Flower Garden Appliqué quilt finish - finally!

 

Late last night I finished tacking back the binding on the Flower Garden appliqué quilt.  

This quilt was 3 1/2 years in the making.  I'm so happy to have it finished. 

I started this back around November 2020 in Tokyo, as a block of the month from Sentimental Stitches, called Poppy's Polka Dot Garden.  I have ended up calling mine simply Flower Garden. 

 

I made a lot of the blocks, but not all, and I just chose a very simple layout.  The blue is a shot cotton I got in Tokyo when we lived there.   I added little polka dot circles on the alternate blocks and the border, and machine quilted it very simply.  

The backing is a yellow beehive print, supplemented with a very old blue print.  

I sized it to fit on a twin bed: 

I have not washed it yet, and after seeing the photos here, I can really see where I might add more machine quilting.  Not sure.  I want it to remain really drapey. 

I am so happy to have this finished!  Now I don't have anything unfinished from the Covid/Tokyo years.  I just have a good sense of closure now. 

This quilt will live here at home for awhile at least. 

And, against my better judgment I've just started a second scrappy Liberty hexie EPP quilt.   It will be throw sized.

For some reason I'm just giddy about my new sewing basket  - from Liberty in London.  The benefits of David traveling and being willing to go to Liberty for me;). 

The print reminds me of my 70's childhood.  I love something that is practical, AND fun, AND pretty. 

I've been reading (mostly listening) a lot of books lately, and can recommend these: 

The Women by Kristin Hannah  - historical fiction about nurses during and after the Vietnam war.  I couldn't put it down. 

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin - really remarkable novel about two friends and video game creators, whose lives intersect over many years.   Somewhat strange, compelling.

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner - Korean American memoir, her mother's cancer; food culture; grieving.  

Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted by Suleika Jaouad - a remarkable memoir about living with cancer.  I also recommend the documentary American Symphony.  But read the book first. 

Finding Me - Viola Davis' memoir.  One of the best, most powerful memoirs I've ever listened to.  Unflinching, moving. 

Let me know if you've read anything fantastic lately! 

xo

Cynthia 

January project inventory and Happy New Year!

 

Happy New Year!  That's Ellie on the left, and Amelia on the right, at four months.  I just can't get enough of these babies... and big sister Charlotte.   I'm still pinching myself that we have three grand daughters living so close by.  We have all made a good adjustment to living in North Carolina.  I think 2023 will be a much more settled year for us all.  Knock on wood? 

In 2022 I made three quilts - and all three were a joy from start to finish because they were baby quilts!  

Amelia's nine patch: 

Eleanor's nine patch: 

Goldie's one patch: 

Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to MORE quilting time in 2023.  

Today I took an inventory of my "in the works" projects:   

1.  Japanese Tenugui quilt, with 9 star blocks from Barbara Brackman's 2021 Hands All Around block of the month.  Blue and white, with pops of red.  Currently working on finishing sashing. 

Cornerstones cut from scraps of tenugui: 

I did most of this in Japan in 2021 and now I just need more sashing and cornerstones: 

I am loving this quilt and it makes me long for Japan (which was inevitable!).  

2.  Ladies' Aid appliqué quilt in soft blues - from Barbara Brackman's 2021-2022 Ladies' Aid BOM .  I love these blocks!  Finished the last appliqué block the other night: 

3.  Poppy's Polka Dot Garden (from Sentimental Stitches) - ongoing hand appliqué, still working on the blocks, long term project, no rush, no perfection, just fun.  Check it out here.   I stayed up to date in Japan, and fell totally behind in 2022.  But finished this block recently! 

4.  Folky wedding quilt for Camille and Tommy - they are getting married in May, so the quilt will be "due" by their first Christmas married, next December;).  

While I had Tommy and Camille (I like to call them "the lovebirds") here at Christmas, we looked at fabric from my stash  - 

And we looked at lots of quilts and talked about what they want (folky appliqué, in all the colors, their themes, my corny design - challenge accepted!).  

