I managed to get one block done!! I have been moving right along recently after taking a bit of a break from this quilt in December. This block is F-2 Kaleidoscope. It looks more difficult that it actually was – one trick I have found to construction of these blocks is press frequently. Construction of the pieces in the blocks goes smoother that way. I’m sure that like usual I will work on it steady for a month or two then take a month or longer break from it.
Another photo of my mug collection: These cups were bought in Williamsburg, Virginia area. We have visited that area numerous times and have always loved the colonial atmosphere of the place. The big ceramic mug in 
the center was the type used to hold ale or cider. I have measured it and it can easily hold a quart of liquid in it. That is a heck of a lot of ale or cider and people talk about our extra grande size coffee now days 
The other two mugs are made out of pewter. The wooden shelf that they are on was made by my grandpa Marlow back in the 1950′s I believe or around that time period. At that time he had a light attached to the underside and had it by his desk. Then the shelf passed on to my parents and they painted it numerous colors over the years – the last time a hideous orange! When it came to me, I scrubbed and scraped every bit of the orange off of it and stained & varnished it. I have a paper towel holder attached to the underside and it now resides in my kitchen. I love it and it is one of 4 items I have that my grandfather made. I also have a wooden manger that he made for the Christmas Nativity Stable that he made in 1953 and I have a doll cradle that he made for my 6th birthday. That makes that cradle 50 years old! After I got done with it I gave it to my little sister to use – she was a tomboy and used it more for a clothes hanger than to play with. I got it back from her when my first daughter was born and she used it, then her younger sister. It was stored away for sometime and then when my granddaughter was born we cleaned it up and it was passed on to her about 3 years ago when she was old enough to appreciate it. I don’t have a picture of it surprisingly enough. I also have a painting/carving that he made.
Yesterday’s question was: There is a technique of quilting, whereby pretty designs of fruit or flowers are first sewn into a quilt top. Then, extra stuffing is pushed in from behind to result in a raised decorative design. What is the name of this technique?
The answer is Trapunto.
Question #7 The value of a quilt is increased if the quilting stitches are sewn in which specific way?
A- Using contrasting colors for the quilting
B- Quilt stitches don’t matter- it is the design that matters.
C- Using alternating large and small quilt stitches.
D- Using very small and uniformly even quilt stitches.
Not much today! I don’t really have a lot to post today. So let’s see how about a picture of another of my coffee mugs:
I think it’s kind of cute. I picked this one up at none other than Yellowstone National Park. We love that park and I have lost track of how often we have traveled there over the last 36 years. Between that park and Grand Teton National Park I have lost track of how much time we have spent there. We plan on getting back out that way this summer even though we spent time out there 2 years ago this summer.
I have been getting some quilting done on two different quilts that were made out of the same fabric, the scrappy Irish Chain that is on the big frame and about 3/4′s done and the smaller one that has all the applique on it and the miniature double wedding rings in the center. Both are coming along nicely.
Next week there is a big sale at a quilt shop that I have only gone to once but now that I know where it is and how much stuff is in that store I plan on going more often. The sale is on January 31st and February 1st. It is called Mama’s Log House. As local quilt shops go this as always is over an hours drive from my house. I doubt very much if I will be able to go along with my resolution earlier this year to not buy any fabric – I will try to stick to thread, backings ect. – I really well. I will let you all know next week how that goes!
Yesterday’s question was: Amish quilts are especially prized among collectors, for both their beauty and excellent workmanship. How can you tell if a quilt is made in the Amish style?
Answer is: Amish quilters nearly always use solid colors of fabric.
Question # 6: there is a technique of quilting, whereby pretty designs of fruit or flowers are first sewn into a quilt top. Then, extra stuffing is pushed in from behind to result in a raised decorative design. What is the name of this technique?
A- Candlewicking
B- Trapunto
C- Batik Design
D- Patchwork
I managed to finish one block today for Insanity Revisited. Block F-1 Big Top wasn’t all 
that hard to do I almost finished it yesterday so managed to finish it at my quilting group today. When I got done with that one I got started on F-2 Kaleidoscope, I got all the pieces cut out and ready to work although I only sewed a little bit. This is a little Dear Jane group and we actually spent most of the time talking instead of working today. Here are photo’s of today’s work. I thought I would post a photo of the one I am working on so you can see my process. I use freezer paper templates, after the pieces are cut out I just stick them to a piece of felt to hold them in place. I have a sand paper board under the felt to hold the felt in place. I also have a 12 1/2 square ruler that fits over it all and holds all in place in my Omnigrid bag that has a strap to clasp and nothing falls out of place in transport to my Dear Jane group, I put a link to a photo of the bag for you to see. Click on either picture to see close up. Everyone has a different method for working on their Dear Jane quilt or any other quilt with tiny pieces. This is the method I have come up with and it works for me. This Omnigird bag really works well for when we travel also as it really does hold this board so much in place and then with the ruler over the pieces it is perfect.
