Friday, April 30, 2010

Finish #17 - Peaches and Dream




Graduation Quilt for Maria - Almost Done! The new bobbin case for my Janome Machine came in right on time Thursday...such drama...I was starting to have withdrawals. A little quilting around the edges, hand work on the binding, the label, then delivery this weekend! (Sorry about the shoe, it was a little windy outside).


The Quilt is from a class taken with Judy Laquidara in March at the GSQA Seminar in Baton Rouge, LA. The pattern is from Judy's "Peaches and Dream".


For more projects, visit Amy Lou's "Sew and Tell". Amy's friends are keeping up her site, so I will be checking all week for a report on her new little project - a baby girl.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Janome 6500, Bobbin Case





Those of us who have the Janome 6500 have a Love-Hate relationship with our machines. We love the work-horse characteristics.....we love the wide base....but we HATE the jumping bobbin case....*^*$&$%#$!!! The bobbin case wears out and causes havoc. I clean and oil my own machines -- I am good to my girls. I am under the gun (of course)...my niece is graduating from high school in next few weeks; another niece due to give birth in May; and a quilt show deadline of May 4th!
A big thanks to Alan, at Sew Vac Direct in College Station, Texas. A very pleasant young man who took my order over the phone, let me cry on his shoulder and then put TWO bobbin cases on the UPS truck. One regular and one for free motion (new). I have already received my shipping confirmation and expect the delivery in 2-3 days. I love the ease of the Internet, however there is nothing like picking up the phone and having a sympathetic person on the other end.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Monday Design Wall and Quilting Top



I am quilting my "Peaches and Cream" from the class taken with Judy Laquidara back in March at the GSQA Seminar in Baton Rouge. My niece is graduating in May, so I am running out of time. My design wall has not changed from last week, because in between quilting tops, I have been making pillowcases for the Million Pillowcase Challenge.

For more Design Walls, please visit Judy's site at Patchwork Times.






Sunday, April 25, 2010

Stash and Pillowcase Report



I bought this really cool fabric several years ago in a clearance bin -- you know -- the ones rolled up with a rubber band. I could only see the unusual stripes -- well!-- when I opened it up at home, there was a beautiful colorful border I have been unable to cut into until now. I was able to make four pillowcases from this fabric! This week, I made nine all together, for a cumulative total of 19 to date. They are part of the APQ Million Pillowcase Challenge, through our LQS, The Quilting Niche'.


Fabric Stash Report:
Used (Finished) this week, (16.35)
Used Year To Date, (170.10)

In addition to the nine pillowcases, I finished quilting the Charity "Strip and Flip", which turned out to be reversible (shown Friday). I am still quilting tops, so my report next week should be good again.


Added, -0-
Added Year To Date, 136.10
Net, (34.00)

For more stash reports, visit Judy at Patchwork Times. Judy has been shopping and showed a picture of her treasures!

Friday, April 23, 2010

Finish #16, Charity "Strip and Flip"



The Charity "Strip and Flip" quilting is done! Finished size: 58 x 68. The hand work on the binding is all that is left --- a later lunch hour project. Above is the front, below is the back (10.5" squares) --reversible!



It's "Sew and Tell Friday", the end of a long work week. I really look forward to coming home and visiting the long list of finished projects Amy has linked on her site. On my way.......

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Work in Progress Wednesday


Practice, Practice, Practice. For weeks now, I have been "paper-practicing" circular feathers. Now is my chance to put the needle to work. A few glitches, then the rhythm kicked in. They will never be perfect, I am not a symmetrical person, but hope they will look like feathers. This charity "Strip and Flip" quilt will get a good work-out.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Patty's Millennium Quilt

Patty "The Quilt Lady" is looking for scraps to finish the most awesome Millennium Quilt. I have already dug through my grandmothers stash which dates back pre-1980's. A little snip here and there from fabrics which are only 36" wide, hoping she does not have any of these special pieces from the last century.


