Monday, July 23, 2012

Weekend Update

I love my Guild! (The Houston Modern Quilt Guild, in case you don't know.)

We met on Saturday, talked of the Quilt Festival, QuiltCon, next year's retreat. Then show & tell: the challenge for this month was to quilt our jelly roll race tops from retreat. There were lots of terrific quilts. Mine was only half quilted -- & I worked hard to get that much done. I had thought to free-motion quilt it but my eyes were bigger than my free-motion ability, so I picked it out & tried a method I learned in a class with Mary Mashuta. I love the way it looks, think it is elevating a pretty ordinary little quilt. But I am going to take a breather before I get the other half done -- I've been quilting fairly feverishly for a couple of weeks.

walking foot quilted braids

On Sunday, I made a sleeve for my quilt, you know, THE ONE THAT WILL BE HANGING AT THE QUILT FESTIVAL! (Sorry, still a little excited about it.) I got out the pattern pieces for the shirt I'm going to make for Shug. I'm leaving at the end of the week to go visit my Mom & thought some garment construction would nicely fill the evening hours. I've also been obsessing on a quilt from the book Bold Improvisation. There are many awesome quilts here, one in particular I've wanted to make for a long time -- I did a fabric pull about a year ago, but other things pushed their way in.

 next project

Recently nifty quilts & The Root Connection have both been working on their version of this quilt & mine is burbling to the surface again. My pull -- all from my stash (well, almost all) -- was kind of primary colors with kind of a 1940s, 1950s feel. But I love the wild exuberance of my friends' quilts & was thinking of making a trip to Goodwill, the source of their fun fabrics. But I sat myself down & had a serious talk. Not only do I have miles & miles of yard goods (does anyone still call fabric "yard goods" anymore?), I also have lots of fabric from thrifted clothing. I pulled a stack from Laura Ashley & Laura Ashley-style dresses, the ones from the late 80s, early 90s -- over-the-top floral prints, big puffy sleeves, full -- really full -- skirts. They are pretty but I think the grouping might be a little vapid in a quilt, they would need something to give them a spark, but I'm not sure what. So they may have to continue to wait.

florals that need .... what?

11 comments:

beth said...

Funny. I'm super tempted to begin that quilt as well...AND...I pulled out some "yard goods" too!!! Haven't started to CUT the fabric. We'll see what transpires!

Nifty Quilts said...

Oh, I'm so glad that you and Beth are going to make zigzag quilts too! Kim is also doing one. I LOVE your Laura Ashleys. Try adding hot pink and orange! This quilt can take it.

Rachaeldaisy said...

Ive been eyeing off Niftys quilt for ages, and love Sujatas at the Root connection And I'm so excited that you're going to do one too, and Beth too!! It's like being in the eye of an exciting storm with lightning striking all around. I'm so excited for you having a quilt in The Big Quilt Show!! I'm tempted to call my fabric yard goods from now on, i like it. And love your starry jelliy roll quilt, it's so friendly that it's waving at everyone. :)

CapitolaQuilter said...

The quilting on your quilt is great and adds so much interest. The book links are inspiring too.

amy and the bad cats said...

i spy with my little eye . . . KITTY PAWS! love your jelly roll race quilt, and you can totally still be super excited about your quilt getting accepted because it's really that exciting!

sally said...

love love love your quilts!!! All of them...even the ones you haven't made yet! And I was thinking some fun bold solids, too, to go with those awesome Laura Ashley fabrics! Sounds like a great weekend, Beth!!!

O'Quilts said...

I also want to do that quilt!! I totally hate to be left out of anything. Jealous that you took a class with Mary Mashuta...I have that book..your quilting looks great. I also cannot believe it is time for you to make that long trek to see your mom...Lordy, life is something else..

fiberchick said...

I'm obsessed with this book too... I love Sujata's and Nifty's quilts and am sorely tempted to make one. Your fabrics look great!

~Niki~ said...

i sure wish i had time to get involved with a guild here locally. i just happened across your blog and am adding you to my sidebar :) love it! hugs from AZ.
niki

Sujata Shah said...

Beth,
I love your fabrics. Those vintage floral prints are wonderful addition to your previous pull.
I am excited for this QA you are starting. I see another one in my future... Oh dear!

Stacey said...

I do love this quilt....so tempting!