The Christmas Quilt - A Different Path

 

I'm not much for doing block of the month (BOM) projects. I've tried a few but something always seems to interfere with makin all the blocks. One of these days I need to take those blocks and turn them into placemats as a charity project. But that's for another day.

When the Christmas Quilt BOM was announced by The Quilter's Market, where I teach, I decided I would do this and give it as a gift to my son and family. It is, by far, the most expensive quilt commitment I have made in my years of quilting. There's a monthly fee and, as I discovered at the first meeting on Saturday, embellishment kits and tools to make the project process smoother. I have no problems with either as I love embellishments and tools. I'm not only making an investment in the quilt; I'm making an investment in the fun I will have making it and the delight of giving it to my loved ones.

I have created two Picasa Web albums. The first -- Christmas Quilt Samples - Instructor shows block samples and close-ups. There will be two blocks a month for eight months (skipping July). The second album, Christmas Quilt Joanna Variations, has my samples.

After attending the first BOM meeting I decided I wanted to try something different than the techniques presented by the instructor. I usually tell my students to try the instructor's techniques first then adapt. In this instance I feel I have enough experience to head out on my own.

As detailed in previous messages, I recently finished a baby quilt that had about 100 appliques. I used the technique taught by Sharon Schamber. There were times I really struggled with the process but I mostly conquered it. Then I got Beth Ferrer's More Hand Applique by Hand book. While the techniques are similar, there are some significant differences.

I decided I would like to try my own variation of the wash-away applique fabric method.I didn't want to start out with the fabric pack provided in our first class, so I assembled fabrics from my stash. ood thing I experimented! My first attempt was a disaster! I didn't realize that I needed to scan the hand applique block pattern and then flip it horizontally to get the proper orientation after I fused the wash-away to my fabrics. I discovered the problem when I went to glue the red M to my fabric background.

Great learnings come from mistakes so I started over. The result is shown here and in the album. So far, I'm pleased.

My next challenge is reactivating my embroidery skills. I haven't done any serious embroidery for at least five years. If the muscle memory comes back I'll start work on the block using my fabric kit.

What fun!

Colorado Railroad Museum

Make a Smilebox digital scrapbook

Creativity takes many forms. Tonight I did some free-motion quilting and then came in to play with my computer graphics programs and create a few Smilebox presentations.

Nothing like a doting Grandma, is there?

The Story of Oslene's Quilt

I was horrifed when I saw the devastation that was caused by the earthquake in Haiti. It was a country I'd never really thought about. Vague neative mind ticklers but nothing specific. No desire to ever go there.

The initial pictures of the disaster evoked memories of other disasters in my lifetime. Hurricane Andrew. Oklahoma City. Katrina. The tsunami. Wildfires. Most of all 9/11 and my mother saying over and over again "The children, the poor children, so many orphaned."

Haiti became personal when my dear daughter-in-law Tina forwarded a message from her good friend Shushawn. Shushawn and her husband David were in the process of adopting an 11-month-old baby, Oslene, from a Haitian orphanage.

Never underestimate the power of prayer and determined people! Emails began to fly around. These orphans needed to get out of Haiti and into their loving forever homes! Fox News and CNN broadcast coverage of the orphanage around the world. Nothing happened immediately then American Senators and other government officials and aid groups began to respond.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Every baby needs a loving home and a quilt. I looked through my books and found the ideal one for Oslene in P.S. I Love You Two! by Nancy J. Smith and Lynda S. Milligan. I had made the Bye Baby Bunting quilt from that book for my grandsons Lukas and Nikolaus.

I went into my stash of fabrics and discovered I had good amounts left from those quilts. I began cutting and sewing, early work mornings and evenings and weekends.

The news from Haiti was not good. Many of the children had made it to Miami but not Oslene. Paperwork this and that. I didn't stop work on the quilt. I was learning much as I worked with it.

