Birthday Exchange Blocks

Here are 13 of 19 blocks that I received in the mail for a birthday  block exchange back in ........oh, I am guessing maybe 2006.   (oops!  later found out they were "only" from 2011)

This group of great gals originated on Alex Andersen's message board way back when.  There was some bickering going on, so the message board was shut down and a good majority of us continued messaging on another site that one of the members set up for us.  We've been friends for years now and actually met centrally once a year in Missouri with gals coming from as far as  California and then all the way from  Maine.  

Anyways, the rules of the exchange were 12 1/2" unfinished block, three choices of stars patterns and we got to request our colors (mine was cream background with a country red). 

Again, I don't know why I waited so long to finally get around to putting these together.  Maybe it was just coming up with the right layout.  I don't know.

Along with these stars, I also, had 12 embroidered stars  (red) given to me by a friend to do with as I pleased.  Since I thought I would kill two birds with one stone by using both types of blocks in one quilt, I had to do some figuring.  The embroidered blocks only measured 12" unfinished.  I cut them down to 9 1/2" and framed them with a windowpane fabric that I recently picked up when  I went on a girls weekend and of course we did a little shopping while we were out.   

First block done looked appealing.

So I continued with the rest.  

I am really happy with how the layout is looking. 

Now that the blocks are sewn into rows and into a finished center (I do have six more pieced stars left over, but there weren't enough of the embroidered star to make it all work out), I will add the borders.

Here's the skinny border to outline the center in a dark brick color. 

Then I am using the windowpane fabric that I used around the embroidered stars as the outer border.  

I am running out of space on the floor for display, but I am loving how this has turned out. 

Binding is  cut from the darker brick colored fabric and ready to go once I get this quilted. 

I will say working on this quilt top brought back a lot of  memories of chatting with these gals on the message boards, getting together at retreat, one is gone from cancer, others I never did get to meet, but the majority of them I got to see almost every year for several years in a row.  How time flies.

So, here's another one for the to-be-quilted pile.  Just need to find a back and it will be ready to go. 

Before putting this all away, I still have six birthday blocks left over. 

 I really didn't want to put them back into the stash, so I decided to make a baby quilt up with them and all the sashing and border fabric I had left over.  

Sashed them.

Put a border on them to make it around 40 x 50"

Also, had enough of the darker fabric to make binding for this quilt, too.  

Until I find some backing fabric for these two quilts, I can put them out of my mind for now.  

That's two more old UFOs done and off my mind and off my list.  

No good excuses....

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. 



Moving along....

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.  

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

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.

Segments, sections and blocks....

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!



FYI...

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.