Confusion

Depending how you read my blog name, it's not surprising that once in a while there's a bit of confusion here.  Yesterday I described covering my design board and several of you thought I was making a blocking board for knitting.  It's not that, it's a flannel board used while designing quilts...fabric sticks to it without the need for pins.  See?

Pieced blocks from my *brown period* (for illustration purposes)

However, I think that this styrofoam insulation would make an excellent blocking board (thanks for the idea!) and will try it out next time.  Hopefully M won't be needing the scraps in the garage as they're disappearing quickly.  I've already taken one and covered it to use as a portable board for use on my porch.

Hmmm, the teacups......

Now that we have that cleared up, on to other things.  Project Spectrum starts tomorrow and I'm all revved up for it.  I don't have a particular project in mind, but plan to use the color theme to try out some quilt patterns and design ideas that have been on my lists for a few months.  I'll be thrilled if one takes off and becomes a bed quilt, but will settle for a lap or wall piece, pillows, or even, at least, removal from the list and moving on to other possibilities.  For me, this project is about halting my unending consideration of projects and moving along!

To that end, armed with compass, protractor, ruler, pencil and paper, I've been busily drafting patterns and making templates.  Because although I'm planning to work on some pieces like this and this over the course of Lolly's project, I also have several traditional designs in mind.  So I'll take this opportunity to mention my favorite drafting book, Patchwork Patterns by Jinny Beyer. 

Although I'm no particular fan of the author*, this is an excellent reference book.  In clear text, she breaks down the elements of geometry and then details how to draft any geometric pattern in any size.  Illustrated with simple drawings, this book frees quilters (or any craftperson who uses such designs) from having to rely on books for patterns.  I drafted the sunflower blocks (above) after seeing a photo of a similar antique quilt (finished, however...lol) in a magazine.  The book is out of print, but you can find used copies quite easily.

Two more quick items.  If you're like me, continually sorting through piles and trying to get organized, you might like this blog I stumbled upon recently, Discardian.  A tip a day to help you wade through it all! 

And finally, because yesterday's photo didn't do justice to the beautiful Grafton batt from Cate...

*swoon*

*In the early 1980s, JB was one of the queens of quilting and had just come out with her own line of fabrics, perhaps the first quiltmaker/designer of the many since.  Some friends and I traveled quite a distance to hear her speak (there weren't many quilt lectures in those days!) and were struck by a comment she made during her presentation about a wedding quilt she had gifted to a relative.  She said that, to her horror, the recipient was actually using it on her bed.  *Huh?*  I don't think I heard anything else she said that night.

Comments

[Cindra]

I love your quilts and I am going to have to visit that site regularly... got to throw away some things... must throw away....
As for quilts gifted.... I have seen mine on the ground at soccer games... my grandaughters', but they are so proud of it I just figure I will make them another one when this one wears out.

[Chris]

A-ha!!! I have indeed read about people covering those foam pieces with a non-bleeding gingham (for ruler lines) and using it to block kniting. :)

That batt is just stunning.

[myra]

I'm excited about project spectrum too and I hope I'll be able to come up with a project that I like for this months colors.

BTW the first and only quilting class I ever took was a Hawaiian quilting class conducted by a family who were all master Hawaiian quilters. I remember asking whether they used their quilts and they all responded in the same way. They said they never used the quilts and the only time they would display it on a bed was for photographs.

[Jennifer]

I consider myself a JB fan, but I have never met her in person. Her Quiltmaking By Hand book is one of the best I own. Great section on pattern drafting in it, too. I like how she writes about the value of hand stitching when it seems like everything I see these days is done by machine. But to complete the kinds of quilts she does takes a certain kind of personality, to put it kindly. The kind of person who might not want a quilt she made to actaully be USED. Ha ha!

[Carole]

I've never been a huge Jinny Beyer fan -- too much purple and teal for my taste. Now I have another reason to not like her. LOL

[Kate]

Wow, that is astonishing! Although I confess that a gift quilt I was making has turned into a quilt for me because I love it and I'm pretty sure the recipient would have put it in the dog bed. Dogs she loves, but still, I don't have the heart for that. I'm working on this issue... :) I'm looking forward to some Spectrum project photos! Have fun!

