Monday, August 30, 2010

Design Wall Monday

You can't get a much simpler quilt pattern than this.  I selected it for a retreat because I love the way the contrasting indigos and creams work and because I wanted something uncomplicated that would allow me to enjoy the chatter.  I think I've finished the 396 four-inch squares and have begun laying it out in sub-groupings.  There's no way my design wall will handle them all before seaming.  I plan on using a dark blue border.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

To Each His/Her Own Dream

Does this look like an HQ16 mid-arm quilter to you? Well it certainly did to me when DH bid for and won this boat on E-Bay in 2008. A boat from any source was certainly not on my radar screen. That was okay by me, though, because it gave me the incentive I needed to pursue my own dream.



And here she is.


I’ve named her Fiona. Fiona and I have a love/hate relationship. I love what she is capable of and she hates my skill limitations. Mostly I do meanders and pantographs, but gradually I am trying my hand at different techniques. My skills are such that I only quilt for myself.  I would be devastated if I damaged or spoiled someone else's work. 

I enjoy the entire quilting process from pattern selection to binding (well maybe not the cutting part so much) and I am very grateful that I can be involved in each step.

DH and I have enjoyed the boat, but I have logged a whole lot more hours on my toy than he has on his.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Design Wall Monday -- My First Post

I’ve been drawn to the idea of starting a blog for months, but could not decide how I wanted to begin. I finally decided the easiest way to break through my writer’s block might be to make my first post to Judy Laquidara’s Design Wall Monday page.




I have been making these plaid hourglass blocks for several months and estimate that I have about 2/3 or the number required. Fortunately, this project has no particular deadline and I pick it up whenever I need a change of pace. It will primarily be used by my husband's hunting partner and I wanted it to have a masculine feel.