Still "Talking" Blocks!

I've had several questions about this oh so cute pattern. It's called "Let's Talk" by Custom Creations. I think I bought this at a quilt show some years back but I see it is still on their website. The link follows:

http://www.newleafpatterns.com/Patterns/Pattern_Images/CustomCr/customcr.html

Your local quilt shop should be able to order for you as it appears they don't sell direct.


I got 3 more blocks for the gift quilt previously mentioned. One more to arrive Friday and then ready to sash
While I am seldom thrilled with using buttons on quilt tops, buttons are the perfect choice for the phone keys and dial!
Finally, in my Oklahoma farmhouse party line days.... there was indeed a wood wall phone similar to this one ( but for the color additions)

Back to Business

'Am working with friends on finishing blocks for a gift quilt for a telecommunications friend. Several quilting friends worked together for many years in that near dead landline business of phone service..... so these blocks are of vintage ( actually long before any of us) phone sets from a pattern called Let's Talk. I got 3 more blocks this week.. some requiring finishing raw edges but they're done.
Some need a bit of pressing... oops!
You must admit, it's kind of an elegant look at the past.
Somehow, I must weave this project in with 2 others needing near term completion. Oh... I need a day stretcher. :-)

Weekend Cooking Class

I took a slight break from quilting. This was my Christian duty ( are you buying it?). I bought a cooking class at a Food Bank Fundraiser, so I spent Saturday at the Kitchen Shop in Glendora California.... prepping for and tasting a spectacular prime rib dinner. Getting ready for the holidays.
First a fresh bleu cheese dressing on an iceberg wedge. For this I learned it is important to test iceberg heads for firmness. Firm is good!
Then I learned how important it is to find a good butcher that will cut,trim, and tie your rib roast of not more than about 4 ribs / 4 pounds. Bigger roasts are hard to get rare, med rare, and well cuts all in one roast.
Is this not a beauty?
Nice way to spend a Saturday.... dining with a glass of great red wine.

"Outside My Window" complete

This image is inspired by a combination of photos I took in the canyon, beginning of course with the Scrub Jay photographed from my dining area window. I was marathon woman to get this done. Yesterday as I quilted leaves, the wind blew through our canyon at over 60 m.p.h. It was already cold so the extra wind chill was most unwelcome. It did however help to keep me inside at my machine. Happily, by evening I was working on the facing, label, and sleeve. Today, all is complete on this project so I can go to the next thing on my list!

Earlier in this process, I was uncertain about my choice of variegated thread in the air flow background. All said and done, I'm happy with the combination of dark teal, light teal, near yellow, and a burgundy/blue twist. It really made the air flow texture prominent.

"Outside My Window" will travel next year to multiple venues including amongst others, Road To California, and Mancusco Bros shows.

You're so "VEIN"

Okay I know the title makes little sense, but I keep hearing the 1970's song "You're so Vain" as I started to quilt the autumn leaves. My goal in 'veining' the leaves is to show off the bright yellows wherever possible. Saving the more simple yellow areas also offer a bit of an eye resting place.
I'll try to show what I mean. Here's a leaf part with some nice yellow areas. You can see I sketched in possible vein locations in ink.
I tried to quilt in a way that left the majority of the yellow area prominent.

Going With The Flow!

Quilting the background air is always a challenge. In Fall in our narrow canyon, air flows quickly down the canyon. It's graceful but nonetheless powerful. So I will quilt accordingly... or at least try. This piece will not be as heavily quilted as some of my competitive pieces so most of the original ink painting will remain visible.

First things first..... In each quilt, prior to starting with any new thread choice, I use the excess ( i.e. that extra border fabric not to be included in the fiinished quilt) to test thread tension. I used to do that on a separate quilt sandwich, but heck.... longarmers test in the outer edges so this made sense to me.
The background has bits of light or early snow if you choose to interpret it that way..... so first things first, I secured them jumping from one to another making certain to secure with small start / stop stitches as I went. Close clipping will trim nicely so this should work out alright.

Now to quilt air flow..... it's much like quilting flowing water but for the lack of sometimes water bubbles. There are a couple things to think about when doing this... lines must move and curve, adjacent lines can somewhat echo the previous BUT
exagerate the echo sometimes sweeping further out from previous curve, and sometimes coming closer to the previous echo. Ah nature,,,, it is here without regiment. That's good, AND it makes it a bit more interesting too. I haven't yet decided if I really like my thread choice.
Getting there.

Painted!!!!

The painted part is pretty much complete. You may notice I left the bottom edge in a rough ink pattern as I think I may 'wash' that area with a cool blue similar to the Jay's feathers.

This blue on the bottom edge may be additive when quilted.