Nearly Insane block 49

But I am falling behind in the weekly challenge put on by our yahoo group!
Viridian

Tweet

Oh no, a mistake!

A Nearly Insane block with an "oopsie" in it. I decided to forge on and finish the block.

I am sorry for ignoring this blog for almost a month!  This block has been done for awhile.  I am a bit embarrassed by it, but not so much that I didn't press on and call it done!
Colors are much as in the original quilt.
I hope everyone in the USA had a great Thanksgiving, and that you are enjoying the run-up to the holidays.  I am pretty busy right now and I have done only one more block since this one.  I'll try to scan it soon and add it to the blog.  But the Nearly Insane project has been going for over a year, amazingly enough!  I think I am about half way done.

viridian

Tweet

Nearly Insane block ?????

And if I knew the number of this block I would tell you...
Not too bad to construct.
Here is Tazzie's blog entry on her finished quilt - which looks great:
http://tazziequilts.blogspot.com/2011/11/its-so-exciting.html

Viridian
Tweet

Nearly Insane - block 31

A fun block to do, not too difficult.  Getting that little dot centered in the center piece was pure randomness, honest.

Viridian

Tweet

Block 89

Two half blocks.  In making the original quilt, Salinda Rupp set her blocks on point.  Which means half-blocks along the edges of the quilt, and quarter blocks in the corners.  There are 2 ways to do this: Make blocks, cut them in half diagonally (which Salinda apparently did) or carefully plan half blocks separately.  the book Nearly Insane helps you do this, and that's what I did with block 89 here.

viridian


Tweet

A recent Nearly Insane block.

Log Cabin Style.  One of the simpler Nearly Insane blocks - sorry I do not have the number.  I promise I'll look of the number for my next block.

Viridian


Tweet

Nearly Insane block 81

Love the pinks!  Viridian

Tweet

Nearly Insane: Block 62

Viridian


Tweet

Nearly Insane: block 56

I am having trouble getting the camera to interface with my new laptop, so this block was scanned.
In a way I wish these blocks had names, like the Dear Jane blocks.  They might be easier to keep straight.

viridian

Tweet

G-8: Indianapolis

In pink, for my daughter's quilt.  I paper-pieced the long center sections.  I appliqued the pie-slices.  A little uneven, but I'll take it.
This will not be in the center, as in the original quilt.  I have already picked another block, but done in the green from Brenda' fabric line, for the center.

I am still moving ahead on my two main projects, my Jane quilts and Nearly Insane.  I think I see the light at the end of the tunnel on my Christmas Jane quilt.  It's to the point where I must think about which colors I plan to use for the remaining blocks, if I want to have the Trip around the world setting as in the original quilt.  That is, a certain number of pink or brown blocks, red blocks, etc.  Until now I have been picking whatever repro fabric speaks to me, concentrating on reds and greens, but some of the other colors too.
viridian

Tweet

Next Nearly Insane Block

I have added lines to the paper piecing pattern, so that I can actually paper piece this.  I avoid set in corners and Y-seams as much as possible.  Again, I am sticking close to the colors in the original quilt.
viridian

Tweet

Never again: F-9 Autumn Aster

Technically, and in terms of personal frustration, the most difficult block so far.

It would have been much worse if I hadn't followed Anina's technique of preparing the white background.  Still, reverse applique in the corners was a pain and they didn't come out even.  And then EIGHT melons, with narrow points.  Argh.  The pink fabric here is more tightly woven than most, and makes pulling the needle through several layers very difficult indeed.  It's a beautiful fabric, but I will not be making this block again for my daughter's quilt.

Viridian

Tweet

D-2 Mouse in a mirror

With the addition of lines making many small white triangles I was able to avoid hand piecing this one!

viridian


Tweet

I-6 Viewer's Choice

Continuing on, as I can...
I cut the center piece as one piece to feature this particular fabric.  Not too hard to applique, though of course the corners of the melons are still a challenge.

viridian
Tweet

F-11, On Target, Done

And appliquing the little white quarter circles was not that bad.

