Plaza del Sol

Here's the finished version of Plaza del Sol. This is an original design that was inspired by a plaza in Mexico. The blocks were made by the members of the 2009 Faithful Circle E Quilters. Of course, it took me a while to get back to the blocks and finish them. As always, I learned some more about long arm quilting. You can't see it here but I ripped out a whole bunch on the little turquoise border. This attempt at a ribbon looks much better than the original.

And, my loopy "l"s -- ugh... the pieces were too wide to make decent loops. Although every once in a while I see a great one rather than a lumpy one! Something to continue practicing on!

Today's Plans --

Hair cut... yeah!

Finish quilting Heidi's pineapple quilt -- or at least as far as I can get on it.

Maybe work on a string quilt

Antiques Roadshow -- so glad the final two isn't on during Roadshow.

Have a quilty day everyone!

National Quilting Day

It was a gloriously warm and sunny day as I drove off to participate in the Milford Valley Quilter's National Quilting Day. It is the first time I've ever gone to a planned event for Quilt Day. (shoot, is it Quilt Day,

Quilting Day, Quilter's Day??? does it matter, really? NOPE.) I arrived about 15

minutes late due to 1) not being able to find my sewing kit and 2) it was farther away than I thought and Map Quest gave ridiculous directions!

We all were given a kit and then made these cute little muffin pin cushions. I was going to use some of my own ribbon to put on it.

Jackie was there with goodies from A Stitch in Time.

I decided I had to have a new book about something that was mentioned in the last post.... but I won't tell you here and give it away. And, I got a charm pack of a Moda fabric line I like. I'm hoping I can make some nice pillow cases to go with the quilt in one of the guest rooms out of some of it. That is unless I can find the left overs from the quilt which is somewhere in the studio but isn't jumping up and shouting -- here I am!

We had a lovely lunch and an assortment of home made goodies for dessert. During much of the day there were drawings for door prizes. And, yours truly won a nice prize. A panda fabric panel with two go-with fabrics. There were some instructions but I'm sure I'll do a little bit more involved quilt of some sort with it.

After lunch there was a wonderful show and tell. I will be posting some photos from that over the next few days. The drive home was beautiful as I followed my table mates out and it was much faster getting to the freeway. And, the temperatures were in the low 70's. Lovely. We still had about a foot of snow on the garden -- mostly because of the snow blower.

Here's what I've been working on:

Plaza del Sol -- is quilted and the first side of the binding is sewn on.

Knitting project is done and needs to be washed.

Heidi's backing and top has been ironed and is ready to be loaded on Ruthie.

Late this afternoon I pulled out an old 4th of July quilt project. It is ready to be machine buttonhole stitched. I thought if I got going on it again there would be a good chance it will be done by late June in order to hang it.

The last thing I've been working on is gathering up all the little left over pieces of batting I have hanging around. One of the gals in the Milford Valley Guild makes pillows for cats (I assume cats in a shelter.) So I will be giving her a huge bag of this. Ah, the feeling of throwing something away with NONE of the guilt.

The weather has changed -- mid 50's and lots of rain. But Pat found daffodil leaves poking out of the ground -- some through the snow even. Yeah. We should have a beautiful display of yellow in a few weeks. (Phew, that means the critters didn't eat the bulbs.)

Hope you have had a quilty day. Happy quilting.

We interrupt this blog . . . for an Important Announcement

Pat and I were given a nicely wrapped box by Jenny and Brian a while ago. And, when we opened it this darling onesie was in it. I figured out immediately what was meant by it -- it took Pat a minute to tumble to what was going on. Yippee! We're going to be grandparents some time late in August. (we've been so good not letting the info slip until given the go ahead!) So I am now dreaming of little sweaters to knit, a nice quilt to make, may be an outfit or two to sew. (Yes, I would sew clothing for a grandbaby!) Hum, now we just need to know what variety of baby will be moving in with Jen and Brian.... perhaps a lovely lilac for a girl and a nice blue for a boy.... And, if you are wondering about the reference to Trojans -- Pat and I both went to the University of Southern California so of course we are still great fans. I can just see Pat and baby snoozing through football this fall.
These blocks are the latest request for the FCQ Equilters. I was very good about getting them done early. They went in the mail yesterday and they aren't due until the end of April.

