LaVieEnRosie

Monday Monday...

 
Since Friday, this is all I've gotten done.  Eight down, one hundred-fifty-six to go.   

I might have gotten a little bit more done but I had to go clean my workroom.  Again.  Better.  Much better!  Gee thanks.  After reading the comments from the last post, I realized that my definition of  "tidying up" might be a little "off", or at least it is a little different.  Seriously, some of the time it just means moving the pile of stuff from one place to another... as in, out of my way.  Blowing the lint off the back of the table, does that count as tidying up? 

Thank you for all the confessions!  You've inspired me to be a little more organized -- and a lot more organized.  And you made me feel better for sometimes just shoving the mess aside because I'm anxious to get to the next project.  I love that some of you like working in a "volcano of fabric scraps"!  You should know that one of my most favorite books is -- A Perfect Mess: The Hidden Benefits of Disorder - How Crammed Closets, Cluttered Offices, and on-the-Fly Planning Make the World a Better Place.       

You should also know that I don't change the blades after every project.  I should.  I have enough new blades around that I could do that.  But I forget.  I'm in the middle of something and I don't want to stop.  So you can definitely find me in the category of quilters who, when presented with a blade that isn't cutting as easily as it might just applies the principle of "if its not cutting, just push down harder".  But these needed changing... badly.  Otherwise I couldn't have been able to cut out the little pieces for those little geese.

Yes, they are little.  The geese will finish at 1" x 2" and the pieced geese strips will finish at 2" x 4".  I have to make 656 of them or 164 sets of four.  Which is why I am going to work on two quilts at once.  Does that sound backwards?  I know it will make sense to some of you -- thank you!  This is the kind of project where it makes perfect sense to me... in an odd-convoluted sort of way.  Because making all those geese is going to be very repetitive sewing, I thought I would work on them in batches.  Sew a bunch -- trim a bunch -- work on something else for a little while.  Then repeat.  The other project I'll start working on is all squares so it will be straight-forward sewing without all the itty-bitty.  

Now about those books. bundles and a couple of winners.  Colleen M and Jayne Honnold clearly have great connections with Random.org.  Scrap Basket Sensations goes to Maison de Colleen, and Jayne will be Faith-fully Simply Charming.  If you'll check your e-mail, I'll see about getting your addresses so I can get your goodies on the way.     

But... on Friday, the mailman delivered something from Martingale, a lovely new book by Deanne Eisenman, Scrap Quilts Go Country.

 
The quilt on the cover of this book -- Scrappy Pinwheel Stars -- caught my eye immediately.  I love that block!  This quilt -- measuring 59" x 59" -- is just one of the nine lovely projects in the book.  Most -- but not all -- of the quilts combine piecing and applique to make throw-sized or "topper" quilts measuring bwtween 60" x 60" and 74" x 74", and there is one small quilt measuring 28" x 28".  While Deanne's quilts are done in a scrap-country color palette, all of the quilts in the book would work beautifully with other color schemes and fabric styles... especially something like this...

 
So Karen M -- please check your e-mail too! 

I'm off to get some work done -- patterns to write, geese to make, some orders to ship off, a binding to finish and so on.  But I will be back tomorrow with some new Schnibbles. 

Toodles!

 

Next!

It's Friday.  I finished Long Tall Sally, cleaned up my workroom, pulled out what I need to start the next project and I'm still wide awake. 

Since there were a few things I kept coming across that I have wanted to share -- literally and figuratively -- now seemed like a really good time to do that.

Have you seen this book?

 
You had better have said "yes"!  A thousand times "yes"! 

Scrap Basket Sensations by Kim Brackett -- the same Kim Brackett who wrote Scrap Basket Surprises.  The lovely ladies at Martingale sent this to me... see what a little whining will get you?  I thought I could tell you how wonderful it is... like you needed me to tell you that.  You already know it.  And if you didn't, there were ten very busy, happy bloggers telling you about this sensational book during last week's blog hop.  

Everything those mostly nice ladies (I'm kidding!) wrote is true -- the quilts are beautiful; the instructions are clear, concise and well-written; and there are lots of great tips for selecting fabrics and using up your scraps.  If you love scrap quilts -- and who doesn't? -- you're going to love this book.  Whether you actually use your scrap basket, a jelly roll or something else, you really can't go wrong with any of the quilts in this book.  They're that good. 

So while I was supposed to be tidying up, I got to thinking -- it happens every once in a while.  Wouldn't this Maison be perfect for a quilt from Kim's book?

