Monday, June 18, 2007

Patriotic Quilt Tops

I got two quilt tops pieced today and a third ready for the border. hurray. Of course it helps when your quilts are small and either consist of a center with borders or orphans. Still counts as progress and I'm thrilled to have more projects lined up to quilt on. Not that I've been doing any hand quilting, but that's about to change.

This first quilt has been percolating for quite a while, which is silly considering how simple it is. Lucy recently posted a pic that has been blogged about before, that shows a wall of doll/mini quilts. It is marvelous. Go look, because her little poison green stars are marvelous too. Anyway, there is an American patriotic quilt with a starred blue center and red and white stripes on either side. I LOVE that quilt and it inspired me to make this:

No need to adjust your set, yes the top border is skinnier than the bottom.

I decided that since it's almost July it might just be time to play with my patriotic orphans. Turns out I've never taken a picture of all of them. Whoops. Anyway. I had already cut out the flaglike bit of fabric and it fit well with the word America so I chose to sew them together and then add a border. I like it. Don't love it, but like it. Will look better quilted, but isn't that (almost) always the case.

And this is the project that has been making me pull my hair out. I got out my orphan Indian Orange Peel arcs to show Finn and I was just hit with the urge to destroy them, uh, make them work. I played with different kinds of crumbs, before settling on cutting each arc into a rectangle 2.25" x 4.5" and sewing them into strips. I was thinking about some kind of Amish-inspired bars, but didn't like how they looked, so the rows ended up getting all whomped together. What a nightmare of seams, all sorts of extra fabric. It was the ugliest sewing job I've ever had.

I've tried all sorts of fabric for the border, including some warm brights from the other side of the colorwheel. The only thing that seems to work in my mind is this turqoise. I need to let this top rest for awhile and see if I fall in love with it. I hate to waste the border fabric, because that I do love.

Kinda boring. Maybe that's why I'm having fun with the red, white, and blue. That is one of the punchiest color combinations out there.

In other news, I broke down and baked the other day. Trying not to, since I think that's why I managed to keep the weight off that I lost after the thyroidectomy. Made a shortbread base with chocolate, toffee bits and pecans. Does it count as fattening if you eat it as your entire meal? I had it for dinner and then breakfast. Baaaad girl.

You know how tv obsessed I am. Well I was channel suring up into the high reaches and discovered a number of movie channels. I found a cheesy vampire movie being shown in English with French subtitles. Woohoo. Unfortunately that's not always the case and the movie selection is sometimes to be desired. I sewed to Predator today, which has surprisingly little dialogue. (Whoever would have that two future U.S. governors would appear in a movie that silly?)

20 comments:

Kim West said...

I agree with you - the bottom one needs to "rest" for a while. I do like the top, but the outside border does need to be something else other than the turquoise.

Hedgehog said...

I just love those letters! I like the turquoise for the ex-orange peels. Looking forward to seeing your RWB orphans!

sophie said...

Those Indian Orange Peel arcs never looked so good! FWIW, personally, I'd try a patterned fabric for the border.

Unknown said...

Hey, here's an idea. Why not use the peels as the base for a crusty? The RWB looks good too.

Hugs,
Melinda

Maddie Can Fly said...

I like both -- the America is great and I like the orange peels with or without the turquoise border. But I don't envy you trying to quilt with all those seams!

sossy said...

I like the patriotic quilts and your letters are fantastic, but something about the last quilt really speaks to me. I think it is gorgeous and love the turqouise border. You always have such neat things on your blog and I find it very inspiring.

Anonymous said...

I'm making a patriotic quilt mini too. Mine is free pieced stars and I'm about ready to put the final border on. I also love the mini quilt wall. I'm working on making my own.

I have the book called "Little Quilts" (I think that's the title) and it has some cool patriotic designs. There's one in there I'd like to do in a free pieced sort of way.

Unknown said...

I like what you did with the Indian Orange Peel Ex-Arcs. If that's not grabbing victory from the jaws of defeat I don't know what it... If it seems boring to you, what about some embellishment like beading? The colors are great.

Diane said...

Tonya, I've been visiting your blog for a while now, but think this is my first comment. Your quilts are always cheerful and fun. The "America" quilt is striking, bold and graphic. Well done! The arc quilt is about as far away from my style and color scheme as you can get, but sometimes that allows for more objectivity. Personally, I don't think the turquoise is a good border choice. The center of the quilt is marvelous the way the colors meld together. The purple frame provides a good rest for the eye. The first thing I thought of for a border was a Kaffee Fasset stripe. He's bound to have one in that color combination. Good luck!

Diane said...

Me again--think subtle for the final border. Let it blend with those marvelous colors in the center.

Mary Johnson said...

I love the orange peel arcs and I think your border choices are perfect.

I guess it's the time of year for RWB. I'm quilting my Patriotic String Star today which will go to QOV when it's done.

I like the new page banner too.

Finn said...

Hi Ton, I'm stuck by the vibrance and clarity of the red, white and blues you are using. Not sure I noticed that before. Really rocks!
The America letters are great..*VBS*
And what a great outcome from that pile of unloved arcs. I think some rest from it is needed before a final decision. I like it as far as you have gone. Hugs, Finn

Anonymous said...

Tonya, Thank you for sharing. LOVE the America quilt. Really! It says it all. Also like what you did with the saw teeth. Perhaps a thin bit of warm gold around the perimeter? Gypsy Quilter

Candy Schultz said...

I love what you have done with the orange peels. Who besides Schwarzenneger? I can't recall another one.

Candy Schultz said...

I just posted a recipe for gazpacho. Very healthy, very filling. Great for summer. Unfortunately it comes with key lime pie. I had that for dinner and breakfast.

Anonymous said...

i don't find it boring at all - i love the turqoise as a border! it's beautiful! OK maybe not as "contrasty" as some quilts - but still: beautifuL!!!

Tazzie said...

I really like how you've made up the orphan orange peels. I can see how it would have been a nightmare of seams. I'm sure it'll speak to you in time.
*hugs*
Tazzie
:-)

Duyvken said...

I love the letters in america, particularly the lower case a. You're a storm of activity over there!

jmb_craftypickle said...

I loved the line about sewing to Predator...I too have sewn to ridiculous movies...I find that some are more enjoyable because of it....love the triangle bars!

Cher said...

great rwb minis....your lettering is simply perfect...good idea to let the rescued orange peel one rest..I do love the colors however..black border won't do? sorry, it just seems a favorite framing border idea to me.