Author Archives: Colleen Kole

Almost #4 and #5 for Project Joy

I know, I know that almost doesn’t count but this has been crazy week and I want to show you almost. This blogging thing is a bit crazy and I have to admit to you that I missed it this week when I couldn’t keep up with it. I felt like I was letting you down. Or I wasn’t pulling my end of the deal . What is really strange is that I am completing things, I am not sure I even like. Just to have something to show you. Which makes me feel a bit vulnerable and not necessarily proud of what I am producing. But what I am ” getting out of ” this whole thing is a great bit of humility, a great sense of respect for those who do this blogging thing well and much improved construction technique for sewing just because I am sewing more.

I have finished #4 except the binding so I know it doesn’t count just yet. It looks like a spider web and I am happy to say Betsy -my new machine-did her part. After a software update and two new parts for a machine less than six months old, she still needs to win me over though. I am skeptical.

The binding will be done tonight while I watch tv with the kids. I did some random crazy quilting over a very chaotic quilting.

# 5 I am not sure it is worth saving. It was in the middle of the whole sewing machine debacle and I am sick of wavy. So am in a quandry of whether or not to finish. I did spend 2 hours trying to pick out bad stitching. Yuck.

My husband brought home thirty roses yesterday to celebrate our first date thirty years ago. What a nice and romantic guy I have.

I am very grateful for him! Now, on to sewing. Happy sewing, my friends.

Project Joy #3: Perseverance

I can’t believe this one is done. I made it late last February just as a means of using up strip sets and playing around with another neutral color-the tans and khakis. The process of finishing it with all the machine issues just about made me give up on it. But I left in the areas of stitching that were less than average and a bit wavy. I had fought with it in areas that left it even more wavy when finished. Or it ended up that way because I densely quilted it ( six spools of thread later ) or strip sets just stretch. But it the end , it is done.

The Perseverance Connection

38×53

And done is all that matters today.

Can you tell I’m excited? Happy sewing, my friends!

Sweet Peas-UFO #2 Project Joy

I did persevere this weekend and did what I could with my limp-along machine. I feel a bit of desperation sinking in as I did something I have never done before-I put half of a binding on an unfinished quilt. It’s just a flat binding and that side of the quilt was done, so why not? I guess half of my quilting rules are just that. Silly rules. It felt good to move ahead even if it was just a weak attempt at ahead.

Machine update: Clare will come home today. Betty will be taken back to the dealer and war negotiations undertaken. Not really mad , just sad and need to move on.

I did finish this small work. I am in a fiber arts group and we have been working with different fun stuff-Shiva paintsticks, TAP paper, Lutrador, fabric paint, setacolors when we meet once a month. This little guy has some Shiva paintstick work on it as well as the base made of hand-dyed fabric. The thread is a really heavy silk which I have fallen in love with. It was relaxing to make the needle do what I wanted-in my hands instead of relying on a machine.

Sweet Peas
8×12

I also started to piece a back for one of my UFOS. Yes, you say-who would have time for that when you have 6 more? Oh, just the patient one waiting for her machine to be fixed.

The back is on top of my quilt top. Crazy yes I am. Or just spinning out of control…. Off to volunteer at Operation Christmas child. Hope you have your boxes packed. Happy Sewing, my friends.

Looking back

I need to give you a look back at an earlier work . This was made many years ago and now hangs in my sewing room. As I look at how nicely the hand quilting really gives the background texture, it is encouraging me with my machine quilting I am now working on. My two UFOs for the week might even be done —by Sunday which I guess is within my weekly goal for Project Joy. It’s a bit of a gamble to depend on much sewing time in the weekend. But they are both about 70% done!

It seems odd now to see a border on one of my quilts as I haven’t been using them with all this abstract work. Must go -I am off to trace 27 kids feet for the jeans quilt I am soon to start. Have a good weekend. Happy sewing, my friends.

Did you ever buy something big…

and not like it? I feel like I have given her a fair chance. I have written off many of her problems to my ineptness as a machine quilter. I have given her a name in order to bond with her.( Her name is Betsy. ) But Betsy and I just aren’t making it together. I have spent many hours trying to bond with her. I have figured out her computer. Hint…Hint…she isn’t a person.

