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!!

African Wax Print Quilt

This quilt is the first in a series made from African wax prints. I love the African vibe that comes from using these bold colorful prints with solid black. The triangles are pieced, but the prints provide most of the design punch. I like that eye-catching sunflower in the middle.

This quilt is available for purchase on Etsy. Four are listed now, and more coming soon.

African wax prints are available online from Africa and the US. Etsy is a good place to start collecting wax prints. Most of these fabrics are offered for sale in 1 yard and 6 yard pieces. Scraps and precuts are also available. 

Madeline's Ferris Wheel Quilt

This beautiful Ferris Wheel quilt top is the creation of Madeline Reese of  Rio Rancho, New Mexico. She's enjoying the casual approach to making these fans "by eye." Nice job, Madeline!

Click to see my pattern for Ferris Wheel. This is the fun, no-fuss way to make fan blocks. No paper piecing, no foundation. There are so many ways to use fans, including as corner blocks in borders. 

Riel Nason's Selvage Quilt Book

This stunning selvage quilt is the creation of author/quilter Riel Nason of Canada. Her book is Modern Selvage Quilting, published by C&T Publishing. 

All of her work is truly extraordinary! 

Elizabeth Park Block-of-the-Month

Visit The Quilt BOM to see the free pattern for this Elizabeth Park quilt block.

Each month there will be a new block that we are using at the Hearthside Quilters guild in Harwinton, CT. If any of these ideas inspire you, help yourself. 

Trumpet Vine Quilt Pattern

Just finished this quilt and pattern. It's fun to make and there are so many very different ways to use this block! I'm working on a series now. Scrap quilts are the best, aren't they? Take a look at the pattern here: Trumpet Vine Quilt Pattern. If you buy the pattern and don't love it, let me know and I'll issue a refund.  Intended as a wall quilt (47" x 54") but this bear looks pretty comfy there!

My New Portrait, You Can Get One Too!

Yes, that's me. I just had my portrait done. By Alexjob on Fiverr.com for $10. 

This just cracks me up. He's very talented and can put your headshot (or that of your pet) on a vintage oil painting image. You can have multiple people too. Great gift idea.

Take a look at Alexjob here. 

Brookside Quiltworks Exhibits my Quilts!

Brookside Quiltworks in South Egremont, Massachusetts is exhibiting 25 of my quilts until the end of August. There are downloadable patterns available for many of the quilts. Many quilts are available for sale too. This quilt shop offers 2,800 bolts of gorgeous fabric, plus tools, books, patterns, longarm quilting services, and lessons...That must be why they call it "Quiltworks," they have the works!

 L to R: Fandango, Blue Lagoon, and a Gee's Bend-style Retro Christmas quilt.

Winding Trails (center), and my sister Eileen Lovett's green Hummingbird quilt (draped on the table) which was the featured quilt for March in Curated Quilts' 2019 Calendar.

This Bourgoing Surrounded quilt made from silk dupioni, includes buttons, beads and hand embroidery.

Little Dolls quilt and Puzzle quilt. Owners Catherine and Bill Kane do a nice job arranging the exhibit. Their whole shop is a delight to visit. 

ONLINE Block-of-the-Month Program!

Visit The Quilt BOM for free Block-of-the-Month projects starting (now) September 2019-June 2020.

I'm designing the blocks to be fast and fun to make (nothing fussy), blocks that will make a nice quilt, and can surely be made from existing stash.

My guild, Hearthside Quilters, will be using this site for our BOM. Your guild is invited to use it too and hold the drawings at your meetings. See The Quilt BOM for details.

See some layout ideas below for this block. Click HERE to see more quilt patterns.

Giveaway Winner!

The winner of the sea urchin pincushion (see previous post below) is Wendy Caton Reed of Maine!

Thank you to everyone who helped promote my son's new Etsy shop: GriskaHandmade.

A tree recently fell on his workshop so he's not making any new products while repairs are underway. I'm glad to say that he wasn't in his workshop when the tree hit! 

Giveaway! Win a Sea Urchin Pincushion! And See My Sons

Win this colorful Sea Urchin Pincushion! 

I will choose a winner at random next Sunday August 4, 2019 from the Comments below.

To enter, go to www.etsy.com/shop/griskahandmade, or just click here. Take a look at my son Brian's brand new Etsy shop. He makes amazing knives and pipes by hand. Do some "favoriting," then come back here and leave a comment (enter the drawing). He's such a good guy, I'd like his shop to get some Internet love. 

Since many of us are moms, I'll share a pic of my sons when they were little. Brian's on the left, David's on the right. Cute, right? Now they're both 6'4" and have beards! Still cute tho.

P.S. I'll ship the pincushion anywhere.