New Jersey off to the SPA

I've been motivated all year to declare goals each month as part of the Another Lovely Year of Finishes   Finishing my quilt top flimsy from Votes for Women  block of the week was my goal for September!

I decided to go 'borderless' and the finish size is roughly 85 inches square.  I am very happy with the red and aqua mix of this quilt.

I used 40 of the 49 blocks from  the Votes for Women  block of the week.  The quilt along was called Grandmother's choice so I am making this quilt in honor of both of my grandma's - Mum and Nana.  Nana was born in 1899 and Mum in 1915.  As adults, they lived a few blocks from each other in New Jersey.  

I've these blocks left over which I will use on the back - perhaps as a label?

My quilt has an appointment at the quilt spa.   Can't wait to show it off when it is all quilted.


Happy Stitching!

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Cybermen!

Oh my - my DD is turning into a cyberman!

Compared to the Weeping Angel block, this Cyberman went together quite easily.  One thing I tried for the first time was leaving on the foundation paper until I assembled the block.  It did seem to result in a better alignment and fit.

I also had fun wearing it around the house like a mask in the almost finished state.

The side pieces took me almost as long to do as compared to the rest of the block.  I kept making errors.

Here are the rest of my blocks.

Care to join in?  There are 20 blocks in the Whovian-inspired Quilt-Alongfrom Caroline and Soma from Whims and Fancies and the Doctor.  I've chosen to skip about five of them so far.

Love Doctor Who!





Happy Stitching!

A friendly alien!

Probably the cutest quilt I'll ever make.  These blocks are from April Mae Design's Hello Moon quilt along.  I had fun with the little alien in the August block.  September hasn't posted yet but I am ready!

January through April's blocks:

May's block:

June and July's block:

Come play along!

Happy Stitching!

Boo is finished

Did some FMQ this weekend to finish up my Boo Schnibble.  I did loops and then kept quilting the word BOO.  I was working on keeping my FMQ stitches even in size.  

The fabric I used was Sweetwater's Boo Crew.  I love the cut little monsters in the print.

Looking forward to the parade as part of another year of Schnibble Vintage lead by Sinta and Sherri.    

Happy Stitching!

Knitting progress

I am in love with this yarn - Sirdary Snuggly baby bamboo and the lovely silver gray color.

The pattern is from the Purl Bee  There are 12 rows in each pattern repeat - half of those are lace rows, half are purl rows.  I've just finished my 6th of a gazillion repeats of the pattern and - maybe - now have the hang of it.

I didn't get as much knitting time this summer as I had hoped.  But I also kept messing it up and had to knit backwards - or frog.   

There are always 14 stitches in a repeating pattern of the lace - that part is easy.  I use stitch markers so I can always count.  But the number of stitches changes each time at the start of the row - sometimes the repeats are on stitch 9, sometimes 6, sometimes 8 so each time you start, you have to adjust the markers or just adjust your brain.  I had a brainstorm one day to write each row on a single index card to make it easier to see with my old eyes.  That was a good idea but ... one row not all that long ago, I ended up adding an extra YO because I copied it down wrong.  I discovered it 2 row later so backwards I go.

Clearly I didn't get the shawl done this summer - so I've reset my goal for next Spring!

Happy Stitching!

BQB

Ever have a little conversation with yourself while you are sewing?  Perhaps it goes something like:

 Ugh, that was supposed to cut at 2 1/2" not 2".

or

Ouch!

or - more frequently - 

Where is my seam ripper?

Clearly, I need someone to talk to so I made me a BQB (Best Quilting Buddy) pin cushion.

 The quilt she is working on is the pin cushion!

Now I've someone to talk to AND somewhere to keep important stuff!

I think I will call her Ashley.

These blog hops are always so much fun.   Many thanks to Kristen - who did a fabulous job keeping us all organized - and Madame Samm .  Put aside your needle and thread (in a pin cushion of course!) and join me in visiting the other lovely ladies I am fortunate enough to share this day with:

De Zondagssteek

Ravelley

The Tilted Quilt

>>>>>>>   A Stitch In Time   <<<<<<<<

Asimplelife Quilts

Jane's Quilting

Quilt Doodle Doodles

Dancing Moon

 Bloom Where I Am Planted

Busy Bee Free

Marpie's Sewing Projects

The Stitchin' Post

Sew Much 2 Luv

Rose Creations

Lixie Makes It

Sunshine Reflections
Needled Mom
Sew Incredibly Crazy

The pattern for the sweet doll can be found here.  She is so cute - I am going to make her again just because!  (Ashley's instructions are great!)

