Monday, May 31, 2010

Design Wall - Update



























I added blocks to both projects, which forced the plaid blocks to move to a spare bed. For the 6.5" snowball blocks, there are now a total of 60 out of 80 needed. Once they are done, I may need to move them around to separate like blocks. The plaid blocks total 24. I am not sure how large this one will be....for now, I will continue to make blocks until I like the size.



My three day weekend has ended...and back to work!

Monday Design Wall - May 31, 2010

As shown yesterday with a sneak preview, I am so glad to be finished quilting my HH top (which I will post on Friday Finishes). With a three day weekend, I have finished the Aunt Grace Top for my niece, now hanging in the closet to quilt one day.....AND I have started two new quilt tops.





The first, with the pretty plaids I picked up a couple of weeks ago. I purchased 15 - 1/3 cuts. They were washed, ironed and subcut into 10.5" squares --- total of 60. Using a Kona white, I am making 8" finished blocks (4" center, 1" borders)


The other top is from a stash of 6.5" squares and 2.5" scraps to make a bright snowball top.

For other design walls, I am heading over to Judy's site at Patchwork Times to see how others are doing on this Memorial Day weekend.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Stash and Pillowcase Report - Week 22


Good Week -- I finally finished quilting my HH Quilt, called "Pottery Garden". The back is from Valori Wells line and the front from my stash of 2 1/2" strips. Above are pictures taken during the process. When the handwork on the binding is done, I will take a picture on a sunny day and post it this Friday, for "Friday Finishes".

Added this week, -0-
Added to Date, 147.35
Used (Finished) this week, (18.15)
Used (Finished) to date, (209.05)
Net, (61.70)

Finished this week, 5
Finished to date, 34

For more stash reports, visit Judy at Patchwork Times.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Prom Night -- A nonquilting project!




Sometimes a project comes along you just can't turn away. Such as this one. Its Tuesday...and Briana's Senior Prom is Saturday. The dress she ordered on the internet won't be arriving in time. Not a store nearby has a size 2 prom dress at this late date. The only solution for Briana and her mom Heather is to find someone who can make a dress -- not a chance.


Well....Heather and I work together and she came to me for advise. After chatting and throwing ideas around, she tells me about a dress Briana wore for her "Quincenera".... a traditional coming of age ceremony held on a young girl's fifteenth birthday. The dress reminded me of Snow White...absolutely lovely dress with yards and yards of ruffles and a slip made of many layers of tulle.


The challenge was on....Heather released the ruffles held by sequined flowers. I called my sister, Phyllis (who has done several of these makeovers) and we started working on the dress late Tuesday night. We removed all of the tulle, cut away about 3 feet of the length, which grew after the sequins were gone. Then, using Phyllis' 11-year old granddaughter, Alissa as a model, I started narrowing the dress - taking in HUGE seams in each of the many gores.


Running out of time, Phyllis and I took off early Friday afternoon and worked on the bodice. I think we both stared at the dress more than sewed just trying to come up with a new top. Phyllis started playing with some of the yards of fabric we cut off the bottom and formed a rectangle tube, with soft gathering in the center. We hand stitched the tube to the base of the sweetheart top and delivered the dress at 6 O'clock Friday night. Heather hemmed the dress and added back a few of the sequined flowers to the front.


In twenty years, what other Senior will have a story to tell like this one....
For other Sew and Tell Projects, visit Amy Lou and have fun.


Monday, May 24, 2010

Monday Design Wall, May 24, 2010




My design wall has not changed. I refuse to take it down until it is finished. Several more blocks have been cut out, along with more applique pieces. Although it is hard to see, there is a lot of 3-deminsional work involved.




First, I will make the next 5 pillowcases. Our LQS, The Quilting Niche, collects the pillowcases for the Million Pillowcase Challenge. I use one of my spare sewing machines to break from the quilting every so often. However, when I add the special stitching on the cuff, I will have to move the quilting over.



And this is why I have not accomplished much on the design wall. I am still quilting the top. I have decided to hang this quilt in my dining room. I love the colors and my dining room needs a fresh new look.








For more design walls, visit Judy at Patchwork Times! I won't be home until VERY late tonight, but I know where I will be eventually.....taking a look at all the other design walls.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Stash Report, May 23, 2010

I just could not resist....I picked up 1/3 yard of all of the new plaids at Hancock's........"But they were on sale Honey"!


