2012 FMQ Challenge

Here's my July 2012 FMQ Challenge piece.  Thanks Angela and SewCalGal for a great tutorial and design.  I'm going to be using this one again.
If you're wondering why that Ralph's lettering is in there, it's because I'm doing the squares to a t-shirt quilt as my practice squares.  I'm off to link up with SewCalGal's 2012 FMQ Challenge.

Design Wall Monday 7/30/12

Coming off my design wall (and thank goodness the camera got the colors right) is my third Anna's Garden block.  I'm pretty pleased with it.  Wish I had time to start the fourth one, but will be packing and getting ready to leave for CO.  You know how that goes...

I'm linking to Judy's Patchwork Times and Lyn's  BOMs Away.  Don't forget to check out all of those goodies there.

Stash Report 7/29/12

Like Judy, nothing in and nothing out.  Oh, I did sew and piece and quilt last week - just not on anything new where I used yardage.  I did finish a baby quilt, and another baby quilt flimsie and an applique block, but I was way too busy to start anything new that might use up some fabric.  I'll be getting ready to visit my son in CO this week so not much else will get done, either.  Any one know of a quilt store in Fort Collins?
Here are my numbers:
Used/Donated last week: 0 yards
Used/Donated YTD: 94.19 yards
Added/Bought last week: 0.0yards
Added/Bought YTD: 35.5 yards
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Net Decrease YTD: 58.69 yards
 
As a summary of last week - we started the week with our son and family coming for a visit.  Here's Lily looking so grown up:
I can't believe she's only 26 months, and she potty trained herself because she wanted to wear grown-up panties.
Here's the finished owl quilt for Baby Messner.  I decided on circles for the center as there are so many circles in the fabric and a wonky free hand Greek key in the border.

For the label I wrote the particulars in one of the corners.  It says: For Baby Messner, with love, Abuela, 2012.
And the back is a cozy large dot flannel:

I used a green YLI thread on the back also.   
And at the end of the week we went to the Long Beach International Festival and had a great time.  I did buy a table runner kit, but since the fabric in there is already cut and ready to assemble, and it's NOT going in my stash, I'm not counting it as an addition to my stash.  Bought thread also and a pattern.  I was restrained.
 
I'm linking over to Judy's Patchwork Times.  She has a stash report post this week and her new blog is great.  Go have a look.

Favorite Flower Friday 7/27/12

Quick post as I was away all day to a quilt show.  I'll post tomorrow about that.  Here is another gorgeous flower from our garden - the red equivalent of the one I post a few Fridays ago:
Here it is starting to open with a bud above it in very first stages of bloom


Isn't it magnificent!  This one is open several days before it calls it quits.  I love them.  Linking to Shay's Favoarite Things Friday - if she's back from vacation - and Tootsie's Flaunt your Flowers Friday  - both on my sidebar.  Enjoy!!

Applique Thursday Blues 7/26/12

This is as far as I got; didn't finish, so I'm singing the blues.  Seems like my camera is too as those stems are really green (well, teal) but not way so blue as they seem in the photo at right.  As you can see I did get the hand done.  I added a ring to it.  Also I made the letter under the leaf to look more like an "O".  I'm sure you can guess what the word will be.  I've decided to call this quilt (at least my version):  Angie's Anniversary Garden.  I still have a flower, two letters and two leaves to add.  They are prepped and ready to sew down.  But alas, I have no time.

The good news is I did finish just after dinner the quilt I'm gifting Saturday.  So now I just need to buy a book (the hostess has suggested we buy a book for baby's library instead of a card) and wrap it and I'm all done with that first baby quilt.

The winner of last week's 5" batik charm is Melissa Corry. Congrats! I'll be sending out your charm shortly. Another is waiting for someone. All you need to do is comment or link to have a chance for it to be yours. Or do both and have two chances. Submissions end Sunday night.

Because I love eye candy so much, I'm linking to Melissa's Try New Things. I do so like to TNT - like that ring for instance. Melissa is sharing a great FMQ motif - check it out.

Design Wall Monday 7/23/12

Here's that third block a little bit more along.  I wanted to do the hand because it took up so much of the block, but I forgot that there is a sequential order to developing an applique.  In order to set the hand I needed to add the branch that is under it.  And before the branch I had to have the leaves for the twigs to cover them, and before the leaves I needed another letter that goes under a leaf - in all I have nine pieces before I can sew on the hand. Maybe by Thursday, I'll have that piece in place to show. For now, it's that first baby quilt to finish for the shower on the 28th.  Not much time to get it done as it will be a week of chauffering, babysitting and going to the International Quilt Show in Long Beach on Friday.

