Michigan Quilts!

Oink Oink

2009-11-05T09:11:00.002-05:00

I didn't even get to kiss a pig, but I've got it. H1N1, otherwise known as Swine Flu.

Yuck. Stuck at home and don't even feel like sewing. Ugh.

January Calendar Block: Looking Ahead

2009-11-01T15:35:00.008-05:00

For those of you working on the Block of the Month Calendar, I would assume that for the most part, much of your fabrics for the blocks can be found in your stash. For those with not much stash (is that possible?!?!?) or for those who just can't help themselves and need a reason to go buy more (yeah, you know who you are!), I am going to give you information ahead of time so that you can be thinking about or (gasp) buying just the right fabric.

I am not going to show you my finished block until I post the directions and pattern for the January block. This is to instill in everyone the desire to have their block represent THEIR OWN artistic choice of colors.

Here is a sneak peak at the pattern for the the January block (which you will make in December): Yes, it is an applique block, and if you are new to applique, I will walk you through it when the time comes. If you are fairly new to applique, please email me your experience with applique and we can chat. There are several options for you depending on your experience.

I prefer to applique by hand. You might want to applique by machine. If either of these are your choice, you'll want threads that blend with the fabrics you have chosen. You won't need a lot, so check your thread supply before you go purchase anything.

If you are not very comfortable with stitched applique (OK, if it terrifies you) you can do fusible applique. In doing so, you will have raw edges and will then quilt over them. If this sounds like something you might be doing, you will need an iron-on adhesive. There are several to pick from. I use a brand called "HeatnBond Lite" by Therm O Web. (NOTE: I do not sell this product, nor do I have any connection to the company that makes it.)

For the January block here are some thoughts on fabric selection:

Window trim and sashing: brown for wood or the color of your choice to coordinate with the wall
Wall (at the very bottom of the block where the tip of the kitty's tail hangs): a plain color or "wallpaper" of your choice
Sky: blue for a nice day, grey-blue for a blustery day
Cloud: white or "white on white"
Snow on the ground: possibly a pale blue with white print or a frosty looking fabric
Snowman: white on white, but different than the snow on the ground. You're going to want a contrast so he shows up
Kitty: your choice! Calico? Brown? Grey? Black? White?
Snowman's hat: black or dark brown
Snowman's scarf: red or your choice
Snowman's nose: It's a carrot! Orange!
Snowman's eye: A little black bead or embroidered with black thread

Remember, these are just suggestions. Your block is entirely yours, and the decisions about which fabric to use are entirely yours to make. The goal on this block is not to make a clone of my block, but to do as you see fit, artistically.

In fact, there are options on this block that you might like to consider. Do you want a house or tree in the background? You can add that in. Would you like a curtain on the window? You can add that in. Do you want to add more detail? Go for it! That is the fun part of doing this BOM Calendar and sharing with everyone else who is participating. It will be SO much fun to see what everyone else is doing!

Mystery Block of the Month Calendar, Step 2

2009-11-01T07:34:00.003-05:00

Today, November 1, 2009 marks the beginning of Step 2 for our BOM Calendar. If you haven't joined in on the fun yet, I would suggest doing so soon! The first month is the most tedious... making the numbers. This month, we are working on the base of the calendar: the largest part. I found it to go quickly, though, and I hope you do as well.

You can find directions by clicking here:

Mystery Block of the Month Calendar Step 2

When you have completed each ste[, please post a comment on this blog and tell us how to find a picture of your numbers!

Have fun!

Time for a Calendar Update!

2009-10-28T19:12:00.003-04:00

I've had such a busy month... haven't posted much, but I've been busy!

If you are participating in the Monthly Calendar B.O.M., how are you coming along? Share your progress with us by posting a comment below.

This Sunday is November 1st. That means the next step in the calendar will be posted for you. Here's what mine looks like without the numbers... this is your next step for November. It's not too late to join in on the fun!

