Tumbler Quilt

Since my last post I was assigned to a case for jury duty so my days are partly at my regular, full time job and afternoons are spent in court. I had not ever served before, and I don't mind doing my civic duty. It does make for full days, though, since in addition to working in the mornings I am also taking an advanced patchwork class Tuesday evenings.

Last week in class we discussed traditional scrap quilts and one patch designs: for example, the tumbler, the hexagon and the applecore. It was great to make the time to focus on patchwork and sleep can just wait, right? A bonus is now I have "homework" for class next Tuesday and am enjoying that excuse to be in the sewing loft more than usual..what a lovely mess, huh? All of my early reproduction fabrics are being neatly trimmed into tumbler shapes using a plexiglass template and a rotary cutter, and the stacks are getting taller in short order. It'll probably be a top before St. Valentine's Day and I can't wait to see a sampling of my mid to late 1800's fabrics in one top!

Fabulous Free Finds:
♦ In my last post I failed to link to Be Still My Heart, a lovely block which is so versatile for February. If you don't have a lot of reds just throw in pink and burgundy along side them (the reds matching then becomes less conspicuous for those who like a more homogeneous color scheme) or even go completely scrappy. It will all look good...but then again, I love super scrappy! It's a great pattern for a honeybun, though measurements will need to be adjusted if you go that route. I can see this block with a thin background border and then alternating with a checkerboard block. That would be a great project for a honeybun. If you have honeybuns laying around, be sure to look here for ideas...there are several honeybun recipes!
♦ Ms. Brackman's Checkered Past is a free pattern - simply lovely. With precuts it will make up quickly. Have you seen the new 1862 Battle Hymn line? I just adore the cotton boll print in that line (and the tiny florals, and the wavy stripes, and...). I am on the lookout for these fabrics in my local quilt shop. Maybe I will see you there!

~~Lisa

Are You Ready for Valentine's Day?

Valentine's Day is nearing, so it's time to store the wreath/pine tree/green and red quilts and bring out the red and white classics, the pink and white quilts, or the heart quilts. What? Not a single quilt for the occasion? Me neither. Mine will be a red and white double nine patch. It could have hearts appliqued in the open spaces, but I think I will opt to showcase quilting in the open spaces instead.
Just in time for St. Valentines Day on February 14, here are a few quick, heart-themed projects:

Keep the Heart Truth Growing (embroidery - builds awareness for the Heart Truth campaign)Valentine's Day Table Topper (with a gorgeous scalloped edge)
Heart of my Heart Valentine Quilt (this will make a great February wallhanging)
Heart Struck Runner (dress up your counter top or table with this cute runner)
Cross My Heart (lovely heart theme)
Hearts Galore (uses precuts to make quick work of it)

♥BONUS: These are great scrap-users:
Scrappy Sweethearts (nice wallhanging)
Scrappy Four Patch Heart Quilt (sweet quilt with many different sizes)
Scrap Happy Heart Quilt (great pattern for Valentine's Day and all year long)
Scrappy Heart Quilt (love this, simple and effective)
Heart Quilt (this is as easy as it gets, add sashing or let them run together!)

Happy stitching!
~~Lisa

What's New in 2012?

Hopefully 2012 is off to a great start for you! It is for me (aside from a doozie of a cold), but it is difficult to say goodbye to some quilty fun I had in 2011. Firstly, Barbara Brackman's Saturday morning posts including history and blocks for her Civil War Commemorative Quilt (available through June 2012). Nancy Rink offered Ode to the Blue and Grey. I love the Beyond the Cherry Trees Album Quilt offered by Sentimental Stitches, Clutch is a smart little dog to have claimed that quilt for his own. With a name like Henrietta Whiskers, how can you resist? Of course, the tail end of 2011 held the unveiling of eight steps on each Friday morning when Bonnie K. Hunter of Quiltville posted clues to her latest mystery quilt, (spoiler alert!) Orca Bay (<-- click the link to see the 'solution'). Bonnie's Cheddar Bow Ties will have to carry us through to the next mystery quilt.

In San Luis Obispo County there is legislation pending (it will be considered this week!) to ban single-use bags in stores (if it's passed, no more "paper or plastic?"). Consequently I have spent quite a bit of time lately whipping up totes. Of course, I had intended to make them up months ago, but quilts and other fun things came to the forefront. Not anymore! Now I have a collection of totes waiting by the door to carry whatever I need. I even made smaller bags lined with Insul~Bright for frozen/cold items.