What's on your design wall?  Go on over the Judy's beautifully redesigned blog, Patchwork Times, and Lyn's BOMs Away to see eye candy.  I look forward to seeing yours, too.

Stash Report 7/22/12 & Family

It's just as well Judy isn't having a report this week as I have nothing to report, again.  Oh, I'm sewing, and if I took the time to figure it, I may have used a 1/32nd of a yard in all the little pieces used for my third block of Anna's Garden, so essentially I'm where I was last week as far as destashing.  Almost done with the second flimsie  of the four baby quilts. Added a wrong size sashing (by 1/4" too wide) and had to almost take out a whole row to fix it.  So instead of fabric progress, here's some fun photos of two of my DGS.

I don't know what it is about this hat, but both Leo when he was here in 2010 and Alan, recently, both love it and wanted to wear it.
Here's Leo at about 21 months in 2010:

Here's Alan at 20 months, about a week ago:
Who's next?

Applique Thursday 7/19/12

It may not be much, but I have begun block three of Anna's Garden.  I'm going to personalize this one. Hope I can pull it off.  Here's the little I've done:
The winner of last week's 5" batik charm is Billie of Billie's Blog. Congrats! I'll be sending out your charm shortly. Another is waiting for someone. All you need to do is comment or link to have a chance for it to be yours. Or do both and have two chances. Submissions end Sunday night.

Would love to see your eye candy that you're working on - applique or otherwise. It could be one you've just completed, are working on (like me) or dreaming about. Use the blue submit button below.


And one last thing, because I love eye candy so much, I'm linking to Melissa's Try New Things. I do so like to TNT  - like that hand for instance.









WIP Wednesday 7/18/12

First baby flimsie done - 3 to go!  Yes, have 4 to make now. 
Half way done with the next one.  Mom is here for two days so not much progress will be done.

I'm linking up with Esther's WOW .  Go on over and see all the goodies there.

Design Wall Monday 7/16/12

Almost there!  I was hoping to have begun on my third Anna's Garden applique block, but not quite - one last row to go. They just need hand stitching and I can start on the next block. I wish I knew more about my camera - those flowers are actually pink, not peach - as in my stash report photo.  I'm thinking it's the lighting.  Actually, I'm surprised I got this far as last week was the busiest of each month.  Today starts summer camp for DGKs and friends, so there will be a lot of chauffering done.  What's on your design wall?

I'm linking to Judy's Patchwork Times and Lyn's BOMs Away.  Be sure to see all the eye candy there.

Stash report 7/15/12

Working on the baby quilts and my applique so haven't used much of the stash except for a few scraps for the 2nd applique block

Good thing I'm ahead on my destashing goal for the year. Nothing in and a miniscule out, so essentially the total is the same as last week.  BTW:  today is the last day for you to win a 5" batik charm.  Go to my Applique Thursday post and see how you can be the lucky recepient. Closes at midnight.

I'm linking to Judy's Stash Report - go see how others are doing.

Favorite Flower on Friday

I wasn't sure I was going to have a flower for this week, but on my return from 6:30 AM Mass, I found these next to my carport:
See the thick plant to the left of the blooms - that's a euphorbia and is not the plant associated with these flowers.  They come from those skinny, thin pads you see on the right.  I don't know how they hold them up.
 These also are early morning bloomers, and they like to hangout in the under canopy of taller plants.
I love those swirly stamens with hairlike filaments. Click on the photo and you'll see how the sun highlights them.
Here you can see how they are attached to their thin scalloped stems.

I'm linking to Tootsie's Flaunt your Flowers and Shay's Favorite Things Friday.  Be sure to visit to see more favorites.

Applique Thursday 7/12/12

Only corner flowers to go!  And each corner flower has three parts.  Now I have to find some pinks for the petals.

Notes on process:  My favorite tool so far for these is a toothpick.  Yes, a toothpick.  I've been reading Becky and Linda's tips of PieceO'Cake Designs and they use a toothpick to tuck in the seam allowance or straighten those pesky points that form at curves - really works well.  I also heard them on Pat Sloan's radio program. Very interesting show.  Just google Pat Sloan radio and you'll get a list of the recent shows.

The other thing I found was that the center fabric I chose was very loosely woven and hard to use for applique.  It's a Kaffe Fassett fabric. I love the designs on his fabrics, so what was I to do?  I decided to starch it and that helped minimize the fraying.  Phew!

Our winner last week of the 5" batik charm is  Connie of Quilting by the River.   Congrats! I'll be sending out your charm shortly.  Another is waiting for someone.  All you need to do is comment or link to have a chance for it to be yours.  Or do both and have two chances.  Submissions end Sunday night.