Ebb and Flow

2009-10-12T18:40:00.003-04:00

I have the best of intentions. Really I do. I have all these projects in my head; I can see them clearly. I know what they look like, what fabrics are included, how big they are, how they will be quilted, and what I will do with them when they are finished. But in my mind, they will all be finished by the end of the month. Ok, maybe not THIS month. But some month. Soon.

My push to complete projects seems to ebb and flow. I go gang-busters for weeks, then come to a crashing halt. It's like I can only work so hard for so long, then my brain and creative juices need time to heal. I'm in one of those "healing phases" now. My hands feel like stitching, my mind wants to relax and read.

I started reading the book "Edgar Sawtelle" by David Wroblewski this past weekend, and It has sucked me in like a vaccuum. The book is on Oprah's list; but that's not why I am reading it. My father gave it to me after picking it up in a sale at the Flushing Senior Center in town. It wasn't his cup of tea... he's more of a history buff.

Have you read the book? Did you like it?

I will be quilting more... hang tight. Right now, I'm reading. Shhhhhhh.

What's YOUR Word?

2009-10-08T08:13:00.003-04:00

Lake Superior State University has released its list of most overused words for 2009. Words you are sick of hearing... words you hate... What are yours? It seems as if acronyms are big on the scene lately. Things like LOL and OMG are now even spoken as if they are a word by themself. So what are the words you are sick of hearing?

Here are mine:

Super (as in "Super Sorry")
My friend (as in Caron, my friend!)
UFO (Quilters, you know this acronym. Let's come up with something fresh and new! Personally I suggest the replacement be "blob.")

OK, it's YOUR turn!

BOM Calendar Begins Today!

2009-09-30T14:01:00.013-04:00

Happy October 1st, Everyone!

Today is the first day of our "Mosey Through The Year" BOM Calendar.

An important part of any calendar is the numbers, and that is what we are going to focus on this month. A pdf document with directions may be found by clicking here at

Calendar Step 1: Numbers

Photos of the number-making process, below:

A few notes:

***The directions call for stiffener. I used Pellon Fusible Fleece, and it was perfect. It gave the stiffness I needed, with a little thickening power to give the numbers that quilted look.

***The most tedious part of this step is turning your numbers. I did it while watching television, and it worked fine. Take your time, use a sewing tool meant for this purpose, or a dull pencil.

***When you sew the velcro on the numbers, have the velcro go from left to right across the back of the number, not up and down. Cut the velcro just a hair shorter than the width of the number square, and as you sew the topstitching it will catch into place and secure it.

Feel free to comment below as you work on your numbers. Post a photo on your blog or somewhere online and let us know how you are coming along. We'll love to see your color choices and hear any comments/suggestions you might have along the way.

Paper Lanterns 2009

2009-09-29T19:15:00.007-04:00

If you have been following my blog over the last year, you know how much I've struggled with this quilt. It should NOT have been hard. But I used metallic thread, and as much as I love the shimmer of the gold on the quilt, I hated sewing with it and would probably not use it again. If you click on the photo below, you can see a larger version of it.

Cudos to my hubby for rigging up a quilt hanging system in the basement so I could get photos of even my largest quilts. This is not a big quilt, but it's nice to get the whole quilt on one wall for pictures. Now to get better lighting so it doesn't look washed out. The colors aren't right... the wall is yellow.

Paper pieced Japanese taupe quilt

Machine quilted on a Pfaff Hobby Grand Quilter

and

Next Generation Frame

Last Chance! BOM Calendar Starts on Thursday, Oct. 1st

2009-09-27T14:05:00.014-04:00

Some of you might know that from the mid 1980's until the early 2000's, I worked as an elementary teacher / principal and university instructor. I've taught all grades 1-8 and at the undergraduate and graduate level.

This fall, my grandson Jacob started kindergarten. One of the fun things early elementary classes do every day is sit down in front of a calendar and talk about the days. It helps them learn how to count, recognize numbers, and learn about the months of the year. Teachers usually use a grid that allows them to lay out each month's numbers and shift the numbers for the next month. Take a look at these two photos:

This gives you some idea of what I'm talking about.

