No magic wand needed.

I'd like to begin today's post by saying Happy Birthday to Finn. If you have a moment why not drop by her blog and wish her a Great Day!

Some of you may be wondering how I can possibly piece a quilt top so quickly. Well okay, yes, some are done faster than others. However, awhile back when I was teaching in a 3-state range, while working full time and doing commissioned quilts, I learned the art of fabric preparedness. Basically this means I spent a lot of time prepping and cutting pieces. From pretty much every single fabric that I buy. Yes, this takes time. But, and here's the glimmer, it pays off if you're doing quilts or blocks with same size pieces. Also, you can do it in stages and slowly build up your collection. No magic wand, no marathon shopping sprees, simple progress in slow degrees.

This is also a wonderful way to learn about color. I realize that you can now go out and purchase fully coordinated jelly rolls, charm packs, quilt kits, etc. And . . . there are many lovely pre-selected fabric groupings out there, believe me I love them too. However, if you really want to learn, begin by working with every single color you own.

One way to do that is with your fabric library. Here is a picture of my 2-1/2" square library. Well most of them. Many blues are in a separate box. Yes, it's a suitcase; meaning it's portable, fits my lifestyle, and only cost $3.00 at the thrift store. But from it, I can work with a vast array of squares easily.

And when I want to play in pastels, I simply pull out all light to mediums in soft baby tones. Working on my design wall, I place each one. It may not look like it at first glance, but this piece is for advanced color work. Balancing light, medium, and dark; soft and bright; white or slightly muddy. No, I don't need an expansive collection of Aunt Grace's, Aunt Sadie's, Cousin Bertha's, or Yosemite Sam's. Some would be nice, yes. But this is my collection, no one else's.

It represents who I am simply by its portrayal of color.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . . .

Ahhh yes . . .

You knew it was coming didn't you? Big Blue is growing by leaps and bounds. And what could be better than an excursion to Blue Ridge, GA on a sunny Fall day? A very quick excursion mind you, but great fun nonetheless.

Besides, they were having a sale . . . . on fat quarters, (well okay, some fat quarters). And who can resist this pomegranite color. It is the most lucious color I've seen in ages. Now if only Dawn would drop by and show me what pattern I can use it in. She'll have just the right idea I know. (I'll even make cookies Dawn!)

To top it all off, my new Vintage Quilts magazines came in. (These are older issues, but currently still available.) Inside are many lovely old quilts, but one in particular caught my attention. It's difficult to see in the magazine I know, but it's a Pennsylvania Dutch double Irish chain variation. I took along my school bus orange and Civil War green in order to find the perfect red. I mean PERFECT. It's sooo wonderful, I want to order a bolt of it. Well a gal can dream can't she? (It shows up very dark so you'll have to trust me.)

Not to worry, Big Blue has to get done first. Has anybody seen my box of time?

Oldie, but Goodie

Churn dash has got to be one of my all time favorites. (Yes, I know, I have a lot of those.) However, it seems that no matter what size block, or color, or even placement you decide on, they all come out beautifully.

This treasure has held it's color better than the D.I.C. It is 18 years old now and I keep thinking, "why don't I make this pattern more often?" Well it could be because I have so many others to finish up. Duhhh, silly me. It's so simple and so nice to teach to beginning quilters.




In order to make the back more interesting, I chose to quilt the looped star pattern on the churn dash block and the feathered wreath on the alternating plain block. The half circle pattern done along the borders was made by tracing along the bottom half of a large thread cone. Back then, I used whatever was handy for templates. Cool whip lids also became one of my favorite pattern tools.

Until then, keep stitchen' . . . .

Comfort

As the saying goes, "sometimes life hands you a curve." Then again sometimes it's a cliff . . . full of ragged edges and broken dreams.

This quilt is 21 years old now, made during a time of great turmoil and unhappiness in my life. The road since has been somewhat bumpy and often full of pot holes, but I'm learning to either steer around them or gun the engine and jump.

Through it all, my double Irish chain has brought me comfort, and warmth, and when I needed it, a snugly.

It's semi-retired now and only comes out when I'm feeling ill or especially "blue." No pun intended.

The original colors have faded to a soothing gray. At the time, I did not know that Woolite had bleach in it and Orvus soap was the way to go.

The binding has been mended a time or two. And once, a puppy I had found it on the line and decided to chew a bit. I mended it and thus added one more story to it's journey.

And the bottom photo, the newest one. Big Blue it's called, for the moment. It's still in progress as you can see. No doubt, it too will have stories to tell as I prepare for a new journey. Finding a house, buying a house, settling down. Life is full of journeys and stories.

If your quilts could talk, what tales would they tell?

And your grandmother's quilts?

Label them if you can, for they've traveled further than any of us.

Pass it on . . .

I've been tagged by Su.

And if I understand the rules correctly it seems a clever name game is to follow. Hmmmm, I'll give it my best shot.

G ~ Giver, I love to mail out packages of fabric and such. Of course I love to get them too.

Y ~ Yes, I do love chocolate. Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, Swiss chocolate.

P ~ Pet lover, partial to dogs.

S ~ Sinnamon bun maker, with lots of brown sugar and cinnamon.

Y ~ Yodel, heck no I can't yodel, but I will hum along.

Q ~ Quiltaholic. (No explanation necessary.)

U ~ U gotta have fabric, how else can you be a quilter?

I ~ In the woods, that's where I reside.

L ~ Licensed to carry; scissors, needles, rotary cutters. And believe me, I know how to use them.

T ~ Teacher

E ~ Effervescent, excitable, enthusiastic about quilting.

R ~ Resourceful. I can find fabric anywhere.

And the folks who make me laugh, well I have to include all of my e-mail pals who have the same quirky Yankee sense of humor as I. Along with:

Carolyn ~ http://knotgarden.blogspot.com/

The Little Admiral ~ http://goatdancefarm.blogspot.com/

Susan ~ http://patchworkreflections.blogspot.com/

Tazzie ~ http://tazziequilts.blogspot.com/

Kim ~ http://forcemajeurefarm.blogspot.com/