Mimi's Passions

My last block is done.

2012-01-29T22:40:00.000-05:00

I just completed #25 for the Beyond the Cherry Trees block of the month. It's been a long haul.

I have been trying to figure out how to make a mosaic of all 25 of my blocks, not only to show you, but so that I can easily see the layout of them. Since I did them with a scrappy background, I want the look with the different backgrounds to be well dispersed, but as of yet, I haven't been able to figure it out. I don't know that I have enough floor space to lay all of these out...let alone get a good picture of them laid out either.

We'll see what I can come up with.

Now onto the borders.

Yesterday's choices

2012-01-17T20:28:00.000-05:00

Got home from work and told myself I had three choices of things to do that evening.

One....weave in all the threads and fix a snag on the knitted shawl that I mostly had finished a little while ago.

Did that and wore it to work like this.

Here's a couple other options.

#2 was to work on my Cherry Tree block (#25).

Picked out my fabrics for each freezer paper piece (did this the day before)...

Got all my pieces cut out and they are ready to go.

#3 was to read a few pages in my Nook.

The Wedding Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini. I am on chapter two. I do love this series.

So I am happy that after a long day at work, I was able to enjoy three of my favorite things to do all in one evening.

Now to make some headway on my Cherry Tree block. Need to cut out the background and make some marks for placement and then I am ready to stitch.

Happy stitching...or whatever you want to do this evening.

Another Beyond the Cherry Tree block is done...or is it?

2012-01-14T11:32:00.000-05:00

That little bird flying off in the distance is supposed to be in the upper right hand corner of the block, but it would be a tight squeeze, so I haven't decided if I am going to put it on or not.

I showed you a sneak peek of this block in my last post, but I had to make more cherries.

They are time consuming, but I do enjoy the process.

This is block #21 out of a series of 25. I only have one more block to make and then on to the borders.

So, I had better get busy

I have a finish!

2012-01-07T21:35:00.000-05:00

I can't take FULL credit for this one. This was a round robin that (I am ashamed to say it was in 2004) several of us participated in. There were six of us that worked on mine, but there were several participating in this round robin at the same time. This was organinzed by an on-line group that I have participated with for several years. We presented our finished tops (or in some cases, their finished quilts) at our retreat in June 2005.

I had mine quilted in 2011 and today I got the binding made and machine stitched down.

I spent the rest of the evening handstitching the rest of it down and had hubby hold it up so I could share it with you.

Of course, the center star is mine, the flying geese are Sandy's, the on-point stars are Ruthie's, Carol did the pinwheels, Bert did her applique and lastly Vicky did the sawtooth border. I think it turned out quite lovely. I am going to make up my label and attach it tomorrow and that is when it will officially be finished. So, this is the first finish for the new year. Some projects just take longer than others I guess. LOL.

I am going to give you a sneak peek at my Cherry Tree block that I am working on.

It still requires a couple little stems and "several" cherries before this little number is complete, but at least I am plugging away at it.

I am in the planning stages for my next "sit at the sewing machine" quilt. I say this because I have three MAJOR applique projects going right now and haven't really sat at the machine for any length of time ...for quite some time.

Gathering Baskets

I went shopping with the gals yestereday and started picking up fabrics for this quilt. I have been wanting to make it for some time and I think I need a little diversion from the applique on occasion and I would like it to be something for me. Kind of a "quick fix" if you know what I mean.

Anyways, that's what has been happening around here. A little bit of progress in a few different areas, but at least I can say I have one completion to start out the new year. Hopefully I can keep this up.

Hope you are getting your new year off to a good start.

Another one bites the dust.....

2011-12-31T12:04:00.001-05:00

My 23rd Beyond the Cherry Tree block is complete.

It looked like this on the 27th of December.

and since it wasn't a very difficult block, I finished it up late (very late) on December 30.

Here's a couple close ups of the two different colorways for the flowers.

Block #21 is prepped as far as the freezer paper is concerned. I will pick out my fabrics for each piece and get busy on it.

Block #25 will be coming soon (patterns are offered up on the 10th of the month) and then the center of this quilt can be put together. It has been a long time coming.

The border patterns are being offered one side a month. I have three of those patterns, but I won't be working on them until the center is done. Saying that, I don't feel so far behind on this quilt.

It's been a long 29 month block of the month. In the end, this quilt is going to be well worth it though.

Here's wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

December 27, 2011

2011-12-27T13:25:00.002-05:00

Wow....time is flying and I haven't had a chance with all the holiday preparations to get back in here and share a few things with you.

First off, I have to thank Sharon for the wonderful blog prize that I won and it got here just in time for Christmas.

This magnet (or should I say, several magnets) is such a great prize. I for one was not able to attend the big Red and White quilt exhibit in New York, but this nearly makes up for it. You can visit Sharon's blog here....http://grassrootsquilting.blogspot.com/ Thank you Sharon. I feel so lucky!

For one of my gifts from one of my quilty friends (Nancy), I received the Cheryl Ann's design wall. I put it up yesterday and thought I would try it out with my Beyond the Cherry Tree blocks. This is what I have accomplished so far.

I am a bit behind, but life has been a little crazy around here. I will get caught up though. This isn't going to be one of those quilts that gets put away indefinitely.

I, also, want to share the gift that my son made for his sister and her new husband. It actually is a belated wedding present that he has been working on, but his life has been busy, too.

This is a maple TV cabinet. It is his design and all made by hand. The glass looks a little funky on the picture, but it is one of those glasses that looks like water. He has made a few beautiful pieces of furniture and this is just his hobby. Always good to have a man around that can produce beautiful furniture like this.

Well, I am headed off to the sewing room today. It's been ages that I have had the time to do this, so I need to take advantage.

If I don't get back in here, I wish every one of you a Happy New Year and may 2012 be a happy and prosperous one for all of us.

Not too many more days until Christmas.....

2011-12-16T19:36:00.003-05:00

So, my gal pals and I got together for our annual Christmas/mini quilt group get together. We had such a great time chit chatting, eating and doing our show-n-tell....and best of all our gift exchange.

I thought I would share our show-n-tell with you first.

Didn't think I would be thinking Halloween this close to Christmas, but Nancy's quilt just makes you smile and wanting to have Halloween come soon.

and she always makes such great quilts with her primary colors.

Sharon shared her great baby quilt made with shirting fabrics.

and here's the backing.

and here's one of hers that will put you in the Christmas spirit.

Love that quilt!

I served Pasta Fagioli for our luncheon.

This was the first time I made it and it was quite easy and pretty tasty, too.

I just have to share all the wonderful gifts I got, too.

My friends know me so well.

If you know me, this little ornament is SO ME! (yeah, I can see some of you smiling right now!!)

That was from Nancy. She, also, got me this.....little carrying case.

and what's in it is this.....

an insulated shopping bag. I so think that I am going to keep this in my car and when the three of us go to the French Laundry (a great little restaurant) and we have half of our sandwich to take home with no cooler in the car, this will serve the purpose. I am excited!

Nancy, also, got each of us one of these nifty, portable design walls. She has one that we have taken on retreat and it works great! I have as yet to put mine together, but I will be doing that very soon.

Now, Sharon, was really thinking ahead. She is going to make sure we make plans on going to our favorite little retreat getaway. I got a gift certificate for the place along with a great candle.

Can't wait to start making plans for this trip.

Last, but not least, I thought I would share my one and only little contribution to the show-n-tell. I have finally completed another one of my Cherry Tree blocks, #23. (which I completed today rather than yesterday) I am a bit behind, but all is not lost. This quilt is NOT going to get put away and forgotten. It is going to get done....just maybe a little later than the designated BOM schedule

I'll show you a close up as it is hard to see the light green flowers with the busier background.

Lots of little reverse applique on this block. I am so ready to move onto the next one. Hopefully it won't be as long as it took for me to get this one finished.

Well, I hope you are all ready for Christmas. My decorations are up, the gifts are wrapped, I am late on my cards, and food will start getting prepared this week. All-in-all, it will be here before we know it and then it will be 2012.

Blog Giveaway

2011-12-11T18:35:00.001-05:00

There is a blog giveaway over at Sharon's blog, but I would rather you NOT go over there because I want my chances to be better at getting this great memento from the Red and White Quilt show that was in New York this year. But...if you must, here's her website.... http://grassrootsquilting.blogspot.com/ ;D

New day.....

2011-11-27T21:32:00.001-05:00

all be it that it was a rainy day all day, I am turning over a new leaf.

Cleaned and purged the sewing room yesterday and I am ready to get back to the applique.

Knitting is what has been taking up some of my time lately. I just finished this shawl.

Made it with the color changing cotton yarn, but now that this project is out of the way, I am headed into the the sewing room, but first.

Sheila came over to get the two bags of fabric that I purged yesterday AND she brought a beautiful show-n-tell to share, too.

Sorry, there weren't enough hands to hold this up, but I think you get the gist of it. It's beautiful. If you are interested in knowing the name of the pattern, let me know. I will have to get that info from Sheila as I forgot to get it so that I could blog about it.

She did this as a block of the month through one of her local quilt shops and learned many different techniques of applique. I think she wants to stick with her favorite technique though.

