WIPs Be Gone Week 19

Well, I did move #10 WIP along - the top is finished as I made 8 more blocks and was done with it at the retreat.  It is now in the WTBQ pile.  You can see it in my previous post to this one.

I've also finished the first block - and it's a big one - for the next VA lap quilt. I don't have a photo of it finished to show you, but here it is with three sides. 

I wanted to show you how I handle sewing square in a square blocks without marking or cutting the corners of my triangles and getting them aligned.

 This particular example has only two sides to it. Think of it as a flying goose with a tail.  

 What I do to get them positioned right is to press a crease at the center of the square and the triangles.  For the square I press it near the seam line with right side in.  With the triangles I press at the center with the wrong sides in.  

 Above you can see the crease in the square and the crease in the right triangle on right.

 I then nestle the triangle and square (right sides together) at the creases and pin.  I then sew my scant quarter seam and press toward the square.  I then do the other triangle in the same manner, but I press the seam away from the square.  Why?  You can see from the photo of the block that the center square within a square is sewn to flying geese. This places a lot of bulk where the two points of the birds meet in the block. By turning one seam in one unit away from the edge lessens the bulk at the seam.  You just have to be a tad careful that the points  meet when joining the units.

How do you handle this tricky piecing problem?   Would love to hear if you have a better solution.

And how about your WIPs?  How are you doing on those?  Would love to see - doesn't have to be a finish, but we'll admire those, too.  Linky below - remember it doesn't have to be a new post, just one that shows a WIP.  Ends Monday, midnight.  I'm linking to Sarah's Can I get a Whoop, Whoop?, Richard's Link a finish Friday, and Julie for her Pet Project Show. Lots of eye candy on the NET.  Have a great weekend!

An InLinkz Link-up

Some of This, Some of That - May5th

Alas, no appliqué!  But I'm determined to get back to it this week - even if it's only those eyes for the elephants.

Again, I have yardage to report (surprise to me!).  Used 2 yards to finish my WIP #10.  Then I used another yard for the Festival quilt I started. I also began another VA quilt - for another .5 yard. Lastly, I took apart that hexie flower in my tut where I used red thread and resewed it.  So the YTD use now stands at 41.89 yards .  

And from the retreat - finally had a chance to have DH hold the quilt top #10 up for a photo:

VA lap quilt ready to sandwich

On my design wall:

Start of another quilt I saw at Shelly's Prairie Moon Quilts.

Another D9P - busy, huh?

And from my garden:

This plant ideally likes 45 inches of rain - some in spring and some in fall and we had only 4.5 inches so far this year. Our rainy season ends June 30th.

But it fruited for us!

 It is so delicious! Hardly acidic and so sweet. What a nice treat from the backyard.

Here's the next one which should be ready in a couple of month.  And another forming:

All started from a bought pineapple.

So what are you up to?  Would love to see your eye candy - from the sewing room or the garden. Leave me a comment and I'll come by.  Bye for now.

WIPs Be Gone Week 18

Back from retreat - what a grand time we had at the Viña de Lestonnac in Temecula, CA.  It was a beautiful place.  The weather couldn't have been nicer or the facility better.  They had set up cutting tables and ironing stations for us.  Once our work stations were as we wanted, they came and taped down the cables so no one would trip.  There were bathrooms on each end of the hall, and a full kitchen to use.

Where we went! A beautiful retreat center

in the heart of wine country in SoCal.

We even had hot air balloon sitings one morning - getting ready for balloon festival.

Mom working on her disappearing nine-patch - she got the top done!

The quilting room couldn't have been nicer.  It has a quilting libraryin three of the corners!

Of course we had to sample the local wines!

Here we all are at Primitive Gatherings, CA store. We also went
to The Temecula Quilt Co. - two stores with big online presence.

And while there, I got a WIP done - #10 - a lap quilt for our local VA hospital besides the fun make and takes they had for us:

We celebrated Mom's birthday - 89! - at our last meal there. It was her actual birthday.

 So looking forward to our next retreat.

Today's surgery for mom went very smoothly.  She is a trooper.  Thanks for all your prayers and good wishes.  They worked!

So how are you doing on your WIPs? Would love to see - doesn't have to be a finish, but we'll admire those, too.  Linky below - remember it doesn't have to be a new post, just one that shows a WIP.  Ends Monday, midnight.  I'm linking to Sarah's Can I get a Whoop, Whoop?, Amanda's for Finish it Up Fridays, Richard's Link a finish Friday, and Julie for her Pet Project Show. Lots of eye candy on the NET.  Have a great weekend!

An InLinkz Link-up