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Thursday, August 15, 2013

More Progress on Vines and Stars Quilts

Surprise, I'm back sooner than you may have expected.  Between job and family and working on two quilts simultaneously, there never seems to be time to tell you, dear friends, what is happening in my studio and life.  I'm trying to do better, honestly, I am!  You have no idea how much I miss you when I am unable to connect with you through this blog!

Autumn Chains is being quilted on my Bernina during the daylight hours when I can see to quilt better.  So during the evening hours when it is too dark up here in the studio to quilt confidently, I spend time on Vines and Stars. I'm really trying to maximize the hours I have when I'm not at work.

Last week, I showed just the applique strips and the stars completed at that time.  You can see photos in my last post  here.  Here is a look at what has happened since then.

 
There are two more blocks than there were in the last post.  That doesn't seem like much progress, but all of the remaining 16 blocks have now been cut.  All of the background triangles have been added to the design wall as well.  If things seem a bit off, remember that all of these pieces are separate pieces placed on the design wall. The quilt looks a bit "wonky" at this point, but it will be fine when everything is stitched together.
 
See all of those white spares?  Yep, 16 of them to be filled in yet.  Do you notice what is missing?  I mean besides those 16 blocks?  There is very little blue and yellow !  How did I miss that?  That is why a design wall is essential -- you get to see the big picture before the blocks are sewn together.  I've actually added very little more blue, but there are several yellow blocks waiting to be stitched together.
 
You may remember that there was some doubt that there would be a sufficient amount of the black background fabric.  It was purchased when we lived in a different state several years ago, so purchasing additional fabric was not an option.  Here is what was left once the background pieces and remaining blocks were cut out.
 

Yikes!  The largest leftover chunk is 9" x 12-1/2".  Enough to go back and re cut the block in the lower left corner.  Did you notice it?  Nope, you can't see it.  There is NO contrast in the photo.  In person, I can see it is a block made with a dark rust star, but it disappears in the photo.  Maybe there will have to be a blue block to replace that one.

Design walls and taking photos in progress are a good thing in quilt making!  It is far better to see a problem before all the pieces are stitched together.

Hope you are having an absolutely awesome week!

 
Until next time
 
xoxoXOXOxoxo
 
Lois


 
 
 

4 comments:

julieQ said...

What a gorgeous focus quilt!! I loe your design!

julieQ said...

Love....missed that word!

Botanic Bleu said...

Coming along very nicely!

Photographs do reveal what the eye misses. Recently, I took some photos of the kitchen. While working with them, I noticed a tupperware pie saver in the bottom of the bifold cabinet section of my kitchen. That is not where it normally 'lives.' So, I went into the kitchen to take the tupperware out of the cabinet. Oh, my! Inside was left-over cake that all of us had forgotten about.
Good thing I took some photos or who knows how long that cake would have stayed there.

Judith

Unknown said...

Maybe if you moved the rust colored block above the blue-green star block in the right hand corner and had another light colored star above it, it would not appear to disappear as much? Just a thought. Beautiful, Mom!