Well, I am off to the sewing room to pick up the Cherry Tree block that I was last working on, so hope to be able to show that one to you real soon.

It's back to work tomorrow for me, but I hope to take a stitch or two each evening.

Happy quilting.

Am I a hoarder?

2011-11-26T21:23:00.001-05:00

I don't think so, but if I had to live in my sewing room, I might say that.

I haven't done any stitching for quite a while. The sewing room has become a catch all for "stuff" making it very undesirable to go in there.

The TV show "Hoarders" gives you all these descriptions of people who do hoard and I have to say that while I was in my sewing room "gutting" it today, I found myself saying....."but I could use this 1" strip of fabric for something. Maybe I should keep it". But....I was strong. I went in there with determination.

I pulled all of this.....

OFF the top of my stash drawers and totes making it impossible to get to the top drawer AND the totes.

I pared down.

Two bags full.

and one box full.

Now mind you, my stash buying was never buying yardage like some of my friends, but a fat quarter here, a half yard there, or buying for a project and then keeping all the scraps from them, so unless I was to spend hours and hours making scrap quilts, this just wasn't going to get used up.

Even finding out at our latest guild meeting from an AQS appraiser that fabric may go up to $15.00 a yard in the not too distant future did not sway me. This fabric was not going to get used by me.

So, my friend Sheila is going to get the two bags full to make scrap quilts for her CASA kids (these are children who are in foster care and she is their advocate) and the box is going to be donated to a local assisted living where they have this huge craft room with several sewing machines. The manager of this assisted living was telling me how wonderful the ladies that sewed there were. They made quilts for charity.

So, I am not feeling too bad about getting rid of some of this stash.

The good thing though is that I found several pieces that are large enough to make a bunch of baby quilts and some pieces that are big enough to back larger quilts. So now the majority of my stash looks like this.

Each drawer has been pared down greatly. One of the tubs was emptied totally and now all my larger pieces of fabric are now in the top bin or on top of the drawers nearly folded and in full view.

I am feeling much better about my sewing room now. Hope to get in there real soon now to actually sew.

While on my hiatus from sewing though, I have been knitting, but I will save that for my next post.

See you soon

Motivation....where are you?

2011-11-04T22:43:00.000-04:00

I have been so NOT motivated to quilt lately.

Don't know why, but it could be because my mom has been so sick, or the fact that it's Fall and the knitting needles keep calling my name, or just the fact that the warm weather has gone away.

The latest knit project I have been working on is a shawl. Remember this cotton yarn (looks more like floss)?

Well, this is where I am with that right now.

This is the shawl that I bought the shawl pin for.

Can't wait to use it.

Also, I had two more commitments with my birthday star block exchange.

Got Joanne's made for November. She requested black and white with a black or white background.

Here is Ellen's for December. She requested light to medium greens with cream. I am not so sure the picture shows the true colors, but the block is a very pretty, soft green. I hope they both like their blocks.

I think my goal is to finish the shawl and then I will get back into the sewing room and get busy on some of my Cherry Tree blocks. I am so close to the end of this 29 month BOM, I can't poop out now. Motivation will come back...I am sure.

Whirlwind trip to Chicago....

2011-10-24T20:16:00.000-04:00

I don't have much to share about my trip to Chicago other than it went by way too fast.

We drove 5 hours Friday morning to get there; took a train into the city from the little town we were staying at; walked the "magnificent mile" (although it felt more like 10 miles); did very little shopping (that's why you don't go with your husband); took the train back and crashed at the hotel.

One thing that really caught my eye though were the windows for this really neat clothing shop.

How can a quilter pass this up?

Then, of course, there was Marilyn.

I didn't get close enough to look up her skirt though. There were a lot of men having their pictures taken right under her and it was kind of funny. Personally, I thought this statue just didn't fit in the area, but what do I know?

Saturday we visited friends who had just moved into the area and had a new baby boy just a couple weeks ago. Then the main reason we were in Chicago was to go to a friend's son's wedding, so that took up pretty much all of Saturday.

Up bright and early on Sunday and headed home.

I think I will make plans to go back to Chicago with my daughters so that we can do some damage where shopping is concerned. Of course, I did break the bank at the Ghiradelli store. You know....quilting and chocolate go together.

Chicago weekend

2011-10-20T19:36:00.000-04:00

No sewing for me this weekend. We are headed to Chicago for some shopping, eating and more shopping and then we will be attending a friend's son's wedding and then heading home.

The baby quilt at last Sunday's shower was a huge success. I think it was the only "blanket", "aphgan", quilt that was actually opened up fully and shown in its totality. That was a good feeling.

Also, want to shout out a thank you to my son who took "out" the "date" that appeared in my header picture. I think he did a good job. Thank you dear son.

See you next week.

In the knick of time.....

2011-10-15T20:57:00.000-04:00

I have just completed my "zig zag baby quilt".

The shower is tomorrow afternoon, so this afternoon I was making the binding and sewing it on along with the label, too.

It is now in the wash to give it that comfy, "want to cuddle with" look after a quilt has been washed and dried (100% cotton).

I had seen the idea of the zig zags on someones blog and I believe there is a pattern out there somewhere, but I just winged it. The random zig zags was the result of my friends' suggestions when I had it up on the design wall. I have plenty of other zig zag rows that I could make another quilt or two....which is a good thing since baby showers are always popping up.

Now, I guess it is time to get back to some of quilting projects that are calling my name....namely Beyond the Cherry Trees. I have one block that is very near completion, so that will probably be the first thing I do.

So, thanks for stopping by. Hope you are getting some stitching in this weekend. Enjoy...whatever you are doing.

Had a great get-away.....

2011-10-12T00:27:00.000-04:00

Back from my mini retreat refreshed and with some things to show.

The first project on hand was to bind my Gwen Marston basket quilt.

What a great feeling to have this one done. As you can see, I have decided to use this quilt as my header picture in a little vignette that was on the porch of the Harbor Star (the retreat site in East Tawas, MI).

I, also, got an apron made that my daughter asked for. This is for my youngest who was recently married and is now Miss Suzie Homemaker.

She wanted something funky and fun ....and wouldn't show any stains. I still need to add some buttons on the bib and the pocket.

Prior to going on retreat, I prepped all my half square triangles and had them ready to stitch together.

Got them all made and added them to the ones that I had already made and came up with this design for a baby quilt.

....and here is the quilting that I did on it.

Just need to bind it and it will be ready for the baby shower this weekend.

As for my friends' progress....here's Nancy's projects.

ABC quilt ....and she has a blue one that she is making for her twin nieces.

Here's the start of her jelly roll quilt.

and here is what she had done by the time I left.

Here's her granddaughter's solar quilt top.

Then we have Sharon's "men's shirt quilt". She bought blue striped shirts from Salvation Army and some of them were 5 for a $1.00. Isn't this striking?

and how about her orange shirt purchases?

and here it is in a vignette with the borders along with Sharon.

Plus she was busy quilting a baby quilt that has been on her pile for awhile.

Now, something new at the "Star" where we stayed. Ever wonder what to do with your left over blocks? How about this for an idea.

I, also, have to share with you one more thing that wasn't related to my retreat. My youngest daughter is finally starting to follow in my crafty footsteps, but she has been knitting for a little while, but this time she tried something a little different than scarves, one-stitch baby blankets, etc. She knitted herself a MONSTER.

Does a mother's heart some good.

Well, I hope you can have a relaxing few days away to feel refreshed and ready to take on the world again. Even if it is a day or two in the sewing room with nothing else requiring your attention.We all need this one time or another. So....happy quilting and thanks for taking a peek at my relaxing few days away.

Leaving for a mini retreat....

2011-10-07T00:04:00.003-04:00

Taking off for a few days with my friends to shop, chat, eat and sew.....not necessarily in that order. I should have plenty to show you when I get back. Have a great weekend. The weather here in MI sounds like it is going to be our Indian summer....high 70s and even 80s. See you when I get back.

Moving right along

2011-09-30T21:25:00.000-04:00

It's been a very busy week what with work and my mom in the hospital, but I did make a little progress.

The infinity scarf was started ( remember I was only going to cast on my stitches) on Thursday evening and by Sunday, I had soaked it, blocked it and waited for it to dry.

I love it. It is theeeeee softest yarn and was so easy to make. I have been wearing it all day.

I am still plugging away on my next Cherry Tree block and have made just a little progress on it.

I even threw together another zig zag row of half square triangles that eventually will go into a baby quilt.

The next set of half square triangles are all laid out to make the next row.

I may be making some major progress this weekend as I have to get myself ready for a mini retreat with my friends next weekend. So as not to have to take half of my sewing room with me, I need to get my projects cut, pinned, planned and whatever needs to be done to make my load a little lighter. So....hopefully (barring any unforeseen problems with my mom, health, weather or any black cloud that may be following me) I will be headed up to one of our favorite places to hole away and sew to our hearts content. I should have plenty to show you the week after next weekend.

Happy stitching everyone.

Self control.....

2011-09-23T20:03:00.001-04:00

I have none......apparently.

