New Pattern: Meraki

 

Meraki is a Greek word that refers to the creativity and love that we put into things we make. 

This quilt takes a lot of sewing, but it goes together fast because the method is "liberated" and there's not much measuring required. Scrap quilts are the best, right? Especially when we're sheltering in place.

See the Meraki pattern here.

New Pattern: Town Square!

This quilt has two variations of the log cabin block separated by a nice saw tooth border. A piano key outer border adds a little elbow room for a light and airy vibe. This pattern isn't fussy when it comes to measuring. Gwen Marston's liberated quilting principles apply here.

View the pattern here. Immediate download, no waiting.

Scrap quilts are perfect for this stay-at-home year, aren't they? We quilters are so smart to have stashed away plenty of fabric for a time like this! (I have about 10 years worth!) 

Stay safe out there! xoxo

New Quilt Pattern: Stepping Stones

 

See the Stepping Stones quilt pattern.

Here are a few variations to show you the versatility of this block. 

Post your version on Instagram using #steppingstonesquilt. 

New Scrap Quilt Pattern: Cactus Rose

 

Quarantined at home? Start creating this easy scrap quilt now: 

Cactus Rose Quilt Pattern download.

Autumn Maple Leaves Face Mask

 

Welcome to October! Who knew we'd still be wearing masks in October? But it looks like this will be the case for a while yet. Let's make the best of it with interesting masks like this autumn maple leaf design. If you're a redhead, this is a no-brainer. Comfy 3 layer mask will be your favorite.

See more about this mask here.

Do you Pin? I'd love it if you'd Pin this.  :)

Sakura Cherry Blossoms Face Mask

 

This gorgeous fabric by Moda is called Sakura, which means cherry blossoms in Japanese.

I think it makes a stunning face mask because it looks like rosy cheeks. 

I love the color and the soft flower petals. 

This was a purchase yesterday at my favorite quilt shop: The Quilted Ewe in New Hartford, CT. 

To see more about this mask on Etsy, click here.

New Black and White Toile Face Mask

 

Toile is such a classic look. For a face mask? Who's to say. I like this one. I wear a lot of black and this will go with everything. I just finished making this. Take a look in my Etsy shop: Toile Face Mask. 

If you'd Pin this for me, I'd appreciate it! 💖

New Quilt Pattern: Fair and Square, A Scrap Quilt

 

Scrap quilts are perfect for sheltering in place because you already have the ingredients in your stash. That was so smart of us to stock up on fabrics over the years for a time like this! I've been wanting to make a quilt using my collection of "low volume" prints. This pattern is easier than it looks. 

Here's a link to the pattern in my Etsy shop: Fair and Square quilt pattern. 

The pattern is available for download at the moment of purchase by clicking on "Find Files." 

Start creating now!

Use #fairandsquarequilt to show us your version of this quilt!

I'm on Instagram @karengriska.

New Buffalo Plaid Face Mask

 Did you know that the buffalo plaid was designed 150 years ago by an employee of the Woolrich Woolen Mills? And it has become such a classic. It reminds me of autumn days spent outside raking leaves. But now this mask will be a favorite when we're indoors this winter too. I hope so because I bought a boatload of this fabric for masks. Haha. If I'm wrong, it will look good in a quilt (or two)!

See it here: Buffalo Plaid Mask.

Urban Batik Face Mask

URBAN BATIK is a new face mask in my Etsy shop. I think the fabric design looks like city lights. You can see it here. I found this gem at The Quilted Ewe in New Hartford, CT. Batiks are so mice to work with, and they have a nice dense weave too.

 

New Face Mask for Lawyers, Judges, Magistrates, Legal Assistants...

Just listed today: Scales of Justice face mask for lawyers, judges, magistrates, legal assistants, etc.  Perfect for office or court. Available for purchase here. 

Made from 3 layers of fine quality quilter's cotton fabric. Because there are 3 layers, you won't need to bother with filters which may shift or bunch up. Less hassle and expense too.

