Starters

I had been working on a quilt using made 5 inch fabric blocks and when I cleaned everything up and put away all the color sorted strips and chunks I had a box of pieces too small to color sort. They are not much use for anything but to start the center pieces for larger pieces of "made fabric". I  decided to leave the box out and work on making "starters".

The largest  piece here is about the size of my hand and as all the larger pieces are put away I can't make them larger with what I have out at this time.














These are mare made from left over pieced parts from various projects. Many people would have thrown these away but I seem to have a great need to clutter up my life with a lot of bits and pieces. From the very beginning of my quilt life, I started collecting left over little pieces.  I got rid of  gave away a fairly large amount of it in the last two years, as some of my friends may know.

I will be bringing these starters to our next Diva meeting to use and to share.

Where do we go from here?

Usually people apologize for a picture heavy post but i'll apologize  in advance for this wordy one. 

What a great day!  Everyone was in the spirit of the challenge.  When I saw the fabulous black and white food arriving, I knew it was going to be a great show and tell (food and quilts)!

We had a strong turnout for this challenge!  Congrats to us!  I asked many of you for input why it was successful for you so that, hopefully, we could build those ideas into the next challenge.  Fran said that it was because we had more time to complete it.  Jan thought it was because she was able to use the hexagon retreat to work on it.  Kathy thought it was because many of us have a stash that works well with the rules and had been working with black and white when the challenge started.  Perhaps it was the opportunity for a themed lunch and coordinating outfits?  I wonder.

I really enjoyed the challenge because I had just bought a new book: Ready, Set … and it had a lot of projects that already fit the bill. I figured I only had limited time for Brady to still be into the “slashes” on road signs.  In addition to the new book, I had never used fusible on pieced fabric.  I think that technique opens up a lot of options but it is always challenging to deal with the fraying on the bias edges, even if you handle it delicately.  I read something online about a liquid that seals the edges and fuses.   If only I could remember where I read that and what it was called.  I have the fusible traced and the fabric cut out for the One Way sign.  It is done with reverse applique and would be a good application of the liquid. 

We brainstormed ideas for our next challenge.  Here are some that were discussed.  If I missed any ideas, please chalk it up to the chaos.

JeanWells Art Quilt or VictoriaFindlay Wolfe’s 15 Minutes play book:  Work through the skill building exercises as a group as we did with Quilters Playtime.

Loralie hula panel:  I showed an inspiring panel that I picked up in Cincinnati.  We could number the panels and then draw numbers so that we each received a randomly selected inspiration motif to create a quilt.  Many liked the previous constraint of having a book or technique to narrow the focus of the pieces (such as the Beyond the Block style we used for the first Diva panel).

Teach a technique:  All of us have unique skills and techniques that we have perfected. The suggestion is to each present that technique to the group.   Possible examples are Ruth’s QAYG, Laura’s photo transfer quilt designs, Jan’s piping hot binding, Dianne’s mysterious cut-at-2-inches-but-it-doesn’t-look-narrow binding, etc.  Dianne tried to get credit for this one by allowing some to stand behind her as she lounged on the chaise doing the binding on a quilt.

Round robin:  We all enjoyed the round robin that we did with Mary years ago.  We could also combine this with the hula idea, using the panel as round 1, for example.

UFO:  Choose one of our UFOs and think of a new way to finish it or reinvent it.

Orphan blocks:  Bring in orphan blocks and design quilt(s) from them.

We decided to pursue a couple of these ideas for the May meeting: 

1.       Bring a UFO that you’d like to finish over the next few months (hmmm, perhaps your 2014 Farm Park entry?).   We can each talk through our plans for finishing and/or get constructive advice from the group.  We will work on these independently between meetings but talking about them as a group and taking some photos will add some accountability and/or give us a nudge that we might need to get the wheels turning again.  Obviously, if that nudge feels like punishment, then skip it.  If you think it might help, by all means, do it.

