Oh where did October go?

At the beginning of the month My CW Dresden was BOUND, LABELED and ON THE BED!!

I do believe this is the first quilt I've ever made that actually fits my bed perfectly.  

I'm not kidding.

woot-woot!

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Meg and I traveled to The Mount (Mount St. Mary's Seminary & University) for the seminary's family weekend.  

The weather was perfect-warmer than we expected---I packed wrong!!

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I put this top together, it's from all the blocks I collected from the members of  The Mod Squad group from guild.  

I demo'd the blocks last spring at one of our meetings and asked if anyone was interested in making a block or two, I would make a quilt from them  and we could donate it to our community outreach committee. The only guideline was white background fabric.

The row of small blocks in the center were pieced from the hst cut offs from the larger blocks-love it!

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I agreed to be the chairperson for our guild's next raffle quilt.

I don't, ehem, play well with others; so I am a committee of one.

Well, I do hope I'll be able to get someone to sew that dang binding on for me-haha!

The last raffle quilt was made with CW repro fabrics so I wanted to go in a different direction with this one.

After much deliberation with myself, I kid you not; I decided to make Swoon!  It's been hovering on my want/need to make list anyway right??

Then I spent a good week deciding on fabrics and then waffling on the "committee's" pattern choice!

geeze-Louise

I finally picked Somerset by Fig Tree and then spent another couple days waffling over that!  

Could you just imagine if I actually had to discuss these options with others and deal with their opinions?!

me either -- M.I.G.R.A.I.N.E.

The blocks are 24 inches big.  

Each block takes 2 fat quarters, with no room for error!  

Here are the first 3, I have 7 made now but can't seem to find a picture-perhaps I forgot to take one.

The plan is to make 12 blocks, which will make an 80 x 106 quilt.

I've been trolling wasting time on Pinterest and have found a few alternate layouts which I may play with a bit after the blocks are done.  

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I've cut back my days at the card shop and the last two weeks I'm starting to feel like I'm not spinning quite so fast. 

Always trying to find that elusive balance-- 

aren't we all? 

fun times, fun times.

Life is good!

Finish X3

My two door banners are finished.  

I thought to make quilted curtains in the windows when I was quilting the  2nd one--bummer 'cuz I think it's soo cute--just like I made curtains in my house windows when I was a little kid!

And a Penn State quilt for my nephew as well.  

(E's and 3's in navy blue thread)

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I put the blocks from the Mod Squad group up on the wall.  I don't think I'll get any more blocks from members, so I thought I'd start playing with the layout.  

I've started cutting 2.5 inch strips for sashing and will either make one more little block for the center row or spread them out.

It  will make a happy donation quilt for the guild from our Modern group!

  

I really can't believe it's Autumn already!  

We've had a whirlwind summer-3 weddings!  another one on Saturday-whoa!  I'm getting pretty good at reception dancing!!!  Although I am sad that the Electric Slide seems to have gone out of fashion-just when I finally get the moves down. 

Quilting has been ongoing, although s.l.o.w. going!  I did just finish the quilting on my CW Dresden!  big whoo-hoo.  Let's not talk about binding right now!

I did SID around the sashing squares and all the plate blades.  A swirl in the centers and an echo hook design in the background of the blocks and cornerstones.

This was on HQ for over a month, which is just crazy.

You might notice that I changed the design I started in the cornerstones to match the background fill of the blocks. I had only quilted the first row of cornerstones with my original design (booo) so only had to pick out for about an hour or two or three... a pain in the back for sure.

I got the wide backing from Connecting Threads online.  It was on clearance and couldn't be more perfect.  

At some point in August I needed a little piecing time so I made two of these. 

(this picture is from the Joined at the Hip website.) 

Both are loaded and about 1/2 way done on the quilting. I made two 'cuz I figured it was just as easy to pull fabric from my stash and cut for two as one.  

I really needed some 'piecing therapy' that day I guess!!

*****

I have agreed to be the chairman for our guild Raffle quilt.  Our next show is Nov. 2015.  I'm a tad nervous about this as I'm usually a loner type quilter.

I 'think' I have the pattern decided on; this will probably be the hardest decision. So it shouldn't be too bad of a gig.

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I have been wanting to make the Swoon quilt for a long while now. I have the pattern but so far that's it.  I did make a sample block awhile ago;

 then on Pinterest last week I found a alternate block with simpler piecing- tutorial here, but alas it was also a smaller block (16 inches). The Swoon pattern block is 24 inches big!

I made this sample block with the 'easier' piecing. 

It was. 

 I like it, but I want the 24 inch block size-- so once again,

Swoon sits.

Sometimes you just need to sit and wait for the sun to go down and the fire to start; whether it's in a fire pit in the backyard...

...or in the sewing room.  

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Little Jo is crawling like a champ, dances (hilarious), and continues to fill a spot in my heart that I didn't know was there, much less empty.

(the 'Pebbles' hair kills me!!) hahaha

fun times, fun times!

Life is Good.

CW Dresden

I am so happy to finally have this quilt loaded.  

There's no turning back now.

The cornerstones are getting this little flowery design.

I'm really liking using rulers and templates...imagine that!

stitch in the ditch around all the setting squares and the Dresden blades.

I'm still not sure about the background behind the Dresden's-hopefully inspiration will hit me at some point. I have time as this is a big one-94 wide by 112.  It should fit our bed nicely.

******

I finished a customer quilt last week.  She wanted all custom and I had a great time working on it.

The backing hides the quilting...sorta wish I could see it.

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CW Sampler Blue

 (48 x 64)

I am so happy to have a finish today! 

