Linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times.com for the 2018 UFO Challenge

The 2018 UFO Challenge at Patchwork Times.com is scheduled to begin in January 2018.  Since I haven't done a link-up in so long, I'm hoping I can figure it out.  Well, Step 1 is done with all the projects listed on the Blog and in this Post, that I would like to accomplish in 2018.
Number #13 and #14 are the only projects that are complete.  My 12 projects are ready for 2018.

UFO Challenge 2018

• 1) 365 Quilty Circles Jan-June 2016
• 2) 365 Quilty Circles July-Dec 2016
• 3) Organize Sewing Room continues
• 4) Selvage Top-back,quilt,bind-Needs LAQ
• 5) Scraps & strips need organizing by color
• 6) Fabric Journal-add pages & details--DONE Feb.2018
• 7) TN Shop Hop Batiks-Sew blocks together-Label made Apr 2013
• 8) Make a 1930's Aunt Gracie quilt
• 9) Request LAQ for (2) QOV--DONE Apr. 2018
• 10) Finish "On the Go Tote"
• 11) Make something with my Serger
• 12) Pineapple Quilt needs to be found & finished
• 13) Design Cowboy Quilt for boy--DONE Jan.2018                                                                   
• 14) All 6 mini quilts are finished.  DONE Dec. 2017

I am linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times.com  
                                                                                  

Questionnaire completed for my Guild

Yesterday, Mrs. Green (one of our Guild members) sent a Questionnaire to several guild members.  Each month, she hopes to highlight different members in our newsletters, as a way of "Getting to Know our fellow members".  As a Founding Member of our Guild, I was chosen as one of the first group to complete the questionnaire.
All the questions were rather interesting and I was happy to complete it.  Some of the questions were how long have you been quilting (since 1976) and how long have you been a member of the Guild (22 yrs.).

Then, she got personal with her questions; like how many UFO's do you have?
My answer was:  I have no idea and I don't have time to try and find them all at the moment.
Another question was:  What was my most challenging quilt Project?
My answer was:  My king-size baby quilt that I started in 1982 and finished in 2012 (it only took 30 years to complete).
The last question was:  What is your favorite quilt style?
My answer was:  I love---Signature quilts, Photo Transfer quilts, the 365 Day Quilts, and quilts that tell a story.

December 1st - so where did the year go?

I wish I could say that I finished my entire list of UFO's in 2017 but I'm not sure what I've finished at this point.  My goal in November was to organize my Sewing Room but that didn't happened.

Our little dog, Chipper went to the Vet yesterday and got her nails trimmed, teeth cleaned and her annual shots.  She was quite happy when we arrived to pick her up and come home to familiar surroundings and her cozy bed.  She's a little spoiled...

Quilting accomplishments and additional projects to be done:
#1-Finished the binding on (1) QOV made by Lolita from our Guild and quilted by Elizabeth H.
     Washed with label applied-Just needs a Presentation Case made.
#2-Piecing complete on (1) QOV (kit given to me by Tammy) from our Sewing Group--10" layer cake blocks from Missouri Star-the sashing has the 4 pointed stars at the corners of each block.
Ordered and received backing fabric (3 yds. from Connecting Threads)-now I can request LAQ.
#3-(1) QOV using 4th of July pattern-still needs 2 borders attached.  Have a 2 1/2 yard piece of white fabric for backing and then I can request a long arm quilter.

Just a few inches short of the fabric needed for the interlocking stars??

This afternoon, I was just finishing up on the last two pieces of sashing for the interlocking stars and a little panic set in....Did I have enough dark blue fabric to complete the quilt top?  Most quilts that I make; I do not plan ahead as to if there will be enough fabric to complete the quilt.  I just dig in and get to work.  The kit that was given to me by Tammy consisted of (42) 10" squares and probably more than enough white fabric for the sashing and the back.  Since she was so kind to give me the kit to make the Quilt of Valor, I used my own dark blue fabric for the sashing stars.  Almost done and no more dark blue fabric left to cut.  After digging through numerous baskets, I discovered about one and half yards of my same blue fabric.  Hooray!!!   Time for a break.  Maybe I can find enough fabric for the borders....    

