New Quilt Project begins-

Since I have a couple of weeks off from any activities, I decided to use my time to make a "House Quilt".  Each house will represent a house, dorm, apt. or duplex where I have lived.  I even plan to make a block with a camping tent for when we took a family vacation at a lake in Northern California for 3 weeks.  The most difficult so far, is to find photos of each place to use as my design.  I found that I am making Swiss cheese out of many of my fabrics that have scenery, fences, barns, houses, or landscapes.  When I'm done, probably the only ones who will recognize these houses will be friends who I grew up with through the years.  I do enjoy making quilts that document a particular event or time in my family's history.    Here is Block #1--the house where I grew up....

Next up is -- The Residence Hall at Humboldt State College in the Redwoods

 

Shown below is Block #2--my interpretation in fabric of the Residence Hall at Humboldt

Next up will be Block #3--my 1st Apartment that I shared with a friend from Jr. High

We lived there for 3 months during the summer of 1974--It had a nice pool, which we enjoyed.

We called the Apt. Building--"The Pink Apartments" since they were painted pink.

Debbie did her Nurses Training at a local hospital and

  I commuted to another town to work in a Dental Office. 

Quilts of Valor

At present, I have (3) Quilts of Valor in various stages of completion.  All need to be sent to a LAQ.
First, I will need to find backings prior to requesting a LAQ.  My timing is not good, since the holidays are almost upon us and I always feel bad when I request a LAQ at this time of year.

I see that I commented on these Quilts of Valor back in my Sept. 7th post.  Obviously, I have too many projects started but not completed.

November and December's UFO #'s are 2 or 7

Judy from Patchwork Times has two numbers left for choosing which UFO to complete in November or December 2018.  Either #2 or #7, since these are the only numbers left.  I wish I could say those were the only UFO's I have left--but that is not the case. 

My big accomplishment today was to do all my laundry.

Reverse Birthdays

Have you ever participated in Reverse Birthdays with a special group of friends?

I had never heard of "Reverse Birthdays" until I joined my weekly Sewing Group back in 2011.  Instead of everyone in your group giving the person with the birthday, a gift, the person having the birthday gives a gift to everyone in the group.  It is rather fun, but you do have to plan ahead if you choose to make something.  As soon as I finish this post, I will take a picture of the block.  I made 22 blocks, each with a sea gull pieced in a light gray mottled square measuring approx. 8" x 9 1/2".
My thought was to have each lady make whatever she would like with her square. (pillow, wall hanging, center block for a quilt, design for front of a tote-bag).

Working on one of my 365 Quilty Circles...

Last week-end, I decided it was time to begin work on two of my tops from 2016.  These tops were part of the on-line 2016 "365 Quilty Circles Challenge".  I chose to not use batting in either quilt.

My friend, Bonnie from my weekly Sewing Group helped me pin the first top together with a black & white backing.  We pinned quite heavily with safety pins at every other 4" square.  This technique worked beautifully and I was able to machine quilt it.   Next, I sewed the binding on by machine, and then folded it over, ready to be sewn down by hand.  Without any batting, it is slow going; trying to sew the binding on and not catch the thread where it shows on the front of the quilt!


This last week, another friend from my weekly Sewing Group helped me pin the 2nd top together with a blue backing.  I got the machine quilting done on this 2nd quilt and my goal is to finish this quilt with binding before next Tuesday, Oct. 30th, 2018.  With no batting, it is very difficult and slow to sew on the binding.  I may try to sew it on by machine.

I truly loved this type of challenge--maybe in 2019, I will choose to make little houses or 3-D boxes or another unique item that is not too difficult to make.
Anyone reading this, who has an idea of a daily or weekly challenge, please let me know...... 

October's UFO Pick is #4

My nephew and his wife have come for a visit this month and they were the encouragement that I needed to clean up and organize my Sewing Room.

We have been sightseeing and visiting several landmarks that we had not seen in over 30 years.
It is always wonderful to spend time with family.  We visited the Jack Daniels Distillery and took a tour.  We had a great tour guide, so we enjoyed the tour.  Thankfully, it did not rain while we were on the tour. 

Working on (3) Quilts of Valor

Just discovered that I have (3) Quilts of Valor "in process".   They are all from my same favorite pattern:  Arkansas Crossroads with 12" blocks.   www.bellaonline.com
Judie Bellingham is the Quilting Editor and I found this on-line on 9/15/2012
I have used this pattern over and over again.
 
