Binding Thoughts

I've just finished the binding on the red, white and blue quilt. Let me clarify that! I've finished the sewing machine part, I still need to turn and hand stitch it. I don't mind doing binding the way I used to. I hated trying to get the two sides to match beautifully and not be big bump. I've found the answer to nice joining of the beginning and end of the binding.

Are you a Quiltville.com fan? I am. I've done several quilts from there and Bonnie Hunter has the BEST method for meeting up the beginning and end of binding. Go to Quiltville. That is a direct link to Bonnie's tips on binding. I actually do my piecing of binding about the same. But, my, oh, my I was thrilled with her instructions to join the beginning and end. For the first few times I had to have pictures right by me. But, I've done it so many times now I've got it down.

If that is something you struggle with take a look at it. Then hunt around the site. She has some great quilts and hints.

Happy quilting and finishing!

New Years Eve Mystery Is Coming

Notice something new in the sidebar? Yep, I've got a new button advertising the upcoming New Year's Eve Mystery on Fabricholics Annonymous yahoo group. You can join the group until Dec. 15th and then it will be closed until Feb. 1. We'd love to have you join us on this mystery.

Ann usually designs our mysteries -- in the past two a year from her. Here are two that I could find pictures of. I believe I was a tester on this one. It is actually a top without borders but I guess I haven't taken a photo of it. I have more of the light blue bumble bee fabric to use as borders but I am trying to force the grey into a little border and I don't think I have enough of that. I should pull it out and finish it.

This was Ann's nickel quilt. It started with 5" squares. I have finished this one and I use it as a bed runner. (that would be a quilt at the bottom of my bed.) I liked this one so much that I have been making these squares for a while. I hope to put another one together for charity. And, hum, same block as the RWB on the post before, I think.

I have ignored Ruthie too long this morning. It is time to finish that quilt off. I have a few miscellaneous blocks I want to finish and some quilts I need to send off to people.

Happy Quilting All!

What's on Ruthie Today

Here's what's on Ruthie today. She's been getting a work out this last week or so.

Today I was working on the red, white and blue quilt made by the ladies of Stash_Quilters on yahoo groups. It was going great until I ran out of the bobbin thread. I wound another bobbin and then couldn't get it balanced right. I wonder what I did to the bobbin to cause the problem. I was getting frustrated so decided to wait until Friday to give it another try.

Monday night at the Mt. Laurel Quilt Guild meeting we learned how to make Moravian stars. This is made from strips of paper and basic folds and tucks. Luckily there were a couple of people helping cause it took me a bit to get this figured out. And, I have enough to make one or two more stars. And, I have directions, with pictures. I'll keep you posted if I ever get another one done!

Happy Quilting All.

Photo Upload Working Now

This is the charity quilt I did Tuesday. I think the stippling looks fine ... did I overlap that spot above the star? Hum, maybe just a close fit.

Here's the one Sharon did. That is actually the same lime green.

Here's more of the one Sharon quilted on Ruthie. At least hers has some of that lime green in the hello kitty fabric. The one I did had NO lime green except the solid.

These were both flannel quilts and really quilted up nicely.

Are you working on the Bunny Hill A Tisket, A Tasket block of the month? I am. If you remember I started late. And, I've been neglecting them recently. Today I worked on a block at Wednesday quilters. It is almost done... and when it is I'll have 5 blocks done. Hum, I'm only 6 blocks behind! Hey, that isn't too bad, is it? Of course, some that I still have to do have a LOT of pieces to them. I'll keep plugging away on them. They will be done sometime.

I'm off to read a bit and then to dreamland. Happy Quilting All!

Another Week Almost Gone

Where did my daily blogging time go to? I haven't blogged daily for a whole week in ages. I guess I am getting busier, or playing more games (have you played Bejeweled on Facebook yet?) or reading a lot. Well, and the most obvious is quilting a lot. And over the last few days I have been quilting and piecing a lot.