It's still early in the year and so many new blocks of the month have surfaced already. Here are a few I will keep my eye on (in alphabetical order). These are each generously offered by the designer for no fee (some for a limited time, for example free for thirty days, then for a fee).
A Year of Mini Quilts by Amy Heaton of Country Junk'tion
Asian Teapots by Angie Padilla of Angie's Bits and Pieces
Country Cottages by Shabby Fabrics
Just Takes 2 by Brenda of Dear Jane and Gayle of Sentimental Stitches
Mumm's the Word Anniversary Sampler by Debbie Mumm
Mystery Mondays with This and That Patterns
Project Quilting Season 3 began yesterday at Kim's Crafty Apple
Scrappy Plate Club by Bunny Hill Designs
Vintage Sampler by Reeze Hanson of Morning Glory Designs (42 garden-inspired blocks!)
With all of that good fun, 2012 promises to be a good year for quilting!

Fabulous Favorite Freebies:
*Always on the lookout for great quilt patterns for large scale fabrics and found Royal Peacocks by Punch Studio. That one is a keeper!
*Make a Kwik-Sew Insulated beverage Cup Cozy.
*An Owl Potholder would be a cute addition to your kitchen, or a great gift.

Hopefully you have resolved to do whatever it is you want or need to do this year and put a plan in place. I am preparing more wholesome meals for myself in 2012. So far I have made chili with cornbread and pumpkin muffins. Mmmm.

Here's wishing you a great 2012!
~~Lisa

Farewell 2011, Hello 2012

December came and went so quickly. Less time on the computer has been fruitful in many ways, but no post in December? During December, I prepared for festivities and worked, and then had two weeks off during which I... attended the play A Baby King,

baked ginger cookies and made caramel corn with peanuts,

worked on projects, I was tempted to indulge in Bonnie Hunter's mystery and start a new sawtooth star project after seeing this video on the Quilt in a Day site. Fun!

then I baked more, you see, my dear husband, Mr. IQ, is not one to make chocolate disappear. However, he's pretty good at making cookies disappear...so I chopped up the candy bars (all of them!) and added them to a sweet dough (try this recipe) and made bar cookies. The texture is similar to a brownie when baked in a 10x18 pan for 25 minutes. Mmmm.

prepared for an upcoming class I will teach,

decorated a gingerbread house in a timed contest. We had teams, my niece, my brother-in-law and I decorated the one on the left. The one on the right was decorated by my mom, Mr. IQ and my nephew. They won the contest! They only finished the front, but the judge liked the 'simplicity' of it. It's okay, the losers got brownies. I am over it, really...it was a lot of fun!

Watched lots of football and prepared for the NFL fantasy football playoffs...we are in week 17 now and I am playing another team for the championship. Wish me luck!

...and then I cleaned out the sewing loft and some closets (certainly not glamorous, but I was productive during my time away from the computer)...still working on the sewing loft and I hope to have a little giveaway soon right here to celebrate the 'refreshed' sewing loft.

Have a safe New Year's celebration and I wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2012!

~~Lisa

Happy Thanksgiving

This week I have time off work to rest and recharge.
I have been cooking . . .

Stitching . . .these blocks will make a triple irish chain variation. This pattern sews up quickly and finally I cut into an April Cornell jelly roll that has been on my shelf for two years. Time flies, doesn't it?!

Cleaning . . . well, actually, more like visiting antique malls . . . and Saturday I spotted a familiar little black box with two latches and a handle on top. Do you know the description? This is what I brought home, and I have been cleaning it . . . does that count as cleaning?! This is a Singer Featherweight sewing machine from September 1945. It's in mint condition, glossy and bright (can you see the reflection in the finish?) and I have been enjoying getting her ship shape so I can put her back into service. It's an honor to own a Featherweight and believe me, she will be treated well.


Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving!
~~Lisa

A New Mystery Begins

Today Bonnie K. Hunter announced some details of the upcoming mystery quilt on her Quiltville blog. The photo that inspired her colors is gorgeous, I may take cues from it as well and change from the colors she used slightly (depends on what I have on hand!).
The size of the resulting quilt is smaller than her typical size, but she warns "I’ll tell you right up front that I do intense piecing…..lots of pieces, many of them small. This is a labor intensive quilt. One WORTH the piecing!". So, a little tune-up to my sewing machine and space are in order before I sew this mystery.
Happy stitching!
~~Lisa

Happy Haunting!

My favorite Halloween costume ever was made by my artistic aunt. When I was 10 years old I went trick-or-treating as a Band-Aid box. It was a great costume: warm and gave people a laugh. Just keep in mind the little one wearing it needs space to walk, so a cut-out in back of the legs from the knees down would be good. I still remember the feeling of my legs hitting the back of the costume trying to keep up with my cousins...ouch, my aching neck! It was worth it, though, that delightful costume made for a great time.

Favorite of the day: is a sweet applique Halloween themed wall hanging by Fairfield Road Designs
Wishing you a frightfully Happy Halloween!

~~Lisa