Friday, March 16, 2012

I've had a productive week

I've been enjoying some hand piecing with these snowball blocks inspired by Lizzie. They're so simple to put together  and make for relaxing stitching time in front of the telly. I have six out of eleven rows together without hardly any effort. Of course it would be quicker by machine if that's what you'd prefer. I'm using some perspex templates but there are patterns in some Kaffe Fassett books. I know there's one in his book Simple Shapes Spectacular Quilts
Not all of the fabrics are Kaffes, a lot are from my stash in the cupboard.
The Coxcomb and Currants quilt is commanding most of my attention at the moment. I spent a good few days drawing out the border pattern for the trapunto and transferring it to the quilt top.


These are the first copies which I did on butter paper so I could see how it would look on the quilt top. Once I fine tuned it, I made a master copy on tougher paper and used the light table to mark the quilt.
I'm rather pleased with how the corner turned out which is very much like the antique quilt
Now I get to baste the muslin to the back and start the stitching. It's going to be a long journey.

The fourth panel for the Trailing Vines quilt is available for download, just click on the Trailing Vines page at the top of my blog to access it. While I was doing the drawing, I noticed a  leaf  missing off the quilt  so as soon as I stitch that on, I'll add some photos to flickr.

46 comments:

Michele T said...

I love it!!! I don't really understand how you are doing this but it looks fantastic and I will keep checking on updates to see how it develops. Thanks for sharing!!

Louise said...

Your border for the Coxcombs and Currants is absolutely beautiful.
It is definitely one of my very favorites. Love it!!!!!!!

Archie The Wonder Dog said...

I love your snowball quilt - the dotty 'corners' (for want of a more suitable word!) look fabulous with the floral prints! I'm looking forward to seeing more of your trapunto - the border (and corner!) design looks wonderful!

Kimme said...

This is definitely going to be an award winning quilt Janet! Are you going to cross hatch the areas with no trapunto?

Salley said...

Great idea to have got rid of "normal" border setting triangles earlier.
Hope you have it under lock and key! Its looking amazing.

Carla A Few Of My Favorite Things said...

Breathtaking border!

Janet said...

I love your border drawing - the corner turns beautifully! You will enjoy stitching and stuffing it now. What a project!!
I've preped the leaves for the last couple branches of panel #2. I'm almost ready for #3 I'm not keeping up very well but I'm enjoying the process :0) Thanks so much.
The snowballs look so very happy.

barbara woods said...

your border is beautiful

Nifty Quilts said...

Both projects are wonderful. You are truly inspiring.

Heather said...

Wow, I love both of these quilts. Seems you like hand work as much as I do!

Darlene said...

Another "Janet Project" that leaves me breathless. Huge Sigh!!! Stunning!

Unknown said...

I adore your snowball quilt! I think it looks fabulous with the spot fabric as the connectors. And your coxcomb and currants is just, well awe inspiring!

One Minnesota Quilter said...

I have followed you for a while but haven't commented lately.

Your work is always so finely executed. Everything you have posted here today is wonderful. The snowball quilt is especially bright and cheerful! What a nice selection of fabrics.

Judy

Thimbleanna said...

Productive? I'd say so! That's weeks worth of work for me! I love that snowball quilt -- Love Love it! And your C&C quilt is just going to be gorgeous. You're amazing Ms. Quiltsalott!

Dorothy said...

It feels good to get a full week of sewing done. Your quilts are looking wonderful. I have down loaded Vine No 4. I started on No3 today. I'm going to join 1 & 2 with a sash to see how it looks. Will let you know.

Judy Dietrich said...

WOW--what a border. This is going to be a showstopper quilt!! Really neat how the border will turn the corner. It will be a long journey--but the result will be spectacular!! I have been cutting into my 1880-1900 pieces of fabric & keeping even the tiniest pieces for my vine quilt flowers. Thanks for giving me the perfect pattern to use these on!! Hardly wait to see what you get done in the next week----I will be watching lots of basketball as it is March Madness throughout the US. It will be a great break from cleaning and housework. I am sure I will find time to do a little stitching.

Anonymous said...

such contrast in skills janet, and i love both, but i do love the big blooms of course !

Annemart Berendse said...

Wow, what a great job, your vines! And I do love your snowballs for a whole different reason. Would love to have a chat with you over the kitchen table to discuss both our techniques!

Featheronawire Sally Bramald said...

I love your colour usage in the paper pieced quilt. I think your colour choice is 2nd to none!
I also think you must be very slightly insane (lols), all those currants and then you decide to design even more into your border! Good grief, what were you thing? (grin)
I love that you go for the best solution, not the quickest or the easiest just the very best. I am so impressed.