Would love to see your eye candy that you're working on - applique or otherwise.  It could be one you've just completed, are working on (like me) or dreaming about. Use the blue submit button below.

WIP Wednesday 7/11/12

Made some progress on my 3rd VA quilt.  Am about 3/5ths done.  I call it my plaid quilt.

The picture is dark as I had to take it at night.  Does it look like a plaid to you.  I know, I know - crazy colors, but my husband likes it -so maybe some vet will like it also.

I'm linking to Esther's WOW on her blog.  What are you working on this wednesday?

Fabric Tuesday

The second round of the second Anna's Garden block is appliqued and the third round is glued in place.

Notes on progress - it so easy to place when you have the outline available.  Label each piece as to where it belong - up, down, right, left on the shiny side cuz that's the side you will see.  Using freezer paper for the templates lets me lightly iron onto the front of the fabric and easily cut out the seam allowance.  Also it's way easier to do a few pieces at a time than try to manipulate around all the pieces as I did with the first block.

I'm linking to Fabric Tuesday by Quilt Story and Connie's Linky Party Tuesday.  Be sure to visit and see all the goodies there.

Design Wall Monday 7/9/12

There are two things new on my design wall.  I've been invited to two baby
showers - one in late July and one in the middle of Aug, so I have to drop everything and make three baby quilts.  Yes, one of them is having twins -both girls, and the other decided not to find out. I'll have to be creative and find something suitable for a boy or girl.  Of course I have to shop for these - LOL.  I just won't count as part of my stash as they are never even going to be part of it.  The fabric is going right from the store to the cutting table.  One mom really likes fall colors, so I got this cute collection call Ten Little Things by Jenn Ski for Moda.  I've decided to sash it in green. Hope she likes it. I love the cute little owls.

Secondly, I've finished my first Anna's Garden block and started prepping the second.  I'm hoping if I do a little each day, I'll be able to make a block a week -praying that's not too great a task. 

I'm linking to Judy's Design Wall Monday and Lyn's BOMs Away!  Do check out all the eye candy there.

Stash Report 7/8/12

Got serious about destashing and attacked a box that has been so long in my way.  I put it in my way, so I'd do something with it.  Didn't work - has been in that spot almost a year, but finally I got to it, and I made 6 test string blocks from it.  You can read about it here  and here .  Oh, I did make a couple of charity quilts from this box when I first got it, but although they turned out 36" square, they used a miniscule amount of strings.  I swear they multiply at night!  As I rummaged I did find 1.35 yards to make a Christmas quilt - Woohoo, but the rest is going to be donated to another group that makes charity quilts, so there goes 6 yards of fabric in one copy paper box.  Here are my numbers:

Used/Donated last week:  7.35 yards
Used/Donated YTD:       94.19 yards
Added/Bought last week: 2.0 yards  batiks from a friend (not gift but purchase with batting)
Added/Bought YTD: 35.5 yards
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Net Decrease YTD: 58.69 yards  Woohoo!  I'm ahead of my goal by almost seven yards.
 
How are you doing on your destashing?  Join Judy at Patchworktimes to let us know.

Outer Space?

I promised some readers I'd post firworks photos from our yearly city mountain show all in our backyard.  When I looked at the photos I got the feeling I was looking at objects in the sky seen by telescope.  Look at those gases coming from the supernova

Another exploding star

And just so you know these were taken by a terrestial - one with flash so you could see the jacaranda.


One of the big ones and another coming up!  That's a palm tree in the foreground.

I was going to take a pic of the Grand Finale - but I was so caught up in enjoying it, it was over before I remembered.


Favorite Flower Friday

Today I'm taking you on an aerial view, sorta, kinda.  LOL - here are some white flowers I have to view from our second story as the Pachypodium lameri is about 16-18 ft tall. That's one our neighbor's houses in the background.  We have 5 neighbors that share the property lines of our house. One north, three east, and one south. This one is east.  The neighbor on the south has the best view of these.  As you can see we have a bit of a planting out of some regular trees, gums, pines, and a few succulents - even a bay tree.




Here's a closeup of the Pachy flowers:
And here's a shot looking up at the canopy this plant (and other's) makes.  If you look closely you can see the white flowers.  A different kind of forest, huh?

I'm linking to Shay's Favorite Things Friday and Tootsie's Flaunt your Flowers.  Lots of goodies to see there.

Applique Thursday

Hello, I'm almost late in posting this but have been working on that first Anna's Block

Added the dreaded circles and stitched down pink flower, main flower, basket and a few greens. Phew!

What I did with this block was cut out freezer paper templates that I placed the dull side of the freezer paper on the wrong side of the fabric and ironed the seam allowance onto the shiny side. Once stitched in place you cut out the background and remove the paper. I did that for the big pieces, but for the small ones (the stems) I took out the freezer paper and lightly glued down the seam allowance. Then I pressed the pieces in place to then applique down or pin.


