Transitions
It was quite an honor to find out how many of you I share morning coffee with. I'm touched by all of your kind words and I hope in the future I will continue to be entertaining and informative.
I love Thursdays because I get to escape off to Quiltology to work on my quilt project. One of the nice things about being able to take a morning quilt class is that I can spend the rest of the day in the sewing workshop working on my quilt. When I arrived at class this morning I had all of the strips for my small 9 patches cut and I was planning on sewing as many of them together as I could. I made it through the first 5 sets, starting from the inner set. I am getting very excited about this quilt top because I love the color transitions that I am beginning to see more clearly as the pieces come together. I probably would have gotten a bit farther if I hadn't stopped to rip pieces when I wasn't happy with the fabric alignment. I have learned that the seam ripper is my friend and that it's really not much harder to rip sewn seams than it is to rip back a piece of knitting. Certainly, with these little blocks, the process is not all that painful. And one thing that is nice about sewing (as compared to knitting) -- it takes a lot less time to stitch to pieces of fabric together than it does to rip a seam apart.
I'm beginning to find a rhythm in building my quilt top. Part assembly line, part keeping things organized. The sound of the machine broken up with the occasional bits of ironing and fabric arranging are actually rather soothing. And what's nice is that these things can be maintained even while chatting or thinking about other things. When you combine that with all the color that you get to engage with when you put a quilt together, there's a lot of pleasant sensory stimulation. Just about all that is left out is taste... but coffee is just as compatible with quilting as it is with knitting.
And speaking of coffee... a number of folks yesterday commented on my latte. Yes, I did make that latte with my very own coffee machine (I've had this very wonderful machine for almost 5 years... it is one of those machines that I truly love and has given me very good service). What some of you may not know is that my friend Julie is quite the barrista, and an excellent teacher when it comes to coffee preparation. About 6-8 months ago, I got a lesson in frothing/steaming milk. It's actually not all that hard -- I had been making it more difficult than it really is. You do need a machine that produces good steam (I think mine does a great job). It's especially easy when you steam in the cup that you're going to use for your latte instead of one of those metal pitchers. To get that bit of foam on top, you steam the top of the milk first (just enough to get a little foam, you don't need to go crazy) and then move the nozzle down to the bottom of the cup and steam the rest until it is to the right temperature. Then I have the machine pour me two shots and I dump them into the center of the foam at about the same time. Et voila! a latte is born.
I am loving watching your quilt grow - what beautiful batiks!!
Once again, it looks like a beautiful quilt!!! I enjoy you every morning with Plantation Mint Tea:D
I'm almost getting an Escher-esque feel from it, so far.
that's exactly how i make MY latte! (although upon recent discovery of a dairy allergy i've had to switch to rice milk, which just doesn't froth as well).
i love how your quilt is turning out. fantastic!
Your quilt is coming along beautifully! And I'm glad you are not scared to rip out when something just doesn't look right. I have taught quilters that will just shrug it off and keep going and their work suffers. Not that I make perfect quilts! Sometimes, just as in knitting, you got to ask whether the error is glaring enough for anyone to notice. It also is good to ask who is going to use the quilt - if it is a show entry, I rip, if it is for a child to love to death, I sometimes don't. Have fun with the process!
Dene
I'm not a coffee drinker, but I'm here with my breakfast every morning. Not so good for my keyboard. I have to vaccum it every once in a while. eeww
I'm loving the colors you're using for your blooming 9 patch. I always get the urge to make one whenever I see them in a quilt show... The pattern is just mesmerizing. Beautiful!
I love the way the quilt is coming together. It's stunning.
As I've mentioned once upon a time, I have tried quilting. It was always fiddley for me and my seams never seemed straight..etc. It was patience entirely, or lack thereof.
Anyway! I am loving watching your quilt grow. I am a perfect vicarious quilter. :)
My coffee pot is not that exciting--but it DOES grind the beans for me. ;)
Oh, Dear Theresa! I missed your 1000th post because I've just been too crazy-busy this week. But did I ever tell you (I think I have) that YOU are the reason I'm blogging? Yours was the first blog I ever landed on through a Google search for provisional cast-on. And now I am proud to call you friend.
Just yesterday I had a conversation with a professor who is headed to Chicago for a conference. He knows about my blog, and now reads it, and I said to him, "I have friends in Chicago!" and I joked with him in a faux (I hope) obnoxious tone, "I have friends everywhere....Moscow, Vienna, Sydney, Tokyo.... you name it." He responded, "Yeah, you might not know their real names, but you have lots of friends!" to which I agreed, but then said, "No, but I have real live friends in Chicago," and you were at the forefront of who I was referring to. Keep on bloggin'! XO
It's late, but happy 1000th! Next round of bevvies is on me... :) Congrats!
I love the color progression
Congrats on you 100th post on my son's 21st b-day! Your blog is a joy to so many of us and your creativity is inspirational. You are truly appreciated.
I'm still loving those colors. Now I am really craving some good coffee.
Beautiful 9-patches! I made a blooming 9-patch quilt a couple of years ago. It is so fun to see the colors change as you put them next to each other. Even if you try to plan it out the finished quilt is always somewhat of a surprise because of the way the colors blend and interact. Yours looks like its going to be a beauty.
Laura
lbullins.googlepages.com
Beautiful nine patches, the colours are amazing!
I love the colors of your quilt. I truly admire all those that can make these gorgeous masterpieces!
Thank you thank you! I've been wondering how to get that foam for my latte!
Who knew I'd learn that from a blog I read mostly for knitting content (while I view the quilting stuff with my fingers in my ears saying "nee nee nee I can't hear you" - and the quilt fabric in storage clamors for attention).
I never thought I would find myself wanting to quilt, I've never liked quilts. Now watching you put your wonderful colours together has made me itch for a quilting project of my own.