Saturday, May 17, 2014

Color Challenge Blocks

I've caught up on my Color Challenge Blocks!  Earlier this week I made the green and the purple one. 

Here's what all of them look like together. 


Hum, I wonder if I might need to put a sashing between them? 


I'll audition them together and sashed once I get them all made.  Wild colors and yet they do go together... well, except maybe the green... it's more yellow green.  I'll withhold judgement until later.  

I also finished putting together the fabric for a mystery quilt I will be doing with the guild in June.  I have had the focus fabric for ages. I found the burgundy Moda Marble in the stash too.  There was a blue-green fab in the stash that I was willing to use but I didn't think I would have had enough.  So I got the blue and gold fabric at the quilt show at the beginning of the month.  No luck on having enough fabric in my stash to use as the background so I picked the beige at the quilt store Tuesday night when I went to the embroidery class. 

Bubbles, my Bernina workhorse, was left for a spa week.  Hopefully only a week.  I've stitched almost 2 1/2 million stitches with her since I got her in February or so of 2012.  I was surprised to see that almost 1/3 of those stitches were on the embroidery side.  I guess I have been using the embroidery unit a lot! 

Take a peak at other Color Challenge blogs by going over to SOScrappy.  

Happy Quilting All! 




Monday, May 12, 2014

Design Wall Monday 5-12-2014

Good Morning All... or good afternoon ... or good evening!  I was able to make progress on several sewing fronts recently.  Here is where two projects currently stand. 

First, the sailboats. I didn't have enough fabric to cut both the top/bottom and both sides borders.  Darn that directional fabric.  I had to come up with a work around.  So each border will have some pinwheels in them.  I waited until Sharon came to double check my math.  Yesterday I got all the borders cut and the side borders are ready to sew on.  That will happen this week sometime. Rats, I just noticed I didn't align the pinwheels.  I think it looks better with the red blade going top to bottom so I guess I'll do a little ripping out and change the pinwheel on the left. Sigh.


Next up is more progress on the rail fence stars.  This is such an easy block although I'm noticing it is hard to get it really accurate. And yet, it isn't all that noticeable when put together.  Let me know if you would like a tutorial on this baby quilt.  It is easy and fast.  The one thing I would suggest is do NOT use directional fabric!  


I pulled out some old bow tie blocks yesterday and have enough to make a quilt. Country Piecemakers has added a nursing home to support with our charity quilts.  They don't need large ones, just big enough to cover laps especially for the folks in wheelchairs.  I for one look forward to using other fabric in my stash, rather than just the baby fabric.  My first one will be made from bow tie blocks that I've been making for years.  It used to be the block I would make as an ender.  I guess I got tired of it as now I use a second planned quilt as my ender.  

My goals all got met this week.  Of course, there weren't many on the list as Sharon and her hubby were down this weekend and I spent time trying to finish a quilt on Ruthie and get ready for the guild meeting on Saturday. 

Week of May 5, 2014
Finish curved piecing wall hanging√ oops I didn't even take a picture of it! 
Make BOM and write directions
Finish quilting QOV quilt currently on Ruthie
Work on the sailboat quilt

Clean the house

Week of May 12, 2014
Get borders on sailboat quilt
Make 2 Rainbow Scrap Color Challenge blocks
Finish rail fence star blocks & sew together
Load & quilt baby charity quilt on Ruthie
Load another QOV quilt on Ruthie
Make blocks for FCQ Equilters (2 different sets -- I’m behind!)

I'll leave you with a picture of Natalie wearing the shirt I made her for Easter.  The kids and grands stopped at our house on the way to North Carolina for the weekend. Jenny made the shorts which fit really well.  Unlike the shorts I made that didn't fit well at all!  Oh well.  It helps to have the person close by to fit the clothing to!  That's my excuse and I'm sticking with it!

Enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and browse Design Walls across the Internet.  You can start your journey at Patchwork Times

Happy Quilting All! 

Monday, May 5, 2014

Design Wall Monday 5-5-2014

My design wall is probably empty.  I haven't been in the studio since last Monday as I was out of town for most of last week.  So I snuck a picture of Sharon's little curved piecing wall hanging.  She finished it while I drove home yesterday.  I forget what the ruler she used was called. I know she has added two borders although one may actually be a flange.   But it made a cute block.  I'll take another picture of it this weekend when she comes to visit. (Yes, weird that we're seeing each other two weekends in a row... but that is how it worked.)  

And here are some of my purchases from the vendors at the quilt show. Yep, I didn't go all that wild.  I did buy a small kit for a wool pincushion and a birthday present that will remain hidden.  Hum, I guess it is time to unpack.  The two plastic bags are templates for the blocks shown.  I've tried to make that peaceful star block on the left and just didn't get it right.  I'm trying again with accurate templates.  (At least someday I will!) 

Surprisingly all of last week's goals were done!  (Ok, so I was very purposeful when I selected those goals!) 
Week of April 28, 2014
Go to Washington, DC
Work the Faithful Circle Quilt Show
Finish $10 & under items for the quilt show
Give demo on Friday at show
Lunch with Jenny and Sophie on Friday

And what I hope to do this week. 
Week of May 5, 2014
Finish curved piecing wall hanging
Make BOM and write directions
Finish quilting QOV quilt currently on Ruthie
Work on the sail boat quilt
Clean the house

That's it for today.  I need to get in my studio and sew! Click on this Patchwork Times link and go visit design walls across the Internet. 

Happy Quilting All!