ANOTHER FINISHED BABY QUILT

Baby Boxy Stars was completed yesterday, machine quilted and ready to donate to the Zephyrhills Pregnancy Care Center, along with several others.  These are the blocks that were completed by members of my group.  
I used a bright variegated thread to quilt loops and stars in the sashings, and wavy star shapes in the stars.  I wanted to do enough quilting to ensure that this quilt would survive the washing most baby items endure!

HOW CAN ANYONE LIVE WITHOUT BOOKS?

I have been an avid reader all my life, and I love all kinds of books.  Lately, I've been reading mysteries - of all sorts.

I download audio books from my public library, and listen to someone read to me while I'm quilting.  I just finished "Split Second" by David Baldacci.  I'm glad that my library has a few more by the same author - it was well written and kept my attention, even while sewing!

I also read every night before turning out the light - a habit that I've had most of my life.  I find that if I don't read, I have trouble falling asleep.  DH used to complain about the light, but after almost 45 years, he has become accustomed to it!
While I'm in Florida, I get books from the small lending library in our clubhouse, so it depends on what books are donated by others.  Before we head south, I pick up several books from the book sale at my public library, and donate them when I arrive south.

Currently, I'm reading "Notorious" by Michele Martinez, a murder mystery with a female federal prosecutor.  The author has written in short, concise chapters, and I'm anxious to read more.....

Check out everyone's current favourites at Judy's blog.    

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

Here's another baby quilt, assembled by my Wednesday group.  The blocks were made in quarters, with lots of various 2 1/2 inch scraps, and then assembled.  I brought the blocks home and added the sashing and cornerstones from my scrap basket.  I even found 2 long strips to use as binding, with just 2 inches to spare!

 Then I decided to get back to work on my two block of the month projects from my northern guild.  These 4 blocks are for part 4, and the pink and yellow version is my version 1.  By June we'll have a 66 inch square quilt top made!

I had also decided to make both versions.  These are the same for version 2.  This version has a large paper pieced centre block, and the final border will be paper pieced also!

If you want to check out this fun BOM, it is found on the Limestone Quilt Guild site, here!



Head over to Judy's blog, Patchwork Times to check out the links to everyone's creations this week!

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Used this week  2.25 yards

Used year to date  47.75 yards

Added this week  1.5 yards

Added year to date  10 yards

Net used 2013   37.75 yards

I completed another baby quilt to be donated locally.  When my group was making blocks, no one chose to make the half log cabin blocks, and I had claimed the yardage for the 13 blocks I already made, on last week's report, so I'm only reporting 2.75 yards of the fabric that I used to complete the remaining 12 blocks, border, binding and backing to finish the 42 inch square quilt.
I have to add 1.5 yards - DH saw a fabric at the quilt show, and even stood in a long line to have it cut - he knew I'd like it.  Now I have to find a project suitable to use it!
My group was also working on some different blocks - Boxy Stars from Quiltville.com.  Everyone brought in 2 1/2 inch strips and stitched away.  I brought the completed blocks home, added sashing and finished the quilt top.  Using lots of scraps has been an eye-opening experience for some of the quilters.  After trying to coordinate the donations, they have decided that all the quilts are wonderful with all the interesting, funky, uncoordinated fabrics and blocks!  Hopefully they won't be so "matchy" when picking a variety of fabrics for their next project!
   Check out all the stash ups and downs at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

NO SEWING TODAY

Instead, DH and I, along with a few members of my quilting group attended at quilt show at The Villages in Central Florida.

This community is huge, and has one quilt guild, with 14 different branches that meet at various clubhouses throughout The Villages, and has 800+ members!

