January Getting it Done

Judy at Patchwork Times has revamped her annual UFO Challenge to help us get more done.  And it will most likely. Having a goal does motivate me to get more done (although I only got 2 of my 12 UFOs done last year).  I'm hoping to do better this year.  So we're to post 4 things we will get done in the following month.  Mine are:

1.  Piece the 4 blocks I have left to do for our Guild's Memories of Riverside BOM. Then I'll be ready for when Susan gives us the flimsie directions in February.

2.  Make the Easy Street units into a flimsie.

3.  Quilt the UFO I finally finished (started in 1997) in the last few days while I've had to sit and keep my leg elevated.
4. Sandwich my Watching All the Birds Go By flimsie

and that's it!  Join us - I'd like to know what you want to get done.  You can link up to Judy's first Getting It Done party here.

Last 2012 Design Wall Monday

I can't believe this is the last one!  They have been so much fun and so inspiring to keep on quilting even if it's only one block at a time, one piece at a time or just 5 minutes of cutting.  Thank you Judy!

On my design wall is my second flimsie(for myself that is) for the year.  This is the block I started for my first applique class. It was a Zena Thorpe workshop put on by my guild in 1997 - yes, 15 years ago!

I've sandwiched it and is ready to quilt.  It will be my first UFO finish in 2013.  I hope this is a good sign for the rest of the year as far as ufos go.  What's on your design wall?  Go on over to Judy's Patchwork Times and check out other walls.

Last stash report of 2012!

I'm so glad I did this!  I never would have thought I would use a little over 142 yards in a year.  And while I know I gave a lot of fabric away to my guild and St. Anne's I was pleasantly surprised that in 2012 I made 8 quilts - 6 of which I gave away; finished 12 charity baby quilts; 12 charity flimsies; quilted three quilts for others; made 7 quilts for our VA hospital; pieced 62 blocks - some will be orphans, some are already in quilts, some are part of BOMs I haven't finished, some for swaps; created one flimsie for me and started 3 NewFOs

Here are my numbers:
Used/Donated last week: 0.7 yards
Used/Donated YTD: 180.86 yards
Added/Bought last week: 0.0 yards
Added/Bought YTD: 38.79 yards
Net Decrease YTD: 142.07 yards  Next year I'm going to add a line to my numbers report that will read Donated  and Donated YTD.  Then I'll really know how productive, or not!, I've been.  It's all fun.  Hope you join in with Judy at Patchwork Times   What's my goal for next year - 150 yards.  What's yours?

Applique Thursday -Last one for 2012

Still recuperating  from Christmas revelry, a cold and a fall, so not much quilting going on. Last Thursday, I fell going up some steps and did a number on my right leg.  Since I could hobble around, didn't think I'd broken any bones, but yesterday, I'd had it with the pain and went to have it checked out.  The good news is yes, I had no broken bones, but am badly bruised and have a hematoma that is causing the pain.  I'm to keep the leg up for a few days so that it can recover.  It has slowed me down.  Time to do hand work on the sofa.  Unfortunately, I don't have either of my blocks prepped and ready to continue work on, so I'm pulling out this ufo and seeing if I can finish it.  This was a block from  Zena Thorpe  who came to share her applique expertise with us at a workshop a long time ago - maybe more than 10 years ago - maybe twenty.  I'll have to find the pattern and see if there is a date on it. 

What are you up to?  I'd love to see your eye candy - past, present, or future - applique or not - it's all new to me!

Joy To The World

The Lord has Come!
Let it fully load, then replay.

Merry Christmas!!

Design Wall Monday 12/24/12

Doing my Easy Street blocks - here's a batch:

They were easy peasy. 

I'm linking to Bonnie's Easy Street, Judy's Patchwork Times, and Lyn's BOMs Away. 

Hope the Spirit of the Season has filled you with peace and hope for a wonderful New Year.

Stash Report 12/23/12

Are you ready?  If not, remember the only thing you really need to do is celebrate whose birthday is it, rejoice in the wonder of it and give an Alleluia.  The rest will wrok out.

