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| First 16 inch Block Sewn Together for Spirit Song Quilt |
I'll need twelve of those 16" blocks in a 3 x 4 layout for this throw-sized quilt. This is a total procrastination project, by the way. I have no intended use or recipient in mind for this quilt. But, since it's Design Wall Monday, here are all of the blocks (before I started sewing them together) laid out on my design wall:
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| 192 Four Inch Blocks on the Wall, Final Layout |
Colors are weird in that photo because I took it late at night and then tried to correct shadows and yellow cast from incandescent lighting, etc. But that's the photo that I printed out to use as a placement guide as I'm assembling the blocks into a quilt top.
I'll be working on my never-ending Frankenwhiggish Rose needle turned applique project this afternoon with my SouthSide Stitchers Bee amigas. I feel like I've been making little green leaves FOREVER...
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| Hand Stitching for Today's Sewcializing Bee |
Colors in that photo are weird, too. Here's the first completed block:
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| Block One of Nine for Frankenwhiggish Rose Quilt |
Colors are more accurate in this photo. I completed the first block in its entirety to see how I liked it, and then started making eight more identical blocks assembly-line style: all of the stems, all of the large petals, all of the circle centers, and now I've been bogged down with putting sixteen leaves on each block for aeons... I am so looking forward to finishing the leaves and moving on to the reverse appliquéd tulips, stuffed berries, and broderie perse rosebuds at the center of each block!
One of my quilting friends and I checked out a new local shop yesterday afternoon, and I came home with some goodies:
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| Shopping Treasures from a New Local Shop, Stash Charlotte |
The store is called Stash (located in the Plaza Midwood area, for those of you who are fellow Charlotteans), and they used to sell only yarn and knitting supplies until they were bought by new owners who decided to add fabrics and Janome sewing machines. I found out about them at the Charlotte Quilters' Guild, because Stash is one of our sponsors for our upcoming March quilt show (they've donated a Janome sewing machine as a raffle prize) and I've been meaning to check them out ever since. It turns out that they are the ONLY non-chain quilt shop near Charlotte that is open on a Sunday afternoon, a crucial piece of information that I will be storing away for sure...
Stash is a very small shop and they have a lot more yarn than fabric... BUT... the fabric that they do carry is an interesting mix with an aesthetic that I like, and the manufacturer names on the bolts were kind of off-the-beaten-track, not the same lines that are carried by other quilt shops in our area. I noticed a few Japanese fabric companies that I've only seen in online shops before, and OH MY GOODNESS, y'all -- they carry LIBERTY OF LONDON!!! I have eyed those fabrics online, but with a skeptical eye due to the higher price point. Now, having seen the fabrics in person, I'm officially a groupie.
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| Liberty's Strawberry Thief Print on Tana Lawn |
The crisp clarity of Liberty's highly detailed prints reminds me of the magnificent (and stratospherically expensive) screen prints from Scalamandre. And the cotton lawn fabric that Liberty prints on has the softest hand and drapes like silk charmeuse. I know that Liberty is a favorite with quilters and crafters, but I'm thinking of using it for a light-as-a-feather blouse, skirt, or dress -- maybe in Spirit Song colors so I'll finally have something to wear to church! :-). Wouldn't this fabric be luscious for a blouse like this one from the Danish pattern designer Personal Pattern?
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| Blouse 4253 from Personal Pattern, available here |
You might have noticed some yarn in that photo of my shopping treasures, too, even though I have never even considered learning to knit. I picked two of the thinnest, most interesting variegated wool yarns because I couldn't stop petting and squeezing them like I was that crazy lady in the "Don't Squeeze the Charmin" commercial! I'm planning to experiment with them in my bobbin with decorative machine stitches, and if that doesn't work, I'll play with them in my serger loopers, and if THAT doesn't work, well, I might have to sign up for a knitting class at Stash!
I have one final picture to share with you before I wrap up this post. I have to show you what one of our pastors surprised me with after church yesterday. He had seen my Facebook post about losing our dog Otto to cancer just before Christmas, and he painted this for us from one of my photos:
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| Painted by Drew Goodson, Associate Pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in Charlotte, NC |
I was so overwhelmed. I had no idea that Pastor Drew was gifted with artistic talent in addition to his gifts for ministry. I so appreciate the outpouring of love and compassion from my blog readers as well. Thank you all so very much.
Well, once again I've lost track of time while writing a "quick blog post" and I'm on the verge of being late for my sewing bee!
Linking up today's post with:
· Oh Scrap! at Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework http://quiltingismorefunthanhousework.blogspot.com
oh so sweet of your pastor! that is so good.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know yarn could be used in a sewing machine will be interested in your experiment just out of curiosity.
Love that scrappy block
I saw shelves and shelves of Liberty fabrics when I was in England in Oct but could not decide where to start and besides, I was traveling with carry-on only. Maybe next trip. I actually could start planning the next trip, couldn't I?
ReplyDeleteNow using a fine yarn in the bobbin is a very interesting idea. I recall when I was first learning machine quilting them suggesting something like that.
The yarn can also be used to couch with. But I much prefer knitting with my yarn! Loving that quilt top! I might have to put that block in the back of my mind for the moment and visit it after the 2020 Wedding Table Toppers extravaganza!
ReplyDeleteOh what treasure that painting of Otto! what a special gift and surely must be a special church. More hugs my friend, it is just so hard to lose them.
ReplyDeleteThe gift of Otto's portrait would endear me to that pastor forever.
ReplyDeleteLiberty Lawn is sold by many higher end garment fabric stores for the exact reasons you mentioned, color, drape and silliness. I buy mine at Hart’s Fabrics. They do make beautiful tops and dresses so go for it! That is if you can quit petting it. I need to perfect a blouse pattern so I can use this luscious fabric.
You are making hay while the sun shines with your quilt projects. Love the colors in the quilt. The Frankenwiggish has taken a long time but it is hand appliqué and needed a lot of thinking and experiments to truly get going. Since the plan is in place it is a matter of implementation. Just going to your Bee could propel you to get more done with it. It will be a fabulous quilt.
What a wonderful portrait of Otto your pastor gifted you! A very sweet memorial. Another option for the yarn is couching it onto a project. It's as hard to resist a yummy yarn as it is to resist fabric!
ReplyDeleteYour post is beautiful but I have to say that your appliqué stopped me in my tracks. I haven't seen this pattern before and it is gorgeous (it doesn't hurt that your fabrics are divine either!). So beautiful. And such a beautiful gesture by your pastor - a true outpouring of love.
ReplyDeleteAdd Stash carrying Liberty of London to the list of things I just DID NOT need to know!!! What a kind and thoughtful gift your pastor gave. His painting of Otto is amazing!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful blog. was like reading a annual quilting magazine Rebecca. SO many goodies and so many projects. Cheers Glenda
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