H Whiskers and How I store my patterns etc.

the front

the back

That was a fun quilt to make! 

 I'm really happy with the quilting.

No picture but Skinny Santa hooked rug was finished about 1/2 an hour ago.  Now I need to learn how to steam and bind it...You Tube tutorials are in my near future.

I am thrilled to have finally got to this point after all these years. 

Today I spray basted Small Treasures together.  I got the idea from Bonnie a week or so ago. It was in the high 50's here today so I did the spraying outside on the deck-good idea until the wind blew and it got a little 'sticky'! (sorry couldn't resist). It worked very well and I'm anticipating a nice finish for it.  I'm going to try to quilt it tomorrow on DSM.  I loaded the new bee table runner on HQ, since it's loaded it has to be quilted next.  

Bonnie also asked about my binders that I keep 'quilts I'd like to make in' that I referred to in my last post and if I could elaborate-

 so here goes. 

Here is a picture of my binders.

 They are labeled left to right:

~Patterns I'd like to make

~Quilts I've made

~Long arm quilting ideas

~Judging comments/misc. articles and "how to's"

~Bunny Hill BOM/FFF/Misc. Stitchery Patterns

After I've had a magazine for a bit and have looked through it and basically read it cover to cover, I take out the patterns that I think I might like to make.  I have learned (the hard way) to always read through the pattern and make sure there isn't any templates on a pattern sheet that needs to be saved as well.  I staple the direction pages together with any pattern pages in between and slide it into a page protector.  I put the best full picture of the quilt on top. So I can easily recognize what it is.

This pattern is called Midwest Pride from a 2007 Quilt Sampler magazine.

I usually put 2 patterns in a page protector back-to-back.

This pattern in the photo below I just  put in the front of the binder. I like the layout and think it might be an idea for using some of my Bl-a-days.  Until I looked at this last night I hadn't thought of making a new center block to go with the bl-a-days.  

I was just locked into using them up not using them creatively. Nice!

Here is the very front of the binder "Quilts I've Made"

You can see Small Treasures is already in there and the page before I have my "Joined at the Hip" patterns 3 of them in one sleeve.

I used to keep all the patterns and articles from one magazine in a sleeve but then I couldn't see each pattern and you know how it is-outta sight outta mind! 

It's amazing how many times I've looked back at the Quilts I've made binder to answer a question about how I made that or some other trivial thing. And I have made a pattern more than once, not often but it has happened.

At least once a year, I go through the "Patterns I'd like to Make" binder and cull out patterns that either don't appeal to me anymore-just because or maybe I've made something similar and don't feel a need to repeat.

The other binders use the same idea.  

In the Judges Comment Sheets one I keep a sleeve for each quilt I've entered, all the paperwork attached to it, a picture of the quilt if I have one printed out and a program from the show it was in.  

So that's how I do it.

I would really love to have all those binders be the same color and print out labels for them with matching fonts.....but not right now...but some day.

*****

and just because this post isn't long enough already.

Here's a picture of the progress (not much) on my little quilt Winter Scraps that I didn't have a picture of last week.

the circle and stars are just sitting there not stitched down yet.  

And now goodnight.  The Pens are losing :( 

I must go root for them~ help 'em out!

DWMonday

This is on my wall. 

A new project...

How does this stuff happen?

 I do not know.  

I was looking through my 4 inch binder labeled "Quilts I'd LIKE to make".  (if I life to be 402-3)

And I saw a pattern I found here.   

Two days later this is my wall.  Well that blue block top left has been redone all scrappy, it was the first block I pieced thinking I would do a controlled color scheme, but realized I didn't have enough strips in any one fabric to do so. Hence I went scrappy-happy, which might not be a bad name...

This week I want to quilt and finish these two flimsy's:

And the binding  on H Whiskers.  

I finished quilting it yesterday. 

LOVE it!

I took these pictures late last night- will get better ones after binding is done.

And last but not least, I am STILL pulling loops on my Santa rug....finish by January....so close.

His beard gets hooked with 'roving'. That should be interesting.  

Check out what others are working on at Judy's.

DWMonday

It is all together!! 

whoop-whoop!

Someone asked last week if I had a picture of the original fabric.  That's it on the floor.  

I auditioned a few fabrics I had in the stash for borders but didn't like them.  I'm going to set this aside for a bit and ponder it.

****

Small Treasures is on the wall now

I have to sew the 3rd row of flying geese together and then decide on fabrics for the rest of the quilt.  You can see a picture of the finished quilt at the end of this post here.

