Blogger's Quilt Festival--Storm at Sea

This is my first time posting to the Blogger's Quilt Festival.  I have been having such a great time checking out everyone else's posts.  Thanks to Amy for putting it all together.  Go to Amy's Creative Side to see all the other entries.  (I couldn't figure out how to get the button into my blog.)

It was easy to pick which quilt to show for the festival.  There haven't been many finishes this year, but I just completed the Storm at Sea quilt that I started in 2001!  I had been collecting fabrics in shades of blue, teal, green, aqua, and purple for quite a while, but couldn't settle on what I wanted to make.  Then I found the background fabric with sea anemones on it--that had to be a sign that it was time to make a Storm at Sea.   

I worked on this quilt on and off for a couple of years.  I wasn't sure how I wanted to finish it, which was the reason it kept being set aside.  Then in late 2003, I took a job that had me travelling full-time, which lasted until 2 years ago.  I was able to do some quilting on the road, but never got back to this project.

I was going through my extensive collection of UFOs at the beginning of 2012, with the goal of getting some of them finished before the end of the year.  For some reason, the Storm at Sea was the quilt that wanted to be worked on first.  

Instead of the usual large square at the center of the unit, I decided to complicate the pattern even more and make that part as a nine-patch instead.  To tell the truth, it was just a way to get more fabrics into the quilt, especially some of the lighter colored ones.   It was such a trip down memory lane to play with these fabrics again after letting them "age" for over 10 years.   At some point I figured out that there were around 3700 pieces in this quilt.  Below you can see the different units that I was making for the quilt.

The main decision still remaining on this project was the design of the pieced border.  I had originally planned on the following design, which gives a scalloped look around the outside.   

Instead, I decided to go with a row of spiky stars surrounding the center.  I like the additional background spaces, and this design brought the quilt to a better finished size for my bed.

Center section with quilt  blocks sewn together.

Quilt top finished--late May 2012

Quilted and bound, October 2012--it's finished!  

After seeing it on the bed, I decided I need to make matching pillowcases.

Blogger’s Quilt Festival Stats:

Finished quilt measures : 87" x 96″

Quilted by : Jan Walsh, Cat's Meow Quilting

Best Category : Bed Quilt, Professionally Quilted, Scrap Quilt

Thanks for taking a look at my quilt. Enjoy all the other fabulous inspiration at the Bloggers Quilt Festival

Julie

Design Wall Monday 10/29/2012

There isn't anything new to show on my design wall this week, but I do have a new quilt on my bed.  I finished the binding on my Storm at Sea quilt yesterday!

It was too windy outside yesterday to hang the quilt up for photos.  You can see a full shot of the unquilted top here.  I am thrilled to have it finished and on the bed.  My first thought once I laid it out on the bed (after "I can't believe that's finally done!") was "Now I need some matching pillowcases."  That answers the question of what to work on next.

Check out what others have been working on at  Patchwork Times. 

Julie

Design Wall Monday 10/22/12

The only change to my design wall this week is the addition of the newest Grandmother's Choice block.  I ended up with two versions of this block because I made a strip set and then used the template to cut the points.

My sister and her husband are coming to visit this weekend, and I would love to finish the binding on my Storm at Sea quilt and get it on their bed.  Less than one side to finish stitching, but lots of other things to take care of around the house before then too.

The following Storm at Sea quilt was on display at the Georgia Quilt Show this past weekend.  I had also seen it at Paducah last April.  It was made by Sheri Schoenebeck of Wichita, KS, and she won the prize for best machine quilting.  Isn't it fantastic!

Check out what others have been working on at  Patchwork Times. 

Julie

Stash Report Sunday 10/21/12

It has been a quiet week as far as quilting.  I have been looking at a couple of patterns for possible Christmas gifts, but haven't gotten any further than planning.  I did make this week's Grandmother's Choice block, and I have also counted the yardage for the last few of those.  Since they are all different, I find it easier to calculate the amount of fabric used as I finish each block rather than waiting until they are all done.

I went to the Georgia Quilt Show in Duluth yesterday.  It wasn't the biggest quilt show ever, but there were some amazing quilts there.  Here are photos of a couple of my personal favorites.  I have been wanting to make an uneven pineapple quilt for quite some time.  I love the movement in this pattern.  This is called "My Color Wheel Exploded" by Dorinda Evans of Madison, MS.

This leafy quilt also has great movement to it.  The way the blocks twist and turn gives the feeling of the leaves falling through the air.  Love the beautiful colors too!  This one is "Tumbling Leaves" by Connie Lord of Sparta, GA.

You can see photos of all the quilts entered in the show here.


Used this week: .75
Used year to date: 51.25 yards

Added this week:   0 yards

Added year to date:  84.5 yards

Net year to date: 33.25 yards added

Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Julie

Design Wall Monday 10/15/12

There's not much that is new on my design wall this week.  I remade two  of the Grandmother's Choice blocks to give them better contrast.  I need to finish up this weeks block too.  I also made two more pinwheel blocks for my red, white & blue scrappy quilt.

Now that it is starting to feel more like fall, I pulled out one of my favorite quilt tops.  The pattern is "Turning Leaves", and it was originally published in Quiltmaker magazine in 2002.  I just checked, and the pattern is still available here.  

I am continuing to hand stitch the binding on my Storm at Sea quilt.  That has become my project while watching TV at night, since it is too big to carry with me anywhere else.  I can't wait to finish and get it on my bed!

Check out what others have been working on at  Patchwork Times. 

Julie

Stash Report Sunday 10/14/12

I had really hoped to get my numbers headed back toward even, but haven't done much sewing the past two weeks.  Then there was the fabric clearance place I stopped at yesterday--a very dangerous place for me.  My stash has grown, and my wallet is a little lighter.   I did get some great fabrics though.  My main goal was to pick up some good light neutrals for backgrounds on scrappy quilts, and I managed to find several.  They are all remnant pieces, mostly around 1/4 - 1/2 yard long, and a few are 108 - 110" wide

Now I just need to find (make) the time to use up some of my fabrics.  I love adding to the collection, but my shelves are close to full.  


Used this week: .5
Used year to date: 50.5 yards

Added this week:   11 yards

Added year to date:  84.5 yards

Net year to date: 34 yards added

Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Julie

Design Wall Monday 10/1/12

There hasn't been much change on my design wall this week.  I did manage to finish two more of the Grandmother's Choice blocks.  That keeps me up to date for the block-of-the-week program.

The majority of my sewing time this past week has been spent on the binding for my Storm at Sea quilt.  I got the binding stitched to the front of the quilt, and have been hand stitching the back during baseball games on TV.

Check out what others have been working on at  Patchwork Times. 

Julie