For the Birds - top is done!!!

 Borders were just finished up on this baby.  It measures 80" x 97", much larger than I set out to make.  I really wanted the bicycle border, and it needed to be wide.

My friend and I will be making a large bicycle to go on the back side of our "For the Birds" quilt.  I purchased this cute pattern and am eagerly awaiting its arrival.

I have also been contemplating the finish of my quilted barns. I found this Windmill pattern by the same designer as the bike. I fell quickly in love and decided my barns need a windmill.

I am pondering my Churn Dash quilt a lot of late as part of Chooky's SAL.  My brain is swimming with ideas, and Google and Pinterest have been searched.  One idea is to use them to frame some cute houses I bought a couple of months ago.  I may sew one up and see what I think before I officially decide.  Doing the SAL in this way would kill two birds with one stone - use my recent purchase while following the SAL.  On the other hand,  it would be fun to just make a churn dash quilt on its own without the houses.  The crazy side of me might actually do both.  What the heck - they are pretty simple blocks anyway.

Once they are churn dash framed, I am considering placing flowers between them.  The way they are below, the flowers overpower the houses.  I want the focus on the houses.  If the churn dash frame doesn't make them pop, I will find a simple block to go between them instead of the flowers.

I could also churn dash frame these cute chicken blocks as well.  Too many churn dash ideas.  It is super fun though.

I am linking today with:

Monday Making

Design Wall Monday

Oh Scrap!

Monday This & That

2011 DOD Mystery - The Story

This is the story of how this quilt and others like it came to be.  Once I finish it, I hope to some day host a similar mystery only with easier blocks.

This project was a mystery "designer" quilt challenge I hosted in 2011.  The participants each chose a theme for their own quilts and emailed me "rules" and "techniques".  I set the size parameters each month and then randomly used one of their rules and techniques.

I thought it would be fun to revisit the rules as I organize where to move next on my barns.

Rule #1 released Jan 10, 2011

SIZE:  Make a 12” finished unit.

RULE:  Make at least 4 flying geese 

TECHNIQUE:  There is no technique specified for this first time.  You can paper-piece, rotary cut, appliqué, whatever you want.

This is what I made from my own design using thread work, paper piecing, and some fabric painting.  The flying geese are in the grain silo.  They are paper pieced - very small.

Rule #2 

SIZE:  Make a 12” x 8” unit.  When this unit is finished, add it to the TOP OR THE BOTTOM of the #1 unit.

RULE: “A rectangle big enough to showcase the theme of the quilt by fussy cutting a theme fabric OR using an appliqué OR an embroidery OR a photo. "

TECHNIQUE:  Any hexagon shaped (6 sided) technique. 

My rectangle to showcase the theme was the piece that says "Bud's Moo-tel".  Bud was my grandpa, and this represents his barn.  I also appliqued a hexagon window to meet the technique.

Rule #3 

SIZE:  Make a 20” x 5” unit.  When this unit is finished add it to EITHER the RIGHT or LEFT SIDE of the quilt. 

RULE: “Use a color or fabric you would  never normally use. "

TECHNIQUE:  embroidery (hand or machine)

I used the scarecrow/sunflower large print for my "never use" fabric and hand embroidered the fence.

Rule Release #4:

SIZE: Make a section that is 17” wide by 7” tall finished  This piece needs to be made to fit on the TOP or BOTTOM of your quilt.

TECHNIQUE:  needle-turn appliqué (no machine)
Again, you don’t have to make the entire block using the needle-turn technique – only some of it.

RULE:  Make positive/negative blocks. 

My positive negative blocks were on the barn front.  They are square in a square blocks - very small.  The tree trunks are needle turn applique'.

Rule Release #5

SIZE:  27" tall by 14" wide to be added to the RIGHT or LEFT side of the quilt.

RULE:  machine pieced circle somewhere

TECHNIQUE:  thread painting/free motion MACHINE embroidery

 My moon is the circle and the tree branches are thread painting.