Design Wall Monday

Too many projects and not enough time.....
Last Tuesday at Sewing, I discovered (2) kits that had come in as donated items.  Both were from Creekside Quilts-Pattern #402 Country Girl and Pattern #403 Country Boy.  All the pieces were DieCut.  I'm guessing from 20-25 years ago, maybe longer since the fabrics had the classic look of pale blue and pale pink.  I decided to begin with the Country Boy.  His shirt and hat band were cut from a floral blue.  I just couldn't make the boy wear a floral shirt, so I found some plaid fabric for his shirts.  I didn't use the black fabric for his shoes since they appeared to be too small.  In reviewing the pattern further, I realized they were supposed to be placed under his legs.  I cut brown fabric to be placed on top of his legs.  I think the brown looks better. 

Country Boys

Check out what others have designed this week....Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.blogspot.com

(3) Quilts in process

Tammy from my weekly Sewing Group, kindly gave me a Quilt of Valor kit, which included 10" squares, sashing fabrics and Missouri Star Quilt Company's Block book, which included the instructions for making a "Friendship Star Sashing Quilt".  I started early this morning, sub-cutting the strips and making the blocks for the QOV.  So far, I have 22 blocks with sashing attached, which is a little over half the blocks.

The last few weeks, I've been working on my "On the Go Tote".  It is almost complete, just need to hand sew the binding down on (3) sides, prior to inserting foam board or other type material to give
the tote bag some stability.


Last Tuesday at Sewing, I agreed to machine quilt a small quilt for Project Linus.  It began with a cute panel, which I added borders on two sides to increase the size of the quilt.  It had been months since I had done any free motion quilting, so I was glad to give it a try again and I'm happy with how it turned out.

Tuesday is our "Group Sewing Day"

Since 2012, I have been meeting with a delightful group of ladies every Tuesday to sew.  We begin about 10:00, sew until lunch and after lunch, sew until 2:00 and then pack every up and off we go, until we meet again.  We always bring our own sewing machines and all the supplies.  It's quite a production but we sure do enjoy getting together every week.  Today, we learned how to make a little
Stand-up "Tooly" for many of our sewing tools.

For the past couple of weeks, I have also been working on creating an "On The Go Tote" for carrying cutting mats, rulers, and other quilting supplies.  So far, I have completed the outside of the tote and am now working on the inside of the tote, which will have many pockets.  Both projects have overly detailed instructions, which have been giving me "fits".

If and when, I get these projects complete, I plan to go back to what I am comfortable making, Quilts.

DWM-Oct. 2nd

I woke up to a brand new day and then discovered tragedy struck Las Vegas last night.  It is difficult to imagine how horrific it must have been for those who were there.  Praying for our country, our  President, our citizens, our families,  and especially for our children.

Design Wall Monday

Panels..
Last Tuesday, at our Sewing Group, someone donated 20 + panels.  We each chose a panel, so we could create a quilt for someone special.  I thought it would be fun to make a few 3-D cubes for the corners and then add some strips to increase the width of the quilt.  It's a little busy but then there will be lots of colors and items for kids to see.  My husband said I needed to add a couple of items to the bottom of the boxes.  I love the dimension of the boxes but they can be rather time consuming to make.  Tomorrow, is our sewing day and it's always fun to see what others have created. 

Panel in the center with 3-D cubes in corners

Buck and his dear doe having a lick at the salt block

Be sure to stop by Small Quilts and Doll Quilts    
to see what other quilters have created this past week.

Design Wall Monday

It's amazing-I am actually posting on Monday.  Our Quilt Guild chose to challenge those who wished, to make a large "On the Go Tote" for carrying our sewing supplies to and from Guild classes.  Hobart and Laurie had already made one, so agreed to teach a class for those who wanted to make their own.  We each purchased our own pattern from Whirligig Designs.com.  I must admit I was quite excited since I had been saving a piece of fabric for over 25 years.  It's a fine corduroy with wild animals.

