Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Squirrel Confession--Variable Star Quilt


Welcome to another episode of quilting confessions: Squirrel Addition.  We all have them no matter what you call them, those little distractions that get in your head and eat at you until you make them and set them free.  I think my friend Sandra at mmmquilts says it best when she calls them DrEAMi Moments...Drop Everything And Make it.  You have to.  You cannot move on with your quilting and creative life until you set that beast free.

For me, sometimes a squirrel will live inside my head happily frolicking around, slowly eating away at my attention for weeks before I acknowledge it.  This particular squirrel was born on December 7th when the first episode of Craftsy and Angela Walter's The Midnight Quilt Show was released.  The Variable Star Quilt.


I could not get enough of those beautiful stars and the over the top Angela quilting!!  I wanted one.  Wanted to play around quilting one. But NO!  Too many unquilted UFO's.  Focus on quilting goals.  No new projects.  Period.

I knew I wanted to make use of patterns and pre-cuts I already own and decided to pull out three projects to ring in the new year with.

 
The Cotton + Steel FQ's were pulled to make Quilts Actually's Forging Steel, the bandanna FQ's were pulled to become Quilting Jetgirl's Bundle Buster and the random fabrics to the right to become Sew Fresh Quilt's Dog Gone Cute.

So what happened?  Well....those bandanna FQ's where happily busted to become a quilt top New Years Eve.


I will show you more of this one after it's quilted.  However, those C+S fabrics were still calling my name.  I could hear them in my sleep.  

A day or two later, Helen at Midget Gem Quilts invited me through Instagram to join her and @susangodfrey600 in their C+S quilt along.  All of us had the same Craftsy FQ bundle boxes and the idea was to make something, anything and share as we go.  OH HELL YEAH!!!  COUNT ME IN!

I only paused for a second when I grabbed the Dog Gone Cute background fabric and downloaded the free Variable Star Quilt Pattern from Craftsy...the squirrel was scratching harder.  I was officially out of control.

I carefully petted those fabrics, wanting to make sure I chose the correct ones.  I paired them up, repaired them up and finally decided on the ones I wanted to use. 

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:  When unfolding FQ's be prepared for anything.  I knew some of the fabrics where Halloween themed, but didn't think much about it.  I picked a nice tan-ish FQ with the prettiest lacy looking flowers on it.  I was talking to David as I was unfolding and ironing my fabrics.  As I unfolded this particular one, I gasped mid-sentence and jumped backward, fear in my eyes.  David, concerned, asked what was the matter??  I started laughing like a mad woman...well played Craftsy...well played.


Once it was completely unfolded there are little black spiders printed all over it; just so happens none showed up when it was folded in the box.  Guess those aren't flowers but webs.  Be careful...unfold with caution. 
 

With fabric sliced, stars formed in our living room.  I even dug out the portable design wall so I could view them as they came together.


And so I gave birth to my squirrel.  I can breath a bit.  It's all ready for me to quilt it but it knows it has to wait just a bit longer.  I feel like I can focus on other things now...like my list (which it has been added to).






Do you find yourself influenced by the power of squirrels from time to time (all the time)?  Do you find it hard to concentrate on projects because newer, prettier projects flirt for your attention?  Do you just WANT a distraction? 

 There is a party just for you.  Sandra will be hosting a monthly linky party at the end of every month dedicated to those DrEAMi moments that captivate us.  So if you have found yourself completely engrossed by something that you shouldn't have been working on, or distracted from other things, write a post and link up on January 28th.  It could be fabric, a pattern, or a technique that has you ignoring that list of "should be doing" stuff.  I guarantee you will be in good company.  Heck, you just might find your new squirrel.  Now where did I put that bag of peanuts?




Come join the party!  Today I'm linking up with DrEAMi LinkyLet's Bee Social and Midweek Makers.


27 comments:

QuiltShopGal said...

I fully understand and love your squirrel addiction and recent project. It has also caught my attention and you've certainly inspired me. I may be up all night cutting fabric to make this. Wonder if I have enough wine.

QuiltShopGal
www.quiltshopgal.com

newsurfiegirl said...

I had one of those moments yesterday, I found some beautiful fabric at the quilt shop that would go beautifully with a toy hummingbird pattern I had at home, so now I find myself helping my eight year old making one and although I finished the one I started yesterday I added two more to my WIP's today. (rolls eyes and LOL) Beautiful quilt/squirrel by the way. That Midnight Quilting show is going to be a dangerous one to watch I think, Angela is very funny. Might go check if I have missed any more episodes now!

Carole @ From My Carolina Home said...

OMG, I would have jumped too at that spider! Beautiful quilts. I think we all have those squirrel moments, LOL.

Stitchin At Home said...

