On the Yahoo Quiltville Chat group, there are folders for uploading pictures of your work, usually labeled by each step of a mystery, a completed Bonnie pattern, or other quilt stuff. There is a folder for Christmas Lights Step 3, the mystery that was in Quiltmaker magazine. I loaded two pictures into that folder, one of each of the quilts I made after I split up the blocks into two groups. They are shown here.
The group manager usually chooses one photo from each folder to "label" the folder. I just noticed today that they had selected one of my redesigned Christmas Lights quilts, the one with the star blocks and the new blocks that look like packages with bows, and put it on the folder. Maybe they didn't notice that I redesigned the quilt.
This is a little awkward...
ADDENDUM: Someone changed the picture on the cover of the folder and removed the photo of my quilt. I didn't say anything on the group. Wonder who's reading this blog, saw the post and changed the picture? I don't care one way or the other, but just thought the situation was interesting. I guess my sense of humor isn't appreciated.
Showing posts with label Christmas Lights. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas Lights. Show all posts
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Hand sewing day
I've got the second Christmas present quilt rolled up on my desk to expose the binding I'm sewing right now (third side - I've been at it for hours) and have music playing on my computer (The Wailing Jennys now, Vienna Teng later). My desk is a great place to do hand sewing. There's a nice bright light on an articulated arm so I can see, and a padded desk chair, and when I want to take a break I can look out the sliding door at the golden leaves on my neighbor's sweet gum tree. The wind is rhythmically moving its branches and the leaves occasionally detach and flutter down.A nice quiet day for completing some of my binding work. As long as I have good music or interesting radio to listen to, I can stay here for hours. But maybe I need to get a pillow for my lower back first...
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Quilt backings, and a new scrap quilt
Here are some quickly made and pretty terrible snapshots of the backings I made yesterday. This one is for the first quilt I made from the Christmas lights blocks shown here. I used a large Debbie Mumm snowman print and leftover green and red to stretch 3 1/2 yards of fabric large enough to back a 66" x 72" quilt. It kinda looks better in person! It's off-center for a reason, because you never know exactly how the longarm quilter is going to load it on the machine and it's hard to get a motif perfectly centered. This way, it doesn't matter.
And this one is for the second quilt made from Christmas lights, second quilt shown here. Seventy-two 10" squares taken from leftovers from the front and coordinating green, red, black and cream from the stash. As my husband said, that's not a backing, that's another quilt. Amen.
This backing is for the new one that finally got borders added yesterday. I had 5 1/2 yards of fabric and it was going to take every bit for the backing. The stripe is to replace 8" of fabric I borrowed from one length for the border. (The stripe's off-center a little bit, too.)
And here's the quilt:
I think it's very pretty and it's going on my guest bed. The pattern really appealed to me, which was a surprise because the blocks were rather large. Each star shape is made of four 8" blocks. The fabric's a Moda collection called "Morris Workshop" and the colors are exactly my style - muted "foggy" tones.
And this one is for the second quilt made from Christmas lights, second quilt shown here. Seventy-two 10" squares taken from leftovers from the front and coordinating green, red, black and cream from the stash. As my husband said, that's not a backing, that's another quilt. Amen.
This backing is for the new one that finally got borders added yesterday. I had 5 1/2 yards of fabric and it was going to take every bit for the backing. The stripe is to replace 8" of fabric I borrowed from one length for the border. (The stripe's off-center a little bit, too.)
And here's the quilt:
I think it's very pretty and it's going on my guest bed. The pattern really appealed to me, which was a surprise because the blocks were rather large. Each star shape is made of four 8" blocks. The fabric's a Moda collection called "Morris Workshop" and the colors are exactly my style - muted "foggy" tones.I promise, better photographs after they're quilted.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Christmas Lights times 2
Finally done - not as planned! After staring at the blocks a while, I determined that a) they needed to be separated into two quilts, and b) I needed more green with the red to make it Christmas-y. Starting with the star blocks, I designed these X blocks to go with them, which are based on a disappearing nine patch. To me, they look like little boxes with bows on top. I put black corners on them so they made a secondary pattern with the gold corners on the star blocks. And I had just enough snowman fabric for the border. (Sorry the quilts look so weird in the picture. They were too long so I hung them horizontally across two closet doors and the framing made a lump in the middle.) 
