Daffodil and Crocus Machine Quilting Doodles

While it's fresh in my mind I thought I'd share a few pictures from tonight's machine quilting Fiber Cast.  I realize it didn't show up too well on video camera.  White on white is tricky.

My mystery quilt is purple and yellow, and because it's Spring I'm calling it my Crocus and Daffodil Quilt.

First I doodled some quilt pattern ideas.

Then I went to town with my Superior King Tut #40 "alabaster" thread.  Can you see the daffodil?

How about the crocus?

Subtle for sure!

Have a good weekend everyone.  Happy Spring!  (Or Happy Fall depending on where in the world you live!)

Lynn

P.S.

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P.S.S. Raggedy dolls are officially done!

A Quilting and Dolly Smorgasbord

According to Wikipedia ... 

"Smörgåsbord is a type of Scandinavian meal served buffet-style with multiple hot and cold dishes of various foods on a table, originating in Sweden. The term Smörgåsbord became internationally known at the 1939 New York World's Fair when it was offered at the Swedish Pavilion's "Three Crowns Restaurant." It's typically a celebratory meal and guests can help themselves from a range of dishes laid out for their choice." 

Well, I have a Smorgasbord of Fiber arts projects!  

It's time to clear the "table."

Raggedy Ann needs hair.  Andy needs his hat.  My "Daffodil and Crocus" Spring mystery quilt (in the background) needs more machine quilting.

  

Then there's Hitty's braided rug. The braids are all made.  I just need to sew them together.  How long - really - can a 6" diameter rug take to complete???
  

And then I have my "grey-background" quilt which was designed at the Marathon Quilters' Retreat. 

I sure am glad we have Simply Colorful Fiber Cast tomorrow night ... I'll be working on one or more of these projects...Celebrating the range of fiber choices laid out before me and with you as my guest!

What project will you work on?

See you at 8PM EST tomorrow night.

Click here to access FiberCast

Lynn

P.S. For those following my car saga ... these 2 pictures pretty much tell the story.  

(Jeep on left being carted off to the "car doctor."  Styling minivan rental on the right.)

 

  

Spring, Scraps, and Raggedy

Hello from the Simply Colorful Fiber Art Studio!

It felt like Spring today, sunny, though not much over 60 degrees.  I went outside and soaked in as much Vitamin D as I could

Warmer weather and flower blooms are coming to New England, I can just feel it. 

But when?

Will these babies ever bloom?

And will this snow ever disappear?

How 'bout my Clematis?  

Will a purple flush of color replace these beige puffballs?  And most importantly, is it CLEMatis or ClemAAAtis? That is the question.

While we ponder these and other Spring delights, let's talk scraps.

I had lots.

I've spent time here and there all week pressing and cutting and sorting.

Now I have them organized!

I still have more to go, and there's a whole other container of strings not in this picture, but it's a start.

  

From now on whenever I have scraps left over from a project I vow to cut them into usable pieces right then and there!  Stockpiling random scraps stops today.  (insert skeptical happy face here)

P.S. See the brown box in the picture?  That is a special family heirloom from Vermont.  I'm saving it for a special occasion to show.  (Yes, that's what we call a "tease.")

Meanwhile, it's finally time to make a new Raggedy Ann doll.
(I first blogged about Raggedy a few weeks ago here.)

Her body will be cut out by tomorrow.  Here's the pattern.   

I'm sticking with the smallest, 15" tall doll.  The Raggedy Ann in this picture is the one my mother made for me when I was a girl.  She'll be my model.

Here are the fabrics I'm planning to use.   

I'm thinking she'll be a "modern day" Raggedy with narrow red-on-white striped legs ... maybe... if I can convince myself to break from tradition. 

You'll just have to tune into tomorrow night's FiberCast to watch the progress and see whether we go thin or thick red striped legs.  

Oh, can you stand the suspense?

Grab a project and I'll see you tomorrow night,

Lynn

At 8PM EST, Friday April 4th, 2014, click this URL to watch live: 

https://plus.google.com/b/117305597376045829646/events/ckg2tu2hefs4hmkqo20at0dpif0  

 (You'll need a Google+ account which is free.)

Or visit the Simply Colorful YouTube Channel to watch the archive and past episodes.

Spring 2014 Simply Colorful Mystery Quilt Reveal!

It's time to see what 2,299 scraps of fabric sewn into 667 Units can become!

Ta da!  

Here's the Spring 2014 Mystery Quilt Layout. 

Here's Clue 5 with all the final instructions. 

We'll be finishing this quilt on tonight's Simply Colorful Fiber Cast.  

When? 8PM Eastern Standard Time, March 21st.

Previous clues:

Clue #1  Corresponding Fiber Cast recorded on Feb 21

Clue #2 Corresponding Fiber Cast recorded on Feb 28

Clue #3 Corresponding Fiber Cast recorded on March 7

Clue #4 Corresponding Fiber Cast recorded on March 14

Clue #5 -- LIVE Fiber Cast Tonight at 8PM EST

Spring 2014 Mystery Quilt Clue #4

This is the last week of making 3.5" units!  

There are 192 units total.  You'll make the same design in two different colorways.

