Category Archives: Broken Blocks

100 day Challenge, Broken Blocks, Hand work, Trees

New Beginnings

Hello and Happy New Year,

I enjoyed the holidays, but now I am into the new things this year requires.    Last Saturday was the first full moon of the year- a Wolf Moon.

I was busy over the last three weeks and I did finish up the muffler I was crocheting.  I have worn it with all my shoveling of late.  The double quilt is done and I am working on a second with that broken block.  The Tree project is going forward nicely and I am on day 8 of the SAQA 100 day challenge.    My job for yesterday was to go and pick up my work form the QAQ show at the Schweinfurth.  I also dropped of the entries for Sharon, Marty and myself for the Both Ends of the Rainbow Show.   Then I stopped at Bett Library and dropped off three works for their Cabin Fever Quilt show that opens in Feb.      So on to the progress report.

Progress Report: Polk Berries    This quilt is 29″ w X 41.5″ l.   I finished it just after I posted last in December.   The base squares are my Broken Block pattern.  I really like how they work.

The berries are made from ribbon my friend Marilyn gave me in the spring.    I really like how it came out.

 

 

 

 

 

Graffiti      This is actually a shot of the back of this quilt .   The front is done of course and it is made  with the broken block pattern that I created a last year.   I finished this yesterday and will based and quilt it next.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jetsam   I can not let this technique go, especially when the Joyous Embroidery class is starting a send run.  This shot is about one third of the work.

 

 

Tree Project   This tree square was completed just before Christmas.

 

 

 

 

 I was so inspired I moved right along to do a second Christmas tree with more jeweled beads.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I moved on to doing a bare tree that I finished just yesterday.     I want to try a more abstract applique tree next.

 

 

 

 

 

Pink Crystals    I am quilting this project now and will finish this week I hope.   This is my second attempt at this block .    I still have a lot to learn here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

SAQA 100 days   This year for this challenge I decided to do all the suggested projects in the  “Fabric Embellishing  The Basics and Beyond ” book.   I purchased the book in 2010 and never really focused on it so here goes.    I am on day  8 and so far I am only building backgrounds as the  book suggests.

 

It has been enjoyable to review process like fabric weaving  and crazy quilt squares as starters.  A new one for me is fabric scrunching.   That process involves wetting the fabric and twisting it and allowing it do dry that way.   I am still waiting for it to dry out so I can unwrap it .

 

I am feeling happy about next year and hope you are as well.

Keep Creating

Carol

Broken Blocks, Hand work, Ice on Vincent, Lap Quilts, Tide Pools, Trees

Year’s End

Hello,

This morning when I was laying in bed after awakening, I realized this would be my las post for 2025.  I will not be posting on Christmas day- a week from now as I will be with my family.  And the following Thru is Jan 1of 2026, again a holiday and no posting.  Do enjoy  both of those  holidays in your own fashion.  My thoughts went on to do a bit of a review of this year.  It has been and an outstanding one as for me and my art works.     I have created  45 pieces , 25 of them my lap quilts that I have given away.  I have enjoyed working on them and I will continue that tradition as it has a helpful purpose.    The most of the other  works are arI quilts.  I  have enjoyed lots of recognition  this year.

I started last January with the La Moyne show with my fellow artists Sharon and Victoria.     There were four works  of mine  in that show.    This was followed by the Betts Branch Library  Cabin Fever Quilt show and  my first quilt talk for the year.       Then in June I had my Solo show for  Associated  Arts at the Manlius Library.     That show included 20 works all of the composite stitched works that I have be pursing the last few years.

  I have realized this year that I have been inching in this direction for a long time, but   I seemed to need a bit of encouragement in that form- it came from  the on line class Joyful Embroidery, with Fleur Woods for me  to see that.

My next be event was having my work accepted into the  SAQA Fire Competition.     It  will travel with that exabit for four years and visit many museums and shows across the world.

 

In the spring I did a trunk show for the Thumbstall Quilt Guild doing a history of my work.( this work was in that display)

 

 

 

I did a second trunk show for the Marcellus Modern Quilt Guild titled “Were do Ideas Come From”,  where I talked about inspiration. “Ice on Vincent” was a part of that talk.

 

Then my Green Tide piece won Best of show at Assonated Artists in Sept.  ( The only full shot I have of this work has too many pixels, for the program to accept, and   I seem to have deleted  all the smaller versions. )

 

 

 

 

 

The run of successes continued with my piece for Contrast  the SAQA New York- New Jersey Regional show,” Plastic Silverware. ”  That was in Rochester in the early fall and was in The View at Old Forge.   It will be in several other shows and end in the Genesee Valley show next year.

 

My work “California Burning- the Victorian ” was also a part of the Quilts Unlimited show at  Old Forge.

 

The work” My Year” was accepted in the Q=A=Q show at the Schweinfurth and is hanging there now and will be up until  Jan 6, 2026.

