Finished Feels Great!

I've been to California and back and now finally catching up!  I finished the quilt that I've shown before.

I love the lime green binding on this one.  The quilting turned out even better than I could have imagined.

Then this one:

What a day I had yesterday.  I went to get some bloodwork done and couldn't find Labworks in Ogden.  I asked someone, and still couldn't find it.  I thought I had Google map and it was Yahoo and giving me incomplete information.  So after about 1 1/2 hours trying to find the place on a fasting mindset, I headed to Bountiful which is about 30 minutes away to try their lab.  So at 10:30 rather than the 8:00 a.m. I'd hoped for, I found I was too dehydrated to give blood.  It just wouldn't go up the needle.  Bummer!  With a severe headache I stopped for some breakfast only to find it was lunchtime!  ...and that was just the beginning.  But last night during NCIS I finished the handwork on the above quilts and felt a little less disoriented.  It took a whole day for my nerves to unravel and the water to get through my system again.  Today, I'm still trying to rehydrate and then I'll try again tomorrow, drinking water in the a.m.  Wish someone would have told me sooner that I could fast and drink water.  Oh well.  Another experience in life!!

It was also my MIL's birthday, yesterday.
96!

It's Beginning to Look Like Spring

It's been awhile coming, but my almond bush is now blossoming so I know spring is officially here.

Here is a quilt I sent my sister.  After I visited her, I realized how much she like pink, so I sent her this quilt.

The flowering almond bush makes a great setting for this quilt.

The butterflies quilted into the quilt should make her happy as she likes butterflies too.

 

I sent off the Doll Quilt for the month of April.  The theme was birthday, since this is the one year birthday for the Doll Quilt Swap.  See the side border if you'd like to join in on the fun.  

 Of course I had a bit of trouble squaring this quilt up and it didn't turn out quite squared, but I did have fun with it.  

I also received a post card from the UK the other day.  I'm amazed at the quilting skills on this one!

I keep wanting to opt out of the group, cause my cards don't look this good, but then maybe I'll learn a thing or two from those that send them to me.  This one is lovely!

My quilter brought back the two string quilts and they look lovely.  I don't know when I'll get them bound though as I have a little excursion coming up.

The sun is shining and I'm looking forward to maybe turning the heat off today!

Have a great, spring day!

Off to the Quilt Shop

I started a bright birthday type doll quilt for my partner for April and now I don't have enough of anything for the binding...

Here's a sneak peek

So, I'll be visiting a nearby quilt store today.  I have a 20% off coupon I need to use anyhow before the end of April.  Was there any doubt I wouldn't use it?   :) 

Just finished this little quilt for my MIL.  I found some embroidery that she had done a number of years ago.  I soaked it in Oxyclean to take the yellowing out and I made it into this quilt to hang on her door at the assisted living place where she lives.  She'll be 96 in May.

Linking to Finish Friday

Ready to Quilt

I've been really busy piecing these two quilts.  Now that they are done with that part, I'm a bit lost, but soon I'll be getting them ready to quilt.

I went with the warm tones, and then decided to try a color combo using cool with the greens, something like deep within a forest.  The sashing strips were 1 inch before sewing.  Think I'll need to get some tweezers if I do that again.  I do like the effect of the small strips though.

 

I never tire from doing string quilts.  They are fun to just let oneself work with the fabrics and the colors and then the design flows from there.

It's snowing today in Utah.  Spring surprise!

Have a happy, creative week!

Ready to Quilt

Now it's ready to quilt. I'm not sure how I'll quilt it or what thread to use. I'll think on it while I sew together the green "Eye of God". My quilting is usually a little more free form that this quilt calls for. It may be quite a challenge for me. It used nearly a yard of the burgundy. Was going to do maybe one more border, but this is now the "end." The triangles around the second border are just like I did them on the first quilt like this...a little off from the pattern, but then whose going to have the pattern to look at??? This was a New Year's Mystery quilt. I had it in my mind that it took forever to do... I guess when you only get one clue a month, this much would have taken 4 months. LOL :-)

 

I've searched the internet for the link to this pattern and the only link I could find was this

I'm glad I had the presence of mind to save the pattern, even though I swore I'd never make it again.  This is what my friend picked as his "thank you" for chauffeuring me around Atlanta.  

 

This is the quilt my sister has and the one he had his eye on.

   The fabrics I found are pretty close to what I had used before.  I'll be so glad to finish this one and send it on.  I'll post a finish when I do.

Friday P.S.

I have some of the rust fabric left that I could make a border from.  I'm not sure.  If I add anymore then I'll need to piece the backing.  If I bind it in the rust fabric it'll give more of that brown feel.  I've spent a lot of time of this already and it is a gift--and I don't want it to be really out of proportion in relation to the chauffeuring to and from the airport while I was in Atlanta.  One more border around the edge could maybe finish is off a bit.  

What do you think?  Please leave a comment.

Sharing on Whoop Whoop

Glad I Caught This one in Time!

