Small Hopes & Big Dreams!

Our guild is having a log cabin challenge this year....the quilts will be displayed at the public library. I wasn't going to do it, but I pulled out my mini-logs and figured if I made the quilt smaller than I intended.....I only needed to piece two more blocks...and border the thing. So it is done.

I killed many birds with one stone with this quilt! The blocks are paper pieced and used up my smallest crumbs. (Proving the fact that if it is still ugly, you just didn't cut it small enough!) The inner border is leftovers from my random sampler quilt border that I finished piecing at Tonyas. I only had to cut one more 1.5" strip.....so that cleared out some pre-cut strips.

The outer border fabric is the fun black with the colored squiggles that I picked up with Tonya while we went shopping in MD in October. See!! It didn't stay in my stash very long...I used it! :cD

The four basket blocks in the corners are UFO blocks....3 were pieced...one was cut out and needed to just be pieced. I didn't like doing them because of the set in seams....it just was tedious and time consuming, so it was the beginning of an abandoned project, and now they found a home in the borders of the little-logs-that-went-big quilt.

Some facts on this top: Started in 2001. block size: 3" finished. Number of blocks: 324. Pieces per block: 17. Total pieces in center: 5,508.

Definately a machine quilting project because it is very heavy with so many seams!

Bonnie

Busy Weekend!

I am quilting furiously....but I wanted to post something I found on ebay! Isn't this a great maverick stringy quilt?! I love it..it looks very patriotic to me.

Wednesday my friend Randy arrives from California...and thursday we leave for our quilter's retreat near Aiken! I am trying to decide what projects to take. I will be doing massage at this one, and as of last count we had 9 massages pre-paid, so my quilting hours will be in between that. I have a quilt I need to finish piecing (embroidered blocks done by the client) before I can do the quilting. This will probably be good time to do that. I'm also thinking of just taking my bin of strings and string piecing my way through the weekend to see what I can get done. Nothing that requires too much concentration!

I switched to the "new" blogger. Up to this point, blogger wouldn't let me do it, it said some things on my blog were untransferrable. But this morning it gave me the chance to switch again, and so I bit the bullet. I have no idea if my template is going to be screwed up when I post this or not, so here goes!

Bonnie

My Blue Heaven Pattern

Hello to everyone out there in Quiltville!

I'm writing to let you know that I have just added a new pattern to my website! (Those of you who have been with me for a while know how long it took me to get this together!)

"My Blue Heaven" is a two-block quilt! A modified puss in the corner block, and an hour glass star block, both in 8" finished size. All from 2.5" blue and neutral scrap strips! You can make this quilt as big or small as you would like depending on the number of blocks you make. This quilt uses 45 star blocks and 45 puss blocks and has a pieced hourglass unit border. Finished size as shown is approx 81X89.

It would be great in any color combination. Mine is in blue/neutral. I'd love to see what you come up with as you dig into your scrap strips and try your own version of a 2-block 2-color quilt! I can really see this one in brights, or in red/neutral. It would be great!

You can find the pattern HERE

Bonnie

Retreat Pics Quickie Post!

I'm running out the door...today is the day I tell the chiro that Nope....not going to take the job! (but I'll cover for him til he replaces me, or til feb runs out whichever comes first)

Here are some pics of what I worked on at retreat this past weekend.

I finished the borders on the quilt that Tonya and I worked on together. It reads:

"True Friends Are The Brightest Scraps In The Patchwork Of Life" and has my name and year on the bottom border.

I finished the sawtooth and inner border on the kaleidoscope, and the binding on the "crayon box" quilt. Look at the back...it's all big huge florals that I was never going to use....they are now OUT of the stash, and it made for a fun back!

Gotta run!
Bonnie

Retreat Weekend!

I'm getting ready to leave for my Hilton Head retreat weekend! My guild has been having their retreat in Hilton Head this same weekend for years and years. It is also the same weekend as the Jinny Beyer Convention, and though we don't take classes, we do go down to where the convention is and do the quilt show and shop the vendors mall that is set up there.