I said I was going to finish another Cherry Tree block before moving onto another project, but I was tempted by my knitting projects. I have been working on my Cherry Tree block though. Here's the proof.

Doesn't matter that I still have one more block and one border that I am behind, but that was my deal to myself before I could start knitting.

The first mistake I made was to go to the yarn shop and buy the needles that I needed for one of my knit projects.....then I said, "oh....I will just cast on my first row of stitches" and then it led me here.

I only have to stitch 8 inches worth before it is done.

Hard to believe that these 24" round needles will produce this Infinity scarf.

But I know once I start to bind off the stitches that are on the needles, this thing is just going to GROW!

Oh....and while I was at the yarn shop my eye was drawn to the shawl pins. I have always admired them, but just didn't have a need for one. Well, of course the variegated yarn I bought along with the infinity scarf yarn is for a shawl, so why not buy a scarf pin BEFORE you make the shawl. Well, that's my reasoning and I am sticking to it. Guess what I will be starting as soon as this infinity scarf is done?

Isn't it pretty? I figured shawl or no shawl, I just had to have it. It is fruitwood with an ebony inlay. Maybe it is like buying a pair of shoes that you just love and then having to go out and buy an outfit for it. What do you think?

and...during all this time, I finished another Elm Creek Quilts books, too.

Another good read.

Pays to have a day to yourself when you can do anything that you want. Actually, laundry doesn't count even though I squeezed that in today, too.

Hope you get to do what you want to do this weekend.

Do I need more projects?

2011-09-18T20:27:00.000-04:00

I should be quilting or appliqueing, but I couldn't resist buying some yarn recently while on vacation.

I found this beautiful yarn in a shop in Cedar, Michigan called Wool & Honey...the shop that is.

Unfortunately she was pretty much sold out of it, but I just had to have the shawl that she had made up in it.

Here's a close up of the yarn. The shawl is worked from the bottom up, so that the russet color will be near the face.

The pattern I will be using for this is found here. It is a free pattern.

http://westknits.com/index.php/pattern/shawls/boneyard-shawl/

Well, with her not having a variety of yarns, I found the gal who makes it on Etsy.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/WollesYarnCreations?ref=seller_info

She has a wide array of colors and I can't wait to start working on this project; and she was a pleasure ordering from, too.

Well, one project wasn't enough. I, also, bought a skein of Malabrigo in a pretty teal color...the official color is #150 Azul Profundo. Here it is all stretched out.

Don't ask me why I didn't have this balled up at the shop! It is a "lace" yarn (baby Merino wool), so once I balled it up by hand, it came out to the size of a large egg.

This is going to be made into an eternity scarf. Here you will find the makers finished scarf.

http://woolandhoney.typepad.com/photos/2011_finished_projects/100_9316.html

I am thinking I need more hours to a day, more days to a week, more days off from work....or maybe I should just not buy more projects and get the ones that I have started finished.......nah!

Happy (knitting, crocheting, quilting, appliqueing) whatever.

No good excuses....

2011-09-17T23:13:00.000-04:00

Way too much time has passed since I have last posted; and I really have no good excuse except....Life.

It's been a busy last couple of months. I can't remember being this busy in such a long time.

The first thing I have to show is block #22 Cherry Tree

I am still behind two blocks and one border.

I got caught up on my September birthday block exchange; and both of these stars were sent out. One of them is still in the mail making its way to Canada....truly snail mail.

Mary's purple/sage

Wendy's blue/yellow

Then I thought I would get ahead a little and make my October block.

Cat's teal block

I think there are only two more blocks and I will be done for the year commitment.

I have purchased some yarn recently and have two projects that I intend to do, but I will save that for another post....and that post will be much sooner than this one was.

Have a great day and take a stitch or two for your peace of mind.

Another Beyond the Cherry Trees block completed.

2011-08-20T21:37:00.000-04:00

This is #20 in the BOM series. To get caught up I have #21, #22, and #23 to get done and then from what I understand, one of the border patterns is going to be offered next month. There are a lot of cherries in the borders, so I really want to keep up with that so I don't burn out on putting the borders together.

So, on to the next block

Moving along....

2011-08-13T19:59:00.000-04:00

House warming was a huge success. Lots of friends and lots of good food and drinks.

Now.....

I have started #20 Cherry Tree block.

Next birthday block (fire engine red/tea dyed color tan) is on its way to Maine. Neen, if you see this, happy birthday.

It's, also, that time of year that the hydrangeas are ready to pick and dry, so I told my dear husband that I was decorating the garage. Isn't it lovely? LOL.

He's already asking how long they will be there. Apparently he just doesn't appreciate all the loveliness. LOL.

Gotta get some stitching in tonight. There is a terrible storm abrewing and I don't want to lose my light.

Celebration day....

2011-08-12T16:12:00.001-04:00

#15 is done! It's been a long time coming and it hasn't been without it's problems. I ended up ripping out a couple pieces and replacing them, I thought I was done....twice....and found I was missing pieces and had to cut out more, but it is DONE now and I am ready to move on to the next one.

Today is my daughter's housewarming. This is the daughter who moved in with us for two months while they worked on getting their house liveable. Most of the rooms are now to where she wants them, so she is having the housewarming to show everyone their progress.

So, I whipped up some artichoke dip to take.

Recipe:

1 can artichoke hearts

1 c. mayonaise (not miracle whip)

1 c. parmesian cheese

add: garlic sale and oregan (or Adobo Criollo) to taste

1 onion (small) chopped

Mix altogether: Place in microwave uncovered on high for 7-10 minutes.

Also, whipped up some

Bean Salsa

1 bunch green onions chopped

1 can fiesta corn drained

1 can black beans drained

2 firm avocados chopped

1 med. red onion chopped

4 med. tomatoes (gutted and chopped)

1 pkg. Zesty Italian dry seasoning

1/4 c. olive oil

1/4 c. vinegar

pinch of garlic salt

Mix and serve with corn chips....yum!!

Also, got this book in the mail.

I want to make the jewelry rolls that are in this book.

Then the best thing of the day came in the mail.

This is my third featherweight (I figure I have two daughters who will inherit my other two). It came with all the fixin's, too.

My hope is to pick the one that is in the worse shape (although all three look pretty good) and have my husband sandblast it to death and have it painted in candy apple red. I was hoping he would find one that was so badly chipped that no one would want it, but seems everyone out in Ebay land wants them all.

So, I will keep you updated on the progress of the "candy apple red" featherweight, the next Cherry Tree block and the success of the housewarming.

Now to get ready to party!

Beyond the Cherry Trees progress

2011-08-07T17:17:00.000-04:00

Over at my sister blog....Beyond the Cherry Trees (http://beyondthecherrytree.blogspot.com/), Sharon has suggested that those of us who are working on this block of the month show all of our blocks together at whatever point we are. The idea was to help keep us motivated since the end of the BOM is drawing near.

I have 18 blocks completed. There are 25 in total with a very involved border that has LOTS of cherries.

I have one that is almost done and I think 3 or 4 that I am behind in. Seeing them altogether definitely motivates me to get caught up and stay caught up. I want this quilt really bad.

Anyways, keep checking back at Beyond the Cherry Trees blog as there hopefully will be many more participants sharing their progress.

Working on the Cherry Tree BOM again

2011-08-02T22:10:00.000-04:00

I have been lax when it comes to working on my Cherry Tree blocks and I am behind, but one of the things holding me back on this block (#15) was how I wanted to do this layered flower that was front and center on this block. The last thing I wanted was to have five layers to the flower and then have to stitch it to a background that consisted of a vase AND the background of the block. (I managed to only have two layers to the flower)

Well, I have ruminated long enough and came up with this little tutorial on how I managed to get this flower done so that I can complete the block. I have posted the whole tutorial over at the Cherry Tree blog here..... http://beyondthecherrytree.blogspot.com/

Sitting with my feet up.....

2011-07-30T23:04:00.000-04:00

and this was the view from my chair.

and I read this book.....

and stitched a few hexagons together....

and after posting my hexagon picture realized I didn't sew hexagon points to two of my sections, but that is ok....I am still playing with this pattern. I was inspired by the hexagon quilt that Linda is making over at this blog, Plain and Simple http://simplylibby.blogspot.com/2011/07/stair-treads-redux-finally-resolution.html.

Did take a ride and saw a couple quilt barns.

well, actually this one is a quilt "post office".

This post office was in Tustin, MI and the initials in the corner were OTG, so I am guessing it was Old Tustin Guild. I am going to see if I can find them online.

All-in-all, this was a great vacation with good weather, warm breezes, good food, family and friends and just some good old "down time".

Hope this has rejuvenated me and I will be posting more quilting projects soon.

Too many excuses.....

2011-07-17T20:16:00.000-04:00

It's too hot.

I'm too tired.

We've been busy each weekend since the wedding with two to three things going on each weekend...birthday parties, graduations, dinner cruise, etc.

Now I have a friend coming over to sew tomorrow night and I had to "find" my sewing room.

So I got in there to do a little organizing and this is what I got done today.

Finally got the two rows of rick rack sewn together that I have had pinned for a little while now. Now I have a pink row pinned together.

