Showing posts with label Varsity Quilt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Varsity Quilt. Show all posts

Monday, December 31, 2012

A Last Minute Finish for 2012

Final quilt finish for 2012: 
Ocean Waves - front
Name: Ocean Waves 
For: younger son
Pattern:  Varsity by Jaybird Quilts 
Size: XL Twin 
Fabrics: Various Kona blues & Kona Steel
Quilting: Echo on each wave and in each diamond
Label:  pieced in of my own design

Ocean Waves - back
He loves the ocean, hence the name.  Wanted him to have a bit of "sand" so I used Kona Khaki for the label.  
Staged on his bed and fully aware this is the last time it will look this nice.  
Happy New Year's Eve everyone! 
Susan

Friday, November 9, 2012

Ocean Waves: Quilt Top In Progress

Hello everyone, 
My days have been very full lately with a great deal of school responsibilities and some life challenges.  The crafty part of me has been rather silent lately but recently I had a few chances to get out the sewing machine and flex my crafty side.  

I've been working on the Varsity Quilt by Julie Herman from Jaybird Quilts for my younger son.  I've got all of the rows sewn up and hope to sew them together and square off the edges sometime this weekend.  I've got a few projects I would like to begin soon so finishing up this one for my son is the priority.  

I'm now calling it "Ocean Waves" as my son loves the ocean.  I plan to incorporate some sand on the back in some form or another.  I attempted a photograph in my hallway, but my hallway wasn't wide enough.  I attempted a photograph outside but it's so windy out right now, none of the rows would stay down.  So back into my living room - not great for color but it's the best I can do.  The background color is Kona Cotton Steel, which is grey...I know it looks a bit pinkish here but I promise you it is not.  
Ocean Waves  - XL Twin Size

I saw a wonderful quote today that went something like this: "When I walk into my kitchen, I am not alone - I bring my mother and my father and every table I've ever sat at to enjoy a meal."  Brought a couple of tears to the eyes in a heartwarming way - today would have been my mother's 81st birthday.  Miss her.  

In honor of my mother here is the painting my father had done of her way back in 1953 when he was stationed on the USS Columbus in the Mediterranean Sea for six months.  At one point during his tour of duty, the ship docked in Istanbul, Turkey and he took the photograph of my mother to a painter.  Two days later my father picked up this painting of my mother and it hung in my family home until earlier this year.  Now it is mine and I love it.   


Have a safe and fun weekend,
Susan

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

WIP Wednesday: Teaching My Boy to Cut Fabric

Three nights ago, my youngest son and I finally began working on his quilt. (I'm making him the Varsity quilt from Jaybird Quilts) As he is a great participant in the kitchen, I figured he could learn how to cut fabric for his own quilt.  

It wasn't half as trying as I thought it might be - or take as long.  

 A success overall:  No cuts (a 14 year old with a rotary cutter makes me nervous) and now he knows how to place fabric on a cutting mat, line up a ruler and correctly place his hands.  Well, at least I hope so.  

 Two nights of cutting produced this: 

He doesn't know that I began sewing yesterday and have all of the large pieces sewn together.  

Next up is ironing, and sewing the "V"'s together into the seven rows for his quilt.  Will I teach him how to iron?  Maybe when he's 15. 

I'm linking up with Lee of Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday.  She's off to Sewing Summit in Utah - happy for all of you lucky gals (like Debbie!) whom are going. 

Off to school for me!
Susan

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Life & A Thread Color Question


The last five days have been so consumed with life and school that zero crafting has occurred in my house.  Actually I haven't even felt like crafting which is surprising but thankfully the Creative Grids 60 degree ruler I purchased online to use with the Varsity pattern by Jaybird Quilts arrived late yesterday afternoon.  I'm looking forward to start the work on this quilt with my younger son very soon.  

Curious as to what I'm doing in school now? (Even if you are not I'll share it anyway for my own future self when I come back someday to read what I was up to.) Studying the historiography of World History, writing lesson plans about Ancient Rome, Curriculum Mapping for the entire 6th grade year, and working to get my Student Teaching application all ready to turn in by Monday, October 1st.  A very important deadline filled with stress as I am supposed to choose where I want to student teach in the Spring.  The best possible outcome would be to student teach at a school where the possibility of getting hired for Fall 2013 is very high but unfortunately there is no way to predict that.  The thought of working all of these years on my degree, making it through the credential program and student teaching and ultimately not being able to find a job is almost horrifying to me right now.  

Wow - didn't expect to go there.  Bear with me reader - a lot of emotions are swirling right now. 

OK switching back to crafting now.... I want to start quilting the Sea Glass Quilt but I'm having trouble figuring out which color thread to use.  The solid sashing around the blocks is Kona Celery and I want to use Aurifil thread but when I put the Aurifil thread chart up to the quilt top nothing jumps out at me. Have any suggestions?   Just for clarification - I do not expect you to be able to color match this from a photo - if you have used Kona Celery and have Aurifil thread suggestions, please let me know. 
Last thing I'll share today is last night my younger son ran in his first track meet for his high school.  So proud of him as in the 95+ degree heat (It is our turn to melt right now in Southern California) at 5:30pm last night he ran his best 5K time ever. 
Loved cheering him on down the stretch to the finish line. 
Thank you for reading and enjoy your Saturday, 
Susan

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

WIP Wednesday: Senior Class/Varsity Quilt


We're going back to school in today's post. Earlier today I attended my first class of the new semester:  History 401,  a class which is all about the grades  6-12 California Social Science standards which I'm pretty sure is going to kick my rear end. Actually, not pretty sure...I am sure. 

Excited though - very, very excited!  I feel like a Senior about to graduate.
Here are all of my current WIP's:

Sea Glass Quilt needs to be basted, quilted and bound.


Quilt for the Younger Son:  I am going to use the Varsity pattern by Julie Herman of Jaybird Quilts.  The fabrics arrived today in the mail: Kona Steel, Lagoon, Turquoise, Cyan, Teal Blue, Glacier, Everglade and Forest.


Copious amounts of reading and lesson plan writing:

Pie testing:  I have officially entered into the KCRW 4th Annual Good Food Pie Contest on Saturday, September 8, 2012 being held at The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).  Anybody wearing an apron to LACMA on that date will get in for free! 
Caramel Custard Pie with Graham Cracker Crust...in the testing stage
I'm linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced for her WIP Wednesday feature.  It's been ages!   Thank you to Michelle of CityHouseStudio for guest hosting this week. 

Now I have to go read....:)
Susan