pattilousquilts

Color, Color, Color and then There's Value!

2012-02-07T07:40:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I played around with some scraps and the 15 Minutes of Play HERE
Although I opted to again use my template rather than the new PDF for paper piecing I got my block done.

I'm having a bit of a struggle lately holding the camera steady for a clean, crisp photo, but this gives me enough to work with. It didn't seem as clean as my first one,

So, I did a black and white of that

Although the colors lend themselves to each other, it appears the values are too much alike. So, today I'll try another one and make the value more pronounced. I'm working toward making four of these and then putting borders on it for a baby quilt for Project Linus. Maybe by the fifth block, I'll have a better sense of not only the colors, but the piecing and the VALUE!! This is helping me as I'm still toying with what fabrics to use for this months color challenge (see the side bar).
At 9:40 I posted this:

After cutting I spread this out

Well, it looks sharper, but then look what happens when I grayscale it

The bright yellow and the bright turquoise have the same value or "grey". Onto looking at more in my stash. I'll post what I find later.

Not quite.
I've lost the color one of this and my battery is low, but here is what I think I'll sew up today.

For now--off to the gym.

6:30 p.m.

I had a bit of a problem with this one not laying as flat as the other two, but two down, two more to go and I'll have the beginning of a quilt.

Sometimes I Get Bored! Design Wall 2/6/12

2012-02-06T08:32:00.002-07:00

This is coming along, but truthfully, I'm getting bored sewing this same block, even though the block itself varies, I'm at this boring for me place!

The blocks are on the bias and the black strip isn't and so the sewing has to be done very carefully. I measure 9.5 inches on each, but when I lay the block onto the strip it is a bit longer with the stretch, so I carefully stretch the strip a bit to get them to match. So far it is working just fine, but what started out being a 48 block quilt, I'm going to make into a 24 block lap quilt and then add a border. The other blocks are in a bag for now. ...a UFO for next year, perhaps???

So that's it for this Monday morning, and I can see I've got some sewing to do today. Linking to Judy Here:

Friday Whoop Whoop

2012-02-03T04:58:00.000-07:00

As I blogged earlier this week, Mary at the Heartstrings Yahoo Group put out a challenge. I dug into my strips and made a top I'll be sending to Gloria in Southern Utah to finish for St. Jude's, which will be used for teenage mothers. This nearly finished up my strays and I'll be sending the yardage leftover to Gloria in hopes that she can use it. I have to admire gals that make bigger quilts like this on a regular basis. I would much prefer the smaller quilts, but these leftover fabrics from my own color choices for my house just didn't seem like kids quilt material nor did they really seem like fabric for men, and with the bit of blue to perk them up seemed like a great match for this project.

And an earlier finish this week that I've blogged about previously.

So all in all I got a few pounds of fabric out of the way and I'm already into finishing my brownie quilt started in January. Hope to have a picture of that for next Friday!

Thanks to Sarah for hosting a Whoop Whoop Here

A New Watcher!

2012-01-30T06:28:00.001-07:00

I finished the color challenge quilt and I'm giggling! I've named it "The Eyes of the Storm." I've hung it in my sewing room above my sewing area and it looks like a madman with eyes all over the place. I just had fun with this one! I didn't even measure it before I bound it and I think it's a little bit crooked, but with the really wonky just fun quilting, it all fits. It's NOT a show piece. It's just a fun quilt, and its done and I'm awaiting the February Color Challenge! This also may work for my New FO for 2012 as it is totally NEW!

My design wall is busy. I found more red fabric and I added to some blocks I already had for the Sunshine Yahoo Group Lotto for February, which is using red somewhere in the block. I just about decided to make a quilt from these, but I rethought it and I'm going to just send in the whole lot of them for donation.

Then Mary, at the Heartstrings Yahoo Group added a challenge and I scoped through my things and found some foundations cut and one block started. I then proceeded to finish up enough blocks for a quilt top, and got part way there with these:

Since DH was gone, I just kept sewing--these were fun but the STORM in the sewing room was still brewing and I wanted to finish the binding on this little number that I've posted about before. It is now done and ready for donation and I'll be taking it and some other quilts along to the quilt store that takes Project Linus donations as well as my sewing machine that is starting to rebel at its breakneck speed of yesterday!

And then after I washed it

Since I've been quilting for a long while. Some of the block ideas come from many places as I've posted Here

... and then there was a spark from Craftsy

My sewing room is cleaned up, and my cutting tools sharpened, new fabric has arrived and I'm ready to cut fabric while my machine is in for a tune up!

Linking up to Judy here:

Whoop Whoop Friday, Jan 27, 2012

2012-01-27T05:04:00.000-07:00

Friday! This month is whipping by and I have done a bit more quilting than I thought I would back on January 1. I do have some finishes this week besides the little table topper in my last post. The string quilt finished up most of the bright strings for now.

The scrappy blocks I set together on my design wall also made it to a finish! Whoop! Whoop!

I've been working on some free motion quilting after I put these blocks together:

I started out with a light ecru for the quilting on the corner blocks and then I did the leaf practice in the middle one. I then found the aqua thread and I wish I would have started with it, but I'm not taking all that quilting out as this is a practice quilt and will also be a donation quilt. The next few blocks I've done a meander with loops and some hearts. I think it will be fine when it's all completed. Right now, it's just a bit hard to tell. Usually for donation quilts, I do a basic meander, but since I've been trying my hand at more challenging quilting this is taking a bit longer than most.

Still been playing Words with Friends! It helps to have something to play when there are reruns on of my favorite TV shows! Absolutely laughed myself silly last night for Big Bang Theory. It is one of the best written shows I can remember and the acting is top notch! I just wish it lasted an hour--one half hour just isn't enough!

I'm also reading a thriller by Kate Wilhelm Death Qualified

I really need to think about books on tape, but the one I tried, just wasn't the same as reading it--I think it was poorly done, so maybe I'll try an audio again. That said, there is just something about reading a book that can't be replaced by either a movie or a tape! (old fashioned, I know!)

Looking forward to doing lots of tying up loose ends today!

Happy Friday! Link up to Sarah's blog here:

Design Wall Monday, January 23, 2012

2012-01-23T08:50:00.000-07:00

My brain is getting fried! Lots of things going on in my head, color challenge, fmq challenge, lotto blocks, finishing up and then design wall Monday!

This weekend I played with my color challenge:

I added some borders and then played a bit with some shapes and so far I have this on my wall today:

I don't want it to get too complicated. I think I'll make it into a table topper, so I'll let it set til I get some other projects finished and then maybe quilt it as it stands.

I finished this little gem from last week into a Valentine table topper--never had one of those!

That's all in the quilting world. Linking To Judy Here:
Been playing Words with Friends on Facebook--wondering if it's even fracturing my attention "disorder" even more, but it's been fun seeing friends on a different level than before the games. I'm still an inexperienced "Newbie" especially since I've never played Scrabble! There's a game in the closet sitting there unopened, but the computer games are so much fun--but you have to wonder about playing a game with hubby with him in the other room and we're playing two games at once so there's no time lag. It does keep me awake in these dark winter evenings and that is a big PLUS!

It's Friday Already?!!!

2012-01-20T06:14:00.000-07:00

So here it is Friday and it seems like I'm just in the middle of the week! I do have the quilt I finished and blogged about Tuesday, washed and making its home in our living room. The border fabric that I just love shows up in this picture better than in the overall picture I posted about Here:

I put together a top and sandwiched my free motion quilting challenge quilt and finally decided to just try my hand with the leaves on this:

The Sunshine Yahoo Group lotto called to me and yesterday I played with some blocks--I'm not showing all of them yet, but these are the finishes I'll be sending in when February gets here:

The stars and the letters were from some fabric that I purchased in a scrap bag and I'd set it aside, not fully knowing what to do with it, but while I was playing in my two inch scraps I got the idea to make those into some blocks. I had fun playing and finished in time to go to my hair cut appointment.

DH and I have been playing Words with Friends on Facebook. It's added a wordy dimension to our lives. It's kept us up later and wide awake during these winter nights. It's opened up some conversation with friends and been a blast. It led us to purchasing a word building book and after last night, I can see we need two of them! Some of our friends have been playing much longer and are way more prolific than us, but we play each other and are building our skill for those friends games!

So, I can see my quilting picture for while maybe won't have as many finishes, but we are making it through some winter storms and not falling asleep on the couch (mostly me) while watching tv.

Linking over to Sarah's for a Whoop Whoop HERE:

And to Crazy Mom Here:

Scrappy Finish

2012-01-17T17:05:00.001-07:00

I just finished the binding on this quilt. It started out as a donation quilt and then I added one more border from some fabric I just love, and now there is no way this one is leaving my house! The fabric used up the remainder of that fabric to a "T"

This picture is of my color challenge fabrics. I'm not sure, now that I've got it in a picture if I like the light value lavender in with the lime green. I'm putting these blocks away and waiting for next month's challenge. I may put them all together into a quilt, but I'm not sure. Anyhow, I had fun playing with the colors and the block is a challenge in itself. 1.5 inch strips and I kept getting them mixed up, but they are done and I've got other things on my plate for the rest of January.

