Off to the Spa!

I'm sending off two quilts to the 'spa' later today.

The spa is my LAQ!

The first is Summer.  I used a layer cake of Noteworthy for these Lemonye star blocks made with HST.  I just love what snowballing the corners have done to the block.

This quilt finished roughly 70 by 88.  I went without a border on this one.  I choose one of the cream prints from the line for the backing.  This was my design although I found inspiration galore over the internet.

The second quilt is called Middle Sister.  

This was made from a layer cake of Tapestry.  The pattern can be found here - this is the second time I've made this pattern.

I chose backing fabric to be the same as the outer border.  Binding will also be in this fabric.  This is a gift for my sister - although I won't be gifting it for a few months!

Happy Stitching!

A Tisket, A Tasket

A green and yellow basket.

The month's Schnibble is Canasta - a new pattern.  I had fun making these little basket blocks despite the many pieces.   I did the pattern's 16 block option.   I really like this narrow inner border.

(Can't beat my photo location - we rented a house at the beach for a week in August.  Wish I were there now!)

I did an all over FMQ and still need to add the binding.   I was fussing with my machine a bit - kept breaking thread if I move the quilt to the right.  The fabric is Moda Flats.  Very simple prints, great colors.  I liked them so much I just ordered a layer cake to make a larger size quilt.

Did a photo op with my goodwill find - see this post.   It was fun!  Still working on learning more about the machine.

Looking forward to the parade of the other Canasta entries for Another year of Schnibble Vintage on Sinta or Sherri's blog.  I've got Halloween theme packs to use for our next Schnibble challenge.


Happy Stitching!

Summer

Introducing Summer!

Yes, I know summer seems to be speeding quickly towards fall.  This is my quilt Summer!

I just love the effect snowballing the block corners and adding sashing with cornerstones bring to the quilt.

The fabric used was Sweetwater Noteworthy paired with bella solids.  I did fussy cut those cornerstones.

The quilt top finish was my August for Another Lovely Year of Finishes   Summer has an appointment at the spa (aka LAQ) next week.  I can't wait to get her back and cuddle under the couch bringing sunshine into fall.


Happy Stitching!

Goodwill find

Last weekend I visited a Goodwill - first time ever - with my college bound son.  He needed some kitchen stuff for his apartment.  I thought I'd see if I could find a antique sewing machine.

I did!

I've absolutely no idea if I got a good deal or not.  But my son encouraged me to buy.

Turning the flywheel makes the needle go up and down.

Well, there isn't actually a needle (smile).  Pressure foot also works.

The treadle does its thing.  I just need to attach the belt (or perhaps buy a new one.)

Decals are in reasonably good shape.

There was a box of accessories and an instruction book.   So far I can't find anything like a serial number.  There is a gold plate affixed to it and google tells me that this catalog company was in business from mid 1800s to 1929.

Anyone know anything about this?  I will spend some time cleaning it up and will try to get it working.  I think it will make a great backdrop for a quilt display.

Happy Stitching!

Back to School Blues

I love summer because it means no school!  My kids are more relaxed, there are no homework or test stresses and things are just fun.  Even when I leave for work early each morning, I smile knowing there are no alarms going off and everyone can sleep.

To ease the transition back for my Dr Who fan (15 yrs old), I transformed a basic blue backpack from Target....

to a TARDIS.

The Police Box sign is courtesy of Spoonflower 

Hopefully, this will make going back to school just a little easier to deal with!

Happy Stitching!

Dr Who block 3

There are 20 blocks in the Whovian-inspired Quilt-Along from Caroline and Soma from Whims and Fancies and the Doctor.  Doctor Who?

They are all paper pieced blocks and on the difficult side because of all the small pieces.  I've done 3 of the blocks so far - here is my latest:

What is that you ask?

Hopefully fans of the show will recognize it as a Sonic Screwdriver.  (My DD who is a major league whovian gave the block a thumbs up.)  For the Dr (an alien time lord), the Sonic Screwdriver is a tool with much power to unlock things and operate any computer, alien or otherwise.  Here is an image from wikipedia - not bad when one compares to the photo.

I do not intend to make all 20 blocks but are picking the blocks that are significant to me.  Here are all three of my blocks so far.

(Picture a bit blurry - perhaps the sonic screwdriver can sharpen up images as well as magically get these blocks the same size?  Not only do I make a big mess when I make these blocks but they don't finish true to the required size.)

Happy Stitching!

