Creative Block

I just wanted to write a quick post about something that was bothering me.

A few months ago, I had decided to go on a "quilt diet." I was not going to start any new quilts until my pile of WIP's or UFO's was dwindled down to a reasonable number. I had a lot of quilts started and each one was important to me. I was still very interested in finishing each one. But I was starting more quilts than I was finishing and the pile seemed to be growing bigger and bigger.

I thought I had great idea. I would work on a quilt and it seemed as if I was going no-where. The more I worked on my UFO's, the less progress I seemed to make. It seemed I was in a "creative" block or a "quilting" block. It seemed as if I wasn't getting anything finished.

That was a few months ago. I realize that I still need to finish my quilts, but now, I realize that I can't work like that. I have to feed my creativity. Whether if it's just drawing out the quilt on paper or testing out a few block to see what they would look like, I have to start a new quilt to move forward. I may start a few more quilt ideas, but it fuels me to finish the quilts I'm working on.

This last month, I am amazed about the number of quilts that are almost finished (before quilting). I may have started three or four more ideas but I had to express those ideas to more forward. And what fun would it be if I didn't!

I just may be one of those quilters who will never get rid of their UFO's. But I'll never be without a quilt to work on. It took me a while to realize just how my creativity works. I'm not going to feel guilty about my UFO's (well, maybe a little). I have to understand that it is how my creativity works.

Thank you for listening,

Jane

Making Bias Binding

A few of my quilt tops are at their final stages of completion (before quilting) and I have been making the bias strips for the binding for them. I wanted to demonstrate how I make my own bias strips. There are many different methods of making bias strips for binding, but this is the method that I primarily use.

I usually use a yard of fabric when I make my binding.

On one particular quilt, I was wanting to use a 5/8 inch binding. By multiplying 5/8 by 4 (.625 X 4), it will give me the width to which I should mark my strips ( equals 2 1/2 inches).

Since my fabric is striped, I need to use the 45 degree mark on my ruler.It will verify that I have a true 45 degree bias.

I marked twelve strips and cut each end at a 45 degree angle.


The illustration shows how I match each end (match 1 to 1, 2 to 2...) to create a spiral effect once the ends are sewn together.


The ends pinned together and ready to be stitched.

Make sure the seams are pressed open - the seam (top strip) is virtually invisible on the right side of the fabric.

Press in half length-wise.

Then, press each side to the center.

The finished size - 5/8 inch. TA DA!!

I keep the binding strip on a cardboard roll until I am ready to use it.

The waste that is leftover is about 18 inches square.

Once the quilt top is finished, it will measure 72 inches by 78 inches. I will be needing about 300 inches (25 feet) of binding. I've made approximately 432 inches of binding. I know, it's more than I need. It's better being safe than sorry.

I hope it isn't too confusing.

Jane

Recent Fabric Venture

Today, I went ahead and made that long awaited trip for more fabric. I can't wait to get these finished so that I may be able to work on some other WIPs.

I had gotten some more fabric for the Sunflower quilt. I wanted to use some to the fabric I had already. I don't know how I had gotten so much. This quilt had started out as a "Southern Indiana Shop Hop "quilt and I may have gotten the extra fabric to complete all the sampler blocks that were available. I had to purchase more blue and black for the sashing (on the left side). The rest is an idea for the border and binding (on the right) that I may use on the quilt.

Another purchase was more fabric for the "Quilt Making 101" sampler quilt. I had chosen the turquoise for the border and the stripe for the binding. What do you think of the border ideas?

And more batiks for the McKenna Ryan "Storybook Farm" quilt. I have just a little more of the fabric to search for.

My younger son will be going on field trip tomorrow and I will have the whole "school" day to myself. I am planning on making a photo tutorial on how to make a "continuous binding strip." With a submission of how you make your own "continuous bias strip," Brye Lynn from sewstitchcreate.com is having a giveaway for a bias tape maker. I will be posting on how I make my "continuous bias strip" for tomorrow's post.

Honestly, I just love Brye. She has a fabulous podcast on her website, very much worth the listen. She resides in Florida and my mother-in-law also lives in Florida. We try to visit the in-law each year so that the boys have an opportunity to visit them and to visit the beaches. Brye and the mil don't live too far from each other, so I'm hoping that I may be able to get a visit sometime! Who knows?!

So, that's all for now. Gonna work on photographing the bias strip method.

