QOV Blocks Finished

At our last guild meeting in January, I promised Lolita that I would make (2) QOV star blocks.  Lolita pieced two center panels with eagles (one for each quilt).  She volunteered to oversee the making of (2) Quilts of Valor for our guild in 2016.  Over 12 members agreed to make blocks and return them to her at the Feb. Guild meeting.

Each unfinished block measures 8.5"

I Spy Quilt Received

I'm excited to show the "I Spy" quilt that I made for Noah.  He and his brother can enjoy searching for all the different items.  It has 99 blocks.  It was a surprise for Noah and he received it last week, before he turned one.  I even included fabric from his older brother's quilt.

99 Blocks for Noah

Design Wall Monday Jan. 25, 2016

Our snow is melting.......The sun is out and the temperature is up to 46.  I'm caught up through yesterday on  both of my 365 day challenges.

The (24) HST with the circles is called the Quilty 365 Challenge through Quilty Folk.  I have also decided that my 366 squares for 2016 will need to be a 2-sided quilt.

The collection of strips and squares at the bottom is a 2016 Year Long Memory Quilt.  I started out with
nice wide strips but soon discovered I needed to add thin strips and smaller squares or my Memory Quilt would cover our house.

So far, I'm liking both projects and it's a great lesson on "Focus".  I'm hoping to complete both projects by year-end.  I need to Focus daily on the projects right in front of me.  My major project(s) are to organize my sewing room and then my house.  Yikes!!

My husband and I have been watching the "Hoarding" programs on Cable T.V.  We certainly do not want our home to overtake us with "stuff".     

Design Wall Monday 01252016

Check out what is being created on this sunny Monday by linking up with Patchwork Times.com

Our area received 5.5 inches of snow

We are not venturing out much, just out the backdoor to take the dog out and to clear off the steps and take a few pictures.  Here's what I have taken.  My husband plans to take some wide angle shots this morning.

Neighbor's bush covered and hint of blue sky

Hint of blue sky makes a better contrast-taken 01-23-2016

Snow on Saturday; Jan.23, 2016

Hopefully, I can get some sewing done if I can quit looking out the windows.  Obviously, it doesn't snow too much in this part of Tennessee.  I love being able to "just stay home" and look out the windows. 

It's Snowing

Whenever it snows in middle Tennessee, it is a big thing!!  The schools close but many people still need to get to work.  Thankfully, we are retired and we don't have to go any place.  We can finally just sit and look out the windows.  Where we live, it started snowing this morning about 8:30. 

The first picture was taken looking out at our backyard, about 10:00 a.m.

 The second picture was taken about 11:40 a.m.

It's now about 12:45 p.m. and it's still snowing.  The lawns are now covered and the street and sidewalks have disappeared.  It only looks delightful because we don't have to go anywhere.

Now, I need to get busy and accomplish at least one sewing project. 

Design Wall Monday

Amazing...I'm actually posting on Monday morning.  I continue to work on my 365 Quilty Circles and have "sewn" 9 blocks across.  Yesterday, I wasn't sure how wide I wanted the quilt. The HST finish at 4" square.
If I have calculated correctly, I'm planning to have 12 blocks across (48") and 15 blocks down (60"), which will be 180 blocks on the front and 180 blocks on the back.  Since 2016 is a Leap Year, I'll need to be creative on how to use the remaining 6 blocks. I have plenty of time to figure that out.

365 Quilty Circles and 2016 Year Long Challenge

 
The reason I want to begin sewing them together is that I'm afraid I will lose them in my sewing room which needs to be organized.  I've also been sewing the labels on my quilts.  I have (4) labels remaining to sew on  quilts.  I'm sure I have more quilts hiding that need labels.

See what other quilters have been doing this past week!  Link up at: Patchwork Times.com

Sewing on Labels and Making 365 Quilty Circles

This morning, the quilt for a special little boy was shipped off in the mail.  I will post the picture next week after it has been received.  The last couple of days, I've been working on sewing labels on quilts.  I thought I'd made (12) labels but it turned out it was only (11) labels for my quilts.  One label included additional info.

I discovered a nice easy way to create the label.  I leave one inch all the way around the printed label.
Fold the sides over twice and machine stitch with cream/white thread with a tiny stitch.  Next, choose fabric that matches the back or border on the front. Cut fabric 2.25" or 2.5" wide.  First fold sides in about 1/2" making a finished edge that matches the sides of the label and then  fold in half.  Machine stitch to top and bottom.  Press away from label.  All sides of label should be finished.  Position label in lower right hand corner on back.  Hand stitch all the way around label.

I've also been working on my 365 Quilty Circles.  I adore this Challenge because I can use lots of different fabrics.  I already have seven quilty squares ready but when we went to the store on Monday, I thought it would be fun to make a grocery shopping bag for the circle, so I must make that before I can do the next few days.  If I'm not careful, I won't be able to remember what I've done each day.

I've already thought of (2) cool ideas for my Crayon Challenge.  I may make both and see which one comes out best.  I have until mid September.

Well, I'm off to make my little shopping bag........