Saturday, June 28, 2014

UFO's unearthed

Kind of on a roll!  When I moved to the townhouse, everything went into boxes, and nearly a year later, those boxes are being opened with. "Oh!  I remember this!"  I am sure you know how that goes.  Or if you don't, you ought to try it sometime. Kind of fun seeing something that was almost forgotten, and now has the opportunity to get finished.


This is my Dad's quilt, and since this picture was taken, the final row was pieced and attached, and now it sits waiting for me to purchase the backing.  My Dad.  A tremendous Man.  He has an easy smile and an infectious wit.  A Civil Engineer, a Rancher, a Realtor, County Commissioner ... he even ran for Wyoming State Congress.  He's just pretty amazing.  He wanted a lap quilt, and he wanted brown.  Off to the stash I went, and found pieces which were appropriate with a western theme.  Only thing was, the print was a large scale, and cutting too small would take away from what the print represents. So I chose to use 4 1/2 inch wide strips and make it look like the strips were weaving in and out on an irregular avenue.  Kind of how we weave in and out during life ... at least to me at any rate.

Found this UFO in an old crock I use to hold some of my fabrics making them close at hand when
needing a small scrap of something.  Couldn't tell you why the finished blocks were in there, but hey!  At least they were found. This picture just shows them on the flannel board, but I sewed them all together a couple of days ago.  It sits and waits for backing fabric, too ... but I think I would also like to put a couple of borders around the edge, only IF I can find fabric to compliment.  I used a Free Spirit line, and this quilt top is made from 1 Jelly Roll, and 2 different tone on tones I had in my stash.  Turned out to be a lovely large square quilt, that is bright and cherry and I love that.


And then there is this one.  I pulled it out yesterday.  Trying to remember when I started it, and the closest I can come is maybe 3 or 4 years ago.  I love Sampler Quilts, but I like them done in this fashion.  That way, wherever you look at the quilt you see something new.  Worked on it some last night finishing off the top row section as well as a block into a lower section.  Picture later.

Western Colorado is beautiful!  Semi arid desert region, and where I live is at the conjunction of the Gunnison and Colorado rivers, thus the name Grand Junction for this little city of ours.  The fabrics in the last picture remind me of what I see as a color scheme here.  Depending on when you look around, whether it is the morning sun burning away the night time sky, or the end of the day as the purples enter to chase the sun away. Or if you look at the numerous trees with their varied shades on greens, flowers dotting each yard, and even the concrete sidewalks and the asphalt streets have a way of enhancing color.




 But when you look beyond that, Grand Junction sits in a valley surrounded by the Bookcliffs, Grand Mesa and Colorado National Monument.  Three very different looks, each carrying their own unique color scheme.  This is my home ... and I love it!



Sunday, June 22, 2014

The infrequent blog entries are going to end!  New things happening in the life of Diane and Pins and Tangled Needles.

This last year has been a year of growing, healing and New Beginnings.  And at a time of seeing the Sun shine brighter than I have ever seen it, I am enthusiastic for what lies ahead.





I love babies!  They are the greatest thing in the world, especially when born to some pretty amazing parents.  So with this quilt, now finished and delivered, I am finishing one up for my amazing Dad! Pictures of that soon!  Not to mention an increasing amount of UFO's which are no longer whispering their existence ... they are now screaming LOL .... it will be good to revisit them

A new thing is about to happen at Pins and Tangled Needles.  A Long Arm!  Huzzah!!!  I have been waiting a long time to get one of those  beauties, and as soon as the details are worked out, I'll be sharing that with you as well.

But for now, I wish you the best of days!  Be well and Smile