Thursday, September 30, 2010

Quilt History: Noteable Women

I made it to quilt history class last week and we had a discussion about noteable women from the war period who were making history in a time when women had little opportunity to make history. The first one was Frances Perkins who was the U.S. Secretary of Labor.


She helped set up unemployment benefits, minimum wage, overtime, pensions, welfare, etc. and was a champion for workplace safety and child labor laws. There is an autiobiography about her I might have to locate called "The Woman Behind the New Deal" by Kirstin Downey.
May Craig was a journalist on the war and politics. She was a southerner but she worked for a Maine newspaper and was a Washington corruspondent. Her column was called "Inside Washington." She spent a lot of time in Europe and as a woman was often told by men that they didn't have the facilities for a woman. She perservered anyway. She was on Meet the Press and always wore her hat and gloves to make a good impression.
Jeanette Rankin was the first woman in Congress, she was 36.

She was the only congressperson to vote against WWII (she had also voted against WWI). There is a movie about her life called "A Single Woman."

Ethel Waters was a blues and jazz singer most noted for "His Eye is on the Sparrow" and was the second African American nominated for an Academy Award. She had a difficult life and overcame it.
She became an actress but was unhappy about the depiction of black characters at the time and so she left the TV series "Buella" because of it. Of all of the gals we learned about this was the only one I had any prior knowledge of...I have heard that beautiful song.

Dr. Leona Libby was a brilliant scientist who earned a PHD and worked on the Manhatten Project. She is the founder of high energy physics. She disguised her pregnancy and worked up until a week before the birth of her first child and then went right back to work!
I just wanted to find pictures of these ladies and say a bit about them so I might remember them down the line. We were supposed to discuss Anne Lenz and Bernice McPherson but our leaders didn't find any information on either of them. If you know anything about those two please share with me. I did a quick google search but nothing came up. Not sure I will get a chance to do a more academic search but I am now curious who they were.
Roberta also shared with us a fascinating story about a member of her husband's family who died in WWII. She shared actual Vmails with us and told a story that should really be in a book. I can't do it justice, but it was worth going to the meeting just for that story.
I haven't done much sewing this week. I had a couple of terrible migraines and barely made it through work this week. I am so relieved for only three hours of work tomorrow and then the weekend. I need to get my Designer BOM cut and sewed up this weekend. Tomorrow is October and September isn't even cut! I am also thinking about using my Flea Market Fancy fabric to do some more hexagons to hand sew. And I am going to join in a sock knitalong...we will see if I can make it farther than the last time I tried to make socks!


Sunday, September 26, 2010

Some Progress on Bindings and Such

Only have one picture to prove it, but I made bindings and attached them and have about half this first one hand sewed down. This is the Rural Jardin binding that matches the quilt.
I also did a scrappy binding for the yellow Flock of Trianges quilt and a scrappy binding for the Civil War Puddle Jumping Mystery Quilt.
The only other sewing that happened was that I finally finished up my Quilt History exchange blocks (15 total) for the December exchange. Rather happy to have that behind me.
I am pretty sure I am only going to do one more Amy's Passions block so that I can make one more quilt instead of two. I just am too frustrated for the small pieces in the blocks. I can do them if I do it as in Bonnie's mysteries where she tells you the size of the mini block. I can adjust so things come out right. However, when doing one random block I just can't always manage it. The last four I have just look hard to me. I have enjoyed the challenge up til now but just know I will get frustrated if I keep on.
I have been reading "Lonesome Dove" for my online bookgroup (BookiesToo) and am really enjoying the story. I also picked up the miniseries that Hallmark made of it and have watched a good bit of it but prefer to read the end before seeing it so am trying to hold off on the end!

