Monday, November 7, 2016

Maggie is All Danced Out and Heading Home

When Jacquelynne asked if I would be a sponsor for this BOM project, I answered that I'd be thrilled to send prizes (which I did, in month 3)


Remember that?

 but that I really wasn't sure I could commit to being an actual blogging sewer. She convinced me otherwise and I'm so glad she did. I work best on deadlines, and I love having a little project on the side that is just for fun. This filled both slots for me, and to top it off everyone who has been lucky enough to enter the morass of my quilt studio in the last few months has exclaimed over it on my design wall. Even my 13 year olds.That is saying something, people. So thank you, Jacquelynne, for this lovely experience!

And thank you, readers, for showing up to see how I'm going to scrap up the quilt every month. Those of you who know me know I love to get a little crazy with a border. Emphasis on "little;" I'm not saying I go all nutso and avant garde and asymmetrical and artsy, but I do go rogue and change them up most of the time, generally adding a little piecing to long plain borders. Is there anything wrong with long plain borders? No. So why do I do this? 1. My scrappy heart demands it. 2. My limited supply of yardage demands it. Being a scrappy designer means the most I ever buy of most fabrics, even if I really really love them, is a half yard. Long borders generally don't work with half yards.

Sure, I could go buy more fabric. But that would mean I had started these borders in time to do so. Deadlines. I love them, I work well with them, but I like to test my sanity.

So that's what I came up with for borders to round out my scrappy version of Maggie. Let's see how I changed it up a bit from the original version.


Darn but I do love a good recolorization. Look at how different they look! I do love how the red triangles in the original evoke for me a feeling of an old photo album, which goes along with the old fashioned feel of Jacquelynne's version. So cool.

For my version, I didn't change anything about the construction of the first two borders. All I did was  recolor them. Instead of doing all the corner HSTs in grey with red, I did one each of grey with each color in my scheme of green, yellow, blue, and purple. Then instead of the long white borders, I chose to add long colored borders, again in the same color scheme. Placing the HST and long borders of the same color together on one end at each corner kind of blends it all together and makes it look like a ribbon changing color as it goes around the blocks.

Or not. That's what I'm seeing, you may see just some colored lines. Quilting, man. It's all in the eye of the beholder. But that's what I did for the first border.

The second border, the thin grey border. I left the same. I tend to have a lot of grey in my stash, because I use it as backgrounds. So I had enough to work with for that border.

The third border demanded I either go to the fabric store, which as we covered earlier wasn't happening for lack of time, or come up with a pieced border that would look like it belonged. As I'm better at doing the latter than spending time and money at crunch time, I dove back into the scrap bins to find two fabrics each in....say it with me now....green, yellow, blue, and purple! I think I may have you trained.


Made 16 HSTs out of my scraps and background, and turned one set of each color (if you don't know by now the colors, there is no hope for you) into a flying goose 4 1/2" x 8 1/2".

At risk of boring you to tears with this same picture AGAIN, I'm throwing it here one last time so that you can follow along without having to scroll up to look. I'm thinking of you. Really I am.

Also props to my neighbors Julie and Scott for giving me carte blanche to use their fence as a backdrop for photos.
Then I cut eight strips of background fabric 4 1/2" x 14 1/2" and sewed one to either end of the flying goose units. I sewed an HST to either end of these borders - check out the top border with the purple flying goose. It has a blue HST on the left and a yellow HST on the right. Then I could just add two of these borders to the sides, and throw grey cornerstones on the remaining two borders and smack them right onto the top and bottom.

"Smack." It's a quilting term.

Now, remember my purple situation with one of my blocks? Yeah, I'm over it. Yes, I still know which one it is. But at first glance, I doubt you do. And if you do, don't tell me. Moral of story - anything can blend if you throw enough variety of fabrics at it to deflect the viewer's eye.

I really enjoyed this project and I actually plan to finish it! Really I do! I think it will be a great springtime quilt to hang in my front hall, where I tend to put my seasonal ones. That means I have about 4 months to finish it, and I think I can squeeze it in.

Our prize today is one that I LOVE. I mean, LOVE beyond all reason love and use always and think the inventor is brilliant LOVE. The Clearly Perfect Angles by New Leaf Stitches.

