SHEEP ARE JUMPING

Before I stopped working last night, I played with the layout of the sheep quilt.

Please excuse the lighting...... My design wall is in a narrow hallway, next to the stairs, and it has an overhead light that causes glare!  Once I get it stitched together, I'll have to hunt in my stash for border fabric.  I have a cute pink flannel for the back with more sheep!

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I thought I'd see what was in my cupboard, and found 4 hangers loaded with fabric strips that had been overlooked, and a small bag of "parts".  I trimmed them into the sizes of strips and squares that I save, to be added to my bins for future projects.

I found some 4 patches, and decided to get them into a quilt top before they got lost again for another 10 years or so!

I started by adding triangles to each 4-patch, to set them on point, using green and gold fabrics.  Then I added a border to each one, using the same dark red pin-dot fabric that was in the original blocks, and a navy blue fabric with silver speckles, just a shade darker than the original blue print.

While searching my stash for a fabric to use for sashing, I found a piece of the autumn print that was part of the original 4-patches!  Once that was added between the blocks,  I checked my stash of green fabrics and found a piece that was perfect for the final border and binding, and I was able to use the whole piece!

Just think - it all started with a dozen 4patch blocks!  I'll get a better picture of the whole quilt after I find some backing and complete the quilting!

I'm linking to Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.  Check out what others are working on this week.

DESIGN WALL / STASH REPORT

Fabric used this week  21.625 yards

Fabric used year to date  100.75 yards

Fabric added this week 0 yards

Fabric added year to date  52 yards

Net used 2017  48.75 yards

My large "used" number is due to finally completing the quilting on my double Irish chain quilt - destined to be a wedding gift in September.  I'll take its official portrait in a couple of weeks when my son and his family will be visiting, and I'll have 2 tall men to hold it!  DH helped me spread it on our bed for a picture.

 I spent part of two days quilting the swirls in the neutral areas.  The first day I quilted the outer 2 blocks, and left the centre blocks for day 2, after a good night sleep.  Some of my centre circles are more round than others!

I had a bit of the border fabric left over, so I made a table runner, just for fun.  I forgot to add the yardage for this small project, so it is included in the total fabric used.

Check out what others are doing this week at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

Nothing on my wall, except orphan blocks.  I finished all the "B" blocks yesterday, and stitched part of the first rows together before DH returned home and needed my assistance.



We are having our second day of rain this week - more than we need!  Lake Ontario is overflowing its banks, docks are under water, picnic tables are floating!  A friend went out in a boat and sailed down the St. Lawrence river a ways, taking pictures of all their normal docking places - almost all closed and underwater!  I wish we could share our abundance of water to places that are in serious drought!

My garden is green, and the irises are blooming, but they don't like the steady rain any more that I do....

The good thing about a rainy day is that it is good for quilting time.

Check out what others are working on at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

Here's my Scrappy Trip Around the World, completed.  The block design is a free pattern from Bonnie Hunter.  The solid borders was made from a yard of fabric that I selected for my DIL's Storm at Sea quilt, but it didn't make the final cut.  The scrappy braid border was made as a "leader and ender" project last year, made from a shoe box full of cut pieces - a garage sale find!  It is hard to see in the picture, but I also made scrappy binding, from leftover pieces.  I hate to see good fabric go to waste!
I have some "one block wonder" pieces cut out, and I also pulled some fabric out that I've had for many years - and I've been playing with designs using EQ7.  I'm determined that it will be a finished quilt to return north next month!

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

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

After completing the top, using donated "stack n whack" blocks, I discovered one narrow strip of 8 repeats of the focal fabric in the bottom of the bag!  I straightened it into a 2 inch strip, then cut 60 degree triangles, each stack having 8 pieces.

Since 60 degree triangle only require 6 pieces to form a shape, I set the remaining 2 pieces of each design aside.  I also found  a couple of 2 inch strips of the background cream fabric, used in the original quilt blocks, so that was cut into 60 degree triangles also.

 I had to cheat and make two hexagon shapes with 3 different pairs of fabric, but I think the small runner turned out just fine.  It finishes at 20 1/4 inches x 12 inches.  I think I'll give the finished runner to the guild member that made the original blocks!

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

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

It doesn't look much different from last week, but I've appliqued all the diamonds and circles on the ring, and attached it along the inside edge.  (The outer edge is still free, until I get the appliques stitched on the four corners - I prepared some of the pieces this morning.)

I still have to stitch the interior parts of the two large leaves, but everything else is completed so far.  Now to make the fabric choices for the next layer of flowers......

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

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I spent a few days last week prepping some of the applique parts for my next project.  It doesn't look like much yet, but with so many little pieces, I'm working from the bottom layer to the top.  This is part of a pattern by Esther Aliu, that she has been sharing on her Yahoo Group.
I'm trying to decide how large I'll make this quilt.  My original plan was just to work on the centre and make a small wall hanging that I can enjoy.  My guild has begun another BOM quilt project, and I'm thinking I might like to use my collection of blues and whites for that. 
What to do, what to do????

I'm also trying to complete the quilting on 3 community quilts, and a quilt for a friend's church to celebrate the church's anniversary. 

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

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

Here is my "Kiss in the Corner" quilt top.  The seams are pieced in one direction, and it is waiting to be pressed. 

I've always pieced tops using an "assembly line" method, similar to Bonnie Hunter's "Webbing the Top"

 Next step is to pin all the seam intersections, before sewing the final seams.

I have the first border strips cut and ready to sew on - found enough pieces of the same fabric in my 2 inch strip bin - cut at various times for various projects!

I'm still trying to decide which fabric I'll use for the final border.  I have it narrowed down to 3, but I'll wait to audition them when the top and first border are attached.

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

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

Nothing on my design wall, but I am prepping pieces for another quilt top made from scraps!!!!!

