Working on some applique

As I was working on some applique to go on the borders of my spool quilt, I got to the end and didn't have the right direction leaf left.  I thought I must have cut them wrong.  So, I faked it and used the wrong one... I don't have to have it perfect.  After I finished ironing, I set my iron down and...

 

I found the piece that I needed.  I had it upside-down. Argh!

 

Guess I'll be cutting another leaf anyway.  Other than that and the corners it's all fused.

 

Here's one side. Now, I have a lot of stitching to do.



WIP Spools Quilt

 

Here's how my spool quilt is coming along.  I showed you a few blocks and now the center is done.  It still gets a border with a whole lot of applique.  The applique is all cut and ready to be fused.  I'm just trying to figure out how to lay out the pieces and iron them when the design goes around the corners.  If anybody has an idea, I'd love to hear it.  I really don't want the borders on while I'm trying to stitch around all those little leaves and berries!

Priscilla's Challenge Quilt Top Finished

 

 

I'm very excited to have this quilt top finished.  I've been working on it for a few years in between projects.

 

 

It all started when my neighbor Priscilla and I went shopping...

we both spotted the bolt of fabric on the markdown shelf and I let her take it.  After we got home, she asked me if I would have bought it if she hadn't.  I told her that I probably would have but I really didn't "need" it.  So, she said she was going to split it with me and we would have a challenge to see what we would each come up with.  So, she gave me two of the center panels and some yardage of the green cheater fabric.  Since that day, I collected fabrics that would coordinate and I think I now have enough for 20 quilts! LOL!  I will be sharing some with her soon so I hope she gets back to work. *wink*

 

My plan for this quilt was to make blocks that reminded me of Priscilla and the things we had in common because I'm going to be just like her when I grow up!

I started from the center and went out.

 First, I had to show our love of sewing...spool blocks. 

 

Second, I knew I wanted to do friendship stars in reds and whites because I made a quilt top for her and that's what it was made of.  I use her quilting machine and she will never let me pay her so, in trade she brought me a bag of red fabrics and said I could make a quilt top for her out of them in any pattern I want. Well, I had to make friendship stars!  By the time I was done with the quilt top, I had fallen in love with it.  (I can't seem to find a picture of it...guess it's time for a visit)  For her quilt top I trimmed all the blocks and I knew I really didn't enjoy that part of the process.  I used Half Square Triangle Exchange Papers by Edyta Sitar for Laundry Basket Quilts for my blocks so that I didn't have to trim...so easy!

 

Third, since I enjoyed those papers so much, I used them in a second row on the quilt...shoo fly blocks.  The song "shoo fly don't bother me" comes to mind and Priscilla doesn't let things bother her...she just does what she wants!

 

Fourth, is my favorite row...the tree blocks.  Now, Priscilla loves trees any kind of trees.  She has planted her own little mini forest in her yard.  She had mentioned once that she would like a red maple and it just so happened that I found one while shopping on Earth Day.  So, the kids and I picked it up for her.  Little did I know it wasn't the red maple that she was talking about (the leaves are mostly green) but since she loves trees she planted it anyway.  The tree block with the red and green leaves represents that tree. I also had to put in a tree block for me.  I haven't really decided if it is a willow tree or a palm tree so I'm going to call it a combo tree.  My bedroom is decorated in palm trees and I have one in my living room too.  But, when I'm out and about, I love to look at willow trees.

 

 

Fifth, is my grandmother's flower garden blocks.  Priscilla has spoiled us like a good grandma with her bread and cookies. She's shared flowers with me from her garden and I have given her flowers to grow.  I originally wanted to make the whole row as hexagons but I quickly found out that they aren't as much fun as they look so, they got stems.  The leaves are paper pieced and pleated.

 

 

I started to paper piece veggies for an additional row at the bottom but, they were too small and the quilt was really long enough.  So, the two tomato blocks will go on the back with the label and I'm hoping to piece the year on the back.  I would have pieced the year for the front if I would have thought about it sooner.  I guess I could make another quilt, I have enough fabric! LOL!

 

On to the quilting.  I'm not sure how I want to quilt it yet except that I'd like to quilt our first names into it.  Guess I need to give that some more thought yet.



I'm finally back

 

I have been busy working on some new quilts to show you.  I have a few in progress as usual.  I need to get some pictures taken.  This summer has been a bit crazy.  I finally have a computer back and I have been missing blogland!



