Green and Blue

Since I finished my 2 projects this weekend and I'm leaving on vacation Thursday morning, I didn't want to jump into a big project but I started something new anyway...... 

I pulled out my bin of green and blue fabrics which were inspired by Amy Smart's blog "Diary of a Quilter".  http://www.diaryofaquilter.com/2011/11/new-pattern-and-shop-update.html  She made her churn dash quilt both in reds and green and blue. 

 When I first saw the blocks I was able to pick up some of the same fabrics she used in hers (yes, I'm a copycat) and along the way I've gone thru my stash and come up with some additions to the pile....

Anyhow, I cut up some Kona Snow and got to making some churnies in the 9-1/2 inch size....

I made 14 the past 2 nights but I'm going to have to stop here and get some stuff ready for vacation. 

One Day Retreat

On Tuesday I attended a sew in with some of my friend Michelle's lady friends from her guild.

The theme of the day was working with the "twister" templates.  I've done multiple twisters in the last few months but it was an opportunity to spend the day with Michelle and sew.

I chose Halloween fabrics from my stash and cut my own 5 inch charms. 

Here is the topper once I cut my charms up with the twister .

I was able to get the border on while I was still at the meeting place and even had backing fabric with me....but did I remember batting?  Of course not....so I had to wait till I got home.  Well, I had other things to finish first so this kind of got put on the back burner but tonight I did some cross hatching on it and got a black/green/purple dot binding on it and voile!  I have a finished table topper.  I just love the purple spider and spider web border fabric!!!

OH, and I just had to show you the wagon I bought last year to transport all my project "stuff" when I go to these sew ins.  I was able to put my sewing machine, all my tools, fabric, show n tell, lunch etc. and the bag on top is 3 quilts I picked up from Michelle that she quilted for me.  It's so nice to be able toget everything in 1 carrying  wagon to get it inside!

Hometown Christmas

I purchased this kit in 2004!  Yes, that's right 2004.......Every fall I'd tell myself to pull it out and get working on it but every year something else would come up and it would sit. 

Hometown Christmas is a Thimbleberries kit comprising of 4 booklets.  I promised myself back in 2011 that I'd do a booklet every 2-3 months and get it done....well, that didn't happen, although I did work on it here and there, just not on a regular basis.  In May of 2012 I made the decision that it was getting done come hell or high water so I got working on it in between other projects. 

Last week I put the finished center up on the design wall and when hubby saw it he made sure I knew he liked it and would love to see it on our bed this winter. 

It's so big I don't have a single spot where I can lay it out and get a good picture....(hence the wrinkles in the border)

Here's a closeup of some of the blocks...

I am prepare for it being quilted too....I purchased the backing last week so it will be mailed to my favorite quilter on Monday!

It is a bit small for a king size bed, and I'll show hubby that it doesn't fit quite right so it might have to be for my son's room.

If there's anyone out there in blogland that would like the patterns for this quilt, leave me a message and I'll mail it out to you Monday.  First come first serve!
It was a fun quilt to make but I doubt I'll ever do it again.

Peggy

Redesigned Room

I woke up to a very sunny day today but by the time I had lunch, it was dark as night, we'd lost power and it was POURING!  That was the perfect opportunity to get hubby to take the doors off the sewing room closet and move a heavy duty shelving unit from the wall that partly blocks the door into the room from opening all the way and move it into the closet.  Here's the result of that rearranging..... That meant that I could put the ironing board up against the wall and still have plenty of room to walk around the room.

While rearranging, I found a bag of fabric.....what a surprise (not).  While in Indiana back in May I saw a quilt on display in Backdoor Quilts so I bought the book and kitted it up myself....

I also bought some red white and blue fat quarters and some other assorted pieces......
I love re-shopping and not spending any money  :)

2012 Designer Mystery BOM Block #2

Keeping my promise of doing the block for this block of the month within 5 days of getting the kit....