Our Block of the Month calendar is roughly based on the same concept, and our calendar will have a changeable picture at the top, one for each month of the year.

If you have little ones living at home, or grandchildren who might also be learning their numbers, this might be a fun project for you, although you don't have to have little kids to use the calendar. I will be giving the calendar and the January block to Jacob and Samantha for Christmas, then sending them the next month's picture/block in time for each new month throughout 2010. I'd love to have you join with me!

Directions will begin this Thursday, October 1st:

October will get our numbers ready

November will get the background ready

December will get January's block ready

January will get February's block ready, and so forth.

Please let me know if you will be joining us in this fun project, and an address for a blog or site online where you can post your pictures each month.

It's almost time~ I'm getting excited!

Want to be notified?

2009-09-22T17:33:00.003-04:00

Do you want to be alerted when a quilt show is coming your way? How about when something exciting quilt-wise happens? Or maybe you want to know about car shows in your area? Whatever it is that you want to know about, Google Alerts can notify you every day about what you are interested in. It's easy to set up a Google Alert. Here's how.

Go to the Google Alerts website. If you do not have a Google account, it is required to set up an alert, but it is free. Follow the directions on the home page of Google Alerts. In the bottom right corner, it says:

Don't have a Google Account?

Create an account now

Create your account, and return to the Alerts website.
Enter your email address and password.
Find the button that says NEW ALERT and click it.
Enter your search terms. I put in "Medallion Quilt" in quotations so I am notified of websites that have Medallion Quilts.
Choose what you want Google to send you. I put Comprehensive, so Google will send me everything it finds about Medallion Quilts.
Enter your email address
Click to create alert. It's that easy!

Now every day - or how often you asked - Google will send you an email with websites that have what you are looking for.

How fun is that?!?!?

Preparing for Hand Quilting

2009-09-20T11:58:00.012-04:00

Even with quilt shows displaying tons of machine-quilted quilts, there are still a lot of quilters who quilt by hand. I see photos online all the time of quilters crawling around assembling their three-layer quilt sandwich on the floor. OMG, why? I have been hand quilting all of my quilting life, which has been since around 1975. Here's how I do the same thing, which is much easier on the back and knees. It does require a little investment of money at the start, but after that, it's free and ready.

What you need:

Four one by 3 boards - I have various sizes, but you can determine the length you need most and then buy that. If you are lucky, you have a husband who is a woodworker who can supply them for you. Thanks, Dean!
A fabric tube as long as each of your boards (don't go buy something unless you feel like it. None of mine match, and many are made up of leftover cruddy fabrics. Your finished tube should be about 3 inches wide.
A staple gun with staples
Four 3 inch c-clamps (see picture below)
Four chairs with straight backs (or something like what my Dear Hubby made me - see pictures below)
Little brass pins, and lots of them (No, do not buy the larger silver pins. They will rust. Invest in brass in bulk. See picture of my very dry hand, below.)
Your finished quilt top
Your choice of batting
Your backing, at least 8 inches wider all around than your quilt
Quilt thread
Needle
Thimble
Coffee or wine, depending on the time of day
Round or oval quilting hoop for use on your lap

Using a staple gun, your four boards and the four fabric tubes you have made, Staple a tube on each board so that at least an inch and a half of the tube extends beyond the edge of the board. See photo. Notice how this isn't rocket science? Perfection does NOT matter here. I did take a huge marker and write the lengh of the board on the end to make life easier later on.

Find a space in your home, garage, outside, etc. that is large enough to work in. Set up four chairs facing each other in a rectangle larger than your quilt. Balance your boards on the backs of the chairs so that the fabric flap is on the inside of the rectangle. Use your c-clamps to loosely secure the corners while you measure and square everything up. It is VERY IMPORTANT that your corners be square, and opposite sides measure the same distance. When everything is square and measured correctly, tighten down your c-clamps.

When I started quilting, my husband made me these neat gadgets to replace the use of chairs (Windsor-back chairs don't work, since the back of them is curved.)