Added this week, 5 yards
Added Year To Date, 147.35
Used (Finished 5 pillowcases) this week, (5.50)
Used Year To Date, (190.90)
Net To Date, (43.55)



Pillowcase Report:

This week, Finished 5
To Date, 29

For more Stash Reports, visit Judy at Patchwork Times!

Saturday, May 22, 2010

2010 Blogger's Quilt Festival

AmysCreativeSide.com

This is a first for me .... six months ago I didn't even know what a "blog" was. It all started when I made a Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt from the Quiltmaker Magazine in 2009. I enjoyed Bonnie's pattern and her style, so I googled her...next thing you know, I am visiting a blog here and a blog there. In January, I took the huge step and started my own. Now 76 posts later, I am enjoying this whole new world (at least new to me).


I have been quilting for several years, as it has been passed down generations and runs in my veins. I wish I knew how many quilts I have made in my life time ... not even a clue. However, I started keeping track in 2008 and since then I have made 63. I prefer scrappy and traditional quilts, however I like to add modern touches.

My family and friends are the recipients of most of my quilts. I have also made several for the Relay for Life, our Local Guild's Helping Hands and Veteran's groups. My sister, Phyllis (a quilter) and I will soon embark on making kids quilts for the local charity hospital.

Now for my festival quilt -- my version of the Carpenter Star using one of my favorite fabrics -- batiks. This quilt proudly hangs in my foyer and is one of the first to be packed during Hurricance Evacuations!



My quilting is free-hand. I tend to get bored with straight lines and as a baby boomer, I still have a few "free-spirited" left overs from the 70's! Or is it that I have a hard time holding the line steady :)!



I have enjoyed the last two days visiting all of the other blogger entries at the home of "Amy's Creative Side". It does take me a little while longer. As soon as I link up each entry, I immediately hit their "home" page and read through many-many posts. It is amazing how multi-generational quilters have so many processes in common. AND it is NEVER too late for me to learn new techniques.



Now....be sure to visit Amy's site and be ready for a mind blowing experience!



Friday, May 21, 2010

Weekend Projects

I am quilting my HH top a little each day. It has been a long process, as I have been trying out different doodles. The center is covered with my panto's, however the 7" border has taken on a life of its own. I have decided to call her "Pottery Garden". For a full view of just the center section before sewing together, visit here.



The Blackberries are coming in daily - did you remember the blooms in a previous post?. Even though a couple of gallons have been picked, look at those still on the bush. Unbelievable. My MIL has already made a few batches of her famous dumplings - yummmm.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

"Survivor Bee", Wanda's Quilt




Our "Survivor Bee" Season was unusual this year - to say the least! The competion started between the heroes and villians of past seasons. Our bee members were partnered with a TV player, who we cheered for each week. The first player/bee member to get the boot, was a winner of the fat quarter loot. Sadly this first player, Wanda, lost her battle from an unexpected illness and never saw or enjoyed her winnings.


With Alice's design, bee members donated time making blocks and/or fabric for sashing and borders. Mary Lea completed the assembly of the top, Carol and Rita handled the binding and Carolyn quilted her. What a beautiful gift to leave Wanda's family.


Stay tuned, I will be posting the runners up with their Idol blocks and the BIG Winner of the 1/2 yard Orientals later. I am hoping to snap a couple of pictures to share along with those posts!


Can't wait until next season -- Nicaragua here we come -- Alice, Beth, Betti, Bunny, Carol, Carolyn, Darlene, Donna, Geralyn, Jamie, Lynn, Mary Lea (host), Marlene, Melina, Nita, Rita, Robin and Wanda.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Monday Design Wall - May 17th

I have made very little progress on the 30's quilt above. I am still quilting a special top, so my piecing sometimes takes a back seat. I am trying to keep the remaining parts simple -- since the center is where "the action is". This is for my great niece who is 11 years old, who will be lucky if I finish it for her first child.






I have also pulled the next five pillow cases from the huge sets already cut out. I thought I would be tired of them by now, however they are so different from each other.








I always look forward to Monday nights...coming home after a long day to browse other Design Walls linked on Judy's Patchwork Times.


