Good-bye, Little Friend

Good-bye little friends! You have served me well! You were there when I needed you!

You gave life to many a warp--large and small!

You traveled many miles!

Many feet treadled you!  Many weavers, old and young, gave you life!

And now we must send you out into the world so you can give other weavers and spinners the opportunity to spark ideas, textures and dreams.  You are grand and will live on in another neighborhood. 
Happy treadling, little friend!

They're Everywhere!

Yes, you can find talented quilters anywhere and everywhere you travel!  And the best part of the quilting world--they are warm, friendly and giving.  Of course, I feel that way with any person who works with fiber. 

Any time you can gather with fellow quilters, you will see completed quilt tops.  Pat had this Bonnie Hunter finished top to show off--great work!

 

And this one from knitter friend Judy (so glad she has come over to this side of the fiber world!)EZ Street is the title, but to me--this was not an EZ top to piece!

 

And Judy's color choices are super duper!  She said she used paint chips to decide on color

 

And look at the back!! outstanding!  she has given it an additional look

 

"Christmas Pickle" by Marsha--just WOW!  She said she wanted a real pickle look

 

The back is so neatly done--seams pressed flat--such a good quilter!

 

Marsha is now working on this top--all it takes is two different blocks--2" squares in 16 patch block and 2" strips that are snowballed

 

With this setting you get star pointers

 

Now add the color of your center star and you have a complete 22" block--this is going to be one outstanding quilt

 

Across the table from me, Cheryl had her plaid strips ready for sewing

 

And sew it goes...............strip after strip

 

Now with all these HSTs (some put into sets of 8--needing 36 sets) how do you keep track?

 

Judy has found a clever way to keep track of her HSTs--she bought this storage container at the Container Store and she is so good about labeling........

 

Another Pat in the class is working on trees--The tree part is paper pieced but look at all those 1.5" squares!  She has lots of patience to work with all those tiny pieces.
This was my first time to be with these gals, but it won't be my last.............they are a great bunch of new quilter friends!

Bonnie Hunter Club

We have arrived at our summer residence--ready, willing and able to begin our adventures here. My knitter friend, Judy P, has got me involved in Wooden Spools Bonnie Hunter Club meetings.

I've been going through my stash of plaids.

Anything goes for this quilt top, as long as it is plaid or stripe

These will work nicely but of course, I couldn't resist buying more plaids & stripes

We are working for this book by Bonnie Hunter

And this pattern which takes lots of HST (half square triangles)
 

Used up all my paper strips to make HSTs for this project--sew with small stitch, tear off paper and you have a pile of HSTs ready to be pressed (ugh!) to be added to the blocks.

Here Little Fishy!

Another fun quilt top to make for Binky Patrol is this one, again from designer Sindy at Fat Cat Patterns

I tried to find the funkiest fabrics I could to make these sea creatures

The water fabric was a batik that I found at Fabrics where with $35 purchase, there is no shipping fee and we can't find $35 worth of fabric?!

this is the first fish in the collection and I made him before I had the background so he doesn't quite stand out like I would want him too, but not all fish are noticeable in the ocean

He's just a plain old run of the mill flounder fish in my book!

Ahhh, a kissing fish! 

Anyone Want to Inkle??

There are various ways to weave--and inkle loom is one that is used for making bands, hence inkle means "ribbon" or "tape".

Inkle loom weaving is a nice video (with great music accompaniment).  Our local weaver's group has members who are interested in learning this technique.  The more we learn, the more we incorporate into our weaving skills.



Leigh (in green, standing) is giving some instruction to Joan with Marian looking on.  Gretchen is warping her inkle in the foreground.

Gretchen winds her warp--over this peg, under this peg "oh, did I do that right?"

Gerry is counting her warp for that first pick-up

Leigh is working her directions with experimention--Leigh is a 'master' at inkle!

A look at Leigh's work

This little loom has heddles but can still be used as an inkle

Samples to inspire!  Inkle on gals!! 



BARNS!

The history of the American Barn Quilt can be traced back almost 300 years to the arrival of immigrants from the central regions of Europe; Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. It is widely believed that barn painting/quilting originated in Pennsylvania with these immigrants and then spread through much of the New England and Midwestern states. Paint was very expensive in those days and painting a decorative and distinctive quilt pattern on their barns was a wonderful way of allowing for decoration. It also became an excellent way for travelers to find particular families or cross roads as towns people would just tell them which pattern to look for.  Info from American Barn Quilts

So, jumping on the 'barn' wagon is Acquilt with their Barn Quilt Design contest.  Take a look at the winners! 

When you travel through the midwest, you can still find barns with these delightful paintings over their doors. 

Bee in My Bonnet QAL is just the place to find the pattern.  This quilt along has been fun

A chance to use up some 6.5" ophran blocks floating around the stash bin

also, a way to use up some of those interesting barn fabrics that have been collected over the years.

animals can be added along with other farm equipment

These will definitely be added to the Binky Patrol quilt collection for some little adventuresome person to enjoy.



On our return flight from Las Vegas, I was able to tune into any TV show and came across Eleanor Burns doing this quilt.  Well, needless to say, this quilt will be in my personal collection--once we have finished with all the other barns.  Interesting information about barn quilts in this publication. 
Happy barn hunting to you!



Who Gives a Hoot??

Who Gives a Hoot?? Well, I didn't! Until I saw these wonderful owls perching HERE

They look so mysterious and inviting, so there was only one thing to do

But, to create these forest creatures to cloth!

I really like this one!  He has a crossed eye look!

And these guys are super great to been peeking at you..............so jump over to Sindy's site and begin your collection of Owls!