Saturday, September 15, 2007

I worked on my African Quilt

While Jim worked on the window I spent the day working away on my African quilt.



I have a bit of a plan. I have made 5 - 12 inch blocks with the Dancing Mama's and then I have 11 - 12 inch blocks that are the black and African fabric. I was thinking that I would make just the 16 blocks. I will see how it looks up on the design wall when finished. I have only a small amount of the black fabric - that is my limitation right now.

Each Dancing Mama block is a little unique and put together differently - to equal 12 inches finished. I think that will give it a bit of a "funky" look. The other blocks are all the same. The African fabric is quite difficult to work with - it really stretches and moves around. No real straight edge or salvage - very loose weave.




And a couple of days ago the quilt shop had more African fabric - so I bought three more 1/2 metre pieces. I am not including this in my quilt though as I am pretty much finished cutting out my blocks and such.

And I also made a teddy bear yesterday. Picture to follow -- but I wasn't too happy with the pattern - it is much bigger than what I wanted. So I have not decide what I will do with it yet.

So all in all it was a good day -- but very quiet in blogland. Have a good weekend :)))

19 comments:

  1. I love the dancing mamas, since you first showed them. Seeing them as blocks and on next to the pieced blocks makes them even more wonderful!!!

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  2. The Dancing Mamas are great. When I had some soft loose weave fabric that I loved, I used the lightest weight iron on interfacing to stabilze it. That seemed to work well.

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  3. Your hard work looks fabulous, too. The Dancing Mamas are great.

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  4. Ciao, it is very nice.
    You say that is difficult to work, is it cotton or silk?

    Are you happy now for the windows?

    ciao ciao

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  5. That's one striking quilt Pam! Very nice and I love the dancing mamas .... cute.

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  6. Anonymous8:06 am

    Oooooh, your African quilt is going to be awsome, Pam ! You're really doing a GREAT job. Keep going, dear !

    Hugs & smiles,
    NADINE

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  7. It's so cool to see your progress on this quilt. It looks like it'w worth the effort even if the fabric is a little tricky, it's so unique and gorgeous. You're going to send it to me when you are done, right?? ;)

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  8. The window looks great - tell Jim congratulations. I hope he is able to keep up the good work.
    Your African quilt looks wonderful as well - in a very different way than the window. I think it is great that you are using the fabric already - mine is still sitting in the closet from several years ago. I like your setting you have chosen as well.

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  9. Your dancing mamas are so great! I usually don´t like african fabric for quilts but after seeing yours, I have changed my mind! The colours are so warm against the black. I am looking forward to seeing more of it. Take care.

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  10. pam! thank you for that very warm welcome! i am just loving being part of this weblog community. it seems that every quilter here has their own set of unique tricks, tools, and outlooks and i get to "eavesdrop" on all of them. how cool that someone in the ring is enjoying some of my musings too.

    by the way, did you ever make a top of those great orphan blocks from a few posts back?

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  11. Hi Pam,
    The African quilt looks fabulous- it is really funky looking. I know a friend of mine uses a variety of black tone on tones(other background colors too) in her backgrounds to add interest- I don't know if that would solve your problem with black or not, but I thought I would suggest it as an alternative.
    Your window is beautiful and so it your feather weight case- You are one talented family.
    Be well,
    Anna

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  12. Woooooohoooooo! So you're finally getting the window finished! lol Can I still come over and sit on those blue chairs and enjoy a bottle of wine? ;o) lol - Your dancing mamas are looking good! Have a great day!

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  13. Oh.... I am lovin' how that is coming together!

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  14. Wow!!!Fabulous indeed, I love these colors:)))

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  15. I love the dancing mamas, love the way this quilt is coming together.

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  16. Looking good Pam. Are you enjoying just sort of making it up as you go along?

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  17. I'm loveing the African quilt, especially the Dancing Mamas. I look forward to seeing it finished.

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  18. Oh, this quilt is just jiving along and love the bear, even though it was short for this earth.

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  19. Awesome! I love the African quilt! The funky touch is perfect.

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