tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140465972024-03-13T06:04:05.913-04:00Lazy Gal QuiltingThe life of an UnRuly QuilterTonya Ricuccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778059489713831067noreply@blogger.comBlogger906125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14046597.post-5954037218561641972013-02-15T17:25:00.000-05:002014-02-21T16:47:34.484-05:00No MushHi, guys. How's everybody doing? I'm doing okay, just a terrible blogger is all. Thanks for the emails checking up on me.<br />
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On Sunday I gave a demo to the <a href="http://baltimoremqg.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Baltimore Modern Quilt Guild</a> which happens to be my guild. I talked about working with ugly fabrics (and how I've grown to love them), showed off <a href="http://lazygalquilting.blogspot.com/2011/11/ellis-island.html" target="_blank">Ellis Island</a> and some larger chunks of ugly fabric that went in it, and emphasized the importance of value. I didn't bring any value-less (hee hee hee) examples with me because it was supposed to be a short talk. So let's see if I can do a better job of explaining myself here.<br />
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In order to check value in my quilts in progress, I use red and green value finders. I have a mismatched pair but these are <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FQZC8I/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FQZC8I&linkCode=as2&tag=lazgalqui-20"> Cottage Mills Color Evaluators</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=lazgalqui-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B001FQZC8I" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> and they work great.<br />
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You can <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FQZC8I/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FQZC8I&linkCode=as2&tag=lazgalqui-20">get the filters from Amazon</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=lazgalqui-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B001FQZC8I" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> for sure and sometimes get lucky at a quilt shop. Or, use camera filters or plastic or acrylic in red and green. Doesn't have to be anything fancy, but you need both colors. <br />
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You hold one of the filters up to your eyes and look at your fabric or blocks. I put the blocks for Pokey's Quilt up on the design wall today and this is what it looked like through the green filter. <br />
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I could not get a photo through the red filter for nuthin, but it would look similar (but different). The point is, I can see light lights and dark darks and no area where everything is blending together. If I find the same contrast looking through the red filter, I know this quilt is working great. (Which it is, woohoo!)<br />
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What is mush you ask? Here is Kansas City Troubles which I made in the 1990's. Very typical of my colors of the time. <br />
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It's a quilt that never worked and I didn't understand why until many years later. If I'd had the filters I could have looked through them and seen something like this:<br />
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Okay, there is some contrast here. It's not really sharp, but I can see triangles and sawteeth and a strong inner border. And here it is through the red filter:<br />
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That's a lot of mush, with an inner border.<br />
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I faked these two filtered pics using Picasa, so this isn't entirely accurate BUT you can get my point right? Use both the red and green filters and you need to see contrast in both unless you are purposely doing a low-volume quilt but that is a whole other animal.<br />
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So if you keep the red and green filters by your sewing machine you can make frequent checks on your progress. I've gotten much better at seeing it myself without needing to use them.<br />
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Another great tool, which many of you already know about, is your camera. Look at a photo of your quilt in black and white (on your computer using photo editing software unless you have a really peachy camera).<br />
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Mush. This is the most accurate representation of the value, but not necessarily the easiest one to work with constantly.<br />
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Did that make sense? Was it helpful? Feel free to ask questions.<br />
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Here is a<a href="http://piecemealquilts.com/2011/04/02/pmgc-quilts-skill-builder-series-part-2a-fabric/" target="_blank"> tutorial by Piecemeal Quilts</a> that I think is wonderful. Great examples of pushing your fabric choices so there is less mush and more zing.<br />
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I surprised myself at just how much fun I had doing the demo. I need to remember that and not be so intimidated about teaching. Speaking of which, I'm coming out to Colorado to teach in May! fingers crossed.<br />
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Okay, before I go, here are a few kitty pics. Old photos, which says something about how long it's been since I've done this. Annabelle<br />
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She was three months old when I took these last July.<br />
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And not to be left out: Cooper<br />
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They've gotten so much bigger since then. Annabelle is still getting into trouble and Cooper is sleeping a lot (growing boy).<br />
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If you want to see more kitty pics, Friend me on Facebook. I am better at posting there... Tonya Ricuccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778059489713831067noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14046597.post-34053496030296795492012-12-04T00:01:00.000-05:002012-12-13T11:07:16.575-05:0015 Minutes of PlayHurray for Victoria Findlay Wolfe (aka V aka Bumblebeans) and her new book, 15 Minutes of Play. Today is my day on the blog hop to celebrate the book.<br />
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Do you know the common denominator in my favorite quilt books like Gwen Marston's Liberated Quiltmaking and Roberta Horton's Scrap Quilts? No patterns, lots of quilts, and lots of words. And woohoo, V's book is all of that. It's like sitting next to V and listening to her explain how she made her improvisational, scrappy quilts. Her inspiration and enthusiasm are so contagious.<br />
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In the book, there are multiple techniques for making "made-fabric" by free-piecing, using paper as a foundation, and the quick way. I love that, because not every one likes to work the same way. For instance, I love using paper foundations and don't mind ripping all the paper off while other people can't stand that. There are directions for some of the blocks in the book and multiple challenges to get you started playing.<br />
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Okay, I am admittedly biased about this book because V is a friend, we love a lot of the same quilts and quilters, and woohoo, I have a quilt in the book. Starburst, the quilt V and I collaborated on because I'd made all those string star diamonds and was anxious about the Y-seams involved in getting it all together. V is fearless and actually loves Y-seams. AND she has a tutorial on them in the book, so I'll have that the next time I have to face that task. Anyway, Starburst used to look like this:<br />
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but sure doesn't anymore. You'll have to get the book to see the final quilt. It doesn't come with a photo of Pokey though... <br />
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More than that, there are quilts by some of my favorite bloggers, like <a href="http://niftyquilts.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Nifty Quilts</a> and <a href="http://fiberliscious.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Fiberliscious </a>Mary Keasler amongst others, and quilts by V's grandmother that are just amazing. <br />
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You can <b>win a copy of the book 15 Minutes of Play right here</b> <b>by leaving a comment</b> on this post. (<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">US winners receive a
hard copy of the book. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">International winners receive a Electronic copy of the book, direct from
C&T.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Or, you can buy a copy <a href="http://www.bumblebeansinc.com/shop/" target="_blank">directly from V at her shop</a> or from </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1607055864/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1607055864&linkCode=as2&tag=lazgalqui-20">Amazon</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=lazgalqui-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1607055864" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">These are all the folks who have or will participate in the blog hop: </span><br />
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Nov: 26: "Victoria Findlay Wolfe", <a href="http://www.15minutesplay.com/" target="_blank">http://www.15minutesplay.com/</a><br />
Nov 27: "Bonnie K Hunter", <a href="http://quiltville.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://quiltville.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>com/</a><br />
Nov 28: "Alissa Haight Carlton, <a href="http://www.handmadebyalissa.com/" target="_blank">http://www.handmadebyalissa.<wbr></wbr>com/</a><br />
Nov 29: "Pat Sloan", <a href="http://patsloan.typepad.com/" target="_blank">http://patsloan.typepad.com/</a> <br />
Nov 30: "Kimberly," <a href="http://fatquartershop.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://fatquartershop.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com/</a><br />
Dec 1st: "Karen Griska",<a href="http://selvageblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://selvageblog.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com/</a><br />
Dec 2nd: "Angela Walters", <a href="http://www.quiltingismytherapy.com/" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>quiltingismytherapy.com/</a><br />
Dec 3rd: Generation Q, <a href="http://generationqmagazine.com/" target="_blank">http://generationqmagazine.<wbr></wbr>com/</a><br />
Dec 4th: "Tonya Ricucci", <a href="http://www.lazygalquilting.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://www.lazygalquilting.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com/</a><br />
Dec 5th: "Michele Foster",<a href="http://quiltinggallery.com/blog-posts/" target="_blank">http://<wbr></wbr>quiltinggallery.com/blog-<wbr></wbr>posts/</a><br />
Dec 6th: "Scott Hansen",<a href="http://bluenickelstudios.com/" target="_blank">http://<wbr></wbr>bluenickelstudios.com/</a><br />
Dec 7th:"Amy Ellis", <a href="http://amyscreativeside.com/blog/" target="_blank">http://amyscreativeside.com/<wbr></wbr>blog/</a><br />
Dec 8th: "Rachaeldaisy",<a href="http://bluemountaindaisy.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://<wbr></wbr>bluemountaindaisy.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>com/</a><br />
Dec 9th:"Jackie Kunkel", <a href="http://cvquiltworks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://cvquiltworks.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>com/</a><br />
Dec. 10th: <a href="http://www.ctpubblog.com/" target="_blank">http://www.ctpubblog.com/</a>Tonya Ricuccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778059489713831067noreply@blogger.com200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14046597.post-49101650056356505802012-10-01T13:28:00.001-04:002014-08-06T22:40:27.705-04:00Fabulous BlocksI am so lucky to have fabulous wonderful people out there in quilt blog land who sent me blocks to make a mourning quilt for my baby Pokey. And how do I repay you all? By not blogging for the last 6 weeks. eeeek, how did that happen?<br />
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Blocks from <a href="http://cherzoe.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Marathon Quilter</a> Cher and Heidi B. Heidi was sweet to send me German fabric to include with the quilt. <br />
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I never would have guessed Cooper would be so photogenic. He's great at cute poses and sitting still.<br />
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<a href="http://smazoochie.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Smazoochie</a> Beth made this oh so cute little Pokey face and the letters for MEOW:<br />
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<a href="http://giraffedreams.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Giraffe Dreams</a> Carol E sent me an X and crumbs, and sweet Mary E., whom I met in WA last summer, made the hearts:<br />
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I'm sad to say that my horrible disorganization, procrastination, AND kitty mayhem means that I'm not as sure of who made what blocks as I should be. Diane S made the cappuccino heart (cuz Pokey was my cappuccino-colored girl) and I think it was Lynette who made the other lovely blocks. right?<br />
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Annabelle with an X made by <a href="http://amomentofwhimsy.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Moment of Whimsy</a> Laura (a new friend from the Baltimore Modern Quilt Guild - how dare she have the nerve to have to start back to school teaching instead of playing) and blocks from Margaret C:<br />
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<a href="http://mcelebrates.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Em Celebrates</a>:<br />
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<a href="http://quilt-it.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Quilt It</a> Marit, who recently lost her beloved Venus. Breaks my heart. <br />
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<a href="http://pokeytown3.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Pokeytown Kim</a> who's been blogging lately about her Beaver Island Quilt Retreat with Gwen Marston (woohoo):<br />
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<a href="http://bluemountaindaisy.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Blue Mountain Daisy</a> Rachael: <br />
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Sandi:<br />
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<a href="http://indigothreads.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Indigo Threads</a> Sharon K:<br />
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Note to self: never go this long between blog posts. My brain melted and I can't remember a couple of blog names. This is a lot of blocks. They are all so beautiful - this is going to be a wonderful quilt. <br />
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Laura took pity on me and cleaned out her stash. <br />
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I'm grateful for the lights and I have already used a bunch of these.
