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Monday, October 22, 2012

From Blocks to Top to Borders!

Yesterday just wore me out.

I had lots of questions about QuiltCam last night, but I didn’t even find them until after 10pm ---

The cleaning frenzy takes a physical toll.  But I feel so good with how much I’ve accomplished, and I’m continuing today with the coat closet.  By the time my two weeks is up at home, there will have been huge improvements made to make living easier in my castle.

There is a life lesson in this whole cleaning out thing, I know there is.  It is all stuff that was not noticeable by mere passersby---everything I am dealing with is behind closed doors and drawers, things that are hidden on the INSIDE ---How often to we see things on the outside and judge that everything is “fine”?

Just because things look fine on the outside doesn’t mean that there isn’t a struggle going on within.  I think this applies to us as people too.  We can never know what another person’s challenges are on the inside by just looking at how “normal” things appear on the outside.

And sometimes cleaning things out in our living spaces is a way to heal what is going on inside the deep drawers and closets of our inner selves too.

Okay, that’s enough deep thought for this morning! 

Yesterday after the cleaning chores were done, I set about making the 3 remaining blocks for the bow-tie top…I used 4 of the blues that were left in each of the 3 blocks needed so that gave me 12 already done.  I just had to make 15 more that were NOT blue!

And here it is all laid out before sewing it together:

cheddarbowties 015

I spent the rest of the day sewing the blocks into rows, and joining the rows to complete the quilt top….

cheddarbowties 016

Here it is on Barbie, all coming together!

And then I started to wonder --- what if??? 

Sometimes that “what if?” Is a good voice to listen to, sometimes it means more work just when you thought you were “DONE.”  But I wondered what this would look like bordered with randomly scrappy 9 patches in all the colors of the bow-tie blocks.

I pulled out my drawer of 2” leader/ender squares and just started randomly chain piecing, joining them to form a border --- no inner border, I just want the bow-ties to fade out into random chaos:

cheddarbowties 017

Like this!

It’s going to use up 684 2” squares to make the border ---a good dent in that box of 2” squares that is rather full.  That’s a win/win if you ask me! 

It just means that the quilt top won’t be ready for quilting for a while yet.  That’s fine!  One day at a time!

It was nice and quiet at home yesterday afternoon/evening and I just sewed while Netflix played episodes of “Hart of Dixie”  What a cute series!  I just felt like sewing without talking, so I hope you don’t mind that I took last night off after that 3 hour marathon sewing with QuiltCam on Saturday afternoon.  I just needed to unplug.

QuiltCam may not happen tonight either – I’ve got a bee meeting I’d really like to go to.  I haven’t seen some of these ladies in ages.  But we will do it again soon!

40 comments:

  1. The 9 patch border looks really great.

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  2. Hi Bonnie, No, don't mind at all. We all need our time alone....Your border looks fabulous. Just love scrappy quilts!

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  3. What a fantastic idea for the border. Hooray for you, for unplugging too. As for cleaning out, doesn't that give you a great fuzzy feeling inside? I have been purging for almost 2 years now. I am finally almost done. I could just about downsize into a house half the size of this one now. :D

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  4. Hi Bonnie, I love the look the border gives, it will be worth the extra time. And as far as QuiltCam, I figure that is a bonus to all the wonderful blogs of yours! You need to take your time for you whenever you can get it, you are one busy woman!

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  5. What a great idea for the border - you never cease to amaze me with your wonderful ideas! Thank you for all you do for us - including gently nudging us to get our "insides" clean too! Heaven knows my craft room could use it, besides me of course!

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  6. Bonnie,
    You have to have your time and space. Although you know you are loved and admired, you wouldn't want the world seeing every moment of your life. You must have YOU time! So glad you took some for yourself.

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  7. The border looks like it was in the plan. I love how things work out like that! ME time makes for a whole person in the long run! Good for you!

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  8. no apology necessary, at least to me. we all do what we can do when we can do it...

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  9. I really like this. The lime green really pops out for me. The border works too...you are ALWAYS good!

    I enjoyed listening to you sew. I turned it on and listened while I sewed and ironed myself. FUN hearing your voice again!

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  10. I love seeing how your bow-tie quilts grows and how your design process works.

    Quilt Cam is nice, but please don't feel obligated to provide it regularly. I'd hate for it to become a chore for you.

    BTW, I was sick last week and not up to much, so the only quilt-stuff I got done was cutting some of my smaller scraps into 2 inch squares and mindlessly sewing them into two patches. And thanks to the inspiration of your Leaders & Enders book, I'm now making "Happily Scrappily Irish" as a long term project.

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  11. Gorgeous quilt, Bonnie. So inspiring.

    I do think you are right about the currents in people we don't see. It behooves us to remember that when someone acts out of character or unkindly. Perhaps they need understanding instead of censure. Depending on my own demons, sometimes I can remember that, sometimes not.

    Take the break you need, you are doing so much.

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  12. ¡It's wonderful! only one time I saw you on de quilt Cam, I'm beginner in the patch, I learn a lot of you. thanks

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  13. Hi Bonnie The border looks great. I would never in a million years thought to add even more color to the Bow tie quit. It looks awesome. Quite often I am insecure about my "what if". Lately I am just plugging into my inner voice and enjoying the path it leads me down. I ended up with 230 HST after cleaning up that 5 year old bonus triangle bin. What will I use them for, I am not sure but I am one step closer to something. LOL! WHAT IF............!

