Progress report on my Drunkard's Wife

I have three more blocks pieced and ready to share.  

The very first block, the Happy Hour Star, is an oops version based on the traditional pattern known as the Sawtooth Star.  It is currently lacking the embroidery in the center square at the moment, which will personalize the block and the entire quilt.  

block #1 -  Happy Hour Star

I love the two fabrics in this block.  One is a lovely background of a line-drawn floral from Emma's Garden by Patty Sloniger (with Michael Miller Fabrics).  The other is a hand-dyed pink by my friend Laurel Cull.  Click here for directions to make an 8" finished version the Sawtooth Star or click here for Felice's directions for the 12" Happy Hour Star block.  Or use your own method, like I did.  I used 3" Thangles to piece the eight half-square triangle blocks which make the star points.

block #5 -  Mimosa

Since I am racing to catch up, I am not stitching the blocks in the order that Felice released them.  I stitched this one, Mimosa, next as it has a similar format to the first block.  Both blocks are a basic a four-patch made with 6" square units.  The dark burgundy print is from the Emma's Garden line, the pink is a recent calico print while the light background fabric is a more ancient calico print that has been aging in my stash for many years, possibly since the last century.  You will see more of it in this quilt, as I am working hard to Sew My Stash during 2016.  Click here for Felice's directions to make this 12" block.  While I almost opted out of her method thinking to use my trusty Thangles again, I decided to try this new fabric-saving method to piece the Flying Geese units 'discovered' by Patti R. Anderson of Patch Pieces.  Click here for directions on this original "No Waste Method for Making Flying Geese".  I do enjoy trying out new techniques such as this one.

block #8 -  Amaretto Sour

This is Amaretto Sour, the eighth block in the series and another four-patch. It is one of my favorites.  It uses the same Emma's Garden light print as seen in the first block above and a remnant from Brother Sister Design Studio that I found in my bag of pink scraps.  Click here for Felice's directions, use your own method, or try using 3" Thangles (which is what I did).

Three more blocks are complete. 

Stay tuned for more ....

Learning to draw and doodle

One of the new things I am trying this year is to doodle and draw more, 

possibly even a little bit every day!

Through Insta-Gram I found Lisa Congdon and learned she was leading a daily drawing challenge for the month of January through Creative Bug ..... I did not stop go, I immediately signed up for Lisa's class, The 31-Day Drawing Challenge!

On the first day, Day 1, we learned to draw a Tree.  Just a tree.

I love drawing trees!

Lisa demonstrated four different styles of tree-drawing, but I filled my page before I even watched her instructional video.  I added a few more in her style, too.   I used a pencil for this first day of drawings .... again, I jumped in before I looked at the suggested supplies.  I do have much to learn.

Day 2 is all about drawing Teacups.

I drew using Lisa's style first, after watching her lesson, too.   Then I pulled out some of my grandmother's teacups as well as some of my favorite coffee mugs.  I used my pencil again, but then traced over my favorites using an ink pen which is skipping.  Perhaps it is running dry?

Next is Chairs.

This assignment was the most difficult so far (out of all three lessons, so far).  I persevered and practiced drawing Lisa's versions before adding a few chairs found in my home (rocking chair, recliner, dining room chair).  I ditched my pencil too (but with much trepidation!).  Amazing how much clearer my drawings appear when sketched with ink rather than pencil lead, isn't it?

The morning after I drew my page of chairs, I drove past this painted advertisement featuring chairs!

It is on the route I drive regularly getting my teenagers to and from their high school.  Love that there is a bird on it (ala Portlandia!).

 

Day 4 is Leaf.

I can draw a leaf - but adding that jagged edge was tricky.  Perhaps it's because my pen is running dry so have of the jags didn't have the connected jig.  I love photographing this assignment using my Maple Leaf quilt as a backdrop.

The next day is a lesson drawing a Rose.  I can hardly wait!

I look forward to each lesson, though I am now a day (or two) behind.  I will end here so I can catch up on my drawing lessons.  This is just the beginning of my new year and promise to nourish my own interests.


Learn more about Lisa Congdon through her website http://lisacongdon.com/ or follow her (like I do) on InstaGram (@LisaCongdon).

You may also enjoy looking at all the many classes offered on Creative Bug's website https://www.creativebug.com/.

Or just join me on this 31-Day-Drawing Challenge.  It is fun!

Whiskey Sour

This is the second block in the Drunkard's Wife Quilt-Along, but in actuality, it is the first block that I made in this series.

block #2 -  Whiskey Sour

This Whiskey Sour block is a Twisted Oops on the traditional Churn Dash block which is a variation of a traditional 9-patch quilt block.  The center butterfly is from Emma's Garden, then more of Laurel's hand-dyed pink fabric, with an oldie of mine featuring tiny hearts dangling from strings (but the stripes are sideways here -- so that the butterfly can fly up). Click here for Felice's directions.

I can hardly wait to share it with my traditional quilt bee .... what will they think of making a quilt which has an error, a deliberate mistake, in every single block?

I love this block both in the correct layout and also in this oopsie version.  The error is quite noticeable (even to the non-quilters among us), and yet it is pleasing as well (at least to me).  This block makes me smile.

Felice's quilt-along

It is the new year and a good time to focus on finishing projects ... setting goals ... and starting something new just for the fun of it!

Yes, with all that I have already begun (many of which I have neglected to share here), I have indeed started a new quilt.  This is a Quilt-Along that my friend Felice (aka iamlunasol on InstaGram) has devised, designed and shared one block a week on her blog SewScatterbrained.  Click here to see all the blocks and their names and directions.  She calls her quilt the Drunkard's Wife, spoofing the currently popular Farmer's Wife and paying homage to all the quilters who make Oopsies while stitching up their perfect sampler quilts.  Here is an excerpt in her words from her introductory post ....
The inspiration for a fun Quilt A-long combines two activities I cherish: quilting and drinking. I'm calling it The Drunkard's Wife Quilt-Along.

