Baltimore Bliss

Quilts, Quilts and more Quilts

by Karen on November 5, 2010

in Baltimore Bliss, Bow Tie Quilt, Christmas Baltimore Album, Dear Jane - "Insanity Revisited", quilts

Only six of us showed up for quilt group last night – you would think because of the low number there would have been little show and tell – wrong!  We are a prolific group Smile Here are the quilts – I think this first group of baby quilts was done by another Karen but I might have the name mixed up – CJ do you know if these were done by Karen W. ?:

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More – CJ’s quilts:

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And some more (mine you guys have seen these):

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The next 4 are by Anna (my son-in-law Ric’s aunt by marriage) this is one of the mystery quilts from a couple months ago:

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This is what she is using for the back of the above quilt top, I’m not sure how she will have this quilted to complement both sides:

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Another of hers:

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Another fancy back this is for the one above – this one was swirly quilted all over:

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Dee is having a little trouble with the borders on this one and says she is taking them off and trying again:

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This one Dee brought along to put on the floor (large space) so it could be spray basted.  This is a technique that I have not used and think I will try it on my next small quilt top that will be done in a hoop (haven’t decided what that project will be but something with the charm squares that I purchased from Connecting Threads).

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And last but not least I know I said I was putting Dear Jane aside for a day – but this was an easy one and I got done with it quickly – worked on it a little yesterday afternoon and then again this morning.  This make 4 out of 13 needed on the second border.

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I brought the charm squares that I bought from Connecting Threads to both last nights group and again this morning and we all went through the fabric and all agreed they would use it too and thought it was good fabric.

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Another Finish!

by Karen on October 13, 2010

in 2010 projects, Baltimore Bliss, quilting links, quilts

It feels so good to be getting some of these quilts that I started last year finished.  I had at least 7 projects in the works at the end of last year and I am whittling away at the list.

Baltimore Bliss – crib size 44 x 66  this one is needle turn applique and hand quilted like all of mine are.

EDITED: at 9:45 PM  I forgot to mention that this pattern (actually 12 blocks – I used 6 of them – is from Fat Cat Patterns, it is a BOM so go to the index on the left of that page to find it if you are interested.    The pattern was designed by Sindy Rodenmayer

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The center feather wreaths:

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The corners have a corner set of feathers:

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This is the fabric for the backing:

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The thread that I used matched the fabric so much that you can’t see the designs as well.  I normally like to use enough of a contrast thread so that the quilting shows more.  I have no plans for this quilt so far but will put it aside until I decide.  I still need to make a hanging sleeve for the Christmas quilt and then that will be done – labels for both of these I still need to make also.

Need to finish:

Bow Tie Quilt – border and maybe some applique on it.

Star Crazy BOM – 3 months of blocks to do and then put all together

Red & Green Traditional Applique – 6 more 16 1/2 inch blocks and the 32 x 32 center

Insanity Revisited – Dear Jane #2 – the border triangles and cornerstones

Pineapple Blocks – I have 7 -  6 inch blocks made, I am thinking of continuing to make these into a queen size – this is another scrap quilt if I make it I will need about 250 more blocks – we will see.

What was Little Brown Bird – now? I have two of these fancy applique blocks made, I decided I do not like this quit enough to make it but I do like 5 of the blocks in the book.  I am going to make those and maybe make each two times but change the flower layout so each looks different.  I have found a pattern that I like the center  and corner borders of but not the whole quilt.  I need to think of a new name for it and will continue on that one later next year.

Quilting:

Going In Circles will be on the frame for at least 4 to 8 months I imagine.

So in a way this is not much progress – I started out the year with at least 7 projects and now I have 7 again!! What is going on here :)   Oh well by the end of this year I should have 3 of these tops listed above finished or close to it and they will be folded and put in a zip bag until I can quilt them – that will be some progress.

No more will be started unless it is baby quilts with the intention of selling or gifts.

I must admit I have ordered some fabric – I know I said I wasn’t going to order anymore this year unless it was backing and backgrounds and I have stuck pretty much with that – but I needed to blend more red and greens in to the applique blocks so I have ordered some fat quarter Kona Cotton Bundles from Jackie of those color schemes.   What I don’t use in this quilt will just enlarge the stash for all the applique I do.  Plus I have the charm blocks ordered from Connecting Threads to see what their fabric line is like – charms can be made into simple patchworks.

