Wallaroo - the Quilt

Wallaroo, quilt number 6 in my Macnas series, is finished.

51" x 71"

Here's a detail photo to enjoy.

Quilted with my all over nested spiral fans (unmarked free motion) and Glide thread in Biscotti on top and a mix of Biscotti and Mocha as the bobbin threads.

I used the same fabric for both backing and binding - Urban Essence Designs for Blank Quilting Pattern No. 2325 “Alternative Age” purchased 12/2022.

Why did I name this quilt Wallaroo?  

I wanted a name that acknowledged the aboriginal fabrics - wallaroo is used as common name for species of Australian macropods intermediate in size between kangaroos and wallabies.  

And my year-end finishing marathon continues . . . 

Quiltdivajulie

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"It is a serious thing just to be alive on this fresh morning in this broken world."

Mary Oliver

Moving Things Forward

Coddiwomple has been pin basted and is partially quilted.

The top was finished in August 2023 so it's about time that I get this one finished, especially since the colors are perfect for November.

I pieced the backing for Kefi using the insert strip of leftovers from Dragon Fyre in the not-in-the-center seam.

Again, the top has been finished for a too-long time - summer of 2022 in fact.

I want to get this one quilted and finished in November.  

I've sewn the first four rows for Enchanted, number 9 in the Macnas series.

Here it is pinned across Incandescent's quilt top, which needs to come down off the design wall and move to the waiting-to-be-quilted closet.

Interesting how the colors are quite similar but still very different, especially with Incandescent featuring warm neutrals and Enchanted using black on whites.

After Coddiwomple was pin basted, I went ahead and pin basted Wallaroo, Macnas series quilt number 6.

I also changed my mind on the planned binding (second change so far).  I'm going to use the same fabric as the backing and the strips have been cut, sewn, and pressed.

That is unless I change my mind again once Wallaroo is quilted . . . 

* * *

Making progress feels really good. 

Quiltdivajulie

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"I believe in the ability of art to heal the spirit."

Colleen Gray

Wallaroo - the Flimsy

Wallaroo is now a flimsy measuring 52" x 72"

There are 468 rectangles (each cut 2.5" x 4.5") in this sixth iteration of my Macnas quilt.

Wallaroo features 48 different aboriginal fabrics (nearly all are M&S Textiles purchased from Etsy sellers, notably DarkStarFabrics of Phillips, Maine).

The alternate fabric is no longer available, at least not that I could find aside from one German Etsy seller with delivery charges in the $50 range.  

I fell in love with the backing fabric in December 2022 (Urban Essence Designs for Blank Quilting Pattern No. 2325) and it has finally found its forever home with this project.

The dark fabric in between the backing and the top is what I think I want to use for binding (if there's enough).  And if not, I'll shop the stash for more options.

Here's the top from a different angle.

Fabric details - so much to explore.

And even more eye candy to enjoy.

* * *

Busy week ahead, but next up will be the FMQ on Haru and sorting Fandango's paired blocks into rows so they're ready to sew into a quilt top (Macnas series no. 7).

Quiltdivajulie

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"The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness from common things."

Henry Ward Beecher

Wallaroo Starts Taking Shape

When I took this photo, the first four rows of Wallaroo (Macnas series no. 6 featuring aboriginal fabrics) had been sewn together.

In reality, there are now six of the eighteen rows sewn.

The alternate fabric is the last of the backing fabric from Hoppipolla named "number 7" by DE LEON DESIGN GROUP for Alexander Henry - 2015. 

And this is the backing fabric planned for Wallaroo (purchased Dec. 2022 from eQuilter, Urban Essence Designs for Blank Quilting Pattern No. 2325 “Alternative Age”)

* * *

Young Man has been with us this week while he attends Mud Camp (about 12 minutes from our house instead of 35 minutes from his house).  This is his second year and he has had a super time - zip line,  a really long water slide into the lake where they swim, walking/exploring the creek, group games/activities of all sorts, playing in the mud pit, songs and snacks, and lots of other kids to hang out with.   There's a video HERE if you'd like to watch.

Quiltdivajulie

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"Those who contemplate the beauties of the earth find reserves of strength."

Rachel Carson

Trouvaille - the Flimsy

Trouvaille, the transformed squirrel project that just couldn't wait, has become a flimsy.

54" wide x 72" long - the colors above are very close to real life.

Fabrics for the pieced backing are waiting to be cut and sewn . . . 

While I finished piecing the top for Trouvaille, the remaining pairs for Wallaroo (Macnas-inspired no. 6) were sewn together - ready for their turn on the design wall.

The first 12 rows (of 18) for Vellichor (Macnas-inspired no. 5) have been sewn.  

Only six more rows and I'll have another flimsy reveal post to share.