Someday I might learn

Someday I might learn to stop when my machine makes a funny noise.  I'll give you one guess what I'm going to be doing in the near future.

Bummer, I really like this thread.

Using up some scraps

It all started with some triangle scraps that a friend gave to me.  (I can't help it, I'm addicted and my friends know it.)  So, I was trying to do a little bit of cleaning and those triangles called to me.  Next thing I knew, I was making pinwheels and then I went on a hunt in my craft room to find scraps for the other blocks.  This oversized baby quilt top and back is made up of all scraps and I'm planning on piecing the batting too.  How's that for a little bit of clean up work?  Well, it's not quite the clean up I had in mind but, it feels good to do something with some of my scraps that have been waiting around for a while.

Old WIP

 I finished three blocks from a several year old shop hop.  Well, OK I still have to blanket stitch my appliques and then they will be done.

 This flower is going to look a lot better with the stitching separating the petals.

 This block went together really fast.  The pattern had us use a different technique for the flying geese that I haven't used before and I thought it was great no waste and no trimming...BONUS!

Here are the other five blocks that I finished years ago.  I have a couple more to finish but there is one that I might choose to not add in the quilt because I don't think the block plays nicely with the others.

And then there were three

I just finished my third spool block.  My sister is going to be jealous!  She wants to do this quilt too.  We are in an Edyta Sitar fan club and this is the next quilt we will be working on.  I'm still quilting the last project and will show you when I've got it finished.

My new purse

 My favorite sister made me this purse!  And I love it.

It has lots of pockets and the colors are just perfect for me (he he it helps that I picked out the fabric).

She even brought me the scraps.

I can't remember the name of the pattern 'cause I was so excited to get the purse.

Now, I just have to clean out my old one and move into my new one.

I'm really not looking forward to the cleaning part.

But, don't ya just love a new and organized purse?

Spool Block

 I just had to try one.  I saw a spool quilt made up at the one stop shop hop in Big Rapids Mi.  This is a pattern by Edyta Sitar for Laundry Basket Quilts from her strips and strings book.  I found the perfect background fabric with vintage sewing notions.

I need another UFO like I need a hole in the head but, I couldn't resist.

 What do you do when your ten year old comes home and says...

"Mom, I told my teacher that you could make bean bags 'cause you can sew anything."?

Well,

you make bean bags, that's what you do!

The kids decided to make a game for the auction at school and needed bean bags.  They also wanted it to be a house divided game so, it had to be U of M vs. Michigan State.  They turned out kinda cute.  The bid was pretty good on the game too.

Swoon Quilt Top

My swoon quilt top is finished according to the pattern but, I am thinking I will add a border to the two sides so that it's a little bit wider (for when the husband tries to steal the covers and my tush hangs out).  I don't have enough fabric for the borders unless I piece them...I might have to go shopping.  I'll probably see what the shop has and then make my decision. 

House wallhanging finished

I have finally finished my house wallhanging.  This Family Estate Wallhanging pattern is from the book Friendship Strips & Scraps by Edyta Sitar for Laundry Basket Quilts.

My sister and I have been going to an Edyta Sitar fan club at our local quilt shop.  It has been a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to showing you our upcoming projects.

Swoon block #9

My last swoon block awhhhh.  I'm wishing I would have used more grey.  This is turning out better than I thought.  The blocks have all gone together very nicely but it takes me about two days of sewing to finish one block.  My back just can't handle sitting for too long anymore (guess I'm getting older LOL today is my birthday).

Swoon block #8

Well, I'm finally getting around to posting my swoon progress.  The solid green is not true to real life color but it gives you an idea.  This quilt is really growing on me.  I'm not sure how I will quilt it yet.  Hoping a bright idea will hit me soon.

Check back tomorrow for my last swoon block.

Swoon block #7

Well, I don't think this one will be my favorite but it's done and I think it will be fine once it is mixed in with the others.  Only 2 more to go!

Swoon block #6

I'm getting closer.  Only 3 more to go.

Swoon block #5

I like the polka dot fabric in this one.  It's a little more modern looking.

Only 4 more to go.

I haven't been around my blog or sewing machine much lately.  My family has been sharing some nasty sickness.  I'm still getting over it but am feeling like a little bit of sewing again.

Something new

 My sister and I went shopping last week and I got some really good deals that I couldn't pass up.

I bought several neutrals.

 I added a few to my stash because they were good deals, a few just because I liked them and a few that I actually have an idea of what I want to do with them.  The top three in this pic are going to be used as borders in a couple of quilts.  I thought they would look great with Edyta Sitar patterns.