Canasta

The month's Schnibble is Canasta - a new pattern.  I had fun making these little basket blocks despite the many pieces.   (Care to join Another year of Schnibble Vintage? - see from Sinta or Sherri's blog.) 

There were two sizes - one with 13 blocks and one with 25.  I went with the 13.  I really like the inner border.

I kept the sashing in the same fabric as the background and it looks like the baskets are floating.  

Despite having many charm packs in my stash, I found these Moda Flats in my LQS and had to buy them.  The fabric is so pretty and - lucky me -  I've plenty of charm squares left for another project.

Happy Stitching!

Tapestry Jewel Box

I finished piecing my jewel box quilt using Moda Tapestry.  

I had made all the blocks before our trip to the beach so I did the assembly of the quilt top while there.  I am going to put a 3 1/2 inch outer border on the quilt but didn't have the fabric will me.  

I've an appointment with my LAQ on the 31st.  This is a gift for my sister - I think she will just love it.  These are her colors.

The quilt needs a name - I may call it Middle Sister.


Happy Stitching!

Fun at the Beach

We spent last week at the beach -  North Carolina Outer Banks (OBX).  We rented a house on the beach and had a wonderful time.

We come off the beach mid-day when it gets too hot and I spend my afternoons quilting.

I made this mini using a charm pack of Road 15.  It  is roughly 12 by 15.  I may add Home Sweet Home stitching - still deciding.

I was awake every morning and saw the sunrise.

It was a great week.  Happy to be home - although it does mean work will eat into my quilting time!

Happy Stitching!

Happy Birthday to my DD

My youngest turns 15 today.

She reads all the time.  

She writes when she isn't reading.  

She dances.  

She is a major Dr Who and Sherlock fan. 

She is the best.

Love you sweetie.

Wishing you many fun adventures through time.

(Story behind this quilt is here.)

Happy Stitching!

dear Santa

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

My fabric basket is 8 x 12 x 5 inches.  I used two layers of batting an quilted in straight lines.

I used a cute fabric from Sweetwater's Countdown to Christmas for the basket lining.

I had gotten this cute redwork pattern from Sew Happy Me about a year ago.

I almost titled this post "What do my neighbors think?"   Here I am on a 90 degree afternoon decorating a mini pine tree in my front yard!

Please grab that cup of hot chocolate, put on the holiday tunes and join me in visiting the other lovely people I am fortunate enough to share today with!  Thanks to Carol and Mdmn Samm for another great hop!

August 8

Quiltscapes

Marla’s Crafts

>>>>  A Stitch In Time   <<<<

Mehitabel’s Musings

Buzzing and Bumbling

Transitions For Meee

A Little Bit of Lorene

I Piece 2-Mary

Under the Presser Foot

A Reformed Heath’n

Just Sew Quilter

The schedule for the full hop can be found here on Carol's blog.  Ho Ho Ho!

Happy Stitching!

I've got a plan!!!

One block to go and then I'll be ready to assemble my quilt from the Votes for Women  block of the week.  My final layout will use 40 of the total possible 49 blocks.

I needed to actually cut the setting triangles in order to get the layout right.  (The upper left corner still needs those triangles.)

The math:

• 40 blocks in the quilt
• 3 blocks skipped:  Sunbonnet Sue, Applique block and Curve Block
• 2 blocks where the quality is poor 
• 4 blocks for the back, including the quilt label

I choose not to use 3 of the blocks I made.  Although the umbrella is in the top photo (top right), it is just a placeholder.

Happy Stitching!

Hello Summer Moon

June and July blocks from April Mae Design's Hello Moon quilt along. 

I like this happy campfire!  It is fun to look through my scrap pile to find bits of fabric that will work.  

Here are the January through May blocks. 

I am thinking that I will assemble this into a wall hanging.  Since I went with raw edge applique, it likely wouldn't stand up to the washing rigor a baby blanket needs.

Come play along!

Happy Stitching!

Snowballs in July

Snowballs in July?  Quilting style!

I did a trial run at snowballing 4 of my 20 lemonye star blocks just to make sure my proportions are going to be correct.

I am using this same blue print for the snowballs.  And then for the cornerstones, I fussy cut a series of 2" squares to capture some of my favorite sayings!

I am thinking of using the green for a thin inner border followed by more of the blue Noteworthy for a wider outer border.  Without a border, the quilt will finish at 70 by 88.

The blocks unfinished are16 1/2 inches, the sashing and cornerstones are 2".  I used 3" squares to make the snowball corners.

Finishing this quilt top is my goal for August or Another Lovely Year of Finishes!  

Happy Stitching!