  

While I'm on the subject of terrific new quilts books, I think you're also going to love this one too.

 
Simply Charming by Tara Lynn Darr of Sew Unique Creations.   

I can't say enough good things about this book or about Tara.  Even without the beautiful little quilts, great instructions and excellent tips, how could I not love someone who sends treats for Rosie in the box with the fabric I've ordered from her website?  My favorite thing in the book was her telling about how she got people to send her their scraps and "ugly fabrics".  When they saw this book, I'm betting they wanted it back!  The quilts are that terrific. 

This Faith fabric hardly qualifies as "ugly" and I know it would have to be cut into squares first, but don't you think this would be perfect for some of the "yesteryear" quilts in Tara's book? 

So have you figured out what I'm up to yet?

This is what I want to know -- when you finish a project, do you tidy up your sewing room/studio/workroom?  If so, what does that entail?

I do.  All the leftover scraps get cut into squares or strips and put away, as do any leftover pieces that I want to save.  I brush off my cutting table and put away any rulers that have accumulated on the table.  If I have pages with notes, I save the ones I will need for the pattern and toss the rest.  The ironing board cover gets cleaned with a lint roller -- one of those big sofa-sized ones.  And I round up all my tools that have found their way "elsewhere". 

When I finished this latest project, I also made a point of putting new blades in the two rotary cutters that are always on the table as they are both really, really dull.  Since I'm hoping to start cutting out a new project this weekend, I thought I would do that while I still remembered I wanted to do that.  (Aging... it can be a mean and nasty thing.) 

You've got until 10:00 P.M. on Sunday night -- February 27th -- to tell me about your "post-project" routine. 

Someone will get Scrap Basket Sensations and a Fat Eighth bundle of Maison de Garance, and someone will get Simply Charming and a Fat Eighth bundle of Collection for a Cause Faith. 

I hope you have a terrific weekend.  

I'll be back on Monday.  Really.      

On a roll...

Two posts in just under a week! 

Wait... I need to sit down.  I'm getting a little light-headed.  I'm not used to this kind of pace.  Okay, I think my world has stopped spinning.

 
This makes me happy.  Five little Schnibble quilt tops back from the photographer and ready for the quilter.  They head off on Friday.  The proofs are done and the covers will actually be printed early next week and be ready to ship by the week of March 7th. 

So to answer one of the questions from the last post -- I know, it was so long ago you barely remember it -- yes!  These six new Schnibbles will be printed, published, released and available well before Spring Market. 

They are --

 
This is the list.  As much as I liked "Autoschediastical" as a name, Recess seemed a better choice.  If nothing else, it was my most favorite part of school.  (Get it?  Ecole?  School?  Or would you prefer Autoschediastical?) 

On a side note, my list is on a dry erase Wallie I have stuck to the door in my workroom.  This is where I keep my temporary lists, the chalkboard is for lists that will be up longer.  I got these at the Paper-Source -- they are dry erase Wallies.  They're pretty cool.  

As for the quilts -- pictures next week.  I promise.   

I have had a really good week though.  I was able to sew on Sunday and Monday.  All day.  Well, almost all day.  I kept getting interrupted.  But I still got to sew and I'm almost finished with what will be a new quilt for Spring Market.  It looked like this when I started...

 

Jo Morton Ember Reds and Evergreens, and shirtings.  They produced this bowl of scraps.

 
This is about 500 "pairs" of trimmed off connector corners.  The whole quilt is connector corners.  And no, I'm not saving them to make into half-triangle squares.  Even with a teeny, tiny seam allowance, they wouldn't finish at much more than 1/2" x 1/2".  I love small pieces and small blocks but that would be nuts.   

All the corners were sacrificed to make this... 

 

I know.  I'm such a tease.  It isn't done so there isn't much to see yet, but I really like it.  With a little luck, I should finish it before I go to bed tonight.  If I don't, then I will finish it tomorrow... unless I have to work.  But it will be done by Friday so it can go to the quilter. 

I am having fun with it though, I think that's because it is one of those quilts that can be made so many different ways.  And the pattern will have options -- lots and lots of options.  Size -- the block can be made in three different sizes depending on the fabric you're using and how many blocks you want to make.  The quilt is also one that is easily made wider or longer.  I love that in a quilt.  Lights and Darks -- while this version is being made with assorted light shirtings, there will also be a version made with a single background fabric.  And did I mention that it could be made all scrappy without worrying about lights or darks?  Which means I want to make this quilt again using something completely different.  Does anyone know if they've worked out the kinks in that cloning thing?  

