Hens, Chicks & Roosters Log Cabin

What's not to like about this subject matter? I continued working with my scraps from the previous post, creating more log cabin blocks. I've now run out of this fabric's particular motifs:

What to do with them...quilt for a bed? table-topper? apron? handbag? market bag? potholders? None of the blocks are the same size. I fussy-cut the motifs randomly rather than using a square template for each. What was I thinking?? They'll be an adventure to put together. Scrappy, scrappy.

I finished the bovine blocks from this same fabric:

You can see some sample lay-outs for them at this post: LOG CABIN COWS

Next up, pink pigs! They might demand pink and white, or pink and brown logs to surround them. What do you think?

Linking up with you at these bloggers:

                                               

Quilt Show Feature: Homemade Paper-Pieced Farm Quilt

I thoroughly enjoyed the Sisters Quilt Show (Oregon) on July 12. My strategy: start as soon as it begins in the morning, before it gets REALLY HOT and crowded, which is 9 a.m. officially, though I sometimes arrive a little before.

The creativity displayed throughout the town is like visiting an outdoor art show. Even my husband enjoys looking around for about an hour (then he checks out to a quiet place to read until I'm done). I grazed around the show with my sister and niece, marvelling at the ideas, skills, colors, patterns. 

One of the biggest highlights of the show this year was a special jewel that I almost didn't find. It had become very HOT, as usual, and I was tiring out. I knew that once we left, we wouldn't be returning that day, and it's just a one-day show. There was one corner that we hadn't looked closely at kiddy-corner to the fabric store (Stitchin' Post), so we wandered over. That's where we saw this:

With creator and designer: Lisa Wipf of Salem, Oregon

DETAILS, DETAILS, DETAILS!!

This creative woman paper-pieced every block. Not only paper-pieced, but she designed every one of them as well!! Then she personally quilted it!

See the hens with the farmer holding the bucket of feed in the center block, surrounded by hens??

The outermost border also features hens, in various poses and colors. Note the larger blocks featuring pigs (top left), goats (below pigs), and, even though it may be difficult to see clearly, to the right of the pigs is a woman behind the clothes she's hung on the line! Wow!!!
 

Notice the cow with the sunflower block (top left), sheep block with barn in background below that.

The detail in this particular block is incredible: There's a sunflower in the middle. To the right of it, in the same block, is a beehive. If you look REALLY CLOSELY, you'll see yellow with black center stripes which are paper-pieced tiny bees!!! Note the quilting design: cows, pigs, chickens, bunnies, sun & more.

On the back, she included some leftover random hens:

Here's a close-up of the woman hanging out the laundry, including quilts hung with clothespins! There's a few bees buzzing above the line as well. Notice the bird on the clothesline post on the right!!


Here's a close-up of the farmer:

All I can say is
WOW!!I'm so glad we persisted and saw Lisa's quilt! It made our day. I hope it makes yours, too!

"Works In Progress" Wednesday feature: Chicken-themed Table Runner

I almost forgot about WIP! My sister, Miss SewCraftyChick, reminded me this morning.

You already know I like hens. My sister shares my interest in all things chickens. She gifted me with new fabric kit for Christmas to make a table runner with CHICKENS! The reds also match our dining-room and will look lovely on the table. 

Close up of block

4 Log Cabin blocks

Diana invited me to drive north for the weekend to visit and attend, for our first time, the Portland Modern Quilt Guild's "Sew-In". We invited her 20 year old daughter and my niece Aubrey, who also loves to make lovely quilts, and spent time with other creative people ALL DAY!! What fun! Attendance was impressive, and sewing machines, irons, and conversation pleasantly filled the large room. I completed the Log Cabin Kit and now I will quilt the top.

 

Sister Diana and niece Aubrey at "Sew In"

I'm planning to attend my first local meeting of the Eugene Modern Quilt Guild tonight. I look forward to getting know know more creative people in my community as well.

Are you part of a guild or group that inspires you? Share your experiences!

CONTINUED....

