NAME THAT QUILT

Yay! I finally finished this quilt top! I added a checkered border on the top and bottom, giving it a little more length. It now measures 68 inches by 87 inches.

So here is what I need to know: Do you REALLY want me to name this quilt Fudge Factor? I originally was thinking more like Dream Catcher. The blocks remind me of those dream catcher things, you know? So I guess I will have to take a vote. Please take note of the polling place on the side bar.

Now if I can get a back put together I can send this off to the quilter. Writing the directions is a whole nuther problem. Not my favorite thing to do.

I have to say though, after all my discussion about fudging, this quilt came together very nicely. Accurate cutting and sewing is definitely the answer. It pays off with good results!

Don't forget to vote!

WITH HEART AND HANDS

My dear friend Michele from With Heart and Hands, is once again diving in to help others in need. Michele is one of the most generous people I know, both with her time and her talents. This time she has picked up on the need for helping those involved in the Australian bush fires. We can grab on to her coattails in this effort and each make a block to be added to a larger quilt. Easy! Be sure to go to Michele's blog for details.

I see Mary at Heartstrings is contributing also through her Heartstrings group. So there is another avenue for you to contribute.

To our sisters in Australia, we are praying for your safety and hope these fires will end soon.

See Tracey's blog at OZ Country Quilting Mum

THE GRAND SCHEME

After so much good advice I was in an even bigger quandary. My last post showed two colors that I was contemplating for the alternate strips on my quilt. Personally, I was so torn on which fabric was best. I liked them both! You know how you sometimes ask for help from a higher power? So here I am asking God what my best choice would be. In my head I heard a voice say, "I am forwarding you to my Artistic Angel". Well, I have been on hold ever since. I guess that shows you where this priority lies in the grand scheme of things!

So after much deliberation, and pretty much by popular vote, I decided to go with the brown fabric and the name Fudge Factor. No thanks to my Artistic Angel, who may be off trying to decide what color to paint the sky today. I admit they do a fabulous job with that.

So, I decided I better look up the definition of Fudge Factor before I name my quilt. The online dictionary gives this definition:
an arbitrary mathematical term inserted into a calculation in order to arrive at an expected solution or to allow for errors especially of underestimation

OK, that fits. I just wanted to make sure it didn't say something like, "too much sugar in your system can make you stoopid".

So Fudge Factor it is! The photo shows the progress I made yesterday. It may not look like much progress, but I always end up at the computer for far too long. I have to admit, I am feeling better about this quilt. Thanks for your input, and I will have more to show later, after I get a haircut, run to Target, stop at Home Depot, shop for groceries, fix dinner, do laundry, vacuum.... Or maybe I won't have more to show for days.

FUDGE FACTOR

Mmmmm, sounds like a good name for a quilt! But what I really was getting at is how much finagling do you do to solve a problem? When I first began making quilts I fudged quite a bit. I was quite good at it in fact. Fabric got stretched or eased into place as needed. Between that and the steam iron, everything seemed to work out fine. Granted, I really didn't know what I was doing, and I wasn't a very good judge of quality, but dang it, I could get those seams to match! I have to admit, that was back in the day of cheap fabric too. Obviously that was a good thing. If you are going to learn the process, you may as well do it on cheap fabric! Now I am paying for the good stuff and I want a good quality product.

The beauty of rotary cutting equipment is that your cutting can be very precise. You must make sure that you don't let that ruler slip around. In the past I would put a piece of rubber mesh shelf liner under the ruler to hold it in place. Seriously! Now there is a filmy product you can stick to the back of your rulers that I really like. I especially like it on small rulers. For some reason they seem to be more slippery. Better yet, the Omnigrip rulers have the non-slip surface on them. Also you need to learn where to place your fingers to hold the ruler in place...and that is out of the path of the cutter!

I was thinking about all this yesterday as I sewed blocks together. I love to make scrap quilts, and so I can't help but make a mess as I drag out fabrics from various boxes in my sewing room. I love to mix up the fabrics into several different configurations. If there are three or four fabrics in a block, I try and dream up three of four possible scenarios. I cut up all the pieces and make nice little piles for each block. I have discovered of late that it is best to do the fabric coordinating in the daylight. So that is when I do my cutting. The light is good, and I am better able to focus on the process.

