An Applique Block from the Pastor’s Attic Quilt

Another Pastor’s Attic block completed! There are 25 blocks in this quilt and I’ve completed 5 of them so far.

I was looking back at the post I made on January 12, 2015 where I talked about the projects I wanted to work on in 2015. This is an update from those projects and others that I was working on a year ago.

The BIGGEST project was my Jane Stickle quilt which is finished! (More on that later)

I was just starting the embroidery on Red Radiance and she is finished!

I also wanted to start piecing the Summer Lake Log Cabin quilt. The blocks for the center have been pieced and the quilt should be completed in 2016!

 

I was still hand sewing the Fussy Cut Stars together. Now they have been sewn into a top and she is in the quilting frame being hand quilted.

 

 

Autumn Sampler has been long-arm quilted and is on the bed upstairs.

 

 

 

 

Now about something non-quilty . . . . I started blogging in February 2014. Something I wanted in my posts was to always have at least one picture. I wanted the pictures to be BIG photos, REALLY BIG! I didn’t realize how that would use up the space allocated in a blog. I haven’t been blogging for two full years, but I’ve already used most of the space allowed, so I am starting a new blog, Gretchen’s Little Corner on blogger. I hope my ‘followers’ come along on the new site. See you there!

Linking to –

Esther’s Wednesday Wow

Freshly Pieced

My Quilt Infatuation

A Quilting Reader’s Garden

Quilt Story

Crazy Mom Quilts

Podunk Pretties

Kathy’s Slow Stitching Sunday

Quilting is More Fun than Housework

Love Laugh Quilt

Jane Is Quilted!

The quilting is completed and the final thread count is 730 yards. Here are the final quilted blocks from row H. Click on the photos to view the quilting details better.

Left side triangle 6 and Block H1. They’re both stitched in the ditch.

 

Blocks H2 and H3. Both are also stitched in the ditch. H2 I appliqued circles instead of the triangles.

Blocks H4, H5 and H6. H4 was stitched in the ditch then I quilted lines to emphasis the diamond shape. H5 was first stitched in the ditch, then I quilted overlapping half triangles inside the blue triangles. H6 was stitched int he ditch. Maybe I should have followed the circle around in the white corner squares. I can always add it later if I want, but I doubt I will.

Blocks H7, H8 and H9. H7 and 8 are both stitched in the ditch. H9 is also stitched in ditch, then I quilted straight lines in the blue corners.

Blocks H10, H11 and H12. All three of these blocks are stitched in the ditch. H10 I added a curve in the white rectangles and in H11 I echo quilted 1 line in the blue shape.

Blocks H13 and right side triangle 8. Both are stitched in the ditch. H13 I quilted overlapping lines in the blue triangles. RS triangle 8 I quilted a line to emphasis the curve in the bottom and stitched a quarter-inch inside the larger blue heart.

A view of Jane laying on the bed. She’s not completely finished though. A quilt is not completely finished until the binding is sewn and the label attached. For some reason, I don’t enjoy the binding part and normally let the quilt lay around for a while. Not this time, I’m going to get this quilt completed!

I didn’t want to have to worry about running out of blue fabric while piecing Jane, so I bought a whole bolt of the blue. There is plenty of fabric left so someday, there will be another blue and white quilt.

I’ve appliqued another block for the Pastor’s Attic quilt. This is the 2nd block I made from this design and is to replace the 2nd one that was supposed to have all the feather fingers sticking out. No way was I going to applique another one like that again!

By Christmas Day, the children who were able to come home had come and gone. It was a quiet, peaceful day here, a wonderful day for sewing. I decided to do some fun sewing, no quilting or appliquing.

I had made flannel pillowcases for the grands but we wanted some too. The table runner was pieced several years ago but never quilted, so I finished that project.