Susan said...

Your border is beautiful, absolutely beautiful!!! And I love the snowball blocks with the black and white spots!

Kaaren said...

You have the patience of Job and the artistic abilities of Picasso. A win-win situation for sure!

Stunning, Janet and an inspiration as always.

Shirley said...

Phew! Janet you are a human dynamo. Fantastic design and love the octagons, That is another quilt for the ever growing list, not to mention the vines as well.

antique quilter said...

oh Janet I am in awe....I just love it and am so inspired to do more applique, maybe even attempt trapunto!
maybe!!!
the snowballs look great, that is just such a fun quilt.
ah thanks for Vine 4
a dream still of mine
Kathie

Oops-Lah said...

The big bloom quilt is next on my to do list as soon as I have finished s couple of tops. Looking at yours makes me want to hurry up so I can start. I'm sure I will also have more than enough fabrics in my stash and will only have to buy the dotted fabric for the little squares. Can't wait to get started. Greeting from sunny Switzerland.

Marie said...

The Coxcomb quilt is going to be a work of art when it is finished Janet - absolutely gorgeous! I'm often challenged when it comes to deciding as to how to the quilting pattern to use but this is giving me great ideas.

Carrie P. said...

Lovin' those snowballs. It is so fun.
Looks like you will be busy with your applique quilt.

Abby and Stephanie said...

I love your your fussy cut the flowers to be the snowball centers. Perfect with polka dots. Your applique and quilting are totally amazing and I could sit and look at it for ages.

Jess @ Scrappy n Happy said...

I love the snowballs! The border looks gorgeous! I just did a workshop with Deb Louie doing trapunto feathers but I think the technique is probably different to how you do it...more than one way to achieve the look I guess.

Pinkadot Quilts said...

You are so inspiring Janet! The border is going to accent your blocks perfectly. I can see why you want to keep working on it.

Lori said...

Wowser Janet!! I love what you are doing and I love seeing how you do it!! It is going to be lovely!!

Cheri said...

Wow, you have had a productive week. Don't you just love quilt momentum! Both projects are lovely, I so enjoy your posts, and to see your processes. The coxcomb borders are beautiful. Butter paper?? Is that what we call wax paper here in the states?
Happy Stitching Janet

Mary said...

I love the snowball quilt! And your border design - WOW! Great job.

M and M plus 3 said...

Wow, thanks for sharing your designing strategy. I have one I need to spend time doing the same. I love what your doing!

Linda said...

Janet, I so enjoy seeing how you do things. Brilliant idea to use the see-through paper.

Unknown said...

Love your Variety of Works you are doing..your Snowball Quilt is Fabulous love the spotted cnr stones...
TFS
cheers

Pat said...

Your border design fits the look of your appliqued quilt perfectly...looking forward to seeing your progress!

Rachaeldaisy said...

The snowball quilt is so much fun! it's so big and bloomy, sewing each patch would be like planting another flower in a garden. Your Currants and Coxcombs is just amazing. You say it'll be a long journey but I'm impressed at how quickly you sewed the trumputo blocks. It's great to see your process with the butter paper.

Jane in Cumbria said...

I love the snowballs! Your colours are amazing!
Jane

Lisa said...

Janet the Coxcomb is amazing, and I know your trapunto will be breathtaking. I've never heard of butter paper. Is it waxed? Your snowball quilt is just a riot of color, and looks just like something you would do! :)

Dixie Howard said...

Wow, the border design just knocks my socks off. This quilt is so wonderful. Love your other hand pieced quilt too. How fun to cut the pieces "just so!"

Barb said...

I'm in awe of your process! You'd be horrified if you knew mine.
The corner is perfect and looks great.
What a masterpiece you are creating!

Cardygirl said...

Love your blooms...slowly plugging away on mine!

imquilternity said...

What lovely quilts and the styles just couldn't be more different. I love all the color in the Snowball, but adore the quilting pattern you've designed for the Currant quilt. You have so much patience.

Ann Champion said...

Your Snowball quilt is beauful..and the trapunto border on the Coxcomb is going to be spectacular. I love how you turned the corner.

Thank you for the next installment of the vines quilt.

Everything you do amazes me..especially how fast you work. :)

Ruth said...

I love the big flower, snow ball quilt. Do you have the pattern to share. I would love to start one. Thanks, Ruth

Gail said...

Your applique is stunning. Can't wait to see how you do the trapunto, are you going to do it the traditional way of stuffing small pieces of batting betwee the threads or the cutaway version? I've never actually seen either method demonstrated so I hope you'll post pictures for us all.

Thank you,
Gail :)