This block is called "Mint Julep" and it was designed by Lisa Bonegan of Primitive Gatherings.

Snowflakes

I actually assembled this quilt at a retreat back in mid November and has had it quilted for quite a while but I put it away while I was reorganizing my sewing room (I think) and never pulled it back out.  Last night I opened the quilt room closet door and lo and behold it fell out at me so I decided that before I did a single thing today that I'd trim it down and get the binding on....but what to use as binding? 

The back of the quilt is the blue snowflakes, but when I threw it up on the design wall I realized it really needs red...so in search of a nice red I went and came up with something I think will work.  It's not actually a polka dot although thats what it looks like from far away, but when you get up close to it the "dots" are actually small hexagons I think.  It's from Karen Snyder "Anna Lena Designs"....

Here's a picture of  the quilting up close.  Michelle did a snowflake in it and it's soooo cute! I'm guessing that because the design is on the larger side that the quilt is already fluffy!  I can only imagine how much fluffier it will get once I finish and wash it.

I don't know what it is with me this year but I have 3 winter/christmas quilts going.....that's like unheard of for me :)

It's another rainy day here at the Jersey Shore...guess I'll sew  :)


Peggy

Another Finish

Gotta love a rainy vacation day....  I'd been working on this Gail Pan Designs project called "Busy Little Elves" for years and then a few months ago I pulled it back out, finished assembling the units and got the top into 3 units and then I don't know what happened or what I started working on, but it sat and sat and sat...............I finally pulled it out on Tuesday I think, got the units connected and then started working on the borders.  I finished it totally after dinner tonight and LOVE how it came out.

I'm going to assemble the back from all the left over fabrics that I used in the front....And then, I get to see my quilter Michelle on Tuesday and will drop this and the yellow/black/grey quilt off with her for quilting!

Below are two upclose pictures of the embroidery blocks.. aren't they cute?

New Embroidery Project

I have not finished any of my recently started embroidery projects but I'm going on a cruise in August and NEED a portable embroidery project to take with me so I pulled out this one.  You may have seen over at Michelle's Blog
that she too was starting it so I pulled mine out and will trace it and bring it with me to work on. 

 I kitted 3 of these up for Michelle, Robin and Myself when we went to Indiana back in May so it's not like I'm being a copy cat LOL  

Do You Kit?

Do you like kits?  I know girls that don't because they like to use from their stash, but me...I like them.

I think it comes from not being secure in picking out which fabrics go with what.  Like this bundle of fabric 

Robin worked with a pattern called "Salt Air Crossing" this week so I thought I'd collect up some fabrics and kit it mysef.  I think this bundle would work nicely with some kona snow.....what do you think?

I am also teased a LOT about a cabinet I have that Michelle and Robin call my "MAGIC CABINET".  Jelly rolls and honey buns go in and bundles magically appear  :)   That's not really what happens (obviously) but on occasion I will say to them "while I was looking in the cabinet I came across this kit or fat quarter bundle or whatever and they just laugh at me....Most times it's neater than this but you can see what they laugh at.    I did find a few kits in the back of these bundles just this week that I KNOW either I kitted or bought but have no idea how long they've been in there.  I guess I can say I'm a serious fabric/kit hoarder....just ask the girls, they'll tell you that all you have to do is mention a Thimbleberries kit and I probably have it.  I went on a serious kit buying BOM spree for about 4 or 5 years so I have a LOT!!!!!

Here's the couple of kits I found that I would like to work on this summer......

A Couple of Finishes

Yes, I do have a couple of finishes....2 way overdue.