Sewing wise, I've been working on two pieced backs for another two charity quilts which I can't count - the flannel is from St. Anne's not my stash.  However, I did pull .36 yards of scraps for Bonnie's Easy Street.  Here are my numbers:
Used/Donated last week: 0.36 yards
Used/Donated YTD: 180.79 yards
Added/Bought last week: 0.0 yards
Added/Bought YTD: 38.79  yards
Net Decrease YTD: 142.00 yards   One more week to report!  Will you be destashing next year?   Merry Christmas  One and All!

Applique Thursday 12/20/12

Days have been so busy.  I did do applique this week, but neither of my two blocks.  Made this for our guild's BOM.  The building is our Fox Theater.  Back in the 30s, Riverside was far enough from Hollywood to be considered a small town and used to preview films to get an audience's reaction before releasing to the public.  Riversiders were the first to see Gone With the Wind!  I'll stitch the black raw edge applique pieces with black and a straight stitch.  Our BOM Queen is doing a great job with this series.  We have one left to do.

Our winner for last week's book is Auntjunifer. Unfortunately, she is a noreply-comment blog reader.  So I'm posting here in the hopes she will see this and reply with her snail mail address in a private email, so I can send her the book.  A note to readers:  If you want to win, we have to have a way to contact you. So you might want to go into your settings and set email visible in your profile.  Hope to hear from you soon!  Also, I'd like to apologize to my last two winners - their books should have gone out a long time ago, but they will be in the mail TODAY.  No more letting this depression drag me down.

Since it will be madness around here for the next ten days, I'm calling a hiatus to giveaways on Applique Thursday for a couple of weeks.  But I'd still love to see your eye candy of any kind - past, present or future - remember it's all new to me.  It will help me endure this winter fog that settles in my head.

NewFO 2013

Barbara over at Cat Patches has opened a linky party and giveaway for her 2013 NewFO Challenge.  It's easy.  You just decide what new projects you want to start in 2013 and list them.  LOL - I'm always starting new projects, so this is a natural for me - and it gives me permission to start another one.  I love to start things. Don't even ask me how many UFOs I have - hehe.  But it is hard for me to commit to twelve.  I don't know what quilts I'll just have to make are coming up in the new year. I've already seen some really wonderful quilts on Barbara's and Teresa's list! Therefore, I'm going to show you only one - my birthday present.  Thank you, DH!!  It's a kit:

This is Simpatico of Robert Kaufmann Fabrics, Pattern by Heidi Pridemore adapted for different fabric choices.  It is about 68" square.  I saw it on the wall of our local Bulebird Quilts & Gallery store and just had to have it.  The colors are so vibrant!

So that's my list for now. Others have 12. I'll just have to surprise you for the rest of the year.  Go on over to Cat Patches and see more.  Join in - you know you want to start some new quilts next year!

On My Design Wall this Monday 12/17/12

Still time to visit Applique Thursday Giveaway for two chances (link or comment or both) to win a nice book. This week it's Celtic applique blocks

On my design wall is my Easy Street units.  I'm happy to say I'm all caught up.  I picked up my Bernina on Thursday and got busy on Saturday and finished part 3. Yesterday  I finished part 4!

Now don't be amazed - remember I'm only doing a 1/4 of the quilt -that means only a 1/4 of the units and that was only 16 for Part 4.  I'm really loving Bonnie's method for making geese.  Here's the tiny bit of trimmings from truing up my 16 - isn't that great.  Thanks so much, Bonnie, for teaching us how to do these your way. 

I'm linking to Judy's Design Wall Monday, Bonnie's Easy Street and Lyn's BOMs Away.  Lots of eye candy there!

Stash Report 12/16/12

Again, do visit Applique Thursday Giveaway for a chance to win a nice book. This week it's Celtic applique blocks.