Yesterday I showed you a picture of some of my coffee mug collection, here is another one. I got this one in Vancouver, Canada when we went there on a vacation – probably about 15 years ago – it’s been a lon
g time I know. I especially like this one for my daily coffee – the handle is so nice and thick, anyhow something about it I just love. I do switch off coffee mugs though seeing as I have so many but this one remains one of my favorites. I believe I got it at a place called Grandville (?) Island where there were a lot of artist type shops. It has been so long that I am no longer sure. Maybe someone from that area will know where I mean if it is still set up the same. I just remember a lot of shops where some you could see the products being made.
Yesterday’s question was: The filler layer can be secured between the top and bottom layers of cloth in a quilt by several methods. Which of these was NOT a method of holding the three layers of a quilt together?
The answer is Quilling through the layers with poultry quills. Quilling was a separate and beautiful art form but was not used in quilting. Quilling would result in uncomfortable feather barbs sticking out through the quilt.
Question #5 Amish quilts are especially prized among collectors, for both their beauty and excellent workmanship. How can you tell if a quilt is made in the Amish style?
A- Amish quilters nearly always use solid colors of fabric.
B- Amish quilters do not use black or white cloth.
C- Amish quilters never use sewing machines, since they do not use electricity.
D- Amish quilters embroider over the top of the quilt.
by Karen on January 21, 2009
in quilts
All of a sudden today I realized I had the thread I needed to start quilting my miniature double wedding ring quilt with the applique border (I refer to this as miniature -but it is actually just the center that is miniature) – I don’t know what I was thinking the other day. I knew I had ordered the variegated thread I needed for several quilts and mistakenly thought that was one of them. I happened to look at my thread cabinet and hanger earlier and thought hey = I was going to use that variegated blue thread on this one. I got out a copy of my order form and realized I had ordered thread for “Insanity Revisited” and a red variegated thread for the red/black/& white quilt made a couple weeks ago. So earlier this evening I got busy on the center of the quilt. Here is what it looked like earlier – I did a little more since I took these pictures. 
I used some left over pieces from the Chocolat Moda fabric that I had from an earlier project for this quilt mixed in with some others. You know me by now – queen of scraps! I have so many. I decided to do an echo quilting around the double wedding rings and that is what I am working on now. I will need to do a lot of quilting in the upcoming months to get caught up on tops before I start making any more.
In the middle of winter sometimes we need some cheering up and we need a touch of spring. The other day when I went to the grocery store I grabbed two small bouquets of tulips! Just what we needed I think. I love fresh flowers and have so many vases, large mugs, 
jugs what have you to stick them in. Here is my touch of spring in the house today. The flowers are in a jug that I got from my daughter’s Southern Living at Home business. The coffee mugs are part of a small selection of what has been collected over the past 25 years or so. Years ago my daughters decided I needed a mug collection and got started by each selecting one at a craft fair and giving them to me for Mother’s Day I think it was and since then they gave me some, my husband gave me some, we would pick out one from various places we took vacations to, you get the picture? I think I have close to 25 in the house. I will take pictures and start to post some so you can all see them.
Yesterday question was “What is the middle layer of a quilt called?” The answer is ” batting”
Next question:
Question #4 The filler layer can be secured between the top and bottom layers of cloth in a quilt by several methods. Which of these was NOT a method of holding the three layers of a quilt together?
A- sewing ribbons or patches through all layers.
B- Quilting with a running stitch, in a grid or design.
C- Quilling through the layers with poultry quills.
D- Tying knots every few inches all over the quilt.
I had the tv on just about all day yesterday watching all of the inauguration. History in the making. I know we are all hoping that President Obama can accomplish a lot but it will take time and I hope people will remember it won’t change overnight.
Because I spent the day at home yesterday I managed to get a bit of sewing done! I got the backing pieced for the quilt that has the miniature double wedding ring in the center. After that the coffee table got moved out of the way and the quilt top, backing and batting spread out on the floor. While I was watching tv I got the quilt pin basted – one project ready for the quilting hoop – now I’m just waiting for the hand quilting thread that I ordered. I like to use variegated thread and truthfully I have forgotten which color I ordered. It should arrive in the next couple days and then I can get started quilting it.