I got the yellow/black/grey quilt assembled in record time I would say and it looks great.  I was going for Queen size but alas, I did not have enough fabric so it's approximately twin/full.....Good enough for a throw at the foot of my daughter's bed, which is what she wanted so it will be perfect.  I also found a great yellow marbelized 108 wide piece of fabric for the backing from Backside Fabrics, which is exactly what Jen wanted so I done good this week  :)    (this isn't the best picture, especially since the sewing room walls are yellow and the sun was shining but it is what it is for today)

I also had gotten back a few quilts from my favorite quilter Michelle back in May....yes, you heard it, May.  I was like I was obsessed when I got them, making bindings and getting them sewn on....but then I got sidetracked with other things and there they sat.  Well, I finally bit the bullet the last 2 weeks and got them bound  The top one is an Ohio Star quilt and the bottom is a Laurel Burch top that my friend Robin assembled from a bag of LB blocks probably 3-4 years ago.  

They'll go into the  cabinet until they're needed for gifts....

I had a nice surprise yesterday too!  My friend Michelle in Dover, Delaware kiddingly suggestedthat Robin and I come to Delaware for a"Twister" class she's doing on the 24th.  I looked at my summer work calendar and lo and behold I'm off that day and hubby will be on a business trip so I told Michelle to hook me up and I'd drive down.  YES, it's a 3 hour drive and the class starts at 9 but what's a lack of sleep when I get to sew with a friend, possibly meet some nice new ladies and get outta town?  I'll do a post on that after I go....
      I've got our Handyman extroadinairre putting some flourescent lighting up in my sewing room this morning so I'm doing the dreaded laundry........

I just found this picture of what the "Snapshots" quilt will look like when finished.  I did this one in 2010 in black/white/turquoise and it's still one of my favorite finishes!

Do you like yellow?

I've never been big into yellow but as I read blogs and other quilt related articles in magazines etc. I see that everyone says that yellow belongs in every quilt....REALLY?  Well, back in 2011 I did assemble an entire quilt in yellow and white for a friend (Hi Abby) and then back around Easter my oldest daughter sent me an email with a picture of a bedroom that she is trying to duplicate and it's in all yellow, black, greys and white. 

She wants a quilt for her bed and here are the chosen fabrics.
I decided the other day it was time to add some solids and more yellows from my stash and get the quilt going. 

I picked the "Happy Hour" book by Atkinson Designs and the pattern is "Snapshots".  NOW...I'd have loved to make the 14 inch blocks but somehow buying fat quarters does not insure that you get an exact 22 x 18 inch piece of workable fabric, especially after washing it.  So, I've had to settle for making 9 inch blocks which means to make a queen size top, I'll be making about 80 blocks or so..... eek!  

I assembled a few last night......

Yeah...the yellow looks much brighter in these pictures than it really is and this is not the real layout, I just threw them on the floor so I could take a picture.....

OH...and coincidentally, at retreat back in May, my friend Laura was working with these exact fabrics.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAURA (you firecracker). 
I wish I'd taken a picture of her project but somehow that slipped past me.

I guess over the next week or two I'll get these assembled and a final picture posted.

In the meantime, Happy 4th of July!

Peggy

Happy Fourth of July

Happy Fourth of July to everyone !!!!

Checkedy Stars

Back in February Amber Johnson of "A Little Bit Biased" blog posted a link to a Scrap Jar Star Quilt

http://alittlebitbiased.blogspot.com/2012/02/scrap-jar-stars-quilt.html .  I immediately knew I had to do that quilt.  Leanne from the blog, Lizzie the Quilter, was doing hers in I would say "pretty" scraps, florals, jewel tones etc.  I knew I was going to copy cat hers and do mine the same way.  I did start collecting scraps as I worked on different projects and then last month I decided after seeing Amber's red white and blue quilt that I needed to start mine.  So, the cutting and assembling started.  I was connecting the center pieces as leader/enders and then when my bin runneth over, I started pressing and assembling.  So...tonight since I had the house to myself I did some more work on the stars and here's what I have......

I have 16 blocks done and to get an 81 x 93 quilt I need 20 more plus separator strips.  This is my 2012 summer project. 

I have another project I need to concentrate on next week so this one will be set aside for a bit.....

