April 15, 2024

Falling In Love Again

I have no explanation, really, but about the same time the COVID19 pandemic started, I stopped quilting.  I honestly don't know what happened.  I live in Melbourne, Australia - which happens to have been the most locked-down city in the world during the pandemic.  Don't believe me?  Just Google this phrase:

what was the most locked down city during the covid19 pandemic

...and you'll see it's true.

Now you'd think with all that time on my hands, and not being able to hardly even step outside the front door for months on end, well... what better time to be quilting?

I kept the machine dusted (LOL), and when restrictions lifted I had Brad, my maintenance hero, visit and give "Bernie" her annual servicing.  But until October of last year, the machine just sat there.  Then I made one quilt (a table runner and placemat set for my sister) - but that was all.  

I decided to sell the machine, but before putting it on the market wanted to get a couple more projects done.  I selected a simple panel quilt to make first - knowing I'd have a little "re-learning" to do.  As I cut the pieces out, sewed the top and then finally mounted it on the machine... yeah...   I've fallen in love again.  Head over heals just like before, maybe worse!  So there will be no sale.

I'm keeping Bernie.

As I sit here typing this post, I can hear the soft hum of longarm stitching - and I'm piecing together a kit quilt I bought way back in 2017.  And I'm falling in love again.

March 27, 2024

A Rose By Any Other Name (Toni)

 Her name was Rebecca Sue (Craddock) McClain - but I knew her as "Toni".

She was my cousin.
 
My memories of her go back over 65+ years. She was a fiercely loving woman, boldly energetic and always 100% "authentic". She always told it like she saw it, always disarmingly honest no matter the topic or situation. I grew up believing she was fearless, invincible, unstoppable. The older I got and the better I knew her, the more convinced I was of that. 
 
I remember her way of telling stories, the sound of her voice and her laugh.  She had a great love for animals and there always seemed to be pets, even a tame squirrel! She was always interested in what was "new" - so much curiosity about the world and life. She was my mother's closest confidant when I was growing up, and for the last 16 years or so she's been a huge blessing in my life.
 
And she was an avid quilter in her time. It was a passion we shared - and we spent many happy hours together at "The Quilt Place" - a fabulous quilting shop (sadly it's closed now) near her home in Titusville, Florida (photo below from my visit there in 2016).

I will miss her terribly - but the memories.... ah... the memories.  They will always make me smile.


October 24, 1940 - March 27, 2024

March 15, 2024

The Good, The Bad, The Unfinished (my not-quite-up-to-date quilt diary)



I had coffee today with a friend and we got to talking about quilting.  One thing led to another and I pulled up this blog to see where I'd left off.  I realized that I hadn't posted an update of this "quilt diary"since 2017!!!  This "quilt diary" post is just a more-or-less complete list of my quilt projects since I started quilting in 2010.  It's a little out of date, but I'll fix that later.
  1. Snowball and plain blocks

     2010 - queen size bedspread, hand quilted, polyester batting
  2. Ohio Star

    2010 - queen size bedspread - hand quilted, polyester batting
  3. Gail B's "Faded Memories" kit

      2010 -  50" x 60" - hand quilted, polyester batting
  4.  On Point Lattice Christmas Quilt


    Started 2012, completed in 2014 - king-size bedspread, hand quilted - polyester batting
    Woops! I never posted a photo of this one as a completed quilt (photo above of the top before sandwiching). Oh well....
  5.  Log Cabin "Cosmos"


    Started in 2010, completed in 2011 -approx 50" x 60"m hand quilted - polyester batting
  6. Log Cabin "Sunset"


    2010 - approx 50" x 60" hand quilted - polyester batting
    Somehow I managed not to post a photo of the finished quilt. Hm... well - 2010 was a busy year.
  7. Baby quilt (koala print in frames)

    Started in 2010, completed in 2013 - approx 45" x 50", hand quilted  - cotton batting
  8. My disaster quilt

    Stared in 2010, and... well, I didn't get far.  After cutting out the pieces, I realized that the design I'd come up with wasn't going to look nice at all - so it got shoved into the back of my UFO closet.  Maybe some day I'll take it out and do something with it.
  9. Small throw-sized window panel