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  14. Hi Bonnie, Love the 9 patch borders as an ending, looks great. Glad your taking time off for you, you give us so much of yourself, and you need YOU time. And we will all be there for next quilt cam, you don't have to worry about that! :) Enjoy your day! diana

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  15. Today's blog truly speaks to what goes on in all of us at sometime in our lives. Today, more office cleaning (purging) then back into the sewing room for more me time. We all need that space occasionally, enjoy your special time.

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  16. Anonymous10:14 AM EDT

    Like that border idea! You did need a weighty border for the intensity of the colors of the bow ties, don't you think?

    REST when you can, visit friends often and realize all that while, somewhere in your mind's eye ... another Bonnie Quilt is forming!!!!

    Smiles, JulieinTN

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  17. Wow, that looks like a lot of work! Love it

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  18. When I read the line "Then I started to wonder" I knew a pieced border was coming. Just had to be!! You did not disappoint. : )

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  19. LOVE the quilt and the border! You are truly a creative inspiration! Absolutely no problem about quiltcam ~ it shouldn't turn into a chore. Let's just have fun together whenever it works out best for YOU! ☺

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  20. That border is looking good! I think everyone needs quiet time to sort out our thoughts and deal with the day (or week, or month...) so we can move on to tomorrow. My best sewing time is when there is no one home but me and the cat, and especially if the cat takes a long nap!

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  21. I really do like how the bow ties look with the 9 patch border. I would never have thought to put the 9 patches right next to the bow ties without an inner border, but I think it looks sensational! You are definitely expanding my way of looking at quilts.
    Lequilts.blogspot.com

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  22. It looks great! I STILL have to join the last row on...just never enough time in my weekend! Happy Monday!

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  23. Although I have quickly become addicted to quilt cam time and will suffer from withdrawal, I understand!!!! I don't know how you do it anyway!!! Enjoy the quiet time and hopefully I will catch you next weekend if you are on.

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  24. Although I have quickly become addicted to quilt cam time and will suffer from withdrawal, I understand!!!! I don't know how you do it anyway!!! Enjoy the quiet time and hopefully I will catch you next weekend if you are on.

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  25. Anonymous12:10 PM EDT

    Your bowtie quilt is looking so good and the border.......NICE! I wuold deffinitely choose that idea. I loved watching you during the quilt cam time. Even my hubby was listening and sometimes even watching you.
    Hugs
    Gun, Sweden
    gun@lapp.se

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  26. Wonderful scrappiness--love that border; time off is good--to recharge...Julierose

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  27. I did look for quilt cam time last evening. I am so glad you are doing what is good for the inner you. You do not take nearly enough time off and do your 'job' 7 days a week. Take a day off so you have more you time.
    I like your border very much. If it were my quilt I would put an inner border of blue. Then put the border you are placing on the bow-tie quilt. We each have our own vision of a quilt and I do like your vision.
    Dorothy in Texas

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  28. Posting "deep" thoughts is sometimes what a person reading needs at the moment. I haven't jumped on your cleaning bandwagon, but am seriously struggling with getting started. It all seems overwhelming, but as you have showed us, one closet/drawer at a time is all it takes to make progress. I hope it's okay, to repost your deep thoughts on my facebook page??

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  29. I really enjoy your quilt cams and all your wonderful machines. I went on the blog you mentioned about treadle machines and I had to subscribe! Wish you weren't so "booked" for 2014--we would have loved to have you at Desert Quilters of NV (Las Vegas). I'll keep watching your schedule in case anything changes.
    Judy in Las Vegas

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  30. That 9 patch border looks awesome! You are such an inspiration to me - both in quilting and in cleaning! LOL! Hope you have a great time at your meeting. It is always fun to catch up with quilty friends.

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  31. First let me say ....Love the scrappy border ! What a perfect idea .
    and Second .... You certainly can take a break from quilt cam sweetie . Don't get me wrong ...I love quilt cam and hate when I can't be there but I don't apologize for it and neither should you .We are all grown ups here :)

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  32. I just made a small wall hanging from my bowties but I like your border idea and may just add that to mine also. You are the best.

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  33. bravo on the border, and have fun at the bee! feed yourself! then you will be recharged for us! we will be waiting!

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  34. Once on QuiltCam I heard you mention about pressing - we do so many things the same, I don't like steam, either. I have been on a search for an iron like the old ones, with no steam holes, so of course, I was looking at flea markets, etc. Someone told me the Vermont Country Store had them - sure enough, they do! It's on order now, only 30 bucks! I tried a travel iron, (flea market) but it's thermostat was defective and it got extremely HOT! So I am very happy to find this one, hope it turns out to be what I want. I also invested in a very expensive cordless, which is very nice, no cord in the way while you press small pieces, but the shut-off feature is hard to get used to, I am used to turning my iron off when I want to, not finding it off when I go back to it after a few minutes of piecing! OK, thanks so much for all you do (don't know how you get it all done!) but surely admire you for it! And love to watch quiltcam when you have the time to do it. Carol

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  35. Really like that border! To me, it just finishes it off perfectly.

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  36. The scrappy bow ties and borders truly reflect your aesthetic for quilting. Thanks so much for sharing with the rest of us.
    At the grocery store the other day, the quilt that was up for raffle for the Christmas fundraiser at one of the local churches was ALL plaids--HSTs and squares in light, medium, and dark plaids, forming a square in square pattern over the quilt top--I thought of you immediately!

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  37. I think that border is perfect for your bow tie scrappy quilt. It seems to just complete the picture.

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  38. I am doing a Bonnie Blog marathon today. I get to the computer maybe once a week. I just wanted to say that I have been making the leader-ender bowties and enjoy it so much that I find myself making those more than working on my quilt top!

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