The only have space to hang 200 quilts at the show, but what wonderful quilts!  Their boutique is huge with tons of choices from books to quilts.  They had 12 different vendors with lots of beautiful fabric, patterns, trims and everything else you can imagine.  Their raffle quilt this year was beautiful and they had a Chinese auction with baskets just loaded with goodies, and even a sewing machine! (Wish me luck!)  There was a different demonstration each hour on the half hour, and a display of antique/vintage quilts that were presented on the hour.  Then you include a silent auction and quilt appraiser, and it was a great show.  The parking lot at the venue was filled all day, but they had overflow parking with a shuttle bus running continuously throughout the day.

We all had a great day, with some buying more than others!  DH found a fabric that he knew I'd love, then stood in a long line waiting to have it cut, and pay for it!  The newest quilter in the group was a bit overwhelmed by the quilts, and realized how much she has still to learn.  I told her not to fear, I still learn new things with every project.  I think that is what I like about quilting - so many designs, and so many techniques! 

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I did my favourite feather quilting in the final border of my version of Pick a Pinwheel.  I used a variegated polyester thread from Superior Threads, which had yellows, golds and rusty orange colours - just made to complement this quilt!

This is another version of Pick a Pinwheel, made by a member of my Wednesday quilting group.  She just started quilting last year!

  This is a runner made with three of the blocks from Pick a Pinwheel, and was made as a first quilt project by a new quilter in my group!

Now I have to get to work on the next item on my list!

Check out all the creativity that is linked to Judy's blog here! 

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  40.5 yards

Fabric used year to date  40.5 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  8.5 yards

Net used 2013  32 yards

I finished my black and white quilt this week - 21.125 yards used!

I also finished my version of "Pick a Pinwheel" - 16.625 yards.

I also included the yardage of the donation blocks I made for the baby quilts with my group - 2.75 yards.

Since I only count fabric when the quilt is finished, and I usually wait to quilt at least two at the same time, my numbers jump dramatically.

I do promise to get pictures of the full quilts soon - just have to talk my neighbour's husband into volunteering some time to be a second quilt holder.  

I'll probably end up quilting one of the baby quilts, but the rest of the group have been quite industrious!

Check out all the stash progress at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.  

MY BLOG MAY BE QUIET......

But my sewing room is just humming along.  I've been busy quilting 2 quilts this week, so I'll be able to claim the  yardage tomorrow!


Back to quilting.......

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

After basting my latest two quilts, I decided to work on some blocks for the baby quilts my group is planning to make and donate to the local pregnancy care center.

I made a few half log cabin blocks from leftover 2 inch strips in pastels and medium shades.






I also made some boxy star blocks, pattern from Bonnie Hunter, which use 2 1/2 inch strips and squares - again soft colours.



The third pattern that some want to try is the disappearing nine patch, but I don't have enough fabric to make any in the pastel colours that everyone has chosen.  

This morning I plan to swap my machines, as I like to machine quilt with my Juki.  Then I'll do some of the straight line quilting to stabilize the quilt before I add all the rest of the quilting.

Check out all the creative quilters' links at Judy's blog here!

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Used this week  0 yards

Used year to date  0 yards

Added this week  0 yards

Added year to date 8.5 yards

Net used 2013  -8.5 yards

Even though I have finished two quilt tops this week, I have nothing to report.  I only count fabric "used" if the project is finished!

The good news is that all the fabric that was donated by a neighbour disappeared on Wednesday at my quilting group, so I don't have to add any extra to my stash.  The group also discussed making some blocks for a couple of baby quilts to be donated to the local pregnancy care centre, so that will mean more fabric making its exit from my stash in the near future!

Check out others' stash progress at Judy's blog here.  

JUDY'S QUILTATHON DAY 3

I spent the morning piecing the final border for the black and white quilt.  I had enough block quarter-sections to add 3/4 of a block on each corner.  Then I cut the extra pieces that were originally cut to make the blocks into 6 1/2 inch lengths and started sewing them together, adding some of the narrow coloured strips randomly.  I worked on all four sections, and when the strip became too long to handle, I  stopped sewing and  pressed the seams and measured the length.  Amazingly, when I measured the strip, it was the exact size for the top and bottom borders, so I continued to add more to the remaining two for the side borders!

