10-14-11 qotd

12 years ago

What's been a recent quilting 'highlight' for you? It doesn't have to be big, just something that gave you a lift?

I put together a quick quilt for a friend of the family who has landed in a nursing home and is depressed and feeling like she'll never go home again. I used 6 pre-printed panels and then filled in the rest of the top with 2 different sets of 4-patches. I just pulled from my stash and cut and sewed, and it turns out that I have the exact amount of blocks to finish the top at a good size - not even one orphan block left over! I was not thrilled with what I had in my stash for backings -the colors and prints just didn't blend with the top, so I stopped at a thrift store yesterday and found a mottled blue fabric that will work much better. It's one of those things where I really want to look at the fabrics in the whole quilt and feel that 'warm-fuzzy' feeling that it all works together instead of feeling it 'will have to do'.

So what has been a recent quilt-lift for you?

Karlene

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (21)

grammyp
12 years ago
Camp Cheerio! Lots of tips, ideas, inspiration, and great fun.

beverly
jennifer_in_va
12 years ago
Completing top (after top, after top) of someone else's blocks and actually getting them to 'work' well, though in some cases differently than the original quilter's plan.
Related Discussions
QoTD - 1/11/11
Q
Comments (22)
I have my yardage fabric neatly folded, placed on open shelves in a walk in closet, arranged by color. It looks really good. I have my fat quarters neatly arranged in plastic bins, my battings are also on shelves, my tools are organized and easily accessible....:):)You are probably saying "how wonderful of you" don't be so hasty, there is more. My big problem is all those pieces left over of varying sizes when you cut a project. I have some in boxes, some in bags, some just piled in a drawer, some piled on top of the cutting table, and just stashed everywhere. It is on my to do list to do something with this mess but I am at a loss as to what. I started cutting everything into wedges for a specific project, (i forget what the project was, and haven't added to it in a while) so some of those are in a little bin with the special ruler I used to cut. I haven't been quilting long enough to know what is the best size to cut these pieces so they will be useful later, but I have been at it long enough to have a mess of jumbled fabric here there and everywhere.....In fact I was just looking at this mess yesterday, Snow day #2 in the deep south. thanks so much for this QTD, I needed a reminder of this mess and now maybe I will just do something!! LOL After all, this is snow day #3 with no going out anywhere so maybe today is the day....I am inspired. Thanks again....to all of you Murphy
...See More
4-26-11 qotd
Q
Comments (22)
With the price of everything going up these days, I have been saving my scraps, even the small pieces. And I find myself buying more fabric quarters these days which I supplement with cheaper solid colored fabrics. I plan to start some scrap quilts in 2012 such as Lemoyne Star, Grandma's Flower Garden, and Flower Basket Applique quilts. Quilts that will take me a few years to make by hand sewing/quilting to stretch out the projects. I have never made a scrap quilt before. I currently have 4 quilts that I am working on and hope to have that group of quilt projects finished some time in 2012. Am spending less money on gardening this year and rediverting those funds to quilting supplies. And I try to catch things on sale. And I have a relative in another state in a metroplex area that has a Jo-Ann's nearby so they do some of my shopping for me and mail it to me. I email them online coupons that are only good for a day or 2 and they can use them immediately for me which is really great. I am in a rural area with only supplies of fabric available to buy are at Walmart, Hancocks, and Hobby Lobby so not the greatest selection if you are wanting fabric in multiples of one color like 3 different prints of pinks. And for future quilts I am considering using a new bed-sheet for the bottom of the queensize quilts as I have heard that is cheaper than buying 9 yards for the bottom of quilts that measure 110 in x 110 in. My family likes to have a lot of length on the sides of their quilts. And I am checking out quilt books from the library before deciding which ones to buy that way I don't waste money on books that just collect dust. I checked out one book from the library this week "Amish Quiltmaker: From Small Projects to Full-Sized Quilts" by Bettina Havig and it tells of how they use pencils to trace decorative quilt patterns on to the top of the quilts before stitching them by hand where they have areas of solid fabrics - I am going to try using a pencil and see if it washes out - if it works that would sure be cheaper than disappearing fabric ink pens. And I plan to slowly invest in quilt products such as stencils that I can use and reuse on several quilts. And when I find quilt patterns that I like that are free on the internet I print them out and put them in clear pages in a binder. Websites aren't maintained for forever. So even if it is a quilt that I might like to make 5 years from now I print out the pattern as that website may not be available in 5 years. And I like to look at ceramic tile adds in magazines as it gives me ideas of new block designs to make to accent quilts. It is always great to hear of frugal quilting ideas. We only have 1 vehicle so I get to town when hubby takes me as we combine trips or I catch a ride with M-I-L once or twice a month. So I have to plan ahead and know exactly what I am getting as it may be 2 weeks before I get a chance to go back to town. Thank you for all your frugal ideas. :-) Best to you, Sandra
...See More
QOTD 9/13/11 - Mini Quilts
Q
Comments (15)
I make minis for my guild (same as Kate's) every other year and for the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative every year. Most of them are traditional piecing, though I occasionally PP them. One of the AAQI ones this year was about 4" x 6" - it had pinwheels that finished at 1-1/2" and a couple of borders. I've been doing a Civil War BOM that has a whole bunch of stitch & flip pieces in each block, and I've been doing a second stitching in the corners to make HSTs that finish at 1". I used a bunch of those for the AAQI quilts this year, and I think next year the guild will get a lot of minis with those too! :) Donna
...See More
QoTD 10/16/11 - Blogs?
Q
Comments (16)
I liked 'Hyperbole and a Half' ALOT! (Ha!) Thanks for sharing that one and the others that were posted too. Like I said at the beginning, I'm just now getting into this and am enjoying the variety and scope. I only have a couple entries in mine but I'm going to post the link here anyway. After talking about the thing, it only seemed right to show you I was really doing it! The plan is to get pictures of all my quilts posted, gathering the photos from two old computers, my phone, a couple digital cameras and photobucket. See why I need to do this? I've never really organized my quilt pictures; maybe the blog will inspire me to get it done. Kate Here is a link that might be useful: K8Quilts - my new blog!
...See More
K8Orlando
12 years ago
Spending time with a quilting friend!
In August we spent a Saturday at a shop hop and in September we went to a quilt show. I haven't always had someone to do that with, so having a friend with an interest in quilting is a real delight! She's even more addicted to fabric than I am, so I never feel guilty when I'm shopping with her. :~))

