Monday, November 28, 2011

Monday Design Wall - Quilting Tops and Orca Bay

My Design Wall has 2 projects I can't share, but here is the first step for the 2011 Bonnie Hunter Mystery, Orca. As soon as I have 10 done, they are safety pinned. I now have 200 done and will start piecing again after I finish quilting the table topper below. My mystery is also my "Leader/Ender" for my Christmas Projects.

I return to work today after a week off -- a little disappointed that I did not finish the Table Topper. My plan now is to finish by tomorrow night and hand sew the binding Wednesday.

And .... because I have started the 2011 Mystery, I HAVE TO QUILT and finish 2010 RRCB. I have ironed out the creases (after it was folded for months) and have it ready for sandwiching. I have more vacation around the holidays and will finish this for my bed.

On the wall -- two projects I will reveal after the holidays -- my family watches my blog!

For more Design Walls, visit Judy at Patchwork Times.


Saturday, November 26, 2011

Looking Back - First Quilt


Over at Bonnie Hunter (a.k.a. Quiltville Fame), she has taken us on a look back to our first quilts. This is the first quilt I started and finished on my own - over several years. While living with my grandparents in the Summer of 1974 at the age of 18, I was surrounded by quilts in different stages.

Helping my grandmother finish quilts left by her mother was my start. However, she had this big box of plaid scraps, some cut from a couple of old shirts from my grandfather. I cut a template and carefully drew squares on all the scraps, cutting them out with a pair of scissors. The center was sewn and boxed away. Years passed -- a job, finishing school, marriage and a son later, the box was found, borders added -- even my first attempt at applique -- and hand quilted. It is still one of my favorites.

Thank you Bonnie -- it was fun looking back. For more fun, Bonnie has created a link over at Quiltville for all to share that "First Quilt".

Monday, November 21, 2011

Monday Design Wall - Table Cover

Piecing for the back is almost done -- I guess it is the camera -- the green in the top right is not as dark as the picture. I have one more quilt top to finish, then I will be quilting for the rest of the week.
The finished top is 60 x 60. Using a very traditional block, enlarged to 8" sections, a 2" inner border and 8" outside border.

For more Design Walls - I am linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Quick Project - Thanksgiving Table Topper

You cannot tell from the picture - the blocks are 8" -- making a 40 x 40 topper before the border added. Of course, I will not waste the pinwheels made from the left over cut aways for the backing. This will be fun to quilt and try out a few new moves :).

Monday, November 14, 2011

Rainy Day Project Bagged

The Design Wall is empty -- the Leader and Ender Blocks are done, labeled and bagged for a Rainy Day.
The sashing pieces used --
  • 2 1/2" Navy Squares
  • 4 1/2" Background Squares for outside
  • 4 1/2" x 8 1/2" Background Rectangles
Leaders and Enders (Thanks to Bonnie Hunter's method -- a.k.a. Quiltville):
Used up 2 1/2" scrap squares to make:
  • 16-Patches
  • 4-Patches
  • 8-Patch Rectangle

Now, they are all bagged in the nifty Ziplock Bag for another day. Maybe a "Project on the Go" when I travel .... or .... one of those Friday Workshops our guild has monthly .... or ... I may use to as a continued "Leader/Ender" for the next project which is lurking above in the picture. These are 18 Fat Quarters paired for a quilt using lots of reproductions.

Its Monday -- and you know what time it is --- I am joining others for the Monday Design Wall Link over at Patchwork Times, hosted by Judy.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Green Monochromatic - Finished!

Not only is the Green Monochromatic Challenge Quilt Finished, it has been presented to a very special young lady under treatment for Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
The back of the quilt was made with signature blocks of all her co-workers, who continue to admire her bravery during the last few months of treatment. Enough blocks were left for her family and those close at M.D. Anderson's Hospital in Houston.

Each block measures just 4 1/2" -- using 2" strips and 5" squares in between the 9-patches. A smaller quilt of 65 x 73, it is just right to travel and snuggle on the sofa.

Although I did not finish the quilt in time to link up at Patchwork Times for the Green Monochromatic Challenge, I will party with Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.