The Storyteller

I did the High5 Quiz online recently and it tells me I am a Storyteller. You think?  That's part of why being a writer is so exciting. I get to tell stories. Here on the blog, I tell stories about quilt blocks I make or the process of making them. I tell stories about my grandchildren. To be challenged to tell a story without words, is, for me, well, a challenge. I could post pictures but always want to be explaining things.

This is as far as I have gotten with the January RSC pinks for Bright Jane. I still have a week so I might get more made. 

The craziest thing here on the new Blogger. All my photos came up in reverse order. No problem. I will just change how I write up my story, even though I have been writing bits and pieces throughout the week. 

This is the back of one block with the back-basting. I used a regular pencil this time. I figure it will be hidden on the back under the appliques. That fabric is white, really. 

When doing the back-basting thing, you stitch the bits in layers. This is the first layer of this block. I stitched down the top part of each petal and cut a tiny notch for the curve but realized it was perfect for transitioning from the stitched part to the flat part that will be under the next petals. You will have to wait until next time to see the progress. 

I made this block a while ago but finally finished the Broderie Perse applique. Devan is claiming this block for her name. I had to convince her to wait until the quilt was done, as she was already looking for a Sharpie. You can read that story here.

Wait until you see what this block will look like. I hope my process works. I like process. That is part of why I like blogging so much of my quilting journey. I can document the process of making the blocks. I make a lot of blocks.  

And, I did get in at least 15 minutes stitching every day. Sometimes 3-4 hours.

I prepped 6 applique blocks for my 50th Aniversary Quilt aka Ella. One of the other girls in the group tucked in a scene in one of the blocks. I will see if I can find one for this center. Otherwise, there will be more 8 petal flowers inside, inside a square inside a circle with skinny petals in the corners.

I just realized that I am doing a lot of hand stitching these days. Why? Because my hands do not hurt quite as much as they were. Stopping eating so much sugar cannot possibly be the reason.

I was looking at my 50 Goals for 2021. One of them is celebrating our son-in-law's 50th birthday. We had plans and a little boy sleepover and something other than pizza with the cake, but we are in a stay-at-home lockdown this month so will have to wait until another time. You only turn 50 once. We had pizza anyway.

This the other block I completed this week. I was liking the softer colours - the creams and butter and coral and chocolate and aqua. My Sweet husband of nearly 50 years thought it was rather underwhelming. But when I put the egg yolk and cranberry together with a touch of chocolate, that the thing started looking exciting. 

My OMG goal for January was to complete 16 units for the QAL The Curves! I found the fabrics I needed and pulled out the GO cutter and the 7inch Drunkards Path die. Oops. The way the die is designed, I will be wasting a lot of fabric cutting the way I want. 

We shall see. I still have a lot more cutting to do. I did make my OMG goal for January.

 

In the meantime, the little girls decided they wanted to do some quilting. Sigh. I am so lazy sometimes. I have kept putting them off saying it was too cluttered to work here and with them and their school work, it is even more so. But Devan would not let me get away with that. So, they both started a new quilt. Five-inch quilt as you go hexagons. They are learning to use the rotary cutters. But we still have to make a bit more room for them both to work, because they have to do it at the same time. These both are Devan's blocks. Then she decided to make some pillows for her stuffies, but I would not let her use the machine because I have it set up with my sewing, so she pulled out the biggest needle in the pincushion and started stitching by hand. 

Ellyse put her's into a project box. Just like Gramma. 

Blessings,

Chris

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Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2021

Angela at Soscrappy has chosen pink to be the colour of the month for January. It is a good time to join the fun if you have never taken part. I am bringing my Bright Jane blocks out of hibernation and plan to make at least 13 pink ones. There are 5 Saturdays in January so that gives me time to keep up. 

 

Blessings,

Chris

linking with: quiltingismorefunthanhousework.

July 2020 One Monthly Goal

We have been picking strawberries. Lots of strawberries. Okay, many more than lots. Our son planted 500 plants last year and for the past 2 weeks, we have been picking anywhere from 100 - 200 quarts of luscious, juicy red berries every single day. Okay, so I am not actually doing the picking. We have 3 girls out there along with our son and, of course, the little girls.

We have one small freezer completely filled with berries and I am trying to buy a new freezer. This is not an easy thing to do. Buying a new freezer during a pandemic. They are back-ordered until Oct. The really big ones that is. I will keep trying. I wanted an upright freezer since I have limited space in the house. We already have a 25 cu foot chest freezer in the back kitchen, but it is full. 

