"Grandmothers House Dresses"

I remember when I was a little girl, we would go to visit my Grandmother and she always had on either print "housecoats", dresses or aprons  made from these prints.  While these reproductions of 30's, 40's or 50's prints are not always my favorites (I am not a pastel sort of girl), they bring back fond memories.  My friend Diane LOVES these prints and always shares her scraps with me.  There are some that I do like, especially if they are bright saturated colors.  I am on a mission to use as many of my scraps as possible.  I also included the few black and brown prints I had, to add a little interest or "pop".

I have an extensive collection of GO! dies and decided to use my Tumbler die to cut larger scrap pieces and put them into a "cuddle" quilt.  Cuddle because it is not really large enough to go on a bed, but will be perfect to wrap up in while watching television, or if I wake in the night and need an extra quilt.  I tried really hard to make sure no two prints were together, but failed.  There are two tumblers of the same fabric that are together, but I decided to leave them "as is".  I like the "imperfection" of quilting.  I quilted it with the traditional Baptist Fan and decided to bind the edges with the scallop on the sides.  I started to do it by hand, but "cooler heads" prevailed and I machine bound it so it is FINISHED!!!!  Click on the picture to enlarge it and you can see the quilting.  I rather like it!!!  The backing is a purple flannel and the binding is from a small piece of 30's yardage that I had!  A true stash quilt!!!

FINISHED!!!

I'm Back Yet Again!!!

I don't know what happens to stop me from posting????  I come to the blog everyday to read other's posting, but there doesn't seem to be anything going on that is interesting enough to write about.  So I procrastinate, and before you know it, an entire month has pasted.

So what have I been up to?  Actually a lot has been going on at work---too boring to write about, and lots on the quilting front as well.

I am still plugging along on the quilt I am donating to the school fundraiser.  It looks like the last picture I posted but actually, I have added those rows and these are new rows.  The one with only one block is the last row left and then I will be finished with the top.  I will only need to quilt it and with about three weeks left I should be done.  Not sure why it is taking me so long other than the fact that I "have" to finish.

During a lull in my quilting time, I was surfing DWR quilts and came upon these dies.  I have two die cutters and so these are for the Sizzix cutter.  I ordered the main DWR and then two other die's that are compatible the concave center and make two different quilts.

The majority of quilts that I make are scrappy.  I rarely make a "coordinated" quilt.  As I was looking through my dies, I saw I had the "Robbing Peter to Pay Paul" die and so I cut out and started a quilt (instead of finishing what I have).  This now makes three new quilts I have cut out and "began".  I think I may have "Quiltitis"--the inability to only work on one project at one time.  I don't really feel bad in a way, since this seems to be a condition that many quilters have.  At any rate, I am only using fabric that I have, and I will "try" to finish all these UFO's or at least two, before I start anything else.

Well, just wanted to stop by and let you know I am still here!  Have a great holiday week-end!

A Quilting Book Review!!

In an earlier post I mentioned that I won this book in a naming contest (the owner of the blog and author of the book, chose my suggested name for her longarm).  I received her latest book as my prize and received it a couple of weeks ago.  I have been reading and choosing quilts to make and because it is so different from the books I have purchased I wanted to share this with everyone.

How many books do you purchase that are over 100 pages long and you think, "Wow! lots of patterns"---but when you get it and begin to look, over 50% of the pages are "basic" information that is in every book on the market already.  I already know what a quilt sandwich is; I already have a scrap system; I already know how to put on a binding; I am not interested in designing or I would not have purchased the book; I know about quilting and why starch is used,  etc.  When you FINALLY get to the quilts, they are almost always really small and although they can be enlarged, I feel cheated.

This book is different.  It is a total of 64 pages (which is about the number of pages that include quilts in the "other" books, even though in one, the total pages was 143).  Quilt patterns begin on page 8!!!!!  in this book (as opposed to page 66 in my comparison book).  There is a total of 14 quilts in the book (the similar book I am comparing it to has 15). Only one I would consider really small (24.5 x 24.5).  The other 2 are actually baby quilts so I consider it a quilt that could be used.  The quilts are all scrappy and pre-cuts can be used (if you don't have a big stash) including the new Honeycomb's by Moda.  The directions are clear and each quilt has a "scrappy tip" to further enhance the creative energy associated with making a scrappy quilt.