But she has a problem I don’t know I can’t get over. She wobbles at the needle level. ( Yup, I have totally lost my mind this week. I am not whining, just stating fact.) Yes, you guessed it, Betsy is a sewing machine. She wobbles, not from the machine jiggling on the table, but at the needle level. I thought it was me but my local sewing buddy said she has had three traded in this month. I have read about it on the internet.The dreaded needle wiggling. But that doesn’t solve my problem. So I am left with intermittent wobbly stitches. Maybe she needs to be traded in….( I won’t tell you which brand it is as I don’t want to get in to machine bashing. Sounds like a punishable crime. I will tell you I switched brands with this purchase. ) I have gotten out the older wiser machine(Clare) but the needle is banging on the hook so Clare is off to the shop. You know this whole UFO project is soon to be over for me unless Clare and Betty pitch in to do their fair share, don’t you?

Some positive news. I have taken the plunge and signed up for another class at the Barn this spring with Nancy Crow: Sets and Variables. I debated a long time about this. I am looking for my own style, so why take another class from her? Why not someone else? Because she makes me think the most and work harder than anyone else, so someday I can be myself. And now I need to decide how much of my fabric I dyed this summer should be put away for it-all 220 yards?

That seems like a huge number but when you see it on the shelves, you realize how quickly you could burn through it sewing at the speed you need to there. My laundry room was moved upstairs which isn’t conducive to dyeing in the winter ahead. Do I save it for May? Any suggestions?

My commercials are dwindling. Although the drawers are full of fat quarters.

Ok so there are six drawers and a few more you haven’t seen yet. Just the hand-dyed I’d like to save. Well, off to the sewing machine store to drop off Clare. Peaceful thoughts amidst a frustrating week with this sunset picture. Happy sewing , my friends.

Machine Quilting 101

I read last night that it takes about 500 hours to become proficient in machine quilting. Since I only have at the most 250 hours in , I guess I have no choice but to continue. I have decided today, I will minimize what I rip out and just keep going. None of these would be for a show and I need to kind of go with what the quilt is and that is improvisational. I also took one of their suggestions and tipped my machine back a bit by putting a small book under it. I think that helped to open up my line of vision. I picked this beautiful batik of Vermont wildflowers for the back. It was made for a shop hop so I don’t think you will find any left.

I will not fight with the process today! I did finish another UFO. It was really fun. It has lots of fun stuff in it: recycled raw edge silk, hand-dyed silk ribbon, hand-dyed linen(the deep blue background), hand-dyed cottons, metallic thread, and it’s fused. I can’t use it for a challenge because it is three inches too big on one side. Have to think of something else….

Moving Up
16x 22

Fortunately, it’s done. Unfortunately, I didn’t count it on my personal list for Project Joy! Happy sewing, my friends!

Making Lemonade

I had a day of lemons yesterday -but the bright spot of my day was seeing a quilt my friend made. I was amazed at where she has come in the past few years and I am so happy for her. Take a look at her most recent work at gjbquilts.blogspot.com. Gail sat next to me at a workshop a few years ago. I have enjoyed her friendship.

I had my week all planned out. But yesterday was a day to do what I always tell the kids: when life gives you lemons, you have to make lemonade. The desktop computer needed help and had to be taken to the computer store. My camera was giving me fits-it’s the user, yes, I know, not the camera. Everything was way too dark despite my adjusting all controls on the camera. I had forgotten to wash the backing of my next project up for the day. No problem , move on to the next.

So, I moved on to the next project and my machine started to throw up thread on the back of my quilt. Yes, truly the user again. I adjusted tensions, tried a different machine,went out and bought Bottom Line thread. I was trying to do wonky circles. Definitely the uptight user. So, after four hours, I took a break. Took a walk.

Read the camera manual and book I purchased. My model camera has an inherent metering issue-need to wrap my head around that but it’s not me. Kept adjusting and enjoyed the walk.