The girls completed their school year and each of them advanced to the next grade. That means no more home learning for now. At least not academics. They are learning to bake. and we can now change gears here and get them back to sewing on their I-Spy blocks. The lego is in time-out and so is the giant dollhouse and all its accessories. They need to be outside more. Not the dolls. The girls. There is now a trampoline and pool in the back yard. We will be making jam soon. Lots of jam. I have 250 jars and sugar ready to begin. 

I sort of did my June OMG but I cannot with a clear conscience say I completed it. It was to organize and bring order to the many small containers of quilting stuff. I did go through some of them. Then a couple of times I was looking for things for my newest project and sort of ransacked everything in the process. So it seems an almost impossible task. 

I started a new quilt. The 3030 Quilt. So far, I have 2 blocks complete and 2 in process. These are fun, colourful blocks. I paper pieced both of these. I have one applique block on the go. The new blocks are emailed to us every Friday. You can find the information here sentimentalstitches-3030-quilt.

So, I have had several ideas for a July goal parade through my head when I am working on other things. I cannot remember any of them right now. The RSC colour for July is dark blue. I have 5 blue blocks left to make for Bright Jane. I did not make any pink ones for June. Actually, I did not do a lot of any kind of sewing. What I did do was complete one more course for my doctorate. It only took me 5 1/2 years. I hope to get the next ones done a bit quicker. And poor Gaston the giant ladybug needs some major surgery. Devan brought it and the thread and a needle to my desk last night while I was making jam and she offered to help do the stitching. I guess that better get done. 

I think I will try to keep current with the 3030 Quilt blocks. I will aim to have the first 8 complete ready to show off for my July OMG

Blessings,

Chris

Linking with: My quilt infatuation.  Peacock Party  Midweek Makers

May 2020 OMG Goal

I have taken the easy way for the past couple of months so for this month's one-monthly-goal I am challenging myself to really get some work done. The plan is to complete 31 blocks. Sort of like a: 

Block-A-Day

for the Month of May. 

I have quite a few blocks started that I can complete. 

The Rainbow Scrap Challenge colour for May has not been posted yet, but I will be working on DJ2 aka Bright Jane.

I completed 7 blue for April and have 2 started. I lost one of the tiny blue triangles for another block and eventually found it in my sweater pocket.

There is the Corn and Beans. 

I have only 20 blocks to go to complete the 100 planned.

I have a few Ella applique blocks started.

And some of the Hand Piecing QAL. I stopped working on them because it hurt my hands.  

I don't think I will have a problem finding 31 blocks to work on. 

My sister is visiting from Pakistan while we self isolate. She is still teaching her students in Pakistan on Zoom at midnight. She is making a quilt while here.  

. 

Which brings me to the next project the girls are working on. The I-Spy quilts they started 2 years ago. They are both so much more proficient at the sewing machine now. Problem is, they both want to sew at the same time. But I only let them use the Bernina with the seam guide

When I became a Gramma I had not signed on to homeschool little girls, but that is sort of what I am doing these days. Two use laptops and the youngest one uses my desktop. It has a 23-inch touch screen. Some days we print off math sheets and I get to review how to count coins and add by 5s and 10s. Other days, we learn about dinosaurs and water or the difference between living and non-living things. There is a science experiment going on in the kitchen. Beans are sprouting in styrofoam cups and are being observed and measured daily. Must spend time in the Animal Shelter and Stuffy Daycare. And, the girls delight in making lunch for Grampa and take it to him in the field on the golf cart.

Good thing Auntie is here so they have their special 30 minutes of alone time with her each day. Among other things, eight-year-old Ellyse is learning to colour hair and goes on walks with her so they both track their steps with their Fitbits. Devan, who turns 7 next week, is working on an engineering project. Not only is she the engineer, but she is the architect. There are cardboard boxes and glue guns and nature scavenger hunts to collect supplies. 

And what does Gramma do at this time? 

Nap of course. 

Blessings,

Gramma Chris

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Last of the Aqua Blocks

These are the last 7 teal/turquoise/aqua blocks

for my Bright Jane Sampler

bringing the total to 20. 

I have started making other simpler blocks 

instead of the complex ones in the original Quilt. 

I can do this. It is my quilt. 

Besides, I have already made every single one of those

169 blocks and 52 triangles and 4 corner kites

that Jane Stickle made.

That one on the far right still needs some appliqued circles.

I ordered some new circle gadgets. 

About 500 BTCT circles too late

but we will give it a try. 

And I accidentally made 2 of that star on the left.

One in aqua and one in green. 

I think I might just make a few more accidentally in every colour.

I wonder what the colour will be for April? 