Hardly any sewing since Thursday.  I took my Bernina in for maintenance.  So couldn't even do Easy Street because I like to sew all units for a quilt on the same machine.  I've found one can get into piecing problems otherwise.  I did finish the rag quilt using my Janome  and then passed it on to the next St. Anne's member.  There was only five of us - I'm sure because of the cold and rain.  Made for a lovely sunset:

So the only stash busting I got done was pulling a fat quarter for part 4 of Easy Street - and yes,  I got my machine and started on the units for part 3.  It is humming again. Grin!  Here are my numbers:
Used/Donated last week:         0.25 yards
Used/Donated YTD:           180.07 yards
Added/Bought last week:        0.0   yards
Added/Bought YTD:            38.79 yards
Net Decrease YTD:           141.28 yards  Moved forward a teeny bit - phew!

How are you doing? I'm linking to Judy's Patchwork Times.  See you there.

Applique Thursday Giveaway

Again this is the very busy week of the month, and being December lots going on.  And then I couldn't find my block to take a photo!  I had worked on it earlier and it was nowhere to be found.  But I finally did find it.  You know how it is - it gets buried under stuff that you move cuz company is coming and you're serving dessert and rushing to put on a fresh tablecloth. Geesh! Well here it is - a little further along.

The winner of last week's book is Bonnie L!  I've sent Bonnie an email.  Thank you very much readers.  There were 25 entries this month and I was thrilled.  Lots of good eye candy and if you didn't  leave a link, I visited a lot of neat sites and saw some candy that way.  Always fun!.  Here is this week's giveaway:

These are marvelous, but I'm not there yet in handling the complexity of them - LOL - that spatial gene just can't handle it.  Makes lovely blocks.  I've always been intrigued by the shapes formed.  To win this copy, 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. And for extra chances, tell your friends about this giveaway. If they comment or link and mention you in their comment, you'll automatically get another entry in this giveaway. Submissions end Wednesday night. Use the blue link below. And remember, it doesn't have to be applique (that you share that is) -  all sorts of eye candy is eligible.

ES on Design Wall Monday 12/10/12

Up on my design wall - barely - is part 3 of Easy Street.

Had a superbusy last three days, but I was determined to move forward on this so have most of it cut out and a couple of the units done to check the size.

What's on your design wall? I'm linking over at Judy's Patchwork Times, Bonnie's Easy Street, and Lyn's BOMs Away.  See you there!

Oh, and the giveaway is still ongoing!  Go to my Post Applique Thursday to enter.  Good Luck!

Stash Report 12/09/12

First off, do visit Applique Thursday Giveaway for a chance to win a nice book.  Next here is my antidote for grey and gloomy days.

here's my view from my kitchen window - the cosmos in full bloom.  And yes the ground is higher than my kitchen floor.

I pulled 2 yards from my stash and started on a quilt for Alan's infant class - they need a couple to wrap kids up in during the afternoon and what they have is pretty shoddy. That's it for stash busting for me.
Here are my numbers:

Used/Donated last week: 2.0 yards

Used/Donated YTD:    179.82 yards

Added/Bought last weeks: 0.0 yards

Added/Bought YTD:   38.79 yards

Net Decrease YTD:  141.03 yards

How's your stash? I'm linking over at Judy's Patchwork Times.

The Steal Game

Last year for the Christmas Steal Game at our guild, we were to bring an ornament.  I made this star:

but due to being spatially challenged I didn't finish it in time. See post here for link to pattern.  This year I had it finished and was all set to wrap it when they changed what we were to bring - an 18" pillow cover.  But by golly, I was going to give my ornament!  So I wrapped it up, included a pillow cover flimsie, and filled the box with more Christmas fabric and took it to our meeting.  It was the first opened and stolen.  Here's what I got:

I'm thrilled with it!  Raw edge applique of suede pieces. A wonderful winter scene. Thank you Deanna for your choice.  Just what I like - applique and nature.

Applique Thursday Giveaway

A little closer to done.  Last night was the start of festivities for this Christmas.  Groan - what temptation.  I was successful with my one plate plan for indulging during this holiday season.

The winner of last week's book, Four Blocks Say More... is Linda.  I've sent her an email.  Thank you to all who commented or shared their eye candy.  I wish I had had time to reply to all of you, but computer time is limited right now, or else I'd never have my little blocks of quilting.

