Out of the Box...At Last!

 Antique Toys#3: 2020  (Started: 2006)

Well, thank goodness this quilt, be it ever so small, is finally out of the UFO Box and on the Quilt Bed with all of its other buddies. Started in 2006, when I was confined to home with a broken leg, this seemed the perfect something to keep me busy.  And off my feet.

There’s not a lot to tell other than it was quite obvious that once I started this quilt, I regretted taking it on.  Not so much for the blocks; even the applique was quite enjoyable and finding a suitable border to contain it all was not so difficult.  I stipple quilted the blocks and achieved that finish in two days, so I can only say it was perhaps an “allergy” to embroidery that caused this project to sit for so long…well, it sounds a likely tale.  The good news it is finished.  At last!  An embarrassing 14 years UFO.

Not lavished with too much embroidery...

Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size: 130 x 160cm
Block Sizes: 12”
Cut in: Prior to 2006 (some blocks started); Work continued from 21 Aug 2006
Pieced & Basted: Blocks worked between 2006 - 2011;
On Design Wall: 2011; Needs Quilting & Embroidery 2013
Quilted: Machine: 4-5 Jan 2014
Embroidered: Hand: Autumn/Winter 2020
Quilt Type: Traditional
Quilt Finished: 31 Jul 2020
Exhibited:
Collection: Home #068
Pattern Name: Antique Toys
Pattern Source: Cindy Taylor Clarke, 1983
Fabrics Purchased: From the Stash…
Fabric Design: Prints, Stripes, Mixed
Fabric Style: Vintage look
Materials Type: Printed Cottons
Wadding Type: Cotton

Backing: Pieced using left-over remnants 

View of the back & the Drum signature block

Previous posts about this quilt design can be found (somewhat embarrassingly) in 1988  and  2006.

Butterflies & Birds

Butterfly Garden: 2018  (Started: 2016)

A certain amount of dithering went on with this quilt.  Firstly, what to do for a first grand-daughter?  Then finding myself selecting a heap of charm squares in “just the right pinks” and finally, wavering between, not one, but three patterns.  Well, I was struck by the ever-so-cute quilt in Quiltmania (see info below) but found a fantastic tutorial by the ever-so-productive and ever-so-scrappy red pepper quilts.  From this RPQ tute, I was directed to Mrs Schmenkman Quilts and proceeded to cut merrily from all three directions.  This explains why some of the blocks are a little off.  Not to worry, it all went well once I had my nose firmly planted on the grindstone.  As one must when a 4^th birthday is close at hand…

Proof of a Start - taken 17 Mar 2016

2016 turned out to be not such a happy year for us as a family, so it wasn’t until the end (September) of 2017 that I finally pieced up all the blocks and added a border.  Once again, I just took sooo long to decide on a suitable border arrangement; finally settling on setting the blocks on simple white sashing to make the butterflies dance and a light green and yellow floral border - so fresh and citrusy.  At this same time, I also resolved to add something meaningful on the quilt and found the perfect solution in another Quiltmania Issue (details below).  Even if it meant more embroidery!

(Photos to follow when I find them - having cleaned up, they're momentarily "lost")

Found my photos at last however they are sadly in need of editing as the
colours are washed out (in the strong sunshine) or too dark (in the shade).
Hmmm! Who said life wasn't meant to be easy.... but they'll do for now!

However, before embroidering anything, I needed to baste the quilt.  I initially chose a natural shade but very quickly unpicked all my work when the whites in the quilt took on a yellow cast.  Hmmm!  Not clever.  My one day job turned into two and I re-basted on a white cotton batting.  Much better. 

Machine quilting also seemed to take forever, as it does on a small domestic but finally it was ready for me to add birth sampler details and of course, that lovely sentiment from another Quiltmania project in Issue #100:  “Having someplace to go is Home, Having someone to love is Family, Having Both is a Blessing”. 