 I managed to piece the fabric for the back as well, before my sewing room became too hot to work!  I'll have to press the backing in the morning, then hope to get this quilt as well as my version of Pick a Pinwheel basted.  

DH will be enjoying a full day of golf on Monday, so I hope to get a bit of machine quilting done!

Thanks to Judy for encouraging all the quilting this weekend!

JUDY'S QUILTATHON WEEKEND DAY 2

The day isn't over yet, but I'm stopping for dinner.  I did managed to get the quilt top stitched and pressed and the first border sewn on.

I don't have a design wall, so it is difficult to show the whole top!  (This is one of the challenges of owning 2 small homes rather than one a bit larger - neither has a space for a good design wall!)
This is one quarter, and the narrow 1 inch finished first border changes colour as it travels around the edge.

The next border will be more black and white prints, and I'm planning on making it 6 inches finished width.

I still have some strip sets leftover after cutting the block quarters, so I think I'll use a block in the corners, then sew various widths of strips together to fill in between.

I baked 4 loaves of whole wheat bread today, and DH had the tree guys by to remove a large limb on the live oak tree beside our home.  It was hanging very close to the roof, and it was time to do some trimming.  I must admit that it was difficult to sew with the noise of the chain saws, and the sawdust flying everywhere....  They did a great job of cleaning up, and the house is much brighter on that side now!  

JUDY'S QUILTATHON WEEKEND DAY 1

I had planned to start sewing right after breakfast, but DH had other plans!  We started by checking on the availibility of an item that DS2 wants us to bring north in the spring.  Then a stop at the local fruit and vegetable stand, then off to the grocery store to pick up the other items on our list.  By the time we returned home and put everything away, it was lunch time!

I had fun this afternoon, sewing the block units together for my Godson's quilt.   Then I laid them on the living-room rug to play with the arrangement.  DH helped hunt for blocks that needed to be turned so I wouldn't have two of the same coloured accent strip touching.  

Of course I forgot to take a picture of the block layout, but here is one of the stack of blocks ready to sew together!

I  plan to get an earlier start tomorrow, before my quilting room gets too hot to concentrate.  I have to cut the coloured strips for the first border, then see how I want the final border to look!  DH thought the quilt will be too large, but I want this quilt to grow with him, and since all his family is extremely tall, I figured that the quilt should be large enough to last until he moves away from home!

Check out what others have accomplished today at Judy's blog.
 

A FUN QUILTY DAY

I took the basket of fabric pieces and scraps along to my quilting group, and at the end of the afternoon, there was only a tiny pile of unchosen fabrics!  We also discussed plans to make a couple of baby quilts for the local Pregnancy Care Center. (I'll probably see some of the selected fabric used in these quilts!)

I managed to get my Pick a Pinwheel quilt top finishes, as did one other ambitious quilter.  I helped her to get her top basted before we left for the day.  There were also a couple of table runners nearing completion, as well.

 This picture shows the borders......

This one gives an idea of the whole top - laying on top of my bed.  Next step is to get it basted, ready for quilting.  I'll have to book some time with DH - he is my assistant baster! 

DONATED FABRIC SCRAPS

I've spent 2 solid days sorting through the bags of scrap fabric that were given to me for my quilting group.
I had piles of fabric on every surface in my sewing room, and spent almost a whole day at the ironing board!  Since the fabric had been stuffed into various plastic bags, most of it was so wrinkled that you couldn't even see what it looked like!

