Yesterday, the bike gang went out again!

We left at 9 am and got home at 9 pm.  We were some tired puppies!

Paul, Scott, sil Mary, bil Ed 

Scott behind us on Rt 59 a few miles from the dam

 Our destination was Kinzua Dam.  I'd never been there before and it was so cool.

 I even saw an eagle!! so excited about that!

Kinzua Dam

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Today I needed to really give the house a good cleaning but I still spent some time sewing.

I took a picture of the Modern stack n slash that I finally got the binding done on.

50 x 53

After this picture I washed it and it crinkled up wonderfully.  I just straight line quilted it but I didn't use channel locks just 'eyed' it. So it's not perfectly straight and I just estimated the distance between the lines too. I quilted it one way then reloaded it the other way and quilted it that way.  I really like how it turned out.  

I got another row of feathers quilted on Aster Manor.  I'm using wool batting on this one. It's the first time I've ever tried wool.  It really shows the quilting.  I'm quilting it very close, doing all-over hooked feathers and hope that is OK with wool to quilt it so densely.   

I've been working on piecing the diamond (triangles on the corners) of the Medallion blocks.  I was having trouble seeing the cutting line I drew because the overhead lighting casts a shadow on my cutting table.  I was getting a bit frustrated when it hit me that my Ott Light is sitting in the corner unused.  

So I dragged it out, plugged it in and 'wah-lah' no more shadow.

Here are my medallion blocks.  

just 6 more to add the triangles too

As I'm piecing these, I started a new Leader/Ender project.  I stopped using the L/E method a while back, it just sorta happened.  But I've been saving my binding triangles and even cut some from 2.5 inch squares to make this quilt.  I don't have near enough triangles yet but what the heck it's a start.

in no time at all I have over 20 made. only need a couple hundred more. This will take some time. :)

As April blurred into May, things remained pretty stagnant here.  I did quilt

a few customer quilts but piecing went out the window.  Finally last week, I spend most of a day sewing....

these blocks became

an Urban Chained flimsy!

 Yesterday the  last 3 rows were sewn together at 6:30 am-before work!

The X's quilt has been sewn together; 3 X's across by 4 down.

I should say "I can't believe I didn't get a picture", but I can believe it!

I bought Kim's Fantasy Feather's booklet and it arrived just as I was getting ready to take down the X's flimsy.  Unless I forgot, I'm going to use her design ideas on this quilt.

I also "flimsied" (did I just invent a new term?) this one.

It measures about 53 x 56.  I was trying to keep with the modern look which in many cases means, no borders.  But adding the border made the size better.  I think it's a good baby size now.
It felt really good to get these half finished tops off the wall. 

I also pieced the final block for the Curve It Up quilt along. 

This picture has the block with the curved border already on.

I am going to put each block up on the design wall as I finish them. 

 I cut out the rest of the pieces and ran out of the white on white and the grey solid.  

Separate trips to two different Jo-Ann's and I finally found the same grey--who know there were so many 'shades of grey' (ooh that could be a bad pun if you know of /read those steamy books from last summer).
 

***I did start the first book and after about 100 pages, couldn't find a plot and was thinking "no way in Hell anybody could do that so much and still be able to walk***
Call me a snob but if I'm going to read smut it has to be believable smut. 

I returned the book to Target. And was told by the clerk, when I gave my reason (I really didn't know it was THAT kind of book). She said I must be the only person who didn't, as it's been all the morning shows etc have been talking about.
 

Sadly, I do not watch morning TV or most any other TV so I am out of the loop on matters trivial and important. 
 

Does this make me an ignorant snob??????

whoa-that was a digression-  and I hope not TMI !
And finally, since it is Facebook official on my DIL's page.  I feel it's OK to say.

******

My son, John and his wife, Jen are
GOING TO HAVE A BABY!!

...IN DECEMBER!!

...I AM EXCITED!!

...CAN YOU TELL!!


***SMILE***SMILE***SMILE***

Design Wall Monday& Curve it Up QAL

Block 11 Drunkard's Path

16 inch block

 

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My stack 'n slash has been fun.  I think it's close to being done.

I started with 5 inch charms, alternating white and batiks.

They squared up to 3 3/4".  

 I made a second set of blocks and cut some white squares to fill in and separate them.

I made a 3rd set of blocks and cut some larger white strips and squares.

Two reasons for this: 

1. I really want the color to be spread out.

2.  I was trying to make it work without having to piece another set of blocks.

This is where it is now. 

I do believe I will make that last set of blocks.  If I add a border and sew these together now it will be a bit small for a baby quilt. 

********

This weekend I needed a quick little something to go with a birthday gift card so I enlarged a bunny applique and made these two tea towels. 

One was for the birthday girl--one was for me!

and while I was digging around to find the perfect fabric for the bunnies I found this dog panel quilt all done except the binding. 

 

Imagine that! Me, not finishing the binding!!

The binding wasn't even made, what a slacker!

Now it is, sewn on and I'm half way around hand sewing it to the back.

It will be donation quilt for Quilt for Kids.  

design wall stuff

I made another group of stack in slash blocks.  After piecing a few more I think I will play with arrangements and adding some larger white pieces.  I'm thinking this will be a baby quilt or if I get carried away a lap quilt.

I like it.

 A lot.

I was gifted with these gorgeous batik FQ's at quilt retreat by my secret sister.

There were enough to use for my next Quick Curve Ruler pattern Urban Chained

I'm using a light blue print for the background.

My first test blocks.

I also have the binding on Urban Candy, just need to do the hand sewing.

I have 60 yo-yo's made (of the 409 I need) for this one.