Spring! is Done

Spring! is done... the wall hanging -- not the season.  I am doing the Snoopy Tango (watching too much dancing with the stars... can't you just see Snoopy doing one of those dances??)So, with no further ado, here is Spring! 

Spring! was designed by Kim at Kim's Big Quilting Adventure and you can purchase the pattern at Kim's Big Quilting Adventure Etsy store. This is the second wall hanging I've started and completed this year. This is way different from my normal working style.  My usual modus operandi is starting several projects at once and working on them in rotation.  I may be sewing two and sometimes three different projects when I sit down at the machine.  I have fully embraced Bonnie Hunter's leaders and enders method. I try to have some block or part of a block to continue sewing on instead of using just a piece of fabric.  Sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn't.  My fall back sewing-on-something is my bow tie blocks.  Might need to look at putting some together.  They do add up!

I was very productive at the Wednesday sewing group.  I finished hand sewing the binding on Spring!  I made and decorated a jacket for a naked bunny. (Hey I finished 2 bunnies at a class oh, 4 or 5 years ago. They were hanging around the fabric shelves... probably freezing, ya know, they were naked...) Anyway I decided to drag them out and see how fast I could clothe them.  One got her coat today. I still need to finish decorating her hat and figure out a closing for her coat.  The other one is lonely and naked now!  (so, I've cracked slightly, remember, I was an elementary librarian for years!) I ripped some stitches on a cute little thread holder -- for some reason on the fourth one I tried to make I screwed up and it's been waiting months for me to fix it.  And, I also got some more blocks done for Bricks and Stepping Stones, another Bonnie Hunter pattern.  When it is pieced I'll share it with you. 

Tomorrow's plan is to bind a baby quilt, and start a new quilt with batiks.  It is a wonky nine patch from one of the recent magazines.  (and put clean sheets on the guest bedroom, sing at church for Maundy Thursday, maybe clean a bathroom... etc, etc!) 

Pictures tomorrow of the bunny and the baby quilt. 

Happy Quilting All!   Bonnie 

Spring Decorations

Here's a few pictures of my spring decorations.  In the two bunny picture the bunny on the left is a cheap one probably from Joannes.  But the little bunny on the right I made in a class years ago.  I'm sure the instructor painted the face cause I know I am no painter!  

Now this group of three bunnies are my favorites.  The little plaid bunny is one of several I made for my kids quite a while ago.  This one was Kevin's. I'm not sure where Jenny's is since the move.  The little one to the right was given to me by our good friend, Barb.  Now the taller bunny was made by Sandy, a friend in Faithful Circle Quilters.  For several years, she would make a bunny for each of the auctions we sponsored.   And, I would bid.  It took me several times to win the bid because these bunnies were very popular.  I am sorry that I haven't found her basket of carrots.  The little quilt they are sitting on I won from a raffle.  It came with an American Girl doll, clothes, several quilts and a little chair.  The doll isn't out but I ran across the quilt when I unpacked something!  The bunny is sitting on a chair.  Here's a close up of her face.  Isn't she sweet?  I have a ufo I've started working on -- two stuffed bunnies.  I'll share a picture of them if I finish anytime soon.

Woot, woot!  I had success making muffies.  That would be muffin tops for those of you who don't eat at Panera's.  I really like them and have been trying to recreate them.  I've been using Betty Crockers mini muffin mixes to get this figured out.  And yesterday I was able to make a perfect muffin top!  The BC mixes seem a little more liquid then home made muffins.  The package that makes 6 regular muffins makes 3, mayb

e 4 muffies.  I use the convection oven at 375 for 14 minutes. (And of course, the muffin top pan.)  And yummy muffies are the results! 

Here's an update on the Spring! quilt.  It is almost done.  I have the binding on ready to turn and stitch.  Yes siree!  I am going to have it done by tomorrow!  And, it will be hanging on the wall.  I'll take a picture and post it tomorrow.  (It is too hard to get a decent picture at night.) 

Happy Quilting All!  Bonnie 

Lunch with Fabricholics Annonymous Retreaters

Back up to Friday when Pat and I drove down to Lancaster for the quilt show.  First it POURED rain.  It would have been far better if I had just pulled a bag over my head... paper bag.  I was beyond tense.  It was raining so hard you couldn't see through the windshield wipers.  Pat is such a good driver but I see things differently than him.  I'd have pulled off and rested while it poured.  Of course, I would have gotten there at 2 instead of noon! 

First off was lunch with Marge Gordon and some of the other Fabricholic Annonymous ladies and some who go to Marge's retreats. Marge runs retreats at the Bird-In-Hand Inn.  We went to Isaac's for lunch. (Yum -- if you have a chance to go there all the food was great!)  Pat was in charge of photos.  Here we are seated from left to right, Joan, Bonnie (that would be me), Candy, Laura and Jen.  Standing behind me is Marge and on the other side is Suzie.  (Ladies I apologize if any name is misspelled!)   

Before we left we decided to get a picture of three out of the four moderators for Fabricholics Annonymous.  Bonnie, Candy and Marge, list owner.  Carol couldn't make it.  It was great fun to spend some time with these ladies who I chat with on a regular basis.  Next time Marge, we need to sit together so we can chat more!  

