Sunday, April 15, 2007

A Sudden Trip up the Mountain

Remember how yesterday I was going to spend the day reading and resting?

Well, I'd just finished uploading that very blog entry when the doorbell and telephone rang simultaneously. I ran downstairs to get the door, leaving the telephone call to the answering machine, and as I was signing for the bin of mail which the post office had held for us while we were in Tahoe, from the kitchen I heard the caller leaving her message on the machine.

"Diane, did you remember that today is the Moon over the Mountain class at Fabrications? We're wondering if you're on your way."

Yikes!

I signed up for that class some months ago, and I was quite excited because I've wanted to learn to make the pieced version of that stunning block for a long time. And even though I wrote the class dates on the calendar... well, let's just say I don't always remember to look at the calendar.

I dashed for the phone, called the store, and let them know that I'd be late but I'd be there. Good thing Fabrication is in my town, just 5 minutes away.

I flung decent clothes on, then rushed to my sewing room to gather supplies. But what fabric to bring? How to pick fabric for a project in mere moments? My eyes landed on a bin of fabric under my sewing table.



This was the assortment of batiks I'd used for my Desert Twilight quilt a few months ago, and I'd still not gotten around to putting it away. Hmmm, good moon and mountain colors. I seized that, grabbed my tool box of sewing supplies (still unpacked from the ranch retreat) and away I went. See? Yet another example of how procrastination pays off.

Turns out I arrived at class just 30 minutes after it had started. Not bad. I apologized profusely, was assured I hadn't missed anything vital, collected my templates, and set to work designing. By 3:30, I'd laid out the pieces for 9 blocks, like so:



And this afternoon, while Roger was off running errands and Caroline and her buddy Emma were engrossed in the tadpoles they've collected from the creek across the street, I started piecing a few of the blocks.



Look! Matching arcs, and a tidy y-seam where the mountain peak meets the moon!



The trick, I think, is to just take one's time. It's sort of a meditative thing.



What an unexpected turn of events for the weekend. I'll do these 9 blocks, but then I'll have to think about what colors I'd use to actually PLAN this.

10 comments :

  1. Anonymous5:48 PM

    It is beautiful, but better you than me!! Can't wait to see you next week.

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  2. Anonymous6:16 PM

    I like the Moon over Mountain block very much but, short of fusing, I don't think there is any shortcut way to achieve the desired effect. I made my Taranaki Solstice quilt using a pattern and blind machine applique technique from The Stitchin' Post in Oregon.

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  3. I love the colours you used. They fit with the block and theme really well. Sometimes you can get really good results when you don't overthink the whole colour planning process.

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  4. I don't know, sometimes that rush turns out wonderfully. In this case, it really did. I'd play (of course, always play) but for something quick -- the choices were inspired!

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  5. The rush to the class was well worth it. What wonderful blocks and the fabrics are just right.

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  6. Gorgeous color choices, they really make the block work its magic. I've always wanted to do that block, I'm glad you got to take the class!

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  7. Fabrications! You are a local quilter! I'm taking the same class with Judy in July and am a bit flummoxed on how to bring the right fabrics without purchasing a ton to try out! Any hints?

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  8. Thank you for sharing all of the great photos! I'm painting an 8'x8' quilt block for Pennsylvania's Quilt Heritage Trail, and our Grange chose this pattern. I needed inspiration to make it more "special" than just a circle, mountain triangle, and background. This shows me how I can work 6 different shades into the block. *Very* helpful! :-)

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  9. Can you share the pattern you used to make this version of Moon over the Mountain? I have been looking for a pieced version like this, instead of applique.
    Thanks!

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  10. I absolutely love this quilt and would love to create one of my own. I cannot seem to find a pattern for templates. Is it possible for you to share the pattern?
    Thanks. Jackie Hinton gjhinton25@yahoo.com

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