Blessings,

Chris

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February 2020 OMG Goals

I am hard-pressed to decide just what to do for my February one-monthly-goal.

I got my Bright Jane orange blocks and patterns organized last week when the colour was revealed early. I like that. I have several tiny blocks made so far. I am trying to rationalize myself into choosing a goal. Some months I have made it super simple to get it done. Other times I have made it super challenging. Sometimes it is very specific - complete 8 blocks. Other times is is vague - move this one forward. I like specific but vague works too.

My quilting for the past year has been focused on working on my Beyond the Cherry Trees blocks and borders as well as the Rainbow Scrap Challenge with the Corn and Beans ufo. I am still writing my book. Very slowly but working on it. And, I am trying to complete my doctorate. I submitted one course last month and have another almost done. Some of my non-quilting goals will be to complete and submit three courses.

My February OMG will be to make "a whole bunch" of orange blocks either for Bright Jane and/or the Corn and Beans. Now is that vaguely specific enough? Or is it specifically vague? Either way, it will be orange blocks. And there are 5 Saturdays. I have been sewing and not writing on Saturdays.
Blessings,
Chris
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Going Rogue

I have made a decision to not make my Dear Jane 2, or Bright Jane as I call her, exactly by the patterns in the book. Pretty radical for me. I have already made one Dear Jane quilt in civil war reproduction fabrics. All 169  four and a half inch blocks and 54 border triangles and 4 corner kits. So why do I need to make another just like it although in bright colours. After all, the fun part of making sampler quilts is to make samples of different blocks not the same one over and over.

I am making different blocks this time because I can and it is my quilt. Well, at least until one of the grand children claim it since they all love putting the blocks up on the wall. For some reason, I had printed off many alternative block patterns from dearjane.com and copied them onto that washable stabilizer stuff to use for foundation piecing and not have to remove all that paper. Speaking of which, I have discovered that I can do paper foundation piecing without stitching through the paper.

This is as far as I got this month with red. I do not especially like doing the foundation piecing with the stay in fusible stuff. After doing all those tiny bits, it is very stiff and will not lay flat.

I will have to give it some time.

Linking with scraphappy  a few days late.

Blessings,
Chris

First Post of 2019

I did not get my One Monthly Goal done in Dec. I only stitched 4 days this past month and still have 5 blocks to complete for Dear Daughter. This will be my Jan 2019  OMG.
Gay is teasing us with a couple of new Block of the Month possibilities for this year.

I decided to join up with to-do-tuesday this year to help keep me focused on completing my weekly to-do list.

Tues Jan 1, 2019

• clear off long table in quilt room - again
• water house plants
• finish book report for ITPAC
• write out psychology and theology comparison paper
• complete these 4 Dear Daughter applique blocks
• submit ITPAC
• red is the colour for RSC for Jan so pull out the red Bright Jane blocks
• not start anything new
• waterfit 2 X 
• cut the grass - wait- it's Jan 1- we should have 2 feet of snow by now.

So even though it is the middle of Christmas vacation, the girls are at the kitchen table playing school. "Gramma, do  you have any books with no writing in them?"

New Year's blessings, 

Chris

Rainbow Scrap Challenge Progress

I have been working (very slowly) at making the tiny 4 1/2 inch Dear Jane blocks

 for this Bright Jane Quilt as my RSC. 

I started it in 2014 after completing my Civil War Reproduction Dear Jane Quilt.

 That one took only 5 years and a masters degree.  

This time I am working on a doctorate.

 

In 2017 I joined in the monthly RSC and progressed a few blocks monthly. 

In 2018 I only made 14 blocks but that is 14 more than before.

Then I put them in a see-through box and totally misplaced them. 

I am sure they will show up eventually. 

Blessings,

Chris

Rainbow Scrap Challenge Blocks for 2018

My goal for the RSC  was to progress forward my Bright Jane blocks. This is how I did this year. I had planned to put up the completed ones on the design wall but for the life of me, I cannot find the box of completed blocks. Has nothing to do with decluttering and cleaning. Did I mention I hired a new cleaning lady? I did. I gave her a few directions and let her go to it. We are both happy. 

Not many, but 14 more to add to the box wherever it is hiding.  
Blessings,
Chris

12 UFOs for 2019

Judy at patchworktimes has posted the link for 2019 ufo challenge. But I have a doctorate to complete. At least that is what I keep reminding myself. In case I decide to join in, I will be ready.

1. 1857 Album Quilt

Machine quilt and bind.
This was the  Sentimental Stitches BOM for 2016-17. I collected all the free patterns when they were free. The top is completed, sandwiched, basted and ready to machine quilt. It has been sitting patiently waiting for nearly a year.

