When I first made blocks for my Skinny Logs in 2005, I used my gorgeous almost solid fabrics cut in 1.25" strips. Those are the blocks that ended up in Orphan Train - you can see some of them in this pic with Lily's behind.
Well this go round I'm cutting the strips 1" wide (yes, you read that correctly) and I'm mainly using fabric that I dislike or has been in the stash too long. I LOVE how the almost solids look, but it makes me cry to use them up - heck, half of each strip will go into the seam allowance on this puppy. So this is my opportunity to make some headway into that pile of not-so-beloved fabrics. Here is Lily auditioning:
As I'm cutting my tiny strips, I'm also cutting wider and angled strips and bits and throwing them into my new scrap bin. I really do love some of these fabrics, but I hate the feel of some of the roughly-textured ones and some of these fabrics are so wildly patterned that they're hard to use. In they go. Plus my tastes have just plain changed. I'll play out of this bin for some of my upcoming projects.
I'm definitely noticing that I have sooo many more dark and medium fabrics than lights. I know that's a common tendency among some quilters, but I'm especially guilty of it. It's very noticeable in my current stacks. I'm going to have to use some of my still-in-favor pinks and turquoises so this whole quilt won't be gloomy and doomy.Quilting continues on Orphan Train. Look, I've got my name done.
Bibi crawled up into my lap the other night as I was quilting. Big lug just wants attention.
Pokey, me, and Bibi:
Before I forget, let me say thanks to all who responded to the question in my last post. I've decided to go with my lazy inclination and leave Joyeux Noel border-free. But it really helped to know that many of you prefered it that way and I wasn't ruining the quilt by leaving it incomplete.
Howler and Habibi enjoying the sunshine, as well as the heat from the radiator:
Yes, Howler IS incredibly fat.
Such beautiful cats!
ReplyDeleteAny chance you'll be binding the quilt in the striped fabric (crosswise)?
ReplyDeleteThe Orphan Train is turning out to be a great quilt! Apparently, your cats approve! So, how big will those log cabin blocks be - the ones with the 1" strips? Has it been warm, or just sunny?
ReplyDeleteyour cats are hillarious! you have reminded me to get back working on my alphabet quilt.
ReplyDeleteHow do you pin baste? That top photo seem like an awful lot of pins... Do you just move them up once you have quilted that area?
ReplyDeleteOne-inch logs will be wonderful. I've noticed that the smaller the log, the better the log cabin blocks look. I've never been brave enough to make mine that small, but I know yours will be lovely.
ReplyDeleteYour kitties are SO incredibly photogenic! And we're so lucky that you share them with us...
ReplyDeleteLove the shot of your scrap bin! Have fun playing!
It's good to know I'm not the only one who gets paralyzed by too many choices. (I'm sure it's a widespread condition but when it hits it feels SO personal.)
ReplyDeletePokey has such an intriguing face. And Howler just made me laugh out loud!
I just love your cat posts! I just posted one like you and bibi with my cat Autumn. She was "helping" me sew on a label.
ReplyDeleteWhat is it about cats that they always find the best seat in the house, whether it's a welcoming lap or a spot right by the heat vent?
ReplyDeleteThat Orphan Train quilt is looking super.
Those cats are so photogenic. Do they hear you pîck up the camera and automatically pose? The picture of you, Pokey and Bibi is fantastique!
ReplyDeleteGlad you decided not to put a border of Joyeux Noel.
I love seeing pictures of other people's scraps. Everyone's colors are so different. The Orphan Train is looking good.
ReplyDeleteI love the pic of the three of you! I am glad you have some sunshine, it can be so incredibly dreary in January. Here we are having an unseasonably warm 10 degrees Celcius and it is raining and so very grey, so very blah, outside.
ReplyDeleteI love the quilt, but love the cats as much. It is so funny that you called your one cat a big lug, that's what we call our cat Rolo. He looks very similar to yours and is 20 lbs. He also loves to rest on my quilts. I do have a picture of him on my blog.
ReplyDeleteStumbled across your blog today. Love all the photos of your cats. Habibi is so like my Oliver.
ReplyDeleteThe dark colors look great together--like a wild and crazy Amish quilt! I love them.
ReplyDeleteActually you would only need to pick up a few key lights on your next fabric shopping spree to add a little zing. It wouldn't take very many at all. You have a beautiful sense of color combinations and I wouldn't want to see you stray too far from what is already working so well.
It all depends on what sort of look you prefer in the finished quilt.
oooo - I can't wait to see those skinny log cabins!
ReplyDeleteHi Tonya,
ReplyDeleteReading your blog is one of the first things I do every morning. I love the quilts that you produce. . . . but your cat pictures are the best. My girls and I anxiously await Pokey (and the other ones) pictures. Sometimes I just say awww and Kyley says "Pokey?" Pretty funny when we don't even know you. Anyway, we love it all
Naomi
Love those kitties! Ginger likes to help me, too, especially with knitting.
ReplyDeleteI really like your Noel quilt!
Happy New Year! And how funn to be in Paris.