Or this layout could be the beginning for a long wall hanging center.

Let's just say the idea is percolating! After Sue's question of where I got the idea, it was in a Quilters Newsletter of April/May 2009, sorry I neglected to give the source earlier.

It is a great copy and I have lovingly looked at many projects within it!

Design Wall Monday!

2012-01-16T05:36:00.001-07:00

While getting in my scrap drawer to make fabric for yesterday's block, I remembered I had some as yet unused crumb blocks. I also found some blocks that were sent to me when my mom started with her cancer therapy three years ago. I had some stars and I've arranged the blocks for a new donation quilt top start:

I'm keeping this up while I think on how I'll change this quilt up a bit from others I've done as they can all begin to look the same even when the blocks are different. Soon I hope to have all those blocks with a girly feel used up. I'm growing weary of them, but then I put them up on the wall and they seem quite happy. Conundrum of making so many blocks from scraps I guess.

I'm still working up possibilities for how this little quilt will begin to take shape: See Here for more ideas

I've got the fabrics out for a color challenge workout see here
These are the colors I've chosen and then the black and white of the same colors follows:

A block pattern is awaiting my cutting and sewing. It's a new pattern I'm going to try from a magazine I was gifted while in Moab recently. I'm not sure if I'll do each month's colors from the same challenge and save them for a quilt or just what I'll do, but I'll be getting to that first block today! Also want to work on my quilting of leaves, so I'd better get cracking. Challenge link here:
Thanks for stopping by. Linking to Judy here:

Permission to Play--Granted!

2012-01-15T08:49:00.000-07:00

After some introspection, I've realized that I've made myself into a production quilter. Not that much fun! I've taken stashes from those who have passed on and made donation quilts from them. Not to say that I didn't have fun, but I had my own stash I wanted to pare down--you know, get rid of the scraps, the pieces that you don't remember why you bought them, etc. In the process, I lost my zing.

I decided to let my crumbs drawer become a source for play rather than production. I've also given myself permission to just chuck those pieces I don't want to keep. I've followed BumbleBeans and made a few blocks this past year. But this one looked intriguing and I decided to just PLAY with it.
I came up with this block.

I started here:

Then added these colors:

I followed the directions to the "T" The only thing I will do differently is make the corner triangles from a 7 inch square rather than a 6.5 inch square. It was just a bit small, and as a result I had to cut the corners from some of the star points, but all in all, I like it. It lays flat and I'm going to put some borders on it and make a Valentine wall hanging. Maybe I'll make some letters. I'm not going to rush--just play. This is my "treat" for the a.m. playtime!

It's Starting to Take Shape

2012-01-12T08:54:00.000-07:00

After much cutting and preliminary piecing, I can see this quilt is starting to materialize. Here's a few blocks as I piece, press and cut them. This is one of my new projects for 2012. See challenge HERE:

I've pressed and starched the blocks a lot as the bias is on the edges, and I think the sashing will help hide the imperfections of the piecing.

The pattern was found here:

This magazine has been a gold mine of patterns I've used and still plan to use. It is my most favorite magazine in my file.

Remember this?

I altered a pattern from that issue for a table topper and 4 churn dash blocks I had. Sorry I can't find the finished quilt picture, but I promise it is finished!

My only complaint about the quilt is that I've used too much white and DH likes to read every bit of the paper over breakfast and of course the newsprint rubs off, but it washes up nicely and fits our round table.

On a clear crisp, sunny winter afternoon, I finished a kids quilt in the strings pattern with black centers. For Whoop Whoop is Friday, I'm linking to Sarah's Blog Here:

And Finish Up Friday

Old Friends, Sewing Machines and Fun

2012-01-09T07:34:00.000-07:00

Saturday I traveled to Moab, UT so that I could participate in a day-long sew-in of sorts. One of the guild's members, Tommye had provided her stash of 5 inch squares for us to make 9 patches into 4 patches or disappearing 9 patch quilts for the Children's Justice Center there. She had color combinations of all sorts to choose from.

If you've followed this blog for any amount of time, it will come to no surprise to you that I picked the fall colors stack!

Laura came with some kits already made for quilters to take home. She's in the lower left of the above photo.

On closer examination of my sewing the squares together, from the cameras view, I didn't rotate one of the squares right, but I'm home now and it's there and I don't think anyone will pick it out and resew it. I think they'll concentrate on the backings and then the quilting!

It looks to me from the picture, that the bottom right square needs to be rotated, but I think it would probably take a quilter to notice it.

It was really a treat for me to get with this guild and just sew and visit. I don't usually make the trip down there for such things, but the weather was so mild and enticing for the trip that we took the weekend and headed to Moab.

Patti with her stack of brights ready to be sliced into 4's. Notice the absolutely stunning quilt on display at the It's Sew Moab Shop.

Murine cutting the squares for us and Mary cutting her own. Mary's quilt top was gorgeous purples, yellows and pinks.

Pat and Peggy sewing and Shauna in the background. Now where did Tommye, the provider of all the fabric disappear? Marion, back by the colorful stained glass window quilt is busy making her top.

Fun day, fun friends!

As Often Happens

2012-01-06T07:39:00.001-07:00

After ending my last post, I totally expected to finish that quilt I was working on! ...didn't happen!

Instead I finished up another quilt and figured the backing for my quilter to complete. As often happens, we not only met to exchange things, we visited! Such fun!

After reading my email yesterday morning, that contained a reminder of the Free Motion Quilting Challenge:
I remembered a quilt top I'd started that just might work to practice the leaves. So off I go, sandwiched the quilt and started practice. I needed to alter the instructions a bit to fit this quilt. It seemed the leaves needed to be longer and more bamboo type. I then did a whole row without the middle stem part--oh well--not going to pick that one out! But I did get more practice--and I'll do more of these leaves as the month goes on; this is just the first! More ideas for practicing

The completed quilt:

A cute strippie donation quilt.

My lonely unfinished top will have to wait as I have other weekend plans--I'll fill you in on Monday!

So--a Whoop Whoop for at least one finish for the week! Go Here for More
Linking up to Crazy Mom Here

Where Did it Go?

2012-01-04T06:34:00.001-07:00

I'm not quite sure what's happened to my "MOJO" in 2012, but it seemed I haven't quite turned it on. Maybe it's just that "freeze" that happens when a project isn't chosen yet or the fear of cutting into a new fabric. I had a fun play date planned for yesterday, but because Annie was sick, we postponed. Her BLOG So instead I did some routine sewing, just to see if I could get back in the swing of things--and yes, I did enjoy the holiday from quilting!

First off, I made some yellow/blue blocks for the Sunshine Yahoo January block lotto:

I searched around and found some yellow and blue "island" fabric for boys and then I had just a few piece of little girls that I'd used for my oldest granddaughter and she's now 9, so I guess its really time to let it go. Also found some crumbs with some blue and bits of yellow, so I sewed them together for a 12 inch block. The pictures are a bit blurry--sorry about that, I have already mailed them off, so I can't fix it.

While looking for some blue/yellow fabric, I found some leftovers from another project and I sewed them into 4 blocks and trimmed them to a 12 inch block and then I just started having fun. It was so good for my "mojo."

I just cut and sewed and improvised and it was great fun. I'll get it sewn into a top later today after I visit the chiropractor.

I got a prize yesterday, along with a sweet note from Katie Q. The note was a great way to end the day--I didn't originally see the mail, and found it tucked under some other mail, so it was a great surprise. Katie's blog is found here:

My winings

The "Rows and Bows" has some cool ideas for ways to use scraps in what will be some donation quilts. I'm always needing a new idea for those and this one looks like an easy to extend quilt.

So, that's it for this morning. When I get home from the doctor I'll get that top finished and maybe even sandwiched and while I'm doing that, I'm sure there are a couple of quilts I could sandwich.

I've been lax on my blog visiting, and I'm working towards catching up there too.

Happy Wednesday!

What's Up for 2012

2011-12-28T07:29:00.002-07:00

I recently visited Cat Patches http://catpatches.blogspot.com/2011/12/whats-on-your-2012-newfo-to-do-list.html

It got me thinking more about what I want to do next year. I have a roughly formed list, but in the last day, I've thought more about things that will really get my creative juices flowing. This year I've mixed old UFO's and new projects about half and half, but I did all the listed UFO's first and then started the new projects. With Barbara's inspiration I am going to start a new project every month--or as often as possible without leaving a UFO for next year! I've some flimsies in the closet that I want to finish, but they'll wait while I create for my own creativity.

I would like to mix some new techniques in with some traditional and as of yet, I'm not sure which I'll start first--maybe number them and put the numbers into a hat and draw one out for each new project!

I've thought I'd like to do some dyeing and I have this white fabric as well as about an equal amount of natural non bleached fabric, so there's lots of fabric here to use.