This week's giveaway is a wonderful book titled:  Crazy but Pieceable by Hollie Milne.  Eight projects (they have a bit of applique).  Hollie teaches you how to make blocks of crazy piecing to use in your quilts in a different way than in a crazy quilt.  Great way to use scraps in the same color family.  It is a technique ahead of its time.  Kay MacKenzie has just published a book using this method - but her pieced fabric made from scraps is the makings of applique pieces and she doesn't paper piece.

To win this copy, 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. And for extra chances, tell your friends about this giveaway.  If they comment or link and mention you in their comment, you'll automatically get another entry in this giveaway. Submissions end Wednesday night. Use the blue link below. And remember, it doesn't have to be applique (that you share that is) - I love all sorts of eye candy.

Fabric Tuesday Not

Here are my 2 two-year old DGKs :  Lily and Alan

on the Grandpa's birthday (one of those many Nov celebrations).  They are seven months apart.  No quilting today - spending all day with Alan and afternoon with Will.  I get to go to Infant class and Tennis - keeping busy!

What are you doing today? 

Design Wall Monday, Easy Street & BOMs Away 12/3/12

Easy Street is back on my design table - part of part 2 that is.  I am doing them in 15 minute spots and as many as I can do in that time.

I really, really like Bonnie's method of making flying geese with the two E-Z rulers.  What a time saver! No more drawing lines and true-ing up and all those triangles to angst about.  Thank you so much, Bonnie!

A reminder the giveaway is still on.  If you want to win this quilting book for a bed quilt in a weekend, roll down to the Applique Thursday post of 11/29 to get the details.  All you need to do is comment or link or both to win - and it doesn't have to be applique to post.  Any eye candy will do, even old stuff.

I'm linking to Judy's Patchwork Times, Lyn's BOMs Away and Bonnie's Easy Street linkys. Go see all the fun stuff.

Stash Report 12/2/12 & Reminder

Besides the 2.75 yards I bought last week (which I already reported), I pulled 2 yards Sunday from my stash for Bonnie Hunter's mystery. So that gets counted this week.  I also made another St. Anne's top -

using another yard from the stash.  It's pretty bright.  I also assembled another rag quilt, but all that wasn't from my stash so I can't count it.  All I do is make the top and others finish it for St. Anne's.

This is the back.  The front has that cute leaf fabric everywhere you see the solid beige flannel here.  I only assemble, others clip and wash. Next step is to quilt an "x"in each pair and then sew the rows. Here are my numbers:
Used/Donated last week:      3.0 yards
Used/Donated YTD:       177.82 yards
Added/Bought last weeks:   0.0 yards
Added/Bought YTD:       38.79 yards
Net Decrease YTD:      139.03 yards
How's your stash?  I'm linking over at Judy's Patchwork Times.  And oh yes!  A reminder that the givewaway for the Four Blocks say More book is still on and you can win it for a comment or link or both.  See my post before this one of 11/29.

I'm linking to Barb's NewFO challenge. See what others have started.

Applique Thursday Giveaway

Life is still so busy - babysitting twice a day into the evening, anniversary (44th) coming up, board meetings, and book sorting............I'd rather be quilting!!!  So here's what I got done in the 10 minutes I had - two more leaves on Anna's Garden block 5:

I'm forgetting how to do teeny tiny rounded points!

Okay, so you can be doing applique or other sewing projects here's this week's giveaway. It's Four Blocks Say More.. by Toni Phillips & Juanita Simonich. This is their second collection of quilts to piece in a weekend. You know how I like big pieces and few of them in a block and I thought this book would be just what I wanted, but I've never gotten to it even with the couple that have applique in them. These finish at between 84-96 inches square - that's big for me. So I'm passing this on to someone who'd like it.


To win this copy, 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 Wednesday night. Use the blue link below. And remember, it doesn't have to be applique (that you share that is) - I love all sorts of eye candy.

Easy Street 11/26/12

Half done with first step.  Here's one batch.  Incandescent bulb made some look yellow, but they are really b & w.

