Jackpot!

One of my friends is moving to a new home and is cleaning out her fabric stash. I am the lucky recipient of two HUGE boxes of discharged, hand-dyed, stenciled, painted, monoprinted, (and I'm not sure what else) fabric. The boxes contained fabrics of all kind--silk, velvet, corduroy, cotton, denim, organza, gauze, etc. There are subtle, beautiful fabrics and fabrics that practically shout at you. My head is spinning with new ideas (which is what I had hoped they would do). As I told the giver, "It is like Christmas up in here!!!"

Now, where am I going to put these new fabrics???

Using Half-Square Triangles

I have wanted to make a half-square triangle quilt for quite some time. I finally am working on one using a layer cake and 10" background squares I cut from a gray I had on hand. I did some research (and played a bit on my own) to find several different layouts I really liked. If you would like to make a half-square triangle quilt, this post (and the previous post) is for you. In the previous post, I explained how to make eight quick half-square triangles from 10" squares (layer cake). The first thing you will need to do after making the half-squares is to square the blocks to your chosen size. This is how you do that. (I squared mine up to 4 1/2"; yours may need to be squared to 4 1/4" or 4" depending on whether you took a scant or generous 1/4" seam allowance.)

I made my half-square triangles using the method in my previous post. Next, I played with them on my design wall. As you will be able to see, the half-square triangles are not sewn together yet. (I can't decide which layout I like the best! You will have to leave me comments and let me know which layout you like. It might help me decide which one to make.) First I tried these...

Layout A and B

Next, came these...

 

Layout C and D

And these...

Layout E and F

And these...

Layout G and H

And these...

Layout I and J

 

After moving all those half-square triangle around on my design wall, I was getting pretty tired (but was still inspired). I still wanted to try some other layouts. This time, I did some block layouts. Think about how these would look either side by side or sashed. I liked these too.

Blocks 1, 2, 3

Blocks 4, 5, 6

Then, I thought why couldn't I make a table runner, so I tried one. I liked it too!

Which layout do you like best?

 

I hope I have given you some ideas about the WIDE variety of ways you can put your half-square triangles together. Use one of these designs or play with your half-square triangles to come up with a design all your own.

Virtual Quilt Retreat 2

I'm getting ready for my quilt guild's second virtual retreat on Facebook. We are a friendly group, and I would like to personally invite you to join us for this retreat. Gather your supplies and projects, get all your cooking and cleaning done, and get ready to sew, sew, sew. This is a really convenient retreat...you get to join like-minded sewing buddies (virtually--on-line), and you don't have to drag all your stuff anywhere! The retreat begins on Thursday, February 16 and runs through midnight on Sunday, February 19. Sew with us for all the days or jump in whenever it is convenient for you. Keep up with what everyone is doing by checking in on the Facebook page (Patoka Valley Quilters Guild). Post what you are working on, your progress all along the way, and your finished items. Add the hashtag #PVQGVR2 (which stands for Patoka Valley Quilt Guild Virtual Retreat 2) at the end of each of your posts during the retreat. I wanted to offer up a project for retreat participants (for anyone interested). I have been wanting to make a half-square triangle quilt. I also have been wanting to use one of my layer cakes I have had sitting around for awhile. I researched half-square triangle quilts and found lots and lots of ideas. I will be sharing some of my half-square triangle quilt ideas with you during the virtual retreat both on the blog and on the Patoka Valley Quilters Facebook page. Grab a couple of layer cakes--one print and one coordinating solid (or one print layer cake and cut your own 10" background squares--one for each print square in your layer cake). Sew up some quick half-square triangles.

 

(Be sure to put right sides together.)

 

 

 

Your last step is to square up your half-square triangles. I squared mine up to 4 1/2". I could do that because I took a scant 1/4" seam allowance. You may need to square yours to 4 1/4" or 4" square. Square ALL your half-square triangles to the same size--either 4 1/2", 4 1/4", or 4". 

 

Get your half-square triangles done and stay tuned for LOTS of ideas on how to use these half-square triangles. I'll be posting some suggestions on Thursday (when the virtual retreat starts).

Making Progress on my "Forever" Hexie Project

I have been diligently working on my "forever" hexie project. These are my latest two finished segments.

