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.

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!

Beaded Knit Scarf is Done - Finally!

2 years and 11 months isn't THAT long...right?  

That's how long it took to complete my first beaded scarf.

I bought the yarn and beads at The Fiber Studio in Henniker, NH.  The yarn is rayon and cotton.  There are many hundreds of beads.  The scarf is knit in 2 pieces, starting at each beaded-end, then joined with a Kitchener Stitch at the neck.  (Don't look closely -- even with video tutorials, grafting is difficult to do well!)

And guess what... I have beads and yarn for 2 more scarves!

Stay tuned ... but please don't hold your breathe. :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Lynn

Once a Piker, Always a Piker

Today's BLOG isn't about quilting.  

It's about sewing on a patch for a friend.

For as long as I've known him, our friend Mark has been making annual trips up to Lake Champlain, Vermont, to ice fish.  He tells me it's "catch and release" Pike fishing. (ice fishing images here)

I think he has as much fun planning the trip, the meals, and the sleeping arrangements as he does drilling the ice holes.  (No wonder, have you ever seen how thick the ice becomes up that way?)

The Pikers dress in style.  This is the back of the jacket.  The Flag patch is on the left sleeve. 

Which brings us to the patches on the right sleeve. 

I sewed the round blue "40th Annual" patch on this morning.  It took 10 minutes.  (Taking pictures and writing this BLOG is taking me longer!) 

40 years!  Seriously?  Mark CAN'T have been making the trek for THAT long?  Could he have?  I'll have to ask him about their math.  Seems a bit "fuzzy."

And finally, here's their group motto - emblazoned on the front.  Maybe for their 50th Annual, they'll add a line.  How about something like " If you can't take winter you don't deserve summer ... or you'll just have to move to Florida!"

That's all from the Simply Colorful Fiber Studio for today.  

I'm off to work on my Valentine's Day quilt! 5 days left.  Happy Sunday!

Lynn

P.S. Did I ever tell you my UVM ice fishing story?  A bunch of us college students drove out on the lake. I found what I thought was a frozen dead fish. I put it in my pocket, thinking I could play a trick with it back at the dorm.  The problem with that plan was that half-way home, while I was still packed in a care with10 of my closest friends (half of whom I'm sure I'd only met that day), the fish started to move in my pocket?!  It completely freaked me out. It was all I could do to roll down and fling that thing out the window.  Joke was on me. :) 

A Paper Piecer is Born! #QuiltLove

Isn't this paper pieced heart wonderful?  

Pattern by www.PiecebyNumber.com out of Geneva, Switzerland.
Sells for $3.50 on Craftsy.com here.  

My sister sewed it last night while watching me on SimplyColorful Fiber Cast.

Am I the luckiest big sister in the world?  I used to offer to pay her to let me have a sleep-over in her bedroom - that's how much fun I have hanging out with my sister.  And to think, all these years later, after very rarely letting me bunk in her room, she's willing to spend her time sewing with me.  

Anyway - enough about me!

Here's another of Karen's creations:

"Mercury"
Pattern by 627handworks.com is available for free this week on Craftsy.com here.

How about this bird? 

Nothing like a winter cardinal to brighten the day!

And a similarly-colored cocktail to enhance the night! (compliments of hubby TGBob)

Thanks for sharing Karen!

Just 6 days left until Hallmark says we're supposed to tell the people we love that we really do - in fact - love them. Why not say it today...a lot can happen between now and next Friday!

Sew on,

Lynn

Here's one more free pattern to celebrate the season of Love.

Pink Quilt for Valentine's Day

Remember my leader/ender pink half-square triangles?  

I'm using them in a Valentine's Day lap quilt!  

10 days and counting.  

People have asked about my quilt making process.

I'm a "loose" quilter.  I don't follow formal directions anymore.  Instead I draw inspiration from the fabrics, colors, and pictures of other quilts.  Then I just start cutting, sewing, and laying out.

Don't get me wrong.  I do think about lights and darks.  I think about design repetition.  I think about balance.  So I plan in that way, but I just don't seem to have patience for reading every line of complex patterns.

Here's where I'm at with my pink quilt so far:

The Chateau pattern from Timeless Treasures is my inspiration. 

Free on www.fatquartershop.com.

I have plenty of extra pink fabrics - both lights and darks.

Isn't it interesting to see how by changing just 1 fabric in the above 2 photos it looks so different?  (lower left flower fabric in top photo is replaced with a pale pink batik in the lower photo)

Which one do you like better?

We'll have to play with different combinations this Friday on Simply Colorful Fiber Cast!

8PM EST, 2/7/14

Until then, stay warm, and sew on!

Lynn

P.S. I'll post the Fiber Cast URL link on Friday morning to both www.facebook.com/SimplyColorful and on the Simply Colorful Google+ Page.