I'm linking to Bonnie's Easy Street at her blog.  It will be fun to see what people are using.

Design Wall Monday 11/26/12

Down on my design floor is the 5th VA lap quilt.  Cut some squares and made 5 blocks for this 20 piece, 9 1/2" block quilt that finishes at 36 x 45 - the size they want for wheelchairs and to cover the feet in bed.  We'll be at our 60 quilts very soon and then we can deliver them.

It would be nice to get them there for Christmas.

I'm linking to Judy's Patchwork Times and Lyn's BOMs Away.  Go on over to see what others are doing.

Stash Report 11/25/12

Things are winding down to normal again, and while it was fun, I'm so glad I survived.  What with the train trip for our Senior group at church (took all day!), the arrival of out of state company the next day, two birthday celebrations, a presentation at my LG, babysitting kids off from school and then Thanksgiving Day - it was BUSY.  I hardly turned on the computer or hardly picked up a needle.  But I did have to finish two for the guild meeting - just had binding to do.  I was able to hand off the isolette quilt

and the 4th VA lap quilt

I love the quilting Carol did on this one.  It's just perfect for it.  I pulled three yards for cushioning my tree ornament for the Christmas steal game at the guild. That was a ufo I finished - and no, I forgot to take a photo.  I also bought 2.75 yards of fabric for Bonnie Hunter's new mystery.  Here are my numbers:

Used/Donated last week:      3.0  yards

Used/Donated YTD:        174.82 yards
Added/Bought last weeks:    2.75 yards

Added/Bought YTD:          38.79 yards

Net Decrease YTD:         136.03 yards

How are you doing on destashing or making sense of all that fabric?  Anything done is good, so share with us.  I'm linking over at Judy's Patchwork Times. Visit and be inspired.

Design Wall Monday 11/12/12

I'm quilting that isolette quilt in between cleaning.  But coming off the wall is this St. Anne's Sewdality quilt:

It's brighter than it seems in the picture.  This quilt is one of our prayer quilts that we give to low income mothers at their post-partum visit.  One member made the embroidered blocks (Thanks, Deanna!) and provided some of the fabric. I put the top together. Then a couple of members sandwiched, pin basted, and tied it.  Then Isabelle took it home to be bound - thank you all.  We're going to silent auction it at the Altar Society boutique so that we can buy batting.

I'm linking to Judy's Patchwork Times.  Go on over and see what others have on their design wall.

Stash Report 11/11/12

Looking at another busy week with company, birthdays and usual madness, so this may be my only post for the week.  I used 1 yard to back the isolette quilt and will use another .25 to bind it.  I'm going to use the same dark blue with suns on it as in the flimsie.  Here  it is pinned and ready for quilting.  Then I used another .25 yards to make blocks that I sent off to Vesuvius Mama for the quilts she is assembling quilts for Hurricane Sandy victims.  I also used another .75 to sash and bind the Halloween quilt. So my numbers are:

Used/Donated last week: 2.25 yards

Used/Donated YTD:   171.82 yards

Added/Bought last weeks: 0.0 yards

Added/Bought YTD: 36.04 yards

Net Decrease YTD: 135.78 yards

It would be nice to get to 150 yards for the year, but if I don't I'll be happy with my goal from January of 100 yards even though a big chunk was donated.

Here is a update on my cosmos - they're opening up nicely in the kitchen garden and I have a bright spot to look at on dreary days.  They're more orange than this, think my color was oof on the camera.

How's your destashing going?  Go on over to Judy's Patchwork Times to see how others are doing.

Winner of Applique Thursday Book

This is the crazy week for me which repeats every second week of the month.  No progress on my applique - had too many deadlines for the church group and the guild. I hate it when that happens. And with the time change my biological clock is so mixed up.  It wants me to go to bed at 9 PM.  So much to do - spent all morning with the Sewdality group - to which my mom came.  Then home for a quick lunch and on the the retina specialist for Mom.  What was suppose to be a 30 minute appointment turned into a 3 hours appointment.  There went the day. I hope you had some quilty moments today.