My heart is very scrappy! Most of my quilts are scrappy, so I use up a lot of scraps. When I see quilts like the one below, I have scrappy-goosebumps!




Hop on over to visit Patty and drop her a comment if you have scraps to help her finish her prize possession --- and let her know I sent you.


Monday, April 19, 2010

Monday Design Wall



I am quilting tops, so my design wall will be stagnant for a week or so. The above wall comes from the same Strip and Flip blocks - still playing with them along with HST's. I temporarily pulled them to put together the back below.




Every so often, a back comes together as pretty as the top. I love all of these colors. After taking the picture, I finished sewing the rows together and sandwiched the top (hanging on the door). By tonight, I will start quilting this one. So far, I have three tops sandwiched and ready to go.
For more design walls, visit Patchworktimes....Judy has the cutest top on her wall.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Stash Report / Good News - Bad News!

Good News First -- I delivered 10 pillow cases to our LQS, The Quilting Niche', who is making a gallant move toward the APQ One Million Pillowcase Challenge! Debbie and her shop angels have been very busy -- my little 10 is a dust speckle in the mound of pillowcases in the back of her shop.

Total Finished, (5.50), 5 pillowcases this week

Year to Date Finished, (153.75)




Bad News -- The Quilting Niche' had a $4.00/yard sale. I found Blossoms and WeePlay by Moda, red Michael Miller, and a little Maywood and Thimbleberries. Maybe that is good news! Either way, I had to really try and control myself.

Added this week, 16.75

Added year to date, 136.10

Net, (17.65) --- ok, not so bad, I am still busting!




For more stash reports, please visit Patchwork Times and tell Judy Hi!

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

W-I-P Wednesday


I have been playing around with the blocks from the "Strip and Flip" samples. I have a scrappy heart, so I started digging through my HST's and headed to the "blank" design wall.
I have said it before, the minute the wall is open, I get in trouble.
For the next couple of weeks I will be quilting tops, so if these toys stay on the wall....well, lets just say I will stay focused on quilting tops. My incentive...my weekly stash report will start reducing. I only count fabric "used" when the project is finished. About the only thing finished lately, are the pillowcases.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Monday Design Wall



Busy wall....on the left are finished "Strip and Flip" Blocks. When I have more done, I will start playing with a layout.


For the backing of Judy Laquidara's "Peaches and Dreams" (hanging on the door - left), I had about four yards of this perfect fabric with shades of blue. I only had four yards, so I pieced 10.5" blocks to fill up the middle.


I have several 10.5" blocks ready to put on the design wall to piece the back of the other quilt on the door in shades of reds, oranges and greens. This top is also from the "Strip and Flip" method and can be seen laid out in the tutorial.




Last week, I finished five pillow cases for the APQ 1-Million Pillowcase Challenge. They are fast little projects which are like potato chips, I just could not stop -- above I have several more ready to go. I have also been using some of those fancy stitches from my Janome 6500 to dress them up.
For more design walls, hop on over to Judy's at Patchwork Times.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Blackberry Dumplings Anyone?


My MIL Alzina and FIL Sidney both have green thumbs....mine is totally black. About 25 years ago, my grandmothers brother, Daniel, gave me clippings from his blackberry bushes. Those clippings traveled over 400 miles from mid-Texas to southern Louisiana. My MIL planted them near the bayou and they have thrived all these years. Only in Texas fashion, these bushes produce the biggest toe-size berries. My Uncle Dan has been long gone, however I think he would be very proud of his little off-springs.

Weekly Stash Report

This week I completed 5 pillowcases for the APQ One Million Pillowcase Challenge. Our local quilt shop, The Quilting Niche', is hosting the sewing and collection of pillowcases. I visited the Quiting Niche' during one of their "Sit and Sew" Wednesdays and was amazed at their accomplishments. I caught the bug and went home and started pulling fabric.

This week's report:

Used (Finished), (5.50)
Used to Date, (148.25)
Added this week, 17.70
Added Year to Date, 119.35
Net, (28.90) -- slipping a little, but still busting!

