Hard one to let go

      Some quilts have a convoluted history. I have some friends who insisted I try to make a Judy Niemeyer quilt. I chose Sea Urchin. They showed me how to paper piece her way. I bought the pattern and gathered the horde of fabric it took. Loved the pattern, loved the fabric. However, making the top was a nightmare of boredom and slowness. Over a couple of years, I started and put it away repeatedly.
     Finally, I gathered it all up and gave it to the friends who started me on the whole boondoggle. I told them they could finish if they wanted and give it away to one of their charity groups.
     I was totally surprised when they gave it back to me, all finished, and told me it was the hardest one of hers they have ever done (they have done almost all of them). It has been on a hanger in my tops closet waiting its turn to be quilted.
    A close friend of mine has had a reoccurrence of breast cancer (25 yrs. remission) and I offered her a comfort quilt package. First she said no, because she is not fond of quilts, but then she said yes. I invited her to come and look at my tops and pick out one, or I would make one for her. I should have done as Wanda does- pick out three or four- and then have them choose. As I pulled tops out of my closet, she spied Sea Urchin, pulled it out and said that is the only one she liked as it was "graphic". I showed her my ideas for the backing, and quilted it. Boy, was it tough to piece- those paper pieced seams are difficult to penetrate.
     When it was quilted, I had real pangs of regret. By the time I finish quilting, in my mind, the quilt is already given but this time it was different. I loved the quilt- colors, quilting, backing and binding. I washed it and bagged it for the package and gave it away yesterday. It was the hardest quilt I ever gave away. I feel guilty for feeling that way, but I did it and she loves it.

The boomerang quilt

     I admitted defeat. After hanging onto the paper pieced nightmare, Sea Urchin, having tormented me for over 4 years, I gave it away to the twins at Chasen Dreams. They are very experienced Niemeyer paper piecers. I figured I would never see it again as they give away a copious amounts of quilts to all kinds of causes.
     When I went to deliver the Gold Star quilts, I was shocked to find they had pieced all the blocks and gave them back to me all numbered. They said it was the hardest quilt of hers they had ever done. Yikes. How do I repay them?
     I sewed the whole thing together and have mixed emotions. I love the fabric that I chose. I love the colors. I don't love that I was a failure at completing it. I paper pieced about half of it. I know I can quilt it, but if I keep it will it always taunt me?

 

Retreat Time!

     Hard to believe it is already a week since the Camp Pioneer Retreat! The Camp sits on the edge of Lake Erie. I had some nasty cold virus then until about yesterday, so I am really behind. The entire weekend I spent on paper piecing Sea Urchin by Judy Niedermeyer. I did not make fast progress. It is really time consuming. I still love the fabric, so that is good. I only got the arcs for the biggest circles done minus four. The trusty, robust SInger 301 blew through it all with abandon. I bought one of those teeny irons so I could press right in front of me and trim. It is a nice hot iron and I don't use the steam.

The view from the sewing room window

It only looks like chaos. Can you spot the 301 to the left?

More hours of work than you would think

Just the blocks

      Things have been a little under the weather here. I have had continuous migraines and early Monday morning my husband passed out twice and fell in the middle of night as he was getting up which meant an ambulance trip, lots of expensive tests and no cause discerned. He has no prior problems, but needs to make some changes. 
      I have been testing out some new blocks to me to see whether I like them or not. First, my  first two paper pieced blocks for Sea Urchin by Judy Niemeyer are done.

      Second, after my class at Quilting by the Lake this past July, I was inspired to try a Dresden Plate. I got a template on the Missouri Star Quilt company daily deal. I wish it was even longer. I sewed 5, 2.5" x 4.5" strips together for each spoke and then trimmed them. I have not sewn the blades together yet. I wonder if this could be a center medallion with something else just simple around it.

      Third, Janet on the Quilting Board explained a better way to do the Missouri Star quilt company Disappearing Hour glass block so you aren't sewing bias edges. This using 5" squares. I like it. I have to find fabric to make enough same charm squares for each block- four of each, light and dark.

       Last, I am using my leader and ender 2.5" squares to make some 5 across blocks so I can make the Film in the Fridge pattern for another comfort quilt now that I sewed together Good Night Irene.

Small quilting

     I finished quilting Between a Rock and a Hard Place from the Hudson Valley workshop. I used black Glide and the Bailey. I just used straight lines. Just needs the binding.

Close up

     Also, a lot of the Sea Urchin is cut and bagged, ready to start sewing on the paper.