Kate
teresa_nc7
12 years ago
Yes, Jennifer is the Champion of taking orphan blocks and making something wonderful out of them!

My high-light? finding the Jack/Jill pattern that was missing and.....finding the "tree" quilt for the retreat that I forgot to pack. Yeah.....I have trouble finding things.....;o(

Teresa
msmeow
12 years ago
Taking a class at Quilt University! I'd been in a funk for a while. My sister gave me a gift certificate for QU for my BD in August and at the end of Sept. they offered a new T shirt quilt class. A T shirt quilt has been on my to-do list for a long time, so I signed up.

I really enjoyed it, and it helped get me in the mood to sew again!

Donna
Carol_from_ny
12 years ago
I hit the thrift store yesterday and found a nice stack of quilting books for a mere 2 dollars each. Several were Eleanor Burns. Just looking thru the pages gave me an a few ideas and a boost I needed to get quilting again.
nanajayne
12 years ago
Finishing SBQ top was a big boost but nothing could over shadow the generous words that came from all my friends here on the forum with regards to it. Everyone was so kind and made me feel that maybe it was better then I thought it was. Jayne
User
12 years ago
I made a couch quilt earlier in the year for an uncle in WV, when he got it (I didn't let him know about it ahead of time) he loved it so much that he sent me a poem about the colors in it how each one reminded him of the colors of the foliage and mountains of WV in the fall. I just thought that was so sweet of him.
magothyrivergirl
12 years ago
ahhhhh Rita~so sweet:)

Camp Cheerio and meeting some of my Quilty friends face to face (& sweet little Melanie). I was able to fly First Class on the return trip - that was a huge highlight - my 2 bags flew for free & no $90.00 extra for one bag that was 6.5 lbs overweight!
toolgranny
12 years ago
I think my high point this week has been receiving two boxes from Camp Cheerio - the fabric I bought at Mary Jo's and had shipped directly home and the box of stuff that wouldn't fit in my suitcase that Beverly took home and shipped on. Just opening those boxes reminded me of a wonderful weekend and it was like Xmas all over again.
grammyp
12 years ago
Rita, that was so sweet of him.

beverly
polardream
12 years ago
Camp Cheerio! It was so much fun to meet everyone and get to know you all better! Melanie is the sweetest baby ... I wanted to sneak her into my suitcase! Going to Mary Jo's put me in sensory overload with the explosion of fabric choices - LOVED IT!