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Short Story: The End

I guess I should go back and update my final parade of Schnibbles to show the bound and done Short Story Schnibbles quilt! I am happy with how it came out despite my not trimming it at the time. It is a bit bigger than some of the Schnibbles, but looks good! I am planning to give this to Kathy's sister Kelly unless I change my mind again and give her Joy Luck instead. Smile, we will see how I feel come wrapping day!
Our little bush is flowering out front and despite the Arizona heat is looking good so I couldn't resist a second picture of the same quilt. I am sure my neighbors think I am wacko...I am always trekking outside with various "blankets" and the camera....from their view they must really wonder what in the heck I am doing!
Went to Quilt History class tonight after missing the last three meetings. Really enjoyed myself and learned lots. Maybe this weekend I will share some of it on here. Roberta is so knowledgable I really wish she would write some books. Seriously. I tell her that pretty much every month too.
I did work a bit on my Quilt History Exchange Blocks for our December meeting. I did the rest of the trimming of the 4.5 inch sections and sewed up two more blocks (ten are now done) and the last five blocks are pinned and ready for sewing. Should complete them this weekend. I was not real thrilled to be doing the exhange (versus making a block a month myself) but now that it is getting closer and people are sharing the blocks they chose I am getting excited. One is doing applique airplanes and another a completely hand sewed block...so I should get another neat quilt out of it.
Other than that I plan to do some binding this weekend. Still have three quilts sitting here waiting for me to get going on that. Kathy works all weekend so there should be plenty of time for it. Hoping to spend some time with June too...it has been weeks I think!


Sunday, September 19, 2010

Shop Hop Day Two and More

Today I whipped up a little doll quilt for Ayla for Christmas. I just used leftover charm squares. Nothing spectacular, but her doll baby should be warm.

I also made and attached the binding for Short Story in Figgy Pudding.


Pinned it...have just started hand binding it while watching football today.

Pretty impressive stack of fabric I bought on the shop hop yesterday huh? I think I am officially out of control! I need to get sewing!
I finally bought this book though I didn't think it had as much information on the history of barn quilts as I would have liked. I need to go through it slower. I doubt I will be making one of these but I love the idea of it and want to know more.

Here is the fabric spread out so you can see. I got quite a bit of it on the clearance section for really good prices. Stuff I paid full price for I was really in love with. Those there lights with snowflakes on them just had to come home with me. I want to put them in the next Bonnie quilt as shirtings. That black with the flowers is Mary Englebreit fabric...June did her Carolina Christmas mystery with a similar fabric for her background and I loved, LOVED, loved it...so I want to use this in a similar way I think.

You can see I found three grays. I was really happy about that because I think grey is often an overlooked color and I want to do a quilt that features it. That little pink calico just called to me and that cream with the different colored swirl/circle designs on it is the same line as my Bargello Seasons quilt has in it in various colors. It may wind us as the backing for that or something, but I had to have it. The black with the larger colored flowers I also love. I think it would be good for Ann's NYE mystery this year. She usually tells us to have a focus fabric and that may work. I hope I have enough of it, if that is what it goes for. You can also see the figgy pudding fabric which has mostly already become the binding for Short Story.

Here is a picture of most of BJ's purchases. She got a gift for a friend, and lots of fabric. We both bought two of the same fabrics which we got a kick ut of.
I also wanted to show you the clipping from the Spooner Advocate that my sister and I had put in in memory of our dad. I can't believe it has been a year. I found the poem by author unkown on the internet and made a few changes so it would apply to our situation.

And MYSTERY SPOILER ALERT: Stop reading here if you will be making the shop hop mystery and don't want a peak at one version of how it comes out. I have all the clues and would like to make it but it isn't at the top of my current list. I have bindings to put on four quilts, and Carolina Crossroads needs to get done, my quilt history blocks need to get done, my quilt along nine patch/snowballs need to get done, and another QOV from the Amy's Passions blocks needs one more block and then to be put together as well. I also have Pineapple Blossoms in progress with one four blocks done. Plenty to keep me busy!








Enchantment, this one on display at Quiltz.
Oh and I am doing well on my bike almost every day and am down 4 pounds this week! (Total loss 14 pounds!).

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Puddle Jump Mystery Quilted :)

Ros has done it again...guess my work kept her busy all day! I LOVE IT! Back to work, posting on my break, lol!

Scratch is Quilted

Ros just sent me photos of my quilted Scratch quilt. Check it out!


Really liking how it looks quilted. Well, off to work early today...no time to sew but at least I had something to post about. Thanks Ros!


Sunday, September 12, 2010

My Very First Shop Hop!