Rule Release #6

SIZE:  10" tall by 31" wide to be added to the TOP or BOTTOM of the quilt.

RULE:  "Place a house or cabin that fits your theme in the block, not a log cabin block but an actual building"

TECHNIQUE:  Free style machine curved piecing

My house is the mail box.  It is hard to tell in the photo, but the sewing line where green ground meets yellow sky was done with a gentle curve of piecing.

Rule Release #7

SIZE:   The next couple of rule releases combined together will now build a column to either SIDE of the project.  This portion of the column will measure 12" wide finished  and 17" tall finished.  It WILL NOT BE attached to the quilt at this time because we will join it to the other column pieces in the rules that will follow.

RULE:  "make something flat that looks 3D (example: tumbling block)"

TECHNIQUE:  There is none specified for this month.  Do what you want.

I tried to create a 3D illusion with the barn and the tall trees in front of the rows in the field.  I was going for a depth illusion as well.

Rule Release #8

SIZE:  This rule #8 will complete that column.   Make it 20" tall by 12" wide finished. Join rules 7 & 8 on top of each other according to your preference to form a column and then to either SIDE of the quilt.

Technique:  Paper Piecing technique

Rule: include the color yellow or add a flower of any sort

The yellow and the flowers are obvious.  The barn is paper pieced.  I designed it.  There are many barns around that are nearly falling down.  I was trying to portray that.

Rule Release #9

RULE:  Use different sized blocks that fit together. For instance, use a 4" finished block and 2" finished blocks as their measurements fit together easily.

TECHNIQUE:  Something 3D - it actually has to stick up on the quilt like flower petals or embellishments.  (This won't be a flat 3D like we did before.)

SIZE:  Block # 9 will go on the top or the bottom of the quilt.  This block will be the width of the quilt and 12 inches tall finished.

The 3D are the orange flowers under the run down barn.  The petals are such that you can actually run your fingers under them.

Rule Release #10

RULE: Make four disappearing 9 patches 

TECHNIQUE:  Use a folded insert technique.  See explanation at the very bottom of this post.

SIZE:  Block # 10 should be 9" tall and fit the full width of the quilt (43-1/2" wide).  We will place it on the top or bottom of the quilt.  

The folded inserts are the cross bars on the barn door (2nd barn door below).  The disappearing 9 patches are the front of the red/orange barn.  They are very small.

Rule Release #11

Rule:  incorporate one or more yo-yo into your block

Technique:  any technique you choose


Size:  We are going to build another column to go on either side of the quilt.  Block #11 will need to be 17 1/2" wide ( 17" finished) by 20 1/2" tall (20 finished).  This should bring the quilt width to the right size to fit on top of a queen-sized bed.

This is the block, but there are no yo-yos on it yet.  I think I will do bushes or flowers out of them.  They will be on the water's edge somewhere.

That's it.  That is as far as I made it.  I still need to follow rules 12-15 for a final finish.  Wish me luck in my planning!  I don't want this quilt to be large, so I may not follow the size rules exactly.

Rule Release #12

Rule:  put words in it somewhere

Technique:  I am calling this technique the "Buggy Barn" technique.  The idea comes from the way Buggy Barn patterned quilts are made.  You may use a real Buggy Barn pattern if you choose, but it would be a learning experience to try to make your own.

Size:  We are going to add to but not complete the column we started in rule 11.  Remember that this column will go on either side of the quilt.  Block #12 will need to be 17" wide by 19" tall.  You can join block #12 to the top or bottom of block #11.  

I am thinking buggy barn pine trees maybe.

Rule Release #13

Rule:  Must use 3 tones or values of the same color.


Technique:  None - use any technique you choose.

Size:  We are going to complete the column we started in rules 11 and 12.  Remember that this column will go on either side of the quilt.  Block #13 will need to be 17" wide by 19" tall.  You can join block #13 to the top or bottom of your 11/12 column. 