One top is complete with blue borders and I just need to request a Long Arm Quilter.
One top needs borders and then I can request a Long Arm Quilter and
One top needs 4 more rows and borders before I can request a Long Arm Quilter.

Hopefully, I can get all three of these QOV completed and presented to our Veterans before the end of this year:  2018.

I am looking forward to tomorrow.  Our Quilting Guild is planning to host our 2019 annual Assembly Day for all our state wide members.  Each year, one Guild chooses a location based on where the Guild is located.  The last time our Guild hosted was in 2006 and we had 600 members to attend.
Tomorrow, our committee will be deciding what our Welcoming Favors will be for each member who attends.  I am taking (2) possible favors.  One is a Business Card Holder and another is a Kleenex Holder.  Both are easy to make using very little fabric.

August UFO Pick is #3

Need to FOCUS on my UFO List.....
It doesn't seem to matter which UFO I pick each month--it always falls back to the same UFO--
CLEAN UP AND ORGANIZE MY SEWING ROOM
At present, there is not one clear spot on any surface.  It would be amazing if I could actually clear off each table top and I know it can be done.  

Wheel Chair Quilt Top

I went to Sewing on Tuesday and Die Cut a nice stack of "Half Hexies" and then took them home to sew a quilt top.  It measures 36" x 47". 

After our group has made dozens of quilt tops, we sign up in groups of 3-5 ladies
and then venture out in the country to RJ's place where she has a very large 2 story workshop.  Upstairs, there is a huge roll of batting which hangs from a rod, so that we pull down the amount of batting we need for each top and back that we sandwich.  We choose pieces of fabric for the backing, which goes together with the top.  These "Quilt Sandwiches" are made in preparation for Project Linus Day in November.

Lots of animal blocks

At Sewing last week, I came across a pile of 4" squares with little frames sewn around some different animals.  Each of the different animals were stacked together with a total of 63 blocks.
There just were not enough blocks, so I added 17 blocks of Safari animals to the mix and had all the animals cascade down the quilt.  It is actually wider across (44 1/2") and shorter down (40 1/2").
It should be a fun little quilt for a child.  I sure had fun making it.

Safari Animal Quilt Top

4" Quilt blocks

 

Making Patchwork Alphabet Letters

If you need to make alphabet letters for a quilt-by sewing a person's name on the quilt in block letters,
Sherri Bain Driver had an article in Quilters Newsletter Magazine dated Oct. 1999.  Yes, I have saved several shelves of QNM's, which have a wealth of information in them.  Someday, I may have to give them up, but at the moment, I still plan to keep all the magazines. 

Batman and Spiderman

This past week, I've been working with Batman and Spiderman, making a Project Linus Quilt.  I used my Tumbler Die and cut out a good stack of tumblers for this quilt.  I found a stack of blue turquoise fabric, which I'm still not sure where I got it and if I planned to use it for something else.  Now that  I've used it all up and I like the result, I'm not going to worry about it.

This quilt top measures 52"across x 53.5" down.  I had a good time making this quilt, hoping that a
boy or girl will enjoy sleeping under it. 

Thangled Up with TN Shop Hop Batiks from 2013

All (12) blocks were completed by the end of April 2013.  It has taken me 5 years to sew these 12 blocks together with sashings.  Now, it just needs a border.  Hopefully, I can finish this quilt within the next year, rather than waiting 5 more years to complete. 😊

Finished a Quilt

In April of this year, two of our Guild members gave a workshop on making a quilt based on the book by Maxine Rosenthal & Joy Pelzmann called "One Block Wonders".  I just love the technique of  cutting 6 triangles and making a swirling hexagon with each fabric triangle having the exact same design.  Each member who took the class needed to purchase their own book. 

Full size Hexagon Quilt

Close-up of Hexagon Quilt

Now, that I understand the technique, I would enjoy making another one of these quilts.

Tennessee Shop Hop Batiks Quilt from March 2013

I found all the blocks for the Shop Hop Quilt made from batiks.  They are all just patiently waiting their turn, from March 2013.  Yep!  5 years ago.

However, at Guild last month, Laurie and Hobart gave a class on specialty cutting to make hexagons.
It was just too enticing not to give it a try.  I have all the blocks completed and just want to add (4) cornerstones and borders to complete the top.  At present, the sides have a nice bias swoop to them.
I'm hoping that side borders will help.  We shall see.