Have you ever bought a jellyroll just because it was on sale? Several years ago, a friend and I were at Lolly’s Fabrics and they had jellyrolls marked way down on the chopping block. Of course we both bought a roll, they were on sale after all. She sewed hers up and made a really cute quilt for a grandson a year ago. After I sewed the pillowcases and table runner, I got out my jelly roll and started sewing a Zippy-Strippy quilt. The center body of the quilt was sewn by bedtime.

She has an Accu Go-cutter and using her dies, I had cut out 12 snowflakes using shimmer fabric earlier this fall. They were ironed on Saturday morning and machine appliqued throughout the day. By 9:15 PM Saturday evening, the snowflakes were all attached. I looked through all of my dark blue batik fabrics but none of them were the correct fabric for an outside border. That is on my list for the Pumpkinvine Inspiration club, Monday January 4th.

Linking to My Quilt Infatuation, A Quilting Reader’s Garden, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Kathy’s Slow Sunday Stitching and Quilting is More Fun than Housework, Love Laugh Quilt and Podunk Pretties.

Quilting Jane, Row G

Row G has been quilted, this means just one more row to quilt! Row G is the center row of the quilt. Remember, click on the pictures to enlarge them.

Left side triangle 7 and block G1. Triangle 7 is stitched in the ditch. I added addition quilting in the center oval/circle and in the zigzag. G1 is stitched in the ditch.

Blocks G2 and G3. Both blocks are stitched in the ditch.

 

Blocks G4, G5 and G6. G4 is stitched in the ditch. G5 is stitched in the ditch and then I quilted a couple circles in the center but they don’t show. And yes, some of the blue shows through the white. It doesn’t look that bad in real life, but that’s the way it is. G6 is stitched in the ditch, even the tiny star in the center of the star. I also added quilting to the white background fabric.

Blocks G7, G8 and G9. Blocks G7 and G9 are stitched in the ditch. For G8, I added curves in the center which made a really neat star. Then I quilted a small circle in the center.

Blocks G10, G11 and G12. G10 is stitched in the ditch. G11 is also stitched in the ditch but I added a curvy square in the center square. G12 is also stitched in the ditch with a curvy square in the center but it has loopy corners.

Block G13 and right side triangle 7. G13 was stitched in the ditch then I quilted over it with a Baptiste Fan design. RS triangle 7 is stitched in the ditch. The hearts look a little puffed. Very cute.

I have also been working on appliquing another Baltimore Album block for the Pastor’s Attic quilt. Let me tell you, this block was a sleepy one to work on before going to bed. There are 38 of those feathers and they appliqued very slowly for me, I had to fight sleep to be able to work on them!

There are supposed to be two blocks with this applique in the quilt. That is NOT going to happen. I’m going to substitute another design.

All of the blocks I’ve appliqued so far for this quilt have been back-basted applique. It has been easier for me to trace the design on the backside of the background fabric then baste the fabric on the top. I just haven’t had the time to make bias for the other blocks. When Jane is finished, I’ll have a life again and be able to work on some other projects.

Linking to –

Esther’s Wednesday Wow

Kathy’s Slow Stitching Sunday

Quilting is More Fun than Housework

Love Laugh Quilt

Cooking up Quilts

Jane Stickle Quilt Retreat

I had a wonderful time at my retreat. I originally planned to write a post on Sunday but decided not to. Writing posts when suffering from sleep deprivation is not a good idea! But now I’m wide awake, most of the laundry is caught up, so here it my report.

We had very nice weather for the first 3 days of the retreat. One of the benefits of having the retreat at the Farmstead Inn is it is close enough to Yoder Department Store and Lolly’s Fabrics that I can easily walk to the stores in “downtown” Shipshe.

The Jane Stickle Quilt retreat is named to honor the quilt Jane Stickle pieced during the civil war. Elaine Frey’s Jane was on display for the week-end. This quilt was made and gifted to her several years ago by retreat participants. The quilt was a gift of friendship in appreciation for her time spent organizing the retreat for so many, many years. The retreat wouldn’t exist if not for her leadership.

