No Blue Skies this Week

The weather can have a definite affect

on your desire to sew or not to sew.

It's been very hot and dry here in Colorado,

no rain for well over a month,

and now there are fires near by.

I know many of you in Australia and

other parts of the states

understand how the air can change so dramatically.

No blue skies this week and 

I really haven't gotten much sewing done this week. 

Adding a few bindings was the best I could do,

but I did get one quilt finished.

"Patriotic Logs"

36" x 36"

This pattern was in the 2020 Quilt Calendar

by that Patchwork Place designed by

Carol Hopkins.

This antique quilt was the inspiration.

It was made by Amanda Beitler, (1920"s)

a worker at the Collegeville Flag Factory in Pennsylvania, using

scraps of flag bunting.

This quilt was made with two slightly different blocks.

Some blocks began with red logs and

the others began with white logs.

It was a great little quilt

to use lots of different red and white strips.

Digging deep into the red and white bins

many old fabrics were pulled and sewn.

(Notice the 2000 date)

Finishing this log cabin quilt seemed

appropriate as four major fires burn through

acres and acres of Colorado forest 

where lodge pole pines, which have been decimated

by a pine bark beetle, are dry and brittle.

Our gratitude goes out to those fire crews

who are managing these terrible fires.

Hopefully, the skies will clear soon

and some much needed rain will fall.

It might help to bring back my sewing mojo!

Until Next Time-

Kyle

I've Been A Log Cabin Loonie For A While

 When Running Man and I 

were first married 43 years ago,

we lived out in the Piceance Basin in 

northwestern Colorado.
This was our home,

 a little green log cabin.

We were here for 3 months,
while he did his research for his master's degree.

 Julie's Log Cabin Loonies

made me think of that cabin so long ago

and the different log cabin quilts 

that I've made over the years.

So if you'll indulge me,

let me share those with you.

Despite the fact that Eleanor Burns 

first published her 

Quilt in a Day Log Cabin book

in 1978

I didn't make my first log cabin quilt until 1987.

It was a circular log cabin and
was constructed with
paper pieced pattern designed

by June Ryker of Colorado.

 It was a challenge

 but rewarding to make.

I love remembering the popular
color scheme of the time,

country blue and mauve.

I sold the quilt to a local dentist

who had it hanging in his office.

The following year, 1988,

with the same popular color scheme,

I made this log cabin with the 

traditional barn raising layout.

I sold this one as well.

In 1990

I was enjoying the folk art designs of the

Red Wagon gals,

Gerry Kimmel Carr, Linda Brannock,

and Jan Patek.

The courthouse steps border

was perfect using
Roberta Horton's plaids.

2001 found me crazy

for the Buggy Barn girls

and their Crazy Log Cabin.

Their stack, slice and shuffle method

was a fun way to get the scrappy look without

too much effort.

In October, 2004
I was heading to Bennington, Kansas

for a Quilt Getaway with the talented

Lynn Hagmeier of Kansas Troubles.

 I bought her current line of fabric

 and spent the weekend 

 happily cutting and sewing.

In 2014

I purchases this wonderful

red and white antique log cabin.

It was the perfect combination

of a red and white quilt and 

a sunshine and shadows log cabin layout. 

Then, of course, this year

there was Strawberries and Chocolate

The Log Cabin pattern is an old and beloved

design and 

I'm sure there is still one or two more

that I'll have to make.
How many have you made?

Until Next Time-
Kyle

Log Cabin Loonies

It's that time

when August's green corn moon is full

and all Log Cabin Loonies

report in to Julie K Quilts.

My report is that I've finished my

Strawberries and Chocolate log cabin.

 30" x 30"

You might remember that I pieced it 

from my

scrap basket collection of 

1 1/4" strips.

 I love running my hand over the surface

and feeling the texture created 

from perel cotton and a big stitch.

I'm going to be presenting a labeling

and documenting demo 

at one of my quilt groups next month so

I wanted to try a different technique and product

for my label.

I used the June Taylor Sew-In 

Colorfast Fabric Sheets for

the Ink Jet Printer. 

It was easy to design a label on the computer,

easy to print,

but, to be honest, I don't care for

the feel of the fabric after it's been set.

It has a plastic rubbery feel

and it was very difficult to needle

through when I added the perel cotton

stitching around the edge.

But I do have to add that the

photo transferring quality is excellent

and so much improved since this technique

was first introduced years ago.

Does anyone have a suggestion of a 

different product that

has a better feel?

I'd love to know.

Thanks, Julie

Your log cabin loony

sew along

has been crazy fun!

Until Next Time-
Kyle