As I'm sewing the top for Vellichor, I'm leader-ender sewing the pairs for Fandango (Macnas-inspired no. 7).

Fandango will be the first of the Macnas-inspired series to have rectangles made of scrappy strata.  Time will tell how that approach works out.

On the other side of the studio, Abendrot is pin basted and ready for FMQ action.  

(I had forgotten that Abendrot's backing yardage was in fact a wide back - that certainly helped things move forward more quickly)

Finally, the Bluey pillowcase laid out here is now finished and in use by its happy new owner.

Quiltdivajulie

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"Go to your studio and make stuff."

Fred Babb

The Rest of the Series

I've finished the first three quilts in the Macnas series (Macnas, Reverie, and Tuxie-Tude).

This set of sewn pairs will become number 4 - Vellichor (the beautiful wistfulness of used book stores; the strange romance evoked by the smell of old books and paper).

As soon as these are pressed, they'll be sorted into 18 rows and sewing of the quilt top can begin.

This set of pinned pairs will become number 6 - Wallaroo (Common name for species of Australian macropods intermediate in size between kangaroos and wallabies)

I'll use these as leader enders as I sew the top for Vellichor.

(number 5 - Rubricate (to mark with red) is nearing flimsy status with only 7 more long horizontal rows to be sewn)

This set of pinned pairs will become number 7 - Fandango (Fandango is a vibrant and lively shade of purple with pink undertones, often associated with a lively and energetic feel. It falls within the spectrum of magenta tones, offering a bold and eye-catching hue that can evoke a sense of creativity and fun.)

I'll use these as leader enders as I sew the quilt top below.

These sewn pairs will become number 8 - Grandiose (name inspired by the Philip Jacobs backing fabric's selvage).

Once pressed and sorted into rows, I'll use Fandango (above) as leader enders as I sew the top for Grandiose.

These sewn pairs will become number 9 - Enchanted (adj. – utterly delighted or captivated; fascinated; charmed or under a spell; bewitched; magical).

Once pressed and sorted, I'll sew these into a quilt top using the pinned pairs for Hanabi (below) as leader enders.

These pinned pairs will become number 10 Hanabi (Japanese word meaning fireworks).

They will be used as leader enders as I sew Enchanted's pairs into a quilt top.

These pinned pairs will become number 11 - Morning Fog (name inspired by an early morning waterfront photo).

I'm very happy with the softer assortment of scrappy neutrals - the evicted grays simply did not play well with the light blues.

And finally these pinned pairs will become number 12 - Paint Party (inspired by photos of Young Man helping paint a restaurant's patio fence).

The planned alternate gray rectangles from Morning Fog were also a fail here - instead I used Tula Pink's Fairy Dust (white) which totally supports the inspiration's "happy" vibe.

For all of these projects, you can click on their name labels at the end of the post to see their individual back stories/progression posts.

* * *

Now that all the planning, cutting, pinning, and pairing is out of the way, let's see if I can find enough time to sit and sew/quilt so these are finished by year end.

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can . . . 

Quiltdivajulie

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Do something.  If it works, do more of it.  If it doesn't, do something else."

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Background Efforts

I didn't feel like spending time with Max so I pulled out Hanabi (Macnas series no. 10) and sorted the 31 brights on blacks and 18 neutrals by fabric so I could create a wide mix of scrappy pairs.

(Hanabi is a Japanese word for fireworks)

Later in the day, I had 240 pinned pairs ready for future leader-ender sewing.

I decided to go ahead and do the same thing with the rectangles for Wallaroo (Macnas series no. 6).

I didn't count the unique fabrics on this one - sigh.

But now all 240 pairs are pinned and ready for future action.

Some of you may remember THIS POST.  

Since April, my plans for this inspiration have evolved.

This backing is simply beyond perfect (and the originally planned backing is now set aside for a scrappy silk quilt that has been lurking in the stash for many, many months).

I will use the bright colors from this Tula Pink True Colors 2022 jelly roll (gasp) along with a few supplemental fabrics from the stash.

I've cancelled the plan for April's Painting a Fence project and moved the inspiration photos, backing, and fabrics for the top to the box for Macnas series no. 12 - now named PAINT PARTY.

(I love it when two projects turn into one)

I'll pair the colors with these scrappy grays (think fence boards).

That said, the group of gray rectangles was originally planned for  Morning Fog (Macnas-inspired project No. 11) but every time I thought about the pinned/paired sets I felt sad instead of excited.  

That recurring feeling told me I needed to unpin the 240+ sets, lose the too-dark grays, and use a different neutral that felt better with the light blues but still fit the inspiration photo's vibe (from Google Images, no credit shown).

Accordingly, an assortment of fat quarters from the Zen Chic Even More Paper line are on order to supplement my own seriously reduced stash of low volumes.  

