Stashmaster

Third time's a charm

Jelly Star #3 was a success!   I tried to be extra cautious about not stretching anything while sewing or pressing my seams open, and this one turned out pretty perfect.  My blocks are finishing at 25-3/4" - they would be 29-3/4" if I used the jelly roll strip.  Still a nice sized block - even one block framed with a border fabric would be pretty as a wall hanging or table topper.  I have 2 stars that I need to remake, and as I wait impatiently for my Fig & Plum jelly roll to arrive from Canada, I'm cutting and sewing the checkerboard sashing.

While this quilt could definitely be made with just one jelly roll, using 2 will give me the opportunity to use more strips of my favorite prints from the line and eliminate some of the darker plums, which are very pretty, but take too much focus away from the lighter prints.  I've got my fabric choices for the 2 remaining stars all sketched out.  Did I mention I'm waiting impatiently for the mailman?

My Four Seasons Swap partner down under, Soo, received her quilt from me.  I'm so happy that she likes it.  And hey - that means I should be getting a quilt in my mailbox soon.  Another reason to stalk the mailman!

Two down

My second Jelly Star didn't go together quite as nicely as the first one.  The points match pretty well, but the seams in the corners of the background squares are a little off.  Still, I really like the colors on this one.  I may redo it when I get another jelly roll, or if the third star proves it's impossible to make these stars "perfect," I may just go with them as is.  Stay tuned, I'm working on Star #3.

Know your limits!

OK, I'll admit it - I do not like jelly rolls.   Those pinked edges just aren't for me.  They stretch and I cannot get the accuracy that I always strive for in my piecing.  What was I thinking, volunteering to make this sample for the shop with 45 degree strip pieced diamonds?  Yes, it was not a good decision, but I so wanted to work with this Fig & Plum jelly roll that my shop owner brought back from Portland Quilt Market.

This is my second attempt at making a Jelly Star.  Looks pretty good, doesn't it?  I will not show you my first attempt.   It's in a wad in the closet.  I've never had so much trouble lining up seams and having poofy seams - ever.  I'm so ashamed of it.

For my second star pictured here, I trimmed the pinked edges off the strips, leaving them 2-1/4" wide rather than 2-1/2" wide.   My stars will be a smidge smaller than the original pattern intended, but they will be accurate and will not make me cringe every time I look at all the seams that don't meet.  I can just add an extra wide border if I want a bigger quilt.

But this looks dreamy, doesn't it?   And these new Fig Tree fabrics are certainly drool worthy.   Ok, I'm off to make more stars while I'm on a roll!

Does this look like summer?

Here is a finished quilt top, ready to mail "very far away" (hint...) to my Four Seasons Quilt Swap partner.   I hope my partner will like this little quilt made out of Moda's Swell fabrics.  I think based on the color preferences mentioned that she will.

No OT required!

Carrie Nelson's little story of the name of this pattern of hers - 4OT - is something about finishing this quilt while watching an exciting hockey game that went into 4 overtimes.  Well I'm here to tell you, there were NO OVERTIMES required with this quilt.  It was definitely one of the fastest and easiest quilts I've ever assembled.  Nice big pieces and everything fit together nicely - it was a real pleasure to work with this pattern and these fabrics.  I have a quilter lined up who will do this for me at the end of July, so there will be plenty of time to bind it and have it in the shop when the fabrics - Portobello Market by 3 Sisters for Moda - arrive in September.

Please, don't anyone be intimidated by a Miss Rosie pattern if you haven't made one before.  It looks like a lot of pieces, but the effort is definitely worth the result.  The hardest part of this one will be waiting until it's finished being a shop model so it can come home to live with me!

Fill 'er up!

Work is progressing on my 4OT quilt (you can now buy the Miss Rosie's pattern of your very own!).  The blank spaces in the alternate blocks are where the large star points will fill in, and I will use all the darker reds and blues in the collection.  This one is shaping up to be another gorgeous design, and it's going together so quickly, there will be plenty of time to have it quilted and bound to hang in the shop by the time the fabric arrives in September!

I finished the quilting on my Four Seasons Swap quilt, now to sew down the binding, wash and embellish it (I'm thinking some flower-shaped yo-yos).  I hope my partner will like it!

New Project

First, I would like to thank all of you who offered me such lovely words of comfort about my grandmother.   I apologize for not thanking each of you individually.   It's just too painful right now.  I hope you understand how much I appreciate all your kind thoughts, though.

After an incredibly busy 2 weeks, I am finally back at my sewing machine.   My new project is using a Moda fabric designed by 3 Sisters called Portobello Market, which won't be in stores until September.  I'm using a FQ bundle my quilt shop owner got at Market to make a shop sample.

The pattern is also new - it's called 4OT and is designed by my very talented and creative friend, none other than the heart and soul behind Miss Rosie's Quilt Company - Carrie Nelson.  I emailed Carrie asking for her advice about a pattern of hers that would be suited to this line of fabrics and she showed me this one that she designed around the very same fabrics.  The pattern will be in stores soon, but I got a special advance copy so I could get started right away, and I'm enjoying the new design very much.

There will be some larger stars that surround these 12" blocks in gorgeous reds and darker blues.   And alternate blocks with a smaller 9-patch inside a square on point.   Stay tuned to see my progress on this beauty!

Memories

My Grandma Lois passed away on Friday.   She and I always had a special bond and I have been in a complete state of emotional turmoil since I heard the news.

Grandma Lois was my mom's mom and always so much fun.  She loved kids of all ages and spoiled all of them.  She had a late in life baby that was just one year older than my oldest brother, and I think that kept her young at heart all her life.

We had some fun times together.   One of the most memorable experiences - and one we talked about nearly every time we were together - was when she came to visit us in Seattle and took me to see the movie Blazing Saddles.  Just Grandma and me.   My parents were horrified that she took me - age 12 - to see an R-rated movie, but we had a rip-roaring good time and laughed until we cried.

I will never forget another time she came to visit and we went to see a movie with my mom (she loved to go "to the show").  My mom asked Grandma if she wanted some candy, and Grandma replied "Does a ball bounce?"  She always had a sweet tooth (we shared a love of black licorice) and a very funny sense of humor.

Grandma, Mom and I took a trip to Reno when I was in my early 20s and that was such a fun time.   We played one particular slot machine in our hotel lobby that consistenly paid out - no big jackpots, but enough to keep us entertained.  We were always disappointed if we came downstairs and found out someone was playing our "Watermelon" machine.

Grandma loved to travel, whereas my Grandpa Claude was more of a stay-at-home guy.  She would often plan a trip and wait until just as she was leaving to tell him about it.

Mom and I were always chuckling about her penchant for malapropisms - she always came up with some very unintentional funny sayings.

She had the most beautiful porcelain skin and snow white hair.

My daughter's middle name is Lois, after my grandmother.  Last summer when we stayed with my mom, Lily was down at great-grandma's one evening and I went to pick her up, but I wasn't allowed to take her, because the "girls" were in the midst of a rousing game of Gin Rummy.   I'm glad I got a picture of it.

I miss you, Grandma.   :(

Incredible giveaway

I read this morning about a longarm quilt blogger who is offering a chance to have one of your quilt tops professional quilted by her, just for guessing in her contest.  So go to Jackie's blog and check it out!

I Brake for Quilt Shops!

I used some of my birthday loot to buy a personalized license plate for my new car.   Cute, isn't it?