Oh, Boy, It’s Design Wall Monday

Here is my design wall for today.  This is mostly what I got done early last week but it is still on the wall so I am claiming it today.  I did the Bunny Hill block and the two LQS blocks from the Underground Railroad book.  I would have gotten more done but it was in the 70s Friday and Saturday and I spent both afternoons sitting on the deck, in the sunshine, reading.  I kept thinking that I would just read to the end of a chapter and then go in and sew, but it didn’t happen. 

Fortunately it was cloudy today and I made it into the studio.  The block on the lower right is the most recent Layer Cake Quiltalong: I really like it. 

The other thing I worked on is my first Journal Quilt.  3 Creative Studios has a journal quilt challenge in which quilters are supposed to make a quilt a week.  I, however, decided that one a month would be the best I could do (no artistic talent here).  This quilt is representational of our accident on 12/26/11.  I have the highway and our tire tracks.  It is made with a very light blue print.  The highway and tire tracks are done with stitches on my sewing machine and then the whole thing is covered with a bridal tulle that has sparkles on it.

This is the second “art quilt” I have done.  It is really hard for me to think out of the geometric box so we’ll see if I can do it again.

Be sure to stop by Judy’s blog to see what other quilters are up to. 

Mid-Week Working

This has been a great week.

I have been able to be in the studio every day so far.  My first completion was the first Henrietta Whiskers block.  Now, this isn’t really complete since I haven’t stitched the applique down yet, but I can see how cute it is already. 

When that was done I completed making the backing for this quilt.  The lighter printed fabric is really border fabric but I just couldn’t bear to cut it up.  So I added the center panel and put additional borders of it on the sides.  And, I was going to load it on the frame when I heard that the Red Snappers I had ordered from Renae Haddadin were going to be coming next week.  Well, that gave me permission to put it off so I don’t have to pin 102” x 2.  I am really looking forward to having an easier way to load a quilt.

So, with some time on my hands I decided to begin working on the BOM from my LQS.  We are making blocks from Eleanor Burns’ Underground Railroad book.  And, since we

 are making 15 blocks, we are making 2 a month for the first three months.  So here are my first ones done.  I am making mine in batik since I don’t much like civil war fabrics.  These went together really easily: I hope they all do.  So, what are you doing?

Design Wall Monday & a Finish

First, the finish. Here is the baby quilt I almost had done a couple of weeks ago. However I decided to wait until the baby was born to make the label.

Madison was born last Wednesday and today I finally got the label embroidered and the binding sewn down. DH will take it to the father at work tomorrow.

So today I decided to work on the Henrietta Whiskers BOM. The applique is to be put on pieced blocks and we are instructed to make the blocks first and then do the applique as it comes. So here I am starting on the first part of the blocks, 16 square in a square blocks. They are only the border to some of the larger blocks…I have a long way to go.

And to take a break from all the above, I started appliqueing down the boot block. I use monofilament thread and a small zigzag stitch. So as you can see I have nothing on the design wall but lots going on. Stay tuned………..

Check out what others are working on over at Patchwork Times.

Anniversary Update and Studio Work

Last Monday was our 50th wedding anniversary. And if you have been reading this blog, you know that we spent it driving two separate cars from Petersburg, VA to South AL. However, the night before we returned to AL we were able to have dinner with our DS#3 and his wife (they live in MD). While together our son gave us an anniversary card. Now that was nice enough but inside the card were messages from each of our 4 children who live in 4 different states. The messages told of their love for us and their gratefulness that we were their parents. I didn’t cry while reading the messages but as I write this I find the tears trying to break through.

Now, besides the card and messages, there were two cash cards designed to underwrite the anniversary plans that were canceled by our auto accident on 12/26. They had gotten together on this way before Christmas so even they were not sure what we were going to do. However, most of the money we had put aside for that trip (Universal to visit Harry Potter) had been used getting pulled out of the snowy ditch, motel rooms, rental cars, etc. so now we are once again beginning to plan an belated anniversary trip. I cannot even put into words how much I love my children and am so impressed with their thoughtfulness.

Now, to studio work. It has seemed like ages since I was able to spend time in the studio. So today I spend almost all day there. I did some picking up (always have to find the cutting table before I can start something new) and then pulled out the two applique BOMs.

The first one is Boot Bash from Molly’s Place. I copied the pieces,

placed the pieces,

And pressed the pieces in place. Now this block is ready for machine applique, which will come later in the month. I have been known to prep 2 or 3 blocks and then just applique away.

However, when I started working on Henrietta Whiskers from Bunny Hill I realized that I have to piece the block before I can place the applique. And since I haven’t chosen the fabrics yet, I got stopped. But the applique pieces are ready.

After all that I spent the last part of this afternoon restocking my car and prepping for my WW meetings tomorrow. And what is even better, I am beginning to feel that life is getting back to normal. With any luck at all, I might even have something new to show on Design Wall Monday. Life is good!!

Design Wall Tuesday?

OK, so I know it is supposed to be “Design Wall Monday” but we were gone all Sunday and Monday so I couldn’t post anything.  And, nothing has changed since I posted my BOM blocks last Wednesday.  But I couldn’t pass up the chance to contribute so this is my contribution.

