Botanical drop out

I hate dropping out of things, but I also really hate continuing to work on something that just isn't making me smile.  So... I'm not doing anything more with the Shenandoah Valley Botanical Quilt block of the month.  

I had been doing it potholder style and learned a lot about what I would do differently next time:  use a small print as the background and binding, instead of a solid; have a plan for the quilting (be consistent)!  Stick with needle turn applique.  

 I joined up five of the blocks into a springtime table runner.  

I'm real pleased and I know it will look pretty over a white tablecloth with my china.   

I have a few more of these and a couple of unfinished blocks - maybe for another table runner or small wall hanging, not sure. 

In other news, this is a block for our guild's box exchange.  It has been fun to make a star each month using someone else's palette/style!  

I didn't take a single photo at Easter, and we had a houseful of people!  I was distracted and worried by a medical (eye) issue with my son, something which is all but resolved now, thankfully.

Spring is in the air.  This is the very ugliest time of year here in Massachusetts and this is when I think North Carolina would sure be a fine place to live!  All that changes quickly enough though once we get some green around here in May and June!

Here is Daisy respecting the invisible fence line!!  Best decision ever, to get an invisible fence so she can be outside and active much more often.

And both dogs testing out each other's beds and patience.  Molly will be 13 soon, sweet old gal. 

Shenandoah Valley Botanical month five - yellow pink tulip

Here's my block for February... looking a little asymmetrical.  I am being fairly loosey goosey with the pattern.

Background color is more like it appears here:

I keep the plan posted at my ironing board:

Lots of beautiful examples being posted here on the linkup.  Many quilters are doing hand applique which is just exquisite!

In other news, the weather has been wild around here and we've gotten some huge snow.  Here are two cozy views of the house - the front-front as we call it (we don't use that front door - it probably hasn't been opened in 100 years):

and the "side" - which is another "front" actually:

 

The original house was built in the 1740's; about 10 years later, it was sold.  The new owners likely dismantled their previous house and reassembled it as an attachment to the new structure - a common practice in the day.  I love the orange (pumpkin colored) door but we mainly use the back kitchen door...

Now the snow is all but melted away....

Botanical month 4 - Star in the East

Shenandoah Valley Botanical Quilt for January - Star in the East.  I like the movement and symmetry here and I think an entire quilt of this block would be fab!

I'm using fusible and a machine blanket stitch-  I like the process, and I like the results.

 I'm also using the potholder method for this quilt - my first time trying this.  Wendy at Constant Quilter advised me to use single fold - not my usual double fold - binding.  It works really well.

Not convinced I'm going to make the whole quilt, but we shall see.  I feel on the tipping point of having too many projects going, and I really want to do the new Westering Women block of the month at Barbara Brackman's Civil War Quilts.

Meanwhile I have backed and basted my first Stars in a Time Warp quilt - it's ready to roll and I'm hoping to spend Friday getting it quilted!

Mountain Laurel - Botanical Quilt sewalong block 3

Mountain Laurel this month - lots of little red bits.  I am simplifying these patterns somewhat - or being more loose about them.   Keeping it fun and doable!  

This one was tedious to applique but, so pretty!  

I can't seem to capture the celery color of my background fabric... it's different in every snapshot I take... 

 This comes real close to the color:

I'm also almost finished with a little baby quilt for a Christmas gift... will share about that soon!

Botanical Quilt Month 2 - Blue Flag

This month it's the Blue Flag - the iris.

I am using fusible.  I just place all the pieces at once, and then machine blanket stitch.  It is still time consuming, but fun!

Lots of long stems...

 Thank you, 1858 Esther, for gathering them up so neatly into this little base:

Don't look too closely - I am not a perfectionist! 

I am trying the potholder method for this quilt - so far, so good!  It is portable, which I love.  Those are pins for basting, but I have since switched to thread basting.

I know you are tempted to join in on this fun project, and sales of the pattern benefit the Virginia Quilt Museum - so be sure to visit the Shenandoah Valley Botanical Album Quilt of 1858 blog!  

Click here for this month's block progress link up. 

Meanwhile, around here, the days are getting shorter and we've all but lost the leaves.... time to turn my thoughts to the Thanksgiving menu! 

xo

Cynthia

Decision paralysis in Shenandoah

I have all sorts of decisions to make....

Mainly revolving around whether this really is the best project for me to try "pot holder" style....

The look of paralyzed indecision:

So I am stuck... and the other four pineapple blocks await a verdict before I proceed...

Tomorrow we will get our next assignment.  It is never too late to join in - pattern available for purchase here and sales benefit the Virginia Quilt Museum.  I've never been there, but I'm a huge fan of quilt museums!  

Meanwhile in real life, our autumn has been spectacular!

The leaves on the Japanese maple are just about to turn...

xo
Cynthia

Shenandoah Valley Botanical - pineapple block

Well... it seems the minute I had the thought "I'd like to do another long-term quilt along"... I came across this project - ambitious, beautiful, old-timey, a little eccentric.  It's the - (hold on, it's a mouthful) - "Shenandoah Valley Botanical Album Quilt of 1858".  What are we calling it for short??

The pattern is available here and benefits the Virginia Quilt Museum.  The original was created by Ester B. Matthews in 1858 at age 82.  WOW!

My blocks will be 11-12 inches.

(My "celery" background color does not come through in the photo above.  Mmm.)

Here are some of the colors I pulled for the quilt:

The woven green is so thin that my "usual" methods (either needle turn hand applique, or invisible machine applique with freezer-paper prep) weren't working...

Then... I decided that with blocks this small and busy, and fabric this fussy, I'd better turn to fusible.

Meanwhile, one of the quilt-along participants "Pinkish Camilla" - mentioned using a Ricky Tims method for her Botanical blocks.  (Thank you, Pinkish Camilla!).  The internet is wonderful.  I googled "Ricky Tims applique" and voila.

I watched his fabulous tutorial on YouTube and really appreciated his advice about adjusting tension and needle position, using the straight stitch to start and stop, overlapping with the blanket stitch.

Anyway, I experimented and practiced and decided on a single blanket stitch.  I am using 50 weight Mettler silk finish cotton thread and just the Heat and Bond fusible - no additional stabilizer.

I'm going to make three more of these pineapple blocks; and I will eliminate the rainbow block and probably the Liberty Tree block.  And I'm sure I will orient all the blocks the same way.   I think a lot of the participants are making similar design "edits".

Lots of words today for what amounts to one pineapple block!

This month's pineapple progress is still being posted on the SVBAQ blog.  It is really really fun to see how other quilters are interpreting the blocks.  Check it out - maybe you will be inspired to jump on in!!

xo
Cynthia