Moving on to September

I finished piecing the illusion block quilt.  I really like how it turned out.  Thank you Craftsy for the batik layer cake which made this quilt possible.

I am almost done with my September assignment for the Block of the Month.  I finished the last two blocks and added black borders to all the blocks.  They are each 13" now.

I just need to tear off all the paper from the paper pieced blocks and finish adding the flowers to three baskets.

I have a quick little project to experiment with the next few days.  I've had this Robert Kaufman fabric for quite awhile and I think it might just be perfect for the technique I want to try.  Here is a sneak peak.

Have a creative day

Janet

August blocks finished

I'm actually finishing the blocks for this quilt on time.  In case you haven't been following my blog this is the Craftsy block of the month taught by Jinny Beyer.  

This months blocks are both paper piecing.  For me these were much more complicated than any paper pieced pattern I have done.  One of them I had to restart three times.  But, I did it!  I can learn new skills.

Here are all of the blocks to date.

I am enjoying this class.  It's a challenge for me but that's a good thing.  

Have a creative day

Janet

Appliqué

I finished one of the appliqué baskets for the Craftsy 2015 BOM taught by Jinny Beyer. 

 I didn't do it exactly as taught in the class.  I have been researching how to appliqué and discovered there are probably almost as many ways to accomplish this skill as there are quilters. 

 So what I did is a meld of techniques and it will probably change the more I practice. 

 I still have four more baskets for this quilt and then I will begin working on the appliqué for Flowers for my Wedding Ring.  

So, I'd better get back to stitching

Have a creative Day

Janet

Hot, hot, hot!

flowers in my garden

Spring/Summer are always a time for me to slow down with the fiber arts.  I love the beautiful cooler days of spring and early summer.  We are getting to the hot, hot, hot days now though so I will be spending more time inside.  Thank goodness for air conditioning! I have lymphedema, a milder case than some but I am definitely not alone.  Three to five million people are estimated to be affected by this disease and yet very little is known about it.  Kathy Bates has recently become the national spokesperson for lymphedema and is helping to bring awareness.  You can click her name to hear her tell why she became the spokesperson.

There is no cure but there are treatments that can help significantly.  It took 25 years for me to find a doctor who knew what was wrong and knew I could get help for this problem.   I am talking about it so others might realize there is treatment available and it does help. My left leg and foot are swollen from extra lymphatic fluid in the tissues.  This is not edema they are different problems.  Mine is considered primary (which means I was born with it) even though it didn't really become a problem until I was pregnant with my first child.  Some have the condition at birth. The sooner people receive treatment the better the outcome. Many people such as Kathy Bates develop lymphedema after surgery and/or cancer.  I am fortunate as I have decent insurance and it covers the cost of two compression stockings per year.  (They are over $500 each)  Many people don't have this coverage and can't afford the help they need.  Visit lymphedematreatmentact.org to learn how you can help.  Here is a little poster that explains more about this disease.

Anyway, heat makes my problems worse so I am inside more than out now.  The last few days I started to catch up on the Craftsy BOM taught by Jinny Beyer.  I have all the blocks through July completed now.  I need to start cutting out the flowers I will appliqué on five of the baskets.  Once I get that done I will almost be caught up.  I think this will be a beautiful quilt.

Craftsy BOM 2015

I have also been spending as much time as possible with my sweet dog.  He just passed his 14 year check-up.  Not doing quite as well as he used to but still living the sweet life.

Mocha Chip

My husband and I did a 5k on Saturday for the Suicide Prevention Collaborative in our county.  Suicide is the second leading cause of death among teenagers in Minnesota.  These people do wonderful work so it felt good to support their cause. I'm glad it started at 8 in the morning before it got too hot.

Suicide Prevention Collaborative
Together it gets better

Expect to see more posts from me about quilting etc., since I will be spending more time inside.
Have a creative day!
Janet

Progress!

Slow and steady, wins the race or at least it gets the quilt finished.  I am working slowly on this quilt but I really don't want to rush.  I get sloppy when I rush, I'll be the first to admit it, my seams get a little wonky.  I limited myself to four a day.  I am a half square over halfway now!  36 out of 71 finished.  