Retro-fabulous blog, you were right.
I am now at 148 blocks, 47 triangles, 1 corner, 4545 pieces.  though looking at my guide (my Dear Jane bingo sheet, with fabric swatches glued to it), I think I've done a few more.

Viridian

Tweet

F-11 On Target, step one

The corners of this block, F-11, as Jane Stickle pieced them, are very complicated.  I just appliqued on the green pieces.
Now: if I am matching Jane I would put white fabric behind the block, and cut away the green fabric in a similar shape to reveal the white (reverse applique).  Complicated and fussy.  I can stop here, but I think I will just applique on the white pieces.  And once you do one, you have to do all four.

Viridian

Tweet

Jane Block: Pam's Bells

The main block is easy to piece.  The four teardrops were easier to applique than I thought.  No need to consider this a "hard" block.  The fabric on the left is from the new Texas bound line, which I purchased at reproductionfabrics.com.  I highly recommend this site for finding just the right repro fabrics.

viridian


Tweet

Earthquake in Virginia and I was working on.....

The Jane triangle called Epicenter! Seriously, I was!  Did I cause the earthquake?  If so I am sorry!  Out here in the Midwest I did not feel a thing.

The center circle unit was assembled first following Anina's instructions.  Then, instead of putting this unit under the white fabric, and doing reverse applique (as she did), I just turned under the edges and appliqued the whole circle thingy on.  Then I appliqued the diamonds and struggled with the sharp points.  Oh well it is done.  This is one of the hardest triangles I have done yet.
PS. The pencil lines are where I am going to trim this block.  I always cut my fabric even larger than the 1/4 inch seam allowances, in case of fraying or mistakes.

viridian

Tweet

Triangle: Eiffel Tower

And the top row triangles are finished.

(I have also done this in pink).  The two melons are appliqued on.  This is not how Jane Stickle did it.  If you study the picture in the book, you'll see she did the lower melon by reverse applique.  I didn't think I could be that fiddle-y.

viridian
145 blocks, 46 triangles, 1 corner, and 4470 pieces.

Tweet

School starts tomorrow!  Today is my last day to work on quilt blocks!!

On the left; Jane's tears for my daughter's quilt.  On the right: Eaton's crossroads, before trimming to size.
Viridian

Tweet

B-5 Hot Cross Buns

This Jane block is B-5, Hot Cross Buns.  And there's a mistake - the border strips are supposed to be the background fabric, not the focus fabric.  Oh well.  I'm not going to re-do this, or unsew it.  Green for my quilt, pink for my daughter's quilt.

viridian

Tweet

"Jane-ing" On

These are triangles from the top row of The Quilt, as it is usually displayed.  The name of the triangle is Spanish Moss, each with 23 pieces.  I have almost all the top row triangles done!  School starts soon to time to plug along.
Viridian

Tweet

J-12 Rebecca's Basket

Simple enough to do, pieced with an applique handle.  One for my quilt, one for my daughter's quilt.

Viridian



Tweet

Hattie's Hen House

Thanks for everyone's comments on past entries on my blocks and triangles in the manner of Jane Stickle.
Following some people's advice, I did buy 'cheaters' or reading glasses, and put them on OVER my current glasses. Wonderful! I can hold my applique work at my normal working distance, not so close that I might poke my cheek with the needle, or hit my eye with the back of my wrist. So I have been pushing ahead with the applique blocks.

I do admit to some continuing eyestrain.  Not nearly as bad as before.

Viridian

Tweet

Back to Miniature Madness!

In these last 2 weeks of summer, I am pushing hard on my "Jane" projects, because it's back to school soon.  I even pulled out some miniature madness blocks and finished them.

From left to right: bouquet, flying geese, and a pointy star.  These patterns can be found in the classic pieced patterns in Electric Quilt 5 or 6.  The Dear Jane software also has some classic pieced blocks in the library.

Each block is 3.5 inches across,  unfinished, and those are real vintage feedsacks and fabrics in there.

