Mustard & Ketchup Border 1

Finally, the first border of Mustard and Ketchup, maybe. As soon as I was done pressing the back side, I flipped it over and realized I'd sewn the last border on upside down. Since the small pattern red fabric is directional, its noticeable. I'm trying to decide if I can live with it or not. I think there are a lot of things I'm going to have to learn to live with in this quilt!

I didn't start quilting until 2000 because I felt I couldn't be an accurate enough piecer. A good example are the above borders. Yes, I measure, measure and measure again before I stitch and trim. I've considered becoming an improvisational quilter but I can't be inaccurate enough! 

I was able to decrease the amount of border length discrepancy but there will still be issues when I add the next border. Looks like this will be another opportunity for a quilt judge to say, "Long lines must be straight." I'm assuming short lines should be straight too, lol.

Are you wondering which quilt I'm trying to reproduce?

Dawn at Collector With a Needle has written about the Denver Art Museum's exhibit, http://denverartmuseum.org/exhibitions/first-glance-second-look-quilts-denver-art-museum-collection, of more than twenty quilts. If you follow Dawn's link, she's included several pictures of the Competition Quilt which is the inspiration for my Mustard & Ketchup quilt. The maker of the quilt is unknown but after making it through only the first border, I have a deep respect for her and what she was able to accomplish without modern quilting tools!

Until next time, Mayleen

Mustard and Ketchup

I didn't accomplish as much as I'd hoped for this past week. Would you believe that one border took me one whole day?!? Without a pattern there was a lot of trial and error, mostly error for a little while!

Originally, I wanted to paper foundation piece the border and cornerstone because I thought it would be more accurate. I soon gave up on piecing the diamonds that way, very fiddly.

Here's that first border which I strip pieced. I was so happy that I'd finished it and it looked fairly good until I measured it. It's 3/16 of an inch too long. I don't want to make it over so I'm going to try stitching a slightly deeper seam between the diamonds. If that doesn't work, I'm going to try to block it smaller.

I cut out the rest of the pieces for the three other borders from the red Jinny Beyer fabric. This is all of it that I have left but guess what, I still need it to make the star cornerstones.

How tiny are those pieces? Keep reading and please forgive my sadly lacking camera skills.

I'm pretty sure I need a new cutting mat. Because I don't have much of that red fabric, the star legs are going whatever way I could get fabric to fit.

That's how tiny those star cornerstones are - 2 inches, OK, due to my piecing approximately 2 inches square. I have never made a star that tiny and am glad I'll only be making a total of four.

Here it is, so far - the star medallion which I won't trim until I have all the diamond borders and star cornerstones ready to stitch to it. The fabric on the left is being auditioned for the next few borders.

Every time I look at my quilt colors, I think of mustard and ketchup. Come to think of it, a hot dog (I like them burnt) with mustard, ketchup and relish sounds pretty good right now!

Until next time, Mayleen

Verruckt!

Are you crazy? I'd never go on that ride!

In case you haven't heard, Kansas City's Schlitterbahn has a new water ride. Go here to experience it. I can't imagine what circumstances would get me to go on that ride.

However, my new quilting project could be described as verruckt (crazy).

This quilt doesn't look too difficult so far, right? The medallion measures 11 inches square and has numerous pieced borders which surround it. Lots of piecing coming. As far as I know, there isn't a pattern. Its just me, working from a photo of a late 1890's quilt, guessing on proportions and measurements. Fortunately, my husband can help me with the math involved.

I'm planning to use the red fabric on the left in the first border. I have only part of a fat quarter of it in my stash. Its at least two years old so may not be available anymore but does anyone know where I can buy more of it? Its Jinny Beyer Miniature Medleys line.

I'm also continuing to make double wedding ring blocks from made fabric using fabric scraps. I took some time out to sort through my scraps and threw the too small to realistically use scraps out. Then I gathered other scraps together to donate and now I'm finally back to making blocks again. 