I am taking my massage table..There are 4 people who want massages so far, and that is going to cover my expenses of the retreat, and still leave me plenty of time for quilting on my own projects!

Big decision, big reversal. I worked at the chiropractor's office on wednesday, and decided that I am NOT going to take the position. It's hard to explain, but it isn't about the money. I want to fit the massage AROUND my life, not have it BE my life...and it would take too much time away from things I love dearly, including most of all my freedom and flexibility. So. I will tell him on monday that I will work for him part time through the month of feb while he finds someone else to take the full time position. I won't leave him high and dry, but I don't want the job. I need to do what is right for me! I'd rather be quilting on other people's quilts than down there at that office every day.

I finished the binding on "My Blue Heaven". How long has this thing been hanging around? It's a blue albatross which might be a better name for it....*Heheh* But it is done.

I used a simple homespun in tan/blue for the backing. I had JUST enough, so it was good to get that whole piece of fabric yardage out of my stash! Close up pics show some of the weird old uglies I used up in this thing! My fave is the little cow, and a pair of cowboy boots and horseshoe in the other pic. You may also see a few noah's arks floating around. Don't be afraid to use weird fabrics in your quilts! I think it adds a lot of interest to them!

I'll be working on UFO's at the retreat. One is a batik kaliedoscope I made about a year ago...just needs borders. It was made from the remnants of strip piecing donated to me by a guild member. I want to finish this. I think it is a cool quilt. The other one is the crumby quilt that Tonya and I did. I want to work on the borders for it too. I'll take one other quilt that needs the binding finished on it for evening work, and a bit of hand quilting,and that should be plenty. Especially since this retreat ends sunday?!? Just what do I think I'm going to be able to accomplish in a day and a half?! *LOL* Oh well..better too much than not enough as far as projects to bring go.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Bonnie

Blog Ring Blunders...

Sometimes there are computer glitches that happen, due to operator error, or internet gremlins!

It was brought to my attention that as people traveled around the ring, that it would skip some sites, and not make it back to the beginning.

I had found one member who had someone else's code in her side bar. So instead of the ring going to the next page that was intended to be after that person, it would skip to the person who was after the person's ring code that she had copied and pasted into her own side bar. Does this make sense?

All ring codes are not alike! They look the same from the visual perspective, but hidden inside each panel is a site that is uniquely-you. You each need to have your OWN ring code that gives direction to get from your site to the next site in the ring, not the next site that comes after someone else's site.

I have suspended the blog with the incorrect ring code until she can get her own code and put it back in place...so that our ring can be complete and uninterupted!

One way to check this....On your OWN blog page, put your mouse cursor over the "next" in the panel.(Don't click it!) Now look down right above your task bar where the url is displayed at the bottom left of your screen. (It sometimes says things like "Transferring data from www.blogger.com.... etc)There will be an url that starts http://alt-webring.com and ending with a "siteid=" The "site ID" should be the same ID as your own alt-webring sign in. Whatever you called your site when you registered with alt-webring. Mine is "quiltvilleblog" If your mouse-over on your own panel produces someone else's blog name...let me know so we can get you straightened out!

As of now you are all correct because I checked them all!

We now return you to your regularily scheduled program... :c)

Bonnie

Requiem!

Last night was our performance of Durufle's Requiem with the South Carolina Philharmonic. The concert was held in the historic Trinity Cathedral in Columbia, and it was the perfect venue for the concert. We played to a full capacity crowd, and the music just filled that old cathedral to the rafters. I can't describe how it feels to be part of a sound that big. The most moving moment for me was when the "Kyrie Elaison" floated through with all of it's movements in wonderful counterpoint. It gave me chills to sing it.

Here are some silly pics of me in my concert duds before I headed out. I had a picture taken of my hair too, since I thought the snood was really classy ;c)

The lilies top is DONE and put to bed for a while. Now that the weekend is over, it's time to get back to everyone else's quilts and concentrate my free time on handwork that is piling up. I've been a piecing fiend over the past few weeks. And I can piece during the two retreats I have in february, now it's time to get the actual QUILTING parts done!