If you have never experienced the sheer ecstasy of the CPA (and I'm not talking about your accountant), you NEED TO. You just do. I have forever thought that the most primitive method we quilters are still using in our work is drawing the $^&*$# corner to corner lines on squares that we are going to make into HSTs or flying geese or whatever. I mean OMG. It's the 21st century. We can do better. And you know what - Kari Carr DID! She invented this gizmo; it adheres to your machine with all sorts of cool guidelines so that you can always have a perfect 1/4" seam, always know where to place your block for sewing corner to corner or 1/4" away from corner to corner, can make 45 degree angles for foundation piecing or geese effortlessly, can join binding strips without fear of wonk (another quilting term)....I mean the list is long, people. It's the best $11 you can spend. I love it so much I'm going to be demo-ing it when I head to Tannersville PA next weekend to be the speaker at "Quilters Day Out" sponsored by Mountain Laurel Quilters' Guild. And I don't just demo anything, you know. I have to love it so much that I gush my face off. It makes for much more entertaining demo.

To enter the CPA giveaway, please comment below answering the following questions:

1. Have you been plugging along on Maggie's First Dance, and if so, how far have you gotten?
2. Favorite book you read recently. I know this has nothing to do with Maggie, but I read audible books while I quilt and I desperately need some new ideas.

I've really enjoyed getting to know so many of you over the last six months. I'm definitely going to miss our little monthly Monday morning chats. If you will too, please consider following me on my Facebook page, on IG (@evapaigequilts), or signing up for my newsletter. Any one of these places is a great way to be among the first to see where I'm going to be live and gushing about my favorite products, or to find out about cool projects I'm doing, like the Jingle Jumble Mini Mystery I have going right now. We're on week 3 today, but you can hop in at any time through 11/28 - and it's a "Mini" mystery, so you'll more than likely catch up quickly!

Thanks for sharing this time with me! I've enjoyed it! Hope to see you again soon!












75 comments:

rosemaryschild said...

I hope to keep plugging along on my quilt! Putting it together today. as for reading, been a while-read Tara Road by Maeve Benchy-wonderful reading!

tac73 said...

I am still working on early blocks. Love what you did for borders. Most recently re-read The Secret Garden.

Slice of Pi said...

I've enjoyed watching your progress on this! I've never tried the CPA, even though I make HSTs all the time. I'm still in the stone age and drawing lines... Books around here are usually about Thomas the Train and construction equipment!

pam said...

i haven't started yet because i'm working on quilts for Christmas presents. i love to read but too busy quilting!!

Barb Johnson said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Barb Johnson said...

About Maggie's First Dance... Let's just say that I had good intentions. 'Nuff said. And don't remind me what the road to hell is paved with. Reading - I am a big fan of the Sci-fi/Fantasy genre. I am anxiously awaiting the third book in Phillip Rothfuss' The Kingkiller Chronicle. So in the meantime, I think that I will re-read the Harry Potter series. With the new movie coming out, I want to reacquaint myself with that world!

Judy1522 said...

I have all my blocks finished and have just been waiting for the instructions for finishing it which I will do in the next couple of weeks. I love how you finished your quilt and the colors are beautiful. I am a fan of Adriana Trigiani books so I would recommend any of her books.

mumbird3 said...

I have to agree with Barb - I had good intentions too abut hopefully over the holidays I will have some time to work on my blocks!!!
I read rather than listen to audio books but I do have the TV on in the sewing room playing the new Outlander season 2 discs! :)
mumbird3(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Sorry to say, I have not started yet. I liked the color scheme that you used. It is so nice to see how different people do the same pattern but it looks different. Need to get material together. Book that I am reading now that I can't seem to put down is Bread and Wine by Shauna Niequist. A really heartwarming book.

Quilting Tangent said...

Nice changes to the design. Haven't started the quilt. 'The Mists of Avalon' (King Arthur) by Marion Zimmer Bradley. For adventure Clive Cussler's Dirk pitt series. 24Tangent@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I am ready for the borders. Currently I am reading A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner. It is very good

Anonymous said...

I haven't started Maggie's Block yet-still working on Moda's Bee-utiful blocks. So many projects, so little time. I'm not a "reader" as I sew during the day, whenever I can and try to embroider at night. I have three feline "helpers" that keep my company from time to time,including a new 3 mo old kitten. There's always something going on.
Rosemary

Geri A said...

I am several months behind. Sometimes life gets in the way!! I have enjoyed seeing all the different interpretations - fun stuff!! I will finish this winter - after the holidays!

Theresa West said...

Haven't started mine because I've been working on Christmas gifts. Can't wait to get started.

Mrs. Mannion said...

I am up to date right now, but have to finish a baby quilt this week for a new little girl, so it'll be a bit before this gets done.

