Ben Franklin Quilt Block 20

It's called the July Fourth block, and it's the 20th and last one.  So this qal is coming to a close.

I'm up to 7 Swoon blocks and am aiming for 9.  One block uses 2 fat quarters for the prints and probably another FQ for the background.  I usually don't get more than one block made in a day.  Has anyone else found that when they make this block?

Sunday was a good day for crocus hunting.  

And some daffodils.

There are more out there but we still have snow and some are still covered, but I was happy to see them coming up.  

God Bless!

Snow Days = Sew Days

This is the Cookie Jar Block for the February Sew Kitschy BOM. 

The word "Cookies" will be added.  I have some letter stamps that I might try out.

The February block of the Quilt Doodle Doodles' 2014 BOM.

It needs a doorknob and maybe some smoke from the chimney.

The Hour Glass blocks, which are the 19th block design for the

 Ben Franklin Mystery QAL from Erik Homemade Coffee Break ezine.

I want to join the Let's Book It group that Sharon of Vrooman's Quilts began in January.  The Christian Cross Quilt from Eleanor Burns' book Egg Money Quilts has been on my list of quilts I love for a while so that's going to be my project.  No rush on this one.  

I have a fat quarter bundle of Sunnyside with some Kona cream solids for this one.  

The problem with snow days is they are also shovel days, at least for me.  Yesterday's storm was wet and heavy snow.  I'm surprised I did anything else after clearing the snow, but I baked cookies and sewed my blocks.  Call me Wonder Woman:)

God Bless You.

Circle of Geese, Storm Signal and One Cute Cat

First the cute kitty.

From Carol Doak's site. http://www.caroldoak.com/index.php  I'm still working on improving my paper piecing skills and signed up for Carol's course on Craftsy. 

Circle of Geese was last week's block from the Stash Buster QAL hosted by Linda's Quiltmania.  http://lindasquiltmania.blogspot.com/  It's all paper piecing and took some time to make. 

Storm Signal is the 15th block of the Ben Franklin QAL hosted by Erik Homemade Coffee Break ezine http://erikhomemade.typepad.com/ 

 

This is the fourth set of 4 small blocks we've made for this quilt, and I'm curious how we will be using them in the layout.  Block 16 is next so I won't know any time soon.  It's a mystery:)

 

This weekend is the Christmas QAL here on my blog.  That means we have this month and next month and that's it.  December we show off our stuff.  Hope you will be joining in at some point this weekend. 

Happy Memorial Day Weekend

Yesterday I presented my brother with the Quilt of Valor and he and his daughter were very pleased. It's been a very nice Memorial Day weekend. I've attended two events honoring veterans and feel humbled by their sacrifices.

 

 

I've decided to put prairie points on the border of the quilt I'm making for my my sister's granddaughter.   

 

 
I've spotted two of my blocks used in quilts by the BMQG.  My Bingo block can be seen here in the last picture.  Made me happy to spot it.  http://bostonmqg.blogspot.com/2013/05/gathering-to-make-quilts-for-boston.html
And one of the Boxed In blocks is in the third picture from the end in this post
http://bostonmqg.blogspot.com/2013/05/quilts-for-boston-sew-in-at-quilters-way.html  I noticed someone else made that block also.  Most of the blocks are non-traditional and nothing like the kind of quilting I do, so I'm pleased that my blocks are fitting in somewhere. 
 
They mention in their post that they received over  660 blocks from quilters all over the world. 

These four 6" blocks were the latest for the Ben Franklin QAL, so I'm up to date on that project.

 

Did someone say Christmas?  Quilt Along?  No?  I thought for sure I heard whisperings along those lines.

 

God Bless You and a special prayer for all of our veterans, dead or alive.

You are not forgotten!

 

AEP, MEP, EJP, JO, TO, JP, AL, EL,  JL, AO



Hello World

The thing about working on UFO's is that there isn't much to post except the bits of progress so I 've let my blog rest for awhile.  I've reached the point on my America the Beautiful quilt where I am auditioning fabric for the binding and that makes me very happy.  I just have a few pictures of the FMQ I've done.  Look at the difference a little stippling makes.

 

And I've enjoyed making twinkly stars because they look nice and are easy. 

 

 

I am surprised at how long finishing this quilt has taken.  I am just not a fast quilter. 

I made the 10th block in the Ben Franklin qal http://erikhomemade.typepad.com/files/our-editor-block-10-benjamin-franklin-mystery-quilt-page-1-3.pdf  It is called Our Editor.

And I put together a body pillow cover using Blank Textiles' Bora Bora.  These fabrics transport me from my very sedate home to daydreams of the tropics. 

 

I finished the mini quilt I was making during SewCalGal's International Quilting Day.

 

I have won some nice things as well.

This is from the Worldwide Quilting Day site.  They had a whole month of giveaways.  I've never tried Aurifil thread so now I have the chance.  Thank you.

This I won from Judy Chain of Sew Fun Quilts during SewCalGal's Golden Quilters Awards.  I love that I have the makings of project already cut and ready to sew.  Thank you, Judy and SewCalGal.

