Erin Underwood Quilts

Been working all week on this  one! The blocks are 12″ finished and yes – that is 24 fabrics coming together in the centers. Batiks worked best as they are flatter and more sturdy. Lots of pressing too! I’m thinking I may have to augment the centers with a decorative button or beadwork as a few of the intersections are just not as pretty as they could be.  But overall, I’m pleased. Yet another one of my 15 degree fan patterns that will be coming in May 2012. I think I’ll call it Graphic Fans…

Looks like I just might become one of those ladies who have cat fur all over her quilts!

They spent most of the afternoon here beside me – occasionally Jack, the striped one, would get up and try to chase the sewing machine needle but safety prevailed and he got booted out of the sewing room at every attempt.  Meanwhile, they are filling up my “leaders and enders” piles with lots of fur!

As I look at this picture all blown up on the internet, I suppose I should be concerned about all the “stuff” hanging around my work space. Rest assured, it all comes in handy! The blue, pink and purple fan blocks are coming together – maybe by tomorrow afternoon….

New class – fun feathers! I’ve worked all day on the class preparation and I think I’ve got a pretty good class set up. It premiers on Sunday at Bear’s Paw.

I’ll have to admit it was a bit hard to get all the typing and drawing of feathers completed since one of the kittens, Jack, has discovered that the computer screen is a fascinating thing to play with. All sorts of things move around on it! I’ll have to admit that perhaps the computer is a bit better place to for a kitty to hang around than his choice of entertainment last night!

At least the parts weren’t moving! And as you can see, he soon tired of that activity and moved to other places. If you look closely, you can see him trying to entice a cohort in crime to join him!

I am busily quilting away on this quilt – having a great time working a feather and pebbles fill into the background around the fans when I realize that its a bit crowded around my machine!

Someone keeps playing with my toes and someone else is absolutely fascinated with the toe player!

Its a new pattern to accompany my new ruler coming out with Creative Grids at Spring Market. I am particulary enamored with this quilt. Lots of paper-piecing geese but then NO curved piecing or applique when the background is constructed with my new ruler! Still needs the pattern writing completed and then quilted but for now – I’m off on a new project for the ruler.

Here’s what I’ll be working with…

I was in Bear’s Paw Quilt Shop this morning and was awestruck by their rendition of this free pattern by Moda. The trees are sewn into the seams and the pinwheels are also folded into the seams making everything 3-D. Cheryl, who created the Bear’s Paw version, also added little beaded rosettes at the pinwheel centers for a little sparkle. (It also hides a myriad of piecing snafus!) – not that Cheryl had any but I’m just saying…

Any way, I located a site for the free patterns – its Hancock’s of Paducah! Click HERE to get a copy for yourself. The picture really doesn’t do it justice.

It suffices to say I really was inspired by this lovely quilt and plan to make one for myself. It would also be great quilt for an block exchange!

As I sit here in my slightly chilly house this morning, I think about all the things I have to do this week and all the things that are going to get in the way of doing those things.  I’m multi-tasking right now – updating my blog and printing patterns! Its not as easy as it sounds…

And I’m prepping for a class this morning – teaching Fusible Machine Applique with my Maryland on My Mind Pattern at My Favorite Quilt Shop here in Elkton.

Then there is the green and black quilt hanging over my shoulder that just keeps going on and on. Not to mention that I trimmed one of them wrong and have to remake at least a portion if not all of the block!!! Don’t you just hate when that happens! I could have sworn I measured two or even three times but still messed up. I’m blaming it on the ruler slipping! However, it is my plan to have all the blocks ready to go by this evening or tomorrow evening – see how I give myself some slack… last week the deadline was Friday evening. I’m flexible.

Note the organized and dust free workspace – I added “rearranging and cleaning my studio” to my list last week and was able to get it done on Sunday with the help of my handy and ever patient husband who can re-wire and re-hang on a moments notice! I’m still struggling with getting everything to fit into this space and provide enough storage and work space to be productive – or so I tell myself. It could just be all the rain making me sluggish and unproductive. I’d like to think that I am being VERY productive – its just taking longer than I thought!

After the Green and Black Geese are finished, there’s pattern writing and quilting and more piecing of more tops! All of this is leading up to a big debut! But more about that later.

I really meant to just blog about another Art Quilt Show with the Fiber Artisans Group I belong to. We are displaying is a Physical Therapy Office for their grand opening next week. I’ve attached the announcement and am pleased to see my Serene Green Quilt is one of the highlighted quilts. Its open to the public so hopefully I’ll see some of you local quilt lovers there!

Physio Art Opening flyer