I was looking at the medallion that I'd made and I must have turned the block around about four times before I spotted my error.

Now it's fixed and ready for some HST's to go around the edges.

This is for an order and I've been meticulous about it and can't believe I still missed the first "ribbit".  

Another Pillow

GD wanted a pillow.  So we found a spare block and made it into a pillow top.  I had an extra pillow form, so we made a pillow cover for the pillow.

She found some cute animal fabric the other day and we cut it to make a medallion center and then she added some wonky stars I had set aside on another quilt.  We used some crumb blocks and voila, a new top.  I got it quilted and bound yesterday and now it's ready for her to take home for a friend's baby.

I tried a batting that was an iron on type, but after using it, I'd rather just use a100% cotton and press the fabric to it as I've shown on the tutorial on my sidebar.  It works just as well when I press the fabric onto the cotton batting and the cotton is softer to quilt with than that batting with the spray adhesive.  After washing, though, it did turn out nice and soft and you would have never known it was stiff before I washed it.

Going over to Whoop Whoop here:

It's Been Awhile!

On my recent trip to Atlanta, I came back with three orders for quilts.  The quilt I started, now needs 3 strings to finish it.  They have to be a certain Kaufman Batik.  I scoured the internet yesterday for hours.  I finally ordered a fat quarter pack from Craftsy where I first purchased the same pack.  I hope that fabric is still in this pack!  Otherwise, I will have to change the quilt.

This is my first setting--gotta change it up I can see...

the next one...

and the one I'll be using...

I took one block out that didn't seem to be working and now I just have three blocks left.  The border can then be added.  The man wanted green and I hope he likes this.  If not, I could use it in my house as a wall hanging!  I love the lime green.  I think it sets things off rather well.  So much for getting my stash of batiks used up with the orders I've got coming in.  I guess that's how things go in quiltland!

I just barely clicked in on why I like the string quilts so much!  They remind me of the Native American Eye of God!

I sent this little post card off for a swap.  I think making these postcards with freedom is hard, because the post card is so small.  Next time, I'm going to try something totally different.  This is on some hand dyed yellow that I did myself.

Got a call this a.m. from GD.  Plain and simple, "When can I come sleepover?"  We have a quilt that we started the other day and she's wanting to get it finished.  A friend in the neighborhood had a baby and she wants to give that new baby a quilt!  She's really good at putting the blocks together...just wait til you see what's she's done!

All the stars I had made and put aside for this

are now used in other quilts.  I have four at the quilter's and one for GD and then one with my twist on modern.  Maybe I'll get to quilting that one later today. 

A Safari Themed Doll Quilt

My doll quilt this month goes to Carol at http://giraffedreams.blogspot.com/

I forgot to take a picture before I sent it.  But, she obliged.

I had some wonky HST's left from another quilt and they seemed to fit with this themed quilt.  However the backing was a tad short and they ended up being a bit more wonky than I'd planned, but the carefree style of this quilt didn't seem to mind!  Just enough red crumb blocks left from another project fit well and my month shortened by two weeks in Atlanta, didn't hurt my commitment to this monthly swap.

March Cardinal

When I joined in on the Doll Quilt Swap, I didn't know how much fun it would be.  The sidebar on my blog has a link. Or Use this

My partner for this month was Carol over at Giraffe Dreams  What she probably doesn't know is what a mentor for creative, liberated quilting she has been to me.  (Thanks, Carol!)

Anyhow, this is the cute quilt that arrived yesterday.

A close up of the cute quilting she used.

Thanks a bunch, Carol.  Along in the package came some "carrots" from hazelnut chocolate and an informative card about Minnesota. Never one to be a great student of geography it was full of information about a part of the USA I've never been.

Thanks again, Carol.

Since my return from Atlanta, I've been trying to get some loose ends done and it seems I can't get very far very fast.  Especially when I spent the afternoon and evening going through a household change moving hubby's computer to the kitchen desk and then rearranging the "junk" that had accumulated there.  Now--when I pay bills, will I be able to remember where I put those envelopes?  Will it take 21 days or in the case of once a month bill paying, 21 months!  Hope it doesn't take too long!  Hubby is glad for a new home for his laptop and the little desk that housed it is out on the curb with a sign, "Free Stuff"  If it's not gone by afternoon, I know it will be taken to the second hand store.  The little desk was a purchase that we could have avoided if we'd have reorganized all that stuff from the beginning.  Alas, sometimes, it just takes awhile to get to some tasks!  ...like 5 years?!!!

My February New Projects

I had a list starting out the month so that I could sort for myself just where I wanted to spend my time.  Now, with my desk cleaned off and my bags nearly packed for my two weeks in Atlanta, I can't find my list!  But, I just have one quilt that I didn't get completed, due to some heavy phone time with my sis towards the end of last week.  I joked with her though that the time I was spending on the phone would take away from getting her quilt done.

