What a Year, 2024!

So, here we are.  The start of November.  And very little in the way of quilting achieved this year…  All, well mostly all, due to our sailing plans that seem to have taken on a life of their own.  So, what happened?

Supermarket run in our 'other' car

• Our intent for an early start (Feb) this year to get from Trinidad to the US before hurricane season, (June to November) fell apart, waiting on visas. So, the plan was re-written.
• We added a bit more work to our list for completion in Trinidad, as you do, while we were hauled out.  So, very slow off the starting block and yet another plan was made.
• Hurricane Beryl (1 July 2024).  We were not affected, thankfully.  Our revised plan had been to do a a few months of cruising with a visiting friend, then return to Trinidad in September, haul out and fly home.  Not long after arriving In Carriacou (Grenada) and then a few days later in Bequia (SVG), we watched closely, a developing weather system, working its way toward the southern Caribbean islands.  We moved further north to St Lucia avoiding catastrophe unleashed by quickly strengthing Beryl, with, for us, only storm-force winds to contend with.  Tucked well into the lagoon here, we also avoided tidal surge that caused enormous coastal damage.  Given decimation of the islands to our south, the flight of many cruisers to safety in Trinidad and lack of available space to haul in the Chaguaramas boatyards, it made sense to stay in St Lucia. So, we did!

By then, Hurricane season was well underway, islands to our south seriously damaged and Trinidad facilities stretched to the limit.  Leaving our boat for the season in St Lucia was not an option either, though surprisingly, many do.  We slipped sideways, into our next plan.  As going home was now out of the question, we decided to stay with the boat in St Lucia, then when the coast was clear, in November hopefully, make a dash for Chesapeake Bay, in the US, parking our boat and heading home, we’re hoping, by March 2025.  Phew!

Scrappy & colourful hexies

During our stay in St Lucia, I’ve managed to stitch the last of my Kingfisher hexies on to pre-cut backgrounds.  I’d started stitching them the previous year when we stopped in St Lucia!  In the hope of getting some stitching time this year, they were part of a little pack of handwork I had prepped to take away with me.  Having finished all the applique, I decided not to stitch the blocks together (given bold background colours) until I get home and can arrange them on my design wall.  Sewing on a boat is do-able, I’ve decided, as long as it’s handwork, easy to pick up and put down, and compact – storage space is limited.

Scrappy Hourglass Variation

I had also packaged up with my supplies, a bag of scraps to make some small bags.  My plan was to stitch them by hand, boro style, then assemble them at home.  However, with time on my hands, and a recently serviced, teeny-tiny sewing machine (not to mention oodles of electricity at the dock!!) I changed my mind, deciding I could manage a few quilt blocks for a scrappy quilt. 

All I had was a selection of lights and darks; no background fabric.  Quilts and quilt making is not a “thing” here in St Lucia.  Tropical weather will do that for you!  So, with no chance of finding something for a background (we’d also had a recent wardrobe cleanout, so nothing there either!!), the hunt was on for a suitable block.  Funnily enough though, I ended back at BethShibley’s Hour Glass Variation.  Big, bold and easy to cut shapes, HST’s that I could manage in my tiny space with only a few tools, and enough scraps to assemble 30 11 inch blocks, with little waste!  Best of all, this pattern works very nicely with a light/medium and a dark contrast, then a cross of either in a colour match. 

Quilter at work

Let me just say, that a $70 Walmart Brother sewing machine is not quite my ageing Bertie Bernina, but once I’d discovered its foibles (with quite a bit of unpicking), I had 30 colourful blocks to play with.  A sheet became my temporary design wall, however I packed the blocks away to assemble at home.  Availability of fabric for sashing was the hold-up…  My hope is that we can stop in St Martin briefly so that I can visit Lyseth’s “A Stitch at a Time” in Cole Bay.  That’s where I found those beautiful blues for my first Hourglass Variation – also waiting at home for me to sew together.  Next year, I suspect my quilting time at home will go rather too quickly…

Oh, and just to be sure you know, even though I sneakily reduced my mission to complete 9 items in 2024 down to 4, not one thing, on either list, was finished!  Ha ha!  Sometimes, you've really just got to laugh at yourself...  Still, I love a good list and I'm sure next year will be filled with them!

