Weeks 37-38: Box Progress

Not sewing yet.

I did attend the first in the new series of zoom lectures by Lauren Kingsland.  You can probably sign up too.

Here is the class write up:

In the Studio with Lauren
by The Georgetown Lombardi Arts and Humanities Program
8- week FREE, online workshop on THURSDAYS Sep. 16th - Nov. 4th, 2021, 12-1pm EST. Relax, Learn, & Community! Theme for the series: Colors  (There is a Tuesday class too.)

About this event

Love Those Colors

“I love the colors in your quilt!” Is a compliment that always brings a smile to a quiltmaker. The basic principles of color interaction are important tools in our artistic toolbox. In this class weekly hands-on exercises will help you understand how YOU see color and how to manage to get the effects you want. Lauren will share color “recipes” and tricks to give you color confidence. Hands-on homework projects will be simple hand piecing OR may be done by gluing or fusing.

Students will need small fabric pieces ( 6” square or larger) of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple in light, medium and dark values. Bring what you have to the first class.

A looseleaf notebook may be used to create your own color reference book if you wish

Who is this class for?  You! This class is for anyone who is interested in learning a new skill and being a part of a growing community. Beginners are welcome.

Accessibility Notes:  This class is closed captioned.

About Instructor:  The class will be led by Georgetown Lombardi Arts and Humanities Program (AHP) Artist-in-Residence Lauren Kingsland.

Lauren is an internationally known and beloved teacher, specializing in the intersection of art and healing. Her medium of first choice is quiltmaking and fiber art. Lauren is the author of several books, including “Healing Journey - Quilts about Transformation in the Presence of Cancer” and “The Extraordinary T-shirt Quilt - A Scrapbook You Can Sleep Under” as well as an experienced singer, and mindfulness practitioner.

No one read the descriptions, as we didn't bring our fabric pieces to class.  Lauren discussed hue and value and showed examples.  Our homework is to make a nice patch (or anything really) with different reds.

I am finally cleaning up my sewing room and will look for examples of red and orange fabric so I will be prepped for last week and this coming week.  

Also need to find the fabric I'll be using for the two classes I take next week with EBHQ: 

VIRTUAL WORKSHOP - AUDREY ESAREY AKA COTTON AND BOURBON - Abstract Arcs


The Abstract Arcs Quilt is a pattern that can be made into a small wall hanging or a large bed quilt! This workshop covers the concepts of curved piecing, inset strips, and improv piecing. We will also discuss the use of color in this quilt, as well as layouts that emphasize the use of negative space. Students will finish several blocks during class.

Haven't decided at all what colors to use for this!


VIRTUAL WORKSHOP - AUDREY ESAREY AKA COTTON AND BOURBON-Indigo Radial Quilt


The Indigo Radial Quilt is a wall hanging made using paper piecing and curved piecing techniques. This workshop covers the basic concepts of paper piecing on an arc, curved piecing skinny arcs, and precision piecing. We will also discuss color options, alternate layouts using templates provided in the pattern, and quilting ideas. Students will finish several blocks during class. The Indigo Radial Quilt finishes at 24 x 24 inches.

I'm thing perhaps different violets, purples and red or gold for my piece.

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I had both my sewing machines maintained after a long break when I didn't use as I wasn't sure I should with the strange noises I started hearing when I was finishing the Christmas exchange blocks.

So I can also work on my EBHQ Lone Robin Quilt.  If I can finish before October 1 then I can be in the drawing - but probably won't be able to do that.  But perhaps if I find my notes on what I was going to make!

So hopefully my quilting and sewing will be starting up again.  And I will be able to continue going thru boxes too.

I had signed up for the classes I think when I saw that the  paperwork for the taxes would be submitted ahead of the deadline....  I have also been going thru boxes of papers and paperwork and making pretty good progress with tossing things, putting things into current file folders, and even started some scanning and then shredding.  I can see clearly now that no one will ever want to look at the records of things saved for tax preparation, so that will make that part of the adventure easier to do.

The first box I grabbed to scan happened to have the papers for my mom starting the year my father passed away and ending I think seven years later.  I had all the papers for when her home flooded and new flooring and kitchen had to be installed.  What a headache that was!  That sure reminded me of why I keep putting off having big things done to this house...  Also there were records for her medical care and all the work hiring extra people to help with caregiving.  That was really hit or miss on quality of care and record keeping.  I don't know if anyone could learn from the experiences I had.  I think unfortunately each person has to navigate the various systems and people themselves.  At least here in California.

Buffy is making wonderful progress.  She now has two or three walks a day.  Different lengths depending mainly on her mood, but when it has turned out to be hot I sort of move us toward home.  I think she was okay with that too though.

Sep 13 - her wounds are really healing well.  We are getting use to how she looks now and doing a better job of working with her so she is getting better with going up and down stairs and getting to places she wants to go.  She obviously feels better than she did before the operation.

Sep 16: Before I knew she was going to have the operation I also got her a new squeaky and crunchy toy.  She plays with this more often than her older ones. Fun to let her have it a little bit each day....

Sep 20: I had gotten her this game before I knew she would have operation.  You put a treat under each little cap - she smells it and bites to lift it up to get the treat!

A nice sunset in the neighborhood.

Sep 18:  A few years ago I got this canvas crate/bed from a neighbor.  Buffy didn't really like to sleep in it, but she would eat her food when it was placed inside. 
So I used when we were in hotels with her for that.  

Now Buffy really likes going in here to snooze. I have it so it makes her pen larger as the bed now is part of the wall. 

I like the way I can look down at her too.