Also finished: Income Tax Returns!!!!

For more "Stash Reports", hop on over to our host Judy Laquidara at Patchwork Times.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

More "Strip and Flip"


Using the process introduced in the tutorial for "Strip and Flip", the blocks below use 2.0", 1.5", 1.5", 3.5" and 2.0" strips. The sub-strips are cut in the same widths, with the block finishing at 8.0".
Using Judy Laquidara's method of making the pieced borders first -- these "Strip and Flip" blocks will border a baby quilt needed by the end of May.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

"Strip and Flip" Tutorial

The "Strip and Flip" process is a fun way to bust those scraps. I have drawers of pre-cut strips: 1.5", 2.0", 2.5", 3.5", 4.5" and 6.5". When some of the drawers overflow, I begin to play.


The following strips are about 21-22" long, in widths of: 2.5", 2.5", 3.5", 2". I sort them trying to keep a contrast between the strips. I also use strips in lengths of 10.5-11". You can use the WIF, however I like to cut them down to avoid wavy seams - they happen to the best of us.




After sewing the sets together, press all seams in one direction. Now cut them in the SAME widths, same order: 2.5", 2.5", 3.5" and 2".


Now "FLIP" the 2nd and 4th within each strip set. Notice -- No seams to match!





More play: Mix them up between strip sets. Notice that one of the strip sets was a little short. Save the good ones to mix with other blocks that come up short! The finished block is 8.5".




Here is a finished quilt top in bright scraps. The blocks are sashed with 2" wide strips, the inner border is 2.5", outer border is 6.5". Finished quilt top: 57.5"x67.5".





I have also made tops with 5-strip blocks in various sizes....one of them on point. Have Fun!

Monday, April 5, 2010

"Strip and Flips", Design Wall Monday

My design wall was busy this weekend. I needed to side-track away from quilting and play....those pesky strip scraps were beckoning again. In 2008 and 2009, I made four "Strip and Flips". When I shared the process with our guild, it became workshop projects. Our guild meets on the first and third Friday each month. The first Friday is our workshops -- bring anything you want to sit and sew.

This morning, I made the following two blocks to start the border for a baby quilt. I love these color combinations for little girls and may have enough for a whole baby quilt just from the scraps.




Saturday night, I pulled bright strips and whipped up this little kid's top for our Guild's "Helping Hands" committee.

The top will have two borders, 2 1/2" bright and 6 1/2" white.



I should be finished with the top when I get home from work. I will prepare a tutorial and share the "Strip and Flip" process tomorrow.
For more design walls, visit Patchwork Times hosted by Judy Laquidara.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Vintage Fabric and Weekly Stash Report

Thought I would share a few of my favorite vintage fabrics. I call them vintage because they are from my grandmother's stash and they are only 36" wide. I love visiting her fabric...they still have her smells...does that make sense?



The first -- labeled "E & W Quadriga Cloth" -- just speaks spring!



This print reminds me of sheeting, however there are no labels.




Label: "Schwartz-Liebman Textiles, Inc. and Logantex, Inc."




Weekly Stash Report:

Used (Finished) this week: (2.00)
Year to Date Used: (142.75)
Added this week: 14.00 (stocked up on solid white and black)
Added Year To Date: 101.65
Net: (41.10) --- Still reducing!


For more stash reports, jump on over to Patchwork Times, hosted by Judy Laquidara.

Friday, April 2, 2010

Friday Finishes -- HH Placemats



I know...HH's again...I just love this pattern. I made eight placemats for a wedding present from my stash of oriental fabrics. I made an attempt to machine sew the binding on one...well...needless to say, the others were done by hand. Funny how we have a hard time changing some things. I had no problem moving to machine quilting.


Good Friday was a beautiful day down south. Today was a holiday from work and I spent my whole day cleaning. This way, I will have Saturday and Sunday to sew.


For other finished projects, please visit Amy Lou's site for her "Show and Tell Friday". I have already checked out every site and you will love them!