My design wall looks like two quilters with completely different likes are using it - a modern, bright project and a reproduction project. That's me, I like both - old and new - but have trouble with anything in between!

Until next time, Mayleen

This, That and the Other Thing

Victoria Findlay-Wolfe was the speaker at our latest guild meeting and I took her 15 Minutes of Play workshop the following day. When I went to the workshop, I had no specific project in mind, just wanted to use up my scraps. I wouldn't have guessed I'd be starting a Double Wedding Ring! I'm just glad I didn't tell Victoria that there was no way I was making a Sunbonnet Sue quilt or that's probably what I would have come home with.

Looks like another long term project to me but this time I am definitely only making a wall hanging size. Somebody please remind me of that when I get carried away making blocks!!! I'm looking forward to embroidering and big stitch quilting this quilt. Definitely more modern so I've got to finish this one before fall when my Quilter's Color Disorder kicks in, ha. 

By the way, I didn't even make a dent in my scrap collection. How small of a fabric scrap do you save or do you save them? I know someone who has no stash, she throws away or donates all fabric left after her quilting project is finished. I save any piece of fabric that's one inch or larger and I now have too much.

Other people have pictures of me in my selvage skirt so I might as well post one too. Here I am in all my fluffiness between quilt guild meetings. I included the fabric that was with the selvage so that the skirt would have more body. It has a yoke, 8 gores and an invisible zipper. I made it to wear to my selvage projects demo at our guild's quilt show and at some point, I'll take it apart and remake it into a quilt. This was my secret project mentioned a few posts back. 

Remember my gadget disappointment? This Big Look Sewing Platform was the big seller at one of the vendors at our recent quilt guild's quilt show. After two days of trying to make it fit my sewing desk, I found a way to make it work but I'm not so sure I want it to work. Because of past experiences, I usually ignore gadgets but this one sounded like it would be very helpful to me.

Here's the Big Look Sewing Platform set up with my sewing machine on top of my sewing desk. 

Here it is with my sewing machine lowered to sit flush with the top of the sewing desk which is how I prefer to sew. It required a little moving around to make it fit. My machine doesn't have needle up or down so I need to reach around the upright bar to manually lower and raise the needle. Its awkward and if I bump it, the magnifying glass jiggles. Minor but annoying and causing a little eye strain for me, kind of like getting used to new eyeglasses.

It does help with seeing lines better, threading the needle and I can see it being very helpful if I were to work on a miniature. I'm going to continue trying to sew with it for a few days but I'm seriously considering selling it. I paid the equivalent of 8 yards of fabric for it and I don't know that it will be that useful to me. If you're local and would like to buy it, contact me. My e-mail address is in the "About Me" section to the right.

Until next time, Mayleen

Even more quilt show photos

"Lone Star with Baskets" by Ann McColey

Machine Quilted by Jan Hutchison

Category: Wall hanging, pieced / appliqued, machine quilted, 2 person

Best Wall Quilt

- This is on my "someday quilt list" to make. I think its a pattern found in Quiltmania.

"Maderia Hearts" by Florence Kirkland

Hand Quilted by Florence Kirkland

Category: Quilt / Wall hanging, hand quilted, 1 person

Best Hand Quilting

- Very pretty! Florence is in one of my small quilting groups and is a talented hand quilter.

"Gypsy Rose" by Patty Johnson

Embroidered and Quilted by Patty Johnson

Category: Other Traditional: Crazy Quilts, Yo-Yo's, Hand Embroidered, etc.

First Place

- I saw her quilt at Houston Quilt Festival last year. The embroidery is wonderful!

"Sunflowers in the Storm" by Jenny Hutson

Machine Quilted by Jenny Hutson

Category: Quilt, pieced / appliqued, machine quilted, 1 person

Best Solo Quilt

- Jenny's another talented quilter in our guild and I'm amazed at what all she can do.