I'd really recommend Sue Monk Kidd's The Invention of Wings. It's really good.

Vicki Mannion (it comes through as Mrs. Mannion because I set up a class blog with this address!) :)

Unknown said...

I haven't started yet on Maggie's First Dance but I am getting very excited seeing all the finished quilts. The last book I read was Room by Emma Donoghue. I want to watch the movie but wanted to read the book first.

Monica said...

I've been watching and downloading but not sewing.
Favorite book I haven't been reading lately.

Lauri said...

I've selected fabrics for Maggie's Last Dance! Really crusin', ha! Love the choices you made, really gets me thinking about options for my version.

I just finished Just One Look by Harlan Coben and Long Gone by Alafair Burke. Both were riveting IMO. My husband is hooked on Just One Look now and while he likes to read, he rarely slows down long enough to take a book in so that's high praise that he's forgoing other things to read it.

Also can recommend anything by Preston & Child.

JANET said...

I have only gotten one block done, as other projects jumped in front of the line! I did, however, make a copy of all the instructions, as suggested, so that I can come back later to continue on! Unfortunately, the only books I have read lately are recipe and quilt books. What happened to spare time??

Susan L. said...

Sadly, I haven’t started mine yet. I haven't read any books either. I mostly just read quilting magazines.

MJ said...

I have the applique blocks made the setting blocks cut out. Love the colours of your quilt, but love the colours of Jacquelynne's also!! Favourite book "All the Light We Cannot See".

Camille said...

I have not begun stitching yet. Book: I am currently listening to Dark Money. It is a non-fiction book about Charles and David Koch and their role in Republican Party politics.

Unknown said...

How am I plugging along? True confession time - haven't even started as I've been helping a single friend this year who has stage IV kidney cancer. I grocery shop for her, take her to all her appointments, and just listen to her frustrations dealing with with this dreaded disease.

Favorite book I've read this year: Marysvale by Jared Southwick. Given to me by youngest sister Oct. 30th. Book is signed by the author and just happens to be my sister's neighbor.

Susan said...

I haven't started the quilt blocks yet. Too much other stuff going on. I just finished reading 1000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I have also been reading Wendell Berry's books. I have finished "Nathan Coulter: A Novel", "Hannah Coulter", and am currently reading "Jabber Crow".

Joanna said...

I'm almost up to date, just have to sew my blocks together and then the borders. I also listen to audio books while I sew. Today I'm listening to Nevada Barr. I just finished reading a mystery by Catherine Lloyd.

Joyce Carter said...

I haven't started sewing on mine yet. I have too many other projects that I promised myself I would finish first. We will see how that goes. As for books, I read every night while hubby watches TY. I love reading anything by James Patterson,but I actually have just finished reading "The Hard Way" by Lee Child. I LOVED it--couldn't put it down.

Kathy E. said...

Beth, I really like the changes you made to this design to make it unique and in your own style. That's what makes quilting so much fun! Sadly, I did not follow along on this project. I just had too many things on my plate, but I have admired many of the quilts along the way! I am currently reading The Quickenning by MIchelle Hoover...it's a good one!

Cheryl said...

Love how your quilt top turned out! I've made all the applique blocks, but haven't been able to get to the plain blocks yet. As for a book, I just finished reading Between Heaven and Hollywood by David A. R. White (the guy behind PureFlix and the God's Not Dead movies). Awesome read--I read it twice! I highly recommend it.

Nancy J said...

I do like the ribbon effect on your border, I followed along, but did just the block itself with embroidery or thread stitching. Four have gone into making a fabric box, the others ( a friend did them as well ) are waiting to be pockets on bags. My book. a re-read of " The partner" by John Grisham.

Robin in MN said...

Have all my applique blocks done and have 4 of the 5 plain blocks put together. I just finished reading "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child". Not as good as the previous books, but you have to read it just to say you did!

Bubba and Nana said...

I haven't started yet but hopefully after the holidays. Haven't read much- I have been traveling

MissPat said...

Not into applique so I didn't do this QAL. But I love yours and I knew the purple block would be just fine.
Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache mysteries are great especially on audio. Last one is A Great Reckoning, but you should really start with the first one, Still Life.
You didn't mention the blog as a way to follow you. Does that mean you won't be continuing it. I knew you use the other social media much more, but I don't and I miss your sassiness.

Unknown said...

