Are you going to QuiltCon West in Pasadena next week? Well actually it starts on Thursday - but I'm going to drive and will be leaving on Sunday or Monday. The weather forecast from Reno to Pasadena is spectacular! A dry week or 10 days - something that hasn't happened with El Nino bringing in storms every 3 or 4 days. Thought I would drive so that I could visit with friends along the way and on the way back. On the way back I'll be in Visalia, Ca (Central Valley) visiting friends for a few days and then head up to Carmel to visit with more friends and do a little birding before returning to Reno.
I am volunteering at QuiltCon so I
will be helping with setup on Wednesday and then working in one of the
classrooms on Friday. Another reason to get there a little earlier than is required by the event itself.
This will be my third of 3 QuiltCons! Don't know if I will make it to Savannah next year. I really understand when people decide not to attend because it's expensive, it's far away and it takes a lot of time away from home. I do have to report that it's exciting, uplifting, you will learn a lot and meet or re-meet your quilting friends from all over the world. It's so nice to meet a person face-to-face. And the quilt show has been amazing, as well as the vendors.
It will be particularly fun to help with set-up of the show on Wednesday because I have a quilt in the show! Not sure how that happened but I greatfully accepted their offer to put the quilt in the show and off it went.
I named it Almost Purr-fect, partially for the Cattitude fabric that I used and second because I am at best an o.k. quilter. Without further adieu, here it is:
I hope to see many friends, both old and new, in Pasadena.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Talk to you soon,
Just a quick check-in on my Q1 2016 Finish-a-long projects. I got the binding on my black and white (and a little silver) Michael Miller glitz wedge mini quilt. I didn't get it finished in time to enter into the Quiltcon West challenge, but still wanted to finish it.
Here it is:
I rather like this little quilt. This is my first time attempting spiral quilting. I think I'll consider this a prototype and try again now that I have a tiny bit of experience with spiral quilting.
And I am working on my second Q1 Finish-a-long completion I've quilted it in one direction and now need to work on the crosshatch quilting. Making progress! Here it is in its unfinished but progressing state:
I did a pattern test for @prettypenny7. Decided that I didn't need another pillow but who can't use another mini quilt?
I've got 2 more Q1 projects, both requiring quilting. I've prepared the backing and batting for my Op Art quit in anticipation of the big quilt effort needed to complete it. And have practiced a little FMQ for my beaded curtain quilt.
Slowly, oh so slowly I'm making progress!
Happy Super Bowl Sunday to you.
Talk again soon,
Well, in addition to the Q1 Finish-along, I joined the 2016 Sew My Stash Instagram group (#sewmystash2016). I don't know about you, but I could sew from my stash for several years before I ran out of projects! Maybe several years is an understatement...many, many years is probably more accurate.
So what part of my stash did I decide to focus on you ask yourself? I went for one of my favorite fabric designers - Tula Pink and gave myself the assignment of working through her City Sampler blocks. All 100 of them (IG #tula100) if you want to see what others have done. Tula numbered her blocks but did not name them. She encourages you to name your own blocks are you make them. I am not making the blocks in the order of the book. I'm flipping through and then deciding on a block that appeals to me. Having now reviewed the blocks I have made, it appears that I like to select blocks that have fewer pieces! So that means I will have a number of 24-28 piece blocks to do at the end. Maybe I should change my approach!
So, as of last Sunday, I had completed 45 blocks! They are 6.5" (6" when set) and have many, many little pieces (not my strong suit for sure). I have a pretty good stash of Tula fabric from over the years and like the way the blocks are coming together.
Here are the first 15 blocks I made with the respective page from Tula's book:
And here are the second set of 15 blocks I made (#16-30):
And here are the third set of blocks I most recently completed (#31-45):
A few rogue blocks are in this and earlier groups - I opted out of lots of little pieces in some of the blocks if I thought I could get a similar effect without so many little pieces!
Just in case you are wondering about Boo, here's a quick photo of him after a romp in the snow:
Talk with you soon!
