Monday, February 28, 2011

Making some headway

Give me some time in the sewing room and I do make some headway.

I have been sewing up some of the strips that have been cut for awhile. 


After sewing a mountain of these strips, I had to cut my chains apart.



Then from there I did some cutting up into sections so that I could work on different portions of each block.



and this resulted in this part....



Kept sewing until I had all the pieces for the connector blocks (easy block)



First this....



then this.....



Now all my connector blocks are DONE!!

Wouldn't have made it this far without a little help from this little guy.



Now to work on the main part of my block ....the more involved portion of the block.



I have lots of sections made, but not nearly as much as I need, but I will keep plugging along. I have given myself until the end of March to complete this top.  Wish me luck!

Have to mention, too, that I have received another one of my birthday exchange blocks from my friend Rilla.



I am getting a nice variety in my country reds and creams.  Can't wait to see them all together.  Birthday is coming up, so I should be getting lots more in the mail real soon. 

Happy quilting everyone. 


Friday, February 18, 2011

Birthday Star Exchange....

I received my second star block.  My request was country reds (no bright reds) and cream/tan.  Isn't it beautiful?


Next are the four February blocks I mailed out.  I think all of the gals have received them, if not...someone is getting a sneak peek.

Another country red and tan (I almost  kept this one....LOL)


Anything green.


Blue; blue/violet.


Red/black


It won't be long and the rest of my blocks will be showing up.  I can hardly wait.  It's like Christmas.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Trying to sew, but life keeps getting in the way....

Life...., yes, it keeps getting in the way.


We buried my father-in-law, Jose, this afternoon.  He was 88 and died from what appears to be a slip and fall...outside....alone....in our frigid Michigan weather.  My poor husband found his dad, who lived alone,  last Thursday.  The only good thing is that he will be joining my mother-in-law who passed several years ago.

So we have been sorting through his household all this week.

Starting this weekend, we will be moving my daughter, her husband, three little boys, a dog and a cat into OUR house for a few weeks until their new home is ready for them to move in.  Thus...requiring another move.  That will be three moves in just a matter of a couple months. 

So, that brings me to my sewing....my sanity....my salvation.

Remember my saying that I was taking part in a birthday star block exchange?  Well, I have received MY first block (a little early, but the maker is going out of town and wanted to get  a months worth sent out).  I requested country reds and tans.


I had sent out a black and white one for a January birthday, but for the life of me, I couldn't find my picture so I copied this one from the the recipient of this one and she had it lying out in the sun (California) to take her picture.  Of course here in MI, I would have had to lay it out in the snow!  I am so jealous. 


I did make three for the month of February, but until I send them, I can only give you a little hint.

The first one requested blue/blue-violet.  I had to get the color wheel out to make sure I was using the right colored fabric. How'd I do?


This one requested green and ivory.


This  one requested country red and tan.



I am going to send these out this weekend and then in a few days I can post the pictures of the full stars.  I think they turned out pretty good.

Then there is the wedding quilt  (triple Irish chain).  I am getting to think that with the way life is going, I MAY be putting the binding on at the wedding.

Right now I am just making segments.

I need 84 of these and have 10 made.


I need 84 of these and have 16 made.


I need 42 of these and have 15. 


I need 84 and have 29.


I need 84 and have 13. 


I need 84 and have 44. 


I have all 42, 8" solid squares cut out; and I have a full four 20" blocks made.  Doesn't seem like much, but progress is progress whenever I find the time.

One last bit  on the Cherry Trees blocks.


I am three blocks behind, but this has had to be put on the back burner for right now, but I did trace out the last two blocks, #16 and #17.  #15 has all the fabric pieces cut out, so it's not forgotten, but once the wedding quilt is off to the quilter, I will have more applique time. 

Hope you are finding time to quilt. 




Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Snow day....

The big blizzard of 2011 was to hit today, so yesterday the office decided to close for the day  and I had big plans to sew.  So, from the pile of 2" wide strips that I cut up the other day, I trimmed all of them into 8" + segments and sewed doubles and triple strip segments.


Once I had a pile of those made, I got out my June Tailor Quarter Cut ruler and trimmed to 2" strips


I wasn't brave enough to layer the triple strips, so only did one at a time.



But since my pile of doubles was so big, I thought I would try to at least layer two strips and then do the cutting.



That seemed to work out alright.



Now I have a mountain of little segments to get my strips for each block started.


I did get another 20" block completed today, but I ended up having so many interruptions today, that I am just going to quit here.  I wish I had some idea of how many of these segments I need for this quilt, but since I am not going by a pattern, I am just going to have to "wing it". 

I did get one more thing off the "wedding list of things to do" though. 

Last weekend I went shopping for my mother-of-the-bride dress and found one.  It had to be ordered and it came in the mail last night.



I am excited to have this one checked off my list. 

Well, I will be back at the quilt...maybe tomorrow night, but definitely Friday morning.  Hope to have some more blocks made  and certainly hope this pile of segments goes a long way in making a lot of blocks; otherwise, I will be starting the whole process all over again. 







Michigan quilters, take note

  Come see us at our first Quilter's to Quilter's sale.   Don't know what that is?  Well, it will be 28 quilters/vendors selling...