Odds and Ends

 

Jim's Quilt

 

This is the quilt I made for my brother Jim when he was diagnosed with kidney cancer. He got it the day after he got home from the hospital -- probably one of the fastest quilts I have ever quilted.

 

Blocks are flannel as is the back. There is a 1"black button in the center of each large block and a 1/2" button in each smaller block on each end. Fabric is from a line that came out in 2004 or 5. It kind of looks like corduroy. I made the top to be a TV quilt for me and then decided I liked the smaller quilt I made from the scraps better so this one sat basted and ready to quilt waiting for the right moment.

 

This was it! Back has hunting dogs on it and Jim and Jolene have a similar dog "river" so it seemed fitting. The quilting design is called hibiscus and is actually an applique design. In this quilt it looks more meandering than floral.

 

Jim is home from the hospital now and still has a bit of recovering to do but so far the news has been good. 

 

Chucky the Chuker

 

This little guy has been my companion all week while Toralf is camping in Utah. Actually we think that's where he really belongs. We have seen these birds while camping in Kodachrome State Park and Bryce National Park. I think he must have gotten blown off course. He has been hanging around my deck and likes to look in my deck door window.

 

 

Last but not least our little guy Oliver at 1 1/2 years. He loves his books!

Finally Something Finished!

I was at a meeting Wednesday evening with other quilters and came home feeling quite down and stressed about all my unfinished projects. In 2003 or 4 a group of us started an exchange project. One person was working on hers and it reminded me that I owe her a piece. I came home and took that out and also went looking for my own piece. My top has been done since 2005 or 6 but not quilted. I decided that what I really need right now is to finish something. I need that sense of accomplishment. The only way to finish something fast is to do it by machine so I decided to finish my fractal ( the projects I had pulled out after the meeting to look at).

My finished piece.

I was surprised at how long it took me to machine quilt it even though it is small (31.5" x 22.5"). All it lacks now is a label. I know it is based on a card but I cannot remember the artist. Can you see the 4 parts? Each of us chose a picture and divided it into 4 parts. Each person got a part to work on and give back to the owner. All of the pieces were done in wool. It is interesting to see how well the pieces blend together.

Los Tenagos

Los Tenagos

Missoula Quilt Show 2012 was a wonderful success. This is my ribbon winner - third place in the class/exchange division. It is based on a class I taught for the Mexico City Quilt Guild. Everyone donated their class blocks for a raffle quilt that I won. It is a remembrance of Mexico that I really treasure, for the reminder of all my friends in Mexico (even those who hate jaguars!) and a special day we spent together. This ribbon is for all of you!

-oOo-

Missoula Quilt Show 2012 fue un gran éxito. Este colcha ganó el tercer premio en la división

de clases y intercambios. Se basa una clase enseñé en México. Todas las estudiantes donaban su cuadritos de la clase para una rifa y la gané. Es un recuerdo de México que aprecio mucho, un recuerdo de amigas muy especiales incluso esas quien odia jaguares.

Ese cinta es para todas de ustedes!

Cactus Basket

Cactus Basket - Cesta de Cactus

Our "Big Snow" is melting fast. Ever since it snowed our temps have been above freezing. The worst part of all the snow was that it was terrible for cross country skiing because of the warm temps and rain. We do still have a bunch of stuff on the ground but dirty snow isn't nearly as nice as when it is fresh and new.

It has given me the opportunity to spend more time in my studio. Seems like since Christmas my active projects have been centered on things for my home. Right now I am pushing to complete my Mexican bathroom. It is all painted a bright gold and so far I have one Mexican rug in there. The cactus basket is for a large wall quilt. It will be 4 of these blocks. As you can see from the basting it is still a work in progress. Because the diamonds are all different sizes and the striped fabric is heavy (They are cut from Mexican napkins) paper piecing seemed the most accurate way for me to go.

 I still have to finish the wall quilt I started last January (see blog Jan. 13, 2011) and I have started a half square triangle quilt in blue and white for a shower curtain to look like Mexican white/blue tiles that are so prevalent everywhere. My 4th bathroom project is a wool proddy rug. Now to just get them all done!

I'm finding there is a satisfaction to making things for the home. Perhaps we are nesting since returning from Mexico and getting reacquainted with our house. Perhaps it is Toralf's retirement. Who knows but I am having a lot of fun with these "little" projects.

-o0o-

Nuestro "Nïeve Grande" derrete rapido. Desde nevó nuestras temperaturas han levado más arriba de 0C. El peor parte es no podemos esquiar. Está demasiado caliente. Todavía tenemos alguna nieve pero es sucio. No está tan bonita como nieve nueva.

Ni modo. Con éste situación tengo más tiempo en mi estudio. Parece desde la Navidad todo mi proyectos activos centran en mi hogar. Ahora trato de completar mi baño Méxicano. Lo pintaba color de oro brillante. Ahora solamente tengo un tepete Méxicano. La cesta de cactus es para un colchita para la pared. Habrá 4 cuadros en el fin. Ahorita tengo 2 terminados. Porque todos los diamantes son de temañõs diferentes y porque la tela de rayos es más pesado (telas es de servilletas de México) estoy cosiendo éstos con paper (paper-piecing).

Todavía tengo la colchita empece en enero de 2011 (mira blog de enero 13, 2011) y he empezado una colcha de triangulos de blanco y azul. La quiero estar como azulejos de México. Proyecto 4 es una tepete de lana.

Hay una satisfacción hacer cosas para el hogar. Quizas estamos conociendonos con nuestra casa otra vez despues de tiempo en México. Quizas es la jubilación de Toralf. Quien sabe pero se me disfruto mucho estos proyectos chiquitos.

Oliver's Quilt

I finally finished Oliver's quilt. Technically speaking it isn't really Oliver's but it is going to be. It is actually my oldest UFO begun in 1978 for Oliver's daddy, Hank. I'm kind of glad I waited to finish it now when I know a few more things about quilting. It was also my very first quilt.
This was a really fun quilt to work on. Aren't the coloring book animals delightful? Wish I still had the coloring books. I didn't own any quilt book back then.

Just have to share a few detail pictures. The fish and the turtle required the most extra work since they were the simpliest backgrounds. The squirrel gives you and idea of the fabrics used. Remember back in 1978 there weren't any quiIt shops around. I had a fuzzy bathrobe out of the squirrel fabric. All of the fabrics come from clothes or curtains making them a bit of a challenge to use. The chicken background and the borders are the only new fabrics. 

Finalmente terminé la colcha para Oliver. En realidad no es de Oliver pero va a ser. Es mi proyecto más viejo que no fue terminada. La empece en 1978 para el padre de Oliver, Hank. Ahora estoy feliz que retrasaba. Yo se mucho más ahora de haciendo colchas. Éste también es mi primer colcha. Me disfruta haciendola mucho. Los desenos de animales desde libros para colorear éstan tan encantadores. Espero que todavía tuviera los libros. No tuve libros de colchas en aquel tiempo.

Tengo que compartir unos detalles. Las peces y tortuga requieren la más'trabajo porque tienen fondos más simples. La ardilla monstra el tipo de tela que usaba. Recuerdo en 1978 no fue tiendas de tela para colchas ni libros de colchas tampoco. Teníá una bata peludo de éste tela. Casi toda la tela en la colcha es de ropa o cortinas. Fue un poquito de una reto.