LaVieEnRosie

2:30 am

That's what time I went to bed last night. 

I would have stayed up later but I was at a good stopping point, and if I hadn't stopped then, I would have stayed up until I finished.  And by then I would have been really, really tired and I would have been making a lot of mistakes. 

 

And this is what I have to show for it. 

And a quilt top that is going to the quilter in the morning. 

Its a good thing I got to sew all weekend because I won't get to sew all week ~ I'm off to Scrap Apple Quilts in St. George, Utah for a couple of classes the end of this week. 

So what did I work on?  A new quilt for Spring Market ~ it's made with Blackbird's Beach House collection.  I really like it even though it's kind of quirky.  No pictures yet, but more on the quilt in a moment...

The one thing I did want to share is a little helper that I've been using for awhile now but keep forgetting to mention.  You know how we use sandpaper dots, Invisigrip and such to keep our rulers from sliding on the fabric?  Following the suggestion of a lovely lady in one of my classes about a year ago, I've been using the Flexible Clear bandage tape by Nexcare on the underside of the ruler for the same purpose!  It's easy to move, remove and re-position, and because of the textured surface of the plastic/latex tape, it holds the ruler in place extremely well.   

  

About the quilt... I have to tell you that it is one that I wasn't sure I was going to finish. 

I loved the alternating blocks and setting triangles ~ those came out exactly as I had envisioned.  The blocks... not so much.  They are very scrappy and to be honest, not all that pretty. 

This quilt came about from the block.  This is what most of us are familiar with ~

 

But what if you took those same elements, flipped them and changed some of the lights and darks?  You might wind up with something like this ~

 

Over the years, I've seen this block ~ or a variation of it ~ used in several quilts and patterns, and even in a couple of antique quilts.  I think that means I'm not the only quilter who thinks it's kind of cool.  

While I can't show you my quilt yet, let it suffice to say that my blocks are all different, and they are all very scrappy.  I was a little worried that the lack of "pretty" but when I put them together with the alternating blocks... it's exactly the way I hoped it would be.

And I'll show you a picture soon... I promise. 

In the meantime, I can show you a picture of "Quadrille" ~ the quilt I made with my Aviary fat quarters and some yardage.   

It measures 84" x 84" and the pattern covers will be finished this week!  Kimberly already has some on order so they will be available at Fat Quarter Shop by the beginning of April. 

 

One last thing... I really enjoyed reading all the comments about how everyone else works.  It seems we're all more alike than we realize. 

I'm off to see about finishing up those backings...

Process...

As I was sewing yesterday, I started wondering about how other quilters go about their projects.  You know how it is... as you're sewing along, your mind starts to wander.  (Don't laugh!  I've solved the world's problems while making a quilt.)

It's also a curiosity thing ~ what is your process?

I know that there are people who like to make a block first ~ either to test it, or just to see what it actually looks like in the fabric they've chosen.  Some quilters like to cut a little, sew a little, cut a little more, sew a little more, and so on until the quilt top is finished. 

I do everything in steps.  If there are 20,044 half-triangle squares in the quilt, I make those first.  When that's done, I make the 18,986 nine-patches that go with them.  (And, no, those aren't the numbers of pieces for my next project, I just made them up for illustrative purposes.)

For example, the quilt I started yesterday has scrappy star-like blocks and alternating blocks.  The alternating blocks are pieced, as are the setting triangles.  So I made all the parts for the alternating blocks and setting triangles ~ then pieced those blocks.  

Did I mention that I'm a delayed-gratification kind of girl?

I know... life is uncertain, eat dessert first.  Unless there is a meteor about to drop on the house in the next 60 minutes, I'm saving the dessert for last because that's the best part!  I can think of another "big finish" analogy but I think you get my point. 

So now that my alternating blocks and setting triangles are all done, I'm getting to the fun part ~ the scrappy star-like blocks.  They're the best part.  And when those are finished, I get to put my quilt together! 

So what about you?  What is your process?  Bits and pieces, or step by step?  And do you always work that way, or does that change depending on the project or your mood? 

One more thing... I am sure you've all seen ~ or at least I hope you've seen! ~ the beautiful Gypsy Rose collection by Joanna Figueroa and Fig Tree Quilts.  While it has been out for several months, I didn't get around to making anything from it until recently.  What a twit I am!  Here's the thing... I liked the fabric when I saw it but I wasn't immediately inspired with an "ooooh, I'll make xyz from that!"  So I got some fat quarters, some charm packs, a little yardage, and so on. 

And then when I was in 35th Avenue Sew & Vac, I saw a sample they had made using Gypsy Rose and my Three Coins pattern ~ yes, they made it one row smaller...

