A Few Finishes

I've been steadily working my way through the stack of baby quilts that I basted last week.  I'm not going to win any races, but it feels good to check a few marked off as "done."  The aqua and grey quilt was the first one finished:

 Then there's this one, that was made from leftovers pulled from my leftover boxes.

 Number three is now quilted, with the binding in the process of being tacked down.  I like this picture, because it shows most of my studio.  There is the design wall on the left, and the ironing board directly behind me.  Behind the ironing board is the wall of cabinets holding my stash.  It looks like windows, because they're reflecting the window that I look out while I'm sitting at my machine.  I also like this photo because you can't see the floor, which is stacked with half-finished/undealt with projects/stuff.

 In cleaning out a closet, I found this treasure from 50 years ago.  Does that make it an antique?  My mom had it framed when I was little, and I had it in the attic.  When the glass broke, I put the picture in the closet.  Without the glass to protect it, it tore.  I didn't want to keep the physical drawing any longer, so it's now saved digitally.  If you wonder why I've long thought I'm not an Artist, this might give you a clue.

 Apparently when I was 5, I wasn't so worried about what others thought.  I knew it was beautiful, and proudly signed it.  If I were to name it today, what would I call it?  "Bald Hydrocephalic Lion"?  wow.  And yeah, I always did have trouble with faces...

I think I'll stick with fabric.  It seems to be my most successful medium.

Happy Quilting!

"Seaweed"

Here it is, May 25, and the June 1 deadline for the SAQA 12" quilt auction is almost here.  It's a receive by deadline, and I'm running out of time.  I've wracked my brain trying to come up with a "quick" 12" design, but came up with nothing.

I did a lot of cleaning and sorting and stashing the mess in my Studio as I considered this, that, and the other thing.  And I found something.  I found this:

Perhaps you remember it?  If not, you should probably revisit this installment of the blog, from 2010.  Ironically, I was trying to figure out what I could come up with for the SAQA 12" auction.  It didn't make the cut back then - if you read the 2010 post, you might be snickering - but today?  It did.  See those rotary cutters?  I put them to use, yet again.

First, I needed to reduce the piece to 13", so I whacked it.

The giant rick rack was distracting, so I got rid of it.

That was a definite improvement.  And then...I quilted it.  It already had a LOT of threadwork on the seaweed and the sea urchins, so all I needed to do was quilt around everything and then knock down the background.

 Look at that!  All faced and almost ready to ship out in the morning.  All that I have left to do is to attach the label and the hanging sleeve.  Not bad for the day, not bad at all.  Then again, it was 10 years in the making!  (And it used to be a vest!)

I'm continuing to wash my way through my new fabric.  These are pretty, don't you think?  They sure did bleed a lot!!

And finally, I quilted a second baby quilt, but still need to tack down the binding.  Maybe I'll get that done tomorrow, and take pictures then.  wow.  I'm feeling a bit productive, and boy, does it feel good!

Baby Quilts

So.  I am back.  I have 1,000,000 projects lined up to complete.  Okay, maybe it's not really a million, but it sometimes feels like it.  I haven't finished the project from Empty Spools, but I may finish it soon.  Today we went shopping in Porterville, and I picked up 2 dozen little spools of Aurifil.  They should be perfect to complete the background quilting, as well as replace some quilting done with Mettler.  That quilting had some spit-up on the backside, and if I want to submit the quilt to Houston - goals are good! - it needs to be better than good.  It needs to be as close to perfect as I can get.

I also have a quilt accepted to the upcoming Sacred Threads exhibit.  It's an old quilt, that I made decades ago.  But the thought behind it is strong, and as I said, it's been accepted.  Now they want a GOOD photo, to include in the book.  The quilt was a bit wonky, and I'd already decided to redo the binding if it got in.  Now I have a solid deadline, with the book looming.  It took three days to remove the binding.  It wasn't done well, but it was certainly done in a manner meant to last for a century.  yikes.  I'm now in the process of putting it back in place.  I'll share pictures, once it's done.

I've also got a stack of babies that need quilts.  wait.  Did that sound right?  ;)  Babies are arriving faster than their quilts are being made.  Since Monday, I've popped out these three tops:

 One for a girl, and one for a boy.

 Okay, so this last one isn't together yet.  It's just lots of leftover blocks, combined with more leftover squares.  It's fun in a funky quirky sort of way.  Not much rhyme or reason to my assembling madness.

Today we went shop-hopping, to two shops, not during the shop hop.  It's much easier to spend money when one has the store to oneself, or is sharing the store with friends.  cha ching.  yep.  I put a pretty solid ding on the plastic.  woohoo!  I feel some quilting coming on!

And with that, I should get back to it.  I'm good at setting goals, but completing them?  Well, it's time that I started moving the numbers on the log on the side of the blog.  You know, the one that says what I've finished this year?  It's been static since February.  Not a good thing.  Not good at all.

So.  What are you working on?  Something scrumptious?  I hope so!  Happy quilting!