While I was at it, I realized I was late on one of my birthday star block exchange, so I made that for Gwen in black and white.

If she sees it before she gets it, that's ok.....she deserves to see it since it is late.

Thought I would get the next star made and mailed out, too, so here is Lonnie's in her requested brown and pink (my two favorite fabrics that were in my DD's wedding quilt).

Then while cleaning up a bit, I came across the last Cherry Tree block that I was working on, so I have glue bastes a few of the smaller pieces and I am going to start stitching on those tonight.

That little pile in the lower left hand corner are the pieces I am going to stitch together before applying them to the block. It doesn't look like it, but there are twelve pieces there. Flower buds that need to be sewn to their leaves, flower centers to the flower petals, etc.

So enough with excuses. They were lame anyways. I just needed a swift kick to get moving on my projects again and that kick was getting together to sew....always a good thing. Hope to have some more progress to show you in a much shorter time period.

Happy quilting

one million down

2011-07-04T22:50:00.001-04:00

.....well, maybe not quite a million.

......actually not a million at all, but it sure seemed like a million

I finally got ALL of my half square triangles trimmed. That mess in the corner is just from a few of the blue pile. I have always disliked making half square triangles until I found the "Quilt in a Day" ruler that makes 8 at once which is great, but then there is all that trimming to make them perfect. Arghhh.

They are all pressed open now.

One more step before I can start sewing them together. I have to snip off all those little rabbit ears. I will save that for another night.

Then I can start making rows of these.

For now....I am going to try and go to bed amongst all the explosions outside while everyone enjoys their fireworks. It's back to work tomorrow.

Happy Fourth of July!!!!

Tastes change.....

2011-06-25T19:05:00.000-04:00

I needed to get back to my sewing, so I got the binding on this flannel quilt sewn on last night.

I had machine sewn the binding on a couple weekends ago on my girlfriend quilty weekend getaway, so last night I just sat down and hand stitched the whole thing down. Now it is done.

Ashamed to say that this quilt is one of my first quilts....probably over 10 years ago. It was made to go into my living room where I had a sand rose leather couch and bluish green chair. I no longer have that furniture. Now I have red. So....this isn't going to go. I think it will be a good quilt for the couch in the basement. That's why I said.....tastes change. Another reason not to wait too long to finish a quilt.

Why did it take me so long? Well, I had seen this quilt in the quilt shop and it was being offered up as a class. I signed up and then the gal who was teaching it got sick with leukemia and was sick for well over a year. I thought that I could do it anyways (which I could), but what held me back in finishing it was that it was hand quilted in perle cotton with a very pretty design. Of course by the time I got the quilt top done, I couldn't remember how she had quilted it (it was no longer displayed in the shop), so there sat all my perle cotton for all these years. I finally just got fed up seeing this sit in my closet, so it went along to the quilter with two other quilts (that still need their bindings made). Now it is finished and outta the sewing room. That in itself is a good feeling.

Also, yesterday I squared up all the lavender half square triangles for the baby quilt that I started, so I guess the next thing will be to put a row or two of the lavender zig zag rows together.

I would say I am back in the swing of quilting. I just needed to get my behind in that room and get myself motivated. So, the wedding "let down" is done and over. I'll be back with something new to report soon.

Happy Quilting.

I need to get back into the swing of things.....

2011-06-22T20:39:00.000-04:00

I should be all excited that my time ( outside of work) is my own now. Wedding is done and all other commitments are out of the way. All my free time should be quilt oriented, but this is as far as I have gotten.

Finished the Winding Ways Quilt and then read the Quilter's Kitchen in less than one evening. Well, I guess they are quilt related, but that wasn't what I had in mind when I thought I would be quilting my brains out. Now I am reading The Girl that Kicked the Hornet's Nest on my Nook.

I actually feel that I am suffering the "let down" after the wedding. You plan for a year and a half, you go through the wedding and then just like that it is over. It was a beautiful wedding, but now I am feeling like....gee ....what am I going to do with myself?

Well, I do know what I am going to do with myself. I just need to get out of this funk.

Oh yeah...I do know what I am going to do. I am going to look for the remote to my TV because the grandkids hid it so that the other one wouldn't change the channel on them and now no one remembers where they put it. Does that mean I have to clean my whole house so I can find my own remote?

Oh well, I think I will go and read some more. I'll let you know when I get back to my sewing.

Wedding day was June 17.....

2011-06-18T19:48:00.000-04:00

....and everything went off without a hitch. The weather was gorgeous, the bride was beautiful and the groom very handsome.

The flowers were more beautiful than expected.

We had cupcakes rather than the traditional cake, but there was a small cake for the bride and groom to cut.

....and of course, I presented them with their wedding quilt today, the 18th, when they came to the house to open their gifts.

I think they were very happy with the quilt.

Once I get some more candid pictures from the wedding, I will post a picture of me in my dress. So far, no one has any. Oh well. It was a great day!!!

Now, on to things for me. The wedding was the final thing on my long list of commitments. Hopefully nothing pressing comes up too soon as I want to enjoy my freedom. So...I am heading into the sewing room. See you when I come up for air.

Now.....my time is my own

Weekend at the farm...

2011-06-14T21:56:00.001-04:00

Got away from Friday through Sunday at my friends farm with friends to quilt our hearts out. My goal is to get some baby quilts made and on hand for those last minute baby showers that one is always asked to attend. My first top was made with a four patch and alternating block.

I, also, started another one from a stack of fat quarters that I have had since the 2010 Paducah show.

I got all my half square triangles made.

They need to be trimmed, but of the ones that I did trim, I put this row together.

Scrappy blues.

I have piles of pinks, lavendars, blue and ivorys that need to be trimmed and then will make more of the "rick rack" type rows

I, also, got a binding on a very old quilt....in fact, it was one of my first quilts that I finally just took to the quilter ( I had planned on hand quilting it with perle cotton, but that wasn't happening). I will post pictures of it when I get it all handstitched down.

Nancy was working on a beautiful Moda pattern that is something new just shown at Market.

Sharon ( http://totallyobsessedwithallthingscreative.blogspot.com/ ) was working feverishly on getting rid of stash by making a scrappy quilt that we had recently seen at a quilt show. (but we believe her stash was reproducing itself as the pile never seemed to get smaller)

Here's the pattern she is working on. Actually...she was just going by a picture that we had taken at the quilt show.

Also, Sharon's friend, Claudette came and spent some time with us this weekend. She not a quilter, but rather she is a photographer and she tagged along with us looking for inspiration so that she could take some photos. Pop over to her blog and see a quilt store from her eyes. It's great. See her June 11 post about us.

http://lifesajourneynotadestinationn.blogspot.com/

I sure needed this little quilty weekend away. The wedding is this weekend and I am missing out on my St. Louis retreat with my online friends because apparently my daughter didn't believe me when I told her the rules.....no weddings, no babies being born, no nothing to take place during the week of my St. Louis retreat!!! Oh well, I guess I will have to stay home for her wedding. Pictures of that will be posted most likely this weekend, so stay tuned!!! :D

Look who is moving into my house.

2011-06-08T17:43:00.001-04:00

This is Annie. Isn't she adorable?

I saw these Annies first on Sharon's blog ... http://redgeraniumcottage.typepad.com/my_weblog/

She collects them and after she posted pictures of ALL of hers, I just couldn't resist checking out the website where she gets them from which is here... http://www.raggedyoldannies.com/ . I have fallen in love.

If you are into folk art, this is one good place to find some adorable "Annies".

Also, pulled out the next Cherry Tree block that I intend to work on.....#15

Had it out last night to work on and ended up arranging seating for the wedding and that took a little while, so maybe tonight I will get in a few stitches.

Probably won't get it done too quickly with the wedding coming up, but at least I will have something to work on while my nerves are getting to me.

Well, keep cool. It's in the high 90s here today and sitting here with my laptop isn't all that comfortable, so I will be back later. Happy quilting.

#16 Cherry Tree block and thread.....

2011-06-06T22:17:00.000-04:00

I finally got another block of the Cherry Trees done.

I know...they look like grapes, but I am sticking with the red and green theme of this quilt (with just a smattering of rosey shades as of late). Of course, there ARE red grapes, right?

This block, also, requires some embroidery stems, but because I made my cherries slightly bigger, I am not so sure that I am going to bother with the embroider since there isn't much room now. Of course, that is something I can always do a little later.

Another thing I wanted to discuss with you is silk thread. While at the AQS show in Paducah I had taken a block to work on and I had only about a yard of green silk thread left on my spool, so my mission was to find green thread in a vendor's booth. You can ask Sandy over at http://sewthisismyblog.blogspot.com/ ......I got carried away.

I bought three spools ....all in about the same shade of green that I am using for the Cherry Tree blocks. I won't be running out soon.

Anyways, I bought Clover, Kimono and YLI. These are all different from what I usually use. Tire is the one I usually go for. So far from the new ones I have tried the Clover and Kimono. I like them both, but the Kimono one is really nice.

So....what kind of thread do you use for your applique and why? I would really like to know.

Because of the 17-Day Diet

2011-05-29T18:36:00.001-04:00

This is what I am working on to keep me busy.