Thinking I would save time, I chose to make all of the pockets at home.  I discovered that was a "Bad Idea", since I sew 11 pockets WRONG!!   At our first guild session, I worked on removing the stitches from the pockets for the inside of the tote and it didn't make it any easier that I used very small stitches.  Go ahead, smile and have a good laugh.  It took me 3 evenings to remove all those tiny stitches.  Now, I was determined to complete this project and have been working on it a few hours each day.

I am still working on the front side of the Tote Bag-now working on the straps.  I began with two very long strips of fabric with a long piece of batting stitched in between but discovered that would not be sturdy enough for the straps of the tote when filled with supplies.  So, I am now adding a stabilizer with another piece of fabric to what I had already made.  I'm hoping the tote bag will not be so heavy to carry that no supplies can be placed in the bag.  I discovered that my size 90 needle was not strong enough for the all layers of fabric, since I broke 2 needles this morning.  So, I found a size 110/18 Jeans/Denim needle that has been working well.  

Front side of Tote Bag

Back side of Tote Bag

                                                                                                                                                                                                          Check out what others have been designing this last week....by dropping by Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.blogspot.com.   
















                                                                                           

The Total Eclipse and the clouds

My husband and I were ready for the total eclipse with lawn chairs and our welding helmets.  He was also ready with his camera to take the one amazing photo at the exact moment when the moon passed directly over the sun.  Everything was ready or so we thought, and then here came all the clouds and covered the perfect shot.  We did wait around for the darkness to arrive.  The lightening bugs came out for a few minutes along with the sounds of crickets.  The darkness disappeared as quickly as it came.

I can say that the deer must have been a little confused because about 2:00 p.m., a Mama deer and her (3) young fawns came to visit and enjoy our salt block and mineral block.  Any deer that come around normally come in the early morning and stay between 15-30 minutes.   A picture would have been delightful but we are always careful not to scare them away because we love to see them come.
The picture show below is from 2014 but you can see what they came to enjoy-salt and mineral blocks.

This afternoon, I hope to complete "The Blue Secret Quilt" top that I've been working on most of this month.  Obviously, it is a surprise quilt for someone special.  I had made enough 4 inch blocks for each person to sign and then discovered that I needed more blocks but the quilt top was almost complete with no more room to add more signature blocks.  Oh, what to do?  I discovered that I could sew narrow labels (1" x 4") in the small borders between the blocks.  I tilted the labels, which gave them a unique look.  I am hoping that I can take the top, batting, and back into Sewing tomorrow and have some of the ladies help me pin it, so I can machine quilt it at home.

This picture was taken in 2014

I am linking up with Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

Been working on "Secret" Quilts this year

The happy couple were married in June 2017 and I am just now able to reveal a picture of the quilt.

Wedding Quilt

I had just discovered how to make 3-D boxes and loved the unique effect.  The (4) top boxes have
butterflies and bunches of grapes.  Of course, the Golden Gate Bridge is in the center.  I purchased 
a yard of fabric from Spoonflower.com/
The happy couple were holding their quilt and were both surprised and delighted.  I wish I could have been there to see them open it.  

At the present time, I am working on another "secret" quilt.  I took (9) strips of fabric to the
"Big Frog" for photo transfers.  Too much printing was involved, so I was happy to have them do "my" work.

While I'm waiting, I have started a QOV, using the pattern named Arkansas Crossroads. 
(40) red and blue 4-patch blocks
(40) white squares with blue and red triangles in opposite corners
With two borders, it finishes at 60" x 72" 

Design Wall Monday with Quilts of Valor

Our Quilting Guild has formed a small group of members who have voiced an interest in making Quilts of Valor.  Anita and I are the "co-chairs" of the group and our group plans to meet at least once per month to sew.  We went shopping last Saturday to choose patriotic fabrics at Stitcher's Playhouse in Smyrna, TN.  Our state-wide organization:  Tennessee Valley Quilters Association  had their annual meeting in July and challenged each of our Guilds to bring (1) QOV to each quarterly meeting.  TVQA also challenged each member to bring a QOV to next year's Assembly Day, along with a presentation case (aka pillowcase in red, white & blue).  I certainly do not want to miss next year's Assembly Day.  That will be an amazing day to see all the red, white, and blue quilts!

