Design Wall Monday

      I just came back from a 4 day quilting retreat; so I have a lot to share. I finished 2 quilts that have been on my design wall recently. All they need is to have backs made for them, and be taken to the quilter. The first is my bird cages quilt, aka, Missing Monkeys.

 

     The second is the lap version of my Native Harvest pattern. I started this quilt last summer, to help me write the pattern for the first Native Harvest quilt. I guess I will have to think up a new name for this quilt since Native Harvest really doesn't fit this color way. I will have to think about this.

    
     When I look at these 2 quilts I am struck by how different they are in so many ways. The colors, fabric style, one quilt is very controlled while the other is pretty loose. I really enjoyed making them both. I wonder how many others really enjoy making quilts that are so diverse. Do you prefer either very traditional patterns and fabrics, or very contemporary patterns and fabrics? Do you feel driven to go back and forth between the two as I do?

     Since this is Design Wall Monday, I had intended to show what I have on my design wall at home now. At retreat I also worked on some blocks for my solid quilt. Now will only need 2 more blocks before I can start working on the setting triangles and sashing.

         I also allowed myself to start on something new. Unfortunately I will not be able to show you these things since I am writing this from a car repair place, and I forgot to take those pictures before I left home this morning. I will have to show those later in the week, along with all of the other beautiful quits that were in progress around me at retreat.

    I know there are tons of other fabulous things to see at http://www.patchworktimes.com/ for Design Wall Monday. Go and check it out!

Thanks for stopping by!

It's Still Monday, Isn't It?-Almost?

     It's been a busy day. It looks like Monday almost got away from me-again. I am working on getting ready for a quilting retreat which will happen soon.

      My Bird Cage quilt (from last post) is still covering half of the design wall.

All of it's units are done, and I will probably bring it to retreat to sew the big pieces together. This will give me more time this week to put a couple of other projects together.

     On the other half of the design there is a   lap quilt I started last summer when I was trying to write a pattern for my Native Harvest quilt. I had to test what I was writing for the center to see if it would work. Then I decided I could just keep going until I had a lap size quilt made. I have almost all of the strip sets for it finished. I thought this would be another thing that would be easy to sew together at retreat if I get the pieces marked and stacked in order. It will also go towards my goal for making smaller versions of my quilts.










     Here is a photo of the original Native Harvest quilt.

     Don't forget to check out what else is going on at patchworktimes.com for Design Wall Monday!

     Thanks for stopping by!

Back to the Bird Cage Quilt

     Well, the jelly roll quilt I wrote about in the last post is at the quilter's.

     So, I have gone back to projects I was concentrating before I had the powerful to try that out. I have been making the pieced triangles for the last panel of my bird cage quilt.











I am using half square triangles for leaders and enders these days.

I have also made 6 of these strip sets.
 

They will be the next round on this quilt:

    That's about all for now.Thanks for stopping by!

Let's Polka Prgress, and preparing for my Show

     I have been working on the Let's Polka quilt. I have gotten all of these blocks done; but they aren't on the design wall yet because I only have about half of them trimmed.

      I also have these blocks cut out. 

 

 

      The strips are folded in half because both sizes of strips are folded together so they stay together.

     I have also been getting ready for my show in Batavia, IL July 20-22. This show is not an arts festival like I did before. This time I will take a stab at being a vendor at a quilt show, selling my patterns. 
The last time I did something like this was in Florida. I didn't do well at all. Other vendors told me my work would do better in northern states. I have always wanted to test out the theroy, so here we go!
     I have made sure that I have 50 copies each of all of my patterns copied and collated.  
     I have put together a sheet that describes my program, and all of the classes that I could teach.
     I have ordered new business cards that include my blog address, and my Etsy site address. I was hoping to get 3 new patterns made this summer, and I figure it makes perfect sense to get at least one put together in time to take to this show. I chose to get the pattern for my Native Harvest quilt finished.

      When I made this quilt the first time; there was a good deal of trial and error involved in getting that center done.I wanted to figure out a way to strip piece more efficiently. Then I had to figure out how to tell someone who is not living in my head, how to do it, so it is easily understood. In the process of writing the directions, I have a good chunk of a new quilt started. I probably won't make this quilt as big as the first one. I will just finish it out to a good lap size. It will be good to have in case I get accepted to the October Art Festival I have applied to in Blue Ridge.

      I have the cover made, the fabric requirements typed out, all of the directions written. I still need to proofread one last time, Add captions to my color chart, and add in and draw all of the figures.

     I would still like to make some note cards, but time is running out! Well That's all for now. Thanks for stopping by!

Let's Polka, Native Harvest Pattern, and Other Small Chores

     Well, the 4th of July will be over in a few minutes. I hope everyone had a lovely day spent with friends and family.

     I have been working on these blocks, for the Let's Polka Quilt :

    

     All I need to do is trim them, and they will be ready to go on the design wall with the others. By the way, I decided to put all of the blocks I have made so far on the big design wall because I wanted to be able to see them all as I pair up fabrics for future blocks, to make sure I don't repeat the same combinations too many times. Here is what I have so far.

 

      Now that I am finished with the red and white quilt, and I have cut so many strips for this quilt, I expect things to move along for this quilt quicker than they have up until now.

     I am also working on writing the pattern for the Native Harvest quilt. I want to have it done in time to bring it to Batavia, IL, with me later this month.

     I have been working on my Etsy site. I have been adding photos of backs and close ups of the quilting to many of the quilt posts that didn't already have them. I have also added several new quilts which I finished last year, but never got around to posting for one reason or another. I am working on composing my shop policies, which I have been meaning to do for a long time.

     Well that's what I have been up to lately. Thanks for stopping by!