Finish Your Four

The idea of the Making Nine Project is, as I understand it, about starting and finishing your chosen undertakings for the year.  Signing a contract with yourself to commit.  For me, there’s the challenge!  Given my rather too large, and if I’m honest, very old collection of UFO’s, huddled in boxes rarely seeing the light of day, ignoring them bothers me.  Then of course, there is the ever-present fantastic new patterns, fabulous magazines, ideas on the net, friend challenges and workshop opportunities.  All singing like Sirens, luring you to commit to the possibility of adding yet more to that UFO count…

Another consideration is that a large chunk of my year is given over to living the gypsy life.  Sewing large quilts in confined spaces is not for the faint-hearted at the best of times, so I cram my days at home with as much stitching time as possible.  Only recently, have I actually managed some hand stitching while we’ve been away.  Thank goodness for the convenience and ease of hexies and EPP!  So, with all this in mind, and given it was already July anyway, I felt nine was a too big a commitment.  So, in a “Let’s get it Done” mood, I’ve fashioned “Make Mine Nine” to a more achievable “Finish Your FOUR”.  Here’s what I achieved in 2023.

1. I happily packed my box of hexies to take away and managed to stitch a bunch of scraps into pretty “flowers.”  They are now firmly stitched to diamond backgrounds waiting to be set into a top.
2. Far from home, I stumbled upon a wonderful patchwork shop, filled with the most tempting blues.  (There’s that dreaded inspiration again!!)  These I cut out, along with a bag of blue scraps from home, then bagged them to make up into blocks for an Hourglass Variation (Beth Shibley’s pattern).  I was able to check her cutting requirements on days when we actually had an internet connection!  Back in my Garden Shed, I’ve stitched up 30 blocks ready to set into a top. 
3. But not before deciding that a Layer Cake pack of Debbie Maddy Shibori fabrics “Shimo” would make up into the perfect quilt gift for friends.  I did get this quilt finished, just not until early in the new year. (I need more photos before posting!) 

I've now made up 30 Hourglass Variation blocks using both new and "revitalised" fabrics...

Still, that makes three out of four in 23; I’m just not pointing out that only one was actually finished!  Numbers can indeed, be rather rubbery…

Then of course, now having rolled over into the new year, it was time for my annual UFO Review.  This revealed a fairly constant annual figure of 13 UFO’s (my lucky number so it would seem), with some projects dating back to the 1980’s.  Having settled on an achievable (or so I thought!) project number of four, I insisted (to myself) 2024’s fab four come from my static WIP stash – 2 old & 2 more recent.  That’s setting the task bar high with quite the quota of quilting!

1. Machine quilt Stumbling Fans, my oldest top: 1980 UFO #1
2. Christmas Fairies, make into a tree skirt: 1989 UFO #2
3. Finish machine quilting Dutch Coverlet: 2014 UFO #4
4. Finish the Horta blocks, sew the top & backing, then baste: 2013 UFO #9

Luckily, it’s still only March!  Whoo hoo…  So, with all this machine quilting, my poor Bertie will definitely need a service/check-up very soon!  He must be getting on a bit - 21 years old this year, and deserves a bit of “me” time.

As to newbies – inspiration will strike as inspiration does!  And I am thinking it might just be time to explore a Japanese theme or two again.  I still have a nice bundle in my stash from the Japanese Textile Tour I took in 2000.  “Tell him he's dreamin'” to quote Darryl from The Castle, one of our most loved movies.  

