Exercise and Transformation

It's been a while since I wrote anything on this blog.  Why?  Mainly because I've been busy living my life--mostly all good things but not much energy left at the end of the day to write.  It just seems that the days are getting shorter and shorter as the years advance.  Well, anyway, here I am.  And writing.
A few weeks, Gail--a member of the art group to which I happily belong--brought us a pattern to have fun with.  And this is the result.  I had fun making it, but didn't really want to finish it (i.e.--quilting, etc).  The neat thing was that each person's interpretation was different and you would hardly know that we all started from the same place.

 We took them to Show and Tell at the next Guild Meeting and, at the same time, a challenge was issued for each member to make 2 charity quilts in the coming months.  A lightbulb moment!  I cut apart my quilt top, rearranged some of the pieces, added borders and VOILA!  Two quilts.  My response to the challenge fulfilled. 

AND .  . .since I had just purchased this dream of a mid arm machine, it was a great opportunity to test drive it and learn how it works in comparison to my other machines.  I'll have to say, I really like it.  I've thought about this kind of machine for quite awhile.  In fact, I had looked at The George a good many years ago.  I tried The Tiara at the Mid Atlantic Quilt Show and liked it but decided that I wanted to see if my local dealer, Asheville Cotton Company, could match the offer as I would much prefer to support someone in my own area.  Well, not only did she match it--she beat it by several hundred dollars.  And you now see the result.  A lot more practice is needed but it's a simple machine and I think we're going to be friends.

Here are the simplified directions.  Make sure when you join the 2 groups of strips that one is positioned vertically and one is horizontal.  Have fun.

Quilt

Cut 2 ½” x 8 ½” pieces

Sew 4 together

Sew another 4 together

Put 1^st group on top of 2^nd group, rights sides together

  Sew ¼” around all sides

Cut 2 diagonal cuts.  End up with 4 pieces. Open up each piece and iron.

Arrange blocks in a way that is pleasing to you.