Sadly, I seem to be in quilt limbo again.  Blame Spring and an urge to clean up that dreadful, disorganised mess my photographs have become over the years.  Weeks later and I’m only starting to surface from a bit of a high-tech (well, for me at least) frenzy.  So, everything’s nearly sorted.  And I'm hoping my photos of this quilt will appear soon.  To lift the spirits though, Mrs Maggie is warbling each morning, the Plovers are busy protecting chicks on the bowling green and all our Jacarandas are about to bloom into a perfect purple haze. 

Just for the Record:

Quilt Finished Size: 150 x 168cm
Block Sizes: TBC  (but using 5” charm squares for a set of wings)
Cut in: Feb/Mar 2016
Pieced & Basted: by Jun 2018
Quilted: Machine Jul 2018
Quilt Type: Fresh & Modern
Quilt Finished: 25th July 2018
Exhibited: No
Collection: Gifted #018
Pattern Name: Mimi’s Butterflies p53
Pattern Source: Quiltmania #52 2006
Fabrics Purchased: From the Stash and maybe a few little extras…
Fabric Design: Pinks and anything fresh
Fabric Style: Brights
Materials Type: Printed Cottons
Wadding Type: White Cotton
Backing: Pieced using left-over remnants
Embroidered Quotation: Quiltmania #100 2014 p54

Stumbling Fans

Grandmother’s Fan: UFO  (Started: 1983)

Grandmother's Fan in progress...after all these years

That first quilt was certainly a challenge.  Despite having the “fan” pattern and McCalls very clear instructions I could only manage to assemble some strange rectangular shapes. Curves were simply beyond me.  I cut shapes from cardboard and each piece of silk was over-locked to within an inch of its life.  Blocks, as they were machined together, were all backed with light cotton cloth.  This was to support the light weight and seemingly fragile silk.  

My fan project was abandoned and not seen again until the mid 80’s when I finally managed a patchwork class or two.  I sought help full well knowing that my fan did not look anything like the original!  “Go crazy”, Joc said, “add embroidery and beading.”  I think now I was a little timid….one of my many early quilting lessons courtesy of that quilt.  Crazy quilts were in vogue and despite not being particularly enamoured with embroidery I decided to go all out and decorated each fan with modest layers of stitchery.  Then it was all sewn together.  A huge top, reminiscent of a circus tent, was finally pieced!

Thank Heavens for Dorothy Bond's "Crazy Quilt Stitches"

Anyway, it remains as a top today, just waiting to have some more embroidery added and be quilted.  Modern machine quilting may be my salvation and perhaps, just perhaps, this poor quilt will decorate a bed yet.....before it disintegrates.

A romance with textiles continued however in the streets of Saramban and KL’s downtown Chinatown.  Globe Silk Store was a favourite and bargains were always to be had.  Sarongs were plentiful, colourful and cheap.  We managed to track down a Malaysian batik factory on a visit to Penang.  I particularly loved Malaysian outfits – colourful batik shirts for men and sarong kebaya for women.  Even then, fashion designers were pushing traditional shapes to new limits and integrating new and time-honoured fabrics such as songket and ikat.

I returned home to Australia with lots of ideas and many more things to make.  Finish that crazy silk quilt?  No time for that, I’ve just seen the most wonderful fabric...  

Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size:
Block Size:
Cut in:  1983 Port Dickson Malaysia
Pieced & Basted:  1983-86
Quilted:
Quilt Type: Group/Workshop/Own Design/Friendship   DIY Quilting
Quilt Finished: Yet to be finished
Exhibited: No
Collection: Home# 001
Pattern Name:  Grandmother’s Fan
Pattern Source:  McCalls 1980*
Fabrics Purchased:  Thailand 1980
Fabric Design:  Jim Thompson & others plain jewel colours
Fabric Style:  Loom Woven Silk
Materials Type:  Silk & cottons
Wadding Type: 
Backing:

*McCalls Needlework & Crafts Magazine September 1988 p64 (Original shown in Winter 1980 edition)

Lessons Learned:
Start small and don't fiddle about with things you don't particularly enjoy (for me - embroidery).  Also, seek help - join a class, a guild or local group - get some expert advice.  When I did these things, I relaxed and started to really enjoy quilting!