And then there is this fun minkee that I got at a real great Christmas sale and it begs to become a fun snuggly sofa quilt--just right for watching NCIS and Big Bang Theory!

And then there is a traditional quilt book I bought that teaches the Burgoyne Surround Quilt that I could make in a scrappy version similar to this:

Or a Christmas Project I've wanted to do for quite awhile, but have been overtaken by all the other projects:

Or this one I've purchased some Ricky Tims fabric for and have saved its start for some unknown reason--well maybe its just fear of cutting into that expensive fabric!

Or a myriad of projects waiting in this book that I just ordered:

http://www.ctpub.com/productdetails.cfm?PC=2363

And then there is this project that appealed to my "brown" love

So there you have it, my beginning list--there's more sure to come, but this will shake out the cobwebs in my quilting brain and get me going, right after January 1. You can join in the fun too, just click the link at the beginning of the post and add your blog address to the linky thingee.

Under the Light of the Moon

2011-12-27T14:30:00.000-07:00

So far this year I've completed 74 quilts. I estimate that the yardage I've used this year is 328.27. This figured on a method of W x L /40/36 for backing then for front, take that total and times by 1.2 for simple piecing, 1.3 for moderate piecing or 1.4 for heavy piecing. Then add the amount used for binding. I just realized that for the string quilts the amount equal to the back needs to be added in and I'll start doing that next year. I didn't this year. I've not calculated any tops donated or blocks donated.

This is the last quilt that will probably get done this year and is added into the totals. The quilt is named "Under the Light of the Moon" which is symbolic for the receiver I'll be giving it to.

The quilting, done by Judy is a swirls 2 pattern she has. I like it with the string quilts.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T07:26:00.002-07:00

"What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace." --Agnes M. Pahro

Blog Hop Gift Arrived

2011-12-23T08:28:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, I received my Blog Hop gift in the mail. Even though I knew I'd won it, it was still a surprise. What fun opening a surprise!

My gift:

The gift has two beautiful cards that you can see here:

The fabric was the surprise! Mary Ann showed the pictures of the cards she was giving, but not the fabric. It is just luscious! It's something I will certainly want to dive into right after the holiday, because, I always want to do something with a spring color pallet and spring colors isn't what I usually have lots of! She sent a sample block also that starts me thinking of some possibilities!!! So, I'll be showing what I'll make of this as the New Year begins!

Thank you, Mary Ann of http://www.cedarridgestudio.blogspot.com/

We met our son at the airport a couple of days ago! His children were so happy to see him.

They met him with smiles and signs!

I've been slowly working on this. It isn't a big priority. I found the fabric printed Santa with a 1997 kit datemark on the package. No hurry--it's been around a long, long time. I vaguely remember buying it at an after Christmas sale and then thinking I'd get to it someday. It was a Thimleberries kit, but the picture seemed to be to beg for more formal fabric. I dug around in my stash and found some fabrics I'd purchased and some fat quarter bundles with some glittery polyester in them, so I used the gold for the stars and the red for the candles. Not the easiest to work with for 1 inch blocks! But, it is now ready for quilting and I'm not sure how to quilt it. Maybe I'll leave it for my quilter to do. I need to open the box that holds the new roll of batting and I'm not inspired yet to do that.

I've got some butter getting to room temperature for some cookies and I think I'll go take a long bath and then play with my new haircut! By then the butter should be ready for me to make Snickerdoodles--its all the neighbor's fault--there were only 2 in the bag of goodies and eating them reminded me of all those times as a college freshman we made Snickerdoodles!

Blog Hop Giveaway Winner!

2011-12-18T03:28:00.004-07:00

I'm pleased to announce a winner to the Blog Hop Giveaway!
It is Hueisei from http://loveitsewit.blogspot.com/

Congratulations Hueisei. I have to admit I know very little about Malaysia and I've spent some time looking at pictures. First I found a map:

Then I found a stream of pictures that are found here

Then I found this of the Kuala Lumpur Skyline at night.

So that's a little multi cultural exchange by pictures. I would love to visit this country.
So congratulations, Hueisei and I'll get your package off to you tomorrow.
And thanks to all of you who have visited and left comments joining in the chance of a giveaway. As noted I did find that blogger had not entered a number and just at #15 I made that entry. Hueisei came in with a comment right after that at #16 and hers was the number chosen by http://www.mathgoodies.com/calculators/random_no_custom.html the generator that I used. With a little more experience under my belt for giveaways and blogger, I'll be doing things a little different next time--I think I'll do the old fashioned way I did as a teacher--by putting a name on a slip of paper and drawing out from "the hat". This has been fun and I welcome any new followers to my blog!

I'm in LOVE!

2011-12-16T05:46:00.001-07:00

After weeks of planning, shopping, and decision making, we purchased the laminate for our flooring. I wanted something easy to care for and something the rollers of the chairs would slide easily over. I nearly purchased a laminate I fell in love with, but after talking to a gal in the showroom who was replacing her wood floors with laminate I started to change my mind. She told me the dark color of her flooring led to scratches, and endless "swiftering". So I went to my local Home Depot and started looking, AGAIN, and this time a new salesperson was there and she was so helpful. I didn't want remove the wood floor that was in the entry and some of the brown tones didn't work well with the cherry tone there. So, we found a piece called "cherry block". I thought I'd found my match, but I really didn't know for sure until it was installed. Things are pretty much put back in place and I can now work again. My computer works although we still have to call our DSL company and get DH's working with mine. But, as I said, "I'm in love."

The continuity of the two floors.

The computer room/office:

And my sewing room:

The photo makes it seem quite stark, but the only project I have going right now is a fabric coiled bowl. The clean lines and lack of clutter will help me to stay focused. (one can always hope)

My closet:

The bookcase storage:

Although my Friday finish isn't quilty--it will lead to making a happier quilter--ME! So hop on over to Sarah's for Friday Whoop Whoop

The Traveling Stash

2011-12-12T06:06:00.000-07:00

I've been following the tales of the Traveling Stash for about 4 months and it seemed so very intriguing to me. For any of you that may not know what it is you can go HERE
to read about it.

I've been gifted many fabrics the past three years and its always a fun challenge to me to receive fabric from someone else and then work it into a quilt. For me, I make those findings into donation quilts. I use Wrap a Smile (WAS) or Wrap Them in Love (WTIL) or Family Connections Center locally for my main donations, and then I just dropped off some quilts to Project Linus locally. I first learned about WAS and WTIL from Sunshine Yahoo Group or HERE I also make blocks each month for this group. One of each two blocks stays with Sunshine quilter, Tammy and she makes lovely quilts, the other goes to a lucky winner for their fun. I just donated a quilt

from those winnings.

But, as usual, I digress!

I have lots of stash--well, not as much as many, but for me it's a fair amount and as I've been moving it for new flooring in my sewing room I'll let you take a look and judge for yourself.

Customize your own free picture collage

Sooo--hop on over HERE to sign up for this one or just wish me luck and hope I win and then I'll blog about it here!

I've more stash to comb through and more boxes to move, more things to cull and right now, I'm going to have a cup of coffee and just browse some blogs for The Blog Hop Party or Here for My Entry

There's always the Design Wall Monday Here to visit. Today my design wall is my bed. But, the first picture I showed this morning is my finish from last week's design wall!

Have a Great Day!

Blog Hop PARTY Fun!

2011-12-09T07:48:00.001-07:00

This give away is now closed.

So do you like give aways? Join in the fun and see if you can win. For readers of my blog I've got a giveaway that begs for some fun quilting.

If you are a fan of primitive quilting, I've got a magazine for 2011 projects from Primitive Quilts, rolls of wool for your project and a heart hanger to hang it on.

A close up of the wool:

Pastels of off white, pink and green.

To become eligible for this give-away

1. Leave a comment as to how you got interested in Primitive Quilting. Become a follower of my blog if you wish. (purely optional!)

2. Be sure that your comment has a link or an email that I can follow in order to get back to you. No anonymous comments will be answered.

This is an international applicable give-away. Good luck! I'll be using random generator to pick a number from the numbered comments. This ends at midnight, Dec. 17, but I'll be sleeping :-), so I'll pick the winner Dec. 18 early a.m.

Join in on the fun and follow this fun as there are more than 200 bloggers giving prizes away!

Blog Party HERE:

But, before you go back to the party, leave a comment! Good Luck!

New Quilts Just Finished

2011-12-08T07:53:00.001-07:00

These quilts are probably the last of my donation quilts for 2011. Link on over to Cat's Patches for more week long finishes!
This one from lotto blocks I won on Sunshine Yahoo Group.

These are from pink scraps. (Although they don't look too pink on my monitor.)

The group including a whole cloth quilt I decided to quilt just for the fun of it.