Blocks are finally completed and scattered over the surface of the quilt to the best of my ability, according to fabric and "heaviness" of the block. In other words, a block with darker colors appears heavier to me. I aim for balance. Next step: Figure the size of the setting triangles. You always want the vertical line of the setting triangles to be on the straight of grain. I always make one tester piece to make sure it is the right size. In this case I make 11-1/4" squares and cut them twice diagonally like an X. Perfect! One of my favorite words! Sew the setting triangles on each block and sew the strips together in long rows. Here is another situation to monitor: Make sure the rows don't curve. This can happen easily because the seams are all diagonal. I pin like crazy to avoid this. As you smooth the strip over the design wall you may see a row that curves a little. Here is where we go back to the Fudge Factor! It is necessary to adjust a seam just a tiny bit to take it up or let it out. All the rows need to measure the same also, which may bring the Fudge Factor back into play once again. Hopefully my quilt won't require too much of this!

I am now at the point where I need to make a final decision on the alternate strip fabric. In a perfect world I would have had this figured out first and then played the block fabrics off of the main fabric. I started out thinking I would use the narrow blue strip. It has been in my stash for years and I want to use it. I had quite a few blocks done when I held up the brown fabric. I love this nice rich brown with red accents. Back to the blue, maybe I would like it better if it is wider? These are the dilemmas I now face. Maybe if I use the brown I will call the quilt Fudge Factor!

FEELING THE LOVE

OK, I'm back--down to earth that is. It was a thrill to see my quilt in print, and I am hoping I can drum up some business from that. But by far, the coolest thing was having so many fellow bloggers drop me a note saying they were excited too! I really enjoy your friendship through the blogs we share with each other. Thank you so much! And I know McCall's Quilting magazine will enjoy a huge surge in sales this month! LOL!

And now--back to real life!

My darling son, my baby, has announced that he is getting married! My son Renn and I are pictured above. Soon I will have to share him with another woman. His alligiances are changing. Well, that is one of the rules of marriage! It's a good thing! However, there is a sucker punch -- they are getting married March 14th in Las Vegas! Yikes! But never fear, they are not headed for the Elvis Chapel, they have a reservation at the LDS Temple. All I can say is that I am glad he has finally found the woman of his dreams. He is 30 years old, and I was beginning to wonder if it would ever happen. Congratulations Renn! May all your dreams come true!

LOOK FAMILIAR?

Last week Mary at Quilt Hollow e-mailed me to say that she saw my Williamsburg Medallion quilt in the April issue of McCall's Quilting! Another friend in Minnesota reported the same thing. I have been running to the mailbox daily to no avail. I have been haunting grocery stores and other places as well--nothing! My copy of McCall's Quilting finally came in the mail today! I am very happy to see my own little quilt published in what is now my favorite quilting magazine. (I wonder if they want more of my designs?)

Here is the quilt that I designed over a year ago, when the Williamsburg Toile, by Windham, came out. I love medallion quilts and using that beautiful bird for the center was a no-brainer. The rest of it came together as I played with the fabric, looking for balance with the toile, etc. I was surprised and delighted to see how popular this pattern became. What's Your Stitch 'N Stuff, the LQS, always generously supports my patterns, and displays my quilts. They became quite excited about this one. They used up all their red and also the blue toile in kits and they have sold out of them. They may have one or two left in brown toile, also lovely. They now have kits of the scrappy version, including the wool for the birds.

(You can reach them at 757-523-2711 if you need a pattern or a scrappy kit -- they have chosen awesome fabric!)

So this is the issue, April 2009, page 60. Think of me when you see that bird, looking proud and pretty, and maybe even strutting a little. Give me that much, will you? I'll be back to earth soon enough, I'm sure!

P.S. I need to clarify that there are no directions for my quilt in the magazine. It is shown in conjunction with What's Your Stitch 'N Stuff as their most popular quilt.