BJ and I met up a little after 11 AM yesterday to begin our Valley of the Sun Shop Hop! It was my fist shop hop ever, but BJ has been on this one for the past few years. We started out at Three Dudes Quilting and went to a total of seven shops before 5 PM. Each shop gives you a part of a Debbie Caffery mystery when they stamp your passport. Three Dudes was smart enough to think of putting it in a page protector so it would hold up the whole way. Lucky us since this was the first shop we just kept adding clues to our page protector! I think I bought something at all but one of them! This first picture is of BJ with her Debbie Caffery mystery quilt from a few years ago. I love how this one turned out! We were at Cutting Edge when she showed it to the owner there...who by the way is very friendly! I think out of all the shops this one was the friendliest...though I would say most were friendly. They had cake and water (most of the shops has goodies!) though since I am trying to stay strong I avoided all treats til the very last store (Quilted Apple) where I had a snack size Hershey Bar...(oh and btw I lost 2.4 this week and biked every day :))


On the way to Quilter's Oasis my cousin called so I was talking on the phone to her when this truck got in front of us. Check out that awesome polyester quilt. Both BJ and I were so excited to see it! I think they were moving a piano or something.


Here is BJ's stack of purchases. She bought a little goodie for us and for June and Ros who were not able to be with us. I am not telling what though because they don't have theirs yet. You can also see my Puddle Jumping Mystery quilt in the background (meeting Ros today to get some finished quilts and give her this one) and the Vera Bradley bag I got from Grandma Nan.



When I got home I took pictures of my goodies too. The martini fabric reminded me of my Grandma Nan and Aunt Mary who love martinis of different flavors. The one and only martini I ever had was with them at Thanksgiving almost five years ago...lemon drop flavored. Some gals at the store I bought it at said I should make an apron from it...undecided yet but thinking I am going to make something for Mary. Next to that is the red with colored polka dots fabric. I LOVE polka dots. Then the cream fabric is a bit hard to see but has little baskets and such on it of different colors. Really unique looking I thought. And the last one with the big flowers will be the backing for my handsewn hexigon quilt I have been working on for awhile. It is the same line on the front.


You can see I also got several shirting looking fabrics in anticipation of Bonnie Hunter's next mystery. I usually go through quite a bit of that fabric and like a variety. I also bought two green fabrics. One is five yards of modern looking fabric I couldn't pass up from Bernina Connection. I bought one book of easy stuff because I liked one of the small patterns in it. I am a sucker for books.
Each shop has a tool or gadget or something that they demo for you and hope that you buy. I bought three out of seven of the gadgets and almost bought a forth. BJ bought that one and if she loves it and it sharpens her blade as promised I may have to get one too.
My very favorite tool of the day was this Pineapple tool (and book on backorder) from www.ColourfulStitches.com (picture from there as well) and Zoe's was selling it. It is to help you get really nice Pineapple blocks...and since I am working on that very block using Bonnie Hunter's directions I thought I would try it with this ruler and see if it is easier. The book has lots of great inspiring pictures, thank goodness because I couldn't take pictures of Mary's sample blocks which were really great in 30's fabric at Zoe's!


The other gadgets I got include Deb Tucker's "Tucker Trimmer" ruler which helps with trimming down half squares and quarter squares and with fussy cutting. I could have used this to help me trim those spool blocks that I didn't want to trim! And I bought some Thangles from the Cutting Edge. I have used them once and really liked them and decided to get the 2.0 inch finished to help when I have a ton of them to make.


Oh see that green and white fabric? BJ bought some and at the cutting table I decided I needed some too. It makes me smile! The cute doggie was a complete pincushion kit that I will make for Kathy for Christmas. She ususally doesn't read my blog so hopefully she won't see it here first. They had lots of different kits at the Quilted Apple and they were reasonably priced and half way made! I have never done anything like that so should be fun, but they put directions in there so I should be able to manage it. And Kathy doesn't have her very own pincushion so I couldn't resist!
When I got home I checked the mail and had a suprise package too! This potholder from Leslie in Florida (from my NewQuiltingClub group) decided to send me a RAK! Made my day even better. I love coffee and so of course I love it! The group just had a potholder swap which I didn't participate in so I thought it was sent to me by accident, but nope...just a RAK. Thanks Leslie!

The picture below shows my latest bluework block for the Colonial History quilt. Remember this? LOL was a LONG LONG LONG time ago that I last posted about it. I got tired of it and haven't worked on it much. I started this one on the way to Gma's funeral and finished it a few days ago. I have another one in progress, started before this one, and several more to go.