It's my grape vine block from the Beyond the Cherry Trees BOM.

Now back to the diet thing. This is what I started today.

Why? Well, it all has to do with the wedding that is coming up next month for my daughter. I bought a very form fitting dress and when I went to the alterations gal, I wore my Spanx to get that smoothe fit. WELL!!! By the time I drove the 15-20 minutes to get to her house, my arms were numb, I could barely breathe and I am thinking...hey! I want to be able to sit and EAT at my own daughter's wedding. Anyways....I have decided to do without the Spanx and not that I NEED to lose any weight, but I wouldn't mind getting rid of that "roll" that seems to be right in the "middle" of me! So......I have done the big "healthy food shopping" thing and started the "diet" this morning. I am dying. I need to keep busy.

Several of the gals at work are on this diet and let me tell you, the weight loss is amazing and it happens quickly. I'll be happy with 5-8 lbs.....maybe 10. With 5, my dress should be good as long as what I lose is that "roll" and nothing else.

Anyways, back to the grapevine. I am going to make my grapes red to go along with all my other cherry tree blocks and I have tallied up how many grapes/cherries I need for this block.

There are a couple sizes of grapes, so I have tallied how many of each by highlighting the smaller ones. So I am going to start cutting out circles of fabric and get them prepared so that I can just stitch away and get this rather busy block done.

It's kind of a cruel twist of fate that I am trying to avoid thinking of food, yet I need to make grapes for this block. Really....that is just cruel.

Wedding quilt (Triple Irish Chain) and more.....

2011-05-22T19:16:00.000-04:00

It was no easy feat to get my husband to figure out how he was going to help me display this quilt so that I could get some decent pictures. I think he nixed the idea of having to "hold" it up. I had even suggested getting one of the neighbors to help him do that.

After some thought, he got out the clamps and we clamped it to the eaves over the garage door.

I had to be quick and get a couple good pictures between gusts of wind. I think we have some storms moving in, but I was determined to get these pictures today.

I don't see any glaring mistakes, so if it is not popping out at me now, I am satisfied.

Here's a little closer to see the quilting.

My quilter did feathered wreaths in the open areas and continuous curves in the patchwork areas.

Here's just a peek at the backing. It's nothing fancy except for what I think is a very pretty fabric and I am glad I have some left overs of it, too.

Now that this quilt is out of the way, I am getting busy on some of my other projects. I had to catch up on my birthday exchange blocks and these two are the last for June.

Red - white- blue

Blue and cream

Oh....and remember this?

My moldy glue?

Well, thanks to Colleen over at http://www.quiltsomething.com/, she sent me a new bottle, a beautiful fat quarter and a Marti Mitchell corner trimmer. She said she had never heard of any of her glues going moldy before.

All-in-all, this was a very productive and satisfying weekend. Hope you all got to get some stitching in.

The end is in sight.....

2011-05-19T21:53:00.000-04:00

I have been binding for the last four evenings. One side a night.

The end is in sight. This was my last side to do.

Just a few more stitches.

Thank goodness for my handy dandy needle threader or it would have taken me longer. So glad I picked up that little wood needle threader rest while I was in Paducah. It sat so nicely on the arm of my chair.

Done!!! Every square inch is bound. Just need to do something for a label. May even think of washing and drying it to get that great "crinkly" look that I love and my daughter loves.

You will have to wait until I get a couple big guys to hold this baby up so that I can get a truly great picture of it. It will be the first time for even "me" to see the quilt as a whole, too. It's just so big...104" square.

Ah...I can relax a little now. I won't have to be stitching the binding down at the reception. LOL

Procrastinating kind of day....

2011-05-15T19:51:00.000-04:00

My plan was to go into the sewing room and get busy on the binding for the wedding quilt, but there were some things to move and put away so that I could even get to the sewing machine for a queen-sized quilt.

So, I thought I would punch out some circles for a couple Cherry Tree blocks that require a few cherries.

From each Hanes Pantyhose cardboard insert, I got a good 60+ of the 3/4" circles and around 85 of the 5/8" circles. I think I am ready to get busy making some cherries and grapes.

Then while I was in Paducah for the AQS show, I stopped at Hancocks and bought yet another piece of the French General fabric which I used to cut out a couple more backgrounds. I traced out the pattern and then transferred it slightly to the fabric. Now I just need to make the applique pieces and then #20 will be prepped.

Upon digging deeper in the mess that I had on my sewing table, I realized I had a couple more birthdays coming up, so I needed to get my blocks made for the "birthday star block exchange".

Purple and chartreuse and black

Another black and white one.

I do have a couple more to make for June which I probably should get to as things will be getting hairy in June because of the wedding, but they will have to wait for another day.

Speaking of the wedding. I did plan on working on the wedding quilt today. It was just one of those kind of days when it is cool, windy and rainy all day, so where else would I rather be? Right?

Ok....I would have been mad at myself if I didn't get to the binding on that quilt. That was why I went in the sewing room in the first place.

So, here I am getting it started.

and here it sits on the floor with the binding machine stitched on and all trimmed.

Now I will be sitting in front of the TV for the next few nights handstitching this thing down. It's a big one, so it will be a few days, but at least I did what I set out to do today and some extra stuff, too. All-in-all....it's a good feeling.

Hope you all got to put in a few stitches this weekend.

Happy Mother's Day.

2011-05-08T19:31:00.000-04:00

No better way to spend the day than to see your kids, grandkids and your own mom, but the next best thing is to find the time to get into your sewing room and that is what I did and where I finished up #18 block of Beyond the Cherry Trees (BTCT).

The only thing holding me back on this block (which was #3 of my five blocks prepped) was the centers of the flowers. I had to make something like 1/2" circle templates....which after all, I did not do.....because....while in Paducah, I was watching this lady demonstrate how she did her applique on circle templates and then when she went to show it again, she used a "hole punch" and boy did my ears and eyes perk up. Why didn't I think of this before?

So upon coming home, I ran to the nearest craft store and bought myself a 3/4" punch and I am still looking for a really good 5/8" punch as well (all so that I can move onto the next ...and what I think of as the most tedious block which has 100 or more circles or as some would call them either grapes or cherries). I have been putting off this block because of all the different sizes of cherries/grapes that are needed. Now, I have ordered my 1" circle templates from Paper Piecers in the past and love them, but for this next block, I really don't need 100 or more of each size, so this seemed to me to be the next best thing. Anyways...... I punched out these circles from the cardboard insert of my Hanes pantyhose (yes.....I still wear pantyhose AND I save the cardboard inserts for templates!) and I made the four flower centers from those and they worked out just great! I am so excited. I may not be putting off the cherry/grape block too much longer. Just need to find that 5/8" punch.

Of course, now the only thing that is going to hold me back on working on the next BTCT block is that the wedding quilt came back from the quilter on Friday.....so......I need to put on something like 460" of binding. That quilt is so big that I haven't even seen this quilt as a whole. But, the binding needs to be put on and I need to call it a day on that quilt. I have a little over a month before it needs to be done, but this is one project I CANNOT procrastinate on. So....you may not see me post again until I come up for air from underneath the "wedding quilt". Unless, I need a break. ;D

Paducah and back....

2011-05-01T15:12:00.000-04:00

What a whirlwind few days. I commend the AQS for putting on such a great show and having to change the venue at the very last minute because of flooding. I took a few pictures, but I bought the book of all the quilts, so didn't take as many as I would have normally. What I did take pictures of was the exquisite quilting on many or maybe I should say most of these quilts. I don't know how next years quilts are going to beat these. Anyways, here are a few of the quilts and their quilting that just made my heart sing.

I could go on and on, but I am sure you can see all of the quilts on the AQS website.

Now I mentioned the flooding. We lived it first hand as we stayed at Lighthouse Landing about 30 miles out of Paducah.

By the end of our stay, this sign and the parking lot to the left of it were all under water.

See those posts? They were at the edge of the parking lot.

The great people at Lighthouse Landing worked tiredlessly making a new roadway for their guests to get in and out of the complex in case the road to and from got flooded, which it did.

Here you can see the road off to the left just starting to have water encroach.

Here it is closed off.

We watched the river coming up over the few days we were staying there.

First day, it was already high with a fire hydrant half submerged.

The fire hydrant is that little yellow thing in the left hand side of the picture. Watch the fence line.

Up to the fence.

Way past now. There was a road going along side the beach that was no where to be seen, but this is how we ended our days.

Can't beat a sunset like that. I can almost see a quilt make like that with black silhouettes.

I did come away with a little bit of a haul. Now mind you, I flew and only took carry on luggage, so I had to be kind of good. Thank goodness for good strong men on the plane that helped me pick that thing up over my head. LOL.

I bought a yard of upholstery fabric from Hancock's of Paducah for pillows to accent my study that needs new paint.

....and here's the rest of my haul.

I had a glorious time. Ran into about 15 gals from an online message board that I am on and we shared strawberry shortcake which is a highlight of the week; and have just come away totally inspired.

I pray that the rising waters (which I hear are still rising) don't do damage and that everyone in that area will be safe and sound.