After reading Sarah's Blog my finishes seem boring to me, but when I got them stacked and folded in the white plastic bag and took them to the drop of location for Project Linus I was met with a big surprise. The woman I had been talking to on the phone and had received the info in the mail from, was there picking up quilts. Now, you have to wonder about coincidences when something like that happens. It was fun for me to meet her and feel her genuine warmth--that I had heard over the phone, but I got to put a person to the voice! Now if I could ever just peek at the children getting my quilts. I do hope they fill a void in their little lives!

Pink Synchs With my Soul Today

2011-12-07T06:36:00.001-07:00

I've been working with lots of pink this week. I purchased a little bag of scraps--you know the kind no one really wants, so they put it on sale. I love those little bags. I love making something from them. But, today, the pink just seems to speak for me.

Those quiet moments, when you wonder who you are and where you fit. Those quiet moments when no one is around and you think about life, and it's purpose and the reason that we do what we do. Many times I like to just fade into the background and observe. I love to observe people. I can watch them for hours. Mostly it's on those observations that I wonder how I fit. Most often, I don't. I feel like a square peg trying to fit in a round hole.

Pink seems best today to synch with that feeling. Quiet, fluid and peaceful. Peaceful--I'm liking that as with the season of year, I don't seem to "fit" with most people's traditions and beliefs. I'm just here. Wondering how all the craziness of this "season of good cheer" got started. I think it started when I taught sixth grade and we studied world history. Then I got on a serious study of many of the Christmas traditions because many seemed to start with Rome trying to appease the Christians. I started wondering how much of anything we practice has any "real" to it. I guess that's the illusion--we just do what makes us happy and don't worry about it.

I like that, "Don't worry, be happy!" So today as I seem to like pink rather than the red that is so abundant this season, I say to myself, "Don't worry, be happy!" I can move past the seasonal affective disorder that keeps me off balance this time of year and just move forward--tiny steps, sew a little, listen to music a little, and rewind--for three months of the year this seems to be my pattern.

Sew--today--I'm pink!

Here's one small finish and I've a few more needing binding.

Design Wall 12.5.11

2011-12-05T08:08:00.001-07:00

I wasn't going to do it, but I'm doing some more kid's quilts. This is a layout I'm looking at:

I'm thinking a black pindot border with a bright pink on the outside. These are mostly blocks from a lotto win at Sunshine Yahoo Group.

Linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times

2011-12-04T17:02:00.001-07:00

For more info, hit the link on the right of my page. Been working on some kid quilts. Pictures to follow.

December 3, 1965

2011-12-03T08:02:00.001-07:00

WOW that's 46 years ago! A very young 19 year old married a 24 year old--who I thought was so much older and wiser than me... I laugh now! We were both so young! How does that ever translate into 46 years. Well, I can tell you it's day by day. Doing the hard stuff, the life stuff, the kids stuff, the couple stuff and the family stuff. Many times you find yourself doing things you would have rather not done, but you find your partner doing the same for you. Many times are happy, many times are sad, and many times--yep there's anger in there too! But, as I have come to appreciate the man I married, even more than I could possibly have ever imagined, I find myself saying, Happy Anniversary to my Love, my companion, my partner, my ally, and the father to my children.

This is from the card he gave me:

There's a peace that settles on me
When I finally rest my head,
As I sense the soothing presence
Of your body in our bed.
All the stresses of the day
Seem less important when you're near.
With your touch, they start to vanish.
With your kiss, they disappear...
There's a beauty in our marriage
That maintains its power still...
As our love grows ever stronger-
Always has and always will.

Back at ya dearie!! Happy Anniversary!

Winds in Utah!

2011-12-02T04:04:00.001-07:00

Hurricane like winds have swept the area around where I live. The winds howled around us, but no damage in my neighborhood. But, schools are out today and clean up in communities around here are cleaning up. My brother said 100 mph winds kept power off in his business and maybe still today. The news was incredible. There was a clip of a trailer whipping a truck around, glass blown out of school buses and of course things like this:

I've never seen anything like this in Utah!

and more

At least humor gets many through the force of the winds!

On the whoop whoop side of things, I'm making slow progress on my small blocks and I'm thinking I need a little more light--like a turquoise in the small 3.5 inch string blocks that off set the Birds in Flight blocks. I'm going to work them in with some other blocks. This could take awhile to complete!!!

So for me--not much quilting, not any decorating, but I have been shopping for flooring for my sewing room--does that count? Go on over To Sarah's to see what everyone has been working on! Happy Weekend!

Is your road to quiltmaking full of loops and turns?

2011-12-01T10:20:00.001-07:00

As often happens, I get into something and I ask myself, "What am I doing here?"
Recently I ordered an out of date magazine, and I got this: (not what I'd ordered!)

I looked through the pages and found some very interesting projects. In fact, I would have loved some of them maybe 15 years ago. I have found that my styles have changed though through the years.

Anyone else found their road to quiltmaking full of loops and turns?

Another thing that has caused me to question my "style" has been my abundance of 1.5 inch squares.

I made this block and have been looking for others in a 6.5 inch size and I'm finding of course lots of blocks in a more country or antique style like Farmers Wife blocks for example. I like them! BUT, I've got lots of batik HST's and they just don't seem to fit the style of the blocks I keep finding. So I decided I'd try making a 3.5 inch string block. Now this is about the same time Bonnie Hunter's Orcha Bay Mystery came out with the directions to the very thing I had in my mind. Too FUNNY!!! I got around to doing some sewing this morning and used my dryer sheets as a foundation to the string blocks. I may need to buy some more dryer sheets!

So to sort of come to some sort of end to my ramblings--I think the above is how I'll use the leftovers from this project:

I've still got 9 blocks left and I think I can design a quilt using both the new and the old blocks I've got from the various purples and blues.

Many things going on in my head and we decided to go ahead and put laminate flooring in my sewing room and in the office so that the roller chairs can glide easily across the floor. I'm waiting to hear from Home Depot on the bid and then the installation, so until then, I'm going to leave the Christmas decorations in the basement and do whatever scrappy sewing I can. I'm still getting rid of fabrics from purchases when I was experimenting with "my style" and so they are still going to be eclectic!

I've sort of, through the past few years, settled into very brights for kids quilts and still rather traditional for me and then the fun crumb blocks from the leftovers and of course always my favorite: string blocks! WHEW! Just writing that down will help me with fabric purchases and designs for future quilts. Never an end to designs and quilts, I'm sure of that!

Join me in for the Blog Hop Party on December 10th. (See the button at the top right of my blog.) I'll be going to the LQS to purchase some wool to add to the Quilt Projects Magazine I'll be giving away on the Blog Hop!

A New Week! Design Wall Monday 11/28/11

2011-11-28T05:47:00.001-07:00

I decided that it's time to pull these blocks from the drawer and get the top sewn together. It was a BOM at the LQS and somewhere in the year I just lost my oomph for the project. I've completed the blocks and now I've added the borders to 9 of them.

The shadow from the bookcase hides some of those on the right a little bit, but I can begin to see how they might look. They are completing at 17 inches and I'm not sure if I'll use the pattern for the completion. I've purchased the fabrics for a certain pattern, but I'm not enamored by it, so we'll see! The block at the middle bottom row looks strange to me. I checked the pattern and it is a friendship star and is sewn as the pattern shows, but I'm not in love with it, but I'm not ripping it out either.

Just to let you all know, I did get last week's tops sewn together and they are awaiting purchase of backing fabric--maybe at the beginning of next year.

If my quilter can do this one, I think I can piece some fabrics for a backing, just because it's a scrappy quilt.

This one, however, I'm seriously thinking of entering in the Moab Quilt Guild show in March. It's just funky enough to get a few comments. Some of the quilters there are very traditional and this might jar them a bit, but I love the outcome of this fun for me quilt.

It's time to check Judy and the progress of lots of other quilters.

These Weeks Keep Zooming By!

2011-11-25T05:20:00.001-07:00

Too much food! It's going to take a few days to get over all the eating and preparing!
It's Whoop Whoop over here
This week though I did have a fun visit to the Family Connections Center and Sally had a few minutes to visit with me. Her favorite quilts were these:

Isn't that funny--the ones I just zipped together so quickly on Sunday and Monday!
This is the stack I took to the center on Wednesday.

My favorite was this one, and Sally loved the sunshine in it.

I finally figured out how to use all the 1.5 inch triangles. I didn't have a pattern as such, I just found a picture I thought I'd try. This block is a prototype. It shows up all the imperfections. I've adjusted my sewing as this really showed up the flaws. Even a the width of the needle can make the tiny 3.5 inch squares that I sew together to make the 6.5 inch block have to be "sew" perfect. I may go into the store today and get a smaller needle.

The picture really really shows the imperfections more than the actual fabric. I'll give this a whirl and see where it goes and I just may not worry about saving all those cut offs after I do this project!!! The pressing is a nightmare. a 6.5 inch block--wow, I must have really lost my mind! I'm just at a place where I want to slow down the whole process. I've begun to feel like a quilting factory! I've donated all I'm going to for the year and I just received a big roll of batting, but I'm just going to try for a while--maybe just through December the "process". Last year it was a 7.5 inch block and this year it looks to be even smaller--we'll see how long this lasts!

