"Magical Anna"

     Yes, I've been back from vacation for a week now but with over 500 photos to go thru I'm feeling like it's not happening right now so instead of a post on Alaska, you'll get a post about "Magical Anna".

     This is Anna......

I am doing the Fat Quarter Shop's 2014 Designer Mystery Block of the Month again this year and "Magical Anna" is block #1.  

The block and fabric was designed by Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts.  Each of the 12 designers for the year named their block after someone that meant something to them and their quilting.  

Here's how the Fat Quarter Shop ships you your first block and the finishing kit for the year.....talk about a box-o-yumminess  :)

If you'd like to read more about the block of the month and the designer's, click here

http://www.laundrybasketquilts.net/blog/2014/03/07/2014-designer-mystery-blog-tour/

Alaska Here I Come

Just a quick note to let you know that I'll be MIA for 13 days.  Hubby and I started planning a cruise to Alaska last August and it's that time!

Next time you hear from me I'll have been there and home with lots of stories to tell.  See you around the 18th or 19th.

                                                          Peggy

A Little Update

     I know I've been bad at updating my blog but I just didn't feel like I had much to really say.

     A few weeks ago I went to a quilting retreat!  I worked ENDLESSLY on the parts for my "Tone It Down" quilt and although I did get a few blocks done, I didn't make enough progress to please me...especially since I'd been working on the blocks for 3 days  UGH!





     I did do a Jelly Roll Race Quilt with some of the others.  Mine was not made with a jelly roll per se, I cut my own strips from my polka dot stash and did it that way.

 That's mine hanging off the ironing board and a picture of me that my friend Vickie took while I was sewing it up.   Below is a picture of 6 of our quilts.  There was a variety of fabric lines used and you'll notice quilt #1, well she added a 2-1/2 inch white square to the end of each strip to add a little "something" to hers.  It looked awesome that way.

My quilt should be back from my quilter tomorrow so I can't wait to see the magic she worked on it.

My friend Robin brought a small wall hanging sized quilt called "My Favorite Things" with her for show n tell which got everyone riled up.....oh yeah, put a bunch of women quilters in one room and you're bound to have little quilt envy so it was a hoot to see everyone with their iPads and cell phones out checking out the project.....

I was no exception either.  I was on my smart phone before the day was out ordering the kit....I think that was on Saturday.  Well, I got home on Sunday and the darn kit was in my mailbox on Tuesday I think.  Talk about fast service!  

 
I have the first 3 blocks cut and fused but haven't gotten back to doing the hand buttonhole stitching yet.  They're small 4-1/2 inch blocks so they'll go fast and will be perfect for one of those hot nights when I'm needing something small to work on.

     While in Indiana we went to 2 quilt stores, Back Door Quilts and Quilts Plus.  Two really nice shops with nice people working in there.  I was on a mission to get some fat quarters of kiddie fabric to start thinking on baby quilts.  The girls in Quilts Plus were having a ball cutting mine....one for me, one for them.  Then you hear "where did this come from?"  They had such a fun time, as did we.

These are the fabrics I bought to add to what I already have in my stash, and then I bought a yard of this hammerhead shark fabric and made the "mama to be" a large pillow for resting her baby on as she starts to grow.

She was here visiting last weekend and loved it!

Well, those fat quarters will not sew themselves up so I'm off to get working on at least one of the quilts.

2013 Designer Mystery BOM

     Well, the time as come for the 2013 Designer Mystery BOM to call it a day.

     While I was away at retreat, the kit for block # 12 came so I immediately pressed the fabric and got to cutting and assembling.  As with the other 11, it was a fun and very pretty block to make, and the best part is, I can assemble the last row and get it done!

     Block 12 is called "Ruby Primrose" and it was designed by Barbara Groves & Mary Jacobson of Me And My Sisters Designs.

     Once I got that assembled I made up the sashing strips and little 9 patch units and voile!  It's a quilt center.  (my bottom unit needs to be sewn to the top but I was excited to show you my pretty blocks so I snapped a picture early :)

 I just looked at the border instructions and the first border will go on quickly since it's just a 2-1/2 inch strip of the neutral.  However, for the 2nd border I need 50   3 x 5-1/2 inch flying geese  EEK!
Then I will add a 7 inch border of a pretty green/red tiny print and call it a day.

I'd love to be finished by the end of the weekend so I can get it quilted, so wish me luck out there.....

Is anyone else doing this BOM?

Is there anyone out there that WISHED they'd done this BOM and wants the patterns?  Leave me a message and I'd be happy to send them to you.

Peggy

*****  Patterns have been sold**********

Indiana here we come!

Good Morning.........

It's that time again.....Indiana retreat here I come.   