Sharon arrived Thursday afternoon with no problems. I left her to do my library volunteer time but did get back a little earlier than planned. Friday we hit the studio pretty early -- well 10 am or so is early for me! She decided to start a scrap quilt and wanted to raid my scraps. Yee Haw! Stuff out the door...until I realized the biggest piece she needed was about 2 1/2". She worked, I cleaned up my space. Nothing like having entertainment while I put stuff away. I still had fabrics out since the middle of the summer. I kept piling little bits and pieces up for Sharon to cut what she wanted. It was nearly 5 pm when we stopped. We were tired and hungry. My infamous watch did it again -- I lost an hour as it said it was around 4 pm. I should have listened to my stomach.

Saturday we worked on Ruthie. I had started to quilt a twin charity quilt using a panto. Sharon did a few rows and then went back up to the studio while I finished it. Then we loaded a baby quilt -- cute flannel Christmas prints. Sharon freehand quilted the whole thing Sunday before she left. I made binding and trimmed the twin size quilt. She'll finish it and turn it into the guild. Although she brought me 5 more quilts I sent 3 back home from my previous group.

I was pooped so Monday I rode along with Pat on his errands.

Today I free motioned another flannel Christmas baby quilt. I was using it to practice for my next quilt. I did a stipple with stars which is what I am going to do on a soldier quilt made by the members of Stash_Quilter yahoo group. This quilt is a red, white and blue and I have it ready to load on Ruthie. I'll work on it Thursday as I'll be gone tomorrow.

Well, harumph! Blogger is having issues and I can't load any photos. I'll visit it again later tonight to see if I can add some. For now, it is on to some hand work and watching a movie.

Happy Quilting All!

A Tale of Two Raggs

Raggs on Sunday, at Obedience Class ...

Raggs on Wednesday after his most recent Spa Day.

I had spent a couple of hours over the last few days trying to get his coat de-matted. Nope, it wasn't going to happen. After 20 minutes on his chest and one small loose tick, he still had matts close to his skin. So, he is now a skinhead so his beautiful coat will grow back for Christmas. Shoot -- I can't do a Christmas photo of him before Christmas. I got to tell you he is pigeon toed from behind.... Next year this will be his summer do not prewinter!
And this is a wooly caterpillar I saw this morning while I was out walking Raggs. Hum, that is one fur coat on the guy. Perhaps we are going to have a bad winter. The last week or so have been fairly nice -- 50's and some days nearly hitting 70. We're getting the remnants of Ida on Sat/Sun but much less than our friends in Baltimore/Washington area. Maybe one of the few times our weather is less severe.

Lots of cooking going on -- Sharon's on her way up and Pat will be in Philly with Kevin over the weekend. No quilting for a while -- maybe tomorrow...

Happy Quilting All!

Back to Ruthie

I've been ignoring Ruthie a bit over the last 6 weeks. In fact, I only quilted one quilt in October. So, now I am working on Ruthie a bit more. Today I started on a twin size charity quilt from Faithful Circle Quilters. I pulled out one of the pantographs I bought a while ago. I'm a bit more smooth doing it but I'm not overjoyed with the results. I still have some funny looking designs!

See the cute little design below. I just picked one that actually could be seen in the picture.

And, here's what the panto looks like. I'm not sure I would buy this now, after I've seen it sewn up. But, maybe after I get this whole quilt done I'll like it much better in reality. I really liked the panto.

The next quilt up after this one is a charity quilt made by members of Stash_Quilters on yahoo. It will be going to a wounded soldier as soon as I am finished with it.

And, around the corner is a super deluxe BIG king size quilt for Jenny. Remember seeing this one? It is the one behind all the others. It will just barely fit on Ruthie. I'm pretty sure I will be doing free motion on this quilt. And, knowing my luck I'll probably have to flip it also. I am sure learning about machine quilting with all of these quilts!

And, still waiting to be sewn together is the Mystery Quilt. And, I want to put the binding on the Bricks and Stepping Stones quilt... .... .... time to get onto to all that!

Happy Quilting All!