Operation Sewing Studio

I have a new focus, a new way to use whatever energy I can muster at my age. I’m calling it Operation Sewing Studio.

For the last eight years, I have been caring for my husband John who had been ill for eight years. Disabled, he spent most of his time either in bed or in a power chair. Sadly, he passed away a few months ago.

During that time, I managed to steal away an hour here or an hour there for my own kind of mental health therapy – quilting. I could not have gotten through those years without it.

“Idle hands are the devil’s playthings,” said Benjamin Franklin. While I don’t personally believe in a devil, the quote is certainly not lost on me. I have spent my life working with my hands, mostly in the form of knitting and crocheting. Not only have some lovely pieces come out of my efforts, but I know of no better way to organize my thoughts, contemplate new ideas, reminisce about days gone by, and even dream about things to come.

I started quilting about 25 years ago, inspired by local quilt shows and meeting quilters who had already fallen in love with their craft. I was amazed that quilting embodied so much more than a two-colored log cabin bed covering or other traditional patterns I had seen over the years. I realized that the sky was the limit to what could be created. I’m not there yet. I haven’t yet tapped into my own creativity. I may never get there, but I will always consider that there are no limitations besides those I place upon myself. Even if I never become a quilt designer, I still see so much value in the art itself. I may remain content in the cutting and stitching of fabric into something warm, wonderful, and beautiful that somebody else designed.

When John got sick, I had already made several quilts. I decided many years ago that I would always be a quilter. I realized early on that there is no end to the challenge, skill, creativity, and absolute joy it brings to work with beautiful fabrics in every array of colors imaginable.

Whether I take my quilting to the next level, whether it is creative or if I use this medium to carve out a living I still believe I will always be a quilter.

I have made the decision to move from my small quilting area – a breakfast counter overlooking the backyard – to a spare bedroom that was in need of an update anyway. I am turning a spare bedroom into a sewing studio – a place I plan to spend lots of time in the coming days.

So far, I have purchased a new sewing machine, a Janome Skyline S5, which is just perfect for my current needs. I have ordered a sewing table in which to put it. The room will be painted periwinkle blue, a color named for a Doris Day song my late father loved. New vinyl wood planking will replace the worn out carpet that has definitely seen better days. And I have ordered a Day Bed with a trundle for when visitors come or if the cats want to hang out while I sew.  

My view will be the front yard instead of the back. And, I’m hoping the old breakfast counter will hold lots of plants in that south-facing window. These changes already make me happy, and they are still only in the planning stages. But that’s OK. Once things are all in place, who knows where my quilting life will take me. As my favorite newsie says, "Watch this space."

Homeward Bound is a fun project so far

My latest quilt project actually began in January; it is a Block of the Month (BOM) originating from The Quilt Show, free to Star members. I am proud to participate in the Quilt Show, a valuable resource for quilters. I learn new things every time I sign on.

This quilt is called Homeward Bound and was designed by Australian designer and teacher Sarah Fielke. 

While I have completed four months of this project, I have embarked on a bit of a lull at the moment, having completed my 4th month. I couldn't wait to create the fourth month Coneflowers, so I created my own pattern for them in the 3rd month without waiting for the official pattern. That left the whole month of April free for yard work and other chores that often take a back seat to my love of quilting.

I believe this quilt top will be gorgeous when it is done, many, months from now. 

As is typical for me, I decided to make this my own by choosing fabrics and colors from my own fabric stash rather than purchasing the kit that was offered. Tweaking colors is about as daring as I've ever been to quilt design—which is not very far at all. That is my goal and desire; I want to design my own quilts someday but I feel I have lots more to learn before I get there. At the very least, I enjoy the option to take a pattern I like and adapt it to my own taste through the fabrics and colors I use.

My first decision was to make this quilt with a dark background. I have never made a black quilt before, but thought this might be a worthwhile endeavor as well as fun for a change. All the other fabrics I will use will showcase my favorite colors and patterns; I will use fabrics I have collected over the years. Picking out fabric is an important first step, one over which I often agonize.

With so many small pieces to applique, this might even be considered a scrappy quilt. Quilters always have plenty of scraps to choose from.

I love handwork with a preference for needle-turn applique. I am far from perfecting this skill, so I plan to keep practicing. This project will provide plenty of that.

This is the progress I have made thus far on this project in this, the fourth month. 

This is the progress I have made thus far on this project in this, the fourth month.

I find myself watching the calendar for the next step. I can't wait to get started on it. I can’t wait to see what May has to offer.

I make quilts, but for now, they aren't for sale

My quilt inventory keeps growing. For some, this might be a problem, but not for me. Seeing quilts all around me makes me happy. When I look at them, I remember working on them as well as the techniques I learned while making them. I like seeing colorful quilts on the back of chairs, couches, hanging on doors, and on display wherever I can place them. 

I recently purchased a ladder on which to display several of my favorite quilts all in one place. 

Oh wait, they are all my favorites!

Ironically, I do not have a quilt covering my bed. I do however have one folded neatly at the foot of the bed. I also have one hanging from a rack on the wall, above, and another quilt rack on the floor that holds the first quilt I ever made and a couple that my husband inherited.

