PIQF

This past weekend my daughter, a friend and I went to the Pacific International QuiltFestival. It was fantastic, overwhelming, too large to absorb in one day. My daughter took almost 200 photos, she usually takes a photo of the quilt, then another of the info card; so I have lots of photos to post. So here are some of the quilts we enjoyed.

 My heart lies in Afric, by Mandy Kirk

 Nioppon Irish Chain, by Tamaris Pardo

Liked how she used decorative stitches across the chains for quilting lines.

 Birch Grove, by  Anne Loveless   

The field Mouse's Habitat,  by  Vonda Mathews

Funny with the felt Cheez-its. Amazing detail and three dimensional.

 Star Burst,  by Mieke Apps 

Loved this. Blue ribbon for "Best use of color"

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Sewing Museum Items

Beth, author at Love Laugh Quilt blog is hosting a Sewing Museum Link Party. Thought I would join in the fun. There is lots of stuff museum quality items in my home but I am selecting a few that are dear to my heart. This first item is what I would grab running out the door in an emergency, after first pushing my family out the door. Sorry about the photos, items are framed and I got terrible glare from the glass.

Update: My DH was able to take a photo without the glare  from the side.Much better then mine.

This crazy patch octagon was patched together by my maternal grandmother in 1944-45. Given to my parents as a wedding gift. My mother loved it but never did anything with it. She talked about framing it for a long time. I remember looking at it with my mother when I was young, picking out favorite stitches. I framed it and it hangs in my dining room.

The octagon is 18” across. Made of velvets and silks with my grandmothers wonderful embroidery stitches on top. It's framed with spacers so the glass does not sit on the item. I also tacked the item to the acid free backing board so the weight of the item is carried evenly.

My Granny was a crafter, seamstress, tailor, recycler, full of great ideas. I remember one year we made pillows for my bed. She had cut one round and one square, along with pieces for piping out of an old velvet cape. My job was cutting up a bag of old silk stockings into pieces for the stuffing. I though this was crazy; but these pillow were wonderful, soft and I loved them.


Second up is my button collection from my DH great aunt. When she passed away my MIL got 2 large boxes with card of buttons. I selected some of the cards. Remounted the buttons and framed them. They also hang in my dining room.


Metal

Nursery rhyme

Glass 3/4" - 1"

These buttons are just under or over a quarter inch across. So cute.

Thank you Beth for reminding me to take time to look closer at my items. I glance, I look, but taking time made me remember treasured moments with my mother and grandmother.


Make sure you check out the other Sewing Museum Links at Love Laugh Quilt

Batik Scraps

Last time I was at a Project Linus meeting they had batik. Batik yardage and scraps. Most of the scraps were 6”-8”x 22” or WOF. Did I need another project? Well, YES, I had just delivered 2 finished quilts; and who doesn't want to come home with a bag of batik scraps. I selected many scraps and some yardage to come home with me. Have finished two tops. An Uneven Rail Fence Quilt:

Then a scrappy top of purples, teals and blues. I used the “Basic Math Quilt” pattern off Moda Bake Shop as a starting point for this quilt. Trying to use what I had, I added a few blocks that have 3 strips.

This quilt went together so fast, great for a donation quilt.

Linking up to CrazyMom Quilts and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

Two finishes this week!

This is a fun quilt. Fun striped fabric and bright colors. I originally was doing a simple rail fence design along with the squares between rows, but I did not like the roosters sideways. Almost pulled out the seam ripper, but knew the blocks would get stuffed in a box. So I just cut the seams off. Made more strips of squares and ended with this quilt.

Easy quilting. Long chains of wavy lines leaving some of the puffiness in the quilt. Love this back. This quilt makes me smile.

Finished a Uneven Rail Fence quilt for TAPS. http://www.taps.org/

This went fast. Used long scraps from other projects and some strips a friend had gifted me. Quilted long fingers with wavy lines.

Linking up to Crazy Mom Quilts , Confessions of a Fabric Addict, and Richard and Tanya Quilts.

Blocks for Boston

Made 4 blocks for Boston modern Quilt Guild. They plan to make and distribute quilts to those who would benefit from a show of support.

 Eggs, sunny side up?

Favorite has to be this one, I love turquoise.

If you want more information, here is a link:
http://bostonmqg.blogspot.com/2013/04/quilts-for-boston.html

Thursday's hot weather forecast

A friend sent me the CA weather forecast, very hot!

In the Blues

Don't have a true finish, but I have been working on a strip quilt in blue. I think I need to add a few more strips.