Friendship Stars Top made in 2016

I haven't joined in on Design Wall Monday in quite some time, and I've been missing being a part of this group.  Our Guild and my Weekly Sewing Group have been keeping me busy.  My goal this year has been to clean up my sewing room and so far I have not been doing well with that project.
Check out other Blogs at:  Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.blogspot.com

Just finished another Mini Quilt

Our Guild challenged members to join in on making Small Quilts.  Every two months, members who participated needed to bring in their finished mini quilt (quilted and bound) with a total of at least
6 different quilts by the end of the year.  The pattern was created by Lori Smith of "From my heart to your hands".  All the quilts finish at 12" x 12".  This mini quilt will be the 4th one I have completed.
Just two more to go.

Mini Quilt due in August

Design Wall Monday

It's Monday and I'm actually posting today.  I have been working on (1) 12 inch block for several days.  I had no idea it would be so involved with so many little pieces.  It was not difficult, only time consuming.

Quilt Top needs back, quilting, sleeve 2017

Our Quilt Guild offered our members a Challenge in December 2016 based on Lori Smith's Small Quilt Squares "From my heart to your hands".  She has two different patterns.  Not too long ago, I purchased a small quilt hanger, to display the little quilts throughout the year.  I had thought about using some of my Civil War prints but found I liked the brighter colors of my batiks.  Since one mini quilt will be displayed every couple of months, I chose to make the quilts in different types of fabrics.   

The quilts finish at 12" x 12".  I chose Lori's pattern; Quilt Squares #1.
So far, I have finished:
(3) quilts with sleeves, ready for hanging
(2) tops, which need backs, quilting and sleeves
(1) top needs to be started and finished prior to the end of November.

Today, I am linking up with:  Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.blogspot.com for Design Wall Monday.

My Fabric Journal

The idea of a Fabric Journal began in November 2015.  I did make the front and back covers for the journal but life and other projects arrived to take up my time, so the covers and blank pages were put away until now.  I hope to keep after it, until it is complete.  I want to include lots of ideas.  Here are the covers and a page of shirt & tie labels to show....

Front Cover of Journal

Back Cover of Journal

Page of Shirt and Tie Labels

Design Wall Monday

Yesterday, I finished making a 3rd Fidget Mat.  I'm trying to add a little something different to each one.  Here's a picture....

Fidget Mat #3

Today, I'm working on Fidget Mat #3, using a few fabrics in red, white, & blue for Memorial Day.
I've found that a little hand stitching is needed to make sure there are no loose ends that could cause
any of these objects to be removed by the patients.

I used ultra suede on my first mat and now I cannot find my ultra suede.  Actually, it's a wonder I can even find my sewing machine among all the stacks of fabric, etc.

Fidget Mat #4

Fidget Mat #4A

Since I was so busy getting my 4th mat done, I didn't catch how many mats we turned in to the Nursing Home but I'm sure that all will be appreciated and they were all so creative and colorful.

Design Wall Monday has moved to another Blog site

My Sewing Room is presently in an overwhelming disarray of clutter, papers, fabric, and too many UFO's.  I continue to enjoy my weekly Sewing Group on Tuesdays but have found that I can focus better at home to work on these projects.  We are presently working of Fidget Mats for a local nursing home.  So far, I have finished (3) Fidget Mats.

Fidget Mat #2

Fidget Mat #2 has a little book in the top center with a tiny tie on the front.  I used text fabric
for the inner pages.  This was my favorite mat so far.

