Unfinished projects

Working on the Challenge quilt is eating into my time, but I’m getting alot done with the top.   It’s the “quilting” part that has me sweatin… I’ve just begun sandwiching the “center” of my top.   I played a bit with blocks for the “head” and “sides”  last night.   I still have one more pack of Charms size fabric to use- If I Need It.. and I usually do— 

 

While hunting for some fabric from my stash I found (re-found?)  these panels..CATS!!   I had received them from a local lady.   She was downsizing and I was lucky to be on her LIST of who to give things to.   Yippee!!

got 6 of these panels

I know there are some more panels with cats or dogs on them, but just don’t have time to hunt thru and work with them right now..    I did put together the stash fabric for future quilts..lap size cheater patterns..  I grabbed the cheater fabrics to practise “free motion quilting” on, but have just been too busy to get to the “practice” part.    Looks like it will be after Christmas before I can find any time to do my HomeWork.     

I found having this magnifier really helps add details when quilting,,esp following the lines for stitch in the ditch projects..  I went back to purchase another for the other machine and they were sold out..    I will be watching for the item to be back in the store everytime I shop…   With my ol’ eyes, I use all the help I can find.

OK, back to the challenge and everyday stuff.   (cooking, cleaning, pet sitting, napping, —-)

Updated page

It’s done and the additional info (with images) has been added to the page..  Machine Quilting-straight Stitching.. page   I took a ton of photos thru the process, but only used a fraction of them.   If there is any step or process you don’t understand, just leave me a comment  and I’ll try to make that part clearer.   It’s been an icky week for me since I had to share in the germs that were floating about the house.   

It has rained 3 days in a row and nothing much has been getting done, except take meds, eat, drink lots of fluids, and finish up all these little projects laying around and in my way of getting onto another project– Iron Quilter Challenge  AT Missouri Quilt Company dot com.    Ends Dec 5th, so hurry and get your order in and start sewing, cutting & sweating!!   There’s lots of competition. 

More to come as I get thru this competition.. Got my supplies, got my design drawn out, & got the machine oiled up and ready to sew!!    Good luck for those who are joining in this challenge.. but ya gotta know I’m in it to WIN!!!   

 

 

 

Finishes and Surprises

A finish

Knitting from top to bottom has become quite a fasination for me.. And I modeled this Green Multi after a favorite Black sweater I got back in 2006.. light weight, easily slipped on or off and traveled well….  I love how the sleeves work right in and you can cutomize them to fit your likes and sizes.. All is left is the buttons and blocking..

Stuffed and ready.

Yuppers, it came together rather quickly once I had enought of the poly fill for each item.. Isn’t He Cute??

Ebay Bargain?

And now for a Surprise purchase off of Ebay.. I was looking for big batches of material and this one just couldn’t be passed up. 

   Listed as 150+ different patterns, fat quarter sizes and up. for quilting and crafts.   Well what was NOT said… it is all upholstery & drapery samples from a “store”…  neat, Clean and WhaT A BARGAIN!!   Except NOT for Quilting. 

What to do??   Well there’s some great sizes for place mats,  table runners, rugs, bags.. Yeah, Grocery bags!!   We always take our own instead of using Plastic… and then run out, so we wind up with plastic anyhow.. That Drapery Material should work out rather nicely….and not break my machine trying to sew pieces together.   Any other Ideas??   leave me a comment with your ideas..

Granny

Keeping Busy

I did a sewing side trip and made 3 little pumpkins for the Fall/Halloween season.  I’m not good with hand stitching, which was needed to get those “stems” put on.  Stuffed with poly fiber and they look passable.  The cat loves to “play” with them. 

 

 

 

Cut out and ready to be Stitched-together.. Should be ready in time for DD#2′s BD..nov 3.   She needed a little decor on her Door at work.  So leave it to Mama to find something appropriate.

Finally to the Quilt it stage.. I did run out of that dark green backing material and had to improvise. This was the foot for my quilt, but with the change of no matching material, I raided my stash and used what I had on hand.. and then added the stacked coin border with another muslim row.. It had to be 24+ inches to meet the needs of a Header.     Necessity is the Mother of Invention…or just making due with whatcha got. 

This is the back of the Header.. a different (lighter) green fabric with a row of stacked “coin” fabric.   In other words, left over charm pack 5×5 inchs squares cut in half and sewn together.    I tell ya I used every last bit of the Victoria fabric I had..

 

 

 

 

I may just get this “puppy” put together before Christmas… but first I have a stack of sewing to get done for a swap..due Dec 5th.  