Aren't they yummy?  I can't wait to see them used.  Until then, they will look pretty on my shelves.

Something old

 

While I was helping my Mom go through a couple of things in her basement the other day, I came across these cute little vintage drawers.  I remember playing with it when I was young.  I brought it home to live with me in my craft room.  It's going to look really cute there.

I haven't had much time for sewing this week.  That darn J. O. B. thing was getting in the way.  Well, I have to support my sewing habit somehow.  I hope to do another swoon block today since I have the day off.

Swoon block #4

The center star is really light so it didn't photograph well.  I love how delicate it looks (especially in my house of boys).  This quilt is going to be all mine!

I can't wait to see it all finished.  I have the other five blocks cut and ready to go but, one block in a night is all my back can take.

Just a heads up for those of you in Michigan or nearby...the One Stop Shop Hop in Big Rapids is the Friday and Saturday before Mother's Day.  There are already 22 shops signed up to be there.  The vendors are really great.  Check with your guild to see if there is a bus going.  You don't want to miss it.

Halloween BOM

I fused two more of my Halloween block of the months.  They still have to be appliqued and will look much better with eyes and mouths.  There are two more in my bag yet.  I am a little behind because I really don't enjoy applique.  The fusing is a lot of fun though.

Red & White BOM top finished

Well, I finally got the top of my red and white block of the month finished.  After the third time of doing the flying geese border.

Everything in this quilt went together so nicely until that last border (that I thought I could do a different way than the directions stated).  Well, I hope I learned my lesson (but knowing me, probably not).

I thought I could at least use the first set of geese on the backing since I like a pieced look for my backings anyway.

But, then I forgot to bring them with me to the quilt shop the night I was working on the backing so...

Here's what I ended up with.  I'm still really happy with it (even thought I didn't lay it real flat on the carpet for the pic).

This is the fabric that is the center piece on the back.  I love the little print in the background.  It will go perfectly with the geo prints on the front.

Yesterday, I cut the bindings for this quilt so all that is left is the quilting.  I'm still undecided about that.

Swoon block #3

Here's my third swoon block and I didn't cut anything wrong.  Woohoo!

I have also finished the borders on my red and white quilt but will have to wait to show you until I find a spot to lay it out.

Swoon block #2

This block has one of the same fabrics as in my first block but after this they will be different.

My blocks are going together very nicely when I cut the right size squares (must have been a little tired).

Starting to Swoon

I just couldn't stand it any longer.  Everyone in blogland seem to be working on the quilt pattern Swoon by Thimble Blossoms.

These blocks are huge 24.5.

I'm trying something a little new to me.  I have chosen fabrics from several different lines and they are a bit more modern than what I am use to.  I've also been getting influenced by the color collective site that gets me thinking about different colors being put together.

cutie patootie!

Portrait Quilt in progress

This is a portrait quilt that I started in a class a while back.  I know she looks a little funny with only one eyelash.  I have been thinking about this quilt lately because I found Virginia Greaves blog about her portrait quilts and boy are they lovely.  So, I had to dig mine out to see where I left off.

 I remember now, I loved most of the process of this quilt so far.  After my first day of class, I stayed up late because I couldn't wait to see how she was turning out.  It was really beginning to look like someone!  In Jr. high and high school I took art classes and I dreaded every time that we had to do portraits because I suck at them.

I even enjoyed the tracing once I learned how to do it.

I would love to do a quilt of each of my sister's three girls (this is the youngest of the three) so, I guess I'd better get busy!

Obsession?

This is what obsession looks like....

There are 1,904 half square triangles.  My sister and I are exchanging to do some of the patterns from Edyta Sitar's book and she is still 616 ahead of me but, we are waiting for our quilt shop to get some more of the papers in.  Insanity!

These are the fabrics that I still have to sew.

And these are the ones I am setting aside for some time later...

Two sizes and neither can fit in the bags I started them in.

Then if that isn't enough, we joined the Edyta Sitar Fan Club and are now cutting 1 inch strips for projects from the next book...

So, today she brings up the hoarders show and gets us both thinking.  (of course she never mentions 2,520 HST or strips!)

We went to JoAnn's today and I got an awesome deal on quilt battings.  When I got home I counted all the battings that I had and added the ones that I bought...is 25 too many?  Last year I finished 24 quilts so I figure one more for good measure right?

I better get to work.