My numbers now are:

1800's Christmas Jane 143, 45, 1, 4394

Pretty in Pink Jane 101, 36, 0, 3178
Miniature Madness! 58, 0, 0, 816


Tweet

Oh those little triangles!

The triangles are tiny, yet the block looks incomplete without them.  I did not think I could applique something this tiny, so I pieced them in. I think you can see the seam lines.

This is block I-7, called Mac and Muff.  No, I have no clue why!

Tweet

Triangle: Jane's Oak

The bottom piece was easy to applique, but I had some trouble with the inside curves on the leaf!  This triangle I consider to be one of the signature pieces on the original quilt.

Viridian



Tweet

Triangle: Left-side 13

This triangle (called Watermelon) I think is often overlooked.  It's on the bottom left side corner in the original quilt, as the Jane Stickle quilt is usually displayed.  It's made of a tan fabric that has faded.

In Brenda's book this triangle is pictured on the very last page, just before the bibliography.  Easy to overlook.  Yet it has its own charm and is not too difficult to make.  Paper piece several different sections, and applique 4 melons on.  If you can do Dad's Plaids then you can do this one.

I am showing this in two colors because I am actually crazy enough to make two quilts!  One is reproduction fabrics, for me, and one in double pinks for my daughter.

viridian

Tweet

Block 10 - Nearly Insane

A bit electric, yes? The colors and prints are close to the original quilt by Salinda Rupp.
I enjoyed finding a place in this quilt for the red print in the center, one of my favorite reproduction turkey red fabrics.  the green fabric in the frame is a VERY close reproduction of a green fabric that seems to have been manufactured for 70 years or more!  I bought it at least 5 years ago or more, so I am sorry, I can't tell you where to get it.

Viridian


Tweet

Nearly Insane block 4

Block 4 in close to original colors.  I'll be linking this to Beverly's Pink Saturday meme.

viridian

Tweet

Nearly Insane Block # 46

This one turned out a little small and I added red strips to two sides to get it up to 6.5 inches, unfinished.  A bit electric!!!

viridian

Tweet

Update on the weight-loss journey

This summer there have been some bumps in the road, indeed. I lost a bit but have gained some pounds back. I seem to have lost my motivation, and going to a conference 2 weeks ago with all the eating this involves does not help either.

As some of my regular readers may notice, I have changed my 'ticker' or bar on the top of my blog. I have changed my goal weight to a more manageable number. I don't think it's really likely at my age to get down to where I was in my mid-twenties.

To be more motivated, my doctor suggests I promise my self something big, like a trip, if I reach goal and stay there for 3 weeks. Where would you travel to? she asks.
Venice! I reply promptly.
So, I have a picture of Venice as wallpaper on my laptop, and I bought the Lonely Planet guide to Italy yesterday. I hope this motivates me more. I can start saving money now too.

Viridian

Tweet

Pink Saturday July 30

As in two posts ago, I am sharing some tobacco rugs.  This time though, it's for Pink Saturday.  See what other pink people are sharing!


Viridian

Tweet

Jane is back in the house!!!

After a longer hiatus that I thought, I am back at my blocks in the style of Jane Stickle.

This is B-12, or Starflower.  In looking at my spreadsheet I realize I must have prepped this block in the fall of 2009!  I had just seen Jane's quilt (the Mother quilt) and had been blown away by it.  I prepped this block as reverse applique, as that is how the block appeared to be done in the mother quilt.  (That is machine stay stitching around the outside). I did one leaf shape and stopped.

Why?  I think I now know why.  I am, I must admit, 50.  No matter if they say 50 is the new 30 (ha!) the fact is your vision changes.  With mature eyesight I must hold things farther away to focus on them, and then I can't see the detail.  Or I take off my glasses and hold things very close and suffer eyestrain.  Of course I am too proud to go to my eye doctor and talk about progressive lenses (that used to be called bifocals)!  Not me, not yet!

Well I hunkered down and finished this block.  And I think I will revisit my notes and continue on.  I have done so much already.  Now to find everything.  I have moved my quilting stuff from an upstairs bedroom to a newly refinished basement.

