Iceblossom

Thanks for the comments

Nan, if I were to do the Roman Stripe again I'd definitely make larger blocks with wider stripes, the top triangles are just sort of too tiny and lost in mine. I know the strip finished width on that one was 1", I think it's a 8?? inch block. I made the "strata" and cut triangles both directions, some were made from small odds and ends I made in a pyramid shape and then trimmed down. So maybe try a 2" strip (either cut or finished) and a 10" block. It's actually very versatile, I've seen the background used with a large scale juvenile print, bright primary dinosaurs I think it was with sort of rainbow blades of small scale prints. Plus, like any half-square shape, there are endless possibilities to arrange the squares just like with log cabin quilts.

If/when John's quilt is finished I have already given it to my husband who will either keep it for himself or give to his half brother. Half brother is just around 50 with serious health issues of his own, he just had I think it was a double bypass but in order to live, he's going to have to change his life. Hubby and I have both been dealing with our own issues, I've lost about 100 pounds over 7 years and have gone from uncontrolled diabetes over 350 glucose readings to one metformin a day, serious life style changes, and glucose around 105. Hubby has lost about 140 pounds now doing Keto, he is getting regular doctor checkups and scans along the way.

The Jerry Springer quilt I just laugh about and don't feel it's cursed. It will either be a random donation or there will be a good opportunity for it. And next time I will tell the hubby that there is a rule that says wedding gifts can be given the first year of the marriage...

Mousie

wow, you've given me a new way to look at my unfinished things.
I'm in the process of purging my home. I didn't mean to keep stuffing
things in the "junk" room and it was ok, right? It was for leftover stuff
that we use around here and gobs of medical pprs, warranties etc. that
I never got around to filing.
I've not promised my dh not to do it again.
I promised myself! All this so I can get back to my quilts that do have
stories...my stories...that were buried, but their time is coming.

Iceblossom

LOL, Pamar, the next round of unfinished top pictures will be the ones I had intended for my son. Who is now 30 and expecting his first and probably my only grandbaby in September. But that's what you get for hand-quilting!

So here's my bug jar top. I was very active on-line swapping fabrics around Y2K on mostly defunct or changed boards. The first swap I participated in resulted in these, must have been around 1998?? It was the first swap for many of us and after quite a bit of discussion and we decided on 10" squares so that everyone could fussy cut their particular size and it would cut well from a width of fabric. I finally put it together about 10 years ago but yeah... my son didn't have a twin bed any more and so I didn't feel a rush to finish.

I swapped a lot of 10" squares with a lot of people and have had to come up with ways to use it, and I still have lots of them left.

All the jars use the same tops. The shelves are wood grain planks that I fussy cut along the plank size. I added a couple of gold fish bowls, fish tanks, and baby food jars of bugs. Plus, the naughty geckos got out and are getting into mischief. I'm missing a close up shot of the spider and web in the top corner. I'm not the best housekeeper Besides, that's what the geckos are for!

I'm thinking of a tight tiny stipple on the speckled light blue background wall fabric. I'm not sure what to do with the jars. I had thought of simple kind of curved "hip" lines enough to hold them down, or emphasizing the bug shapes, like maybe a big moth or spider over the jar of little ones... This will be a play/use quilt for the grandbaby who will be a boy. I was sort of wanting a grand daughter to dress up but I guess if someone needs to dress like a fairy princess it can be me.

Edit: Apparently I haven't made binding for this one yet, I look at the binding as another opportunity to add fabric so am keeping my eyes and mind open.

bearisgray

I am enjoying the stories.

RobertaK1

How Fantastic the quilts and the stories. Keep them coming, I want to read all 20!

LindaMRB

I want to see all twenty, too!
I have 10% of what you have: 2 exactly, and I am counting...the days when we get moved and unpacked and I can get back at it!!
I love when a quilter does all kinds and varieties with different fabrics and colors!

Mousie

oh my gosh, IceBlossom! I have a dgd that has Aspbergers and have agonized for
so long on what kind of quilt to make for her.
She is very intelligent and particular. Seeing your bug quilt it just clicked! She has
Always loved bugs so much. Her YaYa bought her a bugbarn when she was little
and she was fascinated with it.
I Love that those little stinkers, the geckos got out. It's so perfect! <3

sue.ross.8782

Thanks for sharing the stories and the photos of the quilt tops. The second made me laugh out loud, and I'm still smiling as I write.

Iceblossom

Mousie, I hope you enjoy the idea even if it doesn't get made. As I looked for this spider picture, the more I like the idea of making some various large bug outlines, so I would use the same dragonfly for each jar with dragonflies, the same spider, etc. But my son was gifted and ADD and one of those kids... I had better make darn sure everything has the correct number of legs and wings and body parts.

I found the spider shot, it was on the camera somehow and not the card. It's two purchased puff balls and I made the web using a zigzag stitch on my little old vintage machine.

Edit: I made a design decision that I would just fuse down the geckos and that gradually over time and use they would disappear off the quilt. If I go the tight stipple route that will show the places they used to be. I sort of like how quilts age and change.

Grandma Peg

Great quilt tops and stories !