DWM 5-30-16: Lots of little stuff... and a big dilemma

My design wall is a hodge-podge of blocks today. Lots of projects but nothing is far enough along to be anything yet.

Miscellaneous stuff on my wall

From left to right:
Blocks for a fund raiser quilt. This quilt will be raffled off to help support The Quintessential Quilt 2017 quilt show in University City MO. Members of CSQ guild are all making blocks - several types - and sashing units for this quilt. Blocks are due at the July meeting.

Raffle quilt blocks

A Bee block in greens. She asked us to raid our green scraps, and I had a lot of greens.

Scrappy green bee block

Purple test blocks for a new project. I'll work on piecing more of these Log Cabin Triangle blocks at a sew-in and a retreat later in June. 

LC Triangle test blocks

A priority on the schedule for June: quilting Dancing Plus. Here's part of it, pinned and basted. (You can see the whole top in yesterday's post; scroll down.)

Dancing Plus pinned & basted for quilting

For budget reasons I need to quilt it myself, not send it to a long armer, but it will be the largest I've ever attempted. My quilting skills are limited to the walking foot and free motion meandering. I've considered several design possibilities, including wavy organic lines a la Lorna of Sew Fresh Quilts, an allover meander, and a modified meander. 

I'm considering a modified meander with circles in each of the pluses. You can see some of the markings above. I tried a small test, placing the circles the same distance apart they would be in the actual quilt top. Here's the back side of my test swatch:

Quilting test

The circles measure a little less than 3" across. With the stitch regulator on my new Bernina I can manage to sew around them on the markings, although they're by no means perfect circles. I thought about trying to meander the background and FMQ in the ditch around the plus shapes, but it's a lot of sharp turns. The circles may be easier. 

Or not. This quilt is 60 x 75" and that's a lot of weight to wrestle with. I'm very apprehensive about quilting this one. Maybe I should go back to the organic wavy lines concept after all. 

Input and suggestions are welcome; please leave a comment. 

Linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times

May Stash Report and Goals Update

OK, technically we have a couple more days in May, but with no finishes or purchases planned, I can go ahead and post my monthly update today.

Stash Report:
May IN: 2 yards (Aussie print)
May OUT: 2-5/8 yards (2 for backing & 3/8 for binding for F9P; 1/4 yd for doll dress)
Month change: 5/8 yards out

YTD IN: 56-1/8 yards
YTD OUT: 52-7/8
YTD Net change: 3-1/4 yards added to stash

Not too bad; I can certainly recover to break even for the year if I have some finishes as planned.

Aussie print acquired in May for new version of 

Positivity from Cut and Shuffle Quilts

Goals update:

May recap:
1. Layer & baste at least one existing top. DONE; basted Dancing Plus and also marked it for quilting. 
2. Prep backing for Maple Leaf Star top and take top, backing, etc. to long arm quilter.  DONE
3. Plan a project to piece during Sew-In in June.  DONE - LC Triangles
4. Make one outfit or accessory set for doll.  DONE - Made both accessories and a dress
5. Keep up with Bee blocks.  DONE
Other: Layered, basted, quilted and bound Framed 9 Patch tutorial sample. 

Framed Nine Patch tutorial sample

June Goals:
1. Quilt Dancing Plus
2. Piece one new top at Sew-in and GS camp
3. Finish collecting fabrics for PAussietivity and cut out
4. Plan and organize Christmas In July blog hop project & post
5. Make one doll outfit
6. Keep up with bee blocks
7. If returned from the long armer, finish SID quilting on Maple Leaf Star

That's a lot to keep me busy, and some of those projects have deadlines! I guess I'll have to stay focused.

Dancing Plus top to be quilted

Linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times

Hands2Help: A special chemo quilt

Back in February & March when I was working on this quilt, I said it was for Hands2Help Happy Chemo.