OBAMA - OUR PATCHWORK HERITAGE

Wasn't it nice to hear President Obama mention quilters in his inaugural address on Tuesday? His exact words were, "America has a patchwork heritage". Being a quilter, of course I picked right up on that! It even got me a chuckle from a group I was speaking to on Wednesday. Well, you know how I like to play with words, and he gave me a perfect opening. Of course we do have a patchwork heritage, and as quilters we are still trying to keep the quilts coming. We also love to bring new quilters into our midst. I asked this group of non-quilters how many of them had a homemade quilt in their home. Do you know I think every single woman raised her hand! Isn't that amazing! I also asked who wanted to learn to make a quilt and NO ONE raised their hand. Oh well, they don't know what they are missing! And we don't all need to like the same things, do we.

Here is what I find interesting though, everyone had a quilt in their home that was made by their mother or grandmother. And they hold those quilts dear, as mementos of another time, and as a treasure made by someone they love.

Each quilt is as distinctive as the person who made it, and each is a patchwork of love! America does, indeed have a patchwork heritage. A heritage in which we are happy to contribute!

FINGERS FIDDLING WITH FLOSS

Yes, my fingers have been fiddling with floss of late! I showed the above photo last summer when in was in progress. I finished it to this point a while back and still haven't framed it. The pattern is buried somewhere, so I can't even tell you who the designer is. But someone out there is bound to know, so if you do, please leave a comment so I can post it. I like to give credit just as much as I like to receive credit! LOL! Now if I would get my sewing room cleaned up surely the pattern would surface and I could put it in its proper pattern place.

*** Jeanette commented and said the pattern is from Threads That Bind. Thanks Jeanette!

I haven't done cross stitch in a really long time, but I do love samplers, and when the Blackbird Design ladies posted this free pattern on their website a while back I copied it. I finally got it started before Christmas and finished it last night while watching The Big Country on the western channel on TV. (Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston, both so young and handsome!)

Sorry, I don't think this pattern is still on the web site. They have other wonderful cross-stitch patterns though. Often they are much like their quilt designs. Barb and Alma, my hat (if I had one) is off to you! They are both so amazing! This project, by the way, was supposed to be done on a much smaller thread count. But 14 count is about all I can handle, and it is still a nice size.

Have you noticed in the upper corner of my blog I put a corner of this quilt? It is a scrappy version of my Williamsburg Medallion pattern. I had it hanging here at home for a while and decided that little wool birds would look very nice in those four spots around the star. So I stitched them on, and I love them! The quilt is now back at the LQS, What's Your Stitch 'N Stuff, where they are kitting it up, including wool for the birds. I know, I need to get a better photo. This one was taken on the fly!

I want to give a very big THANK YOU to all of you who commented on my last post with such lovely things to say. I hope you all know that I was kidding around, as is my tendency, about being at the top of the blog list. Thank you especially to Dawn at Quilts and Pieces, who sees right through me. Ha! Isn't blogging a blast?

BLAME IT ON THE BLOGANOVA

I am, no doubt, the last person on earth without a calendar for 2009. For some reason it never occurs to me in December that a new year is fast approaching and hence, a new calendar will be necessary. This year is no different. Post-it notes adorn the wall above my computer, but my eyes are constantly retuning to the 2008 calendar which still resides there as well. Tomorrow I MUST get out and find a calendar. 2009 will not wait for me---it is moving on!

By nature I am not a very competitive person. But something is occurring in Blogland that is really needling me. Some of you have bloglists posted on your side bars that update as soon as someone posts on their blog? Some even show the newest photo posted. (See Colleen's blog Crazy for Primitive Quilts and Gardens I am happy to be listed on some of these, but it irritates me when I am at the bottom of the list! The only way I can get to the top of the list is to post something new. And for those that may show a photo, I am now very conscientiously trying to find a photo that will attract attention. I even posted the above photo because I thought it would show better that the one below! What is happening to me? Whatever this illness is that has seduced me into blogging has taken a turn and I am going under--down, down, down, and who knows where it will lead? I have never been a ME FIRST person! I know this is a game I cannot win. I am driving myself nuts! Blame it on the Bloganova!