Adjustable elastic ear loops make for a perfect fit. Slide the stopper beads to the right spot; they won't shift during use.

Gentle but effective nose wire prevents gaps (and steaming up of glasses). Make it just right, you won't even know it's there.

Hand wash and lay flat to dry for best results. 

Made in my home quilt studio. No smoking, no pets, lots of hand-washing. Fast free shipping.

See more at: www.etsy.com/shop/karengriskaquilts 

New Feature: Adjustable Elastic Ear Loops

Adding this little stopper-bead to the elastic ear loops is such a great idea. Now my masks can fit every size. The elastic is 1/4" wide and the bead is tiny, so it was tricky threading it through that little hole. The best solution was using a little metal crochet hook. It sounds so simple, but I tried everything before figuring this out! :) 

So if you're making masks, maybe give this a try.

Or visit my Etsy shop.

Forest Chandelier in Italy

This is an installation in Italy by John Grade called "Reservoir." He made glass cups and hung them from a net. When they catch the rain they glisten. See more pics and info here. How beautiful!

Follow John Grade on Instagram @johngradestudio.

Elaine Seaman's Fabulous Pine Burr Quilt!

This stunning Pine Burr quilt is the creation of Elaine Seaman (Lakeside Quilters, Standish, Maine). 

This isn't an easy quilt to make. You need an adventurous spirit and Elaine has it! Nice work!

Here's what Elaine says about her quilt:

 I never make the same thing twice and this caught my eye for a challenge. You inspire those of us on a mission to step out of the quilting box. 😃 I hang them in my small hair salon so that the non perfectionists in the quilting world know they can try anything that catches their eye. You caught mine !

If you'd like to see the pattern for this quilt, click here: Pine Burr Quilt Pattern.

Victoria Findlay Wolfe's Sharp Stripe Fabric Makes a Stunning Mask

I love the color and design of Victoria Findlay Wolfe's Sharp Stripe fabric. If Jackie O. was sailing off the Cape today, she'd be wearing this mask, don't you think? It's a nice combination of classic and modern. Wait, you don't need to wear a mask when you're sailing! 

See more about this mask on Etsy.

American Flag Face Mask

Will we be getting out to celebrate Memorial Day and the 4th of July? 

Small picnics with a few people spread apart? Probably.

We will be sporting these patriotic masks when we go out, which isn't often.

See them in my Etsy shop: American flag face mask. 

I hope the situation improves soon and people someday wonder what this thing is. 

Best wishes to you all. 

Modern Style Face Mask

I'm working on refining a collection of masks that I'm selling on Etsy. We're going to be wearing masks for a while, so it might as well be fun, right? There will be times that we don't want to wear a disposable strictly utilitarian mask. I like this one because it's fresh and modern, kind of artsy, and doesn't introduce lots of new colors to my outfit. 

The back side is white so it's reversible. It has a nose wire. It's washable, but I wouldn't subject it to the high heat of machines. Hand washing will make it last longer. Three layers of cotton fabric provide extra filtration.

So I've been looking at mask making videos to get ideas for improvements. Do you like ties? Or do you prefer elastic? Any input/suggestions would be appreciated.

The masks shown below were made from Kaffe Fasset fabric for Mother's Day. Only one left from the whole bunch.

Face Mask Messages

What message does face mask wearing convey? I used to wonder when I saw Asian people wearing masks in public whether they were sick and not wanting to contaminate others, or if they were trying to avoid disease, maybe due to an already compromised immune system. Or both. 

Do we mask-wearers come across as considerate of others? Afraid of others? Just following the rules? Are we saying "Back off!" This Love mask invites social interaction. At least it says "Hi, there's a person in here, behind this mask." 

This mask wearing thing will take some getting used to. My mask fabric choices are developing every day. I'll settle on a favorite, then I'll want to make one for a friend, relative or customer, and I'll go in a whole new direction. 