Now, I had the red pointy blocks left. I rummaged through my closet and found two Christmas fabrics. The first is a scattered pattern of ball ornaments, and the second is a Thimbleberries fabric with bows, stars and holly. I'm still not crazy about the blocks, but I like how there are lines of small squares running down the quilt through the blocks.
I like the first one enough to keep it. The second one will probably be a gift. Next problem is finding enough matching fabric in my stash to make backings because I am determined I will not buy any fabric for these. They did come out much larger than I was thinking. The top one is 66 x 78 and the bottom one is 70 x 82. The original quilt was described as a lap quilt, but these are a lot bigger than that, nearly bed size, in my opinion.
(Oops, better watch it. I've already expressed opinions about these blocks and look where THAT got me!)
So, that's what I sewed this week. How about you?
Now, I had the red pointy blocks left. I rummaged through my closet and found two Christmas fabrics. The first is a scattered pattern of ball ornaments, and the second is a Thimbleberries fabric with bows, stars and holly. I'm still not crazy about the blocks, but I like how there are lines of small squares running down the quilt through the blocks.
I like the first one enough to keep it. The second one will probably be a gift. Next problem is finding enough matching fabric in my stash to make backings because I am determined I will not buy any fabric for these. They did come out much larger than I was thinking. The top one is 66 x 78 and the bottom one is 70 x 82. The original quilt was described as a lap quilt, but these are a lot bigger than that, nearly bed size, in my opinion.(Oops, better watch it. I've already expressed opinions about these blocks and look where THAT got me!)
So, that's what I sewed this week. How about you?
Friday, October 2, 2009
And even more variations...
Ooh, I had another idea. This ties into the green and black points on the star.
I tried to put this in the previous post, but the "Add Image" tool makes it hard to add a picture after you have saved the post. The new picture is added at the front and then I have trouble moving it to the place where I want it. It seemed that you used to be able to drag it and scroll downward. I can't make it do that anymore. Does anybody know what I'm doing wrong?
I tried to put this in the previous post, but the "Add Image" tool makes it hard to add a picture after you have saved the post. The new picture is added at the front and then I have trouble moving it to the place where I want it. It seemed that you used to be able to drag it and scroll downward. I can't make it do that anymore. Does anybody know what I'm doing wrong?
Everybody's welcome to their opinion, and I'd like to hear them
Now that I'm faced with a pile of blocks I don't know what to do with, I'm trying new ideas for completing the Christmas Lights quilt. I pulled out all the best options from EQ and I'm going to include them here. If you have an opinion, please tell me. I'd love some feedback - and I promise I won't call you "mean spirited" if you disagree with me!
This is the quilt as designed:
I think the reason this design didn't grab me is all the red. It seems to hijack the whole quilt. So I rearranged the star blocks in a center cluster radiating out to the corners to give them more emphasis, and liked it better:
Still, there's a lot of red. I thought about re-making the blocks with green, kind of like the green boughs of a Christmas tree, surrounding the bright squares representing the lights. I also just put them on the outer edge, and added plain gold setting squares in the center:
Or, since the red blocks are a reworking of a disappearing nine patch, I tried changing them so there were more four patch squares at the corners for more "lights":
Then, I thought about making all four corners of the disappearing nine patch blocks as half square triangle blocks, keeping the red for contrast, and using a lighter green in those blocks and in the setting squares:
Where these new blocks come together with the star blocks it makes divided half square triangle blocks and a sashing effect around the stars.
I think a lot of these changes have possibilities, it's just whether I want to make more blocks or not. What do you think?