Ok...now to put that inspiration to work.

It pays to prep ahead of time.

2011-04-24T19:43:00.000-04:00

Being behind on my block of the month, I thought it wise to prep all five of my blocks while I had the time. What I am finding out is that when the stitching bug hits me, all I have to do is sit down and stitch.

Novel idea, right?

Well, I checked back on my last post and it has only been four days since I finished the last block.

Block #19 is now done, too.

That's pretty quick for me. I mean, there has been work, there's been shopping and Easter all within those four days, so I am thinking that all my prep work has paid off.

I'll have to remember that the next time. yeah, right.....I am usually not that organized, but it is a good thought.

I have my next block all picked out to work on, but it is going to go into my suitcase. I am heading to Paducah via St. Louis.

I am meeting up with my friend Sandy who lives in St. Louis

http://sewthisismyblog.blogspot.com/

and we are driving to Paducah and meeting up with a bunch of friends there to enjoy the big AQS show. It's the 27th annual show. I have been there a couple times and it is well worth going to if you have never been there before.

http://www.americanquilter.com/shows_contests/paducah/2011/general_info/

I don't have a quilt in the show this year, but I can always dream!

I'll see you when I get back and with some pictures, too, I am sure.

#17 Cherry Trees is done.

2011-04-20T17:13:00.001-04:00

This is the first of my five prepped blocks that I just completed. I picked an easy one just to get some quick satisfaction....and it is satisfying to see my pile a little smaller.

Now I am going to pick out the next easiest one just to get another one done. I feel like I am on a roll.

See you soon.

Getting some stuff done.

2011-04-17T17:12:00.001-04:00

Finally getting to some of my own quilting. Everything had been on hold since I was working on the wedding quilt.

I have five blocks prepped and ready to stitch for the Beyond the Cherry Tree Quilt Album (that's how far behind I am).

#15 through #19 have all the pieces (or almost all) glue basted down with Roxanne's glue. These aren't in any specific order.

This next one requires numerous cherries/grapes and from what I have heard there are over a hundred.

This next one doesn't have all its pieces glued down as there are way too many and some of them are layered so I didn't want them falling off while I was working on the block.

In between all this prepping, I made another "star birthday block" for my exchange and it is ready to be mailed.

What a good feeling to be sewing for myself again. Just maybe I can make a dent in my sewing room that seems to have been ignored for quite some time.

Hope to be back soon with a finished block.....or two.

Beyond the Cherry Trees has been on hold until now.....

2011-04-11T19:36:00.002-04:00

Beyond the Cherry Tree Quilt Album has been on the back burner for some time now, but I am hoping to get back on track real quick.

Block #15 is where I stopped. I just need to trace the pattern on my background fabric and then I am good to go.

# 16, 17, 18 are all prepped as far as pattern pieces go; and I have just printed out the pattern for #19 that was put up for download yesterday.

The latest thing holding me back from working on this project was prepping for my daughter's bridal shower.

Prior to that was my oldest daughter, husband, three little boys (almost 2, 4 and 6) , a dog and a cat moved into our house after they sold their house and then working on getting their new house move- in ready (two months). So we moved them out, moved them in and moved them out again.

Prior to THAT, my father-in-law passed away and we had to move all his stuff out of his house and get that house ready to sell.

...and prior to that, my mother-in-law passed away and we had to move her things out of the assisted living and then settle her estate.

If you are thinking of moving.... please don't ask for help!

In and amongst all those things, I was working on my daughter's wedding quilt (top priority) which is now at the quilters. (sigh)

I don't mean to sound like I am complaining. Life is what it is; and you do what you have to do, but it is time for ME and I really NEED to get back to my Cherry Trees.

Although,.... I did find some time to finish another Elm Creek Quilts book....The Quilter's Homecoming, but now I have to make some progress on some of my own quilting, so hopefully the next time you see me post, it will be something about my latest Cherry Trees block.

Wish me luck!

Just like chips.....

2011-04-03T20:41:00.000-04:00

chips...you can't eat just one;

and the same goes for the "Just One Star" challenge

I couldn't just make one, so I made two. I am sure most of you have heard about the challenge by Moda to make just one star. If not, you can read about it here.

http://www.unitednotions.com/LA_just_one_star.pdf

I would, also, like to share with you the beautiful fabric that I found this weekend to back my daughter's wedding quilt.

It is Wild Rose by Blackbird Designs (Moda) and I really love it. I think it will really compliment the brown and pink triple Irish chain. Can't wait to get this one quilted.

Well, enjoy the last few hours of your weekend. I know I have enjoyed the few hours I have gotten to spend in my sewing room NOT working on the wedding quilt.

This is not an April Fool's joke.....

2011-04-01T14:12:00.000-04:00

The wedding quilt "top" is DONE!!!

I said I wouldn't post anymore pictures of it until it was done and my goal was to have it done by the end of March, so I am thinking April 1st isn't too bad.

Anyways, yesterday there was a pile of blocks.

Doesn't look like much, does it? There are 25 blocks but each of them will finish out at 20".

Then I sewed the rows and got them all pressed.

With no one here to hold it up for me, this is the best that I can do to show you the quilt. It measures 100" square.

Now I am off to look for a backing.

If I can get this quilted and back sometime in May, I should be able to get the binding on (which is made) and have it stitched down BEFORE the reception, not AT it.

I will post pictures of the totally completed quilt hopefully before June.

Yeah....I can finally start something new.

Segments, sections and blocks....

2011-03-18T21:17:00.000-04:00

My goal is to have this quilt top done by the end of this month.

My segments are all made for the next step of this quilt.

...and half of the sections are now made

so, one of those with one of these....

will make this....

which is half of this.....

a whole block. So, the next time you see any of these pieces, it WILL be a quilt top.

But now I have a dilema. My little travel Rowenta that I love using for my piecing is just not steaming anymore.

I think it is dying. It is heating, but not enough to make steam. So, I guess a new one is in order unless you have a suggestion for a great little, travel, steam iron.

Now, I would like to show you the birthday exchange stars that I have received so far.

I have, also, received a beautiful red and white star from Sharon over at http://grassrootsquilting.blogspot.com/ all in honor of the Red and White quilt show that is in New York City. It's beautiful and both red and white are in dots....which I love. Thank you Sharon!

Here's a little article on the Red and White Quilt Show.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704893604576200603057836930.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Until next time!

Monday's star

2011-03-14T21:10:00.000-04:00

This is Neen's block.

One more to go and I will start thinking of layouts.

Today's star

2011-03-11T22:47:00.000-05:00

Ruthie's

These blocks are going to make a beautiful quilt and all from my friends.

Three more stars....

2011-03-11T09:18:00.000-05:00

Lonnie's

Georgia's

Cathie's

Makes my birthday last so much longer!!!

"They say it's my birthday"....... (sing along)

2011-03-08T18:29:00.001-05:00

and this is the mode that I should be in.

the inside of this card says

"On your birthday, remember---

the best things in life are free.

Everything else can be charged."

Yup...that's me.

Over the last three days I have received several more of my birthday exchange stars. Here are the latest and if I have the names wrong, forgive me, but they are all getting jumbled up with their respective cards because I allowed too much time to pass.

Bonnie's

Rebecca's

Joann's

Mary's

Jayne's

and a bonus one from Sandy who isn't in the exchange group, but knew I would need at least one more for a quilt top.

So, that means I have 12 of the 19 (well, I am one of those 19) and one bonus block from a good friend, Sandy. So....six more to go.

Oh, while out for a few minutes this weekend, I did pick up some more pinks and browns so that I can hopefully get to finishing that wedding quilt.

That's it for me tonight.

Happy birthday to me!

Three more birthday stars

2011-03-04T21:57:00.001-05:00

Just thought I would share the latest three birthday exchange stars that came in the mail yesterday and today.

Thank you Gail, Gwen and Shirley.

Once I get a few more, I will lay them out so you can see them all together.

FYI...

2011-03-01T22:15:00.001-05:00

Since my last post, I have had a few people comment on my table top seam ripper. It works great for when you do a lot of chain stitching. I think I received this one as a gift.

You can see mine here.... http://mimispassions.blogspot.com/2011/02/making-some-headway.html , so I did a little google search and found this great one from Fons and Porter.

http://www.shopfonsandporter.com/product/Fons-and-Porter-Tabletop-Seam-Ripper/

Another cute one is this heart shaped one.

It can be found here.

http://www.quiltersreview.com/article.asp?article=/review/product/011217_a.asp

These are a little different from mine, but still the same concept. The one good thing about the first one is that there is a storage place for the seam ripper's cover.

While I am posting, too, I got another one of my birthday stars today.

These stars are going to make one great quilt!

Thanks Bert.

Making some headway

2011-02-28T22:55:00.000-05:00

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.

Birthday Star Exchange....

2011-02-18T21:09:00.000-05:00

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.

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

2011-02-10T23:15:00.003-05:00

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.

Snow day....

2011-02-02T21:20:00.000-05:00

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.

working on the wedding quilt...

2011-01-29T15:54:00.001-05:00

Had to do a lot of cutting of strips.

Cut them to size

Make some small segments.

