![]() |
Lines in the piano key border |
![]() |
One section of Santa pieced for tree skirt |
A blog about my quilting journey!
![]() |
Lines in the piano key border |
![]() |
One section of Santa pieced for tree skirt |
![]() |
Panel for the project |
I was inspired by the color green because it was the green gate that was outside their home. Crossing through it meant they were safe at home. I was also inspired by the tiny flower the dressmaker made on her first project. I thought about all the handwork the women did. Perhaps, I could incorporate some beading and embroidery in this piece.
I'm trying to use from my stash. A couple years ago during a Zoom sew session, a friend shared some panel prints that she hadn't done anything with and was ready to let them go. I said I would like them. She gave them to me. It cost me the trip of driving into Portland to pick them up.
![]() |
Backing fabric for panel |
I have a backing fabric and will need to quilt it as the beading and embroidery will be embellishment. I was going to use a Warm and Natural type of batting. Instead, I will use wool batting because it will be easier to add the embellishments. I may call it "Fleur." I have other projects in the works---as is usual for me--so I may need to let the idea percolate for awhile. At least I have the germ of an idea!
While I'm on the subject of books, my two favorite reads/listens this month were "Good Night Irene" by Louis Alberto Urrea and "Women in White Coats" by Olivia Campbell. I am reading/listening to Patrick Taylor's series which begins with "An Irish Country Doctor."
![]() |
New York City--Rockefeller Square |
![]() |
A stuffed bear |
![]() |
The Eiffel Tower |
We drew a resemblance of the inspiration. Then we played with taking a shape and making something else out of the shape. We added words. It was fun and a great way to journal a trip or an activity. We spent about half an hour on the activity. While we worked independently, we chatted as we worked which was fun too!
Linking to Frédérique at Patchwork and Quilts and Cynthia at Oh Scrap!
![]() |
One and two are incorrect |
![]() |
Replacement pieces cut |
This week, as I've had free time, I've continued adding motifs around the appliquéd squares on my Temperature Quilt. I'm getting closer to finishing the quilting. I plan to work on that project today.
Tomorrow, the oldest granddaughters invited themselves to spend a day with us. it is spring break. We are looking forward to their visit. They are 11 and almost 13 years old. We will likely play with making some art in the morning with a swim session scheduled in the afternoon.
I have had a request for chicken noodle soup for lunch which I'll serve with some sourdough rolls. I've an acupuncture appointment in the morning and while I'm away, I plan for them to bake cookies for dessert. It will be a full and fun day.
![]() |
Filler stitch on the right completed. Shape on the left begun. |
![]() |
Taping the backing to the table |
![]() |
Batting in place |
![]() |
Ready for quilting |
February 14 was when Bill and Weeks of Modern Quilt Studio dropped the first clue. We were to make different recipes for the size of top we selected. The recipes should illustrate transparency. I struggled with this step. I rejected some options and wasn't sure about the options I chose!
![]() |
A rejected option |
![]() |
The recipes |
We were to make two different units using the fabrics from our recipes. On my first go, I didn't get the transparency effect that I had envisioned. I should have chosen a green that was closer in hue to the blue and yellow fabrics to have made the transparency effect work.
![]() |
A failed recipe |
Back to the fabrics, I decided to try to get a brown transparency. I had better success. It was also better to layout the fabrics and step back. Viewing the fabrics that way made it easier for me to see if I achieved transparency or not.
![]() |
Better attempt at transparency |
![]() |
More blocks. . .some blocks are subtle transparencies |
These blocks are better. These will work. I didn't take a photo of the second set of blocks. They are stitched and labeled, however! Stay tuned. I'll post about as I work through the clues. Goal number one on my March list was to document my progress on this project.
Linking to Alycia at Finished or Not Friday.