Sunday ,the 14, I did my last Trunk Show for this year.  It was at the Schweinfurth and my theme was based on the  fact that a fellow quilter, after seeing ” My Year”- said,” I didn’t know you did handwork. ”   All the pieces in the talk had handwork in them.   There were 19 pieces in this presentation.

 

 

To my delight one of my friends is purchasing this work after seeing it in my talk.  It has been a bumper year for me and I will be hard press to keep that up.   But I have enjoy the recognition.

Progress Report: Flotsam Jetsam    This work  is 24″ X 18″.  I continue to enjoy creating these Conclamant Reliefs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Handwork    This work is starting from leftover and cut off pieces so it too is a Jetsam piece.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Linda’s Lap # 26/25  This lap quilt grew of of a bag of cast off shirts from my friend Linda.   I will pass it back to her when I am done.  It is enjoyable work as it is so very colorful.

 

 

Double Quilt   I am doing the binding on this work now.   I am about half done and I am sure I will finish it soon.

 

 

 

 

 

Muffler     I try to put in five plus rows  in  every day on this piece.  I have 20 inches at this point.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tree Project # 3     I thought that I was done with this work , but when I shot it this morning I thought it needs more.  A bird perhaps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tree Project 4   I am enjoying doing this Christmas tree a lot.   I have an idea for  second one too.

Broken Blocks    I cut ten inch blocks from this run of fabric for my next Broken Blocks experiment.  They were part of a pack that the creator thought went together- I can sort of see it, but I would never have selected them on my own.    I am trying to stretch myself.

 

 

 

Crystal Blocks#2  I pulled these fabrics to use with a second quilt using the block pattern I created.  This time I will do a traditional setting where I put the same color in the same location in each block.

 

 

Snowmen    I made these little pins to cheer folks up after the holidays when I see them again.

 

 

It has been a wonderful year and I look forward to more creative work in 2026.  May your holidays be full of good cheer and may you make some wonderful memories.  Until next time –

Keep Creating

Carol

Broken Blocks, Daily Practice, Hand work, Lap Quilts, Scrap Happy Quilts

Snow

  Hello,

We are deep in snow here in upstate New York.     It just keeps falling form the gray sky.   The pine tree shown here was just a little six inch twig when  I planted it 25 years ago.   Now I wish it was not so close to the others as I  fear it will become distorted as it grows taller.    Not a lot I can do about that now, except enjoy its  growing beauty.

Snow kept Sharon and I home on the first of Dec, but when we  finally went to Old Forge to get our quilts on Monday, it was glorious.  The sky was an amazing blue and the snow covered landscape was beautiful.    The whether caused the cancelation of two other events for me this week, but I did make it to the Christmas Concert that my Daughter  was in on Tue.   ( she is the smiling one in the back)    My packages are wrapped and I am doing correspondence  now.   It is the season of renewing connections for me.

  Progress Report: Polk Berries    This is the first quilt using  Broken Blocks  as the background for the work.   I have appliqued down all the berries now.  They area made from old ribbon that my friend Marilyn gave me last spring.

 

 

 

Double Quilt   I finished assembling this side of the  double quilt.  It is quilted to the batting.   Yesterday I pin basted the broken block top to the other side.  Now I will quilt it through all the layers .   Not sure what will happen as is always true of experiments.   I will report next week .

 

Scarp Happy  This work is all assembled now and the boarders are on.  I have done the machine step as far as binding is concerned.   Hopefully I will begin the hand work there this week too.

 

 

 

Tree Project- 2 Birch Tree  I thought I was done with this block, but in looking at it this morning, I am not so sure.   I think I will let it be for the time being.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tree Project -3 Dead Tree

This  is the newest tree project.   I am slowly working on the accompanying pine threes here.

 

Flotsam and Jetsam   I think I am nearing the end of add on’s for  this project.   I will spend time looking this week and then make my decision.

 

 

 

 

 Lap 26/25   I am at the lay out of the parts stage of this work.  It will be a bright one.

 

I hope everyone is enjoying the  holidays.

 

Carol

 

Broken Blocks, Hand work, Lap Quilts, Plants, Scrap Happy Quilts, Trees

December Full Moon

Hello,

Tonight is a the full moon and it is what is called a Cold Moon.   It is also the last full moon of this year.  The next full moon is in the first week in January.   I have always been fascinated by the moon and check the sky almost every night.

I hope everyone had a pleasant holiday.   I went to Joyce’s talk at the Schweinfurth   last week.  She did a good job showing her diverse approach to the fiber world.

 

This is a shot of her many baskets.

Winter is in full swing here in central NY and due to a lot  snow storm,  we put off my trip with Sharon to Old Forge to pick up our work.   We will try again on Monday.

 

Progress Report:   Crystal Blocks  This quilt is 38.5 X 38.5.  I started this at the Sisterhood Retreat in Oct.  After a false start and a rework of the block design this is the finished piece.