See the current batch here. Any thoughts? Do you prefer ties or elastic? Prints or solids? Darks or lights?  Stripes? Rag rugs?

This mask tickles my fancy. It looks like a rag rug, but it's a digitally printed fabric. It looks so realistic. I didn't include it in my store because I thought it might appear that I don't understand the point of masks. Oh well.

Still Making Masks

I don't even know how many masks I've made so far. First ones for my DIL'S hospital, then family and friends, then to sell on Etsy. My skills have improved. The bias ties take time. (They're cut on the straight of the grain, but I use a bias tape making device for these skinny things.) I ordered elastic a month ago, but it still hasn't arrived. Everyone wants elastic and it's sold out everywhere. My sister is a nurse and she insists that ties are more comfortable than elastic; I hope she's right. It gives an old fashioned M.A.S.H. vibe. I like this shirting, shown above. Light color for summer, and not too jarring with most outfits...considering that you're wearing a big mask. So, okay. Jarring.

After this mask phase, I'm really wanting to make a crumb quilt. Or two. :)

 Stay safe.

Making Face Masks

I started making face masks to donate to my daughter-in-law's hospital in New London, CT. Now making for friends and family. And just listed some on my Etsy shop and they're selling like hotcakes. If you have time, and a fabric stash (duh and duh!) consider selling some on Etsy.

This pretty fabric was designed by Jennifer Paganelli who lives in CT. I think it's a good choice for a mask because it's good quality fabric, and the color is like rosy cheeks.

See my listing here.

A Chuckle For You

Heard some advice on the radio yesterday, it

said to have inner peace, that we should always

finish things we start, and we all could use more

calm in our lives. I looked through my house to

find things that I'd started and hadn't finished, so I

finished off a bottle of shiraz, a bottle of whisky, a

boddle of Baileys, a buttle of wum, tha mainder of

Valiumun srciptuns, an a box a choclitz. Yu haf

no idee how fablusly karm I fele rite now. Sned

htis to all who nede inner peas, an telum u luvum

an to bee hapee wile in de insulation.

Welcome Spring!

I hope you and your loved ones are safe and doing well. If you are a medical person or doing another essential job you probably don't have time to read this blog, but we really appreciate you! Thank you for getting out there and keeping our country going! Big thanks.

No these flowers are not from my garden (yeah, right). I found them on Google. We actually have snow on the ground, and not much color anywhere, except in my quilt room. But I can almost smell these bright cheery daffodils.

So, virtual hugs to you. Stay safe. I hope you get to enjoy some creative quilting time. :)

Connecticut Army National Guard bringing personal protective equipment to a hospital in CT. 

Susan Gardner's Surprise Pinwheel Blocks

Susan Gardner was making the Bunting quilt pattern when she saw that her scraps could easily be made into cute little pinwheels! Nice work, Susan! :)

Improv Tumbler Wall Quilt from African Wax Prints

This is one of my recent quilts in a series made with African wax prints, an improv tumbler design with a solid khaki (Kona) background. I source the fabrics on Etsy.com from sellers in Africa, the US and the UK. Buying a scrap bundle now and then adds even more variety to my collection.  Wax prints are a little bit shiny and stiff, but soften with washing. The fabrics come with large stickers attached. Sometimes it's hard to get the stickers off, and then there's the adhesive to deal with. So I just cut around the sticker if it's a tough case. JoAnn has started carrying similar prints in cotton (not wax) for three times the price ($30). They are found in the apparel section of the store.

Interestingly, African wax prints are made primarily in Holland. 

The quilt measures 55" x 65." It's available for purchase. 

Fifty-Nine Empty Spools in 2019!

I save my emptied thread spools and count them at year end. This year clocked 59 spools, compared to the usual 20! Increased machine quilting is the main reason. It was all Coats & Clarks Dual Duty, the least expensive choice. I've been thinking of trying fancier threads. Do you have a preference? 

I know how unscientific this measurement is. But it's kinda fun anyway. 

Wishing you all a very happy new year!!