Applique

At long last, I've been doing some applique.  This is the Heart's Infatuation (my variation of Esther Aliu's Heart's Desire) that I've been ignoring for most of 2012.  

I have been working it in panels and today combined the 3 sections.  I spent a good bit of time adding about 9 of the dots that are the stamens on the lower panel.  I also stitched down the 2 stems that connect the heart logo to the left-side flowers.

Now I have a whole lot of vining and petals to do.

My "to do" list:
* leaves for the lower left.
* blue stamens for the 3 left flowers.
* connecting vining of some sort from the bird to the lower right.
* ditto the center loop section toward the left
* one more bracket of 4 hearts on the right side
* design tropunto for the center 1/6th of the quilt to include all the bits and pieces from the outer border.

Dress Done

I did get this dress done and ready to wear to work today...but with a cardigan to hide the issues with the bodice.  Every time I make some clothing, I think I've made all the right adjustments until I get it done.  Bah. This sheath pattern needs some tucks in the neckline before it's cut out.   And I'm not sure that I'm crazy about the cap sleeve detail.  The bias binding makes them stick out more than I'd like.  Oh well...this was intended to be my "muslin" version of this pattern...I just had hope it would be the perfect fit in the first round.

Back to the drawing board (after a day long test drive to see what else I may or may not like about the pattern)...then on to make a version of this out of jelly roll strips.

This fabric is a Kathy Hall for Andover Fabric that I bought on clearance at the quilt shop in Halfway, OR on the shop hop.  The pattern is Simplicity 6643.

Excuses

I have an amazingly long list of excuses for why I am not getting much in the way of quilting done.  You know...things like a couple vacations, work, a hit and run accident 300 miles from my home (600 from the car owner's home) that took a week to fix, distractions of buying non-quilt fabrics for clothing, work, family, Father's day, and chores.  There's more...but those are the highlights.

I did applique one of the blocks for this wedding quilt Anna is making for her son David.  (She made this block...I didn't take a photo of the one I worked on.)

You can also read the fabric details of our trip to Portland at Victoria Rose Quilts Blog.

 I have been slowly adding to the pile of melons for a Double Wedding Ring quilt for someone marrying a Marine.  Though not absolutely scarlet and gold, they do hint at the correct colors.

I have a growing mound of garment fabrics that I am determined to turn into summer dresses and tank tops.

I've been waiting for the sale at JoAnn's on McCall & Vouge patterns.  Sadly, I don't have a very good record on completing clothing projects.  I finish 1 for every 14 that I purchase fabrics, patterns and notions for.

Fingers crossed.   Maybe if I swear that I'll post about the clothing I'll get something done.

Portland, OR

Fabric Depot was definitely worth the drive.  It was a rather overwhelming store with thousands of batiks being just a small section.  Check out this dress sample made from jelly roll strips!!!  Yes.  I bought that pattern because of the sample.  I was actually very, very good and only bought 10 1/3 yard cuts of batik...oh and a couple yards of a white with grey b/c I've never seen a white background batik before and I knew I'd regret it if I didn't buy it.  Most of my purchases, however, were for clothing.

I can't wait to wear this Vouge 2787 dress made from a magenta bamboo knit that I bought.

There are a several other knits destined to be tank tops, dresses and cartigans. 

Today we're off to Powell's books, the Japanese Garden then Pendleton wollen mills in Washougal (we stopped at the one in Pendleton yesterday).

Tomorrow may be a drive past Mt Hood, then to Bend via Sisters OR.

Time to play!!! Ta.

Road Trip

Anna of Victora Rose Quilts is here to celebrate our birthdays (hers being May 21 and mine yesterday).  We decided earlier this spring to celebrate together since this is one of those years for her that ends in a "0" which somehow makes it more important.  Both of our husbands also had "0" years (their birthdays were in Jan/Feb) and had done "bucket list" trips to celebrate theirs.  Last night, we were busy planning a Saturday quilt shop of some Eastern Oregon shops, then decided that since neither of us had fabric shopped in Tri-cities, WA that might be a better idea.  But then Anna noticed the 25% off coupon in the Quilters Travel Companion I have for Fabric Depot and before bed Portland became our destination. As soon as we saw this "fabric porn" shot from their blog header, it was a done deal.   Even in the sober light of day that seems like a good idea.   Coffee, shower, pack, and we're off.  Certainly 420 miles each way is not too far for fabric.

Fabric-less Vacation

Can you believe this...I went on a week long vacation and didn't buy a single piece of fabric.
That's not to say I wasn't doing things that were appropriately quilt related.

While we were lining up for Rolling Thunder (a motorcycle even in Washington DC with 1/2- 1 million bikes riding in memory/honor of MIA/POW), we met Mike Frazier and a group of Nam Knights.  Mike is a Marine who served in Afghanistan.  Not only will he be getting the Quilts of Valor quilt my group made, but we're on a mad dash to make a wedding quilt for him and his Navy nurse fiance Monica.

I was also reminded when I went to the National Museum of Art that I really need to finish the quilt that I started of this painting - Monet's Lady with Parasol.

This is about where I lost momentum.

I bought books to make new quilts that I don't have time for.

And I have a sketch book full of applique ideas like Miro's Dog Barking at the Moon.

Plus tons of architectural details from the Smithsonian that will someday be quilting patterns.


But for now...I must dash off to work so I can pay off the bills from the vacation!

Bright Shiny Objects

I started my day determined to finish this quilt.  It's my variation of Elizabeth Hartman's Knee Socks Quilt Block.  I say variation because I had a bunch of strips in various widths and colors left over from the Quilts of Valor project that my Quilt Group worked on.

Since they were unpredictable widths, I made the end pieces about an inch wider, which allowed me to line everything up and trim these blocks to  12.5".

I was making great progress until I hit about 10 am and realized that I have some major gaps in my wardrobe for my next vacation, and this was my last week-day off to fix the problem.

I did find a mesh style motorcycle jacket to survive the Virginia humidity.

However, I was not successful finding nice cool cotton tops to wear.  This season's tank tops all appear to be polyester.  Ick.

So I went home and pulled some pink cotton t-shirt fabric out and tried sewing up a Simplicity tank pattern.  It fits much worse than this blurry photo suggests.  There are odd gaps at the arm holes.

I started re-drafting a pattern, but decided I needed to make a quick ride to Calidonia - the amazing fabric store that has yummy fabrics.  If you have to ask the price, you can't afford it.

I came home with a yard of a purple bamboo blend knit.

And this cool lycra blend which I plan to turn into a work-out style tank.

Ditto with this one.

Then I came home and threw a turkey in the oven (it's been in the freezer since November and I just realized it was there).  While it was cooking, I tried to sort out several tank patterns, then gave up and cleaned the house (company arriving tomorrow).  As the bird was resting, Zoe stopped by and I was inspired to finish sewing the Utah pillows that I'd made to commemorate Spring Break.

Zippers were hastily added to both girl's pillows and another thing crossed off the to do list.

And at long last, I spent the last 30 minutes piecing together the quilt I was going to finish at 10 am.

It was going to be another Quilts of Valor quilt, but as I was finishing up, decided that it needed to be a Groom's Quilt for another friend name Dave.  He's Army National Guard and has had several overseas deployments.  That counts right?

And besides...I know Dave.  He WILL be sleeping on the couch.