 

 

I am thinking I may do the block a second time with different emphasis.

 

 

 

Double Quilt    I have now finished the second side of this piece.  It in based to the batting and I am now ready to move on to the next step.

 

 

 

 

 

New Lap  A friend gave me a bag full of her old cotton shirts and I have decided to use it as the jump off for my next lap quilt.

 

 

 

Tree Serries- Block 1   I completed this first block and I have decided it takes more than a week to do the job.   These blocks are bigger so  a years worth of projects will probably do the trick.

 

 

Tree Serries-  Birch Tree    This is the second square for this project. I want to add some interest on the ground and it will be complete.

 

 

 

Black Capped Chickadees   I have started adding berries to this work.  Stitch circles is slow for me.

 

 

Broken Block- Polk Berries  This is what I want to build on top of the second Broken Block series.  I started this one at the Fall retreat at the Schweinfurth.

 

 

 

 

Scarp Happy  All the rows are added to the quilt now and I am ready to begin the boarders.   It is all made from left over blocks so it it a bit random.

 

It is a  busy time of year, but I hope to get into the studio a bit every day or so.

Enjoy the season.

Carol

Birds, Biweekly tree challenge, Black Capped Chickadees, Broken Blocks, Hand work, Lap Quilts, Sisterhood of the Scissors, Thread Painting, Trees

Holidays Beginning

Hello,

Here it is a week before Thanksgiving already.   I will not be posting next week due to the time I will be spending with my family.  I hope you to enjoy the holiday.

All the trees but the Oaks have shed their leaves in our area.  That has sure opened up how far one can see.     Across the park and into deep ravines the dark fingers of trees reach out, but one can see beyond them .   Leaves still run down the street in front of us as we walk and the squirrels  scold form their branches, but it remains a  beautiful time of year, epically if the sun is out.

The week end was spent at the Schweinfurth’s Fall Retreat.  It was a fun time with lots of old friends.     Emily and Susan discovered that they were both wearing variations on black and brown sweaters first thing on Friday Morning.

 

 

 

 

Emily worked on this  colorful  project  and  nearly completed   the  top.

 

 

 

 

Susan did some great color play with her blocks too.

 

 

 

 

Sharon was a whorl wind and  did three  projects.    This is just a start.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Victoria worked on several projects too.   I really like this little dress.

 

 

 

 

 

Marty really played with color with these wonderful strips of silk.   She assured me this is not the final layout

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jeanette worked on a bed quilt wedding gift.    She got is half done.    It’s a beauty!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deb was busy making fabric bags for Christmas gifts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nancy put together a photo transfer image that she had taken.    Six panels here.   She was not sure how she would quilt it.   I  think that is a big challenge.

 

 

Donna did hand quilting on this beautiful  old   long cabin  project.

 

 

 

Joyce worked on three different things.  This was the last.  I can hardly wait to see what she does with this one.

 

 

Ann did a lot of handwork and was thinking about a second jellyfish quilt like this little work.

 

 

 

We decided on the Sisterhood  Challenge too.   There are three parts.

1.some of the fabric Susan selected and gave us at the retreat has to be a part of it.

2.  some glitz needs to be a part of the work

3. Some handwork needs to be included.

This work from the  QAQ  show fits two of the rules for  this challenge, so there ott to be lots of unique stuff in the future.

 

Victoria is doing a paper for Social Art on James Castle on Tue.   I am on the committee to do table decorations for that event.   Here is my start on my  mimic of one of his works.      Only two more to go.

 

 

 

 

Progress Report: Lap 24/25    I am working on the binding of this piece now I am sure it will be finished soon.

 

 

 

 

 

Lap 25/25   I used a lot of my altered fabrics in this top for the next lap quilt.  It is ready for pin basting.

 

   

 

 

 

Crystals   I am now quilting this pieces.  It is slow going as I am trying to do a different type of pattern in each section of the block.

 

 

 

Tree Series # 1   I didn’t put in as much time on this project as I intended this week.   All the distant trees are appliqued and I am working on the big close up one.   Then it will be time for branches and trunks.

 

 

 

 

Flotsam and Jetsam  I am slowly working around the outside of this work.   It is filling in nicely all be it slowly.

 

 

 

Polk Weed      I made a base using my broken block style for the background for this quilt.  I have faced and turned the berries( the purple half circle at the top is one).   I ordered some beautiful fuchsia  silk from Linda Salitrinski  for the steams.  It came today, so I can move forward.

 

 

Black Capped Chickadees   I did the thread painting of the birds at the retreat.   Then yesterday I washed them out and built the background.    I am still moving the birds around and have just about decided the third one is not necessary    I plan to add more berries to the limbs .

  Handwork pillow   I started this work in Florida before the pandemic.   It has been my pick up : only when every thing else is done for a long time.   Now I only need to stuff it.

 

Have a pleasant Thanksgiving.

Carol