Never Mind

V-String has changed her mind and no longer is in the running. Thanks anyway!

Please Vote for V-String

Please vote for V-String. She is in a contest for wearables today. Voting ends at midnight EDT.

Thank You!

http://quiltinggallery.com/michele@quiltinggallery.com

Red & White

So charged by the Red & White quilts at the Armory show that I simply must make one of my own. Want to do a scrappy version, and here is my traditional four-pointed Star, made with a template and hand-pieced. Like it a lot, so I made some more.

But....I thought I'd like to try a string star with phone book paper, . My whites could be varied as well as my stars. Like this one, too.

Very easy to make...

Very difficult to choose.....

..

Night at the Opera

Took V-String to the Met last night! Was dazzled by all the crystal lighting and the lush red velvet interior. Then Renee Fleming appeared in a stunning green gown....gorgeous figure for such a large voice...and the magnificent orchestra....so much beauty everywhere.........

Love That Red

I love red.....any red....all reds. My friend Barb is making a schoolhouse quilt in red & white. Hmmm....seems to be a popular combination. Not to be left out, today I hauled out my reds and am auditioning for my new R&W quilt. Barb uses templates and is an expert hand-piecer. I am inspired to do the same, as I enjoy working by hand as well as machine. Makes a good take-along for meetings, appointments, and traveling. Always a good conversation starter on the train, too....Love the folks who tell me that their grandmother knits, too!

Doin' the Town

My V-String Vest and I checked out the Red & White quilts at the Park Avenue Armory today. Was awestruck by the Infinite Variety (title) achieved by the use of just two colors. The 650 quilts shown span several centuries. Mostly traditional designs and hand sewn, they conveyed a feeling of timelessness. I also was feeling extremely proud of all our quilting foremothers and their contributions to our culture. I strongly recommend seeing this exhibit, however, I do wish it would stay a little longer. Closes on the 30th here, but it will probably go on tour.

We're Goin' Out Tonite!

Went out to dinner tonight and didn't spill a drop. Next time, no jacket, so I can show my roses.

Labor

Lining a vest by machine sounds easy, but each time it is a struggle for me. I forget which seams not to sew (the side seams, must make a mental note) and I have to rip away. I reach in and start pulling the front through the teeny shoulders. Wonder who thought of this??? It's coming, it's coming.... Now I need help from my bamboo point turner. Push! It's here!!! Just a few stitches to close and my new V-String vest is ready to go out into the world.

Our Japanese Connection

Our hearts go out to Japan during this tragic time. But then, we've had a close connection with our love of quilting for a long time. The roots of Victorian Crazy Quilting can be traced back to the 1876 Philadelphia Exposition where Japanese screens covered with patches of various shapes of fabric were seen and admired. Japanese quilters recycled precious fabric for both practical and aesthetic purposes. Today we are still influenced by Japanese quilters. Ideas flow in both directions and we are more connected than ever. This vest was made with scraps from my guild, and I will now think of Japan whenever I wear it. The pattern is my favorite In-Vest from Four Corners.....again.

It's a Wrap

My cousin Jill dropped by today and helped me decide on this for the back. Sure is great having family support. I will remember her in my will!

Next Day

Next day I decided those rectangles looked too clunky, so I sliced them into thinner strips. Then I noticed some V's were happening. Loved that chevron look and went with it. Since "V" is for vest, I dug out my favorite pattern......Four Corners In-Vest. When you finally find a pattern that fits and flatters, you want to stick with it. Saves a lot of time and tears. Quilt teacher Mary Stori put me on to this one. Thanks, Mary!

Sewing the strips on a marked muslin foundation makes all those bias edges behave. Again, I sewed & flipped until the fronts were covered. Hand-basted all around....Yes, I still do some things by hand....and cut out each pattern piece. Stay-stitched all the curves like I learned in Home Ec. Give me an "A" for remembering that!

Oh, what would look good on the back? First thought was black, of course. But why not try a stunning Kaffe Fassett print instead? Hmmmm. I'll sleep on it.

Whoa...let's back up

I jumped into this blog with both feet, but I will back up now. Here's how I made my V-string vest. It all began at my friend Victoria's weekend retreat where she and her friends shared huge bins of scraps. I started cutting random width strips and sewing them to phone book pages....sewing & flipping without any purpose other than enjoying each color along the way. Loved the fabrics and the girl talk. Just sewed my brains out and finally crashed at midnight.

To be continued......

My V-String Vest

Had a fabulous time at V's retreat where this vest was born.