Saturday, January 26, 2019

Coming So Soon - Turnabout Patchwork Blog Hop!

      I am thrilled to be part of a blog hop (my first time!).  Teresa, whose blog can be found here, has a new book released, Turnabout Patchwork, which uses traditional blocks in unusual ways.   Each person participating in the hop made a quilt from the book.  I signed up for the quilt that is on the cover!  No pressure there!  As you will see when my blog is up (February 1, 2019!), I used different fabrics and made some minor changes to the borders.  I love how it turned out, although (as you will learn) I had some challenges due to some fabric issues.
       I can give away a pdf copy of the book, and would like to do so to one of my blog readers.  Please leave a comment on this page of my blog, or on the February 1 post, and I will pick a winner from the commenters at random.  I'll announce the winner after the blog hop closes.  
        Here is a sneak peak of the fabrics I used to create my version of the quilt.  


     Here is a sneak peak at the traditional block (a shoofly) before making it over to create the quilt.
Here is a picture of my new helper, Judy, as she oversees my sewing efforts! 
     The schedule for the blog hop is below.  Please check them out! Lots of creative and interesting quilts and quiltmakers are here!  

January 30 - Quarter Snow Ball

     Arrowhead
     Sweet Bows
     Tutti-frutti
     Sun Dunes

๐ŸŒŸ๐ŸŒŸ๐ŸŒŸFebruary 1 - Modern Shoofly

     Flying Rainbows
     Flying Butterflies
     Flying Flags
     Flying Confetti

February 2 - Half Square Triangles (HSTs) and squares

     Rose Garden Star
     Swirl
     Houndstooth
     Diamond Star

February 4 - Striped Fabric Block

     Shells
     Xs and Os
     Jaws
     Arrowhead

February 6 - Coordinated Strips

     Peaks
     Diamond and Crosses
     Knots and Crosses

February 8 - Double Disappearing Nine-Patch

     Holiday Trellis
     Stepping Stones
     Two for One
     Cross

I hope you join us all for this blog hop, and enjoy seeing all these wonderful quilts! 

Take care,
Gretchen 
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Saturday, January 19, 2019

2018 Quilts - A Year in Review

Joan's Kira Quilt
    
Southtowns Piecemakers Quilt Guild Block of the Month Sampler 

Off the Rails

Hey Wassily!

Eva's Quilt
Moody Beauty

Trash to Treasure Table Runner

Melodee's Magnolia Mystery Quilt

Memories of Scotland Table Runner
Mad for Plaid - Spring Time 
Plus Quilt 

A good year and many projects underway for 2019! 

Take care,
Gretchen 


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Sunday, January 6, 2019

Mad for Plaid Table Runner - On Newstands Now!

      I am beyond thrilled to have had a pattern and piece accepted for publication in Fons and Porter's Easy Quilts, on newstands now!  Turn to page 60 to see the spring time version of my Mad for Plaid table runner, which is a piece I completed during the summer of 2018!
TURN TO PAGE 60!


Head shot is from 2012  - I need to get a new one soon!  
     Back in 2016, my husband, my two kids and I had an adventure of a lifetime, walking across Scotland following the John Muir Way.  10 days of walking a total of 134 miles over beautiful country was unforgettable!  Along the way, we stopped in villages and cities, and in Linlithgow, found a quilt shop!

   I had hoped to purchase some Liberty of London (which I did later in Edinburgh), but here I was able to purchase 7 fat meters of tartan fabric.   I  held on to these fabrics waiting for the right project when, in the summer of 2018, my quilt guild issued  a "Mad for Plaid" themed challenge for the summer picnic.   I designed and made a table runner that would utilize these fabrics for that challenge.
     I bound it in a dark green solid, and used a newsprint printed fabric on the back.  In keeping with the "plaid" theme, I quilted it heavily with a checkerboard pattern using my walking foot.

      There were some beautifully executed applique projects which won that challenge, but I liked my design, and decided to submit this pattern for possible publication.   The Easy Quilts editors liked the pattern, but wanted a version in spring colors for the spring issue.   It was  a great  experience to work with the folks at Windham Fabrics to pick out fabrics from the Sugar Sack Collection by Whistler Studios.  To me, the checks and florals in that line seemed perfect.  


       For this version, I quilted with a loose, loopy free motion design,  in a bright light green, which seemed more appropriate to the feeling of the runner.  
     I used the big bold floral for the backing.   
     I used the tartan runner this Christmas, and am looking forward to being able to use this cheery Spring runner soon! 
       Thanks for visiting my blog!  I have lots of quilting projects underway or in my head for 2019.   Watch for my part in the Turnabout Patchwork Quilt blog hop on February 2! 


Take care,
Gretchen 

     



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Tuesday, January 1, 2019

2018 - a good year!

     Last year I made a list of 6 projects I wanted to complete in 2018. I purposefully made a small list, with the hopes I would actually finish them up. I was uncertain how much time my art classes, which I started in January 2018, would take up. 
     It turns out that making a small list was perfect - the art classes took up lots of time (and I loved every minute of them - can't wait for the new semester to start!). Here is last year's list, with my updates:
1.  Sewing room 
     This project was a great success!  I was able to switch the full size bed with a twin from the other bedroom, and moved the taller dresser into the other bedroom as well.  I was able to fit my sewing machine under the window, allowing me to look out at the lake while I sew.  My craft table can open fully when needed, and close down when this becomes a guest room.  The design wall fills an entire wall, and is so handy, and I am glad I splurged on the extra wide ironing board, which when folded, fits nicely behind the door.    I love having this space for projects! 
Bedroom before the redo

Sewing space - tidied up as a guest room

Cutting table opened for business! 

Design wall and big ironing board!

The view!   You can't really tell from this picture, but that is the lake out there - so nice in the summer! 

2.  Magnolia Mystery Quilt
My goal had been to finish this before the February deadline for this mystery challenge, and I was successful!  It turned out beautifully, and was gifted to a friend. 

      3.   The Civil War Reproduction Spider Web quilt.  
   This is one of my longer running projects.   I managed to finish all 240 blocks, worked on some designs for borders in EQ8, and bought a gadget to help with the removal of my paper backing.   This will certainly be my first "to-do" for 2019!
  




  4.  On Ringo Lake
    I was not even trying to keep up with the pieces as the clues in Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt dropped, but did work through it and got the top done.  It is pinned and ready to quilt in the New Year.  I have not yet started any work on the new Mystery Quilt, Good Fortune, but hope to do so soon! 


 5.  New York Beauty wall hanging
  Done and hanging in my sewing room!      


6.   Quilt Designing
     I have not been as productive as I really hoped in quilt designing, but designed a small piece that placed second in the on-line Quilt Expo modern mini challenge.  I also have a piece coming out this month in Easy Quilts!  Stay tuned!  
Off the Rails 
    I finished other quilts as well, and will be posting my 2018 Quilts round up after the Easy Quilts magazine hits news stands!  I had a great time at the Erie County Fair,  and enjoyed the friendship of other quilters in my quilt guilds.  A good quilting year, indeed.   

Happy New Year! 
Gretchen 

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