We arrived home last night, after our 13 hour drive in separate cars, to find this beautiful floral arrangement sitting on our deck.  It is an anniversary gift from the president of the community college where DH taught for 35 years and continues to teach as an adjunct.  I think that people are astounded that so lively and young looking a couple could possibly be married for 50 years.  Me, too!!

This morning I rearranged the mantle to accommodate the flowers: I designed this wall.  I want to be able to look at them but also to keep them away from the cat who took an instant liking to them.

Anyway, our trip went well and on my next post I will tell about our anniversary dinner and what our wonderful children did for us.

Have a great week!

BOM Week & Anniversary Plans

 

 This is the week I am attempting to catch up on BOMs.  But, because I was way behind on the Layer Cake Quiltalong, that is all I have been working on, so far.

This is Block 3.  It went together easily.

 

And here is Block 4

This one was really easy and didn’t take much time at all.

 

 

 

 

 Here is Block 5.  I love how the fabrics play with each other and I was able to frame the large floral.

 

 

 

 

And here is Block 6.  This one I had some difficulty with since I didn’t much like it and it seemed to waste fabric.  However, after looking at the original and the example, I figured out how to get it together without using as much/many fabrics as called for.  Now I like it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So here are all 6 together.  The fabric line is Bliss and I am really liking how the blocks are playing together. 

And now our anniversary.  Next Monday is our 50th.  We had some plans but when our car skidded off the highway in the December 26th snowstorm, those plans were shelved.  My car was “undriveable” and we had to leave it in VA to be fixed while we returned to AL.  This week we have been told that the car is ready and we are planning to return to VA on Sunday and get the car and drive home on Monday. 

Now the funny thing is that as of right now we can only rent a car that we have to bring back, not a one way rental.  What this will mean is that on our anniversary we will be apart for the 14 hour drive home.  Doesn’t seem right or fair, does it?

Design Wall and Family

This is the help I was getting when I tried to show what was on my design “swing.”

But I had to show that I finally got my flannel log cabin quilt top finished. I decided on a black containment border (I didn’t have enough of the redish center fabric) and then just got the outer border on. Today I hope to get the backing pieced and get everything on the frame for quilting.

After that is done I will be working on BOM blocks: I am doing 3 internet BOMs in addition to 1 LQS BOM and still have my Snowbound blocks to finish (hand embroidery). That should give me plenty of UFOs for next year, don’t you think?

We did have a short but wonderful visit with my sister and brother-in-law. This was an evening of almost non-stop laughter; what fun!

And our DD was really excited to be able to spend some time with her “Aunt:” there is only 7 years between them.

The nicest part of the visit was having 15 year old Jasper here. He is arthritic but was up, running around the house and prancing like an arthritic puppy. They said he was exhausted by the time they got back to the motel.

As you can see, Abby and Buffy were mesmerized by his behavior which brought on more laughter.

I hope to have something new on the wall next week but for now, hop on over to Judy’s blog to see what lots of others are working on.

Gifts: from me & for me

Here is what I worked on in September and October.  There are several sets of placemats.  The original pattern was from 3 Creative Studios, a slash and sort pattern.  The plan then was to flip and sew and be done.  However, I didn’t think there was enough quilting so machine quilted (DSM) each section.  I used Christmas fabric on the backs so these placemats are good to go all year.  And I love the gold binding, fabric from RJR.

Then, during the month of December I won two giveaways.  The first was from Amy .

Here you see two Christmas fat quarters, two rulers (there really is a little triangle ruler in front of the fabric), some 2 1/2” strips of fabric, a box of pins and a box of quilt blocks and quilt patterns.  Such fun to start planning.

And this giveaway is from Brenda.  This is a mat to sit under my Featherweight.  It has two pockets, that will hang down from the table, to hold “stuff” and also came with a delightful postcard.  The things from Amy are sitting on the back of this mat.  I love the postcard because it shows my “before” and “after” of my Weight Watcher’s adventure.

I can’t stay on the computer.  My DS and DBIL from CA are turning into the driveway.  I haven’t seen them for 3 1/2 years and am really looking forward to a good evening with them as they are returning home from a FL vacation.  See ya soon.

Design Wall 1/3/11

With the holidays over, I finally was able to get back into the studio. And there was my flannel log cabin, still in pieces. So the first thing I did was to get the center blocks sewn. But then I became faced with a delima. I really would like to have a small enclosing border around the blocks before I put the outer border on (see the border fabric on the chair). But what to use. If I had a solid, or solid like, orange, brown, or black fabric I would use that: but I don't. So I am stumped and stopped, briefly.

So I moved into the quilting room. I have had this quilt top, a baby quilt for a child due this month, for quilt a while. But this past weekend it got on the frame and quilted, too.

The quilting pattern is a new one from Urban Elementz, can't remember the name, but I love it.

It has hearts in it but when I was quilting it I saw "baby butts." So I smiled throughout the quilting process and now am ready to get on to the binding. Of course that means another decision. I actually have enough of all three fabrics to make binding but which one should I choose? Anyone want to vote?


edit: Wednesday I will be posting about the giveaway gifts I have received as well as a couple of Christmas gifts given and received. Be sure to drop by then.