It's a Process!

This is me...taking photos of a construction process without checking to see if the photos are coming out clear, or if perhaps the camera lens is smeared with some kind of gunk likely from dealing with Tula's eye drops and other kitty rehabilitation stuff.

Half of my photos are no good, and I've already got the top together....so?? 

What's a girl to do?

Suffice it to say that the upper half of the layout looks much like this bottom half, and it was a whole lot of bend-and-stretch to pick up the pieces and sew them in the correct order.

But before I go on with that.....a bit of how my brain has been working (or not working. Or barely working...take it or leave it.)

I don't use EQ8 a lot...not when it comes to making the blocks part.  I generally start with blocks, make a bunch, see how they are working together, and then go to the computer to see how many blocks I need for a certain size, and start playing with layouts.

Where EQ8 really comes into play for me is figuring yardage.  And I'm glad I did this...

Once I figured out that I wanted a two-fabric sashing with four-patch cornerstones, and wanting them to be of constant fabrics, not scrappy - I had a decision to make on color, and which fabrics I had in the yardage stash that would be a large enough cut to get the job done without running short.

(Which is why I adore scrap quilts: If you run out of something you just throw in something else.  I couldn't do it with these sashings.)

Miles and miles of strip sets in sunny yellow and a white print.

I adore yellow in a scrap quilt.  It brings in the sunshine.  It makes me happy.

Especially this time of year.  You can bet I'm thinking about spring and waiting, just longing for the time when forsythia start to bloom here in the Blue Ridge mountains of Southwestern Virginia.

I needed something like 48 width-of-fabric strip sets (that's 48 of each fabric!) for the sashings - and then some more for the four patches.  It felt like an insane amount.

So yes, one of the reasons I chose yellow is because I had ENOUGH.  I tried other color combos for the sashings, but they didn't make the blocks sparkle, they upstaged the block piecing by being too bold, or there simply wasn't enough yardage on hand.

Holy Moly, that's a lot!

I cut all the sashings I needed, and used these short ends after cutting the sashings to cut into four patch pairs.

Only about half the number of four-patch sets needed, so back to more strip piecing.

This seemed to go on forever with everything that has been going on here.

FOREVER!!

*helpful hint*  Chain piecing like this that goes on forever can also make a tangled mess of your piecing so as I am sewing, I clip after every 10th one (from behind the machine leaving one under the presser foot to hold my place) and keep my chains in ironing board lengths.

Cutting chains after every 10 pieces makes it easy to keep count, and keeps things from tangling.

It also makes pressing easy as all of the four-patches are facing the same way.  I can press up my chain quickly, and then come with the scissors to clip the threads with less mess and less disorganization than if I were using one of those stand up thread cut-apart gadgets. 

I can keep all of the four-patches in stacks, facing the same direction because they already are.

Each quilt has its challenge.

Here's something I discovered.  If I spun my seams on the four-patches I had 2 seams pressed the wrong way because all seams need to press to the dark.  You can't do that with spinning.

If I pressed to one side I had 3 pressed to the dark, only one pressed to the light and I could make a small diagonal clip (not to the thread!) and reverse-press that one wrong seam to go toward the dark so everything could nest the way I want it to.

I love a good tight nested seam that falls into place like interlocking Legos.

Alternatively I could press just the center seam open, which would eliminate some bulk, but still make me have to pin to match seams when joining the four-patches between the sashings.

For me - clipping is a second to last resort.

Pressing seams open is THE last resort.

HI!

I love that there are silly fussy cuts in this quilt that make me smile.  Pieces that were gifted to me by quilty friends in an "I dare you to put this in!" kind of challenge.  Challenge accepted!

There's a couple more in here!

And some more in here!

Annnnnnnddddd...I think I'm done here.

I barely got this together by 5pm on Sunday. It's 90'' X 90'' I don't want to go bigger and add borders. At least I don't think so?

Yesterday was the release of Stardust along with the big car ride back over to the vet in Hillsville to check on Tula's eye.

It's still pretty bad, though there has been improvement.

We are continuing with antibiotics and eye drops.  She may still lose the eye.  I'm keeping her sequestered in the QPO Studio for now.  I'm supposed to check back with the vet in a week and let them know how she is progressing.

Hubster Dave will have to take her in for another check while I'm in Morocco. (Something always happens when I'm gone!)

And for those who asked about the BACK of Lupine & Laugher - of course, it's scrappy!

I had just enough time yesterday afternoon after getting back from the vet to put it over the long arm rail for a quick photo.

I used big hunks of pink, purple and ice blue and I love it.

And ALSO for those who asked...Yes, Forest Jane is working on a logo for us.  We will have items in the Quiltville Zazzle Store  with all proceeds going toward supplies needed for the sewing classes that Forest Jane is teaching at her local library for those in need.  Creativity heals when we can supply the things needed to create for those who are struggling.

The logos are free for you and are great to print out and include on your label for your Lupine & Laughter quilt.

Last evening after making our evening visit to the QPO Studio to give Tula her nighttime meds...
I've started on the top border. It's going to take a while, but we already knew that.
Things have been really chaotic, and being able to sit in a comfy place and simply stitch neutral hexies to each other is the therapy I need.  I'm grateful for this outlet. Long may it continue.

If you missed it! 

Yesterday was the kick off Gift-Away for Stardust!

Click to the Gift-Away post to get your entry in!

Create a stunning 2-color string star quilt with 3 simple units! Full color photos, diagrams and extensive instruction for string piecing success!

Quilt Size:88’’ X 88’’

I'll be drawing for 2 winners who will each receive a Stardust PDF pattern from me and a Facets of Blue color roll from our friends at  Cotton to Quilts!

And yes, they have awesome neutral rolls on hand - I love the color rolls!

Each contains 20 pieces measuring 8'' X 22'' and are so great for enhancing your stash.

Introductory Pricing: The PDF pattern for Stardust is currently 25% off in the Quiltville Store - no coupon needed!  Pricing good through 1/31/26.

Today - I've GOT to knuckle down and get those Bloom kits finished for my Morocco trip!

What's on your plate for this Tuesday?

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

Well, this just about sums it all up doesn't it?

Have a terrific Tuesday, everyone!