Taking the Scenic Route to Houston

Can you guess where I am paused on the way to Houston?


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Location:E Lawther Dr,Dallas,United States

Traditions Transformed: The Artistry of Quilting

Yesterday I went to the Northern New Mexico Quilt Guild's Quilt Fiesta 2012.

It's a compact show with only a handful of vendors, but I managed to take a couple hundred photos anyway–though that number includes photos of the labels so I could identify the quilts and photos of the ribbons so I could remember which ones were judged as best in their category.

The theme of the fiesta was Traditions Transformed: The Artistry of Quilting. This is a detail from an unassuming little quilt in the show that I loved for it's transformation of a traditional bow tie block.

The quilt, named We Used to Go Dancing, was made by Esther Milnes of Santa Fe in memory of a gentleman, using his ties and pieces of his favorite tuxedo jacket.

I loved the cleverness of it ... and apparently one of the judge's did too. It didn't win a ribbon in its category, but had a Judge's Award ribbon.

It's interesting to go to a guild show if you're from out of town or newly arrived but haven't yet met anyone from the guild or joined it.  You may not know the story of 4 or 5 quilts made from the same pattern–in this case, it was Edyta Sitar's appliqué quilt, Hop-to-It–but there's usually one or two patterns/workshops that seem to have been popular. This version was named, Thumper's Garden and was made by Toni Bolton of Santa Fe and quilted by Lynne Horpedahl.

As you walk through the show and read the labels, you quickly learn the names of the Long Armer's who quilt for others and notice overall how many quilters quilt their own quilts ... or not. 

You might get a feel for the balance of traditional quilters/modern quilters/ art quilters in the guild or in the area (you don't have to be a member to enter quilts in this particular show).  Art quilts were well represented here.  This one, a color study by Gretchen Garnand of Santa Fe, is called Finding Balance. 

I don't know if the trend to print photos on fabric and stitch over them to create thread paintings is growing or dying, but I especially liked an example of the technique in the show named Larry is a Quilt of Larry, by Jennifer Day of Santa Fe. Here is a detail:

Just inside the entrance of the show were examples of work from the three small groups within the guild: Crazy Quilters, Art Quilters and Appliquérs.  This small 2-color appliqué quilt by Barbara Bogart  seemed very timely. 

Did this show help me make an informed decision about joining the guild?  I think so.  Although half their meetings and 2 of 3 of their small groups meet during week days and so my participation will be limited, I plan to check them out at their next evening meeting.

If you'd like to check out some (many) of the rest of the quilts from Quilt Fiesta 2012,  here's the link to the slide show version of my photo set on Flickr: 

NNMQG Quilt Fiesta 2012 Slide Show

I Baked!

It sounds a little crazy, but I haven't baked since moving at the end of April to New Mexico and 7,000 feet. I wasn't sure I could make the right adjustments for altitude and I'm not much of a baker even at sea level. This summer, the little adobe casita often felt like a little adobe oven itself–doing anything that would heat things up was out of the question.  

But I felt like something warm from the oven one morning earlier this week and made biscuits.

 

I know, it's only biscuits, but I am pleased that my guess at the changes needed (more liquid, less time) worked.  Yay!  With a little of Heidi's Raspberry and Red Chili jam, it was a tasty breakfast ... and I've opened the (oven) door to more baking.   Next up ...  Pesto Pizza!

Quilting in Progress

Wendy asked what free motion quilting projects we're working on.  Here are three that are on my table right now.

On the left are a pair of large pillow covers with the quilting complete.  Nearest the machine is a project made from selvages that I plan to work on today. In the background is a a very, very old project, a throw that is now backed and pinbasted and ready to quilt.

Here are some detail photos of the quilted pillow cover fronts--front(finished) and back(with only the star element completed).  As I was quilting these, I thought that they're not exactly "feathers," more like amoebas on a string.  I drew the main curve (string) on each half of the Split Star blocks, but everything else was completely unmarked FMQ--my favorite way to quilt.

  

Cool Doggie

You can see this dog sculpture from Cerillos Road, a main commercial drag in Santa Fe. He always makes me smile when I drive past.

The last time I went to the Farmer's Market, I decided to take time before I hit the market and to smell the roses in the rose garden in Railyard Park and enjoy an up close look at the cool dog that catches my eye every time I see him.

The first surprise was the bench swing hanging beneath him.

I also liked his dog tag, which identifies the artist and the work.

Here's one more photo, with people, to give you an idea of the scale of Yard Dog. I don't know what breed of dog he is meant to be, but I love him.

He's located in Railyard park, a little urban park built on a former railyard.

I love how they filled in the rails to create paths.

