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Thursday, April 26, 2018

Timeless and Lesstime

Some quilts are timeless, like the one in the picture below.  This apple core quilt is displayed in the Smithsonian Portrait Gallery.  Hand quilted with Baptist fans, it is definitely beautiful and impressive.

Display from the Portrait Gallery, Washington DC 

Someone must have used a cardboard template and a ball point pen to trace and cut each piece. That sure took a lot of time. The fact that it is displayed in a museum qualifies it as a timeless piece.

Of course, I was there!

I, on the other hand, make lesstime quilts. Here is the story of a lesstime quilt.

Paul: I saw our neighbor with a baby.
Me: Suzie (not her real name)???
Paul: Yea.
Me: How old was the baby?
Paul: a couple of months, I guess

Now, this house has three occupants. An elderly father and his two grown children. No spouses. I have chatted with Suzie on a few occasions. I have seen the father once or twice. The brother is shy, rarely makes eye contact, and he may have nodded to me when he was out walking the dog.
So a baby was a big news and an unexpected one.
There was only one way to find out. I called Suzie. Yes, direct approach is the best approach.

Me: Paul tells me there is a new baby in the house. Are you baby-sitting for someone?
Suzie: No, it is my brother's baby boy.
Me: I did not know he was married. I have never seen his wife.
Suzie: When we travelled to (home country), he got married. His wife just got the visa and came last week.
Me: Oh, that is wonderful news. What is the boy's name?
Suzie: Michael (not his real name)
Me: Let me know when I can see the baby. I have a quilt for him.
Suzie: Oh that is so sweet. How is Saturday?
Me: Perfect.


I recounted our conversation to Paul. Then went looking for the quilt - Snowmen Express (plaid front, flannel snowmen on the back) would be perfect.

Oh no, I exclaimed aloud in shock and horror.
Paul: What happened?
Me: I gave the quilt to Jeanne in the quilt guild.
Paul: Huh?
Me: Jeanne had been asking for baby quilts for her charity for single mothers. So I gave her two quilts - the Charlie's Birds and the Snowmen Express.
Paul: Don't you have any other quilts?
Me: Yes, I do, but they are not fit for a baby.
Paul gave up and walked away to read the news or play his games.

For the baby next door

It was Thursday night and I needed a quilt by Saturday. Friday was a working day (I do have a day job). It was time to figure out a lesstime quilt.

Cheater Fabric

An hour of rummaging in my fabric room, I found a cheater fabric and the ubercute and kid-friendly farm animal backing.

Labelled

A few furious hours of layering, basting, quilting, trimming, binding and labeling stretched into Saturday morning, resulting in a lesstime quilt. PHEW!!!

When I met the baby, he had just woken up from a nap. He was in no mood to be social. Fortunately, the pink pigs and cute cows seemed interesting to him. He reached out his tiny fingers to touch the animals.

Pink Pigs & Cute Cows

My job was done.
Moral of the Story - it is a good idea to have a few cheater fabrics to make lesstime quilts.


May be some of my quilts will eventually become timeless - Esmerlada or the Queen's Necklace. These are the quilts I will make painstakingly, over several weeks, even months, choosing fabrics carefully, cutting diligently, measuring and re-measuring, sewing slowly, matching points meticulously and agonizing over every detail.

Drop Everything and Make a Lesstime Quilt
And in between, the lesstime quilts will just squeeze their way in...whether I like it or not. What has been occupying your attention? I'd love to hear from you. I will be linking with all my favorite linky parties (see full list on the sidebar).

This quilt for Michael also became my Dreami (Drop everything and make it) and therefore I will be linking with Sandra's Dreami Linky party.


For now, let's get back to the Fire Pit Quilt from Stash Statement. The blog hop has already begun and my turn is May 14, 2018 and there is much to do before that.
Blocks in the works

And one last thing. 

Captiva from Connecting Threads

Do you remember that I had been drooling over the Captiva line at Connecting Threads? So I went ahead and bought a few of those yummy fabrics. Look, don't you love these sunny and beachy hues.

These colors are so droolworthy

And today, they went on sale. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH.


Yes, they are 30% off. It is too late for me, but you can get these fab fabrics at a discount, but hurry the flash sale closes on 4/26/18.

Wide Backing under $9 per yard

I also got the Captiva wide backing. All wide backing is 25% off till 4/30/18.

This blogpost contains affiliate links.




Monday, April 16, 2018

Let's Talk Stash

Kelly Young of My Quilt Infatuation recently wrote a book - Stash Statement.  Then she sent me an email. And I burst into a song...