2. Almost Amish Irish Chain

There is so much work done here that it would be a shame to not put this on the list. Machine piecing. Machine applique. Machine quilting. Sounds pretty straight forward.

3. Morrell Sampler

Machine applique all the broderie perse blocks that are already prepped. Change that center pinwheel.

4. Antique Wedding Sampler

Complete this one block finally. Been working on it off and on since early summer. But first, have to locate the last bits of leaves and flowers to hand applique on.

 5. Dolls of the World

This is my oldest ufo from 1979. It also is the simplest and most close to being completed of all my 40 some ufos. I wrote about it a few months ago and have some thoughts about completing it. Check back later to see what I do.

6. Dear Daughter

Complete the hand applique, assemble the top and machine applique and bind then gift. Whatever number is called for January, this will be the project. I need it complete and ready to gift by mid Feb.

7. Huguenot Friendship Quilt

Finish the machine applique with silk thread on the 36 center blocks and assemble the center so I can lay out and prep the borders.
This was an impulse purchase last winter.

8. Country Bride 2

Here is my opportunity to practice some machine quilting with rulers on the already pre cut alternating squares and borders. The backing and batting have been cut and ready to go for nearly 22 years.
I still have to do some embroidery for the stems before layering these already machine appliqued blocks.

9. Green and Gold Irish Chain

There really is so little to do on this one to get it to a flimsy. This will be another I can practice my machine quilting skills.

10. Stack-N-Whack Butterflies

Stop being a coward and just make some bodies and antennae so I can add the borders and machine quilt to my hearts content. I think loopy flowers would be nice. But what colour? White to disappear? Varigated?

11. GO Not So Fast 

My goal here will be to get the center medallion to be a square.
I saw a completed quilt using the same Winterthur panels that has given me some ideas.

12. Dear Jane

Last but by no means least, this one. I started quilting it by machine last winter but had much trouble with tension and my machine was in for repairs for a mere 3 months. Turns out if you do not use it, parts seize up. Who would have know?  I want to remove all the machine stitches in so far and start over. No promises.

Bright Jane

Rainbow Scrap Challenge for another year. I plan to put it on the wall to stay when there are 100 blocks complete. As I get sections of blocks done, I will sew them together into 9 units. But for now, the blocks are easier to store individually. And besides, the little grand children love putting them up on the design wall.
I will not be making the pieced triangles for the border. I am planning to make the corner kites.

Beyond the Cherry Trees

This will be my hand applique project for the year. There are 3-4 already started blocks to complete the 25 for the top and then begin the 4 borders. The 200 cherries are all cut and waiting but the 20 yards of bias stems still need to be made. After the stems are cut I can run the left over fabrics through the GO Cutter and make a few hundred leaves. This took a time-out when I started Dear Daughter.

 One Block Wonder

This can be my hand piecing project for the year. After making a whole bunch of hexies, I realized that if I made half hexies, I could easily sew a long straight seam to connect the rows. Live and learn.

I am not planning to start any new quilts in the coming year. That's not entirely true. I have been considering making a couple of tractor quilts for the little boys. But I could start them this year. I am making small goals for these ufos. Maybe only 2 actual completions of quilting and binding.

Blessings
Chris

End of September

The end of September is here and I have very little to show in the area of completed anything. 

I did work on a few Dear Daughter Blocks. 

This is one of the alternate blocks.

I still have to stitch the centers. Did not want to do that on the train.

One blue Bright Jane block for the RSC.

A good start on another. 

This is an alternate block using a stay-in foundation. 

I think I am going to like doing foundation piecing this way.

Two of my little girls were quite productive. 

Well, the 5 year old especially. 

 She had sewn several pairs of I Spy blocks together. 

Then she got creative. 

A cape for the elephant.

A cape for the turtle. 

She found several uses for the hearts I stitched up in May.

 A pollinator box she made at fair camp in July. 

She got a 3rd prize. 

Not bad for a 5 year old who uses glue 

at about the same speed her Gramma uses her credit card. 

More heart blocks.

More pairs of I Spy blocks.

Another cape. 

Our OMG goal was for the little girls to stitch up some of their blocks. 

 Since she only got as far as sewing 2 blocks together about 10 times, 

I entered these for her as a needlework item.

The 6 year old had gotten about 60 I Spy blocks sewn into pairs

then she sewed 6 pairs together. 

It is a good start. 

But she is a starter.  Like her Gramma. 

Actually,

this is what she prefers to be doing. 

And the second front tooth fell out the night before so

she could focus on her calf. 

Blessings, 

Gramma Chris

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