Tumbling Gum Drops

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Tumbling Gum Drops - 36" square

Tumbling Gum Drops – 36″ square

I just finished sewing the last stitches in the binding of this small wall quilt.

This quilt measures 36″ square and is my entry into my Modern Quilt Guild’s Robert Kaufman Modern It Up Challenge.  See my previous post here for the rules.

Part of the challenge was to take a traditional block and make it modern.  The traditional block that inspired my quilt was the Tumbler block.  In a traditional quilt, the Tumbler quilt blocks are arranged side by side, neatly in rows with no space or sashing between the blocks.  To make the Tumbler quilt block modern, I used the Missouri Star Quilt Company’s Tipsy Tumbler quilt pattern to add negative space between the blocks and arrange them in a random way across the quilt.

My tumblers remind me of a package of gum drops that has been opened and tipped to gain access to the contents so I have called my quilt, Tumbling Gum Drops.

My quilt is now officially entered into the Challenge.  Keep your fingers crossed that my quilt will be successfully juried into the Creative Stitches Show at the end of March where our Modern Guild will have an information booth.  If chosen by the Jury, my quilt will also be part of an exhibit of modern quilts that will be displayed in a quilt show to be held in Penticton from May 8 – 9.

Gyleen’s Bricks, Cobblestones, and Pebbles – Finished Flimsy

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SCRAP CHAOS - 58 1/2 inches square

SCRAP CHAOS – 58 1/2 inches square

Last night, I finished (to the flimsy stage) my mystery quilt from the Facebook page, Gyleen’s Bricks, Cobblestones, and Pebbles.  Gyleen was calling this project, Odds, Ends, & Leftovers.  My quilt top measures approximately 58.5 inches square.

General instructions provided by Gyleen included:  “Don’t cut from scraps too far in advance.  Most of what you need should be already cut.”

I was able to assemble most of this mystery from squares and strips that I had previously cut and organized into bins in my sewing room.  As you can see from the stacks of bins on the shelves, I could make many more Odds, Ends, & Leftovers projects  without running out of scraps.  🙂

2015_February 22_Scrap Strips and Squares Storage-Optimized

 

If I was to repeat this pattern again, I would disregard Gyleen’s directions relating to the random in placement of the squares and I would pay more attention to the values and placement of the fabrics.  To me, the randomness of this project results in a look that looses the design elements of the quilt in the messiness/chaos that results from the random placement of the fabric squares.  In my opinion, the people that disregarded the random directions and put their quilt together in a more organized scrappy fashion have much nicer quilts.  However, this project was fun and well worth trying.  After all, I never had to purchase any fabric.  In fact, as I worked through the clues in the mystery, I enjoyed walking down Memory Lane as I worked through my fabrics.  Each scrap of fabric took me back to the project that it was left from over the years so I had fun reminiscing as I put together this quilt top.

String Half Log Cabin – Flimsy

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Back in 2010, I was inspired by a blog post written by Kim Brackett.  Kim’s String Block Tutorial was easy to follow and I started making a pile of string blocks using her technique.  Kim never did post a picture of her finished quilt on her blog so I am not sure how she set her string blocks in her finished quilt.

I played around with various settings for my blocks and decided that I liked the blocks set on point best.  Today, I finally finished sewing my blocks together into a top.  My blocks finished at 9 ” square.  At this stage, my quilt top measures approximately 78.5″ x 79.5″.  I haven’t decided whether or not I will add a border to this quilt.  I like the look of the top without any further borders–the large chaos of colour seems to float on the quilt top.  However, I will likely regret not adding a border to stabilize the edges of this quilt when it comes time to quilt it.  I am sure that keeping the on point setting of the blocks with the bias edged setting triangles square while quilting will be a challenge I am sure.

It took me 4 1/2 years to get my blocks finished and set into a quilt top.  Let’s hope It doesn’t take me another 4 1/2 years to turn this quilt top into a finished quilt.  🙂

The next time I make this quilt, I think I will make the first square of this block the same size and from the same fabric.  I think this will help to “tame” some of the wildness of this quilt and give the eye a place to rest.

