Bison or Bear?

I started a hexagon quilt project last fall because I just had to get it out of my system!

After viewing some cute hexagon projects on the internet and even though I really didn't need another project, I could no longer resist and started a copy of Anna Ruggles' hexagon quilt. Click here to see her quilt.

I don't know that my version will be that large, probably more like a wallhanging. When I get tired of making hexagons, that's when it will be done! I'm doing English Paper Piecing using 1/2 inch hexagons (the side measurement) which are actually starting to seem large to me. Also trying to limit myself to using only my Jo Morton fabrics except for the cream colored backgrounds.

This is another one of those long term projects so don't expect a lot of progress quickly. From time to time I'll show you how far I've gotten.

I'm still working on the inventory project for the Mennonite Heritage & Agricultural Museum and I had hoped to share a favorite quilt from their holdings today but instead here is an interesting lap robe we've found.

Was it a bison or a bear?

This sort of a lap robe would have been used in a carriage or buggy and is considered a transportation accessory in museum nomenclature. So far here in southcentral Kansas, we've had a mild winter but I don't think many of us can imagine what it must have been like to travel out in the open during winter! I'm so very thankful for modern conveniences.

Sunglasses on?

As my daughter put it, "Wow, the whole room got brighter!" Is that good or bad? Maybe our brown Kansas winter is getting to me.

When I started this quilt, I never envisioned that it would be quite this bright or colorful. Seems a little brighter in the photo than in real life but not by much. When its quilted and bound, I think I'll hang it in an area of our home that needs a little brightening up!

Still have much work to do on it but the borders are on. Quilting will have to wait as I have another project promised to someone which will have to come first.

By the way, my next project (already working on it) is in pastel colors (so far).

Staying Busy But Not Quilting

I wish I could say I'd been working on my clamshell quilt this past week but that, unfortunately, hasn't been the case. However, in the photo above you can see both the inner and outer border. I chose to use Philip Jacobs' Japanese Chrysanthemum in the scarlet colorway for the outer border but didn't have enough to match the pattern and had to order extra. My fabric order has arrived and I hope to finish hand sewing on the outer borders this week.

I haven't had the chance to work on my houses made from scraps project either. You might say I've been home-less for two weeks now. I'd like to spend a day catching up and working ahead but we'll see what my schedule will allow.

What I have been doing is creating a membership directory for Wichita's Prairie Quilt Guild. We have about 650 members to keep track of. I'm happy to say I finished the directory yesterday and tomorrow, unless something unforeseen happens, it goes to the printer.

I've also been volunteering for an inventory project at the Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum in Goessel, Kansas. Goessel is a small town with a population of about 450 people. I grew up near there and thought that once I graduated from high school, I'd never go back. Ha, I'm the only person I know who will drive 50+ miles one way to dust and clean up old stuff!

Since I don't have much to show for quilting progress, I thought I'd occasionally show you something we find while doing the inventory.

Anyone know what's in the picture below? I remember it being used at my mom's sewing society meetings at church especially when they were working on mission projects. Occasionally when school wasn't being held, I went with my mom to her meeting and was put to work with this. Something is missing from the photo which would probably give away what it is.

You can see the slotted metal spindle coming out of the wood to the left and a handle on the right. Its obvious that it may have been clamped to a table to make it more stable.

I'm sure most Mennonite girls of my era will recognize this as a bandage roller. Strips of clean white fabric and sometimes worn out sheets would be ripped to the correct width. Then one end of the strip would be threaded through the spindle and when someone turned the handle, the fabric rolled into a, hopefully, neat roll of bandage. I remember this being a two person job - someone to control the fabric and someone to turn the handle. The bandage rolls were then shipped to a missionary for use in hospitals or clinics. I don't think that bandage rollers are used by any of the sewing societies anymore so they've been donated to the museum.

We have found a few quilts and with the museum's permission I'll show you my favorite next week!

