Showing posts with label Amy Gibson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Amy Gibson. Show all posts

Saturday, January 2, 2016

Craftsy 2012 Block of the Month quilt finished!

Dear Readers,

I finished a quilt that I have wanted to finish for quite some time.  It was the craftsy block of the month quilt I made for my bedroom.

My mother, Rebecca Turnage, was an artist, an art teacher, wife, mother, and fun lady.  She did a series of paintings using paper towels and watercolors.  I have hung a bunch of these in my bed room.  Several years ago, I was the president of the Possum Town Quilters.  Boy that seems to be a life time ago.  Well part of our goals was to mentor new quilters.  I thought the craftsy block of the month quilt class by Amy Gibson would be a great place to start.  They would do lots of different blocks and see lots of techniques.  Of course I did the blocks too.  Well when the year was up, (a year in which I changed jobs and moved)  I wanted the quilt to be a bit bigger, and there were a couple of blocks I wanted to change out, so I set the project aside.  I was in the midst of a renovation and was teaching calculus for the first time.

Anyway this year, I finally got my sewing area set up and it has been such a blessing.  I love coming in here in the evening and usually accomplish something almost every day.

I used this painting as my inspiration for the colors.  I designed the center block to reflect this painting.

By the way it was quilted by Betty Lewis of Louisville, MS.

 Here it is on my bed, don't you think it brightens up the room?


the back

the label
 The whole thing!
This makes we want to start the upholstery project...I have a chair I am planning to do in burnt orange.  To go in my bedroom.  I also want to redo the pad on the chest at the foot of the bed.

Sew on!

Terry

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Freedom from Cancer Quilt Plans

Possum Town Quilters,

This Saturday (September 15) is our regular guild meeting.  While we will not start this project till our regular sit and sew day at the end of the month, I thought I would blog about the plans so if any can't make the sit and sew and would like to participate, they could drop off their pieces.

We are going to make the blocks from the June Craftsy block of the month. Setting them without sashing as a two block quilt.  I drew out 9 blocks so you could get an idea of what it would look like.

We are going to use Red White and Blue fabrics in tone-on-tone prints.  We want to try to use red, white and blues that are similar in color to the flag.   Whites need to read as a white from a distance.  Small polka dot or star on that in red or blue would not matter.

I am envisioning this very scrappy.  So my thought is that if we each bring a fat quarter or two or 4 blocks cut out, then we can mix and match pieces so each block is really scrappy.    I also was thinking a pieced border would be neat.

So I am thinking it will be 7 X 8 12 inch blocks with a 2 inch inner border and a pieced border of 4 inch blocks (finished).  So that will make a finished quilt of 96 x 108.  Between a queen comforter and spread.

Watana has generously agreed to quilt this.  And drum roll, if we make enough blocks for a quilt of valor too...Mary Anne has said she would quilt that.  So here is what I am asking you to do, Cut your material before you come.  If you cannot come, you could help by cutting your blocks, making your half square triangles and Greek cross units and bring them to our meeting or get them to one of our members before the next meeting.

To make the two blocks we are going to:
For the 4 blue/white and 4 red/white 1/2 square triangles.
Cut:
2 blue 5 inch squares
4 white 5 inch squares  
2 red 5 inch squares

Draw a line down the middle of the white squares and pair with blue and pair with red squares then sew 1/4 inch on either side.  Cut on the line and press open.  Square up to 4 1/2 inches each.  This should yeild 4 blue/white 1/2 square triangles and 4 red/white 1/2 square triangles.

Then cut:
 5 blue 4 1/2 inch squares
 2 red 4 1/2 inch squares
 2 white 4 1/2 inch squares
These will be used as 4 1/2 inch squares.

Finally for the Greek Cross units cut
one red 2  x 18 inch strip
one white 3  x 18 inch strip
sew together on the long sides and cut into 4 1/2 inch pieces.

That will be enough for two blocks and one block each of red, white and blue for the border.  If want to cut enough for four blocks you can cut one less red white and blue block.   So I am asking for two blocks for the freedom from cancer quilt, and if you feel moved two more for the quilts of valor quilts.

I am excited.







Sunday, August 19, 2012

Energy and Blocks of the Month

Hey all,

When I went to the guild meeting I had not completed both of my (craftsy.com block of the month with Amy Gibson) blocks.  My studio had become such a mess in trying to finish up a few things before school took over my life, that I could not find enough green to cut 16 2.5 inch blocks of the green.  I had cut and assembled some of the blocks when I realized I had forgotten I was short two blocks.  So I had to go with them part way done...embarrassing!  Yesterday evening, while sewing with Bonnie Hunter's live quilt cam, I straightened up the sewing area and found a piece of the green about 12 inches square, so I was able to cut the extra 2 blocks I needed and finish the block.   Relief!!  I sure did not want to take out at least half the others so it would look scrappy.  Love a star block!!





    By the way, if you are not following Bonnie Hunter, you may want to start.  When she is running her live quilt cam, it is like sewing with friends and she gives out lots of tips on how she does things.  Of course this is probably the worst day to tell you that as she is heading to Bali for a 10 day trip, and probably won't have it running.  She said she would if she has wifi...just have to wait and see.  It may be at weird times due to the time difference.  

    I don't know what is happening to my energy level.  I feel like all I want to do is get on the couch and take a nap.  I made a roast this morning. I am really not that much of a meat eater.  Thought maybe I needed more protein, but still not feeling like doing much.  Maybe I need some vitamins.  Still need to type in lesson plans and more grade and go through the mail...better get to it.  

Terry

P.S.  Welcome to our Argentine and Netherlands readers.  

Sunday, April 15, 2012

April Block of the Month

This month the technique that Amy Gibson taught on Craftsy.com was English paper piecing.  Which is a lot of hand work....and you all already know that is not normally my thing.  I must admit, I did enjoy making hexies and joining them up.  I used Bonnie Hunter's hexie technique on the small hexies and the one Amy taught on the larger ones.

But to help the whole process along, Annette Pennington, who is also doing the challenge, sent this link to Snippets and Blabbery   If you look on the right side there is a link for hexagon templates.  Yay. I used those for the 3/4 inch hexies.  Still needed a template for 1.25 hexies so I found another hexie graph paper here.  That is what I used for the medium sized hexies.  There was only one large hexie needed so I used the one from the course instructions.

For the first block I did not arrange the hexies as Amy had suggested.  Amy had you putting a double row down one side.  I felt the background was too big.  So I made mine into a flower shape and then cut the background down from the 12.5 size and added a small blue border to make it 12.5.  Some of the paintings in the room have light blue mats around the edge.


The second block I did how Amy suggested, except that she had white as the sky area.  I am not sure I like this, I am thinking of trying to do something free form with rectangles to mimic the paintings.  This may end up on the back!


I still have to go back and do the second string block from last month.  Maybe next weekend!