Sunday, May 16, 2010

Stash and Pillowcase Report - Week #19

I only finished five pillowcases for the APQ Million Pillowcase Challenge. I will drop those by our LQS, "The Quilting Niche" this week. For those of you in the Houma, LA area, the owner Debbie will continue to collect them until she is busting at the seams!

A little disappointed I did not quite finish my current quilting project for this report. I seem to be spending more time on the quilting process while trying new techniques.


Used (Finished) this week, (5.50)
Finished To Date, (185.40)
Added this week, -0-
Added To Date, 142.35
Net, (43.05)

Pillowcases this week, 5
Finished to Date, 24

For more stash reports, visit Judy's site at Patchwork Times.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

"Survivor Bee"


The "Survivor Bee" is a small group who watch the show Survivor on Thursday nights. We all have been assigned a player -- mine is Parvati. On Friday, some of the "Survivor Bee" girls came together to turn in our Survivor Idol Blocks. The first to get "kicked off" the show won fat quarters of Oriental Fabric we each put up. The winner will receive half yard of Oriental Fabric. The Runners up will win blocks made by each player of our version of an Immunity Idol.

On Friday, we met to turn in our "Idol" blocks. What talented ladies we have! Some of them were captured in our group picture above.

Here is mine -- I also added an Immunity Necklace. On Sunday night, we will find out who wins the loot! Go Parvati!

Funny story -- I sew early in the morning before work and don't have my contacts in yet to see far. WELL --- I run to take my shower, start washing my hair, look down and nearly have a heart attack! I thought I had a ROACH as a shower partner. After falling all over myself to get out, turns out it was one of the cut outs from the steam-a-seam applied mask!

Thank goodness I have my camera back...I have a few posts to make up for!

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Stash and Pillowcase Report - Week #19



Absolutely NO Change from last week's report. However, I have cut out 34 pillowcases. WOW, what a way to bust the stash for such a worthy cause, APQ One Million Pillowcase Challenge. The above count will eventually reduce the stash 37 yards -- but not yet -- I only count "used" when it is in the finished project. I need motivation to FINISH projects.

Last week, my sewing machine was out of order, this week, my camera. Thank goodness for the camera phone!


For more stash reports, check out the list of other dedicated stash busters at Judy's site, Patchwork Times.


This week, Finished, 0

To Date, Finished (179.90)

Added This Week, 0

Added to Date, 142.35

Net, (37.55)


HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

Friday, May 7, 2010

2009 Finish - Saints "Strip and Flip"

Early last year, my niece's in-laws asked for a quilt for their Saints Room. Using our black and gold stash, my sister Phyllis and I whipped up this queen size quilt using the "Strip and Flip" method - on point. The picture does not do the fabric justice. Although I like to use scraps for this pattern, we pulled from our collection of over-flowing fat quarters.



I don't have anything new for "Sew and Tell Friday", however I hope to have a few projects completed over the weekend.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Design Wall - May 3rd



Last week while my machine was out of commission, I went through my closet of unfinished projects. The top above was started when my great niece Alissa was 4 years old -- she is now 11! The hands above are mine and her's (so tiny). I have a few current projects in the works, however I am going to also finish this one....it's time.

For other design walls, visit Judy's site at Patchwork Times.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Week #18 Stash and Pillowcase Report




What a week -- My Janome 6500 was out of commission for 4 days. I managed to finish my niece's quilt (posted Friday) after the replacement bobbin case arrived. A special thanks to Judy Laquidara who designed the quilt. What a fun workshop we had in Baton Rouge.

Used (Finished) this week, (9.80)
Used year to Date, (179.90)


I also stumbled on a new sale at our LQS, The Quilting Niche'. Debbie had all her fat quarters on sale -- 25 for $25.00. Ok, I managed to control myself to only the 25 above. Also found this cute little vase for $.99 at the local second hand shop, perfect for holding my cutting tools, pens, pencils, etc.

Added this week, 6.25 (25 fat quarters)
Added year to Date, 142.35
Net for the year, (37.55) --- Still busting.

Pillowcase Report:
No new ones for the week. I dropped off the 9 from last week and ran into quilting friend Alice, who has made 32 so far -- awesome!

For more stash reports, I hopping over to Judy's at Patchworktimes.