Stars Quilt, Neon Stars & Aprons

It's time to start quilting! 

I finally decided to devote last weekend to basting my Stars in a Time Warp quilt.

It's fairly large 85" x 85" and the only place I have to work is on the dining room table. I basted a large grid by going through the center of each block both vertically and horizontally, diagonally from corner to corner and along the outer edges. 

These are the fabrics I put on the back. A 2-yard piece of A Season of Toiles From The Allentown Art Museum by P&B runs down the center bordered on three sides by Jeanne Horton's The Settlement Collection Antique Floral Brown. 

I usually make the backing 3" larger than the quilt top on all sides. When I'm finished basting I fold and pin the excess fabric to protect the edges. 

I'm quilting a 2" crosshatch all over which should go pretty fast. 

For last week's stars I had to make the most of one small piece of a Neon Novelty print which I'd been saving.

I started off with the print in the center and combined it with a Millennium fabric of blue/green on black.

Points were next . . . 

  Then the last of it for two corner squares. 

So I had no more Neon for one more star. But Barbara B. said if you didn't have any neon prints in your stash you could always choose a black and off-white print and pretend the neon faded. So that's what I did :)

Look at this fun orphan block with its great neon print. It was on the "freebie" table at the 2012 AQSG Seminar. 

Changing the subject :) After 30+ years we finally got a new washing machine which meant I had to thoroughly clean the laundry room. I keep part of my apron collection in there on a shelf and began to wonder if I really needed them all. 

The answer was "no, I didn't." But then I went to a costume/prop sale at NJ Shakespeare and what did I buy? An apron!

I just couldn't resist this one with its deep scalloped edge, rickrack-trimmed pocket, black bow, and original tag. It's reversible--polished cotton on one side and organdy on the other. 

The manufacturer's tag has Artistic Apron House, Monticello, FL. After a little research I found out the corporation was filed on Oct. 10, 1962 and was considered a foreign entity which only meant it's original filing was in another state not out of the country.  

I have a similar one in pink with a pretty oval pocket trimmed in tiny rickrack and . . .

. . . another in yellow . . .

. . . with a fun 60s print.

I must have close to 100 aprons. You can see more of my collection here and here.   

Happy sewing!



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Copyright 2015, Barbara Schaffer

Hex-Vex Workshop, Cadet Blue Stars & Country Roads

What fun! Yesterday I attended an all day Hex-Vex Workshop given by quilting buddy and blogger, Barb V.

Having never done any English paper piecing I thought these large hexies would be a great way to learn. Barb had lots of tips and plenty of creativity to share :) 

I brought a large assortment of fabrics with me but chose these patriotics. It didn't take long for me to realize these hexies could become addictive! 

During lunch break Natalie's daughter, Laura, wowed us with her Millefiori quilt--all paper pieced!

Cadet Blue & Celestial Stars from last week.

A couple of years ago I used these Cadet blues in several other projects here. 

A conversation print with little moon faces from Natalie's collection.

I think this one was from the Millennium . . . 

. . . and the red was originally from one piece of fabric which featured strips of conversation prints in red, white, and blue. It's an oldie.

I scrambled today to get the binding on Country Roads so I could join the "Linky Party" on Lori's Humble Quilts blog. Thanks, Lori, for the fun quiltalong!

 


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Copyright 2015, Barbara Schaffer

Leaf Peeping, One Patch & Claret Red Stars

We were in the north country this past weekend where my daughter and I did some serious leaf peeping on country roads :)

I love this time of year in the Adirondacks. The view from our deck is breathtaking!   

We made a quick stop when we saw the sun shining through these trees . . .

 . . . and again at the edge of a field. 

We stopped at a lake and admired the shoreline . . .

And a Maple up close . . .

. . . and a Mountain Ash with clusters of red berries against a clear blue sky. How beautiful!

Years ago my daughter gave me this One Patch top which I keep at the cabin. It fits right in with my rustic decor :)

  

It's mostly flannel and wool with some woven plaids thrown in. I love the way it feels. 

And here are my Claret Red stars from last week. 

 

Looks like I have a celestial print for this week :)

Happy Sewing!



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Copyright 2015, Barbara Schaffer 

Black Stars, Funky Prints and Quilt Border

Here are my Black & Gray Stars from last week. Would you believe I didn't have any Asian-Style fabric for the 3rd option . . . but wait . . . 

It was easy to choose fabrics for these stars as I found many of them in Natalie's basket. They are at least fifteen years old. 

Like the one in the center . . .   

And the star points . . .

Both of these . . .

And the background. I can claim the red and the black :)

When Barbara B. mentioned in her blog that some prints were just "strange" it made me think of this quilt top with some pretty funky fabrics.

The designs look like something from outer space, don't they? 

A little closer. Click on the image for a better view.

And even though I didn't have any Asian-Style prints in my stash perhaps these are? 

The first Stars In A Time Warp top is done! I had a little over two yards of this pillar print so decided to use it as the border. I'm leaning toward hand quilting but it's fairly large--85" x 85." We'll see!

Happy Sewing!

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Copyright 2015, Barbara Schaffer