There is only 30 of these blocks!!   Bright, cheerful and very Christmasy.. Takes 30 to do a king size quilt.   I don’t think  I’ll make one that big since The washing machine doesn’t like anything that heavy!   So I’ll be getting a 2 fer.    One swap, two quilt tops…  

With the cold weather coming on, I have enough projects to keep me busy for a spell!!   Then there are all these other “ideas” floating around in my head and fabric on hand to get them going..   It’s going to be a productive Winter if I can get everything done that I want……….  Granny 

 

 

Strong finish

First up the Log cabin Homespun Quilt.. I’m 5’3″ and am holding up each quilt..so you can see  the size of the quilt .. covers nicely for a lap quilt.   Fabrics are from Wal-Mart 2011 July purchase.  It’s quilted Straight Line in black thread, which disappears nicely.    80/20 cotton batting.

Back: is all fat quarters made of Home Spun.. colors are off since these are red, brown  & black checks.. DD2 used her Cell phone to snap these inside with poor lighting-the flash didn’t help.   

Next comes the Tumbling block quilt..made mostly with 2 charm Packs called Bittersweet by Moda which I purchased @ MSQ (missouri Quilt Company.com)    Borders & sashing fabric is what I had in my stash and probly remanents from Wally World..   A nice size Crib or Lap Quilt using 2 of those Charm packs, Gold & orangie red sashing/ Gold binding.   80/20 cotton batting..Quilted with Muted Red Thread  .    Again the colors are a bit off from DD’s Cell Phone & poor lighting inside.   I used a decorative stitch since I have trouble doing a straight line (even with painters tape)        

Very soft and cozy for the coming Winter  and lounging in the front room..esp movie nights!!  Now just one more addition..a sleeve to possible hang these up??   Yeah, that’s a later on, someday project.  I just labeled with a perm pen..    

 

Score!

I must be living Right… Thanks to a post and pms over at MQC I am now the proud owner of all 12 Blocks “Patch In Time 1998″  and it didn’t take $79.00!   At around 1/2 the cost and a VERY sweet lady These arrived in the mail yesterday.     (doin’ the happy dance..)  Now I CAN make the full size quilt!!

Swap blocks. Xmas

The stack on the left are sewn.. stack on the right ready for the stitches.   Wheew, That is 24 blocks at the half way mark.   These get cut, then sewn again..before I can call them done.    OH, Yeah.. I need 8 more for the 30 peeps who signed up for this swap.    I work on the stacks after supper each evening…doing a few each day til I getter done.   I almost hate to give up these blocks since they make a great looking quilt for Christmas.    But Wait !   I GET 30 Blocks BACK—-

machine binding

Yup,  2 small (crib size) quilts done and awaiting machine binding.  Keeping that second machine warmed up and working…  I thought I smelled a little HOT OIL coming from it, too.  I call this MY DAY JoB..   And I’d get lots more done if The Packages didn’t keep arriving…. Thanks to my E-bay shopping spree.

This was the 4 lb box of goodies..  I covered up alot with that bandana fabric, but it’s 1/2 yard & fat quarter sizes in every color except purple..   All cotton and a nice size homespun item.   This is only about 1/2 of the stuff I got during my E-Bay affliction.. 

I’d stalk the mail man/person, except I have too many project to get finished and out the door.   Anyways,   I noticed with the down turn in economy and cut back everywhere, that the mail service is slightly different.   If there are any packages coming We don’t seem to get them except on Monday or Friday….. When there should be a package a day,, they seem to arrive in Batches.. in my case,,,,, boxes

 OK, my break time is over and I gotta press that binding and get it on those quilts.  Then it’ll be time for supper..   Cheeseburger Pie,  French Fries, Tomato salad, choc cake and exhausted ME.

 

My Days…and Nights

Happily sewing away making the 3 Dudes Blocks for a Christmas swap…  and when I get tired of looking at all the bright fabrics,,, I head into the front room sewing area  to work on quilting the Log Cabin quilt (twin size)..   Around here No patters of little paws/feet, Just clatter of sewing machines.      

 Here is the  Ebay Shopping BINGE!!  all precuts waiting for Me to decide what the H#@@ to make with it all.   In the big box marked priority mail are the vintage fabrics.. all over 1/4 yards each. probly about 30 pieces.. And YES, I know what I want to do with that batch.. Civil War Blocks…and maybe a few HOBO Blocks..  But I’m feeling the crunch of getting some quilting finished so there will be Gifts under the tree for the kiddos..    The reds, whites & blues go into a stack for the Patriotic quilt that is on my TO DO list.  

I really don’t keep a list, just thoughts rambling around in my head….ALOT!    And there are some nights I’m awake and sewing   ALL night!!    which just ruins my day time activities…but heck.. I’m retired, a widow and No specific demands are made on my time..other than I gotta EAT regularly. 

