A few weeks ago I wanted to sew but didn't feel well enough to risk any "important" (read costly) projects. I decided to work with some fabric I had bought a few years ago from Connecting Threads. It had lost its appeal to me. I thought I would whip out some quick projects and send them to charity. Thus far I haven't completed them but they are growing on me a bit. I have been referring to them as The Ugly Sisters.
I know this seems a bit odd. I had used the strips from the jelly roll for "training" when I was helping my DILs learn to sew. I also used them when we were working on vintage machines. None of them were perfect. Maybe I should have called these the Homely Sisters. I did take some of the 2.5" strips apart and fix them a bit but eventually called it good. I do think they are a little be like me. My husband and my parents all agree that I was a homely child but that I grew out of it. I think these have the potential to grow out of it, too. I am trying to help them!
The four pieced blocks are my "practice" blocks from last years BOM. I had the thought I could donate these to a nursing home and they would be suitable for a man.
I found another fabric for the other "sister".
I plan to put a narrow sash to frame the "ugly" part. Then I am going to make a large pieced border out of the other scraps. I am thinking maybe "bricks" of 4"x6".
As you can see, part of why they are ugly is because they seams don't match well. I feel a little guilty about giving them away like that but the overall effect isn't too bad. What do you think? Too awful for charity?
I have read several blogs where people have lists and comment on their own progress. I am going to try that. Because of my oddball schedule I am making mine a five week list. It takes 5 weeks to get through a full rotation of my schedule. So, I will be at the same point on Sept 16. We will be gone to NY state the week before that. So, this list could have a lot carried over!
1. Finish Fun and Done quilt (would do Wednesday at its class but just asked to babysit my grandson!)
2. Complete Ugly Sister top
3. Quilt at least three quilt tops
4. Final border on 2012 BOM
5. BOM for August and September
6. Owl pin cushions for BOM
7. Use D9P for leaders and enders
8. Earth tones quilt completed to take to NY.
Okay, if you are still reading, what do you call earth tones? I am just going to do a simple quilt. Maybe a turning twenty or one of those large block stars. Our friends asked for a quilt in earth tones (someday). This year was their 25th wedding anniversary and we are going out to visit them. I have the week of Labor Day off and plan to get it done then if not before. I will be honest that earth tones for me are a lot of the fall colors. I am not sure that is what they mean. What do YOU include in earth tones?
Thanks for sticking with me this far! I have to leave for work again in a couple hours. Better get back to the
Keep stitchin'!
Mary
Hi Mary,
ReplyDeleteI think it would make a great Charity quilt. I love the colors you are using.
xo jan
I am a new follower.
Glad to meet you Mary! If you are looking to donate to charity, perhaps this post would interest you - http://swimbikequilt.com/2013/08/100-quilts-for-kids-sponsors-patterns-a-class.html
ReplyDeleteYou are pretty hard on yourself! I don't think of my mistakes as ugly. I embrace them as a part of learning. And then try to find away to prevent repeating them. Great idea starting a list. It can help to keep you motivated!
I think of fall colors for earthtones too -- dark greens, rusts, burgandy, dark blues, dk purples, browns, dk tans. Although a friend said she thought of earthy browns - from tan through dark browns. I'm not a brown person, so I'd avoid this category. Most of my block exchange group uses multi colors for earth tones as mentioned first.
ReplyDeleteI think of earth tones as colors prominent in nature: greens, browns, grays, yellows, blues. You could even stretch it to include flower colors, but I don't think we usually do. I like Dar's list, although I include medium colors as well as darks.
ReplyDeleteMost of the quilts I make for other people tend to be made and finished at the last minute--that's just the way it works out. :-)
I agree with Sally and dar- fabrics that you would see outside - grey's brown, sage green, sky blue for accent- mostly in the more neutral shades of the earth with some greens and blues thrown in.. I sometimes find it hard to work in these colors because I like more vibrant ones.. You might add a bit of autumnal colors like deep yellow and orange for contrast.
ReplyDeleteHave fun playing with a new palette.
Regards,
Anna
Thanks for your input, ladies. So far I have 5 greens, 8 brown/tans and one red/russet pulled for the quilt. Have to complete some other projects before I commit to this one.
ReplyDelete