DESIGN WALL MONDAY

This wall hanging is about 40 inches square.  The tea pot blocks had been in my stash for a long time, but I think what stopped me from using them, was that there were only 8.  I decided to make a paper pieced block to round it out to 9, and found this one in my stash of patterns.  The original block was a mystery project from Paper Panache.  It was shared in time for Mother's Day a while back, and has a heart theme (handles, cup and tea pot lid).  There were also hearts on the pot, but I decided to make it all in print fabric instead.  I also used the same print for the binding.  Now I have to find a home for it!

Some things are difficult to photograph, and I find that embroidered blocks, especially those with lots of metallic thread are among the hardest for an amateur to do well......

All of the angel embroideries in this quilt were made with 3 shades of metallic thread, excluding their hair, skin and some small details.  The pot in the bottom right hand corner block is made of silver thread, and hardly shows at all. 

In person, this is a great quilt!  I decided to stop after the first border, but did add a narrow yellow accent strip to the edge before adding the binding.

Here's the star of the show!

 I just love the expressions on the sheep!  This is what attracted me to this project at first.







This project was designed by Natashia Curtin of Smee Designs and is found in the July 2012 edition of Australian Homespun magazine, available as an e-edition at Zinio.com

The designer's humour shows in every block.  My only complaint is that I was having such fun stitching the blocks, I was sad when I completed the last one!

Check out Judy's blog, Patchwork Times, to see all the shared creativity this week!

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  7.75 yards

Fabric used year to date  58.5 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  9 yards

Net used 2014  49.5 yards

We've had a busy week with company arriving on Monday evening.  DH's cousin and friend arrived, and we've been having a great time, getting to know one another again, sharing family stories, and just having fun.
Cousin P, a professional musician (guitar), has been having fun playing with DH and his friends.  His specialty is bass guitar, and he's been teaching our friend some new rhythms and little fingering tricks as well.
I did manage to get two projects completed this week!   I completed the quilting and binding on "Long Time Ago in Bethlehem", and then finished "Tea Anyone?" (I had completed most of the top up north, so I just had to add the final border, and quilt it!)   I haven't had time to take any pictures, so I'll try to get them taken so I can share them soon!
Check out the stash progresses at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

MORE HEXAGONS

I thought I was finished making hexagons, but after I appliqued the quilt to the plain border, I decided it needed to be a bit larger to fit our bed comfortably.  I thought about adding a pieced border, but didn't think it would add to the overall design.
My final decision was to make a second plain border, using fabric similar to the final background hexagons used in the quilt top, and then add two alternating hexagon motifs , appliqued to the final border, to finish the quilt.
So now I am back making 42 flower motifs, and 42 lozenge motifs.  I had been complaining to DH that I didn't have any hand stitching to do while watching the Olympics, so now that problem has been solved.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I've been busy getting ready for company arriving this evening.  Both DH and I use our guest room as extra storage - me for quilt stuff and DH for guitars, amplifiers, stands, cables.  We had to be very creative to find accessible storage for all of the items, so our guests will have a room to themselves!

I decided to use the blue fabric with stars that I bought recently, to use as sashing around the embroidered blocks of "Long Time Ago in Bethlehem".  I couldn't find any pale colours with small stars, but I did get a buttery yellow with small polka dots.

  After looking at the completed top, I decided to finish it without the remaining borders in the original design.  I'll be using the same blue for the binding, so I machine basted a small folded strip on each edge to provide a small accent.

 I've been making hexagon units while watching the Olympics.  I want to plan the final appliqued border for my hexagon quilt, so I know how many I have to complete.

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

STASH REPORT WEEK 6

Fabric used this week  0 yards

Fabric used year to date  50.75 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  9 yards

Net used 2014  41.75 yards

Nothing completed this week - two days were too cold to sew in my room, the weather was cold and rainy for the south.  Nothing like family and friends are suffering at our northern home!

I added the sashing between the embroidered blocks for "A Long Time Ago in Bethlehem".  The original pattern had two of the blocks without sashing on the outside edge of the quilt top, so I adjusted some of the block sizes and added it.  When it was finished, I decided that the quilt is large enough for a wall hanging, so I'm not going to add any more borders.  Now I have to hunt for some backing fabric in my small stash.

