Two Tops

I enjoy every aspect of quilting, except for the basting.  And I don't even baste with needle and thread, I use pins!  It's just the whole process of moving the furniture, sweeping the floor, crawling around on my hands and knees.  I don't dig it.

These two quilt tops have been waiting patiently for several weeks now.  I'm trying to will myself to get it over with instead of just starting a third top.  That idea is very tempting.

A new look

When I started this blog I had grand plans of updating the site design frequently.  I suppose if I keep this going for the next 50 years, a makeover every 3+ years could be considered frequent.  Right now, 3 years and 3 months into this thing, the first redesign is long overdue.

Along with the new look I'd like to recommit to this space and make an effort to post more often, make more changes and share more quilting fun with you, internet. 
There are a few small changes so far, with some bigger things to come.
Poke around and if you see anything that shouldn't be, please let me know!

Map of the States

These are some long overdue photos of a quilt I made for Harv's mom this past Christmas.

Like I said, long overdue.

I made the blocks using the "map of the states" method at Oh, Fransson. 

This method was fussy as you-know-what but there is something nice about a technique in which all of the planning is done up front.  All of your creative decisions are made at the start so once you've made them, you're just assembling, not thinking.  Sometimes I'm really in the mood to just sew and not think.

Also, I dig puzzles.   Above you see my original, uncut templates, the pieces cut up and seperated by color, the pieces ironed to their corresponding fabric which is cut with a 1/4" seam allowance and then organized back into groups by block. 

I used nine different color groups and bought myself a lovely new box of Crayola markers for the task.  The nice thing about markers as opposed to colored pencils is you don't have to worry about anything sticking to your iron.
Coloring is fun.

This might be cheating

This mini-quilt is for a Valentine swap at tonight's LA Modern Quilt Guild meeting. I don't know if I should be sharing this yet as it's supposed to be a blind swap but, well...I guess I don't care.

Truth be told, I painted our bedroom last week and I am tempted to spend the entire day in my pretty new, non-hell pit room. Blogging is a perfect bedbound activity.

The quilt is tiny; about 9" x 12". The technique I used to make the hearts is a variation of this circle technique. The biggest difference is that I didn't sew the pieces together until I quilted it. I left them glued together and then quilted around each heart.

The label in the back is the same kind of deal. I didn't think I'd be able to match the hearts on the front and back perfectly so I didn't try. It would be a great look if I could pull it off though. Maybe next time.

Also, rounded corners! I love them.

Valentine

In the making.