Lay your backing across the boards wrong side up. Begin pinning at one of the corners of the frame, working your way down one edge. Stop, then do the OPPOSITE edge the same way. Pull tight, but not too tight. Repeat with the other two sides. You should now have a trampoline for a fly. (Note: cats love it when you have made this trampoline. Ask me how I know. Keep your cats out of the area! )

Spread your batting on top of the backing. Smooth it out as you go along. If you have patience, you will let the batting rest on the backing over night. If I use cotton batting, I take a spray bottle of water and lightly mist the entire batt. It seems to help it relax and get rid of the fold lines.

Place your quilt top over the batting right side up. THIS IS IMPORTANT: Stretch your top a little to square it up. Measure your sides, look for square corners. Pin along the edge of the quilt top every inch and a half. This is the most important step here, so make sure you don't hurry through it! With a needle and thread, sew-baste along your pinned edge through the top, batting and backing. Do NOT sew through your fabric tube on the frame. Again, I know this from experience, and I am happy to share this tip with you for no extra charge. Remove the straight pins as you sew around the edge of your quilt.

Using your little brass pins (remember, the finer the pin the smaller the holes they make), pin through the sandwich every 3-4 inches all the way around the frame and as far into the middle as you can reach. Your pins will last you a lifetime. Find a pretty container to keep them in.

When you can't reach to the middle of your quilt to pin anymore, it is time to roll the quilt from one end. Using one of the sides that has a board ON TOP of the other two boards, release the C-clamps and a few pins from around the edge of the boards. Roll under tightly, then c-clamp back into place. See bottom photo. When the entire quilt is pinned, you can remove it from the frame.

The bottom photo shows my latest quilt after it has been rolled a few times. I have purposely not shown the quilt top so as to not distract you from your lesson, and so that the recipient will not see it before it is given.

In the materials list above, I mentioned that your backing should be at least 8 inches wider all around than your quilt? That is very helpful if you will be quilting in a hoop on your lap. You want straight edges on your quilt that do not wobble. This extra fabric (and batting) will allow you to quilt the edges much more easily.

Hope this helps... and saves your knees!

Another Quilt Comes to a Close

2009-09-18T07:03:00.002-04:00

FINALLY, I am at the end of my Paper Lanterns quilt. I know, you're sick of hearing about it. It's been on my frame for months, and it's not that large of a quilt! I was running out of ideas for quilting the lantern portions, but I only have three more to go, and they will be done tonight. YAY!

I think this is my favorite of the patterns used in the lanterns. It's just so easy to sew, all free-form and innocent-looking. With any luck I will be able to post a pic of the finished quilt by Sunday. Finished, as in with binding. Hopefully.

Calendar B.O.M. is Coming Soon!

2009-09-15T16:55:00.004-04:00

Are you signed up yet for the "Mosey Through The Year" Mystery Block of the Month Calendar? It begins October 1st!

See this post for further information.

Hope you will join us!

Stress and Quilting

2009-09-15T10:07:00.006-04:00

If you are visiting my blog, chances are pretty good that you are a quilter. Why do you quilt? Is it because you

Enjoy the creative process

Need a "blanket"

Need an outlet for relaxation

Can't find anything else to do

For most of us, the first three choices all fit (although you are stressed when someone calls a quilt a "blanket"!)

Stress can do terrible things to your body. Here's a good article to learn what stress does and how your body handles it.

When are you most stressed? What do you do? I do two things: eat and quilt. If I don't have something to stitch by hand, I go nuts. Absolutely nuts! In the cold months, that means I need to have a quilt in the process of being quilted. In the warm months, that means that at any point in time that I want to stitch something by hand, I need something portable that I can take with me to the deck, in the car, to the lake, etc. This week I am in the process of preparing a quilt for quilting for those cold fall days in Michigan.