I take an annual trek to Indiana with some girlfriends for 4 days of sewing, chatting, laughing and of course, shopping.  Retreat actually starts Wednesday around 1:00 but this year my friend Robin and I are leaving today and making the 12-13 hour drive over 2 days.  Why rush and do it all in 1 day?  

We'll drive until around 6:00 or so and find a hotel for the night then get up early tomorrow and finish the drive.  We'll meet up with a few of the other girls tomorrow for dinner and a quilt shop visit and then Wednesday morning we'll have our breakfast, make another quilt shop run and then over to the Camp where the retreat is.  

I've packed more projects than I can ever finish but that's the fun of it all.....I can work on one project one day and another the next.  It's not a race so we can have lots of time to visit, eat and enjoy one another's company.  

I'll try to take pictures to post here next week but I can't promise anything.....

Everyone going, drive careful......See you there!

This is a picture of 8 of us from the 2012 retreat visiting Back Door Quilts just before we headed over to the Campground to start retreat.....

Another Year of Schnibbles and A Little Break

     I've only been doing the "Another Year of Schnibbles" projects for about 4-5 months but I LOVE them.  I find that they challenge me to start and finish a particular project that I might not ordinarily do or it's been on my "to do" list like this month's project.

     Sinta over at Pink Pincushion blog picked "X Rated" from the "Schnibbles times two" book, which happens to also be the cover quilt.     At first I couldn't find the book and then it dawned on me that I'd had it pulled from the bookcase and was in a project bin with some fabrics and on the "to do" shelf.......   I quickly retrieved it and got to pressing and cutting last Friday.

 
I chose to do the large version since I had a ton of fabric set aside for it.  I picked Sandi Henderson's "Meadowsweet" line for the blocks and I love how it all turned out....even my husband walked past the design wall one afternoon and commented on how pretty it was.

     I hadn't planned on assembling the whole thing right away, I'd cut the parts thinking I'd take it with me to retreat next week but as you can tell from the in progress photos, once I started I couldn't stop until I put the last stitch in the border today.

The colors are so bright and very spring-like.  

It measures 60 X 60 and as luck would have it, I have some of the main "Splashy Rose" yardage left on the shelf so I'm hoping I have enough but if not, I have some one yard pieces that I can make the back scrappy.

Off to press it up, get the backing ready and mail it off to the quilter......

This will be the last Schnibbles project for a while with Sinta since her and Sherri are taking a little break for the summer.  I have other projects to do, but they'll be on my own and not with the group.  If you'd like to see last month's projects you can find Sinta's blog here https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=289226405480674458#editor/target=post;postID=2862124404674058419

2013-2014 Designer Mystery Block of the Month

     Well folks, we are coming into the home stretch on this Block of the Month so I thought I'd share with you the most recent blocks since I was a little remiss in making and posting them.

     Block # 10 is called "New Bloom" and it was designed by Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill Designs.

Block # 11 is called "Perennial Petals" and it was designed by Sweetwater.

This was the 2nd year that I did the Designer Mystery BOM with Fat Quarter Shop and I have to say I have enjoyed it a lot.  I'm signed up for the next one too so I'll be keeping you updated on them as well.  

Peggy

Postage Stamp Quilt

     Back on April 16th I showed you my postage stamp quilt that I'd just gotten back from Sarah and was excited to finish it.  I got the binding on it right away and then it sat....I know, sad isn't it?  Well, I decided on Friday night that there would be no embroidery.....nope, that quilt was getting bound and ready for giving.

     Now, you might ask, did I have a recipient for it?  NO....but one never knows when one might need a quick baby quilt and I like to be prepared like the good Girl Scout I used to be.

I LOVE to use black and white for the bindings on scrappy quilts.  I don't know why, but it always seems to brighten it up and add the finishing touches to it.

Here's a picture of the back.  I bought a bolt of that black & bright dot in Lancaster last spring and I think I've finally used it up with this finish.  

There were so many fun prints in this top.....I think I need to make more just like it!

And since spring has finally come to New Jersey, here's a picture I took of Luna while we were out walking after lunch today.  She would make a great fire dog.....she loves to stop, drop and roll.....and sometimes she just doesn't want to get up off the neighbor's lawn so I have to just stand and wait and then all of a sudden she pops up and off we go.  I'm loving these kinds of days where we can get out and go walking  and I don't need a jacket!

6 days till I leave for my annual trek to Indiana to meet up with about a dozen girls from all over the US for our annual quilt retreat.  I can't wait.......

Peggy

Happy Birthday Jennifer and Samantha

  Today, May 1st is a very special day.  This is my oldest daughter  Jennifer, and she turns 30 today.  I know back on that date in 1984 when she was born I had no idea what was in store for her but to say she's hasn't lived life to the fullest is an understatement.      You've made your father and I very proud of the wonderful woman you've become and we wish you the "the world" as you enter the next phase of your life.  Life for you has only just begun !!!  You'll be a mom yourself in November and we're sure that your child/children will have the best mom ever!      Dad and I love you and are sooooo proud of you!   May all your dreams come true!

