Russell Hill Ranch: Life is good.

What a wonderful day so far. We got some rain and the temps have dropped. We may just be getting more rain later on as well. So June was a busy month for me, house sitting for several people. I used that time away from home, working on designing some small quilt patterns. I am on the schedule to teach 6 small quilt classes. They meet once a month at One Quilt Place in Fredericksburg and during that month they finish a new little quilt. Can't do that with a full size quilt. I ran the classes, when it was Pocketful Of Poseys, for 2 years. Those classes were not my own designs but someone else's. Now the class is mine and I can do what I want. It is exciting to look for patterns and work on them so that they are a 2" or 4" or 6" block. I have two done and writing the directions is a challenge. Not only that, what you thought was a correct measurement wasn't quite so when you work up the pattern in fabric. It may look good on paper but you don't know if it's right until you make the first block. It is truly a challenge and something I am enjoying.

Here is my first pattern.

Can you tell if it is a small quilt or a full size one?

If not then good.

Besides working on my small quilt patterns I
am working on some other projects that are regular size quilt designs. I am taking two workshops through the Veriens Quilt Guild. This month we are doing a Christmas Quilt. It can be a couch quilt or tree skirt. I'm doing it as a couch quilt. Next month a national teacher is coming and she is from Kansas Troubles. It too is a winter quilt and I want to do mine in flannel. Now that I want to do flannel I can't find what I want. I do have some in my stash so I am hoping I can find what I need to fill in. Now for the big project. I have decided to do this fantastic quilt that will take 18 months to get all the pattern. Now does that mean I get it done in 18 months Noooooooooooooo! but it will take that long to get all the parts. It is a quilt that was made in the 1790's. What is different is that most quilts of the 1700's where whole cloth, but this one is all applique. Therefore the 18 monhs. I was happy to uncover a box of fabric that someone sent me years ago as part of a secret friend. The fabric is very reminiscent of the 1700's and there is a lot of it as well. From what I have gathered it was a scrappy quilt which is perfect. The original was done on linen but I will be using cotton. I haven't purchased my fabric but my plan is to get a subtle marble in an unbleached muslin color.

Here is part of what I am doing.

This is what I have done so far.

I have one more quilt I plan to work on this summer and it is such a simple design. I wish I could have had this for the 4th of July but I will have it done for next year. The fabric is a Jelly Roll from one of my favorite online quilt shops. She also has some great fabric for my reenacting wardrobe. 5 Bucks A Yard and she is a Texas shop so I am shopping locally.
I am thinking how wonderful this might be in Holiday colors. My mind is spinning.

I finally got my Bailey quilting machine working and I have done two queen size quilts on it. Each one is getting better. My first one was for my brother and sister in law but the photos I took are MIA. The second one was a graduation quilt for Miss Margaret Nabors. By the time it was delivered she had been out of high school for two years. Now I have some quilt tops that date back some 30 years but they aren't gifts. I should never let things go like that. My brother's quilt was a Christmas gift but it was only a year and a few months over due.