I know all too well about those blasted squirrels just had one myself. Your top looks great Tish!

Mary Huey said...

Love the star quilt!! Great layout!

Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl said...

I can definitely relate to squirrel moments and I love how your quilt top came together. I hope you give yourself some time and permission to play when you quilt it. :)

Lisa J. said...

I think I have a head full of squirrels....and a back yard. I love the star quilt and it's got my squirrels thinking about design.

Jayne said...

What a fun linky! You know that happens all the time with us...how can we resist making a block here or a quilt there that captivate us?! I love your star quilt! I may have to bite on that one!!

Cathy said...

Love your cotton and steal star quilt! It's sooo pretty!

Mari said...

Those are some talented squirrels! :)

Susan said...

I know exactly what you're feeling - had this problem a year ago! Wrote about it in "Chasing Squirrels", http://quiltfabrication.blogspot.com/2015/02/chasing-squirrels.html.
I hadn't looked at that post till today - fun to see how those projects got finished up. I'll have to do a "Chasing Squirrels, Part 2", and link up on the 28th. Thanks for sharing!

Vicki in MN said...

Wow that spider looked real to me! But those designs look more like crocheted doilies than webs to me!! Your star quilt is gorgeous! Sometimes we just have to let the squirrels have their way:)

Cheryl said...

I can see why that star quilt pattern would not leave your head, your version is beautiful!!

Preeti said...

2017 is my year of squirrels. I refuse to make any plans this year just so that I am free to chase all those squirrels and DrEAMi moments. The spider fabric had me laughing. But I am awestruck by the neatness of your HST seams and the beauty of the stars. I hope no squirrels distract you from quilting it, because I am sure you will do an excellent job - as usual.
Hugs,
Preeti.

Lynne Stucke said...

I love the stars . . . . but what happened to the spiders?? Why didn't they get to play with the stars????? (lynnstck[at]yahoo.com)

Janice Holton said...

Oh boy, I am there right now. I was going to try NOT to buy any new fabric for a while but as I was taking stock of what I do have, I noticed most of it is very dated. Not much new and modern in there at all. So I said, let's just buy a few fat quarters every now and then to get some fresher stuff in your stash. A few? Yeah right. I bought a bunch of 1/2-yard pieces of pretty fabric that I have been dying to cut into. It's an illness.

Melva Nolan said...

Dreami... love it. Had a distraction this morning as I laid in bed listening to the gusting wind qnd knew I had to make the mug rug "muggamo". Lol.

JanineMarie said...

I love, love, love how your quilt looks in the snow, especially with the light showing the shadows of the seams. I'm squirrely, but in a different way. I get distracted by other people's projects. Instead of working on my own, I keep checking to see what everyone else is doing. I am currently ignoring three WIPs in favor of another project, though, so there is that. I would have freaked out when I unfolded that spider fabric. It must have been fun for the Craftsy people to package that.

Sue said...

I laughed at your spider moment!I've decided to go with the odd squirrel this year. Mostly its quilt alongs and the like that get me. One way to beat them into submission is to procrastinate for so long that it's too late to join - I'm thinking here of the 100 days 100 blocks challenge. At the last minute I decided to join but couldn't get hold of the book in time. No more squirrel.

Joy said...

I've been fighting with the squirrel ever since Christmas. I am just going to go with it, and then maybe I can get back on track. Last year I made a list with one UFO per month. I was successful in completing five... up to and including my May project. I'm happy with that. Perhaps if I just embrace the squirrel for now, I will be reenergized.

saroy said...

Ha -- I so understand you on the squirrel thing and am really susceptible to it myself! I also added the variable star quilt to my list after seeing that video. Love yours!

Anja @ Anja Quilts said...

I would have run screaming from the room if I saw that spider. LOL Squirrels get me all the time. I guess a linkup is a great idea, but squirrels are not going to go away.

Sandra Walker said...

Thank you dahhling for linking up for being the FIRST as you sew rightly should be ;-) to link up to my new party. I LOVE what you did with the C&S prints. I love the box I got of these but quite frankly "got nuttin'" (no squirrel pun intended) when it came to doing something with them all...but now I think I know! Your quilt is splendid, such perfect pairing you did. I know the quilting of it will be spectacular. From these comments it sounds like you and I are not the only ones with a squirrel problem....

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

Love your star quilt, the layout is great! And the C&S fabrics are perfect against the grey!

Cut&Alter said...

Loving these stars Tish! Love the concept of DrEAMi moments :)

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Believe it, Atlantic Highlands NJ Maid Service information said...

This is a beautiful quilt and I have added it to my list. Your tutorial is well written and I may just have to make a few blocks and create a couple of reversible pillowcases or covers! Thank you for sharing and have a great day!

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