Lost in transition

Done my good deed for SAQA. I finished this mini quilt (thank you, Colleen and Sandy for feedback), completed the participation form and mailed it off with days to spare. It was to be part of the Spotlight Auction at Fiberlandia, the conference in Portland, OR.

Was to be. 

Lost somewhere between the post office here and Seguin, TX or New Braunfels, TX. Probably in Texas (the recipient moved). Three were lost. I hope they have many more for the auction.

This doesn't stop me from going to the conference! See you there?

Update: The other two showed up in time to make it to the conference, but not mine. It showed up at the original address the Monday following the conference.office. Perhaps it was having such a good time going first class,  it wanted to spend an extra month with the post office!

SAQA sent it back to me, nicely matted. Unless it finds another happy home, I'll resubmit it to next year's conference.

Fiberlandia Spotlight

Last year I joined SAQA and attended the quarterly Northern California regional meetings. I even participated in two of the featured programs: one on critiques and the other on long term learning. This year I’m heading to Fiberlandia, the conference in Portland, OR and I've something to donate for the Spotlight Auction. 

Here is it before trimming:

before cropping

It's bigger than the requested size – 6" x 8". I'll crop it, they'll frame it. But which orientation to show in the 4.5" x 6.5" window? 

A: horizontal 1

B: vertical 1

C: horizontal 2

D: vertical 2

After seeing them here, I have my druthers. Then a little more Shiva Paintsticks to finish it off. 

Results may vary

I’m gearing up for major fmq by getting rid of the cobwebs around the hand-eye-sewing machine-fabric coordination. Just stitching samples, four inches squares. Just practice.

Here’re two samples based on an interesting pattern shown on Amy’s Free Motion Quilting Adventures. All straight lines. It’s a stitched version of a Twisted Log Cabin. She has a video showing how she did it.

same pattern, different results

The one on the left was stitched first. No rulers. And other than the perimeter square, no marking – spacing eyeballed. I did turn the square so I am stitching the line straight on from back to front. 

What if I don’t turn it? Thus the second sample on the right. Yeah, I could use more practice stitching in other directions. The lines aren’t as straight, the spacing is uneven, the resulting curve is rougher, and the center is off. 

It’s got wonky charm, doesn't it? 

Gussied up & stepping out!

Plain Jane before:

Plain Jane in 2013

In response to FiberShots Community Challenge: Embellish Your World at the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles, I gave it a makeover:

Vega Alpha Lyrae

Post transformation, I’ve donated it, as Vega Alpha Lyrae, to the museum. It will be exhibited from March 7 to April 26, 2015 along with many other works to be auctioned off to support their worthwhile efforts.

The museum issues these FiberShots challenges annually. Check them out! Support the museum by starting or adding to your own collection of 16-inch squares. 

Prepared for Pauly

I'm ready with two strip sets for next weekend's workshop.

two strip sets 

Instead of the usual solids, I am using prints in hopes of reducing that print stash. One is a set with five different fabrics. The other is a set with five similar fabrics. Can you tell which is what? Maybe I'm stretching the directions just a little due to limited tolerance for combining prints.

Pat Pauly will teach a two-day Slash and Burn, Techniques for Improvisational Quilts at my guild. This will be the very first workshop I've added as the guild's Program person (I'm now the Program Chair). A two-day workshop is usually a harder sell, but it's full with a waiting list! My critique group will host a dinner for her next Saturday. Maybe she'll share how she does it all - maintains her good humor, her energy and her productivity. Wouldn't you like to know? 

Gobble gobble

Besides the usual squirrels, moles, skunks, raccoons and deer, we have wild turkeys!

Last year a pair were prowling around the hood and were seen hopping off my neighbor's roof. Last week a family of a half dozen congregated around another neighbor's front yard. Guess they're not practicing family planning! This week I captured this one:

turkey on my front fence

They look robust and healthy but I've been advised to avoid these unfriendly creatures.