Saturday, December 19, 2015

Short Saturday Update

     I finally got all my 2015 projects done, last baby quilts mailed and my room a little picked up, so I took a few hours Thursday and Friday and prepped a few things for the weekend.

     1)  My 2014 Designer Mystery has been a monkey on my back for almost a year.  This BOM actually ran into the start of 2015 so it wasn't really "done" for a year!  I stopped after doing the first 10 blocks and then the other day my little monkey Olivia brought the packet for block 11 to me and it reminded me that I NEED to finish so it went on my "TO DO" list for 2016.
While trying to decide what to do with an hour the other night, I cut out #11 and #12 and actually found time to sew them up.

     This block is #11 and was designed by Barbara Groves & Mary Jacobson of Me and My Sister Designs it's named "Sister Mary".


Block # 12 is by Lisa Bonegan of Primitive Gatherings and she named it "Fast Eddie".


I love the blocks and especially the fabric.  I have the finishing kit out in a project box and will start the assembly of that after Christmas.....probably more towards the first of the year but for sure it won't be this week!

Next, I did my last 2 blocks for 2015 of the 52 Week Churn Dash Challenge.  I don't think I wrote about this challenge here at all but it was a challenge on Instagram with a shop called A Needle Pulling Thread.  I did 1 6-1/2 inch churn dash block each Monday morning and then set them aside.  Well, a week or so ago I used up the end of the cut parts for the churnies and ended up with 52 + 2 bonus blocks.  I asked on Instagram what everyone was going to be doing with them and got a mixed response.  Most girls were just setting them and making a child's quilt.  I decided that I wanted to make mine larger so I am continuing the challenge and will use the 6.5 inch block as the center of a 12.5 inch churn dash.  I'll continue doing one a week......
I used a large variety of fabrics from my scrap bin with Kona Snow......I think by adding another round I'll get a lot more scrappy added to an already scrappy pile of blocks.  I'll keep you posted!

Another ongoing scrappy project I've been working on for at least the last 5 years has been making string blocks.  I love making them when I can't decide what to work on but the past year has been a "NON STRING" year for me.  Somehow, I never ran out of things to do in 2015 so they sat and sat......
The piles in the 2 top pictures are "in progress".  I pulled that pile on the left up to my sewing area from that bucket in the picture on the right.  I was actually able to make the 15 blocks in the bottom right picture from the strips I'd pulled....
The bag in the bottom left picture is about 30 or so blocks that have been languishing for the last 5 years or so.....  


THIS is the pile of string blocks after my sewing session on Thursday.....not bad huh?

How do you make string blocks?   I used a tutorial way back when I started and the girl in the tutorial suggested cheap muslin as the base so that's what I've been using.  I realize now that the top will be pretty heavy once I start assembling it but I guess I can use a light batting once (if ever) it's finished.....

Finally, I was caught up with my "Allietare" mystery units so when Bonnie posted the Step 4 instructions yesterday I was ready to go.  


Red and Neutral 2 x 4-1/2 inch units all with geese-like corners.  I LOVE this color combination!
I think this might be my favorite step thus far because of the colors we're using.

I did make a boo boo when cutting the neutral units so I'm going to run out to the quilt shop this morning for an extra yard of my neutral (I'm using 1 constant and don't need to run out) and also a white pencil.  I'm having trouble finding something that will show up on the back of my blacks for drawing HST lines.

Well, there you have it, my 3 day update.....  

I'm off and running right now but I'm sure i'll be back tomorrow or Monday with my Allietare update.....

Peggy in cold cold cold NJ









Sunday, December 13, 2015

Allietare- Part 3

The house was a little less hectic this weekend so I was able to cut for Part 3 of Bonnie Hunter's Allietare Mystery.

This week's step was 4 patch units using our neutral/yellow-gold and cutting 3-1/2 X 7-1/2 inch rectangles.



This giraffe fabric was one of my favorites............



When I cut the first half of my yellow strips I realized that I needed more variety so I went thru some bins in my room and found yardage, fat quarters and even some scraps......I pulled everything from old Thimbleberries to Debbie Mumm and the above giraffe fabric that I just got last month!  A little bit of the new and old makes for a nice variety!

I'm happy I was able to finish this step early this week so I can make a few handmade things for Christmas gifts and with luck I can get my cards out by Wednesday.....
It's not too late to join in with the mystery.....go and check out Bonnie's blog and if nothing else, print off the directions so you can start after the hustle and bustle of the holidays is over....  Here's the link to today's linky party---->  http://quiltville.blogspot.com  http://quiltville.blogspot.com

In closing....a few pictures of my little monkey doing exactly what grandma told her not to.....



There is NO sitting up at Grandmas sewing machine....scissors and rotary cutters are a no no, and then standing up in my chair on the back room because she doesn't know how to get down and then yelling ensues :)

It's hard to believe Christmas is 12 days away...It was 66 here today and we did our dog walking etc in short sleeves!   

Have a great week!!

PEGGY



Wednesday, December 9, 2015

"Allietare" Mystery Monday Link Up, Part 2

Yeah, that "Monday" link up didn't happen but it's done now :)   Can I get a WOO HOO!


I got all the above units cut on Sunday......then life happened and I didn't get back to working on my units until yesterday (Tuesday).


Voile, all my units are made, my 2 inch black and grey squares are cut so I'm ready for Friday when Step 3 comes out!

I noticed this morning that were a LOT, and I mean a LOT of link ups so if you'd like to see the fabric variety and even some different color ways, check out Bonnie's Linky page http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2015/12/allietare-mystery-monday-link-up-part-2.html

For me, I am doing Bonnie's color way and since I'm a red fabric hoarder of various shades, I was able to pull some Robyn Pandolph, Debbie Mumm, Moda Marbles, and even added a newer polka dot and some Bonnie & Camille prints......I LOVE MY RED STASH!

So, lets go check out the link page and go check out some awesome girls pages, and post your pictures...and don't be the end of the line, link up to Bonnie's page too....

Friday, December 4, 2015

A Few Finishes

It's been a busy couple of months and there haven't been too many finishes but I do have a few.

First off is a baby quilt I made for my son in law's sister.  Her 2nd baby, another son, will be born C-Section on Wednesday 12/16.  When big brother was born the mama had a very chic bedroom in light greys and light blues etc.  I had totally forgotten about it since it's been 3 years so when I found out she was expecting again I just went ahead and started making all kinds of hst's that would be nice for a little boy.....ducks, whales, fish, cars etc.   I didn't ask if there was a theme, I just went and made it up.

Here's the back...cute whales


A couple of the blocks up close



Next finish is a quilt made from all 2-1/2 inch squares.  I was connecting them all as a Leader/Ender project over the last year.  


1200 squares!  It was a great scrap buster but truthfully, didn't make even a teeny tiny dent in my scrap basket!

Here's a picture of the back.......Found this fabric in my local shop for $6 a yard!

The binding.....


And once again, my girl Sarah did an awesome job quilting it!!!!!!!!

Finally, here are 2 pictures of Olivia on Thanksgiving.  She was 1 in November and this picture is from Thanksgiving when she was on Grandpa's lap.....



Hope you all had a nice holiday.....

Peggy