And also from SewCalGal is this collection of batiks from Hoffman Fabric.  I hope you can see the pansies, daisies, ferns, leaves graphics and in the upper fabric the shells. There is also one with sea horses.  I had just purchased a Bali Snaps pack of Hoffman Fabric and as you can see it blends well with the other pieces.  This will be another fun project to put together.  Thanks again SewCalGal.

Is that it?  Think so.  I did put together another I Spy quilt for my sister's grand kids and my day was made when my nephew posted a picture of his little one and in the background was my quilt on the floor.  It's being used. That warms a quilter's heart. 

That's where I am.  Hopefully America the Beautiful will be a finish this week.  I hope you all had a blessed and happy Easter.

 

God Bless You. 

Festive Mystery Finish

A bit late for Christmas or else very early, this baby is wrapped up.  My first prairie points are not perfect and I'm not sure when I'll use them again, but they definitely add a nice touch.  It's just tedious sewing the backing edge down.  So I end February with 2 nice finishes.  Another quilt with Sue Abrey's name on the label as designer.  Thank you, Sue.

 

I also made the ninth block in the Ben Franklin QAL.  It's called Happy Home.

It's the middle block in the bottom row. 

 

I'm finishing my course with Cindy Needham on Craftsy, and then I'll try quilting another UFO.  I may have another finish in my near future.

 

Be quilting or be square.

 

God Bless You.

 

Philadelphia Pavement and Real Progress

This is the eighth block in the Benjamin Franklin QAL.  http://erikhomemade.typepad.com/  I love how this block turned out and think I got the balance just right in the colors and prints. 

What really pleases me is that I have reached the point of sewing the binding on the Quilt of Valor I'm making for my brother.  That's what I'll be doing for the next few days. 

Moxie loves this quilt.  When I was quilting it she would get on the fabric that was in the hoop and try to nest there or else crawl under it for a nap.  I had to put it away in a plastic container to keep her off of it.  Too funny.

 

God Bless You.

London Roads Block

This is the latest block from the Ben Franklin QAL at Erik Homemade Coffee Break http://erikhomemade.typepad.com/erik_homemade/   It's called London Roads. 

Sometimes when I see how many colors I'm using and how different each block is from another I get nervous, but I think this quilt will be one I love. 

 

Have a great day.  Too bad about the Pats, but as they say, there is always next year.  And the Sox are waiting in the wings.

 

God Bless.

Market Square and Pennsylvania Blocks

I made the two blocks that I was behind on for the Benjamin Franklin QAL with Erik Homemade Coffee Break ezine http://erikhomemade.typepad.com/erik_homemade/ . 



Market Square Block

Pennsylvania Block

 

And I have been faithfully quiilting the QOV and see progress in that quilt, so I think that my New Year's plans for completing projects is coming along nicely.

 

Time to tune in to the Patriots game. 

 

Have a great week.

 

God Bless You.

 

Empire Star Block and Part 2 of Christmas SAL

The fourth block of the Benjamin Franklin Mystery Quilt is the Empire Star block.  http://erikhomemade.typepad.com/erik_homemade/benjamin-franklin-mystery-quilt/

It is a good looking block and I'm happy to be up to date on this qal. 

The third block is the Fly Foot block which I posted about here http://needlethreadhappiness.blogspot.com/2012/08/fly-foot-block.html

That block was bothering me because of its brutal associations so today I took it apart and rearranged it so it looks like this now:

I love the other blocks and the fabric I'm using in this quilt and knew I couldn't let it go.  I know, I'm too sensitive.   

 

I also completed the second part of the Christmas SAL with Carole of Point de Croix Novalee 02  http://novalee02.over-blog.com/

Love this project, too.

 

Hope you are all well.

God Bless You.

 

 

Fly Foot Block

The third block in the Benjamin Franklin Mystery Quilt http://erikhomemade.typepad.com/erik_homemade/  is the Fly Foot. 

 

Other than this block I've been hand quilting the QOV which at this point looks like it will never be finished.

 

Please read SewCalGal's post about prayer flags.  http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com/2012/08/call-for-quilts-prayer-flags.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+InsightsFromSewcalgal+%28Insights+From+SewCalGal%29

  That's something I meant to make when I first saw them on Nina Lise's blog last year I think, but I never got to make one.  It's a nice idea and some of the quilts are quite lovely.

 

God Bless.

 

Boy's Nonsense Block

The second block in the Ben Franklin Mystery Quilt is Boy's Nonsense.  What a cute name.  http://erikhomemade.typepad.com/erik_homemade/2012/07/free-boys-nonsense-quilt-block-pattern.html

My two blocks so far. Very different looks although most of the fabric is from the same Robert Kaufman fq bundle.  I love it.

I got half way through making the next Treasure Chest block, Ozark Trail, when I ran into trouble and quit that project for today.  I folded and pressed my prairie points for the Festive Mystery Quilt instead.  So, I 'm trying to keep up with everything. 

God Bless.