Flickr Fracas

Like so many quilters, I use Flickr as a way to share our love of quilting.  We have groups, virtual sewing bees, we exchange links to tutorial videos, and cheer each other on in pursuit of our passion.  Recently Flickr underwent some radical, and seemingly, almost universally disliked changes - both to its format and to its  membership policies as regards pricing and features.  Since there have already been countless articles addressing the problems and potential implications for Flickr (and its members), I don’t want to add much to that conversation.

I will, however, say that those of us bemoaning the changes have a few principle concerns; first, that we are able to maintain the deeply treasured online friendships that we have formed, and second, that we are able to share our passion and interests in the same way as before.

What’s the answer?  I’m not yet sure.  It may well be a site called Ipernity.  A few minutes at this site will tell you that it is very similar to Flickr before the mess.  Many, many folks are immigrating.  I’ve set up my account there.  I’ll still be Lettyb and use the same profile pic as I did at Flickr in hopes that I can help people find me.  It will take me a while to get organized there, but seriously, friends, come find me!

And just so this post isn’t a downer, here are some lovely quitly pictures

Happy Quilting!

-Letty

Honey Honey Quilt Finish

…All but for the label… don’t even go there! Sorry, I guess we’ll have to talk about it someday.  I’m going to put on my Nancy Drew hat and figure out why I hate making labels so much.  I’ll let you know when I discover the secret to the missing label!

I’m Calling it Rascal

For several months I’ve been making blocks along with a couple of QALs (Quilt Alongs) or BOMs (Block of the Months).  Let me show you two very fun ones – Anita at Bloomin Workshop is doing a Random Sampler Quilt Along.  This is the one that has become the Rascal quilt along in my head.

Here are my blocks for the rascal so far:

Also fun is the QAL that is being hosted by Charise at Charise Creates who is finding fun vintage blocks for us to make.  Just look at her beauties!

These are tricky!  If you’re a seasoned quilter you may find them a lot of fun.  Newbie or professional, you’ll love to see them since they are so unique.

Here are the blocks I’ve made for this quilt so far:

Both of these groups challenge me to learn more about piecing different blocks, plus it is so much fun to see the different blocks created by others in the Flickr groups Random Sampler Flickr and Vintage Blocks Flickr.

Yes, one of the vintage blocks was so tough I started refering to it as the ‘blockstard’.  Would you be able to tell which one?  It doesn’t look that hard – but it is the third one showing above (looks like Maltese crosses a bit).

Why not join us?  All the wonderful information and tutorials is online now!

Happy Quilting,

-Letty

What Shall it Bee?

I’ve finished another top.  My Honey Honey quilt.  A free pattern that was created to highlight Kate Spain’s Honey Honey fabric line (not what I used, but it’s lovely). But I’m stalled about how to quilt it.  I came up with a great idea for quilting a grid of waves and tried it out on some scraps left over.  Looked great – but I realized that I wanted to use the fabric on the back as a natural grid – and I pinned from the top… so.  Do you think it is possible to take pins out as I go when they are underneath???  I’m pretty sure I can hear the needles snapping already!

I did quilt another quilt once, from the back, with an allover hexie pattern that was on the fabric I used to back it.  It worked beautifully to get consistent coverage.  Can’t remember if I thought about it ahead and pinned from the back or not!

Honey Honey Locations

The Honey Honey quilt has many yummy little ‘locations’, as I’m thinking of them; there are areas where scraps of fabric converge to make really wonderful groups.  Since there is a lot of color variation in this quilt, there are tons of different places for the eye to go.

This might be my fourth of fifth top that has not been quilted yet.  Do you see a pattern here?  I think it is very hard for me to choose how to quilt some tops.  I think I’ll love it no matter how I finish.

I’ll be sure to update you on my quilting progress! Happy Quilting,

-Letty

Zip Zip

I’ve made my triple zippered pouch for the Triple Zip Along, have you?

Some people are zip-phobic; they are just so afraid of zippers they won’t come along on this zipalong.  That is too bad, because these little pouches are so fun.  Talk about great presents! Debbie’s directions are great.

If you’re not afraid to zip, click HERE to join the Flickr group, and show us what you got!  If you’re shaking in your shoes over the idea, here are two zipper tutorials that may help you get over your fear:

Here is one for bigger stuff like pillows.  I tried this method and it works like a charm!

Come on, zip zip, I dare yah!

Quilty Fabric Pattern Mashup

Today I’m trying to figure out what to do with 2 charm packs of Cabbage and Roses Padstow Range and 1 dessert roll of French General’s La Belle Fleur (both by Moda).

Don’t you think they’d go together beautifully?

Any brilliant ideas for a pattern? I’m toying with this free one by Kate Spain called Honey Honey. I LOVE the bee! I think if I think carefully about cutting I can manage it.

Hmmm… my mind’s abuzz

Happy Quilting!

-Letty

Eye Candy vs Bed Candy

Have you noticed that quilts do NOT look the same on a bed as they do on a wall?  You’re either nodding vigorously, or scratching your head.  What I’m talking about, is that I often see a pattern for a quilt full-on from the front and fall rapturously in love with it, and begin to go down the daydream path of what fabrics I’ll use, where to shop, etc.  And then (insert scary movie music here), duh, duh. duh… I see another photo of the quilt on a bed and don’t like it at all!  -Sound of broken dreams now.  I’m not talking about wall quilts.  They are small, and made with the express intention of hanging to view as a whole from the front.  Bed quilts that don’t look pretty on a bed, at least to me, that’s what I’m talking about.  Let me be really clear; I know that this is an eye-of-the beholder issue, in more ways than one.  If I show you examples that are clear to me, you may totally disagree because, oh yeah, everyone’s taste is different.  But I think the disappearing cuteness trick may be universal.  We may not all see it happening with the same quilt pattern, but I wonder if it does happen to all of us?  For me, some quilts have and Eye Candy Rating of 100 and a Bed Candy Rating of 25.

Example: Swoon.  This is THE most beautiful pattern and design ever.  We all do literally swoon over these.  They are 100 percent eye candy gorgeous.  But on a bed… I think the rating goes down.  I just do.  Quilt full view– WOW!  Love it – so pretty I can look at it all day.    Quilt on bed – Hmmm… I want to like it, but… I think the scale of the blocks is just too big.  I know when I made my Swoon quilt I made them as 16 inch blocks instead of 24.  I don’t put mine on a bed anyway, since it is just lap quilt sized.

The lesson is, if you’re going to make a quilt specifically to put on a bed, try really hard to either see a photo of it that way first, or use your imagination big time.  Quilts are such a process, expensive, hard work, love made into a tangible.  The best thing about them is the process is so wonderful, and then the end result so desirable.

I was going to have lots of photo examples, but realized that I just cannot do that without risking offending people who have shared their work.  No way!  And the thing is, I could have 2 pictures of the same quilt and praise the heck out of one, but if I say I don’t love the other one showing it on a bed, well, it’s hard to think of making anyone feel bad.  So.  There you go.

Here is a reverse example.  Saw this photo of a quilt on a blog called A Very Fine House and I’m so in love  with it.  Would I have felt that way seeing the fairly simple quilt full on?  Don’t know!  Don’t you just love it to bits?

Grandmother’s Flower Garden on bed

Here are some quilts I’m LOVING lately.  I don’t know whether they’d turn out to be bed candy or not, but I just love love love them, and wanted to share.  These make my heart and stomach flutter they are so pretty!

Happy Quilting!

-Letty