We spent some time at Cary Quilting Company getting some quarter pieces and border fabric as a jumping off point. 

 I look forward to sharing the quilt here, block by block as I make it.  I'm sure I will call it "Lovebirds" ;). 

At home, auditioning fabrics and checking for contrast: 

And that's it for me this chilly January night.  David is in New Jersey on business for a few days.  

I can recommend a fun book I finished today.  The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman if you'd like a really well written cozy mystery with humor, and characters you will just love.   One of my goals for this year is to read a lot more and "randomly scroll" a lot less.   

Happy New Year all!  Thank you for reading!  Happy Quilting! 

xo

Cynthia 

Project updates, and out and about

 

Last week I ventured solo to Tomato in Nippori, to find some fabric to try (heavy emphasis on TRY, because sewing garments is just not my thing) making a myself a tunic.  I've been having some issues keeping me from outings, but really trying to get back into my walking habit again.  

I chose out some inexpensive light blue cotton/linen - 

My pattern is from Grainline Studio and the instructions are very clear, for beginners like me.   Still ... hours and days later... I'd rather be quilting;).   I'm more or less stuck at this point because of a dart issue - no pun intended;).  I'm thinking of this as practice.  My mind has a hard time with 3-D things.  Quilts are flat - clothing is not;).  

And today my friend Julie W and I went to Sakurahorikiri, a washi paper and craft shop in Asakusabashi.  We drove and it was a short walk from the little parking spot.  I'm in awe of my friends who drive here in Tokyo.  Grateful, too. 

Isn't it hard to believe this is paper, not fabric?  I picked out two of two sheets for a little project.  

Only after returning home, did I notice on the map that we'd been very close to a shop called Cotton Family. It might be a good resource for ordering fabric online (!) at least from within Japan.  

Meanwhile, at home...  in the evenings I am steadily making progress on my hand appliqué projects... 

Poppy's Polka Dot Garden (free patterns each month from Sentimental Stitches)

And Barbara Brackman's  Ladies' Aid Sampler 

I've also decided to call it quits and go ahead and make a quilt top with the blocks I've already made from Barbara's Hands All Around pattern posts.  I'm alternating my stars with various blue and white tenugui, with some simple blue sashing in between.  It's going to be a simple graphic quilt and will hold good memories from Tokyo.   

I love organizing projects in drawers like this: 

My sewing area gets messy (here's some napkins waiting for ironing;)).... but I'm so grateful for it! 

Also grateful to quilting friends.... local (I'm starting a little "stitching with friends" interest group at our church)... semi-local over a recent Zoom meet-up... and long distance over blogging.  I know I'm not alone in just simply loving quilts!  

xo

Cynthia 

Appliqué update - Ladies' Aid and Poppy's Polka Dot

We get our COVID tests today, ahead of flying to the U.S. on Saturday.   We are in full prep mode and our apartment looks like a cyclone hit it.  

I'm trying to decide what handwork to bring on our trip. I'm paralyzed by indecision.  I've only had 11 months to figure this out, lol.   I will be gone a month, so this matters!  I know my fellow quilters will understand! 

I may bring appliqué - I already have some blocks traced and "kitted out" for back-basting. 

 

These blocks are from the Ladies' Aid New York Sampler - offered by Barbara Brackman on her Civil War Quilts blog.   I purchased the complete set on her Etsy site so that I could plan a little better. 

The latest block (this charming horsey) is offered here.    

Big 15" blocks.  

I am going for: 

• faded out, "taupey" 
• soft, subtle 
• sentimental and flowery
• plenty of  blue 

My other appliqué project is Poppy's Polka Dot Flower Garden, free patterns for 9" blocks from Sentimental Stitches here.   This is a long term two year project and I adore these little blocks!  

Here are my four most recent blocks: 

Am I the only one who feels anxious without some sort of handwork when traveling?  I'd love to know about your favorite portable projects! 

xo gratefully

Cynthia