A sneak peak at my almost finished Shibori Jacob's Ladder Variation

2023 And Me

 

Graphic courtesy of The Graphics Fairy

Yes. it's that time of the year again!  Amazing how quickly it sneaks up on you.  I've been hiding in my garden shed on temperate days and can boast a top just completed.  All easily put together thanks to a Jenny Doan Jacobs Ladder tutorial.  I did muff the pattern a bit!  But it's quite forgiving and I don't think anyone would know (she said hopefully).  If this weather holds, then I hope to have it basted and under the machine for a few quiet days of quilting.  Further activity in the shed has seen construction of heaps of HST's in prep for my hourglass variation inspired by My Sewing Room's Beth.  I plan to leave some time however, to clean up and dig out all my UFO's for the big annual guilt-fest review.  This always puts brakes on my ambitions to start yet another quilt before finishing at least one or two "sleeping beauties".

Sadly, I would like to bid my quilting buddy Margaret a fond farewell.  It was always fun stitching with you on your balcony watching the world go by.  We will miss your kindness, good heart and amazing quilting talent.

This cute little kewpie reminds me of the play by Ray Lawler, Summer of the 17th Doll, written in 1955.  I trust this cutie brings joy to you all this festive season, where-ever you are.  Have a wonderful and peaceful Christmas and New Years, and allow at least some time to spend on your own stitching projects.  Better yet, relax in front of a few good, old fashioned movies while you stitch!  

Snowflakes in St Lucia

Every year I take something away with me to sew.  I nearly always carry those projects home untouched.  This year however, was different; I made myself start stitching a box of hexies whilst we were sitting in some welcome St Lucia sunshine. And yes, I've discovered EPP at last. 

My motivation was a cute quilt designed by Rachel Hauser offered as a Stitch-Along project, dare I say it, 5 years ago!  The quilt, called Kingfisher, is simple - even cutting the diamonds and the instructions are clear and precise.  

Whilst at home, I'd prepped up by cutting shapes from scrap box leftovers, gluing (Sue Daley's glue pen) them on whilst watching the telly at night.  This was no precise, fussy-cut project.  I was looking for a riot of colours and indeed, a "happy quilt" outcome.  I've now got a box of more than 100 hexie flowers (the boys called them "snowflakes"), just waiting to be stitched onto my diamonds.  

Make MY Nine in 23

Warning.  This is going to be a wordy (clearly no sewing) post. And as my 150^th post, it is dedicated to my quilting friends.

Image Courtesy of Graphics Fairy 

I’ll begin by saying, this Make Nine in 23 is not my idea but one developed by Veronica.  And I might add one which she has used successfully over several years to inspire her to make time to sew, create and finish things.  As always, it is useful to have a Things to Do List and this one quite took my fancy as a useful springboard, particularly for working out where I am at in my quilting life.  For many years now, early each New Year, I add to my Project List – a basic list of my (many) languishing unfinished projects with a few little extras sitting in a not-quite-ready-to-sew pile (these are my bright little sparkles added to keep the joy :-).  Of course, I also keep another list of quilts that I’m inspired to do some day…now wouldn’t that be half of those in Quiltmania…oh my!  So, I have to confess that my list(s) is not quite so arty and has rather more than 9 projects.  What inspired me most was Home Row’s Nine Questions to ask yourself to help narrow down your chosen projects for the year.

Using these questions to help me massage and sort out my own yearly “maker’s routine” was quite an interesting exercise and one I think, helped me to focus on what was important.  Especially given the time I have for sewing!  Rather than record all my rather wordy responses, I’ll list the questions I asked myself and then give a condensed version of the answers.  I should note here that I enjoy this sort of self-reflection as it helps me focus – so little time & so many things to do – whilst some makers just prefer to get on with it and be led by the whimsy & joy of creating.

So, the Nine Questions I asked myself were:

1. What do I want or need?
2. What did I learn from last years successes?
3. What values are important to me?
4. What quilts are currently on my bed and on my walls?
5. What do I like & not like doing? (In terms of technique & quilting style).
6. Am I a seasonal maker?
7. Making time.  What’s my plan?
8. Do I want to stash or UFO bust?
9. Do I like to explore new techniques or crafts/arts?

