Photo Collage of Texas

Now it’s all business. We’ve had a blast!

Trucks of cotton! Maybe this will be turned into fabric for your next quilt!

Wool Applique

Cheri Payne was so generous with her patterns and this is a little one called Bless Your Heart. I saw this version by Kelley Belfast and loved it so much I asked if I could copy it. 

I looked for a hand project to bring to Texas and this is what I chose. I love wool applique and do a simple whip stitch. I'll grab a scrap of batting when I'm back at Debbie's and stop by a quilt shop and pick me up a little piece to back it. I'll likely have it finished before I get home.

We are having a lovely time with our friends although I underpacked warm clothes! When I am in Houston in November it is very warm I'm so glad I brought my down jacket this time!!

Here's a sneak peak on our fishing trip Tuesday on the Gulf.

We had an amazing meal last night including this fresh snapper and boudain balls!

Lincoln Museum Quilt

I'm slowly getting the Lincoln Museum quilt blocks put together.  I used them as a leader/ender of sorts while working on the quilt for Diane's blog hop book quilt. I won the pattern and a box of plaids from Barbara Brackman. I am hoping to get the quilt completed and it can make the rounds with my guild lecture this year- "Reruns, Quilts Inspired by the Past."
BTW, I'm available! Contact me if you are interested in having me speak at your guild.

Here's Barbara's version of the story:

About ten years ago Deb Rowden and I wrote to the Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield, Illinois, telling them that the vintage quilt covering young Abe Lincoln's parents’ bed in the cabin exhibit was an anachronism---vintage, but the wrong vintage.

We were thrilled when they took us up on our offer to make a reproduction quilt more in keeping with the time period. We made a quilt for the bed there.

You can read more about it HERE. 

And if you'd like the pattern it is available as a download. HERE. 

Friday Fun- String Quilts and Book Winner!

Here we are mid- month. How are you coming on your string blocks for this month?

A friend gave me these several months ago and when I asked her what her plan was she said it was a Bonnie Hunter pattern on her blog. Well, I don't know if this was her plan, but I'm going to make the basketweave quilt. You can see Bonnie's HERE. 

I drew it up in Electric Quilt and made my plan.  I need 10 a month to have what I need by October, but she gave me 72 blocks and all the paper was even removed! (maybe there wasn't paper to start with) So I only need 26 blocks for this one. 

I do have a hunch I'll be stringing a third quilt at some point.

Here's my 2nd plan. 

 I started making these 1 year ago and you can see my setting plan HERE. I have removed all the paper from the 27 blocks I am making in January.  If you are using paper foundation you may want to remove them monthly as well, so it's not such a big chore at the end.

My Instagram feed for the week. We got our first and second snow, but it didn't amount to too much. Attended a beer fest as a fundraiser for Butte County CA and started planning a few backpacking trips for this summer. Loved the book, Secrets of a Charmed Life!

Such great comments! We have a winner!!

Comment 73 was Joyce LM. She has been contacted. 

Thanks for the terrific comments! So many of us save strings and strips- now lets get them made into quilts!

Fabric Cutting Machines

I know many of you have machines like Accuquilt or Go cutters or Sizzix to cut strips or shapes from your fabric. I do understand you have to purchase the cutting dies, but I am finding my wrist is getting sore after doing much cutting (and hand quilting, but will try and save my wrist for quilting not cutting) and may need some kind of alternative to the standard rotary cutter.
Has anyone seen a blog post or something that shows me what these are, how they work and which one is efficient. If you have done a post using one maybe you can direct me.
I happen to see Katy's post yesterday and it got me thinking there could be an easier way.

Better yet, maybe someone has one they are not using anymore and would like to sell it. I think these cutters are fairly heavy but if you are in the Pacific Northwest I may be able to pick it up.

I'm just looking for ideas!

I hope you left a comment on Monday's post for a chance to win Diane's book. Thank you for those who have commented.