A Quilty Kind of Weekend…..

Posted on April 7, 2013

One of these days I’ll go and splurge for some more basting pins! I was all set to baste my Oakshott Untitled Quilt on Friday so I could spend some time quilting it this weekend, when I remembered that all my pins were still in Miss A’s Scrappy Strings Quilt! Soooo, best laid plans….. needed to be changed!

I spent most of Saturday and Sunday morning, finishing (I think) the quilting on this quilt. I can’t make up my mind about weather or not to add the hand quilting, or any quilting in the scrappy pieced rows.

I’m so used to creating very dense, what I consider “modern” quilting lines, that the unquilted sections of the quilt are hard for me to leave alone. But I really want this quilt to have a modern, yet charming appeal to it.

I feel like leaving alone or sparsely hand quilting those colored rows, will give that look and feel. Since I have yet to do any serious hand quilting (pulled out the little bit I did on this one), can anyone tell me if it would work to bind the quilt and then finish the hand quilting?

I’d love to give this to Miss A for her upcoming birthday, but I’m sure I can’t finish it in time if I plan to hand quilt! I think I’ll need to rent episodes of some good shows to watch while I settle in to quilt this baby, if anyone has suggestions on some good shows to watch, please send them my way!! :-) Downton Abby is first on my list! Thanks!

Anyway, after a long day and a half of quilting, I finally got all the pins out of that scrappy little monster, so I could move on to my next basting project. Yes, I’m ridiculously obsessed at the moment!

This Oakshott Untitled, as it’s titled for now, has been so much fun to work on and might be one of my favorites I’ve made so far.

I began basting this afternoon and was finished in a couple of hours. That may be due to, or is perhaps in spite of, my lovely little basting helpers.

Indeed, my girls have been very good at occupying themselves as I have been very creatively focused lately. We’ve had nice spring like weather for them to enjoy being outside, and Dad is great about running them around and making lunches, but after a while, all they want is mama!

“Okay girls, just one more row of pins then I’m all yours!”

Anyway, during this basting process, I’m usually able to contemplate what type of quilting lines I think best suite the quilt…… or listen to Miss N tell me the names of all her doggie stuffy friends (notice bottom right corner).

For this quilt, the inspiration is just not coming to me!! I’m thinking circles, but realize I need to sleep on it. I’ll hope for fresh energy and inspiration tomorrow. **Yawn** I’m kind of all quilted out after this weekend!

Hope you had a great weekend!

~~~karen

Hanging Quilts… Making Quilts

Posted on April 5, 2013

Thanks so much for all the kind comments on my last post! Just to update you, I have finished the quilt top and hope to be working on the back this weekend. The lovely ladies at my local MQG helped my decide on a backing color and are encouraging me to do concentric circles for my quilting lines. Hhmmm… I love those circles of course, and I think they would probably be great for this very linear quilt. However, I’m just not sure…. too much concentric circle quilting from bloomingpoppies? I mean does that just get a big, fat yawn? I’ll give it some thought during basting and get back to you. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated as always….

Anyway, last week, I was finally able to convince Mr J., to hang this hardware we got at Ikea many months ago. My hope is that it will be a nice way to photograph/display some of my smaller wall hanging quilts.

Unfortunately, since we are renting our home right now, I have to live with the uuuhh, not so desireable color on the walls. It doesn’t make for the best photos but it will have to do for now.

I suppose it’s not fair to blame it all on the walls; my hope is to improve my photography skills this year…. as well as to buy a home where we can paint the walls. Anyway, I really like the look of this wall hanging system. It’s light clean and modern….. and I don’t have to bother adding a sleeve to the back for hanging, yes I’m a bit lazy that way!!

So in addition to finishing my Oakshott Untitlted quilt top, I also began working on some fun blocks with my new Superbuzzy fabric finds from a couple of weeks ago . I’m not so sure about this particular color combo yet, it’s definitely still a work in progress, really just a concept at this point. We’ll see what develops. I’ll likely be taking out a solid and the gray/white stripe print, and possibly adding in some more solid shades…. not sure yet. I think I will like them better with a larger amount and the full layout. But I’m enjoying the figuring it out part!

And lastly this week, I was able to complete just one more spiderweb block for the ongoing unkown project I have been slowing plodding my way through. Not sure why but just one of these blocks at a time is about my limit! No it’s not your eyes, the photo is a bit blurry. So I guess that is my week in review. I hope to have some good progress to show on Miss A’s bed quilt and my attempt at handquilting, by next week.

Happy weekend to all!

