groan

A long time ago, back in 2006, I made this quilt for the Hoffman Challenge.

Wow.  That WAS a long time ago!  (The picture was taken at BOTV in April 2007.)

I didn't know how large a quilt I wanted to make, I just started cutting bias strips and went with it.  Like most of my projects, I over cut.  I put the leftovers into a nice little box and put them away to "make something else someday."  Here was that box in 2009:

By that time, the green fabric with the swirls had been added, with the thought of turning those bias squares into stars and maybe a baby quilt.

And time passed by.

While watching the World Cup, I thought it would be a great idea to finish cutting those strips, piecing those squares, and putting the quilt top together.

I even got so far as to decide that the green didn't really work, and maybe I should go with purple.

And then it happened.

Today, as I cleared a spot to reach my suitcase (it was still full of fabric from Asilomar), I uncovered more strips.  I must have set them aside when I was pressing, then put something on top of them.

oops.  I found enough to make at least another 10 blocks.  groan.

Odds are that this will all go back into the box and remain unfinished for longer.  grrrr.  I REALLY need to get organized!

Hope you're making better progress than I am.  Happy Quilting!

An Inspirational Equation

Yard Art from Mildenberg, Germany (2008)

 Plus going off assignment (bottom center) in class (bad quilter!)

Class with Cynthia Corbin, Empty Spools, 2009

 Plus the 2012 Hoffman Challenge Fabric

Equals

"Crazy For Tradition"

24 x 30"

machine pieced, hand appliqued, hand quilted, hand embellished, beaded

Suzanne Kistler, 2012

*The "new" (a few months old) Blogger seems to have its own way of combining text and pictures.  Try as I might, I am unable to figure it out.  what a mess!

A Couple of Cards

Tomorrow is my daughter's 30th birthday.  The card is in the mail.  Tomorrow is my brother's 19th wedding anniversary.  The card is in my head.  :)

 Blogger may be "new and improved," but it's still flipping pictures willy nilly. 

 This came in the mail for me a couple of days ago.  I liked the wrapping, a lot.

 The contents were even better.  The vase is similar to some glassware that my mom had when we were growing up.  This is one level taller than hers.

Finally, I finished the quilting and beading of my Hoffman.  It is currently drying.  I'm trying to get it to lie somewhat flat.   I'm scared to get it very wet, as most of the silk ribbons and embellishments state that they are not colorfast. 

Tomorrow I bind, sleeve, label and ship.  My label and sleeve are ready, and I've picked out the binding fabric.  Perhaps, if all goes well, I will be done by noon.  Goals are good!

P is for...

Penelope!  (You knew that was coming, didn't you?)

 It's also for Purple agaPanthus,

 Purple bugs (I saw a glittering Purple jewel, and had to investigate)

Purple asters,

 Purple Rose of Sharon,

 Pit bull Puppy chew toys...  (I know it looks like charcoal, but who am I to argue with those teeth?)

 Purple 2012 Hoffman Challenge Print...

And Purple Pieced top, all ready to go.

 Which brings us to Q is for Quilting...

Blocks Complete

I finished the last block.

 I've sewn the blocks into panels, and am in the process of embroidering the seams.

Perhaps by the end of tomorrow I will have a complete top and be able to begin my applique.  Goals are good!

12, 13...

Stitching continued yesterday, with the completion of Block #12.

 And Block #13.  Pat?  See that checkered ribbon?  You dropped that by yesterday afternoon.  :)  Thank you so much!!

 Today is our 31st wedding anniversary.  "Thirty-one years" is (are?) a lot of years.

 And guess who's back?  After disappearing as mysteriously as he'd appeared, this dog - who shall remain nameless - is back.  We think it's because he now has a dew-claw issue.  He's here for veterinary services.  Once rendered, I'm sure he'll take off again on his travels.  In the meantime, he's shredding everything he can get his teeth on.  Good thing almost everything is cleared from his reach!

And that's about it.  One more Crazy Quilt block to embroider, and then I can assemble my top and begin on my applique.  Goals are good!

9, 10, 11...

I'm finding that the embellishment phase of crazy quilting is almost as engrossing as the piecing part.

I've been loving every stitch.

 I find that even with my limited stitch repertoire, I can make the embroidery look varied, simply by changing threads.

 Eleven blocks complete, 2.5 to go.  I may even finish them today.

Do you see that purple fabric, with the white flowers in the center of the above block?  It is a scrap of fabric from the 40's.  My mom had a dress made out of it when she was a young lass.

Stay tuned.  Before too long, the blocks will be embroidered and I will begin assembling the top.  And then there will be applique.  And hand quilting.  The deadline is screaming, so I'd better get to work!  Laters...

Try Relaxing

It's been an eventful week.  It didn't seem so at the time, but I think I'm a bit rattled at this point.  When the car starts up across the fence, I get a feeling of panic.  Strange, because the sound used to simply annoy me.  Now it scares me.

And so, for therapy, I'm stitching.  This is Block #7.

 This is Block #8.  Hoffman Deadline, I have you in sight!

 Which makes me think of sight finders.  Which remind me that on Friday (three days after Tuesday), Charlotte came into my living room.  "Did you just put this here?"  umm, no.  It's been on the piano for months.  Do you think our SWAT friends saw it?

 And my husband was reading this book, which he tossed aside as we were ushered out the door.  Do you think our SWAT friends noticed?

The rumor mill continues to swirl regarding our Bad Neighbor.  Multiple reports of his marksmanship (he would have hit the officer, if he'd wanted to) and a recent terminal diagnosis keep surfacing.  In the meantime, our "quiet" neighborhood sits on edge, wondering "what next?"

