Stash Elimination #4

Stop by Kiwiquilts in Powder Springs and mention this blog when you check out to get your pick from Stash Stack #4 shown below. Who knows, one might be just the right choice for a hole in your stash.

More to come after the first of the year...

I'm getting the urge to start a Dear Jane quilt. Anybody out there got a favorite spot to find a pattern?

Christmas & Beyond - Still Stuck on Dimensional Blocks

There is quilt life after a holiday and I'm looking forward to returning to unfinished quilt tops. My commitment in 2011 is to finish, finish, finish. I will restrict my new project indulgence to one-block projects because I know I can't go a week without starting something new, cutting and sewing different fabrics. I have a finished jewel box with all Jinny Beyer fabric that I want to quilt on a long arm. I've sacrificed two very old, unfinished tops to practice and am not ready yet. If there are other long arm wannabe's or beginners, I highly recommend joining Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims thequiltshow.com. Linda Taylor's long arm videos are excellent. I now know how important getting the quilt set up correctly is. It's not just about the hopper!

Here are a few of the latest, the tulip pillow is finished, the other two will be by end of week.

The following wall hanging was a project for a class I taught on ocean waves using a Square In a Square ruler - easy and fast way to get a lot of blocks created.

The following quilt, even though not intentionally a Christmas quilt is a pattern named Christmas Cactus. But it's more spring-like than Christmas. I'll add the appliqued borders later in the week.

Ah, back to a relaxing paper-piecing block. This will be a pillow or just a mini-quilt. Don't know which until I check my stock of stuffing.

I thought I had come up with something unique when I was playing around with left over folded triangles from my previous hot pads. Then I searched the Internet and found a whole site that has nothing but dimensional patterns and there's one identical to this one. Oh well...it's still pretty and I enjoyed producing it.

The Pillow Found a Happy Home

My frriend Amy found a place for the blue pillow. I must admit, it looks swell in her boudoir.

Final Cathedral Window Hot Pads Done!

This is such a quick block to make that it does become a bid addictive, especially since it gives me a chance to do a little hand work. .. or not. I did a demo/training session at a local quilt shop Saturday and the response was "This is just the type of project I need - something I can finish one or more of in one sitting." Leave me a comment if you'd like pattern/instructions.

Next post - my newest addiction!




Stash Elimination #2 & #3

Attention Cobb County Quilters! (Books are in the shops now).

I consider books stash items too. I've collected quilt books for over 35 years and it's now time to share them with others. Here's one of my all time favorite, Marsha McCloskey's Quick Classic Quilts. It will be avaiable for free...just mention Chinaberry Grove blog when you check out at CrossPoint Quilts in Powder Springs on 12/4.

Another book I want to share with a fellow quilter is Scrapy Duos by Donna Lynn Thomas. It's got great ideas for stash busters. This book will be available for free just by mentioning this blog at Kiwiquilts on 12/4.


And finally, one more gift mini-quilt to share. This is a Carol Doak membership block, free on her blog. I love this block but don't think I'll ever make a full-size quilt of it. It's easy to piece and assemble. But wouldn't a scrap quilt be fabulous with this block!!


Redo's Sometimes Are Stress Relievers

I'm not one to undo a lot. I can forgive being a 1/16 of an inch off now and then. But when the color is wrong it knaws at me. I liked the inner colors of this block and really like the green outer border, especially since it's one of my favorite Jinny Beyer fabrics but...
... it seemed the center was cold and lonely or sitting on an island somewhere. So I changed the border to this ...
... and I reused my Jinny Beyer fabric to make this ...

And one more out of some interesting colors but still holiday-ish.


One more and I'm done with the gifts for work friends. One hot pad became a pillow since I found out it works great in a friend's bedroom - I'll stash some lavender in the back pocket and she can have sweet dreams.

Pattern and Instructions for this fast, easy block are available for $1.50. Leave me your email address in a comment an I'll send you details.

Tomorrow...finish three more blocks using a Carol Doak paper-piecing pattern.

