March's Mini Quilt

I really can't remember if

March came in like a lion or a lamb,

if anyone celebrated St. Patrick's Day, 

if we really had a spring break, or

if National Pi Day was even enjoyed.

The start of the month seems like

a long time ago,  

and here we are, March 31st.

I do know, 

that it's time to hook

up with Wendy, The Constant Quilter,

and share our Monthly Minis.

"Be Calm and Think Green"

28" x 28"

You might remember that I started this quilt

when my quilt group decided for March's show and tell

we all needed to share a GREEN quilt.

That's when I discovered I had never made 

a predominately green quilt!

No question that

March's mini needed to be GREEN.

The center is a wool applique.

To make life easier,

I did the quilting before

adding the applique pieces.

No starting or

stopping around the pieces that way.

I decided to add a flange with the binding

to repeat that strong magenta color

of the center wool applique.

The good news is that 

now I have a GREEN quilt

and with this March  behind us,

it will be ready and waiting

for the

March show and tell, 

2021. 

Until Next Time-

Kyle

Making the Best of It!

Well, we made it to the weekend!!!

Miniature Daffodils

blooming in my yard

Each day can be challenging,

readjusting to the new normal,

but I keep trying to focus on the positive.

What have have you been up to?

Working on old projects

or maybe even trying something new?

I've been getting quite the work out,

but the results will be well worth the effort!!

****

I recently saw a sweet paper doll

"Honey Bee"

that Kathy Schmitz had designed and 

posted  free on her website.

She was encouraging people to share

what they're working on.

I printed "Honey Bee" and put her together.

 She wants to show you what I've been working on

during my "sheltering in place".

****

For the past couple of weeks I've been stitching

this pattern by Marie-Claude Picon

from her book French Farmhouse.

With the top done,

I  moved my machine to the kitchen table.

I need the extra space 

to spread things out when I machine quilt.

It's a slow process,

but Honey Bee is hopeful that

I'll have it done by next week.

****

Recently, I found tucked away

on a shelf, a kit for a small wool coin purse

I had purchased in Vancouver, BC in 2014.

After a few struggles,

quite a few changes,

and lots of fuming,

a smiling Honey Bee can show you a

finished coin purse.

My only thoughts are there are

those who can design and

there are those who can write directions!

****

A continuing project

has been a BOM from

Homestead Hearth for the "The Lewis Coverlet"

designed by Susan Smith.

I'm on the last border so

the end is in sight.

It's a good night time 

TV time project.

Honey Bee is optimistically thinking

that it will be done soon. 

****

Next week will be filled with 

new opportunities and

 maybe, a few challenges.

Focus on the positive

and keep smiling.

How about making a Honey Bee of your own

and sharing what's happening 

in your little corner.

 Until Next Time-

Kyle

A Perfect Ending

What did I do

this week while self quarantined?

Can you believe it was something 

that I've wanted to do

for the past 33 years!?!

Really?

Do you remember 

my last post and my story

about this quilt?

Broken Star

83" x 93"

1987

You'll remember

the one thing I was thinking

about fixing.

The binding was so 

worn and faded after

all of washing abuse 

 the quilt had gone through.

The main reason I had

continually avoided the situation 

was that I really didn't know 

what to do. 

If I changed the fabric

I changed the provenance of a 

documented quilt.

If I didn't do something,

every time I looked at the quilt

it made me sad.

But I've learned that 

sometimes it takes someone else's
thoughts or visions

to see a possible positive solution.

My oldest daughter was recently visiting
and suggested

I should simply turn the binding fabric

inside out. 

Duh?

Could it be that easy?

Why yes, especially 

with the fabric being a solid.

It had never occurred to me! 

 Jack and I

got the  binding off in record time.

The binding looked so awful.

I soaked that devilish binding once

more for good luck, narrowed 

the width, obviously I use to 

cut it very wide,  and

pressed the inside to the outside.

It was like adding a new fabric, 

but not!

The color was the original color and

the binding was sewn on with

a lot more finesse and skill

than I had 33 years ago!

Putting in that last stitch

felt so liberating and made a sweet

ending to this story.

Lesson learned:  Never say never.
There's always a solution.

Until Next Time-

Kyle

A Glimpse Back and a Story

Because March is 

National Quilting Month,

I thought I'd share one of my

quilts that has had

 an interesting history

and story.

"Broken Star"

Completed in 1987

It all began in 1980 when Blanche and Helen Young 

published their book 

The Lone Star Quilt Handbook

Their method was revolutionary.

It was strip piecing yet using a template

to accurately mark the points of intersection.

It was faster than sewing individual diamonds,

 but seems slower than today

 because of the inclusion of the markings, yet, 

it was very precise.

I made several Lone Star quilts

using their method

Lone Star

1983

****

Chapter One

After making four lone star quilts

I decided it was time to make the ultimate...

the Broken Star.

You can tell by the colors and fabrics,

smaller calico prints,

how tends come and go.

I wanted the quilt to have an antique look

so I decided to use a 100% cotton batting.

Big mistake.

It was miserable to hand quilt.

Finally, I began using a platinum coated needle

and then was able to get two stitches at a time!

It was drudgery. 

My stitches were pretty even,

but not too small.

It took me two years to finally finish it

That's why there isn't as much quilting

as I probably should have done or

what would have been done today.

***

Happy Chapter

Biannually, The Colorado Quilting Council

used to  have a spectacular quilt show 

held in the Denver state capitol building.

So in the summer of 1988,

my quilt was displayed.

It was a few month later,

I received a letter from the Denver Art Museum

asking if I would be willing to have my quilt

be included in a quilt show they were putting

together to be sent to Japan called, 

"American Patchwork Quilt Colorado."

I was over the moon!!

A book was published and

I was thrilled to see my quilt in print.

A bigger thrill came when I found out

my quilt had been used as the poster quilt for 

advertising the show.

1989

Later in 1990 it was shown at the AQS show

in Paducah, Ky 

and also at Quilt America,

a show held on Kokomo, IN.

***

Sad Chapter

Well, that's where the joyful part of my story ends.

After receiving my quilt back,

I thought I would give it a quick and gently wash,

no soap, nothing added to the water.

When I opened the washer

I was horrified to see all of the

maroon/red fabrics had run!!!

What I didn't understand was why.

All the fabrics had  been prewashed 

and I had washed the quilt when I had 

finished it in 1987.

Back in the washer.  This was all

pre-Color Catcher days.

I ended up washing the quilt 

about 5 times.  Each time trying something new,

a little spray and wash,  more spray and wash,

a little Biz, a lot of Biz...

You get the picture.

*I had a friend who worked for the water 

dept. in Fort Collins and his thought was

that the chemical composition that particular

day was such that it reacted to the dyes of the fabrics

causing them to run.  

I know no other explanation and

will use that as the reason.

The good news: most of the bleeding disappeared.

The bad news: the fabrics are terribly faded

and dulled.

They actually look petty beat up.

The original binding was destroyed.  

 I do remember 

it was a Jeffrey Gutcheon fabric and I had loved

the slight texture it had.  

But look at it now.

My goal since then was to replace the binding

and enjoy the quilt.

But that binding still remains on the quilt.

I still love this quilt very much

and it has definitely achieved the antique look I was going for!!

I've had it tucked away for almost 30 years.

Maybe it's time to

move on and replace the binding. 

Every quilt has a story. 

Is it finally time for me to add a new chapter?

Until Next Time-

Kyle