Something new on my design wall. This is what we have made so far in the Carol Doak Mystery BOM: only one more block to go. Right now she is having a contest to guess what her final layout will be. I have moved these blocks around several times and this is the way I currently like them best so this will be my guess.
Now, you may be asking about Easy Street. Well the blocks were are completed on January 31st and the center was sewn together on Feb. 1st.
Because it has held center stage for so long, it has been put on a back burner for at least a week.
Part of the reason for this delay is that I still don’t know how I want to border it. Look at all the little leftover parts I have. I am trying to see if there is something I can do to use them in a border or maybe they will wind up on the back, who knows.
And, finally, I am back to working on other projects.
Here are my heart placemats on the frame and being quilted.
And here they are completed.
One more picture to show the quilting. I did micro stippling in the blue and purple sections so the ribbon is nice and puffy.
I also have started my Wonderfully Fishy BOM for Feb. It is such fun to go through my batik stash, looking for “just the right” fabrics for these really cute designs from fatcatpatterns.com.
So here is part of this fish. I would have had all the parts there but I cut two of them backwards so I will be re-doing them this afternoon.
And while I was working in the studio, DH was redoing his B Western collection layout in the living room. This Roy Rogers grouping is now living over the fireplace. This isn’t all of it but it is fun to see Roy, Dale, and Trigger smiling out at us.
His really big display is of Hopalong Cassidy. This is the first time he has had so many of his Hoppy things in one place and it is really impressive.
Of course the above is only one of his Hoppy displays. Here are several different plates, cups, bowls, along with silverware. At the bottom is a Hoppy Radio, which works (AM only).
In addition to all the action above, I “taught” a longarming class (of 2) on Saturday. I was asked to share some tips on how to easily load a quilt on the frame and especially how to work with pantographs. I tried to explain that I don’t know that much and am not that good but wound up doing what I could to share some of the things I have learned. It turned out to be really fun as we shared experiences and what others have suggested to each of us. We don’t have a long arm group in our area so this was the first time I have been able to talk this type of quilting with anyone.
Well, that’s about it for me. Have a great week and come back again. Gari
Everybody ready for a fresh start in this brand new year? Well, I am making a stab at it.
So this is my Design Wall today. On the top is what I have done, so far, on Easy Street. I really like how it is looking and am loving my color choices.
I decided that I would kit up each block and triangle so all I have to do is pull out a baggie and sew another piece together.
Well, that’s not quite all. While doing the kitting I discovered that I must have misread the cutting directions a couple of times and there were not enough of some parts. So I made a list of what was still needed and put those blocks on top of the box of fabrics, ready for me to do the cutting, after I get all the ready blocks sewn together. I am calling that organized disorganization.
This is 
the Teapot for January. Again I had a small piece of funky fabric and was just waiting for the right teapot for it. I will eventually be appliqueing it with navy blue thread so the outline stands out.
I also got the second of my “scrap” placemats started. The colored lines are actually the strips of fabric cut off of the Funky Chicken applique pieces. I hate to waste even little pieces of batik so I have stuck them on this pretty fabric. Later I will be putting them on a backing fabric and quilt them both at the same time.
Yesterday I put my feathered star table topper on the frame. This little top has been ready to quilt for about 2 1/2 years but I have been afraid to quilt it. Since we used it in our Christmas decorations, I decided that it shouldn’t go back on the “to be quilted” rack so on the frame it went. I will be roaming in and out of there , in between Easy Street blocks, trying to decide how I want to quilt it.
I think the holidays wore Abby out. But she sleeps under a beautiful quilt and looks like a princess. This is one pampered pup.
I am linking with Patchwork Times, Quiltville, and What A Hoot.
Up first is my design wall with Step 4 of Easy Street. I have a few of the units done, including being attached to Step 2, and the rest of Step 4 half done. I would have had them all done Sunday but a trip to Pizza Hut for a taco pizza completely derailed me.
This time I was able to put yellow and orange together in the same unit: again my two favorite colors, united.
But I didn’t start working on Easy Street until Saturday afternoon because I had started a new project.