Such a hoot to have all this Williamsburg Blue and Dusty Pink. Yes, I'll always take donations of uglies, especially lights. Oh and I did
receive some lovely scraps to use in Pokey's quilt but did I keep track
of who sent them? no, bad blogger.<br />
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I mentioned Debra in my last post. In addition to letters, she sent cat toys (those big mice with the long tails are *awesome* - they throw really well) and this cat bed (in Pokey colors) which the bigger cats take turns lounging in and catching rays. Here's Lily modelling it:<br />
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I'll leave you with one final picture. Destructo climbing girl Annabelle scaling my design wall (there's insulation board under the batting):<br />
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That's 6' off the ground at the top there. You can see all the gouges in the batting from her previous mountain climbing adventures. If there are blocks up there, she leaps up at them until she can get them down. If blocks are stuck up there with pins, that just means an extra toy to play with when she gets it down to the ground. She's a very silly girl.<br />
<br />
So interesting how the kittens personalities differ. Annabelle is mischievous and loves to pull towels down. She leapt one too many times at the large quilts on the walls, so they've been put away and my walls are barren. Cooper meanwhile is so sweet - he jumps up and sits on my chest and rubs his face against mine. I think they've both had goes at the toilet paper - Annabelle likes to pull on the end and run with it, Cooper likes to chew through the roll. But really, that's the only naughty thing he does. I'm enjoying it all - I know they'll outgrow this kittenness all too soon.Tonya Ricuccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778059489713831067noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14046597.post-1197352445785305292012-08-10T12:10:00.000-04:002013-02-15T14:16:30.468-05:00The Talented KelliI want to share a marvelous quilt with you made by the very talented Kelli P:<br />
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Isn't it fabulous? Kelli says<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
We've never met but I am a HUGE fan of your work. For many years, I
followed your adventures without yet having the "nerve" to try your
techniques. Finally, several years ago, I worked up the nerve to improv
a project and it was a epic failure - except that I learned two things.
I learned that I was way more dependent on someone else's patterns
than I had previously thought and that improv was a lot harder than it
looked.
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Fast forward to earlier this year when a good friend
of mine was injured and I yearned to make her a quilt. I had purchased
your book Word Play and decided to use it to make her something. I
have attached a picture. It is my first improv project and I love it.
The wordless borders are extra long so that she can use the quilt on
her hospital bed and still read all of the words. I call it "For Adina:
Do Something".</div>
</blockquote>
The finished dimensions are roughly 120"x 89. Kelli won 2 first place ribbons at the NJ State Fair. Well deserved. Woohoo! You can find Kelli blogging at <a href="http://www.hobbywhore.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">HobbyWhore - Too Many Hobbies, Not Enough Time</a>.<br />
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The thing about doing an improvisational quilt is that you have to be prepared for some failures. You never know how something is going to turn out until you do it. I've certainly made my fair share of dogs.<br />
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I've been getting envelopes and packages in the mail. Makes me so happy. These are blocks for <a href="http://www.lazygalquilting.blogspot.com/2012/07/quilt-blocks-go-wild.html" target="_blank">Pokey's quilt</a> from <a href="http://niftyquilts.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Nifty Quilts</a>:<br />
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<a href="http://joetulipsquilts.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Joe Tulips Quilts,</a>:<br />
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<br />
And Debra B:<br />
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Debra also included wonderful gifts for the kitties. Bibi getting that catnip high:<br />
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Look at how well Pokey's quilt is coming together:<br />
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The colors are wonderful, a great balance. I really do want to just put this together kind of randomly so it's not love love love in your face. Thank you so much guys.<br />
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The deadline for getting me Pokey blocks is Columbus Day, 'bout the first week of October. I can't believe how soon that is coming up.<br />
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On a completely different topic, are ya'all aware of the upcoming <a href="http://aqsshows.com/AQSGrandRapids/" target="_blank">AQS quilt show in Grand Rapids</a>, Michigan? Well worth going to. There are two special exhibits that I would love to see: quilts from Gwen Marston's Liberated Medallion book by Gwen and her students (woohoo!) and Stitch Like an Egyptian. The latter is tentmaker applique pieces that are truly stunning. Two of the tentmakers will be there in person. These are some photos I've taken of <a href="http://www.lazygalquilting.blogspot.com/search/label/Tentmaker%20Applique" target="_blank">Tentmaker</a> work.<br />
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Time to get back to work in the coalmines. Later.Tonya Ricuccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778059489713831067noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14046597.post-62940435795113187132012-07-31T17:03:00.002-04:002014-08-29T11:48:38.837-04:00Quilt Blocks Go WildHey all ya'all. I gotta do a little bit of shameless self-promotion. See this?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7LDSGF3wzrFLsuXdD5vdhfgqNItfR3WN5HqpGIgFWky_8zvQQRPdSU5as057ZTXU0V9pLd4JcCKe1wrWUrEnlPuFrKURge6OLne7ah5nVoL2UoA94VjLISpD41ogNxWlIJzrKQ/s1600/shazam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7LDSGF3wzrFLsuXdD5vdhfgqNItfR3WN5HqpGIgFWky_8zvQQRPdSU5as057ZTXU0V9pLd4JcCKe1wrWUrEnlPuFrKURge6OLne7ah5nVoL2UoA94VjLISpD41ogNxWlIJzrKQ/s400/shazam.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a> </div>
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Shazam! It's the block I redesigned for the book<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1609004175/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1609004175&linkCode=as2&tag=lazgalqui-20"> Quilt Blocks Go Wild</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=lazgalqui-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1609004175" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> just published by Leisure Arts.<br />
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It's my version of Rail Fence. You know my <a href="http://lazygalquilting.blogspot.com/2007/12/dr-seuss-christmas-quilt.html" target="_blank">Dr. Seuss Christmas Quilt</a>? Well this is the way to make it. The easy way I figured out how to do years later...<br />
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I've got a mixed opinion of the book. Of course there is my block--which is fabulous-- and made UnRulily. That is, no marking or real fussing - although you do have to pay attention. I love that we were allowed to use photos to illustrate the steps, so I think it's pretty clear. (If not, give me a holler.) I love Malka Dubrowsky's Drunkard's Path redo. I love that the book shows you alternate methods for working.<br />
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But. But there are some methods in the book that do not appeal to me in the least. Freezer paper and templates. So this book isn't about Liberation. It's about how to step outside the traditional zone in baby steps. And of course not everyone loves Liberation and UnRuly so hopefully they'll find a way to play that they do like.<br />
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The book will be available on Amazon (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1609004175/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1609004175&linkCode=as2&tag=lazgalqui-20">Quilt Blocks Go Wild)</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=lazgalqui-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1609004175" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
and at JoAnn's stores. Possibly other places as well.<br />
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While I've got you all here, can I make a request for blocks? I know I don't deserve them since I still have several UFOs-worth of wonderful gifties from readers. I do, I know. If you don't worry about it eventually becoming a quilt and just think of it as a gift to Lazy Gal, who looks at it and feels loved... I'd appreciate it. Not that I'm trying to guilt you into anything ;-)<br />
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I'd like to make a love quilt for Pokey. I still miss her so much. <br />
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I have a quilt in mind. I know what the components are, but not how the quilt will look. I'd love to receive Pokey-colored blocks. White, cream, all those lovely shades of brown and dark brown/black accents. I called her my cappuccino girl - coffee with cream. And of course turquoise/cyan for her beautiful eyes and pink/red for her nose and paw pads (and love).<br />
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And the type of block? It's a love quilt. UnRuly L-O-V-E letters and UnRuly XOXOXOXO hugs and kisses. And <a href="http://lazygalquilting.blogspot.com/2006/01/wonky-hearts.html" target="_blank">wonky hearts</a>. Individual letters, or joined together. Just one or several. Nothing too big please unless you're piecing the letter fabric. Any questions, just ask.<br />
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Summary: UnRuly Letters (as found in<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1604680172/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1604680172&linkCode=as2&tag=lazgalqui-20"> Word Play Quilts)</a> E, L, O, V, and X and wonky hearts in white, cream, and all sorts of brown with hints of turquoise, red, pink, and black. (not that you have to have all those colors in one block). The goal is to have a quilt for the next book (yes, I'm finally working on one) so it's gotta be UnRuly.<br />
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If you make some letters/hearts and they don't come out well? Don't throw them away. Send them anyway. The UnRuly Orphanage takes in all sorts of strays. <br />
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To be even more obnoxious: as always, I'd love any spare orphan UnRuly letters you'd care to send. And teensy bits of ugly ugly fabric in light colors. I've got way too many dark fabrics in my stash...<br />
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I hate sunless, overcast days. This blog post makes me sound so sad and dreary and that's really not the case. I'm enjoying the Olympics and sewing. Yes, I'm sewing again and book plotting. woohoo! And enjoying the company of the cats. Even the little stinkers, Annabelle (or should it be Annabowl?):<br />
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and Cooper:<br />
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They both love the dishwasher, why I don't know. Shiny cave to explore, oh boy! These are older photos, amazing how much they grow in just a couple of weeks.<br />
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Later, gators!Tonya Ricuccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778059489713831067noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14046597.post-47898031009767645362012-07-08T11:23:00.001-04:002014-09-12T10:06:27.894-04:00Meet Annabelle and CooperI know this is supposed to be a quilt blog, not a cat blog (or at least not ONLY a cat blog) but I haven't done any sewing and hardly any hand quilting or cutting since my last post which was eek, five weeks ago? aagh.<br />
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I've had distractions. Meet Annabelle and Cooper:<br />
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They are darling siblings, now 3 months old. Rescue kitties of course. I saw their little faces looking at me from <a href="http://petfinder.com/">Petfinder.com</a> and they just drew me in.<br />
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Notice the resemblence to Lily? (that's her down below) Couldn't bear thinking of Lily living in jail, so figured I'd bust these
two out. Not that they were in jail - actually living in a wonderful
foster home, but that's besides the point.<br />
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The big difference is the eye color. Right now the wee ones have
yellow-green-brown eyes, as compared to Lily's striking clear green. And the little dudes have a more pronounced snout. Their mother is gorgeous, as well as friendly, so I know they will be too.<br />
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Anyway, Annabelle has a white face, ears, and legs.<br />
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She's a chewer - chewed my iPod headset cord in two and scared us by playing with electrical cords. We now have lots of cords wrapped in blue electrical tape, which supposedly has a chalky taste that kitties don't like. Agh, Annabelle just launched herself at a quilt hanging on the wall - and she stuck there for a few seconds. </div>
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Meanwhile, Mini Cooper has the same face mask as Lily and two brown ears and hind legs. <br />
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Cooper's more likely to chew on fingers or toes. He loves hunting and dragging prey behind the sofa - there's quite a collection of toys and paper towels back there. Cooper has made the unfortunate discovery of the dishwasher - he loves jumping in there while I have the bottom rack pulled out. He's the more affectionate of the two and voluntarily sat in my lap for a couple of hours yesterday.<br />
