More Block Fun

A blog reader, Janny from the Netherlands, reached out to me last week and asked about the quilt in this photo. 

I made this block/quilt in a string class with Gwen Marston. As all things Gwen she encouraged us to come up with something unique. The block is a Rocky Road to Kansas, but I made my own pattern. 

Here's a closer look. 

I sent this to Janny and encouraged her to do the same. I didn't have Electric Quilt when I made my block, but graph paper works just as well. 

I was thrilled when she sent me a photo of her first block. 

Sometimes it is good to do your own thing!

Here's a little project I'm working on this week, unfortunately I burned it!! Aargh! It was only 1 block, so I'll start over and coffee dye the burned piece to disguise it. 

The book sale was a resounding success! All the books are in the mail!! Thank you for your support and the extra $ that was donated for my trip. 

Have a great week!

2014 Mini Quilalong Process

I love doing the doll size quiltalongs on my blog, but I have to admit I struggle to find the right project. There are a lot of cute little quilts to reproduce but don't want one block reproduced 6 times. While it may be adorable it makes for a boring quiltalong. I also like to make a block or two to make sure the proportion is right; not too small, not too big, but just right!

Here's a cute little one I made this week. So far I cant get the setting to look as wonderful as the full size quilt.

It would be on-point. It's a cute little block, and not too difficult to piece.

Unlike this one which was more difficult. I would assemble this one differently if I try it again.

Hang in there, I'm working on it!!

This weekend I'm heading to my dad's so I'll only be doing handwork.  A healthy friend of my mom's who lived in assisted care passed away quickly from a cold turned pneumonia this past week. She was really active and feisty. It reminds me again of the frailty of life. As long as the roads are clear of snow I'll go hang out with my dad for a couple of days.

Have a fantastic weekend!!

Little of This and That

 Here's my little cowboy grand nephew Neil. Thanks again for the western/cowboy fabric you shared for me to make him a quilt. I get the joy of seeing him every so often while I'm working. I entertain him while mom and dad eat lunch. He is so much fun!

 Here are my next three Sally Post blocks. They aren't stitched yet, but I wanted to show them to you. I love the one in the basket.

 

I've got a few friendship stars made for a little swap at Sunriver with some friends who will be gathering soon for the Sisters Show. I'm getting so excited!!

Speaking of Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show,  the nearby town of Redmond is having a 

Summer Quilt Expo from Thursday - Sunday quilt show week. Click on the link the take you there. If you plan on attending print out a coupon for a discount on your entry.

I was honored to be the featured blog for the Ninigret Quilters Guild newsletter. (Rhode Island)
Thank you so much!!

Only a few more weeks until Google Reader is no more. I'm trying to "claim" my blog at Bloglovin and they want me to insert this into my post. Feel free to subscribe..
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Tuesday in the Neighborhood

Here's my two blocks for Love, Laugh, Quilt. One is for the exchange and one is for a charity quilt. It seems like we quilt bloggers run in the same neighborhood so I thought it would fun to join in on this one. Thanks Beth!

I recently received an email from Pam about a wonderful project that stems from her father's health problems. Isn't that wonderful how we can take a sad situation and turn it into something positive and good? Please have a look at this blog post and see if you could help her out on Project 40.
 http://creativecrazygirl.blogspot.com/2012/11/project-40.html

Jean Belle at Quilt Awhile recently finished her Mountain Trails quilt using black as the stepping stones. It is wonderful! Please take a look! Thanks for letting me know it was complete Jean.

Happy Tuesday!

Here's my little Drunkards Path quilt that I rec'd in kit form from Martha. I warmed up my machine quilting skills for my red and white quilt with this. Isn't it adorable?! Thank you Martha!

Here is one more beautiful birthday block for my quilt. Thank you Carole! It's amazing!

Last, but not least is my AAQI quilt has finally been put up for sale. I've been patiently waiting so I could share it with my readers. You can read about it by clicking on the AAQI link.

