Temperature Quilt 2020

My Temperature Quilt 2020 is

inspired by two sources

Book: New York Beauties & Flying Geese by Carl Hentsch

and

Pattern: NY Beauty Mini Quilt by Better of Thread

The pattern fit my vision for the high / low temps of the day,

but the size was off for what I needed.

So I went old school!

took out some paper, started folding and drawing,

and came up with a size that worked for my project.

My fabric had already been precut to 2.5" squares - 

Note to self: 

solidify design choice before cutting fabrics!!

making copies of my arcs on newsprint...

following the stitching directions from the pattern 

my first arc was formed!

Loving how the low temp of the day points up 

to the high daily temp

I had a struggle getting the two arcs to go together nicely.

Having finished up January but before starting on February,

I needed to figure out another way to make this block.

Back to the drawing board I go...

Sometimes ideas just take awhile to percolate...

after starring at the arc for a number of days

I decided to look at it differently...

as a blade not an arc!

Viola!

The High / Low temps and date

were penciled in on each blade

the background white fabric was cut

(thankfully that had not been precut!)

and the temp fabrics selected

according to the readings from

Weather.com

the paper piecing proceeded as usual

Making sure there was a perfect 1/4" all around

 using the Add-A-Quarter ruler - each blade was made!

all trimmed with the 1/4" seam all around

each blade was then stitched in place,

using the papers as my 1/4" guide

everything lining up nicely!

When comparing the two construction methods:

Arcs vs Blades

the Blade Method is a winner....

NO extra seam between the spikes and the geese...

giving the block a more streamlined look,

plus it was much easier to piece together!

off to the races making a months worth of blades!

stitching each quadrant together 

the temperature circle is complete

Don't you just love freezer paper?

It's the best for doing reverse applique circles!

the seam allowance is clipped, starch applied, then pressed.

NOTE:

when using starch Do Not have your iron set on the highest heat,

and Do Not press for too long...

it scorches

Ask me how I know???!!!

The center circle 

(Ugh! not a perfect circle - but Done!)

features a hexie with the average

high / low temps of the month.

The name of the month is hand embroidered 

using 12wt thread.

Two months are done!

You can slightly see the different in piecing methods,

(Arcs - January vs. Blades - February)

will definately continue with my blade method 

as it was easier to piece together - 

and since this is my third temp quilt,

I'm all for the easy method!!

disclaimer: 

still need to border and quilt 

2018 and 2019 Temp Quilts!!

Have a great Quilty Day and enjoy the process!

                               Janet

Happy 2020!

Happy 2020!

New Year ~ New Decade

Starting 2020 off with an organized thread drawer!

My threads used to hang on the wall 

on a June Taylor thread organizer - but they got bit dusty!

Just love Aurifil thread!

So I cut up some 1 inch strips of cardboard and made my own 

grid holder (easier said than done!)

It is so nice to pull out the drawer and see all the pops of color

just jumping out!

Not sure how long this will last...

but I'll enjoy it for now!

Now to MOVE on to the rest of the sewing room!

Made the decision to make a 2020 Temperature quilt...

this will be the third in my series.

In 2018 I used the flying geese pattern, 

2019 was an appliqué quarter circle,

2020 will be a strip of color.

The center strip will be the high temperature of the day,

the corners will be the low temperatures,

the accents will represent snow, sleet or rain.

It will be interesting to see the three quilts all together once done,

the 2019 and 2020 quilts have the same color scheme,

mostly because I cut too many 2.5" squares and want to use them up!

You can join in the fun on Instagram 

#temperaturequilt2020

#temperaturequiltalong

My two Quilting Goals for 2020:

ONE:

Hand Quilt my ships!

The center block is done,

now onto the other eight blocks and borders.

This block is 'Massachusetts' by Pearl Pereira of P3 Designs

TWO:

Finish the Mariners Compass quilt for my daughter.

She selected pattern and fabrics back in 2017,

it was started in late 2018...

thinking 2020 is the perfect year to finish it

as this hopefully is the year she finishes her PhD!!

(pattern is by Judy Niemeyer)

Just need to decide if we should switch out the cream background

for the blackish background to give the compass a floating look???

 

Such a decision!!

Leaning towards the Dark Side!

Thoughts anyone?

No New Years Resolutions for me ...

always hard a hard time writing them down and sticking to them.

This year I'm jumping on the 'One Word' band wagon

#oneword2020 

my 2020 word

MOVE

Move my Body more

Move through Obstacles

Move towards Health

Move through my Quilting projects

Move along better with my Blog 

Always Move Forward

Hoping your 2020 is wonderful!