Are you ever stressed WHILE you sew or quilt? I have learned that not all stitching is stress-free. Sometimes things go wrong. Pieces do not always line up. My brain does not always function the right way, and sometimes I do stupid things and realize them as soon as they are done. I'm good for two problems in a sewing session. I've had to learn that after correcting two problems that I have caused, it's best if I turn out the light and walk away. By telling myself that the sewing gods are busy working with someone else and not me, the stress is removed and I go on to something else. It used to really bother me. Now, I just sigh, say "OK, now is not the time," and stop.

How do you handle stress? Talk to me. It's a good outlet for your frustrations. Click on comments below and release your tension.

Moving Day!

2009-09-13T20:19:00.002-04:00

We spent the day in Ann Arbor moving my son and his fiance' into their new house! As first-time owners, they get the $8,000 tax credit from the Obama plan. Yippie! 5 vehicles, 8 people, 3 trips, 4 pizzas and one small dog, but we got it done. They are tired, hot, dirty but VERY happy!

Lots of Great Things in Flint, Michigan

2009-09-12T13:17:00.008-04:00

I just returned from spending the morning in downtown Flint, Michigan. Yes, you read that correctly. Downtown Flint Michigan. Today is the last day of the Flint Festival of Quilts, all located in buildings downtown Flint. Downtown Flint is undergoing a big renovation - and for the first time in I don't know how long, I felt pretty safe being downtown... and by myself!
If you know the Flint area, you probably remember the rundown Berridge Hotel on Garland Street where the drunks, wine-o's and derelicts hung out. Well, it's gorgeous now!!! It has been turned into beautiful loft apartments, and they are stunning.

I saw a lot of quilts at Berridge, the Flint Public Library, the Greater Flint Arts Council, and at the Longway Planetarium. A few quilts with chicken themes caught my eye. One by my friend Carolyn Maloski (it says eggs on it), and another sampler quilt with chickens all over it, funny as all get-out.

Back home, time to do the Saturday grocery drudgery. Have a great weekend!

Flint Festival of Quilts

2009-09-11T08:37:00.002-04:00

Don't miss the Flint, Michigan Festival of Quilts now through Sept. 12th! Click here for more info.

Post 350: Are You Creative?

2009-09-08T17:52:00.012-04:00

Creative people amaze me. I think being an artist is 40 percent skill and 60 percent creativity. A statistician might argue those numbers, but it's just my opinion, so to me they make sense.

If you needed a garage, how would you go about building one? Your typical four walls and a roof and car-size door? Yeah, me too. But I think this one is pretty neat! You see, this garage is built out of found objects. Old doors, old windows, old wood, etc. About the only thing on it that is consistent is the roof. Their unique way of assembling the building itself is only topped by their uncanny way of displaying items in their windows as if it were an art gallery. A little bit of glassware here, a little sculpture there.

Does it hold a car? Yes it does. Will it hold a rake and a garbage can? You bet.

My kind of garage! Click on the pictures to enlarge and see the detail. This is really cool!

Mystery Block of the Month Calendar

2009-09-04T17:00:00.004-04:00

It's always a challenge knowing which calendar to buy for the new year. Why not make your own that you can use every year?

The calendar measures 22 inches wide by 38 inches long. Each month you will create a new 16 inch square block that is the top "picture" part of the calendar for the next month. That means you will get the pattern on the first day of each month, and if you don't complete the block within that month, you won't have a new picture for the next month!

This B.O.M. begins October 1st, 2009 to prepare your calendar to be used January 1, 2010.

Here is the schedule:
October 1st: Preparing the numbers: 1, 2, 3 to 31
November 1st: Preparing the base
December 1st: January block
January 1st: February block
February 1st: March block
March 1st: April block
April 1st etc. through November 1st.

NOTE: Numbers are made in such a way as to be able to move around the bottom calendar grid as needed, thus enabling you to use the calendar forever (if you live that long).

Each person who participates will be listed on the side of my blog with a link to their blog. It is hoped that each month you will post a photo of your new calendar for the whole world to see! So... are you in?

