Patsy Thompson "meets" Kaffe Fassett- Fabric Combinations (A Story)

 (Story Post...kick back for a fun read)

If you have read "Jean Creates" past few blog posts ( here and here) you know what I've been up to.

A week ago Wed. I had the great fortune of heading up to Detroit Metro to pick up Jeannie W. for a week of FUN!!!  Jean and I met 3 or 4 years ago through our blogs and we have become dear friends.  I couldn't wait to see her again because she moved from Ohio to Washington State a year ago and I've really missed her.

We both have an affinity for Kaffe Fassett, Brandon Mably and Phillip Jacobs fabrics.  Jean decides we are going to stop petting our fabrics and actually use them.  What a mind blowing idea ay?

Jean pre-ships her fabrics and this is what arrived at my house:

A blown out box of some of the most fabulous fabrics I have ever seen.  YES, I did remind her that Possession IS 9/10ths of the LAW!

I had pulled all my Kaffe/Brandon/Jacob fabrics from my stash and had them waiting for Jean's arrival.  Mine were all neatly folded in piles...well...until Jean arrived and suggested it would be more fun to toss them all into one big pile and just start.  Another mind blowing idea :)

I've never, ever....ever started a project like this one.  Talk about excitement/anticipation/and drama (mainly the colors of the fabrics)....way too much fun.  How the plan began...it was a book (un-named for sure!) Jean found and thought it would be an awesome way to begin and each of us could add to the others quilt.  After a few hours actually using the book the book (definitely not a recommended book) idea was abandoned and we were on our own creating. 

I grabbed some of my most favorite pieces (the blades to the star) and built around that fabric with others that made the fan blades pop.  Shall I mention that Jean had made her center block and was well into her first set of borders before I finished my center block?  No...OK...I won't mention it.

I wanted my block on point like Jean's block....so I measured and added some fabric to each side of my block.  OOPS...came up pretty short so what to do???  Add some more fabric and hack off the rest naturally.

 You know what you get?  You get a block that finishes at 17 7/8.  Not 18"...nope...oh well...we had tossed the book by this time and I figured I'd just add more fabric and hack off the parts that didn't fit...FREEDOM!

I wanted a fabric that would allow a place to rest before seeing more exciting prints....so I went into my stash in search of just the perfect fabric.  Initially I hunted through my batiks...nope....then....WOWZERS....I came across a piece of Patsy Thompson hand dyed fabric that was perfect....absolutely perfect in my mind.

Ooooohhhhhhh AAAAAhhhhhhhhhh!

Talk about feeling good....I was on top of the world at that point.  (I won't mention that Jean had already finished the inside of her quilt by this time and was working on a pieced border....or will I?)

Working from intiution is a odd feeling/experience....I've not done that before.  I set this block up on the design wall and waited until something came to me for the next border.  I knew I didn't want a square quilt so I would have to elongate the block...top and bottom borders to move from a square to a rectangle.  Hmmmm.....Incubation Time.....

I saw my Magic Stack N Wack book on my bookshelf...hey...I've never done that...I'm going to make some of those fun kaleidoscopes for my quilt.  Might I suggest you actually read the book before "Wacking" into your fabric?  I did not cut enough repeats so I ended up with 1/2 kaleidoscopes that I combined for my design. 

 I liked this one the best.

Ok....well.....hmmmm....I think I'll add these to the outside borders and not next to my main center block...back to the drawing board.

My block now measures 24 1/2 x 24 1/2.   Then it occurred to me....3.5 x 7 = 24.5 PERFECT...I just need seven 3/12 inch somethings to add to each end of the square.  I cut up several pieces of white paper that were 3/12 inches wide by various lengths and began drawing different shapes to see what I thought would look good.  The one I loved the most I couldn't use because I couldn't figure out how to paper piece it.  Jean pointed out that I had only spent a day and a half trying to figure it out and if it were her...she'd move on and choose another block.  What an  epiphany!