I really like this book by Rebecca Silbaugh!  not only because I too am a "scrapper" and the quilts "speak to me", but because it is a book that acknowledges some of us already have some basic skills and do not need remediation before we begin a new quilt.  Had I not been fortunate enough to win this book, I definitely would have purchased it.  I am now on the look-out for her first book "Seemingly Scrappy".  Hope over to her blog and order one!  BTW--I am not being paid for this endorsement, I am just a happy quilter.

Progress!!!

Like most quilters, I work on multiple projects.  The top is the quilt that I am making for the auction.  The picture only shows a part of two rows ---it will be 10 rows of 8 blocks ---about 64 x 80 finished.  I don't have a lot of variety in my blocks, using only what I have available of my handdyes.  I have to have it done by August.  The lower block is called "Flutterbug" (I think).  The original pattern was in a book I purchased a couple of weeks ago and was 10 inches finished...mine is 18 inches finished!  I cut all the pieces with my GO! cutter---had every die I needed to "biggie size" it.  It should be big enough for my bed, so I can switch out the "Trip" for this one.  No set time to finish it, but I am using only what I have----Not purchasing anything--only stash.

Just wanted to update you!  I have spent all day working and now I think I will turn in---no dinner for me---too fatigued to eat!

Thanks for stopping by!

My MAJOR Prize Arrived!!

One of my favorite Christmas movies is "The Christmas Story". In the story, the Dad gets a "major prize" which is a lamp with the base in the shape of a woman's leg.  The shade is her skirt.  He loves this since it is a "major prize" that he won, although his wife thinks it is a bit risque, and is happy when it breaks.

Well my "major prize" arrived today.  I won a contest sponsored by Rebecca at Ruby Blue Quilts in which I submitted a name for her longarm machine---Elvis.  She choose it and the prize I chose was a copy of her latest book, "Seems like Scrappy".  I received it today and have just barely looked through it.  I am about to get myself a "blue label" also known as Pepsi, and really give it a "once over".  Just from the little bit I have looked, I love it and know that the cover quilt is one I will definitely make.

Not a very good picture of the book--I can't seem to upload the pictures from my camera and so have to use my phone.  At any rate, you get the idea.

On the quilty front, I have started "ruler work" on my cheater.  It is hard!!!!  I refuse though to give up, I know I can do it!!!!!!  Practice, practice!  Plus, I have purchased several (not too cheap) rulers that I must learn to use.  I have looked on You Tube and really haven't found anything to help me, but I will keep looking.

At any rate, thanks for stopping by....stay cool!

One Down--Many More to Go!!

I completed "Happy Eight" Saturday and completed quilting it yesterday.  Although I initially wasn't sure about the quilting pattern I chose, I am really glad I did.  It adds lots of texture and doesn't over-shadow the block patterns at all.  All I need to do is to make a label, bind it and give it to my friends little girl for her 8th birthday!  I enjoyed making it and it wasn't really difficult at all.  I may make it again, but I will not join the ovals into 8's.

Now on to the quilt I am making for the auction.

Current Work!

I still haven't began blocking "Crop Circles" so I haven't put the binding on yet.  It is my plan to have that done within the next couple of weeks.