Finished

"Tulare County: Where Money Really Does Grow On Trees"

Suzanne Kistler - 2015

Still Kicking

wow.  I can't believe it's been 10 days since I posted.  Sorry about falling off the face of the blogosphere.  Believe me, I've been busy, busy, busy!

I finished my final entry for the quilt show in time to enter it online.  woohoo!  I love it.  Simply love it.  My son designed it, his wife chose the red, and I sewed and added borders.  whew!  They just showed me the wall where they plan to hang it, rather than put it on the bed.

"Pascal's Reflections"

Suzanne Kistler 2015

Last week was the World Ag Expo, in Tulare, CA.  I went all three days, to work on our guild quilt.  Wanna buy a ticket?  ;)

I also attended the Groundwater Control meeting, but I won't share the experience here.  Let's just say that it was almost a week ago, and my blood pressure hasn't gone down yet.  Yes, it was that bad.

Entries have closed for Best of the Valley, but there's still time to get in a challenge quilt.  The theme is "Valley Life."  I'm going to give it the old college try - minus the all-nighters - and see if I can get one done.  I've had my idea for quite a while.  It should be a quick project.

In the meantime, Spring seems to have sprung.  It's been in the upper 70's, which is ridiculous for mid-February, even though it is quite enjoyable.  Knowing that it shouldn't be this warm can make a person anxious.  Especially in conjunction with the information shared at the water meeting.  Bad news if you like to eat.

 We'll enjoy the local beauty while we can.  These were seen as we walked the dog over the weekend.

I know it is still winter, because the butterflies are hanging out around the pool.  They're always here this time of year.

The itty bitty kitty seems to be adjusting to life here.  At least he's adjusted to life with the dog.  He's not so sure about the out-of-doors.  It makes him very, very nervous.

Today we went to Bakersfield, to select the quilts for the Featured Artist's booth.  The visit with CeCe was followed by a visit to Strawberry Patches.  Fun, fun, fun!  I didn't know I needed so much fabric.  I didn't buy nearly the amount that begged me to take it home.  It was hard to maintain any semblance of control.  Look at all this luscious color!

And with that, I should probably get back to work.  I have much that needs to be done, if I'm going to finish that challenge and have a quilt show in April.  :)  Happy Stitching!

Slow Off the Starting Block

yup.  I thought I'd be fast and furious for 2015, at least when it comes to quilting.  But here it is, already January 6, before I even step both feet into the Studio.  Since before Christmas, it's been one foot in to toss things, and then step out again.  oh.  my.  That does not bode well for the year...good thing I'm not much for paying attention to omens!  ;)

Today I sat down with my 2015 UFO list.  hmmm.  hem.  haw.  How many?  Well....it looks to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 38 UFO's.  I think I only added seven.  That might be a new record low, both of New Year's additions, and carryovers from the past.  Not bad.  Not bad at all.

So.  What have I been doing, instead of quilting?  Well, I've been spending a lot of time out at the walnuts, hanging out with Roscoe, and cleaning.

 He's still skin and bones, but his wounds are healing.  His ear and muzzle were the worst.  They probably still hurt.

I haven't been good about checking in with other bloggers.  But Franki's blog pops into my inbox, so I don't have to go looking for it.  She had this post on Christmas, that inspired me.  When I finally, finally got my Christmas cards out yesterday, I sat down with some of the extras and tried my hand at transforming them into boxes.

I think I need some practice, but these aren't too bad for a first attempt.  :)

As I said, today I finally wandered into the Studio.  My plan was to clean up an area and MAKE a plan.  But I got distracted.  That seems to be a theme these days.  I found several woven quiltlets that needed to be secured.

 After an hour or so, they were all stitched down and trimmed.  Now they are back in my quiltlet box, waiting for the next birthday or event that needs commemorating.

 Lest you think that I haven't thought a thing about quilting, I have proof that I've at least thought about it.

In the bottom righthand corner is a stack of new Christmas fabrics.  Yes, I succumbed to the lure of a New Year's sale.  I think I came away with a record low 7 yards.  Since my actual need was 0 yards, I may have overbought. 

Then again, my two LARGE bins of Christmas fabric have been condensed to a single bin after all of the Christmas sewing I did this year.  I may have been low on a few Christmas colors, and the price was most definitely right.

The photo also shows you the enlargement of one of my quilts-to-be.  I would LOVE to be able to have this one together for a Call for Entry in September.  Goals are good, and all that.  In the foreground is a belated birthday card that still isn't together enough to mail. 

So.  January, 2015.  A New Year, a new UFO list, a new set of deadlines.  What is my first quilting goal?  I would love to have Daniel & Monica's wedding quilt finished to enter in Best of the Valley.  That means I have about 6 weeks to finish piecing and quilt a queen-sized quilt.

On your mark.  Get set.  Sew!!

P.S.  I just remembered the three baby quilts that I cut out last year but never sewed together.  oops!