Quilt #1 for Hurricane Sandy Peeps

It's finished!!  Quilt #1 for a family affected by Hurricane Sandy.  I also talked about this quilt here and here.  I merely pieced the blocks and finished off the quilting/binding.  And then gave it it's first fluff up wash and send it off to be distributed.  Delightful isn't it?

The wonky log cabin blocks were made by Max in Kansas, Susan in New Jersey, and Marry Kay in Arizona.  Thank you ladies for showing your quilty-spirit and demonstrating how even a small effort can go a long way in comforting someone!!

I volunteered to assemble one more quilt and have received the last blocks I was waiting for.  Looking forward to the meditative process of piecing the blocks into rows and creating another giant hug to share!

Hope your week is off to a great start!

Times Square {Project Quilting Challenge}

I've joined the fun over at Persimon Dreams and entered in the first Project Quilting challenge of season four.  It's a bit intimidated as the rules state you must create a quilt and finish it within the week and have the design based on the challenges inspiration.  This week we were asked to interpret "Square within a square within a square."  Simple enough, right?

{Project quilting challenge for Season 4: challenge 1, Square within a square within a square}


This piece is about 20 by 12 inches.  I started with the colorful squares in the background.

Then you will see several raw edge squares secured with embroidery stitches. I was inspired by Sashiko stitching for these.  And then I've been interested in trying "quilting on air" a process where you cut whole in your layered quilt.  Gulp!

Pillowcased and ready for quilting.  And here you can see the three holes I cut.  See the green from the cutting mat coming through?

After I quilted a bit, I zig-zagged the edges of the holes and then sewed over the opening with a walking foot to create a spider web look.  So scary and so fun!!  I could see using that technique again!!

A closer look at some of the detail.  By doing the three holes, I got better at maintaining the shape as I went on.  And I sure learned a lot.

Phew, what a challenge!  I'm happy to have stretched my creative muscles and tried new things!  Is it perfect?  Nah, but chalk it all up to practice and muscle memory and experience!  And now we rest for a week.  The next Project Quilting challenge will be announced next Sunday the 20th.

I will also be linking up with Quilt Story for Fabric Tuesday.
Happy Weekend!!

Get it Finished {January}

I ran across a goal setting idea that I really liked.  It's called A Lovely Year of Finishes.  This will be a year long activity and is hosted by Shanna of Fiber of All Sorts and Melissa of Sew BitterSweet Designs. 

Participating in A Lovely Year of Finishes means that each month I will pick one project (can be new or something already started) and vow to finish the task within that month.  So, for the year you will see me declare what I will be trying to accomplish each month.  I'm looking forward using this as a motivator to better plan out what I want to work on.  I find myself sometimes sitting in my craft/sewing room and willy nilly picking up pieces and making progress, but not finishing things.  I will still allow myself to flit between projects, but this also gives me a sense of focus and urgency for at least one piece a month. 

To kick things off, I would like finish trimming and piecing these half square triangles.  They are units that came from making this quilt.  I've had them sitting around my space for nearly a year now and am ready to turn these it to something awesome.  The good news is that I have arranged them several times and finally settled on this design.  The bad news?  They are all a bit mis-shaped and wonky.  Not sure why.  But, in order for them to be assembled with some precision I have decided to trim them down to 4 inches square.  With a total of 140 squares... that's a lot of trimming! 

I admit I have already managed to trim and piece the first two rows --- whohohooo!  I'd like to see this become the hawk quilt that's been floating around in my head and sketch pads for months.  Don't see a hawk in there?  Don't worry... we'll take it one step at a time and see it through.  My hope is that I will be able to submit this to both my art show at work as well as my quilt guilds annual quilt show.  Time to roll up my sleeves and get 'er done!

What are you focusing on this month?

Favorites of 2012

Creating with Mixed Media

Quilting

Yes, I'm one of those people that was so quick to try and say the 2012 stunk and I was over it and I wanted it gone.  And it's true, there are somethings that happened that I would rather not dwell on.  Some things that I wish could have been different.  Somethings that are clawing to follow us into 2013 even though we are trying to beat them off with a stick.  

That said, I am also so grateful I was able to put my happy hat back on and realize that 2012 was also so filled with joy, creativity, and goodness!

:::  We made maple syrup from our own Maple trees

:::  We took the dogs swimming all summer long

:::  We enjoyed our neighborhood, friends, and the woods near the house

:::  We named the deer that frequently walked through the yard and ate my garden.  Long live Calamity, Cherry, and Marmalade.

:::  We celebrated birthdays, holidays, and pretty much everyday in a big way -- like the scavenger hunt for the Mister's birthday

:::  We saw Sublime with Rome and got to meet and greet and get autographs

:::  We went to a playoff game, the Giants won the Superbowl and we even went to the Parade of Heros in NYC to see our beloved Giants!

:::  I entered quilts into my first juried quilt show

:::  Sammy turned the big 0-1 and Katie turned 5

:::  We expanded the veggie garden with our very own rock wall

:::  We grew potatoes for the first time and then ate them!

:::  I'm sure there's more... but you get the point.

