Monday, January 20, 2014

Results of my At-Home "Retreat"

Our never ending inversion of freezing fog continues
and I get one more day of the "weekend". 
 (my poor roses
So what have I been doing?? Well...
I've been puttering. (I seem to do this very well sometimes)
I've been visiting your blogs. (Isn't it amazing how this can suddenly turn into hours!)
I watched football! (Note: I never watch football. But our son-in-law is a die-hard Seahawks fan...and I have to admit it was a good game.)
And finally, I saved this long standing WIP from being sent to the scrap basket. I sat myself down at the sewing machine with the resolve to finish! I chain pieced wonky star-log cabin blocks all afternoon yesterday.


Here's what they look like on my design "floor":
Notice who was not far from being center of the picture. I kept telling Jackson to move as I was taking this picture to see how the large stars would "fit" thrown in with the others. I found these leftover from a workshop I had taken a few years ago. This quilt needs to be queen size and I kinda think the large stars look good? Share your thoughts. I welcome your input as this is a WIP. (Note: I will not being sashing them together.)
Andddd...this will continue to a WIP for a bit longer because I discovered that 24 of the blocks need one more layer of piecing in order to grow into 12 1/2" squares.
This top is sewn with the same fabric I made my Scrappy Bed Quilt and is being made for our second guest room, both rooms being decorative in a primitive style kind of way.
So my to do list for today:
1. Quilt our anniv. quilt for my Jan. ALYof Finishes. Prepare binding and be set to use the weekday evenings to applique finishing touches.( Quilting half way done...I may have done a bit more puttering than anticipated today...haha!). So this is what I will continue to work on this week after work, before dinner.
2. Cut strips for my wonky star blocks, (Done!) Now I  can chain piece whenever I have dabbles of time in-between everything else.   
3. Maybe...pull 12 fat quarters and join Lorna's:   Sew Fresh Quilts
                                      (Nope! Not smart to take on a new project right now.)
(I mean I do have this stack of dots just sitting around gathering dust)                                                                                                                        4. I need to vacume the stairs leading to the studio.(Done! Along with two loads of laundry.)  So as I end my little at-home winter, three day retreat, tomorrow means back to work and all the routines of daily life.                                                                                                      My two WIP this week include piecing my wonky log cabin star quilt and quilting my Anniv. Quilt. Sounds good to me! Thanks to everyone for their input...it helps so much!!  V:)






25 comments:

  1. Love the plaid stars quilt. I had a star quilt on my UFO list for years and I recently finished it. I think the large stars will look great added in.

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  2. I love the bigger stars thrown in. Are they buggy barn stars?

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    1. Yep! The fabric and the stars are both from Buggy Barn. (Good Eye Jamine!). The larger stars are from my first "Buggy Barn" class. The pattern I'm working with is called Liberty Stars from their Certifiably Crazy pattern book. I too like the larger stars thrown in. Thanks for the input.

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  3. Your wonky star log cabin blogs are FANTASTIC! I love plaids even though it's been quite a while since I've worked with them. I think the addition of your large star blocks is perfect. It's going to be a beautiful quilt and oh so cozy quilt.

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  4. I like the big stars in with the wonky log cabin stars it looks great!

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  5. I like the larger stars thown in as well, except for the one with the lightest background. I think it sticks out too much. It's too bright. Maybe tea stain it? Kudos to you for getting to work on your PHD. (Project half done) hehe

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    1. Yes! I will tea stain that! I hadn't thought about that...but agree it sticks out too much!! Thanks Joy! I'm actually starting to enjoy my "PHD" and glad I didn't give up on it! THANKS for the idea!

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  6. I like the big stars thrown in as well. If you still have to make the quilt bigger, I think a few 'blank' squares, using the same fabric that you've used for the big star blocks, would be a great way to fill it out.

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    1. I was thinking if it came to that I could use those "blank" squares and maybe embroider little sayings or even stars on them....add a different, whimsical dimension??? But, would be an easy way to fill the quilt out. Thanks Willit!!!

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  7. what a fun quilt Val, this is perfect for all different sizes of stars-looks great!

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  8. I love the quilt, especially the big stars - they give your eye a place to rest and absorb the rest of the quilt! And you got a lot done on your list, even with the puttering and the blog-hopping!!

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  9. Sounds like you had a great "retreat". Inside is surely the best place to be in that kind of weather. I do like the big stars mixed in with the log cabin sashed stars, It adds a nice contrast.

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  10. Oh my YES!! Those larger stars are perfect. I am really liking this quilt. That dotty bundle is so fun. I'm sure that whatever you choose to do with it, it will be wonderful.

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  11. yes, blog reading can turn into hours for sure. I really LOVE your wonky stars. They are so charming!

    :) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

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    1. and thanks for sharing at Needle and Thread Thursday, Val!

      :) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

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  12. Oh, my stars! Those blocks look great! And as for the dots.... Feel free to join in later, when your to do list has been whittled down. Hopefully, the posts showing what your bundle could look like, will rope you in! Thanks for sharing, Val!

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  13. Looks like you have been enjoying yourself with the time off and lots of fun projects!! Thanks for sharing.
    Freemotion by the River Linky Party Tuesday

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  14. Love the big "plain" stars with the wonky log cabin stars. They pop!
    Hugs

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  15. I really like the idea of including the "plain" stars in with the other blocks. Your post has given me some much needed inspiration to finish some of my older back-burner projects. I did some work on one of them this weekend.

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  16. Love the different size of the stars. That's going to be wonderful when it's done. I love having my own little retreat when the weathers bad.

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  17. The stars are wonderful. Have to admit, though, that I was happily distracted by the pics of snow. Hubby gave me (us!) snowshoes for Christmas and we are having a dry enough winter here in the Pacific Northwest that there is not enough snow in the mountains to snow shoe! Boo hoo.

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  18. Great save from the scrap basket. I can't wait to see the finish. It is truly fantastic. It really won't take long to put on a few more strips..giggle giggle. And those dots would sure look good in Lorna's Oblongagonalong. Oh my am I enabling you. Giggles

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  19. I think the different size stars work, my only concern (and this might only be on the computer screen) that some of them look like they have fairly bright white in them, those ones seem a little at odds with the rest of the warm earthy tones. Nice save! It's looking good. :)

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  20. Hello Val,

    This is going to be a really lovely quilt. Why don't you add strips around the large stars and make them into a larger block, the size of four of the smaller ones joined together, and scatter them around the quilt? If you decide they don't work, you could use them for matching cushions.

    Love,
    Muv

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  21. Wow! Self restraint to not start another project - I'm impressed! :-) I think those wonky stars are adorable. You've been well busy during your impromptu retreat. Well done!

    http://www.busyneedle.ch

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I have to admit, your comments make me smile! Thanks for sharing and for letting me know you stopped by. I Hope your day is awesome!

Val:)