Then the joyful news from her parents. They were to fly to Miami immediately to get their daughter!

Shushawn asked those in her circle of friends and acquaintances to respect their need to introduce Oslene to her new world slowly. That was fine with me. I would bring her quilt, now almost finished, to Denver when I visited for Valentine's weekend. I could even sign it there. That was my only remaining task to finish the quilt.

That plan changed as soon as I arrived at my son's home. Tina needed to pick up Lukas from daycare "and Shushawn may be there picking up her son."

No signature on the quilt but that wasn't important. Important was heading out the door!

At the preschool there was Shushawn ... and Oslene! We chatted for a few moments then Shushawn tucked the quilt around Oslene and I snapped a few photos. "Send me one with Oslene and the quilt," I asked.

Shushawn did.

Oslene is beginning to adapt to her family and new life in America. The road ahead will likely contain bumps but one thing is assured: Oslene is surrounded by a loving circle of people who wish her only the best from life.

Valentine's Day Visit

Make a Smilebox photobook

This is my first attempt at creating a Smilebox digital scrapbook. So far it looks like a fun way to capture photo memories. What do you think? I have all of the photos used here in my Picasa album .... http://picasaweb.google.com/shimmers411/ValentineSVisit2010#
Are these complementary presentations?

A Plea for Haiti Orphans!

My dear daughter-in-law forwarded this plea from her good friend who was in the process of adopting a Haitian orphan when the earthquake struck. Please, take a few minutes to write or call your representatives!

   -- Joanna

Letter from the mom who is adopting:

Email text you are welcome to use or copy:

The Haiti orphans don’t have a lot of time!  Food and water is still not reaching them and the babies will start to die soon.  Many have already begun the adoption process and their American parents want to rescue them now!

I implore you, PLEASE act quickly on authorizing these “humanitarian paroles” or visas to get these children here and safe before it’s too late!  Every second counts for those precious babies.

UFO Finished!

Yesterday I finished the free-motion quilting on this project and began hand sewing the binding. Finished the binding watching the morning shows and football (temporarily changed allegance and rooted for the Vikings!).

This is one of the reasons I made the commitment to learn free-motion quilting. I pieced this little quilt perhaps three years ago. So long ago I've forgotten where I got the pattern. The fabric was leftovers from my Christmas Cat quilt (still not finished ... waiting for the skill to improve more). It's been sitting in one of several UFO piles.

This combines straight line and free-motion quilting. I secured the gold border using stitch in the ditch. The red and floral blocks had straight line stitching. The free-motion stitching was leaves in the gold areas and then flowers in the brown blocks and around the quilt in the red border. I used gold-orange-red varigated thread.

I'm really pleased with the result!

I'm going to use this as a table topper and concert picnic quilt. I've named it "The Haiti Quilt" as the colors remind me of the Caribbean and much of the free-motion quilting was completed while watching the news coverage of the horrific earthquake destruction in Haiti.

If anyone recognizes the pattern/designer, please let me know so I can offer attribution adn thanks for a great pattern.

Not My Colors?

 

Several weeks ago, when I was at Girls Night Out, I was looking at the Hoffman Bali Pops and a friend commented that one I was holding didn't look like my colors. She was right. I rarely buy or work in pastels.

So I bought the pastel package.

Saturday morning I decided I needed a change of pace from free-motion quilting practice. I pulled out the Bali Pops and began sewing strips together. What a dream on the Juki! They went together quickly in a pattern from the Quilters Market Strippers Club. Just a few more seams and it will be ready to decide on borders.

With a few exceptions, I don't decide on borders until the piece is ready. I may have a concept in advance, but the final decision comes when I can step back and look at the project. Borders can change the entire look of a quilt. With this one, they will help pull out on or two specific colors. I'm thinking of a cream inner border and a blue or green outer border.

It's exciting seeing this come to fruition! And I really like the pastels.

What do you think? Is this my colors or not?