I've finished free-motion quilting my table runner. I decided that since a log cabin is "boxy" and linear, it needed a wavy, flowing line of quilting:

Now I can use it :)

Snow & "WIP" Wednesday: Fish Handbag Next?

It's probably not news to anyone, but SNOW hit our area last Friday. This truly had to be a blast from the Arctic--we've been BELOW freezing for several days now! Very unusual for this part of Oregon. I've never experienced a truly powdery snow like this, so light to hold or shovel (until it melts & freezes underneath)--our snows are usually sopping wet when we get them. I guess that's what happens when the temp is in the single digits!!

Norm, the chicken herder

Our poor chick-girls remained "cooped-up" for days, fearing to tread in this white stuff, which happened to be freezing to walk on as well! So my dear husband tried to coax them out yesterday to cluck along the shoveled path in the brilliant sunshine. They weren't real happy about it.

I've done some sewing & dreaming while keeping warm in the house. I've collected some fabrics (just like you). I dream about making these particular fabrics into a handbag, like the "Chicken Bag" I featured on Nov. 18, 2013. I'll make some modifications to the pockets, the top and the arrangement of fabrics. Please don't think I only like chickens. I like fish, too! I can't wait!

It's hard to see the gray and whites, but they're lovely!

Meet 2 Pattern Designers: Sisters Barbara & Ann

I attended a "trunk show" for 2 sister designers at a favorite local quilt and fabric shop on Saturday, Piece by Piece. Barbara and Ann graciously allowed me to take some pictures, inadequate though they are, so that you can become acquainted, too! Their patterns are reasonably priced, creative, and perfect for gifts!

Vanilla House Designs

Meet Barbara Brunson whose whimsical and delightful patterns will help to make your environment sparkle!

Barbara modeling one of her apron designs.

She's been designing for 20 years!! I think it's time you checked out her blog: vanillahousetoday.blogspot.com , and her website: VanillaHouseDesigns.com. (Click on the titles.) 

Her dynamic display included: aprons (women, men, children--for every task, not just cooking!), cooking mitts, Christmas stockings, doll clothes, soft sculptures (useful in the sewing room!), table runners, portable ironing boards, bibs, pocket hanger, SATCHELS, home dec, and so much more!

My photo is an inadequate representation.

Check out her chic apron design that challenges symmetrical quilters and sewists: Off Sides (#P167). There's also the bling jewelry.

Olive Ann Designs

Notice her sample dresses featured with her patterns.

Meet Ann Blair who makes patterns for girls' clothes that will definitely highlight their vivacity, as well as other handy items for moms (and grandmothers)! 

I'm partial to the new Michael Miller chicken fabric
used in this "Classy Cargo" pattern (#OAD84)!

"Easy Peazy Pleats" pattern (#OAD83)

What inspired her to pursue this endeavor two years ago? It's a common refrain: she wanted to make cute clothes for her granddaughters, and the patterns available didn't fit! That's always disappointing! You're in for a treat when you go to OliveAnnDesigns.com (click on it) and see what she's got for you: dresses, tops, shorts, doll clothes, slings, duvet covers, crib comforters & rugs, changing mats, burp cloths, leggings, nursing shawls, baby hats, diaper covers, adult & child totes, and offers custom orders!

Check out her patterns with the giraffe appliques--very cute!! Yeah Ann!

Let me know what you think, & thanks for stopping by!

Chick Bag Complete!

Ta Da!

I am happy to announce that I have finished the hens & chick fabrics handbag, & enjoyed using it yesterday, even though it "didn't match my outfit," LOL. I only needed to make and add the handles to finish the project from several months ago. Isn't that the way it goes sometimes? It's very roomy inside, keeps its shape thanks to thick interfacing, & has many pockets. I added pockets to the inside as well as to each side of the outside. Can never have too many organizing pockets & pouches! I want to be forthcoming in admitting to you all that it's the fabrics, featuring my favorite "pets" (who produce eggs & entertainment as a bonus), that inspired this handbag. 

Here's what my real chick, "Dickens", looked like as a hatch-ling:

Ain't she sweet?!