[Elizabeth]

Oops, I guess that was me dazed and confused - but happy I could pass on the KNITTING blocking board info!
And what does this woman actually DO with her quilts anyway? I use everything for everyday in my home, fine china included. What are we saving it for?

[Dorothee]

What became of your tea cuppaz? Any updates? I just love looking at them.

I own one JB book and it sits on my shelf, I've not even so much as looked at it. Sigh. And I want a design wall too!

[Cassie]

I'm kind of fond of your brown phase. ;-)
I have to laugh about the "using it on the bed" comment. I've refused to put hanging sleeves on baby quilts so they'll be used instead of hung on a wall. So I'm with you on that.

[Kathie]

I find you totally inspiring. I knit, quilt, embroider and cross stitch--although lately (last 2 years) mostly knitting. Whenever I walk into my sewing room I yearn to work on a quilt, but don't seem to have the time. How do you do all of those crafts? Do you have certain days that you quilt or knit? Do you work on a knitting project until it's finished and then work on a quilt? I need to get back into my sewing room. I should probably just save knitting for in the car and waiting for kids to be picked up from activities....any advise?

[Scribbles & Bits]

I really like those two quilts! That yarn is fanastic! And that woman was horrifed that someone was using her quilt as a quilt? I mean, I'd be kind of stressed out if I saw their dog chewing it to bits, even though that's a hazard of gifting something, but using it as it should be is magical! I love when people use what I give them!

[Kay]

Put this in your pipe and smoke it, JB: I have a quilt that was made for me as a baby gift. It's pink and white (tiny rose print fabric) and never was my taste at any time in my life, but I was always proud that it had been made for me by a distant relative who must have really loved the people who loved me. It has been on many of my beds and currently resides on my daughter's. It never yellowed because IT GETS WASHED. There was one unfortunate incident when I was in law school, involving a clothesline and a windy day, so the edge of the binding is a bit tattered but otherwise it's in amazing shape considering it's nearing 50 years old. Ahem. Please do not perform further calculations. xox Kay

[susan]

My great-auntie florence was an amazing quiltmaker, nothing she made was under double bed size, entirely by hand and I kept four of the seven which she willed to me at her death. funny, we have always used them, they look perfect, we do hand wash them and between times air them on the line frequently, but for being made in the 20's, they have stood the test of time. Where did the other three go? During desperate times, I had to sell them. Fetched mortgage payments about 15 years ago for over 8 months. Sad to have let them go, in a way, but those were ones that had never left the cedar chest ,never used, so they were not part of my childhood memories. We USED the others!

[Dawn]

Oh my gosh! I"m always in a brown period. That has got to be one of my favorite colors! Those sunflower blocks are TO DIE FOR! Oh I would be more than happy to take them off your hands!!! :)
Started reading your blog from a suggestion by Tonya and I"m loving it! I've already added your link to my reads so I can come back again, and again and again!

[catherine]

Thanks for the link to the discardian - will be checking it regularly as I am in a state of overload here - as for the jb comment - funny how 1 thing can put you off on a person - I did make a quilt for my sis when she was 1st married but when I found out that her hubby (ex) used it to lie on while changing the oil in her car I swore I would never give a (full-size) quilt away unless the recipient got down on his knees & begged - I've made miniature & small quilts for some but I'm easing up some, for babies, & the past yr for 2 people who went way out of their way to help my dtr when she was quite ill & they were appropriately thankful & respectful of the gift - giving those quilts made me feel so good that I've been feeling more generous - I should mention that my quilts are only hand quilted, not that I am a snob abt machine quilting (anymore) but because I love the look & process so much more but they do take me a long time to make

[Leslie]

The archive along the right side only took me as far back as November 08. I've been clicking the back-a-month button for two years, reading, dipping in, enjoying, looking for the beginning! I *love* that Russian Sunflower quilt, did you do more with it? If I read and read and read will I find it somewhere in the future, I mean past? :D Wow! That one's been on my 'someday' list for *years*.

[JayeL]

Blast from the past! Your post came up in a search. Thanks for the reminder about the Patchwork Patterns book. Love that book!