 Here is my completed half log cabin quilt!  There are 140 five inch blocks in this quilt, and I decided not to add borders.  The red binding was also leftover fabric, just waiting to be used.  The quilt is 50 x 70 inches finished, and will be donated to Quilts of Valour, through my guild's community quilts program in September.

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

DESIGN WALL MONDAY - OOPS! TUESDAY

I'm not sure where Monday went!  DH and friend arrived in time for dinner last night.  They were both tired from their visit to Syracuse, with 5 performances in 3 days, but they had fun, added smiles to some residents of nursing homes, and generally enjoyed their time!

Nothing on my wall, but I managed to get my half log cabin quilt pin-basted.  Now to find time to quilt!

It is currently draped over my sewing table, just patiently waiting.

So far this morning, two more members of the band arrived, just in time to head out for the morning performance.  The whole group is returning to our place at noon, for a quick lunch, so this morning I made some egg salad and tuna salad to make sandwiches, and I'll slice some tomatoes, cheese, put out pickles, crackers, meat and other condiments, and they can have a free-for-all, making their own lunch when they arrive.  This afternoon, we're all going to attend the performance, then are off to band member Steve and Shirley's place for dinner.  Not sure when quilting will fit into the schedule.  
Tonight we'll have 3 house guests instead of 1 - we're at our maximum number for the space we have in our small townhouse, but everyone is comfortable.  It will seem very quiet when everyone heads home on Thursday!!!!!

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

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I was finally ready to work on something of my own, and noticed this.....  My 1 1/2 inch strip bin was overflowing!  I have the strips organized by dark and light.


I decided to make some half-log cabin blocks, although I usually use larger strips.

After a couple of days of intermittent sewing while doing other tasks, I have 40 blocks completed.  They finish at 5 inches square, so I'll need lots of them to make a quilt top - good news to help use up some strips, but probably won't use as many as I'd like!



DS2 and DDIL just bought a king-size bed, so now I'm hoping to make a quilt for them.  I suggested that she look at quilts on the internet to get an idea of what she'd like.  Now that they are in their new home, they are beginning to decorate, not just fit in whatever came along as they did in their apartment.  Hopefully she can find something that she likes so I can make some plans for this huge winter project!

I just received a video of our lovely grandson, eating his first solid food.  He was really ready for it, and tried to wrestle the bowl out of his mother's hands.  I think he would have eaten more, but they are starting with a small amount of rice cereal to see how it goes.  When I told them that the nurses fed DS2 cereal while we were in the hospital, they were shocked, as the newer idea is to wait until they are 6 months old.  He's been interested in their food for quite a while, so I'm sure he'll progress quickly. 

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

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

Nothing on my design wall again today.  I've been machine quilting another "community quilts" for my guild.  This one is a disappearing 4-patch made in flannel.  I'll be hand stitching the binding on while watching TV this evening.

Head over to Judy's blog, Patchwork Times, to check on all this week's creativity.
 

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

Nothing currently on my design wall!  Just finished a quilt......

This quilt used all the bonus half-square triangle units that I made when making "Grand Illusion" last December.  I promised myself that they wouldn't end up in another zip-lock bag.  Nann suggested that I call it "Good n Plenty" after a US licorice candy with pink and white coating.  Seemed like a great fit.  

It finished around 50 x 60 inches.

I had a large cone of heavy weight black thread that ended up in my sewing room.  Not sure where it came from, but some of it finally found a home in this quilt.  I had to use a size 16 topstitch needle to accomodate this thick thread, but I love how it shows on the piano key border.

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

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I've been sewing in "fits and starts", as my grandmother would say.  Preparing for the quilt show has been taking most of my time.
I did manage to get the top this far, adding sashing and cornerstones, and then 2 borders.  
I discovered that I had cut all the sashing strips the wrong size, so I used them in the second border, adding a cornerstone in between each.

It is still a fairly small quilt top, measuring 36 x 46 inches, and I'm not sure what I want to do with it.....I guess I'll just have to look at it and see what it wants next.  My supply of bright pinks is pretty low after making Grand Illusion.

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

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I just needed to work on something "newish" - I've done little sewing, with all the quilt show preparations.
I took out some small blocks that I pieced before heading north.  The were made from the bonus half-square triangle units from my version of Grand Illusion, all in pink, black and white.

I placed them in an on point layout, then rotated them until I found a design that I liked.  I plan to stitch them together, using white sashing with black cornerstones.  I made pieced side-setting triangles, pink on the long sides and black on the short ones.  I'm not sure where I'll go from here, but I do want to make it a bit larger.

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

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

Although my machine has been idle lately, I've still been doing some stitching.
  I still had basted 1/2 inch hexagons remaining from a previous project, so I just had to stitch them together!

I used Thermore batting - super low loft, and great for table items.  I turned the backing edges in, and hand stitched the edges.
  I machine stitched the hexagons, with matching, and variegated King Tut thread, colour #918.  
It is now sitting on my small dining table, with a small vase of lily-of-the-valley, adding lovely scent to the room.

The whole project is just 16 inches across!

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

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

My sewing room is almost back to normal, and I just had to sew today.  Recently, my guild's Community Quilts group received a request from the NICU unit at our local hospital, for some premie quilts 24 inches square.  I had taken 2 old 1/2 yard panels south a couple of years ago, and wasn't inspired, but when I was putting fabric away, inspiration hit!  Each panel had a small wallhanging piece and 2 parts to make a tiny pillow.  This will be my first NICU quilt - after adding sashing and borders, and I'll use the stripe for binding.  More to come.....

Also, while I was putting things away, I found some leftover block units from a winter project, and stitched them together to make 4 blocks.  I'll be using these to make small "snap bags".




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

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.

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.