Nine Patch Lattice

no binding yet but I quilted it last night.  I used "Kiwi" thread from Connecting Threads  Essential Pro line in the top (really do like that thread) and Bottom Line "taupe" in bobbin.  I loaded it with the long side horizontal and quilted straight lines randomly spaced across it.  At first I started marking straight lines with chalk and then remembered that I do have a channel lock somewhere for HQ....found it and dang! it works!  I did unload and reload it so I could quilt it the opposite way; which took no time at all since it's a small quilt.   I am very happy with how it turned out.  

Today I will make and sew on the binding, which I have already cut from the leftover backing fabric pieces--just love using it all up!

(44 x 64)

Before calling it a night I got out the Union Jack top and backing; it's going to be loaded today.  I'm thinking straight line quilting on this one too.  Although I do find it a tad boring so I may do a jiggly line instead.  I'm also thinking of quilting in a couple Union Jack blocks in the big empty spaces.  I will give it a go but if it takes too long to figure out how to mark it so I can quilt it without a ton of starts and stops I know I will abandon it.

Last night I toyed with the idea of nixing the quilting list and instead spend this weekend prepping and painting my bedroom.

I've had the paint for a long, long time now.  Paul has gone to camp to get the shingles on the sleeping loft addition that has been this summers' big money pit project. And I thought getting the painting done before vacation would be a good thing.  But now that I'm up this morning I've decided to stick to my original plans of staying home and quilting.  Meg and I may take a drive up to see the camp tomorrow.  

We've not been there since last 4th of July and although the guys have sent pictures from their phones, I think we're in for a shock at the changes.  

I will have to do a before and after post  sometime.  

I did spend what felt like a zillion hours last week organizing my photos.  It was brought on by the slew of wedding pictures.  That was another long over due little project which kept nagging at the back of my mind.  

August 31st!!!

Wow!  

My life (as I'm sure yours) seems to be in a time warp thing. 

"The List" on my sewing machine is keeping me on task. 

Four customer quilts went home yesterday.

I have the backing for my 9-patch lattice loaded but have to piece leftover batt together for it.  Paul is going to camp this weekend and so I'm planning on a marathon of mostly quilting with some sewing to break things up; but quilting is the focus. 

The plan is to take HQ in for a checkup while we're on vacation.  The last time I checked the turn time was 4-6 weeks!

Oh dread!

 I'm thinking of taking my new rug hooking frame along on vacation in case we have a rainy day.  I don't have a kit so the next project will be from my wool.  

I'm thinking a chair pad or something of that size.

Wedding day

Our son John was married on Saturday.

Because of all my worrying in spite of (wink) the weather was beautiful!!

The traffic was light!! (no one was late to the venue)

And parking at their house for the picnic reception wasn't an issue!

...these thoughts had pretty much taken over by Friday

 night...

he he

at the house waiting to leave....

The ceremony took place at The West End Overlook Park.

The new Mr. & Mrs. Werley

It's now official.

 I am a 'Mimi' !

fun times, fun times

Life is Good!

granny is a flimsy

62 x 84

I also pieced the backing for Union Jack included the label in the piecing but forgot to take a picture.

If I continue to be good and work my list, next week will be quilting, quilting, quilting.  

Unlikely since 

1.  I work Tues. Wed. and Thurs and 

2. my son is getting married on Saturday!

fun times, fun times. Life is Good!

the list

I made has been helpful.

I have the backing fabric for the Union Jack quilt and the border fabric for the granny square quilt in the dryer.  Today they will be pressed and prepped and hopefully the borders will be on the granny square one too.

The Dresden's are back up on the design wall.  I originally thought I would do a straight setting.  And so I bought fabric for that and cut the backgrounds for that.

But now I don't want to make 30 blocks and I like the diagonal setting better.

I spent a little time googling Dresden quilts for setting ideas.  

I really liked theses two.

(and yes they are straight settings)

I put up the 13 blocks I have made with a 2.5 inch pieced sashing strip.

It's OK I guess. 