"A Walk in the Park" by Donna Harrison

Machine Quilted by Donna Harrison

Category: Quilt, pieced / appliqued, machine quilted, 1 person

Best Machine Quilting

- I really liked the quilting on this one!

"Princess Feathers" by Merilyn Austin

Machine Quilted by Siriporn Hollar

General Entry

-Needle turn applique, wow!

"Thanksgiving Dinner" by Susan Webert

Machine Quilted by Susan Webert

Category: Wall hanging, pieced / appliqued, machine quilted, 1 person

First Place

-This was a fun quilt to look at!

"Golden Dresden Mandala" by Teresa Duwe

Machine Quilted by Teresa Duwe

Category: Wall hanging, machine appliqued, machine quilted, 1 person

First Place

- Definitely an heirloom, lots of interesting techniques.

"Maranda Reads Little Red Riding Hood" by Sharon Smith

Machine Quilted by Sharon Smith

Category: Wall hanging, machine appliqued, machine quilted, 1 person

- Made for our guild challenge last year.

"Selvage Star of Bethlehem" by me!

Machine Quilted by Jan Hutchison

Category: Other, Non-traditional, Photo Transfer, T-shirt, etc.

First Place

- You've seen it before but I thought you might like to see its ribbon!

These are the last of the quilt show photos. There were more but I think two weeks of photos is enough, lol. I was going to show you pictures of the gadget disappointment but I've run out of time so look for it in a later post. 

Until next time, Mayleen

More quilt show photos

"Flamboyant Flossie" by Trudy Carpenter

Machine Quilted by Jan Hutchison

Category: Art Quilt, original design, any technique

2nd. Place

- Flossie was inspired by a flamingo at the zoo in Wichita!

"Down on the Farm" by David & Teresa Duwe

Quilted by Donna Harrison

Category: Group Quilt, 3 or more people

Best Innovative Quilt

- Created using fabric made from a 1902 Standard Atlas of Harper County, KS and a 1950 necktie wheat stencil pattern. The back includes family photos and history.

"Heirloom Medallion" entered by Barbara Nikkel

Hand Quilted by: First Place Quilters

Category: Group Quilt, 3 or more people

Best Hand Quilting

- This quilt was made for the First United Methodist Church's annual quilt auction. I'd love to own this one!

"2003 Times and Seasons" by Jan Zimmerman

Machine Quilted by: Jan Hutchison

Category: Quilt, hand appliqued, machine quilted, 2 person

1st. Place

- I was raised on a farm so barns are special to me. Her embroidery and ribbon work are wonderful!

"Norman / Bates Wedding Quilt" by Janet Ghilino Bates

Machine Quilted by Jan Hutchison

Category: Quilt, pieced, machine quilted, custom, 2 person

- Guests at the wedding signed the white strips in this quilt for the newlyweds.

"A Switch in Time" by Sara Farley

Machine Quilted by Kim Hull

Category: Quilt, pieced / appliqued, machine quilted, 2 person

Judge's Choice

- Her son challenged her to make a quilt of baseball proverbs.

"Star Flowers" by Tamara Gross

Machine Quilted by Jan Hutchison

Category: Quilt, pieced / appliqued, machine quilted, 2 person

1st. Place

- Lots of petals to applique!

"The Goldie Richmond Project" by Connie Glaves

Machine Quilted by Jan Hutchison

Category: Quilt, pieced / appliqued, machine quilted, 2 person

3rd. Place

- Its rare for us to see southwestern themed quilt at our show. I love the purple and turquoise cacti!

"My Red Mexican Star" by Nancy Boisvert

Quilted by Nancy Boisvert

Category: Wall hanging, pieced, machine quilted, 1 person

1st. Place

- Say hello to Nancy from me if anyone recognizes this quilt!

I have a few more quilts to show you from our show. Also, do you ever have major disappointment about a quilting gadget you bought at a show? Will share all this next time!

Have a safe and happy July 4th.!

Mayleen