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Hand Quilting

by Karen on October 12, 2010

in Baltimore Bliss, Bow Tie Quilt, Going in Circles, quilts

Last night I got started on the Going in Circles quilt.  I finally figured out how I wanted to quilt the border so I worked a couple hours on it while watching tv.  I am quilting around each circle.  When I made my circles I used a bit more fabric that was needed and did not trim it off of the back.  Between that and using the 100% cotton batting after the quilt is washed the circles will have the look of trapunto without the extra step of more stuffing in them.

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They already have the look of puffiness and it hasn’t even been washed and dried which will give it about a 3% shrinkage.

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As I get closer to the edge I will decide where I will mark for a wavy edge border.  Right now I am quilting every half inch out from the vine following the curve of the vine.  The border will have more work in it than the main body.  In that I will quilt an X through all of the blocks and quilt one or two circles around the circles – I will first quilt around the circle as on the border – then seeing how much space is left and what it looks like will determine if I quilt another circle around it about a half inch out.

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This is the variegated thread I am using for the quilting.  It is King Tut number 906.  I don’t remember the name – but it is a fall like color scheme which with all these colors is working out well.

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Now I need to get the binding machine sewed to the Baltimore Bliss kid size quilt that I started quilting after we got home from our trip and finished a day or two ago.  We had rain last night so it is too wet outside to lay the Bow Tie Medallion quilt out for a photo.  I will wait until I get the border on it this week and then take a photo.

I went ahead and ordered some of the charm packs from Connecting Thread  they are so inexpensive I decided it wasn’t a waste of money and I can also make a patchwork quilt out of them – 5 inch squares will go fast.  If the fabric is not really good I can use it in the camper for an extra quilt on cold nights.

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Quilts

by Karen on September 14, 2010

in Baltimore Bliss, Bow Tie Quilt, Christmas Baltimore Album, quilts

I have been so busy quilting for the last 3 1/2 weeks that I have done little piecing.  My fingers are saying enough already – I have to take a day or two off of quilting and let the fingers get some relieve! (maybe even a week)

Here is where I stand on the  quilting:

The Christmas quilt is coming along so nicely.  I hate to take a couple days off but when the quilting fingers get too sore from needle pricks it is not enjoyable.

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I have put a lot of quilting into this sweet little girls quilt – it is in between crib and twin size.  I am maybe just half way done.

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For the next day or two I will get back to work on the sewing machine with the Bow Tie Medallion quilt that I started in late spring.  I have not touched it since June.  I cut all the pieces needed back in June so I could take it along while traveling.  This was going to be my extra project to work on in case I ran out of things to do! I never even opened the box.

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I also have a appliqué block that I started while we were traveling and have not touched it but once since we got home.  Between these two projects maybe I will get a little something done in the next two days while taking a break from hand quilting.

Yes that is the instruction book for EQ on my worktable.  I have been practicing a little but truthfully not all that much.  It will for sure be a winter project for me.

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Baltimore Bliss

by Karen on June 11, 2010

in Baltimore Bliss, Quilting on the road

I made this quilt top last year and had it put aside until I got caught up on other hand quilting projects.  I knew that my border was a little ruffly but I didn’t think it was as bad as what it was when I took it out to start getting it ready for quilting.  I took off the 5 inch border that was the same color as the background fabric of the quilt and replace it with a two inch pale pink batik.  The batik doesn’t have the tiny bit of stretch that the yellow has so I thought that would be better for it.  It still has a little but of ruffle so it was the large half square triangles that were the problem.  Yet when there is no border on it – it appeared to lay flat – go figure.  The pattern blocks are designed by Fat Cat Patterns a BOM that was free last year and I see after looking at the site that it was offered free once again as it was so popular.  There are 12 blocks given, I used six for this quilt and have the patterns saved to make another quilt with a different color scheme with the ones left over.

