3.27.13

Did I tell you that I am making TWO quilts for my Audrey class? I am almost finished with the blocks for my kindergarten quilt and I am a little behind with the ones for my more advanced schematic. Kindergarten blocks are all red, yellow, and orange. I will sash them together using white strips and royal blue cornerstones.  The other quilt is ALSO red, yellow, and orange but each block uses black and all blocks relate to farm fowl. The one above is called Birds in Flight. I imagine the little triangles as the younger birds following the bigger birds.

2.22.13

Well, I was not going to make this one block from the Audrey class. It is called the Linear Log Cabin. In it, one uses eighths of inches and cuts either the darks or the lights noticeably thinner than the other color. I do not care for Log Cabin and have not turned the BASIC Log Cabin blocks I made into mug rugs yet, although that IS my plan. No, I had completely decided that those mug rugs would be my last Log Cabin. Then, I went to Quilting Group last Tuesday and some of my fellow sewists could not believe I would skip a lesson. They were right. I sat right down that afternoon and chose my fabrics. I decided to make the thinner "logs" the light ones. I knew I would not use the block in my 2nd grade quilt but I selected from that palette anyway, since the fabrics were "out". This is not my first attempt. Somehow my finished block did not measure the right size. My teacher told me to take the outer "log" off and recut it so the block finished out the right size. I DID take it off and I decided to just border it with a completely different color, discarding the darker orange shade. Not only that, I decided to make a tote out of the block. I have not yet put it together and I think I have an excuse for that.  
 
The block is ready, fabric is pulled for the tote, but I will wait until the quilt is done and let it be the storage case for the quilt. I may even make it into a pillow case style quilt storage case. Sounds like a good enough excuse for procrastination, right? 
I am also plodding along with the applique for my Audrey quilts. This one is for the Kindergarten quilt. I want to add some whimsical stitching to this pretty little flower. I put a little on but want to do more. The problem is, I can not decide whether to do all the "art"ing of the block before it is backed with the batting and ready for quilting or make it part of the quilting.

2.15.13

As one of the lessons in my Audrey class, I did paper piecing. Typical of the English language, there are two phrases that are identical that mean two TOTALLY different things. (Foundation) Paper Piecing means using a paper or other matrix with drawn lines as guides for sewing a series of overlapping seams on on the other side. (English) Paper Piecing means to use heavier paper as the shape to fold fabric around in preparation for sewing the pieces together. Lately, I have been doing both.

 Here is a little nine inch by nine inch quilt that happened because I was experimenting with Carol Doak Free Foundation Patterns.

 I made four hearts (three inches each) from scraps in my red scraps bag and then the project just took on a life of its own.

I enjoyed it so much.

2.13.13

I ALSO completed four Log Cabin blocks last week. Log Cabin is not my favorite block to look at but it sure was easy to do the Audrey way. For Kindergarten I had to do six inch blocks. These will not go in my Kindergarten quilt because they do not fit on the schematic but they WILL be used. I chose red for the center for heat. Traditional Log Cabin blocks have a red or yellow center representing the hearth/heart of the home. 

Next, I put on a fabric that reminded me of coffee beans and dark black espresso. Then, the lightest fabric, which is called nail heads but it looked like sprinkles on the whipped cream of a designer coffee. Then, checks, looking like organized coffee grounds, unlike the times I dump the grounds on the wrong side of the filter in the morning. Last, a print that reads like coffee with cream.

Four unfinished Log Cabins, overlapping.

Why all the coffee connections? My Portlandia sister gave me some cute coffee fabric from her stash and I decided to use it for the backs of the four little blocks and make MUG RUGS!

Coffee and tea slops and spills on these little cabins will only "age enhance" them. Besides, I can't think of anything cozier than a nice cup of coffee or mug of tea by the hearth.

2.7.13

I have been BUSY. Next week, I will be even BUSIER. I have accomplished a LOT and I will show you pictures strung out across the next few days.
First of all, I made a tote from a pattern that Quilty Friend (the Original) gave me. You would think I would have a picture of it, but it is too dark to take a good picture so instead, I will skip to the next business.

I went to my first Audrey class and came home EXHAUSTED. Brain overload. I sewed a total of four 9 inch seams and I was proud of that. I did not even get to make the nine-patch, no doubt while you are reading this, I am working on it. I spent the next four days (averaging 10+ hours) working on my schematics for the Kindergarten and First Grade Quilts. As I am writing this, it has been SIX days since the first class and I am only just now BEGINNING to think about the Second Grade quilt. You see, she sets up her classes so the Second Graders do what all the others do as well as their own work. 

Now, I am not sure I really am a Second Grader, but you know I pretty much want to be best at everything. I think now in maturity, I am able to translate that to be MY best at everything. Anyway, I enjoyed planning my schematic so much, most mornings I could not wait to get up to get started on it and was usually at it by 5:00 a.m.

1.28.13

Thought for the Week

This little poster comes from HERE. It was one of those things floating around the FaceBook and/or Pinterest Universe and I found it and liked it. It makes creativity sound like LOVE, doesn't it?

This week I begin my Audrey Class. Audrey Hiers is a member of the "BIG" Guild to which I belong--Misty Mountain Quilt Guild. She has long been recognized as an expert in her artistry and periodically teaches classes. She calls them Kindergarten, First Grade, and Second Grade. I hope I am up to her Second Grade class instruction because that is what I am going to take. Here is what the John C. Campbell Folk School says about her when she is on the teaching schedule.

Audrey Hiers had 30 years of service as an educator in Florida before moving to Blairsville, GA, in 1987. Since moving to the mountains, her quilt life has included teaching classes and workshops, offering lectures, and serving as president of the local guild, Misty Mountain Quilters. 

She finds special joy in teaching beginning quilting to children and adults. Audrey's original design, "Crazy Daisies," appeared in McCall's Quilting Magazine, August 2010. Most recently published was "Big Boy," a whimsical quilt of colorful chickens, which appeared in American Quilts for the American Home (Quilting Magazine 2011 special spring issue). 

Instead of me "lifting" photos of her work to show you, follow the links below to see some of what she is about.

Find her My Other Garden--Fast Charm Square HERE.
Find her Big Boy HERE--It is a CHICKEN Quilt!

You can see I am going to have great mentorship this week while I try to use up my creativity.