I'm once again joining the Favourite Things Friday party at Quilting in My Pyjamas. Shay and I had an email conversation about the subject of black and white quilts recently, trading links and inspiration. It's something that's on both of our to-do lists.
Here are a few of my favorites, done by some highly creative quilters, from Flickr. As you can see, they're not all just black and white. Some have another color or two thrown in, just enough to make it pop, sing, or sizzle. I really like that idea.
1. Quilt Show in Portland, 2. Circle Applique Quilt Top, 3. "Which is Which", 4. The Geese are Free!, 5. Spider Web Doll Quilt, 6. Rett's Black and White Stringer, 7. T-Bright Spinners on Black and White, 8. Opera Quilt, 9. Half Moon DNP, 10. The Black and White Quilt
I also started a folder in my browser's bookmarks for black and white quilts, and here are links to a few of them. Remember, you can middle button click to open the link in a new page, or right-click and select "open new tab."
Snapshots Quilt, by Elizabeth Hartman
Planetarium Quilt, by Elizabeth Hartman
Snail Trail Mini Quilt
Striking Black and White Quilt
For the past few months, I have been collecting black and white fabrics for a quilt. I also bought a pattern but wasn't sure if it was the one. After overthinking the matter far too long, I realized I was approaching this as my one and only black and white quilt, not what was more likely to be the first of many black and white quilts that I may make. Perspective shifted, I cut some fabric, already.
This also seemed like a good time dust off Viv, my vintage Singer 301, to do the piecing. She does a great quarter-inch seam (as long as I don't drive over the line), and she really needed something to do besides just sit there looking all retro-sexy.
Here's a sneak peek at the layout. In the next post, I'll show you what I've gotten sewn together. I'm really liking it so far!
How about you? Have you made a black and white quilt? Feel free to share a link to one you've made or been inspired by elsewhere, if you'd like.
On Wednesday, I had a little free time on my hands.
First, I baked a batch of gluten- and dairy-free chocolate chip cookies, using this recipe. Thank Goddess for people like Karina, who so generously share their culinary artistry with food intolerant folks like me. With so many luscious recipes, who can feel deprived? These cookies rock!
Then I made good on a promise last week to provide Dolly with proper attire. I riffled through my vintage patterns and came up with this one from 1965.
View 4, since it's sleeveless -- and that petal shaped collar! Dolly is a rather delicate flower, after all.
I thought about using the serger for it but decided to do it up old school with my vintage Singer 301. That's the one I found at the thrift shop several months ago.
Meet Vivian. Viv for short.
I debated about naming my machines and came to the conclusion that it might be easier than saying "vintage Singer 301" over and over again. I am all about the shortcuts when they're useful, and also mnemonic devices. Think: "Vintage Viv."
Remember Viv from The Lucy Show? Played by Vivian Vance, the same actress who played Ethel Mertz in I Love Lucy. Viv was the perfect sidekick, initially trying to be the voice of reason but soon caught up in the crazy situation with Lucy just the same. My favorite episode is when Lucy and Viv put in a shower.
Confession: I did indeed love Lucy, but whenever she got herself into a pickle, my anxiety meter crept toward the red zone. Certainly, it was my own good-girl, perfectionist tendencies causing me to fret about how much Lucy was screwing up. (I was a preteen during this time.) Of course, that's what made the show hilarious, but I couldn't watch it without those little twinges of angst.
Back to sewing. Here is the blouse I whipped up for Dolly.
Now doesn't she look like she could bake you some cookies and try, unsuccessfully, to talk you out of your schemes?
If she had appendages, that is.