In summary, I find something inspiring in patchwork & quilting.  It is enough for me, although I would like to get back to making my own clothes – perhaps one day.  Right now, I’m consumed by quilts.  However, my making time is currently limited to 6 months of each year as I also love to travel.  I have a large stash and many UFO’s (grin) – 12 at last count with many more ear marked for the future. As to the UFO’s, they have their own life and I’m not about to rush them for the sake of finishing them.  I always think you get a better end-result if you let the quilt, as it progresses, speak to you.  I live to honour the old but am also prepared to explore the new.  I also am fairly fastidious about workmanship and quality; I try not to rush a quilt’s progress just to get it done.  I’m also not big on following trends – each quilt has to stand on its own in terms of colour, texture, pattern, design.  That doesn’t mean they always work out – these ones are my quilts of learning!

I’m mostly inspired by old blocks & designs (Barbara Brackman, Nancy Cabot), love colour (Rachel Hauser) and love modern interpretations of old designs (SujataShah, Kaffe Fassett) & recently discovered a useful book by John Q Adams. 

If you’re wondering, I have, over the years, cleared my work area (my Garden Shed) from knitting & wools, cross stitch kits, silk screens (fabric printing), embroidery, a hardly touched weaving frame and most of my polyester fabrics so that my focus is on quilting.  I do dabble from time to time in dyeing, will add embroidery to a quilt if essential (just not too much!) and now, am loving the quiet style of boro & sashiko (Mutsu).  In all, I probably spend too much time on the internet (Jenny Doan) or with my head in a book or magazine, looking for inspiration. 

Now all I have to do is work out which ones are to make the selection final Nine in what little remains of 2023.  See if this works for you... 

Something Special

Komebukuro (Japanese Rice Bag): 2023

Christmas 2022 passed in a flash and as we were also getting ready for an earlier-than-usual departure to join Miss WJ3 in the delightful Chesapeake Bay, I didn’t find time for a whole lot of stitching.  Including finishing quilting that last quilt sitting idle in my “ready for quilting” box!  Such high hopes! 

It was #1 son’s hasty change of plans to move north (a sea change) that made me think about a fairly quick gift for him to take away.  I had enjoyed making my earlier versions of a Japanese Bag, so on 29 Jan 23 (2 weeks before our overseas departure date – oh the pressure!) decided to make a very small boro stitched one for this occasion.  Of course, I delved into my box of precious Japanese fabrics, selecting a Katazome design as an outer and a Yuzen for the lining.  Well, I hope I got the correct fabric types!

Boro is my current new fad.  I’d taken to finishing my Joan Bag pieces using this method, but kept the stitching linear so as to not detract too much from the fabric design. (This piece was given to me by Joan.)  For the same reason, I chose not to do any fancy boro twists & turns, but stick to a linear design.  All the better to see my pretty Japanese fabrics. 

The pattern I chose this time, was a Swan Pattern; a small knot bag.  As I was using quilt wadding behind my stitching, the ties were thus too heavy (better to use the recommended interfacing instead).  So, I adapted the rice bag closure to non-lined tabs & a cord.

 

Just for the Record:
Bag Finished Size: H 13.5; W 12; D 8cm (or H 5¼; W 4¾; D 3¼ inches)
Bag Finished: 9 December 2022
Pattern Name: Japanese Knot Bag
Pattern Source: SWAN Family Pattern (see link above)
Fabrics Purchased: Japan, 2000
Fabric Technique (outer):Katzome
Fabric Technique (lining): Yuzen
Fabric Style: Blue &White
Materials Type: Resist Dyed Cottons
Stitching: Sashiko stitch using Sashiko Thread
Wadding Type: Cotton (Warm & White, needled cotton)

Williamsburg Bugs (Curious?)

 Waltzing in Spring: 2022  (Started: 2021)

The Curio Collection designed by Betsy Olmsted was another super bargain I purchased at the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum Gift shop (Williamsburg, Virginia) in 2019.  So good in fact, I toyed with the idea of getting a second bundle.  Now that I’ve finished this quilt, I’m rather glad I didn’t.

