Ok so I looked this up as I heard Tara say it regarding colours in one of the Palettes of the Color Collective. Friend-enemies was what she said.
I think I like the sound of friend-enemy in the context that it was used. It came to mind as I was trimming the half square triangles for the flock block that I am currently working on.
Taras reference was regarding fabrics that can work together in a quilt but perhaps not side by side…at least that was my interpretation.
Sometimes the trimmings are just too pretty to throw away!!!
Some of my favourite colours are in this palette, some of my not so favourites as well but I am enjoying them together.
My main purpose in joining the Color Collective this year was to step outside of the box so to speak and use colours that I may otherwise not use and or to use them differently.
I am still working on capturing true colours with my camera. This one came the closest yesterday.
The next bundle is on its way, so my goal this week is to complete the flock top before it arrives.
Of course the Longarm calls and it’s loaded and waiting for the week to begin…just one more cup of coffee! Have I ever mentioned how much I love working from home and working on quilts?
The pantograph Shasta Daisy has always made me smile. I remember ordering it only because I liked it, that’s how my collection of pantographs has grown for the most part.
I remember one day my friend Alva came by with her latest creation and as I was showing her my latest addition to my collection she saw Shasta Daisy and stopped and said that one! Added note: this quilt was a block of the month program from a shop called Quilters Stash that was here in town for a number of years.
My photography skills and camera have vastly improved since 2012 when this was taken.
Many of my customers leave the quilting choice up to me, that used to cause me stress in the early years of my quilting for customer days however most quilts speak to me as soon as we meet these days.
This star quilt of Joan’s called for Shasta Daisy.
When looking at this quilt, the prints suggested a floral pantograph, then a closer look revealed some Daisy like petals. The star blocks are very angular and adding the flow of a more curvy design softens those angles.
Well it’s official Christmas is over in our household! We really do enjoy the extra weeks in January when we keep the tree up. Though, now that the days seem longer with a little more daylight with every passing day the boost of the tree lights to our world don’t seem quite as necessary. Also the needles were just starting to fall.
I have a few quilts to share from the last weeks Longarm quilting.
This is one of Joan’s and was such a delight to work on, so bright and well floral! Look at this backing!
The top is so pretty and beautifully pieced.
I have a new phone and have been playing with its camera, the portrait mode is a lot of fun.
This next one really shows the affect of the portrait mode.
Liam is back to in class learning this week, so it will be a little quieter around here this week.
I made and trimmed my flying geese units for flock over the weekend…well I trimmed most of them last night. I find it interesting how much fun I am having piecing with solid fabrics, the collective has been such a great addition to my quilting life!
Sunny is the name of the first block of Season 4 of the Color Collective that I have been working on. This Season began November 1st and this block introduced a new to me paper piecing technique.
I don’t usually enjoy paper piecing, it seems so tedious and wasteful however Taras technique was fun and no ripping papers and very little fabric waste. Not only that but as our days become shorter as we get closer to December 21st it was a fantastic palette and block to play with in the moments that I had time to play.
Curved piecing has really been popular these last few years and I was glad to have the glue technique for these blocks!
Fall and winter are especially busy with customer quilts and Christmas coming so my personal piecing time becomes very precious and needed. I decided to focus on Sunny but also accept that the November block most likely wouldn’t be a top until January.
So yesterday with little wind and not too terribly cold weather I laid Sunny over the snow to show you. I am somewhat pondering how I will quilt this top so it might be awhile before I get to that stage.
The second block of this season of the “Color” Collective is called Flock and comes with another fun palette to work with. (designed by Tara Faughnan and organized with Amy Newbold of Sewtopia)
I also added pearl pink into my palette. My new phone camera captured the colours really well considering the picture was taken at night.
I have just begun my flock quilt. The flying geese units are bigger than I usually make and as usual I pulled out my wing clipper ruler for trimming down my units.
These specialty rulers are not necessary as the job can be done with regular quilting rulers. It’s just that along the way in my quilting journey I have accumulated some pretty neat tools.
