DESIGN WALL MONDAY

Nothing on my design wall yet, but I  hope to get these 4 quilts pin-basted this afternoon.  One is a larger scrap quilt, with braid border, and there are also 3 small baby quilts.  The binding is all cut, stitched and folded, ready to attach too!

We had fun on the weekend, entertaining all DH's band members and families.  I made pulled pork with onion buns, potato salad, and we also had coleslaw. 

There were snacks, beverages of choice, and lots of conversation during the afternoon, and we had great goodies for dessert as well.
 The band is performing for a group having a celebration dinner this evening, so I hope to get some quilting done while DH is out.

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

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Used this week  40 yards

Used year to date  71.25 yards

Added this week  0 yards

Added year to date 7.75 yards

Net used 2016   63.5 yards

Thanks to the pillowcase sewing day, I used 40 yards from my stash this week!  Some of the fabrics had been hiding for almost 20 years, so it was about time to get them into use.  I pulled all my kid-friendly, novelty fabrics from their shelves, and cut pillowcase parts before heading south!

I also have a large scrap quilt and three baby quilts waiting to be pin-basted.  I have all the bindings prepared and ready as well.

We're having DH's band members and spouses over for pulled pork on onion buns tonight, along with coleslaw and potato salad.  I have deserts made, snacks ready and beverages cooling.  It is a beautiful day, with clear blue skies, light breezes and temperatures in the 70's - just perfect!

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

A SUCCESSFUL PILLOWCASE STITCHING AFTERNOON

My quilting group, along with other friends and residents of our community used our Wednesday quilting time to make pillowcases for the charity "Ryan's Cases for Smiles".

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One of the area coordinators came to assist, and brought 2 large totes full of pillowcase parts, all cut out and paired together, along with some pinned ready to stitch. 



 Our members also brought completed cases, and paired parts to donate as well.

We had 16 machines, including a couple of sergers, doing the stitching, and the remaining helpers worked at 4 ironing stations, a trimming station, and several pinning areas to keep us all busy. 



 We also had runners, who kept picking up and delivering cases and picking up pins from the stitchers, as well as turners, prepared the cases for the ironing team.
At first the stitchers sewed the cuffs to the body of the case, then it was turned, and sent to the ironing stations.  

Then the sergers were kept busy doing the final L-seam.  When we reached a backlog, the sewers began finishing the cases with French Seams.  Of course, there was a little un-stitching, and trimming to be done!

We began at 11, and by 3pm we had 
202 completed pillowcases, along with 100 cases with the cuffs stitched, pressed, ready for the final L-seam!  These will be taken to the next group for them to complete.



We had a short break for lunch, and there were chocolates and homemade cookies to share during the whole session.  (We wanted to keep everyone's energy levels up!) 

We had a great day, and plan to repeat this again next year.

Check out their website, as there are chapters all across the USA and Canada, who would love to have your help.  They have sewing days scheduled that anyone can join.and you can also donate money, fabric, zipper type plastic bags, as well as your time!   There is a pattern on their website, and a link to a tutorial on French seams.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I've been busy using some scrap 2 1/2 inch strips.  I made blocks, using Bonnie Hunter's Scrappy Trips pattern.  The blue borders are made from a piece of fabric that didn't make the final cut in my Storm at Sea quilt, and I also used more of the braid strips that I made as "leaders and enders" all last year.

When I was quilting with my community quilts group up north last spring, I found these "blue dog" blocks that had been cut from a panel, and then left behind.  I pulled some fabric from my small stash to turn them into two baby quilts.
The four square blocks needed 4 smaller pieced blocks to complete the top. 

 The six smaller, rectangular pieces were just sewn together, and then I added a "zipper" border, made from 2 fabrics.

Now I just have to find time to get all three pin-basted, so I can complete them.

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

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

 Used this week  0 yards

Used year to date   31.25 yards

Added this week  7.5 yards

Added year to date  7.75 yards

Net used 2016  23.5 yards

There is a shop hop in my area this month - 22 shops!  You have to visit 5 to be eligible for any of the medium prizes, and all 22 for the larger prizes.  DH and I attended a quilt show in New Port Richey on Friday - lots of great inspiration!  There was a shop nearby, so that made #4 on my passport.  I found a great stripe that I had to have, along with a lovely black, red and white print.  Then on the way home we stopped at my favourite shop, Quilts on Plum Lane in Dade City, and I found 2 more stripes and also bought backing for my latest scrap quilt!  That made shop 5, so I handed in my passport. (There is less temptation this way!)

This Wednesday, my quilting group is dedicating the time to make pillowcases for Ryan's Case for Smiles.  I cut pillow cases and cuffs from my stash before heading south for the winter, and I have 38 to stitch on Wednesday!   That should help my stash report next week!

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

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Used this week 1 yard

Used year to date  31.25 yards

Added this week 0 yards

Added year to date  .25 yards

Net used 2016  31 yards 

I completed my tiny Tuscan Landscape - using 1 whole yard!

DH thinks it needs some birds in the sky!

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

 

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

Last Wednesday, some of my quilting group tried their hands at a small landscape quilt.  The pattern, "Tuscan Landscape" by Karen Eckmeier, was found in Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting magazine, July/Aug 2007 edition.  Many tried "free cutting" with their rotary cutter for the first time.  Mine was made with a few of my limited stash of fabrics here in the sunny south.
Then I decided to use some of my 2 1/2 leftover strips, so I made some "Scrappy Trips" blocks, following the directions found here.  I made 24 blocks, and tried a couple of layouts.


I have no design wall here, so I placed them on my living-room rug, and took pictures.
I find it easier to see the pattern when I can step back.

I used the same beige dotty fabric on the centre diagonal line in each block.

Of course, as soon as DH walked in, he spotted the block that I had stitched incorrectly!  23 out of 24 isn't bad......

I finally decided to use the first layout, with the blocks creating squares, instead of the more traditional trip around the world layout.

Off to correct one block, then sew them all together.
Check out all the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times. 

STASH REPORT SUNDAY - FEBRUARY 7, 2016

Fabric used this week  30.25 yards

Fabric used year to date  30.25 yards

Fabric added this week  .25 yards

Fabric added year to date  .25 yards

Net used 2016  30 yards

Finally - a finish!!!!  I stitched the final 6 inches of binding on the king-size Storm at Sea quilt I've been making for my son and his wife!  I've been working on it since after Christmas.  I don't think it has ever taken this far into a new year to post my first yardage used report.  I'll have pictures of the full quilt later, as I have to get DH and his friend, along with 2 step ladders to hold the quilt up for its full picture - we also needed much higher ceilings so will be heading to the clubhouse!

 The pale blue border was quilted in Waves, design from The Inbox Jaunt, and stitched in Superior Thread Fantastico variegated thread.  The sand and footprint borders is stitched in simple waves in a matching thread.  This also used the remaining focal squares.

The final border, featuring sand dollars, uses my favourite feathered hooks, stitched in Superior Thread's Twist, in a dark aqua/dark teal.

The quilting in the main body of the quilt was kept simple - I think the pattern speaks for itself.  I stitched relaxed waves, using more of Superior's Twist, in an aqua/turquoise, to accentuate the illusion of curves created by the blocks. 

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