If not, I've got a BOM from the year that I can put together and some string blocks are always a possibility--I just don't want to buy any more fabric for awhile! ...so I may get some tops done, but the backings will just have to wait!

Happy Feet II

2011-11-22T08:33:00.001-07:00

While browsing through fabric Sunday, I found 3/4 yard of Penguin fabric. What to do? Well I remembered that a whole cloth quilt was a possibility. So I rummaged around and found some fabrics to use with that piece of Penguins. I came up with a couple of donation quilts.

I didn't need to buy a thing. Everything was in my stash including some matching thread. Hooray! When my family was young, mostly whole cloth quilts were what we used. Many times we bought sheets and then tied them together to make a quilt. There were a few times in our marriage that we couldn't even afford to do that and my church helped me out. But, these happy quilts will go locally and hopefully make some child happy!

Design Wall November 21, 2011

2011-11-21T05:13:00.001-07:00

Here it is Monday already--Thanksgiving is this week and I'm ready for it--anyway the shopping is done! I've got a few things going. This is the bed in my spare bedroom.

These are from a print out I got online in a yahoo group I used to belong to. It's called the Waste Not Want Not Block. I love using this block for scraps and boy do I still have some!

My wall looks like this

I got the idea to add the baskets I had into this quilt rather than in a strip quilt of their own and I think it's going to work out. I plan on getting this one sewn today!

Just for those wondering how my design wall from last week turned out--well it's a finish and I just love it. These pictures are before I washed it and since I washed it, it is sooooo cuddly and fun. I really like it.

The flannel backing washed up so well. It's now ready for donation. What a great week ahead and I think I'll even get some sewing done. We don't do much Christmas shopping, so things look quiet on the home front until Thursday.

Check out Patchwork Times for more

Looks a lot like Christmas

2011-11-19T09:30:00.001-07:00

I received a fun package from Norway yesterday.

I'm sorry that the photo is a bit blurred--I've already eaten the chocolate, so there's no return for a better picture! LeKa has a really fun blog here! I sent her the mug rug that is in the header of my blog and then I sent her some 60's fabric cut into Dresden Plates. This is her fun thank you. I was thinking I needed another purse, just for my cell phone and my driver's license for when I go to the gym. This is perfect!!! Thanks Lena!!! That was a fun surprise!

DH has lights on the tree outside. We probably need one more strand for the bottom as the tree gets a little bigger every year. He got creative with the snowflake lights and put them around the bottom. Since he doesn't do rooftop decoration anymore, I think this is a festive compromise.

My Christmas quilt is finished. I got the pattern from

Sue's blog is here:

Judy's quilting is shown in detail on my quilt:

I hand stitched the binding down--probably my last for while. I kept losing the needle in the floor which is carpeted. The last time I found it, it was nestled in the fringe of a pillow from its fall. Too scary to have a stray needle around!

Another finish. This one turned out better than I thought it would. I didn't really like the block, so I made 9 of them and then extended the length of the quilt with the stars.

Wonky stitching around one of the stars.

Close up of the backing fabric. It was in my stash and a happy finish for this quilt.

The fabric wasn't quite wide enough, so I added a strip of 4.5 inch crumb blocks and altogether it made a nice, friendly backing.

So, that's it for this Saturday. Have a happy weekend everyone!

Is It Already Friday?

2011-11-18T00:40:00.001-07:00

Another busy week. I do have one quilty finish!

It's always fun to take the fabrics from the front and use them in the backing! I had a few strings left over, but not many! Whoop! Whoop!

This quilt is "Crossed Tracks" from the book, Save the Scraps by Gayle Bong. I didn't add the borders the way she did in the book, I just made the center of the quilt and used the binding as the border. I would use this pattern again, as each choice of fabric would make the quilt look different, and of course a border would make it much bigger than the 55 x 68 this turned out being. This is a good size for a quilt to fold over a bed or a sofa and this size is one I prefer making, but at times a bigger bed size quilt is needed. Judy quilted it with "tulips" quilting pattern as they seemed to replicate the tiny flowers in one of the prints used.

Here it is almost 1 a.m. and I'm awake. This time change still has me falling asleep earlier in the evening, then waking up and puttering around as I'm doing now. Shortly, I'll be ready to go back to sleep. I'm just glad I don't have to show up at a job in the mornings!

Shopping is all complete for Thanksgiving. We'll have a few over for dinner that day.

Design Wall Monday, November 14

2011-11-14T06:40:00.001-07:00

Last week's design wall ended in a stack saved for future cuts of brights. Right now I don't want to cut from new fabric as I don't yet know what I'll need to finish up some quilty starts. So, I have taken some crumbs I've made and arranged them into the beginnings of a quilt. These crumbs started from an over-abundance of surfer fabric, from quilts made for my grandson. Now what does a surfer do in UT--well, move to California which my grandson (and his mom) did. Now, I have all these bits and pieces I hope that someone will like in a quilt.

See here for what other quilters are doing this Monday
Happy Monday everyone and here's hoping for lots of quilty progress in your week.

Something Bright for a Cold Dreary Day!

2011-11-12T11:02:00.001-07:00

Today the drizzle outside is supposed to turn into snow! Aargh! But, I keep busy at the sewing machine on days like this. Some of my crumb blocks are now into two quilts. Lime is the neutral for both of these. This little happy boy quilt:

And this more quiet, subtle, girl quilt:

The indoor lighting takes away from some of the brightness, but I think you get the idea. The girls quilt is 40 x 64 with 9.5 inch strips, the green strips are 2 inches before sewing and the crumb blocks are 6.5 inches before sewing--7 across. This way I can use up crumbs with a resting space for the eyes inbetween all the busy-ness!

Hope you have a great weekend. I know I will--I'll be mostly at the machine unless DH gets another Lincoln Lawyer book for me at the library.

Whoop! Whoop! It's Friday!

2011-11-11T05:23:00.001-07:00

I've had a few finished this week. See Here
A lot of crumb blocks made and then this finish

And this stack went to the local Family Connections Center

It helps me make my report when I have a picture of what I'm taking there. All in all it's been a very busy quilting week.

Simply Southwest

2011-11-09T22:37:00.000-07:00

I finished the binding on this and it is now ready for the washer. I posted about it earlier this week HERE

Design Wall Monday

2011-11-07T07:55:00.001-07:00

I've got some crumbs going in country/fall colors but these blocks just make me happy. I love doing bright strings with black centers. These will be going into a donation quilt. Not quite sure about the smaller blocks, but I'm making some of them too. I can always use them in a strippy quilt.

Still a long way to go before it's a quilt. However, this is my wall for today. Link on over here to see some other Monday Design Walls

Butterscotch Anyone?

2011-11-06T16:37:00.000-07:00

When DH walked by this as I was photographing it, he called it Butterscotch. I had some squares in a scrap bag I bought and I decided to simply put the squares together with four patches. The caramel colored plain ones are a pin-whale corduroy. I quite like the feel of it in a quilt. The borders were some fabrics I had from some I bought for a mystery quilt that I never quite got into.

This one is quilted and waiting for a binding.

Next quilt is one I started working on and really didn't like the outcome, so I made enough blocks to make 36" square and stopped. I still have some strips cut and I may make more, or I just may use the strips in string blocks, which I seem to never tire of. Anyhow, I've got the borders cut for this--and maybe this one could be butterscotch...

The pattern for the 12.5 inch block is found here

This next quilt is one I got an idea from when we went to an art show this summer and I saw a Native American rug. I thought maybe I could collect various shades of tans and then add the square of turquoise. I then found a set of off white "meringue" batik strips and simply started sewing them together.

I got distracted and bored with that, and just wondered if it would work. The sewing wasn't too inspiring. But, I kept going and then the other night I tried pinning the back to some polyester batting. I wasn't sure if it would work. The batting was really thin so I used two layers. Now with the depth of the quilt, I quite like it. This backing piece is some fabric I just hated cutting up and I thought maybe I would cut a backing from it and when I saw it with the top, I knew I had a great fit! I'll get another photo and show it in the right direction when I get it bound. But, I'm just so excited with this quit, that I don't think it will go anywhere! The picture just doesn't do justice to the variations in the muted tones and the bright sparkle of turquoise set into it.

This little quilt just needed to be quilted and I did that one night while DH fixed supper. The binding was a snap.

So, piece by piece, my unfavorite fabrics are finding their way into quilts! Even my unfavorite batting is getting used up. Maybe by Christmas, I'll come out sort of "even."

It's Friday! Whoop! Whoop!

2011-11-04T05:00:00.001-06:00

I have some finishes to report today! (finally)! I dropped some quilts off yesterday to the Family Connections Center and this one was in the group. Sally loved it! She always loves my quilts and somehow that just makes me feel good about leaving them there.

I came home and sandwiched this little number together and also finished it.