The quilt - 47 inches x 70 inches - crib size.

one of the two blocks that I put a feathered wreath in .

a Corner feather

a side feather

the backing fabric

The quilt is now pin basted and folded with the thread that I will use (a bright yellow King Tut thread) and put in a zippered plastic bag ready to take on the camping trip this summer.  Don’t you just love those zippered bags that sheets and things come in now!  I have quite a few gathered up for projects.

Next to get ready for the trip is the Red and Green Traditional Applique blocks – I am going to try for 3 or 4 – this should  be way  more than I will get to, but I would rather have more than less and run out of down time quilting.  Daytime we will be busy with sightseeing and hiking but with 8 weeks there will be days here and there when we need a break and will be just relaxing I’m sure!

Thanks for all the compliments on the red/cream Dear Jane blocks/rows.  The border will be the traditional Dear Jane border.  The pieced blocks using the same fabric as the blocks and the plain triangles and the scallops will be the butter cream fabric.

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Another Block

by Karen on May 29, 2010

in Baltimore Bliss, Dear Jane - "Insanity Revisited", life in general, Red & Green Traditional Applique, Star Crazy

Moving right along, one more block done this morning and working on another one this evening, here is block 11 from row 12:

Row 12 block 11

I have not gotten done with a lot today other than getting the grass cut this evening.  In the heat of the day work I did some quilting on the Christmas quilt !!  It will get done one day :)

I was looking through projects trying to figure out what was coming up to finish or work on some more and realized it is actually almost the end of the month so the Star Crazy patterns will come out in a couple days and then I can get the June assignment done.  I’m trying to decide what to bring along to work on when we travel this summer.  I am getting the Baltimore Bliss quilt ready to quilt and will bring the hoop and the quilt along to quilt on the road.  I have more of the design to draw on the top, then baste and it will be ready to travel.  But knowing me I need one other project to work on for when my fingers get sore of quilting and for variety- we do have some down time for sight seeing and hiking after all.  I do not want to bring the Dear Jane triangles to work on – I know I need a break if I get done with all of the blocks before we go.  I think I might prep a block or two for the Red and Green Traditional Applique as I only have one block for that quilt completed.  If I prep a block or two all I will need to bring with me to work on that is thread and needle – I will of course already have needles and thimble packed so really will take up very little space.  I think I will do that.

Well that was easy to decide LOL.  I will get busy prepping some blocks in between working on other things this month.  The Bow Tie Medallion is coming along nicely although no rush so although it is coming along nicely it is coming along slowly :)   I just counted up blocks and I have 21 of the large ties (need 140 for queen size) and I have 12 of the smaller ties and I need 56 of those.  So many more to go!

I hope everyone is having a nice weekend.

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Star Crazy and Insanity Revisited (Dear Jane)

by Karen on May 16, 2010

in Baltimore Bliss, Dear Jane - "Insanity Revisited", Star Crazy

First of all I got done with my May BOM for the Star Crazy yesterday.  After I was finished with it I took photos and then this morning I was resizing the photos for the blog when I noticed my mistake on the Irish Chain block.  I have the lower left corner reversed so will need to pick that out and restitch that section.  Isn’t it weird how you can sew – press, step back and place it on the wall,take a photo and never notice a thing wrong until you are resizing a photo and look at it again!

214 Half Square triangles - I think they are 2 1/2 inches if I remember right. I'm not sure how many of these are needed but we have been making between 24 and 48 of them every month. They are stacked in the box in the color groupings that I used.

This months 3 larger blocks - including the Irish Chain mistake. Some of these I wasn't sure if I would like using lighter colors in the stars but decided a few here and there will be fine. If I find I really don't like the light colors when it comes time to do placement and sewing together I can change them then. But because this is a scrap quilt it might turn out to look just fine.

5 months worth of blocks. The Irish Chain and larger stars are 8 1/2 inches and the smaller stars on the bottom I don't remember and don't have my book of patterns handy - I think around 6 inches? We have a lot more of the smaller size to make.

Yesterday I completed two more Dear Jane blocks for my “Insanity Revisited” quilt also.  I am now done with Row 11!!!  Two more rows to sew the blocks for – 26 blocks and then on to the border – the end is coming into site (maybe next year?)  Actually it would be nice to finish the blocks and triangles sometime this year but who knows.

Row 11 Block 12, this one was so easy - hand piecing only took 45 minutes. Again a difference in lighting - one day I will get it right - but I am a quilter not an expert photographer.

