Basket #9

I've been steadily working on unfinished and half-finished quilt blocks and tops this year.  All old and no new makes for a little dull me and also makes me itchy to begin something new.  But no, I committed to these finishes so I'm keeping at it.  (Of course, I'm also making a list of the next new beginnings, too.)  I have three interim finishes to share from recent weeks but today I'm posting about only one:  Baskets of Plenty.  This is my version of block/basket #9 of Cheri Payne's Baskets of Plenty sew-along.

Cheri's pattern for this block was not the 10" x 13" of most of the other blocks but a smaller sized horizontal layout which had a branch and a bird instead of a basket.  Since I wanted a basket block the same size as the others I made up a basket pattern I thought would look okay with the rest then used flower patterns from some of the other blocks, using them in ways different from previous blocks. 

I was thinking of cone flowers but didn't want the traditional pink/violet ones.  I really wanted dark red-orange-rust but didn't have fabrics that I thought worked.  In the end I chose these colors.  I like them a lot and I think they work with the rest of the baskets.

These are all the Baskets of Plenty, in no particular order or arrangement.   The backgrounds look a little creamier in this photo than they are in real life.

These baskets will finish at 10" x 13".  I'm planning to add a border around each of these blocks -- at last 1½", maybe 2"-- for several reasons.  I think the flowers need more space, a little breathing room, so to speak.  I also like the look of borders on blocks.  The first time I tried them was with the Everyday Patchwork blocks and I think they add a lot.  Borders will also increase the size of the finished quilt.  I want a quilt that is larger than 30" x 39".

I'm imagining pieced blocks for sashing, perhaps hourglasses, but I'm not sure.  I'll have to play a little before I make a decision -- colors, size, etc.

We've been out and about a little more these past few weeks, always with a mask, always avoiding anyone with a cough, and always washing hands before touching eyes, mouth, or nose.  It's good hygiene which I always tried to practice but about which I'm more vigilant than ever.

Please note:  If you've left a comment on posts during the past week please know that I read it but cannot respond via email because Google won't let me access my gmail inbox.  As if 2020 isn't already challenging enough, Google "improves" blogger and won't let me read my emails.  This is a year that often finds me wondering what's coming next.  I know it could be much worse but I hope it gets better!

I hope you and those you love are healthy!

I'm linking this post to
> Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts
> Patchwork and Quilts at Quilting Patchwork Applique
Thanks for hosting, ladies.

--Nancy.
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Poor Little Crow - Baskets of Plenty #6

It's a good thing this poor little crow is made of fabric and has no awareness of himself.  Otherwise, he might notice that his beak looks more like a dolphin's nose and that his tail feathers are permanently  ruffled.  I continue to struggle with the points of turned-edge applique:  they tend to curve, as the tips of the right and left hearts do, or not be very pointed at all.  I'm hoping the adage "practice makes perfect" is true.

This is basket #6 of Cheri Payne's Facebook sew-along, Baskets of Plenty.  Her blocks are always so full and rich with plenty of leaves and berries.  Her version of this basket has two small crows facing each other with a heart between.  Of course, we don't know her layout until after we've had four weeks to decide and stitch down our own.

Cheri used a charcoal background for her block but thinking that charcoal would not settle well with the colors in my other blocks, I chose this brown fabric.  At one time it was a shirt.  I used the back because the front had tiny, small, light leaves and tiny pink buds.  The color was right but the print was too busy.  The reverse seemed fine.

I like the colors of the flowers in this block a lot and I especially like them against the brown background.  Perhaps a peach/pink/coral and brown quilt is in my future.

I backed myself into a corner with this block.  I appliqued everything but the centers of the flowers on the right and then couldn't find fabric I thought worked.  I tried several blues, a brown or two, and a couple in the red range.  All of them weighed down the right side and drew the eye directly to them.  I opted to stay in the same color range as the other flowers.

I envisioned one little heart in the center of the basket but it nearly disappeared laying there by itself.  I imagined a string of hearts across the top of the basket but those hearts are so small and hard to make that I stopped with three.  Wednesday morning I laid all three where they are now and thought them perfect.  They, too, were cut from recycled shirts.

I call this block finished and I'm satisfied with it but I know that as it hangs on the wall it may insist on leaves or some other addition.

