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***

so much to do so little time

quilting... 

 quilting...

quilting... 

and more quilting

This is the 2nd baby quilt for Libby (the top picture is the first one)

 the patterns are from Rebecca Silbaugh her blog is here.

 you can find the patterns for the Alphabet Stitchery's here. I took the pictures on the deck.  The sun is coming through the bare tree branches....but it's the SUN!!!

woo-hoo.

Rebecca and her mom did a trunk show/lecture at our guild a few months back and we each bought 2 of the patterns.  Libby has hers made --they are going to be gifted to newborn twins.  

They are just too adorable.  The first one pictured at the top of post is 'Noah's Ark'

the 2nd is the 'Jungle Animals'.  Libby said the stitchery one the Noah's Ark one took a bit more time but the Jungle one stitched up very fast.

I was most surprised when she told me she bought the fabric at JoAnn's!  It's really, really nice. It was a bundle they had.

I'm almost done piecing the X blocks. The blocks on the right are this months guild BOM.  I like making the little 6 inch blocks more than the 12 inch ones, they're just  fun!  I should take down that darn asterisk block.

   

And here's my latest treasure made by my dad!

It's a side table with glass (plexi-glass for safety) on the front and sides and a hinged top.

 I have 6 full/queen quilts in it and a few small ones I switch out for decorating.

I LOVE it.  And have asked for a matching one for the other side of the sofa. 

Filling it will be no problem!

Of  course now I think I need new lamps....

Design Wall Monday& Curve it Up QAL

Block 11 Drunkard's Path

16 inch block

 

*******

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.

Curve it up Block 10

The scrap X's are growing 

Urban Candy is a flimsy

I took a bit of time to sew 2 of the blocks for the guild BOM

there are a couple more six inch block options but guild is Monday night and this may be it for now.

Last Saturday I met with a group of quilters from the guild to explore modern quilts.  It was a fun afternoon.  Well how could looking at quilts, books, patterns and discussing quilts NOT be fun. 

So inspiration struck while I was making our bed a few mornings ago.  I was folding a stack n whack quilt that we use as an extra quilt in the winter.  It's Meghan's college quilt.  Reversible-blue and gold (Pitt colors) on the one side and   red/lt. blue/ beige scrappy on the other side.  Flannels on both sides.  It's dang warm and snuggily.

When I made it I thought that if the Pitt colors got old before the quilt did she could use the other side.

So as I'm folding it, I'm thinking how the block is modern looking and what if I used white in some of the layers.   

So I went downstairs and found a piece of white and cut four 5 inch squares and layers them with 5 batik charms I had.  

The blocks trimmed up to 3 3/4. 

I like it.  I'm going to make another one using 5 white charms.   I will have to get some more white fabric, it's sadly lacking in my stash.

If I do decide to make a quilt, I will be making the blocks bigger, these are a bit too small. 

As I look at this the ideas are jumping around like crazy...

quiltin' and quiltin'

Libby picked up her quilt today.

and the back

another quilt done, all-over hooks to go with the backing...

I finished the squaring up and then spent a long time moving these blocks around.

the final layout for Urban Candy, random wins! And I've started sewing the rows together.

woot-woot

Curves on the Design Wall!

I have the blocks up sideways since my wall is wider than longer-but you get the idea.  

This quilt has 10 rows.  

All the green blocks and grey blocks are up there.  The rest, which I am still in the process of squaring up are the pink/red ones.  

I have used up all of the fabric and have made exactly 90 blocks.

I am not happy with the 5 darker grey blocks.  I had to add them from my stash as I didn't have enough of the lighter grey stripe to reach the 90 blocks.  You can see I made a green block from my stash as well, it's the far right bottom row of green ones.  It's a little too green but not enough to scream at me so it stays. 

The pattern shows a very random placement.  

I am going to compare this layout to a random arrangement and then if I like this better, I guess I'll have to go searching for some a lighter grey or grey stripe and swap out those 5 dreary solid reading ones.  

When I first started putting these up, I was doing it randomly but didn't like how it was looking; hence the change.

******

This weekend I am going to the first meeting of a new small modern quilt group forming in my guild.  

The email asked us to bring whatever we might have to share.

So Modern Misfits is finally getting the binding finished.  

Nothing like a deadline to light a fire under my butt. 

 *grin*

Fun Times, fun times...

Life is Good.