Jan-Feb-Mar Review

My 2010 Quilt Challenge for this year is still on track and may just be the most fun resolution I have ever set to follow. To share my progress with you, I thought it would be fun to do a review every three months with some more details. Take a look at the projects done so far as journaled on this blog:

    

--Quilting Books on Review--

My goal is to try new techniques from the quilting books in my own library first and then from ones I buy or borrow from the library. Two other goals are to use fabrics I already own and to first learn these new skills by making smaller projects.

As I believe when trying new techniques the success of completing the project is far greater when the project is small. If one does not prefer the technique, not much time or materials have been invested into a project that will never see the light of day.  All quilts should have an opportunity to shine!!

JANUARY 2010

Simple Stained Glass Quilts
Daphne Grieg and Susan Purney Mark

In The Back Country

 

Book Project                               My Quilt

My first project was really fun to make and there are many more projects in the book that I'd love to try. I usually don't stick with the exact directions on most patterns, so was impressed that I did for this one. I did make some changes to how I used color in the inner border.  I found cutting out the leading fabric with the art knife just like drawing. The  finished design was truly magical. This project is: 19 3/4" x 22 1/2". Mine was very close at: 20" x 22 1/2".

Fantastic Fabric Folding
Rebecca Wat

Kimono Sampler I

 

Book Project                                       My Quilt

My second project was a stretch for me as I am not really into fabric folding, so I did find the technique of folding a real challenge. However, I was really happy to see Rebecca include the kimono samplers, as they are much simpler to make. That made it possible for me to continue and be able to succeed in a finished project.  There are two other projects that I wish to try at a later date because I like the design, however, I would certainly replace the folding flowers with appliqued ones. This project is: 57 1/2" x 57 1/2". Mine was 27 1/2" x 27 1/2".  This smaller size is because I used the cutting instructions from the Kimono Sampler II but used the construction process from the Kimono Sampler I.  That worked really well for me.

FEBRUARY 2010

Quilts from the Selvage Edge
Karen Griska

Glass Tumbling Blocks                        Garden's Edge

 

Book Project                                    My Project

My third project was inspired from the quilt project shown above. My goal was to try making a border using selvages and then do something on the center block. I love applique so created flowers cut from selvage squares. I figured there would be opportunity to create a quilt from this book after I had collected the selvages from all the projects made during my quilt challenge.  However, since I didn't wish to wait until then, I created a design of my own. The project shown is: 48" x 49". Mine was 25" x 25".

Flower Pounding

Ann Frischkorn and Amy Sandrin

Good Chi

 

Book Project                   My Project

My fourth project was interesting to create and noisy too. You can make one of these any time of year, whether you choose flowers from your garden or the local flower shop. I decided to use outdoor plants, but still needed to keep it small because I didn't want to create too much noise. So, I made a smaller vase for the flowers and added butterfly buttons for added interest. I was surprised when a purple bud pounded out green. So there are many more great ideas left to explore in this book. This project is: 15 3/4" x 25". Mine was 15 1/2" x 23".

MARCH 2010

Watercolor Landscape Quilts
Cathy Geier

A Lake Superior Maple (Level 2)

 

Book Project                             My Project

My fifth project was filled with challenge and intrigue. Since this was the only project I wished to try at first, it was what I made. To me, size matters, and many quilt projects are just too large for me to make. I thought perhaps the fabric choices would create a quilt that wouldn't work,  but was rewarded along the way. The fusible grid worked well for me. However, with the more challenging projects this is what Cathy suggested: "If you do decide to do one of the more advanced quilts, there might be more scalene triangles and these aren't as easy to put together on the fusible because of the bias stretch inherent in the product... just be careful! I don't want to see you get frustrated." So, I will try foundation next time, as the grid would be too small for more complex designs. That is why I didn't choose the project "A Room with a View" this time. This project is: 27" x 31". Mine was 22" x 25 3/4".

Thanks for reading...

SIXTH PROJECT - APRIL 2010:

My sixth project will be shared next week...

Easy Does It For Autumn/ Art to Heart
Nancy Halvorsen

ISBN: 632552005211

 
 


Enjoy your quilting adventure for... 2010!!

