Design Wall Monday 6-27-11

A finished flimsie (quilt top but not quilted...) on the design wall today... 

These old swap blocks are taking on a new life.  I added the little basket on the right bottom to go with the rest of them.  And, I used the soft pink with the jumping bunnies for the border.  I hope I have enough of that left to bind it with also.  Go to Patchwork Times to visit other design walls around the internet. 


Next are some of my purchases from the NQA show last weekend.


The back three are cones of thread for Ruthie.  The center one is red not orange! 


And, I bought a new ruler to use with her.  This will allow me to make half circles on a lot of squares.  Isn't it a weird ruler?  Hopefully it will be great to work with although I don't do ruler work all that much. 

I bought a couple of patterns to use.  Sorry about not showing all of them ... they might be presents for the future.  Or maybe not.  Bloomin' goes on a metal triptych.  It's not very big but I have a great place to put it.  I'd like to get something on it for the 4th of July but that may not happen.  We'll see.







I am a ruler junkie.  And, I have absolutely fallen in love with all my Deb Tucker rulers.  I was thrilled to be able to meet her at her booth.  I had both of these rulers on my list.  Square2 (pronounced Square Squared) is just what it shows a square within a square but without any waste.  V Block is used in lots of quilts but what comes to my mind is 54 40 or Fight.  I'm going to find myself a block or two to make some quilt using these rulers.  I love my Tucker Wing Clipper and Tucker Trimmer.  Check out her web site for all her rulers.  

Here are a few photos from the shower for Aimee.  We did a craft instead of playing games.  And, it was a hit!  Everybody got to make wine charms.  Very fun and easy to do.  And, some of us used ours right off to mark our wine glasses. 

Here's Miss Aimee opening her presents.  She loved all her new goodies including 5 new trash cans!  It was so funny as she opened all of the trash cans.  And she really needed them. Good thing I didn't buy a couple for her -- I thought about it. 

Miss Sophia was right in the middle of the party looking just as cute as Aimee.  (Sorry Aimee, I think I got more photos of Sophie than you during the party!) 

She finally fell asleep after just about  every one left.  Grand babies are wonderful! 


I didn't get a shot of the cupcakes and the cupcake tree so I'll take a photo from Facebook one of these days to show you how great they looked.  They were gobbled up quickly!  Yum.

Goals for week of 6/20/11

Finish quilting, put the binding on and mail the doll quilt swap quilt. √ all but the mailing part… almost there

Get organized for Aimee’s shower. √

Put last border on Easter Quilt. √

Make the rest of the broken dishes blocks. A few more were made but not all…

Unpack from trip. √

Housework???? (really, a goal of housework?) Not that much done but a little bit… 

Goals for week of 6/27/11

Wash and then mail doll quilt.

Quilt and bind Easter Quilt.

Finish the rest of the broken dishes blocks.

Make the 2^nd Quilts for Kids quilt.

Get invites out for July 4 picnic.

Quilt something on Ruthie. 

Make Onesie dress for Sophia.

Hopefully this week won't be as busy as the last few weeks.  And, I hope I get more time in the studio. Happy Quilting Everyone! 

Not Quite Over the NQA Show

For the last several days I've been doing almost nothing.  Well, except hand quilting on a doll quilt.  I'm more than half way finished, barely.  But hope springs eternal that I will get it finished sometime before Monday.  I've spent time reading, moving furniture (well, mostly Pat) and shopping a little.  Today I finally uploaded pictures from my camera. Here are some of my favorites at the NQA show.  Often I was taking pictures of interesting quilting ideas rather than the whole quilt.  I have no pictures of Sharon and I doing anything.  (how did that happen?) 




Here's a stunning setting of Bunny Hill's 2009 block of the month.  Hum, will I ever finish mine? 












And an upclose with wonderful cross-hatching. 





















I really like the use of black and red (hot pink? magenta?) on this quilt.  I've got a nice roll of 5" by width of fabric blacks and whites that Jenny gave me for Christmas recently.  And, I think I might do a mystery that is starting at Fabricholics Annonymous (yahoo chat group) using the fabrics with white and some color that I haven't picked out yet.  

This photo was more about the lovely quiting. I liked the way the quilter changed the direction of the parallel lines in different spaces. Top left and bottom right the lines were horizontal. The other two corners were vertical.  The center was cross-hatched.  The quilting was great on this.  And, it was pretty mind boggling that it didn't win anything.  Sigh. 