Then I decided to work on finishing my hexagon quilt.  I cut the remaining burgundy fabric in strips to add a straight border to the outside edges, and spent 2 afternoons machine appliqueing the top to the border.  After measuring the top, I've decided that it needs to be larger, so I've decided to add an additional border, and I'm back to making motifs that will be appliqued to the final border to bring the hexagons to the outside of the quilt.

DH's music partner found 2 hats to add to their performance wardrobe, but they need new hat bands.  His wife found some great black and white musical striped fabric, so I'll be cutting some bias strips to dress up their new hats.

Check out Judy's blog, Patchwork Times, to see all the progress made this week!

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I almost forgot to post!  I was busy completing the quilting and stitching on the binding of the final baby quilt that I'll be making for a while.  I donate most of them to my guild's community quilts program, to be donated in our community and many other places as well.

 I pick up panels whenever I find ones that I like and are on sale!  The yard size ones are becoming more scarce as most of the manufacturers are make panels only 24 inches wide by the width of the fabric.  I often pick them up from clearance sales, so the chance of finding the coordinates is slim to non.  I still have a small collection to work on, and find them wonderful to flex my free-motion machine quilting muscles before starting a new project!  The third in the group will have its binding stitched while watching TV with DH tonight.
I think I really have to figure out how to finish my hexagon project.  I like to add a straight border to the outside edges, and machine applique the hexagons to the border.  I only have small amount of the dark burgundy fabric I used as a hexagon border in the project, so I may only be able to make a narrow straight border, then decide how to finish the edge.....  Our southern weather has been strange this year, and we went from a high of 39F a couple of days ago, to 89F today.  My sewing room was comfortable this morning, but is mighty hot this afternoon, even with breezes and a ceiling fan - too hot to think clearly for a northern girl like me!
Maybe I'll square up my embroidered Christmas blocks and get them ready for sashing etc!
Check out the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY WEEK 5

Fabric used this week  5.75 yards

Fabric used year to date  50.75 yards

Fabric added this week  9 yards

Fabric added year to date  9 yards

Net used 2014  41.75 yards 

My trip to the Suwannee Valley Quilt Shoppe on Wednesday was fun.  I helped a couple of people choose fabric for their projects, and even got some for mine!

These two will be used in my embroidered project, A Long Time Ago in Bethlehem.

I am always attracted to diagonal stripes, and these 3 had to come home with me.  They make wonderful bindings!

Of course, this wonderful striped fabric caught my eye - the colours are so rich,with the metallic gold accents!

 We are going to our neighbours' home for a superbowl party later today.  I have no interest in football, but when I tried to stay home one year, Mrs. neighbour visited me every half hour, bringing food and snacks, and I didn't get anything done!

I still don't have a full picture of my Chocolate, Strawberry and Vanilla quilt, but did take one on our bed....

Our home is tiny, and it is difficult to step far enough away to take a good picture.  I'll try to get DH and a friend to hold the quilt for a proper picture soon.....

Check out all the stash reports for this week at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times. 

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

This is block 8, called "Keep It Down!"  I am working on the final block to complete "A Long Time Ago in Bethlehem".  I didn't stitch them in order - I cut the largest pieces of fabric first, to make sure I didn't have a seam anywhere, then cut the rest, making the best use of my background fabric.  My quilt group is going on an "outing" to a shop about 2 hours away on Wednesday, so I hope to find fabric for the sashing between the blocks, so I can assemble the centre of the wall hanging.  I think that the rest will wait until we return north in April, as I'm sure I have lots of fabric in my stash to complete the quilt.  I'm trying to use up my huge stash of Christmas fabrics....
Check out Judy's blog, Patchwork Times, to see all the creativity this week.....

STASH REPORT SUNDAY WEEK 4

Used this week  23.625 yards

Used year to date  45 yards

Added this week  0 yards

Added year to date  0 yards

Net used 2014   45 yards

My version of Bonnie Hunter's Smith Mountain Morning has about 6 inches of quilting remaining to finish, so I'm calling it DONE!  I began working on it in November when we arrived at our winter location, but other things kept interfering!  My version is queen size and in pink, white and brown.  I'm calling it Chocolate, Strawberry and Vanilla, Oh My!

