Retreat project

Another triple 4-patch or is it quadruple 4-patch?  I've made this  previously -- it works up quickly.   This was my project at a recent 4-day sewing/quilting retreat.  Fabrics were already in my stash.  The border was 2 different too-bright whites, so I "blurred" the corner meeting points with fused bits of leftovers, and machine quilted right over them.  First I had to re-learn "Lite Steam-a-Seam 2" procedures.   It's about 64"x74".  

 

Below - if this perfect backing fabric was not yet in your stash, and you had made this quilt top, you would purchase it, so I did.  

Close up of other corner.  

Of interest - last year at a similar retreat, I had to return home early, due to exasperating back and shoulder issues, possibly because of poorly designed folding chairs.  So this year, I actually purchased a new sewing chair, with more back and shoulder support.  I made a practice trial run "will it fit in my small car" and brought it with me to the 4-day retreat.  Other quilters had similar special chairs - now I know why.   Additionally, I made a deliberate point to use the Hotel's exercise equipment several times during the days - nothing of great effort, just a few minutes wisely spent moving my joints.  So, if that small suggestion helps anyone, this was a succesful plan if a person has age-related joint issues.  

Pickle Dish - Trial block

 

mmm - a few kinks  needing help ... 

Despite the areas that need improvement, I'm amazed the technique is still in my noggin.  My Add-a-Quarter ruler has disappeared over the years, so that was replaced, then I had to purchase and install a new printer (for copies of pattern),  and my little old Bernina needed an extension table (wonderful  improvement in efficiency).  Trying new things does not always turn out perfectly.  (But don't those outer points look good!)  Not sure why I dislike this layout - those corners seem to be the problem - maybe just a regular square would be better?  It still looks like some creepy fossil thing that lives in a rock.  Feel free to pipe in with opinions about colors or layout or ? ( I recognize the crummy seam.  )

Sandwiching my layers, one method

 

While not a  perfect solution to a puckerless backing, the canned goods do a pretty good job, and even better, I can usually find these "weights" when I'm sandwiching a quilt before machine quilting.  

Zippity Blue Da, Pineapple

 

When your entire collection of fabrics seem to be ALL scraps and pieces, this is a perfect solution of what can be used.  Once again, I used a ruler and suggestion from Gyleen Fitzgerald, because it's smaller than the Creative Grid version.  I think next time, I'll try the larger one, just to note any difference.  This is 7 x 8 blocks, 8 inch blocks with a 6 inch border., about 68 x 76 in.  Note the difference made by the alternate block, with a slightly different value placement.  This is my 6th or 7th Pineapple quilt. 

Freeze warnings for tomorrow night - electric blanket installation time!  

Lovely Surprises, and a Disappearing Log Cabin

 From my daughter ...

 ...and a BIRTHDAY SURPRISE from a BUNCH of quilty friends ... (goodness, you'd think I could have arranged this collection of gifts in a more attractive setting).  There are even homemade food items in that amazing group of gifts which includes yards of fabric!  What a lovely and surprising day I had.  I'm feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.  8-)))  

Playing with Disappearing Log Cabin blocks.  

My final choice - because I didn't want to make more blocks  and end up with yet another huge quilt!   OK, I bet some of you are thinking of trying this one.  I got my instructions from that clever gal Suze, at Revelation Quilts.

Farm Memory

 

I was born in Chicago, but when the 4th of us kids was due, my parents were concerned they might not be able to feed us all, so they decided to buy a farm in 1948, south of Chicago, in Richton Park, Illinois.  Dad still had his good job as a steel roller.   I personally think they were always adventuresome and they welcomed this "ridiculous" idea.  That is the farmhouse, my room was upstairs behind the right window, the huge barn was behind the foliage, to the right was a nice orchard with apples, pears, peaches and cherry trees.  A glimpse of the corn crib can be seen in the middle of the photo.  There was a huge, beautifully built granary out of sight.  The light "speck" in the driveway was probably Queenie, or some farm dog. This 1950 ish photo was our home, filled with incredibly valuable memories, until about 1960, when we 4 kids were grown and each had our own lives in other locations, and our parents sold the farm and built a lovely modern home nearby.   In the foreground was a field that sometimes flooded if the creek got jammed, where the pigs got out, and I saw my Mother in her homeade feedsack housedress, physically tackle one of those runway pigs!!!  The main road (Sauk Trail) was a poorly maintained 2 lanes -- today it is a 4 lane highway with with stop lights.   There is nothing left of that original place - it is all under asphalt, and apartment buildings except for one open space I've seen on Google, that remains a green field where I exercised my horses. 

Us 4 kids all realize we were incredibly lucky to have spent our growing years living this fortunate life.