I also want to wish a Happy Birthday to Jennifer's best friend for 25 years, Samantha 

I think from day 1 of kindergarten these two have had a special bond that has been unbroken.  Jen was Sam's maid of honor at her wedding 4-1/2 years ago which introduced her to her now husband Tim.  They now not only share a birthday but they share a last name and they live in the same 2 family house.

I know that this friendship will last forever!

So, Happy Birthday to two of the most beautiful women I know.....  Love you both!

Love,
Mom

A Year of Schnibbles

     I made my "A Year of Schnibbles" project so long ago I figured I better repost a picture so that when Sherri and Sinta do their parade tomorrow mine can be seen along with the other girls'.

My official entry is the ring of friendship stars called "Round & Round" by Camille Roskelly of Thimbleblossoms, but since I can't count I made 1 extra star so I made that into this even tinier mini.  I love how both turned out and have them both hanging on the wall in my sewing room.

It's been raining buckets here in NJ and I'm seeing the same kind of ugly weather all over the US.  Prayers go out to the people in the areas hit by the floods and tornado's!  

Peggy

Ribbon Box Quilt

     About 6 weeks ago or so I saw fabric made up into a quilt that just grabbed me.  It was so pretty and with the spring coming I knew I had to have some of the fabric.  I asked Kristin at Goobadesigns on Etsy if she'd make me up a bundle and mentioned liking the ribbon quilt.  She told me that the quilt pattern was free on cloud9fabrics.com and she'd send me what I needed to make the quilt top.

I think the whole transaction from start to finish was about 20 minutes  :) and I received it in 2 days.....talk about quick service!

     Aren't these fabrics beautiful?
 

     I put them away in a bin and earmarked them for May to take with me to retreat and assemble.

Well, I pulled the kit out to cut and mark the parts yesterday afternoon and thought  I'd just look it over and see how hard it was to do.............

I'm thinking it was a fairly easy quilt to make!!!

The quilt is called "Ribbon Box Quilt", the fabrics are called Grey Abbey by Cloud 9 and it measures 55 X 63.

I'll be getting some backing fabric tomorrow and shipping it to my quilter on Wednesday!!

It's been earmarked as a retirement gift for a dear friend for June......

4/27/2013

WOW, can it really be 1 year since this happened?  

It always amazes me when all the planning and shopping and planning all works out for one of the most beautiful days ever!   

I didn't lose a daughter, I gained a wonderful son in law and extended family.......

Congratulations Jennifer & Tim, and many many more happy years together!

Friday Update on Saturday

So, in pulling fabric out for the Tone it Down project the realization came to me that way too many of my "color" baskets are full to overflowing and I needed a project or two to use up some of the fabric.
Well, how convenient it was to come across a blog that is doing a "color of the month" stash buster and I loved the block!  I emailed the girl and she was gracious enough to give me the measurements for the strips to make the block and although I didn't "need" the book, I ordered it from Amazon.  That should be here shortly.

So, "purple" was the color for April.  I checked a lot of the blogs of the girls participating and they were all doing different blocks with a nice variety of backgrounds but since my black on white was more overflowing than the purple, I pulled that one out, pressed up a bunch of pieces and got to cutting......

And here's my first block

So, while I had the purples out I decided I needed to make some stars....everyone loves stars don't they?  And my thoughts are that I could make 4 stars every month in the same color as the stash buster block and have 2 quilts going at the same time.......


THEN, to make the basket go down even quicker, I cut some more strips for a project I started earlier in the year.....

This pineapple block is all paper pieced and is a little over 16-1/2 inches!
I've only made the 1 so I need to make a few more so I cut strips for that project too......

I'm thinking that the next color I work with might be the teal/turquoise because that basket barely fits on the shelf too.

Hope you are enjoying this gorgeous Saturday!

Tone it Down

I realized this morning that I never showed my 2 blocks.

I have to say that the yellow and red was not doing it for me last night, I think because the red is kind of a pinkish red and it's got too much off white in it.  But, I'll bury that one in the quilt and you'll never notice it :)    or at least I hope......

I do love the blue and red so it's a start on my way to the other 18 blocks.

Tone it Down

     I  started making blocks for the "Tone It Down" project back in January I think but set it aside to do a few quilts that I needed to do and when I pulled them out to start back on them, I realized that I wasn't overly thrilled with the colorway.  What I really wanted was to do it just like it is in the APQ magazine.....so, I pulled out reds, oranges, yellows, blues and greens and a HUGE pile of low volume/neutral fabrics from my stash and yesterday I got to cutting.....

