Roosters Rule

Chicken/Rooster Theme for Block in a Bag......

I searched and searched for rooster patterns similar to a ceramic rooster I saw on a catalog......and then tried to mush together a few different images - - a whole 'nother month of researching ......

My son's idea for the chicken theme was to skip looking for a chicken or rooster pattern - -and make a cow...I am not sure what he is talking about....and then he says - you know - like the chick-fil-a cow saying "eat more chicken." A funny idea but I wasn't sure it would fly with the block recipient....so back to searching for more chickens..roosters.....

Finally I found a reasonable pattern and cut it out, fused it on, stitched around it with regular thread and didn't like that at all.

Started over and used invisible thread...which I have never used. I never liked that shiny look the stitches gave off....but it was better than the regular thread that didn't match. Of course there were many minutes of adjusting the tension for the invisible thread and the bobbin thread to work together properly....changing the needle.....

Yes, I am growing and learning....but would someone remind me WHY I signed up for this stressful activity?????

So here they are......cockadoodledoo.....

Why is this Chicken Music Playing??????

The chickens are coming.......

I have neglected my blog....

but that's ok.................Don't Worry - Be Happy!!

Yes, I have not been attending to my blog. A combination of stressful and damanding work schedule (is that a freudian slip?? - dam manding - instead of demanding.....oh dear)

and one very happy event.....

My son is now out of the Marine corps...and home. Those years sure did fly by it seems now - though it didn't seem like it while he was in Iraq....It is so great having him here. He is such a funny guy. I forgot that. He is so happy to be free to choose what to do - and has spent a lot of time fixing and repairing things here at the house - - taking me with him everywhere he goes - -we spend time laughing together at Walmart and Lowes and grocery stores....Yes - this big guy being home requires a LOT more cooking than I had been doing. I forgot how much I liked cooking though - so that has been great. Lots of his friends always coming and going - - so the need for food and beverage is always great. The hours are usually much later than I have been keeping...but there is a smile on my face....so why worry about being tired.

I have some hilarious stories I will be sharing about some of the fun we are having....to come.....

Did I mention there are now weapons everywhere? Yes, yes...we are now well protected.

(Sssshhhh - his quilt however - that I started when he left - - still isn't done...oh dear. No matter - too hot for quilts right now.)

Missing - Block in a Bag 4 Month of May

I must apologize, and I have regrets regarding block in a bag 4...the house block....it was actually my favorite of all the ones I have done so far......and I forgot to take a picture of it.

The recipient made a point to thank me for such a lovely block - so I was proud. Maybe I am getting better at this.....with the exception of still researching ideas all month - - and then a mad dash to finish it the weekend/night before it is due.

Actually, I was still stitching around the windows of the house the afternoon of the guild meeting...so obviously I am getting worse about getting it done in advance....

It was really lovely - - so I took a picture of the pattern, just to give you an idea.... And actually my block looked a good bit like this one. I did use a stony fabric for the house - but I left off the date above the door.

Block in a Bag # 3- Theme: Baskets

Well here it is.... Remember last month when I said I was NOT waiting till the last minute to finish this month's block in a bag. HA. Did it again. Knew I only had the handle to finish - and again experimenting with what I wanted to do. That was delayed because I was going to create dimensional flowers for in the basket - - - well - that didn't happen - - since we only get 3 fabrics and I wasn't sure what color scheme would go with the 3 I got - beige, green and brown. And also - I would like to figure out how to do a braided handle - or a twisted handle - - Any suggestions? But finally just went ahead and stitched flowers and finished the handle in a normal manner. I once recall being shown some trick for bias strips and applique - but forgot that as well...

Look what bloomed in my garden today!! I thought I had wasted my money on this peony several years ago - cause nothing ever grew - - until this year. I am so happy!!

Block in a Bag #2

Procrastination is truly detrimental to the enjoyment of creating....in other words, waiting till the day before to construct block #2 does NOT make the event a happy one.

Someone please remind me why I signed up for this activity - - oh yes, I wanted to create learning opportunities...oh now I see - what an enormous amount I have learned in creating block #2.

1. If you wait till the last minute -multitudes of interruptions will occur to interfere with the amount of time you THOUGHT you had.
   
2. Searching through many patterns and deciding which one without measuring it out - may result in an idea that won't fit the confines of the Block Activity - and you will have NO MORE TIME to look at patterns.
   
3. Probably best to start with the requirements with regard to finished size and design down, rather than have a design idea, and while sketching it out at the last minute - you find the design doesn't fit.
   
