Sunday, September 4, 2016

ONLY 7 TO GO!
and I will have finished 143 blocks for my Chuck, Susan, and me quilt.  I had a week with lots of interfering businessy stuff but that is over now.  I made three blocks and here they are:



This is a Chuck block.  Since I work on a small 6" scale, I had to adapt this block so I could work with bigger applique pieces.  You can see it is still basically the same.  I enlarged the star and changed the flowers over to broderie perse.  The star somehow makes me think of Scandinavian handwork. The colors are soft and pretty.  This one took quite a bit of time.

 
Here is another of Chuck's bold and fluid designs.  Naturally fabrics of yellow were used as the yellows in these fabric lines really speak to me.

And finally, two fabrics which were in my little baskets of "must use in this quilt" fabrics.  A pretty aqua toile and a pretty bird to sit in the tree. The fabric was about 5 inches wide so I added the aqua frame.



So, only seven more blocks to make.  I have a house, a cat, some more flowers and some abstract block designs.  Less than 2 more weeks work. 

To prevent a total mental meltdown from missing Chuck too much, I have worked some this week on my next project.  While in Kansas City this week, I visited my favorite quilt shop Quilter's Station in Lees Summit.  She has bolts and bolts of the most wonderful fabric-so much it won't all fit on the shelves.  She has fabrics of all kinds and store helpers who are so pleasant and knowledgeable.  You must visit if you are in the area.  Rita has everything you might need.

Anyway, my new project.....I bought this background fabric at Quilter's Station.  A white with a black print which reminds me of music to go along with Kate Spain's Curzon and Day Dreams.  The black and white fabric will completment the geometry of the quilt and form a perfect ground for the colorful fabric. What do you think?


Below is the pattern.  I think these colors will be perfect for this quilt.  I love the twisty stems and all the flowers.  I will have to add a bird there somewhere and some honeybees and I will do a different border but I just love this triangular quilt concept.  I already have all the paper pieces needed to form the triangles and different flowers. The quilt is Sweet Surrender by Sue Cody.


~~~~~~~

Applique Paintbox blog has had two new countries visit this week:  Austria and Hungary. Flags have been added!

~~~~~~~

I will be dong some free motion quilting this week.  I plan on setting up a pattern to work on and get playing.  I learned from my last expedition into fmq not to use so thick a batting.  This thick batting caused the elements which were supposed to stand out to crinkle up and lose definition.  Well, that is what these learning sessions are all about.  I am going to keep practicing with different motifs until I work up the courage to quilt Caswell.