  

This fabric is SO pretty!  (Imagine how gorgeous this quilt would be if they had used one of Joanna's patterns!)  As of this weekend, I've made two quilts with this collection...  I love this fabric.

It's almost as gorgeous as Patisserie.   

Signs...

If every picture tells a story... this is my story for today.

 

And what it tells you is that I got to spend the whole day sewing!  I'm a happy girl. 

Okay, I did take a break to get some fresh air and go water the lemon tree...

 

Rosie decided to help...

It's been a busy week too!  My buddy Monique ~ of Open Gate Quilts ~ has been in town with her family to enjoy the sun, see a couple of Suns' games and catch a few Spring Training games.  On Wednesday, I took Monique and her sister-in-law, Tina, on a little quilt shop hop and to lunch at my most favorite restaurant in Phoenix, Pane Bianco.  I would have taken my own pictures but I forgot... and by the time I remembered, we'd finished the sandwiches.  Oops.

We went to four quilt shops ~ Zoe's Trunk in Chandler, the brand new 3 Dudes Quilting, the wonderfully huge 35th Avenue ~ aka Fabric World, and Olde World Quilt Shoppe.  We also went to the Brighton store at Kierland Commons so that Tina could see about finding some earrings like mine ~ and so that I could see if there were any other pairs of earrings that absolutely, positively needed a new home... mine.  (Yes, to both.)

And yesterday ~ Friday ~ I took my Mom over to Mesa for the Arizona Quilt Guild quilt show.  Okay, so I really went over to see friends and their ribbon-winning quilts.  My friends, Judy Adams and Sue Maitre, are both fabulously skilled and talented quilters who have won lots and lots of ribbons with their quilts ~ including a fair number of those blue-colored ribbons.  

Judy's quilt this year is "Little Town Blues" ~ she reproduced and miniaturized an antique quilt.  Those little squares finish at 1/2" x 1/2".  Judy machine-quilted the quilt herself... showoff. 

       

Sue's quilt was made using a pattern from QuiltMania magazine.  It is essentially a kaleidescope block with very specific placement of colors and fabrics.  It was beautifully machine-quilted by Diane Tricka. 

 

As for me... I have two quilts going off to the quilter.   

 

My Aviary quilt is on top ~ it is going to be titled "Quadrille".  The pattern for that is being printed this coming week and as soon as I get the proof of the cover, I'll have a picture I can show you. 

The quilt on the bottom is the finally finished "Birdseye".  After worrying so much that it was going to be too dark with all the black fabric, it isn't dark at all!  The black is very dramatic and it sets it off really nicely ~ it came out exactly how I hoped it would.  I promise I'll show you a picture of it as soon as it is quilted.

Tomorrow... a new Schnibble. 

Did I mention that I'm a happy girl?

Marching...

For me, March usually means one thing.

Allergies. 

I'm lucky in that my "suffering" is limited to lots of sneezing, two very itchy eyes and dozens of empty Kleenex boxes.  It also makes me a little "fuzzy"... although that may also be an age-related thing. 

I have been getting a little bit of sewing done ~ a couple of quilts are getting ready for their glamour shots and I'm trying to get organized for Market.  I know... some folks are already ready... not me.  I was born a few weeks late and I've taken that as a sign of the way things should be.  I'm warm, happy, fed... life is good... why rush it?

I did have some fun yesterday that I wanted to share ~ it's food-related!

After spending the morning at Williams-Sonoma for some Riedel wineglass "training" ~ the President of the company was there for a terrific presentation on "everything you ever wanted to know about Riedel wineglasses".  He's funny, charming, personable... and probably married.  Drat.  But I was given two beautiful Pinot Noir wineglasses for my time so it's all good. 

But I digress... after that, I went for lunch with a friend at Essence Bakery, a wonderful little cafe sort of place on University Drive in Tempe, Arizona.  Their salads and sandwiches are terrific, but this is my favorite reason for going there.

   

They are called "macarons". 

They are not to be confused with macaroons which are dense cookies made with coconut.  A macaron is a traditional French pastry made of egg whites, almost powder, icing sugar and sugar.  The most famous macarons are from a very famous French patisserie, Lauduree. 

The flavors shown here are Caramel Creme, Espresso, Banana, French Chocolate, Raspberry and I don't remember the last one.  My Mom loves them ~ the Caramel Creme and the French Chocolate are her favorites. 

Did you know that macarons have magical healing properties for allergy symptoms?  If you have one ~ any flavor will work ~ the sneezing and itchy eyes go away.  

Later...