Seeing she and her brothers hatched by mother "Skitters" became a very special memory that we were able to record with a camcorder (we couldn't see them crack out of the egg, but we did get to marvel at their first few days of taking a peek at the world from under the warm feathers of their mother). We couldn't keep her noisy & aggressive but BEAUTIFUL brothers as they came into their own at 3 months, so she is special (and the original intent: more egg-laying hens). Speaking of "Running Hen", she is the inspiration for the title of my blog.

"Works in Progress Wednesday"

Forest of Trees!

I find paper-piecing of quilt blocks intriguing. The detail in following the patterns can be aggravating since it's so easy to make a mistake: mis-positioning the piece of fabric, using a piece of fabric that ends up too small for the section, flipping the fabric to the wrong side, or....each error necessitating ripping it out or finding another piece of fabric. So why do I like doing it?, you may ask. I like a challenge, even if it gets me into trouble sometimes. I also appreciate the results.

I made these trees last year and have as yet to commit them to something. I'm thinking along the lines of placemats. With winter coming, and the holidays, trees seem appropriate for something.

Have you tried paper piecing? Do you like it? Share some of your "successes" with me (and all of us!). Thanks!

I'm getting some great suggestion on how to trim these trees. Thanks so much!

Top view of runner & quilting

Close up of quilting

   Holiday Twirl: Almost Done!

I thought "Holiday Twirl" table runner should have an encore, now that I've finished quilting it. I still need to do the binding, but I think it's cheerful, don't you?

Back view of runner & quilting

Gardening & Harvesting, the other interest

How about this morning's harvest as well? I planted the carrots in September so we'd have those sweet darlings to enjoy in the Fall.

Now it's time to check out fabric at the store since the local newspaper had a coupon for a shop I haven't been to yet. Maybe those paper-pieced trees will find some fabric to play with!

"Works in Progress" Wednesday!

My sister visited one weekend, with the full intent of sewing together. She brought a handbag pattern with her (Miranda Day Bag #123 by Lazy Girl Designs) and she talked me into making a handbag, too! We went to our favorite quilt shop in town (Piece By Piece) and bought FABRIC. We fell in love with it because if featured chickens! We can't help it if we love chickens. They kinda endear themselves to you...while producing beautiful eggs!

Produced by our 3 hens over three weeks! They're working girls!

I still have to complete mine by putting on the finishing touches, you know, handles, etc. So here's my "work in progress" for today, the "Chick Bag."

Why "Running Hen?"

Why “running hen?” Why do hens run? 

They run when they don’t want to miss out on something.

Living with my hens, I know what they’re after: FOOD! I know why they run to me: FOOD! I know why they fly across the yard to catch up with one of the other hens: FOOD! It’s quite simple really. I'd like to think they love me, but I'm on to them ;-)

Let me introduce you to my beautiful “girls” (affectionately known as “Chick-Girls”). 

This is "Skitters." Her name reflects her personality. If you try to get near her, she "skitters" away. Not an easy hen to catch! She has beautiful feathers. Truly she's a grand lady.

This is "Apricot." She was named by our daughter due to her coloring. She is the sweetheart of the little flock. She's a gentle friend to everybody. If you're lonely, outcast or picked on (by Skitters!!), she'll come alongside you. She'll act as the bridge and go-between for the two other hens who sometimes have trouble getting along. A docile little lady!

This is "Dickens." Can you guess how she achieved that name? She's the youngest of the flock and takes after her "mom", Skitters. Good luck trying to catch her!! Sometimes we find her over the fence in the neighbor's yard wondering how to get back. 

This is "Rosie the Riveter", riveting for her beauty. She was the queen of the flock, until she died :(  It's sad to lose great hens, and she was a great one!

What do hens have to do with creativity?

Glad you asked! They create eggs almost every day. They also create joy, interest, calm, and help to fertilize and clean up the bugs in the garden. Each has their own unique personality, and each knows its place in the pecking order. They're part of what inspires me!

I create with fabric, needles, thread, yarn, machine, buttons, trim, embroidery, and more. Be like the girls I've introduced you to and "don't miss out on something!"