In the Box

Goal reached.  My three quilts are off to Bev Palm who is an amazing longarm quilter... now they don't have to go to Newtok and back.

I finished the sashing on the Four Patch Posie finishing marathon at The Quilt Tree.  Everbody was excited because their new class schedule is going up and sign up day is Wednesday.  I guess some classes fill quickly so everyone was plotting their schedules to arrive early.  I saw some of the quilt samples for the classes and they were truly stunning.  Too bad two plane flights and uncooperative weather plus the expense make this something that will not be happening for me.  It was fun to see the samples and be around the excitement though.

Here are the three tops off to be quilted...

 Houses for Dale and Anne....

Red Light Green Light  - based on Blue Nickel Studios's quilt by Scott Hansen.
Last but not least the Four Patch Posie I finished today.

 Do you see the dog chasing the ball?

 I won't be posting for a few days due to inservices and getting moved back to my village... unpacking my classroom, lesson plans... etc.  Saturday I'll drop a line.

Busy Busy Busy

For some reason I have that guy from Frosty the Snowman who is always talking about being busy busy busy in my head.  Probably because vacation is rapidly closing in on being over.  Oh well, I am accomplishing things...  here is a view of my current digs.  It is so nice when people let you take over their house.

The Four Patch Posie quilt is almost done.  Tomorrow I'll finish the sashing and the top.  Now it is nine pieces plus the sashing on the edges that needs finished.  I don't think I'll put any borders on it... everything I tested didn't look right.  I'll think a little more on it tomorrow... but that looks like the way I'm leaning.

 I was at the Quilt Tree today for finishing class.  I actually started the house quilt in a finishing class... so it was nice to finish the top up in one.  It is ready to be sent off to my longarm quilting friend.  I am happy with the rick rack in the borders and the scrappy mix of fabric came out well.  Looking forward to seeing how the quilting is done, Bev will have fun with this one, I certainly did.

I like how the lights are on in some houses, but some people are either sleeping or not home.   Someone in the quilting class noted there is a monkey in the house above... I totally see it now.

Four Patch Posie Plus Number Six Does Not Equal Ten

Busy day sewing Four Patch Posie sashing with cornerstones... more of the same from the earlier post, but I'm ready to assemble the quilt on Saturday.  I also completed the pillows and a Farmer's Wife Quilt-A-Long block (#6).  I have to admit the first block was so bad I redid it twice.  I was trying a trick to sew the triangles fast, but started with strips that were too small to begin with.  How annoying.

Four Patch Posies and Judy Chicago

I have been zipping away at a Four Patch Posie quilt that I started in a class at Anchorage's The Quilt Tree.  I'll miss the second class since I am off to the village life on Monday... but that is another matter.  The quilt is basically a stack and whack that you only cut into squares (with four repeats of the fabric).

If you do choose to do one of these quilts use two little mirrors taped together on one side to preview the fabric.  One of the people in the class was very disappointed in her fabric once it was cut up... then what do you do with it?  The fabric I started with was Phillip Jacob's Miami Houseplants.  Below are some of the blocks without any other fabric involved.

 When I cut them, I liked them and as I sewed I was flash-backing to college and art history courses.  Don't they remind you of Judy Chicago's Dinner Party?  Well, though I consider myself a feminist, this wasn't the look I was going for.  Finally I picked the sashing fabric and got happy.  The sashing fabric has a lot of white that livens the quilt up and the blue emphasizes the blue blocks (which I like best)... then I found this grey with white boxes from the Sherbert Pips collection and my day was made.  It will work great for corner blocks.  I'll post my progress when I sew them together tomorrow.

I was way excited to see I have my first comment for this blog!  How exciting to see someone is out there... and I'm not just a crazy lady writing to myself.   Thank you!