NEW MODERN FANS

I had wanted to start on my Pi quilt blocks.  I purchased some Drunkard's Path templates last week.  That should help me make the blocks that I envision.

But, I can't find them!  With all the studio re-organizing and moving things around, somehow I've misplaced those templates.  I've looked in the house everywhere and all over the studio.  I don't know where they've gotten to.

So, I started on another project - another Modern Fans quilt using the  Windham Fabrics 'Homeward' by Natalie Barnes fat quarter bundle that I bought at Quiltcon.

Sewing lots of curves.

NEW SEWING SETUP

I finally got fed up with the way my new Bernina didn't fit right in my old sewing table.

I bought new tables that I can raise and lower, so I can stand and sew if I want. 

The studio has been torn apart for the last week.  There was lots of assembling happening.  There is lots of cardboard and packing materials to dispose of.

The saddest part is getting rid of my old sewing table that my Uncle Don made for me in 1993.  It has been a faithful and very useful friend over the years.  I feel sad, but I don't have room to keep it.  I've had it on Craigslist with no bites, so far. 

I'm loving this new setup. 

Darrell made the table top for the cutting table, it spans the length of the backside.  It also rises up - which will be much more convenient for cutting.  He also put some peg board on the wall.  Now I'll be able to hang all of my rulers and cutters.  Hopefully, this will keep things more organized and easily accessible.  

OAKSHOTT FABRICS

On Monday night I ordered some Oakshott Solids from the UK.  They said the shipment would be here by Wednesday.  I was doubtful.

I was right, they changed the the delivery day to Thursday morning.  That was still amazing to me.

But, they did it.  They left a note on the front door stating they had attempted delivery, but needed a signature.

So, I signed the papers and left them on the front door as requested.

Lo and behold, they delivered the package by 10:30 Friday morning.  Amazing.

I promptly put them into the wash, then the dryer.  This is what I ended up with:

I'm also amazed at how wrinkled up they came out.  Beautiful, but a mess.

QUILTING TRINKETS

I had loaded my Trinkets Six quilt onto my longarm, Eduard, before we left for Quiltcon.  I was not happy with the little bit that I had quilted, and was in the process of picking some of it out, which was not easy because of the loosely woven fabric that I had used - Kaleidoscope by Alison Glass, from Andover Fabrics.

Since being back from Quiltcon, I've been sick and too tired to work on it, so there it sat until now.

After I got the United Squares of America done, I finally went back to work on it and got the bad parts picked out and started quilting on it.

It is looking a lot better.

I'm using a King Tut varigated thread on the top, and putting straight lines in the dark squares and quilting each 'trinket' differently, highlight each square's shape and image.  It's a lot of fun. 

ROAD TRIP

I made a trip out to Gossypium Quilt Shop in Issaquah.  I know they have lots of Kaffe Fassett fabrics and I need some more solids for my Pi quilt.  

I was wrong - they have lots of Kaffe Fassett fabrics, but very little of the Shot solids.  I found only two darks that I could use.  I bought some fabrics to use for the back of United Square of America, too.  When I got home I ordered some shot solids from Oakshott Fabrics in the UK.  [Wishing I had bought some while at Quiltcon - I didn't even see their booth and didn't remember I missed them until I was back home!].

On the way back I couldn't help but take another picture of this overpass - someday I'll make a painting of it.  It's one of my favorites.

It was a beautiful day, the Olympics were beautiful!

Gossypium Quilt Shop will be closing probably at the end of April unless someone steps up and buys it.  It will be a great loss.  Quiltworks in  Bellevue is closing about the same time.  There won't be many quilt shops left.  

ST PATRICK'S DAY

It's Sunday, St. Patrick's Day.  Darrell and I went  to Ballard for breakfast at Portage Bay Cafe, one of our favorites.

I ordered the special of Green Eggs and Ham.  Eggs with pesto.  Excellent.

It was a beautiful day, it's finally starting to warm up after our extended period of colder than normal weather.  We did some yardwork and then I went up to finish The United Squares of America.  Finally.

One good thing came from doing this project.  I had to learn, quickly, how to sew an accurate quarter-inch seam allowance on my new Bernina B770, which I did.  I can see the difference from where I started and how much I had learned by the end.  It was a very well-written pattern and it went together very easily, as long as you can do an accurate quarter-inch seam allowance!

I'M MAKING A PI QUILT

It's Pi Day.  I've been thinking about a Pi Quilt and today decided to do it.  It's going to be quite a challenge.  I've got several ideas and they change and morph.  I imagine it will continue to grow and coalesce and we go along.

There is lots of figuring and head-scratching needed. 

So, here we go.

VIADUCT GOING

We went to Pike Place Market today.  I wanted some Polish Pottery in a bad way.  We had lunch at Copacabana Cafe on the second floor off Post Alley.  It was nice - the sun was out.  The food was just okay.

We went down to check out the Viaduct and how it's going - they are in the process of tearing it down.  The view wa definitely more enjoyable without the traffic noise.

I worked on a project from last fall's Joe Retreat and actually finished the top.  I don't know what I'm going to do with it now.  Should I just quilt it?  If so, then how?  Answers appreciated.  Thank you.

ALASKA

I visited Alaska today...sorta.

MORE CUTTING

I spent my time, yesterday and today, cutting up the rest of the fabrics for United Squares of America.  And I'm still not done.  

One more hour and I should be done with the cutting and I can start sewing.  The gal that sold this kit to me said the top could be sewed together in six hours, once all the fabrics were cut and ready to go.   Ha!  We'll see.