It is going to be called Long Tall Sally -- a name that will make sense when you see it. 

Does anyone get the Oprah Winfrey Network?  Have you seen the show Enough Already with Peter Walsh?  Did you see the episode on Monday night... the one with the quilter?  Oh.  My.  Gosh.  I happened to see a listing for the show and as soon as I saw the word "quilter", I had to watch long enough to see if it was anyone I knew.  Tell the truth -- it is the reason you'd be watching too!  For  better or worse, I don't know Barbara, though she seems like a very sweet lady.  Actually, there were a couple of times I wanted to Gibbs' head-slap her husband and daughter, especially the husband.  If I had a husband making some of the snarky comments he made, I might have some hoarding -- read: control -- issues too.  To be fair to him, it would be an understatement to write that "quilting had taken over her home".  The good news is that she is now cleaned out, organized and working in a very spiffy garage workroom. 

That's all I can think of right now, there really hasn't been that much going on here.  The usual errands -- the hairdresser, the printer, UPS and FedEx, zzzzzzzzzzzzz.  Really boring stuff.  The most exciting thing to happen was finding George Clooney in my mailbox -- on the cover of Newsweek.  The second most exciting thing to happen in the last week was a truly ridiculous deal I got on a couple of lamps at Pottery Barn and I know you don't want to hear about that.  Seriously, its been pretty run-of-the-mill around here. 

And I really like it that way.  Rosie does too because it means that I'm home.   

Until next time.   

Something for a Friday...

While going through e-mail and trying to think of something to blog about -- that I might possibly have a picture for -- I read an e-mail from Kathie.  You know her -- Inspired by Antique Quilts. 

She sent me a link to a little quilt-related video that she said would make me smile.  It did.  And since she hadn't already shared it with you, I will. 

If you like it, please thank Kathie. 

Quilt -- An Animated Abstract Quilt by Gayle Thomas


Huh?  Me?  What have I been doing?

I've been Schnibbling.  Five down and one to go... with that one almost finished.  That goes to get photographed tomorrow.  And then it is on to all those itty bitty flying geese I want to make... mostly.

Coming soon are Honeycomb -- it's made with Central Park.  Then RicRac made with a Light and Dark charm pack from Primitive Gatherings and Brocante made with Pom Pom de Paris.  Then George, that one is made with Charlevoix, and there is Roadshow made with Antique Fair.  The last one doesn't have a name yet... I'm kind of stumped there.  Which is always bad because that's when I start considering some of the recent words from Word of the Day on Dictionary.com. 

What do you think of Autoschediastical for the name of a quilt?  It means "something improvised or extemporized". 

When I'm done, I'll tell you about some of the goings on with finishing these quilts.  Let it suffice to say there was a whole lot of cussing going on.  Rosie's ears are quite blue... but she's learned some new words.  Thank goodness she isn't a parrot. 

Have a lovely weekend!

And don't forget to thank Kathie -- I hope she made you smile too. 

Opening Ceremonies

[cue Olympic theme music]

I declare open the Lame Blogger Olympics!

Six weeks into the new year and this is my third post.  This is why I don't like New Year's resolutions.  I'm terrible at them.  If I had resolved to be a better blogger this year, I would already be a bug on the windshield of 2011. 

 

Since I was here last, I was there. 

Daniel's Summit Lodge in Heber City, Utah for Winterfest.  The high temperature the day we got there was 30 degrees.  I know.  For those of you in other parts of the country, that's downright balmy weather right now.  For moi, I might as well have been in the Arctic Circle. 

This is the lobby as seen from the staircase.  There is a large fireplace down there -- upper right -- with comfortable sofas.  There was always a group stitching there in the evening. 

 
This is the view from my room out the back door.  There was a little balcony with what looked to be comfortable chairs but it was too cold to test them.  Besides, my room had a fireplace, a very comfortable bed and a Jacuzzi bathtub.  Why on earth would I be sitting out on a balcony freezing my fat quarters?

 
I tormented ladies with four different classes -- Route 44, Paganini, Scarlett Queen (a new quilt that is coming soon) and a Mystery Schnibble.  For that class, they got to choose between two new Schnibble patterns that are coming in about two weeks.  They will be called Honeycomb and RicRac.     