This is the quilt as designed:
I think the reason this design didn't grab me is all the red. It seems to hijack the whole quilt. So I rearranged the star blocks in a center cluster radiating out to the corners to give them more emphasis, and liked it better:
Still, there's a lot of red. I thought about re-making the blocks with green, kind of like the green boughs of a Christmas tree, surrounding the bright squares representing the lights. I also just put them on the outer edge, and added plain gold setting squares in the center:
Or, since the red blocks are a reworking of a disappearing nine patch, I tried changing them so there were more four patch squares at the corners for more "lights":
Then, I thought about making all four corners of the disappearing nine patch blocks as half square triangle blocks, keeping the red for contrast, and using a lighter green in those blocks and in the setting squares:
Where these new blocks come together with the star blocks it makes divided half square triangle blocks and a sashing effect around the stars. I think a lot of these changes have possibilities, it's just whether I want to make more blocks or not. What do you think?
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Gee, I hit a nerve, didn't I?
Remember this post? I'm doing the Bonnie Hunter Christmas Lights mystery quilt in Quiltmaker magazine. I had commented that after completing the blocks I couldn't see how they went together, and was resigned to waiting for the last installment, hoping that the designer came up with something fab that I couldn't think of.
Well, this morning in the Yahoo group dedicated to the mystery someone posted that Quiltmaker magazine had published a picture of the completed quilt. I scurried over to the website and there before me was the first arrangement I had tried in EQ. The one that had elicited the reaction "That's it? Really?"
I posted on the Yahoo group that I was less than enthralled with this design but would probably finish it anyway since it's this far done. Now, I knew my opinion would be in the minority (I even started my post with - "Well, I'm about to say something that will get a lot of Bonnie fans riled up." I had no idea that someone would rip into me within twelve minutes and call my comment mean spirited, no less (translation: I don't worship at their designer's feet!).
I'm amused more than anything about this whole episode. These women in the group are almost fanatical about the designer, although I bet most have never even met her. You should hear the excitement in their comments about the honor of putting her up for the night at their house - for free, probably. They are enthusiastic and protective about their favorite designer in a way that I just don't get. The lady is in business to publish quilt patterns. I'm sure she was paid by Quiltmaker for the pattern, and it does double duty as an advertisement for her other books. I'm figuring that she's run into people that didn't like one of her quilts before and I doubt it crushed her.
I "got it" from the first that this group was basically made up of cheerleaders for this designer, and never saw much in the way of balanced comments about the designs. However, I didn't figure anyone would be, well, so "mean spirited" about me expressing my opinion (right back at ya!). Here's my comment about the design. I would like others' unbiased opinions about whether I was mean about my comments, as the group member's reply accused me, because that wasn't my intent. I was expressing my opinion, as I thought was my right in the group, but maybe I'm harsher than I think and need to be more mannerly. I would like to include the whole response, but I don't have her permission. I am going to quote a few snippets, though, for illustration.
Here's what I said:
Well, I'm about to say something that will get a lot of Bonnie fans riled up. After I put the blocks together a few months ago, I drew them in EQ and started arranging them. The first thing I did of course was put them in an alternating on point setting since we were instructed to cut setting triangles. I added the borders as per the cutting instructions and my drawing looked just like the photo on the Quiltmaker website. I sat back and said "Is that it? Really?"
You see, it just didn't do anything for me. Disappointed, since I had loved her other mysteries and considered her Double Delight one of the prettiest quilts I had made (and its' recipient did too!), I started fiddling with the blocks and making other layouts. None of them worked very well. I arranged them every way you could possible put that number of blocks. Nothing "clicked". I resigned to put them away and see what Ms. Hunter did with the quilt. Surely there would be a surprise that tied the design together.
Well, in a word, nope. When I read this post I rushed over to Quiltmaker and there it was - my original EQ arrangement. It still doesn't do a thing for me.
In my opinion the blocks don't go together well. I was, well, "delighted" to see how the Double Delight blocks meshed and carried the design across the quilt top, linking the two blocks together. I just don't think these blocks relate as well and this one isn't as successful. I'll finish it, of course, because I have put this much work into the blocks. But I have to admit I'm disappointed. Bonnie has published many pretty patterns. This for me just wasn't one.