I had spent about 4 hours total at the quilting frame yesterday and made more progress on the scrappy Irish Chain that is on the big frame. In maybe another 25 to 30 hours I think I will be done with it and then “Insanity” my first Dear Jane will take it’s place.
Yesterdays question was The technique of “piecing” best describes which step of the quilting process?
Answer is Sewing small pieces of fabric into a larger design.
Next question: (Remember these are supposed to be for beginners!)
What is the middle layer of a quilt called?
A- Batting
B- Blanket
C- Stuffing
D- Fleece
Yesterday was a productive day. I got row E (#5) sewed onto to what I had already finished of my second dear jane quilt “Insanity Revisited” – that means I only have 8 more rows— 104 more 4 1/2 inch blocks to make!! These are all hand pieced just like the first Dear Jane top that I finished last year was. If you click on the picture you can see it close up and the detail of the batiks used.
Also I got the wall hanging of the flying geese finished – the top that is – I hand quilt all my quilts right now and intend for awhile to keep doing that unless I get desperate and can’t seem to get caught up on tops – then we will see maybe I will teach myself how to do a little machine quilting. Here is the geese wall hanging:
This is going to be it for quilt tops for awhile now – I have to concentrate on getting some quilting done. The quilt on the frame which is a little smaller than a twin size is coming along nicely and I am about 2/3′rds done with it. I hope to have it off of the frame by February 22nd so that I can get my first Dear Jane quilt “Insanity” on the frame. I started that quilt 4 years ago on February 23rd my oldest daughter’s birthday so I would like to symbolically get it on the frame on that date. I have the backing and batting ready to go to get the Double Wedding Ring quilt basted together today if I have a chance. This quilt is the one with all the applique that I pictured a week or so ago, the double wedding ring in the center is miniature in size, I haven’t come up with a name for it yet. I will be using my lap size hoop to quilt this one. I now have 5 quilt tops to quilt – you can see why some quilting has to now be the priority in my life
Other than quilting I will be working on my Dear Jane quilt blocks and see how I can progress with that one. Upcoming months will be busy with quilting.
Yesterday’s question was “Quilting was an important skill learned by nearly all pioneer women in the USA from revolutionary times. Why were quilts so commonly sewn in Early America?”
The answer was: It was considered wasteful not to use every scrap of fabric.
Question #2: The technique of “piecing” best describes which step of the quilting process?
A- Sewing the edges of the quilt into a smooth finish.
B- Cutting up waste pieces of fabric to be used as the middle, stuffing layer.
C-Sewing small pieces of fabric into a larger design.
D- Sewing layers of fabric on top of each other, for thickness.
I’m not sure what all I did yesterday but the day seemed to fly by and I didn’t really even start to sew until evening. That does seem to be my normal time for sewing. For some reason I am running all over the place during the daytime hours – going grocery shopping, cleaning house, cooking, and in warm weather yard work. I have been working on my one seam flying geese. I put a link the other day to a short video lesson that I had seen on a quilting list some where. I hope you all enjoyed it. I must say I had to watch it about 3 times to get my seams in the correct space! Talk about not watching and listening to the directions right. On the wall hanging that I am doing I did the Dutchman’s Puzzle pattern for the center using Marti’s templates for the smaller geese; and then for the outer border I used Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims one seam geese; they are larger and 3 dimensional. I have two of the border strips to sew onto the wall hanging still they are just pinned in place for the photo, I will get to it sometime soon I’m sure.
Yesterday’s question was Where is “quilt city USA”? the answer is Paducah, Kentucky. What a wonderful small river town. It is right next to the Ohio River and has a wonderful sea wall area. The Quilt Museum is located there and the yearly American Quilters Society quilt show is held at the convention center every April.
I found that series of questions that I have been posting out there on the great internet. That last question finished that series. I have found another one that I will start posting from today.
This set of question is stated that it is for beginners – lets see if they are right about that.
Question #1
Quilting was an important skill learned by nearly all pioneer women in the USA from revolutionary times. Why were quilts so commonly sewn in Early America?
A-Because fabric dyes were unreliable, fading quickly
B-Because young girls were not taught to read
C- It was considered wasteful not to use every scrap of fabric.
D- Sewing quilts was a religious activity.
After all the work I put in to making my flying geese the other day I came across a link to The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims. They were showing how to make flying geese with a one seam instruction. This gives you a 3 dimensional look. Here is a link to the video: One seam flying geese
It is really interesting. I still like my templates that I used for the first part of the wall hanging I am making but I am going to try this method for the next border and see how it looks.