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They both have tiny sharp teeth and tiny sharp claws. Agh.<br />
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The big cats for the most part ignore them, but there has also been hissing and running away. The big boys are mostly uninterested and Lily is peeved.<br />
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The little dudes added a lot of life and energy to our house. We sorely needed it after losing Pokey. And then Bubba. Bubba was a sweet, cuddly little guy that we really loved, despite having him in our family for only 9 days. I had to have him put down - the vet suspected Feline Infectious Peritonitis. That was truly awful.<br />
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I feel like I am finally, slowly starting to come back to life again. The last few months have been difficult.<br />
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Besides the cats, the other big event around here was the <a href="http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/deadly-super-derecho-strikes-m/67383" target="_blank">super derecho</a> which left us without power for three days. That meant we had no internet, cable tv or phones either. The winds knocked down the cell phone tower too - so we felt really cut off. First time I've ever really wished for smart phone. But the whole thing could have been much worse, since there are areas that STILL haven't gotten their power back more than a week later.<br />
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And now to watch the Wimbledon Men's Final and whatever stage of the Tour de France we're at today.Tonya Ricuccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778059489713831067noreply@blogger.com49tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14046597.post-41004205701500071882012-05-30T12:42:00.001-04:002012-05-30T12:42:46.153-04:00Lily on the Mat with DiamondsI'm trying to get back to normal, but I still miss my sweet Pokey so much. Writing in my blog makes me think of her, so it's hard to do.<br />
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Working again on a string diamond project inspired by one in Gwen Marston's Liberated Strings book. I dragged my machine up into the kitchen (rather than using my still horrendously unorganized but wonderfully lit new studio down in the basement) so I felt a part of things rather than apart.<br />
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Lily worked on the quilt with me, of course.<br />
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<a href="http://www.softexpressions.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=CQMEASE&Product_Code=EZ00182&Category_Code=0gCW" target="_blank">I'm using the EZ Rulers 60 degree diamond.</a> Love it. (Thanks for letting me keep it, Kathy!)<br />
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the classic "holding down the blocks so they don't get away" technique:<br />
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Kitchen islands (and counters) really are a fabulous place to set up a cutting station. So stable and just the right height. I'd be able to iron too if Lily would just move...<br />
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I was caught horribly off guard when I downloaded my new photos to the computer. I didn't know I'd find darling Pokey.<br />
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So frail and underweight, but still my baby. She'd just come back from the hospital so her leg was bandaged in bright pink.<br />
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I miss her so much. dammit dammit dammit.<br />
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That's why working on the diamonds is a good project for me. Stringing onto paper is soothing for me. The decisions are small and I know exactly how each piece fits. And I'm working with some of the fabrics that ya'll have gifted me over the years so those are good thoughts. I miss my blogging community even as I find it hard to participate.<br />
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Everything will be okay. just not yet.Tonya Ricuccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778059489713831067noreply@blogger.com62tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14046597.post-31718010370707638872012-04-23T12:22:00.002-04:002012-04-23T12:22:37.314-04:00PokeySorry I've been away for so long. This is a really hard post to write. Lots of things have been going on in the last few months, some really really good but others not so much. I'm about to start bawling now, so I'm just going to write it quickly and get it over with.<br />
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Sweet baby Pokey lost her battle with Chronic Renal Failure. I am absolutely heartbroken and I've spent too much time crying. Pokey was never "just" a cat. She was playful, sweet and my truest companion. I loved her dearly, as did my husband. She was just 8 years old. She was lucky to have made it to her first birthday, but that knowledge doesn't make her loss any easier.<br />
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She took a dramatic turn for the worse right before we moved to Maryland. The most stressful move to a new house and new place to live that I have ever had. Vets both in Florida and Maryland did what they could. <br />
<br />Sorry, bummer of a post. I needed to get it out of the way. I'm turning off comments - don't think I can handle it. Hope you are all well. I <i>am</i> actually doing well, just having a hard time today writing about my sweetie girl.Tonya Ricuccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778059489713831067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14046597.post-47028717868240590912012-01-22T16:50:00.000-05:002012-01-22T16:50:03.270-05:00Get it While You CanI can't believe I forgot to include this in yesterday's post, but holy cow there is an incredible sale on the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0058M82KA/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=lazgalqui-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0058M82KA">Amish Abstractions: Quilts from the Collection of Faith and Stephen Brown</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=lazgalqui-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0058M82KA" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />. It's only twelve dollars for a bargain book. I paid a loooot more for my copy and it was worth every penny, so believe me when I say it's a SERIOUS bargain now. I actually bought a second copy, couldn't pass it up.<br />
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I think this means that it's time for another <a href="http://lazygallibamish2010.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Liberated Amish Get-Together</a>. It was sooo wonderful the first time to see the amazing quilts that folks made. Really impressive. Maybe starting in February? But this time we'll use the UnRuly Blog so I don't have to make up another one. Sound fun? Maybe I'll actually make one this time!<br />
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You don't have to buy the book to participate, but I recommend it wholeheartedly nonetheless. You can see a bunch of the quilts on this website for the <a href="http://www.pbase.com/brownsf/amish_quilts" target="_blank">Browns Amish Quilt collection</a>.<br />
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I figure I'll be more flexible this time about the guidelines so that folks can interpret it how they want, so that they push themselves - you all know where your own boundaries are. Can be any size that you want. I think it would be fun to make an Amish quilt as interpreted by a Gee's Bender. (Gee's Bendie? hee hee hee). But the goal is to still see the inspiration in there. For instance if they were ever hung in an exhibition together you'd want it to make sense... <br />
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Picture of Lily from awhile back, cuz I needed something to go in this post. I do still love this UFO - need to work on it some more. When I'm reunited with all the bits and pieces that is. <br />
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Oh, and I also can't believe I neglected to mention that I am thoroughly engrossed in the second season of Downton Abbey. I do so love that show!!!<br />
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p.s. You can click on the link for the book on sale here:<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&nou=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=lazgalqui-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B0058M82KA" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>Tonya Ricuccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778059489713831067noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14046597.post-42047853856121592542012-01-21T16:46:00.000-05:002012-01-21T16:46:00.115-05:00Stupid BrainI have the attention span of a gnat these days, jumping jumping jumping from one thing to another, not getting much accomplished. aaaghhh. To make matters worse, I'm not liking much of what I get done. For instance, in the last few months I tried putting a bunch of my bright-era orphans and experimental blocks together to see if I could get excited and work on something.<br />
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Nothing. No wheee, this is the direction to go. My stupid brain is sludgy and just won't play along. I'm slogging through mud.<br />
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I tried to narrow it down and do a "cathouse" quilt of cats and houses and maybe some joy blocks. [a "cathouse" is U.S./Canadian slang for bordello, brothel, house of ill repute...]<br />
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Fun but I just couldn't figure out how to work with them. Brain wouldn't cooperate. <br />
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Okay, how about the <a href="http://lazygalquilting.blogspot.com/2010/07/quilt-show.html" target="_blank">Crown of Thorn</a> blocks I started ages ago? That should be easier since I just had to make blocks. I made a few more of them. Kinda funny, but quilting while taking muscle relaxants and pain pills? Let's just say it's a good thing that I like wonky and liberated and utility quilts. Some of these blocks came out crazier than I meant.<br />
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Looking at this now? I like it. At the time I pushed for sashing because I was worried about how they looked all mashed together.<br />
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This was an audition. I started sewing sashing onto them and then quit, not sure I liked the direction I was going. Unsure now too. Sashing or no sashing? And yes, I know I have a block split into two there. My sweetie, Mr. Symmetry, hates it but that's one of my favorite things about the quilt. Maybe what it needs is more blocks....<br />
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That's another thing my brain has been doing. Second-guessing. I start projects then rip them apart. For instance, last July I took a class, along with Nifty, with the Gee's Bend Quilters. I had a hard time in that class for all sorts of reasons (no instructions or quilt examples) and was unhappy with the blocks and bits I came home with. I added borders to one of the blocks, auditioned here with Pokey and Habibi's help:<br />
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But wasn't happy with that either. After a few days of living with it, I ripped it apart and started over, ending up with Something Nifty, shown in the last post. Which, thankfully, I love so it gets to stay as is. I'm even hand-quilting it now, despite the second worst basting job I've ever done...<br />
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Working with the same fabrics, I pushed myself to use big chunks and work big. (I do love little pieces - I'm much better at that approach.) Anyway, came up with this medallion quilt:<br />
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Not sure it's going to stay this way. I like column quilts better, and eek, don't like that bottom border especially. But I don't trust myself at this point, so not taking the seam ripper to it. Not yet.<br />
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On the topic of quilting, check out the <a href="http://niftyquilts.blogspot.com/2012/01/gratefully-done.html" target="_blank">Gratitude Quilt</a> that Nifty made with orphan blocks. I helped her by choosing blocks, but that's it - all the rest of the brilliance was hers. Why is it sooo much easier to put someone else's blocks into a cohesive group? Not that she needs much help. Did you see <a href="http://niftyquilts.blogspot.com/2012/01/gratefully-done.html" target="_blank">Nifty's Santa and the Orphans quilt</a>?<br />
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Take a peek at this <a href="http://selvageblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/heres-my-group-quilt-block-skinny.html" target="_blank">Skinny String quilt group project</a> that Karen Griska is doing over on her Selvage blog. I am in love - I want to start cutting and sewing now. Besides the fact that I don't need to start on yet one more gnat brain quilt project, I don't have much of my fabric stash here.<br />
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Why is that? Because of the Move to America. Sweetie and I bought a house (after a lot of online looking and a house hunting trip) in Maryland. Most of our belongings and my fabric stash are there now and Sweetie is taking care of all the arranging and unpacking while the cats and I live in the sunshine, out of the way, for a few months. Sometimes I think I'd rather be there too, but eek, they got snow today.<br />