These are the times that try men's souls?  Indeed, they just may be...

One Stitch at a Time

I've been working on my Hoffman Challenge.

 It seems kind of silly to begin a primarily handwork project one month before the deadline.  I guess that's just "how I roll" best.

 Six blocks down, eight to go.  Plus a center.  Plus assembling.  Plus quilting.

I know.  You're not supposed to quilt a crazy quilt.  But I'm not completely crazy, and neither will this quilt be.  At least that's the mid-June plan.  July may change the plan, sending it in unexpected directions.

And that's it for now...Got some stitching to do, doncha know?

2012 Hoffman Challenge

I've started my Hoffman Challenge.  I've not only started, I've gotten a good start!  I made 7 blocks yesterday, enough to complete a frame.  I have a lot to do if I'm going to get this done in time for the competition, but at least I've left the starting block.  tee hee, so punny...

Hmmm.  Looking at the photo, I wonder if I should make a different block for the upper right corner.  That green is a bit distracting.  Then again, I will have some green inside the frame, so maybe it will work.  Or I can put purple lace or ribbon through the middle of the green, to tone it down.

Next goal:  add the frou frou, embellish like crazy. 

Goals are good!

Great Stuff

Have you heard about this amazing stuff called Retro Clean?  I first heard about it at Houston.  It's supposed to rejuvenate your old linens, or something to that effect.  Oh my, does it ever!  This little doily was the same color as the ironing board.  The drape with the embroidery had been even darker.  They soaked for an afternoon, and came out sparkling.  I am a believer.  :)

 I've been stumped when it comes to the Hoffman Challenge.  I'm not a fan of the fabric, but then I say that every year.  I had an idea that I thought would work, but when I pulled the things out of the box, they weren't what I thought they were.  Back to the drawing board.  I had another idea yesterday.  This is what I've got to show for  a few hours of fiddling.  Don't ask.  I may not finish it.

I've been very pleasantly surprised with the new walk-on dog. 

I'm not much of a dog person - I tend to attract cats - but I do have a soft spot for abandoned critters.  Being a pit bull, and intact, he has two massive strikes against him.  Yesterday we took him to the vet.  The doctor pulled off another 2 dozen ticks (to add to the 8 my son pulled off last week), and declared him to be a beautiful young dog.  "Keep him!" 

When a vet tells you he'd much rather work with a pit bull than a German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Chow, or Doberman, I listen.  Frankly, they all scare me.  But today was the selling point.  I was out at the walnuts (without my camera) and watched young Rocky sparring with Chupa.  It was the most gentle dog wrestling, playing I've ever seen.  He seems to know that she's fragile, even if she doesn't.  He gives what he gets (she's trying to gum him to oblivion) and she doesn't seem to be in any danger.   I think he's found a home, unless his owners show up to claim him.

oh, and the ticks?  Apparently they are beginning to invade the valley.  The vet said he never used to see them, but now he sees them more and more.  bummer.  One more thing to be aware of...

Waiting Patiently

Today I had fun, poking through Collection D of the Hoffman Challenge.

One of my favorite things at a quilt show is to unexpectedly come upon someone taking a picture of one of my quilts. To me, it's the ultimate compliment. "Excuse me, may I take a picture of you taking a picture of my quilt?" She graciously held her pose for me.

But then she suggested I also pose with the quilt. It was actually kind of fun, since I haven't seen this little quilt since mid-July.

Tomorrow the award winners are announced. Wednesday is Preview Night. Thursday, the show opens. I had to take a picture of this sea of scooters, just waiting for the army of invading quilters. The woman in charge of them assured me that they will run out...and my picture shows less than half of the fleet.

Have you figured out where I am yet?

All Finished

Well, I've done it. I've finished my Hoffman. I still have to sleeve and label it, but the hard part is behind me. yay!

The thing that cracks me up about this quilt is that I did not intend to make a Hoffman this year. It just kind of happened. It came about as a result of my class at Asilomar, with Jeannette DeNicolis Meyer. And during that class at Asilomar, we'd both agreed that I wouldn't do a Hoffman this year. Crazy the way things work out.

It's been too hot to begin work on my next show quilt, because it's been too hot to think. This was just mindless, gentle repetition. Beading is almost like hand-quilting, only it requires more space and better coordination. But just like hand quilting, you see the patterns and new designs emerge under your finger tips, adding depth and dimension to the flat surface. I love watching the transformation of something nice, to something unique and pleasing to the eye.

At least I think this is pleasing to the eye. Those who have seen it in person seem to really like it. Now to finish it and hopefully get it to CO by Friday. Goals are good!

"No Time for Tradition"
19" x 22"
Suzanne Kistler, July 2011

machine pieced, machine quilted, hand embellished (beads & embroidery)

Tidbits

For our anniversary, I made a quilted card for my husband. I started with these scraps from my 2010 Hoffman challenge trims. Yes, I still have scraps from July 2010. I use them.

Then I quilted and cut up some orange for accent.

I was inspired by a planned trip to Tahiti, to celebrate the 30 years. Here's the final piece, it measures about 5.5" x 8".

I don't know if you picked up on the 2 big fishies followed by the 4 little'uns. :)

I'm still working on my Hoffman, here's what I added yesterday...(the embroidery and silk ribbons).

I'm hoping to finish up by the weekend. I'll show you the final at that time. Until then, you can only imagine what I've put together. :)