We've all been there. We've gotten tipsy at quilt retreats or had a little too much with dinner, but hey! We got quilts to make! And then we make oopsies. It's time to celebrate those stupid mistakes. The Drunkard's Wife Quilt-Along is an exercise in f***ing up. 

I have made many blocks intended for a variety of sampler quilts, but this may be my favorite so far.  To stitch up a block with a purposeful mistake is quirky and I am playing catch up since Felice started her quilt-along in November of 2015 while I have only just now decided to join the quirky fun.  I plan to catch up quickly (fingers crossed) and hope to make this my first completion in the new year.

I will be using a variety of pinks, and especially ones from Emma's Garden,  Patty Sloniger's third collection with Michael Miller Fabrics.  Follow Patty on her blog BeckandLundy.  

Updates on my catch-up attempt to come soon (very very soon!).

New year - new focus

The new year has arrived and with it, the desire to make resolutions, to ponder one's past and dream of the future, and make plans to move along the course desired.   Is there anything I wish to do differently this year? What changes shall I strive for?  In what direction do I want to head?

I grew up writing resolutions on many a New Year's Day, promises of new daily tasks or behaviors I wished to emulate.  More recently, instead of compiling lists (such as: I will exercise more often; I will make my bed everyday; etc),  I've narrowed my list of resolutions down to a single word.  One little word to be my word of the year, to encapsulate the new year and all my dreams for the future.  But which word should I select?  (no pressure ....nope, none, at all....).

 

My first thought was to use Nourish as my one word for 2016.  While reading the definition of nourish, and I realized that Nurture would be a better fit for this year. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines nurture as ....

      1:  to help (something or someone) to grow, develop, or succeed

• Teachers should nurture their students' creativity.
• a professor who nurtures any student who shows true interest in history

      2:  to take care of (someone or something that is growing or developing) by providing food, protection, a place to live, etc.

• The study looks at the ways parents nurture their children.
• You have to carefully nurture the vines if you want them to produce good grapes.

       3: to hold (something, such as an idea or a strong feeling) in your mind for a long time

• She nurtured a secret ambition to be a singer.
• nurture a dream/grudge

I love all three of these statements.

I am positive that nurture must be my word for 2016.

Why?
  

Because .... this is the year my teenagers graduate from high school and head off to college.

Oh my!  

They are my only children, making this the year that our empty nest begins.  

My dream for 2016 is to continue helping my teenagers enjoy and succeed in their adventure of transitioning from high school to college and providing as much of their basic needs as I can (from prom to college dorms and beyond).  Finally, I want to nurture my own hopes and dreams.  What do I want to be when I grow up?  Do I wish to return to teaching toddlers (two-year-olds turning three) in preschool again? (Note: I'm currently taking one year off - I consider this my sabbatical year, a year to recharge.)   Or should I return to teaching high school?  (Second note: This was my occupation before I became a Mom.)  Or shall I be daring and adventure into a new area entirely-- perhaps pursue job opportunities in quilting or sewing or .... Gosh, suddenly I can think of so many possibilities!  Perhaps I need to take time and nurture my passions, nurture my family, and figure out my dreams for 2017 so I can use my time in 2016 to get started.

N  is for Nurture.

The GeoAlphabet Pattern (above is one letter) will soon be released by Quiet Play.  

I have been fortunate this fall to join the pattern testing team of Kristy's and must confess that this is actually the Z turned on its side, morphing instantly into a fabulous N.

It's been several years since my last selection of 'my word for the year'.  

Click here to read about the year I choose two words, 

and 

click here to learn about my year of focus.

Quiet Play

As the year draws to a close, I am speedily stitching up the letter "Z".

Why?  Because I am a pattern tester for Kristy of Quiet Play and her newest pattern is the Geometric Alphabet (upper case).  The letter Z is one of the letters I am testing for her.

Thus I am stitching up the last letter of the alphabet on the last day of the year of 2015.  I love ending the year sewing a new pattern.

Happy New Year!

Happy 2016!

By the way, I have tested other patterns for Kristy too.  My favorite one is this sitting kitty.

I made the first kitty in red-n-white so I could swap it in an international block swap between my Houston Modern Quilt Guild and the London Modern Quilt Guild. 

I added a border to make the block large enough for the swap.

Then I made a second one for me to keep.

 

Paper piecing can be quite fun especially when using fabulous patterns such as these by Quiet Play.

Click here to see more of Kristy's patterns.  

Her patterns (including some free ones) can also be found here, a direct link to her site on Craftsy.
Click here to see another post about some of Kristy's paper pieced patterns.

A remodel but did it work?

I have a favorite pink paisley knit shirt that I love and I am not ready to send it to a new home.   When I found a plain brown t-shirt in my husband's wardrobe that coordinates with my paisley ....

I decided to try my hand at re-fashioning a new outfit 

by combining the two together.  

My plan is to cut up the brown t-shirt to create a peplum skirt to sew onto the paisley.  I want to add cuffs to the sleeves as well.  This will add length to both my shirt and its sleeves.  The cuffs will be fashioned from the t-shirt's original sleeves while the peplum will come from the main body of the t-shirt. 

Here is the end result, my new upcycled garment.

 I even salvaged the t-shirt's original chest pocket.  Do you see it?

 My new garment is very comfortable.  I am wearing it as I write this.  

However, my family is not sure I should venture out of the house wearing it .... 

.... perhaps I have a new nightgown?  

What do you think - is it a successful new upcycled wearable or an epic fail?