Block Challenge and Cherry Tree Quilting

 My friend  and I decided to join  the quilt block contest. The blocks will be displayed during the Sisters outdoor quilt show and the quilt show instructors will pick their favorites. I don't have any plans on winning, but it will be fun to make a block and join in on the group project. Here's the fabric! Way out of my box!! The rules state you cannot add any fabrics but you do not need to use them all. There's still time to get in on the fun!

 Block 2 of Beyond the Cherry Tree. Motifs are quilted and now I'm quilting around the applique.

Here's a close up for those of you that were commenting on my tiny quilt stitches....NOT! lol

My birthday isn't for 15 days but the celebration starts this weekend! My sister's birthday is one day before mine and so she is coming to help celebrate my BIG number birthday and spend some time together. We plan on taking my mom out for Mother's Day this weekend too.

Have a wonderful weekend!!

I Love Vintage Quilts and Blocks!

 Look at this lovely old quilt block Karen sent to me!! It is just one little block, but isn't it precious?!  I think I am going to take it apart, set it again so it has a few seams and make a decorative pillow.  Love the red and green!! Thanks again Karen.

 Nicky asked me how I was coming with the bow tie quilt. Well, here is a photo of the vintage one seen at Sisters during the quilt show.

 Look at the fantastic fabric!!

 Some are a little crazy too.

 It looks like I have 21 of them made. Bonnie challenged us (me) into using this one as a leader/ender project. At this rate, I may have 40 of them done before July. A few test blocks were made using different cheddars, but I do plan on using solid cheddar for all of the rest.

Part of the reason it takes me so long.........

Have a fantastic weekend!!!

Baker's Star and More...

Do you remember seeing another one of these? Libby sent me two vintage stars all assembled and I appliqued them. You can read about the process here. This one I actually appliqued on wrong but if I remember right Ann Champion mentioned this one looks more like a flower and the other was more like a star. I sent Libby a finished little quilt and I like the idea that I will have one and she will have one.

I used a piece of fabric that looks like a vintage tablecloth for the backing.

Anybody else sensing a pumpkin theme with the Wool Crazy round robins? This time I put a little kitty inside. And look, there's my acorns!



There's room for Kaaren to add a bit of stitching. I can't wait to see it all finished.



I received the cutest scissor fob from Darlene. It's hard to see on the black countertop but it is adorable. I love the little card her hubby designed too. Thanks Darlene.

I'm all current on my Soot and Ashes blocks. I think the last three will be applique.

I received the Sunshine Award from Emily. I think I'm supposed to name so many blogs, but how can I choose just a few from so many wonderful ones? I would like to mention Karen Dianne at Lee Haven. She makes fun of my typing and makes me crack up all the time. You are all an inspiration and you've brought a lot of sunshine into my life.

Quilt show report next week!! Oh, yeah, I'm going to a quilt show today too! Double quilt show report next week.

Autumn is Near...

There's no denying that fall is right around the corner. I've had to cover my garden a couple of times to prevent frost bitten tomato plants. I wish they'd just hurry and turn red!
Here's a little wool mat welcoming the season. It is designed by Buttermilk Basin. The orange plaid background is cotton. I had the wool applique all done and centered it so nicely, then as I machine buttonholed it scrunched, stretched and moved. It doesn't look quite so square anymore, but that's OK with me.

Here are three more centers of my Blind Man's Fancy quilt. I think I'll be making 12 blocks so the quilt is rectangular rather than 16 blocks and square.

All caught up with 8 blocks of Soot & Ashes.

I had a hard time sleeping last night after watching a few special on 9/11. I can't imagine how even 9 years later the people who were there are coping with witnessing such a tragedy. My prayers are with them still. And my flag is flying high!!