The top photo was taken in natural light without a flash, the bottom with a flash.  They're really close in color but the bottom one is slightly truer to the colors of the fabric than the first.  If you want to see details click on either photo.  I'm not using Blogger's Lightbox so they'll enlarge several times.


I'm linking this post to
> Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework
> Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilts
> finish it up Friday at crazy mom quilts
> TGIFF at Janda Bend Quilts
Thanks for hosting, ladies.

--Nancy.

Basket of Plenty #6 Finished

My One Monthly Goal for April was to finish this Basket of Plenty.  Here it is in all its little glory, though the color isn't quite accurate.

This is part of a Cheri Payne sew-along from 2017 which I'm just now finishing (with one more basket to go).  Every part of this pattern is Cheri's except the tulip leaves, which I think make it look a little un-Cheri-like.  Even so, I like it.

It's hard to pick up exactly where one left off three years ago with the same view in mind.  Three years of quilting can change one's perspective, viewpoint, and abilities, so I wouldn't be surprised if this basket and the next one stand out as just a little different.  Time changes people, people change over time.

This is Basket of Plenty #8, finished for now, unless I change my mind.  And again, the color is a little off.
 

Last month I adjusted the backing and added a flower to bring it up to the size of the rest of the blocks.  I thought it needed something on that clunky basket so I added the diamond and circle.  Now I think maybe the circle is a little too large.  It may get changed.  Will I ever quit changing my mind?!

I was thinking today how much time I spend thinking about, considering, playing with, altering and/or adjusting each individual block for almost any applique quilt, and even for quilts like Cheddarback.  And why?  When a quilt is finished it's not like each individual block is going to be noticed for itself.  They all blend together to create a whole.  I know I'll continue to do it but maybe I can talk myself out of doing so much of it.

I have one more Baskets of Plenty block to make to finish this sew-along.  Then on to the borders.

I hope you and your loved ones are healthy and safe.  Our state is beginning to lighten our restrictions.  I read such controversy about whether we should be staying at home to stay safe or going out to gain immunity.  Such uncertain times! 

I'm linking this post to
> One Monthly Goal April Finish Link-up at Elm Street Quilts and
> BOMs Away at What a Hoot Quilts
Thanks for hosting, ladies.

--Nancy.
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Baskets of Plenty Block 2, Choosing for Block 3

I call this a finished block knowing I will change the embroidery around the star and may add some detail to the stems and leaves.  Those chunky stems give me a chuckle every time I look at them.  No drooping flowers in this basket!

I think the star needs something around the edge to help it stand out a little from the red behind but I'm not pleased with the dashed line in this photo.  In fact I've already removed it in anticipation of doing something else.  I think my embroidery skills are not up to snuff.   (It's been many long, long years since I embroidered as a child.)

Choosing the colors for the circle and star was fun.  When I've finished with a block I always question whether a different choice would have been better.  (My motto should be, "Never look back.")  I tried more than a dozen other options, some of which are below.

Primitive is a new style to me. I recognize primitive when I see it but find it difficult to pinpoint in my mind exactly what makes something look primitive? Does it depend on colors, or the pattern, or both, or something else?

I made this as part of Cheri Payne's Basket of Plenty sew-along on her facebook group.  She posts pdfs of the patterns, then we print them and choose which pieces we want to use for our blocks.

It's been both fun and challenging.   It seems I usually change a pattern in one way or another to make it my own.  Many other participants are using wool for the applique but I want a quilt that can be washed and dried so I'm using only cotton.  Some of Cheri's shapes are hard for me to make accurately with turned-edged applique so I've chosen the shapes I can manage and simplified some of the ones that I couldn't.

I'm behind with these blocks since the pattern for the third basket is already available.  I've cut out the pattern pieces and just started playing with colors.

I have two brown baskets.  Do I want a tan/grey basket or a red basket or some other color?  And maybe that pink doesn't work as primitive?

I'm linking this post to
> WOW at Esther's Blog
> Let's Bee Social #169 at Sew Fresh Quilts
> Midweek Makers #64 at Quilt Fabrication
> Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation
> Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilts
> Can I Get A Whoop Whoop? at Confessions of a Fabric Addict
> finish it up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts
Thanks for hosting, ladies.

Thanks stopping by.  Happy day to you.