I actually did take time to check out the rose garden in the park and enjoy the last roses of summer as well as some of the other native plants in the park ... even though I have a sneaky suspicion that I'm quite allergic to the pollens produced by those yellow flowers on the Chamisa in the foreground.

What is it about October?

With October comes Socktober, Octoberfest, Blogtoberfest and other events, ad nauseum.

I am a little bothered by some of the "it's October so I must blog every day even if I have nothing to say" posts, but the pretty Sockober knitting I am seeing in blogland has prompted me to pull some sock yarn out of my stash, along with an old, straight-forward pattern.  After two days of TV knitting at night, I'm one sock done, one to go.

 

The yarn is Classic Elite Yarns Alpaca Sox; the 60% alpaca yarn is so soft, I can't wait for the first cold day I wear these on a test run ... but first, I need to finish that second sock.

The basket is intended for stitching (notice the clever rod for holding thread spools, but it's also right-sized for small knitting projects (and easily put on a high shelf or in a drawer or closet to keep the curious cats at bay.

56 Shades of Gray ... and more Goodies from the Post office

It's so much more fun to go to the post office when you come home with fabric and other quilty goodness.

I participated in the Shades of Gray fabric charms swap–my first fabric swap in years.

It reminded how, when I first began to quilt, I joined many, MANY fabric swaps in online groups.  It was a great way to build a scrappy stash and I still have a few of the many 4-inch wide-of-fabric (WOF) strips, 10-inch squares, fat eighths and fat quarters swapped so long ago.

I gave up my swap-a-holic ways long ago, but since I didn't have much variety in the gray fabrics in my stash, when I saw the shades-of-gray swap, I saw an opportunity to enrich my collection.

Here's the stack of 56 charm squares that I sent  and the 56 shades of gray that were returned to me–I'm not sure they'll sit in my stash for long ... I keep thinking of things to do with them.

Also in my post box were the patterns below, won in a giveaway on Glen's blog, Quilts and Dogs.

I love Edyta Sitar's patterns and I love these tulips–I'm thinking wall-hanging to be ready to hang next Spring.  The Hula Hoops pattern looks like a great pattern when a large quilt is needed quickly. Thank you Glen.

I'm Ambivalent

When I went grocery shopping earlier this week, I was greeting by a sign letting me know that if I am 55 years old or older I can benefit from Senior discount day.

I don't think the young cashier got it when I told her that, "I can't believe I'm old enough for a senior discount."  Like I told her, "One day, you'll understand what I mean."

I'm a little ambivalent about counting myself as a senior citizen, but, I stocked up and, yes, I asked for my discount :-)

Feeling Fall-ish

With the first cold snap of Fall, I feel the urge to knit, make soups and roast vegetables,  get outside and enjoy the outdoors during the day and curl up in the evening with a pot of tea and some hand-stitching.

Last night, I finished this beret. It's a quick knit from some wool-cashmere yarn (Debbie Bliss Cashmerino) in my stash using the Meret Mystery Beret pattern.

The fit is pretty good, but I'll probably add a ribbon on the inside to maintain the correct head size and keep the edge from stretching. I also need to block it so lace pattern will be more apparent-last night I tried a large dinner plate and a round serving platter and neither was quite large enough.

Last week, I finally sewed down the binding on an old quilt project and am basting the layers of an older one so it can be finally finished and enjoyed–photos soon.

The makings for vegetarian stock are in the fridge along with a butternut squash.

Are you feeling Fall-ish?  What does that inspire in you?

Blogging the Block Lotto

A friend asked a while ago if the Block Lotto was taking a summer break ... and I realized that I hadn't blogged much about it here and she came to the logical conclusion.

This month, we're making this diagonally sliced variation of my go-to block, the Sawtooth Star (AKA Square & Points)

(Still no design wall in my new place, so these blocks are on the design floor–but, I'm linking to Judy's Design Wall Monday anyway ;-)

Our lotto blocks are 9-inches (finished size) and made in white solids + 2 more solid colors. Not exactly a Fall color way, but I think it's going to be interesting. You can download my print-friendly block pattern here:

Split Star Block Pattern

The pattern includes the cutting measurements for making the block in five sizes (6, 8, 9, 10 and 12 inches) and a coloring sheet for playing with your own ideas about color and layout.

With the arrival of Fall, I start thinking ahead about theme and blocks for the Block Lotto for NEXT year ... and this year is no different.  If interest in the Lotto continues, I'll be ready.

I never know how my ideas, whether they are about colors and fabrics or the block itself, will be received.  Based on the numbers alone, last month's 3-D Flower block would probably have to be considered a flop.