Well now I do feel like an under achiever. I have not started my quilt, nor have I had time to read any books lately. This year has been so busy full of many highs and lows. I hope that 2017 will see the beginning of my quilt (with all the inspiration of other peoples quilts), more reading of novels, and it will include a trip to Canada and Seattle from Australia in June.

Snoodles said...

Waaahhh! I just can't find the time to read any more. Sniffle. But I love how your finish turned out -- don't include me in the draw, I just hopped over (Ribbit) to tell you how awesome it looks!

Cathy L Wilson said...

I've saved all the info and it is first on my list to start after Christmas! I love how your version turned out and I think mine will be scrappy, too. Last good book I read was 11/22/63 by Stephen King, not scary and very interesting!

Donna said...

Great changes, and I hope to start soon, it has been great to watch everyone's progress and I have learned and will put all I have learned into the quilt. I have been reading books by PD James, great mysterys.

Unknown said...

I am ready to put on my borders but I need to decide if I want to change them up a little or keep to the plan. I am currently reading For a Few Demons More by Kim Harrison, a little fun and fantasy

Karen said...

I have been sewing along and just need to do my borders. I don't have any good book recommendations....love seeing all the finished productsđź’•

Sally said...

I love the purples in your quilt. I have the blocks printed and hope to start soon. I'm reading The Dressmaker by Posie (?) don't remember last name at the moment.

OhioLori said...

I have only started the first block :/ Life things happened round here..and now that I am back to sewing..Christmas gifts are in top priority mode! :D

Your quilt is Awesome! LOVE the scrappiness idea so much!! Thank you for chance to win your Give-a-way too! :D

I haven't read any new books ...but the Grangirlie & I are reading some Trixie Belden books :)

Gloria said...

I have been a wallflower at Maggie''s first dance, watching from the sidelines, vicariously enjoying everyone else's fun. As for a really good book, I just finished Christ Bohjalian's The Perfect Bind. Excellent and gripping. It was a book share over on Bernie's blog, Needle and Foot. I do love your quilt! cotten.gloria@gmail.com

Knittingdancer on Ravelry said...

I love Jennifer Chiaverini's books about Elm Creek Quilters and also her books about Mrs. Lincoln. I think I have read everyone of her books and enjoyed them all. I know that most if not all of them are on audio tapes.

Anita Jackson @ Domestic Felicity said...

Well, I've saved all of my patterns any way~ And bought fabrics. I like to wait until I get the whole pattern prior to starting usually. It bores me to tears when I have a project sitting for months. I tend not to like working on it that way! so now time to get started! I've been reading some mysteries~ I have no special likes but My American Patchwork & Quilting book has been turned through several times!

Karen said...

Not involved in Maggie's BOM, busy with Jingle Jumbo Mini Mystery and other projects.
Just finished Stella Bain by Anita Shreve,an author I love,backdrop of WWI,now starting Private Life by Jane Smiley in the 1800- WW2
Recently read The Excellent Lombards and At the Edge of the Orchard,was into apples at the time I guess.

Ok,well just printed out clue #3 and gonna get jiggy with it,tootalou

KMae Forshizzle

Unknown said...

I have not started the Maggie's BOM yet, because I have been working on another quilt BOM project and a crochet BOM project. I have enjoyed seeing the quilts and blocks that have been posted each month and am looking forward to starting this in a few months.

Unknown said...

1. I haven't been plugging away. I've been downloading patterns and ideas from all of you that are posting on this project. It has its own file on my computer for a to do project.
2. Reading - I read the entire Outlander series as well as the stand alone novels on minor characters and now I've watched the first 2 seasons (which are available on DVD) I suggest you watch these while sewing. I often do this. Also, many of the classics you can get as free audio books. I try to listen to these between light reading romances. It helps my brain not turn to mush LOL.

kathryngshaw@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Hi Beth. I'm loving the Jingle Jumble Mystery. Nope, I am not doing this BOM, I never heard of it until now. My favorite recent book ... anything by Wally Lamb. She's Come Undone is particularly good. I hope I win this tool, it sounds intriguing.

mangozz said...

I haven't started yet as I have just joined. I can't help you with book recommendations as I haven't read anything lately.

Unknown said...

Just getting started

MRose said...

Patterns printed - will sew this winter!

Unknown said...

Haven't started yet. The last book I read was "The Virgin of Small Plains", a mystery by Nancy Pickard.

Debbie Moxley said...

I haven't started yet. As far as reading my favorite author is Karen Kingsbury. Give her a try!

Unknown said...