This is one project where I used up quite a bit of scraps but as everyone says..."will I ever use up my whole scrap bin?"   Probably not  :)

Only 2 work days next week!!!  YAY!

Block 1 Finished

This is the 2012 Designer Mystery Block of the Month-Block # 1.  I think this is the quickest I've ever cut and assembled a block.......

The Vintage Modern fabrics are gorgeous and wonderful to work with.

Guess I have to wait now almost another month for block 2 but I shouldn't complain...Maybe I can finish some other projects. 

I did hear from my friend Vickie in Texas and she's doing this BOM too so I'll have some company and someone cheering me on!

Peggy

2 Finishes and a New Block of the Month

All of a sudden there are prospective baby notices going around and I knew I'd get at least 1 or 2 requests and I was right.  No sooner did I start a coin quilt that hubby came home from work asking for something for his boss's new grandaughter.  The week before I'd put the last stitch in the binding on one so I washed it up and we gave it to the new baby.  I started another boy coins quilt and a baby girl 30's quilt in a Bricks and Stepping Stones pattern.  Finished them both up and went to my local shop (Quilting Possibilities in FR, NJ) and bought the backings from their $5 room.   The boy quilt has already been claimed by my sister for a neighbor's baby.  I don't know how long the girl quilt will last in the finished cabinet but it's going to be ready when it's needed.

I also signed up for a new Block of the Month.  It's the 2012 Designer Mystery BOM thru the Fat Quarter Shop.  I got my first block kit today, It's called "Laundry Days" and it's designed y Anne Sutton of Bunny Hills Designs.  We're using the new "Vintage Mondern" fabric line by Bonnie and Camille for Moda.

Talk about yummy fabrics.....

Sunny Sunday

It's absolutely GORGEOUS out today here in New Jersey, not a cloud in the sky!  After reaching about 93 earlier in the week and to see that it's 55 right now, I'm in heaven!!!!

I've been sewing a little bit here and there since I came back from retreat and made a baby quilt for my sister to give as a gift for a good friend's daughter that's expecting a boy in October.  I used the chinese coins pattern from Maryquilts which went together in no time!!!  I found some blue Humpty Dumpty fabric the other day at my local shop in the $5 room so now all I have to do is get it quilted and it's ready to go.  
I'm also in the process of assembling a Bricks and Stepping Stones baby quilt in 30's fabrics to have set aside in case I need another quilt in a hurry.  This one would be for a girl for sure but since I cut a ton of coins in boy colors, I'm ready to make another boy top once I get a few more projects out of the way.
   Yesterday I pulled out my "Hometown Christmas" kit and got back to work on that.  I only have 1 more unit to do on that so I'm going to try and get that done today.
   Once I finish the Hometown Christmas and prep the backs for the baby quilts, I'll do some more blogging with pictures... and hopefully that will be today!

May QSQA

OK, I did my block this month and it was done on time!

And actually, I brought a box of fabric from home since almost all the girls at retreat do the QSQA blocks monthly, and we all made our blocks....

Memorial Day

Today is the day the nation honors all our servicemen both with us and who have gone from the earth.

When you see one of our military men and women today and everyday you should thank them for keeping our country safe.

Looking for Fabric

Have you ever had a piece of fabric that for some odd reason you just don't want to use it because you might never find any more?  Well, I have!   I've been holding onto some yellow flannel with these cute fluffy clowns on it that I finally just used for a chinese coins quilt that I donated to a womens shelter last week while I was at retreat in Indiana.  I knew that some little child would just love looking at those fluffy clowns and it was better than hoarding it in my sewing cabinet :)

BUT...I'd love to get my hands on some more....anyone have any they'd like to swap or sell???

Happy Mother's Day

I hope everyone is having a nice Mother's Day!

Mine started out with breakfast with hubby and all 3 kids!  That's not happened in a few years since Jen moved to Baltimore but she came up for the night so all 3 were here.

