Lighthouse block progress

I've been working on my little lighthouse quilt. I started with just the lighthouse, and my plan was to add a smaller block of a sand dune below it with sashing between. I used Karen Eckmeier's Layered Curves and Accidental Landscapes techniques. It was a simple and fun process, and of course, once again I didn't take pictures because I was so busy working playing with fabric. Basically, all I needed to do was take a few strips of fabric in dune-y colors, cut a graceful curve along one long edge of each one, fold the edge over and press, layer the strips up on a foundation piece of fabric, and topstitch them. Before I did the stitching, I laid out the dune block below the light house with paper sashing (substituting for the fabric I would use) between them and a frame around it to see how it would all look. I showed it to my husband, and he seemed confused. Why did I have a white strip cutting the picture in two?

So I laid out the blocks again, without the paper. 

Hmmm. I liked that better. (Sorry for the bad lighting.) So I stitched it all up, and added lots of details with embroidery thread--much more than I usually do, but the details of the real lighthouse are so distinctive that I got carried away. Don't look too closely at the embroidery. It's not precise--I'm a little rusty with detailed work. (Probably need new glasses.)

I think if I ever make this pattern again, I'll do the windows with sewing thread instead of embroidery so that they show but don't stand out so much. Oh well. I learn something with everything I make. 

I'm glad I followed my husband's advice to combine the blocks into one. Now to make the fabric border and frame the piece. I'll be back Friday with the finished project. 

I'm linking up today with Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday. 

Lighthouse block

This week, I scaled way back on my piecing--way back to miniature. Years ago, I had a job quilting for a fiber artist who specialized in salvaging old fabric (from decrepit blocks) to make miniature quilts with traditional blocks. I fell in love with tiny quilts, and started making my own, using the edge of my featherweight foot to make perfect 1/8 inch seams. In fact, when I made blocks with 1/4 inch seams, they seemed enormous to me. After awhile, I started experimenting with making miniature blocks with buildings, and I still make them from time to time. Now instead of using 1/8 inch seams, I usually foundation paper piece them. This week I decided that I needed to make a lighthouse block. It's a birthday gift for someone who doesn't know I started this blog, so I sure hope she hasn't stumbled on it. 

First, I got out my Barbie and Skipper Fashion Designer Electric Drawing Set. I've had it since 1965; it's probably the only childhood toy I have that I still play with. But it makes a fun light table. (The box has seen better days.)

I traced the major lines of a photo of Big Red (the lighthouse in Holland, Michigan), paying careful attention to how it could be pieced and lettering sections to represent different elements (such as sky or water) and colors. 

Then, I turned the paper over and retraced it onto another sheet of paper so that I would have a reversed image (necessary for piecing, so that the final project is in the original orientation). 

I figured out where to break down sections so that I could paper piece them, and then retraced each section, adding seam allowance around the outside edge. When I was done, I had 12 sections  I numbered them for the order of piecing and made notes about how to stitch the sections together. They looked like this:

I sorted through my scraps to find the fabrics I wanted. I always do this on the bed in our guest room, where I store my stash. Kind of a mess on top of the busy quilt, but it works for me. (There were lots of rejects for sky and water, and I ended up using the back side of the fabric I picked for the sky so it looked sunny instead of stormy.) Oh, and that other pile of fabric on the bed? That's a potential maple leaf quilt. 

I got so into sewing, that I didn't take any pictures in process, but here's what the block looks like so far:

It will be about 4 1/4 by 3 3/4 inches when trimmed. I still need to add embroidery for windows, railings, a stairway and the flag pole. I can't decide if I'll do that by hand or machine. Do you see the little notch of sky on the right at the base of the tower? I forgot a teeny patch of red, so that will have to be filled in with some thread, too. Before I frame it, I'll make another small block of some sand and dune grass to place below the main block. Hopefully it won't be too long before I have a finished project to show you.  

I'm linking up with Freshly Pieced today for WIP Wednesday.

Little Road Trip

A few weeks ago, I discovered that Ruth B. McDowell (my art quilt idol) is the 2014 Honoree at the Quilters Hall of Fame and that her quilts are on display right now at the Marie Webster House in Marion, Indiana. I knew about the Quilters Hall of Fame but had never really payed much attention to where it was. Then I realized that it was just a short road trip away, and I just had to go. My husband did a little research online and found that the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automotive Museum was on the way, so this week we made the little drive with stops along the way that we could both enjoy. 

I actually really liked the car museum. It is in the restored Auburn Headquarters (in Auburn, Indiana), and many of the cars are in the original showroom, with it's stylish Art Deco design--carved beams, beautiful chandeliers and sconces, and terrazzo floors. Lots of quilty inspiration here. 

And then, this:

 "The Official Auburn Cord Dusenberg Museum Quilt" designed by Thais Heinzeling, made by the Spinning Spools Quilt Guild, and presented to the museum in 1988. We couldn't photograph it straight on because there was a car sitting right in front of it. (Imagine that. A car. In front of a quilt. Oh, that's right, it's a car museum.) Anyway, I could tell that the quilters had the same response I had. The cars were wonderful--but the building? A true work of art--with all the details preserved in quilt fabrics and stitches. I asked if they had a postcard of the quilt or if there was a picture online, and they said no, so consider this my contribution to documenting this quilt on the internet. 

That night, we stayed on the outskirts of Gas City What an unfortunate name for a town. There was a short-lived natural gas boom in the late 1800's, so I guess the name's historic, but just to be safe, we avoided eating burritos. The town is kind of cute, though, and celebrates its history with these street signs:

There's also a pleasant pathway (Cardinal Greenway) that we walked a bit of in the evening.

The next day, was my day--the visit to the quilt museum. I have no pictures of the exhibit of Ruth McDowell's quilts because photos weren't allowed (but you can find them online and in her books), and I don't think I even have words to describe how gorgeous they were. The colors were so much more vibrant than any photo could capture. And the museum is another work of art, a colonial revival home from 1902, lovingly restored to showcase the quilts. We were warmly welcomed and encouraged to take our time admiring the quilts (and the amazing woodwork.) I tried to absorb as much as I could about Ruth's techniques, color sense, and use of fabric prints and scales, and her stunning interpretation of landscapes, flowers, and images of people.  We did get a few pictures of the outside of the museum.

                                              

Now, I'll be sure to keep my eye on the schedule of exhibits, because I'm sure I'll want to go back again. 

On our way back home, we stopped at a few antique malls along the way. My husband found 3 (!) old baseball gloves that had to come home with him, and I saw lots of antique quilt tops. We both agreed that the trip was well worth it. I think if we go back, we'll take our bikes so we can ride the trail, too. 

If you are anywhere near Marion, Indiana and want to see Ruth McDowell's work, hurry. The museum is only open Thursday through Saturday, and September 27 is the last day for her exhibit.