The first Jane block I ever pieced is in this quilt. (G5-Poof)

Someone commented on my last post that I should make some shopping time, and I did! Most of my shopping came from the resale table at the retreat where I bought these treasures, Ayers House Dancing Dollies Quilt by Irene Carrig and Auntie Green’s Garden by Irene Blanck of Focus on Quilts fame!

I scored the patterns on Wednesday evening and then on Thursday, Irene actually stopped by at the retreat to see her friend Patty Harant. She autographed the pattern for me and then we took a photo together. The whole retreat was a wonderful experience, but getting to meet Irene Blanck was the highlight of the entire week-end. Here we are, Patty, Irene and me!

A friend and I took some time on Friday to shop at Yoder’s and Lolly’s. Well, she shopped and I did reconnaissance in anticipation of Wana Night Out on December 1st. I’m getting my list ready!

On Saturday, I drove us through the first major winter snow storm of the year to Caroline’s Cotton Cottage in Rome City. (Hey, it’s northern Indiana. Unless I want to stay home all winter, you just have got to drive in snow!)

I bought designated fabrics for projects there. The bottom 4 fabrics are for Lucy Boston’s Patchwork of the Crosses I want to EPP someday. Doesn’t that border edge look lovely! The top left fabrics are 30’s fabrics to be used in Sweet Surrender and the blues on the top right are for the Salinda Rupp quilt, Nearly Insane. Some of the blues for Lucy Boston might make it into Nearly Insane too!

The final purchase I made was also from the retreat. I purchased a used Grace hand quilting frame that has never been used and is still in the box. (Does that make sense?) Son 2 is my handyman and he will get to put the frame together when he and his family are here after Christmas. I won’t be ready to use it until I complete quilting Jane on the old sticks and stand quilting frame. A new quilt frame gives me even more incentive to get the quilting completed. We’ll see if I can have her finished by the start of the new year.

Thursday evening was a pink pajama party with the famous pj’s from Target. There were 115 women at the retreat and 70 of them had the pajamas.

Many of the retreaters participated in a service project Friday morning and made dresses for Africa. 47 dresses and 8 britches were completed.

Late Friday afternoon Anita Shackelford was our guest speaker and gave a presentation about rescuing quilts. This was a very fascinating program with pictures from before and the finished rescued quilt. I would have thrown most of the before quilts in the trash but she took what I considered trash and turned them into treasures. She posts about her rescues on her blog. She really has given these quilts a new life.

Friday evening was Show & Tell. Only retreat participants can show & tell but the public is welcome to join us in the oohing and aahing. I didn’t get pictures of all the quilts but will just show you a few of the highlights. I also don’t remember who exhibited what except in the pictures that contain the maker. To see all of Show & Tell, visit Rosemary Youngs blog and see her smile box slide show. The first photos on Rosemary’s smile box are from the show & tell at the November 20th Moda club held at Lolly’s. Get a cup of coffee or tea, set back and enjoy all the beautiful quilts!

Lori displayed her Jane made with Kaffe Fassett fabrics.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Someone showed the start of their lovely Jane in blues. She changed up the cornerstones with itsy-bitsy 9-patches.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Val showed her 9th (!) Jane. Instead of using the normal corners, she substituted applique and embroidery.

 

 

Edith Shanholt showed this lovely quilt from both the Affairs of the Heart and My Mother Taught Me to Sew patterns. This picture isn’t from show & tell but was taken afterwards. Rosemary shows the actual quilt from show & tell and looks much nicer than this one displayed on the floor. Edith hand quilted her and used 950 yards of thread.

I can’t forget to show Lynn’s Phoebe designed by Diane Ford. This was a very long-term project and looks just beautiful.

These are just a few of the quilts from show & tell. To see them all, check out Rosemary’s slide show.

