It's done -- and I'm thrilled

It's done! Since it took four years to piece and applique it, I am taking the position that I have four years to get up the courage to put it on my longarm. I cannot even begin to think about how I will quilt this.

Here's what I know -- every single element will need to be outlined with invisible thread and then the background and some of the petals, leaves, and circles will have to quilted or enhanced.  I cannot even think about that right now!

Thank you, Kim McLean, for such a great pattern (Lollypop) and use of color!

I hope you are finishing a few things occasionally. It does feel good!

Jan

Unexpected...

What to do?  My Christmas quilts are done.  My baby quilts for the hospital are done.  I don't have any deadlines that I need to meet. My 500+ HSTs for a swap are done and bagged.  I have three quilts cut out…

• My wonderful Cherrywoods in a tote 
• A One Block Wonder waiting.
• Bonnie Hunter's mystery has all the parts done -- although I have no desire to work on it.

I wandered into the guest room where my Lollypop Tree blocks sit and unexpectedly decided that kind of color and process was just what I needed! I can't rush.  I can cover up with a quilt if I'm chilly.  I can stop whenever I need to.  Each element is a "completion".  I can work for five minutes or five hours if I want to.  And -- the Australian Open was starting last weekend and this makes for a "quiet" way to watch tennis (or at least replays).

It was the right decision.  It's been a good week and I have once again been reminded why I ordered this pattern within a week of happening upon it.  Many of you have read about this journey in other posts and I'll spare you the details again.  For those who are not familiar with Kim McLean and her marvelous patterns, here's a link to some eye candy that can take your breath away.

This quilt requires 16 blocks and each block takes me days to prep.  I am not fast.  The process I am using is not fast. I don't want to rush.  I want to enjoy the process of choosing all the different fabrics, cutting them, prepping them, and gluing them.  The color is just what the doctor ordered on a  gloomy winter's day.

I have four stitched and one more prepped.  Period.  That's it.   Right now it seems reasonable to think that I will spend a few days later this week prepping another block or two. Who knows what will seem reasonable later this week but for now, that's my plan and I'm sticking to it.  

I hope you are working on something that has wonderful colors and the process is as much fun as the completion!  

Jan

The good, the bad, and the ugly....

 The year in review -- the good, the bad, and the ugly!  Some I love and a few -- not so much!

My test block for Kim McLean's Lollypop Trees.  I have decided to go with a different background and hope you'll be seeing more blocks in 2012!

Blanche Young's pattern for Trip Around the World.  Loved her precision and liked the quilt.  Was done as a challenge with friends where we all used the same core fabrics and then added to with a "big reveal" at a retreat.  Such fun!  Given to my son's friend as a wedding present.

Definitely in the "ugly" category.  This crisscross quilt was easy to make and fast.  I started out trying to use my charm squares that I had gotten in a swap years ago and had no plans for  -  as well as from my strip bin for the "crosses".  This just did not work and I plan to make it again but with a more controlled palette.  I think I gave this to charity or sent to Japan with their terrible devastation.  It will keep someone warm -- but not necessarily feed their creativity.

My birthday quilt that I've blogged about.  I love it because of what it means and the fabrics selected just for me by the people I love the most.

My first and last hexagon "I Spy" quilt for my grandson.  Learned a lot -- and one of the things I learned is that kids won't care if these are hexagons or squares!

NICU quilts with friends for a hospital in Chicago.  We've used these to practice piecing and quilting while hoping they will bring peace to the baby and family.

 Quilt for a co-worker.  Loved the mindless sewing!  Surprised by how much fabric this used however.

Wedding quilt for son's close friend in Montana.  Fun to make but the harlequin pattern is not as bold as I had hoped.

 Quilt for co-worker.

Grandmother's Choice.  Finally got this one bound.  Blogged about finding the right home for the right quilt.

Chuck's wedding quilt.  Delivered and hopefully being used.  Cover quilt from American Patchwork and Quilting.

Carolina Christmas finally finished from year before last, I think. Big queen and wonderfully comfortable.

Mahalo! as a thank you for friends' generosity during our trip to Hawaii.  From Kim Schaeffer's book.