Nancy.
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2017 In Review

My consolation in having so few completely finished quilts this year is that quilting was not the only interest and emphasis for me.  Maybe I'll make more quilts this year, or maybe not....  So, this is a review of my 2017 applique and quilting efforts.

Completely Finished Quilts  (only four)
 
A Blue Plaid Linen Shirt was the backing for this little patriotic quilt.

The green/blue Buckeye Beauty was The Ugliest Quilt of the year.  But it's done!

My favorite quilt of 2017 was this really scrappy one, made of leftovers from another quilt.

A dozen blocks (also leftovers over from another, larger quilt) became one small quilt - large enough to cover legs, small enough to wrap a baby or toddler.

Interim Finishes (as in, finished blocks, finished tops, etc.)

I devoted time to choosing fabrics, pattern pieces, and appliqueing these Cheri Payne Baskets of Plenty sew-along blocks which are currently awaiting a decision on layout, sashing, and borders.  (Poor, late-night phone photo.  Don't bother to enlarge.)

My Gwenny-inspired Medallion quilt top received its final border with appliqued vines and stars.  It has yet to be layered and quilted.

This very red/pink Buckeye Beauty is finished to the top stage.  This is a sister to the ugliest quilt, above.  I like this one much better.

Most Viewed Posts in reverse order, least viewed to most viewed
> A Finish, Compared to...
> Baskets of Plenty #7:  Cheeky Bird
> Baskets of Plenty Block 2, Choosing for Block 3
> The Ugliest Quilt
> First Basket of Plenty, Finished

Posts with Most Comments in reverse order, least comments to most comments
> Albino Crow, Strong West Wind tied with When Does a Project Become a UFO?
> Back to Scrap Squares
> Wrestling
> The Ugliest Quilt
> A Scrappy Finish

Truly, this was a little year on the quilting front.  Three of the complete finishes had been in progress for a while and only one was new, so I was pleased to have finished three UFOs.  In 2018 I hope to quilt several tops that have been waiting and start and finish several quilts at least to the flimsy stage.

I'm linking this post to Cheryl's Best of 2017 Linky Party at Meadow Mist Designs.  Click through to see other quilters' best of in 2017.  Thanks for hosting, Cheryl.

I wish you all the best to you in 2018!

--Nancy.

2020 in Review, a Year of Finishing, More or Less

I determined that 2020 would be a year of finishing quilts that I'd started and were still in progress.  I set my sights high with nine quilts in varying stages of progress to work on and, hopefully, finish.  Photos are below descriptions.  

Baskets of Plenty was first on that January, 2020 list.  I needed to remake two blocks and make one new one to have the nine I thought would make a good-sized quilt.  Those are finished and the blocks are sewn into sashing with borders on part of it, awaiting applique on the top and bottom borders.  So, from these blocks on the left to the still-unfinished top on the right.  Not a finish, but still, progress.  You can read all the posts about these baskets here.
 


The Blue and the Gray was the next quilt on my January list.  I had only the blocks and cornerstones finished so it still needed the sashing to become a top.  I'm thrilled to have put the last stitches in the binding in November.

Everyday Patchwork was next on the list.  Ohh, I love this quilt.  I had 30 blocks made at the beginning of the year.  I added 5 more for a total of 35, for a 5 x 7 block layout.  It also needed sashing, borders, and applique on the borders.  The top is awaiting batting, backing, and quilting.

Autumn Maples, I'm happy to say, is in the process of being quilted.  I'm hoping the quilting will bring to mind leaves swirling in the wind.

Red Circles on Green Squares needed many more squares, so I've been working on those now and then.  My enthusiasm wanes and it's easy to lay them aside when there is other handwork to do.  I need 192 and have finished 182.  Just 10 more to go.  The stack below is about a fifth or sixth of what I have now.  There's still lots to be done with this quilt.  I'll need to decide on sashing and cornerstones (or not) on the groups of 9 blocks, and then sashing between the 9-circle blocks.

Cheddarback is a finished top.  This was a sew-along so I couldn't choose my own pace to finish it.  It was about half finished at the beginning of the year.

Little Rubies is a finished quilt, the last stitches put in sometime in April or May.  I love it, I don't love it.  But it's finished!

