Mountain Heritage Challenge – CELEBRATION

On my design wall …

I’m taking on another challenge to use specific fabric to make a quilt that depicts CELEBRATION. I decided to use a technique by Marilyn Doheney that I learned in a class that I took HERE.

First I sewed together strips of the challenge fabric to make a strata.

Then, using Marilyn’s ruler, I cut the strips into wedges.

I took those wedges and sewed some of them together making a ‘fan’ that I’m hoping will look like fireworks.

Another strata and more wedges produced more design possibilities.

And Amy’s cat Clyde just happened to walk by at the most opportune time!

Linking to
Patchwork Times “Design Wall Monday”
Anything Goes Monday's at Stitch by Stitch
A Round Tuit
Show and Tell Tuesday

Busted Water Pipe

Life …

With freezing temperatures this morning, 10 degrees for us, we had an outdoor faucet freeze and bust. I couldn’t get help fast enough. Water ran out from under the washer and dryer way too fast.

After the farm help turned the water off to the house they started finding a way to fix the faucet.

And then they came inside and cut a whole in the sheetrock down behind the dryer and fixed it.

Water had flooded under the carpet into my fabric closet. So I had to clean out and dry everything that got damp. Now I have a heater and fan blowing to get it all dry.

On the good side, I now have clean carpet and a clean floor under the washer and dryer!

Celtic Solstice Mystery Quilt

It’s been slow going for my Celtic Solstice quilt.

I rather like the way it is turning out.

Check out other "Design Walls" at Patchwork Times.
And I'm setting a goal at Fiber of All Sorts to start a quilt for an entry into the Mountain Quiltfest Challenge, "Celebration."

Paul Graber Family and Celtic Solstice

Life …

Our family gathered after Christmas to have a day together.

… as a Quilter

I’m still working on my Celtic Solstice mystery quilt which has now been revealed. I haven’t made the 4-patch units yet because in changing my colors they would be dark purple and lavender and I wasn’t sure how that would fit into the quilt. Well, now I know and I think they will look fine!

However, I need to put this project on hold and get a class ready for our Possum Town Quilters on how to make a quilt from a picture.

Celtic Solstice on Design Wall

Life …

Dustin and Gina came down from New York for what I’m hoping is a looooooooong visit.

We had some of the cousins in for supper and an evening of visiting.

The men sat in the living room laughing and telling stories.

  

 

And the children had a high time playing!

… as a Quilter

My design wall is holding parts of my Bonnie Hunter’s Celtic Solstice mystery quilt. Now I’m backing up and making the chevrons in step 2.

Sailboats III and IV

I decided to take a reader, Karen’s comment and idea and just bind Sailboat III and call it good enough. And now, I rather like it. The fellow there steering is my nephew, Scott.

Sailboat III

$65 SOLD

7 7/8” X 10 1/2”

Materials: cotton fabric and an assortment of cotton and polyester thread

Techniques: fused and heavily quilted

Finished with “Fast Finished Triangles” and ready for hanging

 

And here is Scott again on Sailboat IV that I started HERE.

I like the effect the two layers of black tulle over the water give the piece.

Sailboat IV

$125 SOLD
7” X 10”

Materials: commercial cotton fabric, cotton and polyester thread, black tulle

Techniques: fused, machine quilted and machine free motion quilted, hand stitched binding to back

Finished with “Fast Finished Triangles” and ready for hanging

 

Shelves for my Quilting Thread

I have a boxed in place in my sewing room where we were going to mount the ironing board when we built the house and then be able to fold it up into the wall and close a door over it. Well, it never materialized and I like my ironing board parallel to the wall instead of perpendicular to the wall.  My sister Emily suggested that we put shelves into the empty space and set my pretty quilting thread there. So … we got the materials and yesterday Paul worked on the shelves.

I donned rubber gloves and stained the wood.

Paul used to be a carpenter, by trade, and build houses, so when he asked me for a  carpenters square all I had to offer him was my acrylic ruler for cutting fabric. He said that would work.

Now, will this be a temptation for the grandchildren?

Merry Christmas

Blessings to you this Christmas.

Celtic Solstice and Sailboat Quilts

Life …

Paul with “the boys.” “The girls” all went away for Christmas.

Quinten is glad for some meat for their freezer.

… as a Quilter

I have finished step 1 and step 3 of Bonnie Hunter’s Celtic Solstice mystery quilt. I’m afraid the lavender and green don’t contrast enough!

In the mean time I pulled out my Sailboat III that I started earlier HERE and put it on my design wall (Patchwork Times). Perhaps I need to wash it again to get the green trees and green grass to bleed some more. It just seems to have too much going on. Any suggestions?

And now I have started Sailboat IV. My idea here is to use the same fabric in the reflection as I use in the sky, grass, and sailboat. Then I want to lay black toile over the water part which you can hardly see at the dark brown fabric in the picture below. Maybe I should add another layer or two to make the water darker. What do you think? After quilting it, I’ll add the top sailboat.

Life, Tina, and Quilt Inspiration

Life …

Paul got another 10 point buck this morning.

Happy Birthday!

Tina Sue turned two.

Ashton, Tina, Katie Joe, and Lia

… as a Quilter

A fish feed bin with rust is inspiration for some sort of art quilt.

Design Wall Monday and Celtic Solstice Mystery Quilt

Life …

I accompanied Paul driving a bus load of youth to Bay Springs to sing Christmas carols for residents at a nursing home.

… as a Quilter

On my design wall…

… I’ve pinned my continuing “Sailboat” series that needs to be finished.

I’ve started working on clue #3 of Bonnie Hunter’s “Celtic Solstice” mystery quilt even though …

… step #1 is only partially completed and step #2 hasn’t even been started.

And the winner of my Fabric Giveaway is #130, Robin. Congratulations!