Quilt for co-worker.  This was also a challenge among friends with our all using the same pattern and revealing at a retreat. Another quilt from Kim Schaeffer's book (although I added the sashings/cornerstones and didn't do the small pieced border blocks.  I was ready to be done!

So -- that's the quilting part of my life in 2011.  In addition, I should mention that the year also consisted of other joys and challenges (like everyones).

1. I managed an integration of the people part of an acquisition of our largest competitor in one segment of our business.  They did not necessarily come willingly.  It was tough and there were many long days, late night calls, weekend conference calls, and unexpected "surprises"!
2. We got the house ready to sell.
3. Within 90 days of listing our house, we had sold, put all our belongings in storage and moved into temporary living -- without telling anyone but close family and friends.
4. Lived in a hotel/temp living arrangement for 60+ days.
5. RETIRED with no place to go.
6. Moved to Kentucky and left wonderful friends, an incredible village and a very special church.  Moved 7 hours farther away from our son and his family in the process.  Definitely tears.  Lots of them.
7. Stayed in a hotel for short period of time before closing on a house and leaving for Hawaii the next day.
8. Lived in new house with NO furniture (other than appliances and 2 twin mattresses/box springs) for 1.5 months.

This has been a year that we will remember in all the good ways.  There was some sadness -- there were some tears -- but all in all, there has been more joy and peace and that's my hope for all of us as we think about all we want to accomplish in our quilting lives and our personal lives!  

I hope you have joy.  Jan

Do Over ... and I'm OK with that....

I love this quilt -- Kim McLean's Lollypop Trees.  If you've never had a chance to take a peek, it would be worth your while to check it out at Glorious Color.  I knew I had to make it when I first saw it.

Of the 16 blocks, this is the only I've made and I've decided that I love the black background -- but I think I would love it even more with a multi-color polka dot fabric that found its way into my shopping cart.  And with only one block done, I'm not too heavily invested -- unless you consider the countless hours I've spent thinking about it.  Then it's been on my mind for over a year!

I learned a lot from this one block.

1. I was able to brush up on my skills on my freezer paper appliqué .  
2. I bought one of those cute donuts of beautiful pre-wound bobbins in a rainbow of colors and can just be happy looking at it.  
3. I "had" to buy more Kaffe Fassett fabrics in order to have a wide variety to choose from.
4. I learned a lot about staying true to the focus colors for each block.   For this particular block, it looks like a clown was sick all over the black fabric - there's no continuity to the colors.  The blocks that have been posted on Glorious Applique (site devoted to Kim's patterns) are wonderful and I'm drawn to those that have one or two focus colors.  My block started out with purple and pink and then I got too carried away so I'm actually pleased with the chance to re-do the block and learn from all the things that could be better.  Just more fun with Kaffe fabrics.  

Now -- the hard part is that it has to stay on the back burner because of other priorities!  Alas.

I hope you're finding time to piece -- and appliqué!  Jan

I'm just not sure...

Arggghhhh!  The colors aren't particularly good on these.  I am a firm believer in making practice blocks before I get in too deeply on a project.  I can learn a lot about what to do and sometimes will not even start a project b/c I didn't enjoy it or ended up not liking it. 

These are practice blocks for Lollypops by Kim McLean.  I'm practicing my applique -- it's been years -- and trying out background fabrics.  I'll probably post on Glorious Applique's blog (have you been there -- it's grand) to get some feedback from the experts. 

I bought the bottom fabric for thsi project.  I wanted a bit of color but no direction in the pattern.  The top fabric is a deep deep black with ginkgo leaves (can you see them?) and when I saw it (Marcus Brothers), I bought the entire bolt.  Seriously.  I had to have it all.  I love the black -- I do not love the show through which you can see on the "heads" of the lollypops.  The bodies still have freezer paper in them so there is no show through there. The heads don't and I have cut the background away on the one on the left and you can see the shadows -- and you can certainly see them on the pink one.  I'm a bit baffled at this point and would welcome comments.  I've considered another background but this could go on forever and I could never get started!

Keep piecing (or appliquing!), Jan