Wool Crazy...Soot & Ashes

Here is my pumpkin patch addition to Paulette's Wool Crazy Mini. I hardly hesitated to say yes when Kaaren asked if I'd like to be involved, but I have to say I was very intimidated after seeing Paulette's start! Her theme is the four seasons and I think I made my season pretty obvious. Karen is also joining in so check out the other Wool Crazy round robins.

Cheri Payne has started a blog! She has given the directions for these cute little blocks. She's calling it Soot & Ashes and they finish at 5". How could I resist?! The upper right hand block has issues- like some missing points!! Not sure what I did there, but I'm leaving it. I've loved Cheri's primitive style quilts so I'm happy she has jumped into blogging and I'm looking forward to learning more about her.

House on the Hill and Random Ramblings

This was the last house block in the House Party quilt!!! I have had so much fun working on these this year. I'm a little sad to see them finished. Now to figure out a setting and fabric.
I won this awesome bundle of wovens from Sew Cindy. I have a project I've been wanting to work on for some time and these will fit right in!!

I also won this adorable small reproduction pattern from Sue at I Sew Quilts UK. Little quilts are right down my alley and I'm sure choosing fabrics will take longer than the actual sewing.

I received two blogging awards this week!! I'm a rebel and never follow directions but wanted to thank them for reading my blog and the awards!! The Versatile blogger award comes from Rita at Quilt Piecer. I thought it would be fun to tell you 7 things about myself.

1. I really am a good speller despite the errors in the comments I leave. Just overlook it, ok?

2. I really love summer time and am always a little sad when it's over. Please quit talking about fall being right around the corner.

3. I love to read and no matter how tired I am I have to read a little before turning the light out for bed. I started Still Alice last night.

4. I've been married for 28 years!

5. My flower and vegetable garden are a lot like my quilts. Free-willing and humble. But I love them despite that.

6. I lost 57 pound in 2001 and have kept it off since then! Woo-Hoo!

7. My eyesight is getting worse and have to have magnifying glasses to thread small needles.

So that's a little peak into my life. A few random thoughts that's for sure!!

The I love your blog award comes from Cheryl at Sweetie Scraps.

Thank you ladies for the awards and the wonderful giveaways!!

Churn Dashes & Nine Patches

Here's what I've got so far on my churn dash quilt. All the blocks are made it is just a matter of putting them together. This has been put aside for now while I finish up another project for a wedding gift.

While at the "antique quilts for sale booth" we saw this wonderful double nine patch.

With tiny pieces! We figured they finished at 7/8".

My friend Kathy, loved it so much that she dropped her churn dashes like a hot potato and quickly made up a couple of small double nines. Hers finish at 7/8" too!

She has a nice collection of blue and whites and she was continuing the theme with both of these quilts.

I hope you are all having a nice weekend. It is beautiful here. I planted 2 plants of zucchini and have quite a few. I am going to make zucchini bread today and have grilled them a few times this past week. Does anybody have any great healthy recipes they'd like to pass along to me? I'd sure appreciate it. Next year I think I'll just plant one!!

This, That and the Other....

One more house block completed. (Pattern not available at this time)

I remade the block but it looks just as small as the first one so I'm not going to machine applique it down. Any ideas of additions I can make to the first one to make it take up a bit more space on the background? I may make one more and just use the enlarger on the copier....argh!! Not sure yet.

I made these little pincushions as a thank you to my Weight Watcher receptionists. (both are quilters) My meetings wouldn't have run without them. One of them said she'd think of me every time she poked a pin in it!! I'm not so sure if that's a good thing or not!!! LOL

I won this adorable scissor fob from Kaaren at The Painted Quilt. Just yesterday I was telling my rock hound cousin that turquoise or turquoise colors are my favorite. (as far as rocks go) Thank you Kaaren!!

My sewing room is packed up!! It seemed so strange to see it like this I had to snap a photo. It won't be that clean until next years sewing getaway!!!

Happy Belated Canada Day and Happy Independence Day!! Wave your flag proudly!!