4. Method of creation needs to be explored and practiced prior to the last minute - otherwise you waste a bunch of fabric trying techniques that you aren't very good at and
   
5. Finally - start early - create a sample - leave time for errors and getting HELP!!

So here it is - the Tea Party Block. Not at all what I had originally intended -but completed barely 5 hours prior to the meeting. PHEW!!

The Tale of the Irish Chain

Long long ago there was a bedroom in a home with the most beautiful cabbage rose wallpaper on the walls. A young maiden bought this lovely fabric for a quilt for that home. She knew she wanted it to be an Irish Chain because she had admired a similar quilt made with the large blocks of the irish chain done in floral fabric. And it was sooo lovely.
Many many years later that maiden and her stash of fabric - having survived a divorce, then a 400 mile move and then 5 local moves later - realized that fabric lay uncut - in a clear container in the front of the garage where the maiden now parks her vehicle. Every day when she backed out and every day when she pulled in - she saw that fabric for the Irish Chain quilt. For many many days. One day - she decided - even though she no longer had the lovely wallpaper and room - that it was TIME for the fabric to reach its destiny. It was meant to be an Irish Chain Quilt. It was not meant for the garage or the yard sale pile. It has begun its journey to becoming an Irish Chain Quilt. How much longer will it be before the journey is complete and the quilt is resting on the bed? This is only the beginning...

The Moral of the Story is - Some patterns and fabrics it seems - just need lots of time to gel before they actually start to become ANYTHING.

The Quilt Shop Sale

Our local quilt shop had a 2 day "Prior to Inventory - everything $3.99/yd" sale. The poor souls who worked there carried more than a thousand bolts of fabric down a two story flight of steps to a sale room. It was incredible. Tables down the center of the room and around the perimeter. One wall had 3 long tables where the employees did nothing but cut fabric, and occasionally ring a bell when a bolt was emptied. The lines were long - but that gave one time to stare at more fabric on the tables or in other peoples arms. There was a lot of - "if you aren't buying ALL of that - can I have it when you have your piece cut?" And the general happy comraderie that quilters and fabric lovers share. So - I promised I would post what I purchased so here goes.

The flannels - were originally $10.99 and $12.99/yd. so they were a great buy. Looking at my pile - I would say now - I didn't purchase enough!!! But - I was attempting to buy only for identified projects. These flannels will be united with leftover flannels from the lap quilt I made my dad to make another for my stepmother.

Then came the BIG QUESTION - what fabrics to buy for the block in a bag activity with the quilt guild. (See previous post) I really wanted a beachy theme, and look what I found.....I can't wait to see what these become - Then of course - batiks were another great buy. I only got these...what was I thinking??? I SHOULD HAVE GOT MORE!!

This rose fabric was just too too beautiful to pass up. As was this bluish purple.

Then of course I had to get these fat quarters -

and for some reason I thought I needed some red. Oh yes, that was if I made a bird block for the block in a bag - - I was going to make a cardinal - (Our State Bird)- Well, now I have some reds don't I.

Stay tuned for what each of these become.....

Block in a Bag #1

I joined the local Quilt Guild last fall - to make some new quilting friends, and to be inspired to be more productive. Well - it is working!! The Quilt Guild started a few new things this year - one of which that I signed up for was Block in a Bag. A pretty cool idea. Here is how it works:
You pick a theme and buy three fabrics to match your theme that you want everyone to use in your blocks. Cut ten fat eighths. Put a fat eighth of each of the three fabrics in a bag with your name and the theme, and the names of the other 9 participants. When it is your month - distribute the bags to each of the 9 participants in your group and the following month - they bring back the block made to fit your theme, using the 3 fabrics. They can add other fabrics, but the 3 provided should be the major fabrics in the block. The block must be at least 8"x8" and no greater than 12"x12". It can be square or rectangular. The result - if you make one too - 10 blocks!! Cool!!

This month was not my month to distribute a bag. I received a bag with some blue, some brown and some green, and the theme was birds and birdhouses.

I looked and looked at patterns and ideas. I would have liked to do a bird, and have still considered adding an appliqued one to the block I made, but not too happy with my machine applique skills. You can applique, foundation piece or piece from your own design or a pattern.

I paper pieced the birdhouse. It had been a really long time since I had done paper piecing, so it took me a while to remember how that process works.

I actually intended for this to be a trial block - and was going to use some blues and greens of my own, then decide if I liked it or not - but by accident - used the blue provided, and then knew there wouldn't be enough to start over - so - it is what it is. I need to be more careful next month.

It is nice to have that finished 2 weeks in advance. Much better than waiting till the last minute.