    2010 - 48" x 60" (it was just a dark panel intended to cover/insulate a window in a rarely used room) machine quilted (not longarm) - polyester batting
  10. Gail B's "Forbidden Temple" Kit


    Started in 2011, completed in 2012 - 53" x 70", hand quilted   - bamboo batting
  11. Trees


    Started in 2011, finished in 2018 - queen-sized bedspread (wall hanging) - quilted on the longarm (Nested C's stitch pattern) - cotton batting
  12. Egyptian Placemats


    Started in 2011, completed in 2012 - approx 14" x 12", hand quilted - polyester batting
  13. Japanese print table runner


    2013 - approx 55" x 12" - hand quilted - polyester batting
  14. Civil War Prints


    2012 - approx 50" x 60" - hand quilted - polyester batting
  15. William Morris Layer Cake


    Started in 2013, finished in 2017 - queen size - quilted on the longarm ("Simply Stippling" groovy board) - polyester batting.
  16. Charcoal and Wine Snowblocks


    2013 - double size bedspread
    This project I didn't do the quilting on (which is why the image above just shows the top pre-quilting). I pieced the top and mailed it to friends in the US and they had a friend quilt and finish it.
  17. Tutti Fruity placemats

     

    Started in 2013, finished in 2015 - 14" x 10" - quilted on the longarm (free motion loop-d-loops) polyester batting
  18. Tutti Fruity tablerunner


    Started in 2013, currently MIA
    (hmm... actually... I don't think I actually pieced it together, so it's probably just a pile of charm squares in one of my fabric boxes....)
  19. Tutti Fruity "throw"


    Started 2013, completed 2015 - approx. 50" x 60", hand quilted - Polyester batting
  20. Christmas Charm Squares


    Started 2013, completed 2018 - 92" x 112", quilted on the longarm ("Simply Stippling" groovy boards.
  21. Thanksgiving Charm Squares


    Started 2013, completed 2015.  55" x 55", hand quilted - Cotton batting
  22. Table runner #1 for Kathy and Katherine


    2015 - 38" x 15 ", hand quilted - polyester batting
  23. Table runner #2 for Kathy and Katherine


    2015 - 63" x 16", quilted on the longarm (free motion loop-d-loops) - polyester batting
  24. Hawaiian Petroglyph

    Started in 2015, finished in 2016 -53" x 66" - quilted on the longarm ("Blustery Breeze" groovy boards) - polyester batting.
  25. Jelly Roll Blues


    Started in 2012, finished in 2017 - 51" x 51" - quilted on the longarm (free motion loop-d-loops) - cotton batting
  26. Jelly Roll Purples


    Started 2012, finished 2015 - 38" x 48" - quilted on the longarm (free motion loop-d-loops) - polyester batting
  27. Christmas Table Runner (from cheap fat quarters)

    Started in 2014 - quilted in 2015 and then I forgot about it until I started working on this post.  It's somewhere in my UFO closet - maybe I'll finish it this year?  quilted on the longarm, dimensions are uh... I don't recall, but it's not very big.
  28. Christmas Cockies Tablecloth

    Started in 2014, finished in 2015 - 55" x 55" - quilted on the longarm ("Simply Stippling" Groovy Boards) - polyester batting
  29. Green and Purple Bali Print Chevrons


     2015 - 50" x 56" - quilted on the longarm ("Blustery Breeze" groovy boards) - polyester batting
  30. Oh Baby


    2015 - 50" x 58" - quilted on the longarm ("Simply Stippling" groovy boards) - cotton batting
  31. Civil War throw 

    2015 - 48" x 61" - quilted on the longarm ("Blustery Breeze" groovy boards) - polyester batting
  32. Antique Rose Baby Quilt 



    2015 - 50" x 58" - quilted on the longarm ("Simply Stippling" groovy boards) - cotton batting
  33. Peacock throw

    2015 - 55" x 65" - quilted on the longarm  ("Baptist Fan" groovy boards) - polyester batting
  34. Christmas Table Runners (jelly roll) quilts 34, 35, 36

    2015 - quilted on the longarm - Polyester batting.
    60 x 12
    44 x 12 (gold)
    49 x 12
  35. see above
  36. see above
  37. Hawaiian Tsunami