Fidget Mat #3

Since we have about 30 more placemats ready for designing, there will be quite a bit more sewing to be done before we can go on to our next project.  Several people donated small stuffed animals and Chick-Fil-A donated several little black & white cows for this project.  Note, the cow in Mat#2 in the bottom right corner.
Mat #3 has a little Teddy Bear.  Everything has been securely sewn down, especially the beads and stuffed animals.  I will try to make my next post on Monday, May 29th on schedule and link it to our new Blog Site, sponsored by Judy Hanson at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.blogspot.com   

Our Sewing Group has been busy on Tuesdays

Over the last few weeks, our Sewing Group has been busy designing Adult Bibs for a local nursing home.  We brought clean used towels in to be cut and shaped into bibs.  We sewed binding around the neck, with an elastic loop sewn to one shoulder and a button sewn on the other shoulder side.  Next, came the creative part.  Each front bib was designed with appliques and some were quite elaborate.
For as many as we designed, I cannot find one picture that I took of any of them.

Yesterday, we began making Fidget Mats for the same nursing home.  We purchased large place mats and added all sorts of fabrics with different textures and colors and do-dads.  We plan to make at least 25-30 mats over the next several weeks.  This project really gets us to thinking creatively.  We do need to make sure that none of the items can be removed by the patients, so everything is being securely sewn down.  I did take a picture of the two mats that I have made.

Used several pieces of ultra suede and plaid shirt pieces

2nd Fidget Mat created

In the second Fidget Mat,  (middle of 1st row) I added a little book with a tiny tie on the outside
and several pages with text fabric and pictures.  The little cow in the lower right hand corner still needs to be sewn to the mat a little more securely.  This is a great way to use selvages.

On the back of each completed mat, we will be sewing a lightweight fleece, in hopes that the mats will stay on the patients' laps.


 

Design Wall Monday

Two weeks ago, at our local Sewing Group, we began making large sized bibs for a local nursing home.  At least 20 large to medium bath towels were donated to our group, to be cut down to size.  Pat kept the original sample pattern to be used for cutting all the remaining towels.  Three inch strips, folded in half were cut from different bright fabrics to be used for binding on the bibs.  Elastic and buttons will be used for connecting the shoulder pieces around the neckline.  Next, came the creative part.  Each front bib was designed with appliques for jazzing up the fronts of the bibs and some were quite elaborate. 

Design Wall Monday

In January 2017, I spotted a "Rainbow Scrappy Challenge for 2017" aka "RSC17" over at: Superscrappy Blog     Each month, a different color is chosen and each participating blogger can choose what they wish to make each month.  I've listed the colors below:
January - Purple
February - Aqua
March - Red
April - All mixed colors

At one of the Paducah, Kentucky AQS Quilt Shows, I found a neat pattern from Farmhouse Fabrics, out of Pine River, Wisconsin, called "Designing Antebellum Dresses" designed by Jean Teal in 1995.

Here's what I have so far.....

The dresses that I made are quite puffy.  I just finished the Feb. Aqua dress this afternoon.  Next fabric I need to choose will be red.  This has definitely been a challenge for me, working with small patterns.  I am trying to add little details, like a fan purse on the aqua dress.    

It's been almost one month since I last posted

Just noticed that is has been almost an entire month since I last posted.  My Sewing Room is a wreck and difficult to find anything.  At our guild, I took on a new project with another guild member.  We are co-chairs of our Guild's Quilt of Valor Committee.  Over the last few days, I washed (3) Quilts of Valor with the Dye Catchers.  Thankfully, they work great.  Also labeled all (3) quilts.  One other top needs to be sent on to a QOV long arm quilter, so will need to find a back prior to requesting a LAQ.

Last Saturday at Guild, one of our members, Carolyn shows us how to make a "Woven Fabric Basket".
The initial prep of cutting and preparing the 2.5" strips was time consuming but was easy enough to accomplish.  When it came time to weave the strips into the basket, problems arose.  The bottom of the basket looks great--the sides not so much.