Row 11 Block 13, this one had more pieces and took a little longer - I think total time for this one was a little over 2 hours.

Tomorrow I will have a photo of all 11 rows sewed together.  Today looks like another rainy day – I tend to get a bit done on rainy days.  Today I am going to be working on quilting design for the Baltimore Bliss quilt that I finished (I think) late last year or maybe it was very early this year.  It is about 54 x 74 I think – I have it written down someplace.  I am contemplating getting this quilt top with the quilt design on it and basted together to take along on our next trip to quilt on the road.  It would be nice to be able to totally finish this quilt while on the road.  I am thinking of doing feather designs – I know it will take longer to quilt then simple grid which I lean towards, but feathers on this applique quilt would look nice.  I have my new feather book out and template that I bought in Paducah so will be experimenting – better get my big drawing pad out!  I feel there will be some to toss out until I get the feel for it.

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Stencil and Decorations

by Karen on December 7, 2009

in Baltimore Bliss, Interesting Links, life in general

ACHR1013First of all I finally got the stencil today for my Baltimore Bliss quilt.  I ordered it ages ago like November 20th I think.  I hadn’t received it and the company I ordered from said it I didn’t get it by today to let them know and they would send another.  I got it today!  It looks great and will fill in those 16  1/2 blocks really well and the half square-triangles too.

feathered circle. I had intended to start the Baltimore Bliss quilting but I had to wait for the stencil so I started the Dutch Treat instead. That is ok, it will give me time to find a nice varigated thread to use to show off the quilting. I don't have a color I want to use on it right now.

feathered circle. I had intended to start the Baltimore Bliss quilting but I had to wait for the stencil so I started the Dutch Treat instead. That is ok, it will give me time to find a nice varigated thread to use to show off the quilting. I don't have a color I want to use on it right now.

I know this is my second post today (I really spend too much time on the computer and need to get busy quilting this evening!) I thought I would share some of Christmas decorations – I would love to see how y’all decorate too so if you have posted photos let me know so I can look.  Here are a couple, I’ll do more tomorrow.

Feathered star Christmas table topper made several years ago

Feathered star Christmas table topper made several years ago. I put it on my new table and it looks really great there.

My 3 kings - I got these on sale from my daughter when she was selling Southern Living At Home items. These kings are about 14 inches tall. I love them, they look old and rustic but aren't!

My 3 kings - I got these on sale from my daughter when she was selling "Southern Living At Home" items. These kings are about 14 inches tall. I love them, they look old and rustic but aren't!

Russian Nesting Dolls. I got these on a cruise to Alaska about 6 years ago? They are made in Russia and they were the prettiest ones I found at a reasonable price in Sitka, Alaska. Sitka if you don't know has a history of Russia as Russian fur traders lived there in the 1800's. These nesting dolls have wood burning on them which looks really nice. They have such a religious theme to them that they are perfect for Christmas although I leave them out out throughout the year - just in a different location.

Russian Nesting Dolls. I got these on a cruise to Alaska about 6 years ago? They are made in Russia and they were the prettiest ones I found at a reasonable price in Sitka, Alaska. Sitka if you don't know has a deep history of Russia culture as Russian fur traders lived there in the 1800's. These nesting dolls have wood burning on them which looks really nice. They have such a religious theme to them that they are perfect for Christmas although I leave them out out throughout the year - just in a different location.

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Baltimore Bliss

by Karen on November 19, 2009

in Baking/cooking, Baltimore Bliss, Dear Jane - "Insanity Revisited", weather

Ok I got the Baltimore Bliss stitched on point today (by machine :) )  it was pretty easy to do considering the size of the quilt – it is finished at 45 x 65 I believe.

I didn't quite get the quilt laid out flat and took the picture and didn't realize I would need to take the photo over again when my battery ran out! Why do these camera batteries always seem to run out so quickly - that is this camera does anyhow. One day I am going to get a new camera, I wouldn't mind something smaller that takes even better photos. There are so many to choose from now.