It's so easy to get sucked into focusing on the bad, especially when it's right in front of you.  But, I'm glad to be reminded that finding the good stuff is pretty easy too and much nicer to hold on to!

Wishing you and your family a gorgeous and creative 2013!! xoxo

Small Works

I'm excited to finally be showing you the two small works I created recently.  I created them for a call for entry from my quilt guild and the Katonah Museum of Art.  Yes, after being juried, these have the chance to not only be displayed in a museum of art, but to also be sold.  I'm pinching myself!!  And I admit they were really fun to create. 

Both quilts were mounted on 6x6 canvases.  I also finished the edges of the canvas with fabric and ribbon.

And, yes, those are small pieced crosses.  The pieces finished to 1/2 inch -- wow!  And then it's hand quilted.  I seriously must be nuts.  And it's possible that I'm getting the make small quilts bug.

I'll keep you posted on whether or not they are accepted.  My fingers are crossed. 

Christmas Sewing

I said early on I wasn't going to do any Christmas sewing.  Didn't want to have the pressure to create and couldn't put myself on a timetable like that.  Then, I changed my tune and decided that any Christmas sewing time I normally would have spent I would instead spend assembling and quilting tops for Hurricane Sandy folks.  So, I went on my merry way and made up a whole Sandy quilt and still had left over time.  So, I did it... I gave in to some Christmas sewing which went like this...

We added a small two foot tree to the Christmas decor this year and it was in sore need of a wee Christmas tree skirt.  I decided the Sproket Pillow from Cluck Cluck Sew would be the perfect template!  I used a layer cake of Christmas patterned fabrics and went to town.

Finishing it off with a bit of red binding was the perfect touch.

I also had trouble resisting making a few Zippered Bow Pouches from See Kate Sew.  These are easy, adorable, and great for holding a little sweet or toy as promised. 

Did you get suckered into the whiz-whirl of holiday sewing?

Pure Unfiltered Bliss

Nothing like a walk/jog with the pups while it's snowing to clear my mind! I'm refreshed and ready to sew and they are pooped! Hello winter!

Happy Winter Solstice

Hi Loves,

Happy winter solstice!  Today marks the point where the length of daylight in a given day will increase.  And I'm all about more daylight to soak in!  I hope you're enjoying the hustle and bustle of the season.  It's been so much fun to think about Christmas surprises for those I love and I've been so enjoying the festivities.  I'm also looking forward to snuggling in for a few days and letting things be all about gatherings and family.

I am still making progress on the Hurricane Sandy quilts I've raised my hand to assemble.  One quilt is done with binding and all -- I want to snap a quick picture and hope to have it in the mail this weekend...off to it's new home where it can bring warmth and happiness.  And may it find a home where it can be treasured as a fort, picnic blanket, or used to gaze at the stars!

I also paused for a moment of silence this morning for Sandy Hook.  Over the last week, I have found myself searching for sources of inner strength and inspiration.  I found myself flipping through my copy of Eat, Pray, Love.  A well worn copy that has been dog earred to mark pages with bits and quotes I adore.  And I'll share this quote from the book, which I also shared to open my art quilters meeting this week:

"When you sense a faint potentiality for happiness after such dark times you must grab onto the ankles of that happiness and not let go until it drags you face-first out of the dirt.  This is not selfishness, but obligation.  You were given life.  It is your duty and also your entitlement as a human being to find something beautiful within life no matter how slight." -- Eat, Pray Love      

And a small shining moment that really made me smile... an article, about comfort dogs -- mostly goldies -- bringing some relief to Newtown, CT. 

From my family to yours ... Wishing you a delightful holiday season filled with family and friends, laughter and joy; as you find those beautiful moments that happiness is made of!

The Silence

Two part meaning here.  One, I've still been fairly silent here.  I have found myself creating up a storm and not waiting to pause for any reason.  And when I am sharing, I find myself doing so through instagram -- it's super quick to post there (you can find me @cwiltex).  But, I miss this space.  I have given myself permission to be sparse through the remainder of the year and will hopefully pick things up again in the new year.

And, I've also been taking studio yoga classes.  Complete with soothing music, an instructor who is wonderful, and a body that is grateful for the attention.  I'm already stunned to see the difference between the first and second class.  In the first class, I was tense and jittery; my brain wasn't able to turn off, I was making lists in my head the whole time and was overly concerned with how I 'looked' to the person behind me.  Admittedly, I was even trying to pen a blog post about yoga and find a way to sneak a camera picture to share here.  Who is that person, ha!

Granted, I've only been to a second class, but WOW, what a difference.  I am finding peace.  I'm not gritting my teeth so much, my shoulders are much lower away from my ears -- which must mean stress is leaving my body.  I was able to soak in the silence of the last part of the class.  It was pure bliss.  So much power in that silence and I'm so happy to be reconnecting with myself this way.  Just imagine what it might be like after six weeks of attending?

Have you taken a yoga class, what was your experience like?

Sandy Blocks are Coming Together

I was excited to find Sandy blocks in the mailbox!  So far I've received blocks from Beverly, Max, and Susan... I've trimmed the blocks and am beginning to layout and assemble quilt #1.

This is going to be a really cool quilt!