colors

So I really like these colors and thought I would play with them a bit.......then I got this little template in the mail that I wanted to try called " Lil' Twister.  So you sew the blocks together like this with a small border.

My Inspiration...or is obsession???

My quilt to study is this one, #59 Crazy Star. I seem to spend every evening staring at it and trying to figure out, "Now HOW the @#$* did they do this???" I am no stranger to string quilts, or liberated quilts, but this one just keeps amazing me. I had to buy the book because once I saw this quilt on the web, I couldn't stop thinking about it.
Is it strip pieced? Is it a log cabin (sort of)?? Are those little wedges of strings bigger pieces that were pieced and then cut up into several blocks? Sewn by hand (can you strip piece by hand?!) or machine (treadle?!) Each of those little scrappy squares are like miniature compositions. Yikes. This is absolutely the antithesis of every Amish quilt I've ever seen... oh I just love it.
I have no idea what I will make inspired by this quilt, or how to liberate it further (this seems pretty darn liberated already...would love to know more about the maker, and what her neighbors or fellow quilters in the community thought of her) ... but I'm darn sure gonna try something! Hopefully this weekend!

not sure about the letters

Now, of course, after making them, i'm not sure about them. This top has hit the ugly stage. I usually don't do borders, unless they are pieced, but I am considering either more black or red.

Gonna see 'em in person...

Hi Everyone,

I really wasn't going to talk about this until I got back, but I thought it would be nice to let you all give me some suggestions as to what you would like to know about the quilts.... oh oops... I am going, tomorrow, to see the Amish Abstractions exhibit at the DeYoung museum in San Francisco. I live so close it would be stupid not to go, King Tut is there too so I get a two-fer :) If there are any specific ones that you have a question about and it is one of the ones there I would be happy to take as close a look as possible and let you know. I am going to take a notebook with me because I want to take notes on the quilts so I don't forget what I saw :) Let me know.

I have no progress to share on my quilt yet, I have been doing some sewing for my other hobby (asian ball jointed dolls) I had a commission to finish and a baby quilt to make and finish before the 16th of March so all of my time has been taken up with that. I get to work more on my Amish quilt next week, hopefully!

Moon On Pond

Cheryl checking in......

Hi All~I haven't started my project yet, but thought I would share a pic of an Amish inspired quilt that I made in 2002. It's queen sized and is machine pieced and hand quilted by me.
I obviously love Amish quilts and am glad to be a part of this group. We live in Amish country and I enjoy driving by their farms on washday to see the wonderful quilts and rugs hanging out on the line.
For my project, I am using the Triangles crib quilt (#93 on the Brown's website) as an inspiration and Gwen's method for equilateral triangle sawtooth borders as my guide.
Lastly, I just have to say that what I have seen so far is amazing! You are all an inspiration!

Eye candy and a little bit of progress

Brenda here with some Amish goodness.I know this Trip around the World block isn't liberated, but it's still worth sharing with you . This one here made by a fellow guild member for our monthly challenge (see my blog here for all the blocks) measures 12.5 inches with half-inch squares. It's really, really lovely.
I think all Amish quilts have an element of liberation -- no matchy matchy prints from the same design line here -- just honest solids that speak boldly and clearly.

I've been watching the progress on this blog and you are all amazing. I've been really unfocussed with my attempt to liberate a quilt. I did cut and re-sew my strip into this, but it's not really working for me. And I do have words to share, just no quilt to put them in. It's a bit of a backwords process here, but maybe that's the liberated part.

Progress II

Been sewing like crazy these last few days.

Here is the finished centre and the first border, which I now think is too wide and I'm going to cut down a bit.

Not too sure what to do for the next border as I don't want to detract from the centre.  I thought about using a thin strip of the dusky pink I used in the quilt.  Definitely NOT yellow!  The large outer border will be black.

When I was piecing the blocks together I lost the plot somewhat and it isn't the same as it was.  Some blocks got moved around and I forgot the original placement.  I usually take a photo before I start piecing everything together so I can remember where it all goes.  This time I forgot to and I think it's lost a certain je ne sais quoi!

I also think that putting the original words around the border - "S is for Stripes (or Strings)" - will be too much so I'm thinking of doing that for the back. Is this within the rules?

Introduction!

Hello Everyone - I'm Lurline! It is so nice to join you, however it is with a little trepidation that I do - I am a traditional quilter - love antique quilts and also enjoy making modern quilts, too! I really like the idea of venturing into liberated quilting, but I have a funny feeling it will be hard for me to break out of the old constraints. I'm going to try and I'm sure I'll have a lot of inspiration around me!

I have bought Gwen's new book and am quite fascinated. This Wonky Log Cabin is as far as I have extended myself and I must say that I really enjoyed making it as I love playing with colour and design!

I'm looking forward to making an Amish quilt - it will be a real challenge! I will have to buy some plain colours and that probably is a good thing. Kaffe is a very great favourite of mine, so maybe I'll even look at his shot cottons - we have plenty of time to think about that and I have a little matter of shoulder surgery in March to get out of the way first - it is nice to dream!

Thanks for having me, and if you like, you can find out lots more about me at Lurline's Place - I'd love a little visit!

Happy day - Lurline♥

Help, Please

My quilt top hasn't progressed much since my last post.

I have decided on a black backing and border.  Someone had asked about the size; someone else wondered how I was going to quilt this.  

It is 27.5 square.  As to how to quilt it, I have no idea.  Usually, if the quilt is really special, I will send it off to a professional longarmer.  I think I will quilt this one myself.  Maybe even hand quilt it.  

I really don't want to mess this up as I am pleased with it so far.  I would really love to hear your suggestion.  Thank you in advance for all your brilliant ideas!

Here Is My Start

I hand dyed these and I'm looking forward to using them. This is my start! Now what pattern??

Natalie Carlton

and that is OK

And that is OK!

I started working on my wonky words... First stab...
Since it's all crazy wonky I thought the affirmation:

I am not perfect, and that is OK

Would work nicely!
But two things, One I ran out of navy blue...
and two, I think I want them SMALLER to fit in the borders...

So, after a lovely trip to the quilt shop,( yippee!)
I may take another stab at it... or i may put the words on the back...

we'll see...
But I've stopped procrastinating, so that's good!

It begins

Have completed the Chinese Coin strips for my LIBAM quilt. ONe has been trimmed, but I may make them different widths, if I can depending on the strip beginnings and endings.

top ready

My top is ready. The size is now 75,5 x 57,5 inch.
Now I have to make the back where I shall add the letters.

All suggestion for machine quilting are very! welcome.

Making headway

I've been popping in and out of my sewing room this weekend.  Between quilting for others, going to Vancouver BC to see some Olympic flavor and mowing my lawn, I've got the center of my quilt done.  I know, strange how I've had to mow my lawn, yet I spent the afternoon/evening at the Winter Olympics!

Now to work on the border and lettering. I've never made any liberated letters, but I have all the instructions from Tonya's blog/website. I've got my words picked out. I think I want a colored narrow border, but just don't know what that is yet and my letters are going to be a rainbow of colors to match the stars with black background.

Here is a picture of the Olympic flame, pretty impressive.

Sharon in Blaine