Map Making

My school semester has ended, and now I have time to do some quilting projects. I started a quilt for my RV, the Trip Around the World quilt, back in January. Today, I started working on the back side of the quilt. It will be a map of the US with a RV and the title to my RV travel blog, Tootling Around. I was able to cut out twelve states today. Kansas has Toto as the fabric theme. I had just the right size piece of scrap fabric for pulling that one off! Texas of course gets the Stars and Stripes, while California theme is the Golden State.

It's fun looking through the scraps to decide what fabrics will represent the States. Some fabrics are the colors of the state flower or bird. Washington state is red since majority of apples come from that state. It will be interesting to see if I can continue to carry a theme of each state with the fabrics in my stash.

1080 Squares

Surprisingly, there are 1080 small squares! It didn't seem like I was making that many squares during construction and piecing. By using Bonnie Hunter's method for this scrappy Trip Around the World, this quilt top came together very quickly.

Next step is designing the back of the quilt. The back will not be constructed as quickly as the front since I'll be cutting out each of the 50 States. My classes start up next week; so, I will only be working on the back design during my free time, which will be weekends.

792 and Counting

My quilt in progress. There are presently 792 small squares. When complete, there will be 1080 small squares- unless I add another row. This quilt top is coming together much faster then I had expected.

The back side will take much longer since I will be cutting out each state to make a map of the US.

Travels and Maps

I started the new year off by working on a scrappy A Trip Around the World quilt.

My goal is to work on this quilt when I have some free time this spring semester. This project will most likely turn into a semester long quilt project since I'm taking three classes and working as a sub. Since classes don't start up for another two weeks, I have been busy with piecing this quilt top and subbing at the preschool. Luckily, the quilt blocks go together rather quickly and are fun to piece using my Two Spools. My present plan for the other side of this quilt is to design a map of the US along with a travel trailer by using the leftover scraps of fabric from the front of the quilt. And yes, this quilt will be used in my own travel trailer when finished.

Crabs Floating in the Tide

Yes, it has been awhile since my last posting. When I started this project, I thought I knew what direction I would go with making this quilt. Shortly after making a couple of the crabs, I realized I didn't want to copy the quilt that someone else made, the one I had posted in a previous post. I wanted to create some form of motion with the crabs across the quilt. Instead of making rows of crabs, I decided to cut the number of crabs to just five and position them heading in different directions.

Then, I couldn't think of how I wanted to do the quilting. I didn't want to do straight lines or lots of small circles. Sadly, the quilt sat for some time until I saw some other blogger's quilt that had been quilted with wavy lines. That motivated me into finishing the project. I found a cute flannel that I instantly loved and knew would work as the back of the quilt. Now, I not only have crabs, but also fish swimming in the tide.

Deformity Crab

I was pleased with the look of my mock-up crab pattern that I completed this week.

I made some adjustments to the legs since I was worried that the points of the legs would become blunted once the blocks were all sewn together.

In the process of making a template, I forgot to make the top of the legs wider.
So, my first crab's legs are too small. The crab's legs looked better in my mock-up. The alterations that I made to the claws still need adjustments. So, first crab was born with congenital abnormalities.

Playing with Design

I spent yesterday evening working on my design for the large crab quilt. I'm changing the look of the crabs for the quilt since I didn't like the representation of the crabs for this pattern.

I googled around to see how others created a crab pattern for their quilts. I found one that was getting closer to a crab look that I liked. So, I played around with that pattern. Here the legs are positioned with widest part of the leg at the base of the crab and thin out to a point, just as a crab's leg is formed.

And here the legs are positioned the opposite with the point to the base of the crab and widen out, which is similar to the look of the legs in the crab quilt above - which I find odd.

I took a poll at home. My husband and son agreed that the legs look better with the widest portion of the legs at the base of the crab with the points away. Now I need to finish sewing the pieces together to see the final look of this mock-up.

Catching Up!

This summer was so busy with trips: Pittsburgh, Houston, Japan, Houston, and Baltimore. It's nice to be back home, but the road trip to Houston has perked my interest in RVs and traveling across this beautiful country. I have spent many evenings not quilting, but researching RVs and reading blogs from RVers that are full-timers. It's fun reading their blogs. So, I have decided to start another blog called "Tootling Along". For now, I'll be posting places that I travel and research information on RVs.

I also spent one week preparing for a class. I was asked to teach the Interleave Quilt at a local quilt store, Wooden Gate Quilts. There were five people interested in learning the method. They couldn't figure out the directions; so, I was asked to help them out. Here is a photo of the one I used to demonstrate the technique and that I worked on during class. I still need to complete the binding. These are fun to make, but my interest has waned since making the large size graduation quilt for my daughter. So this is my last one.

My interests have moved onto making the crab themed quilts. Today, I pulled out three different red fabrics from my stash that will be used to make the crabs in the larger quilt with the off-white, or sand, background, shown in the previous blog post.

This project will take me numerous weeks to get it complete since I'm taking three online classes on child development this semester. I miss working with young children. The goal for now is to be an assistant teacher at a child care center. So, college studies come first and on weekends I will spend time on quilting projects and hiking around the Bay Area.

Maryland Crabs

Recently, I took a trip back home to visit my family in Maryland. While there, I went shopping at a lovely quilt store (Bear's Paws Fabrics) and purchased some fabrics that I can use for two different quilts that have a Maryland motto...

... Maryland is for Crabs.

Well, this trip home reminded me of a quilting project that is on my to do list.
For a number of years now, I have wanted to make this one quilt with a crab motif. The fabrics on the left will be used as the background for this pattern.

While the fabric with the newsprint will be used as the background in the Crab Twist pattern, Handcrafts by Jennifer.

This crab twist pattern and the newsprint fabric reminds me of eating blue crabs, which turn red from cooking. Marylanders always pick (eat) their crabs on top of a layers of newspapers that are used as the tablecloth/plate. How to eat Maryland crabs (I don't know this person, but he gives a quick lesson on eating blue crabs for those that wish to learn how):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUW6_CTZd9U

For now I leave you hunger for blue crabs, while I go off to quilt. Bon Appetit!

Life Comes to a Halt

Last week was a difficult week for my family. My mother-in-law past away rather quickly. She was admitted to the hospital on Thursday evening and died early Monday morning. She had been sharp and alert up until her last week of life. Her only complaint had been that she was slowing down, which is normal for an 89 year old.

This photo is one of my favorites of her since she looks so happy and relaxed. It was taken on my wedding day, 26 years ago. She is holding a wine bottle; and yet, she never drank. She was just being silly, which she would do from time to time, her playful side.

Last week was spent reflecting back on times spent with her. In Japan, there is a custom of setting up a memorial in the home. This is my memorial to her that I have set up in my home. She will truly be missed.

I had a difficult time focusing on finishing the scrappy Irish chain quilt for my bother, but I did get it done in time. My mind kept difting to my recent travel to Houston with my son. That trip rekindled my desire to travel in an RV around the US and Canada with my husband. My mother-in-law's death made me realize that my husband and I need to start camping again. So, I started reading blogs by RV travelers and researching on RV vans. I'm getting too old for tent camping. Plus, I just want see more of the country, and so many National Parks are there to be visited. The RV van may have to wait until son is through college, but the camping travels don't need to be postponed.

From scraps of fabrics, a quilt is made...from dreams and desires, adventures are formed...and so my journey continues on.