 

I worked on the hexie project at my last retreat (in Nashville). I added some of the newest finished segments to the large piece. The Nashville retreat turned out to be a good place to do that, because (this time) I had a whole table to spread the big piece onto. Adding these segments to the big piece is NOT a good "on-the-go" project because the main piece is getting so large. The individual  segments themselves, however, are. I'll be making a trek to Florida in the near future and plan to work on some segments in the car on the drive down and back. I need to do some basting, because I'm just about out of white hexies. I sure hope I get lots done.

This is what it looked like at Show & Tell. It is getting so big now that I'm having trouble pinning it up onto my design wall.

What are you working on during these dreary winter days?

Upcoming Fiber Arts Events of Note

There are some fiber-related events coming up that you might be interested in getting on your calendar. Here are a few. At the 2017 Indiana Heritage Quilt Show, (IHQS), March 2-4, at the Monroe Convention Center, 302 College Av. Bloomington, IN:

• Karen Hampton, from Evansville, IN, will have an exhibit of her art
• All of the "177 National Park Quilts" exhibit will be featured at the show
• Several special exhibits will be located in the city including, The Quilts of Southwest China at the Mather’s Museum

These exhibits are at no additional cost with an IHQS admission. The Monroe County History Center, 202 E. 6^th St. Bloomington, IN, will exhibit Dialogues – Contemporary Responses to Marie Webster Quilts, February 3 -April 30, 2017. This exhibit will then be on display at the Quilters Hall of Fame, Marion, IN, October 5 through December 2, 2017.

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2017 AQS QuiltWeek Show Dates

Mar. 1 – 4, 2017 Daytona Beach, FL Mar. 29 – Apr. 1, 2017 Lancaster, PA Apr. 26 – 29, 2017 Spring Paducah, KY Aug. 16 – 19, 2017 Grand Rapids, MI Sep. 13 – 16, 2017 Fall Paducah, KY Oct. 4 – 7, 2017 Des Moines, IA

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The quilt I made about my Mom and dealing with her Alzheimer's and her death is still traveling with the Sacred Threads 2015 Traveling Exhibit. The next exhibit location is at the Texas Quilt Museum in La Grange, Texas, but all 40 of the quilts in the traveling exhibit could not be shown there. I was informed that my quilt WILL be there on display from January 5 through March 25, 2017. The following information comes from the American Quilters' Society blog. If you'd like to see the entire article, check out their blog.

  SACRED THREADS 2015 explores themes of spirituality, joy, inspiration, peace, grief, and healing in a beautiful collection of 20 art quilts. This biennial juried exhibition was established to provide a venue for quilters who see their work as a connection to the sacred and/or as an expression of their spiritual journey. “I hope that the exhibition will resonate with the spirituality of our visitors and provide a healing environment following the recent period of intense societal divisiveness,” Museum Curator Dr. Sandra Sider offers.

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I have already signed up for a class at the IHQS in Bloomington. It has been awhile since I have taken a class, so I'm excited about it. I DO hate to drag all my supplies to a class, but that is a small price to pay for a good class. 

If you know of any fiber-related events I could include on my blog, please let me know. I would be happy to add it.

Nashville Retreat--January 2017

I just got back from a quilt retreat held in Nashville, Indiana, at the Cornerstone Inn. What a wonderful time with some wonderful women. The weather even cooperated this year--no ice and snow like we had last year. One of the many reasons I love this retreat is because I get to spend some time with some of my "far-away" friends. 

Debby is from Tennessee, and Robin comes in from Minnesota.

Robin and I spent a bit of time checking out the Life Is Good store (and several other shops in Nashville).

 

Another big draw for this retreat is the Cornerstone Inn itself. This is a wonderful place with wonderful staff. The food isn't bad either! The breakfast is fabulous, and we are treated to an afternoon "snack" and evening dessert. It is REALLY hard to stick to a diet here. This is the afternoon "snack," and they keep refilling it when a container gets low.

A good time was had by all (and a lot of work was done) as you will be able to see in the following pictures.

This is one of the "work" rooms. We also have people in another room called "The Chapel."

I'm thinking the little animal quilt will make a sweet quilt for my new grand baby (coming in June). I LOVE the wonky houses in the other pic.

Jean works with lots of little pieces. She is the "leader" at this retreat.

 

Some people worked on whole quilts.

Some people worked on blocks and other small projects.

This retreat is so much fun that people even left vacations in Florida to be here! We also had a couple of women who came in casts. This is a "dedicated" bunch! I can't wait till the next one.