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I have been watching some tv. Some tv? Who am I kidding. Lots of tv, as always. Can't believe that my favorite new/newish program is <a href="http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/revenge#linkId-Hashtags-#Revenge;#revengeabc" target="_blank">Revenge</a>. My husband says it's just a soap opera but HA! it moves a zillion times faster than a daytime soap, which would probably take 5,000 episodes to equal what we've already gotten in a season.<br />
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I love that show more than <a href="http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/once-upon-a-time" target="_blank">Once Upon a Time</a>, which I'm enjoying but not as much. Is it possible that the folks on Revenge are doing a better job of destroying lives than the wicked queen on the latter? Hmm, I think it is. I love the story of Snow White and Charming (both versions) and wish we'd focus on that a lot more. Stop introducing new characters already - the most recent ep with Hansel and Gretel? Boring....<br />
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I wanted to love <a href="http://www.nbc.com/grimm/" target="_blank">Grimm</a> but I'm only tolerating it, and that's just barely. So dull and the main characters are leaden (hate the actors). Except for Monroe, the Big Bad Wolf. Him I love and that's why I'm hanging in there. I keep hoping that they'll bump off whats-his-name and his girlfrend and his partner and all the police side of things. But would that help? Why am I watching this?<br />
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I watched Alcatraz, but didn't even make it through the second episode. Dull and I am sooo sick of shows that jump back and forth between timelines. It's okay on Once because at least that's an alternate fairytale reality. But hated the gimmick on the now departed PanAm and on this one. Stuff going on in prison? So don't care. And I refuse to watch serial killers at work so that's another point against Alcatraz.<br />
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Speaking of alternate timelines, I'm still hanging in with Fringe, although I dislike this season.<br />
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Loving <a href="http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/project-runway-all-stars" target="_blank">Project Runway All Stars</a>. I'm rooting for Mondo just because I love him, but so far? Don't care for his clothes. I might actually like Rami's clothes the best. The recent dress for Miss P? Fabulously fun and that polka dot fabric was wonderful.<br />
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Feeling sorry for the chefs on Top Chef: Texas. Should only have chosen chefs who work in Texas style of cooking. And twice they've had to stay up all night to barbeque? Agh, I'd be in a coma. The most recent ep Fit for an Evil Queen was sooooo fun with all the freaky ingredients. There's definitely an evil queen vibe going on in the culture these days.<br />
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Been watching stuff on Netflix Instant too. Did a lot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer rewatching. Season Six (what can I say, I'm a fan of The Trio) was better than I remembered but Seven? bleck. Not sure I'm gonna finish it even though it does have a lot of Spike. I do love me some Spike. Just finished reading the comic books for Season Eight and oh how I wish we had more Buffy.<br />
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Finally got into Breaking Bad which I resisted for so long (a high school teacher turned meth maker? too dark!) because I kept hearing how fabulous it is. Oh yeah. Amazing, especially when you can just mainline several seasons at once. I've watched them all through season three, but not four. Such an example of how great characters are enthralling, even when not much is going on. I wish the producers/writers of The Killing and The Walking Dead would take a few lessons.<br />
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Sigh. okay, that's enough bloggy blog blog for now. See ya!<br />
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<br />Tonya Ricuccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778059489713831067noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14046597.post-13393328713540448102012-01-06T11:10:00.002-05:002012-01-06T11:10:41.582-05:00Happy New Year!!!Hi, guys. Happy New Year!<br />
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I finished this quilt top on the first day of 2012. It's made with a lot of the recycled clothing fabric that <a href="http://niftyquilts.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Nifty</a> gave me when I was out in Seattle last summer, so right now the tentative title is Something Nifty:<br />
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So much fun to use fabrics that someone else has chosen. Nifty had a lot of orangy coral salmon colors in softer tones that I never buy much, not to mention the <i>nifty</i> polka dots and retro flowers. She has an inconceivable distaste for purple, so that came out of my recycled clothing stash, as did the yellows and bright pink. One of the fabrics that really helps pull all this together is a dark brown woven stripe with gold and orange in it. Really beautiful and rich, but not showing up here well. <br />
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I made this quilt with my scissors and a steam iron (and yes, the sewing machine), just sewing things together and trying not to stress too much. I didn't even use pins, although I know my machine has a tendency to sew unevenly and pull a bit.<br />
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I started by adding some of my own recycled clothing fabric to go with Nifty's - far more fabric than I ended up using. Made sure that I had dark darks and light lights - because contrast now is my big concern.<br />
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I cut a row from the fabrics I most wanted to use, just guessing at the width (roughly the length of my index finger). Cut a few pieces and threw them up on my design wall, to check I was on the right track and liked the proportions. I tossed a few fabrics out entirely and realized I needed more of the dark red.<br />
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I did all that to gain confidence, not to work on that precise composition. Would have been too hard. Instead, I just sewed bits together, making combinations that I liked. Lots of times I'd make the join just because the widths were the same. I made several rows of different lengths and found one I really loved and just used that length. Then it was a matter of joining rows to that initial one, walking off any extra length.<br />
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etc. I auditioned a row, stepped back to see how it looked. Auditioned several at a time, then sewed.<br />
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It was only at the end, the second to last strip that I added, that I ripped apart a few strips to create one with the colors I wanted. Second strip from the left in the final pic. (by the way, the picture above has the truest colors.)<br />
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Really loved working on this quilt. It went together in just two days and woohoo, I felt good. It was the first time I was able to sew without getting a migraine in months and months. I mean that literally. I've been getting what my neurologist described as cervical migraines. That is, problems in my cervical spine are causing them. And that area of my neck is stressed when I sew. But I'm on some new meds and doing better.<br />
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Yeah, so medical issues have been a problem this year. I have been diagnosed with <a href="http://www.spondylitis.org/about/" target="_blank">Spondylitis</a> by my rheumatologist and so far the meds I'm on for that haven't helped. <br />
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But anyway, I spent January 1st happily sewing with my good friend Kathy, who said that how you spend the first day of the new year reflects on the year you're about to have. I sure hope so, because it will be a great one. Hope it will be for all of us!<br /><br />
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<br />Tonya Ricuccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778059489713831067noreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14046597.post-68120462634759283132011-11-20T10:30:00.000-05:002011-11-20T11:43:00.321-05:00Ellis IslandI finished my Legos top and love how it turned out. This is Ellis Island:<br />
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While I sewed, I realized I was making a
quilter's Ellis Island. (Ellis Island was the port of entry into the United States way back before airplanes). You know, <a href="http://www.libertystatepark.com/emma.htm" target="_blank">send me your tired, your poor, your wretched refuse</a> - all those
unwanted (fabrics). The name's a bit formal for this loud fun quilt, but
still appropriate. There really are some uuugly fabrics in here...<br />
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I ended up going smaller than king-sized - this is 70x80. With all
these shedding cats, any quilt on our bed will have to be washed and I'd
like it to be easy to do. Plus, I was really inspired by a photo of
Mary's <a href="http://fiberliscious.blogspot.com/2011/02/good-books.html">bed with multiple quilts on it</a>. Perfect since my husband and I completely disagree about how much warmth we need to sleep.
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So sorry that these fabrics from <a href="http://funwithbarbandmary.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Barb</a> didn't arrive in time, but they will get into another lego quilt! some of these are sooo not ugly. love love the "hello" fabric in all sorts of different languages.<br />
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Not that we need warmth that often in Florida. But we'll be moving to Maryland next spring and I know they get winter "up in America" as my husband calls it. We've done some househunting and fingers crossed will get a house we love. Anyone here a member of the Columbia Faithful Circle Quilting Guild? I think that will be the nearest guild.<br /><br />
Back to the legos. These blocks are sooo much fun to make and so addictive. Seriously fun. Here are some fun one that others have worked on (sorry if I missed anybody - just let me know!):<br />
<ul>
<li> <a href="http://cauchycomplete.wordpress.com/2011/09/05/mute-monday-the-compost-so-far/" target="_blank">Chawne's Compost Quilt top</a></li>
<li> <a href="http://quiltdivajulie.blogspot.com/2011/10/dumpster-diving-revealed.html" target="_blank">Julies Dumpster Diving</a></li>
<li> <a href="http://scrapsandthreadtales.blogspot.com/2011/09/pensieve-quilt-top-finish.html" target="_blank">Siobhan's Pensieve Quilt top</a></li>
<li> <a href="http://unrulyquilting.blogspot.com/2011/10/more-legomania.html" target="_blank">Diane's Chinese Coins in progress</a></li>
<li> Clare's <a href="http://dordognequilter.blogspot.com/2011/10/omg.html" target="_blank">ongoing monster</a> (don't we all need Doctor Who!) </li>
<li> <a href="http://saras-scraps.blogspot.com/2011/10/wordless-wednesday_19.html" target="_blank">Sara's legos with One-Patches top</a>. The borders are great too.</li>
<li> Joe Tulips <a href="http://joetulipsquilts.blogspot.com/2011/08/adding-to-memories.html" target="_blank">legos with Flying Geese</a>. she got distracted by <a href="http://joetulipsquilts.blogspot.com/2011/11/baby-zombie-and-im-not-sure.html" target="_blank">zombies</a> though... (well worth it!)</li>
<li> <a href="http://lynleyquilts.blogspot.com/2011/11/not-quite-lego.html" target="_blank">Lynley's not quite legos top </a></li>
<li> <a href="http://pokeytown3.blogspot.com/2011/08/progress-on-legos-blocks.html" target="_blank">Kim's I-Spyish lego blocks</a></li>
</ul>
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This is how I approached <a href="http://lazygalquilting.blogspot.com/2011/08/lego-tutorial.html" target="_blank">making the Legos quilt</a>. Sara came up with a <a href="http://saras-scraps.blogspot.com/2011/09/tonya-ricucci-showed-her-method-of.html" target="_blank">different method</a>, just sewing a biiiig long strip amd cutting it in two and joining those lengthwise etc.<br />
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I have to get a blogpost done so I'm going to sign off now... See you all hopefully sooner than the last time! By the way, you can follow this blog by email (there's a doohicky over in the sidebar) so you'll know when I finally post again! That is, if you're not using a reader (which I highly recommend if you follow more than a couple of blogs).<br />
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Lily says, time for a nap!<br />
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<br /><br />Tonya Ricuccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778059489713831067noreply@blogger.com56tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14046597.post-14152458717734762852011-10-03T09:45:00.000-04:002011-10-03T11:15:58.451-04:00Watch Me on the Quilt Show!Hi guys! Ya'all can watch my episode of The Quilt Show for free (woohoo!) October 3rd through October 9th by following <a href="https://www.thequiltshow.com/os/create_account_2.php/alias/tonya_ricucci/coupon_number/182844782548">this link to episode #907</a>. You do have to sign up to be a basic member (which is free) to access the show.<br />
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That's me at the sewing machine walking Ricky Tims through UnRuly Letters. So funny to see me worrying about straight lines and rulers. I've changed in the last year!<br />
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Additionally, you can sign up to be a Star Member and access other shows for 20% off by using the coupon code: <span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">182844782548</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">Be kind while you're watching it - remember I was incredibly nervous! Someone asked me if LAWS is hand quilted. Most definitely. You can see me there working on it, no hoop or frame. </span></div>
