Monday, June 3, 2013

Can you tell?

The shirt stripe box quilt made from my MIL's quilt is getting bigger every day, so I needed to clear my design wall to make room.  An inner border, a pieced border and an outer border later, and this Spiral Log Cabin quilt was ready to come off the wall and into the "to be quilted" pile.

I LOVE IT!  It is 51" square.  Why did it take me so long to finish it, you ask?  Ah, the usual lament of the scrap quilter - I ran out of my background fabric.  I searched locally for more, but to no avail.  But I found another fabric that was close enough for me.  Can you tell that the background in the borders is different than the background in the blocks?  Take a closer look...
But you know what?  I don't care.  I've said it before, but the first quilting book I read, and the one that has had the greatest impact on me, is Roberta Horton's Scrap Quilts: The Art of Making Do. 
Do you have a book that has helped you to define your approach to quilting?

And back to the shirt stripe box quilt - it wasn't quite speaking to me until I turned the blocks on point.  BINGO!  This, I love!

As if that weren't enough sewing, I also sewed the binding onto the front of the last of the Hurricane Sandy Quilts that I have quilted.  Now to just have some waiting time to sew down the back.

The other thing I did this weekend was set up a website for the Quilt Camp for kids that I'll be running this summer just before my shop opens its doors to the public.  I put the link out on an announcement email at the University today and already got 4 emails from interested parties.  After work today, I printed out my corresponding brochure with the little tear off slips at the bottom and posted them in 8 or 9 places around town.  I am SO EXCITED about all this!  Can you tell?

13 comments:

beth said...

Oh my goodness! I love that book as well!! I've checked it out from the library NUMEROUS times! I knew we were "soul/quilt-mates"!

Janet said...

I must check out that book. You're having a store?! Wow!

Julie Fukuda said...

There is a lot there to celebrate! Your cheerleaders are getting their pom-poms ready.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you have a big project your working on regarding the Quilt Camp for Kids. I don't see any problem with the fabrics..they match beautifully. I never have enough of any fabric because I only use scraps. Good job~

Becky said...

That book goes along with my quilting philosophy....."What would my grandma use?" I use some of the newfangled gadgets that I find to be useful, but I make do a lot of the time. Less stress. Also I would think that if you are making a scrappy quilt the background wouldn't suffer from being scrappy as well! Happy Stitching!

Anonymous said...

In this day, when we rush to purchase so that we have "enough" to finish a project, I think we deprive ourselves of some of the enjoyment of the "make do" process of creating! Your finish is so lovely and the shirt quilt is awesome on point!!!! I really liked it before but now it has found its true "person"! Hugs.......

Unknown said...

I like how you are mixing small and large squares in the shirt quilt. This will truly be something to treasure, and for your husband to pass down to his sons in time. As for the multiple backgrounds... since when do quilters have to follow rules? Not here. :) Most people will not notice a difference between different white tonal prints.

Shay said...

I think you did a great job of matching the border fabric . I probably wouldn’t have noticed if you hadn’t outed yourself. And I LOVE this pattern . What a great take on a log cabin!

Im almost as excited as you about Quilt Camp. What an exciting response for you.

Maureen in Portland said...

Congratulations on Quilt Camp and on all the positive moves you have made lately in your life! What a summer this will be for you and your family ... unforgettable. My great-grandmother traveled on the Oregon Trail, and I don't know very much about her but she IS my inspiration when I'm quilting and run out of the "right" fabric. What would my great-grandmother do now? It reminds me to keep it all in perspective.

joe tulips said...

I love the make-do way of things. I wonder if I can get the book through the library. I am excited for you and your new adventures.

Gina said...

I just found your blog through the email you sent back to survey responders and I am so excited to see what you do with your space downtown! I live in Lexington and love sewing but have never quilted anything. Hoping to take some kind of intro to quilting class once you are up and running. And I am excited to see what else is offered! What a great addition to downtown!

janequiltsslowly said...

I really love the shirting blocks on point. They remind me of the Gods eyes we used to make with yarn.

John Rozer said...

Truly there is a lot there to celebrate.If you are really a creative person and thinking of making some extraordinary designs then you can take up Patchwork Fabric in Australia as an hobby.