Linda Brannock's Flowers and Quarter Cabins saw no progress at all.  Flowers will need some unstitching then restitching.  I tried to make it larger by adding more sashing.  It's not right so I'll make it the way Linda did and add borders. Quarter Cabins needs a few decisions about the next steps.  I didn't look at either quilt all year.  I know they'll wait patiently for me, though. 
















Two quilts that weren't on my January, 2020, list were these:

Blue and Lights.  When I realized I had three 12" blue and white blocks left over from Cheddarback I decided to just make more blocks.  Most of the year it seemed I was doing the back end work of finishing.  It was fun to make blocks to continue a quilt in progress.  Here are 15 of the 20 blocks I've made.  I'll have to decide on layout, sashing, cornerstones, and borders.

Ohio Winters Browns (from Lori's 50 Shades of Brown at Humble Quilts) was the other finish for the year.  It's hard to go a whole year without starting at least one thing new, and this was it for the year.  It's a little quilt -- the small squares finish at 1". 

So that's my year in quilt-making.  When I began this post I was feeling down-hearted, thinking I had accomplished nearly nothing.  It's been a good way to realize that all my small efforts have amounted to something, even if there were only a few complete finishes.

I hope you had a good and successful year, whatever you did, and I wish you all the best in 2021.

--Nancy.

Baskets of Plenty Block 5 Finished

This is my small finish:  Basket Block 5 of Cheri Payne's Baskets of Plenty sew-along.  It's relatively small in size at it's 10½" x 13½" but not small in time.  It may eventually get further embellishment but it's finished for now. 

It has been the hardest block for me so far.  The large flower shape with "fingers" is a challenge for my limited turned-edge cotton applique skills.  And choosing colors was hard.  Comparing my original idea for flower color and the one I've used, I think I like the original idea better, though I do like these two blues.  But I see that the first color will be great for the next basket.  

I tend to be a realist.  My mind wants to know what kind of flower that is so I can choose colors the flower would be in real life (but I couldn't figure out what flower this might be).  If there are four flowers, I imagine they should all be blooming at the same time or at least be available for sale at a store at the same time.  Silly, I know, because it limits artistic license.  These primitive blocks help me work my way past those ideas/limitations.

Cheri suggests we use the patterns in whatever way we imagine and to use whichever pieces we choose and leave out the rest.  This leads to a huge variety of arrangements, flowers, colors, etc., amongst the participants, which is always so fun to see.  Cheri posted her finished basket on facebook a week or two ago.  My block is not like hers but I may add to my block based on her use of some of the shapes.

In fact, as I look at the baskets I've made so far I'm beginning to see where an embellishment could be added to this basket or that block.  My blocks are simple and I think they could be more interesting with some additions.  This has been a fun sew-along.

On to basket #6.

I'm linking this post to
> Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilts
> finish it up Friday at crazy mom quilts
> Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? at Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Thank you for hosting, ladies.

--Nancy.
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From Finishes to Unfinished

It's probably a good thing to review how I spent my quilting time during the year, for both both finished and in-progress quilts.  It was a challenging year for a variety of reasons--every month or few weeks there was a home or some other big problem--and my quilting life seemed to suffer a little.  Hence so few finishes.  But here we go.

The Finishes of 2022.  All the way to the binding, in no particular order

Cheddarback was a quilt-along with Gaye Bomers.  I finished the top in 2018 or 2019, then layered, quilted, and bound it in 2022.

Dear Prudence is a small quilt, sewn as a quilt-along with Pam Buda.  Hers had an outer border of pink.  The pink fabric I had just didn't work for me so I changed it.

Little Blue Folly is another little quilt.  Looking at it now I wish I'd chosen red circles instead of the triangles.  I have no use for this quilt so it is truly a folly.

Coral and Grey is another little quilt.  (You'd think I like making little quilts....)  The coral pieces were leftovers from the churn dash quilt, below.

Buckeye Beauty is a baby/toddler-sized quilt I started more than a few years ago and never quite fell in love with.  I like it better now that it's finished.  It's still waiting for a little someone who needs it.

The Interim Finishes and In-progress Quilts of 2022.  Some of these have been in progress for a few years and received extra time in 2022.  Other than the small quilts, above, I don't think I started a single new quilt.

Churndash Top is one I started to participate in ChookyBlue's sew-along this year.  The top is finished and awaiting the "perfect" backing fabric.   Corals are one of my favorite colors of, of course, I love this top.  Maybe I will be able to quilt it in 2023.