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Thank goodness I had that quilt with me to work on and keep my mind focused on. Really helped with the nerves.<br />
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Can I just say I love Alex Anderson. She is an incredible sweetie.<br />
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Enjoy the show!<br />
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p.s. all photos courtesy of The Quilt Show.Tonya Ricuccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778059489713831067noreply@blogger.com50tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14046597.post-59178957783800259012011-09-27T15:16:00.000-04:002011-09-27T19:27:32.790-04:00Love Anna Williams Style - woohoo!I finished LAWS (aka Love <a href="http://www.straw.com/equilters/annawilliams/index.html">Anna Williams</a> Style) the other day. I love it!<br />
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I haven't been able to take a really good photo - this is a little dark. But you get the idea. I did a bonehead move and washed the quilt in warm water. I had two boxes worth of Color Catchers AND some Synthropol in the washing machine, so I figured it would get out the bit of bleeding I was worried about.<br />
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Well, it did that - the purple onto pink is gone. But I ended up with a brand new, far worse spot of evil. That bottom right corner? The thin line of blue bled. Here's Lily, turning around to look at me after inspecting the damage (it's in the gold up above her head):<br />
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I didn't realize I fabric had bled until after the quilt went through the dryer. I washed the quilt again, this time using a tip I'd heard from my friend Kathy. I thread-basted Color Catchers directly onto the quilt in all the places I was worried about. This is what the block looked like AFTER the second wash (again with free-floating Color Catchers and OxiClean gel and Synthrapol) and dry:<br />
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Look at how well that worked. I'd have been soooo much better off if I'd done this the first go round in the washer. And used cold water. Sometimes I'm an idiot. Anyway, I really recommend the Color Catcher baste method for fabrics that are a concern. I didn't like doing it - the smell and feel of the catchers is icky - but worth it.<br />
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After the second wash didn't get rid of the bleed, I'm just living with it. Bothers me less all the time.<br />
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Before you even ask: I pre-wash all my fabric - except for the hand-dyes. That will now change for blue, purple and red. The fabric that bled is from the 90's, definitely not one from Dye Candy. I have had some Cherrywood deep purples bleed on me, though none in this quilt.<br />
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Speaking of LAWS and Dye Candy... Watched The Quilt Show episode #907 this morning with my husband. I didn't torture him with the whole thing, just the bits I'm in. Here's the trailer for the show:<br />
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I'm relieved. There are a few things that bug me about my performance, but overall, okay. Fun to see me hand quilting on LAWS way back in August of last year when we taped and now I've just finished it.<br />
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Some of the hand-dyes in LAWS are from Chris Daly of <a href="http://dyecandy.blogspot.com/">Dye Candy</a>. I love her fabric, so I asked her to do the giveaway to the audience on The Quilt Show. I wanted certain colors (turquoise and olive) and she created them for me, which is pretty awesome. Right now she's having a <a href="http://dyecandy.blogspot.com/2011/09/dye-candy-fabric-giveaway-and-finish.html">giveaway on her blog</a>, ending October 2nd. Chris just finished "<a href="http://lazygallibamish2010.blogspot.com/search/label/Chris%20Daly">Night and Day</a>," the wonderful quilt she made as part of the Liberated Amish challenge. <br />
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I've pinned Night and Day on my Pinterest board <a href="http://pinterest.com/tonyaricucci/quilts-with-words-and-letters/">Quilts with Words and Letters</a>. I've got other great quilt boards (and Halloween!) on <a href="http://pinterest.com/tonyaricucci/">my Pinterest</a> too. I've recently added a <a href="http://pinterest.com/tonyaricucci/quilts-anna-williams-y/">Quilts - Anna Williams -y</a> board for Anna's quilts and those who've been inspired by her.<br />
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Have ya'all seen the <a href="http://www.joscountryjunction.com/?p=4821">Crumb Along</a> at Jo's Country Junction? I really like how she's structured her "along." Great place to get started/motivated on crumb piecing.<br />
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Willy Wonky did a great post on <a href="http://willywonkyquilts.blogspot.com/2011/09/in-search-of-andrea-balosky.html">Andrea Balosky</a>, aka Nyima Llamo recently. Andrea's work is gorgeous.<br />
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There is a great quilt exhibition called <a href="http://bonniehull.wordpress.com/2011/09/16/bits-and-beauties/">Bits and Pieces</a> going on in Salem, OR. There are some amazing quilts on exhibit including some by people I've met on the internet and in person. These are liberated unruly quilts, and boy, do I wish I could see them. Nifty's "<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/55725450@N02/5316273995/in/photostream">Inspired by Anna</a>" is amazing. Oh, and some of these fab quilters are HAND quilters, so definitely go see the show if you can. (through Oct 15th)<br />
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My husband is home for awhile. I'll be happy when he's not away this much. So will he.<br />
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Woohoo, the new tv season has started. Important to a tv addict like me. I enjoyed the premiere of Pan Am and the first Secret Circle held my interest. There were a few I couldn't force myself to watch after I recorded them including Persons of Interest and Free Agents. Yay, Fringe is back as are Community and Parks and Rec. I only started watching the latter two over the summer and am now all caught up.<br />
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Pokey says it's naptime<br />
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which reminds me, The Quilt Life magazine's October issue (with Rumspringa, halloween quilts, and Pokey) is available in all kinds of stores now. It's a fun issue!<br />
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Ya'all take care. Later.<br />
<br />Tonya Ricuccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778059489713831067noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14046597.post-30074064843609879912011-09-23T12:57:00.000-04:002011-09-23T12:57:16.523-04:00At Long LastFinally, a blog post. First off, I taught a class on crumbs to the Martin County Quilt Guild. It was fun and a really good way for me to see how people take different approaches to making blocks. We put all the blocks together, so much fun to see how all the personalities can blend to make a really fun quilt. The green carpet gives it a groovy sashing:<br />
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I felt like a harpy because I kept trying to nudge folks into using fabrics with more contrast. I did contrast so poorly for so many years, that it's just really glaring to me now. I wasn't sure how much of that I should do in class and finally decided that was part of my job. To nudge though, I didn't actually smack anyone around or hide their fabrics...<br />
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I've received more fun ugly fabrics in the mail. These are from Patti. I love the bicycle fabric and think it's a hoot that she included an e-coli pattern. I gotta guess that's the bottom left print.<br />
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Up next is Michele. Woohoo! Elvis and florida fabric. but yes, those cherubs are pretty ghastly.<br />
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Marge included this fabulous Halloween fabric, which is making me happy. Hee hee hee, skeleton reapers and mummies.<br />
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Not only did Lynette send me wonderful fabric (some of which I actually LOVE and wish I had more of - not ugly at all) but she also made me a crumby heart and some O-O-V-E<br />
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From Kathy W. Love the rooster fabric and the cocktails! Wonderful selection, thank you.<br />
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Cheryl sent me some fabric too. I'm not sure but this hunting outdoorsy fabric may just be the ugliest fabric ever. Seriously awful.<br />
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The package from Cheryl actually arrived the day I finished sewing my lego quilt together. Woohoo on the top finish, but sad I didn't get to include any of this fabric in this quilt. Definitely another one though!<br />
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Thank you to everyone who mailed me fabric goodies. I love thinking of you as I work with them. Also thank you to those of you who've emailed me, to make sure I'm okay. So sweet of you.<br />
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I've actually been struggling the last few months. I don't want to go into all the details in this post, but I've been struggling with an inflammatory arthritis that I've had for years, it kicks my ass, and I still haven't gotten a doctor to diagnose. Fingers cross that is going to change shortly - I think there is now enough evidence for the diagnosis of Ankylosing Spondylitis, a form of inflammatory arthritis, which I've had for 19 years now.<br />
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It's one of those horrible diseases that's hard to pin down, has remissions and flare-ups. I've been in a flare for the last while. I got a new symptom of tension headaches/ migraines which act up after I've been sewing or cutting or ironing for a few hours (or even less). Needless to say, not good for a quilter. That's on top of all the back and neck pain I've had for years.<br />
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But one of the worst things is the fatigue. It's not just that my body doesn't want to be active, but neither does my brain. Makes thinking difficult, and writing. Which is why fewer blog posts and emails etc. All I want to do is sleep, watch tv, play on Pinterest. Lately at least I've been enjoying hand quilting again, so that's an improvement.<br />
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Fingers crossed I get my official diagnosis when I visit the rheumatologist next Friday. And if I don't get it from him, the search will be on for another doc. I'm soooo tired of this. I'll try to not whine too much, but wanted to let you know what was going on.<br />
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Okay, back to quilting news. Got Gwen Marston's new book 37 Sketches. here's a sample page<br />
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It is a beautiful jewel of a book. Very finely made. I hate to say that I don't love all the quilts in it, because I really wish that I did. There's a lot of influence from Jean Wells and it is fun to see how Gwen takes that on board and plays with adding some of Jean's techniques to her own arsenal. I just wish it were Gwennier. But wow, love seeing all of <a href="http://thelittleredhen.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/09/37-sketches.html">Gwen's sketches together</a> in the report that The Little Red Hen wrote about this years BIQR reatreat. wonderful.<br />
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My appearance on The Quilt Show is coming up shortly - September 26th for subscribers. You can see a slideshow of<a href="http://www.thequiltshow.com/slideshows/907/index.php"> pics from the episode here</a>. Ya'all will be able to watch that episode free for a week (October 3-9), but you do have to sign up as a basic member.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">So the link to <a href="https://www.thequiltshow.com/os/create_account_2.php/alias/tonya_ricucci/coupon_number/182844782548">watch the show for free, from October 3rd to the 9th is here</a></span><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";"></span><br />
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So anyway, that's what's going on with me. I try to not whine too much, but I'll let you know how the doctor's visit goes.<br />
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cheers.Tonya Ricuccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778059489713831067noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14046597.post-73517788998282608762011-08-30T20:43:00.000-04:002011-08-30T20:43:52.911-04:00Lego TutorialHere at last, the Lego Tutorial. I love playing with bitty pieces, fitting them together like a puzzle and that is reflected in my write-up. This is just one way of many that you could go about doing a quilt like this. <br />
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First off, here is the amazing antique quilt that provided the inspiration, courtesy of Lucy of Quilting with the Past:<br />
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Go check out her <a href="http://lucyquilting.blogspot.com/2006/01/antique-quilt.html">post</a> with all the details and close-up photos. I have studied this quilt over and over again, I truly love it. The strip widths in this are small (only 5/8" finished), as are the blocks (6.5" finished). It's very color-coordinated with lots of cream, brown, navy, red and pink with a few hints of gold and lavender.<br />
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I wanted to use every fabric that came my way, no matter the color, and most of my fabrics are far far busier, so I increased the strip and block size.<br />
