It seems like the day was longer than usual, but only because I did a lot. I got up this morning and went to the Portland Farmer's Market with Erik and Mae. Mae loaded up on plants for her garden. They were going to plant theirs today. We're still at least a week out on ours, and so I ended up just bringing home a jar of pickled beets. I love beets. I know there are those out there who can't stand them, but I've always loved them. I even loved them when they were the canned ones, but fresh . . . oh my. Fresh beets are probably my favorite vegetable. (I love brussels sprouts too. I guess you either love them or hate them.) After that, I came home and enjoyed the luxury of a nap.
Then I got started sewing. I got all the fusing done on my July block for my "Home is Where the Heart" is block of the month quilt.
I had to dig into my stash on this one because the quilt shop didn't give me a wide enough piece of fabric to make the borders. I needed four 2-inch strips, and the piece they gave me was only 7 inches wide. You do the math. This is only one of a series of frustrations I've had with this quilt shop. It hasn't spoiled my enjoyment of the quilt though. I still need to do the blanket stitching around the pieces, but the fusing is all finished. It usually takes me a full day to do all that stitching. August is already complete. Why? Because the blocks came out of order. So after this one, I'll be on to September.
Then I got a little more done on the quilt I'm making for my Quilt University class, although I'm woefully behind the class at this point. I didn't like my first try, and so I started over with a completely different image:
I'm only putting one element on at a time now so that I can take some time to stare at it and audition the fabrics more closely. Here's what I have so far . . . keeping in mind that there will be a lot of thread painting and shading with Shiva Paintstiks before it's all finished.
I left the transparency with the tracings of the buildings so you can get some idea where they will be. I've fussy cut some trees out of some fabric I had, and I'll blend the edges of everything with thread. I'm envisioning shading with paintstiks over the grassy areas. I like the colors in the background fabric, but I'm planning to add a lot more green to the grass with thread. And as I look at this, I'll probably pull up some of the trees that will end up behind the red building and put them above the roof instead. I'm using 505 spray to stick them down temporarily, which makes it easy to make changes if I want to.
I sort of decided I didn't need to keep up with my class. I'll just print off the lessons and do them on my own. I'm feeling much better about this one than I did about the first one I started. The trees are the hardest part, in my opinion. I'm going to add the buildings next, and those seem relatively easy. I'll keep you posted as I go along.
I hope you all had a great Saturday. A big black cloud is looming overhead. It looks like we have a cloud burst in our future. I know we'll have a rainy day tomorrow.
Then I got started sewing. I got all the fusing done on my July block for my "Home is Where the Heart" is block of the month quilt.
I had to dig into my stash on this one because the quilt shop didn't give me a wide enough piece of fabric to make the borders. I needed four 2-inch strips, and the piece they gave me was only 7 inches wide. You do the math. This is only one of a series of frustrations I've had with this quilt shop. It hasn't spoiled my enjoyment of the quilt though. I still need to do the blanket stitching around the pieces, but the fusing is all finished. It usually takes me a full day to do all that stitching. August is already complete. Why? Because the blocks came out of order. So after this one, I'll be on to September.
Then I got a little more done on the quilt I'm making for my Quilt University class, although I'm woefully behind the class at this point. I didn't like my first try, and so I started over with a completely different image:
I'm only putting one element on at a time now so that I can take some time to stare at it and audition the fabrics more closely. Here's what I have so far . . . keeping in mind that there will be a lot of thread painting and shading with Shiva Paintstiks before it's all finished.
I left the transparency with the tracings of the buildings so you can get some idea where they will be. I've fussy cut some trees out of some fabric I had, and I'll blend the edges of everything with thread. I'm envisioning shading with paintstiks over the grassy areas. I like the colors in the background fabric, but I'm planning to add a lot more green to the grass with thread. And as I look at this, I'll probably pull up some of the trees that will end up behind the red building and put them above the roof instead. I'm using 505 spray to stick them down temporarily, which makes it easy to make changes if I want to.
I sort of decided I didn't need to keep up with my class. I'll just print off the lessons and do them on my own. I'm feeling much better about this one than I did about the first one I started. The trees are the hardest part, in my opinion. I'm going to add the buildings next, and those seem relatively easy. I'll keep you posted as I go along.
I hope you all had a great Saturday. A big black cloud is looming overhead. It looks like we have a cloud burst in our future. I know we'll have a rainy day tomorrow.
3 comments:
I think it must have just been a napping kind of day in Oregon today. It went on at my home and when I called a few people latter was told by their hubbys they were napping! I like how the quilt is starting out. Hopefully it will all just fall into place for you, I have never tried this method but think quilts made with it are beautiful.
Love your "Home" block, very cute. Your class project is looking good. The batik you used for the ground/grass looks great. Would have never crossed my mind to use a fabric with those colors, but it works so well.
The beach block looks fun! What a drag tho', that the fabric wasn't correct. You did good on it anyway. :D
Love the way your "university" quilt is working. Great choice for the grass fabric! I'm glad that it's going together better for you.
You can have my brussel sprouts, but I, too, LOVE fresh beets! Yummmmm, with just some salt & pepper.....
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