Monday, August 24, 2009

Feather Challenged

Remember these blocks? The ones you've been staring at on my neglected blog for over a month?At long last, I bring you....closure. Or should I say "clothes"-ure?

The "Better than Laundry" quilt is done. Here it is on my bed:

I lost track of how many shirts, dresses and skirts I used to make this quilt. I even used a pair of men's pajamas! I had a ball.

While my son was home for summer, we watched the "Twin Peaks" series from Netflix. I think that's how this quilt ended up so "mountain-cabin-in-Snowhomish" looking. I certainly doesn't look like it belongs in Kauai, but that's okay. Change is fun.

The only fabric I purchased was for the black border. The rest of this quilt was made from my last-chance stash (destined for rag rugs) and old clothing.

I had fun with the quilting. Sunbursts, spirals, leaves, flames, feathers...yikes.

I'm okay with leaves and swirls, but feathers defeat me. This quilt is an oversized KING comforter (!), so I thought I would tackle feathers on the gigantic black border with black fine thread. I thought by the time I feathered FOUR large, wide borders, I'd be great at feathers!

Nope. I guess my next few quilts will have to stay plucked for now.

Can you see the feathers in the black border below? No? Good.

Okay...how about this...can you spot the fur in the next picture?

Mr. Bigglesworth inspects my latest. Oh...and as long as we're playing "I Spy"....did you spot my new quilt hanger?

It's quite big for a quilt hanger, yes?

Yep...I'm surprised, too. My husband bought me this for my 51st birthday. I told him that my friend Joe was selling his Gammill, and the next thing you know, the Gammill was parked in our living room. Well...not exactly "the next thing you know." It required six people and a twelve-foot trailer, plus lots of noises like, "oof" and "ow," not to mention some major bruises and back pain.

I'm floored. For as long as I can remember, I've dreamed about owning one of these machines. I can hardly believe it when I see it in my very own sewing room. Pinch me.

Love the quilt! My Mom always carefully inspects my quilts to check I haven't nicked any of her clothes- her summer skirts are particularly useful...I'm jeasous of your Gammill, I was ogling them at the quilt show!

Gorgeous quilt and OMG and congratulations on your fabulous new "best friend!" Your honey did good and I wish you many, happy, healthy years of stitching together :) Ohhhhh and I think the feathers look great!

Your quilt is absolutely wonderful, I think that you used pieces of clothing enhances it even more, & your quilting is smashing. Great job.Remember the old saying "Use it up, wear it out, make do or do without". My mom & Grandma lived by those words.Wendy

i am so envious! what is it? it looks like you have the needle up/down function and i am sure the stitch regulator. ya know what... i have talked with long armers and they say they dont really like that regulator after they have been free motioning on their own. jeni didnt like it at all while she was demoing one, after she turned that function off she really liked the machine. i love our frame. i cannot tell you how much i hate the "pro" frame gammil sells. for $1500 was a total rip off and am still made about it. it has you put the quilts in almost upside down, i still have a hard time with it. i wish mark would of just made a new frame with my old metal pieces i brought from kauai. i would like to upgrade to the one just above the premier, the classic i think it is...is that what yours is. you just for it girl. what a sweetie of clayton!

Your quilting and quilts are awesome. Happy Birthday and congrats on the Gammill machine...you will love it. Good husbands are a womans' Best Friend! I'm working on a baby quilt using your Baby Honu pattern...it is looking beautiful.Liz

GREAT that you got that Gammill!!! AND...if the "Better Than Laundry" quilt just never looks like it fits in with your Hawaiian environment, you can send it to southern Delaware (to me) and I'm sure it will fit in just fine here. LOL Glad you are back...kept checking your blog every couple of days and wondered when you're pay us a visit!!!

Lisa, I too just recieved a (new to me)Gammill! I am taking an online feather class called Feather Bootcamp on MQResource. It is taught by Suzanne Earley (Meandering Magic author). It is AWESOME and she breaks down each stem for the..um...er...feather CHALLENGED like ..ME! Have you made friends with/named your Gammill yet? not me..but soon I hope!

Happy Birthday.....nice gift!! Just got back from Kauai, saw your quilt in the Kapaia Stitchery Window, love it even more in person. Made several nice purchases in the shop (love that place and such nice people that work there). Had a wonderful time on the island, will be starting to build our home there within the next two years (God willing) have the property already. Went to the fair on Thursday, kept my eyes open for island celebrity Lisa Boyer but also no...:( Hope you are feeling better, love the new quilt.

congrats to birthday and present, Mr Bigglesworth is a worthy quilt inspector, a little bit of fur is least what they leave, sometimes they even leave some small claw punctures of pure excitement.Purrr!

I love fabric shopping and enjoying new fabric just like everyone else, but there's something about pre-loved pieces from the fabrics of our lives (I think I stole "fabrics of our lives" from the Cotton asso. of somethingorother). I just love it and it must be so fun to see pieces and remember the time (now I'm stealing from Michael Jackson).

I do love that's it's got a Snohomish look. It's the perfect look... the perfect dorky homemade look (I stole that from you). I'm so gaga over your quilt, Lisa. The fabrics, the blocks, the setting... the quilting on your birthday Gammill!

I just found your blog (9-17-09)... CONGRATS on the finished quilt... I absolutely LOVE your books... My husband bought me both last Cmas (my request) and I read them in a matter of days... I couldn't put them down... As a novice quilter (self taught) of 4 years, your books were exactly what I needed to read... Thank you!!! I look forward to reading your blog... Update when you can...