Sewing, Piecing, and Antiques

This is my Design Wall today.  Looks a lot like my last two design walls, doesn’t it?  However, now each of the rows are sewn.  The center will be 60x84.  I think I know what I am going to do for an outer border but I think I need an inner border first so that may take some time to figure out.

 

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This was when I was just getting started putting the rows together but I wanted to be able to show the true colors.

 

 I also got the first border on Snowbound.  One more and this one will be ready for quilting.

And over the weekend I drew all the pieces for several applique BOMs (I really went overboard this year).  I plan on this being an applique week to see if I can get caught up on all of them.

 

 

Unfortunately we went antiquing again.  This was my prize, a cast iron cradle.  When I got it I was thinking of using it to store fabric.  But once it was set up in the family room, I could see a quilt an a baby doll in there.  We’ll see what finally it gets used for.

 

 

 

Of course Ms. Murphy had to check it out but interestingly, she hasn’t jumped into it, yet.

 

 

 

 

And then all the investigating had her all tuckered out.

 

 

 

 

It seemed to even tire Abby, who never paid any attention to the cradle.

 

 

 

 

Well, I better get off this computer, put a load of laundry in the washer, and get into the studio and get that applique stuff going.  Be sure you check out all the creativity at Patchwork Times.

Lots of Projects: No Finishes

This is my design wall this morning.  And when I saw it in the picture, it really looks like a mess.  But when I was putting it on the wall, I thought I was coming up with something.  The 12” blocks are from the LCQAL that finished up earlier this year using Bliss by Moda.   My thought was to use some charm squares to make up a divided 4 patch but, oh, I don’t like it at all.  So later this morning I will be taking the charm squares down and trying to come up with something else.

The first thing I took down from the DW Sunday morning was the 16 patch quilt top.  It is ready for quilting and the backing has also been readied.

I went through all my batting pieces and chose the ones I could put together for this quilt.  Here are the leftovers, ready to go back on the shelf to await their call to duty.

 

I even prepared the binding and it is also waiting it’s turn to be used…….sometime in the near future, I hope.

 

Then I started working on my Snowbound UFO.  I trimmed all of the blocks while I began sewing them together.  Look at all the slivers of fabric on my cutting table.  I keep thinking there is something I should be able to do with them but I probably will just toss them.   As you will soon see, I already have enough mess in this studio.

 

 

I sewed the blocks together and once again enjoyed seeing these clever blocks from Bunny Hill Designs.

 

 

So now the center is all together and pressed.  And on the chair back are the inner borders (don’t look too closely at the mess behind the chair).  I still need to add cornerstones and then we will be ready for the outer borders.  I am thinking of white cornerstones on them with maybe embroidered snowflakes.  But that also will be decided either today or tomorrow, or whenever I get around to it.

Here in South Alabama we have been getting rain.  No, I mean RAIN.  We have had about 7.5” in the last 4 days. 

 

This is how my shoes have looked every time I go out.  But I don’t mind, we really needed all that rain.  Besides, these are Crocs and I just rinse them off and keep going.

Now, clean off your shoes and run on over to Patchwork Times to see what other quilters are working on.

Design Wall Monday

And I have something on my wall.

I am trying to decide how I want to set my Snowbound blocks from 2010.  And I am seeking your input.  Here they are with the snowball blocks I am using.  But this is not the way I originally planned.

Here is my original plan using sashing and cornerstones (EQ7).  My problem is that I really like what I am seeing on the DW and, of course, it would be a lot easier to put together.  What do you think?

Also on the DW, way up in the right hand corner, is the beginning of my March Journal Quilt.  I started it late last week but got sidetracked by the UFO that had been “yelling” at me to liberate it from the box it had been sitting in for at least the last 6 months (see it here). 

You see I got all the borders appliqued and the stems didn’t meet like I thought I had planned.  But this weekend I figured out how to finish them to my satisfaction.  However I must say it is not easy to applique flowers when they are now on a queen sized quilt top.  And here we are with the applique borders completed. 

Next came the piano key borders.  Actually, I have them done and they now are on the top, also.  I even staystitched the outside edge so nothing will come apart while I am waiting to be able to quilt it.  I spent most of Sunday putting the backing together.  This quilt is made with 30s repro fabrics, not my favorite.  So I used all of the larger pieces that were left over so it will be a scrappy backing but will be the same fabrics that I used on the front.

But I don’t want anyone to think that I haven’t been enjoying the beautiful weather we have been having.  I have been spending part of every day outside, reading.  What a pleasure that is.  And yesterday I found this: 

This is my first rosebud of the Spring.  Isn’t she beautiful?

Now, hop on over to Judy’s blog to check out all the quilting inspiration there.

Snow in the Deep South

Yes, that’s what I said, SNOW. I complained all morning on Facebook until it finally went away.

