet Patchwork Jan 1st 2012. Made from left over strips and scraps plus two different cream color pieces for the outer borders.

Close up of my feather quilting. The binding is pieced from strips as well. The binding on the corners is the red inner border fabric and centered on each of the sides is binding made from strips of one of the print fabrics.

On the 1st I finished piecing the top without borders. The fabrics I planned to use for borders were a bit too short and I set it aside. Added to my list for Judy's UFO challenge I took it out again and tweaked the pattern. Original layout called for nine patch cornerstones in the outer border. Changed them to a 16 patch, included the cornerstones of the inner border and now the two outer border fabrics work.

This quilt is actually #2 on my UFO list. April got away from me and I was not able to get much work done on my UFO # 10 Galactic Twinkle, Judy's designated UFO for April. Since I've been working on scrappy quilts I decided to stay in that mode and switched 10 and 2. Sew Chips 'n Strips is done for an April finish.

Today is also Design Wall Monday so Judy is planning to post the UFO link and new # this afternoon. Last week I made some paper pieced blocks for a class and have them up on my design wall this morning. If Judy picks #2 maybe I'll have Galactic Twinkle up on my wall next Monday :0) Will see what May brings... 

I can't believe it! Judy did pick #2 !!! for the next UFO! Perfect, it's a even trade for me ;0) Head on over to Judy's blog by clicking - Patchwork Times to see more quilts and projects finished in April by other quilters participating in Judy's 2012 UFO Challenge. Happy Quilting!

Classes at Cathy's

Classes at Cathy's Sew and Vac / Honey Run Quilters, Chico CA

Two of my classes at Cathy's this week were sew much fun! Thursday was the third session of the Carpenter's Star quilt we are making in Quilting 101 class ~ putting on borders. We added an inner and a second outer border...
This is Kathy W's quilt with the inner borders sewn on and one outer border.

She emailed that all her borders are on now :0) and she is ready for quilting in our next session! Love her enthusiasm and this is her first ever quilt!!! I'd say she is a natural for quilting. Wouldn't you agree?

This is my top with two borders on and the side borders up on the design wall next to the top. They are now pieced to length and attached.

More pics after the next class including Kathy T's quilt top. She was not ready for a photo at the end of class and promised to send one when her top is together. Have fun on your trip to the Eastcoast!

Yesterday, Saturday was my Paper Piecing class. After a simple practice piece we made flower pots designed by Anja Townrow. Her book, Dutch Flower Pot is wonderful and available at Amazon. Click the book title for the link to Amazon or Anja's name for a link to her website. TIA

Here is Takako's beautiful flower pot. She plans to buy Anja's book :0)

Takako

Here is Claudia's flower pot, not quite finished in class. I cropped the second photo. She emailed last night that she did finish her block when she got home and is happy with the result :0) Love the fabrics!



Claudia

Kathy

This is Kathy T's. She made a different flower pot, a little harder and in two parts. Gorgeous Kathy!



Field of Poppies

We are replacing the weed grasses (fox tails and such that are dangerous for dogs) on the back of our property with California Poppies. With the sun and warmer temps they exploded this week!

It was noon today and too bright when I took this picture so it's not the best photo. 

Did a quilting workshop for binding on Thursday at Cathy's. Saturday was spent in Bidwell Park leading a volunteer program for Earth Day. There were about 150 people that participated. Michael and I had a great group of 12 volunteers, we dug out lots of invasive plant sprouts and planted sedge, deer grass and a few trees in an area that we have been working on along Big Chico Creek for a little over a year. I'm a little sore today. Off to spend the rest of the day with Mom. Both of us will be moving slow today :0)

Quilting 101

Last week Thursday was the second session of my Quilting 101 class at Cathy's Sew and Vac ~ Honey Run Quilters. Two students are brand new to quilting! Gail is rotary cutting for the first time! "Lock the blade" was repeated often :0) For this second class session I was just amazed at their progress!

With permission, we are making a quilt designed by Kathie Holland. Here is a photo of the new quilt that I am making along with the class. I finished the rows this morning. Next class session will be adding two borders...

I reversed the lights and darks for my quilt. I plan to name it Autumn Sunset. Sort of scrappy, used a few hand dyes from a batik swap and a couple of FQs from my stash. Not quite enough fabric so it's "scrappier" at the bottom!

Following are the student's quilts in progress. These are on design walls and we are auditioning the blocks for placement and value before sewing them together.
These photos are all from the first layouts. Kathy made a few changes.

This is Kathy's in blues and tan/browns

Kathy T made quite a few changes. The points of the center star are all in the black, white and red stripe fabric. She also changed out some of the light squares.  The result was a better definition of the star shapes. 

Kathy T's in black white and red

Here you see Gail's first layouts with her version in browns. Her final layout ended up still different than these two...

