Monday, February 3, 2014

Decision made, sewn together............

I decided on the alternating horizontal/vertical spools layout and sewed the top together.  I thought it was the best pattern if you viewed it draped over a couch.  It is 58" x 77" right now.  It will probably lose an inch or two in quilting.  Today I need to get some quilt backs pieced together and cut batting for the 3 flannel quilts.
A few days ago I got a surprise in the mail.  It is a postcard that was sent "naked" and made it here in good condition.  it's actually surprising how clean it is after coming through the postal system.  I sent some of my tiny batik scraps to a friend who moved away from this area a couple years ago.  She mixed a few of my scraps in with hers and made this for me.  I love it!





For the past five days I have been making some pastel batik blocks.  I'm using my cutaway strips from straightening my fabrics and cutting them in 11" lengths.


Last night I trimmed them into 10.5" blocks and sorted them into three piles- light medium and dark pastel blocks.  I'll play with a couple layouts today.

17 comments:

patty a. said...

The spool arrangement looks wonderful. Love the postcard - it like a little work of art! The pastel blocks are going to make a beautiful quilt! You sure keep busy!

Mary said...

What a beautiful postcard; the colors are so cheerful. I'll be very interested to see where you go with your pastel blocks.

Linda Swanekamp said...

The spools look like an elegant mosaic tile floor! They are amazing. I love when something simple transcends and becomes a beautiful piece than is beyond its initial expectation. That is your artistry!
When you sew the batik strips together, do you turn them so the strips are not always sewn in the same direction? Do you join in pairs and then join the paired strips or just add on strip by strip? Sometimes when I join thin strips, I get issues.

Susan said...

You have been busy! The spool quilt looks great, but I'm really anxious to see what you do with the strip blocks!

Anonymous said...

Love the spool layout, and the pastel srtips is going to make up pretty

Vivian said...

When you played with spool layout options in your previous post, you were coming up with options I wouldn't have considered. Your creative mind is always in overdrive, and we get to enjoy and learn from watching you make decisions. I really like this option, and good rationale!
I don't know if I've ever asked this. Do you ever work from a pattern? If so, I'm quite certain you'd add your own spin to a pattern out of an envelope, book, or magazine. If you've already written about using or not using patterns, sorry for the repeat.
Stay warm !

Brenda said...

I like those string blocks and I'm waiting to see what Wanda-ful idea you'll come up with for them.

Monica said...

Wanda-ful! Love that. :D

Nancy J said...

Lovely layout, you choose so well, super postcard, scraps can always be used, and the pastel strips, that will be lovely too, I like that layout so much as well. Your imagination has no limits at all, and always comes up trumps!!! Cheers from Jean

Elaine M said...

The rail fence blocks are energizing and restful.

karen k said...

That quilt postcard was put through the mail without an envelope??? Could you show the back? It is beautiful. Karen K

itskarenk at yahoo dot com

Quiltdivajulie said...

ALL wonderful!

JJM said...

Enjoyed browsing through your posts since last Thursday. I so agree with your final layout of your spools. And those flannel fabrics are rich with design.

Post card is amazing... I agree with you as to the condition it arrived in your mail box. And so pretty.

Love your pastel batik blocks... All together they make a brilliant display.

AND your January recap deserves applause !

JJM

Brown Family said...

I like the final layout. I have sent quilted postcards through the mail before and they usually end up clean!

THe pastel Batiks ate pretty.

suemac said...

I like the final layout. Your pastel blocks are sweet. A change from Kaffe for sure.

Lin's Quilts said...

The string blocks are quite nice. I get that you are making them from the cut off strips when straightening your yardage. But I only cut off 1/2" or so, can't use it. I presume you are purposely cutting off a wider amount?
linsquilts.blogspot.com

dls said...

Great idea on the postcard…..have wanted to mail something "naked" via the postoffice…..just have never gotten around to doing that. I remember those wooden postcards, bags of stamps and other odd items that were "mailable"…..have seen them in antique shops along the way. Very interesting.

LOVE the pastel batik blocks…..looking forward to seeing the finished project.