A Barn Raising

From my book about little quilts I found this pattern for a log cabin quilt in the barn raising design.

I think I would love this in a bed size quilt. I tend to like the classic blocks, and I really like the log cabin. I used scraps on this quilt.


Look at the difference between the log cabin in the Sampler Quilt and the block in my little quilt:

I finished the word play table cover. I love it.





Do you have a quilt book or magazine that you know you can count on for good inspiration when you want to make something? The book, Little Quilts All Through the House was written in the 1993, but when I look through it I see things I want to make. Eleanor Burns' It's El ementary is another of my favorites. She has a fall leaves wall hanging and table runner in it that I'm hoping to get to. From the library I have Marsha McCloskey's Block Party that illustrates 120 classic blocks. That one is very good too.

God Bless You.

GoaL: Complete Projects So I can Start New Ones

I wasn't going to post until I had something completed to show, but I seem to be unable to do that. First, I wanted to do the backing to the Simple Sampler Quilt, make the quilt sandwich, pin and baste, and hopefully, quilt it taking my time and doing a good job. Well, I didn't have enough of the stripe fabric for the backing, so I spent time measuring and putting together a patchwork backing. That's fine, and I like the backing. Then I went to get the batting, and I didn't have the right fit. That's what happens when you have batting on a large bolt. You think you have enough forever, but lo and behold, it runs out. So I put that project aside until I get to the store, probably tomorrow.

I wanted to finish the Word Play table cover, but again, I was about a 1/2 inch short on the batting on one side. I don't want to cut the top, so that's on hold again. I might patch the batting since it's just a table cover. That project should really be done by now.

The Erik Homemade Scrap Quilt qal is still going on. This week was the 18th week. I think it's time that one got wrapped up.

I did finish, wash and dry the two laprobes I made for the hospital. They go tomorrow.

I wanted to do something, so I pulled out one of my favorite books, Little Quilts All Through the House, and saw their suggestion to separate scraps into width size for easy use. I'm working on that project now. I cut and separated strips into separate width containers. I even cleaned out my scrap container and organized it. But if you could see the rest of my sewing room, you wouldn't even notice the nice and neat scrap bin. The smaller scrap strips are going to be used for a small log cabin wall hanging that is featured in the book. The blocks are only 5" square, so it will be fun and quick I think (famous last words?)

It's been raining since Monday, and the temperatures have dropped to the low 70's. It's been great. Unfortunately, the upper 80's are due to be back this weekend. I'm so ready for fall I would like to go out and get it. I've even scouted out the autumn blog backgrounds, so don't be surprized if you see one here soon.

God Bless You.

Sampler Quilt Top, Benartex Mail, Another Water Lily and My Cactus

I spent most of today finishing the Simple Sampler Quilt Top. I think this is the biggest quilt I've made so far in that it measures 58 inches right now. I am surprized and happy at how well all of the different blocks go together. I'm also happy that Amy (Amy's Creative Side) showed us how to apply sashing with corner blocks. I think that feature is a perfect touch. I have skipped quilt patterns with this feature because for some reason I didn't think they were easy. They are easy as long as you are accurate and careful when cutting and sewing them.
This fabric collection includes a stripe fabric that I have put aside for the backing.



I've been waiting with eagerness for the second delivery from the Benartex Preview Club, and it arrived on Monday. Because I don't choose the fabric I'll get, it's fun to open the envelope and see what they send to me. This one contained 36 five inch squares of Arianna and the newsletter. The collection is very pretty with pinks, greens, browns, blues, turquoise, rose, and yellows. I might put it away until spring or early next year. We'll see.



I had 2 supermarket cacti that were beginning to die in the house, so this summer I put them outside to see if they would make it or not. One did not, but this is the other one:

I'm pretty sure it's flowering. That may be the end of it, but I'll bring it in when it cools down and hope it lasts. The awful heat and humidity we have had this summer was good for the cactus at least.

And for my water lily which is again flowering:

On September 25th I'm doing the St. Vincent Society's Walk for the Poor. I participated last year and raised almost $200.00. It was a beautiful autumn day last year when we walked, and my friends and I enjoyed it. I hope we're blessed the same this year.

I listened to a Hercule Poirot mystery, Death in the Clouds, while sewing today. It kept my mind off the humidity. But, we keep getting a little taste of fall weather every now and then. Love it.

God Bless You.

Just What I Need!