   

These are my three blocks.  Even if they weren't popular as lotto blocks–14 quilters made a total of 44 blocks–I know they sparked some design ideas for using this technique and I know the quilter who won them is happy.  I try to vary our block choices so that we all have an opportunity to try something new and/or work out of our comfort zone a little. Earlier in the summer, we made this block, that I called Silly String: 

I think curved seams seem formidable until you try a few gentle curves ...  and making a block or two (or nine) for the block lotto is an easy introduction. 

I've also been working on some housekeeping tasks for the Block Lotto site.  I finally created the 2012 Block Index which shows the blocks we've made so far this year with links to block photos and block pattern directions or guidelines.   

And I've been updating some of the old block directions to make them less block lotto-specific and more print-friendly for those who have been looking for them, starting with the Violet Block in 6 Sizes for which I've received hundreds of requests since it was shared on a Facebook page a few months ago. 

The last task for the Block Lotto is to update the template ... even though I have made a living as a techie for nearly my entire career, I hate spending my OWN time on that sort of the tedious administrative stuff at home.  I have procrastinated it all summer long ... Fall's here and it's time to get it done. 

Only in New Mexico?

I followed this truck down the road today. I wondered if it was an only in New Mexico kind of thing.

I've never seen anything like it, but neither have I ever thought about how one would gently move a bunch of red chile ristras.  It seemed pretty ingenious to me.

I was on my way to the Farmer's market at the Rail Yard.  I thought maybe he was, too, but soon after I took this photo, he headed in another direction.

Here's a better look at what he was towing behind him.

Despite a chilly 50-degree morning and the diminished numbers of tourists around town, the market was probably more crowded than ever. Although there was lots of wonderful produce, baked goods, jams, cheeses, etc., New Mexico chiles were the stars of the day. You could smell them being roasted all over the market. I realized that I need to up my chile education–I saw varieties I didn't recognize and heard people using names I don't know ... yet.

I plan to buy a my own big 25 pound bag, have them roasted when I have time to peel them, seed them and freeze them, but in the meantime, I bought a small bag of some that are ready to use.

Here are some photos from my morning:

After I filled my tote with heirloom tomatoes, leeks, broccolini, plums, basil,  summer squash, zucchini, rutabagas, eggs, 2 kinds of locally made goat cheese, walnut bread (perfect for one of the cheeses) and the best balm/lotion I've found since moving to the high desert.  When my shopping was done, I had a late breakfast at the nearby Flying Star Cafe... then came home to start re-arranging my new studio space (again.)

How I celebrated

After wrapping up at the casita where I lived all summer and finishing up my contract, I came home and enjoyed breakfast as late lunch (or early dinner?) on the terrace of my new home and sat and read a bit closer to the end of a one of those books you enjoy and don't want to end.

Look who decided to join me. 

I left the door from the bedroom open to see what would happen.  Grace was first to discover it, wander out, and walk around, meowing loudly, until her brother came to join her.

They wandered out and then back in and then out again to chase a bug (unfortunately a wasp) and then in and then out . . .

I hoped it would be a while before they jumped onto the wall (and possibly beyond to the roof) ... but I knew that whenever the inevitable happened,  Grace Hopper would be the first . . .  and Johnny Be Good would soon follow her ... and as I was typing this, guess which brave kitty was first to leap without knowing what she'd fid on the other side?

First on this wall (an inside wall with roof on the other side ... then on the outside wall (with nothing but the ground far below) and then, followed by Johnny.  

Monkey see, monkey do.

Changing Gears

Today is my last day of my contract at the job that brought me here--as you can tell from my calendar I finished a week early. .



The last day of my lease at the adobe casita is also today. I've turned in my keys and I am ready to begin whatever is next for me.

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Sopaipillas

Lunch at Tia Sophia's is always good ... and it comes with the best sopaipillas–light, puffy squares of deep-fried dough.

Some people eat it along with their meal–there's even a stuffed one on the menu–but I save it for desert, drizzle some honey over it and enjoy--usually half is enough ... and I didn't think to take a photo until my half was already gone.

I'm not usually much of a fan of deep-fried anything, but this may be the exception.  Savory or sweet, the sopaipillas at Tia Sophia's are the best I've had since moving to Santa Fe.

Yum!

Happy Birthday Julia Child

I wonder what Julia would think of this Julia Child Remix, Keep On Cooking.



See more videos and recipes and more Julia goodness on the PBS site at PBS.org/food

Bon appetit!

Lunch with Jane

A couple of weeks ago I won a copy of Jane Sassaman's new book, Patchwork Sassaman Style.

