Friday, May 17, 2013

Steam Punking Along and the BAM Retreat

My steam punk blocks are not multiplying as quickly as I would like.  I have 2 more, but haven't managed to take any photos of them.  Soon, very soon I'll get that accomplished!

I think I have now identified where I am having trouble with the blocks - it's the outer curved corner piece. Someone in the Steam Punk Flickr group was also having a problem with this piece and suggested cutting that part of the block a little bit larger.  I will see what comes of that idea in my next block.

I hope to get several more blocks made at the BAM (Bay Area Modern Quilt Guild) retreat this weekend (technically not a UFO, but I consider this UFO prevention).  We are headed to The Presentation Center in Los Gatos.  I understand the site is absolutely gorgeous.  We can check-in at 2:00 on Friday and check out at noon on Sunday.  The focus of this retreat is UFOs - yeah, I've got them and I want to transform them into wonderfulness.

So what do I have planned to work on, you ask?

1.  Quilting and binding my String Block quilt top.
2.  Making a sleeve and attaching the quilt label for my "Black and White and Red All Over" ABC Challenge quilt (of course this means making the label first, which will contain the names of all the alphabet blocks that are in the quilt).

     I brought it to the meeting last weekend.  Here's a photo of it at show and tell:


3.  Completing the back for my Wonky Log Cabin quilt.
4.  Make my pillow for the Pillow Talk Swap.
5.  Make 2 blocks for the BAM mini-group that I should have brought to the last meeting with me but completely forgot to make!
5.  Make more Steam Punk blocks.

I think this is more than I can actually accomplish, but #2 and #4 must, I mean must happen, so that will be the first order of business.

I haven't really gotten organized yet, so I will need to do that tonight (I wrote this on Wednesday - now it's Friday and I'm still not organized!)  I need to make the quilt label at home because I need my computer to do that. (Oh, I got this done - yea!) 

I did,  however, purchase a new pair of pajamas!  Nothing like sewing in your pajamas to feel right at home. 

Aaaaaanyway, that's it from the Robertson household.


Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Steam Punk - I Tried to Resist but Now I'm All In!


I told myself I was not going to join another online swap until I got my 2013 FAL projects done.  But then Pillow Talk Swap 10 popped up and I just couldn't resist participating again.  I have always had a good experience with this wonderful swap.

Then I ran across the Steam Punk quilt along and the Flickr group established to encourage participation.  You can find the Flickr group started by GoneAussieQuilting Here.  It's not a swap and there's no requirement to make any specific number of blocks.  And, did I mention that I love this block?  It gives me the opportunity to use some of my most favorite fabrics and also to try working with a less vibrant color palette.  I jumped in!

I purchased the pattern and then I purchased a set of templates and a 28mm rotary cutter to make my life a little easier.  I love this block - oh, I already said that...

  
 
I pulled out my Japanese fabrics and, of course, bought some additional Japanese fabrics just because.  I also sorted through my fabrics for soft grey, brown and neutral background fabric - hard to find in my stash! 
These little beauties arrived in the mail last week.
 





Here is my first block:


The center circle will be hand appliqued on later.  Right now, I'm just focusing on the machine portion of the blocks.

I woke up about 4 a.m. this morning and wandered into my sewing room just to have a little look-see at the next block (do you ever do that?)  I had made a choice of fabrics the night before but went to bed before I did any cutting.  I sat down and started cutting out the pieces. After an hour I decided I had better go back to bed or give up sleeping completely.  I opted for going back to bed!

I should be able to get block 2 completed tonight and perhaps block 3.  I'm getting faster at the cutting and sewing aspects and I've lined up 4-5 fabric combos for additional blocks.  Now it's about production!

Maybe you should jump into this quilt along and join in the fun.

Aaaaanyway, that's it from the Robertson household.




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I'm a grandmother, a lawyer, a quilter, a cook and the human companion of Boo, the labradoodle. I am also a collector/hoarder and ultimate consumer of fabric. Can't resist touching and/or buying it! I also love sharing every day with my doodle. Please look at my work and let me know what you think. I plan to share my thoughts and experiences with you and hope you will do the same. Boo sends his tail wagging greetings to all. If you meet him, you will know exactly what I mean!