DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I had a couple of "down days", but I'm feeling much better today, so I was able to get pictures of my latest project.  I used the remaining 4 pieces of the striped border from my Dragonfly Garden quilt to make blocks for this runner.  I lined up the prints and cut all 4 layers into 2 large squares, then cut them diagonally into 8 triangle stacks.

I took the picture in full sun so the the metallic thread would show.  Once again, I used Superior Metallic thread, and their size 14 topstitch needle to do most of the free motion quilting.  I also used some King Tut variegated thread thread to stitch the curvy lines in the sashing and yellow border.

I stitched dragonflies in each of the purple setting triangles, following the tutorial that I found on The Inbox Jaunt.

Check out all the creativity shared on Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  9.25 yards

Fabric used year to date  83.125 yards

Fabric added this week  1.25 yards

Fabric added year to date  67.75 yards

Fabric used year to date  20.375 yards

I completed 2 baby quilts made from printed panels, ready to donate to my guild's community quilts program.  

I was straightening up my sewing room, and found the leftover pieces of the border strips from the dragonfly quilt that I made recently.  Rather than put them away, I decided to use them, and made blocks for a table runner.  I added yellow sashing and green cornerstones, and used purple setting triangles.   It looks like a lovely Easter table runner now, instead of leftover fabric stored on a shelf!

Check out others' reports at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

 

TWO MORE BABY QUILTS

The weather has been hot and humid, and I don't feel like working for long periods - but I still want to quilt, so I pulled 2 more quilt panels from my stash and completed 2 more baby quilts.  I can work on these in short spurts, and I don't have to concentrate on cutting!

I even had some striped fabric to use for binding.....

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

Once again, I have nothing on my design wall!  I just stitched binding to two baby quilt panels, that I had quilted, and plan to stitch it down by hand during some TV watching with DH tonight!

Just for some more colour, here are 2 more pictures of flowers from the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival.

Now I have to figure out what other small projects I can complete before I have to start packing up to head north!

Check out all the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  2 yards
Fabric used year to date  73.875 yards
Fabric added this week  0 yards  
Fabric added year to date  61.5 yards
Net used 12.375 yards

As our southern winter season comes to a close, I find it harder and harder to find time to quilt.  So many of the activities are coming to a close, and there are many pot luck dinners, and other get-togethers, before many of us head north for the summer.

Yesterday we joined a group in St. Cloud for a Canadian night dinner and dance.  The group was celebrating the 50th anniversary of our flag!  DH and friends entertained with music and a few jokes thrown in for good luck.  The food was wonderful, and the dance floor was full!  Donations were made to a local charity that provides food for children on the lunch program at school, sending home a tote bag with enough to last the weekend.  They also pay fees for school outings, so all the students can attend!

I managed to squeeze in 2 more cloth books for our grandson, but I do have 2 baby quilts basted, and one partially quilted too!

 The pictures are from a recent trip to Epcot to enjoy the flower and garden festival.

See others' progress shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times. 

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

Nothing new on my design wall today, but here are pictures of my finishes this week....

Two more cloth books

And here is Dragonfly Garden, soon to be residing with my son and daughter-in-law in their new home.


Check out all the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  10.375 yards
Fabric used year to date  71.875 yards
Fabric added this week  0 yards
Fabric added year to date  61.5 yards
Net used 10.375 yards

Only took 2 1/2 months, but I'm finally into the black!  Now to keep it there.....  I completed my Dragonfly Garden quilt this week, and also stitched 2 cloth books for our grandson - he'll be 2 months old this week!

I had fun on my quilt group outing, and amazingly, came home with no fabric!

 This is the centre block of the quilt.  Again, I had chosen a panel with 8 blocks, so had to add another.

I thought I had enough of the border stripe to make mitered corners, but the stripe was so wide, I ran short.

I add corner blocks instead, enlarging the corner of the centre block and matching the colours.  This gave me a bit more room for some interesting quilting.

