Still Quilting

In my last post, I mentioned a quilt I am trying to finish to hit the 10/18 deadline for AQS Daytona.  I am still quilting.  I average about 2 hours/day on this quilt, and I'm just about halfway through.  I'm going to have to ramp it up if it's going to be finished before the end of this week!!

In the meantime, I've done a few other things.  Like Block of the Month, for guild.  I designed a pumpkin block for October.  The response was delightful!

 Look at that pumpkin patch!!  The blocks are about 8.5" unfinished.  The winner is going to have a lot of fun with these!

 For November, I gave them a foundation square and a piece of red silk.  We're going to try crazy quilting.  I sold all of the silk/foundation pieces that I brought with me.  If everyone brings their block back?  Someone is going to have a wonderful project!!!

As I said, I've been quilting steadily on a quilt.  But the crazy quilting messed up my space pretty quickly.  As I was trying to put things to right, I ran across a project from a Jean Wells class at least 2 or 3 years ago, if not longer.  It was done, except for the facing.  No time like the present to finish it, right?  Right!

I put the little quilt face down, right sides together, on the facing fabric, then cut.

 I pinned the edges, then stitched it in place.

 I drew around a box lid, then cut out the space, leaving a 1/4" seam allowance.  I turned it right-side out, pressed, and stitched down the raw edge.

 Once the stitching was done, I flipped it over.  Cute!!  It's approximately the size of a piece of paper.

And in other news, I cut my hair and donated it.

And I guess that's going to do it.  Back to working on that quilt.  Quilt faster!  Quilt faster!!  Goals are good.

Here and There and Back Again

ohmygoodness!  Have I not posted since my first visit to meet my little granddaughter?!  hmmm.  Well, I guess I've been a bit busy.  I was home for one week, before heading back to the mid-West.

During that week, guild met.  I've got a few months left of my Block of the Month commitment.  Par usual, I tossed together this month's block in the days preceding the meeting.  The response to September's Jacob's Ladder was not as enthusiastic as I had hoped.

 Perhaps October's pumpkin will attract more participants.  The applique is easier than it looks, with only 7 pieces, all curves, except for the stem.  I'm not sure I could have made anything easier than that.

 Before we left, quilts were delivered for the Tulare County Fair.  My friend Judie generously took care of both delivery and retrieval of my entries.  "Broken Shell Beach," made by 10 members of Sew Eclectic took top Professional honors with a BOS rosette.

 My quilt, "Shalom" also showed well.  Both of these quilts have been accepted into PIQF, so if you want to see them in person, I suggest you plan a trip to Santa Clara in October.  That's what I'm doing.

My friend Wendy and I traveled to Ohio on Sept 9, to visit our good friend Pat.  She left CA two years ago.  Finally, finally we were able to coordinate a visit to see her in her new environment.

Here we are, at Lake Erie:

 When Pat asked what we wanted to do, I'd asked, "Well, what is there to do?"  This was my first visit to Ohio, so I had no idea.  When she mentioned Lake Erie, well, I've never dipped a toe in a great lake before.  Let's do it!

As a thank you, Wendy and I did a bit of decorating in Pat's house.  It was painted a pale grey and white, that is just not Pat.  When she said, "I wish it was purple, " well, Wendy said, "We can paint it!"

 And so we did.  Isn't this so much better?  If you know Pat, you know that this is now her happy place.

Well, this post is getting a bit long, so I'll pick up with it again  in the morning.

Since I've returned home, I've been trying to get my sewing space under control.  Yesterday, I made enough progress to be able to get some machine quilting done.  I am trying to hit a deadline for entry that comes in October.  I don't have much time, but perhaps I'll hit this one.  Goals are good!

Happy Quilting!!

Keeping Busy

I've been busy, putting together more baby quilt tops.  sew sew sew.

This one was composed from leftover blocks from other quilts.  Most of them are recognizable from recent baby quilts.  The star points were made from binding trims.  Things rarely go to waste around here, that's for sure!

 This one was also made leftovers: some Double 4-patch blocks, some 4-patch, and some 4.5" squares.  I think these are really cute.  Some baby somewhere will love them.  :)

 My bin filled with string strips was overflowing.  This picture does not capture the color.  The center blocks are a limey green.  A friend says, "That looks like Giverny!"  I've never been there, but I love the comparison.