Click here to download the Simply Colorful Spring 2014 Mystery Quilt Clue #4.

This clue's so easy you can do it in your sleep or with one hand tied behind the back.

Next week we put it all together!  (REVEAL is MARCH 21 at 7AM EST.)

Remember: Simply Colorful Fiber Cast is tonight at 8PM EST.

Grab a project and come sew with me. 

It's amazing how much we can accomplish in 60 minutes!

Happy Friday,

Lynn

View Archived Simply Colorful FiberCasts on YouTube

View All Mystery Quilt Clues  

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Feast Your Eyes on Raggedy Ann!

I went to a Textile Tarts meeting yesterday (with my good friend Sarah of www.weekendkits.com fame.)

Birthday girl Pat gave us a wonderful talk on the history of Raggedy Ann.  (Andy and "Camel with Wrinkly Knees" too.)

Did you know Raggedy Ann was patented by John Gruelle in 1915?  Andy arrived in 1917. They changed appearances over the years.  Here are just a few pictures from yesterday.

Here's Pat's reproduction "large thumbed" Raggedy Ann on the left, along with the two oldest dolls in her collection.  Both are Volands.

Most every Textile Tart member brought in their own Raggedy Ann doll! Some were large, like this one at 3+ feet tall.

These two were well loved by Pat's children.  To repair the nose on Andy or not? That is the question.  I like the authenticity of leaving it as is.  He was well loved.

Here are another pair of very early Raggedies.  If I caught the story correctly, they were found by Pat's parents-in-law in a NY City antiques shop, and gifted as an anniversary present to Pat and her husband many years ago.

These next two examples are just 3" tall, expertly made by Bobbi from a "now discontinued" Gail Wilson Designs pattern.

Here's an early 2000's Camel reproduction. Never played with.  Fun to see the packaging.

And check out all the patterns.  The earliest we saw was published in 1941 and cost 35 cents.  It contained face transfer patterns for both awake and asleep states.  You'd put one face on the front and one on the back and frindge some hair around each face at the side and top.  (no "back of the head" hair)

Which Raggedy Ann did you grow up with?

Don't you just want to make your own?  I do!

Sew on,
Lynn

Mystery Quilt Clue #3 is LIVE!

Hello Simply Colorful Mystery Quilters!

Clue #3 is live.  

There are 4 different parts to this one.  Yikes!  All very doable.

 

Tune into tonight's Simply Colorful Fiber Cast at 8PM EST to get started.  It's amazing how many units we can make in just 60 minutes.

Happy Friday everyone!

Lynn

2014 Spring Mystery Quilt Clue #2

Good morning!

The second clue of our Spring 2014 Mystery Quilt is now ready for download. 

 

Please don't freak out about all the pieces.  It'll be worth the effort. If it's any consolation, there are more pieces in this clue than in any others that you'll do as part of this Mystery!

Have a good day and I hope to see you at Tonight's Simply Colorful FiberCast where we'll make Units #2A and #2B together.

Lynn

Mystery Quilt Clue #1 is Live (Spring 2014)

 It's time to make 64 Unit #1As. (Note: Large A triangle is on the lower right - ALWAYS.)

And 64 Unit #1Bs (Note: Large B triangle is on the lower right - ALWAYS.)

What are you waiting for?

Download the full clue #1 and get started!

See everyone tonight on Simply Colorful Fiber Cast!  We can make our units together.

Lynn

P.S. If you're new to the Mystery, here's how to prepare.  It's not too late to join the fun!

It's True: We're Doing a Spring 2014 Mystery Quilt

Several Fiber Cast viewers have asked about a Mystery Quilt.

I think it's a great idea!  We start THIS Friday!

Click here for PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS.

For anyone who wishes to participate, I'll post clues on Friday mornings and then we can sew together on Friday nights and share our progress throughout the week.

The Mystery quilt is a scrappy quilt with lots of pieces.

It will measure 72” x 90” when complete. (Twin)

The first clue will be published Friday morning, February 21^st, on www.simplycolorful.com/mysteryquiltclues, Blogger, Twitter, Facebook, and Google at 7AM EST. A new clue will be published every Friday thereafter until we’re done. (In six weeks or so.)

PREPARATION PHASE

Here’s what to do between now and this Friday morning:

• Select a print with at least 3 colors in it.  The motif should be medium-to-large. You should love it and have 5 yards of it because it will become your quilt backing.
• Cull through your scraps
• Create a pile of Neutral scraps (approximately 1.5 yds) (Greys or Blacks can be substituted here.)
• Select 3 colors in your backing and create 3 piles of scraps in those colors (approximately 1.5 yards each) and label them A, B, C.
• Load your sewing machine w/ grey or beige thread and a new needle
• Sharpen your rotary blade, prepare your matt and ruler
• And get ready to play.

To give you one idea, here's my backing fabric:

And 3 buckets of scraps, plus neutrals.  

(Yes, I purchased some 1/8^ths and 1/4^ths of yards to augment my stash.) 

Looking forward to Friday already!

Lynn

P.S. Remember Fiber Cast Archives are always available for viewing on the YouTube Simply Colorful channel, so it's okay if you miss a week or a clue because you can catch up anytime.  

No pressure.  This is just meant to be fun!