******

My Henrietta Whiskers top is loaded on HQ so hopefully I'll get that done this week too.


I'm linking up to Patchwork Times -a great way to see what others are working on.

Before I forget....

I did put the fast finish triangles technique on the new jack's quilts.

Very fast and easy.  I normally sew a split sleeve on the back of my wall quilts so I can run a dowel through them and hang with a single nail in the wall; putting these little triangles in the corners of even those quilts in addition to the hanging sleeve would be helpful in keeping the corners from drooping and also save time. 

I just love that trick or treat backing fabric (got it as Jo Ann's).

I also started a 2nd The Witch Is In banner.  I don't know why I feel compelled to make a second small quilt from a pattern but it happens a lot. 

Anywho...after I fused the shoes to the background and was trying to get the hat pieces in place I couldn't figure out why it wasn't fitting.  

And then I realized I had fused the shoes 1 inch up from the edge of the bottom border instead of 1 inch up from the bottom edge of the background!  

So I had to cut down the hat and do a little re arranging (the black dot on the left below the word "is" will be a spider when I get to the blanket stitching.

(I removed the bottom border piece.)

It's a little wonky looking-her legs could be a little closer together but they were already fused so that was not possible.  For about 20 seconds I contemplated just pitching the whole thing into the trash.

I'm glad I didn't-I would have dug it out this morning anyway!

 Anyone who doesn't know how it really 'should' look would never know.  

And I still just love those shoes!

**********

In other news, I finally got the blanket stitching done on H.Whiskers.

Here is the proof!  

Now I just need to finish a huge customer quilt (100x110) and I will maybe take a day and quilt this for me.  

Design Wall Monday

Well, I haven't done one of these in a long time.  Dare I hope life might be taking a turn towards normals ville?  Time will tell.

Design wall #1.

This is a baby quilt for a friend, Mary's, daughter, who is due in like 2 weeks.  I used to work with Mary and in e-mails she asked if I could make a quilt (of course). I sent a few pictures of other baby quilts I've made. 

I was leaning towards this one.

 We had lunch a few weeks ago. Her daughter didn't pick this pattern (oh drat!)

 All Squared Up which is from Quilt Sampler magazine Spring/Summer 2007 is the one she liked and she wanted it made in purples and greens. 

Of course, my first thought was 'holy crap that's gonna be weird' mainly because it's not a color combo I would use. HA!

 (sure I'll make you a quilt....a quilt I want to make in colors I like....)

am I the only one who thinks these things

The greens are yardage I bought, the purples are from an Island Batik jelly roll I just got on a whim last month; yeah for compulsive buying!

I intend to finish putting the outer border on today. I did get the inner purple border on last night. I have a lot of the green fabric leftover so I'm thinking I will use it to make a funky pieced backing for it.

My other design wall has my Bunny Hill BOM waiting for the fused border appliques to be blanket stitched, may or may not happen this week.  I'm not liking the idea of machine bl. stitching with the top all together, I'm thinking it's going to be awkward-only way to assemble tho' with the birds and stars going through all the borders like that.

REALLY like the colors in this one-right up my alley as they say.

Visit other design walls by checking out Judy's blog here.



overload

I went to my first every quilt guild meeting last night. 

I would guess there were about 50+ people there; mostly women but a few men too.

I signed up to help at the quilt show in November. 

I took a kit to make a pillowcase from the community service basket. 

I knew a few people so that was nice.

And I sat and enjoyed seeing some lovely show-n-tell quilts. 

I'm glad I finally was able to make it to a meeting. 

October 1st is the deadline for quilt entry in the show.  I decided to enter 2 quilts (that's the limit).

Stargazing. 

It's completely ready, with hanging sleeve and everything. woohoo. And yes, that was a factor in it getting picked.

And Evening Shadows.

Ah, the binding is not finished and it will need a hanging sleeve... 

I AM going to work on this TODAY. 

Really. 

I'm not just saying this. 

I am.

H. Whiskers is all together and I have the border appliques fused on-just have to blanket-stitch them. Dang nammit I thought I had a picture....ahgggg the brain scatters are going to make me nutzy -er I swear.

I will take a picture TODAY too. 

Really.

I'm not just saying this.

I am.

Edit: Here's the picture.



Almost another finish...

I quilted a free hand all-over swirly feathery flowery design, just winged it.  I figured the top is so busy doing something like feathers would just be a waste of time. 

I like it.

