Thursday's Things

Thursday dawned bright and early, full of promise.  Another unscheduled day, to do as I pleased.  The problem was, I was winding down on most of my projects.  hmmm.  What to do?

On Wednesday evening, I'd fixed the setting blocks from Penelope's Lone Star.  It went from this:

To this:

I'm not sure you can tell the difference, with the distracting bed shots, but it's definitely an improvement.  I cut the borders but will sew them on at home, when I have a large enough surface to measure and cut accurately.  A 3' round table is not the best work area!

I brought along a project from Asilomar, 2011.  It's been quilted for a long time, but I thought it needed some shells.  I sewed them on while watching Hart of Dixie on NetFlix.  How's that for a wild evening?!!  ;)  (How's this for irony?  When I called up my blog post, I'd begun the work exactly 2 years before I finished it!)

I like the little line of shells.  There's something about the added texture that makes it "just right."  :)

On Thursday, I picked up the leavings from Wednesday's sewing, and started sewing them together.  I found a few classic favorite prints in the bottom of my bin, and before you could say, "Jack Robinson!" I'd put together a quilt top that makes me smile.  Not only that, but it will work nicely in my pool bathroom, once it's finished.  (When I say "finished," I refer to both the top, and the bathroom!)

I tried to get a mood shot, but with the wind, and the seagull residue, it was tough.  I ended up back indoors, with the quilt on the floor.  *sigh*

It's not terribly big - somewhere around 22" x 28ish...This one is going to be a lot of fun to quilt!  :)

I took a next-to-the-last walk on the beach.  The glare was tough, but here's the one photo of my face, to prove I was here:

 By dinner time, it was overcast again, as it is this morning.

Last night I finished the beading on "Inspired by Sara."  My plan is to block it before taking a glam shot for you, to show it looking it's best.  I had no idea I would LOVE this quilt, but I do.  I'm disappointed that it's an inch to small to enter in DesMoines.  oh well. I'd specifically tried for that 24" minimum, but all that quilting took its toll.  Can you say "shrinkage"?

This brings to an end my week's seclusion at the beach.  It's been wonderful.  Tonight I'll be back in the valley, where tomorrow is expected to be triple digits.  ugh.  I can feel it now.  Sucks the creativity right out of a person, if you know what I mean...

Thanks for joining me!

More From the Stitchfest

I'll tell you a secret.  I didn't get back from Avila Beach until yesterday afternoon.  I got so much done, I can hardly believe it.  I showed you two baby quilts in my last post.  I've quilted two more, and applied the bindings.  I just need to tack them down.  I'll show you when they are finished.

I cut the foundation pieces, to increase the size of my "challenge" crazy quilt.  I've been wanting to do that since mid-October.

I started sewing Log Cabin blocks, made from floral fat quarters gifted to me by my Best of the Valley committee after the show closed in 2011.  I found the stash of fabrics when I cleared out for carpet.  It was a delightful discovery.  By the time I left on Friday, had 14 rounds of the 17 logs completed...on 50+ blocks!

 I finally had the uninterrupted time to concentrate and cut the background for this Lone Star.  Do you recognize it?  I pieced it at Hartland in April 2011, I bought the background fabric in Paducah in April of this year.  How long does it take to make a quilt?  Sometimes 
F O R E V E R!!

 Once I'd finished insetting the blocks, I realized it needs more border to float it.  oh dear.  I cut the gradation in such a manner that I can't float the quilt in the same fabric.  I do have some of a perfect fabric - it's a very pale red-violet/purple with a crocus-type flower on it...but I don't have enough of it.  Does anyone have any of this in their stash?  It's probably 4-5 years old...

 Another project I brought along was a slab of 3" foam and some canvas.  My task was to build a dog bed that the dogs can't eat.  This is the base.  My current thought is to put some sort of nylon web/mesh over it, so that even if they sink their teeth into it, they can't tear it apart.

I know.  Stop laughing!!  ;)

I didn't spend the entire time indoors sewing, I did get out a bit.  Unfortunately I kept forgetting my camera!  But it was nearby, when Wednesday gifted me with this spectacular sunset:

Did you notice that even the ocean glows pink?

The next day, the postmistress told me that the reason it was so beautiful was that they'd done a "controlled" burn at Montana de Oro, and it got out of control.  Thanks, guys!  It was lovely!  (I doubt the same can be said for the park.)

And on that, I've got some binding to stitch down.  More pictures soon!  Goals are good!

I Want Sunshine...

Well! I just wanted to post a quickie before I head out of Fogville and look for a day of sunshine. Suddenly, I see the date, and take note: Two years ago tomorrow my blog went online and the first entry posted. wow. 475 entries over the past two years, this one makes #476. But who's counting, right? (Blogger counts, I don't.)

It might be nice to do something to commemorate my blog-a-versary. If you think that's a good idea, maybe you can leave me a comment. When I return to Fogville, I will see what I can come up with.

In the meantime, I leave you with this BRIGHT image of "Do You See Spots. It is machine-pieced and hand-quilted and can be found in the pages of Lone Star Quilts & Beyond, by Jan Krentz.

"Do You See Spots?"
Suzanne Kistler, 2000

Now I'm off to seek some sunshine. TTFN!!!

"We Have Seen His Star..."

Back in 2005, I was contacted by Quilter's Newsletter Magazine, regarding my quilt "We Have Seen His Star: Wise Men Still Seek Him." They had seen it in Jan Krentz's Diamond Quilts book, and were interested in publishing a pattern. I gave them the go-ahead, and it was presented as their 2005 Christmas Memory Pattern. All you needed to do was send them an SASE, and they sent you the pattern.