Finally got some decent thread and put it right where I can actually “see” it… and at the bottom right side is a surprise pin cushion sent to me by Cynthia… I just linked her to my Yo Yo Angel How To..     I think those prairie points are just amazing for a pin cushion..   Thanks!!  I love it.

My decor for the table…inside the flat basket is hard candy scattered around the Indians feet.   It’s  a quick pick-me-up thru the day..     Yes, It’s getting colder here,, with wet falling leaves that need to be swept away from the doorways before they get tracked in..   

And now that I am up so darn early,, 4:50 a.m.   I need another cuppa and something to EAT… Maybe today I’ll get a project finished so I can get back on a normal schedule .. sleep at night.. work/play during the day…  GRANNY

 

Warm Fall Days

Just playing with a couple of projects.. this is the 5th block I have of 6.. so one more to sew together then decide what to make/finish it with.   I have red, green & white fabric in my stash..so It’s gonna be “something”.  

fabric for a Mistery Quilt @ quilters club of America

 

 

 

I love that fabric for my Mystery Quilt…just gotta keep up with the directions and get it all cut and labled..

After struggling with the pinwheel borders and all. I have to wait for more fabric to arrive so I can get an additional extention (bottom) added and then do a bit of remedial quilting on some of the blank areas.. meanwhile this (upper photo of Log cabin quilt)  is going under the machine… SLQ.. like stitch in the ditch!!   Hoping my thread supply arrives before I run out.  

With some really wonderful sunny days happening, I’ve been outside cleaning up flower beds and planting the bushes DD#2 ordered… I love the Forcynthias and Hollyhocks  she got.   Can’t wait til the coming Spring and see how well they survived our Illinois Winters…   I’d like to plant one in the back yard, but that won’t work..  We have 2 fur babies that can’t leave the plants alone, esp when they smell of Bone Meal  (fertilizer)    I can’t blame them…it did have a strong smell.    One little Forcynthia bush still needs a home!!

I have been a bit busy with this sewing stuff and working out patterns/projects in my head…  I finally put together a pdf file for the Traveling Diamond Quilt  (see MY QUILTS Page at the top) for instructions and inspiration links.

Hope to get back here  daily, but gotta use up all the sunshine and be outside in order to appreciate what Mama Nature is delivering..    GRANNY

@ Quilt Show

Drunkards Path

Dresden Plate & Fans

Strip Quilting-

Pineapple Delight

Stars

 

Hobo blocks & Train

My Favorite!!  all the Hobo Blocks set on a train theme ..   I just can’t tell you what each block means…  I came very close to starting some of these blocks, but didn’t have the appropriate fabric.. 

 

Another Quilt I wish to do some day is a Civil War Theme..      I’ve been lurking there and picking up different blocks while enjoying the History Lessons given with each pattern.  

 

Settling in for the cooler weather around here.  Getting out the Fall & Halloween Decorations…even bought a few goodies to add to this years collection.  I love the twig trees/limbs with lights on them..and hopefully I’ll remember to get some “after Dark” pictures..

 

Meanwhile, I am back to putting the Pinwheel Quilt ” Wind & Lightening” together.. One more side and then the binding….And I can call it Finished… Whew!      GRANNY 

The Quilt Show-Gems of the Prairie 2011

   

Yes I could live with this one….

The back of this quilt is beautiful and rich in color.!!  It was quilted to accent the images on the front.  The colors are a bit washed out in these images, but You can see all the handiwork & stitching.

Here is another one that I could give a Good Home…. 6 pointed kalidescope (sp)..  I did vote for this one, too.   both are full size and I just can’t imagine the hours of Love in each of these!!

There was so much to see and several demonstrations going on thru out the 8 hour showing.  I should have bought the kit for the Tread Catcher that was demonstrated, but $15.00 just seemed a bit much for the kit & pattern.      I did get to see all of the 500 + entries…man I’m a bit overwhelmed with all the talented ladies and their Quilts.. King size to mini’s & wall hangings.

But my favoritest ONE… is

Stairway to Heaven- 4 cat silouettes on 9 patches..White Moon on patterned background.  Large lap or wall hanging size.    This lady was selling it..but I didn’t have the $$..It sure inspired me and perhaps I can do something similar..??   Got to find some LARGE CAT SILOUETTES first.

I’ll have more pictures to show ya  and perhaps inspire YOU…  Now I am resting and getting my feet UP…..It was a long way around the aisles to see all the entries..   My WANNA DOs sure have grown, but my fabric stash is still too small to get  busy…  This Winter promises to be spent at the sewing machine… and just maybe I’ll have an entry Next year.   (I do dream Big when I dream!!)