A Little Bit of Red

Yes. I am finally working again on my Black & White quilt for Jackie's challenge. I got the flimsy finished last night.. Mr Attic helped by holding it high for a picture.
For as long as I can remember I have been wanting to make a tumbling block quilt with 3D optical illusion. And I have to say, even though I do love the outcome, I don't think I'll be making another one soon. Not because it made me cross-eyed looking at it.. but because there are really no straight rows to sew together. Unless you use a quick method and make half diamonds. But I never liked that seam showing.

So to do it without a seam, I sewed three diamonds together to make a hexagon. Then put the hexagons together the same as you would a Grandmother's Garden.. setting in all the seams. One by one.
I had to draw a diagram for myself and number each block so I could keep it all straight while piecing it together. Below is the same picture as above, but I used blogger's picasa to upload it so you can click it bigger if you want..

This morning I hurried to piece a backing together before 10am. We were having a ladies' get together today at the church where anyone could bring a craft or project to work on and eat snacks. So I took advantage of the big space to pin my quilt into a frame for basting.. since I really do not like to crawl around on the floor doing it. And I thought maybe if someone forgot to bring a craft of their own.. or didn't have something to work on.. I could give them a free lesson in quilt basting. No one wanted the free class.. oh well.. their loss.. but lots of people passed by and said.. "Oh how pretty!" I did get one girl to help me roll it under as I went. That was very helpful.. and nice.

So I got it all basted and in the hoop to do some big stitch hand quilting. I am so into this.. and can hardly think of putting a quilt in my big frame and using those tiny little stitches again.

For Jackie's challenge we are to use the basic black and white, and then add one other color. I debated about this for almost a year now. I put every color I could think of next to it, and for some reason I just kept coming back to red. Maybe because when Jackie first introduced the challenge at the beginning of the year, I had just seen a black and white quilt with a tiny bit of red, and that's what made me want to sign up. So red it is.

A Lost Week in January

Not a whole lot to show for this week. I've been working pretty much the whole time on my Black and White Quilt challenge.. but it is starting to get a little bit boring. Same blocks over and over. I like making things with a little more variety. But this particular quilt will have a purpose.. I told about it more over on Jackie's blog. And once I get it in the quilting frame, then I can move to something else. I like hand-quilting.. and am really looking forward to it! It is something I can sit and do without really thinking.. and the hours just slip away.

Also this week I ordered some fabrics for the Tea Swap.. can't wait till it gets here. I thought he package would be in my mailbox today.. but nothing. Maybe tomorrow. I have my pattern all drawn up.. and just hope it turns out like the picture in my mind.

On the way out to have coffee with friends this morning.. the sun was shining.. and the weatherman promised a warmer day. But I was still freezing with a turtleneck, a pullover sweater, and a cardigan. Hopefully it really will warm up and melt all this away.

That is our buckeye horse chestnut tree.. waiting to pop out it's pretty white blossoms.. in three months or so..

Groundhog Day is just around the corner. ☺

B&W ..and a Little Story

I'll post this over on Jackie's blog too, but here is a peek at my beginnings of the Black and White Quilt. I'm going to try and make two - the first one using a pattern from this old leaflet..

My rotary cutter has been busy.. I think I'm almost done with this part. Just waiting for the mail.. I have a friend who is contributing a print that I don't have yet.. can't wait!

And I was TRULY going to refrain from EVER posting any pictures of the cold and ice.. we are all seeing enough of it I am sure. But I couldn't help it this morning.. the icicles hanging off the back awning...

Ok. You can stop here. Or you can go on and read a story. This was one of my favorite books as a little girl. I could put myself right in these pages, even though I did not have an older sister.. I had three older brothers. (And I do have a cousin Jane!) Made many a row of paper dolls.. complete with wardrobes. It is the inspiration for my blog banner. And now I am never for want of someone to play with. ☺

This & That on a Friday

Let me tell you, I was totally surprised the other day when this was in my mailbox. You have seen these things before here and here and here. I remember commenting on Nanette's blog when she showed them, but I had NO idea she was actually making this awesome dish towel for me. It will never be used as a dish towel! It is laying on my quilting frame so I can admire it all the day long. The vintage bird fabric is SO special. And I love the "pepto" tea pots!The little matryoshka is filled with lavender.. one of my most favorite scents. Thank you my dear friend Nanette. :-) I LOVE everything.. and it was such a thoughtful present. Merry Christmas early!

Whew. I am in the middle of three different projects at the moment.. and this one looks like so much fun. Jackie at Canton Village Quilts is starting a new challenge.. (she has a new blog set up to join in) -to make something, anything, in blacks and whites, plus one other color added. We have a year to do it, so I'm IN. These are my fabrics that I've pulled so far. I am thinking of making two quilts since I have two grown boys who never get quilts made by their mother.. (if either of you guys are reading this, which I seriously doubt you are.. then just pretend to me you didn't). I just have to figure out the patterns I'm going to use, and the one additional color. FUN!

Ok. I have never embedded a video before, but this is so awesome. Hope it works. My daughter found it and showed it to me..(so boys, if you are still reading this, we were both thinking of you guys [and Uncle Randy too]).. A tribute to John Williams.. you know.. Star Wars, ET, Jaws, Indiana Jones. Make sure you read the captions as they come up. I think I've watched it three times now..