I had lots of eye candy last week.  Visited a lot of new blogs from the comments.  Thank you all!  This week's winner of the book giveaway is Bzystitches from Russel, KS.  Congratulations!  I'll be sending out your book as soon as I hear from you.

Okay, off to start getting ready for my next company - Have a great remainder of the week y'all!

And here's another reason life has  been blah:


Much brighter than it really was - the first of our dismal days of no sun, just gray.

But here comes the cosmos!  Look at all those buds. These are sulfur cosmos.

WIP Wednesday

or what I'm working on.  Actually, my part is done - I just make the charity flimsies and pass them on to other St. Anne's members to work on.  That way at least 3 or 4 of us work on each quilt and pray over them.  But I might get this one back to bind, so I'm calling it my WIP.  And if you'd like to know why I'm working with Halloween fabrics after the date, see my previous post.

Did you have some quilty time this week?  Would love to see it.  I'm linking to Esther's WOW.  Go see what they are doing over there.

Design Wall Monday 11/5/12

Here's what's on my design wall: 
Yep, it's a Halloween charity quilt.  And why am I making this now - LOL.  Well here is St. Anne's members reasoning:  Our quilts are given to low income first time mothers when they come in for their first post-partum visit.  One may have had her baby near Halloween and is gaga about Halloween as a lot of people are. So she may love to have this one for her baby.  I'll actually get to count some of this fabric toward my stash report next Sunday as the sashing and binding will come from my stash - all the rest is scraps from St. Anne's.

What's on your design wall?  Go on over to Judy's Patchwork Times and see what others have up on their walls. That's always fun. 

Oh and don't forget to visit my Nov 1st post for the book giveaway!  Ends Wednesday night.  Lot of people seem to want this book.  It could be yours.

Stash Report 11/4/12

Not many weeks left in this year, but I reached my goal!  In 2013, however,  I want to reach my goal with more actual use of fabric in quilts than in donations( gave a 5 yard piece to the Guild this week), and I'll have to buy some fabric to make what's remaining work. Also, if I'd finish some of those forever UFOs, I might use a lot more cuz they all need backs - "grin".
Here are my numbers:
Used/Donated last week:  5.00 yards
Used/Donated YTD:     169.57 yards     Added/Bought last week: 0.0 yards Added/Bought YTD:        36.04 yards Net Decrease YTD:        133.53 yards.
How's your destashing going? Go on over to Judy's Patchwork Times and see how others are doing. I'd like to know how you are doing, too!

Oh and a reminder - it's not too late to link or comment to win the Applique Thursday giveaway of Emilie Richards' Love's Knot book.  Go to my Nov. 1st post. Good luck!

Applique Thursday & Giveaway

Got a tiny bit further along with my Anna's Garden block 5

I wanted to do at least a leaf a day, but didn't happen.  I did learn that I've got to cut inside the lines of these templates (might be the thickness of the fabric I"m using), or else they come out too fat as you can see by the two in upper left quadrant. The lower left leaf is much more the size they're suppost to be.  But I'm not changing them - LOL.

Unfortunately, my sister-in-law could not come to visit as planned what with Hurricane Sandy cancelling flights and my brother-in-law is in the hospital for a failed heart valve. Please keep them in your prayers.

I decided to go ahead and post another book giveaway.  This one is:

This Quilt along with Emilie Richards -Lover's Knot has seven projects - traditional quilts.  One is applique.  I like the borders these have - more true to the time they were popular, and the very detailed instructions she gives us.  The featured one doesn't have any borders.  I'm liking that look.  I'm thinking that is why I like Judy Laquidara's quilts - she has interesting borders.

To win this copy, 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 Wednesday night. Use the blue link below. And remember, it doesn't have to be applique (that you share that is) - I love all sorts of eye candy.

I'm linking to Melissa's TNT - go see what others are trying.

WOW or Work in Progress.

In between doctor, lab and errands, found a little time to work on my bom. I need to have it done for the guild meeting.  Almost there just need to stitch down some applique pieces.  This block represents our city's Art Museum.  It first started life as a YWCA.  Above the door, the ladies played badminton. 

