Finally a First Finish!

Due to quarantine, I have finally managed to finish the quilt top that I started 4 years ago.  And it feels so good to be to this point!

56 inches square

This is my version of the Rail Fence pattern, in only 2 colors.  It truly is a cultural fusion, as I used indigos from South Africa and 1800's reproduction fabrics for the lights/whites.

Here is a closeup of one block, so you can see the fabrics better. 

Due to the narrower width (35 inches) of the indigo fabrics, I had to make smaller blocks.  Instead of the 16 inch blocks in the book, my blocks are 14 inches.

I found this pattern very easy to understand and very easy and fun to make.  Thank you for the wonderful book, Sujata!

There is more information and more photos on my blog post.

Happy quilting!

Sharon

Just Checking In

I am well and self-isolating despite the fact that the governor of our state (Missouri) has done nothing to ensure that the entire state is on the same page. Thanks goodness for local officials who are. Just checking in to say everything is fine here.Lots of quilting going on, also knitting,  gardening, and reading. If I get really bored I might even clean out closets or organize my sewing room.

Organized Chaos

My latest finish. Organized Chaos. Pattern by Sujata Shah.

Flower Garden - The Quilt

The Lattice quilt top that I made earlier this year 

as a class sample has been quilted and finished.

The quilt is currently being laundered so

it can be sent tomorrow to one of my former attorneys

who is in hospice care due to an aggressive cancer.

This is the center of the quilt's scrappy backing.

Quilted with liberated free motion (unmarked) 

Baptist Fans using Glide's Mocha thread.

Bound in a medium blue stripe.

I hope Flower Garden brings him and his family comfort.

Quiltdivajulie

Summer Breeze - The Flimsy

double click to supersize for fabric details

Summer Breeze is now a quilt top

filled with memories of Michigan summers

and their leafy greens with blue skies/lakes.

I opted to stop at fourteen blocks

and came up with this variation 

of Sujata's Sunset layout.

39" x 39"

Now I need to think about how I want to quilt it.

Quiltdivajulie

Summer Breeze - An Update

One or two seams at a time,

I've managed to make a few more blocks

for Summer Breeze.

(Sunset design from Cultural Fusion Quilts by Sujata Shah)

I added a few of the side setting triangles

just to see what it was going to look like.

I like it!

Now there are 13 completed blocks

with 11 more to be made.

I would rather that this become a rectangle

so it can be used as a lap quilt.

I have an idea but don't know if it will work.

One seam at a time -- time will tell.

Quiltdivajulie

Crazy Heart

This Heart Crazy Quilt was began a long time ago. Its a special quilt and has remained being worked on over a decade.

I knew all along that this quilt would have an additional crazy border!

I just love the Hourglass Block done in Sujata Shah's style.

Its delivered and loved.

Lattice Class - Part Two

Three versions of Sujata's Lattice design

are now hanging in the quilt shop.

So interesting to listen to peoples' reactions.

Miss Patty spent our second class squaring 

the first half of her 100 blocks.

She's using a consistent background

and three (soon to be four) different fabrics

for her straight cut insets.

Her goal is a queen size quilt.

Miss Alice also spent her afternoon squaring blocks.

She has made 93 and her goal is also 100 blocks.

Miss Patty is squaring to 7.5" while

Miss Alice is squaring hers to 9 inches.

Those are some of Miss Alice's untrimmed blocks at the top

and the first four of Miss Jeanne's on the bottom.

Miss Geri will have a quilt 8 squares by 8 squares

when she is finished.

We all like her randomly curved lattice insets.

Miss Marie opted for this striking alternate layout.

Miss Geri, Miss Jeanne, and Miss Marie hard at work.

In the evening class,

Miss Connie is creating a table runner

using larger blocks that will square to 10" or 10.5"

Her layout will be 3 blocks wide by 10 blocks long.

Miss Denise's blocks feature contemporary prints, 

Civil War reproductions,

vintage/retro vibe fabrics,

and a lot of other uber-scrappy goodness.

Her blocks square to 7.5" and her goal 

is a layout 13 wide x 14 long.

You will definitely want to double click on the photo

to savor this scrappy Square in a Square

from Sujata's book - done Miss Connie's free-spirited way.