Hum, what else have I been doing?

lots of playing on the computer.... biggest time waster there is although, honestly it's fun for me.

shopping for maternity clothes and a bit of fabric ... Jen's in town.

quilting on Plaza del Sol ... I'm going to turn it so I can do the side borders.

helping Jen quilt on Ruthie ... she brought a quilt to finish the borders and quilt. She's loaded it on Ruthie and made one pass so far.

finishing a book ... The Beach Street Knitting Society and Yarn Club by Gil McNeil.

almost finishing a knitting project ... I've another 1/2" to knit (or until I run out of yarn) to finish it. Of course, now the weather is too warm for the hood.... but there is always next year.

housework ... not so much. Seesh, every time Raggs goes out he gets soaked and there are wet paw prints all over the floor. Maybe after Jen and Kona go home I'll tackle the floor a bit.

It's another beautiful almost spring day here. The sun is shining, snow is melting. I think I'll be sewing away in the studio. Jen will be quilting on Ruthie, and Raggs, Kona and Pat will be doing their things. Near perfection overall.

Happy Quilting All!

Moving ... backward

Are you sick of snow photos yet, or maybe snow? I am. But woke up this morning to another inch or two on the ground, in the trees, etc. Thought you might enjoy the snowy wonder of trees with snow...

I loaded Plaza del Sol on Ruthie and did a row of quilting -- Monday. Tuesday I was hot to trot and before lunch I finished the bobbin.

I worked my fingers to the bones -- each of the piano keys had a cursive "l". I did some more curves on the inner border and got through half a row of the stars and stippling when I ran out of thread. Popped a new bobbin in and did a test. Yuck -- loopies on the bottom. Checked what I had done before -- ACK more loopies. I never checked when I started in the morning. WHAT was I thinking? All afternoon and well into the night I was speaking frog -- ripit rip-it. And, I'm not done.

Today, I'm leaving to go to the Wed. Quilters -- as soon as I finish this, change shirts (oops, cottage cheese on the front just looks so tacky!), pack a lunch, gather my sewing... you get the picture. Ripit will commence this evening as I really want to finish this quilt. I took it off the rollers so I'll let you know how easy it is to get it back on without wrinkles. Luckily I am not having to take out all the quilting I did on it. And, let this be a lesson to ME -- check your work frequently!

Happy Quilting and Dreaming of Spring

Help Wanted!

I belong to a group I call Faithful Circle Quilters Equilters, or FCQEquilters for short. We are all former members of the Columbia, Maryand quilt guild, Faithful Circle Quilters. (except, I've maintained my membership as I try to go to some of the classes and meetings when I am in the area.) There are 6 members who each requests a specific block(s) that the rest of us make. Or sometimes many quilts from. Last year I designed a block that I called Plaza del Sol as I had taken the idea from a plaza in Cancun, Mexico during my vacation. I had put the blocks aside and continued with other projects. Yesterday I dragged them out and spread them on my design bed. (hey, all the company is gone so I can use the design bed again!)

Here are all the ways I could figure out to lay them out. Which is your favorite and why? (Ok, so if you don't want to say why that's ok too.)

Sample 1: (I have enough of the smaller blocks to add a colored row on the left and top so it would have a complete look to it.)

Sample 2:

Sample 3:

The colors are more accurate in sample one as I took the other two at night. And, in case you are interested, here's a close up of my block:

Share your favorites. I will be putting this together between my other activities. I am going to try to finish NYE 2009 Mystery today and use the Carolina Christmas Mystery as my leaders and enders. Once I decide on my lay out for Plaza Del Sol I will use that as leaders and enders. Things are getting busy around here so I need to focus on getting things done and staying warm! I'm hoping on staying in the house all day tomorrow and just go out tomorrow for the Wednesday Quilters.

Happy Quilting All!