 I machine stitched the binding -front side and back; hence the finish.

The quilting is an all-over called E's and 3's.  

  I've only started using E's and 3's this year and really love the look; makes me wonder what other great designs are out there that I haven't stumbled on yet.

The back is pieced- mostly CW repro fabrics.  

I really like it!

busy busy

I do have this circle sewn together but can't find the picture.

I got a new phone; my first smart phone and I'm s-l-o-w-l-y learning how to use it.

I just finally got the pictures I've been taking all month uploaded onto the computer, now to find them and edit them.  I'm thinking the one of this circle sewn is in that bunch somewhere.

(I can only do new technical stuff for so long then I get either frustrated or bored...)

4th of July bike ride to Ohiopyle state park.  A little chilly weather wise but beautiful scenery.

A patriotic quilt for a customer.  Stars and loops-can't go wrong with that.

I've also been trying, with little success, to relax and enjoy as the summer flies by.

(The dogs have it down to a science.)

 A panel baby quilt, I got the kit on Shop Hop this year and just needed something quick to make me feel like I'm being productive. Although as you can see, the binding isn't quite done yet!!

I quilted tiny loops all over with white thread. 

I'm real happy to say that the 1st CW sampler is quilted and just need to sew down the binding on this one too. 

I like the pieced backing almost as much as the front and that it was all from stash is a bonus too.

The 2nd CW sampler is loaded on HQ and halfway done. 

And that, I think, will mean the end of the Block-a-day blocks.  

woot-woot.

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I've developed some kind of "older age" thing in my left thumb.  All my co-workers have diagnosed me (!HA!) as having carpel tunnel, arthritis, tendinitis, and I forget what else.  Also with admonishments of "welcome to your 50's...it's just going to get worse".  

if I weren't such an upbeat person, I'd be truly depressed!!

 :)

So I have an appointment with the orthopedic doc next week and get the real scoop on this pain in the hand.  

I did buy a generic brace at Target and it's seems to help.

OK enough whining.

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In grand baby news, little miss Jo is 7 months old and just got her first two teeth...and she's very near to crawling!!!

Amazing. 

Oh and she really knows me now and LIKES me and reaches for me and I almost die of happiness every time.

****

fun times, fun times ... life is good.

Urban Birthday

I made Urban Birthday for a wedding quilt for my niece.  The shower was on Sunday.

I had it folded with the label on the top, so it would be seen when she opened the box.

She was so excited to see the label and that I had scanned in their wedding invitation too.

She thought it was the front of the quilt.  

I finally had to yell out "that's the BACK"!

I think she likes the front too --ha :)

There is something so very satisfying about a making a special quilt for someone you love and how appreciatively it was received that makes all the stressing over fabrics, patterns, quilting, deadlines-just fade away.

If only I could remember that for the next time. 

*smile*

*****

I also finished a cool customer quilt. 

It's a gift for a young lady who works in theater.

 I spent yesterday sewing.  

Last June I bought a 10 degree ruler and never even took it out of the package.

A few weeks ago I picked up this book and realized one of the quilts uses a 10 degree ruler....how convenient!!

These circles I made by sewing (2sets) of 7 jelly roll strips together and then cutting with the ruler at the 17 inch mark.  Each strip set yields 18 wedges and you need 36 to complete a circle.  

My idea is to make some of these circles in different sizes and applique, by machine of course, to a background. I already purchased yardage of a nearly white grunge fabric (Basic Grey) but not sure if that will be the 'one' at this point.

This one I sewed 3 six inch strips together and then cut down to 14 1/2 inches wide before cutting the wedges.

Then I cut this cool blue fabric with tree rings for the alternate wedges.  I have the tree ring fabric in a green and pink colorway too....hmmmmm.

Right now my brain is flipping over all the different possibilities. Like I want to cut some solid wedges and insert a few of them in the mix too. 

But I think before I cut anymore I better sew one of these together.  

Additional circles will be smaller and even a few partial ones is the plan for now.

Up and Away -flimsy

My version of Amanda's pattern from the book, Sunday Morning Quilts.  

I randomly put some plain white squares in the rows.  I thought of this after I started sewing the rows together (of course) and just put them in without too much thought.

I could have used some in the upper right area-but those rows were already sewn together when the idea occurred!

I'm quite happy that this is a flimsy; it was on the design wall for way too long. Hopefully, it won't stay a flimsy near as long.

42 x 55

quilting

Carol's quilt: feathers, feathers, feathers!

Concentric Circles with a yellow/gold thread.

I do love this pattern-love the texture.

Nancy's T-shirt quilt. 

Lois' 2 picnic quilts.  

She made them just to use of the fabric and will be used for summer picnics with her family.

All-over loops, squiggles and stars.

I quilted this one with a swirl hook and flames.

(The Pajama quilter calls it 'woodgrain')

Heather's quilt. I did E's and 3's on it. 

And two identical baby panel quilts.  I quilted each differently.

This one has swirls.

This one little loops.

And another one of Nancy's. 

I did the wood grain all-over on this one too and a C-hook in the border.

In addition to all these. I finished Happy Jack (see previous post). And quilted and finished, yes even the dreaded binding, on these two baby quilts; finished the binding yesterday as a matter of fact.

I have a customer baby quilt loaded now and halfway done. I'm going to finish it today and then I can say. 

I'm all caught up! 

whew!

Except for the 7-8 personal quilt tops that are waiting to be done....

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Meg and I got season tickets for the Pittsburgh CLO's summer series. 

It starts tonight with Singin' in the Rain-can't wait.