Great Holiday Block - Cube Quilt, Hot Pad, or Just Small Wallhanging

Here's a simple block that can be chain pieced completely on the machine. Pattern to come soon. Make the sandwich with Insul Bright and use as a hot pad.





Quilting App on iPhone...

Check out the Robert Kaufman app for the iPhone on Jaybird's site. And to think, I just started using a machine to piece a little over a year ago, lol.

Colorful Quilt Progress

This quilt is addictive. Here are a few pictures of some of the components I've gotten completed. So far, there's only one that I want to redo because I don't like the color.



Ah, More Tools I Need

I saw this pad or sheet for ironing on Jaybird Quilts this morning. Anybody know where I can get one? After all these years of being a dedicated presser, I can't believe I haven't run across one of these.

Progress pictures on Colorful quilt by de Jonge to follow later today.

Help Me Eliminate UFOs! Blocks & Fabric Yours for the Asking

I'm on a much different path in quilting now than I was even two years ago and I'm committed to eliminating all those leftover or never finished blocks that I've saved for so long. Also, I'm committed to getting rid of cloth that I no longer love or doesn't fit into my current color preferences. So, I'm offering it to those who may be able to make table runners or wall hangings, or samplers, or anything that will get into the hands of someone who will love them.

Since I'm in the West Cobb area of Georgia, Tracy at Kiwiquilts has gratiously agreed to help me with my elimination effort. The first one who mentions Chinaberry Grove when you check out at her shop can choose a bundle.  The second one will go to the next person who mentions Chinaberry Grove, if they want it. I'll make sure the week's bundle is at Kiwiquilts by open of business each Saturday. I'll deliver two bundles of blocks or fabric each week until I have a stash that's manageable and fits where I'm going with quilting. You will find matching and companion fabrics at Tracy's also if you want to finish the projects.

Bundle #1 - Winding Ways Monocrome Blocks
These are 9"x9" and there are 12.

Bundle #2 - Jewel Box with Jinny Beyer Fabrics
These are 8.5"x8.5" and there are 12. Background fabric and jewel fabric available at Kiwiquilts.


In the next couple of weeks I'll have a little Christmas fabric available among a lot of other fabric that I am setting free to find its way into wonderful quilts in the community.




Ruler That Sharpens your Rotary Cutter

I was curious about these rulers but unwilling to spend the dough without checking out some experiences of others. Here's one that you might find interesting. She makes several good points about what size ruler to buy and how to use it.

http://appliqueandpatches.blogspot.com/

Jacqueline de Jonge Here I Come

After finishing several Judy Niemeyer's projects, I decided to move forward a bit. One of my favorite quilters is Jacquline de Jonge because of the many geese she uses - I love geese! So I'm tackling Colorful quilt above. I'll document my progress. My goal is to enter it into the West Cobb Quilt Show so it has to be finished (quilted and bound) by June.

If I was going to tackle one de Jonge pattern, why not too? So I'm half way done with Springtime.
Pictures of progress to come this week.

Learn Every Day

I have been quilting since I was four years old. I have learned more new techniques and improved my quilting more in the last three years than in the previous 56 years. I hope to share many of my lessons and tips with you and encourage each of you to exploit the joy of quilting in every direction. Teach your sons and daughters. Teach your grandchildren, neighbors, and friends. Volunteer at community organizations. And don't forget to learn something in exchange.

The picture below represents something I learned from a friend, Janet Bland, about a fast way to make pinwheel blocks. Thanks Janet! I fell in love with the fabric, I believe it's Ombre, at my local quilt shop (Kiwiquilts). I didn't buy it with a baby quilt in mind but I think it worked well. The last photo is the technique Janet showed me.


The graphic below makes quick and easy half-square triangles with no sewing of separate triangles. Sew two squares right sides together with a quarter inch seam allowance on all sides (dashed line). Then slice on the red lines diagonally. Voila - you have four half-square triangles.

Artist Discovery of the Week

  Eszter Bornemisza - Fiber Art &; Mixed Media