What are you working on?  I'm linking to Esther's WOW and Quilt Story's Fabric Tuesday. It's fun to see what others are doing.

Design Wall Monday 10/29/12

On my design wall this morning is the start of my BOM block for our guild.  Didn't get very far:

My first set of out of state company won't be coming after all - flights have been cancelled and she lives in NJ which is shut down right now awaiting the arrival of Hurricane Sandy.  Adding to the worries is that my daughter and grandson were scheduled to fly out with her tomorrow, but are now stranded for the hurricane also. Please say a prayer for them.

I'm linking to Judy's Patchwork Times  and Lyn's BOMs Away.  Do visit for eye candy galore.

Stash Report 10/29/12

Not much sewing done since Thursday, although I did start my block for the Guild's BOM - I hope to post a photo tomorrow.  That will use about 1/8th of a yard of scraps.  Here are my numbers:

Used/Donated last week:   .13 yards

Used/Donated YTD:   164.57 yards

Added/Bought last week: 0.0 yards

Added/Bought YTD:    36.04 yards

------------------------------
Net Decrease YTD: 128.53 yards. How's your destashing going? Go on over to Judy's Patchwork Times and see how others are doing. I'd like to know how you are doing, too!

Friday Favorite - Blogger's Quilt Festival!

Amy at Amy's Creative Side has put together another fabulous online festival of quilts. Here's my entry:

Click on photo to see enlargement

I made this carpenter star to quilt along with Judy Laquidara's tutorial on how to free motion feathers.  It was a great tutorial.  You can go here to see it.  And here is the back (actually a pale yellow) :

Blogger’s Quilt Festival Stats

Finished quilt measures : 38" x 38"
Pieced & Quilted by : Angie Nudge
Best Category : Wall Hanging

I made mine to be a wall hanging.  It was a fun project and all the materials were in my stash. Back in January I decided I would learn to do free motion quilting.  It has been a long process, but I feel I'm making some progress with SewCalGal's 2012 FMQ Challenge and Leah's Free Motion Project.  And then Judy posted her tutorial - Thanks, Judy!  Do click on the button above to visit the Festival.  Enjoy!
PS:  The winner of last week's Applique Thursday Book Giveaway is Sandra. Congratulations, Sanda!  Thanks to all who participated in  Applique Thursday.



Applique Thursday 10/25/12

It's that day of the week and here's as far as I got with Anna's Garden block #5. 

First set of company comes next Tuesday, so I won't be posting much for a while and the giveaways will take a hiatus, too.  I'll try to pick and announce last week's winner tomorrow if I can - a very busy day.

What have you been working on?  Remember even a few minutes a day keeps you moving forward. Link up and show us your eye candy!

Work in Progress

In between cleaning got the flimsie done for the large isolette.  It came out 33 1/2" x 46 - thumbs up!

Found I have enough of the dark blue/star fabric for the binding.  Think it will set it off just right.  Now I just have to sandwich and quilt after I find a dark backing for it.  The purpose of this quilt is to block the light over the isolette for the preemies.

I'm linking to Esther's WOW and Connie's Free Motion Quilting by the River.  Enjoy the candy there.

Design Wall Monday 10/22/12

We've been asked to make larger neonatal quilts for the larger isolettes. The size is kind of odd 33 1/2 x 46.  So I went through some books and found one that was close to it - 36 x 48 - in Nancy Martin's Potting Shed Patchwork book.  Then I had to resize it and simplify it.  I changed the corner blocks from 9 patches to squares and the inner flower block into another square. By manipulating the size of the pieces, I was able to get the 33 1/2 x 46.  Here's a photo of the blocks laid out on my design wall:

Once I've sewn the pieces together, I'll add a 3" border to get the right dimensions.  This will be my NEWFo if I haven't finished it by the end of the month. 