Viridian
138 blocks, 42 triangles, 1 corner, 4227 pieces.

Tweet

Vintage Thingie Thursday July 27

Happy Wednesday! I am joining Coloradolady for Vintage Thingy Thursday.

I know these as dollhouse rugs, and they work wonderfully for that purpose.  I inherited some from my mom for my dollhouse.  I found out much later that these are premiums given away in tobacco products (cigars or cigarettes, I am not sure) to encourage smoking!  Back in the early 1900's of course this was quite legal, and done a lot.  More information is at this link.  I have shown other kinds of premiums on my blog before.

Happy Vintage Thingy Thursday!!

Viridian



Tweet

Vintage Thingie Thurdsay July 21

The family and I stayed at a lovely little cottage on Cape Cod in Massachusetts a few weeks ago now.  I'd like to share one more set of pictures from this cottage.

Decorating was an electic mix of cast-offs, but one bedroom was decorated in cottage style.    There was a sweet little shelf above the double bed with delightful teapots and plates.

As these were not my items and they looked delicate, I did not pick them up and check if they were from the USA, Japan, or  England.  Just enjoy.  And look at the detail on that shelf - I hadn't remembered that!

I am linking up with Coloradolady for Vintage Thingy Thursday.

Viridian




Tweet

Vintage Thingie Thursday and Pink Saturday

The family and I stayed at a lovely little cottage on Cape Cod in Massachusetts a week ago.  Walking distance to the beach!  Sea breezes! The ceiling in the living room had been raised and where the crown molding would be, there was a narrow shelf - just right for displaying a selection of pretty vintage teacup saucers.  Probably long ago separated from their teacups.

We ladies in the family had fun picking out our favorites.  Enjoy these vintage thingies, and note the pink!
I am linking up with Coloradolady for Vintage Thingy Thursday and with Beverly at How sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday.  I'll have little teapots from the same cottage next week.


 



Viridian
Hope you are enjoying your summer.
Tweet

Why don't I like this quilt top?

There's really nothing technically wrong with it, but something is missing for me (no, not the border!)

Though a border would help.
The logs finish at 1/2 inches wide.

My analysis: 1. too many 'busy' fabrics for logs of this size. 2. too much 'light' - I like log cabin quilts with dark predominant. 3. maybe I'm not used to looking at the courthouse steps arrangement - this is the first one I have made.  4. It needs a border.

It's summer and I have more time, so I am trying again.  This time the logs will finish at 3/4 inches.  There is more of a mix of colors, and I've switched positions of the dark and light fabrics so the dark will predominate.  We'll see!

viridian


Tweet

Next Nearly Insane block

This one is a little wonky.

 I think a few leftovers were thrown together for this one.


Viridian

Tweet

Nearly Insane block and Pink Saturday

Hey, who says that pink, red and blue don't go together?  Not Salinda Rupp, the maker of this quilt, back in 1870's Pennsylvania.  These colors are very close to those in the original quilt.

I am joining Beverly for Pink Saturday.




viridian
Tweet

Easy Nearly Insane block

You know every now and again even us Nearly Insaners need a break, and take on an easy block.

Viridian

Tweet

Back to some quilting content

I have been continuing on my Nearly Insane blocks, just neglecting to post them here.

Here is a bright zinger, in colors very close to the original quilt.  I redrew the inner part of the block to make it easier to piece, instead of struggling with Y-seams.  I'll have another block tomorrow.
viridian

Tweet

Vintage Thingy Thursday June 2

I've been visiting ebay again, friends, and picking up tobacco silks.  Oh, this has to stop.

Two queens, Marie-Theresa of Austria, 1840 - 1863, and Esther, 200 BC - yes, the Esther from the Bible.  A bit of fraying here but looking good, for being almost 100 years old.  Very Vintage!!!  These were inserts or premiums, in tobacco products, much as little toys are in cereal boxes today.

Be sure to visit Colorado lady and see more vintage items!



Tweet