What did I work on over the long week-end? The main project was a kit I had purchased several years ago at Lolly’s for a queen sized, purple and green Summer Lake Log Cabin quilt designed by Judy Martin. The pattern is found in her Log Cabin Quilt Book.

This is 60 V blocks, 30 W blocks, 26 X blocks and 4 Z corner blocks. The borders are pieced piano keys. I had the strips along to sew, but just couldn’t sew another stitch on this project. All of the center blocks are pieced and I’ll lay them out and get the center sewn together sometime in January. That’s the plan anyway.

I also finished appliquing another album block for the Pastor’s Attic quilt.

When I started prepping for this applique quilt, I cut all the background squares. I like to overlock stitch the edges so they don’t ravel. I finished 5 edges, then decided this was extremely boring. I bagged up the remaining 20 backgrounds and took them along to the retreat. They have all been edged and are ready to be appliqued.

This retreat always kicks off my start of the winter season, a time for slowing down and doing the needlework projects I so enjoy. I also spend time in the barn feeding calves and other chores but there is no field work in the winter for me.

There are 142 days left until the April 2016 retreat which will signal the end of winter and start of the busy summertime here on the farm.

I’m linking to the following blogs –

Kathy’s Slow Stitching Sunday

Quilting is More Fun than Housework!

Love, Laugh, Quilt

Cooking Up Quilts

Esther’s Wednesday Wow

 

 

Quilting Jane and Other Projects

Aren’t children wonderful? I don’t understand children who won’t help their parents with technology they don’t understand. As parents, we’ve helped our children, now they’re able to return the assistance. And I’m posting again. Thanks Son #2!

The center applique block for the Wilfred and Cloves quilt is completed and I’m very pleased with how she turned out! I’ve never appliqued a layered flower before. She’ll hang on my display wall until I get around to piecing the rest of the quilt, perhaps next spring sometime?

Approximately 5 years ago, I bought this book, A Baltimore Album by Marsha D. Radtke (The Pastor’s Attic Quilt) with the intentions of making this quilt someday. Most Baltimore Albums are made with poison green and red fabrics with a little yellow thrown in. I like those colors when I see them in other people’s quilts, but I just couldn’t bring myself to use those colors for my quilt. At the October Inspiration Club at the Pumpkinvine Quilt Shop, they had a display of Mayfield fabrics in red, black and beige. I really liked they way they blended and so my Baltimore Album quilt is going to be made with reds, black and beige/cream. The background fabric is the cream with white dots. It feels good to have finally made the decision as to the fabrics I want to use and it feels even better to have started the applique and have a finished block to show you.

I’ve been keeping up with quilting Jane and I’ve completed several rows since the last post.

First is the top triangle border and the corner kite blocks.

 

Top left corner kite.

 

 

 

 

Top row triangles 1, 2 and 3.

 

 

Top row triangles 4, 5 and 6.

 

 

Top row triangles 7, 8 and 9.

 

 

Top row triangles 10, 11 and 12.

 

Top row triangle 13 and the top right corner kite. Just for fun, I added another white with blue fabric to the triangle and I appliqued a circle instead of the oval that Jane had.

Row A has also been quilted. Now remember, when I sewed the left side triangles together, I reversed the placement so the top triangle 1 is on the bottom of the row and the bottom triangle 13 is on the top.

 

Left side triangle 13. I appliqued circles instead of ovals.

 

Row A blocks 1, 2 and 3.

 

Row A blocks 4, 5 and 6.

 

Row A blocks 7, 8 and 9.

 

Row A blocks 10, 11 and 12.

 

Row A block 13 and the right side triangle 1.

I think you all are caught up now with what I’ve been doing for the past several weeks. Linking to Esther’s Wednesday Wow, Kathy’s Slow Sunday Stitching, Quilting is More Fun than Housework, Love, Laugh, Quilt, Patchwork Times, Cooking Up Quilts and Quilt Story.