By reading CraftGossip I learned of a blog, A Few Scraps, that is having a QAL that will focus on the quilting part, not the sewing part, of making a quilt. This is something I really need to get better at. In fact, I basically only quilt the straight seams on my quilts. This QAL is about free motion machine quilting on a sewing machine, so I'm joining. If that's something you need to learn just click on the title of this post to get to Christina's blog, or click on the button on the left.

Saturday is Christmas Quilt Along Day

3:10 PM I'm stopping for today unless I pick up again later. I cut out the panel squares and laid them out roughly on the the red fabric to see if I like it. I don't know. I'll have to play with it and the other fabric I have to see what I end up using. Maybe I should use some the white background fabric along with the red and the green, maybe do some patch blocks or grids. No rush since it's only August:)

I look forward to our next quilt along day. Thanks, Sue.


2:00 PM I had these panels from the vintage fabric collection, and I am going to begin making a runner, but if it looks possible to make a laprobe with them, I'll keep sewing and make that instead. I won't get much done this afternoon because I am going to Mass at 4:30 PM, but we'll see how far I get with this.

The chipmunks (Alvin and his chums are appearing on another blog,) the music, the quiz, and spying the other projects are making this a nice project.


12:40 PM I finished the tree wall hanging. I'm thinking of adding some beads or ribbons, but that can wait until closer to Christmas. Now I need a break for tea and to see what everyone else is doing, then I'll begin cutting a table runner or quilt, not sure which yet. (I just noticed I got the positioning of the bottom triangles wrong. Oh well.)

8:35 AM This is going to be an unusual post because as part of the Christmas Quilt Along, those participating will be uploading pictures of their progress and cheering each other on. I'm going to try to keep this post going with the oldest news on the bottom and just keep adding as the day progresses. We'll see how that works.

First up is a real Christmas project. It's a retro design wall hanging, and I am using vintage fabric from my very own collection. I bought this fabric back in the late 70's early 80's. I used to make yoyo dolls and such. So that's what I'm working on right now.
The pattern is from a book by Gail Lawther, The Complete Quilting Course. My basket has both new and old fabric, but as you can see there's plenty to work with.

Blocks, August Cross Stitch and Moxabella

Actually, these are the last two blocks for the Simple Sampler qal that Amy's Creative Side is leading. Here are all of my blocks together in order of creation:

Classic 4 patch, simple mosaic or 16 patch, plus, double 4 patch, two by three, snowball variation, log cabin, mosaic #5, 6-grid chain, 4 patch using hour glass, cross #5, new album, dutch windmills, practical orchard, Aunt Eliza's star, and mosaic #22. Don't you love the names of the classic blocks? I do.
I am going to rearrange them when finishing the quilt top to get a better balance of colors, but I'm happy with them.

I'm still quilting along with Erik's Homemade Scrap qal, and this is what those blocks look like so far:

This was the 15th sewing week, so we should be finishing up soon. I don't think I have two sections that are identical because we used scraps, and I really only used scraps. I'm interested to see the final quilt top.

Sylvia gave us two patterns for the August cross stitch. One was a bee hive that I will do separately, and the other is this sunflower:

When I looked at the work done so far, I was reminded that there are soon only four months left in 2010. Hmm.
I leave you with another Moxie picture.

Is That a Bow Tie on My Cross?

Oops! It's supposed to be an hour glass.





Nothing else to show. I am still participating in the Erik Homemade mystery scrap quilt, and it looks as if we may be finishing up soon.

God Bless You.

It Runs in the Family

Today is my 61st birthday. I tell my age because it's who I am and because I find it a little bit fascinating. In my head and heart I'm ageless. It's a beautiful day here, the yard looks nice because I cut the grass yesterday (oy!), and I've been puttering around after dropping off a bouquet of my gladiolas for some special people. So, I have no sewing to share with you, just a few nice things.

My sister and her youngest granddaughter sent me a card they made together:



I'm so impressed with it. Little Brenna helped with color selection, and I wouldn't be surprized if she picked out the ice cream cone:) My sister makes beautiful scrapbooks for her grandkids, and we all love them.

My water lily bloomed for my birthday:


I don't have a pond, just a big flower pot filled with the right growing medium, water and my water lily. It hasn't bloomed for two years, but this year it's back. I love it.

Savers' pricing system interests me. The other day I bought a small quilt book and two old patterns and everything rang up for a measly $1.11. I wish I would get that kind of surprize at Stop and Shop:)


I want to get out and enjoy the rest of today. Hope everyone is healthy and happy.

God Bless You!