  It is amazing how little room all the fabric takes up, after it is pressed, folded and organized, but boy, is it heavy!  I know from experience that a container stuffed with scraps will rarely get used.  I may be a bit anal, but I like things organized.  I have containers with 1 1/2 inch and 2 inch strips - and that is where I go when looking for pieces to add to my scrappy quilts.
I managed to sort all the donated fabric into several groups - solids, pieces 1 yard or more, half yards WOF, fat quarters, strips 2 in, 2 1/2 in, 3 in, 3 1/2 in, 4 in,  odd-shaped pieces bundled together by theme.  There are even a set of 3-patch strips obviously destined to become 9-patch blocks.
I ended up with a large bag headed to the garbage, as some of the fabric had been stored outside in less than ideal conditions, and was damp, mildew stained etc.  There were also many ruined pieces that were horribly miss-cut or mangled.  Some I think had been destined for the garbage, so that's where they are going.
I'm hoping the group has fun tomorrow, doing some "shopping".  I just received an email from one of the group who has been delayed in her trip south, asking me to save any leftovers for her......  

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I've had two busy days of sewing, but finally finished all 20 blocks for my version of Judy's "Pick a Pinwheel" quilt.  I'm loving my choices of fabrics.....  I began sewing the top together, but finally decided that my sewing room was too hot to carry on!

I'm not complaining about the heat, but my sewing room is an added sun room on our Florida home, and is almost all windows.  It receives the full sun from mid-morning until late afternoon, so it does heat up, even with the windows open and the ceiling fan turning!

I'm hoping to get the top together, and the borders added today, so I can return to work on our Godson's birthday quilt.

Check out all the creativity linked to Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.
 

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Here's my first stash report for 2013 and I'm already in the red!

Fabric used this week  0 yards

 Fabric used year to date  0 yards

Fabric added this week  8.5 yards

Net used 2013  -8.5 yards

 After seeing Judy's lovely fabrics from the Fat Quarter Shop, I just had to go and take a look.  Of course, they had the rubber ducky fabric that I wanted to go with a panel I purchased on sale, so the second panel and 2 yards of the border stripe jumped into the "shopping cart"!

I also fell in love with Judy's pattern, "Dawn and Dusk", in the current issue of Quiltmaker magazine, and had begun collecting yardage while at my local shop's sale on Dec 27.  I found two more fabrics that would go with those already chosen, so they also jumped into my cart.  That accounts for 4.75 yards.

Then I headed over to eQuilter to see what they had on sale, and found 2 more fabrics for Judy's pattern, so 3.75 more yards jumped into my shopping cart! 

I have decided to complete some of my ongoing projects and a couple waiting in line before starting on this large quilt!  New fabric is such a temptation!!!!!

Check out other quilter's stash beginnings for 2013 at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.  

 

FABRIC SURPRISE

During the winter, DH and I live in a "senior's community".  As with all aging groups of people, every year we find a few neighbours who are unable to head south for various reasons.

Yesterday I received a phone call from a person who was cleaning out her sister's home.  Her sister was an avid quilter, and she had found 5 huge bags of "scraps".  She called the office to see if anyone was running a quilting or craft groups, and my name and number was provided.

Yesterday afternoon she arrived at my home, and I helped her to unload all the bags.  I spent the rest of the afternoon beginning to sort through all the stuff.

There was everything from large pieces of fabrics, tons of cut strips, some partially piece blocks, etc.  There were also pieces that are not usable for quilting, so I sorted those into another bag.

Today I'll continue to sort, making bundles of "like" fabrics.  She obviously liked to stack many fabrics and cut them at the same time, so I've found various piles of chunks with the same selection throughout the piles.

Since I don't want to keep all this fabric, I'll take it to my quilting group next Wednesday and encourage some of the others to help themselves.  We have a few beginners this year, and this would be a good way to get some stash started, and provide some fabric to try new techniques!

I'm so thankful that she took the time to find a group who would love to use her sister's leftover fabric treasures.  (Other family members were ready to put it all the the trash).

I have left instructions in my will for the disposal of my fabric, books, machines, etc.  I have even left contact numbers, which I update each year.  I suggest that all quilters let their families know that their stash is valuable, and that it needs to move on to someone or some group that can make it into something useful and not end up in the landfill!