So far I'm not liking this method as much as I like back basting for placement. Look at that basket -  it looks kind of wonky.  Maybe some of the illusion will go away when I square the block to the 7 1/2" square - hope, hope, hope.
 
There is a winner for the 5" batick charm!  Win one by leaving comment or link or both (for two chances). Last week's winner was Rosa - all the way in Spain.  Congrats, Rosa!

--Would love to see your eye candy!



WIP Wednesday 7/4/12

Happy 4th!  At mass today we prayed for our nation and its leaders and citizens, for those who defend her and those who uphold her.  In God we Trust.

We had our barbeque Sunday at my daughter's house. So today all we're doing is hanging out and then watching our city's fireworks' display from our back yard.  They set them off not far from us as we live on the south slope of the mountain used for this entertainment.  This is a blessing and a curse.  It's a blessing because it's like having front row seats for this and we don't have to drive anywhere. It's a curse because every year they manage to start a fire on the mountain from some too low bursting firework and then the SHOW really begins.  Fortunately, in the 43 years we've been here only once did they tell us to get ready to evacuate. And then we really didn't have to. Phew!

I found my next NewFo.  I was sorting through this box:
Those are strips of various sizes mostly of one fabric collection.  I've made several charity quilts from this box.  Yet it seems never ending! So as I rummaged I was able to find enough strips to make 24 more of these:

So I bundled strips into 24 sets. I only need 2 strips wof and the red square to make this block.  The strips can be any width more than 1 1/2" wide.  That's the beauty of the trim tool - you don't have to cut all those rectangles for a log cabin block.  Saves a ton of time.  If I get it done on time, hope to have a silent auction at our church's Christmas boutique to buy batting for St. Anne's Sewdality quilts. We make baby quilts for low income first time mothers.


Now that I've gotten this far, I'll have to lay it aside because I have to make 2 baby quilts for a set of twin girls.  This is for a family friend we've know since she was a baby.  And the shower is at the end of July.
Off to assemble the top of one.  I'll show you pics later after the shower.

I'm linking to Esther's WOW linky.  Do go over and see what other quilters are doing.

Fabric Tuesday Story

If you saw my design wall yesterday, you know I wasn't too keen on the big block I put on it.  Then I read about Bonnie Hunter's new book, String Fling , and fell in love with one of her quilts.  There's one perfect for my strings and a big block!  So while I wait for the book to come, I've been playing with the block to see if I can figure out how she did it. She is so clever - it never seems to be what you think.  I'm going to be haunting the mailbox until it comes to see if I'm right.  Here's what my block looks like now.
It's not sewn together and I can see that the big strips won't work with this one -but, oh this will use up a lot of those tiny strips and give me applique space.  Woohoo!

I'm linking to Connie's Linky Party Tuesday and Fabric Tuesday by Quilt Story - go see what others are playing with.

Design Wall Monday

Made another log cabin block using my new tool , and made a prototype string block - I know I want to change it already.  Making these two at a time like leaders and enders:



I'm linking with Judy's Patchwork Times and Lyn's BOMs Away Monday.  Head on over there and see what others are doing.

NewFO Challenge

LOL - can't decide what to post - started several.  Think I'll post the new quick to make log cabin blocks with that trim tool I bought.  You can read about it here.   I also started a Urban Nine Patch block which came out not the right size, so it will be a quiltlet.  Then started a new VA quilt plus my new applique which is from Anna's Garden. Probably other stuff I started - just can't remember right now.

I did finish Alan's pillow (don't know if I reported that).  You can read about it here.  And one other finish I'm not sure I posted in NewFO is my carpenter star. 

I'm linking at Barb's NewFO Challenge.  Go on over and see what quilters started new in June.

Stash Report 7/1/12

I was busy last week but with actual quilting on my FMQ, hand appliqueing, and embroidery.  I did make 2 blocks - pulled a 1 1/4 yards for my Urban Nine Patch and a 1/4 yard for another Log Cabin block.

Here are my numbers:
Used/Donated last week: 1.5    yards
Used/Donated YTD:      86.84 yards
Added/Bought last week:   0.0 yards
Added/Bought YTD:        33.5 yards
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Net Decrease YTD: 53.34 yards   Not bad for the start of the second half of the Stash Busting Year!
I'm linking to Judy's Patchworktimes.  Go see how others are doing with their stash busting!

SAHRR Round 5 and 6

  Ready to show rounds 5 and 6. Actually, the prompt for 5 was make 4 of something. So I chose four patch, and actually since that made my q...