(she did this on her own over our holiday break)

Such an awesome book

and

such awesome students!

Quiltdivajulie

Lattice Class - Part One

These are the first few blocks

made by one of my evening students -

her first ever project from Sujata's book.

Her array of fabrics includes a mix of reds, yellows,

blues, and oranges in addition to these greens.

She was nervous at the beginning

but has taken to the process

and is now excited about her

quirky and super scrappy approach.

Miss Marie started with these colors

along with several greens and purples

and then added a few more during class

including a golden yellow and two different pinks.

Miss Patty is making her version

with this floral in every block.

She'll use the three colors on the plate

as her inserts to make a modified version

of Sujata's lattice with straight-ish cut inserts.

The darker colors under the plate

will eventually become her borders.

Miss Jeanne is going B-O-L-D with her version.

Miss Alice is also going to do a modified version because

she wants all of her inserts to be the print named "Figgy."

She added one more color to her squares during class,

a warm rich orange like one of the leaves in the print.

Miss Geri started with a layer cake 

and added a few more colors to her mix -

her first blocks look wonderful.

I didn't get photos of Miss Linda's fabrics

but she is going with clear brights

from the Hungry Caterpillar line

alternated with white on whites.

I had used a layer cake to make step outs

and a few sample blocks.

After class, I sewed up the rest of the blocks

to create this 48" x 72" layout.

I'll get the top sewn together and

piece a scrappy back with the leftover blocks

and share the results with the students 

during our second class.

Then the top and back will be donated

to one of our local quilt guilds

for their hospice quilt project.

It is so much fun to watch

how different students approach

the designs in Sujata's book

and then help them make

their ideas come to life!

Quiltdivajulie

Two Shop Samples for Upcoming Class

In January, I'll be teaching another class

from Cultural Fusion Quilts at our LQS.

This time we'll be making LATTICE.

This sample top started with a layer cake

in wintery grays, creams, and whites.

We added burgundy, brown, hunter green, 

and a couple of prints to the mix.

It has been well-received by shop visitors so far.

And because so many of the shop's regulars

are color-lovers, I made a second sample

using wild brights and a different layout.

(that's my No Ugly Flowers quilt on the left 

from our October Peppermint Pinwheels class)

The best news is that Fabric for the Flock

is also selling copies of the book 

to customers who are not taking the classes just because

they are excited about the samples hanging in the shop.

(they can't get over how different the designs are

and how uniquely cool each one is -

and all from one book)

Quiltdivajulie

Super Students

Lani brought in her completed top 

from our August Rail Fence class.

I really like the way she combined two different 

alternate layouts to create this "greek key" version.

And she had four extra blocks,

so they will be worked into the quilt's backing.

double click to super size

Jean shared this photo of her completed

Rail Fence quilt top - taken just before

it was taken to the long arm-er for quilting.

Her piano key border was a great choice.

Now to the just-completed Peppermint Pinwheels class.

Geri is using Kona Spring with an assortment

of red and white prints for her Christmas-y version.

Marie is also doing a Christmas version

using a consistent green with a mix of holiday prints.

Martha is using newsprint with lots of colors.

She'll be adding these three to the nine blocks 

she has already sewn together.

Tori went with a striking black/white and brights layout.

(look at the clear cup directly behind her sewing machine -

she puts her spool of thread inside and feeds it up through

the straw hole - and she uses the lidded cup to transport

her thread plus small scissors, seam ripper, etc.)

Alice is using a Paris-themed neutral with multiple brights.

(be sure to see her block collage below)

In the evening class, Connie went for her

favorite super-saturated colors.

SO many interesting prints and textures.

After last week's class,

Linda completely changed her game plan.

Her new Halloween version is fabulous.

Kathy's Ink and Arrow prints are mixed with

a tone-on-tone cream.

In person, this one has a gorgeous stained-glass feel.

Lani went with a mix of patriotic and wintry fabrics,

most with glitter and sparkle.

This collage will enlarge if double-clicked

so you can see Alice's mixed fabric blocks.

They definitely add interest in her quilt top

without being overly-obvious.

And this was an "accident" that could easily

 inspire another layout of this block.

I love moments like this.

* * *

Two terrific classes.

Thank you ladies 

for having so much fun

with Sujata's design.

Quiltdivajulie