I chose a nice variety of reds, oranges and pinks for the 9 patch blocks that make that X design across the entire top.  I wanted to have a good mix of the greens yellows and blues as well so I went with darks and lights.  

One of my favorite low volume fabrics is the piece on the magazine.  Those are the cutest little fish and the fabric underneath are all different colored castles.  

I'm always amazed when I see all the low volume fabrics that are for sale out there both in shops and on the internet.

I made a sample block this afternoon and laid out a 2nd one before i started to get too tired to sew anymore.  I'll get that stitched up tomorrow and then I'll put the bin of fabrics away to bring with me on retreat in May.

I'm not sure what I'll work on tomorrow but I'll be back with an update.

Exciting Week

     To say that the last few days has been exciting is an understatement.

     I started the week off last Sunday with a trip into New York City to see "Aladdin".  My son buys us tickets for Christmas every year because he knows how much we love seeing the shows and it's easier for him to buy what we like and not just random "things".  Hubby and I get to spend the day with the girls and have a really nice time.

     The wax museum is right next door to the New Amsterdam Theatre and look at who was outside waiting for my girls for a photo op.....Mr. Johnny Depp himself  LOL   ONLY their favorite actor ever!

"Aladdin" was great and you can see from the picture, the weather was in the 70's so no jackets required.  A great day all in all.

     Friday afternoon hubby, youngest daughter, and I left to drive to oldest daughter's house for the Billy Joel concert at Madison Square Garden.  I wasn't supposed to go because my son in law was the holder of ticket # 4 but I got some cockamamie story that he had a meeting or something and couldn't go and so as not to waste the ticket, I drove the 90 minutes up and figured I'd go.  I'd get a free dinner and show so what de heck.  Well, I got there and my son in law was there....WHAT?  I drove all this way and now what do we do?  Well, this is what the surprise was...
YES....I'm going to be a grandma!   The expected date is November 20th....just in time for Thanksgiving and Christmas!     Jennifer and Tim will celebrate their first wedding anniversary this coming Sunday so their timing was good for baby #1.

     So, I went to the concert after we all went out to dinner and sadly my son in law just went home and walked the dog....which he was happy to do :)

 

This was my second Billy Joel concert this year and I have to say, he did not disappoint either time.  He is a master entertainer!

     Saturday was spent cleaning out the garage and then Sunday was Easter and that was spent withfamily just enjoying one another and eating some pretty good food....if I might say so myself!
I received the CUTEST flower arrangement from my niece Shannon and her boyfriend Pat.  Shannon too never disappoints on holidays.  I always get unique and very cute flowers.

     I've seen these bouquets where the peeps and jelly beans are in around the flowers but never had one of my own.

     Sorry for the view around them  LOL  Mr. Sangria and the dishes were there already :)

     Today I slept in a little and then decided I'd do a little sewing.  Each month for the last 2 or 3 months Sherri McConnell has offered a mini project that can use either those little 2-1/2 inch squares or as I used, scraps.
I have a red bench on my front porch that was in need of a new pillow so I used all red white and blues....

Once it gets warmer I'll put some flowers out there with the wooden flag that hangs on the house but until I'm sure we won't have a frost and snow, I'll wait a little bit before I add too much more.

New and Old

     I'll start with the old......  Today when my doorbell rang and the dang dog started barking I KNEW it had to be the mail girl  :)    Don't you just love when your mail person comes and you see a package outside the door?   I know I do!   Today's box was expected and I couldn't rip into it quick enough!

     This first quilt is 49 of my "Farmer's Wife" blocks that I finished last summer and never got around to doing the rest.   Since I need a smallish size quilt for a retreat in early May I decided I'd sash the blocks add that super bright yellow dot backing and voile!  I have my charity top.

The next quilt is my "Postage Stamp" quilt from early last week.  

I took out the parts I'd finished last summer, connected some small pieces that were finished but not connected and made a few more rows....and again, voile!  In under 3 hours a finished quilt.

The bigger question here is WHY do I procrastinate on some of these projects?

A HUGE thank you goes out to my friend Sarah in NY who has started doing some of my quilts....she does an AWESOME job on them and has the best turnaround time!  I'm expecting my stars quilt back by the end of the week so I'll be a binding fool this weekend! 

                                                                                                              

Now onto the new......  I have no self control sometimes with particular fabric lines and more importantly...star patterns!   I had seen on Instagram that Jodi Nelson of Pleasant Home Patterns had a new pattern called Lucette out and another friend Abby Latimer of Latimer Lane Quilts, was making up kits for the pattern so without much thinking I hit the click button and the kit showed up like 2 days later :)    Nothing like instant gratification!

I'm going to cut this kit up today and with luck by the end of the weekend I have a finished quilt !