Design Wall Monday

Yesterday and this morning, I have been working on fabric postcards.  I used to sew fabric binding around the edges and then hand sew it down, which was very time consuming and difficult to sew through the stabilizer.   This morning, I was able to zig zag around all 5 postcards in less time than it took to sew binding on just one.   All (5) are ready to mail this afternoon.  Several years ago, I purchased little clear envelopes through Creative Images.  The size I like best is:  4 5/8" x 6 3/8".  Their website is:  www.cistamps.com

Fabric Postcards with zig zag edges

Soldier's Child Quilt Top is ready for quilting

Soldier's Child Birthday Foundation Quilt top

Here's a picture of the finished quilt top.  One of the ladies from our weekly sewing group has agreed to quilt it.  

Design Wall Monday

Soldier's Child Birthday Foundation blocks

Last Tuesday, I began working on "A Soldier's Child Birthday Foundation" quilt.  I had a bag of Patriotic strips and a new package of "Sheer Delite", which I was anxious to try.  Our guild recently had Bobbie and Ginger from Strips and Strings come to our guild for a trunk show.  The stabilizer came in a roll measuring 30" x 10 yds.  Sheer Delite is a soft, sheer, translucent mesh stabilizer.  To make good use of the width, I cut my squares 7 1/2 inches wide and then trimmed them down to 7 inches square.

I found the pattern under Mary Quilts.com
Click on Quick Strippie.  Scroll down the column on the left side to Instruction Sheets and click on New Heart String Stars and you will find the instructions on making these scrappy stars.  The diagonal string squares were quick to sew together.  The half square triangles seemed to take way longer than I had anticipated.  Of course, it didn't help that I was running low on white muslin and the blue QOV fabric with little light blue stars.  I still need to complete 5 more star blocks to finish the top.

Since I was running low on white muslin, I took a trip down to JoAnn's Fabric and purchased a 15 yd. bolt with my 50% off coupon (that just happened to arrive in my email box last evening).  I guess it was just meant to be that I should purchase a entire bolt.       

Design Wall Monday

On Saturday, our Quilt Guild met and approximately 35 members took the class on Making Spiral Placemats and Table Toppers.  Oh, the design possibilities are endless and it is hard to decide what fabrics to use.  It was a very encouraging class in that almost everyone finished their top, in time for "Show & Tell".  I've already begun cutting out centers and strips for additional Table Toppers.  They will make great gifts!

Table Topper Ideas

Get It Done early in June

Just finished a Quilt of Valor top.  Patriotic fabrics were donated by Marlyn, a member of our local guild.  It measures 60" x 70".  Will need to purchase backing and then request long armer.  I believe I have enough dark blue for the binding. 

QOV using Marlyn's fabrics 06032013

The panel and the mottled cream outside border fabric were designed by Linda Ludovico for Northcott Fabrics.  They are from the richly classic patriotic collection; Stonehenge, Stars & Stripes in support of the Quilts of Valor Foundation.

The red border that I chose was not from this collection.  It came from Connecting Threads and I had just enough left from another project to add a 4 inch finished border with about 1 inch to spare. 

Get It Done in May

This evening I began reading about what everyone had accomplished during the month of May on their "Get It Done" projects.  What had I accomplished?  I hadn't touched my 1989 hand pieced and hand quilted quilt in many years, except to get it out and see what still needed to be done.  I thought I needed a new thimble, so I bought a Clover Protect and Grip thimble with flexible rubber.  I wanted different quilting patterns and several pretty plastic design templates were given to me.  I just needed a huge push, which I felt I received tonight.  I made great progress on one block.  I still have 2 small areas to hand quilt and I can call one block complete.  What a delightful feeling!

Many "Thanks" go to those who completed so much this last month and posted the results on their Blogs.

Hand quilting done May 31, 2013

It's My Birthday!!

Today is my birthday and I'm two years old.  I had a grand day!  We went for a long walk around the neighborhood.  The day was delightful.  Beautiful sunny skies, not too warm and low humidity.  Just a perfect Spring day.  My Mom made me a flowered sash for me to wear for my picture.  She knew I wouldn't be too keen about wearing a party hat.