Tough photo shoot.  (smile)

I used PolyPellets to stuff and found them quite easy to use.

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day.


Happy Stitching!

A Binding I Will go.....

I got my two quilts back from the LAQ - aka the quilt 'spa'.

For my quilt based on Noteworthy fabric, I chose a quilt pattern called Double Bubble.  I just love it!

For my quilt based on Tapestry fabric, I chose a quilt pattern called Clover which echoed one of the designs in the fabric.

Now onto the binding and then I'll do an official photo shoot.

Happy Stitching!

Boo

Cracked open a couple of charm pack of Boo Crew from Sweetwater for  this month's challenge as part of another year of Schnibble Vintage lead by Sinta and Sherri.  I've been waiting to use these Halloween themed charm packs!

We are making Mercerie - here is a link to a photo.

These block go together quickly - I did the first one to test the choice of the color black as the background fabric.

(Excuse the lack of block pressing.)

What do you think of the black?


Happy Stitching!

Don't Blink

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

First the back of the block.

Why the back first?  It gives you a sense how I pressed this block into submission!

Now the front.  The Weeping angels are one of the scariest of the Dr Who villains. (Watch the best clip ever -  Don't Blink.)

They are all paper pieced blocks and on the difficult side because of all the small pieces.  This particular block had so many pieces I was afraid to count!   There were two versions of the block - I started with the easy one and even then took out some of the detail.  I will add it back in with embroidery later.

There were about 20 pieces to paper piece and then the assembly of those 20 pieces into the final block.  It is this assembly part where I have the hardest time - the finger alignment was tough.

Once assembled, my blocks always need major squaring off.

Here are my 4 blocks so far.  The next one I am doing is another bad guy - Cypermen!

Happy Stitching!

New Jersey is assembled!

I made my final block in the Votes for Women  block of the week - this is block 49 called An Arc: Bending towards Justice.

I then completed a major portion of the assembly of my quilt top!

I used 40 of the 49 blocks.  They were all set on point.  I am going to add a border but I am still deciding what might work.

  

It is roughly the size of the top of a queen sized mattress.  I was too lazy to get a better measurement.

I did a mini photo shoot with my 'new' treadle.  Been doing some research on the machine.  I am reasonably confident it is a National Vibrating Shuttle Top Tension machine from the late 1800's or early 1900's.  I've been collecting all my research information here.

This final assembly went together faster than I expected.  I love when that happens!


Happy Stitching!

Keeping me organized!

I recently started using an open bag - instead of a zipped briefcase - to carry my stuff to and from work.  Everything fits really well but I decided I really needed a bag to keep all those small items contained and to prevent these items from falling out if the case tipped over.

The bag finished 9 by 12 inches.  I used fabric from Moda Tapestry and had fun making FMQ feathers.

I backed the FMQ with a orange solid that I purchased but didn't like.  It shows up my feather really well - too bad it gets hidden away by the lining!  (smile!)

All contained and ready to go!

This was a quick project Friday night.  I loved having a project start and finish in an evening!

Happy Stitching!

New Jersey - my AYOLF September goal

Happy Labor Day to all in the US!  Although summer doesn't officially end for a few weeks, this 3 day weekend is certainly a strong sign that the days will be growing shorter and the pool closing.

I've been motivated all year to declare goals each month as part of the Another Lovely Year of Finishes   Finishing my quilt top flimsy from Votes for Women  block of the week is my goal for September!

Here is my planned layout.  Once assembled I will decide on outer borders.

What I have left to do?

1. Make the last block!   I am using 40 of the 49 and have discarded a few because I am not happy with the quality.  I didn't make any of the applique ones.
2. Set 3 blocks on point
3. Cut a few more of the side triangles.
4. Assemble, assemble, assemble.
5. Decide on final size and what to add for a border.  Right now I am thinking about a inner 2" border (or slightly smaller) and then an outer border of white.

Assembling this quilt has been a lot of fun.  I've enjoyed the history that was revealed each week.

Given that this was called Grandmother's choice, I am making this quilt in honor of both of my grandma's - Mum and Nana.  Nana was born in 1899 and Mum in 1915.  As adults, they lived a few blocks from each other in New Jersey.  

Block 5 was actually called New Jersey.  In 1920, New Jersey was the 29th state to ratify the 19th amendment, the Women's Suffrage movement.  (see Barbara's blog for more information.)

I am thinking of calling this quilt Jersey or New Jersey.  What do you think?

Happy Stitching!