Monday, June 27, 2016

Quilting Conundrum

I am making a quilt for a designer and this is the block. Oh cool, looks simple...but it isn't as simple as it looks!
 I have all the pinwheels made and am trying to find the best way to streamline the strip setting.
 I tried this...



 But wasn't happy with the waste. I could get 10 corners with one strip set. 
 Then I thought paper piecing might be a good option. I could only get one corner printed on EQ so had to fiddle around with the copy machine to make this. After making a few this way I still wasn't thrilled.
 Bonnie has been helping me try to figure this out and this was another option.
 This option meant I could print more patterns from EQ. But they were not the right size width strips.
 So, I think I'm back to the drawing board which seems to be the most accurate way for me to work although it isn't very streamlined.



8 down, 50+ to go!

Have a wonderful Monday.

Friday, June 24, 2016

Chinese Coins

Throwback Friday! Here is an old quilt top I bought quite some time ago. 


This is the shape I purchased it in. I took it apart, replacing thin patches. 

I used as many old pieces as I could when I re-made the top.

Here is the finished quilt. I had it quilted with baptist fans.

I am on the mailing list for Two Thimbles quilt shop and this came into my inbox. Don't they say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery?

Two Thimbles quilt shop Chinese Coins
Lee writes:

Here is a variation on a coins quilt - we were inspired by one from Humble Quilts when Lori was in town for a lecture at one of our local guilds. We stitched up a variety of random strips in black, red, claret and shades of blue and had a bit of fun with the sashing strips and mixing fabrics from scraps with a new charm pack featuring vintage shirting and dress prints designed by Barbara Eikmeier for Paintbrush Studios. Perfect use for a quilt following a patriotic theme as this line of fabric is grown, spun, woven and printed in the USA. We have some fabric starter kits as well as the charm pack shown. If you're interested in more details about our quilt or the bundles, give us a call or stop by the shop.

So convenient! If you are interested follow this link HERE

I've gotten a few minutes here and there to do a bit of sewing this week. I'm volunteering at Sisters this morning, so it will be a good mental break for me.

Here's my Instagram feed for this week.

Love to you all! Have a wonderful weekend.


Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Wooly Wednesday

My house is being pushed over by the bird and my moon has turned into smoke rising from my chimney..... It's been one of those weeks.

My mum has been sick, my brother (from China in Seattle for summer) is here to see her. We are enjoying his visit.

See you Friday!

Monday, June 20, 2016

Front Porch Block 2

I hope I gave everyone a chance to get their flags completed. Personally I thought they sewed up super fast. I wanted to get the linky party for this one on a new schedule. This next time we will have a month, but I'll post the third Monday of the month. So next time will be July 18th. I'm trying to move it out of the way of the medallion deadline.

 Here are my 3 simple flags. I did not trim them down because I may need a bit of play to assemble the quilts. You may or may not know that if you have done jan's patterns before. Here is your forewarning. :)
Here are Cathy's flags. Love that little flag print!
We are skipping ahead and doing this fun basket with flag. According to the pattern it is block 7. 

And here  is the quilt again for those of you that may be new. We completed the house and 3 flags.

See you July 18th!

It's almost the longest day of the year. I love it when it is still a little light at 10PM. 


Friday, June 17, 2016

Made it to Friday!


One of our employees had surgery on his hand on Monday so it has been a long work week with very little sewing. I'm hoping to make up a little of that time this weekend.

 The Sisters quilt show is coming up fast and I have misplaced my class registration confirmation and supply list.  I very rarely ever lose anything so it has me frustrated. I started in on my sewing room, searching high, searching low, and then realized I didn't want to be stressed out looking for it, so I paid them $5 to reprint and send me the info. It should be in the mail tomorrow. I'm sure I'll find my original one as soon as the mail comes! LOL
 Here is a new to me quilt book that I've been reading in the evenings. It's a good one!
 I did get a little time to sew yesterday and this is all I am going to show you of my Gwennie Inspired medallion. My "childhood" theme border is complete. I hope what I have added grows on me. I'm not sure if I like it or not.

My son made it to Norway and took off on a hiking and camping adventure immediately. 


Yes, that it them on that ledge!
Here's my Instagram feed for the week.

Have a wonderful weekend my dear friends. 

Monday, June 13, 2016

Weekend Funagain....


I had hoped to get a small quilt quilted and ready to hand bind for our weekend camping trip, but that did not happen. Shortly before we were to leave town I thought I'd prep this little wool applique from a quiltalong Cheri Payne is doing. (I really wasn't going to join, I just needed hand work!) LOL

 So I got the pieces all traced then cut on the drive.......low and behold I forgot thread! There are only tiny little towns between my house and the campground so I didn't plan on finding any thread. BUT, there was a little  shop that said yarn and textiles.... And a window full of wonderful primitives and antiques. Deena (from her business card) said she didn't have any thread for sale, but she had some in her sewing supplies! I asked if she was willing to sell me one spool of neutral gray or tan and she did! Small town (population 317) American hospitality is alive and well in Moro, Oregon! Her website is HERE. I've written her a little thank you and I bet she would be tickled to hear from a few more of you giving her encouraging words. I got to take a few samples of her hand made goat soap- it is wonderful!
Now, with all of that said, I had such a fun time this weekend - 20 people including kids, 24 including dogs! That I didn't make one stitch in that project!! LOL
 This is the Columbia River which divides Oregon and Washington state.  Our view looking west.....
 The view looking east.
 This is the view of Mt Hood while going over that big bridge.
 Each morning I walked through the orchards savoring the peacefulness and seeing all bountiful fruit!
 We've got some dog lovers in the family. 
 We picked a few cherries before heading home. Tell me how 2 of us can eat 15 pounds of cherries?!
 A fun and tiring weekend....
For Porter and Elsa.

I hope to have something quilty to show on Wednesday. 

Friday, June 10, 2016

Frantic Friday!

I'm not frantic but this post may be! I'm continuing to recap my wonderful weekend.

I told you I went to the quilt exhibit at Quiltworks. Well Saturday they were having a parking lot sale. It wasn't the quilt store, just quilters who needed to get rid of some stuff.  Needless to say I found a few items to come home with me.


I've made one of these, but still couldn't pass this up. Isn't it cute? I can add a few stitches and finish it up and it will make a wonderful gift.

 Painted quilt block boards to put up on your house, barn, or garage.
The weather had been extremely hot and this day was too. I think they would have had more people selling if it wasn't 100 degrees!

 I found some classic Pilgrim and Roy prints.
 And a few other beauties I couldn't pass up.
Isn't the piece of toile pretty?

 Later that day I attended the Vintage flea market at Pomegranate Home and Garden. (first Saturday of the month all summer long)
 And picked up this cute little red chair. It will fit perfect in my home.
As far as any sewing......
 I'm probably the only one that could read my notes on how I want to piece my quilt backs.  I'm not sure I'll be able to figure it out when I get to this one! LOL
 I did get one backing pieced.
 And fabrics chose for one more. This is going to be for my Stars in a Time Warp top.
These sheep made their way into another pieced backing.

My son and gf have finally made a decision about where they are traveling next. (they've been traveling around the western part of the US for a month) and now they are in Boston, heading to Norway, then Denmark.  My son hiked for a month in Norway and lived for a year in Denmark, so it will be fun for him to show his girlfriend around that area. We'll miss them, but we are glad they aren't heading to South America. (not yet anyway!)

And my Instagram feed for the week.

Adventure awaits! make it a great weekend!