Mrs. Schmenkman Quilts

Honestly. Where does the week go? Just a minute ago, it was Monday. I think I meant to post on Monday. Time flies when you’re, well, doing stuff. Not that it has been exciting stuff. Yesterday I washed dogs and all of the one-thing-leads-to-another related accoutrements. Well, here we are.

First off, I joined Andi’s Pay It Forward, which I am very excited about! So, now I’m looking for three people who want to Pay It Forward. If you would like to receive a handmade gift from me, and are willing to make and send a handmade gift along to three of your blog readers, please let me know in the comments. Once you accept, you will receive something from me within 365 days. In turn, you will have 365 days to fulfill your end of the bargain. So, if you would like to accept the challenge and commit to keeping this going, leave a comment.

EDITED TO ADD: You all are QUICK! I’ll be sending to:

Jan
Michelle
Jenny

Among other things I’ve gotten myself into, I’m intending to quilt along with Kellie’s Joseph’s Coat Quilt-along. I really love this pattern. I’ve made a small beginning by deciding on a background:

Moda Bella Solid in grey — a nice chalky mid-grey.

I’ve wrangled some of the Stitch N Wash too (although I keep thinking of it as Wash N Stitch — which just doesn’t make sense):

Although, I just saw an ad today for a new product from C&T Publishing — Wash Away Applique Sheets. Sounds like it does the same thing AND you can send it through your ink-jet printer. Which appeals to me as I’ve drafted my Joseph’s Coat applique placement guide on the computer. I could send sheets and sheets of petal shapes through. Wheeee. But I won’t. Because I already have Stitch N Wash. FYI then.

In 2007, I saw this beauty from the Tokyo International Quilt Festival. Stunning, no? Here, I must stop and thank Jan because, while I remembered this quilt, I couldn’t find the photo. I sent her a vaguely worded SOS and she tracked down the photo for me. THANKS, JAN! Anyhoo, at the time I saw this, I was entranced. I have a lovely green background and the “border” print in green to do something inspired by that quilt. Oh, and I bought these:

I recall a couple of attempts at piecing the blocks. But, as I said before, time flies and here we are in 2009. While I don’t know if I will keep up, I will give it a try and will appreciate the motivational inspiration Kellie’s quilt-along provides. I have to try not to get mired in indecision when it comes to the color scheme for the petals. To be continued…

Oh, and I decided that nine spider web blocks is enough for now:

All righty! Hope you had a good week. Don’t forget, if you’d like to join my Pay It Forward, please leave a comment. (FILLED)

Yesterday was the day!

I’m sure we were all sad to say goodbye to the lack of schedule that summer brings. No alarm clocks, no lessons (OK, we kept up on piano for most of the summer), no homework (OK, we did do math through the summer and read a lot) — but mainly, aside from camps, days (and days) left to our own devices.

On the other hand, I’m a person who needs a little routine and sense of accomplishment. A growing nine-year-old is a work in progress — a joy and a treasure but not a finished product. So, I’m welcoming the return of some structure … although the 5 am walk is going to get old pretty fast what with the nocturnal critters and face full of cobwebs — well, and the 5 am-ness of it (although I highly recommend exercising in the dark –it’s almost like it never happened).

So, the day started off at the bus stop.

Fully loaded:

Waiting:

Yea, it’s the big yellow transport!

I came home to some paper piecing. Which is also good exercise if you don’t keep your cutting and ironing supplies right next to you. Up and down. Up and down. Up and down. I’m working on a Kaffe-y version of Kathy’s Gypsy Kisses quilt from the Material Obsession 2 book (here and here).

All I can say is “whee.”

Gee, only 38 more pairs to go. More ups and downs in my future.

I previously gathered together other batiks and Westminster fabrics for a lovely basket quilt from Diana McClun and Laura Nownes called Going to Market:

For me, it’s all about the striped bias handle!

I really like the method used to make the basket handles. It is new to me and don’t we just love to learn something new? You can view the method on Diana and Laura’s web site where they kindly show us in an instructional video (it’s the preparing handles for applique video).

May your day be filled with more ups than downs…unless you’re exercising or paper piecing.