Like the scrappy look. Hope to start my Maggie's Dance soon.

Anonymous said...

I have not started but have saved all the patterns for Maggie's First Dance, including pix of your and the other bloggers' blocks and quilts. I need them for inspiration!

I've gotten hooked on Donna Leon's Commissaario Brunetti novels (not sure they're on audio).

mgquilts said...

have several other quilts in the making so must save this for later on. ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE was a great read. Hubby is enjoying the most recent Sanders book of the Prey series.

TX quilter said...

I am collecting the patterns for now, I have several other quilts to finish before starting. I love your scrappy look. I just finished reading The Little Paris Bookshop, by Nina George. I highly recommend it.

JanetG said...

I got all enthusiastic, got the fabric and then a move happened. I'm still trying to figured out which box it is in lols

My most recent book is - The Embroiderer's Little Book of Hints and Tips
Stumpwork Masterclass by Alison Cole, I just love it, I thought I would just flick through but I've read it from cover to cover

mazl said...


Well.... I fear I am like so many others of you, I have printed out the patterns, cut out the fabric, including felted wools for the applique, they are very inspiring, but Christmas is fast approaching and; it has taken over my sewing room! Maggie is top of the list after the silly season. I have just finished reading 'Let me tell you a story' A memoir of a Wartime Childhood, from WW2. Written by Renata Calverley. So many compassionate people who helped this tiny little girl to survive during that terrible time.

Sumac said...

Haven't started yet as I'm in the middle of reorganizing my sewing space. Hope to start soon. Have been reading some sci-fi

Unknown said...

I haven't started either. BUT I have down;oaded everything and the printed file is in my sewing room......soon.
I'm taking an astrology course on audio.

Jeanne said...

I have not started, but have them downloaded . I also listen to books while I sew.I am Listening to The Valley by Helen Bryan right now.

elizajane said...

I got involved late joining Maggie's BOM so have not started , I have 2 quilts to finish before Christmas so it will be further down the list, I have just finished reading a series by Jessica Beck , the main female character runs a Donuts shop when she isn't solving mysteries (donut recipes are included), .

Marie said...

I decided to finish several UFO's first before starting Maggie's BOM. Currently I'm reading the 3rd book in the Sisters of Holmes County series by Wanda Brunstetter.

Monica said...

I've been following along by admiring everyone's work. I've only downloaded the patterns.

No time to read a book, maybe during the holidays.

Unknown said...

Technically I’ve finished Block 4 – but it was so far off when it was done that I need to take some of it apart and reassemble it.

I love cozy mysteries - they're quick and fun and usually make me laugh. Also, James Patterson's Women's Murder Club series is very good.

Jennifer said...

I'm still not started but have all the blocks. I'm looking forward to wrist surgery and PT afterward to make quilting possible. I hope to make it my "gotta get to it" incentive for the Physical Therapy carrot. I admire your quilt and how much you changed it to make it fit your personality. Thanks so much sharing. The most recent book I "heard" was A Handmaid's Tale. an old classic that I like to go back to now and again to make me happy to be where I am.

joolz said...

I'm just pulling fabric, but every time I see someone's I change my mind!

There is an amazing book called Love, Life & Elephants, which is the biography of Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick who raises orphan elephants in Kenya. I'm not a reader, much less biographies, but I've read this one 3 times!

Julie.mirdoch@shaw.ca

Unknown said...

Yes I am working on the BOM and just taking my time and enjoying it

Unknown said...

Haven't stated them yet, but I love them. Working on Christmas gifts now. I see this in my future. Last book I read was by Kate Collins. It was one of the Flower Shop mysteries. Fun light read before bed.

Unknown said...

Love your colors...so bright. I haven't started this but I think it will move up the list after the holidays. I just finished Snipped in the Bud by Kate Collins. Light reading before bed.

Unknown said...

I have the 1st 4 blocks done. I like your color combinations.

sam said...

Your quilt is awesome. love the color choices. I have not started yet as I have a quilt to finish for my daughter that is also a bom. I've been reading the Earlene Fowler series the Bennie Harper murder mysteries.

apple blossom said...

haven't started but love seeing progress of those that have.

Unknown said...

I bought the kit from Jacquelynne this time. I usually use my own colour schemes and like the fact there are others doing the same. Completed all the blocks etc just starting on joining it altogether then onto the quilting which I do myself. Usually plain lots of lines but with the new Westalee rulers I hope to improve. Would love to win a prize.

BillieBee (billiemick) said...

I just finished my borders.

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