2015_January 29_String Half Log Cabin_Flimsy-Optimized

 

I recently purchased Fons and Porter’s Easy Diagonal Sets Ruler.  This ruler was a big help when it came time to cut the setting triangles.  The following link will take you to a video that demonstrates how to use the ruler:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBfDsLP3P9I

I usually use the method of cutting setting triangles as described by Marti Michell in her book, Quilting for People Who Still Don’t Have Time to Quilt.  Marti says to:

Just cut a larger square on both diagonals to yield four setting triangles.  To determine the size of the larger square, measure the diagonal of the finished size unit block, and add 1 1/4 inches.  this is the size square to quarter for perfect-fit, no-mistakes-allowed setting triangles.  I prefer to add 1 1/2 inches to 2 1/2 inches to the diagonal measurement of the block.  That size square will yield slightly larger setting triangles which allow the design blocks to float inside the borders.

Using Marti’s method, I would have been cutting my squares 15 1/2″ square in order to get 4 setting triangles.  In order to cut enough squares this size for my setting triangles, I would have needed more black fabric than I had on hand.  However, using the ruler, I was able to cut my setting triangles from narrower strips of fabric and still have some fabric left over.

Guild Retreat & Odds, Ends and Leftovers – Mystery – Clue Two

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Today the traditional guild that I belong to had an all day retreat.  The guild covered the rental of the facility.  The cost to each member to attend was a Toonie!  We had the use of the facility from 9:30  in the morning until 7:30 at night.  Each member brought their own lunch and something to share for the potluck at supper time.  The facility is well lit and we definitely had lots of room to spread out.

This was the view from my sewing machine.  Charlotte was thrilled to be at the retreat and happily hummed away without putting up any fuss as I worked on my projects. The light is one of two that were gifted to me at Christmas from my husband.

2015_January 24_Chilliwack PieceMakers Retreat_Charolette-Optimized

The light is called Jansjo and can be purchased from IKEA for just $12.99.  I would recommend you get one…or two.  I have one in black that travels with Charlotte, my Featherweight and I have a second one in white that lives at home with Heidi, my Bernina.  The LED light is bright enough to illuminate your work area and the bendable neck of the lamp is totally adjustable.  The lamp also comes in these cool colours!2015_January 24_Jansjo LED Table Lamp_IKEA-OptimizedThe day was very productive for me.  I was able to finish Clue Number Two in Gyleen Fitzgerald’s Bricks, Cobblestones, and Pebbles mystery that she has called, Odds, Ends and Leftovers.

I was also able to finish piecing the other 20 cobblestone blocks.  Gyleen suggested that although the extra 20 cobblestones were not required for this step, we should go ahead and piece them now.  Apparently Clue Number Four is a “bear” and we will be glad we listened to her and paced out the work as she suggested.  Gyleen suggested we use the EZ Angle ruler to cut the triangles.  I don’t have that ruler so I used one of my regular straight rulers.  I didn’t have any issues with my triangles fitting onto the sites of my piece.  I am ready for Clue Number Three which is supposed to be posted on Facebook on Monday.  Gyleen has said there will be a total of five clues.

2015_January 24_Odds, Ends and Leftovers_Mystery_Clue 2-Optimized

 

I was also able to get three blocks put together for my Strips Stacks project.  Strip Stacks is a pattern from GE Designs.  I had started this project the prior Saturday at the Modern guild’s sew-in.  I got all of the cutting completed at that sew in but I didn’t really have much time left to sew anything together.  This quilt is made from a jelly roll of Batiks that I purchased from Desert Stitchin at the Tucson Quilt Show last year.
2015_January 24_Strip Stacks_Blocks-OptimizedThis quilt will have a definite Southwest feel with this colour palette.

 

Guild Sew In & Gyleen’s Bricks, Cobblestones, and Pebbles

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I joined a group on Facebook led by Gyleen Fitzgerald called, Gyleen’s Bricks, Cobblestones, and Pebbles.  Each Monday, instructions will be posted for the next step of this quilt project.  it is a bit of a mystery as none of us know what the final quilt will look like.

The objective is to use up all the pre-cut squares and strips we have stored.  This is intended to be a very scrappy project.  The project uses 2.5″ strips, 2.5″ squares (gravel),  and 3.5″ squares (pebbles).  We have been told that we will also need a 6.5″ EZ angle.

Yesterday at the Modern Quilt Guild’s Sew-In, I finished step one.  Here it is…

Gyleen's Bricks Cobblestones and Pebbles_Step 1-Optimized

I may have to make this project a few times to empty the totes of pre-cut squares and strips I have accumulated over the years.  🙂

This picture was taken by Barbara of me.  It looks like I am really concentrating on my piecing!  LOL

2015_January 17_FVMQG Sew In_Norma_Picture Taken by Barbara-Optimized