I have started two new projects though:

• The donation quilt for the silent auction for the fundraiser:
• I started one quilt, but changed to a quilt made with my hand dyes.  It is comprised of 350 half-squares.  I have 125 made, so the cutting and sewing goes on.  The fundraiser is not until September, so I should be done at least one month before the deadline.  No picture to share yet.
• I made a quilt for one of the nurses I worked with when her second baby was born, and to address the possibility of the older child being left out, I also made one for her (she was probably 2 at the time).  That nurse is still  working at the hospital and although I no longer work there, I take my students there for clinical and so see her frequently during the semester.  In a conversation a couple of months ago, she relayed how her daughter (who will be 8 years old in September) really loves that baby quilt.  She said although it is really too small, she wants it spread over her when she sleeps and sits on it when she is playing.  I saw this really cute pattern that was made of ovals put together to make an 8.  A perfect quilt (I thought for someone turning 8 years old).  I discussed it with her mother, who agrees, and so I am making it completely from my stash (including the backing).  The "8's" will be 6 different colors of polka dot fabric.  The picture is of a partial row, but I think you will get the idea.  The "8's" are staggered, and I am making a throw size, so it will be usable for a while.

• I have completed quilting the most recent donation quilt.

I used a really simple pattern for the quilting and although I really do not like the light backing, I didn't have anything suitable and I really didn't want to buy anything.  I have more fabric to make another but I will use another color for the back.  As I type this, I just thought I had some red and some blue flannel that would have been better for the back.  Oh well---next time.  Maybe I will just hold on to this one and make a more suitable baby quilt.  Who knows!  It is cute though.

Well, that's it for now.  Hope you are having a great Sunday!  Take care and thanks for stopping by!

Happy Dancing---All DONE!!!!!

I am all FINISHED!!!  with the quilting on "Crop Circles".  That is what I think of when I look at the quilt and until I come up with something else--"Crop Circles" it is.  My knees and my back are confirming the "work" it took to get this done.  Even though precision in distance was not my goal, I still tried to make the circles evenly spaced somewhat.  Of course, the closer I came to finishing, the more "hiccups" I had and had to do some removal of stitching, but I was able to line it back up and so it isn't really that noticeable.  All in all---it isn't bad.  The circles are really nice and I think worth all the work.  Now to trim and bind and add to my pile of completed works.  I may enter this one though in a show.  I would really like the feedback.  We will see---anyway--following are some pictures.  Unfortunately, the texture of the circles doesn't photograph well, but take my word for it, it adds to the quilt nicely.

The quilt is lying on it's side.  The top and bottom are the wide solid orange borders.

 I still need to cut the "jump stitches".

The last one includes the back.  Sorta goes with the theme of "crops" doesn't it.

I have loaded a donation/gift quilt for my next quilting project, but the rest of the day will be spent resting.  I feel sorta good, so I may even make a "home cooked" meal, with biscuits, for Sunday dinner!  My family will think it is Christmas!!!!  Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by!!!!!

MIssing in Blogland!

I have been remiss about posting on the blog I know.  Life has been very busy indeed.  Two grand-daughters (sisters) graduations---one from college, the other from high school.  As happens with most families at this time of year---I had lots of  family visiting to attend the ceremonies.  It was a time for me to reflect on how fast time had gone by.  I remember when each of these babies were born---I was actually present in the delivery room and was the first person to sing "Happy Birthday" to each of them.  They have both grown into really beautiful (inside and out) young women, and I was one proud Grandmother at the graduations!!!!

Things are settling down and I am getting back in the routine.  I have (of course) been doing some quilting:

I finished the Bargello and am now in the process of quilting it.  It is a VERY slow process, at least for me.  I am quilting concentric circles of different sizes.  I am overlapping so I don't have to be concerned with "lining" them up.  The first picture is a close-up of the circles (with "jump" stitches not yet cut).  The backing is a piece of African Fabric I have had for some time.  It is amazing how well it matches the top--almost as if I purchased it specifically for that quilt and at the same time.  I am about 50% complete so I should be done in a couple of weeks.

I have also made another baby quilt for our Guild charity I need to quilt and made a quilt from cheater fabric to practice ruler work.  I also need to work on the Moda Sampler one of these days soon.  Lots to do!  It is also getting warm and hopefully I can do some fabric dyeing this summer.  My garage is an absolute disaster and so will need a good cleaning and purging!  I purchased a new washer so my old one is going to be installed in the garage and I will use it to wash the fabric I dye.  Just have to find the time to get everything put into place.  Whew----just thinking about it makes me tired.  I think I need a nap!!!!  Thanks for stopping by!