Multifarious Monday

I'm going to start this post with one more challenge quilt. 

Here is Sandra's description. (the bow tie top center was the block she got in Houston from me)

I just finished the top I designed after you let me choose an antique block when I was at the Houston quilt show with my mom last year. I just have to figure out the border now.

For the fabrics, I decided to go with the inspirations I got at the show. I picked up some wonderful vintage fabrics from a stall at the show, and I just loved the cow block, especially because it was a mama and her little calf! When I got home, I pondered what to do with the antique block and decided to look for Liberty fabrics in a similar color way. After that, it was just a matter of finding some matching Kona solids and having my family randomly choose numbers between 1 and 100 so I could make blocks from Tula Pink’s 100 Modern Quilt Blocks. I really like how this lap quilt is turning out. I think I’ll probably just put a 4” white border around the perimeter, but to do that I’ll have to go get some more Kona Snow!

If you’re looking at the squares (ignoring the cow block), the ones with vintage fabric are numbers 1, 3 (that’s the antique block I received), 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 16, and 18. The rest are Liberty fabrics. Some of the blocks even combine the two (4, 8, and 9).

Boom! Such a great job Sandra!!

I used this quilt as my backdrop for my Zoom lectures and thought I'd leave it up for family photos. I'm so glad I did! We got some great pictures. You likely have seen them on Facebook  or Instagram, but thought I'd share a couple of my favorites here. 

Family Fun!

I got my sister out of bed for a sunrise hike!

No snow, but can you tell how cold we were??!! Brrrrrrr. It was beautiful!

Wow, I can hardly believe it is the last day of November. I'm ready to embrace December whatever it may hold.

Choose to make it an amazing week!

 

2020 Antique Block Challenge Part 2

Connie R was part of our Houston challenge but cannot find her block. I know she is the queen of quilt re-do and renews and asked her to send me a few of her do-overs. 

These huge Dresden blocks were appliqued onto black double  knit when she found it. It looks like classic 30's to me now!

The blocks were all "volcanoed" when she found them. She took them completely apart, recut them and set them with gingham sashing. The fan quilting is a great touch. 

This was a completed top that was ragged on the edges, torn seams and didn't lay flat at all. She took it all apart, recut the elongated hexagons and put it all back together. Stellar! Thanks Connie!

Karyn finally got these beautiful vintage embroidered blocks together and made this fall table runner!!

I love everything about this!

These are Laura L antique blocks from c 1840. I deconstructed the blocks and used the fabrics to make my small quilt. (below)

Oh my! Darling as ever! Love it Laura!

 

Diane shared these on the Facebook group. Here's what she wrote about them: These are two of my quilts from old Chips and Whetstones blocks. Both quilts are finished with fabric from 1860-1910. I've dated the red in the center to 1850-1860. I purchased the block in the white quilt on Etsy in 2012 and finished it in 2013. When the challenge was announced, I went searching for an old block to use and found the identical block on Etsy from a different seller. I had to replace different damaged fabrics in the two blocks but I could tell they were made by the same person. I named the first one "Chips and Whetstones" and the second one "Serendipity!"

Thanks Diane! They are both super special!

Julie has an adorable 8 pointed star in 30's fabric! See  her blog post HERE. 

I had a really nice Thanksgiving day and  am heading out for an early morning hike! 

Have a weekend full of gratitude.

Much Love

2020 Thanksgiving

I posted this on my Facebook page but want to make sure my blog readers got to see it as well.

Happy Thanksgving!

 

2020 Antique Block Challenge

Here are the quilts from the challenge I put out last year in Houston and then recently to any reader of Humble Quilts. We started with a vintage block and created from there. 

I'm calling mine Licorice Allsorts, since the pink and black reminded me of that candy.  I shared a sneak peak of the zig zag border. I use this border treatment a lot. It looks more complicated than it is. 

Next up in Lizzy's  Here's the link to her blog post sharing more about her challenge quilt- HERE. 

Here's her pretty split backing.

Next up:

Kevin the Quilter. He accepted the "humble" part of the challenge. You have to be flexible with vintage blocks! Usually there is a reason they didn't make it in a quilt. LOL  I LOVE everything about this. 

He tried somethign new. He had some beautiful flannel and folded it over- one layer is the batting and one layer is the backing. He loves how flat it is. If you scroll back up at the front, he also folded the back over to the front. Good job Kevin for trying a new technique. That's one thing nice about small quilts- they are great to practice on!

Liz H was inspired by a quilt she saw on Betsy Chutchian's instagram post.

Bright and bold statement! LOVE these fabrics and colors.

Such a darling backing. 

Lois had some vintage blocks form her Grandmother and used them to make this special and beautiful quilt. I love everything about it! Especially the history. 

Mary B had 4 cute but brittle crazy blocks. She worked some real magic here! The little daisies were original to the quilt blocks. 

Here's the blocks Mary had to work with. 

 Betsy L shares this adorable vignette using the double nine patch blocks that she repurposed for the challenge. Super primitive and adorable!

Susan V made this beauty to go with her orphan tree block. WOW! Will be stunning for the holidays. She said she likely won't get it quilted right away, but will still be displayed. (that's a lotta HST in that tree block!)

Virginia made this from 2 Dresden plate orphan blocks. Look at that cute pieced strip in the border!!

Here is another from Virginia. She unsewed, washed and resewd!! Funny how we like to do that!! 

Cecile from France was given a block in Houston last year and her blog is HERE to see her challenge. 

Janet O joined in as well! She was in Houston and was so fun to meet up. See her challenge HERE. 