While I wait, it really is time to go get Tuxie-Tude quilted!

* * *

p.s.  If your head is spinning with all the different references to Macnas series quilts, check out the dedicated blog page that hopefully reduces confusion.

Quiltdivajulie

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"Consistency is an underappreciated form of intentional magic disguised as mundane doing."

Victoria Erickson

Moving Things Forward

I've had a couple of very productive days in the studio.

I've sewn together the first two rows for Rubricate, one of my Macnas series quilts (number 4 of 12).

I've also sewn the binding on June's new dining room wall quilt (left) and the first of the June utility mats (namely the runner for the cedar chest and two of the six placemats).

I went ahead and got the fabrics for Night Owl cut so the yardage could be re-shelved.

While I was cutting these rectangles for Night Owl's Crossroads design . . . 

. . . I cut squares from the leftover strip sections.  I'll use them to make yet another aboriginal fabric quilt top following the design used for Spoondrift (inspired by a free download - click HERE).

I've named this new project KOMOREBI (the effect of sunlight filtering through the trees).  The green aboriginal dot by KFC will be used for the corner triangles - at least that's the plan for now.

Nann asked that I share a photo of the leftover aboriginals - I will but not just yet since I plan to make a scrappy aboriginals backing for Komorebi.  

(When I bought fabrics to make Coddiwomple, I majorly over purchased; so I'm making Wallaroo (below), Night Owl (above), Komorebi (this photo), and Digideroo (coins not shown) from that excess.  Sheesh.)

I pulled out the project box for Wallaroo - another one of the Macnas  series (number six of twelve).  The aboriginals had been cut into strips a while ago but now they've been turned into rectangles.  And after far too much waffling, I decided to use every last bit of leftover backing fabric from Hoppipolla for the alternate light rectangles.  

(photo includes the black/white binding strips and the steampunk-ish backing fabric).

Yet another lingering pile of fabric, this time pulled for Trouvaille, has been dealt with.

A while back I decided that instead of a mash-mash of too-many-not-quite-right pinks for the top, I would sort out the pinks I liked the most and pair them with unique lights that feature pink.  That fabric pull of lights has now been cut into and the remaining yardage returned to the shelf.

And finally, I have cut the fabrics pulled for Hanabi (Macnas series quilt number ten of twelve).

Hanabi's palette features brights on black paired with whites with colors instead of the originally planned black on whites.  I think this combination will be much more playful.

* * *

After all that work, the horizontal surfaces in the studio are far less cluttered than they were a few days ago.

Quiltdivajulie

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"Find joy in every day."

Saint Philip Nevi

Color Abounds

The earlier of the two Christmas cacti is in full bloom again - such wonderfully vivid color against the cold rain and dark clouds outside the sunroom windows.

Not to be outdone, the second of the two cacti is almost ready to start its second bloom.

I have NEVER had a Christmas cactus bloom a second year let alone TWICE in that second year - Color me delighted!

The amaryllis we purchased shortly before Christmas put on a magnificent display in December.

Lo and behold we have four bonus blooms in February.

Here's a close up of one flower - such beautiful shading in the petals.

The waxed amaryllis gifted by my sister is almost ready to share what color its blossom(s) will be.

. . .  and now heading upstairs to the sewing studio . . . 

As I've sewn the strip segments for Shirts and Such, I have finished stitching the initial pairs for Vellichor (the pairs for Rubricate were finished off earlier in the S&S process).  

With three more sets of segments and the actual row construction yet to come, I needed another leader-ender project so . . . 

I spent a couple of hours preparing the pairs for Grandiose, another quilt in the Macnas-inspired series.

This time around, I'm finger pressing the blocks as they are sewn and oh, the joy these colors exude!

* * *

And stepping around the corner to the design studio (home of my stash and cutting table) . . . 

A little at a time, I've gotten the rectangles cut for Enchanted, another in the Macnas-inspired series (not previously posted).

I saved all the end cuts and such in the white baskets to make scrap slabs when I feel the urge.  I didn't do that with the earlier quilts in the series, but after making the slab from Grandiose leftovers, I realized I was missing a scrappy playtime opportunity.

And finally, I pulled out Wallaroo's project box to cut its rectangles.  

I quickly realized my original plan (shown in this post) to use gray as the alternate to the aboriginals was not going to fly.  Instead, I'll use this mix of warmer neutrals.

You can see the full list of quilts in the Macnas-inspired series in the sidebar, if you're curious.  Eventually I'll create a separate page for them.

* * *

As soon as the cutting table is clear again, I'll get Repose pin basted and get Haru's top, back, and already cut batting rolled onto the pool noodles so Haru is ready to pin baste later this month (if all goes well).

Quiltdivajulie

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"The soul becomes dyed with the colour of its thoughts."

Marcus Aurelius