Linking up to CrazyMom Quilts and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

I don't always follow directions

My mother always said I was a little bit of a trouble maker. Apparently, I would always just go do things, not asking permission if I could in advance. Then my explanation was “You never said I couldn't do it”.


After doing several string quilts at different Project Linus workshops I was ready to stuff the foundation squares in a box and throw it in the back of the closet. So it was a surprise when after Make a Blanket Day, February 16^th, I came home with dark blue foundation squares to make HST string blocks. This really was not appealing, so I sewed 1-2 strings on each side of the block, covering less then half the block and counted it as done. This was so fast, iron and turn the last edge, sew and NO squaring up. Just trim the sides. So fast, and happy with the results. Think I will put a red back on it and it can go to TAPS. The local Project Linus supports TAPS and tries to send 50+ quilts each year. TAPS - Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, an organization that provides support to the Families of fallen service members RWB quilts or crocheted blankets are always needed for the “Good Grief Camp”. For more info: http://www.taps.org/

This past week, I went to the the monthly Project Linus meeting and came home with a layer cake kit using the Double Slice Layer Cake pattern from Missouri Star Quilt Co. http://quiltingtutorials.com/all/double-slice-layer-cake-quilt-tutorial/
Yes, again, I thought I would do my own thing, and proceeded with a stack and slash quilt. I also cut up the fabric for the border and added a few more squares from my stash.

Well, I guess things haven't changed. They never said I had to follow their directions.

Linking up to Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Crazy Mom Quilts.

Today's Favorite Tool

Do you have this problem?

I always head out to my DH tool bench for one of my favorite tools. It's an extendable magnet pen. It extends 24”.

Easy work to pick up spilled pins. Wish it could pick up all the bits of thread and fabric. Must get the vacuum out. 

 

Finish it Friday, March 15

After another winter cold I've been working on finishing a few Project Linus projects that needed a few seams sewn and very little thinking. I also dug into the bag of orphan blocks and pulled out a project.

Made this top with 8 orphan rail fence blocks:

This checker board just needed borders:

This quilt came back to me after Linda quilted it, I added a binding. So cute with the pale pink corduroy back.

Linking up to CrazyMom Quilts and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

Hitting the Jackpot with Thin Mints

I ordered some Girl Scout cookies from my friend's daughter and lucky me, they brought over the cookies and a box of fabric scraps last night! Some scraps, orphan blocks and pieces more then a yard. My stash was running low! (ha ha)Guess my DH would disagree with that statement.

Fun colors!

It is interesting to see the variety since the Girl Scouts (12-17 years old) were working on pajama pants and many of these were scraps from their project. Many flannels.

She often brings me a box or bag of scraps. I really appreciate having a thoughtful friend like her.

More Orphan Blocks

I attended 2 work days for Project Linus in January and came home with 

several quilts that needed binding and a large bag of orphan blocks. 

Fun! Here a sample of what's in the bag.

Black and whites:   

Scrappy: 

Colorful: 

I could see why these got put aside, most are 8”-8½” or 12”-12¾”. 

Some slightly less and points not always meeting. Most of the HST 

were made with 2 squares, no trimming of the corners and then sewn 

with other units. This created 9 layers is some corners. I picked out, 

trimmed and resewed.

I selected the colorful blocks, I needed sunshine after the cold weather 

and a head cold. Resewed a few seams and squared them up to 12”. 

I also added 4 wonky blocks. This zebra fabric and the red cornerstones 

were added and ended with this: 

Linking up to Crazy MomQuilts.

Easy Street - On the last steps

Happy New Year! Mystery Monday Link up is here for Easy Street and there are some great quilts and wonderful color combinations. So check them out at Quiltville, Bonnie Hunter's blog.

With Bonnie's quick finish, and my low energy from a winter cold, I skipped most of step 7 and and jumped into step 8. I love how these blocks come together.

Out came the seam ripper, more then once.

I have 9 completed blocks, strips sewn for 6 more, minus the flying geese. That's right I'm back to making flying geese. I have enough fat turkeys; but when Bonnie said “we don't have any more geese to do”, that didn't apply to me.



Thinking about using this for the border:

I'm very please with my color choices. I usually work with scrappy, so the solids were unusual for me but were in my stash. A sign of a great pattern - any color choice makes a great finish. I haven't seen any Easy Street that doesn't look great.

Thanks Bonnie for a great pattern and a fun Mystery. Remember to check out the other quilts at Bonnie Hunter's site.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Wishing you  good health and happiness in 2013.

I had a great day sewing away on Easy Street while the DH watched football. I don't remember this being part of the instructions. I had sewed many strips together, this was my first block. Decided it was time to quit.