![]() |
Quilting the month strips close up of the stipple |
![]() |
View of both the top and bottom strips. . .lots of pebbles |
![]() |
More pebbles. . .these are part of the legend |
After I had completed the month strips, I moved on to the legend sections. I stippled around the temperatures. I pebbled the open areas as well as around the rain and snow section. It took me half an hour to quilt a seven inch by three inch section. It took me about three minutes to stipple around the temperatures.
Then it was back to the invisible thread and stitching in the ditch. Stitching in the ditch is necessary; but it is also so boring!!! I chose to take on this task during a couple zoom sew sessions. Doing a boring task while people are talking and laughing is so much better! Goal number two on my March list was to continue the quilting of this temperature quilt. I've made good progress so that is a win!
![]() |
Quilting the legend |
I've about half of the months to complete the ditch stitching. What will be left is the free motion squiggle around the circles and the straight lines in the border. I had hoped to finish the quilting this month; but, it may not happen.
The sciatica pain in my left hip/leg is causing me a lot of discomfort. Sitting is uncomfortable. Walking to begin is hard; but, after a minute or two gets easier and a few minutes after that walking gets hard again. The pain radiates from my hip to the middle of my thigh, to the outside of my knee and down my shin to my ankle where the pain pulsates! If I don't stop and rest, that pain moves to throbbing. Tylenol or Ibuprofen don't even take the edge off of the throbbing. I quilt in short stretches and not more than an hour in total.
Friday, physical therapy gave me a few more exercises to do for pain relief. The session itself was painful and all day yesterday I still felt the effects of the session. I've decided to give physical therapy one more week. If I don't feel better, I'm giving it a rest. Perhaps, my body will heal better using massage and acupuncture. I know that I will get better. I have to find what will work and I need to be patient. . .sigh!!!!!
I did work two and a half days this week. At the end, I wasn't as exhausted or in as much pain as I was last month so I know that I am getting better.
Linking to Frédérique at Patchwork and Quilts and Cynthia at Oh Scrap.
![]() |
Daffodils blooming in the yard |
![]() |
Sewing the yellow selvage squares |
![]() |
Yellow blocks completed |
Now that I'm organized, in no time, I had finished piecing the blocks.I wanted to see the yellow blocks with the pink and blue blocks. I arranged them all on the design wall. I liked what I saw.
![]() |
The finished blocks |
![]() |
Patterns for the blocks |
I tried to draft a pattern which was a fail. It wasn't a fail in that I was unsuccessful; but, I couldn't get on board with making 365 houses using that one pattern. January was morphing into February. I was still stuck. I decided a five inch block would be a better size. Good decision although I still hadn't settled on a pattern.
![]() |
First two days of January |
I liked that there were two different tree patterns. The squatty tree will represent the space in the month where there are less than 31 days. The tall tree will be the space when a month has 31 days and as the start and end of the year.
![]() |
Tall tree |
The first two days of January, the low and high temperatures were almost the same, hence the same color used in the block! I considered using the background as the house; but, in the end, I went with my plan. As I pieced, I realized that I will need to add sashing between the rows so that I don't have to deal with trying to match the vertical seams because these seams won't nest well.
![]() |
Stitching some days together |
While I pondered what to do about the sashing, I moved on to piecing the trees. I had considered making the trees different shades of green as well as making the trunks a different color. I did not consider what to use for the background. Rather than purchase another fabric, I used a light solid green from my stash. Whew! What a lot of bumps and twists this project has encountered and it is barely off the ground! Maybe this week, I'll piece a few of the trees that will hold the space at the end of the month for those months that don't have 31 days in them.
I'm going to stitch the next row and test how much of a challenge piecing the rows together will be. Then, I'll decide if I'm purchasing more fabric! I hope I've thought through the issues. I hope that the rest of the project will piece into place as I saw it in my head! It is time to piece the blocks. I'll likely not post often about this project other than noting if I'm keeping up with making the blocks.
Goal number seven on my March list was to piece an average of two blocks per day. It is early; but, I'm on track for meeting the goal..
Linking to Frédérique and Patchwork and Quilts and Cynthia at Oh Scrap.