Bottom of Fabric Basket

Trying to Weave the strips for the 4 sides of basket

 I think I'll take it to Sewing tomorrow and see if my friend, JoAnn can make my attempt look like a "basket".

Stop by Judy's at:   Patchwork Times.com  to see what other quilters have accomplished this last week.
 

Stained Glass Top is done

Yesterday, I finished my Stained Glass quilt top.  I found a great place to hang it in our home.  Chose the binding and now just need to find a nice back.  I didn't have enough solid black for the leading, so I chose a dark green "Cherrywood" fabric" that I bought years ago at the AQS Show in Paducah, KY.  I plan to use a bright red/plum batik for the binding.  If I put a border on it, it won't fit the space where I plan to hang it.

Stained Glass Quilt Top

Design Wall Monday

On Saturday, Feb. 11th, one of our Guild members gave a class on making a Stained Glass 9 patch.  I rarely take my sewing machine to Guild due to all "the stuff" one needs to bring along.  However, I am so glad that I chose to take the class.  What fun and immediate satisfaction.  First step was to choose (9) charm squares.
 Most people, including myself chose to use Batiks.  However, some used other fabrics.

Start with (9) Charm Squares

We were to pre-cut black strips 1.5" wide.  However, I didn't have enough black fabric to cut, so I found a "Cherrywood" dark green, which had a mottled look and I chose to use that.  From a distance you really can't tell that it is green.  Here is what I have done so far since Saturday.

Stained Glass Block

I am linking up with Judy at:  Patchwork Times.com

Design Wall Monday

Last Tuesday at Sewing, a huge tub of "Old Lady Fabrics" from the 70's & 80's that had been donated to our group through the years was brought in for cutting into 2 1/2" strips.  Most of the fabric was floral.  Our leaders had already begun cutting the fabric but wanted it all cut.  Instead of making 1,600 quilts, they decided to make 800 inch quilts (half the size of the 1,600 quilts).  Tomorrow, we are going to have a Race, in hopes of using all of the strips.  We didn't get them all sorted into kits last week, so I took the strips home and was able to make (9) more kits with 20 strips in each kit.

To see how it would look with 20 strips (each 40" long) sewn together, it worked out to be 31" wide and
50" long, which made for a very long top (in my opinion), so, I am adding 3" borders, which makes the top somewhat wider and much longer.  Maybe when I get to sewing tomorrow, there will be more suggestions.
My sample is not quite done.  I'm using plain pink fabrics as borders with some bright yellow cornerstones.

Floral fabric strips for 800 inch quilt top

It's an honor to be able to make a Quilt of Valor for our Service men and women, who have been touched by war.  This quilt top measures 60" across and 72" down.
There are 168 tumbler blocks in this scrappy red, white, & blue top.  Scrappy quilts are quite difficult for me to design, since I like the fabrics to match.  Not all the fabrics used appear as red, blue, or white, but the quilt does state "Patriotic" and I hope a Veteran will feel comforted. 

QOV using Tumblers

I need to prepare a back, prior to requesting a long arm quilter, so that I will be ready to send it as soon as I receive the name of a quilter.

My next project will be to work on my sewing room, which is still a "disaster".  Too many half done projects and papers here and there and many piles of fabric. 

I'm linking up with Judy and her followers at:  Patchwork Times.com  to see what other quilters are accomplishing this week.

January UFO#3 was completed and sent on to my friend

Actually, I made (2) Photo Transfer Quilts.  One for my friend from 7th grade and one for her daughter. Here's some of the pictures framed in fabric before I made them into a wall hanging.  Since I now know that they have been received, I should be able to post a picture, so you can see....
I got so excited about making the quilts, that I didn't realize that not all of the pictures were the same size, so when I started putting them together with the black sashing strips, all the photos did not want to play together nicely.  When I realized that problem, it was too late, so I just went with it. 

Photo Transfer Quilt

Item #9-Organizing My Sewing Room

Today, I decided that I had better start now because it may take an entire month to get everything put back in it's place or find a place for it, where I can actually find it again.  I started with the easy items first.  Put away the larger pieces of fabric and label the wire baskets by color.  Some had already been labeled several years ago but some of the labels had fallen out of the baskets.  I'm now taping the labels on the front.