~~~karen

Step Away From The Design Wall……..

Posted on April 1, 2013

I am starting to see this quilt in my dreams. I can’t seem to stop working on it. Do you ever have those quilts that you just feel completely obsessed about? This is one of those for me.

I spent almost the entire day yesterday (except for the Easter egg hunting and a little break for some chocolate bunny eating), at my design wall and was able to finish up the whole right side of the quilt.

The piecing in of the negative space on these improv quilts is always the most challenging part of the process for me.

I think because it feels like a bit of a chore, I’m wanting to just keep going so I can get it done! And so, with the exception of some hand quilting on Miss A’s bed quilt and a little story time with the girls, I spent the better part of today, at the design wall once again.

I have so many other fun projects I can’t wait to start on and/or get back to. So I may be at the design wall yet again after the littles are in bed……. ugh…..the things we’ll do for a quilt we love. I have to give a loving shout out to my incredibly patient and supportive husband and girls for understanding me and giving me the space I need when I get this uber focused!!! Love you guys!

Happy April to all, I hope you all enjoyed a lovely Easter!

I’m linking this post up today to Freshly Pieced WIP Wedndesday!

~~~karen

Oakshott Progress….

Posted on March 29, 2013

Just a bit of “bloggy” business first everyone…. I signed up for Bloglovin today!!! Took me long enough, huh? I know that many of you have done so already so please feel free to add my little bloomingpoppies to your account by clicking below. Come on, you know you want to keep up with all the good, bad and in between that happens around here!!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin Hope to see you all on a regular basis!! Now on with this post……

After spending a few restful/active days in the snow with my family, I couldn’t wait to get back to my design wall! Does that seem crazy to anyone else? Don’t get me wrong, I fully enjoyed my time cross country skiing, playing backgammon in front of the fire, and witnessing the smiles on my girls’ faces when sledding through the snow, BUT, I found myself missing my fabric and my design wall!!! Okay, it’s crazy, but so be it!

On our first day back, after throwing the first of many loads of laundry in, I got right to work. I had had this design on my mind all week and couldn’t wait to get back to it.

I had started strip piecing these gorgeous colors of Oakshott cottons last week and was working on firming up a design for them, when we left for our little trip. As soon as we got back I began piecing in the linen for it. I have a ways to go, but I’m excited to have a final layout and be on the way to finishing! I don’t know how I would do this without my design wall, can you tell I get a lot of use out of it?!

Hope you’re enjoying a lovely weekend!

~~~karen

Superbuzzy Goodness

Posted on March 24, 2013

A lovely morning spent at Superbuzzy provided me with quite a few new (to me), fun finds. Kelly and the crew in her shop are so helpful and provide such an amazing array of Japanese and modern designer fabric. I love shopping online there, but every once in a while I just have to make the short 30 minute drive to be with all that fabricy goodness in person. Such fun!!

I decided on some texty fabrics; First of Infinity Alphebet Song by Lecien, Mama Said Sew by Moda, and Antique Sewing by YUWA, and couldn’t resist this super cute echino Insect print.

I also was drawn to this sweet Lecien print, likely for my youngest daughters eventual bed quilt. It’s a a Vintage Lawn by Lecien. I found some beautiful coordinating prints- Architextures and Koseki Hexegons with a bit of Kona Melon and this beautiful Kaffe shot cotton. I’m interested to do a bit of comparison with the Kaffe and Oakshott I’m currently using for a different project. I also couldn’t resist a biggish cut of Essex Yarn Dyed Linen in Flax.

For another yet unknown project, I decided on some Nani Iro brushed twills along with some more Kaffe Shot Cottons and some Kasuri Antique Blue.

