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