Sew them together to make the block segments.

Then sew some sections together to make some more blocks.

So progress has been made; and it's starting to reveal just what it is going to look like. I do look at that piles of strips and wonder if I have enough to make two of these quilts! Makes it a little hard when you aren't going by a "quilt" pattern and only a "block" pattern. So, we will see.

It would be so much easier to make this quilt in only three fabrics. This working scrappy is making it a much more tedious process, but well worth it.

Also, thought you might be interested to know that I contacted the company regarding my "moldy" applique glue.

Her first remark to me was "horrors!". She had never heard of that, but the good thing is that she is sending me a new bottle. I am going to date that bottle; and while I am using it for my Cherry Trees blocks, I will see if or when and how long it takes it to do that again. Thanks to those who suggested I contact them.

Ok...back to working on the quilt.

Trash equals progress....

2011-01-23T20:34:00.003-05:00

This is what I was looking at earlier today and to me it represents that I have been in my sewing room and actually sewing because there are scraps, snippets, threads, bent pins, dull needles, etc. in my trash containers. Not a pretty site, but definitely means I am making some headway on some of my projects.

First project is this one....

The baby quilt is done! Yeah! ...and with lots of time to spare. I finished quilting it yesterday and even put the binding on and had it hand stitched down before heading off to bed last night.

Today, I put it in the washer and dryer to give it that comfy, cozy look that I love.

I did a cross hatch on this one even though I had some lovely suggestions on how to machine quilt this myself on my regular machine. Since I was on a time crunch, I was afraid of ruining it at the last minute and not having time to rip it all out and start over. Anyways...it is done and there is always next time to experiment.

I finished this book this morning. I am trying to read all of the Chiaverini books in order and felt that this one "story-wise" was a little out of order, but still a very good read. I wish I had been able to read this during the holidays because the storyline would have been so appropriate.

Next....

I plan on reading this one. Thanks to my friend Sandy over at http://sewthisismyblog.blogspot.com/who has sent me all of her Elm Creek Quilts books, I don't have to wait to run to the store to pick up the next one. Hmmm...I only have about 8 more to read and then I will be caught up. Jennifer's next book comes out in February. Don't think I will make it though.

Now to get busy!!!

The wedding quilt is my next BIG project. I made some segments this afternoon and put them together to make some of the sections. This is a Triple Irish Chain. Each single block is made up of four sections. I was throwing together some of the easier sections. In fact, the one on the far left is probably a layer of 8 or more blocks. It's the other section that is time consuming. I only made one of those this afternoon. But, I have to say it is taking shape rather quickly now. Wedding is in June. I am hoping to have the top done by March or maybe April.....but those blocks are big and may make up quicker than I anticipate.

Now...explain this one to me. I was working at my sewing machine and was looking at my favorite applique glue sitting off to the side. "Glue Something"

But look at this! Have you ever seen anything like it before?

I am thinking it is moldy! Heck, I have Elmer's glue that I have had for years and it has never turned "moldy". This stuff isn't cheap, but I am thinking I may just have to throw it out before basting my next Beyond the Cherry Trees block. I would love to hear what you have to say about this. I still love using this though.

Well, need to kick back and work some more on the wedding guest list.

Happy quilting everyone!

Quilty Chicks....

2011-01-21T21:50:00.002-05:00

That's Nancy, Sharon and me....the Quilty Chicks. We met last Friday for a chatting, eating and show and tell afternoon.

Sharon's show and tell involved these lovelies.

These were just a few of her holly blocks. Since last Friday, she has made many more.

Also, she was knitting this gorgeous cowl for her daughter. Got me thinking of knitting a cowl for my daughter...or maybe for me.

Nancy had plenty to show.

These were some of the hot pads she had made for Christmas gifts.

There were just a handful of her flannel blocks that she is making a large quilt out of. It is going to be very pretty and cozy.

Nancy made this lovely quilt out of her Aunt Gracie fabrics.

Nancy was, also, caught up in making the hexagons that Sharon had gotten us for Christmas. Only thing is that Nancy is starting to put some of hers together. Me...I just keep making hexagons (100 already).

I did get all the rows put together for the hst baby quilt.

Picked up some fabric for the backing and binding for this quilt.

I now have the binding made and the quilt is layered and pinned. Here it is in the pinned stage.

I now have half of it quilted, but I will save that until another post.

As for my Cherry Tree BOM....

This is where I stand on block #15. I have printed up block #16, but what with work (and believe me there have been some hellish days lately); my oldest dear daughter selling her house, buying a new house and planning on moving herself, her husband, three kids, a cat and a dog into MY house until they can fix up the new house; my trying to get prepared for my youngest dear daughter's wedding in June (I am working on the guest list as we speak and will be going out tomorrow to START looking for a dress for myself; babysitting ..or should I say dog sitting for my son this weekend......I just don't have the energy to pick up my applique right now. I have been trying to get some reading in and finished up Sugar Camp Quilts and am halfway through The Christmas Quilt ...both by Elm Creek Quilts. Oh well, I should be happy that I am finding the time to work on any quilt at this time.

I am thankful for friends who have refreshed my spirit to get back to my sewing.

Well, back to the wedding list and the baby quilt. I will be posting my progress (or should I say a completed quilt) very soon.

Happy Quilting.

Not enough hours in a day....or a weekend

2011-01-09T20:18:00.000-05:00

When your time is limited due to work, family, home....etc...there just aren't enough hours to do all the things you want.

All the blocks for the baby quilt are stacked up in order... numbered by row with the top block being to the "left". I need to get that stitched.

I got hooked on playing with these hexagons. The Paper Pieces and the Luna Notte fabric were gifts for Christmas from Sharon http://totallyobsessedwithallthingscreative.blogspot.com/ and I just thought I would give them a try one evening and now I can't stop. I have one whole charm packet cut and ready to go and there is another one waiting in the wings.

Then there is my new Nook Color that I have "Sugar Camp Quilts" loaded on and I want to find the time to read this. If you don't know, this book is one of the Elm Creek Quilts series.

Then there is the #15 block for the Beyond the Cherry Trees that I am obviously going to be behind on since the new one is due out tomorrow, but hey....there was Christmas, New Years, trying to work on a wedding quilt, etc.

Here most of the freezer paper pieces have a fabric mate now. I am going to trace around the patterns and trim them up a little and then it will be time to start stitching on this block.

Like I said...there just aren't enough hours in a day or for me, there just isn't enough time on the weekend.

Hope you find time to take a few stitches.

Layer, stitch, trim.....

2011-01-08T19:51:00.000-05:00

I did some more of that today with those half square triangles (hst).

Layered

Layered the print with the white, marked it with the pencil and stitched on both sides of each diagonal line and then cut.

Then did some trimming and making lots of confetti.

Laid out the blocks (all but one set of 8 that I was short and had to do to finish this). Then....

laid out all the blocks to show what the quilt top will look like.

Think I will sew this together another day. There's a lot of pinning to do to get these rows done, so tomorrow will suffice.

Baby quilt is on it's way.

2011-01-07T16:00:00.001-05:00

I have been inspired by a quilt that Sharon worked on. You can see it here. http://grassrootsquilting.blogspot.com/ There is a baby shower that I have been invited to at the end of this month and I thought I would take some of my Aunt Gracie fabrics and some white and work up a bunch of half square triangles and see where it got me. The first batch made is here.

I have to make up another 80 or so blocks and I will have a baby quilt top. There will be 3 "open" squares by 4 "open squares. It will give me 36 x 48. Then there will be borders if I so choose.

I am using the Quilt in a Day half sqare triangle ruler and I just love using it as I have always hated making hst's, but with this ruler, they are a snap. You get 8 at a time. Love it!

So, I hope to have a finished quilt in no time at all. Of course, since I can't machine quilt like Sharon does, mine won't be as beautiful as hers. ;)

Gotta go get busy. My daughter's wedding quilt is waiting, so I need to get this one out of the way.

Happy Quilting!

Good start to the New Year.....

2011-01-02T21:45:00.000-05:00

Now...if I can only keep up the momentum. I spent the good part of yesterday in my sewing room and got quite a bit accomplished.

First, I have given up on the Jack's chain block for my daughter's wedding quilt (in June). I had to do too much fudging on the triangle blocks to make the block lie flat and just thinking of doing a queen sized quilt with this block put me in a funk,

so I have redirected my thoughts in this direction. .....

This is the first block to a triple Irish chain. I am still going with the pink, brown and dash of green scrappy on the cream background. I am finding that scrappy isn't as easy as just whipping out a couple colors. You have to make several segments ahead to get that really scrappy feel for each block, so that is my goal first ....make lots of segments.

Also, I pulled out three quilts that have been sitting for some time. One of them needed a backing made up, so I did that. Check that one off the list. The first one was a round robin that I did with an online group that I get together with once a year in St. Louis, MO. We worked on it for a year and then at our retreat we got our original top back. I thought I would hand quilt that one.....but that's not going to happen.

The second quilt has been in the closet for a number of years. It is a simple flannel quilt that I bought quite a few skeins of perle cotton for which I was going to hand quilt in a big stitch. Obviously, that isn't going to happen either.