I have been asked many times if I would ever consider selling them, but I just can't. Only on rare occasions have I given some away, but only to family members. I have never been commissioned to make a quilt. 

I have made many different small projects to give away as gifts but I have nearly all the quilts I've made in the last 20 years. None are "put away." They are all out in plain site, which is just how I like it.

For me, quilting is a quest, a project, a challenge, a skill, an art, a learning experience, and therapy; quilting is basically a highly personal endeavor that takes a year or more to complete. There is no way to put a price on that. 

I truly love the process of making a quilt. From choosing the colors and selecting fabric to hand or machine quilting, to hand-sewing the binding to washing the finished product, I do every step of the quilting process myself. I don't employ long-arm quilters. I don't just piece a quilt and then pay someone else to quilt it. I love all that goes into making a quilt and revel in all the many steps it takes from start to finish. 

The only possible exception to that is putting the quilt top together with batting and backing and securing it through some sort of basting to get it ready for the quilting. Because of my limited space, basting is not an easy task and one I'm not too fond of. But once the quilt is sandwiched together, I am back to loving every stitch, whether it be by hand or machine. I love both methods.

I don't quilt when I have the time so much as I make the time to quilt.   

I don't have as much time to devote to quilting as I would like, but I steal away hours here and there.

For the past eight years, I have been the sole caregiver for my husband who is disabled. I do all the chores around the house and in the yard, all the cooking and cleaning and take care of our three inside cats and feed our three outside cats. I do not have much spare time, but when I do, it often involves quilting. If I'm not sewing myself, sometimes I just watch other people sew on You Tube or my favorite quilting sites. Quilting is my obsession.

All this said, I can see a time when I may want to make quilts to sell. It just hasn't happened yet because the challenge is what inspires me the most. I guess that is because I am still learning, still trying to perfect my skills, and most importantly, still challenging myself. But I am getting there. Some day I may go into the quilting business, but for right now I am content with the way things are. There are still so many techniques I want to try and traditional patterns I want to make.

I don't have a quilting studio, so any business I would undertake would have to be limited. I basically have a breakfast bar that I've converted into my quilting space. I've written about my space in the past. It is very small, but it works for me. There is a place for my sewing machine, as well as a cutting and pressing area. What more could a girl ask for? I've machine quilted large quilts there quite handily. The only drawback to a small space is that it must be tidied often. I am limited to one project at a time because there just isn't room for more. That is OK too, since one of the other things I love is all the organization necessary to keep my space functional. I use baskets, cubbies, jars, and whatever else I can come up with for organizing the myriad tools and multitude of what-nots that are necessary for quiltmaking. 

So, for now, I have no interest in turning my obsession into a business, but stay tuned, because who knows what the future will bring. 

Every quilter needs a quilting cat

I can't help but share the photo of my quilting cat, Sally.

A new quilt top to close out the year

I can't believe I finally finished this. While it is only a quilt top and remains a long way from becoming a completed quilt, I am totally enamored with it. I've never thought quilt tops had much personality--that until they are quilted they are rather boring. But, I can't say that about this one.

I almost didn't take this on. When I was making the decision whether or not I wanted to make it, I almost reverted back to my my old way of thinking, back to when I favored traditional, simple, monochromatic quilts. At first glance, I thought this was way too busy for my taste, has too many colors, too many pieces, and just has too much going on for my liking. I wondered if I could even do something so complicated. But that was before I started working on it, but I do love a challenge. And, this certainly fits the bill. Interestingly, I have thought the exact same thing with each of the last several projects I've done. And, I have fallen in love with each of them.

Old ideas are haunting, but I think I have actually changed my thinking, grown in my appreciation for the artful work. It didn't take me long to realize how much I appreciate all the pieces, all the colors, and how it all fits together. 

This was a project offered by thequiltshow.com, one of my favorite goto's for all things quilting. 

This is a design by Australian quilt instructor Irene Blanck who named it Garden Party Down Under. I have an absolute admiration for her and people like her that dream up beautiful quilts and then write clear and concise instructions for others to follow so we can re-create their work in our own way.

Though I didn't deviate from her instructions, I did use my own fabric in the colors that I like. This project was offered as a kit, with fabric included, but I generally like to choose my own. Afterall, that is why I collect fabric. This could even be considered a scrappy quilt, since so many of the pieces are small and leftover from other projects.

This quilt was a real challenge for me for so many reasons, not the least of which was the heavy emphasis on applique. I still consider myself new to needle-turn applique, which I enjoy immensely. I am not completely comfortable with it yet, but I love to practice. I've come to really love hand sewing. 

Once I got through that first month's 'assignment,' the center block, I was hooked. I have said before and will say it again, I love every bit of the process of quiltmaking. With this project, I loved cutting out all the tiny pieces, fitting them into just the right place on a square of fabric, and then hand-sewing them. I took it one step (month) at a time. It took almost every bit of the entire year to make this quilt top. I got a late start so had to play catch-up, but it was something I wanted to do. For a time, it was non-stop sewing day after day, as time allowed. No one is more surprised than I am that I could hang in until the end, right down to those 80 diamonds all the way around the border. 

