Quilt Sold!!

OK, so it doesn't happen very often yet, so I still feel like celebrating when one of my pieces sells. This one was a scrap quilt I made as a class sample years ago, North wind Block, Scrappy, set in an asymmetrical barn raising, with a discharged fabric on the back. Just a lap size, but warm and cuddly, and looks great on the wall too. The purchaser is taking it to Switzerland as a gift for her mother. She took a photograph of me holding it so she could show her Mom - who is a beginning quilter. Made my day yesterday. It is amazing how much that kind of validation can do for a person. I was a little annoyed at my hubby, I was so happy, and he didn't exactly jump for joy for me. He does sell his artwork for a living, and is also on a very tight deadline right now, but still. So I am sharing my good news with you my readers.

Round Robin Update

Last night was the guild meeting at which we got to find out who else was in our group for the round robin, and pass the center blocks to the next person. The variety of centers I saw were a diverse collection, and there was quite a bit of wondering what to do with THIS!!? Anyway, I passed on my piece and received the center I was to work on, and it is beautifully pieced, an 8 point star, in soft gold and green Asian style prints- and she put lots of fabric in the box too. However, I am really glad I read her "Getting to know you" Changed the whole thought of what to do with my round on her quilt. Under the Favorite block category she wrote No Art Quilts. I am curious what she will do when she gets my center.

Also last evening the Art Quilt Special Interest Group put out their first of (I think) four challenges, they gave us a photo of sunflowers and the challenge is to interpret a part of it in a 8 x 10 horizontal format quilt. That seems much less of a challenge to me than the round robin. Either way, it feels good to have some freedom with these projects, instead of constantly making samples for the store. We have until the December meeting for both projects. Ill keep you updated.

Round Robin

I have not yet gotten the borders on my sisters quilt. I have chosen a stripe for the outer border that needs to be fussy cut and the long tables in my classroom have been busy and unavailable for some time now.

I did however get the center square for the Guild Round Robin done, its 18" finished with a background fabric I painted years ago that has been waiting for the right project. The applique shapes are from the book, Fusible Magic by Nancy Johnson Srebro. The lavender ones show better on the piece in person, but I am fairly happy with it.

I am always telling my students that they should join challenges, and things like round robins to stretch their skills, and when my guild announced this one I had to put my money where my mouth is. The hardest part for me was that I kept having good ideas for the project, that I was then afraid that no one but me would want to work on it. - That spells disaster for a round robin! So I decided to use some of the units from the Fusible Magic Book. I am nearly done the sample top for a Block of the Month at my store using that book, and it has been really fun. For the round robin, it gives the person to get it next a place to go to if they get stuck. We are also allowed to include some fabric so I am sending along some hand painted pieces that I like with this. I used fusible applique that is stitched down by machine with raw edges. I'd love to hear what you think. Please leave a comment.