The third quilt is the basket quilt that I did at Gwen Marston's Beaver Island retreat this summer. That one I have intended on getting quilted. They are all out of the closet and in the car.

The next project that I worked on was for a birthday block exchange. There are 19 of us from that same message board. We are doing a variety of stars in the color choices of each participant. I wish I could post a picture of my first block...black and white; but I will have to wait until she gets her block on her birthday.

Then, there has been this quilt in my closet for quite some time. It's my son's (who is 33) and it is his childhood quilt that was made by my mother. It started falling apart awhile back and I thought rather than let it get worse, I took it away from him (it was one of his favorites to wrap up in while watching TV) before it got worse. Here's what's happening with it.

It is machine appliqued with a satin stitch and then hand tied.

The problem is the seersucker fabric is rotting.

I thought I would try cutting away at the satin stitch, but that proved to be too difficult without damaging the background fabric.

So, I just cut away the bad fabric.

Made the hat and appliqued it down by hand using needle turn as satin stitching wasn't going to work without seeing the stitching on the backing.

I was so admiring my handiwork (the hat) when I realized that the scarf was falling apart, too. (sigh) Guess I will be fixing that next if I want this quilt out of my closet. One more thing though....the edges of the quilt are showing a lot of wear, so I am going to have to find some fabric that will compliment the quilt and bind ~~the stupid thing~~ it. I so want it gone....can you tell?

Now I am going to sit and trace my #15 block for Beyond the Cherry Trees. I think once I get that start, it shouldn't take me long to get it done....probably right before block #16 comes out.

I certainly hope your new year has started out with a bang. Enjoy stitching. Happy New Year to all of you again.

New Years Eve 2010-2011

2010-12-31T22:09:00.000-05:00

I thought I would enjoy a cup of hot cocoa while I worked at gutting my sewing room today. The hot cocoa mix was part of my Christmas gift from Nancy, one of the gals in my mini group. The mug was part of my gift to Nancy and Sharon. We have called ourselves "the Quilty Chicks" practically from day one

and when I saw this mug, I just had to get it for all of us.

So I enjoyed my hot cocoa.

even though I barely made a dent in the sewing room.

But, it's going to be a work in progress because I need to get in there and start working on my daughter's wedding quilt....like now.

That's ok though.....tomorrow is another ~~day~~ year.

Hope you all have a very Happy New Year and may 2011 be even better than 2010.

Happy New Year!!!

Merry Christmas 2010

2010-12-25T18:44:00.000-05:00

Just like that, all our prep is done. Dinners are eaten. Gifts are opened. The children are happy with their new toys. We just have the New Year to think about and then it will be 2011. Time just flies by way too fast. I guess it's really not that far fetched to start thinking of what we will be making for next Christmas. I for one will probably be a procrastinator and be way behind again next year.

But, I do hope you all had a very Merry and Happy Christmas with family and friends; and I look forward to all the new projects we will be working on in the new year.

Sit back, kick up your feet and enjoy yourselves and remember all the wonderment that Christmas brings

Merry Christmas to all my friends.

Baby it's cold outside!

2010-12-21T21:10:00.000-05:00

It's really been cold here in Michigan, so I thought I would share just a couple of my "indoor" snowmen.

The one around my flocked tree are a little hard to see, but there are a few of the "ice cube" snowmen at the base.

A couple weeks ago we were suffering through 12 below wind chills with temperatures going down to about -6 at night. I was going to make my winter hat (knit), but I didn't have the right sized needles, so instead I got out my wool yarn and made myself a pair of socks.

I have to say, they kept me toasty warm this past weekend when we did the Christmas Walk at Greenfield Village.

Hope everyone is staying warm and that you are ready for the holidays. I finally am; and I am looking forward to all the festivities with family and friends.

Check out the great giveaway!

2010-12-14T19:11:00.000-05:00

If you love solids, P.S. I Quilt is giving away a whole bundle of Kona solids. Check it out here and give it a try http://www.psiquilt.com/

Two more done....

2010-12-06T18:54:00.000-05:00

I would have posted these last night, but a 1/4 of Michigan was without internet last night through to this morning. Not sure why, but here are the final two blocks for now.

Wow, there sure were a lot of pieces to this one block. Almost lost my dotted fabric that I used for the background on this one.

Well, that's it for now. I have to prep more blocks before I work on them again. Cherry Trees will be out in a couple of days, so that will be my next priority. Also, it is so cold here in Michigan that I am thinking of getting out my yarn that I bought to make a hat and get started on that. The cold is my incentive.

Happy Quilting!

What I am doing in between The Cherry Tree blocks....

2010-12-03T20:09:00.003-05:00

I was just reminded by a message board that I am a member of. One of the staples for this board is....Motivational Friday....where we report what we have been working on for the past week. So, I thought I would share it here, too.

My immediate priority is to keep up on the Cherry Tree Block of the Month, but when I am finished with that, I try to work on Hearts and Hands (although I should be devoting ALL my spare time on my daughter's wedding quilt). Anyways, I had some of these prepped, so picked them up and started stitching. I have been stitching a little on this one and a little on that one. These three just got completed.

These four are in progress and nearing the finished mark.

I think the wedding quilt is feeling a little daunting to me right now, but I know once I get to it, I will go gunho. For now it just feels good to get some of these completed.

Guess I had better get busy and get these four done. Then there are plenty of other projects calling my name, too.

Ok, got one more done tonight.

Last one to be added tonight....

What did you do before you started quilting?

2010-11-29T19:32:00.002-05:00

I just had a blast from the past. My grandson has to donate a few items for the Children's Christmas Fair at school where each of the kids get to go shopping for their own family members. It is preferable to have homemade items for the kids to buy. So.....I went digging in the recesses of my basement for the boxes that contained the "hobby" I had before quilting. It was tole painting. I pulled a few ornaments that I had painted (just a few items amongst the enormous amount of stuff) for an open house that I had back in .....oh gosh...hate to admit this...'93 or '94. These are the items I picked out for grandson #1.

I have probably about 8 or 9 of the blue "quilted" santa, three of the checkerboard Santa and 5 or 6 of the angels.

Over the years, I have dabbled in several "hobbies".....knitting, crocheting, macrame, counted cross stitch, embroidery, ceramics, but tole painting was a big one. I had all the bells and whistles for it and to this day I am having a hard time getting rid of some of those things. Obviously, I can't seem to get rid of the pieces that I painted either AND and have a whole load of raw wood that still needs painting, but probaby won't ever get painted.

Same goes with my quilting. Another BIG hobby, but I can see quilting lasting a whole lot longer.

Looking at my Santas made me think just how much quilting was in my blood for a very long time....even before I thought of quilting.....especially when you look at the quilted Santa.

It was fun looking through those boxes. If I don't touch them for another year or two, I can see going through them again when Grandson #2 comes along and has to bring items to school. I will most likely gladly do it for the kids.

Anyways, I was just wondering.....what did you do before you started quilting?

#14 is done

2010-11-21T19:24:00.000-05:00

Cherry Tree block, that is.

Just thought about this. #13 was the "hump" block (like Wednesday is hump day of the week). #14 means we are on the downslope. Only 11 more to go. OMG! That's another year. I sure hope I can hold out.

This one is for my friends....

2010-11-14T21:25:00.001-05:00

....who say that I will be putting the binding on my daughters wedding quilt at the reception. The wedding is in June and until tonight, I hadn't started the quilt. So, here is the first block.

I had taken my time deciding on what pattern to use (wanted that perfect one) and finally chose Jack's chain from Quilter's Cache. http://www.quilterscache.com/J/JacksChainBlock.html

My daughter hasn't been a great deal of help. I thought she was contemporary, but she has chosen pink and brown civil war type fabrics ( I am also throwing in a few greens for interest). Now that's NOT contemporary. She likes the double wedding ring, but all those curves scared me ....or at least enough not to attempt a queen-sized quilt at this time. Everything I showed her, I didn't get the most positive response, but when I saw Jack's Chain, I thought it was similar to a double wedding ring, but hopefully easier. Well.....I had a heck of a time getting this block done. There are a lot of y-seams AND the block was super wavy when I had it completed, so I ended up taking in a smidgeon on several of the triangles' seams. It lies pretty flat now, but I sure hope that I am not going to have to do that for ALL the blocks.

Anyways, to make things a little easier, I am using Fons and Porters hexagon ruler and am using the largest measurement (outside edge) for the center of the block.

Then once I have my fabric pieces cut out in the hexagon shape, I made a plastic template of this ruler with little holes (made by using my 1/8" hole punch) at the 1/4" intersections so that I can lay this onto the hexagon and just use a pencil to mark the points were I have to start and stop my stitching (the lovely y-seam).

So, this block consists of a hexagon, six 9-patches and six triangles. Now...would you think that I have a perfect triangle ruler? No!!! So, I have cut out a template for that, too.

I wish I could figure out how to draw up this block on my EQ, so that I would know how many blocks I am going to need. For now, I am just going to have to wing it.

Wish me luck to have this quilt done WAY BEFORE the wedding. I do want to have it done before the reception. ;D