I inserted strips of gradated fabric between the rows of blocks, and was able to use Superior King Tut variegated thread, colour 921 - Cleopatra, to add more colour.

The dragonflies were all outlined in Superior Metallic thread, colour #25, variegated gold.

Head over to Judy's blog, Patchwork Times, to see others' reports.

BACK TO QUILTING

Our annual outing with my quilt group was a great success.  We went out for lunch, then visited a large Joann's and 2 quilt shops while wending our way home!

A member of my first online quilting group, at Recreation, Crafts, Textiles, Quilting, called, and was able to come and join our group for the day.  We knew each other online, and had met twice before when she was in my area.  We spent most of our time catching up on our quilting adventures, as well as family news.  My group members asked if we were sisters?  We look quite a bit alike, and have sons around the same age!

There were quite a few parcels loaded into the 4 full vehicles, although I resisted this time.  I didn't want to go back into the red on my next stash report!  I'm surprised at how fast the winter has passed by - we only have 3 more quilting Wednesdays!  It is always bitter sweet to say good-bye to all my quilting friends, as I never know how many will return in the fall.....

I know I'll enjoy returning north, even if there is still a bit of snow.  I'll get to hold my new grandson for the first time, and there is tons of work to do to prepare for my guild's quilt show in June, including machine quilting a BOM quilt from blocks that have been handed in over the winter!

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

Here are a couple of pictures of the quilting on my mystery quilt.  Still waiting for help to take pictures of a couple of my larger projects.

 I used thread colours that blended with the fabric this time.  I love the colours and the prints in this one.  Most of the fabric was  from Connecting Threads, using a collection that was available last summer.

I used more of Superior Threads Twist thread.  With the two shades twisted together, it seemed to blend better with my fabrics.

Now my dragonfly garden quilt is being quilted - just SITD so far.

Check out all the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Used this week  15.625 yards

Used year to date  61.5 yards

 Added this week  11.5 yards

Added year to date  61.5 yards

Net used 2015  0 yards

Looks like I'm back to neutral - now if I can just stop buying fabric!

I found a deal on 3 1/2 yard cuts of fabric - less than half price, and mostly in the blues I've been collecting for an upcoming project.

After claiming yardage for my spinning star candle mats last week (just a guess), I actually drafted the pattern in EQ7, then got their estimated yardage for the three sizes, so I added 2 more yards to my report this week.  I also finished my mystery quilt, and was able to claim 13 5/8 yards for that one, so I finally broke even.

This week, my southern quilting group is having a day out.  We're heading out for lunch, then a stop at a couple of not-so-local shops before heading home.  We still have 3 more weeks together before I leave for the "warming I hope" north!  Some of them will continue to get together until the end of April, but we're anxious to get home and hold our new grandson!!!!!

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

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I don't have a design wall - I usually use the floor or the living-room carpet!  I completed some candle mats, made from a pattern I found on the net (not in English).  I made the medium size first, (12 inches wide), then played with the strip sizes to maker the small and large sizes.

I use Superior Thread's Bottom Line in my bobbin when I machine quilt, using a light neutral shade that seems to blend with all my fabrics.  I used Glitter metallic thread on the top, in red, green and light gold.  It glistens in the light, but doesn't photograph well.

The small size, (8 3/4 inches), was made from some stray fat quarters, and I quilted in pink and green thread.

Then I tried these larger size mats, (15 1/2 inches), using some pieces of fabric donated to my group several years ago. 

I had fun playing with different fill-in designs in different scales.

Now I'm machine quilting my mystery quilt - pictures to come later.
Check out all the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  3.5 yards

Fabric used year to date  45.875 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

 Fabric added year to date  50 yards

Net used 2015  -4.25 yards

I finally completed some sample candle mats that I started in November.  I saw some instructions (not in English) on the internet and tried out the method, then played with strip sizes to see what the results would be.  I was limited by the fabric I have at our southern home - most was designated for upcoming projects.  I'll probably donate these to my guild's boutique for the quilt show in June.

I'm closing the gap!

Check out others' at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times