Saturday, July 23, 2022

A Tsunami, a Festival, and Baptist Fans

I saw an intriguing quilt recently on Deonn Stott's blog, "Quiltscapes". Such a clever name for the quilt--Tsunami: A Giant Storm at Sea. And that is exactly what it is: a giant version of the beloved quilt pattern, Storm at Sea. You can see many variations of this quilt on Deonn's blog here. (The red/white/blue version would be great for Quilts of Valor.)

And here is my progress so far. These blocks are huge--the smallest block is the lavender/purple square-in-a-square. It is 8 1/2" unfinished. I've made quilts smaller than that!!  You will notice that only three blocks combine to make the entire quilt, and create the illusion of curves with only straight edges being sewn. Don't you love that in a quilt?


I am using Grunge "Seeing Stars" fabric line for this creation. So out of my wheelhouse. I was going to use batiks, but when I went fabric shopping with a friend last week, I realized none of the shops we were visiting carried batiks. So when I saw the colors I was hoping to find were all in this line, I snatched them up.
Eight years ago I foundation pieced a mini Storm at Sea quilt. Just yesterday, as I walked past the yardstick gallery outside my sewing room door where that mini hangs, I realized something. The colors I used then are exactly the colors I chose for this quilt--without consciously choosing to copy it.

Crazy, isn't it? I guess my mind goes to those colors when I think of a storm at sea.

And to get an idea of the size difference between these two projects, here they are on the design wall together.

Sorry for the poor lighting on this. This little quilt pretty much matches the size of the smallest block in Tsunami. 

So if you have always wanted to make a Storm at Sea quilt, but are not sure you would have the patience for all those little pieces, and diamond shapes, this may be the way to go.

Missouri Star Quilt Company has a tutorial for making the blocks, and they have partnered with Deonn to make a template to cut those diamonds. The pattern comes with a paper template, but I bought the template from MSQC, and I am not sorry. The links for the digital pattern, printed pattern, tutorial, and the acrylic template are all in Deonn's post linked in the first paragraph of this post.

You can see the template in this photo, with all of the fabric cut and ready to sew. Very easy to cut everything for this quilt.


On Thursday I had the opportunity to spend just a few hours at the Salt Lake City International Quilt Festival. I really enjoyed the large number of vintage quilts on display. There was a section of red/green quilts for a "Christmas In July" display. Another display titled "Out of the Blue" was almost entirely vintage blue and white quilts. And there was a display called "Pieces of the Past", that included a wide range of vintage quilts. There were several other displays, and I enjoyed them all, but those three were my favorites.

But the highlight of the festival for me was the opportunity to meet another blogger. Barbara Black (My Joyful Journey blog) works in the Education Office for the Quilt Festival, whether in Salt Lake City, Houston, or wherever they are. I was able to stop in, grab a hug, and chat for a while before going to enjoy the festival. It was such a treat!


Barbara was binding a quilt (Blueberry Hill) she had shared on her blog recently.


She has been teaching quilt making for many years, and is a concise, thorough teacher. She even teaches on cruises. This is the info on her next one. She also does teaching videos for The Quilt Show's BOM. I am in awe of her many talents!

I will be adding this meet-up to the tab above named accordingly (Blogger meet-ups).



On the actual quilting front, I am finally getting around to quilting the half-log cabin quilt I assembled after having shoulder surgery a few years back. I am using Barb's large Baptist Fan stencil. I had my quilt basted by my longarm quilter, and then I mark one row at a time using the stencil and a pounce pad. That way the marks haven't all rubbed away before I get to them.


Don't look too closely at the two rows I have already quilted. There is a multitude of wobbles and bobbles. I've had the stencil for a long time, but this is the first time I've used it. 

I'm quilting this on my HandiQuilter Sweet 16. No, I don't usually let the quilt hang down over the table as I work. I keep it rolled up in front of me. But when I stepped away to take the photo, it unrolled.


I am practicing the Baptist Fans on this quilt, because I want to use them on my Circa 1880 quilt, but I didn't want that to be the first time I had tried quilting that Baptist Fan pattern.

More glorious sunsets recently. Here is one of them.


I should be back in a week for the monthly mini post and a check in with Chooky's Churn Dash SAL (thanks for the spontaneous Zoom today, Chooky).


Until then, be creative, and be kind!

Janet O.


24 comments:

  1. Always loved a storm at sea quilt, but never attempted one. Glad you had a good time at the festival. The Baptist Fan looks great on your scrappy quilt. Clever having your longarmer baster it for you.

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  2. AWE, Jealous that you got to go see the SLC Festival! I have seen a few of the Quilts they had there. Deonn is sew fun, I got the template and pattern too from MSQC. Mine will be a winter project. too many other squirrels right now. Happy Pioneer Day! How was the traffic?

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  3. Hello Janet ! Your Storm at Sea quilt is fabulous.
    I saw lots of pictures about the Quilt show in Salt Lake City and the quilts were beautiful ! Lucky you !
    Congratulations on your quilting !! The stencil is large and practical and Baptist Fans is one of my favorite design !

