A BUSY DAY

I began by entering all my receipts into Quicken, taking time to categorize all the spending over the past weekend.  I love being able to track our spending, and check to see how much money we have at a glance.  I guess there is a book keeper hiding inside me.

I've spent the rest of the day sewing!  I've been working on my "Sing a Happy Song" blocks, and I'm liking the way they are turning out!  Of course, I switched up the colours, so mine doesn't look at all like Judy's beauty..... 

There are six blocks with this colour green in step 2 - they will be the inside blocks in the final layout.

 There are fourteen blocks with this colour green in step 2 - these will be the perimiter blocks.  
I'm am serious about using stash, and didn't have quite enough in either piece to complete the quilt top, so I decided to be creative!

I have all the half square triangle blocks completed for the pieced corner units, and I have all the background triangles cut, (mine in bright lemon yellow), ready to stitch together tomorrow.  After these are stitched onto the step 2 blocks, I'll be adding the sashing strips and cornerstones.  
My plan is to make the final wide border from the print fabric used in the centre four patches.  

Now I had better figure out what we're having for dinner.  Eating out for the past few days has spoiled me already.  I'll have to rummage through the refrigerator to see what veggies will accompany the fish I remembered to remove from the freezer a while ago!

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Used this week  17.5 yards

Used year to date  177.625 yards

Added this week  0 yards

Added year to date  121.875 yards

 Net used 2012  55.75 yards

Finishing my triangle twist quilt this week really helped with the numbers.  Paper piecing can be wasteful, but oh so accurate!  According to EQ7, and adding the backing and binding fabric, the quilt took 15 yards!

I also remembered to make the challenge blocks for my quilt guild this week (at the last minute!).  The blocks are donated to our community quilts program and used to make quilts to be donated to all sorts of worthy causes. The deadline for the blocks in the October meeting, and they are trying to collect 1000 blocks - there were just over 600 turned in last Wednesday! (I made 17)

Last week, when my DH insisted I visit the local quilt shop, I picked up a panel for a Hallowe'en wall hanging for DDIL2.  I managed to get the quilting done, using a bit of gold and irridescent mylar thread to add a bit of sparkle, and then get the border sewn on as well.  Just in time - DS1, DS2 and DDIL2 will be visiting later this month!

Check out everyone's progress this week at Judy's blog!

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

This is the fifth and final set of blocks for my kaleidoscope project.  I haven't made much progress on anything, as having company visiting has taken most of my time for the past while.   They are departing on Thursday morning, and then on Friday DH and I are taking a van-load of quilters to a quilt show in Hudson FL, so I won't be making much progress until the weekend.  I'm having sewing withdrawal!!!!
Head over to Judy's blog for lots of creative links.

FOURTH SET OF BLOCKS

 

DH and I spent yesterday with our friends at the Magic Kingdom.  It was their first visit, so I was fun to see it through a first-timers' eyes.  We had a full day, arriving shortly after opening, and staying for the Electric Light Parade and the fireworks.  We took time to enjoy some of the entertainment around the park, and were happy we all wore lots of sunscreen!

 

THIRD SET OF BLOCKS

 

I love making these types of blocks, and seeing all the different variations that the fabric produces.

Our company arrived yesterday  and we were back from the airport in time for lunch.  The guys headed to the golf course, and the girls hit the pool before a simple dinner and an early bedtime.  

Today I'm heading off to my quilting group, and DH is taking them shopping.  They need a new camera, as well as some assorted clothing items, so they should have a good time. 

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

Here is the second set of 6 blocks for my latest kaleidoscope quilt.

 

I have all the triangles cut to make the edged squares that fit between each block, and I also have the triangles and strips cut to make the first border.  I will be able to sew some when I can sneak a bit of free time over the next 10 days with company.

 Although the pattern called for the seams to be pressed open, I decided to press them all in the same direction, so they would spiral around the block.  I was able to open the centre to reduce the bulk.

 Check out all the creativity this week at Judy's blog.

I'VE BEEN BUSY

Working on my latest kaleidoscope blocks.  I've made 30 blocks, each with 8 wedges, and each wedge had a narrow strip sewn to the top edge, and then trimmed before stitching together.   Here's the first set....



 Next step is to complete the corner units - more kaleidoscopes - triangles this time.  They also need the narrow strip sewn to each one.  I'll also be making the border "half blocks", also with the strip to each piece.  

Our visitors arrive Tuesday morning, so for the 10 days following, I'll have very little time to sew.  I may even have to skip my Wednesday quilting group - we have to plan outdoor activities according to the weather, and so far, it isn't planning to rain on Wednesday.....

I hope to get some hand sewing ready to work on while they are here, but who knows!  My next step is to pack up all my quilting stuff that is stored in the "guest room".  We love having company, but I wish I had another place to store my stuff.  My sewing room is under the carport, and has no climate control, so I don't store much there.  Love the space, but wish it had air conditioning this year!

FORGOTTEN BLOCKS!

Since I couldn't move forward on my "Pushin Up Spring" quilt until the backing fabric was washed, I decided to plan the layout for another applique project that I had worked on over the past winter.  The pattern is called "Baltimore Bliss" and is found here.

Block 11

 

 

Block 12

These were hand appliqued using a wash-away stabilizer, and I recently spent some time adding a bit of machine stitched embroidery to each block.  Here is the border fabric that inspired the colours in the quilt blocks.

 I enjoy designing in EQ7.  I imported pictures of each of the finished blocks, and then added a picture of the border, so I could see the actual border in place!  Too much fun!
Since I was able to wash and dry the backing, along with the 15 yards of fabric that I recently purchase, I'll be spending the rest of the morning at the ironing board.