Today is: MAY DAY

Today was my weekly Sewing Day.  There were about 20 ladies here today.  Some finished up Kleenex holders for the "Bless You's" Project that our group has been working on the past couple of weeks.  I chose to hand sew the binding down on one of the Quilts of Valor that I had made.  The machine quilting was done by a long arm quilter in Belews Creek, NC.  Linda's quilting is beautiful. 

Working on Quilts of Valor

I enjoy piecing Quilts of Valor, using the Tennessee Crossroads pattern.  The quilt has lots of blocks and one can use a good variety of red, white, and blue fabrics.

The 1st QOV top (shown below) and backing were sent out on April 2nd to a LAQ in Greenbrier, TN.  This quilt was pieced by Laurie Wells in our Guild.  Laurie's quilt was made with strips of red, cream, and blue.   


 
The 2nd QOV top and backing were sent out on April 9th to a LAQ in Belews Creek, NC.  This quilt, I pieced and was made using the Tennessee Crossroads pattern.  I placed a block with an Eagle in each corner of the quilt.  This quilt is going to a friend of mine and her husband.

The 3rd QOV top still needs a backing and request for a LAQ.  This quilt, I pieced and was made using the Tennessee Crossroads pattern. I don't have a picture of this 3rd quilt, but it is similar to the quilt shown above, only it's final borders are only dark navy blue with stars and no cornerstones.
 

I think I need to find someone who enjoys finding the correct size backing and mailing these quilts off to the LAQ.  This part of the process is not my "cup of tea".  I think I need a secretary!!

I do enjoy piecing the quilt tops and sewing the binding and the label on the finished quilt.

Today is Easter Sunday

Yesterday, the Weather Man predicted "RAIN" for today.  Thankfully, "Mr. Weather Man" was wrong.  Here in middle TN, it is cloudy but no rain.  Our Church welcomed a full house for our Easter Sunday Service.  I was a "Greeter" at our Children's Worship Ctr. door along with 4 others.    Today was amazing and we saw many new faces.

Since April's "Pick for UFO's" is #5 and it states:  Sort and organize my fabrics by color-I guess I'd better get to work.  Maybe I can clear off some of my tables, so I can have some working room.

Working on Quilts of Valor

Today is the last day of March!  Wow, this month flew by in a hurry.  Today, in middle Tennessee it is a beautiful sunny day with bright blue skies.  I've been working on Quilts of Valor.  I've made (2) Country Crossroads quilt tops and Laurie from my Quilt Guild made (1) Stripy quilt top with Flying Geese.  Laurie's is now ready for mailing to a LAQ in Tennessee.  Hopefully, I can ship it to Paula on Monday, along with the backing fabric I chose.  After I get Laurie's QOV in the mail, I will request LAQ's for my (2) Country Crossroads quilts.  Obviously, I love the piecing part but struggle on the mailing part.

Scrappy Quilt Top

Scrappy Quilt Top for Sewing Group

Last Tuesday at Sewing, we all dug into the piles of fabric squares we had been cutting over the last few weeks.  I chose the 4" squares.  It would have been too busy for me with just the 4-patch blocks, so I added some fabric to calm it down some.  Although, looking at it from a short distance, it still looks very busy.  It measures 45" x 58".  Hopefully, our leaders will not say that it's too big.

Country Boy Quilt Top

In late October 2017, I discovered (2) kits that were donated to our Sewing Group.  One was called  "Country Boy Pattern #403" and the other was "Country Girl Pattern #402".  These were pre-cut quilts from Creekside Quilts.  The fabric was quite light weight and it dates from the early 1980's.
Lolita from our Quilt Guild donated some plaid fabric several years ago and I thought her fabric would be great for the boy's shirts instead of the floral fabric that came with the kits.

Country Boy Quilt Top

Fabric Journal is complete

I began the Fabric Journal in Nov. 2015 and made the covers.  I began again in May 2016 through Dec. 2017.  My husband provided his expertise by placing the grommets today, so I was able to finish the Journal this afternoon.  I need to focus on planning prior to beginning a project since not all my journal pages were the same size.  Oh, well--it's O.K. because I'm thrilled to have finished it and can show it tomorrow at our Quilt Guild meeting.  We are beginning another UFO Challenge for 2018 and the first UFO is due tomorrow.  Here's a picture or two.....