In the picture above, I laid the quilt out onto the living room floor to get a picture of it. I was surprised to see that it was a pretty good fit for my bed. I had no idea it was that big. 

It will be awhile before I start quilting it. I have one other quilt top that I want to quilt first, and a new BOM to start on next month, not to mention a few other projects I've begun. I will get to it though, and when I do, I will love every minute of it. I'm thinking simple hand-quilting to accentuate the applique. There is no doubt in my mind that I will enjoy quilting it as much as I enjoyed putting all the pieces together. But that will have to come later. For now, I am just happy with how it turned out.

My latest find-best marking tool for quilts

Quilting offers many challenges, which is what I love about it. But one of the most mystifying, at least for me, has been the part of the process of marking the quilt for quilting.  No more. I have found a product I love.

I bought these marking pens at left from Amazon. They are fantastic. The color is easily visible; the point is fine enough for small marks and the pens themselves are small in size. Made in Japan, the marks made by these pens wash out easily with a slight spritz of plain water. I tend to use a paint brush dipped in water to “paint” away the marks, generally, as I go. That seems to work best for me. I have no problem getting rid of the marks.

The color lasts for as long as it is needed. The only possible drawback when trying to hand quilt on the drawn lines, is a slight resistance in the fabric, but it is worth it to have a dependable pen that won’t run out of ink five minutes after the cap is removed. These pens last a really long time. In fact, I bought these in December 2020 and am using my second of five that come in the package. I have marked several projects in that time and my pen is still going strong. The marks show up on most of the fabrics I use. On dark fabric, I use a white chalk pencil.

I admit that I have always been partial to those blue water erasable marking pens that are sold everywhere from quilt shops to Walmart. I have been marking quilts since the early 1990’s, almost always using those. But these pens are far superior to them.

There are so many options for marking a quilt, from silver pencils, plain ole mechanical pencils, tailor’s chalk, pounces, and disappearing ink using water, heat, or just time, to name a few.

We all have our preferences, and this is mine. There is no longer a mystery for me about what to use to mark my quilts. I love these pens.

I have been doing some needle-turn applique. I now mark the the outline of applique pieces on background fabric as well as the small pieces to be appliqued onto it.  The line is fine enough that it is easy to turn a piece right where it is supposed to be. When I am finished, if there is any mark at all on the piece or the background fabric, I simply use my brush dipped in water to paint it away.

I have not yet tried the pink pens that claim to be air erasable, but that may be my next purchase.

Latest project so satisfying

I was once terrified of needle-turn applique. So, when I glimpsed this year's Block of the Month project from The Quilt Show, one of my favorite on-line quilt experiences, I wasn't so sure I could handle this quilt, called "Garden Party Down Under."

I had done some hand-applique, but I knew I wasn't very good at it.  

My quilting journey is and has been since my first quilt about 25 years ago, all about challenging myself. So, I decided to give it a try. Even if my skills are less than stellar, I knew this quilt would turn out to be beautiful. 

I am so glad I decided to give this a try.

Despite my late start, beginning the January block about five months into this year, I am well on my way to getting caught up. I have been working feverishly, but not because I'm behind, but because I LOVE hand applique and this quilt contains a ton of it. I am now working on Month 8 (August) and am loving every minute of it. 

The more I do it, the more comfortable it is to sit in a favorite chair as I listen to music, an on-line book, or the television, as I stitch. 

As the care-giver for my husband who suffered a stroke seven years ago, I don't really have much 'spare time.' I have no problem working on a quilt project while the laundry piles up or dishes fill the sink. Those mundane chores will just sit there until I decide to take them on. I refuse to be a slave to such things. I decided long ago that my freedom to do as I please will always take precedence over a perfectly clean house, perfectly manicured garden or having all my chores completed.

Quilting is not just a hobby for me. It is my therapy. It is my inspiration, stimulating my desire to be better at something that matters to me. I enjoy the creative process, making something beautiful, and learning new things.

I remember when I first started quilting many years ago. I knew instinctively that I would always be a quilter. I soon realized that there would be no end to learning techniques, patterns, fabrics. I had no way to know that quilting would be my salvation, a lifeline to stave off depression or to renew hopes and dreams during the difficult times of extreme stress.

Quilting is not just busy work for me. I continue to learn new things. I have spent countless hours studying the work of others and adapting techniques that suit my abilities.

At left is an example of the first two months of work, the center medallion of this quilt designed by Australian artist Irene Blanck. There will be more photos to come.

This project was sold as a kit, but I always like to use the stash of fabrics I've collected. While this isn't considered a "scrappy" quilt, I am using my favorite colors and fabrics, many of which are scraps from other quilts I've made.

I really can't wait to see how this turns out and even better; I can't wait to hand-quilt it. 

I've decided that although I love my sewing machine, I really love hand work. I plan to sew by hand just as long as my eyes and hands cooperate. So far, so good.