The email was fantastic.
When I received it, I was ecstatic.
Stash Statement Quilts was on its way
Would I like to play?
I jumped in with both feet.
Watch this space, it is going to be a treat.




With rhyme and reason, excitement and anticipation, I have to tell you that today is the day when the Blog Hop for Stash Statement begins. 



The book is full of eye-candy, cool techniques and fabulous patterns. I am already knee-deep in my scraps, applying Kelly's techniques and turning chaos into order.  


Every week, two quilters will showcase one quilt from the book.  Here is the entire line-up. You don't want to miss it.

Stash Statement Blog Tour Schedule-

4/16- Grand Bazaar    Shelley @ Cora's Quilts
                                    Connie @ Freemotion by the River

                           Diann @ Little Penguin Quilts

4/30- Precarious  Jess @ Quilty Habit                       
                             Myra @ Busy Hands Quilts
                                                            
5/7- Beach Retreat  Sarah @ Sarah Goer Quilts                               
                                 Liz @ Savor Every Stitch 
                                                           
5/14- Fire Pit   Alison @ Little Bunny Quilts                                          
                         Preeti @ Sew Preeti Quilts
                                                            
5/21- Detour    Laura @ Slice of Pi Quilts                         
                         Shelley @ The Carpenter's Daughter Who Quilts
                                                            
5/28- Murrina    Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl             
                            Leanne @ Devoted Quilter
                                                            
6/4- Scattered    Jayne @ Twiggy and Opal                      
                           Christine @ Triangles and Squares 
                                                            
6/11- Bloom Chicka Boom   Chris @ made by ChrissieD            
                                               Michelle @ From Bolt to Beauty
                                                            
6/18- Regatta   Susan @ Quilt Fabrication                             
                          Debbie @ A Quilter's Table    
                          Christa @ Christa Quilts
                                                            
6/25- Catch a Falling Star  Cynthia @ Quilting is More Fun Than Housework        
                                              Anja @ Anja Quilts
                                                            
7/2- College Prep   Hilary @ by Hilary Jordan                 
                                Lori @ Crossquilt
                                                            
7/9- Take Flight (bonus digital pattern)  Kelli @ Seriously, I Think It Needs Stitches 
                                                                 Paula @ The Sassy Quilter


Be sure to check Kelly's blog because she is giving away two copies of the book.  I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Monday, April 9, 2018

Oh Boy!!!

Paul: Hey babe, do you have a quilt?
Me: Yes, I have several.

New Quilt for New Baby

Paul: I need a baby quilt.
Me: For?
Paul: Bella's (not her real name) baby boy
Me: When is the baby shower?
Paul: That was last month.

Blue, Green and Sparkle Grey

Me: So when is the baby due?
Paul: Baby boy Ryan (not his real name) was born on Easter. 
Me: And you are telling me now???
Paul: Just got the email.

Silence.  Sheepish Grin.

Scallop Quilting

Paul: I figured, you'd have a quilt on tap.
Me: Which may not be suitable for a baby, or for a boy.
And even if the baby does not mind hot pink butterflies and polka dots, I am sure his parents will definitely be averse to a girly quilt.

A happy finish

Me: Can you tell me anything about the colors?
Paul: Blue, Green and Gray
Me: Let me check. I have Jack. It is Blue and Green but it also has these beige/gold fabrics.
Paul: Let me see the back.



Paul: Yeah, this works.
I was not so sure. I wanted something more baby-appropriate, in the chosen colors - blue, green and gray.
I wanted to make a new quilt. But it had to be quick.

Alphabet Backing, Blue Binding


Me: Well, since the baby is already here, when are you going to give the quilt.
Paul: Oh, when she comes in next.
Me: That may not be for 3 months.
Paul: No, she will stop by to check on things every couple of weeks.


Labelled
Baby Appropriate


Me: Let me make a new quilt for baby Ryan.
Paul: Oh ok.

Quick & Easy

Rolled up beauty
Animals and Alphabets make it cute
Paul: I got a card. Will you sign it.
Me: Sure.  I made a few burp cloths and put it in this basket to go along with the quilt.
Paul: Oh babe, you are the best.
Me: I know.  But it is so much better when you say it.

Burp Cloths

Card

And here is a picture of the baby boy.

So Cheeky

Oh Boy!!! Wish I could kiss those cheeks.
Such a cute boy, I said.
Such a cute quilt, said Paul.
And we lived happily ever after (or till the next argument.)

What have you been making?  I'd love to hear from you.
I will be linking with all my favorite linky parties, see sidebar.