By this time it was Tuesday...Jean was leaving Wednesday so I had better get my butt in gear ay?  Hmmmm...I like the blocks I made but I've decided I want some piping around the center square before I move on.  I've purchased many of my  Westminster fabrics from Patsy Thompson Designs but I needed one she didn't have so I ordered from  Glorious Color website.  I was very pleased and will order from Glorious Color again. (No, I don't get kickbacks from either site)

Jean's progress?  Well...here is her quilt:

 Yes...she is faster to move on (her perception is that I have more patience...perhaps I do...but she sure has the speed down.).  She is going to add one last border and be finished with the top and I'm sure I'll finish mine sometime in the next month or so....I hope :)

Then again...Jean shows up with these very FUN shoes..maybe if I had cool shoes like her's I'd be able to go faster?

Very Happy Big Smiles,

Kelly

Good Enough vs Perfection....do you struggle too?

I'm so glad I'm not alone!  Something just told me I'd be in very good company with my struggle to integrate these polarities.

Warning: Photo Heavy Post!  You know if I have not blogged in a few days that I have all these blogs posts and photos all stored up in my mind..  I was thinking about sticking a USB into my ear to see if I could just download my blog posts directly from my brain to the computer...that would be PERFECT!  (If anyone dares to e-mail me and tell me this technology is already available....I will flip out!)

I changed the layout of this quilt a bit...here is the new layout.  The Union Jack strip on the right is actually three separate pieces I cut from the bottom of the panel.   Joining the three pieces became a real challenge....how to get those darn things to join up was no easy feat....at least not for me.

 

Here are the two places that I joined them ....mind you...I put these together no less than three or four times. I used pins to line them up and I even went as far as to use double sided tape.  Look how badly they lined up.


What do you do in these circumstances?  Whens something isn't quite working out the way you want it to and you've sewn and unsewn over and over again?  I tried a glass of wine....nope...didn't work.  Then....I did what any reasonable person would do....I called Waldo and asked her if she would come to the rescue....


 

 Waldo to the rescue :)

 She suggested we hand sew/applique the pieces in place....WHY didn't I think of that?  Look  how nicely it came out.  I did ask her to do the first one...and then I did the second seam...I was feeling like a weenie.  See what the struggle for perfection can reduce an otherwise resourceful person to?  I'm sticking with "Good Enough" and to H E double hockey sticks with Perfection!!! (you may need to remind me of this from time to time...and I'll be kind and do the same for you :)

Now the "Perfection Thing" has passed (laughing under my breath) ...I went on to do some machine embroidery.  The embroidery machine I had been using was borrowed and I had to return it yesterday....soooooo...you know what that means....get it all done quick.

 This is a Floriani Design and all of these are using Floriani Threads.   Ain't she purdy?

Another purdy one :)

The next one....well......lets just say that the universe was checking to see how well I have learned my lesson about perfection.

The top thread must have got caught in the bobbin...or some such thing...and I had to remove the design from the machine.   When I put it back in....look what happened.  The red area on the hummingbirds chest....that is supposed to be up on the flower and the big blue dot on the birds head....that was supposed to be in the center of the flower.  I am pleased to report that I will applique some fabric over this baby and make it work.  Anyone says anything...ever....I'll just say that's how it was supposed to be!  Ahhhh...I'm feeling the freedom :)

I told you there would be a lot....what can I say....I have not posted to my blog in 4 days!!!

Look what I got in the mail on Monday:

 A travel holder for my curling iron....isn't it beautiful?

My girlfriend, Jean, had made one and posted about  it here.  She offered to make me one so of course I said...oh yeah baby! :)  Look how beautiful she embellished it.  The button and flower really takes this curling iron cover from a utilitarian item and transforms it into a zippy piece of traveling art.

If you are still reading....I'm almost shocked!!!

Last evening I had to run to my friend Diane's house for a favor.  She had a belated birthday gift for me.  I was so surprised.  Look what she has made for me:

A snap purse made from Marcia Derse fabrics.  I had goose bumps and lots of them too.

 

Now I have two "Derse Purse's"....I think we should start calling them Derse Pursey's ...no...sounds dumb doesn't it?  That happens sometimes.  

 But wait...there was more....can you believe this?

 The first one says, Rise and Whine and the second one says, Put on your big girl panties on and deal with it.  Too funny...I just love them.

Lots of presents....what a way to start the week ay?  I am one very lucky lady :)

As I was leaving Diane's house I saw this on the table....I couldn't help myself....had to take a pix of it to share with all of you:

Hope it leaves you giggling too.

Smiles,
Kelly