Monday, September 5, 2011


What a week! losing power from Sunday 4 am to Saturday 330 pm and no internet till Sunday afternoon all thanks to Hurricane Irene. no use complaining our loses were minor compared to so many others, We are so thankful. I was able to finish two more Flower Garden blocks, I still have the stems to put on another block here are all the blocks together

here are the fabrics for my next block.

not sure if I will start this one or now that I can actually use my sewing machine again I may just start Stars and Sprigs!
I hope to catch up with blog reading over the next few days....One of the books I read this week was Nancy Crows work in transition surprised????
I found the book fascinating, it was fun to read how she works. I have been interested in working with solids for awhile now and spent a lot of time this week looking at amish quilt books, Nancy Crow books and other quilters like Gwen Marston that have published book using solids. do you have any suggestions of quilt books using solids I would love to hear about them. I am always looking for quilt book suggestions!
I also spent a lot of time looking Japanese sashiko quilting style books. Love those indigos the Japanese are famous for. For me its all about these indigo's and using the threads to create the texture and in some cases the patterns in the quilts. A dream of mine is to go to Japan , the Tokyo quilt show that Jan from Bemused has gone to , how I would love to go there and study their quilt making...
have you seen Nat's post about her last trip to Japan. I found this trip so interesting and I wish I could go on the Japanese Textile Study Tour, don't you?????

33 comments:

Jackie said...

Going without the internet for a week is one thing but going without power is something else all together! I'm glad you fared well.

Dawn said...

Glad your life is getting back to normal.
I think about any textile study tour would be fabulous!

sewprimitive karen said...

I'm just sitting here smiling at your flowers because they are so pretty. Your fabric choices! I like them so much better than the original (dare I say) and the flowers' wonderful design shows up more.

Libby said...

Glad to hear that you made it through relatively unscathed. Thank heavens for hand work!

WoolenSails said...

I am glad you finally got your power back and can get back to quilting. Even with a generator, my light wasn't enough, so did simple stitching instead.

I do love those japanese quilts, beautiful work in them.

Debbie

Janet O. said...

I am loving these flowers--and I look forward to your progress on Stars and Sprigs.
Wow--that was a long time without power. No wonder you got some reading and handwork finished!

Thalia said...

Oh wow I take it you had to throw out everything in the fridge like I did, and we only lost power in my area of Mass for eighteen hours.

This is my first comment here I think, though I've been reading your blog for a while. I just wanted to say thank you for making such inspiring quilts; because of you I went and bought a bunch of Civil War reproduction fabric for the first time because I'm in love with it now. I've also been inspired to start a Postage Stamp with one inch squares like yours, in all those lovely subtle-but-rich colors. You really have a bery wonderful sense of color.

Thalia said...

Or a 'very' good sense, ha. Silly typo making me sound all stuffed up! :)

Janet said...

That is a VERY long time to be without power!! I can't even imagine it - you must be so relieved to have it back. I love your 2 new flowers. They look so happy.

Aunt 'Reen said...

These blocks are all so beautiful!
Thank goodness you finally have power again. That's a LONG time!

mereth said...

No, I can't imagine going without power for a week either.I get antsy if we don't have electricity for a few hours, so a week would be a nightmare. I'm just glad you're alright and back again on the internets telling us about it.
The flowers are gorgeous, makes me want to get out my applique blocks again...

Taryn said...

I am glad you are back to full power and internet! Congratulations on finishing two more blocks while you were disconnected.

Rachaeldaisy said...

I love those flower blocks! I think their curvy stems make them look as though they are dancing. The Nancy Crow book sounds great I'll have to track it down. I'm not great at using solids. I really love other's work with them but when I go to use them myself I find that I like a bit of pattern. It would be amazing to go to Japan to see the quilt show. I hope you get to go one day!

Jan said...

Oh, those Japanese indigoes are so beautiful, I agree completely.
Thank goodness you enjoy hand applique so that you can sew during a power outage! You were able to get a lot done - but you always do!

liz said...

I wondered what happened to blogworld's most prolific blogger. That must have been tough to acclimatise to the change in your life, but thankfully it was a week and not longer.
I don't have a favourite solids book. I was hoping to jump on your shirttails and find a useful resource. Solids are making a mighty comeback right now. I love 'em.

Notjustnat said...

I just love the color you are using in your Flower Garden blocks. Gorgeous gorgeous! I think I told you before that vising your blog makes me want to take up applique again and I will! Thanks for the mentioned re my Japan tour.
Can't wait to see your sashiko stitching - Hugs Nat

Janet said...

I love your garden blocks Kathie! Thanks goodness you're back to normal, it's pretty hard doing without power but I'm relieved you came through it all ok.

Julie Fukuda said...

I wonder what that textile study tour will include.I wonder if the places to visit are something anyone who is here already can see. Anything particular you want that I can hunt up for you? Living wiith cut power is one thing. No power for a week would be awful!

Elyte said...

Great blocks Kathie, love those blues and reds together. Looks like we have similar problems, so many avenues to explore and not enough hours in the day.
Glad to hear that you avoided major damage as a result of Irene.
Are all those thin little stems needle turned?

Juliann said...

So happy to see a post and to know that you are alright. I have been thinking about you. Sounds like you made good use of your time. Stay well.

Maureen said...

Wow! that is such a long time to be without power. Sounds like you put that time to good use! Beautiful blocks- very whimsical!

Vicky said...

There you are! Welcome back! It looks like you took advantage of your time away from the computer. Those blocks are fabulous!

Crispy said...

Oh My, nothin' worse than being without power and the internet!! Thank goodness for hand work LOL. I too have been thinking solids for a project. Now I just need to collect them :0)

Crispy

Miriam said...

Glad you are safe and your electricity and internet are back on! Your blocks look great. I love the colour combinations.

Kristi in the Western Reserve said...

Seminole Patchwork is another fascinating sort that uses solids...Simply Seminole is a favorite book.

Sue-Anne said...

Hi Kathie, Your flowers look beautiful!

I tried to email you with a reply to your comment but it kept getting returned???

pomegranateandchintz said...

Glad you survived the hurricane. Your blocks are looking gorgeous - love the colour combo for the next one!

Barb said...

great new flower blocks! I'm so glad to hear you are getting back to normal.
Can't think of a solids book, other than Gwens. I like to add them to any quilt. You may want to look at amish books for the color combos.

HexaBee said...

Hi Kathie,
love to see all your bright repro flowers. I'm collecting them too for some future project.

Jeanneke
www.jeanneke.com

*karendianne. said...

Good Lord! Living in the Land of Hurricanes I have to say that I've NEVER had to go that long without power. That's a rough go! I'm glad you've made it thru relatively unscathed. Other thought - really enjoy these flowers with the Repro's! You're my hero. I've started collecting solids lately. They're less expensive and I'm intrigued by the challenge of working with them. I look at the solids and think - "where to from here?" It's a whole different thing for me and I've been trolling the blogs checking out the beautiful work some quilters are doing! Just Wow!!! There is such a deep well of options when it comes to quilting!

Andee said...

Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr have a few books out that use lots of solids..they are more modern looking, but I love them!

Lisa said...

I love these blocks, Kathie!! I may have to start this after I finish the Roseville.

homeschooled said...

I have 2 very inspiring books for solids both are catalogues from exhibitions and available from Amazon, I think:
1. Amish Abstractions
2.Antique Ohio Amish Quilts. Both beautifully produced hard-cover books and the quilts look modern.