Here again was some stunning quilting with an interesting pieced top.  The two went together so well it was inspiring.

Here's a close up of the quilting.  I wasn't trying to get the names of the quiltmakers/quilters but I'm happy I did for most of these.  They deserve much credit for their wonderful work.  


You should be able to click on the pictures to enlarge them and thus be able to read the information given. I would love to know which of these were computer quilted and which were hand guided.  


Today I need to move in to a higher gear.  I'm getting ready for a shower for Aimee this weekend.  So, I need to get the fun little craft we're doing organized.  And, I have to figure out what stuff I need to take.  Jenny and I are the hostesses but Aimee is providing the house.  So I'll drive up early Saturday morning to set it up.  Plus, I think Pat and I are going to host a 4th of July barbecue for a few of the neighbors to "christen" the new deck.  (note to self, show some finished deck pictures soon.) 


It's darn hot and especially humid here in Central Virginia so not much is being done outside.  I need to take Raggs for a walk soon before it gets too hot.  And, then on with organizing for the shower. 


Happy Quilting. 

Sneak Peak At NQA Show

Prize winning quilt by Susan Cleveland.

 

 

 

 

 

Does this look familiar?  I took at class from Susan Cleveland arlier this year.  The  two curved pieces were the sample for Piping Hot Curves.  This gal made it into this very cute little quilt and donated it to the NQA small quilt auction.  Hum, I wonder where my blocks are?

 We saw lots of these twister quilts.  I finally bought the little tool so I can make some too!  This was another quilt donated to the Small Quilt Auction.

Sharon and I are having a great time.  We have been doing some heavy duty shopping.  Tomorrow we have an afternoon class and will see the last few rows of quilts and vendors. 

I probably won't post again until I get home as this little e-computer is a pain to work on!  Happy Quilting!  Bonnie

Design Wall Monday 6-13-11

Something new on my design wall --

I've been working on this chunky churn dash from Quiltville.com for quite a while.  I got the fabric for the broken dishes blocks on the way to retreat. I substituted a red I had for the red I purchased just so I could keep the larger hunk of fabric. 


Saturday I was able to join with another member of Country Piecemakers to give a short talk on using scraps in quilts and teach how to make this quilt.  Many thanks go to Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville.com for giving us permission to do this. 


Visit Patchwork Times to see more design walls this week. 

Here's what else I bought last weekend.  Yes, I kind of went wild buying fabric again.  Sigh.  Of course every thing I bought was on sale -- some was just $4 a yard!  Well every thing except that fun pink, orange, and yellow floral print.  I'm making a onsie dress out of it... and maybe that little hat.  And, then I guess I may make that cute little sun dress.  That pattern covers 6 mo to 5 yr old sizes.  Super deal.  Maybe a dress or two every summer! 

Goals for week of 6/6/11

Sew borders on Easter Quilt√ two of the sides are sewn

Finish hand quilting doll swap quilt. ARGH didn’t touch it

Wash, dry, fold and put away new fabric. √

Unpack all stuff from retreat.√

Cut broken pieces blocks for Chunky Churn Dash quilt.√

Make more chunky churn dash blocks√

Mail blocks to SoCal Girl charity challenge yikes, forgot

I'd say it was a pretty successful week for me.  

Goals for week of 6/12/11  

Mail those SoCal Girl charity blocks... 

Maybe get the other two borders on the Easter quilt.

Pack and drive to Maryland...

Join Sharon and drive to OHIO to the NQA show. 

Take some classes, view quilts 

BUY a couple of the new rulers, some thread for Ruthie and what ever calls my name!  

Put a few more stitches in the Doll quilt for the swap! (it's going with me...) 

Yep, I'm heading off to Columbus, Ohio with Sharon.  We're taking a few classes with Susan Cleveland.  We took one of her classes at Faithful Circles a few months ago and really enjoyed it so decided to take some more.  These are really technique classes so you don't end up starting a UFO!  Sharon's brother lives in Cleveland and has graciously allowed us (well, more like me) to stay there. It's another long trip but we should have a blast!  


I won't be doing much quilting but I will definitely be thinking about quilts!  
Happy quilting all!  Bonnie