Part of the response:
"Couldn't you have just said it's not your favorite and leave it at that? Or how about not say anything at all, at least if you are so propelled to share your negative views wait until Bonnie got to read favorable reviews first. "
And:
"Not everyone loves everything someone does, but we don't need our nose rubbed in it with a long description of why!!!! "
Four exclamation points. Mercy. And:
"What a bummer. What a negative. Why you felt the need to write this critique right off the bat is beyond me. Aside from your DD comments, the whole Christmas lights dialogue is mean spirited, and yes you have ruffled my feathers. You have a right to express how you feel, but this was mean - period."
Oops. I guess I don't have a right to express how I feel. If it doesn't agree with how you feel.
I was clear in my post that I didn't think the blocks related well and the design didn't do a lot for me - in my opinion. I also said that I loved the designer's other work and she has done a lot of pretty quilts. This didn't spell "mean spirited" to me. This is more like "one gal's viewpoint".
Maybe I'm not quilt group material. I'm not ready to "lemming up" with the flock.
Addendum: More responses have been aded at the Yahoo group and evidently, I'm a terrible person. Ha ha. In the meantime, please keep adding comments to my posts, positive or negative. I'm a big girl. I can take it.
Well, this morning in the Yahoo group dedicated to the mystery someone posted that Quiltmaker magazine had published a picture of the completed quilt. I scurried over to the website and there before me was the first arrangement I had tried in EQ. The one that had elicited the reaction "That's it? Really?"
I posted on the Yahoo group that I was less than enthralled with this design but would probably finish it anyway since it's this far done. Now, I knew my opinion would be in the minority (I even started my post with - "Well, I'm about to say something that will get a lot of Bonnie fans riled up." I had no idea that someone would rip into me within twelve minutes and call my comment mean spirited, no less (translation: I don't worship at their designer's feet!).
I'm amused more than anything about this whole episode. These women in the group are almost fanatical about the designer, although I bet most have never even met her. You should hear the excitement in their comments about the honor of putting her up for the night at their house - for free, probably. They are enthusiastic and protective about their favorite designer in a way that I just don't get. The lady is in business to publish quilt patterns. I'm sure she was paid by Quiltmaker for the pattern, and it does double duty as an advertisement for her other books. I'm figuring that she's run into people that didn't like one of her quilts before and I doubt it crushed her.
I "got it" from the first that this group was basically made up of cheerleaders for this designer, and never saw much in the way of balanced comments about the designs. However, I didn't figure anyone would be, well, so "mean spirited" about me expressing my opinion (right back at ya!). Here's my comment about the design. I would like others' unbiased opinions about whether I was mean about my comments, as the group member's reply accused me, because that wasn't my intent. I was expressing my opinion, as I thought was my right in the group, but maybe I'm harsher than I think and need to be more mannerly. I would like to include the whole response, but I don't have her permission. I am going to quote a few snippets, though, for illustration.
Here's what I said:
Well, I'm about to say something that will get a lot of Bonnie fans riled up. After I put the blocks together a few months ago, I drew them in EQ and started arranging them. The first thing I did of course was put them in an alternating on point setting since we were instructed to cut setting triangles. I added the borders as per the cutting instructions and my drawing looked just like the photo on the Quiltmaker website. I sat back and said "Is that it? Really?"
You see, it just didn't do anything for me. Disappointed, since I had loved her other mysteries and considered her Double Delight one of the prettiest quilts I had made (and its' recipient did too!), I started fiddling with the blocks and making other layouts. None of them worked very well. I arranged them every way you could possible put that number of blocks. Nothing "clicked". I resigned to put them away and see what Ms. Hunter did with the quilt. Surely there would be a surprise that tied the design together.
Well, in a word, nope. When I read this post I rushed over to Quiltmaker and there it was - my original EQ arrangement. It still doesn't do a thing for me.