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Let's get started. Cut strips and scraps 1.5" wide. Cut randomly to lengths measuring between 1.5" (aka a square) and 10.5". My quilt is super scrappy and I quickly discovered I did not need many pieces of any one fabric.<br />
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I strongly recommend that you include solids, near solids, and blenders, especially if you are going to be using lots of busy/novelty fabric. Include lots of different sizes and kinds of patterns. Include dull fabrics AND bright ones. The more of a mix you have, the better.<br />
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I didn't use more than one strip (42") of a fabric. For an eye-catching fabric, cut three or more pieces. Ugly fabric or something you just can't stand? Cut short pieces.<br />
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Not that you necessarily need it, but I give you permission to
fussy-cut the heck out of your fabric. I bought this fabric because it
was Elvis and never use it cuz it is ugly. Instead of cutting a
1.5" strip off, I cut a wider chunk and then selectively cut it up to
get pieces I liked (the name and face). Okay, more waste that way, but it's getting
used! If there are boring or strange bits of the right width,
they get thrown in too.<br />
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The little snowman face is a lot cuter than just his hat would have been<br />
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To avoid a murky quilt, include <b>light</b> lights - I used white-on-whites and several fabrics with a lot of white background.<br />
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and <b>dark</b> darks. I used black but a good navy, for example, would be excellent.<br />
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Start joining the pieces up. I divide my fabric into light, medium and dark piles and pick randomly. (I might pick it, but that doesn't mean I have to use it). I chain a whole big bunch at one time and then iron after every join. And yes I said iron. Forget delicate pressing, I'm ironing the heck out of this, with STEAM.<br /><br />
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Rows that are long enough get cut to size. Theoretically that should be 10.5" since I'm making 10.5" unfinished blocks, but it's less stress to cut them a tad bit longer (I add an 1/8" but a quarter or half inch would work too).<br />
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And yay, leftover bits longer than or equal to a square get thrown back in to the piles o' legos.<br />
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I don't know how ya'all piece, but I can't sew a straight row. Some come out even curvier than others:<br />
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Occasionally I use my rotary cutter and slice off bits that are sticking out (I'm especially eager to do it when it's a fabric I hate) otherwise I leave them as is - no seam ripping.<br />
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Oh, and I'm sure these things would lay flatter etc if I pressed the seams open. But I don't. It takes too long and I burn my fingers. Plus that would probably make it less wonky, which is not a goal.<br />
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I make a few rows that are only two pieces. The longer the piece, the more attention it will draw to itself.<br />
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Here are a few rows made with three legos. I initially had a much bigger piece of the bright blue with red dots and discovered that it was waaaay too dominating. Might not have been bad if I had lots of that fabric to use all over the quilt, but I've only got a bit of it.<br />
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Even more rows that are four.<br />
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And five:<br />
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And a few with six:<br />
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I really enjoy the process of making the rows. I can play with adding a dull fabric next to a neon to see if that will tone it down (it usually does). Do I like this color combination? It's easy to divide a fabric if it isn't working.<br />
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Notice that each row is a bit different. I think of it as morse code: dots and dashes. Some rows are dot dash dot dash and others are dot dot daaaaash dot, etc. <br />
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I do occasionally throw in a single fabric but geeze it draws so much more attention, even when it's a quiet nondescript fabric. How easily can you spot the one here?<br />
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So where were we? Rows. I keep them together and definitely do NOT sort them by how many pieces are in each. I grab the first two off the pile and audition.<br />
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I find two rows that look good together and then another two. I'm not working on bigger blocks, just concentrating on two rows at a time. There are always a few rows that don't play well together and get set aside for the moment.<br />
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I pin before I sew the rows together. Probably completely unnecessary, but I do it anyway. I make sets of 4 and a few with 3.<br />
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Three? I know, I know. Using 1.5" strips to make a block that finishes at 10" I should only need 10 rows. Don't ask me, but my first block was too small, so I decided not to stress and just sew on that extra 11th row. That gives me more room to slice here and there making some rows thinner. But usually my blocks come out a bit big. I just cut them down to size. ***Use a steam iron or mist with a spray bottle first and iron (or press) the block flat before trimming ***<br />
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I love using a big square ruler although it would be better if it was the exact size of my unfinished block. This is a Creative Grids ruler and it is awesome.<br />
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Only once did my block come up too small even with the 11 rows. I trimmed a wee bit and threw in a shim of solid fabric. It's narrow and pretty unnoticeable (it's the 7th row down). I love how wonky the legos are in that area. This is a section from the border.<br />
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One of the wonderful things about this project is that I've learned that some fabrics work sooo wonderfully with just about anything. That gray with the orange polka dots? fabulous. And some styles are atrocious such as busy prints that mimic patchwork - the cherries mixed with black and white dots and houndstooth for instance (2nd row from the bottom). *shudder* Really busy stripes are horrible too.<br />
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The bright yellow with red flowers 70's print is an eye-catcher. I think the other fabrics with red, yellow and orange help to balance it out. <br />
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The blocks in the middle of the quilt are set with one block's rows going up and down and the next block's rows side to side (think Rail Fence). The top and bottom borders rows all run up and down. The side borders go side to side. <br /><br />
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My quilt isn't finished yet, but this is how a quilt would look set 7 x 7. I still can't decide if I'm going to go for it and make it king-sized or go for a more manageable (and washable!) smaller size.<br />
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I said there are other ways to go about it. Chawne makes a big long strip instead of separate rows. She explains her method <a href="http://cauchycomplete.wordpress.com/2011/08/22/the-compost-quilt/">here</a>.<br />
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And hey, I just found the wonderful <a href="http://quispamsisquilter.blogspot.com/2011/03/scrapbuster-random-railfence-block.html">Scrapbuster Random Railfence Tutorial</a> Riel wrote up months ago. She's uses 2.5" wide pieces and makes one big strip too. I love how she used these blocks to make this <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57599405@N06/5721629547/in/photostream">wonderful scrappy quilt</a> with a unifying sashing.<br />
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Lily says, have fun and get to work! <br />
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Any questions? Just ask.Tonya Ricuccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778059489713831067noreply@blogger.com66tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14046597.post-70116686346620889392011-08-19T20:00:00.001-04:002011-08-19T20:00:20.543-04:00Two Steps BehindI feel like I'm getting farther and farther behind. None of this two steps forward, one step behind. I'm one step forward and two behind these days. I've made some progress on the insane Lego quilt, finishing 49 blocks:<br />
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Still completely in love with it. Believe me when I say there are some truly ugly fabrics in here - I've been muttering and grousing about them and then when it's all put together I wonder what I was fussing about.<br />
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Julie's making progress on her <a href="http://joetulipsquilts.blogspot.com/2011/08/adding-to-memories.html">lego quilt with flying geese</a> and now Pokeytown Kim has <a href="http://pokeytown3.blogspot.com/2011/08/lego-quilts.html">joined us</a> as well. Anyone else?<br />
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I've received more uglies/olds/boring/just-get-it-out-of-here fabrics in the mail. Since I just mentioned Kim, here's her contribution:<br />
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Next up, Beth S's fabrics, shown with a hint of Habibi. ugh, shamrocks and teddy bears. I had fun fussy cutting the soccer players to get lots of feet!<br />
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Jill I. wrote she was excited to find the faces fabric (rather Andy Warhol-esque) and bought four yards of it - her friends that she was crazy. I understand though - I think it's awesome. Trying to convince myself to cut some of it off, cuz I'm tempted to keep it for a different ugly project in which I would leave it whole.<br />
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<a href="http://sewkalico.blogspot.com/">Sewkalico</a> Karol-Ann sent these all the way from the UK. Yeah, kinda bland, but I love the little sheep!<br />
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<a href="http://hey-boo.blogspot.com/">Hey-Boo</a> Lynn's group included the incredibly florescent fish and fabulous purple cabbage.<br />
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<a href="http://prettymade.blogspot.com/">PrettyMade</a> Nina sent these fabrics and the sweet heart all the way from Finland. I happen to love love the big bold flowers and the ?bee toys? I'm guessing those are kiwi birds in the corner and can that possibly be a kiwi-human hybrid playing football??? <br />
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And for my fellow geeky quilters out there, Nina is one of us. She loves Doctor Who as well - woohoo! (Can't wait for it to start back up - not long now!)<br />
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Bumblebeans Victoria was mean to me. Aaagh. That hideous dark plaid with the roses will be awesome in a bugly quilt someday - I'm saving most of it for that.<br />
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Robert sent me two of his handmade Christmas stockings in addition to loads and loads of scraps. Love the tiny skeletons on blue. Are those turtles wearing roller skates???<br />
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<a href="http://cauchycomplete.wordpress.com/2011/08/17/tonya-made-me-do-it/">Completely Cauchy Chawne is cutting up strips to make an insane quilt of her own</a> (woohoo!) and kindly sent me some legos. There are some gorgeous fabrics in here! (Does that count as cheating?) Love the kitties and woohoo a sock monkey.<br />
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Thank you all so much!!! That's all I've received as of today. Hope I haven't forgotten anyone. Gotta run. I leave you with a pic of Pokey and a magazine that just happened to arrive yesterday:<br />
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Since I just got my subscriber's copy in the mail, I figure it will be two weeks before the magazine hits store. Ya'all take care.<br />
<br />Tonya Ricuccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778059489713831067noreply@blogger.com52tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14046597.post-42628840107175212152011-08-16T13:25:00.000-04:002011-08-16T13:25:17.767-04:00Coming SoonWoohoo! Rumspringa is on the cover of <a href="http://www.americanquilter.com/quilt_life/">The Quilt Life</a> magazine this month!<br />
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yay! That's what Rumspringa was doing up in Knoxville at the AQS show - it was hanging in the magazine's booth. I haven't seen it, but they even wrote a pattern for the quilt. As a bonus, there's a photo of little Pokey too. And wait, there's more, just look in the table of contents:<br />
<blockquote>
Creature feature by Irene Berry<br />Frightfully funny, macabre in a playful way—Tonya Ricucci’s Halloween quilts</blockquote>
It was made to be. They were doing an issue on words and it happened to be in the October issue (even if it does come out in August). <br />
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I'm waiting by the mailbox. Not just for my copy of the magazine and for more incoming ugly bits of fabric, but also for Gwen Marston's new book, 37 Sketches. A quilt in the book:<br />
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Gwen's description:<br />
<blockquote>
It will be available for purchase the end of August, or early September.
