Sarcastic Quilter

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Another finish!

This is one of the charity quilts. I made it intending to send to Japan after the earthquake but was unable to finish it. So, it's been sitting here. At this point, I am not sure where it will be donated but it will be donated.

I used the QAL pattern from Old Red Barn's QAL in 2009. It's quick to put together but looks oh, so pretty, in calico fabrics. The binding was made from leftover strips of the fabric so it's got a nice scrappy look.

I practiced the leaf and cabbage rose continuous line quilting pattern again on this one because it fit the roses on the fabrics so well. You can see the striped backing here and a screen shot of the quilting.

Yeah for another finish!

Cheers!
Beck

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Make Life Quilt complete

To remind everyone, this quilt top had no home and since the colors ran in the wash and stained fabrics before I even pieced it, I decided it would be blocked and I'd use each block as a practice block for quilting. I loaded it with that intention. I even started in the border practicing feathers, leaves in the inner border, squiggles around the corner, etc. They looked like crud b/c I had no plan, I was just quilting. I always need a plan or I am not happy with the results.

The other thing was, I was so bored and impatient with the practice! This quilt was going downstairs in the teen lounge area (aka, unfinished basement with a couch & tv for the teens who are too good to be with us adults) and I just didn't feel like spending a lot of time on it. Even though I know that the practice would be better for me in the long run.

Suffice it to say, I just started a medium meander to finish the dang thing out and while not a bad looking quilt, definitely one I'm happy to have crossed off the WiP/UFO list. I saved my batting and put some scrap fleece on the back.

Not an ugly quilt...but not a loved one either, poor thing. I think the only thing that kept me going was the phrases, "make life beautiful" for example. Turn the ugly into something... that's what I did with this quilt. I turned it's disappointments into a useful and cuddly quilt for the kids by adding the fleece.

How are your projects going?

Cheers!

Beck

Friday, June 1, 2012

FTF - Weekends

I am dedicating this post to that one thing we can all, most of the time I think, agree is a blessing.

WEEKENDS

This week, weekends are the most favorite thing of mine.

That's all.

Cheers!
Beck

Monday, May 28, 2012

Another finish

I am linking this one up to AmyLouWho's Sew & Tell Friday.

I'm glad I finished another quilt on my WiP/UFO list. This is a very sweet feeling. I spent the weekend saying prayers of thanks for our soldiers, past and present. I spent many minutes remembering the fears and worries of hubs being deployed and my thankfulness he's home safe.

I spent many minutes thinking of the soldiers I know overseas now and those I know only through some of you in blog land. I've spent those same minutes praying for their safety and for the safety and strength to their loved ones at home.

I've also spent many minutes thinking about all the men and women, 100s of years gone and gone just recently. Those MIA, KIA and POW. I've thought about why they do what they do and how I feel about it. I am proud of our military members, past and present.

This Memorial Day, I'd just wanted to say, "I remember." I remember my history lessons and I remember my own past. I remember what I can so I teach my children. So I can help them understand what this country is all about. Who we are as a people. I want them to know, it's important every child know and understand the sacrifices that give them the life the opportunities they have today.

I feel maudlin as I write this and I'm sorry if it comes across this way but to me, Memorial Day always feels a little like a wake, part sorrow, part memory, and part celebration. It's always felt that way to me. It probably always will.

But, onto happier commentary. -wink- With all this thinking, I've been quilting and sewing. I've sewed 4 more of the blocks for my sisters' quilt.

I've also quilted and bound my SIL Victorian Harlequin quilt (previous posts here and here and here). This is a large lap-sized quilt with a pink, minkee polka dot as the backing.

I did not border the diamonds which made setting it for quilting a little difficult. Okay, a lot difficult. So much so that I think I will never try to set diamonds straight for quilting again. I will have a border on them.

All in all, though, I think it turned out okay. I used a continuous line design. Cabbage rose, loop and leafs throughout.

Frankly, I'm having a hard time boxing this up to send when Christmas rolls around. I want to test it out and cozy under it now. One puppy actually tried.

Did you have a good weekend?