Gail's with changes

Gail's first layout

Once they saw how it worked using my digital camera to view the blocks for value, they all pulled out their camera phones and took pictures themselves! I of course got caught up in their work and neglected to take more pictures of their progress. We meet again on April 26 and I will take photos of their tops, probably with borders by the end of class! Every one of them are doing great!!!

Here is a picture of my finished sample quilt:

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend. After a week of rain, we have some sun! Yea!!! We plan to take mom out to Bidwell Park for a walk with my dog Crystal.

Spring Blooms

It's Spring... but only in my sewing room. Rain rain rain for the second day. The garden is loving it and I've been busy making this class sample...

...for a paper piecing workshop at Cathy's the end of April. I love paper piecing and it's such a nice way to use up scraps. First learned to PP from Carol Doak on Simply Quilts with Alex Anderson.

These are from Anja Townrow's book called Dutch Flower Pot Quilts. I have her permission to use these two patterns for my class. They are both from her 2001 book which is still available. Published by AQS. Anja lives in Holland :0)
 

Here is a close up of the quilting. I had fun with that yesterday. Used a variegated Jeans weight thread for the stitches on the flower pot. Then Superior thread's King Tut for the remaining machine quilting including the feathers. 

This will be a fun class. Already have a few signed up. Saturday April 28th at Cathy's Sew and Vac. Click on the link for more details. TIA

Missed Design Wall Monday as my wall was empty except for the Blessing Baskets top that I finished over the weekend.

This is a great little QAL by Temecula Quilt Co. It's the perfect colors for my sewing room and I plan to make another small one with the original layout of five baskets to hang on the wall. This one will top an antique dresser.

I guess today could be WOW ~ WIPs on Wednesday :0) Another busy week with more rain on the way. Quilting 101 class coming up on Thursday.
Wishing a WOW to everyone today and a wonderful week. 

1930s quilts ~ Happy Easter

Following are photos of 2 more of Gail's quilts. These are vintage, made with real 1930s fabrics. Colors of Easter...

 Quilt one has the same block repeated with all different 1930s floral and solid fabrics alternating with a solid block. This was given to Gail as a top only. She backed it with muslin and tied the top with embroidery floss for quilting.

Quilt two was a finished quilt when given to Gail. Butterflies appliquéd in 1930s floral fabrics onto solid blocks. Appliqué was done by hand using a black pearl cotton with a buttonhole stitch and stem stitch for the antennae. This quilt is machine quilted. It has a wonderful hand stitched scalloped edge and binding.

Both of these quilts have a wonderful assortment of 1930s fabrics.  Here are close ups of the flower blocks in quilt one...

This was a busy week and I don't have anything to show of my projects. Appointments with my mom, doctor and taxes for both of us, BOM blocks all day Wednesday at Cathy's getting everyone caught up with missed blocks, dinner with a friend followed by Annie's Star Quilt Guild meeting on Thursday (I had the best time :0) and a workshop Friday afternoon for Volunteer Team Leaders for the City of Chico, CA. We lead teams of volunteers removing invasive plants and planting natives in Bidwell Park. I did get the binding on my sample quilt for my next class at Cathy's Sew and Vac. Planning to finish my little basket quilt this Easter weekend.

Wishing everyone a wonderful Easter...

Antique Redwork Quilt

Photos of the antique Redwork quilt that belongs to Gail... it seems to have the same cotton batting, fabrics and thread as the first two quilts. So this quilt may be 19th century as well. All hand made and hand quilted. The redwork may have been made by a group of quilters as the flowers are made so different. The border is completely different. What do you think?

Gail, thank you for sharing... Enjoy :0)
I'm headed out for a Block of the Month group at Cathy's...

Design Wall Monday 4.2.2012

Finishing up this little QAL by Temecula Quilt Co called Blessing Baskets...

Original design is for five baskets. I made three more. One was by accident because I rotated the four patch in one of the baskets. Instead of unsewing I made a new one. (The two baskets in the center.) Then decided to use my goof basket, came up with two more variations, rotated the basket blocks and added two more setting triangles. Turned this little guy into a rectangle instead of a square :0) Adding a small border with the fabric folded off to the right which will probably be the binding as well.

Used up some of my Civil War fabrics and will have a little quilt for a table.

This was a fun little project. Temecula Quilt Co has great little QALs from time to time. You may have seen or made the Twelve Days of Christmas last year. They also organized a good cause, taking donations that will buy sewing machines thru World Vision to help women make a living and support their families. Check out their blog.

Just Takes Two posted a new unit yesterday. One of the blocks is a BIG appliqué project. Pulled out my #10 UFO for April. Another BOM that I thought I had all of the blocks done... not the case! Sew I've got lots to do for the month of April.

Hop over to Patchwork Times to see other folks' design wall projects.

This week I will share more pics of Gail's antique quilts... Have a great week!