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  4. Oh sorry... it was my comment just above ... !

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  5. glad you decided to "go big or go home"....LOL...very nice indeed...yes we all gravitate toward special colors...ooh that cruise is sooo tempting...i wouldn't be able to do the onshore excursions but the sailing and sewing are right up my alley...lol!

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  6. Love tsunami....... Seriously might need to make that as I like storm at sea but quicker to achieve that size.... So weird you ended up the same as the mini.......
    Goodluck with the quilting........ And lovely to catch up quickly......

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  7. What a great job on the LARGE storm at sea, Janet! Such a change for you (although same colors, which is interesting! I saw that you met up with Barbara Black and that looked great. So glad that you were able to get over to the show. Sounds. like it was amazing!
    Always love your sunset photos!! And your log cabin quilting project? Better you than me!! ;-)
    Big hugs,
    xxxx

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  8. Not sure why it says anonymous. This is Randy!!

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  9. I love the storm at sea pattern and plan to make a second of my own. You mini version is beautiful and I'm sure your giant will be too. Lovely that you got to meet up with a friend at the show. Have fun with your quilting.

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  10. Your Storm at Sea is just wonderful, how fun that you discovered the mini had the same color combo! I noticed NO bobbles in your Baptist fan quilting, it's looking great! I've quilted Baptist fans before but only by hand, so I consider you brave indeed. You have the most glorious sunsets. Thanks for sharing them with us.

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  11. Both storms at Sea are terrific! Funny how the colors are so similar.

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  12. Gorgeous storm at sea. Love the mini one, so cute. I did Google the pattern but deliberating about it as i really don't need another squirrel. :) Beautiful sunset.

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  13. How fun, Janet, thanks for the Tsunami shout-out! Your quilt is looking amazing! Oh, your little mini Storm at Sea is just adorable - I had to giggle that the entire quilt is the size of the smallest block in the Tsunami, and that the new one is the grown-up version of the little teensy baby quilt. I also had just a little time at Quilt Festival, and your favorite displays were my favorites as well! I was enthralled with the designs, the hand-piecing, the hand-quilting; who knew Trapunto was a thing in 1875? Awe-inspiring quilts!

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  14. I'm so glad you're feeling better .... that makes my heart happy! There was a patriotic storm at sea in the Miniature Quilts magazine I shared with you (you already had a copy), that intrigued me! Isn't it funny how sometimes a particular color pallete makes a design pop for you?! I'm so tickled you got to meet Barbara (but jealous that she got to meet you—LOL!)!! Your sunset skies are always so beautiful! :)

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  15. Janet tus tormentas en el mar son impresionantes.
    Es uno de mis favoritos, hice este edredón en verde, vivo orilla del mar Cantábrico y sus aguas son bravas y verdes mi color favorito.

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  16. I love the color combos you've used for your storms at sea! How fun to meet a fellow blogger. I will have to check out Barbara's blog. I love using that baptist fan stencil from Barb V and have used it many times. It is such a great overall quilting motif.

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  17. Wonderful choices of fabrics. This is going to be so beautiful. So fun that your mini is in the same color scheme. I had forgotten about the local show. Glad you were able to come down and attend. The baptist fan quilting pattern looks great on your quilt.

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  18. I've always wanted to make a storm at sea quilt. Yours is going to be beautiful! :0)

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  19. I was so shocked to see you working with these giant pieces! LOL. And then to see your mini match the colors of your new Storm at Sea! It made me smile.

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  20. Wow! Love seeing your latest Storm at Sea in comparison to your mini! How funny that the colors are nearly the same. But I also tend to gravitate toward colors I like and use often. Barb's fan stencil looks great on your Half Log Cabin quilt. You get the most amazing sunsets--absolutely breathtaking!

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  21. Isn't it interesting how some colors seem just perfect for some quilt blocks/patterns no matter the size. I also find it amazing that sharp corners, depending on placement, can give the impression of curves. Your little quilt is beautiful and I'm sure your big one will be, too. It's so unusual to see you making big quilts, Janet!
    How fun that you were able to meet Barbara and visit the quilt festival. That's a great photo of both of you. (Love your jumper.)
    I love your log cabin quilt. The wobbles won't matter after washing and drying, not with this beauty.
    It's interesting to me how different sunsets and sunrises look. You've got a great clear view to see such brilliant sunsets. What a great gift at the end of a day.

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  22. Both your Storm are beautiful, had a giggle over you choosing the same colours. Love that pattern and the Baptist fan quilting pattern is great too, good to be using something you have had for a while. Your Half Log Cabin is beautiful too. Gorgeous sunset.

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  23. I had missed this post somehow!
    I usually use a walking foot to machine quilt my fans, but yours look great from here.
    That quilt sure is a beauty.
    Love your Storm at Sea too. I made a paper pieced mini years ago. The large one is wonderful in those colors!

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  24. Fun post! Glad you enjoyed festival.

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