Next week-end, on Saturday, the 11th is our monthly Guild meeting.  We will be having a class on making a Stained Glass Quilt.  Just need a Charm Pack of 40-50 (5 inch squares of Batiks) and approx. one yard of black fabric for the leading.  So, while I'm organizing, I am pulling out my Batiks and cutting 5" squares.  I'm trying to use what I have before I go and buy more fabric.  Sometimes, I get a little wild when I go in a Fabric store and then arrive home with more fabric and no place to put it.

I counted (85) baskets, and more than half of them are in disarray.  These four are the only ones that I'm willing to show at the present time.  Otherwise, you will be able to see the piles of paper, notes, fabric, cards, UFO's and other misc. items that are still wandering around my sewing room, lost and cannot seem to find their way back home.  I'm sure I am not the only one in this situation but it does seem to slow down the process of completing projects.

Wire Baskets with labels as of  2017

Challenges for 2017 (UFO's and Colors)

I have accepted the following challenges for
February 2017: 
 
Judy from Patchwork Times.com has challenged me and many other quilters for the past several years to keep plugging away at our UFO's and I know I still have at least a couple of years worth to go...
Judy has chosen the #9 for February.
My #9 just happens to be: Organize My Sewing Room
 

To add a little spice to the challenge, I am taking the Color Challenge from
So Scrappy Blog
The color chosen for February is:  Sea Green
which can also include Teal, Aqua, and Turquoise 
I wonder how my Antebellum Lady will look in her Sea Green dress.
First, I need to focus on Organizing My Sewing Room because at the moment,
I cannot find the pattern for the Antebellum dresses in my very disorganized sewing room.

 

Working on Tumbler QOV

On the 17th of January, I picked up a large plastic bag of pre-cut tumblers for a Quilt of Valor.  I decided to make the quilt with 14 tumbler patches across and 12 rows down for a total of 168 tumblers.  It measures 60" across x 65" down.  I'm guessing it probably needs one more row, so it won't be so close to a square.
By adding one more row, it should be 60" x 71".
So excited this evening, thinking I was done with the top.  I won't be totally happy until I add one more row to the bottom.  Now, to find more red fabric for 5 more red tumblers.  I have plenty of white & blue.  

It is now Jan. 30th, and I just finished trimming the sides & hanging the top on my design wall for a picture.
My design idea was to have all the white/cream blocks run diagonally down the quilt, and the blue and red to follow the same idea.  Since it's all scrappy, the diagonal lines are not as pronounced but it is definitely RED, WHITE & BLUE.

Tumbler Quilt of Valor

Tumble over to  Patchwork Times.com
to see what other quilters have designed this week. 

So Scrappy Challenge for January-Color Purple

My 1st Challenge block for January, with the color being purple.  My husband gave the "thumbs up" for the dress having a 3-D effect.  Next month, maybe I can add a few more details of lace and hands.  We'll see...

Antebellum Dress for January 2017

Link up with:   So Scrappy Challenge for January 2017

to see what others have created.....

Ordering more "Heat and Bond" ??

I just ordered a few quilting items; one of them being a bolt of "Heat n Bond" Lite.  My husband wondered why I needed another bolt of "Heat n Bond" since I just got a bolt a few months ago.  I told him that I had used it all up as I was making my 365 Quilty Quilt.  My husband thought it was odd since the bolt had 35 yards on it but since I said I needed it, another bolt was ordered.
Well, what a surprise I received this morning, as I was moving a few items around in my Sewing Room. Oops, there was about half of the last bolt that I had ordered.  Well, I believe, I now have enough!!!

Here's a picture of the purple scraps I found....
A few have been used to make my 1st Antebellum Dress.  Hopefully, the rest will be used for a Purple Scrappy quilt. 

