Topstitching My Mariner's Compass Quilt

I've spent the past 2 days topstitching my mariner's compass quilt.  I HATE stitching in the ditch and decided I'll do it the way I want to.  I like the look of topstitching and love how it looks.

Here's what the topstitching looks like.  If you can't see it, just click on the picture.

From Blogger Pictures

Here's the entire quilt:

From Blogger Pictures

I need to figure out what to put inside the points. I have some ideas and will work with them in the next couple of days. I loved designing and piecing this quilt. It will be one of my favorites.

Blackwork Quilt Top

From Blogger Pictures

I took Gina's advice and didn't add the sashing. I put blue around the quilt and I think it's looks stunning. I LOVE this quilt so far.

My plan is to add a white border with blue stitching going down the center. I've got a couple of designs on my Topaz that might work. Then to add another blue border to finish it off.

"Quilter's Home" Magazine Article

*Don't read this if you are easily offended.  Just warning you now*

I just got my issue of "Quilter's Home" with so called controversial article.  My eyebrows raised a little at the quilts but I think Mark kept things within reason and tasteful.  There was nothing blatantly disgusting or revolting.  I even got a giggle or two out of it.  Jesus holding a gun made me laugh so hard after I got over the shock of "What??".  

The quilts are expressions of feelings that people can't always put into words.  One man does his quilts as he's a news cameraman and it's his way of dealing with what he sees everyday at work. Some are political statements and some are satirical.   

Mark did a good job of telling the story that goes with the quilts.  If I were to see it hanging in a quilt show, I'd be "Huh??" but understanding why the artist did the quilt made things more understandable.  I may not agree with the statement or think it's poor taste, but at least I understood what the quilter is trying to say.

Then there's the debate of whether or not they are quilts and if they even belong in quilt shows. Quilting is an art form.  It's each person's interpretation of what they like or want to say.  Each quilt tells a story behind every seam and and pattern.   Whether or not we agree or understand depends on how we see our own lives.  Do they belong in quilt shows?  For the most part quilt shows are conservative.  Most quilters would not enjoy seeing quilts like these.  If they are in a quilt show, I think they need their own special "gallery" so that those who want to see them can.  Those that don't want to can just walk on by.  I would not want to see these quilts.  They don't express my tastes or beliefs.  But they do represent someone else's.

For example.  My 3-D quilt has a story.  First I wanted to do a graphic style of quilt.  It's something I had never done before.  I liked the 3-d aspect of it and that the blocks appear to be floating.  The new technique of hooked feathers was new and I wanted to soften the hardness of the quilt.  The same with the butterflies.  

On an emotion level, floating is how I feel.  I'm holding on to the stability of the blocks, but I also know that I'm still floating through space and time.  It's a matter of perspective.  It's how you see things.  As a bipolar person and having epilepsy, stability is what keeps me sane in a world that to me is chaos because of what I deal with on a daily basis.  One block of stability is my family.  Another is the medications I take.  My friends, my hobbies and others are each represented in the blocks.  

The  feather quilting is an expression of peace and comfort.  Of elegance and sereneness. Knowing that despite my weaknesses, I'm still a beautiful person.  It's a reminder that I'm not a wreck or crazy.  The butterflies represent happiness and fun.  I love watching butterflies.  It's a reminder that I am happy.  I'm giving.  Designing a quilt that was chaotic, frightening or scary would not be useful to me in my life.  My life is not based on fear.

However; what appears to be a simple quilt with floating blocks has deep meaning to me.  The same with my other quilts.  I don't always say what they mean or need too.  We all make a particular style of quilt because it expresses us at the time we make it. 

3-D Quilt Done!!

I got it done!!   I finished my first quilt of the year.  And..*drum roll* I machine bound it with ease.  I can bind!!!   The quilt isn't flat, but the binding looks awesome.

From Blogger Pictures

The feather quilting and butterflies. Click on the pic if you can't see it

From Blogger Pictures

Picture of the quilting on top

From Blogger Pictures

The binding, which is perfect all the way around like this.

From Blogger Pictures

My secret to this binding: Viking makes a left edge topstitch foot. There's a guide on the left side that the fabric can slide through. Just follow the red mark with your fabric and away you go. I even made it over the corners without the seams folding over or being squished. It's amazing what the right machine can do for you. While the quilt isn't flat, the binding has no ripples or folds.

Okay Jen and Jill..what's the point status for this quilt??  Meandering or dwirling doesn't count.  I did feathers and butterflies.  

Epilepsy, Driving, And My Son

My son and I were talking the other day about me not driving.  Here's the conversation:

Son:  Mom, they need to make a car that drives itself so you can drive places.  It would know when to stop and to pass cars and everything.

Me:  That would be one expensive car.  I'd never be able to afford it if they made one.

Son:  Well, they should make something for people so they could drive.

Me: Actually; they do.  It's called a Hummer.  That way you go over things instead of hitting them when you have a seizure.  *feeling pleased with myself for the joke* 

Son: *pause*  Can we get you one?

Shredding Stars

Hubby insisted that he liked the stars better than the other block. However; after trying to do one, he may be out of luck. I've ruined 2 stars because I can't get the centers to match up. Of course, the more you play with it the more you stretch it.

I don't necessarily hate inset seams, I just hate dealing with the center of the star. There has to be way to make the points work. Paper piecing just adds more bulk. I'm wondering if maybe I put it on a light fusible stabilizer that it might work.

The other design has a zillion pieces but may just be easier to work with.

I discovered that my computer has connected to someone's wireless internet yesterday. Only thing I can think of is that one of my neighbors has wireless and my computer detected the signal. I disabled the wireless connection as I don't think the other person would appreciate me using their network. They might be freaked out wondering who's trying to connect up to theirs. LOL.

That's kind of scary thinking anyone could just connect in to your computer like that. All my computer did was say it had found a wireless connection and was using it. The XP side of my computer picks it up. If the Mac side is, it's not saying anything about it.

Oh..need a laugh? I showed my husband the cover of a new Irish quilting magazine that has a naked woman wrapped up in a quilt. His comment was along the lines of, "You buy the magazine. I get a naked chic and you get the quilt pattern."

Another Version Of My Blackwork Quilt

Another DUH moment. My friend Gina suggested to strip piece and cut the star sections (which I had thought of) but my EQ6 measurements would come up as 2 3/16 or some odd number. After trying several variations of blocks and going crazy of why my rotary cutting measurements kept popping up this way, I realized that I had the 1/16 inch mark checked. Sigh. It must be a default setting that I missed.

Now if I do the stars, each strip is measured at 7/8 cutting not some wacked out number to the 16th. I'm not sure I want to cut those measurements.

I may do this layout to keep me from having to deal with stars. I'll try strip piecing a star and see how it goes. I do like this one. Remember that the blackwork designs are around the blocks. I'll do some special quilting on the edges. And there may be sashing involved.

I did design the block below although I know it exists under a different name. I just needed it to be a divisible of 8 to make it easy to piece. I've had enough of odd size numbers. LOL! I do like this layout and the blues blend better and is easier on the eyes.