(Jen, Tim and Al)

Then after everyone cleaned up, they were off on an adventure.  Jen had purchased Dad some time driving a Lamborghini today on a test track but the Lambo was not working properly so they called and asked if he minded driving a Ferrari.....So, off they went to the track and here he is all suited up

Having A Bad Day?

I can't think of anything better on "one of those days"  than to get this picture from a BFF!

I assembled this red and white quilt about 2 months ago  with blocks from a very old swap with 5 friends.  Michelle quilted it today and lemme tell you....it made one of those days into a WOW day!  I'll be seeing Michelle next Tuesday when her, Robin and I drive from New Jersey to Indiana to attend our annual BPF quilt retreat. 

I'll have to make my binding and get it on at retreat.....

Busy Little Elves

I can't even remember when I started this project but it's been YEARS....maybe 3?  I'll have to ask Robin and Michelle 'cause they started with me  :)

Anyhoo, I took the last 2 embroidery blocks with me on vacation and got them both done in a day......

Now that I'm home I decided to pull the entire project out and see where I left off.

OH NO.....I didn't get very far!!! 

I did my blocks in a green variegated floss and am using greens, reds and whites for my setting blocks.    I'd like to get this assembled to hang in 2012 so rather than start something new today I'm going to work on assembling all the little stars and setting squares. What's on your design wall?

                                                                                                                     

Key West

Our mini vacation to Marathon/ Key West was mostly a "RESTING" vacation.  We took the first 2 days there and just slept in, went to the pool, sat on the dock with an afternoon tea, and pretty much relaxed.

The 3rd day there we decided to venture in to do little touristy things.  Over the 7 mile bridge we went and hopped the "CONC TRAIN" for a wonderful 90 minute tour.  You could hop on and off at 3-4 different stops along the way but we pretty much just stayed on and enjoyed the sights. 

Isn't this cute? 

We saw the Truman White House, Ernest Hemmingway's house, cute, cute, cute purple, pink, yellow and green houses, all with gingerbread on them and our tourguide had a story about the house, the tree out front or SOMETHING throughout the ride.

This light purple house was one of my favorites. 

NOW....I did get excited at one point when I turned the corner and found this fabric store sign.  I immediately texted "the girls" with a "LOOKIE" only to be very disappointed when I looked in the window and the store was deserted!

Didn't they know I was coming to Key West?   GEESH!

We had dinner at "Sloppy Joe's" which was a restaurant that Ernest Hemmingway frequented almost daily while he was alive since "JOE" was one of his best friends.  We did have the traditional "Sloppy Joe" sandwich with cheese fries and a salad and lemme tell you, the food was AWESOME!

After the tour, some shopping and eating, we decided to make one more stop.....The Southernmost Point of the US....  We did get on line to get our picture taken but the line didn't move and it was HOT standing out there in over 80 degree weather so we got off line and grabbed the best picture we could....

We came home Friday night to gorgeous weather here in New Jersey and not surprisingly, I'm happy to be home sleeping in my own bed and getting reacquainted with my new sewing room....

Back to school tomorrow  :(

Spring Break

Spring Break around here usually means a short inexpensive trip to someplace close where there's a lot of relaxing going on.  This year did not disappoint.  We hadn't planned anything but then got a call from our oldest daughter and invited us to Key West.  I jumped at the chance because she was there last year and had nothing but raves about the house on the lagoon that a friend of mine owns and rents out to friends throughout the year.  (thanks Patty) 

We flew out of Newark on Good Friday with a layover/connecting flight from Tampa.  When they called us to board the second flight, this is what we were met with.   10 people fit and lemme tell you, you were shoulder to shoulder with your neighbor! 

When we got to Key West we were met with this gorgeous view out the sliding glass doors! 

How does one not love looking at a beautiful lagoon with boats, fisherman and kids on paddle boards?

Here's the beach, which is a 5 minute walk from the house......

And yes, this is the gorgeous sunset.....