If you haven't been to Winterfest, it's an amazing event put on by Ruth Spendlove, Amy Maxfield and Kim Williams.  As the Heritage Quilt and Needlework Association, they have been doing Winterfest for about fifteen years, the last six at Daniel's Summit Lodge.  They -- we -- essentially take over the place which is a snowmobiling destination the rest of the winter.  There are four or five classes going at each session, and there are prizes and table favors at every meal -- everybody who attended went home with a prize!  And there's even shopping courtesy of the terrific vendors that make the trip to the Lodge, which is about an hour or so from Salt Lake City.  The vendors last month were Black Sheep Woolens, Lazy Daisy Cottage from St. George, Pine Needles Quilt Shop from West Jordan and Corn Wagon Quilt Co. from Springville.     

If you're interested in attending Winterfest next January, the list of teachers and classes should be up some time late this summer, probably in August.  The schedule of classes comes out in September or October and you'll want to sign up quickly.  You can find more information here.  A little birdie told me that one of the teachers in 2012 will be a Fig of some sort.

So what else has been going on?  Other than training for the the LBO which is kind of easy. 

I have finished a binding or three...

 
This is from Honeycomb.  I made my quilt using a Layer Cake of Central Park by Kate Spain.  I cut half of the layer cake into two charm squares and then used the rest for the binding and backing.  I did something really dumb with the binding though... I'm so used to making bias binding that it never occurred to me it would have been easier to cut these strips on the straight of grain for fewer seams.  But that didn't occur to me until about 10 minutes after I'd cut the bias strips.  I gave myself one of those Gibbs-head-slaps.  The rest of the layer cake pieces went into the backing.  I'll show you both as next week.  (I know... at the rate I'm going with posts, that's likely to be in August.)

I also finished a quilt top from a kit a bought about four years ago at Country Sampler in Spring Green, Wisconsin -- Lil's Baby Quilt.   

 
How do you define obsessive -- or is it compulsive -- behavior?  I bought this kit because I loved the little sample quilt and the fabrics in it.  Mostly I loved the yellow -- a yelloware sort of yellow -- fabric, a tone-on-tone print from Sweet Romance by Blackbird Designs.  But I wanted a bigger quilt so I bought two kits.  Except that they only had one kit with this particular print.  So I bought two figuring I could use one for the borders and one for the alternating squares and setting triangles... just in case I couldn't find a bigger piece of the yellow.  Which I did, lucky me.  But I wanted more fabrics so I started adding scraps and pieces to mine, so I gave the other kit to a friend.  After changing the cutting and piecing for the quilt so that I could square up my blocks, I started piecing the blocks last year in spurts, whenever I had a little bit of time, I pieced a few blocks and put them on the stack.  The 80 blocks in my quilt have been finished for about three months... just sitting on the shelf.  Mocking me.  So after finishing a little Schnibble last week, I pressed and cut the yellow fabric and finished my quilt the next day.  

Since I made a bigger quilt for a little bit bigger baby, I'm thinking of calling my quilt 8.15. 

Not that I make any pretense about actually working while on a trip, I did manage to get in a little bit of quilt-related shopping. 

 
Pretty Pinny Pincushion by Cori Blunt of Chitter Chatter Designs.  (www.chitterchatterdesigns.com)  I bought this from Sandy at Pine Needles... at Winterfest, she had several finished pincushions in her booth just calling my name.  I think they were calling a lot of ladies' names because the patterns didn't last long.  Dana of Lazy Daisy also had pincushions and patterns... while they lasted. 

How cute are these?  These little pillow patterns came from The Material Girls in South Jordan.

 
Sweet Little Trio -- Strippy Little Valentine -- To be loved, love and be loveable.  The little pillows were even more wonderful in person -- I sort of hoped one of the samples would accidentally-on-purpose fall into my purse but no such luck.  They are the creations of Kirsten Goff of Pieceable Pear Patterns.  The ladies at Material Girls told me that Kirsten always has new things for Christmas and other holidays.  

One last thing to share... I love little boxes and "organize-y" things.  I saw these in a magazine and since the only Office Depot in Arizona is in Tucson, I ordered one.  Okay, three.  If I was going to pay shipping for a $5.00 item, I might as well buy more than one.  If it was ucky, I could always give it away. 

 
Do you think three will be enough?

 
This is my "binding box"... I have another box for my clips.  A bigger box.  These Organizer Tray boxes measure 8 1/2" x 4 1/2" x 1".  Office Depot.  I hope you have a store near you.   

That's all I can think of for now. 

I'm off to see if I have to work tonight... or if I get to go play with some Pom Pom.