Category Archives: flimsy

A Flimsy, A Milestone Birthday, and A New Hiding Spot

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2014_May 5_Reflections_Wedding Gift for Lindsay Verde_Flimsy.

I have been working on this quilt top for a while.  This pattern is called, Random Reflections.  (Refer to my March 1, 2014 post for pattern details.)

I decided that the recipient of this quilt would not want it the length it was in the pattern as that would not provide enough length for wrapping around oneself in the cocoon fashion that my kids like to do with quilts so I added two more rows to the original pattern which made this top finish at 80″ long, rather than 60″ like in the pattern.  Next up will be to get this one quilted as it is needed as a gift for the end of June.

Today was my MIL’s 85th birthday.  Family members took her out for lunch at a local restaurant to celebrate.

Harold's Mom's 85th Birthday_May 5, 2014.

She had some help from the younger crowd to blow out the candles.Harold's Mom's 85th Birthday002_May 5, 2014. And just because it makes me smile….

Joey Under Long Arm Table-OptimizedThis is a picture of Joey’s new hiding spot.  He is not impressed with the flooring renovations that have been happening upstairs.  He used to like to lay on the carpet in the sunshine to soak up the rays.  The carpet has now been replaced by laminate flooring so now he heads downstairs and climbs up on top of the stack of quilts under the long arm to sleep.  I think he thinks he is hiding under there, but the tail sticking out gives him away.  🙂

 

Valentine Projects

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While I was in AZ on my vacation, I picked up a few Valentine’s Day fabrics from Joann to add to my stash.  I find Joann fabrics are not the same quality as the quilt shop fabric, but for a seasonal project that won’t get much wear they are perfect.  When you go into the stores now all you see are Valentine-themed chocolates and decorations so I decided to dig out the Valentine fabric and work on some projects.

These projects are still flimsies and they are remaining on my design wall until I get them quilted.  The smaller octagon is made from 5 x 3″ strips of fabric (finished topper:  25″ across) and the larger octagon is made from 6 x 3″ strips of fabric(finished topper:  30″ across).  Because the smaller table topper took less fabric, I had quite a bit of the leftover strata.  I decided to piece the leftovers together into the rectangle you see in the picture.  I am not sure if I will just quilt this the way it is or if I will add something more to it.

DSC_0584

Crumb Blocks Find a Home

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I had a large pile of crumb blocks that desperately needed to find a quilt home.  These blocks have been sitting on the shelf in my studio for years collecting dust.  As we all know, blocks on a shelf do not do much for warming a body or soul.

So, recently, I took that stack of 40 crumb blocks off the shelf and transformed them into two large lap size quilt tops. (62″ x 74″).

At one point I had all 40 blocks sewn together into one large quilt top without sashing and cornerstones.  I wasn’t happy with the chaotic look of that top and so I picked out the seams and stacked the blocks back on the shelf.  The blocks sat for a few more years without being touched because of the memories invoked by all that reverse sewing that I did!

crumb1 crumb2Each crumb block is pieced together from 4 smaller, 6″ square crumb blocks.  There is everything in these blocks–nine patches collected from a guild nine patch block exchange many years ago, scraps of fabric from leftover quilts made for Christmas, Valentine’s, Easter, floral, and other themed quilts.  These quilt tops are truly a trip down memory lane.  It always surprises me how much emotion and memories can be triggered by looking at the scraps of fabric in one of these quilts.

Fabric requirements for each quilt:

20 crumb blocks – 11.5″ square

Sashing – 34″ WOF cut into 17 – 2″ wide strips, subcut into 49 – 11.5″ strips

Border – 35″ WOF cut into 7 strips – 5″ wide

Backing – 4 meters

 

String Flimsy

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string topI am on a roll.  I am determined that all of the completed blocks that have been stacked on the shelves for years will be put together into quilt tops.  After all, empty shelves allow room for new fabric purchases!

Over the years I have used different techniques to piece together crumb or string blocks.  The blocks in this top are strings pieced together onto muslin foundations.  The many seams and extra layer of muslin make this a very heavy quilt top.

I am not sure how this will be quilted yet because of the weight of the top.  I am debating whether I will finish this one without batting or not.

Finished flimsy size:  54.5 ” x 63.5″

Happy 25th Anniversary!

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On September 5, 2012, my brother and sister-in-law celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.clark and kari3This picture of the happy couple was taken September 2, 2012 in the restaurant at the hotel/convention center where we celebrated their wedding reception 25 years ago.

clark and kariMy brother and sister-in-law have wanted one of my bed sized quilts for quite some time.  The marking of 25 years of marriage seemed like the perfect time to present them with a quilt.  I didn’t want to promise that I would make them a bed-sized quilt from scratch because I wasn’t sure exactly how long it would take to finish it with all of the other commitments I have.  So, I went to my stash of flimsies and picked “The Simple Cross” to quilt and gift to them.  Although they saw the quilt top on September 2, 2012, it wasn’t until June 22, 2013 that they were presented with a finished quilt.

clark and kari2This is a picture of the quilt on the bed at my brother and sister-in-law’s house on the evening of the day that the finished quilt was presented to them.

The Simple Cross was made from a pattern that was in the September/October 2000 issue of Fons and Porter’s magazine, For the Love of Quilting.  I started making the blocks for The Simple Cross on March 12, 2006 and finished the quilt to the flimsy stage on March 28, 2006.