I also completed a baby quilt for my guild's community quilt program, made from a panel.  It was my warm-up quilt, to get my mind and muscles ready to machine quilt!

I love weeks like this, when I can finally report on a big finish....

This Wednesday, some of my quilt group are travelling 2 hours north-west to visit a beautiful quilt shop - I'll take pictures and report on our visit.....  This will damage my great numbers, but I do need some fabric to complete my latest embroidered project.

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

MY WEDNESDAY QUILTING GROUP

At this time of year, we start to see some finishes my members of my quilting group.  I'd thought I'd share some candid shots of some of the projects.

This wonderful applique quilt was made by a fairly new quilter, who said that when she began the project, she didn't know enough about quilting to understand how long it would take to complete.  All the appliques were made with the freezer paper method, with turned under seam allowances and then machine satin stitched.  She had it professionally quilted - a work of art!

A close-up picture that shows the quilting better.  I wish I had taken this without the flash, but I was using our old camera, and I didn't remember how to turn it off!

Another fairly new quilter finished this lovely batik log cabin quilt.  She just received it back from the quilter, and was hand stitching the binding.





She chose a quilting design with a dragonfly to echo one of the the fabrics in the top.  Once again my flash washed out the color of the backing fabric. 




This black and white quilt top was having borders added... 

Here is a completed pinwheel stripe table runner, followed by one in progress.

There were many more projects in various states of completion, but since I was helping everyone with their questions, I was unable to photograph them all.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I have completed the stitching on 4 more blocks for the "Long Time Ago in Bethlehem" quilt project.
 
Block 12 is the smallest - called "Hark"



 
Block 9 is called "Spotlight Angel"












Block 11 is "Eggsellent Advice"





Block 10 is "Glory of the Lord".  This is the block I saw that MADE ME want to stitch this project!  Every time I look at the sheep, I smile!

I pin-basted a small baby quilt panel, and I've almost finished the quilting, so I should have it completed for next week's report!.

Head over to Judy's blog, Patchwork Times to look at this week's creativity

STASH REPORT WEEK 3

Fabric used this week  0 yards

Fabric used  year to date  21.375 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date 0 yards

Net used in 2014  21.375 yards

No finishes this week, but also no new fabric.  I've been working on a wall hanging that has been in the planning stages for 2 or 3 years.  I've also been stitching my "Long Time Ago in Bethlehem" blocks during the evenings.  My sewing room has no heat or air conditioning, and we've been having cold temperatures overnight - almost frost - so I don't sew until my room is a reasonable temperature, which can be as late as 1pm!  It sure cuts down my available time.  I did manage to get my brown, pink and white quilt pin-basted, but discovered an error in one block, so I have to remove the corner unit, and sew it in the correct orientation!

Friday we went to visit friends in their new home near Leesburg FL, travelling with 2 other couples (they had all worked together at Tyndall AFB).  Their community is lovely, as is their home.  They've been redecorating since they moved in, including a new kitchen, tile floors, etc. 

Head over to Judy's blog, Patchwork Times, to see other quilters' progress this week! 

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I've kept busy this week finishing projects and doing some machine quilting during the day, and stitching blocks for "A Long Time Ago in Bethlehem" during the evenings.  I love the look of the metallic thread, but it is a bit of a struggle from time to time.  The silver looks wonderful in person, but doesn't photograph well.

I love the humor in each block - the designer did a wonderful job!

This block is titled "Which Way?"

The "Mice Burglars" are having fun with the gold, frankincense in the chest and mhyrr in the silver bottle.....

Check out Judy's blog, Patchwork Times, to see what other quilters are playing with this week.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY WEEK 2

Fabric used this week  2.75 yards

Fabric used  year to date  21.375 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date 0 yards

Net used in 2014  21.375 yards

I completed 3 samples that I used for my group.   

First, I finished stitching a set of coasters - to be donated to my guild's boutique or used for a holiday hostess gift next winter.

Then I completed 2 luggage tags,

 

Then finally I finished the quilting on my stripe pinwheel runner, and added the binding.