The pic of the border on the lily quilt....remember all those bonus 1/2 sq triangle units that were left over both from the weed-whacker quilt and the pineapple blossom? They all trim down to the same size! So I spent an evening watching an old movie and squaring them up. There were enough to go around the whole lilies quilt with pinwheels and I think it finishes it off with a sparkle. That's it. Nothing more going on this quilt. No separating border, no framing border..the thing is already 90" square! I'll just bind it with something dark. I'm thinking purple.

I have a new discovery I have fallen in love with. Lipton is making
flavored teas. I always stayed away from plain ole lipton and went for the
other more fancy names...but this one called to me from the shelf. It's
lipton french vanilla.....and OH MY!! It is the yummiest tea! I like mine
with a bit of splenda and some milk in it....but it would be good straight
up too. Great for those chilly mornings.

Bonnie

Quick Post!

It's that crazy weekend....clients this morning, dress rehearsal with the philharmonic this afternoon...Sun is shining brightly outside and though it is chilly, I'm hoping our temps get somewhere near normal!

I'm also gearing up for the first of my two february retreats in Hilton Head next weekend! Weeehaaaa...I know what's coming with me as far as projects go. I want to do the borders on the crumby quilts that Tonya and I did over New Years. I have ideas for the border,and I'm not telling her what it is until it is done..NANANANANANA!

Binding and sleeve are finished on the amish strings. I washed it and it shrunk up WONDERFULLY! I can't believe how aged it looks...I love it! The only thing I need to do is go over it with a sticky roller to get the remaining threads and beady lint balls off it...but I can't find my sticky roller. Here is a pic of the close up too. Pics aren't true to color, even outside on this one. The colors are very vibrant, they look kind of washed out in the pics.

Also is a pic of the completed Lilies top. This thing turned out GI-NORMOUS! It is 80X80 without borders. I'm trying to decide what to do about it from here. It may sit a while. Because this has been an on again off again quilt, and I have had to think really hard through each process, I'm titling it "Consider The Lilies". The string blocks were fun to do, Didn't make a dent in the bin, and this top is HEAVY because of all the seams in it!

Oh...one of the best things about setting this quilt this way? The outside edge of the quilt ended up ON GRAIN! I didn't even think about it until it got time to piece the setting triangles, that they were going to end up that way. How's that for providence?

Off to work (while dreaming of quilts)
Bonnie

On The Mend!

Thanks everyone for the well wishes, both for my birthday, and for getting over this crud that has slowed me down!

The good thing about being a massage therapist is that you can't work on people when you are sick. This means, you have no choice but to get better, and fast! The throat is feeling better, less gunky, the sinuses are draining. I feel nearly whole :c)

I've been quilting slowly, but it has been hard to focus on machine quilting with the big machine when the sinuses are full of pressure and....I think this cold came with a "do not operate heavy machinery while under the influence of...." So now that I am feeling better, I am raring to go on some quilts that I have slipped behind on. Thank heavens for understanding customers who understand why you don't want to quilt when you don't feel well. The machine is a machine, but I am not!

I have finished two bindings. I told you about the epiphany stars....this afternoon was clear enough and dry enough for me to get a pic outside. It turned out FAB! I love it. I love that the stars were made with so many well wishes. This quilt has a special place in my heart,it's what has gotten me out of the funk that I was in before Christmas!

I've also finished the binding and the sleeve on the amish strings. It went straight to the washer and is now in the dryer...I had to remove chalk markings. I am crossing fingers it washes up and dries nice and IN SHAPE, or it will find me wetting it and blocking it on the floor overnight. I'll post a pic of that one when I get a chance. It's dark now.

On the massage front...good things happening! I went to my chiropractor yesterday afternoon, and he asked me while he was adjusting me if I would like to work in his office 1 and 1/2 days a week! Wednesday all day, and friday half day. This will work fine with what I'm doing, and maybe work well enough that I can give up the other place. The other place I just work whatever clients call and I schedule...I never really know how busy or slow I'm going to be. This way it would be set days a week...and though he takes a big cut out of what I would make, I'm not having to pay $500 a month rent at the beginning of the month, then scrambling to make so many massages happen before I can break even for the month and then start making a profit (and hope there is one). This would also give me set days to be home machine quilting for clients.

