Award Winning Quilt!!!

No it hasnt won an award at a quilt show.  However, I think it should be entered in one.


Customer brought me this fantastic quilt top and requested edge to edge - meandering was chosen.

I was so nervous just thinking about the task in front of me.  Once the needle hit the fabric I relaxed a little.

Across the top and to the edge, back again and to the other edge. Phew first 2 rows done and oh yes its going to be fine.  Amazing what you can quilt.

Dont throw away those award ribbons - see what you can do!!!!!!!!!!

No I Havent Been On Vacation

Betcha thought I had left the country.

Its been a while since I last entered anything on my blog.

Not to worry, I'm still here and still working on several projects.  Some I cant show you right now. The Birthday Blocks of course.  A few Bright Ideas headed to the trash bin, scrap pile

Not every idea becomes a quilt block.  Some just don't work, at least not for real.  They look pretty good in my head, but then when it comes to cutting and sewing they look pretty awful.

Its a good thing I use scraps when I get a brilliant idea, or I would be spending way too much money to decorate my garbage.

Even the best plans sometimes just don't work out, and then others, without any effort at all, become a new quilt or pattern.

There are several patterns I have yet to complete, time goes by so fast.  Before you know it a year has gone by and I haven't put anything into print.

In between creating new blocks, well attempting to, I made these pillows for my sewing chair.

My back went out the other day, but still needed to sew.  I didn't have a pillow so I put a packaged batting behind me and it worked rather well.  Which told me I should either buy a new chair, not gonna happen soon, or buy or make a pillow.   Why on earth would I buy one when I'm sitting on piles of fabric.

First attempt:

Plain corduroy fabric, dressed it up playing with my hot crystals from Houston.

Although cute - it was the wrong size.  Too small for what I need and kept falling off the chair when I moved.

Another brilliant idea but going nowhere with it.  Anybody need a pillow???


2nd attempt:

This was made using one of those blocks for the Birthday Blocks that didn't turn out to be the right size.

I enlarged it even more - stuffed it sewed on some tie strings and TIED it to the back of my chair.  Now this idea worked and is really helping my poor old back situation.  That is until I can get around to buying a new chair.

Looking at office chairs, but they all have arms on them and I don't want arms.  I need to make a quick get away from my chair and cant be bothered sliding chair back and around arms.  Plus arms wont let me sit close enough to the machine.

Looking at this picture tells me I had better do some more cleanup in my room.

The challenge quilt is coming along nicely and at present I could put borders on and call it a day.  However, when finished it will only be a 80x80.  Too small for a queen bed (my bed) too large for a wall hanging.  I'm still mulling it over as to whether I should leave it or go bigger.

Going bigger means a trip to the quilt shop (hate that hehehehehehehe).

February Birthday Blocks

The girls have received their birthday blocks, so its safe to show you.

Kristi -  live in Nevada

Top Block simple Nine Patch with borders - bottom block  Log Cabin

Chris lives in Australia

Left block is made up - right block is variation of Buckeye Beauty

This has been such a fun event and I look forward almost everyday to see what blocks have been received by the birthday girls.

This morning I made 4 more blocks for other girls birthdays.  I try to make a different block for each person, but I think some may be getting the same block as another, but in the colors they requested.

Some of the blocks I make up as I go along and others I use traditional blocks - the main factor is they must be 12.5" block.

In between working on the Guild Challenge quilt and other projects - I manage to keep busy. 

Oh yeah better get going, Gus will be here any minute and that ends any sewing for the day.

Sunday Sewing With Kylee

Wasn't sure if it could be done - 56 blocks in one day.

Saturday - I  cut all the pieces for Kylee.

Sunday - breakfast out and then we hit the sewing room.

The task for Kylee- sew as many blocks for the new quilt as possible.  Can she do it - is she up to this huge task.

Set her down and showed her the pattern and steps to complete these blocks.

Chain piecing:

Ky's Rainbow Hair

Making some progress:

And finally - 53 Blocks completed (yes not 56 gma has to cut some more pieces, I miss counted while cutting

Next step get Ky for another full day to finish the 3 blocks , sew the blocks together into the top add borders.  & blocks across and 8 down - should make for a nice size quilt.  Each block is 10.5".

She did an awesome job on her 1/4 seams this time.  This quilt is darn near perfect - so far.

We had a good day together.  Haven't spent an entire day sewing a very long time.

Yummy Quilt Finished

Managed to quilt and make the label for Sandy's Licorice Allsorts quilt this morning before Gus arrived.

Simple meandering with black thread - pieced backing and an appliqued butterfly on the label.  Just have to sew down the label and put binding on.  Fini!

This is a small lap quilt, but maybe someday I can make a larger one.  Really like the way it looks and the black really makes it pop brightly.

Licorice Allsorts

That is the name of the new scrappy quilt I'm working on.

I got the name from one of my friends on CT www.connectedthreadz.com   she said they are a licorice candy.

Wikepedia: Allsorts are produced by many companies around the world today, and are most popular in Britain, continental Europe, and North America^{[citation needed]}. South African confectionery giant Beacon produces substantial quantities of the product, where it is both sold locally and exported to such countries as Australia, Canada and Portugal.

I had never heard of them before - here is a picture of them

Now here is a picture of the quilt I'm making:

Yummy candy and yummy quilt.  This must be finished by Saturday.

All the blocks are made and now being sewn into the rows using black sashing (like you cant see that) and corner sets.

A simple technique to make these scrap blocks, but a little tedious too.  Sewing a 1" black strip between each of the color strips and squares take a little bit of time.  Thankfully, no measurements required.  Just sew a large block and then trim with 6.5" ruler.

Wasn't sure I was going to get this done by Saturday, but I managed to finish all the blocks (42) this morning and put two rows together, so I guess I will make my deadline.


Just waiting for Gus to show up for the day

Here he is in his winter bear suit, which wont be fitting him much longer.

Some Of This Some Of That

I'm giving away the surprise but here goes - baby quilt for Piper - mailing - hopefully tomorrow

The top has been done for quite awhile, just hoping the new baby was going to be a girl., Whoopee - Piper Kathryn Strait - born 1/23/13.  1st Cousin Larry and Linda Tonelli grandparents - Parents, Robyn and Josh Strait.  

I'm looking forward to holding this sweet baby this coming September, where, SHE WILL BE coming to our family reunion.

By the time she comes to visit - she will be 8 months old and Gus will be 10 months.  Should be a fun reunion.

Early this morning I began a scrappy quilt for my dil - Deena's mom Sandy.   Sandy is having some health issues and I am making her a quilt, that will, hopefully, give her some warmth and comfort.

I do have a scrappy quilt that I could just quilt and give, but, I wanted to try a little something new.

There will be black sashing between the blocks and rows.  Think this will be a pretty funky and fun looking quilt.  If, however, I dont like it when finished I will quilt the other scrappy already hanging and ready for quilting.

The deadline for this is Saturday - can I make the blocks sew it together and quilt by Saturday?  Thats the challenge for this week.