    (front)
    (back)
    2015 -48" x 55" quilted on the longarm  ("Blustery Breeze" groovy boards) - bamboo batting
  38. My Hair Stylist's Animal Quilt


    2015 -  55" x 55" , quilted on the longarm (free motion loop-d-loops) - cotton batting
  39. My Hair Stylist's Beatrix Potter Quilt

    2015 - 60" x 60" - quilted on the longarm (free motion loop-d-loops) - cotton batting
  40. Chinese Peonies

    2015 - approx.  55" x 60", quilted on the longarm ("Baptist Fan Breeze" groovy boards) - Polyester batting
  41. Oriental Butterflies


    2015 - 45" x 63" quilted on the longarm ("Baptist Fan Breeze" groovy boards) - cotton batting
  42. All The Pretty Horses

     
    2015 - 54" x 69" - quilted on the longarm quilted on the longarm ("Blustery Breeze" groovy boards) - bamboo batting
  43. The Deep Blue Sea


    2015 - 46" x 58" - quilted on the longarm quilted on the longarm ("Blustery Breeze" groovy boards)  - cotton batting
  44. Splish Splash

    2015 -  47" x 59" - quilted on the longarm ("Baptist Fan" groovy boards) - cotton batting
  45. Soccer

    2015 - 48" x 64" - quilted on the longarm ("Baptist Fan" groovy boards) - bamboo batting
  46. Tulip Garden

    2015 - 50" x 60" - quilted on the longarm ("Baptist Fan" groovy boards) - cotton batting

  47. Peek-A-Boo


    2015 -  49" x 49" - quilted on the longarm ("Baptist Fan" groovy boards) - cotton batting
  48. Tulip Garden II

     
    2015 - 52" x 62" - quilted on the longarm ("Simply Stippling" groovy boards) - cotton batting
  49. Splish-Splash (Girl's Version)

    2015 - 48" x 60" - quilted on the longarm ("Simply Stippling" groovy boards) - cotton batting
  50. Gold/Red Christmas Table Runner


    2015 -  57" x 12" - quilted on the longarm (free motion loop-d-loops) - polyester batting
  51. Doggoned Placemats


    2016 - 14" x 11" - quilted on the longarm (free motion loop-d-loops) - polyester batting
  52. Sawtooth Star Poppies


    2016 - 52" x 64" - quilted on the longarm (free motion loop-d-loops) - bamboo batting
  53. Hawaiian Ferns Table Runner 

    2016 - 16" x 95" - quilted on the longarm (free motion loop-d-loops) - polyester batting
  54.  Another "Civil War Charm Squares"


    2016 - 50" x 75" - quilted on the longarm ("Blustery Breeze" groovy boards) - polyester batting
  55.  Asta's "Strawberries and Cream" kit


    2016 - 61" x 73" - quilted on the longarm ("Simply Stippling" groovy boards) - cotton batting
  56.  Blue Birds and Black-Eyed Susans


    2016 - 45" x 62" - quilted on the longarm ("Simply Stippling" groovy boards), cotton batting
  57. Jelly Roll 9 Patch


    2016 - 52" x 52" - quilted on the longarm (free motion loop-d-loops), cotton batting
  58. Persian Carpet in Gold

    2016 - 52" x 60" - quilted on the longarm ("Blustery Breeze" groovy boards), cotton batting
  59. "Under The Australian Sun" Placemats

    2016 - 12" x 15" - quilted on the longarm (free motion wavy lines) - polyester batting
  60. Double Square Star

    2016 - 54" x 66" - quilted on the longarm (free motion loop-d-loops) - cotton batting
  61. Jelly Roll Race

    2016 - 48" x 61" - quilted on the longarm (free motion loop-d-loops) - cotton batting
  62. "Robert Kaufman" placemets

    2016 - 11" x 15" - quilted on the longarm (free motion wavy lines) - polyester batting
  63. Stallion Canyon

    2016 - 52" x 69" - quilted on the longarm ("Blustery Breeze" groovy boards) - polyester batting
  64. Squares of Sharon - Blue Delft

    2016 - 48" x 68" - quilted on the longarm (free motion loop-d-loops) - cotton batting
  65. Jelly Roll Race - Bali Sunset