Purple scraps for January

 

Antebellum Dress Design Continues

Rainbow Scrappy Challenge Color is Purple

Today, I looked through several patterns that I purchased long ago but have not used.  The first one I've chosen is by Jean Teal from Farmhouse Fabrics in Pine River, Wisconsin.  She designed it back in 1995.  It will be a bit of a challenge, however the best part is that the dress does not have to fit anyone.  It just needs to fit the background.  I've hunted for several minutes to determine the size of the blocks and discovered that the Dress Base pattern "is the foundation" on which all the dress pieces are sewn.  The next step will be to find all of my purple fabrics and place them in one basket or bin or both.

I'm adding to this post, this evening.... Jan. 10th
I may have taken on more than I bargained for-even though the dresses do not have to fit anyone, I'm beginning to feel a little stressed.  I decided quite a few years ago that I don't like sewing clothes, since after
high school, the clothes I tried to make never fit right.  That is why I fell in love with making quilts.
So, here is what I have so far.....
The little piece above the dress will be the collar.  I still need to make the bodice and the sleeves and sew all the pieces to the background.  It looks like it may be a project to continue tomorrow.  Maybe I will make the sleeves from the same fabric as the collar.  I do love the purple batik fabric I chose. 

Antebellum Purple Dress

Found my UFO Project #8 from March 2012

Yes, the completed quilt top, backing and binding have been sitting in a box and then moved to a chair and now has arrived in my sewing room for review.  This Blog has been the greatest asset in figuring out when a quilt was made, if it was a Guild workshop and who taught the class.

Pat Speth, the Nickel Quilt Lady came to our Guild in March 2011 and gave the workshop.


                Here is the finished "Top".

Our Sewing Group Met Today

Our Sewing Group met today and got right to work making pillowcases for the fire victims in Gatlinburg. We had over 20 ladies arrive, ready to work and work we did.  We all stayed later than usual.  To get us going, we had a small group of ladies who prepared and cut the fabric. Others pinned it, so it was ready to sew. About half of us sewed, some pressed, some used their sergers and by the time we were done, there were stacks and stacks of pillowcases.  We haven't gotten the final count but it was amazing what a group of ladies can accomplish when they put their minds and hands to work.  Lisa, who works full-time, brought in lots of colorful pillowcases that she worked on while she was on her Christmas break from work.  Here's a sampling...

I wish all work was this much fun--it helps to be working with friends.
 

Design Wall Monday 2017

Too many projects have been started and few finished.  I've made progress on several in the last few weeks but spotted an interesting design on-line and thought I'd give it a try since I had several long strips of colorful fabrics from my friend, Sandra who recently sold her Dog clothing business.

It sure looked easy in the picture but I discovered it is more difficult than I imagined to get the fabrics lined up with the white strips attached to top and bottom of each strip and then look like the picture.  So here it hangs...I may just choose another pattern with shorter strips.  But here's what is hanging on my Design Wall today.  All the strips are not the same width, because I wanted to use as much fabric without waste. 

DWM 01-02-2017

See what's on everyone's Design Walls this first Monday of 2017 by traveling over to:  Patchwork Times.com

Happy New Year 2017

Just a few more HST to finish up today and I will have completed the 2nd quilt "top" for my 365 Quilty Challenge which I began on Jan.1st, 2016.  Please note that I wrote quilt top.  The blocks were too big
(4" finished) to cope with one gigantic quilt.  Both tops still must be quilted.  I plan to wait until my wide
quilt back fabric arrives before I tackle the machine quilting with the walking foot.   

This afternoon, I signed up for the RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge) for 2017.  I love the color purple and that is the color chosen for January.  Can't wait to start sorting fabric into colors......

You will find all the details about this challenge over at:   Superscrappy.blogspot.com/2017

Just now finished all the HST and added 6 extra blocks on either side of the last row of squares on my 2nd top for the 365 Quilty Challenge for 2016.  Too tired tonight to sew the rows together, so I'll work on that tomorrow.  Yesterday, I cleaned off my sewing table and it's now heaped up with fabric again.