Fall Festival in Winter

You know what I get for showing you my bulbs coming up last week? SNOW! Joke's on me!

Well, as long as I'm confused about the seasons I'll show you a quilt I got back from Sharon Tucker, machine quilter extraordinaire! Well, I didn't actually ask her for any fancy quilting on this one, but just a simple all over design. 

 Afterall, it is a primitive quilt.  At first glance it looks like meandering, but it really is a design.

I may try and get a label and binding made this week, but likely won't get more completed until I return from Colombia. Thank you Sharon!

Make it a fantastic week!

Fickle Friday

I haven't been  able to focus on one thing this week. 

 I started to get busy cutting out the rest of my plaid sawtooth stars and realized this was NOT RIGHT! After 2 weeks I have finally got them all cut and ready to sew and my sewing room tornado is partially picked up. 

This is what I was shooting for. These are stars in my stars in a time warp quilt, but thought I'd show a sawtooth star in case you weren't sure what I was making in the top photo.

 Sunny, Gone to the Beach blog, shares a little of her neighborhood and I always enjoy it. Since I haven't been sewing much I thought I'd switch it up. Here is our morning routine.  Porter and Elsa are creatures of habit and their day isn't complete without their morning walk.

 And we have had some days in the 60's and these guys have been soaking it up. Most of the time they take turns on the bed, this time when I looked out they were sharing.

 I've had this chair forever and the last few times I had company I had to hide it upstairs because it was getting so ratty. Saturday evening before the superbowl, I was going to hide it upstairs, but instead, took the fabric I purchased to recover it and got er done! It took me all of 30 minutes. Sometimes I even impress myself! LOL

 Some serious signs of spring!!!

 I've also been pumping iron! In a lightweight kind of way! I'm hauling 3 bags to Colombia, my own personal one will be a carry on. I love being strong enough to heft it in the overhead bin with ease. Because I will be a co-team leader we will be responsible for sound equipment and giveaways (toys, dresses,Bibles, etc) and want to be strong to lift them into and out of the van.

 I don't like going to the gym, but know as I age it is good for my bones. This day I ran into my nephew! We were both workin' it pretty good that day!

And my instagram feed. My pregnant niece came over for the Superbowl party and delivered her baby yesterday! We are so excited for them.

Have a wonderful weekend, friends.

Railroad Crossing

Recently a reader of my blog, Donna, shared this quilt with me. She saw it on my blog and I sent her a swatch of fabric and this is her masterpiece! It was designed by Cindy Blackberg and you can get info HERE. (I'm not sure how current it is)

She got word recently that it got juried in to International Quilt Festival Chicago and will be hanging at the Houston show! I'll be sure to get a photo with it Donna!  It is gorgeous!

I thought I'd share my friend Laurie's quilt here again. 

And my simple quilt started in 1999 after it graced the cover of AP&Q.

I hope you had a great weekend! We had a small superbowl party yesterday and had a fun time. 

My daughter and I have booked our flight to Italy and I spent a bit of time looking at Airbnb's. Sicily is sure different than the rest of Italy! I'm going to be meeting up with Rina, who has been a blog reader/online friend for a couple of years now. It is always better to see a city with one who lives there! Super excited!!

Make is a great week!

Sweet Land of Liberty Month 2

You can use this photo or do a search online or at pinterest to find a quilt to refer to when making your blocks. Now that your machines and needles are warmed up, let's move on to 

month 2!

This is what we are making plus a few more to add to the border.

We will make the embroidered eagle, or you can applique it- your choice! Cut  eagle background
8 1/4"x 10". (you may want to size up a tad, then trim) I'll add my button eye after quilting so as not to get hung up.

Piece the flag beneath the eagle to be unfinished 4x10".  Sew flag to bottom of eagle, then border with 2 1/2" strips and squares. Admire your work!

Now we are ready to make some flying geese. Use your favorite method so they finish at 2"x4". You'll be making 12 of them. See that bright red up above? I didn't think it "went' very well, but I'm trying to add a piece of fabric to each quilt I make from the French scraps I bought in Alsace from Beauville.  Once the entire quilt is together it won't be as glaring red!            

Cut angel background 12x14 1/2". Applique and/or embroider to complete the block. Add a top border of 7 flying geese. Mine on the left had to be whacked to fit. I see below Denise's fit perfectly! LOL Set aside your other flying geese. 

Make 4 primitive stars that finish 4"x6". (don't sew them together yet) Denise appliqued hers and it was probably much easier! Set these aside for later.  Sew together the eagle/flag block to the angel/flying geese block. 

Admire your blocks again! 

If you want you can applique some "falling" geese like Denise did. 

She opted to applique the eagle, which I love. She left off the feather stitch as well.
Make it how you want to!

That should keep ya'll busy for February. Its a short month, so get sewing! Oh yeah, enjoy the process!