Jane

Like I Need Another Idea for a Quilt

Now, I know that I said "No more Cub Scouts," but there was something on my Banquet display that gave me an idea for a new quilt!! One part was about optical illusions. Ask yourself, "Does the line appear to be straight or wavy?" Actually, all the vertical and horizontal lines are straight (I don't know how well it comes across on the computer screen). I was hoping it will have the same effect once made into a quilt!

Well, I couldn't resist! I had to try it out. And now, I'm beginning to think that maybe I should have made it a little smaller. The blocks are 4 1/2 inched square and the smaller ones are 1 1/2 inches. I may not have the same optical effect this size. Only if you were looking at it from a distance (a far distance). It may turn out just a quilt with squares. But I had to try it out!

I'm going to get those other quilt top finished and "sandwiched," and get them photographed.

Be back soon,

Jane

Back to Quilting

I have been in yoyo heaven. With Cub Scouting officially done, I dove into the new quilt!!

Now with more time, I'm hoping to make it to the quilt shop this week, if weather permits. The weather here has been crazy! The beginning of last week started with snow, enough to have two days of school cancellations. The following weekend was beautiful with Sunday's temperature being 61 degrees. Then this morning, we had a 2 hour delay because of fog. Wednesday, there's a chance of snow again! I have two quilts on the verge of being sandwiched together, then it's to machine quilting (my scary part). I'm hoping to go, so that I may have two more quilt to that level soon.

This what was consuming most of my time last week, my display for the Blue and Gold Banquet for Cub Scouts. I had some of our projects we had done this year along with some photos. It may not look like much, but most of illustrations and lettering were done by hand, by me!

I was most proud of the Project Linus quilts that my son helped me make.

The Banquet was followed by the Pinewood Derby. It is a car race where the scout and his parent make a car using a block of wood. Both of our boys didn't do as well as they had in the past years. We (Dad and I) thought we had a great car design that would do wonders, but it didn't work quite well as we were hoping for. I was very proud of my older son because he was very mature about it. The fun part of it all was racing with your friends. My five year-old didn't take it so well. I guess he was expecting to place again this year. But he did win "Most Creative" in his group (his was the tongue car!).

It's this time of year, after the Pinewood Derby that my husband and I try to think up car designs for next year...but there is NO next year. I've already have some ideas, one being a bed with a pillow and a quilt on it! Maybe we'll use it in two years, when my younger son will start Cub Scouts. Now, I don't know just how cool the boys will think it will be!

Okay, enough of Cub Scouting!

Will post later with my new purchases!

Jane

So Charming

I had just received the charm packs that I'm going to use for the Yoyoville quilt. I just love the color range.

I can't wait to cut into it. I'll be making the yoyos in the body of the quilt as well as the one used as trees and flowers in the border. I think it will make a great project to take with me during the boys' baseball season: during practices and games.

I'm really looking forward to the warmer weather. After the two days of school cancellations, it would be real rewarding to get rid of our cabin fever and get out in the fresh warm air. I'm wishful thinking!

Til next time,

Jane

Projects

I've been working with my son to get several of his Cub Scout den's project display ready for this Saturday's Blue & Gold Banquet.

One of the projects was to make a pillow. He had to sew the pillow form, fill it with fiber-fill, and then hand-sew the opening close. Using his favorite color (he picked this bright eye-piercing orange!), we made a no-sew cover with fringe (tied with knots).

Here he is with the completed pillow. He's trying to hide from the camera!

Another project will be some Project Linus quilts. I know, I had to put quilts into it somewhere ! : ) It is part of his community service project. I had his help me make some examples: he had picked the fabrics and colors and he will tie the quilts together for me. It is a good project for the boys to learn about unfortunate children in their area and have some satifaction in helping them out with a small gift that they had made.

I had one more project to make, but it is a project that will me done by me alone. It will be a small gift to the Cubmaster and his wife for all they have done since this is my son's last year in Cub Scouts.

And after this Saturday, he will be done with Scouting and I will have more time to devote to my quilting! Now, I don't mean to be whining about the Cub Scouts, it is a wonderful organization and I am so happy that my son was a part of it for the last five years. As a den leader, the organization told me that all it would take was one hour a week. As you can see, it does take a lot more than that. I give a BIG thanks to all of the volunteers who help our boys, because without them, Cub Scouting just couldn't happen.

In two more years, I'm looking forward to gettting my younger son into Cub Scouting when he is seven years-old. But at that time, I'll be enjoying myself as a parent instead of a Leader. I'll be able to bring my quilting with me at the meetings!!

As soon as I finish with that gift, I'll post a peek of it.

Gotta to get back to work!!

Jane