Last Saturday was Open House at the LQS, What's Your Stitch 'N Stuff. The open house gives people an opportunity to come in and meet the teachers and see what the new classes are. The shop was mobbed! There was a lot of energy and enthusiasm. New people mingling with regulars, and hopefully everyone found at least one class they want to take. I have one little project listed, but it is a cutie! It is the one pictured at the top of the page.

P.S. If you hurry to Colleen's blog I will be at the top of the Blog list!!!

ANGELS BRING JOY

I don't understand why some photos enlarge and others do not. But I know many of you would like to see these angels from my previous post up close, so I re-loaded them individually. Aren't they wonderful?!

P.S. Karen says the angel designs are by Prairie Schooler.

BABY COME BACK

You can blame it all on me! I have been gone three weeks, and I fear I may have lost some readers. Worse than that, I haven't been able to keep up with YOUR blogs! According to by Bloglines guide, I have over 3000 posts unread! Well, that's just crazy! Yes, they have been accumulating for a while, and no, I won't get them all read. But I will try to fly through Blogland on my mop and see where I land! Look out, I may be heading your way!

Upon my arrival home I had some surprises! This wonderful little trio of angels was sent to me by my quilt blogging buddy, Karen, from Sew Primitive. She digitized these cross-stitched pieces on her machine and set them into a quilt just for me! The surrounding fabric is so perfect! Karen is one of the most talented people I know. She always leaves me in awe. She truly has the heart of an artist. Her newest pattern has the most adorable bunnies on it. Just perfect for spring. My sidebar hold links to Karen's website as well. Spend some time with Karen and you will begin to see things through new eyes.

Today I was presented with this wonderful bag by my friend Connie. Connie is a very clever lady who has made countless bags and taught classes for them as well. She also does the digitizing on her machine and as you can see she put my Patchalot Patterns logo on one side of the bag, and Grandma Mousie on the other. For those of you who may not know, Grandma Mousie is what my granddaughter called me when she couldn't pronounce Marcie. Connie lifted the illustration off my sidebar (Karen-Sew Primitive did the illustration). Connie digitized it and colored it and it is so cute! Plus the bag is beautifully made! If you live around here and want to make a tote bag, check out Connie's class at the local shop, What's Your Stitch 'N Stuff.

I had a wonderful three weeks in Arizona with family, LOTS of family! It was great! I also am glad to be home in my own bed with my own pillow and my own quilt. Thanks for visiting with me. More later....

SO COOL!

Christmas is over, but all you snowman aficionados, can relax. Snowmen still exist! They exist mostly through the efforts of children, and sometimes adults who are still young at heart. My very creative grandchildren built themselves a snowman this week that will go down in snowman history! Why? Because I said so, and it’s my history! Take a look at what they did with their frosty friend. Can you believe that hair? I love it!

On top of that, my very good and slightly twisted friend sent me a cartoon that I am compelled to share. Let’s send 2008 out with a laugh! Tomorrow we begin anew!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

FUNNY BONES

Guess what got pulled out of my daughter-in-laws Christmas box? I bet some of you will remember this pattern. It says on the back that I made it in 1988! I was not yet into quilting, but always loved working with fabric. Looking at this now, it makes me laugh, but it is still a cute design. No quilting on this at all. I just machine appliqued right through the sandwich. I have to say, I feel better about what I am doing now! LOL! Don't know how these photos are turning out on this computer.
Arizona is not as sunny as usual! In fact it has pretty much rained the whole time we have been here. When the sun comes out the air is cool. but we are glad to be here and enjoy the family, etc. I looked out the window this morning and noticed this grapefruit tree, and I swear one of the grapefruit was smiling! Can you see it? Ha ha! (Yup, I did it)!

We had a lovely Christmas and now it is over and we can relax! Today is our 41st wedding anniversary! We are not into big celebrations, but every year is a milestone, and I am grateful to have had a good and loyal companion for all these years. And he is funny too! To me, that is priceless!