    2016 - 46" x 61" - quilted on the longarm ("Blustery Breeze" groovy boards) - cotton batting
  66. Squares of Sharon - Lavender and Herbs

    2016 - 58" x 70" - quilted on the longarm (free motion loop-d-loops) - cotton batting
  67. Mystic Purple Garden

    2016 - 51" x 62" - quilted on the longarm ("Blustery Breeze" groovy boards) - cotton batting
  68. "Grow" Charmsquares

    2016 - 52" x 61" - quilted on the longarm (free motion loop-d-loops) - cotton batting
  69. Aussie Animals in Attic Windows

    2016 - 52" x 76" - quilted on the longarm ("Blustery Breeze" groovy boards) - polyester batting
  70. Lecien Floral Collection Charm Squares

    2016 - 50" x 58" - quilted on the longarm (free motion loop-d-loops) - cotton batting
  71. Mystic Purple Garden

    2016 - 51" x 62" - quilted on the longarm ("Blustery Breeze" groovy boards) - cotton batting
  72. (same as above)
  73. (same as above)
  74. Beth's Yellow Rose of Texas

    2016 - 59" x 72" - quilted on the longarm (free motion loop-d-loops) - cotton batting
  75. Christmas Table Runner


    2016 - 57" x 12" - quilted on the longarm (free motion loop-d-loops) - cotton batting
  76. (same as above)
  77. Moda "Poetry" Charm Squares


    2016 - 50" x 60" - quilted on the longarm (free motion loop-d-loops) - cotton batting
  78. Peek-a-Boo Pinks and Purples

    2016 - 40" x 46" - quilted on the longarm (free-motion Loop-d-Loops), cotton batting
  79. Moda "Pink" Charm Squares

    2016 - 53" x 66" - quilted on the longarm (free motion loop-d-loops) - cotton batting
  80. Hawaiian Surf Boards

    2016 - 55" x 77" - quilted on the longarm ("Blustery Breeze" groovy boards) - cotton batting
  81. Hawaiian Sea Turtles


    55" x 77" - quilted on the longarm ("Blustery Breeze" groovy boards) - cotton batting
  82. Robert Kaufman "Spirit Animals"


    2016 - 67" x 78" - quilted on the longarm ("Blustery Breeze" groovy boards) - cotton batting
  83. Lil's Christmas Table Runner


    2016 - 15" x 85" - quilted on the longarm (free motion loop-d-loops) - cotton batting
  84. Gail B's "Cross Hatch" Kit

    2017 - 56" x 72" - quilted on the longarm ("Simply Stippling" groovy boards) - cotton batting
  85. Hoffman Fabric's  "Super Nova"


    2017 - 6' x 6' - quilted on the longarm ("Blustery Breeze" groovy boards) - cotton batting
  86. Robert Kaufman "Trieste" panel (in jewel tones)

    43" x 61" - quilted on the longarm ("Blustery Breeze"
    groovy boards) - polyester batting
  87. Another "Trieste" panel (in blue)


    2017 - 50" x 68" - quilted on the longarm ("Blustery Breeze" groovy boards) - polyester batting
  88. Yet Another "Trieste" panel (in blue)


    2017 - 48" x 64" -
    quilted on the longarm ("Blustery Breeze" groovy boards) - cotton batting
  89. Moda's "Summer Breeze IV" Charm Squares


    2017 - 54" x 62" - quilted on the longarm (free motion loop-d-loops) - bamboo batting
  90. EZ On-Point Charm Squares


    2017 - 54" x 54" -
    quilted on the longarm (free motion loop-d-loops) - cotton batting
  91. Trieste in Blue - (4th time)


    2017 - 50" x 68" - quilted on the longarm ("Blustery Breeze" groovy boards) - bamboo batting
  92. Florida Surf and Sun Charm Squares


    2017 - 48" x 61" - quilted on the longarm
    (free motion loop-d-loops) - bamboo batting
  93. Outer Space Attic Windows

     
    2017 - 48" x 59" - quilted on the longarm (free motion and ruler) - cotton batting
  94.  Squares of Sharon - Summer Strips

    2017 - 54" x 66" - quilted on the longarm (free motion and ruler) - cotton batting
  95.  Three Fairies


