Design Wall Monday - 2/28/11

I spent this morning sewing on the 2" border around the center section and then arranging twenty 10 inch blocks for the next round. 

Before deciding on this arrangement, I had put up 2 rows of twelve inch blocks.....it was SO BUSY looking I thought I was going to get motion sick! yowza!

After I get this sewn together it should measure 60 x 60.  I'm thinking of adding a top and bottom row of 12 inch blocks.  I'll have to see it on the wall first. 

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I still have 56 twelve inch blocks/ 2 eight inch blocks/ 12 nine inch blocks from my block-a-days made from CW fabric. Oh and two 14" blocks that I think I'm going to sew together into a pillow.

Just a little pillow



I guess I need to sew a button on for an eye for this little doggie....Just sewed him together yesterday. Another Block-a-Day block used.  yea.

Block-a Day Pillow 12 x 16



Here's what "Oh My Gosh I passed this rotation in nursing school" looks like. 
Otis was just trying to help keep Meg's back warm!

(mental exhaustion)

Getting things done

Snow Bound is bound and labeled-it's my UFO for February.
 I really liked making this quilt, I've been sorry almost from the beginning on my fabric choices. I kept thinking "it's good to get out of my comfort zone" and many have told me how they "love" this quilt.

All well and good.  But it's been another reminder. I don't quilt to make others happy. 

Also, when I loaded this I dithered around deciding on an over-all or custom.  Instead of going with my gut and doing an over-all and finishing it. I started doing a loopy design in the chain blocks--to give me time to decide what to do in the appl. blocks.  I do like the chain blocks, you can't probably tell from the photo but I didn't quilt in the dark red chain so it puffs up and I like that effect.

So this quilt has taught (re-taught) me a few things.

*every quilt this year is NOT going to be a learning experience in improving my quilting (custom-type) in the way I think it will be-(my main goal for this year)

--if it calls for an over-all: answer the call!

*if the fabrics aren't making me happy- Change them.

*Comfort zone, shmumfort zone

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A little quilt just for me!

17"x18"



Design Wall Monday (2/14/11)

I'll be doing a lot of blanket stitching this week.  I have to finish the words "sleep and "repeat" on the Baby Life quilt and the 2 blocks to the right are the first two months for Henrietta Whiskers, Anne Sutton from Bunny Hill Designs 2011 BOM.

I'm loving it already. 

And my Flying geese and leftover pinwheels are still growing as my leader/ender.

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I got the first Baby Life quilt quilted and bound this weekend.

  And was finally successful in re-installing my printer drivers and all that happy horse do-do.

**happy dance didn't have to get a new computer**

which I just probably jinxed-dang!

 So I am able to make labels in EQ6 and print them out on fabric. I have to put a label on the Baby life quilt, my crumb quilt and Snow Bound (yep finished quilting that this weekend too), still binding it tho' and may re-do the quilting I did in some of the applique blocks, (sigh) not sure I like it will post about that later.

Check out other walls atPatchwork Times

Wordless Wednesday--NOT

Baby Life Quilt 

recipe at ModaBakeShop. 

When I saw it I l.o.v.e.d it.

 I bought twice as much background and backing as needed...he he; forgot to put supply list in purse, went out to run errands and ended up at Joann's-if you can imagine that happening!

And coordinating burp cloths

The tutorial is here.

the first flimsy last night-while listening to the Pens lose (boo-hoo).



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Design Wall Monday (2/7/11)

My wall is empty.

I thought this would be on it but I started working on it yesterday and got it all together.

  On Friday (I think) I got out all my block-a-days and tried to put them in some kind of piles.  I have 61 twelve inch Civil War repro blocks! 

These guys above were in a group of "oh man this is gonna be bad"!  But I sorta like it. It was fun to put together.  I've not done very much of this kind of assembly in the past and using different size blocks and figuring out how to make them all fit as painlessly as possible was a fun challenge. 

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I finished my 2 Quilts for kids quilts. 

The yellow one I quilted using Connecting Threads new, I think it's relatively new  (new to me anyway)

Essential Pro

I really liked it.  I used it  Color is called "Tea Dyed" in the top  and Superior's bottom line in the bobbin.  

I used a size #18 needle and loosened the top tension a tad.  I had excellent tension from the start and no thread issues at all.  It looks and feels like cotton.

I love their regular Essential thread-great colors but I've been slow to try poly's and am having fun experimenting with them.  If you've tried the Essential Pro would love to know what you think.

*****

and finally The Big Stars quilt with Whirly-Twirly feathers is done! Libby is suppose to come pick it up today. 

I'm thrilled with how it turned out and hope she'll be happy with it.  (I always stress over the 'reveal' on a customer quilt) and have been relieved to read others feel the same way.

Here's a peak of the back while it was still attached to the back leader.

 and one of the 4 star blocks.  They each measured 36" square!

I've learned a ton quilting this quilt.  And am looking forward to using this design again. But not this week....some nice all-over don't have to think so much quilting is in order!!

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I finished the 2nd heart pillow last week too.

His Majesty--Bad Otis

1st Pillow

I finished this one yesterday!  Hope to get the 2nd one done today. 

what? how'd that towel get in the picture.....

"go stillers" (which if  yinz you've never heard us talk is how native Pittsburgher's say "Steelers")

There's even a book about it.

Progress continues

on the feathered quilt, but yesterday when I went downstairs in the morning to start some laundry I felt like sewing.  But I really had nothing little to sew.  (I know; "gasp") It's sorta weird after all last year always having blocks to sew and sewing was the main event every day.

If you remember, I wasn't sure about an outer border for Evening Shadows.  I was thinking of sewing random leftover jelly roll strips together.  But I did that on another quilt and didn't like the look.  Well, as I stood there in my jammies pondering what I could do for a quick sewing 'fix', I started putting the strips on the wall and I liked it, so I sewed a few together just to be sure; and yep I liked it.  So 3 hours later, with a load of laundry sitting in the washer, me still in jammies (embarrassing) and starving for lunch I had the borders figured out.  I was  just going to put on 2 rows but had enough for 3 rows and that makes the finish size 68 x 86 and I thought that was a good size.

In the afternoon, I was putting up my few valentine's decorations (2 small quilts) and I remembered that last year I had bought some die cut hearts (already cut out with fusible on them) at The Quilt Co. They had them in a little bowl by the check out so I bought 6.

I got them out and thought I would make 2 pillows, this is what I came up with.

12" x 16" pillow tops

The one on the right I've already blanket-stitched around with a King Tut red-it really helps since they are so pale they blend in.  I forgot to put a piece of batting on the back so my stitching would also be my quilting--agggghhh. I have a little bag of assorted heart buttons, but I'm just not an 'embellish-er' so not sure I'll add them. 

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last week I sewed the last of the "found" HST together into flying geese, but I'm still loving the flying geese so I pulled out all my pre-cut 2.5 x 4.5 med/dark bricks, ala BonnieH, and a bunch of light 2.5 squares and have been sewing them together L/E. The little triangles you cut off I'm sewing together into little pinwheels (they're measuring 3" unfinished).  At first I was throwing the little things away, but then I felt guilty (what's up with that!) so I got them out of the waste basket and when I sewed them together, awww they're just so cute. 

I know, the little pinwheel by itself is spinning the wrong way--- an orphan among leftovers, so sad.