Every once in a while I get requests for the pattern. I usually tell people to contact QNM, and see if it is still available. They wrote the pattern, I didn't. I constructed the quilt differently than they outline, but the results should be very similar. I used Jan's Lone Star techniques to make the star.

This week I received TWO requests for the pattern. You have my blessing to make this quilt. In fact, I don't think there could be too many of this quilt in existence. If anyone else would like the pattern, either contact Quilter's Newsletter or email me.

Now that you've read this, you'd probably like to know what quilt I'm talking about.

Here is the full-view:

And here is a detail of the quilting:

If you click on the image, it should give you a larger view.

That's all I've got for today. I've worked on my April Step twice, both on Thursday and last night. The boy is appliqued in place, and I'm giving him hair. I might actually get the top together by Thursday, but the quilting is looking iffy. Goals are good. Don't allow the inability to reach every single one keep you from setting them. Every step we take is progress. Let's keep moving forward!

Finished Feels So GOOD!!

First of all, thank you for your votes/encouragement to finish up some of these UFO's. The feathered stars got two "votes," the 12 Days of Christmas also got two. The Scotland blocks are also "in the running." (Actually, of those three projects, the Scotland blocks are the most likely to be finished during the next 12 months.)

Finished feels good, doncha know?!!

I am finished with my last quilt-for-hire of 2008. YIPPEE!! DeAnn asked if I was going to post it on the blog. "Do you want me to?" "Oh yes! Absolutely!!"

So, for DeAnn, and the rest of you, here is her quilt:

quilt by DeAnn Farris, 2008

You can't really see the quilting from afar, so here it is, up close and personal...


It is quilted in both blue and yellow thread. The back looks pretty good too, if I do say so myself...


But even better than looking at the quilt, is looking at this...


Be still my heart!

Going through all of my UFO's has really got my motor revving. I'm raring to go! But Christmas is coming, what am I going to do? Aha!!!

I took a LOT of pictures yesterday, from my Box of Possibilities.

Some might call it a box of discards or orphan blocks, but I see it differently. I have a hard time throwing ANYTHING away, because you never know when you just might need it...

Take for example, the making of this quilt: (the picture was taken before I blocked it. yikes.)

"WE HAVE SEEN HIS STAR"
Wise Men Still Seek Him
Suzanne Kistler 2003

"WE HAVE SEEN HIS STAR"

Wise Men Still Seek Him
close-up
Suzanne Kistler 2003

I made this star a LONG time ago, when Jan was working on her Lone Star book. I only made the star part, and it didn't seem finished. I wanted to add light coming down to the world, but had no idea of how to do that. zip. zero. nada. I put the star aside, until Jan was working on her Diamond Quilt book. I suddenly had the answer...I could do diamonds!!

I started cutting and sewing (my usual method of quiltmaking). Draft a pattern? But why? Well, here's why:


This was my first attempt. Rather than look like light filtering down from a star, it looked like a rocket taking off. The light was headed in the wrong direction.

I abandoned this one, and the second attempt was successful. It was incorporated into the finished quilt, and you've already seen the picture. The final quilt was a success, and Jan included it in her book. Quilter's Newsletter also liked it, and in 2005, it was selected as their "Christmas Memory Pattern." I'm not sure if they still have it available, but they might. I couldn't find a link to the pattern, but you can see what's on the cover of that particular issue and find the info to track it down...

Anyway, back to the wayward rocket light. Of course I couldn't throw away all of that piecework, not a chance. I might need it sometime, you know?

And I'm thinking that I know just what I'm going to do with it today. Perhaps I'll post pictures tomorrow. And on that, I'm off to "create."

oh wait.

Pat expressed her disappointment at not "winning" the quilted Christmas card. Should we try it again? Leave a comment on this post, and I'll draw a name for another card on Tuesday 12/9. I do get up early, so you probably want to comment by Monday if you want in on the action... ;) Oh, and Jan? Sorry, you can't win twice, but you can still comment... ;)

Good luck!!!

Jan In Your House

As you may or may not know, Jan Krentz is a good friend of mine. She's the Diamond Gal, the Lone Star Wizard, the one who makes those impossible diamond designs actually sew-able. She breaks it down to basics, and shows you how to make beautiful quilts, all without breaking (much of) a sweat. :)

I did diamonds once, back in 1985. I swore that I would never EVER do another pattern utilizing diamonds. I stuck to my guns, until Jan lured me in to help with "a project." Had I known it was her Lone Star quilt book, I would have run for the hills. Instead, I said, "SURE!"

When I found out we were going to be making Lone Star quilts, I think I may have cried. I know I thought about it. But Jan is an AWESOME teacher, and she turned my tears of trepidation into those of happiness. I can actually do it! I can make a Lone Star quilt that doesn't have a bra cup center or warp this way or that. It came out flat AND square! Since that fateful first class, I've finished SEVEN Lone Star quilts. And four Hunter Star quilts. And five diamond quilts.

Jan is a kind and patient teacher, full of encouragement and tips and demonstrations on how to achieve success. I doubt any other teacher would have been able to get so many quilts out of me. To date, none have...

And so, I come to the point of this post.

Yesterday I received word that her DVD, Jan Krentz Teaches You to Make Lone Star Quilts DVD will be available in August. If you like, you can pre-order directly from Jan. If you've never taken a class with Jan, or if you have and need a refresher course, this DVD would be well worth the investment. It would be like having your own private course, with Jan, right there, in your house! How cool is that?!!

Well, I was going to post some pictures of my Lone Star quilts, but apparently I only have one on this computer. This one is the one that I completed most recently. It's not much, but it's a taste of what you, too, might choose to make. Happy quilting!!!

"Paintbox"
begun 2001, finished 2006
hand-quilted
Suzanne Kistler