    2017 - 44"x 63"- quilted on the longarm (free motion and ruler) - cotton batting
  96.  Squares of Sharon - Autumn Gold


    2017 -
    54" x 66" - quilted on the longarm (free-motion loop-d-loops) - polyester batting
  97.  Scrappy Squares Table Runner


    2017 - 13.5" x 71" - quilted on the longarm (free motion and ruler) - cotton batting
  98. "Valley of the Kings" Jelly Roll Race

     
    2017 - 49" x 76"  quilted on the longarm ("Blustery Breeze" groovy boards) - bamboo batting
  99. Green Fern Table Runner


    2017 - 58" x 14" - quilted on the longarm (freemotion loops and ruler work) - cotton batting
  100. Rainbow Jelly Roll


    2018 - 52" x 65" - quilted on the longarm (free motion loop-d-loops) cotton batting
  101. Indigenous Zig-Zag


    2018 - 50" x 75" - quilted on the longarm (ruler work) cotton batting

  102. Turkish Delight
    2018 - 57" x 68" - quilted onthe longarm (Blustery Breeze groovy boards) cotton batting
  103. Fiona's Quilt

    2018 - 52" x 71" - quilted on the longarm (Blustery Breeze groovy boards) cotton batting
  104.  Red/White/Black Jelly Roll Race

    2018 - 54" x 66" - quilted on the longarm (free-motion nested C's) cotton batting
  105.  Half-Square Triangles - Moda "Quilt Pink"

    2018 - 52" x 64" - quilted on the longarm (free-motion loop-d-loops) cotton batting
  106. Flower Panel

    2018 - 48" x 66" - quilted on the longarm ("Baptist Fan" groovy board) cotton batting
  107. Orange Mocha (Moda's Sonnet Collection)

    2018 - 45" x 62" - quilted on the longarm ("Shells" groovy boards) - cotton batting
  108. Flight of Fancy

    2018 72" x 69" - quilted on the longarm (free-motion nested C's) - cotton batting
  109. "Old Fashioned Charm" baby quilt

    2018 - 48" x 56" - quilted on the longarm ("Butterflies" groovy boads) - cotton batting
  110. Moda "Frolic"

    2018 - 36" x 42" - quilted on the longarm (my first Q-Matic experiment) - cotton batting
  111. Moda "Queen of the Ranch"

    2018 - 58" x 64" - quilted on the longarm ("Shells" groovy boards) - cotton batting
  112. "Oriental Traditions"

    2018 - 51" x 68" - quilted on the longarm free-motion nested "C"'s - cotton batting
  113. "Zoe the Giraffe" panel quilt

    2018 - 40" x 48" - quilted on the Bernina Q-matic longarm ("Half Moon Border 03" stitch design, end-to-end) - cotton batting

  114. Baby Koala panel quilt

    2018 - 40" x 56" - quilted on the Bernina Q-matic longarm ("Panto_Square Meander" stitch design, end-to-end) - cotton batting
  115. "Nana Mae II"

    2018 - 46" x 46"- quilted on the Bernina Q-matic longarm ("PRPANTO131" stitch design, end-to-end) - cotton batting
  116. Peach Rainbow Jelly Roll Race

    2018 - 49" x 64" - quilted on the Bernina Q-Matic ("PRPANTO131" stitch design, end-to-end) - cotton batting
  117. B&W Jelly Roll Squares 'n Scraps

    2018 - 55" x 67" - quilted on the Bernina Q-Matic ("Panto_Square Meander" stitch design, end-to-end) - cotton batting
  118. Tree of Life I

    2018 - 49" x 62" - quilted on the Q-Matic longarm (PRPANTO110 stitching design) - cotton batting
  119. Nell's Flower Garden

    2018 - 63" x 63" - quilted on the Q-Matic longarm (PRPANTO10 stitching design) cotton batting
  120. Baby Australian Animals
     
    2018 - 44" x 52" - quilted on the longarm (freemotion, ruler work, Q-Matic gum leaves) cotton batting
  121. Minnie Mouse I
    2018 - 54" x 62" - quilted on the longarm (Q-Matic pattern "Panto_Stars") - cotton batting
  122. Kaffe Classic Purple and Teal
     