<i><b>37 Sketches</b></i> is both an artfully designed and beautifully
made book. It shows my new work built on the idea of exploring the
elements of design by constructing small studies, which I quickly began
to think of as sketches. I began to see these sketches in much the same
way as a painter does in using sketches to explore technique and to work
out color and composition ideas. These pieces are abstract
compositions, worked primarily in solids. Constructing these 37 sketches
provided me with a valuable and expedient way to explore new technique,
color, and composition. I explain my process for making these small
studies using my liberated, improvisational methods, of which many of
you are very familiar, and discuss how the experience of making this
series of sketches was like taking a crash course in design. </blockquote>
Whee. You can <a href="http://www.gwenmarston.com/index.htm">buy 37 Sketches directly from Gwen</a>. She also has a new entry in her ongoing series about <a href="http://www.gwenmarston.com/talk/talk.htm">hand quilting</a>. I had no idea there was a difference between quilting on and off grain.<br />
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And yes, I'm definitely getting more uglies etc in the mail. Some more ugly than others. I'll post pics soon as well as a quick tutorial on how I'm putting Legos together.<br />
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Speaking of my busy mailbox, I want to give a quick shout-out to <a href="http://www.cherrywoodfabrics.com/index.asp">Cherrywood Fabrics</a>. I recently used a gift certificate and didn't spend the whole amount. I suggested they could use up the $6 by sending me bitty bits cause I liked small pieces. They sweetly threw a scrap bag into the box:<br />
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whee! I love their fabrics but I'm so sad they're no longer making Raspberry or Turquoise (good thing I bought 6 yards of the latter when I found that out). I do like the recent addition of Lime and the Mustard that I just got is gorgeous.<br />
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Yes, I know there is more to blog about - there always is - but I need to make soup (Sweet Potato and Kale - I'm experimenting) and sew and take photos and do laundry and love on kitties... <br />
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Older version of Legos on the design wall and no, Pokey doesn't actually drink Guinness. (I've been breaking my husband's cardinal rule of nothing but beer in the beer glasses.) It's easier for Pokey to get her head in this glass to drink <strike>her</strike> my ice water. Ciao ya'all.<br />
Tonya Ricuccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778059489713831067noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14046597.post-30334588913502487632011-08-11T15:46:00.004-04:002011-08-11T15:46:58.646-04:00Yet More UglyUgh, I've gotten so swamped (having too much fun) that I am waaaay behind on posting photos of the uglies/bored with/too busy fabrics that have been arriving in the mail. I honestly have stopped opening up the packages cuz I don't want to get things mixed up and not know who sent what. <br />
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Diane S sent these, which she says aren't all ugly, just some she's tired of. I think she knew I'd love the stuff with words so she made sure to include those. And whee, the fruit - kiwi!<br />
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Helen B sent these. Some of these ARE ugly, including the one in the lower right - it made me cry when I saw it. Not because it's ugly but because my mom used to have that fabric. I kept little of her fabric after she died back in 1993. I wasn't interested in using those particular colors and tacky ugly prints from regular old fabric stores (instead of the more expensive quilt shop fabric I favored). Foolish me. <br />
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Ramona B's. I like the paisley print, but yeesh that Southwest intensively colored IS hard to use.<br />
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Erin Vesuviusmama. Oh yah, uglies here! I really do dislike a certain type of floral - they always read as horrible to me.<br />
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Mary G's. This set of strips made me so happy, thinking of my friend Linda whom I quilted with in the early and mid-90's. She had that flying pigs fabric and a couple of the other ones too. Hmm, Mary was smart and offloaded some of her millenium fabric. sigh.<br />
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Cathy K sent a huge bunch of fabric that I wasn't even able to display completely. Definitely a hideous fabric with teddy bears in tennis clothes and eek, teddies in clown costumes. And Cathy intentionally sent me sunflowers too.<br />
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Someone had asked if I was getting duplicates and I hadn't then. But then this batch showed up with two of the same milleniums (which had foreign languages all over it - woohoo!) and flags. Still with all this fabric that's pretty amazing. <br />
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Pokey came to sleep right in the middle of Cathy's strips. I love (in a serious love way) this pink fabric with children's storybook characters - I am NOT cutting it up.<br />
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Yes, I've been laying out the strips on the white lid of a bin. There are some fabulous colors in here - look at that intense 70's green.<br />
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Mad-Eye Lily getting in on the action too. I've been cutting up some of my own fabric too, to put in my quilt and to share with whoever else wants to make a Legos quilt. <br />
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I'm showing quilts at the Martin County Quilt Guild tonight. Bibi and Pokey slept here on a big pile of quilts for a good part of yesterday. Those are hideous black and white pillowcases protecting the real stuff - except for the one at the bottom which is a back.<br />
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I'm a bit nervous about doing this presentation, but at least I'm prepared. I just got the binding finished on LAWS and now I have to go pack my suitcase. Wish me luck!<br />
Tonya Ricuccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778059489713831067noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14046597.post-20617582398420140882011-08-09T12:52:00.000-04:002011-08-09T12:52:22.889-04:00So Much SocializingI've been doing way too much socializing and not enough blogging, obviously. Last Thursday, sewing day at my house. That's my friend Kathy sewing at her Featherweight, and of course Pokey helping me out.<br />
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Bibi jumped up on my lap to get some attention so it was a perfect photo op. Love Pokey's ears laid back...<br />
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Lily at least turned around, Pokey's only got one eye open, I'm making a face and have a firm grip on Bibi's head - yay, family portrait.<br />
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My friend Susan is in town from Cairo. I loved living there, but I'm glad we're not there now. We've been driving around looking at real estate for her and eating some fabulous food. Susan brought me some of the scarab beads I love so much. I want to use these in a mosaic someday.<br />
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In fact, I'm going to lunch with her in 5 minutes so I have to run. A last look at Legos.<br />
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Thanks for the uglies that have appeared in the mail. ya'all are wonderful. yes, I'll let you know more details about how I'm making this. Meanwhile, Julie is making <a href="http://joetulipsquilts.blogspot.com/2011/08/where-are-ugly-fabrics.html">her own version with Flying Geese</a> and it is awesome. She also blogged about it at the UnRuly Blog, so check that out too. Later, dudes.Tonya Ricuccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778059489713831067noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14046597.post-6196262440004032392011-08-03T12:38:00.003-04:002011-08-03T12:38:58.145-04:00Anyone Else?So glad ya'all are having fun with this quilt too. whatever the heck it's called. So far nothing has locked into place so I'll just call it Lego for now.<br />
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A block showing cupid fabric that Kim sent me ages ago, plus some other fabrics that should look familiar from the last few days.<br />
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An envelope in the mail yesterday from MC. Sorry the pictures turned out so lousy - late afternoon sun. I love the light colored bits in here - I really need those for this quilt. More busy florals (not made by Kaffe). oh yeah. And look the mysterious Howler as well as Habibi:<br />
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Thank you, MC! great letters and heart too!<br />
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One reason to start this quilt was to get fabric off of shelves, cut them up (10.5" squares for backs plus 2" squares plus these strips plus food for the crumb bin) and I've barely dipped into those. sigh, isn't that how it always turns out.<br />
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Anyway, I may still give it a go, esp if this does end up a king-sized quilt. So while I'm cutting strips, should I be cutting extra bits? Anyone else want uglies/unwanted/boring/dated bits from me to make their own Lego quilt (Inchworm quilt? Inch Madness?)<br />
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maybe this will give me incentive to DO it and not just talk about it.<br />
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ya'all take care. we have a lightning storm going on so time to sign off.Tonya Ricuccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778059489713831067noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14046597.post-80124269661126016492011-08-02T13:59:00.002-04:002011-08-02T13:59:41.900-04:00Clowns?What do I name this quilt?<br />
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With a Little Help From My Friends springs to mind but too long and unsurprising. My husband calls it the Lego Quilt, but I'm thinking that's a better name for the technique. Inch Madness? Ugly Uglies? Lost My Mind? Clowns? (Clowns??? read on, dear friends)<br />
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Rather ridiculous how much I love this quilt. I obviously must be having fun cuz I been sewing like crazy. Oh, did you figure out where my inspiration came from? Here's another clue: I've pinned the antique quilt in my <a href="http://pinterest.com/tonyaricucci/quilting/">Pinterest quilting board</a>. Go and look because there are some amazing quilts to see.<br />
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On to fabric. I stole these from my friend's bin o' crumbs. When were Dusty Pink and Williamsburg Blue so popular? Early 80's? I remember this color combination everywhere, including cutesy country kitchen stuff like geese. Or was that just my house?<br />
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Okay, I just got back from a tangent, trying to find a website with photos of popular home decor styles throughout the decades. I came up with nada. Anybody? Anybody? Buehler? (and that blast from the past was brought to you by 1986).<br />
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I've received more uglies etc in the mail. First up, I think these are from Heidi B in Germany. Am I right? hope so. The dull sickly green on the far right spreads sadness to whatever its next to.<br />
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Next, Linda D and Julie P. I haven't used these yet cuz they just got here yesterday. More blasts from the past. Look at the selvage - Northcott Silk Inc - that is old fabric. But you know what, it really does feel silky, especially compared with others I've been using. Sunflowers - gah. Always hated that trend. Don't remember when that was from either. The hideous green? One of my new favorite colors.<br />
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Lucy D sent fabrics neatly stacked. Whilst I admired all the fabulous surprises, I was interrupted. What? Pokey and Bibi couldn't possibly be interrupting.<br />
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Okay, I can't resist those blue eyes - Pokey can have a head rub. Uh oh, look out for the Clowns - one of the ugliest, funniest fabrics I have ever seen.<br />
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Agh, there's another one. (ooh, and Hershey's Kisses - mmmm)<br />
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I used the Clown fabric in a single strip. They're staring at you now<br />
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I shouldn't say that - my husband will refuse to sleep under this quilt. (Never Sleep Again as a quilt title or does that sound too Freddy Krueger?) Yes, I'm considering making this a king-sized quilt. Am I insane? Just in case though, I'm not sewing them all together yet...<br />
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Last but not least, Kat K-B sent strips, many of which can in no way be called ugly. I think that was cheating! (but I'm happy nonetheless). <br />
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Thank you so much to everyone who sent fabric - love it. I gotta wrap this post up now, even with bazillions of things left unwritten. Time to take little Pokey to the vet for her weekly saline infusion.<br />
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P.S. if you have asked, but not received, my mailing address it means you are a no-reply commenter. (or I'm an airhead. possibly both are true). Please send me an email or comment again and inc your email. Later, ya'all.Tonya Ricuccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778059489713831067noreply@blogger.com58tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14046597.post-35588980065225010052011-07-26T22:44:00.002-04:002011-07-26T23:30:08.425-04:00Ugly Fabrics?Hi guys. This is just a quickie post. I wanted to show you what I've been up to with the uglies. This photo is a little misleading because there are two different projects on the wall. My blocks are the ones across the top and my friend Kathy has two Spiderweb blocks there too. I think they look amazing together. Click to biggify.<br />
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Here is a close-up. There are fabrics in here that I consider ugly or boring (as did the folks who mailed some of them to me) as well as some fun, lively and and gorgeous prints. But which are which? hee hee hee.<br />
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I'm using 1.5" strips but since I'm getting 11 rows in a 10" finished block, I know that they don't all measure 1" finished. Yes, I like little pieces. And no, I'm not strip piecing any of this. Just joining lots of little pieces and loving it.<br />