Design Wall Monday

I have finished all the "Raggedy and Friends" blocks!  Thanks Kaaren at The Painted Quilt.  I have added all the sashing, now just have to assemble the quilt, find fabric for border, binding and backing, and I'll have another project ready to be quilted.
Check out what everyone else has been working on at Judy's blog.

Working on Tossed Fruit Salad

This is the second set of 4 blocks.  I decided to use this set for the runner.

 I had to make half hexagons, using 2 light and one dark triangle for the placemat blocks.  Half had the dark triangle on the left and half on the right.  I then had to add a "half-triangle" piece to form the square corners.  To fill in the sides, I stitched two "half-triangle pieces together to make a fill-in piece.

 Here is the first stitched block.  I don't usually use many pins, but I used them to attempt to match the seams when stitching these blocks.  Now I have to figure out what and how many borders I want to add to make each placemat.
I was surprised at how much I managed to finish, as I finally caught DH's cold, and have been working in a fog all day.  I tried to have a nap, but my eyes wouldn't close, so back to some more sewing.  DH is feeling better, so he's making dinner tonight.

Quilt Top Finished

I managed to get the borders sewn onto my orphan block quilt top.  I haven't decided what to use for the binding.....

I spent some time with my friend yesterday, doing the same for her quilt.  I gave her some of the similar blocks.  She is looking for backing for hers, then she'll be over to quilt using my Juki.  She has an old Kenmore machine that works wonderfully, but she hasn't been able to find a walking foot to fit - it is a super high shank, I think.

I delivered the 5 baby quilts from panels to the organizer of the community quilts program for my guild, and I added the three flannel scrap rail fence quilts that I had made from leftover flannel.  I'm sure they will be appreciated by whoever receives them!

I finished piecing the backing for a couple of quilt tops that have been hanging around my sewing room, so I'll be pin-basting today, then quilting for the next couple of days.....

Design Wall Monday

I finished all five of the baby quilts for my guild.  Then on Friday, my good friend came over for the morning to machine quilt a project she has been making.  She has been unable to find a walking foot to fit her machine, so I suggested she use mine.  She was making a "prayer quilt" for her church.  She managed to finish it, except for stitching the binding, and did that before taking it to church on Sunday.

While she was here, she mentioned that they like to have a "kid friendly" quilt available, just in case, so I found some blocks I had made a couple of years ago.  We played with a layout, pinned them in rows, and I even sent her home with some fabric to use for sashing.  That left me with 5 remaining blocks.  I decided to put them in the "orphan block basket", but while doing so, I found a few more that were hidden away, so I was able to begin this quilt......
I added a couple of rows of pinwheel blocks, also from the orphan basket.  Now I need to finishing sewing on the outside borders, then I think I'll add one more to make it a good cosy size....
Check out Judy's blog for more links to Design Wall Monday...

Disappearing Four Patch

I saw this demo'd and thought it could make a good, quick project for my Florida group next winter.  I like to try things out first.   I am also trying to tidy my sewing room, and found some light blue flowered fabric left over from a Project Linus workshop many years ago.

I began by cutting 6 1/2 inch squares of both fabrics and stitching them into large 4-patch blocks.
I decided that I wanted the centre "sashing" to end up at 2 inches finished, so I made each cut 1 1/4 inch from the centre seam , cutting on both sides and in both directions.
Leaving the four corners and the centre four patch in place, the remaining rectangles were turned around.
I then stitched the block together as you would any nine patch block.
I decided to square the blocks up to 11 inches after sewing.

I think that this would also made a good scrap quilt, and it could be made in a variety of sizes.  It looks best if made with two pairs of matching fabric squares.

More Plaid....

This was the second step in quilting the stars in my quilt.  I used the same colour thread and curved my way through the beige plaid squares in these blocks.

I changed to blue thread, and stitched hearts in the larger red triangles.

Then red thread repeated the curves in the small blue plaid squares.

I stitched a "square in a square" through the blue plaid rectangles in the full blocks, then petals in the blue plaid space in the connector blocks.

I hand guide-machine quilt, using a Juki machine set into my sewing table to make a smooth work surface.

More Plaid

 

After stitching the finished blocks together and pin-basting the quilt, I had to come up with a quilting plan.

I began by stitching in the ditch around all the star shapes.

Then I decided to quilt a spiral in the centre of the beige stars, with figure eight style loops extending into each point.  

I used a thread colour that matched the contrast in the plaid, matching the bobbin to the top thread.

As the backing of this quilt is large pieces of assorted plaids, I thought that the different thread colours would add another design element to the finished quilt.

In this type of quilt, I repeat the design in all matching parts.

BTW, I am quilting this on my Juki, by hand-guiding the quilt, without the use of a frame. 

A Plaid Quilt, Many Years in the Planning

Like many quilters, I have collected fabric over the years.  I discovered that I had quite a bit of plaid fabrics when I sorted my "stash" a couple of years ago.

As well as fabric, I am a collector of quilt patterns, in books, magazines and from the many wonderful sites on the Internet.  Unfortunately, I didn't keep good records as to which sites provided me some of the patterns.

I saved all the parts for a large "mystery" type quilt, and decided that it would make good use of a large number of the plaid cottons in my collection.  Before leaving for a winter in Florida, I cut all the pieces for this queen size quilt.  I stitched the blocks when we first arrived, then hung the blocks from some pants hangers, (the type with clips attached).  Recently, I had caught up on my other projects, and returned to the plaid quilt.

Since I wanted a country look, I selected some light tan muslin to be the background in all the blocks.  The beauty of this pattern is the open spaces for quilting that weaves its way between the blocks.  It also has no borders, so I used the muslin for the binding as well.