Flowers, a Linda Brannock pattern, was a sew-along in a Facebook group.  I'm currently hand quilting it, not yet halfway finished.

Little Plaid Baskets with Zinnias.  I started the basket blocks at least 6 or 8 years ago -- empty baskets with no idea what to do with them.  I decided on zinnias and spent some time making the flowers and leaves, all of which still need appliqued (after deciding placement).  The layout of the blocks is still under consideration.  I didn't think I'd like them lined up in rows but they look so cheerful. 

Burgoyne Surrounded just happened last year.  I had lots of little 1½" squares and decided to use them for that.  It is currently awaiting a border with appliqued leaves along one side.

Quilts in Progress from Previous Years

Baskets of Plenty was Cheri Payne's last Facebook sew-along.  She give us the pattern pieces and we decided their placement.  I love these blocks which is making it really hard to choose sashing and finishing--because I don't want to ruin them.  Perhaps this is the year I will unstitch the sashing (which is so static) and create a beautiful quilt of them.

The Blue Sampler Blocks are ones I made with the idea of variations on a theme.  I will probably need to make a few more for a decent sized quilt--or make a smaller quilt.  Maybe these will get some attention this yea.

Time Flies is awaiting backing and quilting.

Everyday Patchwork has backing on a bag and may be next up for hand quilting.

It's so easy to start a quilt, and sometimes so hard to finish.  The easiest part for me is making the blocks after choosing colors and fabrics.

And just to say, I'm amazed at the speed at which some of you create and finish quilts.  It's fun to imagine getting faster but as I get older I'm getting slower, so there's not much hope for speed for me.  That's really okay because there's so much joy no matter the speed.

I wish you a Happy New Year!

--Nancy.

A Finish, Compared To....

This is my finished version of Block 3 of Cheri Payne's Baskets of Plenty sew-along.

I like it a lot and was feeling pretty pleased about it until I happened upon this photo of Block 3 in progress....

I really shouldn't do that -- shouldn't look back at the other options and compare.  But I did and except for that big pink flower, I think I like this bird and his narrow perch better than in the finished basket.

Thank goodness I have more fabric and can remake this block if I choose.  Thank goodness it's not a whole quilt and just one block.  But then again, maybe I'll use the one I've already finished.  I like it, just maybe not quite so much.

I've been enjoying and feeling challenged by Cheri's Baskets of Plenty sew-along.  I notice that my blocks are much simpler than Cheri's -- she uses more pieces and I use less and sometimes simplify them.  She uses wool for her applique and I use cotton.  She has lots of experience, I have much less.  We all start somewhere and go from there, from simple and easy to proficient and on to advanced and complex (if we choose).  In the end, the most important thing is that I enjoyed the process (even if I may have felt challenged and/or frustrated sometimes) and I like what I've created.  For you, too?

Have you ever changed your mind after you've finished a block and remade it?

I'm linking this post to
> Finshed or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilts
> Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? at Confessions of a Fabric Addict
> finish it up Friday at crazy mom quilts
> TGIFF at The Carpenters Daughter Who Quilts
Thanks for hosting, ladies.

--Nancy.
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Mid-Year Review of Progress

I'm still committed to finishes this year.  When I checked my list from the beginning of the year I realized how much (or in some cases, how little) I've accomplished. 

These are my finishes or partial finishes:

  ✔ Everyday Patchwork:  top is finished
  ✔ Cheddarback:  top is finished
  ✔ The Blue and the Gray:  quilting in progress
  ✔ Little Rubies:  completely finished

- - - - - - - - - -


These Baskets of Plenty measure 10½" x 13½".  The squares with red circles measure 5".
















I've made progress on these quilts

• Baskets of Plenty.  All the baskets are finished, the blocks are awaiting borders and sashing
• Red Circles on Green Squares.  I've made more but the hold-up is . . .  whether to keep going or stop

- - - - - - - - - -

Quilts I haven't touched:

• Maple Leaves  (Well, I did remove it from the pile so maybe it's up next)
• Linda Brannock's Flowers
• Quarter Cabins

The last two will be more challenging than the ones I've already finished and I think they will require more time.  I better get crackin'!

I know many quilters who finish dozens of quilts in a year and I admire them for it but I'm just not that fast.  No problem, but it feels great to make progress.

--Nancy.
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