Quilts from the Past

Since I am working on testing a mystery quilt I can't share photos or comments or . . .   So I will share two quilts from the recent past (ie the last year or so.) 

I won most of these blocks at a guild block drawing several years ago. I love how bright they are.  And, yes it is the basis of my headline.  Sharon was happy because the block on the left in the headline is hers! This was done in time for me to submit it in my guild's spring of '08 show. I chose to make several more blocks to get it to this size.  It was nasty making all those triangles but I really love the look of it.  Hum, I wonder where it is now?   One of these days I'll hunt for it. 

When I worked at the elementary school every new baby born to a staff member received a quilt.  This is one of them.  I think the soft pinks looked better in person but it was a simple, fast quilt to do and that is what I needed at the moment. 

I still make bow tie blocks just to have hanging around.  I use them as leaders/enders often. And, when I get a huge bunch I will lay them out and see if I want to make another top.  It would be good for a Project Linus quilt.  I think the block ends up 6" finished.  I made another bowtie quilt around the time I made this pink one and I put plain white blocks in between the bowties.  Such a versatile block. 

Ok, off to finish the last clue or two of the wonderful mystery. It is quite a quilt. I am pretty sure I will love it finished!  I'll let you know in the next few days! 

Happy Quilting. Bonnie

Oh My Funky Star!

I have taken the challenge to create a quilt based on the election.  My thought is red or blue stars that represent which way the states voted.  (Don't know what I'll do about the states that split the electoral college votes!) 

Here's my first attempt at a star.  This is from Fons and Porter's web site.  (You have to register to get to the free patterns.) Look for Making Stars under Online Extras, Sew Easy Lessons.  It uses hand drawn stars on freezer paper.  For every pair of stars you draw one star on the freezer paper and when finished you have a negative and positive version.   I'm still working on the other star. 

The only problem I have now is the size came up smaller than planned.  Hum, I'm going to have to see if I can get it to the size I want.  This should do a great job of busting some of my red and blue stash.  And, I'm talking little pieces rather than yardage... boy will that feel good.  Now, can I finish at least the top by the end of November.  Stay tuned!  Happy quilting all!  Bonnie 

Fabricholics Annonymous

Barbara asked for the location of Fabricholics Annonymous.  You can now click on the name and go to the front page.  This isn't a really active group which is sometimes great.  We have a couple of mystery quilts a year.  A rare recipe.  Friendly talk. And it is an international group.  I enjoy it.

Quilting done: cutting half square triangles. But, not all are cut.  I was slow moving out this am so didn't get to the group until late.  Do you know how boring it is to trim 150+ squares?  Ok, most are done.  Tomorrow I am on to clue 1.  (I will go back to the trimming later cause those puppies aren't used until clue 6 or so!)

I also started (kinda) the Election Challenge at Stashbusters.  I've found the five-pointed-star of my choice from Fons and Porter.  I couldn't find the pattern but someone answered my plea on Stashbusters and suggested that web site. Still couldn't find them until I created a log in. Voila! I actually got the printer out, attached it to the laptop and printed the directions. Wow, I really wanted them.  So, today I also cut freezer paper for the stars and then drew one of the stars.  Each is individually drawn.  I love the idea, lots of stash will go into something.... but the follow through may be lacking. We'll see. 

Tomorrow's goals: make a star, try for 3 clues, and sew one backing together. (shoot, and a load of wash... there are only 2 of us living here.  Where is this laundry coming from???) 

Happy quilting all.  I'll report back on my progress tomorrow.... maybe that will motivate me to keep my nose to the grindstone! Bonnie

My Vote Is In

I voted this afternoon around 4:30.  It only took about 15 minutes which surprised me considering our township offices had a line out the door.  Evidently it was a much longer line earlier in the day -- taking an hour or so.  

I can honestly say I am so happy this election is over.  I am tired of political ads -- can't candidates say what is good about them instead of tearing down their opponent? 

On the sewing front I am almost finished cutting out a quilt. I volunteered to be a mystery quilt tester and that is what I have been cutting out. I'm calling it the bumblebee quilt because my fabric has cute little bees on it. If you want to participate in this mystery sign up for Fabricholics Annonymous on Yahoo Groups. The mystery will be presented on New Years Eve day.  

Along with the cutting, I pre-sewed a bunch of half square triangles last night by triangles-on-a-roll and then took the papers off.  I still have more to sew for the above mentioned quilt.  Do you use triangles-on-a-roll?  Shortly after they came out I bought one of each roll.  And, I still have one of each roll of both half square triangles and quarter square triangles.  I think I had to make 150+ of them so continuous paper was much faster from the sewing end. Unfortunately, I also sew them a bit big so I can trim them to the correct size.  I hear you all saying but the point of the papers is to make accurate patches with less work. Well, I'm weird. Early on I realized I could just as easily make the darn things the wrong size if I sewed too far left or right of the stitching line.  After making too many the wrong size I started sewing a smidge inside the sewing line and then trimming.  I sure get accurate blocks that way!  