These are two placemats designed by Sindy of Fatcat Patterns. And she is offering it free this month.
I prepared the applique on Friday and did the quilting on Saturday.
One of the differences between the two are the packages where I reversed the fabric. Also, I bound one in green and the other in red.
I did circles overall but did more specific quilting on this motif which is part of the fabric.
Last Monday I finished wrapping all the gifts we are sending and mailed all but the ones to my mother. Her’s I will mail this week insuring that they arrive closer to Christmas. The reason? Well, she tends to open them as soon as she gets them and I hope to have them there for her on Christmas, or at least as close as I can get to it. Now all I have left to wrap is the ones to DH. I have his hidden in the studio so part of today will be wrapping, again.
Yesterday we shopped for our Christmas tree. We have a great artificial, lighted one but there is currently no room for a tree in the living room. That great tree is now brightening our deck: it looks great. So Sunday we bought a 3 1/2 ‘ Norfolk Pine which is sitting at one end of our dining table. And there are even a couple of gifts, wrapped, under it. Almost every day more and more signs of Christmas appear in our house: it is really beautiful here, inside and out.
Oh, have you seen the New Year’s Mystery at Longarm University? It is a picture quilt to be pieced prior to New Year’s Day and then quilting lessons will be given out throughout the day. I have done one of her quilts/lessons and it was great. This quilt, I think, would make a great wallhanging behind our Christmas Village next year so I am thinking about signing up. Want to join me?
I will be linking to Patchwork Times and Quiltville. Stop by and see what lots of other people are doing.
A few weeks ago, while going through the many catalogs of “stuff” one can buy for Christmas I came across this mannequin. I set the picture aside and decided that when the holidays were over and my bank account was somewhat replenished, I would get him for our front porch. Then later I was telling my mother about him and she offered to buy him for me for my birthday. And I jumped on that offer and here he is. I have already been shopping for clothes for him (he is 6’ and slim: doesn’t fit in our family at all). Anyway, I was going to get him a Santa suit but this isn’t the time of year to find one in the second hand shops so all he got was a hat.
Then last evening DD and SIL came over with an older suit he no longer is using when he plays Santa for the groups and kids around town. Of course they forgot the pants so I am calling him a Redneck Santa, at least for now. He really looks great welcoming us home.
DH even contributed some reading glasses in case Santa gets bored sitting out there watching the birds. This new man in my life is called Fred: I’m not sure why but it just seemed to fit.
In addition to getting Fred set up on the outside, I have been wrapping gifts on the inside. Almost every surface was covered with wrapping paper, boxes, and gifts: what a mess.
And help was always there when I needed it. But I did get the job done and gifts were even put in the mail. I wrote on Facebook that I love making gifts and even enjoy shopping for them but I really don’t like wrapping them. I am always glad when that part of the season is over.
Last night we had a visit from our great grandson, Sky. He is 4 and just the right size for our miniature daschund,
Sadie.
And, finally, I was able this morning to get back into the studio. This is the beginning of two placemats from the same designer as my Funky Chickens. I really am a little further done than this but I didn’t get a picture so will show more on Monday.
Have a great week and weekend. Gari
I put this picture on Facebook for Mother’s Day but thought I would share it here. This is our family’s 4 generations of mothers: My mother, me, my daughter and granddaughter. We have Mother’s Day all over the southeast. 
DH and I went to Mellow Mushroom for lunch: doesn’t this look good? Well I’m here to tell you that it was GREAT! 
I finally got the binding put on the Boots quilt. I had to wait until I had the label designed (EQ design wall?).
I am working with a new software: it is so much easier to stay with the old one but I like the challenge. 
I also have pinned the label on the Funky Chickens quilt but it isn’t sewn on yet. I plan to take a couple of these quilts to guild Tuesday and would like the labels to be there when I do.
I have started stitching down the Underground Railroad label. I have to say that all these labels have severely cut into my knitting time. 
And this also cuts into my knitting time. After DH and three dogs join me on the swing, there is precious little room for knitting. But who can say no to these cuties.
