Monday Meanderings 3 - 21 - 2016

I don't have much to show from the at home retreat last Thursday through Sunday.  I was doing all sorts of other things -- like chatting and chauffeuring and really having a lot of fun! Here's what I did get a bit done on.  This is my "boy" charity quilt made from some of my fabrics and some of the challenge fabrics from FCQ guild in Maryland.  I laid them out this afternoon to take a picture.  This may not be the last arrangement but I do like it. 

Thank you MaryBeth for coming up with a faster way to make it.  Right now the background blue is 3 pieces of fabric.  She suggested I pieced the whole thing a bit differently and I have changed the three piece blue to one piece.  I think that one orange on the top row may be a bit too bright.  I plan to keep making blocks until I either run out of the beige squares or it gets really big.  I'm pretty sure I'll run out of the beige first.  Hopefully, this will become a rectangle quilt, not square.  Time will tell. 

I did really well on my goals this week because much of the items were done before Thursday and the start of the retreat. 

March 14, 2016

Sew OMG quilt to top stage√

Finish quilting antique quilt√

Enjoy at home retreat √

Keep working on the Slide Show quilt√ not much done.

Keep working on the “boy” challenge quilt√

Prep two more quilts for FCQ show√ just one

Here's what I'm going to try to get done this week.  Lots of stuff going on around here so hopefully I'll be pretty successful! We'll see. 

March 21, 2016

Work on Slide Show quilt

Make more “boy” blocks

Plan/make backing for OMG

Cut appliques for OMG quilt and apply

Border little 9 patch quilt

Check out my sewing machine needle carefully. Do you see that big fluff ball of lint right in front of the needle?  I was surprised to see it come up when I was sewing away.  Have you oiled and cleaned your machine recently?  I actually had cleaned the bobbin and race a few weeks ago.  I don't think I cleaned under the plate and boom! I had a giant fuzz ball.  Needless to say I did a total clean up and oiling before I started sewing again.  I had used half a large spool of cotton thread so it was time for a thorough clean. And, I changed the needle too.  I'm all set for some heavy sewing over the next few weeks.  Take the time now to clean your machine.

I'm late getting this posted today but I'll be linking up with Monday Making and Main Crush Monday.  I will be sharing quilt tops that Sharon, Nancy and MaryBeth made at our retreat sometime this week. 

Happy Quilting All! 

Monday Meanderings 3 - 14 - 2016

I was very successful with my goal list last week but I really don't have a lot to show for it.  What I did work on outside the goal list (I forgot to list it!) was some sample Disappearing 4 patch blocks.  At guild on Saturday we had lessons in 4 patch.  Dorothy showed us how to make multiple 4 patches with Fons and Porter called Easy Peasy 4 Patches.  At the end of the directions is a link to get a PDF with the same instructions.

I showed how to make 2 at a time 4 patches. I haven't been able to find written or video instructions on the web for this method. This link shows how to make multiple different 4 patches.  (Hum, sounds weird.  How about different fabric ...?) I learned the 2 at a time 4 patch from a Billie Lauder book if I remember correctly.  Here's a video that Billie made to share making multiple 4 patches.  Someday I'll write up a tutorial for the 2 at a time 4 patches.  Sorry, it's not going to be today.  Check out her Magic 9 Patch instructions too. Missouri Star also has a video on making multiple 9 patches but done same as the first link in this paragraph. 

The next part of the presentation was what do you can do with all these cool 4 patches.  So, I searched the web and found 2 different types of disappearing 4 patch designs.  The one on the left is the basic disappearing 4 patch. Directions are at Material Girl Quilts. I love the clean, crisp look of this design.  

The block on the right is an alternate method for a different disappearing 4 patch. It was called Disappearing 4 Patch with a Twist.  You need to be very careful on your measuring and cutting.  If not, you're points won't meet perfectly.  

One block I didn't show was the 4 Patch Slice.  I thought it was pretty cool too.  I have no idea what I'll do with all of these blocks -- I had to have several in-progress steps for all the blocks I showed. Time will tell, or I have a new UFO! 

Yea! Very successful goal completion last week! 

March 7, 2016

Quilt 2 charity quilts√

Finish the 5 strip pieces for Slide Show√ close

Continue to work on “boy” challenge quilt√

Continue to work on OMG quilt√

Prep backing for antique quilt√

Quilt Antique quilt √ started

And hopefully this week will be just as successful. The highlight of the week is the third annual In Home Retreat.  Sharon, MaryBeth and Nancy are coming down to sew like fiends.  They learned last year it made a lot of sense to drive down Wednesday after work because then we had 3 1/2 days of quilting.  I'll be getting the space cleared up and ready this week along with all my other goals. 

March 14, 2016

Sew OMG quilt to top stage

Finish quilting antique quilt

Enjoy at home retreat

Keep working on the Slide Show quilt

Keep working on the “boy” challenge quilt

Prep two more quilts for FCQ show

That's it for me today.  I must get started on the putting things away and also get back to quilting the antique quilt. I'm linking up with my two favorite Monday Linky Parties: Monday Makings and Main Crush Monday. 

Happy Quilting All!