Rule Release #14

Rule:  Make a pinwheel


Technique:  combine a hand stitched applique with embroidery

Size:  We are going to make half of a row this month and next month we'll make the other half to complete the quilt top (minus borders).  This row will go on either the TOP or BOTTOM of the quilt.  Block #14 will need to be 30" wide by 22" tall. 

Perhaps I can make a windmill near a barn and use a pinwheel block on top of it.

Rule Release #15

Rule: "No Pink." 


Technique:  Choose any technique you favor.   

Size:  This row completion, once sewn to the TOP or BOTTOM of your quilt, will complete the quilt top -- yay!  (minus borders).  Block #15 will need to be 30 1/2" wide ( 30" finished) by 22 1/2" tall (22 finished). 

MARIE'S PROGRESS

I just wanted to post some photos of my progress.  I finished quilting two quilts last year that I failed to post on the blog.

This quilt is Deana's pattern called Shimmer Braid. I finished the top a long time ago, but just recently finished quilting it. I quilted this on my home machine and I did a lot of quilting on it--probably too much, but I am happy with the way it turned out.

The next quilt is my Optical Illusion Mystery Quilt. It has been pieced and waiting to be quilted even longer than the Shimmer Braid. It's a very different quilt, and I really struggled quilting it, but I learned a lot about machine quilting on a domestic machine on this quilt.

 My goal for last year was to get caught up on my quilting so that I could always just have one quilt on the frames being basted, one quilt being quilted and one quilt  being pieced, and no other unfinished quilts.  I like to have more than one quilt to work on so that I don't get too bored. When I finished quilting the Shimmer Braid I reached that goal.

I finished piecing my New York Beauty before the end of the year, but for some reason I failed to take a photo of the finished quilt top, so I just took a photo of it on the quilt frames being basted. Here are the three quilts I'm currently working on.

This top has been waiting for a long, long time to be quilted.

I decided it was time to something a little more simple this time and I am enjoying putting together a quilt that goes together quickly.

Linking up with:  TGIFF

I made progress this week -- Deana

I am SO EXCITED to have finally made some quilting progress.  Below are photo updates of what I accomplished this week.
I spent most of the week creating this next block for my "Quilted Barns".  This block goes in the Daughters of Dorinda Mystery project.  I am pleased with how it is coming along.  All of the tiny bridge pieces were turned under and glued together until I could stitch them down.  I still have about 1/3 left to hand stitch.  I will also add some thread painted thinner bars to add more detail to the bridge. 

I further intend to applique a horse and buggy on the road. 

I put a plastic spoon in the picture to give you an idea how tiny those bridge pieces are.

Below are three blocks that are partially done for the Block Lotto this month.  I need to get to a copy center to get an accurate template for template A.  My printer chops off the bottom edge of it, so I will have to get the template another way.  I would LOVE to win this quilt.  It is so me!  I have three more blocks cut out and want to do a total of 9.

Next are three blocks for my Omigosh quilt.  I loved the one I made for Linda so much that I just must have one for myself.  These blocks will finish at 4 1/2" each.  (spoon dimension again).

Next, I completed one more Dear Jane block.  I think it is SO DARN CUTE!   

F-5 is called Parcheesi.  It took me 1 hour and 42 min. today and has 25 pieces. 

I paper pieced and hand appliqued it.

I have spent a total of 60 hours and 50 min on my Dear Jane Quilt

So far it has 1,513 pieces.

Update on Dorinda Mystery...

I wanted to post the progress quilts of our Dorinda Mystery project for 2011.
Mine is called the Quilted Barn.

Ann's is called Autumn Country.




Marie's is called Optical Illusions -- her latest block...

And the rest of her quilt...

Lyn's is called Small Town Winter.

And her latest block...

Below are two parts of Stephanie's forest.


Dorine's is called Birds.

And this block will be added soon.

Tracy's is called Country Traditions.



There are many others, but these are all Daughters of Dorinda who participated.  It has been so much fun to meet new quilters and enjoy a project together.