Friday, October 9, 2009

Bloggers Quilt Festival

I'm so excited to be in on the Blogger's Quilt Festival again! The last one gave me hours and hours of eye candy!! If you didn't participate last spring, try it now, click on the box on my sidebar and get a pot of coffee or tea on, you're in for a great ride!

In my estimation, it is so hard to pick a quilt to enter, each one has such a unique feeling, and like babies, it is hard to pick the "best." So, I decided to pick the latest. This is my blue Country Crossroads. I saw the pattern in a book at the library, and kinda drew it out on the back of a grocery reciept. I wrote "Country Crossroads" on the reciept, so that must be the name of the quilt in the book, or it could have been the name of the book...???...with me, you never know.
I had tried freehand stitching with the machine in the past. It was not an enjoyable experience, to say the least. I got sooo frustrated. But when it came to quilting this little deary, I just could not justify straight stitching a grid on her, with all the squares, she had so many sharp corners already, I felt she needed some curves to soften her up. I decided to freehand with a little guide line. Got out my trusty tools, (if you use a yogurt cup with a technical look on your face, you can call it a "tool") and marked each of the larger squares...
now, mind you, I have never been a leap-er...I usually just don't go off on new tangents, I'm normally a one-trick-pony when it comes to freehanding, and leave it to the "better quilters" to fight the big lions...but this time, I leapt!
And lo and behold, I liked it. Really! I guess old dogs actually CAN learn new tricks. I think the difference was, I was more patient, and I had some sort of control by using guide lines. I accepted all the little crooked parts as "personality" and I think they honestly softened the strict lines of the pattern. I'm already thinking about what I could do with the scrappy "Jacks" that I'm doing next.

And, like a scrumptious dessert, Look what came in the mail from Maria at http://allmomasquilt.blogspot.com/ for the Friendship Bag Swap. The wonderful bag was expertly made, and is right now being used to hold our Gold Ribbons that are completed! It came with a couple sweet treats, oh, girls, DANISH CHOCOLATE!! need I say that was gone before any grandbabies could lay eyes on it? tee hee It was sooo delicious! Thank you, to my new friend, I will love using it! Hop over to Marie's to see all of her eye candy, she is so sweet, herself**




These are the fabrics I've pulled for the Quilting 101 classes I won. The bird fabric was left over from the new curtains in the camper, I bought TONS of it, waaayyy too much, so I thought this would be a good way to use more of it up. You'll find it in all of my scrappy quilts, cuz it goes with everything.
The first class was easy peasy, I have not gotten my book yet, from Amazon, but I really didn't need it for the first class. Annie, at http://simplearts.com/blogs/, is so patient and thorough, if you're interested in some on-line classes, you really should check her out.

Hope you all have fun in the Festival!
lyn


29 comments:

Simone de Klerk said...

Love your new layout, Lyn and the story behind the quilt is lovely. I have never actually done quilting like that before. The quilt looks lovely.
Congratulations on your win. Great picks.

Micki said...

The quilt is just so romantic, and I do also love the story behind it!
Micki

Dee said...

How clever of you to repurpose something! The quilt is gorgeous and the new (old) fabrics will be scrumptios anwhere! Congratulations on your "leap"! And thanks for such a happy, inviting blog!

Anonymous said...

I love that you got out of your comfort zone on this! It's beautiful. You did a fantastic job!!

Amelia said...

I like the idea of using such a high tech gadget - a discarded plastic cup---well, it helped you turn out a beautiful flower.

Alway great when we grow a little in our quilting.

Zonnah said...

Love the yogurt cup :) and the quilt too.

Quiltluver said...

Your quilt is beautiful, and you did a nice job on the quilting too. I still struggle with that, so you've given me some hope. Karen

Nat Palaskas said...

You have picked the right quilt for the even. I love this quilt and the quilting - Hugs Natima

Betsy said...

wow, lots and lots of beauties on your blog. I love the crossroads quilt. You did a beautiful job on that and your friendship bag is delightful.

Rene' said...

I am so glad I found your blog. I have to say I LOVE the name!!! My Mom is a Granny too and you just don't hear that title much these days (at least I don't). Anyway, I love the quilt and your story. Thanks for sharing.

Queen Of The Armchair aka Dzintra Stitcheries said...

This is wonderful Lyn...I love it...and what a great idea!!! A fantastic quilt...Dzintra♥x

Marge Gordon said...

Quilting is the part of the quilt which challenges me the most, so I usually send my quilts out to be finished. But you’ve inspired me, and I think I will tackle quilting again when I’m back at the sewing machine.

Linda said...

Love the colors....and your quilting is precise. Keep practicing the quilting. Your effort was commendable. Thread painting could be in your future.

Pattilou said...

It was fun reading your blog. The yogurt cup story is a keeper for sure.

Latane Barton said...

love the soft colors. Turned out to be a beautiful quilt.

stitchinpenny said...

I am so impressed with your "tool", The quilt is amazing.

leigh said...

Thanks for commenting on my quilt and checking out my blog :) I love Irish chain and I love how you did the other squares another color. Beautiful.

em's scrapbag said...

Your quilt is beautiful. I think a yoghurt cup is a great tool. What a great package you recieved. What a lucky girl you are.

beth said...

i really like the way you marked that quilting line! great tip! and lovely quilt!

Dresden Quilter said...

It is a beautiful quilt. You have done a wonderful job with the quilting. I have not yet leapt that far yet.

Kate said...

I have just started my hand at machine quilting beyond the traditional stippling which I do love now that I have the hang of it. I have to say how much I enjoyed your blog. I found myself chuckling several time throughout at your fun writing style....Just Granny's is now on my list to revisit often! Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog and leaving such warm comments!

QuiltedSimple said...

Lovely quilt AND quilting! Great job
Kris

Jocelyn said...

Beautiful quilt! I love the colors. I'm trying to work my way through the quilt festival. So many lovely quilts to look at!

Knot Garden said...

That quilt is gorgeous. I always have to have a drawn line to follow for any machine quilting. And I love those colours.

Sara said...

Very pretty quilt. I love the colors...calm looking...

QuiltSue said...

I love the quilt, and your quilting finishes it off perfectly

Tambo said...

Congrats on the freemotion quilting! I've tried it and I'm not good!! And Danish Chocolate?! mmm....I'm drooling! I love your quilt! And thanks for the follow.

Diane said...

This is beautiful! I love the irish chain and this is fab!

Casey said...

It's lovely, I love the pattern.