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The quilt I'm making was inspired by an antique quilt posted on a blog years ago. Any guesses? One hint: the quilt was photographed in a quilt shop in The Netherlands. I'll tell you more another time.<br />
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Thanks to those who've sent me uglies etc. Some of these fabrics I completely love. <br />
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Here are some fabrics I already had. Do you recognize some of these, Kathie B?<br />
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These came from Synthia, Carol E and Grass Roots Quilting Sharon. Synthia, I found these florals ghastly as well. eesh. Sharon, I LOVE these, but I can see how they're hard to work with.<br />
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Janet R and Roz sent these. I love the little cowboys on orange! and the horrible little white flowers on purple.<br />
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These were gifted by Kathy in FL, Stitching Hands Kristin, Rene (with an accent above the last e) and NiftyQuilts LeeAnn. I find the "egyptian" fabric particularly egregious - it looks greek to me and those aren't heiroglyphs.<br />
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I've gotten all of the above in the quilt already. But uh oh, I got two more packages in the mail! (that's a surprised whee oh boy! uh oh, not a bad uh oh). Viv M sent these - some are beautiful and look much better in person than in the photo. <br />
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QuiltMom Anna wins the prize for the ugliest uglies. Seriously. Check out the middle of the top row. A bilious mix of yellow, orange and green next to Raggedy Andy. eeeeek. I gotta make a block with just these.<br />
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I know I should have written a post all about the remarkable time I had in Sisters and Seattle (which I completely did) but I have to get a post done about this so everyone can see what the uglies are up to. And I know, they're not all uglies. Some are just plain grim and sad. or incredibly outdated. And sometimes you just need to use up your stash.<br />
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When I first started quilting, I cut strips off of every new fabric that I bought. and then they sat around and I never used them. So 20-some years later, these guys are finally getting used:<br />
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I just wish I hadn't gotten rid of so many fabrics (and strips) I considered ugly. I have really fallen in love with oddball, hard to use fabrics. Have I convinced any of ya'all?<br />
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I'm still taking donations of 1.5 to 2.5 inch squares to strips. and No, they don't have to be long. Just sending me bits is good. I'm up for a challenge!<br />
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I got two baby kitties on my lap, so gotta run. And so I don't get in trouble, a Lily photo:<br />
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<br />Tonya Ricuccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778059489713831067noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14046597.post-80627158430825319082011-07-01T12:31:00.001-04:002012-06-16T09:49:50.743-04:00Dye Transfer, News and BeggingHi guys. Wow, I promised to be a better blogger and failed spectacularly. Ya'll have to forgive me though because my husband is back in town for all too short of a period (some of which I won't even be around for) and that takes priority. The weather has been pretty miserable for him, rain and gray skies. Not even cooling rain - it's hot and humid.<br />
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In my last post I mentioned the dye transfer on my LAWS quilt. Here's one of the blocks in particular where it is noticeable, the purple in the L moving over into the pink (click to embiggen):<br />
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Some of you commented about <a href="http://www.shoutitout.com/preserve-colors.aspx">Color Catchers</a>. Oh, believe me I love those and use them lots. When I'm washing a finished quilt I'll put two boxes worth in. My friend Kathy has heard that you can thread baste a Color Catcher onto a problem area of your quilt and that will help. sigh. <br />
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Speaking of LAWS - I finished all the hand-quilting this week. Woohoo! Finished the quilting on my One Patch with Strings too (I'd set it aside to work on LAWS). Now to get the bindings on.<br />
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Onto the news: <a href="http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/shows.php/series_id/9">Season 9 of The Quilt Show</a> has been announced. Yours truly is featured in ep 907 which debuts at the end of September. We'll get a special code so ya'll can watch that one for free for a week, but take a look at that list and maybe subscribe to the whole thing (if you haven't already). <br />
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Anyone going to the AQS Quiltshow in Knoxville this month? (Holy cow, this month? How did it get to be July already?). If so you'll be able to see my quilt Rumspringa, fingers crossed. I'd love for you to take a photo of you (and friends) standing in front of it waving at me and then post it somewhere or email to me. That would be a hoot.<br />
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Meanwhile I'm getting ready to go to the <a href="http://www.sistersoutdoorquiltshow.org/">Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show</a>. I get to spend time with LeeAnn of <a href="http://niftyquilts.blogspot.com/">Nifty Quilts</a> and then we'll head down for Quilters' Affair along with a bunch of her <a href="http://quiltshare209.blogspot.com/">Rebel</a> friends. I'm hoping to spend time with <a href="http://jmbmommy.blogspot.com/">Jessica</a> and <a href="http://kristinshields.typepad.com/stitchinghands/">Kristin</a> and hopefully bump into <a href="http://quiltville.blogspot.com/">Bonnie</a>. Anyone else going?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShbkiofdiYARYVovm85g5IrZGmq0OIqQPGbAXTbcchRUiqwPybA_gFgnJERHtoRDKM4XjHJ8Zmbm_Ti-txvhlSnYO0SwOnT0aPTz6H6HdD0T_lIy8F-wa1dXoBbiLRlUMA1UDcw/s1600/LAWS+Live+Bibi%2527s+head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShbkiofdiYARYVovm85g5IrZGmq0OIqQPGbAXTbcchRUiqwPybA_gFgnJERHtoRDKM4XjHJ8Zmbm_Ti-txvhlSnYO0SwOnT0aPTz6H6HdD0T_lIy8F-wa1dXoBbiLRlUMA1UDcw/s400/LAWS+Live+Bibi%2527s+head.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Now we come to the begging portion of this blog post. I would love if some of ya'all could send me fabric:<br />
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Type: ugly or outdated, or boring, what-the-heck-was-I-thinking, I'm-tired-of-having-this-in-my-stash fabric. <br />
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How much: 1 1/2" wide - any length from square up to 11" long <br />
2 1/2" wide - any length from square up to 11" long<br />
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Either width works, don't need the same fabric in each. <br />
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I would also love some letters (which can be left as is or completed - scrappy log cabin-style - as 5 1/2" blocks) that include somewhere in them the kind of fabric I just mentioned.<br />
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very scrappy capital letters: L,V, H, X and some E's and O's (I need more of the latter two letters than the others). These should be basic beginner letters (no fancy fonts).<br />
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wonky heart 5 1/2 blocks. You can use the <a href="http://quiltville.com/crumbheartspf.html">Crumby Heart Tutorial</a> here.<br />
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{updated to add: I don't need everyone to send all of that, seriously. Just five short strips of ugly fabric would be fab, for instance. or a single letter....} <br />
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Sorry I can't tell you what this is about. If you want more details, just email me or put it in the comments. Also, I've really noticed that people tend to use more packaging than needed. Lots of times a business sized envelope or craft envelope work out great. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielEdZRf_XiLkkaO7-osYzia-tI9EMIEVM70tL1i-MGyob94kPua1OzeAn0mh6gRCk-Rdf8wZwXpJ3i1Ln65ur9axQhueUhukGM1IbkXvHH0VS26a0dLbM_Nsp31vpPZpPqLDjhw/s1600/Bibi+on+LAWS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielEdZRf_XiLkkaO7-osYzia-tI9EMIEVM70tL1i-MGyob94kPua1OzeAn0mh6gRCk-Rdf8wZwXpJ3i1Ln65ur9axQhueUhukGM1IbkXvHH0VS26a0dLbM_Nsp31vpPZpPqLDjhw/s400/Bibi+on+LAWS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I've recently discovered the fun of Pinterest. (Haven't tried it? Well go see <a href="http://pinterest.com/tonyaricucci/">Tonya's Pinterest</a>.) It's really brought home to me the need for including watermark information on photos. (Darn you iPhoto for not including that capability!)<br />
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I'm going out to lunch with my sweetie so I need to wrap this up quick. Later!Tonya Ricuccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778059489713831067noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14046597.post-52419969517439074512011-06-15T14:26:00.000-04:002012-06-19T18:58:27.022-04:00UnRuly BloggerYes, I admit it. Bad blogger, bad. Sorry for the unannounced blog break, but I just wasn't feeling it. I've been sewing and working on secret projects - stuff that I can't share right now. You'll see little hints here and there but that's it.<br />
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I've been playing with some of the fabric that <a href="http://theorlandomodernquiltguild.blogspot.com/">The Orlando Modern Quilt Guild</a> gifted me (I squealed when I opened the bag and found eyeballs):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9JcIIOLtSmJ1kNUEk7guf_a7fKNN3c-t-LWpLwcgspyKXux7otg5s-Cem72pBHhHSUx8ykY0g-TKYWon_PfTd-ros7orzkC_ZlZg2lBBFACSzDT3462_VvbQoUbyjygVtTpv72Q/s1600/Orlando+fabric+closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9JcIIOLtSmJ1kNUEk7guf_a7fKNN3c-t-LWpLwcgspyKXux7otg5s-Cem72pBHhHSUx8ykY0g-TKYWon_PfTd-ros7orzkC_ZlZg2lBBFACSzDT3462_VvbQoUbyjygVtTpv72Q/s400/Orlando+fabric+closeup.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The guild gave me a gift for the kitties too: a compressed catnip ball. Just like little kids, they had fun with the packaging:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQTuxisLsOjZJUIFr51QWsyFYkKanue09yFnuErU8br1F7oGKcKAP63W8Yddoy6McUryBiXLCfk5vHo9_oBonpLQOR0Oi_7Ku9opNuOjVT1Gr3qkX99m-QDyeZO6Z8RYebO7qWg/s1600/Bibi+catnip+package.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQTuxisLsOjZJUIFr51QWsyFYkKanue09yFnuErU8br1F7oGKcKAP63W8Yddoy6McUryBiXLCfk5vHo9_oBonpLQOR0Oi_7Ku9opNuOjVT1Gr3qkX99m-QDyeZO6Z8RYebO7qWg/s400/Bibi+catnip+package.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here's something new to show you. I discovered artist <a href="http://www.lenperalta.com/">Len Peralta</a> and had him create the UnRuly Quilter with Scissors (as shown with Pokey):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOFOkNm-zKToOoBIuGtQfKziEMiLIbx_D_a-gLwbE5dPkw7Abgg41MjCwyclGL6BPpnaPGo-lpB9b0aZdzVAV7GIEzE2gv3GIyWjnBSRfgMUWuhQfmBfuxHlHGAbqk1wwStv72g/s1600/Pokey+and+MbM+UnRQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOFOkNm-zKToOoBIuGtQfKziEMiLIbx_D_a-gLwbE5dPkw7Abgg41MjCwyclGL6BPpnaPGo-lpB9b0aZdzVAV7GIEzE2gv3GIyWjnBSRfgMUWuhQfmBfuxHlHGAbqk1wwStv72g/s400/Pokey+and+MbM+UnRQ.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I got it through the <a href="http://www.monsterbymail.com/">Monster by Mail</a> project. I've never worn a miniskirt in my life but the teeth are accurate. hee hee hee. You can<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jawboneradio/collections/72157625362579486/"> see more monsters here</a> including a couple of knitting zombies. So far I'm the only quilter!<br />
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Here's a teaser. <a href="http://www.gwenmarston.com/index.htm">Gwen Marston</a> is really excited about this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMHHIHK_xoaJ-VKWK_DJmneIduMB5yR39PENzS4h4PgnIvjTgECowU_pjIFLLpsz9R8yzX0hHkrKGKFcy5fBO9QOHrV5oeMwNfJ1DuB7lZZ0VhyXrpRt5g3o7E6_xDwgubBsKmw/s1600/37+Sketches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMHHIHK_xoaJ-VKWK_DJmneIduMB5yR39PENzS4h4PgnIvjTgECowU_pjIFLLpsz9R8yzX0hHkrKGKFcy5fBO9QOHrV5oeMwNfJ1DuB7lZZ0VhyXrpRt5g3o7E6_xDwgubBsKmw/s400/37+Sketches.jpg" width="325" /></a></div>
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I'll tell you more when there's more to know. <br />
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I continue to handquilt LAWS. I'm getting closer to done but I'm really bummed out that a couple of the hand-dyes (purchased way back in the 90's) are ALREADY bleeding onto adjoining fabric. I think I might have to boil (okay, just wash with really hot water) this quilt with Synthrapol when it's finished. Anyone ever try that? <br />
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One thing I'm not working on? Anything for the Text and Textiles exhibition that I mentioned in the last blog post. Just not enough time. I hope some of ya'all are doing it though.<br />
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Obsessing about <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/dw">Doctor Who</a>. I've watched and rewatched a number of episodes and had to hunt down and read theories on what the heck is going on. All so cool. woohoo! I was pretty sure of who River was, but totally nailed it at the beginning of "A Good Man Goes to War." I want a spin-off of the Silurian Detective Agency in 1880's England.<br />
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If you're sure you wouldn't like Doctor Who but are willing to give it a try (that was me back in January) watch the episode "Blink" and then decide if you're intrigued enough to watch more. Fabulous episode and it's a stand alone.<br />
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Ya'all take care and I'll try to be better about posting. I leave you with a photo of Bibi investigating:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3jQRnMfXHnm5SnP90wH6ds9SpAwnUFVut-mIXooicTP2Gki-xg-spCCAA_lX2YjWTUlZ7ruMzobvuSMRx9vHvRclu4eDqveGEUeCv0qDg_jq2_SGNcymiLuBZnmtido7-HbnZg/s1600/Bibi+MbM+UnRQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3jQRnMfXHnm5SnP90wH6ds9SpAwnUFVut-mIXooicTP2Gki-xg-spCCAA_lX2YjWTUlZ7ruMzobvuSMRx9vHvRclu4eDqveGEUeCv0qDg_jq2_SGNcymiLuBZnmtido7-HbnZg/s400/Bibi+MbM+UnRQ.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Tonya Ricuccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778059489713831067noreply@blogger.com25