Morris (A 2010 Bl-a-Day quilt) 68 x 78

The back

 I spent about 20 stressed out minutes looking EVERYWHERE for the binding for this quilt.  I had it in my notes that I had made the binding, but where oh where could it be. It wasn't anywhere it "should" be but things have been moved around so much in the deconstruction/renovations that I was just looking in every drawer.  And then it hit me. Oh Ya, I took off that outside border and I had made the binding with the same fabric...and there it was sitting in a little heap on a shelf in the closet with the border pieces.   
So I found fabric that would work and made new binding and was getting ready to sew it on

 when I realized I didn't have a label made. So that's why I'm at the computer now, to make a label. I figured I have time for a little post before Paul gets home and it's time to do the dinner making thing.  yuk~!


I'm starting to think it's time to make some more Quilts for Kids donation quilts.  I quietly told myself at the beginning of the year that I would like to make 1 a month.  But I just made a bunch at the beginning of the year (5 or 6) and mailed them in and then got distracted with other things. It's time to get crackin' on those again...soon.




I've started humming Christmas carols....
I know it's horrible, but I have a good reason.  In between binding searching, and binding making and deciding on the borders for H. Whiskers'

(I still have to prep the final appliques for the borders)


I loaded my Merry Christmas Sampler top! 
It's a block-a-day quilt too and this one is for our bed during the holidays, It's also on my 2011 Goals list.
I'm going to do feathers on it, of course I am, what else would I want to do.  :)

(80 x 80)


Well, dang, hubby's home gotta go cook something scrumptious!


Fun times, fun times ....Life is Good!

1ST Post on my new laptop

I feel like I'm all thumbs!

I wanted the Geeks at Best Buy to transfer all my files for me (I'm lazy like that). 

I did back up my photos and some other quilty documents myself, but not everything, don't ask me why (I'm lazy like that).  I got a call from them that the hard drive was bad and they couldn't get anything off it.  Bummer!  

On one hand, I lost all my music; only about 100 Cd's worth. I hardly ever listened to them through the computer anyway so it wasn't critical but I would have backed them up if I had remembered them though.

On the other hand,  I feel very good that I got every last penny's worth out of the old computer.  

So I've been spending the last few days learning the new stuff, kinda fun since this computer actually works right and doesn't freeze and mess me up.  I forgot how nice it is. I did finally install the wireless mouse yesterday and in typical "me" fashion, I couldn't get it to work.  I was really getting upset-I even went on-line and downloaded a bunch of stuff for such situations, changed the batteries -twice. I had been at it for over 1/2 hour and was starting to say bad words. Paul had been sitting on the couch reading the paper quietly while I muttered away at how I KNEW I should have just got the wired mouse. Why do I listen to those guys at Best Buy. I know ME I can't do stuff like this....

 Paul said, "let me take a look at it." 

Just for the record: I'm better at computers; which isn't saying much, so therefore I don't think it can be called bragging or anything-just wanted to clarify.

 :)

He opened the mouse and in 2 seconds said,

 "You have the battery in backwards."

I love that guy.

********

So I've been a very good binder and have all the binding sewn on to the quilts I quilting over the last couple weeks.  I only have the hand sewing part done on Madeline and Winter White.

But I'm pretty happy with that.

Finally got my first tomato! Yum.

 

I quilted My Apple Orchard. I stippled the center and did a curling feather in the 9-patch and outer black border. 

I made the 8th block for HWhiskers BOM.



Here is a picture of the top so far.  Just one more block to go.

Oh and I thought you might like to see a picture of Annie with her inner tube collar.  I posted about it a couple weeks ago. 

She's all healed now. Yeah.

*******

I spent part of today walking around the downstairs with a tape measure trying to decide on furniture arrangements.  I've come to the conclusion that some of the stuff has to go or be repurposed.  I measure and say "hmmmm"  alot. 

Oh man, I just accidently changed the view on my screen to 125%---wow I can read it way better! 

 lol.

Scary, the things that can crack me up.



Henrietta Whiskers

Block Seven

The door to this cute little acorn house needs is knob, probably a button as pattern suggests. I chose not to put the word "HOME" in the cap.

Since I have the background blocks made already,  I just had to blanket stitch the appliques after I fused 'em.  I did this at the kitchen table. It's a workable situation; more and more of my supplies are migrating to the living room.  I don't think this is a good thing but as they say, "It is what it is."

They're making good progress on powder room, I'm guessing the walls will be framed in tomorrow as they started on laying it out this afternoon. 

I'm really excited about the big new closet we'll be gaining down there.  I can see it now that the layout has started.  I'm terrible at being able to visualize this kind of thing.