GAMES PEOPLE PLAY

Paula at A Latte Quilts tagged me to play a game. Here are the four simple rules:

*Go to the fourth photo file on your computer

*Choose the fourth picture in that file

*post it and explain

*tag four people to do the same

Here is evidence that I am not very good at following rules. What fun would it be if I actually chose the 4th picture, etc? Boring, according to my photo file. So I was just reading my granddaughter's blog and found this photo, above, of my granddaughter. She just had her wisdom teeth out and needed to do something creative with them. You can't just let them go to waste! Now with that I feel the need to ask, why are they called "wisdom teeth"? Doesn't this picture say it all?

If you have a ridiculous photo that you would like to share, consider yourself tagged! That is my new adaptation of the rules! I would love to hear back from you so I can see what you posted, but I won't make that a rule. You would just laugh and ignore me like all those sick e-mails I get that promise me good luck for the rest of my life if I pass the e-mail on to ten people within 30 seconds.

LITTLE GIFTY THINGS

I have a few little things to share today. Above is my own little calico creation! I just love the way it turned out. I was sewing scrappy strips together, and thought about adding little tongues and buttons. One of my friends is receiving this in the mail, probably Monday.

This sweet little guy is from Sweden. They call him Tomte! He belonged to my Swedish mother-in-law and I am lucky enough to have him now. He has always been a favorite! His face really looks like he has spent a lot of time in the cold outdoors! Now any of you Swedes out there feel free to enlighten me.

I guess I have a thing for gingerbreadmen. I cross stitched this pillow quite a few years ago. I think the pattern was in a magazine. Just thought I would share it with you as it is one of the few things I get out at Christmas. You must think I am a big humbug, but we are never here at Christmas. Someday I will decorate again!

In spite of the fact that we never decorate, I do love making things for Christmas. I showed a picture of a mitten I made in my last post, then I got on a roll and made more. I just noticed that the kitty doesn't have his snowflake on. It is amazing what a difference these little details make! The little trees and birds are from my mother's collection of trinkets. I think she would be happy to see that I am using them. And the mittens are from old wool blankets.

Everything has been mailed and all that is left for me to do is clean the house (somewhat) and pack. Then we are off to the nice warm climate of Arizona! We have someone staying at our house while we are gone, so that is good too. I will be reading blogs as best I can from my son's house, but for now let me say, as I ride out of sight,

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL,

AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!

TRADITIONS OF CHRISTMAS

"Hang up the Christmas stockings, be sure that you don't forget! For the dear little dimpled darling, has never seen Christmas yet!" So goes the beginning of a song that my grandmother sang to me every Christmas from the time I was a baby. Does anyone know that song? I don't remember the rest. Well, no one has sung it to me for 30 years!

Every year I try to make an ornament for each of my six grandchildren. These little snowmen are my creation for this year. I took the idea from one of Cheri's snowmen and adapted it to my needs. I hand embroidered on each of them (oh for an embroidery machine)! Each child's name and the year are on the back. A few years ago I stopped making ornaments, and then my grandson caused me to reconsider. He was helping trim the tree and had all his ornaments lined up and realized that they were not current. Well you know, when grandchildren speak, grandmas hop to! So the tradition was re-established. When I had small children at home all we always had homemade ornaments. My mom was very creative and we all made whatever she designed. Now I am on my own! But the tradition continues.

My sewing room is bustling with all kinds of things in progress. Little gifty, quilty things. I also have a little candle cooker going with a lovely cinnamon-vanilla candle that is wonderfully fragrant. Josh Groban sings from his NOEL cd over and over and over. It is such a wonderful cd. For years Perry Como was my very favorite Christmas album, but unfortunately we no longer have the means to play it. I suppose I should look on I-tunes for it. But let me tell you, this Josh Groban -Noel is wonderful. My aunt gave it to me for Christmas last year. I highly recommend it!

Oh look! Another Cheri design! Many of you will recognize this design from Cheri Saffiote Payne called Embrace Each Day. I took the liberty of changing the words. I borrowed the verse that Wendy, Snippets of a Quilter, has on her blog banner, "My soul is fed by my needle and thread". We can all identify with that little verse! Hopefully "someone" will be happy to recieve this gift.

Christmas Kisses and Good Wishes to one and all!