The Quilt Speaks

The Quilt Speaks

 I cannot count the times I have heard or read a master quilter answer the question of how they determine how they will quilt their finished quilt top by saying, “The quilt top will tell you what it wants.”

Oh really.

I finished a quilt top last year.  The piecing went really well.  I used many of my favorite fabrics.  I added some new techniques.  In all, I was really happy with this project.  I let it “rest” for a while before deciding on the quilting.  Summer 2011 came and my guild was asking for submissions for our fall show.  I got that top back out and put it up on the design wall.  I took it down. I laid it out on the table.  I walked around it for days, weeks.    I was quiet - waiting for the quilt to speak to me.  Then, it happened.  My quilt did speak to me.  Loudly.  It said:

 “Don’t #!@%* this up!!”

I left the room.  I guess we were both feeling a little nervous about this.  Each time I went back into the sewing room, my quilt reminded me of how I had put only the best fabrics into it.  How every star point and corner was perfect.  How easily it could be ruined with the wrong choice for the quilting.  I asked myself, “What’s the worst that can happen?”  That sent me running from the sewing room and slamming the door behind me.

But I kept thinking about it.  I doodled. I sketched ideas.  I began to think about thread.  I got out a practice piece to try some stitches.  I obsessed about batting.  Gradually, each decision was made until everything was done that could possibly be done... except for actually quilting the quilt.  Then my quilt and I had a more reasonable conversation.  I was encouraging, but firm.  We began with a sunflower motif in the center of the star. 

 I drew the circle with chalk, but everything else was freehand in that dark red star.  Then came the small gold stars.  They got a little swirl with YLI gold silk sparkle thread. 

 Then the large white background areas were marked for an overlapping ½” circle design.  That was the end of the marking.  All the rest of the surrounding areas were free motion feathers and fill designs. 

 We were flying!  The outer border had one more feather design.  I bound, washed, and blocked the quilt and sewed a label on the back.  Off my quilt went to the show judge and I finished another quilt that I planned to display in the show, but not submit for judging.

That bossy quilt that tried to intimidate me has nothing to say now.  It appears happy with the two ribbons it won in the quilt show – 2^nd Place for pieced large wall quilt, and show-wide Excellence in Machine Quilting.  I guess we’re both pretty happy.

The Stash Wants What the Stash Wants

I had great fun taking my two older sisters to visit my favorite local quilt store last weekend.  Neither are quilters, but my oldest sister has made quilts in the past.  She was not prepared for the all glorious contemporary fabric, however!  I believe we looked at every bolt in the store, but I don’t suppose that is really possible.  We demonstrated our three distinct styles in our choices, but admired each other’s picks, too.  I wasn’t going to buy anything (heard that before?) this trip.  But then I saw them.  The chickens.  Holy Moley!  Eight elegant roosters in a panel.

I am not really a big fan of “country” style decorating, or Americana.  But these chickens, or roosters, I suppose, are just too fabulous!  From the Chanticleer line from Robert Kaufman fabrics, they are dramatic and nearly regal.  For chickens.

I guess they made me think of the Minnesota State Fair and how I always wanted to go see the poultry house first thing!  All those crazy looking chickens in Technicolor and stereophonic sound!  Makes me giggle just to think of them!

Now to say that I don't need any more fabric is to say that the heavens don't need any more stars, Oprah doesn't need any more shoes, and the Gulf coast doesn't need any more disasters.  If I, and all of my progeny for the next five generations, make quilts until we die, there may still be some fabric left from my stash.  A common condition for quilters.  Or crafters of any type, I guess.  Those chickens just needed to come home with me.  Of course, it is doubtful that I have all the fabric I need to go with this new acquisition.  And so, back to the quilt store!

June Gloom?

Our family from the Pacific Northwest is arriving today and I have a bit of bad news for them.  Here in the sun and sand paradise of California, we are experiencing our usual June Gloom.  Yep.  The marine layer builds during the night and by morning we are cloudy and cool.  This morning I went out early to sweep the walk (the rabbits scatter the mulch around, with glee, I am sure, each night), and found everything as damp as if it had rained.  Now, I know what’s coming in a few weeks. Heat wave!  So I don’t mind this pause in our summer weather.  But if you are from Washington State, heading to Southern California, you want sun!!  I know my sister, who grew up here, is imagining herself right now laying on a beach towel, feet digging into the hot sand while the muffle of shouting kids, laughter, waves breaking, gulls calling and oldies music on someone’s radio transporting her back to the late fifties!

I have other activities planned to distract them from the cloudy sky.  We will cook together, we will look at old pictures, and share the new ones we’ve taken with our phones, we will relive the old family stories, walk around the farmer’s market, go to the movies.  And we will still go to the beach.  It may be a little cool yet;  we’ll wear our sweatshirts.  But we will look for shells and walk along the edge of the Pacific, scooting in and out of the foam.   And I have downloaded the Drifters, for the sounds of the fifties to keep us company.  Up On The Roof, On Broadway, Under The Boardwalk…

Presto Change-o

 I am really lucky to be able to walk down the hall from my bedroom in the early morning hours, in my jammies, and get right back to whatever sewing or quilting project I left from the last session.  But, my sewing studio doubles as our guest room.  Sounds familiar, right?  And it is now June.  You know what that means.  Time to magically transform the sea of fabric, thread, books, magazines, rulers, sketches and bins into a welcoming space for visitors.  Great to have company - awful to loose sewing space!!

This time, I'm going to get sneaky and move one of my sewing tables into the bedroom.  Where?  Well, I think it will fit - just fit - next to hubby's side of the bed between the bed and the sliding doors that open onto the little balcony.  While he is laying back playing Angry Birds on his Ipod, I will be continuing on my project!  Our guild show is this fall and the pressure is on to submit new work!
Next challenge?  Well, the guests we have coming next week include:   one diabetic, one lactose-intolerent vegetarian who is allergic to soy, and two people on the Blood Type Diet (?!) - with different blood types, natch.  I have the lists of foods to avoid, the acceptable lists, and no clue what to prepare.  Thankfully, it is early June in Southern California and fresh delicious produce is king!  I will be packing all these lovely, but cuisine headache prone folks off to the Farmer's Market to choose their own food!  Ha!