August 28 2015

Although I promised myself I would get my own quilts done, it really hasn't happened yet.  Besides the two I made for gifts already. The guild's bi-annual show is in November.  I need to get cracking!

I finished Libby's quilt. 

 Wonky feathers on this star quilt- it was a thangles pattern, Dottie really didn't care for it.  But I just love the simplicity of it and the border.

Lois' quilt with an all over 'water ripples' pattern.  I've made this pattern and quilted it for several customers over the past years-I think it's a very versatile pattern.  

It makes a very cool quilt.

A Christmas Quilt (aggghh not ready for that!!)

 

this is the 2nd Friendship Stars quilt for Marsha.

(excuse my neighbors ad on his work trailer above--forgot to edit the picture)

Here is the 3rd (and final one) She added an extra border on this one

I love the colors.

  Last week Libby and ML came over for a sew day.

We each made this tote.

Here is mine.

and mine, Libby's and ML's

the pattern is The One Piece Bag from Fig Tree & Co.

***************************

Last month we said goodbye to Annie.

She really was the sweetest, gentlest dog ever.

Dang I miss her.

Jo comes into the house and calls for her  "Annie? ... Annie?

I say, "Annie's all gone" 

She can't say Otis yet, so she's started calling him annie;

which makes me smile and feel sad all at once.

********

June 8 2015

Lots of quilting going on here!

I don't think I've shared this one yet.

i would like to share more but my computer is being a pain.

toodles

Life is Good!

More swoon pictures

Pittsburgh is in the frigid zone weather wise but I figured if I wanted a couple pictures of the entire quilt I'd have to go out today.

I forgot to mention the quilt measures 90 x 106.

 I loved making it and quilting it; I hope to make one of my own this year!!

As usual I apologize for crapola photos!!

New York Beauty

I feel like I could just continue making blocks and playing with the layout of this forever!

I did rip out the outside wedge shapes on two of the blocks that were  just too light. Amazingly, I was able to save the block!!! Yea

Each block is an investment in time and the idea of ruining one made me stop and think.  But I know me; and if I hadn't my eye would forever be drawn right to them.  Not good! 

Of course as I'm looking at this photo I see things I could move...

********

I did start quilting the Swoon  raffle quilt quilt--another yea!  

I was planning on custom quilting it.but then I remembered I had pressed the seams open so there went that idea, which involved a lot of SID. Oh well.

My plan is to have it finished in a week or two! 

*******

I have finished a few customer quilts this month too.

Fun times fun times!!

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.

********

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.

 ****

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.

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....

*******

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

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

I bought this book last year!  

I'm starting to get annoyed with myself buying books and then never making even one quilt from them.  

I'm annoyed since I'm running out of book shelf space AGAIN! 

So I made this top from two partial charm pack I had, Reunion and Simply Style. I added one extra row of blocks.

Urban Pods was finished at the end of April.

I've been waiting for good weather to take some outside pictures.

I gave up waiting.

The design wall with Up and Away progress; not much. I have the 10 rows sewn together in the upper right corner.

I feel sure that soon I will lose patience with this sitting here and sew the dang thing up, even though it sitting there and being sewn a few rows at a time is the plan...

I sewed a sample spider web block (ala Bonnie Hunter).

I saw a quilt on Pinterest using pieced fabric for the center area and really liked it.

I don't really like my grey centers.  It might look fine on an entire quilt, but I don't have that much.  I'm going to do another one with much lighter pieced centers.

Customer quilts are threatening to overwhelm-the closet and my mind.

This is Carol's 

E's & 3's with a variegated thread.

and the back

I finished the Swoon pillow.