Progress??

This quilt top has been my only quilting focus so far this week.  As of today I have quilted almost to the center, attempting to learn how to quilt feathers.  To say I am a complete failure at this attempt would be false but to say I am getting any better would also be false.







I first quilted the “over the top” type of feather.  I don’t seem to have the control to stitch on top of the previous stitching.  Also, I seem to make squareish tops of my feathers.









So the next set I tried the more traditional feather.  They do look a lot better, don’t you think?  However I don’t feel at all comfortable doing them.  Maybe I’ll get better on the second half. 







I decided to do a small meander in some of the triangles and as a background around the feathers.  Because the thread is variable, it makes an interesting focal point.  Hopefully that will draw the eye away from the feathers. 








Since feathers are not, at this time, my favorite pastime, I spent some time working on the lessons in EQ7.  I am up to doing applique blocks and was really surprised that I could complete the block as called for in the lesson.  I have only two more lessons to complete for the online “class.”  I have learned a lot but the best thing I have learned is how to find things when/if I need them again.







And, true to my retirement plan, I took some time for a snack and a good book.






  






So, what was DH doing while I was slaving away in the studio?  Well, 6 years ago, when we moved into this house, I gave him the living room to display his B Western memorabilia.  And, for the last 6 years, I have tried to get him to complete his display.  Well, for the last 2-3 weeks he has been working on it.
















He has movie posters in all sizes.  Lash is on a 4’ x 8’ insulation board,













As is Starrett and Burnette.  These posters were situated outside the theaters to attract movie goers.

The smaller posters were inside the lobby.












We have records, books, games, lunchboxes,














autographed pictures, cap guns,















cameras, radios, and any number of other things.

Right now it all looks a lot like a flea market booth but he assures me that it will, someday, be put in order.  Someday……

Chic-Chick

These chickens have come home to roost.  These are the first six blocks of the Funky Chicken BOM from fatcatpatterns.com.  I only have two more to make and I will be all caught up.  And I cannot tell you how much fun I have been having picking the fabrics for all the pieces.  I am hoping to be able to start some of the stitching this afternoon but first I will need to decide on thread and what stitch I will be using. 




And this is what is on my main wall.  Actually, these are two sets of Christmas swap blocks that I need to get made up (2009 & 2011).  I did have some heart stopping time when I went to get both sets and could only find one.  It took me a couple of days to spot the second set.  And then, when I found it (set on the left), I found that I had already made a second set of blocks to go with them.   




I have 13 of these as well as the sashing, already cut (light fabric) and borders (darker fabric).  Looks like this one is going to be pretty easy.



Now all I have to do is figure out how I am going to make the blocks on the right become a quilt. 

One thing that has been keeping me out of the studio is that I have been working on EQ7 lessons.  I joined an online group that is working on the lessons that are found in the program.  I have to complete 2 lessons a week and post a picture of whatever was covered.  So far I have been able to do everything and am even a coupe weeks ahead.  It really is fun to be able to make that program work.  There are still several more lessons to work on so I have a lot more to learn.


I have even less time for sewing now-a-days as I , once again, have agreed to lead a new Weight Watcher’s meeting.  The really good thing about this meeting is that it is only 5 minuets from my house so I will be able to run right back to my sewing machine. 

But before I get back to my sewing, I'm going to spend a little time with Judy at Patchwork Times.  I know she will welcome you, too. 

Design Wall: Something New

I decided that since it is going to be a cold winter, I better make a flannel quilt to keep me warm. So I opened up my EQ7 and designed a couple of layouts: this is the one I think I am making.

I have had this fabric, which is more orange than it shows here, for at least 7 years. I pull it out every fall, trying to see if it wants to become a quilt, but until this week it has preferred to be folded on a shelf. But this week it jumped off the shelf and cried out to be a log cabin. And I, shaking with the cold, was only too happy to oblige.

I have made more blocks but these are the only ones that are complete. I am not sure how many I will be making but I know there will be at least 50 since that is how many I have started.

Today I will be going Christmas shopping with my DD. She and I will be doing last minute hubby shopping, well kind of. Really we will be laughing (at them), eating well, and having a great girls day out. And I will be leaving DH at home, being cared for by our four footed children.

And while I shop, you need to drop by Judy’s blog to check out what other quilters are working on.

Design Wall Monday

And I have something new on it.

I have started working on a backing for this quilt.

This is my plan and I plan to put lettering in the white squares.

I have been working on the machine embroidery letters and have them almost ready and they are what is on my design wall this week.

Here is a close-up of one of the letters.

I decided to finish this quilt for a friend who recently was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. I want her to know that she is being wrapped in love.

While the letters were sewing out I was working on some placemats for our fall table.

And, being a thrifty person, I put Christmas fabric on the back so we can use them for 3 full months each year.

All that and over 450 miles for Weight Watchers. Busy, busy, busy.

But the nicest thing that happened this week was that our SIL came over today and washed the outside of our house and the studio. We live in the humid South and suffer from a little mildew. But now our buildings are beautiful. Thanks, Gary.