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

Pattern Questions Answered

The pattern "A Long Time Ago in Bethlehem" is found in the July 2012 edition of Australian Homespun magazine.
I found an e-edition available at Zinio.com (no affiliation).
After downloading the edition, you can find a link to the remainder of the patterns located on page 63 of the magazine.
The magazine usually has the patterns available for 1 year, but have kept this one, as it is so popular!
You can get the finishing instructions for block 1 in the magazine...

I hope this helps everyone!

This could have been answered privately if people wouldn't add their comments as Anonymous!!!!

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

  A year or so ago, I saw someone working on this lovely Christmas project.  The pattern is "A Long Time Ago in Bethelehem" and was in the July 2012 issue of Australian Homespun magazine.  After hunting everywhere for a copy, I discovered it was available as an e-magazine download, so I was able to find the original pattern, and the link to the rest of the blocks.  Pardon the wrinkles and folds, as I haven't pressed any of these since they were completed.

 Block 5 is called the Reluctant Donkey.  I love the humour in each of the blocks!

Block 2 is called "Kitchen Sink Camel".  This reminded me of a picture that my Father-in-law took of DH's Grandmother packing after a month visit.  There was so much stuff that he added the old kitchen sink to the pile!  I wish I had a copy of the picture....

Last night I noticed that my bin of leaders and enders was getting full, so I sat, while listening to the end of an audio book, and stitched the "2-patches" into 3's then into 9-patches.

Head over to Judy's blog, Patchwork Times, to see what others are working on this week!

STASH REPORT WEEK 1

Fabric used this week  18.625 yards

Fabric used year to date  18.625 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  0 yards

Net used 2014  18.625 yards

I love new beginnings, and especially starting the new year right, by finishing several small projects, that add up to quite a bit of fabric.  I'm enjoying machine quilting on my Bernina 710, finding it quite effortless.  It has handled every thread I've threaded through it, with very little fussing with tension issues etc.

This Christmas door panel seemed to be everywhere on the internet this fall.  DH chose it for our outside front entry, but I didn't get it finished in time.  It will have to make its debut at Christmas 2014!

Now I have to get back to finishing a few more small projects that have been hanging around for a while - not usually the case for me.  I like to make a project from start to finish before beginning a new one!

Check out everyones' start to the new year of stash reports at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

MY FINAL HEXAGON REPORT FOR A WHILE

I finished the hand pieced top just before Christmas, but this is the first chance I had to take a photo etc.  DH is very tall, but his arms weren't quite long enough to stretch it out all the way!  I still plan to add a flat border - I'll applique the outer edge of hexagons, then I'll be able to baste it and prepare for quilting.  I plan to make it large enough to use on our bed!

I won't be claiming the fabric used on my stash report until it is completed!   

A GOOD START FOR THE NEW YEAR

 I have finished quilting, and added the binding to two more baby quilts.  The first one is square, and the colours look much prettier in person.  (I always have problems with my camera - time to look for a new one I think).
The centre was made with 2 sizes of squares, and I have lots of leftover half-square triangle blocks too!

This one almost took more time to cut than to sew.  I work in an assembly line fashion and finished in an afternoon.  I quilted swirly flowers in the snowball blocks.

More sewing tomorrow!

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

This is a disappearing 9-patch quilt.  The group finished the top, made of lots of scrap 5 inch squares, and sewn, cut and pressed by many hands at our last quilt day before Christmas.  I brought it home, made the binding and finished it with simple quilting.  I even completed the binding by machine - not my usual method, but since this will be a baby quilt, and hopefully see many washings, I think it is the most secure way to finish the quilt.

 This is the stack of 4 baby quilts that I'll be finishing.  The bottom of the stack is a panel, and has racoons on flannel for the backing.  The mauve one was shown last week, and the yellow backed quilt has a large star layout.  These two quilts were made from donated stash.  I've done the "stitch in the ditch" quilting on them all, and tomorrow I hope to get all the free motion quilting complete as well.