The black and white blocks were some from Bev's in Alaska's stash. I can't believe I'm still finding some of her stuff to use. These were in a baggie with some other black and white fabric and then I remember this cute little car fabric I purchased and put them altogether in a cute little boy's quilt.

Thursday is my favorite TV night. Gotta always watch Big Bang Theory!! I finished the hand sewn binding on this one started last week. It's probably going to my sister.

I've been working on some patchwork blocks. Next post I'll show some progress in that direction. I did go through some of my fabric and made up a few bundles to take to the Linus drop off. I talked with the director for this area the other day, and I'll be donating some fabric towards that cause. Family Connections Center is still my first area of concern. It's local, I have contact with the supervisor there and I know my quilts are going where needed. It did feel good to go through some fabric and make some 60" cuts for someone else to tie into quilts for some of the local hospitals here. I can't believe how 6 bundles hardly made a dent in my stash. No wonder it doesn't seem to be going anywhere--a quilt takes a lot of time, but doesn't use that much stash--at least til the backing is cut, but a 40 x 60 quilt doesn't use much more than 4-4.5 yards when complete with piecing and binding! I've finished my big roll of batting I bought earlier in the year. I bought some other packages on sale, but they're not the "Warm and Natural" that I like using. So until I can get a big roll again, I'll find ways to make bundles or tops to help use up stash without having to make quilts using my second choice batting. Maybe I get in the sewing room today! But for now--Whoop Whoop, I made some finishes!

Blogger's Quilt Festival

2011-10-30T05:02:00.002-06:00

Wow, I've been so busy with a non quilting project, I almost missed it. I love Amy's quilt festivals. Go here or see the button at the right of the blog for a quick link. It's a chance to see so many other quilts!

I've decided to add my quilt called Dream Catcher. I started this quilt last winter when I had many scraps within the same color family. I found the pattern, "Dream Catcher," in McCall's Quilting, Sep/Oct 2010 issue and a pattern designed by Marcie Patch. I thought the pattern would lend itself to my scraps and it did. I wanted to try my hand at the small 1.5 inch HST's within the blocks. It was a challenge, and I loved it. I challenged myself to make a block a day last December and I finished the blocks in January. Finally, I got enough nerve to finish the setting. The quilt has successfully used up the biggest portion of these fabrics. In fact, I needed to buy some binding so that I could add some red to the quilt. I worked at adding as much red and teal to the monochromatic bronze tones of the fabric pieces I had.

This quilt has been used in my bedroom, folded neatly each day at the foot of the bed and in the cooler months we lay it over the top of our bed for added warmth. This line was collected by me when I started with making a table runner for my mother a couple of years ago. The price of the fabric in the LQS was $9. It was a "Laurel" Series by Moda and it ran out quickly. I had some scraps left and eventually the line ended up online and it was at a good price, but I OVER-bought!!! (I'm still learning on that one, but getting so-o-o-o much better!)

These close-ups show the quilting (by Judy, my quilter) and the smaller blocks within the quilt.

So there you have it, a self challenge, a finish and stash used up. I'm loving that I have a quilt that for me is bigger than I usually make and one that used up so much stash!

And There it Sits

2011-10-27T12:49:00.001-06:00

Got the binding on a little quilt that I put together. Yay! It used up some purple that just didn't go with other purples that I had and I think I used up all that gold. It's been in other quilts and I was going to use it for the binding, but either it's used up or hiding somewhere. Honestly--do other quilters have that "forget where you put it" disorder?!!

Been really busy of late with a non quilting project. So not much quilting going on here! Maybe I'll get that quilt bound sometime.

Pictures Are a Poor Substitute!

2011-10-24T06:51:00.002-06:00

An autumn drive and the beauties of the earth are everywhere! Just can't capture the beauty with our inexpensive digital.

The drive is one not far from our house. It's near Logan Canyon in northern UT. Enjoyed the day with a visit to a quaint little cafe that has been in business since 1914.

Again--the quilt is in progress and the colors just don't show as well on camera as in real life. I needed a break from creating and just wanted to complete this top that I'd precut. The sewing was a bit boring, but I pretty well knew what the outcome would be and that's what I needed. The quilt is one from Sue Abrey's book

I really hesitate to show my top as the picture just doesn't show the intensity of the colors well. But, Sue had figured out how to cut and then border and that's what I needed. It is a perfect quilt for a beginner.

The colors are soothing and the prints are stars and the aqua is a Christmas print that almost looks like ribbons for bows. It is something I've had for a long time and the colors are what I now use for Christmas, so this will be a comfort quilt to go on the sofa.

Once it is quilted, it will show in a picture so much better, but for now, know that when my quilter comes, this will be ready and a better product will be visible when I get it done! Thanks to Sue, I was able to work out of my slight depression and also get a Christmas quilt started. I have enough leftover pieces (cause no matter what, I just can't follow directions completely!!!--sorry Sue) for a wonky star wall hanging--we'll see! I'm out of the soft off white stars--I had enough saved for the border, so when that is done, then I can start on a wall hanging.

A Little Disappointing...

2011-10-22T07:15:00.002-06:00

After a day of recovery--from the travel--and some slight disappointment, I'm back on track. I've been here before! It's just that sometimes that little girl in me wants my mother to be her biggest fan! In reality mine never has been. She's tried! I have to give her a hearty recognition for that. It's just that we are so different! My mom in many ways is a very strong woman! At her coming birthday next week, she'll be 87! ...and no we didn't get the picture that I took my camera for! But here is one from three years ago. She hasn't changed a bit--but I've dropped about 25 lbs from this picture! LOL!

Mom Pam Pattilou

After some discussion with my other sister, we decided that
the wall hanging that I'd made for the Liberated Round Robin, should
go to mom and then at mom's passing my sis would inherit it. Well,
that probably was our error. First clue: LIBERATED!!!! My mom isn't
liberated at all!!!! She is probably so bound to convention that that is really
where most of my problems with my mom lie! I'm far more liberated than she!
My next problem: The seeking of approval!!!   Oh, I know---don't seek for
approval!!! I know that from many years of experience!   DON'T SEEK FOR
APPROVAL FROM MOM!!!! She has a very hard time approving the things she doesn't understand and believe me--on my list that lots of them. But it is like there is still this small girl inside of me seeking for my mom to be my best cheerleader! I could list the ways I was always disappointed here, but that wouldn't be always true---just my perception of it and it would serve no value. I love my mom! It's just that we see the glass differently! For her, it is half empty and for me it's half full!

Well, I'd thought maybe, just maybe she would replace the dated "Kitchen Angel" quilt I'd made years ago from a calender print. I'd quilted it, then we put it on a stick and tied raffia to the ends of the stick and some twine up to the nail and then we covered the nail with a little bow like thing at the nail. It was cute--but dated! But, mom wasn't about to replace that with the new thing. We finally found a wall for it. It's around a corner of the kitchen area into her big family room. It will be seen if you are in the family room--which hardly ever anyone is anymore. But, it is on a wall. I took the 3m sticky picture hanging things with me, so there would be no holes in the wall--at least I knew that! It's there! The quilting around the flower caught her eye and the iris she liked, but that was about it. Sometimes I feel like a fool for thinking someone may like my "stuff"   But, for therapy I spent the day yesterday doing some really boring, non liberated quilting. The quilt will be a pieced in three colors pretty quilt--just NOT liberated.

I do need to share the other thing---oh I knew better, but just before we left, I pulled this quilt, that I was binding, out from the car to show her! Big mistake. First off, she hates pink and purple and next off the writing and saying were totally out of her realm.

I was making the quilt for a surprise for a liberated friend--but now I'm even doubting myself on this one. I've already found ways the quilt could have gone differently--guess that is what most people do when making stuff--and I guess that's why so many of my quilts I'm so willing to part with. But, anyhow DH nailed it yesterday when I was saying I was a bit depressed. Said he, "is it because your mother didn't like your quilts?" Let's see--we've been married nearly 46 years--so I guess he knows me and my mother better than sometimes even I do!

Well, today is a new day! I'm not depressed, just working on a non quilting project that needs working on and yesterday I just couldn't even bring myself to do it. Sometimes it's just the travel--7 hours in a car for the day and then the other thing, even though I'm healing a mother/daughter relationship and it's much better--it'll never be at 100% just because we are human! ...and those dang emotions!!!!

In all--this is perfect for me:

Quilting to Relieve Stress

2011-10-15T07:17:00.003-06:00

Last night I finished the quilting on this kid's quilt. It relieved the stress of the day and I was glad I had it ready to quilt!

It started as I was looking through some fabrics and found some hourglass blocks. I added a strip to connect them.

Then I found in my stash the elephant.

Its warm tones worked with other fabrics I had including some with metallic gold printed on the fabric.

Some happy giraffes and a single piece of leftover 2.5" strip from a bundle of strips.

Backing of giraffe fabric. What a kick, huh!

It is now a quilt that I'll take to the Family Connections Center in Clearfield next week. I've got a stack going and I go visit my friend Sally that always loves to fondle and hug my quilts. I hope some kid will pick this from the stack of quilts there for displaced or disadvantaged kids.