I'm going to give it a try for both places for the month of Feb...at the end of the month I'll make a decision if I'm going to stick with the clinic or not. I hate to leave them high and dry, but I've given it a year and it isn't as busy as I'd like it to be for the rent I'm paying.

I also have massage clients come to the house...I've got one coming this evening for 1 1/2 hours...and I don't have to leave home to work on her! So that is nice too, plus I have been doing house calls off and on.

That's all for here!
Bonnie

Winter colds..rainy days and stuffy heads and achy Bonnie!

I feel like the crud is knocking at my back door! I am drinking lots of herb tea, doing the "zicam" stuff and upping my vitamins trying to keep this thing at bay.

It's had me moving pretty slow over the weekend...yesterday (Sunday) I didn't get much of anything done, but did accomplish a much needed sunday afternoon NAP. I should have done the same today! Luckily with the weather being so ick, my 1pm client called to reschedule, and I am glad..because I don't want to pollute her either. I just hope this doesn't turn into a full blown sinus infection thing. The Chorale concert is this Sunday, the 28th!

The binding and hanging sleeve are finished on the epiphany stars. I need a good day outside on the fence to get a good pic of it, but really, it doesn't look much different than the pic farther down my blog...only the binding is finished instead of just laying there. So use your imagination ;c)

The binding is 1/2 done on the amish strings as well. Bindings are great to get done at work in between clients, and I think I can pace myself on them....

I have enjoyed the comments on the lilies quilt. I've taken everyone's opinions into consideration. It's fun how we all see things differently. I am going with the string blocks because it speaks to me. They probably don't speak to everyone else the same way, but they do to me. They make me happy, where as before, the blocks made me SNORE. I have fun imagining people long after I'm gone thinking or saying "WHAT THE HECK WAS SHE THINKING WHEN SHE DID THIS?!?" Those are the kinds of things I love looking for in antique quilts, and maybe someone will have fun perusing over my quilts in some future life.

I'm on to piecing the side setting triangles. None got done today...I finished a customer quilt instead. After that I got my "Bonnie loves to play with blocks" quilt machine basted so I can start the hand quilting on it at some point (after the bindings are done). Tomorrow is my birthday...I'll be 45!! I'm freaking out. I never thought I'd be this old...so the treat for myself was to get that quilt top basted.

It's only 9:30pm but I'm going to go get into jammies and call it an early night....maybe some nyquil will help me sleep this thing off...

Bonnie

More From The UFO Bin

These are not forgotten blocks....these are blocks that have PURPOSELY been stuffed back. I made these around 1999/2000 and they just never went anywhere. They were "too beige" or something. I wasn't sure. I loved the pattern, I hated the sage green I used for the stems/leaves....if I did it now, I would have used several greens, not all the same washed out grey/green. But that was then, this is now!

Because the UFO bin was in front of me and I had been digging through it over the past couple days, sorting, revisiting, culling, reorganizing, I pulled them out. I laid them out on the floor (in the new den...aha! that floor has another purpose!) and again....TOO BEIGE! I'm sure the beige carpet was not helping. The blocks are 14" finished. Another reason I'm not thrilled with them. I just don't get into BIG BLOCKS. What to do?

I asked myself how Gwennie or Freddie would handle something like this...how to dress up the blaah?? I needed to pull in bright and scrappy and impulsive. I started piecing some string blocks just for fun, thinking if they didn't work out, they could always go into a charity quilt. WOW...a lot of these strings are REALLY bright because I have people from guild who continually hand me baggies of "stuff" at guild meetings. It is fun to sew with other people's trimmings!

So here are some blocks laid out with altnernate string blocks....and I'm asking for thoughts. Do I go for it? Really try to wonk these boring lilies up? Can I turn it into a quilt that I will LOVE?

Here is a shot of the den from the doorway before I laid everything on the floor...I forgot to upload this one the other day.

Bonnie