What's on your design wall?  Go on over to Judy's Patchwork Times and Lyn's BOMs Away to see what eye candy others have for us.  I always enjoy that.  Now back to cleaning for my 2 sets of company coming in November.  Oh, and if you like paper piecing and animals, you still have time to go to my last Applique Thursday post and comment or link or both to win A Quilter's Ark - a great book!

Stash Report 10/21/12

Started another charity quilt.  Used 2 1/4 yards for the blocks.  They'll be going up on my design wall tomorrow.  Finished a rag quilt using another yard (photo below) and culled another 8 1/2 yards from the stash.  Phew! 

Here are my numbers:

Used/Donated last week:  11.75 yards
Used/Donated YTD:      164.44 yards
Added/Bought last week:   0.0   yards
Added/Bought YTD:        36.04 yards
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Net Decrease YTD:        128.40 yards.     How's your destashing going?  Go on over to Judy's Patchwork Times and see how others are doing.  I'd like to know how you are doing, too!

Applique Thursday Giveaway 10/18/12

This is as far as I got (which wasn't much, but a start) on the next two applique blocks.  I hoped to have more done, but yesterday, I went on a train trip - gone from 9-7pm.  More on that tomorrow.

As you can see, I only have the photocopies made, a couple of fabrics pulled and one freezer paper template cut out.  The forget me not copy was a bit of a struggle to print as the pattern was drawn on A4 and I only had 8 1/2 x 11 paper.  First I asked why I was having so much trouble not getting all of it and  a kind member told me it was designed on A4 - thank you, again!  Then I went out to buy some 8 1/2 x 14 paper to print it on.  A4 is slightly larger than our paper (in length) and is used in Australia where Esther generates these gorgeous flowers.

On Anna's garden block 5 I am going to do my freezer paper method, a little different than most.  I iron the template to the fabric on the right side.  Then I cut out my fabric piece leaving a 3/8th's seam allowance around the template. Then I remove the paper from the fabric and center it with the dull side to the back, shiny side showing, and turn over the seam allowance fuse it to the freezer paper.  I then place the prepped piece on the background and fuse it in place, then stitch it down. Then I cut out the background from the back of the piece 1/4" from my stitch line and remove the paper.

Last week's winner of the book, Quilts for Ice Cream Lovers, is Robin!  I've sent her an email and hope to hear from her soon.  Here is this week giveaway book for all you paper pieceing lovers: 

I bought this book for the elephant pattern and don't need it any more.  I did make a few others - the loon, the pelican - they are very nice paper piecing patterns.  To win this copy, 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 Wednesday night. Use the blue link below. And remember, it doesn't have to be applique (that you share that is) - I love all sorts of eye candy.
I'm linking to Melissa's TNT also. Go see what others are trying, too.

Fabric Tuesday or Wow! - I finished them.

Well, all the assembly work is done and now to some more stitching, but I'll do that as I have quiet time watching NCIS or Antiques Roadshow.  Here is Anna's Garden #4

 And here's my Forget Me Not block #4  Phew I'm glad that's put together.  Sue sent me a link for some star sequins so here's hoping they will work for the flower centers.  I'll check them out.

I need to order some smoke invisible thread for some of the darker areas.  What have you been doing?  I'm linking to Esther's Wow, Connie's Free Motion by the River, and Fabric Tuesday by Quilt Story.  Go check out all that eye candy!

Design Wall Monday 10/15/12

Up on my wall is another Vet lap quilt.  This will be my fifth and last one for this year.  I've also put together another baby rag quilt for St. Anne's.  Since we don't use batting between the two layers of flannel, it isn't very heavy.  All I have to do is sew an 'X' on the pairs, assemble the rows and send onto the next member to clip it. I may post a photo tomorrow if I get it to the next stage. 

Has any one seen star shaped sequins?  I'd like to use them on my forget me not flowers if there is such a thing.

What's on your design wall?  I'm heading over to Judy's Patchwork Times and Lyn's BOMs Away to see what people are posting.  I always like to see what other quilters are up to. Such eye candy!  And speaking of eye candy, you still have time to link yours at my Applique Thursday post (see 10/11 post) to participate in the book giveaway.