16 x16 HSTs

 Each block is made from 16 half square triangles, in various solids. The HST blocks are 2" before assembling them into the bigger block and the finished blocks are 6.5". The solids are the same size and the top before quilting is about 35.5" square. This is my first time to do precision piecing and it really, really makes a difference. Starch and trimming to size is the key.  I am gaining confidence to make quilts that have always intimidated me in the past. And now I think that I don't have to make a whole bed size version, just a quilt big enough to say I've done it. A big Thanks! to Margo Clabo for her advice.

 I'll probably be quilting this top today. 

A New Project

 I'm making a huge bunch of half square triangles (HSTs)  for my demo on Friday. I decided that I would do a once a week thing at my sister's store and this will be my first lesson. A lesson for myself as well as the participants. 

Beginning with a set of STARCHED charm squares, all in solids, the HST blocks are made 8 at a time. Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner, both ways and then stitch 1/4" seam on each side of the drawn line. Cut on the lines and then carefully cut again into two. Voila! a nice half square triangle. The lesson for me is to carefully trim the blocks so they all measure the same, in this case, 2".

I hope to have a small quilt finished by Friday and there are so  many possibilities. See my Pinterest board.

The Finished Bosna #4

 Bosna #4. Hand dyed and commercial cottons, machine pieced and machine quilted. 66.5"x 64". This turned into a rather long and involved quilting project. After quilting the first orange square and its borders, I was faced with deciding what to do with the rest of the piece. Hmmm.

The second block was the purples and since it was more rectangular in shape, I decided on two circles. Using the smaller dinner plate as my circles, I dinked around with more feathers. I photographed it hanging slightly off my table to catch the shading. Dark colors are hard to shoot.

Next was the green square, and I was feeling adventurous. I used a soap sliver to denote the squiggles and quilted next to them, leaving the squiggles empty, but they kept looking messy, so eventually I returned and quilted them too, in a lighter green. This photo is tweaked in Picasa to show the texture.

 The last square is a hand dyed blotchy teal, and was quilted in offset rings of plumes.

And then lots and lots of skinny rows of border quilting.

  Bosna #4 was quilted on my Janome 6500P, so I guess I am convinced that I don't have to have a fancy schmancy quilting machine...O well.

Trying Traditional Quilting

 I have been trying to do more traditional designs for quilting this simple quilt, Bosna #4.

I used a big round platter for the largest circle, and a sliver of dried soap to mark the line. Then a dinner plate, salad plate and small glass for the center. 

Arts and Crafts Room

Some months ago Dave started playing around with drawing, using my art supplies, mainly colored pencils, with surprisingly good results! He had never sketched or drawn anything before, but time and insomnia gave him patience and now I am encouraging him with a studio of his own.
For Mother's Day I took my Joann's coupon (for 40% off my entire purchase) and got him paints, mediums, a palette and canvas paper (to experiment on, sans fear of stretched canvases). Then went to Target to get this indoor/outdoor carpet which can be hosed off when needed. This room gets a lot of traffic to the screened porch and patio, so we are instilling the habit of removing our shoes, except for the dogs.

The room is equipped with his stereo and a few guitars, plus a rolling cart for storing and drying canvases. I intend to give him tips on oil painting, which is the easiest of all paints for beginning, imho.

The ceiling has a central light and recessed lights all around for shadow free creating. Let's hope the paint stays on the canvas...

In other news, the new quilt is on the bed, just for photos. I'm kinda liking the center strip of patchwork. 

QAYG Hot off the presses!

Last week I became determined to finish this quilt and quilt another one by today, for our Arty Girls meeting. But life got complicated and I only got this one done, just now.

It's made from scrappy blocks that I pieced at my old house about two years ago. I quilted it in sections and used narrow connecting strips to join the sections. Then I decided it wouldn't be wide enough to cover my 14" deep mattress, so I add a six inch strip down the center. Now it measures 70x96", just right. 

I refer to this as an ABC quilt...meaning already been chewed, which it hasn't been yet, but I presume it will join a closet full of other quilts with little doggie holes from our Tony.

Teaching Again

Mini-Spiderweb block

As many of you know, my sister Brooke is manager of Ready Set Sew, a local quilt shop and sewing machine heaven. I have been doing a little teaching there and decided that this is really fun! We have discussed doing a small 2 hour demo/class, once a week and it will be for new quilters, or folks who just want to learn the tricks of making some great quilt blocks.
I've been watching Youtube tutes and looking at online patchwork tutorials and am excited about the fun shortcuts and clever ideas I have found there, and want to share them with folks.

And at the same time, I felt I needed a deadline of some sort to get motivated to finish some tops that I made months ago. Starting with my arty quilt pals, we are meeting this week to discuss having regular get-togethers to share finished works, of our own design. Knowing I will have a 'reason' to get something done, will help me focus.
The weather has been sooooo beautiful and my garden patio so enticing, that I find myself lounging in the warm Spring sun for hours! That's where I've been and why I have neglected checking in here. No gardening left to do, no knitting, no sewing, just relaxing.