Positively Radiant, 2016, 62 x 62"

Then a local need arose, so I talked to Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict, who organizes the Hands2Help challenge. I asked her if I could give this quilt to a local chemo patient, a member of my Modern bee, instead of sending it away to Happy Chemo.  Sarah said sure, and reminded me to link up to Hands2Help.

This quilt, originally referred to as the "busy pink plus quilt" was christened "Positively Radiant" by a blog reader. I think the name is so fitting!

"Positively Radiant" was given to my local friend, along with a care package from all of us in the bee. Our friend is incredibly strong, and we're all hoping for a good outcome for her. Meanwhile, she was very touched by our gifts, including this quilt.

Linking up with Hands2Help at Confessions of a Fabric Addict

 

Hands2Help, Happy Chemo Quilt #2

This quilt was made a few months ago so I could practice spiral quilting on my brand-new Bernina, to become familiar with the new machine and improve my quilting. I'm sending it to Happy Chemo for Hands2Help. Hands2Help is a comfort quilt donation drive organized by Sarah over at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

At 44" x 58" it's a small lap size, but maybe it will bring comfort to a young girl or teen who's going through a tough time. I knew when I made this quilt that it would be a donation quilt. I'm very fortunate to be able to make quilts to give to others.

Sarah has at least 125 participants in Hands2Help this year. Check out what everyone's been making in her link up over at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

Experimental Blocks - Log Cabin Triangles

I've been experimenting with some simple blocks. These are HSTs partially surrounded with logs, and they'll finish at 9". I'm using some of that purple from Paducah, plus lots of low volume neutrals.

LC Triangle Blocks

One of my goals for this month is to kit up a project to piece at an all day sew-in in June, so this is the beginning of that project. Like any log cabin design, there are lots of layout possibilities for playing with the light/dark placement. But since these are not exactly half light and half dark, the resulting patterns will be wonkier or more interesting.

LC Triangles, Layout Possibility

So far so good. I have some periwinkle (blue-violet) that harmonizes well with this red-violet. I think I'll kit up some of both colors and lots of neutral logs, piece the blocks at my sew-in, and play with the layout when I have lots of blocks to work with.

Since I missed the stash report yesterday, here's the update: No fabric in, 1/4 yard out for doll dress.

Linking up with Patchwork Times

Hands2Help: Happy Chemo

Each year Sarah over at Confessions of a Fabric Addict organizes a drive for comfort quilts called Hands2Help. Last year was my first time to participate, and this year I jumped in again because it's such a worthwhile endeavor.

This masculine quilt that I finished in April is destined for Happy Chemo. I specifically chose manly colors and prints, but I actually love this black & tan combo myself.

At 58" x 58", this is a good lap size, and I hope it brings comfort to someone. It was a pleasure to make and I'm glad to have a place to send it to. Much better than just taking up space in my closet!

You can see more Hands2Help quilts over at Sarah's blog. She has 125 participants this year. Check out all the inspiration at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

Stephanie's Cut and Shuffle Plus Quilt

My friend Stephanie Palmer of Late Night Quilter and The Quilter's Planner fame has made a quilt using the block construction method in my book Cut and Shuffle Quilts.

Stephanie kindly agreed to make blocks and post a book review of Cut and Shuffle Quilts. She went way above and beyond! She made several of my Plus blocks using the Block Mama method of making a parent block, cutting it up, and shuffling the parts. Her quilt is awesome! She totally made it her own using a modern layout with lots of negative space. And her quilting is spectacular.

Image from Stephanie Palmer at Late Night Quilter

Stephanie used her Cut and Shuffle Plus quilt as a teaching sample at a retreat in Fredericksburg, Texas. Check out her post here for more about her classes and the retreat center. It looks so inviting!

Stephanie's layout and quilting really enhance the Plus block in the quilt above. Below is my original version as featured in Cut and Shuffle Quilts.

If you're interested, you can purchase Cut and Shuffle Quilts from Amazon.com or AQS. If you'd like a signed copy you can order directly from me ($24.95 includes shipping) by leaving a comment; US only please.