Today, during lunch, I walked to the PO and picked up my mail, including this fabulous book.  Then I walked over to a nearby restaurant for lunch with Jane('s book.) 

Both lunch and the book could be described as VERY TASTY ... and that glass of Pinot Grigio was quite tasty, too :-)

Jane inspires and gives the reader a lot of insight into her design process.  She educates with great "recipes" for 20 quilts with clear instructions.  I also love that she references the traditional blocks that inform the design and layout of her quilts ... I am not a fan of designers who rename well known traditional blocks in their patterns. And she further illuminates her designs by presenting (and explaining) variations on her recipes--one of them features the same Potato Vine fabric as my Prairie Gothic wing chairs.

Thank you, Dragon Threads, for sponsoring this giveaway.

Thank you, Anita Grossman Solomon, for hosting the give-away on your Make It Simpler blog and choosing my name.

Thank you, Jane Sassaman,  for creating another brilliant book for quilters.  I'm thrilled to add it to my resource library.

Fish Out of Water?

This wonderful fish sculpture is on the bank of the Santa Fe River.


These days he really is a fish way out of water ... Because the nearby river is dry.



There was thunder as I walked to Tia Sophia's for lunch. I hope there is rain to follow ... even if I get wet walking back to the office.

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Revisiting the Cotton Robin

Earlier this year, I participated in a Round Robin, organized by Julie.  Everyone in the group made a center and sent it, with some fabric and guidelines to Julie, who figured out which other people would add the borders (twice) and back, quilt and bind the quilts to finish them and send them home.

Exactly who made the quilts was a big mystery until the big reveal. I really felt challenged and had a blast.

This was the center I received first.  I loved everything about it ... except that–before I had read the enclosed notes– I wanted to do with it the thing the quilter explicitly said she didn't really like.

And so I decided to add three different borders and add a bit of whimsey to the design ... and some of the bright color she said she did like.  I also changed the proportions and made it a rectangle.  I wanted to leave a lot of room for whomever followed me with the second round of borders.

Below are photos of the quilt-in-progress that I sent on and the finished quilt with second borders by Julie and finished by Gwen.


The quilt went home to Laurina.  I know that everyone doesn't like words on quilts and I was taking a bit of a design risk, so it made me happy to notice that Laurina had also added words in a border for another quilt in the group.

The second quilt-in-progress had such a great and intricate first border, I wasn't sure how to follow it. 

Andrew designed and pieced that incredible paper-pieced wonder.  As I was considering possible border designs, at times I wasn't sure if I should praise him or curse him. 

I decided that because the piece had such a formal feeling, that I would add classic, framing borders with mitered corners, letting all that work that Andrew did shine, extending his blue outer edge to emphasize all those precise points (surprisingly with a completely different fabric from my stash that was a good color match)  and leaving some space for some pretty quilting. 

Here is Andra's quilt, with borders added by Andrew and me, finished by Laurina.

 

The last quilt-in-progress I received was a stunning finished top. Begun by Tami, with borders added by Julie and Jay.  I had so much fun finishing it ...  and discovered a trick that I know I'll use again. 

 
 

I wasn't sure how to quilt the polka dot circle in the center of the quilt. I liked the idea of cross-hatching but knew that if my lines weren't perfectly straight, because of those polka dots, it would be painfully obvious.

Here's what I learned: by USING those dots as a guide for my lines, I was able to sew perfectly straight and evenly spaced lines WITHOUT marking.

This was so easy and seemed so cool to me that I imagine myself using polka dot fabric with the intention of quilting it like this.

Another interesting thing about those polka dots.  The fabric in in the center is different than the polka dot fabric in the skinny border and they are both different than the polka dot fabric I chose for the backing ... but even when you are holding the quilt in your hands, you really can't tell.

And then there was my quilt.  I had this crazy idea that was somewhat squashed by two job changes and a long-distance move over the course of the robin.

Because I had TWO sets of these fabric samples, I thought it would be interesting to make two starter blocks and make a nesting robin quilt of my own to see what would happen to my twin quilts, separated at birth.

Here are the blocks I made.



I knew I wanted to do stars with fussy cut diamonds cut from that crazy, not exactly striped fabric you can see at the bottom of the samples ... but I guess because it's been a while, they really didn't turn out as perfect (and flat) as I wanted.

But you honestly cannot tell in the quilt that was made from the star on the right by Laurina, Nan and Andra.  I am calling it, A Star is Born.

 

It's twin is still waiting to be "born."   I'll be sure to post them both when I'm done.

You can see more of my in-progress photos in my Flickr photoset, Cotton Robin and photos of all the Cotton Robin quilts on the Big Reveal post of the Cotton Robin group blog.