Sue
lindaoh_gw
12 years ago
Finishing the DWR was my latest highlight. I have started a Bento Box in red and gray for DH's cousin. They love to watch Ohio State ball games together and are huge fans. It feels so nice to work on a new quilt.
Linda OH
cindykg23
12 years ago
I've loved reading all of YOUR highlights! With the sale of my mom's longarm I've been in quite a funk lately. And just thinking about storing nearly 40 unquilted tops...revs my perpetual headache to a nearly unbearable level. But you all have such wonderful mood-lifters posted, & I'd have to agree w/my fellow retreat-ers, Camp Cheerio was the highlight of my summer! The warmth of everyone there, how helpful you all are, the creativity...it's just amazing! DH & I were trying to think of something negative because we apparently gush about CC to our family & friends :) --- but we came up empty. Couldn't think of one bad thing! (Even tho it sort of is, we decided we couldn't count the wish for extra days as a negative ;) lol)

Thanks! Karlene for this great question! - you & everyone who has posted have lifted my spirits :)

~Cindy
karpet
Original Author
12 years ago
Ladies, thanks so much for sharing! It is fun and encouraging to hear what others are doing and what happens in the process. I would LOVE to go on a quilt retreat some time. And that day may be getting closer since my youngest graduated from H.S. this year so a new season of life is starting.

Cindy - 40 unquilted tops and the longarm sold? I'm feeling overwhelmed with the 5 I have sandwiched that need to be quilted on my regular machine. I'm so sorry - I can see why you're in a funk. But what wonderful memories and stories must be in each of those tops! Did you and your mom make all of them?

Rita - how sweet, touching, worth-it-all to get that poem!
rosajoe_gw
12 years ago
It is so nice and rewarding to have someone let you now that they appreciate the love and time you put into making them a quilt. Rita I think I would frame it!

I was asked to make 2 quilts for a raffle. We all know exactly how that can turn out lol.

I didn't really want to do it, the economy has really hit hard around here. But I did it anyway.

Tickets were not really selling at first and I was a little down about it, I kept thinking I should have just given them money. THEN one business bought 100 tickets and one person mentioned that the quilts were high quality.

The raffle was a success but I am still leary of them.

Rosa
day2day
12 years ago
Getting out of my slump and finishing 2 UFOs. I was going through some family 'stuff' and could not find energy or inclination to sew. I was beginning to feel that I would never get back to it. It's good to once again look forward to quilting.

~Geraldine
karpet
Original Author
12 years ago
Rosa - This spring I did 3 quilts that were raffled off. I was never brave enough to ask how much money they raised!
cindykg23
12 years ago
Karlene,

Thanks for your kind words:) Yes,there are a lot of memories in those tops! A few of them were actually classes I 'took' from my mom when we owned an LQS together, some I made just to feature a new line of fabric we had rec'd. But those 40 are all mine - my mom actually has about a half dozen of her own! She gave me a few of her WIPs - those will be bittersweet to finish.

Is there any other art/craft with so much emotion attached?? I sure can't think of any!
karpet
Original Author
12 years ago
Well, here is a pic of my quilt 'highlight'. It is nothing fancy, just something simple that could be done quickly.
Karlene

Here is a link that might be useful:
magothyrivergirl
12 years ago
Karlene, what a great use of preprinted panel fabric. I have some and just don't know what to do with them. Your quilt is inspiring.
Making this quilt sounds like it was comforting to you as well as the recipient.
Thanks for sharing the picture.

10-14-11 qotd

Comments (21)

grammyp

jennifer_in_va

Related Discussions

K8Orlando

teresa_nc7

msmeow

Carol_from_ny

nanajayne

User

magothyrivergirl

toolgranny

grammyp

polardream

lindaoh_gw

cindykg23

karpet
Original Author

rosajoe_gw

day2day

karpet
Original Author

cindykg23

karpet
Original Author

magothyrivergirl

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

10-14-11 qotd

Comments (21)

Related Discussions

karpetOriginal Author

karpetOriginal Author

karpetOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

karpet
Original Author

karpet
Original Author

karpet
Original Author