HQ and all my stuff is plastic-ed off but I snuck in there tonight after supper, it's nice and clean (yeah!) so I loaded 'Seppy'

 and am going to quilt it tonight. 

**GRIN**

I've been quilting my Civil War Medallion quilt with baptist fans. 

At the start, I was marking the arcs with chalk and a plastic template I have. After a few passes, I wondered if I could just do it without marks.  I found I was no more but no less consistent without marking and it went a lot faster. 

Last night I thought I would finish it.  Paul had gone out for a bike ride; he's off all week since his Mom's funeral on Monday, and Meghan was at school. 

Perfect!

But no, it wasn't to be.

I ran out of the So Fine thread (#407 Clay) I was using in the top.  I wasn't sure how much was on the spool when I started and sorta thought I might not have enough, but the further along I quilted the more likely it looked like I was going to make it....Nope. 

So I looked through all my threads and thought I had a good match, but ran out of steam and called it a night.  This morning when I started to stitch, Eegads! It's not a match or even close.  I ripped it out and will wait for another cone. 

The Western PA Shop Hop starts today.  Libby and I are going to hit a shop (or two if we're lucky) this evening and then the other 9 shops over Thursday and Friday. 

And miracle of miracles I actually have a list!!!!!

One of the shops carry Superior Threads so if they have what I need I'll be finishing this weekend, if not I'll have to order it and wait a few days.  I did toy with the idea of securing the unquilted area and unloading it and loading a smaller quilt that I could do in the mean time.  But since this quilt is 94 x 94 the thoughts of unloading and reloading...nah.

****

Since I couldn't quilt I had to sew!

I know, I know, it's a tough life ...

I cut out and fused the 6th block of Henrietta Whiskers yesterday.

I sure am enjoying this BOM.

I forgot to flip the applique pattern sheet when I was transferring to the fusible so my squirrels are jumping to the right instead of the left.  hee-hee.  It really doesn't matter, so why do I mention it???

*smile*

After blanket-stitching this block and taking a picture, I got out the other finished blocks to see how it looks.

and sewed the top two rows together. 

The bottom rows I prepped yesterday

too.





Last week I started to frog an old quilt that I made from leftover blocks from Little Quilts that I had made...l-o-n-g time ago.

I really like it but every time I look at it the quilting just glares as me.  It was my first attempt at something that size on my DSM and my first stippling.  I think I could live with the jerky stipples and all. But what drives me bonkers is the thread. I used a brown variegated! YUK.

It is taking me F-O-R-E-V-E-R to un sew this baby. 

What is amazing to me is that ANY machine quilting stitches ever come out of a quilt. The quilting on this is not real good, the tension is OK, sorta--trying to be nice to myself-I was just learning....the stitch length is all over the place.  You'd think I could just rip a couple inches grab the tail an zip pity do da pull a nice section out.  Not a chance!

~pick, pick, pick~ 

It makes me feel much better about my quilting now.  I don't think I will ever do something like this again.

(oh dang-"famous last words"  just popped into my head!)



another day

I finished this little quilt yesterday-free hand baptist fans (a little wonky) but I like it.

I just need to throw it in the wash to crinkle it up a bit.

The watermelon quilt requested by my SIL.  After I snapped this picture I remembered she wants it about 12x17 to fit a specific spot in her kitchen.  This is too wide so I'll need to re-do the borders.  It's from a pattern in At Home with Thimbleberrries by Lynette Jensen (link).  I've had the book for years.

***picture was lost in computer glitch I mean because of user error in other words. I lost the dang thing.***

So here's another one:

 

and the 4th block of Henrietta Whiskers is done.

I had cut out a bunch of 1.5 x 2.5 strips for a coin quilt from the book Remembering Adelia by Kathleen Tracy.  (I'll link later, my computer is doing background scans and going so slow I'm about to rip my hair out.  (breathe in...breathe out...patience the virtue I didn't get--bet the line was too long and I....never mind)

EDIT Here's the  link

I was going to do the coins L/E but couldn't stand it.  So I sewed them up.

Today, after a dental visit (joy; oh joy!) I'm picking up Libby and my SIL (another one not the watermelon one) and we're heading to a quilt shop to purchase our passports for June's Western PA shop hop.  If you get them today, they'll stamp it  "VIQ" Very Important Quilter--which will entitle the shop hopper to extra treats and such during shop hop.  We're not really concerned with that- but it's a great excuse to HAVE to go to a quilt shop (or 2) and out to lunch. 

My SIL is not a quilter, I'd love to bring her over to the dark  fun side of life, so we'll call  this is a 'covert' operation!  buwahahaha