I spent some of last night remembering and watching 9/11 shows. I am still so shocked and horrified that that happened in my lifetime. It is sad to me that people feel the need to fight and kill each other when we think differently. I wish all wars could cease and people could just agree to disagree though I know it isn't possible because we have such varied beliefs. Especially where women are concerned. We will never forget...

Monday, September 6, 2010

Flock of Triangles is Quilted!

I made and handsewed labels on the quilt for Megan's baby (and gave it to her) and on my Joy Luck Schnibbles quilt two days ago.
Ros has been busy quilting away and has completed my Flock of Triangles quilt from Denyse Schmidt's book. I am not sure I can give this one away now!

The back shows the quilting really well. I need to whip up a binding for this one...should I go with a solid yellow, scrappy or white do you think?

I also spent some time searching the web trying to come up with good ideas for Christmas gifts to make. I have nine boys (all but one under age 8 or so) on Kathy's side alone...ideas I found included checkerboard (not all are old enough to play and can't do a board for each as that would be silly), shooting target (not a big fan of guns so I hate to encourage that), lunch bags (would boys really get into that?), beanbags (kind of boring, but okay), or PJ pants (could be fun with the right fabric). I may make a school colors pillow for the fourteen year old. I already made two pillowcases for two of the boys. In the past I have made quilts, bags filled with fun stuff, etc. I would love to hear from people with good, simple, inexpensive ideas! I bought a PJ pattern today so I know I will be making some for someone..plenty of kids on my list besides these boys, but trying to get ahead.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Short Story is Quilted :)





Close up, front and back of Short Story Schnibbles. Quilt number 114. Ros as always did a great job. Now off to Weight Watchers to see how the week went. I did ride my bike 6 out of 7 days...which is a minor miracle for me. And eating was really good though Saturday I struggled the most...praying for four pounds, but expecting more like two!

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Puddle Jumping Mystery Solved!



I made do with the fabric I had so my outer border doesn't match the inner sashings, but I like it! Not sure who is getting this one yet....Ros--got another one for ya! SMILE! Thanks again to Lyn Brown for hosting this mystery. It was the first one of hers I have joined in on, but it will not be the last.

Another Binding Done and Puddle Jumping Mystery Clue Five in Progress

I have the sashing and cornerstones on the inside of the Puddle Jumping Mystery Quilt...I don't have enough of the brown and purple fabric for the outside borders so I have to decide what I will do to finish it off...and the rows aren't sewn together yet horozontally. I have enjoyed this mystery!

Also finally finished the binding on my flying geese cat and dog quilt. I am now all caught up on binding...until I see Ros again, lol.
I didn't get a picture I guess but I also got the half square triangles cut and pieced for my Broken Sugar Bowl blocks for Quilt History. They need trimming and then I have to get them into the blocks, but all the parts are done anyway.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

My Very Own Parade of Schnibbles :)



I have really enjoyed Sherri and Sinta's "A Year of Schnibbles" as most of you have already surmised! I did each quilt (and pincushion) during the month and Roslyn Atwood did the quilting on them. While there are two or so I would NEVER make again (I know, never say never) I learned alot and felt pretty accomplished doing it. I would not have been able to make huge quilts from some of these...but a challenge on a smaller scale was nice. Thank you Sherri, Sinta, and all of the shops who donated prizes. I personally won from Bear Paw Quilts and from Carrie of Miss Rosie's Quilt Company (I think twice from each) but I know there were other sponsors as well--Fat Quarter Shop, Quilter's Paradise, Cottage Quilts and Quilt Taffy. It really made it that much more fun to have a chance at a prize each month. Thanks!


So one last time, here is my yearly parade of Schnibbles.

Winter White


Cindy Lou Who


Picnic

Tuffets


Madeline


Sunday Best


Roundabout

Tagalong (apparently I didn't take a picture after I bound it!)

Betsy (hangs in my bedroom)State Fair (now my Mom's)


Joy Luck



Short Story (Sister-in-law, Kelly will get)

Happy National Quilting Day!

I participated in the National Quilting Day sewalong on the Modern Quilt Studio page.  We sewed Friends all Around.  Here is my first block....