I fell in love with this line by Moda, and will have to get some of the amazing coordinating prints another time if they don’t sell out first. I love the sort of vintage, woven, hand dyed look of it. The prints have this very asian, “shibori” look to them. Now that I think of it I may have to put my order in soon. For now I’m super happy with my order and can’t wait to try out some of the great ideas from readers on my pre-washing post last week. Thanks everyone!

I’ll be away this week for a little Spring skiing with the family. Have a lovely week!

~~~karen

Oakshott WIP…. along with a little linen of course

Posted on March 20, 2013

Hello and happy Wednesday! Just want to say a quick thank you for all the great responses and tips on my pre-washing post. I normally respond (or try to) via email, individually, but it seemed like it could be relevant for future readers, to keep the “conversation” going so I decided to reply directly in the comments section. Just FYI! You guys are great and I appreciate your thoughts!!!

So… *deep sigh* I’m on week two with one of my girls home with this nasty flu. Yes, it would have much more effecient for them to be sick on the same week, but of course that was entirely out of my control. Unfortunately, I’m not feeling so great myself this time around! So a lot of tea has been made and noses blown, but this is one of those doozies of a flu, where the best medicine is just having mom right by your side and time to ride it out…… I cherish and accept!! What that means however, is that not a lot has been accomplished the old sewing room!

I did get a design vision though and realized that my Oakshott cottons would be so perfect for it. I also added some of my various shade and weights of scrappy linen. So far this is only partially sewn together as I’m still playing around with placement and color flow. I love this part!!! For now I’ll have to let you consider what I may do with this giant strip block. To be continued……..

I’m linking up to Lee’s WIP Wednesday!! Hope your day/eve is spectacular!

~~~karen

A Happy Pre-Washing Experience with Oakshott Cotton

Posted on March 18, 2013

Although there were so many great vendors at Quilt Con a few weeks ago, I found myself a bit overwhelmed and ended up not buying anything except a lovely little bundle of Oakshott Fat Eights! I have loved these luxurious cotton colors for a while now and when I saw the booth (sorry, I didn’t save the card for the supplier) with the cottons so beautifully displayed, I just couldn’t resist! It took me a while to even unwrap them as I knew I would have to “muss” them up in order to wash them; a step I can no longer skip.

In my earlier days of sewing, just a few short years ago, I didn’t really have a preference. Then I heard many arguments on both the side of pre-washing and not pre-washing. I eventually went to the pre-washing camp! Anyway, here is a sample of one in its pristine pre-washed folded state. Lovely right? Well, being the pre-washer that I am, I set my daughter to task, happily unfolding and tossing in the washer, all the rest of my lovely bundle. I kind of had a bad feeling about this load, because they were so small, but I took my chances and washed away.

After the dryer finished with them, they came out a little…… ahhh, less pretty shall we say? I know, what a sad sight. Of course I knew they would turn out like this, I was keeping my fingers crossed though that a nice hot iron would bring them back to their former beauty.

So I set to work this time with the very (for me) therapeutic task of pressing each one. I sprayed some water on each one and pressed away.

I was so pleasantly surprised at how beautifully these pressed out. They are good as new and ready to be used. So in the end, it all worked out but I’m wondering if anyone has suggestions on what to do with these littler pieces; fat quarters, fat eights, to keep them from getting so tangled up.

Some may be wondering, why do I go through this step each time I buy new fabric? Well I know for me, I like knowing that all the factory “gunk” is off of my fabric. I’ll admit it’s likely a weird neurotic notion I have…… but I kind of feel like, “It’s mine now and I want it to be cleaned of any of it’s former “stuff”! Also, I want to get any and all shrinking done prior to using it. Is this a valid reason, well valid enough for me. I have friends who swear by not pre washing and others who, like me, can’t imagine NOT pre washing. I know there is likely the good, bad and the ugly about both ways. I surely don’t love wrestling with my fabrics and all the loose threads wrapped so crazily around each other after the dryer cycle, but it’s worth it to me to know that they are clean and ready to use.

I suppose there isn’t really a right or wrong, but I sure am curious if any of you have strong opinions on the matter. Happy fabric hunting, buying, washing (or not) and using!!

~~~karen