But I’m not sure if the roses are going to survive. ;-)

Even the Owl was confused.

However, while that white stuff was coming down, I was in the studio getting stuff done. The first thing I worked on was the last of the Snowbound snowmen.

He is all appliqued down and now I am ready to start on the connecting blocks. Next week I will draw the lines for the hand embroidery that I will be taking as hand work while we travel for Christmas.

The other project that I started was to cut strips for a flannel log cabin quilt. We are experiencing below freezing temps here at night and I am in need of a really warm quilt to cuddle/huddle up in.

Well, that’s it for now. Tomorrow is WW day and then I’ll be back in the studio, sewing and sewing and sewing.

Merry Design Wall

Today begins a whole year before my next birthday and the beginning of the Christmas season: how fun.

Doesn’t it seem right that my design wall today has 11 snowmen? All of these are appliqued down and ready for the hand embroidery which I will try to get done when we are visiting in MD at Christmas. Anyway there is only one more snowman in this years Bunny Hill Designs BOM. And here is my problem, I need 13 snowman blocks for this layout. What to do, what to do?

Anyway, I finished these last two snowmen blocks this week so I am ready for #12 and will have to decide what to do about #13 later.

I have my 12 Days of Christmas ready to quilt and it will be on the HQ before today is over.

Yesterday was my birthday. After a week of reviewing the DVDs, DH took me to see Harry Potter (big fan), out to eat.

I only thought to take a picture (taken with my new iPhone) after I had almost finished.

And after we got home I opened my gift from DS#3 and his wife. Thanks my children.

It was a great day and now it is off to another great year.

Same old, same old

OK, so my design wall looks pretty much like it did last week. Of course, I have the excuse that I didn’t get my machine back until mid-week. AND, I was gone all day Friday and Sunday, AND, when the machine came back I worked on Christmas gifts which I can’t show. I’m getting pretty good at this excuse thing, huh?

However, we did decide that we will be going to MD for Christmas. Yes, I am still concerned about weather but I am really excited to spend Christmas with two of my favorite people. What was really nice was that my sister wrote and suggested we spend Christmas with them. And earlier another DIL invited us to be with them, but they are in CO which I didn’t think was any better than being in MD. But isn’t it nice to be wanted all over the country?

This week, besides Christmas stuff, I hope to cut out a comfort quilt for the guild charity (fabric sitting on cutting table) and a flannel log cabin (fabric in basket on pressing table). I have a UFO I really need to pull into the mix but I think three projects at a time is just right for me. And besides, I really need to finish the one on the wall first and it wasn’t even counted in my “three projects.” Oh, my!

The snowmen on the wall are all appliqued down and soon I will be taking them into the house to do the hand embroidery. I’m not as nervous about that as I was earlier this year when I worked on the Lace and Baskets quilt, it seemed to come back to me pretty well.

Be sure to check out Judy’s blog to see what lots of others are doing. And, have a great week.

Designing, No Sewing

Without my trusty sewing machine I was reduced to designing. My design wall this week shows most of my redesigned swap blocks.

I really want to use this quilt as a table topper so after going fabric shopping for sashing, I decided to not sash the blocks. I am, however, using the fabric as the first, smaller border and probably will use it as the background to the 24” Dresden plate that will be going in the center (I love making Dresden plates). Be sure to drop by Judy’s blog to see what others are creating.

Prior to completing the above layout I finished prepping two snowman blocks for the Bunny Hill BOM.

I hadn’t looked at them for quite a while but now that so many are all together I am really liking them. I have no idea how they will be set but since there are three more blocks and three more months, I don’t have to think about that, yet. So with my regular sewing machine still in hospital I will begin doing the machine applique (different machine).

I also began kitting another new gift quilt. I found some fabric I have been looking for for almost two years so am very excited about making a really cute throw. I have found one fabric to go in this little quilt but that’s all so far. I will be taking pictures of the process but it will be a little while before I can show them.

One last picture. This was the little visitor we had in the backyard this weekend.

What you can see is Mr. Bunny checking to see if Abby, the fiercely barking doxie, could get out and get him.

Going Dotty is DONE!!

And isn’t she beautiful?

And besides that I got caught up on the Bunny Hill Snowbound blocks (sans embroidery).

and the Jelly Roll Sampler blocks.

Not bad considering that the new blocks come out tomorrow and/or next week.

I was so excited about getting so much done that I made what could have been a fatal mistake.

I have never done that before. When I found it I flashed back to old movies and cartoons of scorched shirts. However, it is in the middle of my pressing mat so I will be reminded every time I go to use the iron

I’ll be back Monday with my new design wall. I am already working on my current UFO, planning my new project and have the fabric set aside for the new comfort quilt. Finishing something always gives me a burst of energy so I am busy, busy, busy.