Pesky Diamonds

This is "TR-11, Phoenix", an advanced-level triangle that I somehow managed to paper piece, and the top diamond was added using my handy-dandy raw-edge machine buttonhole-stitch applique method. The blocks and triangles that involve paper-piecing diamonds often seem to give me a bit of trouble.

This triangle was not fun to make, but it brings me one step closer to the end of the top row. It's a good thing that I love the way the triangles look with the quilt...

Enjoy

Challenge Accepted

I'm not one to back down from a challenge, especially when it's a quilting challenge thrown in my direction from my friend Susan, so stay tuned to see what becomes of these scraps from some of my recent string blocks...

What Is Old?

One of the fabrics that I'm using in my string blocks (see previous post) was born the same year that my now-college-freshman son was...18 is old in fabric years, but not in human years....

Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder

One of my goals this year is to use up fabric that I already have instead of buying new (boy, is that hard to do), so I've been making string blocks with scraps.

My scraps are organized into four categories -- fun scraps (novelty, kid-friendly, bright), solid or solid-ish, boring/ugly (country colors, Civil War, calico), and batiks.

The blocks you see in the photo are mostly made from my "boring/ugly" collection. Now remember, each one of us has a different definition of boring or ugly, so to some of you, these fabrics may be just fine. They just don't appeal to me on their own, but I don't mind them in scrappy quilts like the one these are destined for.

Keeping It Going

Another easy paper-pieced triangle. This is "RS1, Tennessee Valley", an intermediate-level triangle.

I think I want to finish up the top and bottom rows before I make any more of the side triangles. That way I won't have all the hard ones left at the end.

Temptation

It is now three weeks since I last bought fabric...but how am I supposed to stay on a fabric diet when things like this show up in my mailbox?!

Quilting Rock Stars

Hmmm...somehow I doubt this will be coming to my local theater. Perhaps someday on Netflix!


If you want to learn a bit more, check out their website.

New Year's Momentum

If all the triangles were as easy as this one, I'd have the quilt done in no time! Alas, that's not the case...

This is "RS-4, Dutch Apron", an intermediate-level triangle that I paper pieced. You're seeing it on its side because it is in the row along the right side of the quilt. The green fabrics are much prettier in person.

Just a reminder to those who are planning to use the software to make the quilt -- you must change the triangle dimensions to 5 x 8 inches before you print out the patterns. The default setting of 4.5 inches square is incorrect!

What's On My Design Wall?

This. Sorry for the bad photo, but it was taken in my basement quilting studio (or should I say quilting cave?).

The center of my Dear Jane quilt (aka Jane Stickle quilt) has been together for almost a year now (yikes!), and I've been slowly working on the outer triangles. A few are sewn together along with the dark triangles, but they have not been added to the main body yet. I still have two left to finish on the top row as well as two in the bottom. Then all of the side triangles along with the four corner kites.

The triangles have not been fun to make, but I have to admit that I love how it's coming together. It makes the headaches worth it. Hopefully, I'll move a little quicker this year.

Merry Christmas

Today, my family is observing Orthodox Christmas. For those who are unfamiliar with the holiday, you can read my post about it here.

Here are a couple of videos for your viewing pleasure. The first shows some lovely pre-Soviet era Christmas postcards and the second shows "New Year's" cards that were allowed during Soviet rule. Since people were not allowed to observe religious holidays during that time, all of the old Christmas traditions became New Year's (wink, wink) traditions.

Today, both holidays are observed...

Merry Christmas to Eastern Orthodox Christians who may be celebrating today!

New Year, Old Friend

Today, some of my readers may be saying "It's about time she started working on her Dear Jane quilt again!"

Yes, it's been about two months since I last blogged about my progress. The triangles have not been nearly as fun to make as the blocks were, but I love how the results look. So I trudge along.

This is "TR-13, Eiffel Tower", an intermediate-level triangle that I paper pieced and also used the raw-edge machine buttonhole-stitch method for the two curvy pieces.

It's Still Christmas In My House

This comes out every year for Christmas. It's one of several Christmas-colored doilies that one of my grandmothers crocheted back in the 1960s or 1970s. I have a whole boxful of assorted doilies that she made. Some of you may remember my blog post a couple of years ago about a quilt I made using a few of them.