Happiness in Bubbles

Stardate 2017.67.1

Finally…a breather.  Work being a bear, is finally taking some level of hibernation, and so, I get to come to the surface for air and chat about some of the quilting I’ve managed to do in what little spare time there has been.  Funny how time flies…when you start a project then actually get it nearer to completion (notice, I said, “nearer to completion”…there’s still more to do), how excited you can get over seeing the small moments you have to work on the project actually start to add up and you have a quilt ready for the next phase.

Here's the finished quilt top...all getting ready to be sandwiched and quilted...

I think about 2 years has passed, and over 1500 pieces cut apart and sewn back together has now materialized in the bubble quilt I adored when I saw it in the magazine.  I spent a fair amount of time just gathering fabrics that I could use in the quilt.  The hardest color to gather was pink.  I think I’m just not a pink person.  But, I thought the pink would lend a nice spark to the quilt overall.

On the design board...ready to sew together. 

For a while I was thinking this was a new pattern, and then one day while thumbing through books at a local thrift store, I found a quilting book with the exact same pattern (I didn’t buy the book.  Yep…I don’t know what I was thinking, either…).  I now know the pattern name is “Offset Log Cabin”, and of course, depending on how you set the individual “logs” together, you can end up with the bubble quilt I’ve assembled.

Mine is a bit brighter than the version in the magazine and I included additional colors, but I love the energy the quilt has and just the pure smile it puts on the face when looking at it. 

I learned a few things on this one while piecing it.  I’d use a styrofoam  block -  which came as packing in some large item – as a staging area.  I’d cut all the pieces for a 9” block and place them in sewing order, then they’d be ready for stitching together when I had time.  And the styrofoam kept the wind from blowing the pieces around when I left the window open…now, that was helpful!

Here's my staging area...cut pieces, all ready to be sewn together.

The next step now will be deciding how to quilt it.  I have thought of taking it to a longarm quilter and just get it quilted, but with all my quilts, I have a deep desire to quilt them myself so I can enjoy that part of the process as well.  Right now, I’m thinking modern feathers in the white/negative spaces…and for the bubbles…not really sure yet what I’ll do there.

It’ll be a bit before I get this bright spot quilted as I have just sandwiched a quilt to start doing all that fun stitching on, plus I need to find some backing fabric.  I just had to share, though, as the quilt feels nice and bright like Spring.  Until then, I hope you have fun discoveries in your quilting adventures.  

Linking up with folks this week...Have a great quilting week!

Stardate 2016.91.1

A Day Off of Work Does Wonders for the Soul        

A long time coming, I was finally able to get a day off of work to have for myself.  Sure, myself includes playing with our German Shepherd Dog throughout the day, but he protects, while I manage to quilt, so some play time is much deserved. 

The pup, playing in the snow. A bit dark, but you get the idea that quilting inside was a better option that day (at least for me).

Turns out, it was a great day to part from work. The cold weather set in (yep, anything can still happen in springtime in the Rockies) and the snow started to fly even as the peach trees are trying to bloom.  But, I remained cozy and warm in the house, stitching away on several projects. 

I finally found a border fabric I liked for the pink and chocolate quilt which I’m making for a wedding gift.  I got the border sewn on, and I think it kind of adds a retro/vintage vibe to the quilt.  And now, I’m busy working on free-motion quilting the quilt.  I’m still trying to get used to the new machine I got – trying to figure out how to best maneuver all the bulk of the quilt around without getting frustrated.

Now with the border fabric attached, I'm ready to quilt.  So far, it looks like I'll have this done in time for the wedding in August.  Yeah! 

I also spent some time working on the offset log cabin quilt that I have in the works.  I never thought I liked the Log Cabin pattern (fact is, I still kind of don’t), but I love this offset variation of the pattern.  So, I managed to get some more blocks made for that quilt.  It’s going to take a while because I have to make several blocks with different colors…but I’m at least on my way with this ongoing project.

Blue/Aqua blocks and Orange blocks of the offset log cabin quilt that I'm plugging away at slowly.  Each full "ball" block takes four blocks and each individual block has about 12 individual pieces.  It's taking a while, but it's gonna be cool...

Here's a full "ball" block in the purple color range.  When the quilt top is completed, it'll have several different color "balls", all made in the offset log cabin pattern. 

I also managed to finish another one of the red applique blocks.  That makes 7 blocks completed!  Yeah!  I designed the #8 block, and am currently working on that…Seems I’m never quite happy with re-making someone else’s quilt; I often times find myself injecting my own ideas in the quilt patterns.  So the #8 block will be the second block that I’ve designed to replace some of the original block patterns. 

Here's Block #7 done up in some electric colors.  I think the color combinations turned out well, and will go nicely with the other blocks I've made already.  This quilt will be a long haul, but the turtle wins the race, eventually. 

I love how I'm seeing my color combinations and color tastes change over time with this quilt.  I find myself getting wilder with the color combinations and pleasantly pleased with the outcome of each block.  

It’s great to have productive days off – especially when they involve quilting. I hope you find productive days off – or just productive time to further your own quilting creativity! 
Linking up with Let's BEE Social at Sew Fresh Quilts...