Pat and I went from there to the "renegade" vendors mall.  (I think they actually call it Cherry Festival or some such thing but it was first explained to me as renegade from the Quilter's Heritage so it stays that!)  We wandered around there for a couple of hours.  At least an hour was spent with the HQ16 people -- Hi Debbie! The HQ16 is a really nice mid arm quilting set up.  The people (I think all of them were from the Quilt Basket) were fabulous but I wanted a little bigger space to do the quilting.  Plus, on Friday, we knew there were several additional machines for sale at the show.  

What amazed me the most is I didn't buy ANYTHING from those vendors.  I was on a mission.  By the time we left we were exhausted.  Internet was down in the Quality Inn where we stayed so we could not read or post anything.  Bummer!  

It is really time for me to get to quilting today.  I've been either on the phone or the computer since 8 am! More on Lancaster trip later.... 

Happy Quilting! Bonnie 

What's On the Way!

 Here is what is on the way to my house.  Well, it has to be made first and then it'll be on the way. I think mine will be charcoal.  (I skipped the lavendar because the room it will be housed in is deep red.  And, the green didn't do much for me...) 

I also had my interview to be a volunteer with MAESSR -- Mid Atlantic English Springer Spaniel Rescue.  We are in the queue to adopt a springer from MAESSR.  We're waiting until after Jen's recital and then we're ready.  See all the beautiful Springers at MAESSR's web site. Hopefully the pupster will make it before the sewing machine!  

Jen:  I had to laugh at your comment.  You are welcome to come try it whenever you want, as long as I have a couple of days to play on it first!  I'm sure I'll let everyone know what it is like once I have it.  I do know I was pleasantly surprised when I was buying thread for it at the Lancaster show.  The thread vendor said that all their threads run on a Nolting. Evidently that isn't true for every long arm.    Wowee! 

Happy Quilting All!  Bonnie 

PS -- Spring! is still being hand quilted.  I worked on it today after not working on it since Wednesday.  I'm hoping to get the quilting done in the next day or so.  I'll keep you posted. B.

A Quick Note

We're back from Quilter's Heritage Show in Lancaster, PA.  Enjoyed lunch with Marge Gordon and Candy and some others from Fabricholics Annonymous on yahoo groups.  The Wifi didn't work at the hotel we were staying in so wasn't able to post yesterdays activities.  

We did some major damage at the show -- made the decision on the long arm sewing machine.  Opted for the Nolting 20" with a 12' frame.  Pat was all for me making up my mind today and committing.  I had done enough research that I was ready to make the decision.  So the down payment is made.  And, then we get home and Pat says "do we really have 12' in that room?"  What? I was using info he had given me.  Guess what we'll be doing after church tomorrow??? 

Pictures and more tomorrow.  I'm worn out!  

Happy Quilting Bonnie!

Stashbusting (?) Report

Here's the Stashbusting Report for March:  

Fabric used by finished quilts or giving away:   8.5 yards

Fabric purchased or received free:        .5 yards

Net fabric USED from stash:     8. yards 

Year to date fabric used: 16.9 yards

Year to date fabric purchased: 20.83 yards

Year to date  ADDED to stash   3.93 yards

ARGH!  I am still in net added to stash. That is NOT how to bust the stash.  And, tomorrow I go to Lancaster for the Quilter's Heritage show.  I feel a sinking feeling here.  I can be strong sometimes, but sometimes it is so nice to buy some new fabric.  We'll see how I do. 

I did finish a quilt and gave a top to Jenny.  But, I sure don't see a lot of finishes happening right now.  And, I only started one -- the Spring! quilt.  So, maybe I've been distracted. I know I had two different times where I got involved with a book.  And, I'll admit I surf the net too much... so who knows whether I can garner some finishes soon!  I have a baby quilt ready to put the binding on and I may work on that today but you should see the pile of laundry that is awaiting me! (hey I don't do laundry every week ... well not the entire collection, so to speak!)  

Today's plans: 

LAUNDRY (blech!) 

Handquilt on Spring!

Vacuum (double blech!)

Pay a couple of bills... 

No more procrastination... back to work! 

Happy Quilting All!  Bonnie 

Quick Post

I'm not getting all that much done... Bummer... the Spring! quilt is taking forever to hand quilt because it is so hard to pull the needle through and my hand starts to hurt.  So, I'm trying not to over do it.  We'll see.  

Remember this post  with the picture of my new purse from Jen?  Jen, this post is for you. I sewed the button on.  I have a pretty great collection of buttons from both my mom and my grandma. So I rooted around in the tins and boxes and found a handful of buttons I thought would go with the purse.  After auditioning them, I sewed this one on.  Here's the skinny on the pattern for this bag: It is called the Salem Bag, sold by Creature Comforts Quilting.

The plan for tomorrow is laundry (bluck!) and getting a back for a quilt that needs to go to the long armer.  And, more handquilting on Spring!  

Happy Quilting!  Bonnie