    2018 - 48" x 66" - quilted on the longarm (Q-Matic "Bellflower2" design) - cotton batting
  123. Minnie Mouse 2 (baby size)

    2018 - 48" x 55" - quilted on the Bernina Q-Matic ("Panto_Stars" pattern) - cotton batting
  124. Faded Memories (encore)

    2018 - 50" x 60" - Quilted on the Bernina Q-Matic - cotton batting
  125. Lecien Floral Collection baby quilt

    2018 - 46" x 46" - quilted on the Bernina Q-Matic - cotton batting
  126. Mini Squares - Green Batiks

    2018 - 63" x 63" - quilted on the Bernina Q-Matic - bamboo batting
  127. Baby Bunnies 1

    2018 - 46" x 48" - quilted on the Bernina Q-Matic - cotton batting
  128. Baby Bunnies 2
    This one is exactly like Quilt  except the bunny stitches are larger:
    2018 - 46" x 48" - quilted on the Bernina Q-Matic - cotton batting
  129. Australian Souvenier Rainbow Strips

    2018 - 46" x 76" - quilted on the Bernina Q-Matic - bamboo batting
  130. Houses 1

    2018 - 52" x 59" - quilted on the Bernina Q-Matic - bamboo batting
  131. Houses 2 (same as 130)

    2018 - 52" x 59" - quilted on the Bernina Q-Matic - bamboo batting
  132. Houses 3 (same as 131)

    2018 - 52" x 59" - quilted on the Bernina Q-Matic - bamboo batting
  133.  Pond Life

    2018 - 44" x 58" - quilted on the Bernina Q-Matic - bamboo batting
  134. Kookaburra Forest

    2018 - 52" x 58" - quilted on the Bernina Q-Matic - bamboo batting
  135. Teal and Gold Bamboo

    2018 - 56" x 65" - quilted on the Bernina Q-Matic (bamboo stitch pattern), bamboo batting
  136. Monkeys and Elephants

    2018 - 50" x 50" - quilted on the Bernina Q-Matic (Animal Crackers stitch pattern), bamboo batting
  137. Mini-Squares Peacock

    2019 - 63" x 63" - quilted on the Bernina Q-Matic - bamboo batting
  138.  Rainbow Pinwheels

    2019 - 55" x 65" - quilted on the Bernina Q-Matic - bamboo batting
  139. Red/Black/Gold Oriental Layer Cake

    2019 - 56" x 65" - quilted on the Bernina Q-Matic (bamboo stitch pattern), bamboo batting
  140. Flight

    2019 - 47" x 76" - quilted on the Bernina Q-Matic ("Waves Basic" stitch design) - bamboo batting
  141. Gembrook

    2019 - 51" x 67" - quilted on the Bernina Q-Matic ("Smoke 2" stitch design) - Bamboo Batting
  142. Sunflowers of Provence Charm Squares

    2019 - 46" x 57" - quilted on the Q-Matic ("Leafarama2" stitch design) - bamboo batting
  143. Sonnet Collection Charm Squares

    2019 - 48" x 62" - quilted on the Q-Matic ("Leafarama2" stitch design) - bamboo batting
  144. Oriental Purple Flowers

    2019 - 52" x 64" - quilted on the Q-Matic ("China Grove 2" stitch design) - bamboo batting
  145. Tractor Factor

    2019 - 44" x 52" - quilted on the Q-Matic ("Scrap Paper 2" stitch design) - bamboo batting
  146. Chain Link With Gembrook Strips

    2019 - 48" x 60" -= quilted on the Q-Matic
  147. Scrappy Charm Squares EZ On-Point

    2019 - 48" x 48" - quilted on the Q-Matic (stitch design is "AJSPANTO15 Rose Blossom") - bamboo batting 
  148. African/Asian Animals

    60" x 72" - quilted on the longarm - bamboo batting
  149. Mini Zipper Bag

    2019
     
  150.  Jelly Roll Race with Aboriginal Inspired Prints

    2020 - 48" x 64" - quilted on the longarm
  151. Oh Baby!

    2020- 48" x 48" - quilted on the longarm
  152. William Morris Tablerunner and Place Mats


     














    2023 - quilted on the longarm.  Measurements approx. 70"x 18" for the table runner, I don't have a photo of the place mats or measurements for those.