If you want to participate in this "Mystery Mosey Thru the Year B.O.M. Calendar," please leave a comment below this post with your first name and blog address. Watch for your beginning directions on October 1st.

For October's task you will need one yard of 100% cotton in a solid color and 1/3 yard medium weight fusable pellon, and a contrasting color thread for the embroidery. You will be hand or machine embroidering the numbers for your calendar in October.)

SSSSSSSSSSShhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Please

2009-09-03T16:25:00.003-04:00

I am sleeping in the Genesys Sleep Lab tonight. If you drive by, do not honk your horn. I will (hopefully) be sleeping. The doc thinks sleep apnea is the cause of my medical problems. Let's hope he is right. I'll know in the morning!

Now please, SSSSSHHHHHHHhhhhhhhh!

Thank you.

All About Owls

2009-08-28T08:20:00.006-04:00

Are you sick of them yet? Yes, I have a thing for owls.

If you are also an owl lover (and I know you are out there, because I hear from you!), here are a few great sites to check out with owl quilts, owl fabric and so forth:

Drop on over to Knit One, Quilt Two to see some adorable owl coasters!

A pattern for a little owl quilt and bag are for sale at the Quilter’s Warehouse.

Check out this Hand Quilted Wall Quilt - Cute Owls!!!

And then there’s this cute owl quilt at Gather and Nest Love it!

Follow this link to the Patchwork Angel’s website and a great pattern for an owl quilt.

There, that should hold you over for a little bit! Hoot Hoot!

More Owls

2009-08-27T20:21:00.004-04:00

I'm still working on my redwork owl blocks. I love this little guy! I decided to put a red border around them with the curved corners before I sew them all together. I like the gentleness of the corners. One of these days, these little guys will be done!

Win a Super Awesome Quilt!

2009-08-26T21:10:00.004-04:00

Oh my gosh, I LOVE this little quilt! Isn't it amazing? You can win it by visiting the blog called "Don't Look Now" and following the directions. The quilt is called "Lilly Pilly." And yes, you can win it! (Hey, but I want it!)

Keep the Arts Alive!

2009-08-24T13:33:00.007-04:00

With the economy in a slump and unemployment rates climbing around the United States, it is no wonder those in the art field are struggling. From purchasing from the independent artist to buying tickets to the symphony or to the opera, fewer people have money to dedicate to such pleasure.

An article in the Chicago Tribune discusses the demise of the art gallery in the Windy City. The New York Times reported back in June that over twenty galleries had closed...

The question remains:
What can we do to invigorate the arts and keep them alive?

How can I love the arts? Let me show you the ways.

Put a work of art in the window of every business in your town.

You're going to buy gifts for birthdays, anniversaries and holidays anyway. Treat them to a show in a town nearby, or make your gift something you have bought from an artist or gallery.

Support the arts in person. Attend local art fairs, gallery shows, and museums.

Encourage your child's teacher to take the class on a field trip to the museum and teach about artists from all walks of live.

Encourage your local school district to keep the arts alive by providing classes in art, music and drama.

If your child... or someone you know shows potential, encourage that child by providing lessons.

Help expand this list. Post your ideas in the comments section below. Remember, QUILTS ARE ART!

Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick

2009-08-22T15:12:00.011-04:00

Sometimes you have to sneak up on them. Sometimes you need to beat them into submission. Those flying geese, that is. The fabric variety. Or, perhaps, it is the quilter who needs to be beaten?

<--Flying Geese, 1980.

Flying Geese, today -->

You see, in 1980 it didn't occur to me that there needed to be points on the center triangles. DUH! For some reason, triangles were (and still are, sometimes) difficult. My secret, though it takes time, is to paper piece the little buggers (see sample below).

If you have never made flying geese before, I highly recommend paper piecing. It makes for very perfect, pointed triangles every time. These strips will be 62 inches long when finished. Today's four hours of sewing yielded about 48 inches. I will finish one strip tonight, then will have three more strips to go, soon.

Yes, a big stick is the trick for me... it's called a YARD stick! It makes a great sewing tool.