So, what's your favorite half square triangle method?  I love my new QIAD triangle ruler -- it is great for squaring up when making scrap triangles. I like the triangles-on-roll papers and I even like Thangles. What I don't like is cutting triangles and then sewing them together! 

I'm back to cutting the last few squares for the bumblebee quilt. Have a great evening.  Tomorrow will be an amazing day in American history no matter who is elected.  If nothing more we Americans are turning out to the polls in record numbers.  

Happy Quilting.  Bonnie 

Back At the Sewing Machine

Life has settled back down after our power outage. Thank goodness.  The laundry piled up and thank goodness some is now washed and put away! So, I was able to do some sewing/quilting today.  

First, take a look at Kona, dressed as a pumpkin for Halloween. (Yep, dog in costumes!!)  Amazingly she didn't care that she was dressed up. Kona is a therapy dog so she got to spend Halloween with Jen at work.  She visits hospital patients once or twice a month. 

I washed and ironed most of the fabrics I bought last week.  I have started cutting two of the fabrics already.  Tomorrow I will piece two backs for quilts I have ready to go.  One will be professionally quilted and one will be done by me. So hopefully Wednesday I will baste it up.  

Happy quilting all!  Bonnie

 

We're Back and So Is the Power!

Yaaaa Hoooo!  We have electricity again!  Well, it probably returned on Friday but we were headed to Maryland this weekend.  Jenny had recital Saturday evening.   She is working on her Doctorate in Musical Arts. (Is that right, Jen?) She is now down to two more recitals and she'll be doctor Jen!  It was wonderful to hear her play again and see her friends who staunchly come out to support her.  She has passed her comps -- hum, I wonder if comps stand for comprehensive exams.  Those were two full days of written testing in her area of study -- french horn performance.  

We enjoyed Saturday afternoon taking a walk with Kevin and Cassie, his dog. A bit later Aimee arrived and we all went to the recital.  Afterwards went over to Jenny and Brian's for dinner.  Some time this week I'll post a picture or two.  You have to see their dog in her Halloween costume.  Yes, costuming for dogs!  

No quilting for me for nearly a week.  I did get a few more inches of hand quilting done on a piece. I keep thinking I am getting closer to being done and then I realize I have the border to do too.  Why did I choose to hand quilt this thing. (Hey, it is only a lap quilt but it is taking for ever.)  I chose it because it has such nice plain blocks in it to show off some quilting. 

On to bed now.  However, I vow to spend a little time sewing tomorrow. And washing, and cleaning bathrooms and scrubbing the counter....  Happy quilting all.  Bonnie

Snow Is Fine but the rest...

Sorry for the big nothing over the last few days.  We had 3 to 6" of snow in the Poconos.  And, Tuesday at about 6 am we lost our electricity.  And, we still don't have it back.  I'm using Panera's in a local city. (About 45 minutes away -- I was desperate!) But, wasn't it pretty?  But, no shopping for me on Tuesday.  The four wheel drive went to work with Pat.  

Wednesday I was primed to go to my sewing group.  But, we didn't have phone or electricity.  The roads were nice and dry for the most part so I decided to load up the car and drive on down -- just in case they had electricity.  Wow, there were trees down and on electrical lines all the way down.  Here's one.  It's hard to see the line but it is there, under that tree and this one wasn't even marked for cutting.  I had a couple of big plops of snow land on the window which was quite surprising. They didn't have electricity either. No sewing.  

Ok, plan b went into action.  I decided I would go get the fabrics I needed for several projects.  Did I have fun!  I got two backings, a go with and two others that were on sale and were very usable.  But, I can't wash them, I can't sew, I can't ____. Fill in the blank.  It seems everything depends on heat and electricity.  

We thought we would be getting electricity back last night but, no, not yet. Now, it is getting really cold in the house.  We are thankful we have a gas fireplace that pours out heat.  Unfortunately we also have cathedral ceilings in the great room and the hot air is heating the upstairs.  Did I mention our bedroom is on the main floor?? Here's the outside temperature and the house temp.  Believe me 54 isn't warm enough! 

Hope springs eternal regarding electricity. I can't wait to shower and wash my hair.  No way am I getting wet until the electricity is restored!  And, having just had another hair cut I guess I need to plan to wear my hair a bit longer in the winter.  My neck gets cold!  

The good news is I have finished a couple of books and I'm making good progress on one of the socks.  We've run through a lot of candles.  And, I'm laying in a supply of various size batteries for future problems. I usually use rechargables and they have held up pretty well but it would be nice to have some extras hanging around.  

For those of you who are sewing... enjoy it.  I am looking forward to it next week.

Happy Quilting from the Poconos.  Bonnie