Ater dinner, I picked out threads. I put the quilt aside until someone braver than me can help me with my skills and I basted another. But I was brave enough to try a picture in a dark room, and all is well. Now to learn how to crop.

Sometimes when life gives you lemons, you have to make lemonade. On to the next quilt. Happy Sewing, my friends.

Project Joy: #1

We had a great weekend and enjoyed time at my daughter’s college. The weather was in the 60’s and sunny which really hasn’t happened much this fall. I had high hopes for many portrait pictures to show you but my family is not happy with the camera. That really surprised me. Or they just didn’t have fun with me adjusting camera settings. Manual mode is very hard for me. Just can’t seem to get the hang of it. Maybe not having fun is a mild phrase-they were getting annoyed . I moved on to the dogs and they started running away. I need new subjects. But here’s my crew. We will learn how to crop this weekend. Thank goodness.

I did manage to finish this quilt over the weekend. I began quilting 20 years ago using reproduction fabrics and they fit well in all of our older homes. When I was sewing on it this weekend, I still loved the softness in my hand of the old indigoes. The Bowtie pattern is one of my favorites. I wonder if I could work with the pattern improvisationally. Guess it’s an idea for a series next year.

Bowtie Beauty

40×56

Ok seriously my pictures are way too dark. Must get back to the camera manual and sewing. Happy sewing, my friends.

Reality Check

I have finished two quilts this week from beginning to end. Lots of fun but lots of time, as you well know! I have one more to bind to achieve my week one goal. Well, I had a moment of panic when I realize that I had committed to 10 total by the end of the year. Even if I doubled my time I spend on sewing per week, I am not sure I was realistic. This week I have spent 27 hours -on sewing-don’t tell my family. Although they probably already know by the quality of meals this week. And then there is the photography class work…yikes. I had a moment of panic this am as I was thinking, was I realistic? So, the list. The dreaded list.

Project Joy in the New Year
Unfinished quilt tops

1. Bowtie-4 hours
2. Connections -Tan-25
3.Connections- Red and Black-10
4. Connections-Red and blue-20
5. Workshop-Autumn Mums-15
6. Directions 1- mini -3
7. Directions #3-30
8. Connections#7 -30

I came up with 140 approx hours divided by 6 weeks( ok we have some major holidays and people will be sick) so 24 hours per week. Most art quilters spend more than that plus work outside the home. Now that I have actually put a number to it it feels better. I think I can do this. The list is just a bit daunting. I really will try not to whine. Sorry to bore you with this but I am using this as a journal for my process.

You come for quilts so here is my piece for the day. This was my very first quilt made at the Crow Barn which just changed the way I thought of making a quilt.

I haven’t used a pattern since. It needs a special name but for now for now is just Connections #1 -the piece that rocked my world and made me excited about the process. It’s large at 51×69 and was quilted by a longarm machine friend.

Have a good weekend . Happy Sewing, my friends!

Dick and Jane

My favorite local quilt shop closed in Vermont this summer. It was called The Quilted Lilly and I always enjoyed going there whenever we were in town. I was truly sad as it was one of my favorite things to do when I visited. She just couldn’t make it in this tough economy and for that I am trying to support my local shop here in Grand Rapids. Vermont is am amazing place as far as support of anything locally made- vegetables, fruits, dairy and even textiles. I cherish the local farmer even more after spending lots of time there each summer. More about that later- but support your local producers.

Back to today. I finished my blue flannel for Project Hope. I then moved on to my next charity quilt was was super fun last night. I purchased these Dick and Jane fabrics at The Quilted Lily during their closing sale. I love Dick and Jane. Who doesn’t? I initially cut them in to six inch blocks. But too boring. So, of course added a strip set. And it felt much better. Even practiced my machine quilting with wavy lines.

This little doll quilt is 20×32 made for the WMQG Santa Claus Girl drive. And I get to buy a doll to go with it. Last year, I think we contributed over 400 quilts with dolls for West Michigan. And that is a good thing for our local kids. Do something for someone local today. Happy sewing my friends.