I'm adding this to the 100 Quilts for Kids entry list here.

A Busy Friday!

2011-10-14T09:11:00.001-06:00

Got some non quilty stuff to do today, but I did finish some lotto blocks for Sunshine! I loved this fabric and had to have the "cutting" lady wait while I retrieved it in the store for her to cut for me. Perfect for a boys quilt and Black and Red are the colors for this month's lotto.

I'm working on a top from some of this fabric and some other odds and ends--just not picture ready yet, and I need to put a halt to my sewing for now!

Got this picture of my son and his children. The youngest loves "Cars". ...just had to add it! Missing them!

We're Not Old People--Just Recycled Teenagers!

2011-10-12T06:46:00.001-06:00

"$5.37." That's what the kid behind the counter at Taco Bell said to me. I dug into my pocket and pulled out some lint and two dimes and something that used to be a Jolly Rancher. Having already handed the kid a Five-spot, I started to head back out to the truck to grab some change, when the kid with the Elmo hairdo said the harshest thing anyone has ever said to me.

He said, "It's OK. I'll just give you the senior citizen discount."

I turned to see who he was talking to and then heard the sound of change hitting the counter in front of me.

"Only $4.68," he said cheerfully.
I stood there stupefied. I am 58, not even 60 yet. A mere child! Senior citizen? I took my burrito and walked out to the truck, wondering what was wrong with Elmo. Was he blind? As I sat in the truck, my blood &nBsp;began to boil. Old? Me? I'll show him, I thought. I opened the door and headed back inside. I strode to the counter, and there he was waiting with a smile.

Before I could say a word, he held up something and jingled it in front of me, like I could be that easily distracted! What am I now? A toddler?

"Dude! Can't get too far without your car keys, eh?"

I stared with utter disdain at the keys. I began to rationalize in my mind. "Leaving keys behind hardly makes a man elderly! It could happen to anyone!"

I turned and headed back to the truck. I slipped the key into the ignition, but it wouldn't turn.
What now? I checked my keys and tried another. Still nothing. That's when I noticed the purple beads hanging from my rearview mirror. I had no purple beads hanging from my rearview mirror.
Then, a few other objects came into focus. The car seat in the back seat. Happy Meal toys spread all over the floorboard. A partially eaten doughnut on the dashboard. Faster than you can say ginkgo biloba, I flew out of the alien vehicle.

Moments later I was speeding out of the parking lot, relieved to finally be leaving this nightmarish stop in my life. That is when I felt it, deep in the bowels of my stomach: hunger! My stomach growled and churned, and I reached to grab my burrito, only it was nowhere to be found.
I swung the truck Around, gathered my courage, and strode back into the restaurant one final time. There Elmo stood, draped in youth and black nail polish. All I could think was, "What is the world coming to?"
All I could say was, "Did I leave my food and drink in here?" At this point I was ready to ask a Boy Scout to help me back to my vehicle, and then go straight home and apply for Social Security benefits.
Elmo had no clue. I walked back out to the truck, and suddenly a young lad came up and tugged on my jeans to get my attention. He was holding up a drink and a bag. His mother   explained, "I think you left this in my truck by mistake."

I took the food and drink from the little boy and sheepishly apologized.

He offered these kind words, "It's OK.   My grandfather does stuff like this all the time."

All of this is to explain how I got a ticket doing 85 in a 40. Yes, I was racing some punk kid in a Toyota Prius. And, no, I told the officer, I'm not too old to be driving this fast.

As I walked in the front door, my wife met me halfway down the hall. I handed her a bag of cold food and a $300 speeding ticket. I promptly sat in my rocking chair and covered up my legs with a blankey.

The good news was I had successfully found my way home.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- READ BELOW !

Just in case you weren't feeling too old today - - -

The people who are starting college this fall were born in 1991.

They are too young to remember the space shuttle blowing up.

Their lifetime has always included AIDS.

The CD was introduced two years before they were born.

They have always had an answering machine.

They have always had cable.

Popcorn has always been microwaved.

They never took a swim and thought About Jaws.

They don't know who Mork was or where he was from.

They never heard, "Where's the Beef?", "I'd walk a mile for a Camel ," or "de plane, Boss, de plane."

They don't have a clue how to use a typewriter.

Notice the larger type? That's for those of us who have trouble reading.

P.S. Save the earth. It's the only planet with chocolate.

Finally!

2011-10-10T08:40:00.004-06:00

I've been stitching the binding to the back and it is now done! You've seen pictures of this quilt before. One of a challenge and now it's officially ready for gifting. My sis was going to use it for a wedding present, but we've decided to gift it to our mother instead. Her birthday is coming up at the end of this month and now it's ready!

See also Finished!

That iris came from a purchase on ebay maybe 10 years ago. I bought several pieces of, I think her name is Diane Labombarbe, from Canada. The first pieces that I bought were lovely sunflowers because at the time I was really into sunflowers and hated doing applique--that hasn't change. Then she offered a series of 4 of different iris'. Then there were sets of baskets. I think all in all I bought about 10 different applique pieces ranging from 6x8" to maybe 12 x 16. I loved them all and this was the last of the pieces from her. I've looked her up on the internet and only get that she has recipes. Maybe I don't have her name quite right, I don't know, as it has been many years ago, and I didn't even think at the time I'd have a blog or belong to any groups where I'd share what I'm doing. I've made small wall hangings and gifted many. One of my favorites is a sunflower hanging in my hallway that I used with African fabrics.

Itty Bitty Blue

2011-10-05T18:59:00.001-06:00

This is the last of a group of quilts promised to children locally. It's for a two year old and I had fun putting this one together. The pink and the pale turquoise is a nice blend I think.

The backing is a Riley Blake lime polka dot flannel.

I practiced the feather quilting technique more.

A Couple of Finishes

2011-09-30T08:01:00.007-06:00

Just a couple of things---two quilts finished. It's always great to see how the quilting adds to a quilt. The 12 patch quilt top didn't look that great to me, but when I quilted it, it sprang to life somehow. Pictured are the two:

I don't know if side by side is the best way to show these, but my "quilt hanger" is working out for the moment, so the sofa had to do to display them.

Some other views:

This week I received in the mail some fun labels. I ordered them from gutentag

These quilts will be given to children locally.

One of the Quilts for 100 Quilts for Kids

2011-09-29T09:25:00.001-06:00

This is the finished quilt.
And here is some of the wonky style quilting.

100 Quilts for Kids on Swim, Bike, Quilt

An Ugly Duckling Challenge

2011-09-24T06:06:00.001-06:00

Ever had some UGLY fabric that you wanted to rid yourself of? Well, Ann in the Sunshine Yahoo Group did and she issued a challenge. She'd send us a fat quarter of an ugly fabric, we'd make them into pretty blocks and then she'd make quilts for Sunshine. These are the fabrics and I asked for one of each.

I've used up the first fabric in these blocks:

Not so bad after all...

And then for the real ugly

Am I Really That Compulsive?

2011-09-19T08:29:00.002-06:00

This quilt was added to the 100 Quilts for Kids

Don't answer that! I did want to finish this and now it's done.

As you can see, I did decide to put the borders on and I like it.
I practiced my feathers on the border.

The back is almost an "I Spy Quilt"

Used up all the rest of the apple fabric.

Made this star from just one piece of sneaker fabric that was in a grab bag.

And still a bit of Bev lives on in these blocks.

And the last of this fun fabric.

Now, on to another quilty adventure!

11/15/11

I'm adding another photo of a quilt that I finished just this past weekend. It used up some of the crumbs with some stars added in to break the crumbs up a bit. It's a boys quilt going to Project Linus.

A New Flimsy

2011-09-17T06:32:00.003-06:00

I had so much fun crumbing away yesterday! I added some stars for a border and came up with this. I'm still trying to decide if I should add one more border. But, today we have soccer, football and I have some more peaches ready to can.

Finished the binding on this one and washed and dried it.

Stack now ready for giving.

Get Crumbing

2011-09-16T10:08:00.001-06:00

This morning I was determined to use up some of my crumbs in new top and then I found this site: http://www.joscountryjunction.com/?p=4874

I got busy and made four blocks right away and added them to some crumbs I already had made.

These new blocks are made from some fabric from a bag of scraps I bought recently at a LQS for $10 so I have some variety to add to my already made crumbs! I may even get that top done yet today!

Quilting Completed

2011-09-14T07:25:00.001-06:00

My liberated round robin quilt is now quilted. I have fabric for the binding and that is the next step. I have other plans today, so I don't know how soon I'll get to the binding. In the trimming there is a part in the upper left hand part of the quilt that I'm not sure how the binding will change the overall look of the quilt. I guess that is one of the things that beset fabric pieces without patterns!

How Quilting Gets Interupted! or Peaches Peaches and more Peaches!