With my limit it gives me time to play with other quilts as well. 

 I am almost finished piecing all the hexagons for my One Block Wonder quilt.  

I even had a chance to make one cube.

I have more incentive to finish the wedding ring now so I can get the one block wonder up on my design wall and play with the arrangement and make some more cubes.

I didn't forget my Craftsy Block of the Month with Jinny Beyer.  I think I'm improving.

Have a creative day

Janet

Still scattered, and loving every minute!

I do enjoy moving from one project to another.  I always work on multiple projects, it's so nice to have choices each and every day.  How blessed I am.

I cut 270 triangles for the flying geese border on the Judy Niemeyer quilt, Flowers for My Wedding Ring.  I have twice that many to cut from the background fabric.  Next up paper piecing the geese.

Today I worked on my Block of the Month for the Craftsy quilt taught by Jinny Beyer.  This one will have flowers added to it in May.  For now I had to be satisfied appliqueing the handle for the cherry basket.

Not my best piecing but I think I will leave it.  It is the correct size overall, and that is good.  The newest basket is on the far right.

I traced my next redwork pattern so I can work on that in my down time this month.  I'm trying to do the largest blocks first. This one is 8" x 10".  I don't think I posted the first one I did last month.  I'm hoping to have it finished by next Christmas.  It is called Christmas Twitterings. The link will open a new window with the entire quilt from e-patterns.

My son is working on becoming a chef.  He would like more chef coats as they have to be washed after each shift.  We were going to buy them but he has always had his own style and is thinking some custom coats might be fun.  I need to research where to get some sturdy fabric for this but I'm considering making him some coats.  Anyone know where to get fabric for a chef coat?  He just changed jobs and all his old coats have the logo from the place he used to work.  He is excited about cooking new foods and no more dishes!

My husband had a birthday this week.  He is now 40!  At least I was told, 60 is the new 40!  He prefers a birthday pie instead of cake.  His favorite is strawberry rhubarb but it's the wrong season so I went with Apple.

We are going to try and go to the ice caves on Apostle Island this weekend. The pictures are amazing.   It is really warming up here fast though so they may shut down.  You walk across part of Lake Superior to get to the caves.  First time I haven't wanted warmer weather in a long time.

Have a creative day

Janet

A reason for my scattered mind?

I finished my February blocks for Jinny Beyer's Block of the Month (taught on Craftsy).  Have to admit these are a challenge for me.  Both of my blocks are 9.5" this month! (The size they are supposed to be) Last month it was 9.25" x 9.5". I am waiting for all the blocks to decide whether to take it apart and re-piece or just re-make it.  I am a little afraid I will get to the last month and not have enough fabric.  I am very glad I bought her little tool for marking the quarter inch seam.

Jinny sales this on her site along with a great marking pencil.  It has black, pink and white pencils all in one.  I think these are the reason I was able to get my blocks the correct size this month.  I just feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to take a class taught by Jinny Beyer.

Ash basket

Basket of Fruit

The March block we will begin to learn appliqué.  One of the reasons I took this class on Craftsy was to improve my appliqué skills.  I love the look of hand appliqué, but I am not very good at doing it myself.  A few years ago I bought this pattern by Judy Niemeyer. 

 I felt it would be a challenge just to make the double wedding ring but add in the appliqued flowers and I was more than intimidated by this one.  I am hoping by the time I finish Jinny Beyer's quilt I will be more confident with appliqué, so I thought I should get Flowers for my Wedding Ring finished up to the point where I start the appliqué.

So far I only have the fabric for the rings.  I am using cherry, blueberry and plum Bali pops.  I love the rich colors.  

Deb York suggested a black background, which I hadn't even considered before but am now.  I was thinking shades of white.  Once I get the rings pieced I think I will lay them on a couple different background colors to see if that helps.  

Love the paper piecing so far. Judy Niemeyer has this down to an art.  I have half of all the rings finished.

Doesn't it look delicious!

Have a Creative Day

janet