This pillow was requested by my daughter for her son around Christmas time and I finally got to it.  They are both pleased with the results.  NewFO #1

This little quilt was a joy to make.  It is for a doll quilt swap and my first doll quilt for this.  I was a little unsure at how it would be received, but Karen loved it.  (whew)  I guess this could be a double count as it was a new project and finished in February.  *smile*

Lots of blocks started and lots of projects in the making, but for now this is what I'll post.  Next month, I'll be better about posting the pictures of the blocks in separate pictures.


Gosh, now that I've just shared the new projects from my list, it doesn't seem to spectacular, but at least I'm starting March with a mini vacation and a very short quilting list.


Linking up to Cat Patches

It's Snowing Again! When Will Spring Come?

Big white fluffy flakes!  We could get as much as a foot of snow before this storm wears out.  We're all weary of winter, except for the die hard skiers!

So, I quilt!
This is a quilt for my sister.  It's liberated in that it isn't for a wall, but for a window.  I have another almost like it for the second one.  I'm just waiting on a shipment of batting for the other one to get started.  Because it's for a window covering, I quilted it more than I usually do for quilts.

Before I started quilting it, I decided to add one more border.  I couldn't decide between the two and at first I added the lighter tone, and now with the darker around the edge, I like it better.

I used several types of quilting.

I'm wanting to go just do some mindless sewing, or piecing or something, but I'll get to the border soon, as my sis needs this by mid month.

Linking up to a Whoop Whoop Here

Saturday Catch Up

I'm catching up this Saturday.  I've sewed three hearts for the RSC13 (see side bar for link)

 

Linking over to ScrapHappy  for some fun scrappy ideas with purple.

Sewed a border on the wall quilt for my sister--there's one more nearly like this that lacks the border.

Although these were done on Monday so that I could get them in the mail, I'll post them here.  I totally forgot the fancy stitching on two of them.  I was trying to get them done and into the mail before an appointment we had in South Salt Lake.

The two on the right are all fabric and the two on the left have a card backing.  That uses up my card backings that I'd previously cut.  Now, I'll just be using fabric backing.

It's still early in the day, but at least I got my purple challenge done for the day.  Who knows maybe I'll get those wall hangings done and ready for mailing before the weekend is over.  I've been toying with some cards for my etsy shop.  I don't have everything I need to post them here, yet.  I'm hoping I have something that I could sell there.  I've ruled out making quilts for that shop.  I'd rather make quilts for donation, but things may change.

Have a happy weekend everyone!

Tumbling Nines Quilt is now Finished

In Autumn 2009 a quilt appeared in McCalls that I thought I could make.  I started making nine patches using 1.5 inch scraps and the quilt soon moved from the FAST Quilts that was the heading of the magazine to the "I'll get to it someday."  Last fall some Laurel Burch fabric was on sale at Stitch N Frame and I ordered some Caribbean blue for the background.  I then started making the blocks and decided I'd cut the quilt down as I'd never get 125 blocks for the one listed in this book.  I didn't know if I liked the fabric with my blocks, but now that it's done, I do.

I used some wonky stars for the quilting

Since I had an abundance of fabric, I used the same fabric on the back

I think that list I made at the first of the month is helping me move through some projects--that and the snow outside. 

Keep warm everyone!

Whoop Whoop Friday!

Sometimes the size of the backing dictates the size of the quilt!  :-)  Anyhow it did in this case.  I was going to put a border on this quilt and then I checked my backings and the size of the quilt fit exactly one piece of flannel.  So, like any frugal quilter, I used that backing.

This quilt started as a RSC13 pink challenge at the end of January and now it is complete and ready for donation.  I've been learning some different quilting styles, but for many of my donation quilts I use a free motion meander stitch and I love how it washes up in the quilt.

The finished quilt:

and the before picture:

The quilting just makes it seem inviting and ready to cuddle.  This quilt will go to Project Linus, locally.

Yesterday I mailed a top for the Super Bowl Sunday Sewing day at Sunshine.  This top will be quilted by another Sunshine member and then sent on to Wrap A Smile for children who are coming out of surgery for cleft palate.

I recently received a request from my daughter for a 24" pillow cover for her son who is a junior in high school.  In 2009 I worked on a quilt for him:

He recently purchased a pillow and my daughter wanted a cover that would match.  Well, I had just completed some crumb quilts last fall and used up nearly all of that leftover fabric.  I had a few small pieces and incorporated them into this pillow for my surfing grandson:

I also finished this doll quilt for my partner and she should be receiving it today:

The picture of the quilting lady has hair that is a bit longer and a bit more strawberry blonde than its recipient, but I hope she enjoys the quilt and can see some resemblance to herself.  It was fun making it and after starting another quilt for her that eventually ended up as a gift for my MIL

I ended up with a whole new direction and a quilt that was a lot more bright.  I hope she has her sunglasses on when she opens it and I surely hope she isn't offended by the brightness!  We didn't talk about music being one of her favorites, but the fabric just went so well!  ...and doesn't everyone enjoy some sort of music?

Well, that all for this Friday. 

Linking over for Whoop Whoop Here