Play Time

 

After working and finishing those two major projects, I was in the mood to have some fun with a fresh, smaller project.  Of course, the perfect solution is to make a Schnibble.  I seem to be acquiring  charm packs and coordinating yardage at an alarming rate, so all Ihad to do was choose a fabric line, and match it to a fun Schnibble pattern and then get down to it!

I love that there isn't too much thinking about fabric choices when I make a Schnibble.  I have read all the instructions, books, and blog entries written by Carrie Nelson, so I have learned that not every charm pack works with every pattern--you sort of have to look at the fabrics available and see if they will work with the pattern you choose.  I decided I wanted to play with Chicopee--a line of fabric that was out last fall.  Everyone was blogging about it and talking about snapping it up, so I ordered some.  Then it arrived and I looked through it and thought, "Oh..  Okay...  Hmmm... "  If there was ever a line of fabric that is the total opposite of my usual style, this would be it.  However, I'm trying to push myself in different directions, so I decided to play with it. 

Next I flipped through my Schnibble patterns and books looking for a pattern that would work.  I thought that Lincoln would do, and when I went through the fabric squares, it would, but I didn't think the stars and stripes would work in this fabric as well as something else, so I moved on.  Finally I settled on McGuffy.  It isn't a pattern that would be in my top 10 either, but I thought it would work really great with Chicopee.
This is not my version--just a picture of the pattern.

So this morning I got started cutting and then sewing.  I LOVE this pattern!  It is so easy and FUN--it really is like playing.

Then I got interrupted.  We had an Official Army Function to go to.  In the Army there is a long tradition of New Year's Day Receptions at the Commander's house.  Well, it is long past New Year's Day, but ours was today.  It requires dressing up--for spouses who aren't in the military, the dress code is "semi-formal" which means dressy church clothes.  Don't forget that I lived in Hawaii for three years, so most of my dresses have flowers on them and are worn with sandals.  I didn't think that would work for Southern Virginia in the winter, so I was forced to look in the back of my closet at the dresses I owned before Hawaii and which require hose and nice (with heels) shoes.  Ugh.  My husband had to wear his dress uniform--the one with all the gee gaws--the bling--the "schwag."  I should have taken a photo, but when we were getting ready I was "pulling faces" and grumbling.   I mean who schedules something at 2:00 on a Saturday afternoon?!  On the way I was speculating at the poor turnout I expected, however, many more people than I expected attended, and all in all, it was fun meeting some new people and having "sparkling" conversation.   I guess if given a choice, I am very happy hanging out at home, quilting, etc. but when I do make myself get out I have a really good time.  When we got home, I was too desperate eager anxious to get out of the shoes and hose to care about a picture.  Oh well.  Maybe next time!

I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend!  Maybe I will have pictures of my new project next time.

JoAnne
 

Another Finish

Hi Everyone,

I have finished another major project!  Yeah!  Back in October, I took a class from Marcie Patch.  This quilt is called Old Elegance, and you can find the pattern on her website here.

I have been calling this project my "chocolate covered cherries quilt" in reference to my color scheme.  Marcie is such a great teacher and I feel as though she is a new friend!  I also fell in love with her patterns--they are right up my alley--and I have a pile of them waiting for me to get to them.

Without further ado, here are some pictures:

Obviously, this is the entire quilt top--hanging from my clothesline.  As soon as I was done photographing the quilt, I hung out our bedsheets.  I can't wait to go to bed tonight!  I LOVE the way sheets that have been hung to dry outside smell...

Back to the quilt...

Here is a closeup of the blocks.  There are two, the star block and the fourpatch block.  All I had left to do on this was to complete a dozen of the stars, and then assemble the top.  And I even had the units done, I just had to sew the nine squares together to make the block.  It didn't take too much work, but right in the middle of it, I got a horrible headache and ended up in bed for most of Tuesday afternoon.  I'm back to normal now.

When it came to the border, I knew I wanted to miter the corners.  I suspected that the border fabric would really lend itself to a pretty miter, and I wasn't disappointed!

Now all I have to do is decided how I want it quilted and then send it off.  I'm really pleased with how it came out, but the best thing is making a new quilting friend and blog buddy!  Thanks Marcie!

JoAnne