In my opinion the blocks don't go together well. I was, well, "delighted" to see how the Double Delight blocks meshed and carried the design across the quilt top, linking the two blocks together. I just don't think these blocks relate as well and this one isn't as successful. I'll finish it, of course, because I have put this much work into the blocks. But I have to admit I'm disappointed. Bonnie has published many pretty patterns. This for me just wasn't one.
Part of the response:
"Couldn't you have just said it's not your favorite and leave it at that? Or how about not say anything at all, at least if you are so propelled to share your negative views wait until Bonnie got to read favorable reviews first. "
And:
"Not everyone loves everything someone does, but we don't need our nose rubbed in it with a long description of why!!!! "
Four exclamation points. Mercy. And:
"What a bummer. What a negative. Why you felt the need to write this critique right off the bat is beyond me. Aside from your DD comments, the whole Christmas lights dialogue is mean spirited, and yes you have ruffled my feathers. You have a right to express how you feel, but this was mean - period."
Oops. I guess I don't have a right to express how I feel. If it doesn't agree with how you feel.
I was clear in my post that I didn't think the blocks related well and the design didn't do a lot for me - in my opinion. I also said that I loved the designer's other work and she has done a lot of pretty quilts. This didn't spell "mean spirited" to me. This is more like "one gal's viewpoint".
Maybe I'm not quilt group material. I'm not ready to "lemming up" with the flock.
Addendum: More responses have been aded at the Yahoo group and evidently, I'm a terrible person. Ha ha. In the meantime, please keep adding comments to my posts, positive or negative. I'm a big girl. I can take it.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Christmas Lights mystery quilt, part 2
Well, I finally got the next issue of Quiltmaker and to tell you the truth I'm completely flummoxed. I include a photo of the blocks assembled in part 2, courtesy of Quiltmaker's website. These blocks are made of the subunits completed a couple of months ago. I have the star blocks finished but have just started on the other.How do these blocks relate to each other? I can't see it. I know the blocks are to be set on point and there are 20 of the top block and 12 of the bottom one, so I created them in EQ and plugged them into an on point set with three borders like we were instructed to cut out.
Then I rotated, rearranged and fiddled with them for an hour. The results? A big "wha?". They don't seem to play together at all. Does anyone see anything I don't? I tried the red blocks pointing side to side and top to bottom, alternating side to side and top to bottom, clustered together at the corners with the stars in the center, everything I can think of. I'll be waiting expectantly for the next issue. Even though I have trouble appreciating the parts to this quilt, I guess I'll complete it.
Addendum: Here are my completed blocks. Maybe I'm dense, but I still don't see the blocks relating well.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
Count me in
I decided to bite and sign on for the Bonnie Hunter "Christmas Lights" mystery quilt. All the fabric is from my stash. It won't cost me any money, but time. . .that's another story. I just finished cutting out 250 2"x2" squares. And I've still got a lot more cutting to do. They very helpfully put the entire cut list in the first installment, which I appreciate. Better to get it over with at the start, so you can see the combination of fabrics, even though you don't know the design yet.I even had a Christmas print for the largest border. Here's hoping I like the finished design!
Thanks to Quiltmaker magazine's website for the Christmas Lights logo.
Thanks to Quiltmaker magazine's website for the Christmas Lights logo.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Christmas Lights mystery quilt
Is anyone going to do the Bonnie Hunter Christmas mystery quilt called Christmas Lights that just started in Quiltmaker (July/Aug.2009)? The only thing that's throwing me off is all the black fabric. It's supposed to be a Christmas design but it sounds too dark.
I know I shouldn't doubt so much because all her mystery quilts have been lovely, especially the one from this past January which is going to be my mom's birthday present. It's only that she uses such small patches in her quilts - they're a lot of work. I'd like to be sure it's in agreement with my taste before I spend that much time on it. I guess I should trust.
I know I shouldn't doubt so much because all her mystery quilts have been lovely, especially the one from this past January which is going to be my mom's birthday present. It's only that she uses such small patches in her quilts - they're a lot of work. I'd like to be sure it's in agreement with my taste before I spend that much time on it. I guess I should trust.
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