 The more I look at it the more I like it.  I'm wondering if

-I should do it with more of a controlled sashing instead of just scrappy

-perhaps using blues (really blues-I am so predictable)

Somewhere in the recesses of my mind I'm remembering a quilt pattern with a cool pieced border...I need to find it.  I think it's a pattern I have, Bonnie Blue perhaps(?)

where oh where could it be....

Then I took the sashing down and spread out the blocks

I need to make 5 more blocks. They are up on the far side of the wall as a reminder.

I will think more about sashings and setting squares while I sew. 

While I was rummaging around in the 2 1/2 inch strip bin I started pulling out purple and blue batiks...thinking oh this would be a good quilt!!  I suddenly realized what I was doing and shoved them all back in the drawer and closed it tight.   

I have no shame.

Nine Patch flimsy

is now waiting in the closet to be quilted.

After my last post, I decided I didn't like the pale yellow blocks after all. 

I would just go and buy something better but didn't know when and was feeling a bit stressed/disgusted/resigned over the fact that I've just got too many irons in the fire, ideas in the head, quilts to be quilted etc.

Don't we all.  

It seems to be a blog theme as of late.  

Then I received Wanda's  comment, which re affirmed that I too didn't like the yellow.  

What I wanted was a light grey, OK blue, I love blue always go to blue first; so it's blue, but since I always do blue I wanted to do something else. And grey is so different from blue.... ;)

Saturday morning, I went downstairs and looked at the wall and took down those yellow squares.

And then stood there waffling between:

go buy more fabric 

and 

use your stash...use your stash....

So here it is:

I used my stash. I love the 'blendiness' of it.  And yes the blue too.

I didn't make it bigger and have already basted around the edge for loading at quilting time. In other words: IT'S DONE Growing.

After I cut and had the blue blocks on the wall, I got a comment from Lynn suggesting a soft grey!!  Yep it would have been great w/grey and I almost used some of the grey I have been using for the background of my 

Dresden's

but I was afraid....what if I screw up like 2 yards worth and run short.

Highly unlikely, but I'm going to play it safe.

While I was sewing the 9-patch lattice together I thought and thought.

And came to the conclusion that I'm too busy.

ha, ha I know.. psychic! 

Perhaps I should just have someone hit me over the head occasionally. It would be faster and easier I think.  A quick knock on the noggin' and a loud 

"hello, this is crazy you must stop NOW"

And then I could rub my head and say:

"OK! You don't have to go and get all violent.  I'll finish up a few things.

 Geez, just chill."

So I made a new 'to do' list.

It's taped to the side of my sewing machine.

It's got a lot on it but is doable.  I want everything (or almost everything) crossed off by vacation in September.

There is binding of quilts on the list-hence the 'almost everything' clause. :)

And no I would NOT be taking binding projects w/me on vacation!

******

In other news, Meghan passed her boards and is now an RN. 

Yesterday was her first day (orientation for most of the week, I think).

Another chapter in our live is over/starting.

A big woo-hoo to that.

 If it wasn't for the threat of being hit over the head with a frying pan, I'd go start a new project to celebrate!!

jk...jk

fun times, fun times. Life is Good.

Tuesday and Wednesday I worked the evening shift.  So I've spent the mornings sewing.

the flimsy

75 x 91

Yea!  I love it and now need to get busy quilting a large customer quilt that is already loaded on HQ so I can do this one next! 

Here are my Nine-patch lattice blocks. 

Instead of going shopping, I shopped my stash and found this very pale yellow.  After putting it up on the wall I am saying no to the pale yellow and am still going shopping.  ;)

And of course, since I altered the pattern my blocks will finish 9 inches so this quilt will finish 45 x 54, which starts me  thinking, "hmmm maybe I should make it bigger?"....

That would be "no Diane do not go there. 

 See the blocks on the far end of the wall, when are you going to work on them again????"

Oops!  Sidetracked again.

Sometimes I just need a good talkin' to!

I love this mug:

but this one would be more accurate:

'live life one game at a time' is the inscription inside rim!

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