Selvage Quilts

Book:
QUILTS from the SELVAGE EDGE by Karen Griska

Okay... time has come to share my review from this book and reveal my finished project. My main reason for its inspiration is that is takes something that we used to discard from our fabric (the selvage edges) and with this technique we can create beautiful projects!

I am not sure where I discovered it, but when my mouse clicked onto Karen's selvage blog, I was truly inspired. I ordered the book before Christmas and it arrived about 3-4 weeks later. Then it was time to make the decision on which project I would choose to make...

Book, Selvages

Here is how it unfolded:

First, I paged through the book from back to front, and then read it completely from front to back. Deciding on a project, can sometimes be the hardest part of the process. But, of course, to make any of the quilts in the book, it was recommended to have a one-gallon plastic storage bag full of selvages. This I did not have. So, what do I do... wait until I have enough or just jump in and have some fun.

I'd say, "why wait" for anything fun? Do it now!! Therefore, since I didn't have enough selvages, for a project from the book, this time, it shouldn't stop me from making a selvage quilt. Right?

So, I took out my small ziploc bag of selvages that I had and followed the basics in the book. Oh, such FUN, indeed. Since I did not have many selvages, I decided to see what developed!!  A small quilt project is a great way to experiment and try out a new technique. Here I go...

My inspiration came from the quilt called, "Glass Tumbling Blocks". It has two borders and one is done with selvages. So, this was where I began. I figured I had enough for a border and so I made some long strips and some squares. At that point I didn't know what I'd put in the center or anything else about what I'd make. However, the idea soon came to me and this is why I made the following blocks.

My long block

Block cut into strips

At first glance, the long block with all its messy ends didn't look very interesting. However, it transformed before my eyes, after I trimmed the sides and cut it into the four strips that I wanted. I also had a narrow strip leftover. Then, I also made four small squares, as shown below.

Small squares

Instead of using the selvages in an inner border, as the quilt project showed, I decided to use it for the main border and used the remaining narrow selvage strip for the flower stems. The circles (flower centers) were left over from another project I had made several years back. The polka dot fabric I received from my mother's fabric stash that were bought many, many years ago. The bird and leaves came from the scraps that resulted from the cutout flowers. The small circles, green with blue center (in the background) are from the fabric used in the narrow inner border and quilt outer corners. I used black embroidery stitches to sew on the black lines.

I named the quilt, "Garden's Edge". It was such a fun quilt to create and will enjoy making more selvage blocks, in the future.

Those squares became flowers!

The selvage blocks turned into this design!

Binding

My suggestion: If you don't have enough selvages for any of the projects, just try out some of the selvage blocks following the instructions under "The Basics" section. That way you get a feel for how the technique works, make blocks as you can until you have enough blocks to make a complete quilt.

After all, as I figured, once I've completed my 2010 quilt challenge, I will have plenty of selvages to revisit this book and make one then. The selvages that I collected from my fabric scraps drawer were done after I had finished my project. So, my supply is starting to grow!!

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Close-up of the flowers

My Selvage Quilt: "Garden's Edge"

(Finished size: 25" x 25")

I have been a fan of "green" living and contributing to creating a more beautiful world for all to live for quite a few years now. For me, it is uplifting to know that I can play a small part in this way by following the 3R's of reduce, reuse and recycle. I believe we can all be responsible and caring citizens of the place we call home.

Now, I realize we all do this in a multiple of ways and when I discovered a new way to use fabric scraps, well, that was just plain fantastic. I do love shopping at fabric and quilt shops but if one already has a whole cabinet full of beautiful fabrics, one should start using them. Anyways, that is my personal goal this year and I am enjoying the process, thus far.

I certainly look forward to creating more selvage quilts. This is my first quilt made from selvages. I did make six mini Christmas stockings in 2009, as I awaited my copy of the book with anticipation. To view the stockings, go to this blog and type into the blog search box, "Christmas stockings" to see those projects.

Next week...

My next book choice and then a reveal the following week. If you wish to see what books are being featured you can also check out my website for more details.

Happy stitching!!