World Blog Hop. Show & Share

Around the World Blog Hop! 

I have been tagged by a Quilting Forum Friend Mary Jane Cardwell who was tagged by a friend Ami Krenzel. Two wonderful ladies with a passion for quilting. Check out their blogs.

Around the World Blog Hop. What fun!  I wonder all the time what everyone is working. Why that project? Sometimes life just sends you on a quest. For me the quest has been on going. Quilting is a passion and also the best therapy for my soul and my mind.

These passed two years, I have had several surgeries. Last one was 6 weeks ago on my left rotator cuff. Since I am left handed this made me very sad. No sewing for weeks. What is a girl to do. My hand is super shaky. Pain is rough.

So what do you do when you are a one arm bandit.....Clean drawers! Sewing room drawers. The ones you always promise yourself you will get to.

1. What am I working on??? I am about to try piecing today with  the knee attachment for my Janome. I am left handed and my rotary cuff surgery was on my left shoulder. Still typing with only a few fingers otherwise it becomes a ice bag day when the pain escalates to the "you have been bad" point.  I managed to starch some neutral fabric last night and will see if I can use my AccuQuilter to cut some strips. My son-in-law drew lines on the templates for me so I can sub cut squares. I have a bunch of squares in dozens of colors but no neutrals. These are all from scraps using Bonnie Hunter scrap system. Perfect time to make some 4 patches and nine patches. If I screw them up, well my seam ripper and I will get reacquainted.

Sizes 1.5, 2, and 2.5 inches

I have been buzzing through 2 inch scraps. I currently have 90 Nine Patch blocks to use to make Sister's Choice in a 2 inch size strip instead of 2 1/2 inch size strip. I can do 8 to 10 a day before I get to tired.  We Can Sew!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I am so ecstatic! I also tried Bonnie Hunter Carolina Chain blocks. It is kind of a nine patch. Made 6 of these so far. In the background you see my Chinese food containers in a bin. That is where my Leaders and Enders Spools are stored. I have 100 in each of  3 containers. Another hundred paired up ready to sew in the open container. 

To my left is my TV and another mat. I have the contents of my 2 plastic shoes boxes of 2 inch strips sorted by color. The aluminum pan has all the neutral strips and the green strips for the the star points of Sisters Choice. More than I need but a good mix.

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre? I get an idea and start piecing. Not really knowing where it is going. I don't draw it, I just think about it for a while.  These two quilts are an example of this. Amber needed a new quilt but she is short, he is tall, The battle of the blanket has been ongoing. Someone always ended up with a corner. So I decided to make 2 quilts for their bed. I decided on Bento blocks but when Amber saw the pieced block before I cut them, she wanted both types. I did manage to finish Amber's quilts prior to surgery. Two identical looking quilts. Some fabrics are the same in both. Did Wesleys binding  in red and Ambers in teal. I used every piece of skull fabric. Leftovers are on the back of the quilts.

Then my niece came to visit and says." I love skulls, can you make me one.!" Ha. So I will be collecting some as I go. If I had know that, I could have used the 20 blocks on the quilt backs. It was enough for a third quilt. Oh well, live and learn.

This is their bed made up with both quilts.

Most of the skull fabric was donated to me by About.com Quilters forum friends. What a great bunch of ladies. Always willing to help you. Online sisterhood of the quilt. There are some men too.
I named the quilts Skullduggery 1 & Skullduggery 2. Each quilt measures 80 x 110 inches. No more fighting over covers! LOL!

Amber's Quilts

Wesley's Quilt

I also had to have pulmonary testing in order to be released for surgery. Ended up with a Cpap. So I am now know as "Grandma Borg". Quite a site when I am in bed for the night. A sling and a face mask! Can you tell I am a Trekkie. I have entertained myself by watching a lot of SyFi movies. Second best form of therapy after quilting for me.

3. Why do I create what I do. THERAPY and JOY. I have always made something. I have tried many crafts. Sewing has always been a passion. I love art quilts as well. I had made 23 mini art quilts for Alzheimer's Art Initiative. They were a joy to make and really pushed me out of my comfort zone.
Today I plan to do a few more 9 patches and sub-cut some strips. I sew two 9 inch strips together then cut one single 2 inch square to finish the block. I take the strips after ironing and lay them on the AccuQuilter overlapping, using the drawn lines  and sub-cut into 2 block units. Takes seconds to do. I can cut about 10 strip sets in a few seconds and go on quilting. I may be able to make 15 or 20 today before I get tired.

4. How does my creative process work.  I get ideas every where. From pictures of quilts, gardens, flowers, billboard signs, kids playing in the street. And that really inspiring statement "What IF?" I love to see what happens when you combine fabrics. I do make traditional quilts, but I love art quilts best. I am a machine quilter. I do not have the patience for hand quilting or applique, so "What If" is a very creative statement for me. It leads me into the unknown and fusible web is my best friend.


I have signed up to do the Nesting Round Robin on the Quilt Forum. I just have to find the perfect block! I see this as a opportunity to use a UFO and create something beautiful from a once abandon block. What if....?


Happy Quilting

Aileen in FL.