I didn't quite get the quilt laid out flat and took the picture and didn't realize I would need to take the photo over again when my battery ran out! Why do these camera batteries always seem to run out so quickly - that is this camera does anyhow. One day I am going to get a new camera, I wouldn't mind something smaller that takes even better photos. There are so many to choose from now. I will post another photo another day. I will see how much batting I have left and baste some more together to get rid of more of these pieces. This quilt I will go ahead and use my hoop for and can quilt in the living room while watching tv. The Christmas quilt will be on the frame for awhile so I might just as well work on two at once in the quilting stage.

Last night while watching I got this block finished for the "Insanity Revisited" quilt. I have 7 rows sewed together and I am piecing the 8th row right now. This is block 9 from the 8th row. This is also block 100 out of the 169 blocks needed so it is moving smoothly along.

Last night while watching tv I got this block finished for the "Insanity Revisited" quilt. This is the name I have given my second Dear Jane quilt. I have 7 rows sewed together and I am piecing the 8th row right now. This is block 9 from the 8th row. This is also block 100 out of the 169 blocks needed so it is moving smoothly along.

I was lucky and managed to get my H1N1 flu shot today.  I called the medical clinic to see if it was in yet and they said they got some of the serum yesterday and to get down right away and get my shot before it went to someone else :)   I scurried right on down and got it before they ran out.  I am in one of the high risk groups so I was glad to get it although my arm is a little sore tonight.

It has been sweater weather lately – I like wearing sweaters and sweatshirts so it feels nice to me.  I am baking muffins tonight and I know the house won’t heat up much – instead the oven heats the house just enough that the heat isn’t coming on.  I am making two different kinds – well one batter, but two different ways.  One half of it has raisins and walnuts in it and the other half is walnuts and chocolate chips.  It is an oatmeal batter.  It sure smells good, I have a feeling these breakfast muffins are going to be for snack time also!

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Baltimore Bliss Blocks

by Karen on November 18, 2009

in Baltimore Bliss

I finished my 6th Baltimore Bliss blocks that I got from the Fat Cat Pattern site.   That is all of them that I am making for this child size quilt.  I really had fun with these blocks they were fairly simple to make and I needed that after all the difficult work on some of the quilts that I have made this past couple years.  There are six more blocks in this series of BOM blocks.  I will continue to collect them and make another child size quilt from the  next set and use a different color scheme for it.

The 6th block in this series. I had only used this blueish color fabric in one block so I had to make sure to use it in this one so it would all balance out right. I redesigned this block. I didn't care for the flowers as it was designed - it would have had two colors layerd on each petal and nothing in the center of them, I preferred to do them this way. Also the leafs next to the flowers were a bit bigger and I thought they took up too much room so I made them smaller.

The 6th block in this series. I had only used this blueish (I'm not sure if that is a word but it is for me) color fabric in one block so I had to make sure to use it in this one so it would all balance out right. I redesigned this block. I didn't care for the flowers as it was designed - it would have had two colors layered on each petal and nothing in the center of them, I preferred to do them this way. Also the leafs next to the flowers were a bit bigger and I thought they took up too much room so I made them smaller.

So now I need to decide what the lay out will be - set on point like this? Not with the carpet of course :) but with more of the same background fabric and then a border around the outside.

So now I need to decide what the lay out will be - set on point like this? Not with the carpet of course :) but with more of the same background fabric and then a border around the outside. It would need a bit of quilting on the center two blocks and then on the half square triangles - maybe a feather wreath in the plain blocks and half the wreath on the triangles. In other words a lot of quilting. Of course I am leaning more towards this layout as it is more work :)

Or set like this with sashing and borders around the whole thing.

Or set like this with sashing and borders around the whole thing. This lay out would be the easier of the two as far as quilting it would go although on the border and sashing I would probably put a braid like design on it which would be a bit of quilting. Any fabric used in these blocks is down to very little left over so whatever the sashing would be might not be from these colors - one of the reasons I am leaning towards the set on point version - I have plenty of the background fabric as I got quite a few yards of it - it is such an easy color to work with so I got a bit of it.

I really like the two blocks in the middle the best for some reason.  Not sure why.  I should have used the light green fabric a little more but I ran out as I almost did with the plaid.  The hazards of using up scraps!  All of the colors except the background fabric was pulled from my scraps.  I am really trying to be good and use a lot of them up.

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