If you joined the challenge and your link or quilt is not here please send me a message at ldej@crestviewcable.com and I'll get it added!

That was wonderful and inspiring! Thank you all!!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. 

Much love

Log Cabins

Here is the log cabin block for the Anniversary Quilt I'm working on. The borders are ready to applique! I pieced the strips on this one, then applied the fusible. 

One purchase I have NEVER regretted is the applique pressing sheet. Check it out HERE. (this is one of many sites with this product) 

This log cabin has 7 pieces. I can lay them all out on the pressing sheet, move them into the correct place, then press. The pieces all stick together, but once it cools I can lift it off the teflon sheet. Now I can place it on my border, press, and it will fuse and then I'll machine applique. 

I've used this teflon pressing mat for at least 15 years and I love it!

 

Sometimes it is easier to just dump out the totes! The room is now cleaned up ready for my nephew to stay here later this week.  

 

 

 

It's been cold, but cannot let a bluebird day go to waste! 

 

 

Make it a great week!

 

 

Fun on A Friday!

Happy Friday Friends!

Here's a sneak peak at a vintage quilt purchase! Oh my goodness, it is darling as can be! Who doesn't love polka dots??!! More to come.

Here's my instagram from the last several weeks. 

A couple things:

I'm in charge of the Angel Tree program this year and we had a whopping 62 kids. In ONE Sunday, with less people attending (more watching from home these days) and a few texts on Monday all names were spoken for. With our "freeze" the next 2 weeks our church will not be meeting, so I am thrilled as ever! 

We are still planning on sharing our antique quilt challenge quilt on Wednesday. If you want to send me a photo I'll post it on my blog. If you want to know what that's about click HERE. 

My in person quilt guild meeting is on FREEZE as well! So don't show up, because nobody will be there. I'll be getting my second lecture organized to Zoom this coming week.

Karen asked why is Zoom necessary. Here's a short update on my Zoom experience.

I've attended lectures with hundreds of participants. You can only hear the speaker and usually they have a slide show to present that they are narrating. There is a chat box to use if you have a question. 

I used Zoom to do my "String Quilts your Way" workshop. It was a small class but I was able to use 2 cameras, one on me while speaking, and one facing down on the table. I could toggle between both cameras easily. 

When I present for a guild, I'll be a co-host and the participants will also be muted (the host will have controls for that) and I'll be able to share my slide show and speak while it is going. The Host can monitor for questions.  

It isn't ideal, but it is a great alternative during these days and likely months to come. If you plan on attending a Zoom meeting for the best possible experience download Zoom to your desktop computer, ipad, or phone! You can even do a test meeting so you can figure out the controls. Go HERE for more info. 

I hope that more of you will look at this alternative to in person gatherings if your area isn't allowing them. 

If your guild needs speakers, I'm filling up my 2021 schedule right now! Check out my lectures and workshops HERE. 

Have an amazing weekend!

 

Primitive Pieces

Now that the Bushong Quilt is complete, its time to get back to this one. 

I think this will be a fun primitive piece to work on this winter. The borders on this quilt are a whopping 12" all full of various applique. 

The top center has embroidery that you cannot see so I'm considering adding them in applique. 

I'd like to do that before adding on the top piece so I'm not having to put it all under the needle, just that smaller top section. 

And here is where you can find the pattern .

I've recently started donating blood again. Today is my day. The Red Cross is very short on blood and with Covid more people are not donating. I hope you'll consider it! Obviously the Red Cross is extremely careful and take all precautions! 

They are also doing Covid antibody testing so if you have had covid and maybe you didn't even know it, you will now know. If you test positive for the antibody you can help others seriously ill with Covid with your plasma! (this is not the same as a covid test!) 

People who have fully recovered from COVID-19 for at least two weeks are encouraged to consider donating plasma, which may help save the lives of other patients. COVID-19 convalescent plasma must only be collected from recovered individuals if they are eligible to donate blood.Oct 22, 2020

Love you friends! take care!

 

Sparkling Star

Last week I string pieced some diamonds to test a block for the String Class I taught online on Saturday.  I'll interject here, I had a really fun time and I think the participants did too.

So, when class was over I finished this star. I'm going to lose a few outside points but I can live with that. 

I'm considering making this the center of a medallion quilt. 

I forgot how fiddly it was to assemble a LeMoyne star!

The dogs are usually in the living room, but because I was set up in the kitchen, they wanted to be nearby. I accommodated them!! 

On another note, I thought the Zoom workshop went very well. I'd love to know if you've done a class, what you liked, what you didn't like. Would you be interested in taking a class with me? What subject matter would you like to learn? It was mentioned maybe a machine applique class. Would that interest you?

I'm going to make it a great week, how about you? 

Much love

 

Still Stringin'....

       I was testing a 12" 8 pointed star and decided to try some solids. Wow! I love it! I'm hoping to get the other 4 points done this weekend. 

Here's a link to a new video- HERE I think it comes in better when you aren't watching it through the blog. 

My class is tomorrow morning and I'd love for you to join us! Sign up HERE.  

It is from 8-12 Pacific Time. 

Have an amazing weekend!! 

Buhl Bushong Finish! Boom!

My lighting wasn't the best but here it is!! 

 

It is about 87" square and was quilted by Sharon of Grass Roots Quilting.  She is great about making sure what you want works with your quilt. We bounced back and forth lots of ideas and sketches until something clicked! I can recommend her highly. The batting is Quilters Dream 100% cotton select. Thanks for cheering me on to get this complete! My first post about it was Sept 11, 2019