2011-09-10T06:20:00.000-06:00

I have a history with peaches. With three of my children being born in August-September there seems to be a peach story related with each pregnancy! Always with that was the beginning of school. With my last child, I was canning peaches during labor, hoping to get them done before I left for the hospital.

Yesterday my husband announced that the peaches were indeed ready to pick. This was after I decided I would try to finish a quilt! But, like having a baby--when things are ready they are ready! Well, I had no idea there were so many. Our trees, 2 small trees, were planted just two years ago, but this year the branches were loaded! So onto my journey to find a cold pack canner since I sold mine in a garage sale when we moved to a condo--little did I know then we would be moving again and with a garden.... Oh well, after hitting a couple of stores and finding them sold out, I ran into my neighbor, who said I could borrow hers. Well, I thought, I'll just check one more Wal-Mart and then slowly but surely the traffic crept into a traffic jam and a U-turn later, I wove my way back home and borrowed the canner.

I have a flat electric stove, which doesn't work for canning, so we set up the gas two burner outside and I was ready to try my hand at peaches. I got this many done before just totally wearing out!

I have to say there is something comforting about bottled peaches. Love them with cottage cheese!! I started some jam, but I need raspberries to put with the peaches and some punch powder. I'll be doing that a bit later this morning, and then sorting through another box of peaches to see if there are enough ready to can another round today! ...oh and did I say I need more bottles? Dang 4 years ago I could hardly give them away. But, I'll go purchase some more. Wish I was closer to all those spares my mom has!

Note for next year: HALF the tomato crop and no beets, fewer cukes and no kohlrabi.

More on Quilting Styles!

2011-09-09T08:39:00.001-06:00

Yesterday's post showed what happens when free motion quilting is hindered by the quilt going through the small quilt space of a domestic machine. Sometimes the intended round circles became wonky. With some quilts that is okay. Yesterday's quilt was one of those. It's a wonky quilt to begin with and lends itself to a freer style.

What happens though when doing an art piece that is more controlled? My sis called the other day and needed a quilt for a wedding gift and wanted one of mine. So, we decided on my Liberated Challenge quilt (see labels below for more on that one). I've been very frustrated with making feathers. They just looked too rounded or tight or something. I've studied Patsy Thompson's feathers and I've got a DVD by the Pajama Quilter. I've been practicing since then. I won't show you my garbage can of practices but this morning I hit on what my troubles may have stemmed from. I was making my "loops" from the top. When I started them from the bottom and worked up, they became more the style I was working towards. Here's a sample of my practice next to my actual work on the quilt.

And then a close-up of the actual quilt.

I'm still waiting on thread from an order, but by experimenting with threads that I have and the info on Superior Threads site about which needle to use I was able to use a top stitch size 14 needle with the "Bottom Line" thread and the coats and clarks heavy thread I had. The khaki thread seems to work well with all the colors of this piano key border.

I'm thinking I'll probably get this to the binding stage today and then get my two quilting projects bound and finished--today or tomorrow--depending on if DH decides to do something and wants me to tag along... :)

Quilting Styles

2011-09-08T09:00:00.001-06:00

One thing that can cause a quilter grief is the perfection of the computerized quilting machines!!! I look at those and sometimes think I should never try to quilt on my home sewing machine. But, as life is--sometimes we just have to do what makes us happy and if someone else likes that is great. That is my motto for my donation quilts. I don't own a longarm quilting machine and many of my quilts are in my own wonky style. I've been practicing on a white board this quilting technique. It isn't perfect--it's rather folk art style, but it was much fun to do and the tension on my machine cooperated today!

I think I'll bind it in a red which will go with the lime green backing. I'll post another picture after I do that and then wash the quilt to soften it.

More Strings from Stash

2011-09-04T08:39:00.000-06:00

Another top begun--just needs something for a border and it'll become a top. Working through more drawers of fabrics purchased and not used!

I'm thinking to use the remainder of strings in a piano key border.

A Needed Change of Pace

2011-09-03T09:44:00.000-06:00

Sometimes in my quilting I get going and then before I know it, I'm more concerned with finishing a quilt than enjoying the process. The last few days, I've gone through some scraps and stash and have made some blocks towards the http://heartstringsquiltproject.com/2011/08/25/are-you-ready/

Now that these are made, I can sort other scraps and will sew them into a top at a later date. These used up a fair amount of strings and in the process and sorted and bagged what I wanted to save for the crumbs in two different categories. I have quite a stack of crumb blocks, but that is always an ongoing project.

Yesterday I looked at my drawer--which is purposely small so that I don't get too backlogged--of HST's cut from the bindings I do. I use these HST's that aren't true sizes to make WONKY stars. This process of its nature just slows me down. I don't concentrate on a project, I just sew, cut, measure and then put the finished star on my wall. So far I have these from an older workday or two:

And these from yesterday. I was able to go to that quilt store and get a couple more bags of scraps to add some different backgrounds. It's a lot cheaper than buying fat quarters and adds some variety to my stars.

Who knows where these will end and how I'll use them in a quilt. I'm thinking right now that either crumb blocks in-between or string blocks would make some cute donation quilts. We'll see. Right now, I'm just enjoying the process of assembly!

I'm So Excited!

2011-08-31T17:39:00.001-06:00

This quilt has finally come together! It's a bit bigger than I anticipated, but I think it goes well with the beginning block.

This was the beginning block

I think I've got the right fabric for the backing--I'm thinking on that for a bit. Not quite sure how to quilt it either. It's big enough, I think I'll send it out.

An up close picture of the dancers.

More Loose Ends...

2011-08-28T07:05:00.004-06:00

As I go through my stash, I'm always aware of what can be used for the Sunshine Monthly Lotto.
I've already got September and October done. I may find more for October, but I'll send what I have so far and then see what October brings.

In one of the yahoo groups I read, I found that someone precut strips. I thought that might be a good way to organize stash. Well for me it isn't. I precut some 2.5 inch strips and I have used those. But the 5 inch strips, which can be cut into 2.5 I have let sit in the plastic shoe box. Well, I decided to cut them into pieces that I could use for HST (half square triangles). I played around with colors and came up with a way to use up the off white I had saved in that shoe box. I got these fun blocks. After "making fabric" or making crumb blocks, I just couldn't cut into them, so I took the 6.5 inch block and then added the 3.5 inch HST's to it to make a star block. Pretty fast and easy once the 6.5 inch blocks are made. This week, I'm going to play around with some other options for flying geese--up to now a real UNfavorite for me! But, I digress--did I tell you of my ADD??? Check here for more ideas for crumb blocks

Anyhow, here are my fall colors blocks:

A little side note. Yesterday, I needed to go into Bountiful with DH to get his car that was being serviced. After I dropped him off, I went to the LQS there and just browsed around. The fabric is now $10.75 a yard--way too much for me! But, I found a bin of brown paper bags with cuttings equal to 2.5 yards for $10. I picked over them and finally settled on blue, because I just don't have too much of that and came home to a wonderful surprise of some fun fabrics. I wish I would have picked some more in addition to that, but I didn't and it really isn't worth the trip back just for that. Maybe we'll find the need for an outing next week--or a movie--or something to make the drive into town. I wish they were open on Sundays, but they aren't.

Today, we're driving over to South Salt Lake to see the grandkids. Haven't seen them since their dad left to go to Mississippi for school with the air force national guard. School starts Monday for DGD although some have been in school this week. The buildings are excruciatingly hot!!! Oh, well, I remember those first few weeks of school. It's so hot, between drinking water, and then bathroom breaks it's really hard to teach much!! Wish that all schools could be air conditioned as my last one was. Even then, when the kids come back into the room after afternoon recess, the room smells like a tin can and the boys are all sweaty and the drinking fountain holds more excitement than the teacher!! I can well imagine that if state legislators had to work in those conditions they would find the funding for more school needs! But, alas, our state legislators haven't found a way to be too kind to education. But, again, I digress!!! ...and my mind wanders to the plight of the fruit pickers in California as they are constantly working under extreme head and deplorable conditions. Oh, that, things wouldn't be so harsh for our brothers and sisters around the world working for daily food and shelter in conditions I view as extremely severe.

Progress with Odds and Ends

2011-08-27T10:43:00.002-06:00

Awhile back I joined in on a quilt-along It challenged me to find some 2.5 inch strips and make them into 12.5 inch blocks. I've made a couple for the Sunshine Lotto, made some for an art quilt I'm working on and have some that are tones that fit with an off white border--I'll be adding to that as I work along.

But, today I completed this top from what I had started. It makes a bright little donation quilt top that I'll work on later. I was wanting to get some strings out for this new Heartstring Project and didn't want to cut strings from a possible border for something else and found that the fabric I chose for this top made a perfect border. (You can't see it too well, but its snails with bright backs moving along a row). So glad I didn't make strings out of it as I was going to do!

Now, one quilt along is making way for a new one. I've got some strings I really want to use up and this new Heartstrings project will hopefully use up some others! Always something to keep a quilter busy and knee deep in fabric!