I was watching Karen Brown of Just Get it Done Quilts on her Q&A you tube, she was talking about cleaning out and organizing rulers.
This brought me to thinking about my collection, as a long time quilter I do have a large collection and at this stage I would not consider parting with any of my rulers.
I keep my most used cutting rulers for piecing close at hand, occasionally I move them as needed for space.
Karen also spoke of getting rid of old worn out cutting mats…the purple one pictured is so well worn however it belonged to a dear friend and I really enjoy using it for quick trims. I find different size and colour mats very useful. My Sunny top is complete and I have been hoping to get a good picture to share, today is looking favourable.
My specialty rulers that I reach for most often are all together and also easily assessable.
I use a lot of bins from the Dollar Store to stay somewhat organized.
Years ago I came across this large board and I have made such good use of it, at one time it sat atop an old dresser and was used as my cutting table. Then at some point and because I needed a large ironing station for customer quilts, I covered it with batting and Teflon ironing fabric. It sits on top of what are meant to be used as laundry room cabinets and is the perfect height for both cutting and pressing.
This space I like to keep just for what I am presently working on. I usually have at least two personal projects on the go at a time. My Long Time Gone is still very close at hand.
Tucked away in the closet are two bins of sometimes used rulers. They are fun to have and I love being able to share with quilting friends who are just starting out on this journey as friends shared and helped me along my way.
I am fortunate that for most of my quilting journey I have had a dedicated space for my quilting and as empty nesters even more space. I do my best to stay somewhat organized, when I am busy with piecing my room can become a little upside down but that’s all part of the fun isn’t it?
Marilyn has been on a stash busting mission for years, her quilts are always so fun and interesting to work on. This latest one was a bit of a walk down memory lane as I recognized many prints.
She told me that she was determined to use up her large floral prints.
I used the pantograph Rhapsody which really flowed beautifully across this quilt adding a lovely floral and leafy dimension.
A nice batik for the backing was a perfect choice and shows of the pretty stitches beautifully
We held a Christmas brunch for the grandkids and family on Sunday it was so fun to watch the kids enjoy each other’s company and open their gifts. The excitement of Christmas is alive and well with the children!
Unfortunately one of the families had had the gastro crud run through their house a week ago and we were sure they were in the clear….we were wrong. Almost everyone came down with it starting on Monday.
I was spared however Liam was not, he rarely gets sick and had never had this. We were both very glad that I could care for him through this. Much to our relief and after sleeping from late Monday night until Wednesday morning with a few wake points he is now back to his happy self. Others are recovering as well.
Liam and I really enjoyed fresh air yesterday
We also made some slime
While he slept I was able to quilt my Moda Blockheads quilt and will work on the binding later today. This is my first personal quilt to be quilted this year!
I first saw this sunshiny backing on a customer quilt and loved it!
Lori has three grandchildren who will be snuggling under some very fun quilts this Christmas.
Our fantastic quilt shop owner Donna of Fuelled by Fabric brought in Grinch fabric which Lori used to make her quilts. She used a layer cake and some yardage.
Each one a little different and with very snuggly backings.
A minky backing always makes me want one for myselfThis backing felt almost like a velvetThe fleece backing worked perfectly
Not that I am counting but solstice is 5 days away and I will welcome each days added daylight minutes!! These pictures were taken during a very grey foggy afternoon.
I often choose a pantograph such as waterworld for baby quilts. I like this density of quilting as I feel that it will help the quilt to withstand a lot of use.
Update
Check out the binding and finished quilt! This really was such a fun project to work on.
No it isn’t sunny today, our world is really trying to turn white, the winds have truly been winter like. Yesterday was my last clothesline day until spring!
Thankfully Tara Faughnan of the color collective chose a bright happy fun to piece quilt block for the first project of season 4. The first quilt is named Sunny.
The palette, note to self to take a better picture of the December palette.Starting to play
It’s been fun to learn a new to me paper piecing technique and play with colours that I might not have chosen myself.
Longtime Gone is still taking up more than half of the design wall and I am determined to finish that quilt top by the end of the year.
Wendy’s Quilting and Life 