Rather than quilting these at this point, they are hanging with backs, waiting for basting.  I've chosen to focus on some handquilting.  I'm more than halfway through one of my quilts from the Katie Pasquini Masopust class that I took last year.  (or was it the year before?)

Block of the Month for guild continues to go well.  These are the blocks turned in for the July drawing.

 I asked everyone to make a second block, to be turned into a Quilt of Honor, for presentation to a local veteran at the county fair in September.  They rose to the challenge.  Just look at this nice stack of blocks!

 Here are my samples for next month:  Dutchman's Puzzle.

I made the Flying Geese units using squares on rectangles and then trimming.  I couldn't let those trim triangles go to waste.  I am behind on birthday cards, so I stitched them together.

See that piece of applique above the bias squares?  I am in the process of inserting it in the frame.  It's turning out to be a delightful piece.  I'll be sure to take a picture before I send it off.

And, lest you think I'm focusing on quilting, no, not really.  My current project is bark.

 I had 6 yards delivered on Friday.  I was able to clear out and fill my "secret garden" area on Friday.

 On Saturday, I cleared out the "island."  I added the bark yesterday.

 I also worked on this area, between our house and the neighbors.

Temperatures have been above 100 for the past several days, so I limit how long I'm out there working.  I make sure to stay in the shade, and when I can't take it any more, in I come.  This morning, I focused on a patch in the backyard.  The sad thing is that the pile of bark does not seem to be getting any smaller.

This afternoon?  I will be doing more hand quilting.  Goals are good!

A Sewing Interlude

I have more cruise photos.  Of course I do.  But we've been back for 3 weeks, and I've finally found myself in the "studio."  When I walked in, I was appalled.  It had been months since I went in there hoping to sew anything.  It's taken weeks to clear off the sewing surface to be able to sew.

Okay, so I admit it.  I cleared off the surface by dumping everything into a bin.  But I was desperate, doncha know?

I needed to put together the pattern for the guild Block of the Month, for June.  I chose square-in a square-in a square, inspired by the floor of the Sistine Chapel.

 I was pleased with the response to the previous month's pattern.  Judie won a lovely regatta.  I neglected to take a picture, so I was glad that Hallie was on the ball.  Aren't they cute?

 Back in October, when I taught the little seascapes class, I put together this sunset.  Over the weekend, I stitched down the turtle, trimmed the quilt, and bound it.  It has already arrived at its new home.  I think it turned out pretty cute, if I do say so myself.

And, finally, I'm back to sewing baby quilts.  We have two grandchildren currently in utero, as well as several friends expecting this year.  One of the babies is already 7 weeks old.  Little Hannah will get her quilt, as soon as I can sew it together.  It's all cut out and awaiting its turn patiently.

And that's what I've been up to since we returned.  Happy quilting!

Block of the Month

I neglected to show you the blocks turned in for our guild Block of the Month drawing.  Just a simple Bow Tie block, yet so much fun to play with!

And that's all for now.  

Happy Quilting!

Happy Bloggerversary!

Yesterday was our 11th anniversary.  It's been so long!  Time has flown. I was so busy, I missed touching base with you.  Is "But I was quilting!" an acceptable excuse?

I have a Monday deadline for two pieces for our Sew Eclectic challenge.  Each participant has at least one piece of the picture.  Tomorrow, we put them up on the wall and see what we've got.  What I've got is half done.  And I've got two pieces.

Here is the first section:

 It's actually further along now, almost completely quilted.

Here is the second section:

 The pieces at the bottom have all been appliqued into place.  I still need to choose fabrics, and then cut and applique the second half of the second piece.  yikes!  I'm running out of time!  Quilt faster!  Quilt faster!!

And finally, here is our little grandson.  At two weeks old, he's already gained a pound.  He and his daddy are getting along splendidly.  Such a tiny slip of a thing!

And that's all I've got for now.

oh wait!
Block of the Month for January was returned on Thursday.  The pattern is Broken Dishes, and is the perfect way to use up scrap triangles.  Not everyone read the caution about placement of lights and darks, but most of them did very well.  :)

And that's it for now.
Happy Quilting!!

