'Wot RoTT' exchange

[Charae H.]

Lorna, love your quilt, you did a great job.

Margarita in Auburn, California

[Charae H.]

I decided to take another look at my reels, found that I have 4 blocks done and 10 ready to sew. Took a break from quilting on my Dear Jane. So I think I will be working on both projects. Margarita

[Lorna B.]

Thank you, everyone, and Merry Christmas. We just got back from Jersey Island where we spent a lovely Christmas. (Though not quite far enough south to avoid the rain and cold.)

I used a variety of neutrals for the background and borders. The binding is a stripped fabric. Stripes are great fabrics and I need to use them more. All came from my stash that I am still trying to whittle down.

I thought of also adding a thimble at one point, but then I guess I forgot. It would have been clever to put the needle into one of teh reels. Great idea! I suppose I consider doing both now...by hand... You always need a spare needle.

The names and places are free motion quilted on the alternate blocks. No special technique. I just looked at the label, visualized it on the block and tried to keep them centered. Not always successfully. I should have taken the time to stop and start between letters instead of running them together because I am lazy (The Ps look funny).

Rita, your block was the closest in color to my vine/thread, so it made sense to put your block there.

Now I am looking in my UFOs to see if there is anything that I could finish by the end of the year and trying to decide what my next project should be.

Happy holidays to all and best wishes for a wonderful new year.

[Rita C.]

Thanks for the close-ups Lorna. It's a great idea to FMQ the names in the between blocks. And your feathers in the border are great too. Two good ideas I might have to copy if you don't mind. I am making the whole quilt larger by using all 82 blocks in the quilt (I have to add one more block to make it work), after which I will know what size to do my borders. I am not very good at the maths so I will wait until they are all sewn together and then cut my border strips. I am going to do some sort of an appliqued border but not sure if I will stick to Edyta's or do something else.

Margarita, I am sure it would be easier on your hands to alternate between the spools quilt and your Dear Jane hand quilting.

Happy New Year to you and to all the Wot Rotts out there.

[Renata L.]

Indeed, Lorna, thank you for the close-up! Your quilting is VERY NICE! and it gave a little more inspiration to those of us who are still fiddling around with our reels and haven't started yet. I had done a modern design for my quilt and played with it so much I had to set it aside. Then, the other day, after seeing your quilt, Lorna, I decided I really needed to get on with it. But I did not like my design anymore and almost reverted back to the Edyta Sitar design. Well, this morning I played some more with my reels and may just have figured out something I am going to enjoy making. So, Lorna, in short, thanks for posting yours!!! And I better get started before I change my mind... again! :roll: :lol:

Happy New Year all!

[Brenda H.]

WOW... I just saw someone do a really great solo on show #1201... Wott Wott! Rita...
Awesome... you are so brave!

I watched it 3 times... you are such a good singer! Glad to see you on the quilt show...
Bren

[Brenda H.]

So I posted to my blog on my quilt studio progress... it's coming along slow but sure...
It is so darn cold here I am starting to weaken... this cold is slowing down my quilting...
I'm working on a wedding quilt and really need to finish it... Will post a layout of it later...
I have some spools left and was thinking about doing some hot pads, a long narrow wall hanging and maybe some mug rugs...
Anyone have any other ideas? Humm just thought of making a pin cushion with one too!
Let me know your ideas...
Keep warm everyone!
Bren

[Rita C.]

Thanks Bren. The line between brave and foolhardy is a very thin one. :lol: It looks like you have frost on frost, on frost.... we are said to have 12ºC here today. Why don't you come on over. I will make you a tea-brack and a cup of tea. :lol:

This is as far as I have got on my spools quilt. 83 spools sewn together. I have done it twice the size so I have to now think about bigger borders. Edyta's won't fit. I have also run out of my background fabric because I made it double size :roll: so now I will have to dye some more fabric or think of an alternative. (I know I will probably never get a perfect match but hopefully I can get close enough.)

[Rita C.]

Hey Rita - just remember that a good contrast is better than a bad match, so maybe going for a contrasting colour (since your background looks pinky on my screen how about trying for a pale blue or yellow?) might work.

I have also been going steady on my reels construction this morning and enjoying seeing them come together.

[Brenda H.]

Rita, I would love to sit, visit and drink tea with you... Thanks for the offer... Maybe someday!
I hate it when I run out of fabric... RATS! :x
I like the idea of making it bigger.. Great idea... are you going to do fancy boarders with appliqué?
That is very forgiving and hides a lot.
I did consider :idea: making a 4 to 6 inch piano key boarder for mine but I fell in love with Editas and followed her lead sooo that is what I have.
I do have several left over’s and need to do something with them... I wish it would warm up... I dont like the cold winds...
I absolutely love your color arrangement.. keep us posted...
Oh yea your back ground fabric does look kind of pinkish or flesh colord on my pc monitor also... is it?
Bren

[Rita C.]

Rosemary I know the fabric looks pinkish but it's more beige in natural light - we just have so little of it these days that it's impossible to take a photo without all the lights on or flashes. I won't mind if the next tea-dye is a darker colour because I think that might look okay. If I am not happy with it I will definitely think of a contrasting colour. I was even thinking of something dark and then appliqueing light coloured leaves and vines. Needs more thought.

Bren, how about a table topper? You could probably use six spools for that. If you made it reversible then you could use 12. A couple of cushions for your sewing room sofa would be good too. Or, how about a tea-cosy - one on each side (you probably need a tea cosy too. :lol: I used to have a quilted tea cosy years ago and for some reason every man who came into the house ended up putting that cosy on his head! Probably something to do with thinning hair and a nice warm hat. :lol:

[Lois B.]

Bren, It's just terrible when you can't get warm. We are having a cold spell too. I have the wood burner going today. Nothing like a woodfire to make you feel cosy. I'd like Rita to make some of that tea brack and you could both come to my house and I'll make tea. Heck if you guys come I'll make a nice hot chicken casserole and some soup on the side. Stay warm everybody!

[karen f.]

Or, how about a tea-cosy - one on each side (you probably need a tea cosy too. :lol: I used to have a quilted tea cosy years ago and for some reason every man who came into the house ended up putting that cosy on his head! Probably something to do with thinning hair and a nice warm hat. :lol:

:lol: :lol: :lol: I'd love to see that!

[Brenda H.]

Rita, oh my gosh. I'm laughing my head off and rolling on the floor... :lol: I guess men are just men no matter where we live... I can so visualize the tea cozy on their head, it sounds like the goings on around here... WAY TO FUNNY! Thanks for the idea I do not have a tea cozy so it would be fun to make it just to see if my guys would do that too! You made my day! And I think I will do a table topper also.. I didn’t think of that either but I really like it!

Loise, you are a girl after my heart. I love wood stoves and I miss mine... I agree wood heat is the best!

[Nancy R.]

Bren, It's just terrible when you can't get warm. We are having a cold spell too. I have the wood burner going today. Nothing like a woodfire to make you feel cosy. I'd like Rita to make some of that tea brack and you could both come to my house and I'll make tea. Heck if you guys come I'll make a nice hot chicken casserole and some soup on the side. Stay warm everybody!

Hmmm. I might just have to invite myself along for that, sounds so good!

Nancy