Dogs sleep more than I realized.  

She has several hours of interaction time though that is very, very nice indeed.

My friend and I are back to walking - in the evenings though now as then if Buffy doesn't want to walk as long as I do, then my son or husband can watch her while I continue walking!  I'm looking forward to starting my online exercise sessions again too - but that will be after Buffy is better alone again, and I have more boxes finished.

Round Up Week 19: Classes and Lecture

 This past week was really nice and full of quilting inspiration and action!

Thursday was the first of 6 weeks of classes on hand stitching: In the Studio with Lauren.  This time we worked on reverse appliqué, the technique that is used in molas.

Here is my 'half hearted' practice piece...  Back and then front just so you can see the half heart.  The actual homework was to do a spiral shape but this was pretty difficult so I changed it just try the technique out.  It was easier and harder to do that I expected.  I'm hoping to connect more with the other techniques to be covered in the classes. But also think I should complete the heart design someday too.  Perhaps adding more detail or putting different colored fabric to show thru too would be fun.

I sandwiched and finished quilting the little quilt I made from the blocks in the previous class.  She called the class, Log Cabins and Power Bars.

I had to piece together some batting left over from an older project.  Did that just by hand basting the pieces together.

I used a table and did spray basting inside by an open screen door.  First I did the backing to the batting, then flipped it over and then did the top to the batting.

When it comes time for me to do a larger quilt, I will get things in place and then have my helper watch part of this video! http://www.aqsblog.com/how-to-spray-baste-a-quilt or https://youtu.be/dBFAiwmPQBc

It is a small quilt so I was able to do it without taping things down or using many pins.  I just put one in each of the corners of the basted backing to be sure the top would be in the right place, and one in the center. 

The backing material has images of flies used in fishing.  I bought it back when I thought I'd be making quilts for everyone I knew.  This fabric was for my husband's cousin who is a fly fisher.  But after I got the fabric I learned how he was really a professional fly fisher and they moved to Lancaster PA so were getting hand made quilts made there...  And most importantly, I got real on how long it would take me to feel like anything I would make could be a gift.  Anyway I'm glad to finally have a use for the fabric.

For the design, I had wanted to do baptist fans, but decided to go ahead with curvy lines from top to bottom, then from side to side - about three inches apart.  The only marking I did was to find the center and pin a piece of fabric so I would see the center and be sort of even when I was going down the piece. I think doing a curvy quilting pattern will make the straight lines of the blocks stand out.

Here you can see the walking foot vertical lines.  Oh I sewed down the edges before I started, and trimmed the extra batting off and squared of the corners.

The batting had been stored without the directions so I am not sure how far apart to do the stitching.  I decided on 4 inches - so sewed so the widest is three inches. My friend said I needed to add cross lines so I did...

  

  

This quilt is not turning out at all the way I thought it would.  I guess I thought putting the red square in would tie the different fabrics together and make it look like it was more planned.  Guess this is what I get for using scraps.

I attended another wonderful online class thru EBHQ:
Eel Grass and Eddies (Long Layered Curves) with Variations by Marge Tucker 

It was a fun class - I was able to get a good grasp of the technique and got several blocks made.  I used fabric I had left over from the quilt shop run that my DH and I did the day before our son asked us to stay at home (because of the pandemic).  I used most of the fabric for masks, but still had three FQs to use in the class - added some white from my stash.

So for two FQ with color, and two of white I ended up with these....  First I had these longer strips, then I cut them into 6.75 inch blocks.  I didn't think I'd be able to get three colored strips in my blocks so I cut the background wider, and ended up with four strips in two of them.  

I'm pretty pleased with these, even though the new mothers I know do not want pink quilts for their little girls...  I have started to make two more longer strips for more blocks.

Again, this project is going to look more scrappy than all together since I need to use different fabrics to finish it up...

I am going to make some more blocks with different fabrics (as I do not have more of the quilt shop run fabrics), so the quilt will be a little larger.... and more useful to someone...

The Marge Tucker Lecture on Improv and Abstractions in Antique Quilts was a trunk show where she showed an antique quilt and then sometimes showed her modern interpretation of it.  They all had improv piecing.  It was really interesting.  I'm not sure if I'm allowed to publish any of the photos I took, but here is link to her online gallery. http://margetuckerquilts.com/gallery and a link to her online class description page http://margetuckerquilts.com/classes  She also presented the Going in Circles Class, but I only made the waiting list for that class (and didn't get in).

So I still need to finish the binding for the Log Cabin and Power Bar quilt, and finish the little pink quilt, and I want to get up to speed on the Lone Robin quilt - hopefully this coming week I will do all that.

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Not quilting...

I'm doing a terrific job of not doing any paperwork.  So that is still waiting for me to work on and finish up.   Story of my life...

This weekend our son heard a bird hit a window and saw that it was wounded on the ground.  He looked up what to do and ended up taking a towel to pick it up and place inside a box with a cover.  At first he left it outside, but when a hawk came snooping around he brought the box inside to the laundry room.  Soon, he then took it to Project Wildlife with hopes that they would be able to help it recover...

He called Project Wildlife the next day and was told the bird he brought in the box did not make it. He was sad - so were we all.

Then jumping ahead to today (Tuesday) he was standing looking out the window at a bird hopping around in the area where the hawk had been, when all of a sudden a snake started coming up the window! And then when he looked again there was another snake on the table on the other side winding its way thru his tools!

So two California King snake sightings in one day.  It's the first time we have ever seen snakes.

So that is the round up of the previous week including the days in this week since I am late with posting.