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








 

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  0 yards

Fabric used year to date  184.25 yards

Fabric added this week  10.5 yards

Fabric added year to date  110.875 yards

Net used 2013  73.375 yards

 

I'm pleased with the amount of fabric I used this year, although I've been doing lots of sewing but no finishing since heading south in late October!  I also gave in to some of the wonderful end of the year sales, including one on Saturday at Quilts on Plum Lane in Dade City.  Most of the yardage bought this week was for backing fabric for my brown, pink and white quilt top - so hopefully I'll get it basted soon so I can begin quilting.  I also have 4 baby quilts ready to be basted/quilted, so my "used" numbers will look good to begin 2014!

 

Making stash reports each week keeps me aware of how much I am using, and encourages me to "shop my stash" before I head to the fabric store.

Check out Judy's blog, Patchwork Times, to see how everyone's reports.

HAPPY BOXING DAY!

DH and I are spending a quiet day at home.  We had a lovely Christmas day, delivering treats to our neighbours and enjoying our friends who joined us for dinner.  (DH and I forgot to serve the dressing!)  We talked and laughed, remembered Christmases past, and had a wonderful time.
Our son in Toronto had his electricity restored at 2am, so he and his wife got their Christmas wish!  Our other son was heading over to his wife's family home to spend the day.
We talked to several friends on Christmas day as well.  It was lovely to hear everyones' voices.

This morning, DH carved the rest of the turkey, and we are making turkey soup.  Our friends mentioned that their only regret about eating out for Christmas was no leftovers, so DH delivered several containers filled with turkey, dressing, gravy, cranberry sauce, and a plate of goodies too!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

 I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a peaceful new year.

DH and I are spending a quiet day with friends. 

 My thoughts are with all those affected by the winter storms.  My DS1 and his wife have been without power and heat for the past 3 days.  My thanks goes to all the linesmen who are working day and night to restore power - their work is under-appreciated!

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  0 yards

Fabric used year to date  184.25 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  100.375 yards

Net used 2013  83.875 yards

 

Nothing new and nothing used from MY stash!  I finished 3 baby quilt tops, but all from fabric donated to our group!  I've been doing lots of holiday baking, and I delivered 2 loaves of cinnamon fruit bread to our neighbours, who are expecting lots of family coming to visit over the next week or so! 

 

Hopefully, I can get busy sewing between Christmas and New Years, so I'll have something to count as finished!!!!!

 

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

HEXAGON FRIDAY

It looks like I'll finish the top of my hexagon quilt before Christmas!  I just checked my file of photos, and my first picture, showing the beginning of the middle row, was on April 16th.  I began cutting squares for basting just before heading north, at the beginning of April, so I'll have completed the top in 9 months of "spare" time!

All the pieces for the next motif are basted, and partly sewn together, so with luck, I'll finish tonight!  Now what will I do next?

I took my camera to my Wednesday quilt group, but discovered both sets of batteries were dead, so no pictures of the flurry of quilting worker bees making disappearing 9-patch blocks!  Some cut 5 inch squares, others placed them into blocks, 3 were sewing, others pressed the seams, 2 of us cut the blocks apart, and then they were placed into their new blocks to be sewn.  By the end of the 4 hours (with a short break for lunch), we had 3 quilt tops assembled, and enough pieces to make 1 more.  Two of the tops went home with others to be finished.  One came home with me, and I cut and prepared the binding for it - hopefully someone will volunteer to quilt it!
Now I have to get serious about my Christmas baking.  I'm making mincemeat tarts, large and small today, and a coco-krispie roll - chocolate and peanut butter - a favourite with our neighbours' grandchildren, who begin to arrive on Sunday!

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I've been sidetracked by Christmas baking and baby quilt making!  A member of my group donated fabric, so I thought I'd make a couple of baby quilts to donate.

When using others' fabric, it is fun to see what you can make - there was "just enough" with a bit of piecing to make this two colour style of quilt.  Easy snowball blocks and framed squares - I've added a white border, and plan to add a darker mauve border as well.

 The white fabric seems to have taken on a bit of colour from the mauve, but I think it was because I was taking the picture late in the day.....

I also cut strips and blocks for a friend to work with.  I machine appliqued butterflies on each of the blocks before I passed it along.  She is busy sewing the top today, so we'll be cutting borders for it soon!  More pictures to come.

Check out what others are stitching at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.