Front Cover of my Fabric Journal

 

Inside Front Cover of Journal

Country Boy Pattern #403

The last couple of days I have been working on the Country Boy blocks.  I started them in late October 2017.  In looking at the top on the Design Wall, I know the sides need borders too.  Those will need to wait for another day.

This afternoon, I need to get going on the Quilt of Valor kit that I began on Saturday, Feb. 3rd.  I still need to sew the sashing and the cornerstones around each block and add the borders before I can turn it back in to our Group Leader.  After re-reading the instructions at home, I realized that I had sewn each and every block (40 to be exact) wrong.  So, I spent all day Monday, un-sewing every block and sewing each one back with the matching fabric.

UFO #1 has been chosen for February 2018

Yes, I am taking the Patchwork Times Challenge in hopes of finishing up at least (12) UFO projects.
UFO#1 was chosen by Judy for February 2018.  Several months ago, I tried to begin quilting one of 365 Day Quilts from 2016.  I added batting and began to quilt.  Quickly, I discovered that was not going to work.  First, I will need to take out the quilting I started and remove the batting.  Since the quilt top is quite heavy with all the embellishments, I think it will be best to skip the batting and just back the top and hopefully it will work.  Obviously, I will still need to machine tie it in many places.  I loved making these quilt tops, so just cannot leave them as is.....  

This Challenge actually consists of two quilts.  One Quilt covers January through June.  The Second Quilt covers July through December 2016.  Each square finishes at 4 inches and consists of two triangles with a circle and a few words of what happened that day.

QOV Presentation Cases completed

Yesterday, I focused on completing (4) QOV Presentation Cases for the (4) QOV I plan to complete in the next month.  I used the sizes of fabric that I had in patriotic colors, so not one of them is the same size.  Here's a picture.....

First, I need to determine what is needed for each Quilt of Valor.  I believe that all (4) need to be sent to a Long Arm Quilter with a wide backing.  The packaging and mailing seems to always be my hang-up.  This last week, my husband ordered some mylar plastic bags (24" square) for mailing the QOV tops and backing fabrics to the LAQ, along with some address labels.  This should be so much easier.  We were having to find boxes for mailing.

Working on January's UFO pick

Yesterday, I started work on my Tote Bag (again).  Last week, before the snow began falling in middle Tennessee, my husband & I went and purchased a huge sheet of  "foam board" for my Tote Bag.  Presently, the foam board is perched on the couch and my husband is hoping it will not become a permanent fixture in our library.  It really isn't very becoming.  I did get the pockets sewn, in order to allow us to slide the (3) foam board sections into the Tote Bag.  My husband also knows that he will be the one measuring and cutting the foam board and I know he just can't wait.

Another project that has been waiting since Nov. 2015 is my Fabric Journal.  I have the covers made and a few pages but this morning, I have discovered 16 photo transfers that I wanted to include.  That means more pages needed.  Planning does not seem to be one of my talents but I will keep plugging along.....   

Cowboys out on the Range

RJ, one of our leaders from our Weekly Sewing Group gave me an interesting panel, along with some matching fabrics for me to design a quilt top during the Christmas Break.  She also gave me a piece of dark beige flannel for the backing.  The back may need a little extra sewn down the sides to make it large enough for the back.  Here's a picture of the front.  I added the (2) cowboy hats at the top and a couple of cowboy boots at the bottom, both for a little added appeal for a young boy.
It measures 41" across by 62" down.  I'm quite happy with the way it turned out.

Cowboys out on the Range

Our Sewing Group had to skip over 2 weeks of getting together due to the Christmas and New Years holidays.  I have really been missing getting together with everyone but I have kept busy working on projects.  

My UFO for January has been chosen by Judy at Patchwork Times

#10 - My On the Go Tote
I had to laugh when I saw what number had been chosen for January 2018.   At the moment, it is sitting on a chair in my Sewing Room with two QOV tops piled on top of the Tote that is not quite finished.  Since our Guild meets the middle of January, there is hope that I could finish it up by Jan.13th.  I started it about 6 months ago-made great progress and then something more exciting arrived and it was set aside.   These pictures are from several months ago.  The tote is a little farther along than what you see in these pictures.  The pockets are sewn down and handles/straps have been attached and binding has been sewn partially around.  Part of my problem arose when I made the straps extra sturdy, which made them rather difficult to hang on my shoulder.  It would be fabulous to be able to show it finished at my Guild meeting.
 
 

Back of Tote

Front of Tote