Christmas is Coming

Yesterday was our guild Christmas luncheon.  So much fun!  So much food!  Each table was decorated by a different friendship group.  Our Itty Bitties table looked like this:

 I brought the dishes and red Waterford goblets for water.  I wish my camera had picked up more detail in the next image.  So many people were wearing red, it was quite festive.

 And the food!  Look at this selection of salads!  We opted for a salad and dessert potluck.  I thought it was quite the success.  Everything was delicious.

 This is the dessert table.  I didn't realize until just now that I should have waited for everything to be uncovered before snapping the pictures.

Twenty-three Corn and Beans blocks were turned in for the Block of the Month drawing.

 Next month's block is "Christmas Dishes."  It's the Broken Dishes pattern, done in Christmas fabrics.  It doesn't look like much, but can be turned into a really cute quilt.

I'm currently in the process of making ornaments.  Hopefully I'll get them finished soon.  Then I will post pictures.

Hope you're having a lot of fun, wrapped up in holiday prep.  I know I am!

Block of the Month

Guild met on Thursday.  The response to the Monkey Wrench block for November was wonderful.

 For next month, we're doing Corn & Beans.  I'm hopeful that the response to this one will be great as well.

Other than writing patterns and sewing samples, I've quilted one baby quilt and attached the binding.  Once it's stitched down, I'll have a finish.  yay!!

Blocks of the Month

The last time I posted, I realized that I'd been remiss in sharing the past months' blocks of the month with you.  I am the Block of the Month chairman for Valley Oak Quilt Guild.  We've had excellent participation throughout the summer, which was unexpected.  Some of the blocks have been challenging, and yet, the guild members have been willing to give it a try.

Our block for July was an 8-pointed star.  I asked the members to make one for the drawing, and one for a Quilt of Honor, to be given to a veteran at the county fair.  The blocks were returned, but the turn-around time was too fast.  The quilt will be ready for 2019.  These were the blocks in the drawing:

 The block for August was Delectable Mountains, done in "mountain" colors.  Twenty eight blocks should be enough to make a quilt top.

 September's block was Sister's Choice.  It, too, was pretty popular.  Love the colors!

 October's block was a bit over-the-top challenging, with the Wild Goose Chase. And yet, the results are wonderful!  I'm sure the winner was over the moon with delight.

After such a time-consuming block last month, the block for November is something simple.  What could be easier than a Monkey Wrench?  Hmmm  I thought I had a picture of the sample blocks, but I don't seem to be able to easily access them.  Maybe next time.

Hope you enjoyed the show.  I know I've had a lot of fun choosing blocks each month.  It's always great to choose one that is a hit with the members.  Now, hmmm.  What to choose for December...

A Bit o This, A Bit o That

I'm scratching my head, trying to figure out where the time has gone.  Since I last posted, I finished another baby quilt, but did I take a picture?  If I did, I don't know what I did with it.  But I'm here now, so I'll just go with what I've got.

Block of the Month is going well.  Here are the Summer Houses blocks that were turned in on Thursday:

 For July, I've asked the participants to make at least two blocks:  one for the drawing, a second for a Quilt of Valor or whatever it is they are calling the quilts they honor veterans with at the county fair in September.  I'm hopeful that we will have a good response.

We spent the first weekend of June in Missouri, visiting my son and his wife.  We had a great couple of days, visiting the Missouri Botanical Gardens, hitting a couple of estate sales, and ending up at an Art Faire.  I should have taken pictures of the Art Faire, but I was busy enjoying it, rather than taking pictures of myself enjoying it.  We also enjoyed spending time on the porch, just hanging out, chatting, and watching the weather.

 I caught sight of these metal giraffes, and thought "What fun!!"  Then again, the neighbors might disagree if I brought one (or two) home with me.

 I saw more Mexican pottery in Missouri than I've ever seen in one place in California.  That had me scratching my head.

 The displays were quite entertaining.

 There were several Chihuly installations at the Botanical Gardens.  There was no mention of them, so I'm guessing they are permanent.

I haven't done a lot of sewing, but I've done some.  I finished a pillow, that took very little effort.

And I finished another little 6" square that was siting in the FinishMe! pile.

I also finished another pillow, but need to get the pillow form before I can mark it off the list.  Hopefully, between now and the next time I post, I will get something worthy of showing you.  But for now?  I'm just trying to keep up.  Getting things done?  Another story altogether. 

Happy Quilting!