I wiped away the weeds & foam. / I fetched my sea-born treasures home... Ralph Waldo Emerson







Tuesday, January 28, 2014

The Cranky Quilter



Sometimes I wonder if I should do like my friend H and just stop quilting. Make some origami cranes.
Just...stop.
My mother was a very happy, intelligent woman---and she never sewed so much as a button. Maybe I should emulate her, not my dad?



But I carry on despite my woes and mistakes. I put the last stitch into the Porch quilt a few weeks ago. This was a Humble Quilts project from two years ago.
It was at the quilter for about six months. She had a hard time quilting it due to my ineptitude, lol.


So I spent quite a long time pulling out her stitches and redoing, then binding it, adding eyes on the birds, on the kitties...some bees, some ladybugs.

 

 

The quilter's comments on my first big applique project kind of spoiled the quilt for me? No, I love it still.



Here's the large folky label I designed for the back. I had to hand sew it on and hand quilt it.

 
 



Then came January quiltalongs. These are the blocks for Lori's doll quilt. Humble Quilts I made all the blocks in one day, all day Sunday. No way am I gonna fall behind this time. :-)

 



I love choosing the fabrics for her quiltalongs. This one needs nine blues, nine creams, nine browns. Stash city time.



Sashings and cornerstones: Faded robin's egg blue, or indigo?



Here is The Lost Quilt, so far.



I like the baskets okay. But the overall effect is too new, too bright. It needs to be hung out on my oceanfront deck for a few years to age it.




And last: many block of the months begin in January. A few years ago ''everyone'' seemed to be making a quilt called Beyond the Cherry Trees. I was in awe and I so wished I could be a part of a sewalong. But these projects are perhaps not for slow quilters like me?
I had two projects in mind, the gorgeous Benjamin Biggs quilt here...  or Noah and Matilda's wedding quilt here. I decided on the quirkier N and M project even though I knew immediately I could never do FOUR blocks of hand applique each month. (I am downloading the BB quilt blocks for the future).
below, Noah and Matilda's Wedding quilt.



I set my goal at 2 blocks per month. BUT the day after the first set of blocks was published, quilting bloggers already had finished blocks to show. Wow, is that intimidating or what?
Now January is over and I am still mulling over my background fabrics, waiting for some scraps of antique poison greens and turkey red  from my quilt dealer friend.* I think this will be a project for ''someday''---it will be the most rewarding if I work at my own pace and enjoy the journey. Quilting isn't a competitive sport! Is it?

*Oh boy! He didn't send fabric yet but he sent quilt blocks! All 19th century. I can't wait to show them to you.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach....

 


 
 


10 comments:

  1. I was wondering where you've been! Busy sewing away!!! Your quilter needed to keep her opinions to herself. I LOVE your Porch quilt!! You personalized it and make it uniquely yours. Your other projects are lovely as usual!!

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  2. Don't listen to your quilter, I love your porch quilt! She's just used to the easy all-machine-made quilts. A little handwork should NOT throw a good quilter. And your quilt is awesome! Are the cats' eyes buttons? I love the bees and ladybugs, too, great touches!

    I still like the indigo better...I think it makes the blocks look more tied together, if that makes any sense.

    I like the lost quilt being all bright and cheerful! Yeah, the original was faded...but I'm sure it started out bright, a child's beloved doll's covering. But if you really want it faded, do they still make that stuff to fade jeans? Maybe that would fade it? Or just hang it on a sunny wall and let nature do it.

    OMG, both of those applique quilts would take me a century to do but they are so cool.

    Quilting is like any other craft - very personal. If you enjoy it, do it. It is not/should not be competitive. So some people can do a block quickly...who cares? Probably they follow the directions to a 't' and don't do anything differently to make it personal, and I'm really sure they don't re-design parts to make it mean more to them (like you did with the porch quilt). FAST might be important if you needed quilts for warmth and winter was coming. But quilting is an art not a sport and it shouldn't be rushed.

    Thanks again for sharing your quilts with us, we really do enjoy and appreciate them! And you for sharing!

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  3. Sweet little blocks!
    Love the pineapple on your tag.
    Thanks so much for the mention, glad you are joining the N&M project. Wow!! Antique blocks with red and green sound fantastic.

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  4. I'm starting to think about quilting again. Quilted peace crane blocks. I only piece and quilt by hand so I'm slower than slow. It never bothers me being slow, though. I put a lot of thought and good wishes into every stitch.

    It's the journey rather than the destination that's important to me.

    I love every single thing you stitch. Each item you make is full of love and personality.

    You're the best.

    Hugs from a windy Maui.

    Hunter

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  5. What a label!! I think it looks fantastic. Don't listen to negative comments - listen to your heart. if quilting makes you happy then it is worthwhile! I like all the projects you have shown her

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  6. Love, love, love those blocks! Your blog is so fun and refreshing!

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  7. I just found your blog through Dawns.
    Don't stop quilting!! Its all about the enjoyment of the journey. (Don't listen to negative comments!)
    They are not mistakes, they are your variation on the original. Its what makes the quilt yours!
    I love the faded robin's egg blue for your SAL blocks.
    I really love your addition of buttons and beads to decorate your quilt.
    I just managed to sqeak in finishing my 4 blocks of Noah and Matilda this month, but I know I won't be able to do that every month. Looking forward to seeing your blocks!

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  8. that quilt label is the most amazing thing I've ever seen!

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  9. As per my usual, I am in awe of the level of detail you put into the work you do.

    You always find things that are unique and unusual and yet together they are even better than the sum of their parts.

    Sorry I am so late to the party ... awed, as per my usual.

    L

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  10. As per my usual, I am in awe of the level of detail you put into the work you do.

    You always find things that are unique and unusual and yet together they are even better than the sum of their parts.

    Sorry I am so late to the party ... awed, as per my usual.

    L

    ReplyDelete

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