Hopeful Homemaker

I’ve had a mini rainbow on my bed all winter long.  We added a quilt for another layer of warmth this winter, and on the gray days it’s warmed my heart to see these bright colors.


The pattern is Big Charming by Denyse Schmidt, and it’s made with one of the large charm packs from her solids collection.  I love the simplicity of this quilt, a pop of color surrounded by solids.  For the solid I used Essex Yarn Dyed Linen in Steel.  I love the texture of the yarn dyed linen, and the quilt has been the perfect weight on cold nights.


Modern Loops is the name of the quilting design and I love the simple beauty it adds to the quilt.  I’ve been reflecting this week on how fortunate I am to live in a world with such beauty and color, both natural and man-made.  When I get to sew with these lovely fabrics I sometimes feel a little emotional – I am so grateful for the color and beauty in my day to day life!


I hope your day is filled with beauty, and that you have eyes to see it clearly.  We are so blessed!

All of a sudden I can’t get enough of needle turn applique.

So, naturally, I started another project.


This is Carolyn Friedlander’s Catenary quilt pattern.  Soon after I finished up the Aerial grove quilt top I was choosing fabric for this one and it’s a color scheme I’m really excited about.  I’m learning that needle turn applique takes some time to cut, pin and baste in place.  Honestly, I think that’s the hardest part – the tedium of getting it all ready so you can actually start sewing!  A good exercise in patience, I suppose.  Still, I must admit that stitching those lovely arches makes me a little giddy.  They actually look good!  {I was obviously worried about my skills for this one.}


This stack of carefully ironed fabric is the bulk of the quilt.  I’m opting to cut the arches and prep each strip after I finish the previous one so I don’t risk any fraying or stretching of the fabrics while they wait their turn.  Even though the prints are wrong side up in this photo, I love this pretty stack.  It always amazes me that a quilt can start so small, in this tiny stack of ordered pieces.


Much of my hand sewing is done in the car while I wait for my children.  I was quite happy to discover that the entire project fits perfectly, pattern and all, in a pretty little tin I bought at IKEA last year.  {Please tell me I’m not the only person who sometimes buys lovely containers just because, with no plan in mind for them. What is it about them?  I always want more!}


I’m on the second of fourteen strips for this quilt and I find myself enjoying every stitch.  These small successes have given me confidence to start on other Carolyn Friedlander patterns that I’ve loved but not felt skilled enough to start.  I would love to make this the year that I use every one of the patterns I’ve purchased from her.

Have you ever tried hand applique?  If so, do you enjoy it?  I definitely think there are some stages in life that work better for it. When my children were babies and toddlers I always had someone on my lap; a needle and thread would have never worked.  But as our family gets a little older I find that I can sit and stitch while they all do their homework – it keeps me in one place to answer questions, check accuracy, and make sure they finish, while still doing something I enjoy.  We’re all together and all productive.  I like that.

Light.

I shared here that it’s my word of the year for 2017.

Another thing I’m doing in 2017 is a traveling quilt project.  Or two.  The first has started it’s journey and I’m excited to see how it looks as others add their interpretation to it.  For this one, my theme is light.


I began with the Facing East block from Carolyn Friedlander’s book, Savor Each Stitch.  At first I planned to make four blocks, but they were larger than I pictured them in my head and it turned out that two were sufficient.


I chose this block because it communicates light to me.  I love the way the white lines radiate from the center.  I hope that using lots of colors in this block will help contributors feel like they can do the same.  I want it to be a happy quilt.


I pestered my sisters with texts seeking their input as I auditioned border choices, and we all agreed that this was best.  It’s a happy Jennifer Paganelli print that I’ve loved sewing with in a few projects.  I also enjoyed trying out that black text print in one of the blocks.  The “once upon a time” seemed appropriate for the story I hope the quilt tells when it’s completed its journey.


I’m really excited to see where this goes, and now I’m scheming an entire Facing East quilt as well.  These blocks were both easier and more fun than I anticipated them being.

Of course, sending my starter block out also means that there’s a bag in my sewing room that I got from a friend to add to.  I’m excited and nervous to start.  It will be an awesome experience in creativity.