This collection is so distinctive and I am so used to “scrapping from my stash”, that it took me ages & ages to decide on a pattern.  My challenge to myself was to work with only the collection fat quarters and not to add any “blendables” from my stash.  I also didn’t want to cut the pieces too small and ruin all those gloriously bright bugs and butterflies.  Once I found the Fat Quarter Fancy design by Caroline, SewCanShe, in Tula Pink’s wild fabrics, I knew this block, in version II, would work for me.  True to form, it sewed up easily and fairly quickly.  I even managed to make up some smaller squares from the left-over triangles – more fodder for the downsized but still dreaded scrap box! 

Waltzing in Spring out on show at last

But good old Bertie Bernina played up and refused to cooperate, so construction took a little longer than I planned.  Of course, we were still in Covid lockdown during this time too and the repair centre was well outside my LGA.  Such a dance; such a performance!  Dame Nellie Melba could not have done better.

Finally, all blocks were completed.  Not without having to add a few extra fabrics to make up the necessary block numbers, but I think they blend in well with the original collection.  I then spent some time arranging these blocks and finally settled on rows in colour order rather than random placement.  The colours are quite strong and range from blacks to bright colours, so rows seemed the best way to contain all that colour contrast and energy.  The backing was also an interesting decision to make and I finally settled on a bottlebrush design (bright red flowers on a black ground) by Jocelyn Proust then partnered this with a black and white modern print. (Photo when it comes off the wall!).  I quilted this one with a medium stipple in variegated thread.  I rather like the way it reflects the watery theme of so many of the fabrics.  Looking at this quilt seemed to me to be looking into tidal pools, the way we did when we were kids, looking for shells and other exciting bits of sea-life or flotsam. Above the pools, butterflies and dragonflies dance to their own music.  (Check out Heather's amazing collection of rather attractive bugs on Pinterest!)

A few close-up shots

The finished quilt is one that you might either love, or not!  It is quite modern in design, very bold and holds the strength of the fabric design and distinctive colours very well.  I loved the challenges of making this quilt and the opportunity to experiment and grow my own design and quilting skills.  Limiting myself to work with a single collection was a very useful learning experience.  Yes, it was a certainly a moment, and one that I will say I’m glad I had, but doubt I would repeat.

As an afterthought, I’ve finally realised what was bugging me (ha ha!) about the quilt.  It’s modern, fresh and appealing but it really is ALL about the fabric, which is highlighted further by a pattern that features large pieces.  It's not about me, and perhaps not in my style - only time will tell.  It also highlights one of the problems for quiltmakers.  Each quilt takes a great deal of time and effort - from planning to construction.  It’s hard to get to the end and find you are not quite so happy with the result.  Still, it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve unpicked a top to “re-imagine” it!  So, in all an interesting learning experiment and one that took me on a journey outside of my colour-mixing, pattern selecting comfort zone.

Just for the Record:

Quilt Finished Size: 153 x 191cm
Block Sizes: 20cm (8 inch); 7.5” finished
Cut in: 6 September 2021
Pieced: 24 October 2021
Basted: 1 November 2021
Quilted: Machine 27-29 Nov 2022 over 3 full days; 2 reels Gutermann Sulky 30wt 4023 (Natural Taupe) using 12 bobbins (Gutermann 50wt 618).
Quilt Type: Modern
Quilt Finished: 9 December 2022
Exhibited:
Collection: Home #129-2021
Pattern Name: Fat Quarter Fancy II, Free Pattern
Pattern Source: SewCanShe.com**
Fabrics Purchased: From the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum in 2019.
Fabric Design: Curio Collection by Betsy Olmsted (See Link above to her Collection)
Fabric Style: Brights; Bugs, Butterflies, Eggs & Corals
Materials Type: Printed Cottons
Wadding Type: Cotton (Warm & White, needled cotton)
Backing: Pieced; 2 fabrics

**SewCanShe by Caroline is a fantastic resource & one that I hope will, over time, help tame that overwhelming stash of mine.  (We can all live in hope!!)

Finding something to bind this quilt was a challenge too!
I ended up with a slate blue Bali Batik that seemed to suit.