Have a great Quilty Day and enjoy the process!

                               Janet

Workshops and a cancelled Retreat

February 2018 was a blur for me...

with the passing of my mom ... things seemed to just slow down

even though my schedule had been filled with retreats and workshops...

needing to find my way and my purpose again...

quilting helps.

The Dresden Neighborhood Workshop

put on by my guild ~ SCQG was a blast!

Michelle Banton of Little Pup Designs

was a fabulous instructor!

Using Kim Lapacek's pattern, Mistyfuse and a Dresden ruler

workshop participants created their very own Dresden Neighborhoods! 

Using a cute house fabric for the background and

Cherrywood fabrics for the houses -
This was as far as I got!

It doesn't look like much, but once the
windows, doors and roofs are fused on
the neighborhood will come to life...

for now - my neighborhood is

still Under Construction!

My third retreat with RNQG started off beautifully!

The Sea Crest Resort in just unbelievable - even in the winter!

Arriving on Thursday morning I set up my sewing space 

but just didn't feel like sewing ...

Retail Therapy - YES! that's what was needed!

Off to Falmouth Center to meander in and out of all the small shops!

By the afternoon I was mentally ready to Sit and Sew.

Started working on my third star from the 

"Nantucket" pattern by Thimble Blossoms

using fabrics from Bonnie & Camille.

This smaller Star of Bethlehem is a nice manageable size!

The pattern calls for nine of them - very do-able!

Not sure I could manage a larger size without my eyes bugging out!!

The quilting room the Sea Crest provided was fabulous - 

everyone had an 8 foot table and electrical outlet!

So much space to work on projects, chat with outer retreaters

and enjoy the "Quilty" atmosphere!

And the Food - to Die for! Hats off to the Chief!

My room was just wonderful...

Comfy bed, nice chair to relax and applique and 

a beautiful view of the ocean!

too bad I was only able to enjoy it for one night...

The first of Three Nor'easters hit Friday afternoon 

and by Friday 5:30pm the hotel lost all power!

But they were able to provide a delicious hot meal for dinner!

After dinner everyone went back to their rooms- 

some sat in the quilting room and chatted.

I needed time alone - my mood was still low...

thankfully I had packed my battery operated light

which made doing my applique possible!

By morning the worst of the storm had passed,

however the hotel was still without power and

unsure as to when their power would be returning

(it was without power for a few days!)

the hotel had to close.

SO back home we all went - 

the four day retreat lasted 24 hours! 

Good news is the hotel is not charging anyone

and will set up another retreat for us!!

~~~~~~

Keeping up with my Temperature Quilt has been a good

way to sew a little something each day

( you can follow me on Instagram - temperaturequilt )

This is my color chart - makes it easy to pick

my fabrics each day!

February had Lots of days in the 20's and 30's!!

Since it was too "plain" for me - embroidery was necessary!

The name of each month is embroidered at the top,

along with any "special" weather condition...

Snowflake, wind, rain etc...

February 5th 

my way of honoring my mom...

Slowly getting my "Quilty Groove" back!

Set up a portable design wall in the guest bedroom and I'm using it!!
Each daily Flying Geese block makes two left over half square triangles~

which just could not be wasted!!

SO the creation of two more temp quilts!!

On the top are 1" (finished) squares in a strip

and the left is a "calendar" temp quilt!

Loving seeing the colors of the day!

Not sure what will become of all these Temp Quilts - but its FUN!

My mom's bedroom is getting a makeover!

It will become the Guest Room and my "Quilting Annex"!!!

A place to put up my portable design wall and the portable pressing station 

which is well designed in my head! Now to just set it up!

More on that later!

My 'Fancy Forest' is finally coming together!

All four quadrants will get sewn together - This Week!!

In the mean time ... I whipped up a cute little Irish Chain quilt

from a Maywood Studio Pods Pre-cut Project.

Just what I need right now - easy peasy!!

The binding is all made and wrapped around a Binding Baby

by Doohikey Designs
Had the chance to meet Shari Butler in Houston - what a nice gal!
Of course I had to get the Binding Baby with the ear muffs!
So New England!!

Nor'easter Number THREE rolled in yesterday

dumping 16" of heavy snow!

Number four is expected early next week!!

The snow is Beautiful - until you have to shovel!!

But being snowbound is a great way to slow down and 

appreciate the small things in life we sometimes take for granted - 

heat, running water, hot food ... Hot Coffee!!

Thankfully the power stayed on while the blizzard raged outside!

Till next time ...

Have a great Quilty Day and enjoy the process!

            Janet