I received my new issue of American Quilter yesterday. Sometimes this magazine doesn’t have a lot in it that I will use. The magazine is always interesting to look at but in this issue there are actually quite a few neat things in it that I might want to make. You can join the American Quilter’s Society for $25.00 a year and you get 6 issues of the magazine a year – individual price on the magazine is $5.99 so you get more than you paid for the yearly fee. With your membership you can order books from them at a discount and even greater discount on sales book. With the membership if you get to go to the yearly Paducah Quilt Show you get a discounted entrance fee also.
I finished block E-13 for “Insanity Revisted” (Dear Jane) this is the last block for the 5th row. I will next attach the long strip of sashing to this row and attach to the 4th row.
Yesterdays question was What are the following: Bodkin, Boot Spur, Emery Pouch?
The answer is Sewing tools. If you are interested in what these items are there are links attached to 2 of them, but I could find nothing on how or what a boot spur is in relation to quilting!!! Does anyone know what this is for quilting?
Question #22: Where is “Quilt City, USA?”
A- Houston, TX
B- Lowell, MA
C-Kutztown, PA
D- Paducah, KY
Yesterday I managed to finish one more Dear Jane block E-12 and got started on another one. Other than that I got some 
more quilting done on the quilting frame. No work on the Dutchman’s Puzzle – I am thinking on that one and which direction to go on it from here. That is the trouble when you aren’t working with a complete pattern and making it up as you go! This block is actually straighter than it appears – I really have to work on my camera skills
Finally our winter weather will be going back to normal today. After 3 days of 24 or below we are tired of it. We have had nighttime temperatures in the teens – too cold for Arkansas!
Yesterdays question was Which term does not belong? border, prairie points, piping, and scallop. The answer is border. The others are different ways to finish borders.
This link on prairie points will show you how to make them, go to page 6 of the link for step by step instructions.
This link leads you to a google book search on borders. If you go to page 95 you will find instructions on how to do piping.
This link will bring you to a tool that helps you make scallop borders, it also shows you how to put the binding on.
Question #21 : What are the following: Bodkin, Boot Spur, Emery Pouch?
A- Articles of clothing
B- Sewing Tools
C- Quilting Patterns
Normally I post my photo’s of my Dear Jane blocks as I finish them, today I thought I would post what it looks like in progress. I have a 12 1/2 inch sandpaper board that is smooth on one side, sandpaper on the other side. I put a piece of felt cut to fit over the sandpaper part when I am working on each square. This is where my pieces lay as I work. I also have a 12 1/2 inch square ruler that fits nicely right on top of this to hold everything in place while traveling or if it is just sitting on the coffee table to nothing moves!! I have a hard zippered case that it fits perfectly in. I got the sandpaper board with the original piece of felt from Keepsake Quilting. I do not know if they still have them but for me and Dear Jane it is a must have. I work in sections — picking and choosing my moves – like working on a puzzle. For all of you working on this quilt you know exactly what I mean. This block (E-12) – keep in mind – 4 1/2 inches when finished has 28 pieces in it. I always cut all outside pieces a quarter inch larger than needed so that I have extra space needed to square up because no matter how hard I try to have perfect pieces something is almost always off and I have to have extra room so the block won’t be too small. I was out almost all day so did not have much time to quilt today or piece – I did this little masterpiece while I was watching CSI this evening. I will finish it up tomorrow. As these blocks go this one was not all that difficult — believe me! when one has only 28 pieces compared to say 45 or whatever – this was easy
I was disappointed in the Quilt shop that I went to today, they are not ordering new stock it seems and I was amazed at much less stock was in the store than normal. Very disappointing. My husband and I had a day out and went to Little Rock today. We enjoy going to the big city every now and then . We visit with our daughter and son-in-law who live in that area; we had a nice lunch at the Olive Garden and went to Barnes & Nobles the bookstore. Then dropped them back at their house and then we went to a movie – Clint Eastwood’s Gran Torino- I love Clint Eastwood– he has been a favorite of mine for years. I loved him in this movie playing such a grouchy old man with so many prejudices that you can’t believe it. But the relationship he forms with two Hmong teenages is very touching. Tears will be shed by the end.
Yesterdays question was What are the following: Tapestry, Crewel, Upholstery, Quilting?
Answer was Types of Needles
Question # 20 Which term does not belong?
A-Border
B- Prairie Point
C- Piping
D- Scallop
the center was the type used to hold ale or cider. I have measured it and it can easily hold a quart of liquid in it. That is a heck of a lot of ale or cider and people talk about our extra grande size coffee now days 