Stitch & Soak

I'm stitching the clamshell rows together and then have some last fix it things to do on my clamshell quilt. You can get a peek of my narrow border choice to the left of the quilt top. The main border, not making an appearance yet, is quite colorful and bold.

Question - Should I soak the glue basting out before I stitch the borders on or afterwards? I can think of pros and cons of doing it either way but which do you readers think would be better? This is the first time I have ever glue basted and some of the glue has been in the fabric for months.

The body of the quilt measures about 65 inches "square". Because its so large and I don't want to distort the top, I plan to put an old sheet down in the bathtub and then fold the quilt on top of it before adding the water. Any words of advice?

House #1

Here's my first house for Jeanneke's Houses from Scraps challenge! If you click on the button on the upper right hand column, you can read all about it.

I know some people are making one a day but my goal is to make one a week which is more doable given my schedule. This was my second attempt at the block and even then had to take it apart because I sewed the window flower in upside down!

Each little house finishes at about 3 inches and its a challenge to get used to working with such small pieces. A very good way to use up scraps though!

I've chosen to paper piece using old telephone book pages which I'm able to feed through our printer. Rather than tear each page out of the book, I took it to Office Max and had them do one cut as close to the binding as possible. Its a nice even page now although a little smaller than standard paper.

Clamshell update: I've sewn several rows together and hope to have the main body of the quilt top stitched together by next weekend. Pictures coming soon!

Favorite Christmas "things"

Most of the things in my home have a history or are there for sentimental reasons and today I'm sharing three of my favorite Christmas "things".

This Nativity Scene dates probably from the late 1960's and my sister and I set it up under our family's Christmas tree every year. I don't know where my parents got it, perhaps at Woolworths or at a farm auction, but its no longer in its original box.

By the time I received it, the cardboard stable was bent and missing some of the woodshavings on the roof. Some of the figures are missing too and I don't even remember if we ever had them. I still set it up every year.

Besides the story of Christ's great sacrifice, it reminds me of the great anticipation and planning that went into Christmas in my younger years. I miss the wonder that Christmas brings to children!

Several years ago, I purchased this old magazine cover in an antique mall. I don't know who the artist was but this is another "thing" I make sure is set up every Christmas. Perhaps it reminds me of some happy memories of Christmas caroling with family and friends.

Unfortunately, I've not been blessed with musical talent so please don't expect me to come carol at your home!

If you came to my house, this is what you'd see in the entry. Its nearly the same every year - the red and white Drunkard's Path quilt, the wreath and the old, battered kerosene lamp - but this year I added the wooden creche purchased my first year in college.

I've finally finished the shopping, baked two kinds of peppernuts (nearly all gone!) and assorted goodies, sent out some Christmas cards and generally just got caught up in the busyness and stress of the season. I must always remind myself to look beyond the many activities, decorations and obligations to keep my heart focused on God's plan which He set into motion long before the stable.

I hope you are having a wonderful and meaningful Christmas season!
See you next year, Mayleen

11 out of 13

Does that sound like a math question at school? 11 out of 13 = 2!

Only 2 more of the 13 diamond blocks need sashing strips sewn to them! That means I've sewn sashing strips to 11 of the blocks so far.
Of course, there's still the setting and corner blocks, deciding on a layout and then hand stitching all the blocks together. My next goal is to finish sewing the sashing strips to all of the blocks by next Wednesday, the 21st. I would really like to finish hand piecing this quilt top before the new year begins but unfortunately, I don't think I'll have the time to do that.

I have a bad habit of overcommiting myself, mostly to things that are worthy and need doing, but just who am I trying to impress? Instead of working like a mad woman on this quilt just so I can say I finished it before the new year, I plan to slow down and enjoy the process.

The Christmas season can be really stressful when we try to live up to other people's expectations. I'm going through one of those times today and feeling very torn about what to do.

Time to slow down, time to decide what's really important and time to enjoy the process!