2.       Bring scraps and your machine to the next meeting.  We’ll do a working session to create some “made” fabric ala the 15 minutes book. Victoria also has tutorials for this technique on her site.. Look for an email from me in the next few days with more specifics on what to bring.  Generally, we will each bring scraps, combine them into a working pile then you can choose if you want to do the random (paper bag) technique or careful planning to start making pieces that you can cut from.  Where we go with this made fabric will be TBD based on how much we are enjoying it and what kind of inspiration strikes in the process.  If we are having fun making the fabric as a group, we can keep going with that.  We could also fill our shoeboxes again with the group pile, continue making the fabric at home, and use the meetings for design.  We will see how it goes.

Our next meeting is May 18.  Thank you for your continued enthusiasm.

Giant Dahlia "Judy's Curtains"

I used the Marti Mitchell "Not so Giant Dahlia" template set for this.
Cutting was a breeze. I was so used to marking the starting and stopping dots that I didn't notice that the dots were mostly for lining up and pinning and only a stop and start at the center. I forget to read ALL the instructions sometimes.
Hardest part was the instructions have you pick your center choice first. That set me back a month or so while I dithered. Finally I worked from the outside in which made the selection easier.
My hardest construction issue was that I fussy cut the center pieces and it was hard to control the bias. Then, of course, when I tried to press the issue out there was shrinkage. I quilted a lot of the issues out. Not my best work but I would like to do another. Any Diva wishing to borrow the set to try, just ask.  I call this" Judy's Curtains" because the black and white background print is fabric from Judy's old curtains. It was perfect because you need a busy print to blend the applique.

The Reveal

The Basement Divas gathered  in the basement today at the home of Lori and Mike and Brady. There was no sewing today as this was the day to reveal our  pieces for the Black and White Challenge.

Jan and Judy brought appetisers in black and white and orange. They went on line and did a search for black and white food and separately found these penguins. Great minds run in the same circles think alike. The penguins were too cute to eat ........ but we did and they were very good. We enjoyed some of them while we were waiting for the last few people to arrive before we showed our challenge pieces.

There was a lot of visiting and chattering chatting going on as well as
some serious discussion. Diane was hand sewing the binding down on the quilt she started at our meeting in March, there was an audition for borders of a quilt in progress, we met and admired the new Havanese puppy, we discussed and admired Syd's new short haircut and perused books and magazines for ideas for our next challenge. Some people dressed for the occasion in black and white but we are an unruly bunch and there was no way getting everyone together for a photo.

Finally we had the reveal. All but one person had something to show although some of the quilts were not finished.

These were the rules for the challenge that Kathy posted last August. They were amended in October to include a target date for the finish.

The challenge shall be black and white and, if wanted, one other color. Color being defined as a color family. Quilters are to do something they have not done before and no, that doesn't mean finish the thing, using a book, pattern or tool that the quilter already has. Yes, a book that has been used before can be used but not the same pattern in said book. No, it does not mean you can make "that pink quilt you made before, in black and white".There is no size limitation or finish date established yet.
Quilter's should be ready to start, or have started at our next meeting in October.

This is a collage of all of the challenge quilts. There will be  follow up as individuals share the inspiration and how their choices met the challenge rules, along with the challenges they encountered as they worked on their quilts.

Collaborative Quilts

I finished up the little quilt using my left over blocks that Gwen put together for a top. Here's  Suzie and I in this first photo with the quilt she put together and finished completely from my orphan blocks.

Suzie's finished quilt and Gwen's flimsy

Gwen and I are on the right with the flimsy she put together from my leftover disappearing 9 Patch blocks. Even though Gwen offered to finish it I decided that I should do it because I felt guilty about these ladies using what was supposed to be a light hearted, whimsical, not serious "prize" at our Jellyroll Race.




layered up and pin basted

quilted and bound

close ups showing details



I am going to put both of these quilts in our "Caring Quilts" closet at church. Even though I love both of them and the time and thought that went into making them, I know they should be used and enjoyed instead of living in a closet or blanket chest.