I admire the quilting of Krista Withers, Sue Heinz, and Margaret Solomon Gunn. Sue Heinz has written a book called Fill Harmonics which looks interesting.  Margaret Gunn has a book coming out in October.  Krista's quilting is so different and modern.  I like the modern look rather than the traditional.

~~~~~~~~

Well, I am going to start on the fmq-I have a whole afternoon to spend on this today and will have something to show next week.  Before I go. let me show you progress on Chuck, Susan, and Me:

I have run out of room on my design wall and have to tape 8 blocks to the wall.  You can see in the photo a little of how I set up my work area-sewing machine to the left, then I can swing around and iron to my right.  The ironing board is a 18"x5ft piece of nice plywood which I covered and placed on top of two bookcases.  My work area is small but very convenient.  Attractive to cats also!

Have a good week-it is odd to see photos by Australian bloggers who are happy with signs of the coming spring.  We in the north can't wait for the turning of the leaves. Happy Quilting!

Linking with the lovely ladies listed left!





30 comments:

  1. Your little applique blocks are so pretty! Just elegant. Can't wait to see the whole quilt sewn together and how you quilt her. I like the fabrics you are planning for Sweet Surrender. Adding birds and bees is a great idea. I know a lot of people making this quilt. Most of them don't like the border the way the pattern says. I know I'm going to change the border for my quilt. Blessings, Gretchen

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is just spectacular, Pam! I love all the soft colours, the fine details, and your perfect stitching! It's going to be a treasure.

    And the next one looks wonderful too!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Woohoo looks fantastic love your fabrics can't wait to see the finish !!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow what a project! Good fabrics too.

    ReplyDelete
  5. The rose block is so pretty. And creative to use roses cut from fabric rather than individual petals of something. And oh how I love the bird on top of the toile fabric. My kind of colors. Seeing all those blocks on your wall. Oh how pretty your quilt is going to be. And not like anyone else's quilt.

    ReplyDelete
  6. It really is spectacular, I just love it. Greetings

    ReplyDelete
  7. What you did with that bird on the toile is genious. You have amazing creativity and I love your style!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Three more lovely blocks. I love the design of that triangles quilt and agree about changing the border. xx

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh.My.Goodness!! Your work is so beautifully done!! Holy wow, I am almost speechless! The picture of all of your blocks on the design wall is amazing. Your quilt is going to be nothing short of spectacular!! And the fabric you bought for your next project looks great. :)

    I hope your FMQing session goes well!

    ReplyDelete
  10. All 3 of your newest blocks are wonderful!
    I really love the broderie perse flowers in the first block and this technique again with the beautiful little bird in block 3.
    Your blocks for this quilt look gorgeous together up on your design wall.

    ReplyDelete
  11. OMG this is stunning!! As is the new quilt project you are starting. I will be back to follow your progress. Gorgeous work!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wow! Your quilt is amazing! What a fun work-in-progress to see! Wendy at piecefulthoughts@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Exquisite applique, love your Broderie Perse changes to the flowers. What an inventive mind you have. Your new fabrics are yummy. The whole wall of these little blocks are overwhelmingly sweet.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Your applique is beyond beautiful! I think the fabrics you chose are perfect - and the backing you chose is brave! I would have gone for a solid simply because I'm a newish quilter and still leery about playing with color. You are inspiring!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Absolutely love the birdie block! And your progress photo makes me dizzy)) Appliqué is definitely your superpower!

    ReplyDelete
  16. My goodness seeing it on your designer board like that it looks HUGE Pam!!!! how lovely the colours look the whole quilt makes me think of spring which it is down here by a few days LOL. It has been a great journey following you make this quilt and I'm looking forward to following you make Sweet Surrender it is a lovely lovely design such beautiful quant flower blocks, I have been watching Gretchen make hers and the wee blocks call to me. Cheers Glenda

    ReplyDelete
  17. I am so glad you wrote to me on my blog and gave me the link to yours! I am in awe with your Chuck blocks! So many beautiful blocks and such a beautiful color palette! I love how you change up the blocks to fit with your vision (like changing the flower to borderie perse--brilliant idea!) which I think is the best way to go at these little blocks. I also love your new project--can't wait to see it develop!
    Elizabeth

    ReplyDelete
  18. Your blocks are beautiful, Pam. I love how you creatively edit Chuck's blocks to become your own. Seeing all of the blocks for this quilt on your design wall is amazing -- gorgeous! I'm looking forward to seeing your triangles as you work on and finish them.
    --Nancy. (ndmessier @ aol.com, joyforgrace.blogspot.com)

    ReplyDelete
  19. More lovelies! Yummy yellow print leaves and the perspective on the sweet bird with the soft toile background - you nailed it! My goodness - seeing all your Chuck blocks gathered is amazing. And now - another project waits in the wings...great fun following along with your progress.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Chuck, Susan and Me is already magnificent! I love your soft yellow palette and the way you continue to adapt the blocks to make them your own. The tiny bird on toile is just perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Oh my! The applique designs and color palette on Chuck, Susan & Me are just wonderful! Very inspiring!

    ReplyDelete
  22. So many beautiful blocks! And a cute little kitty as well! :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Such beautiful blocks to add to your quilt; such tiny pieces! You must have a lot of patience.

    ReplyDelete
  24. What amazing collection of appliqué blocks you have created. Most impressive.

    ReplyDelete
  25. It's already an amazing quilt! I loved seeing them all together.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I'm new to your blog but love the appliqué blocks you've made for this quilt. What is the name of the original quilt pattern you are adapting these blocks from?

    ReplyDelete
  27. Since you are a no-reply blogger, I will answer your question here. I began with the Stonefields quilt by Susan Smith and made about 30 blocks but found that most of the blocks were fairly simplistic and most were repeated 3-4 times. Since I like variety and love, love Chuck Nohara, I pretty quickly left off and began making Chuck's blocks from her book and began making my own blocks. I call the quilt Chuck, Susan, and me because all of us contributed. There really is no specific pattern.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Love the harmonious soft feel of this collection of blocks!

    ReplyDelete