Christmas QAL August - Post 5

The bad news is that I walked away from the paper piecing project after numerous mistakes on the same small piece.  The good news is that I went back to it once I cooled off and got over it.  Sharon and Sue were both brave enough to make a guess at what I was making, but they were both wrong.  Apparently, a big black spot in the middle of white fabric isn't much of a clue.

It's supposed to be a polar bear looking through a window.  It's called You Got Cookies by Sonja Callaghan.  His hat should be red, but you know the rules so he has gold which I think looks a little bland.  The pom pom on his hat is going to have to be very colorful.  Maybe he needs a blingy earring in that right ear:)   There is still more to be added, but the paper piecing is done.  Thank goodness.

 

What is the universal remedy for unhappy moments?

Chocolate!

 

I made chocolate covered pretzels.  They aren't gorgeous but they taste good and are too easy to make. https://www.hersheys.com/celebrate/holidays/recipedetail.aspx?id=3441

 

Hope you are having fun today.



Christmas QAL August - Post 4

It's Sunday and the Christmas QAL is still open for business.  I'm enjoying the peeks at your projects in between my own quilting and other weekend stuff.  It seems that today besides our QAL there are other blogging events  taking place so I think we'll have a variety of posts to view for fun and ideas.

I was going through my Christmas magazines last night and came across a project I decided to make for the Challenge.  It is paper piecing, and I have never done that before so this will be a learning experience as well.  This is what I have so far:

Can you tell what it is? 

 

So far what I think about paper piecing is that it seems to me I am wasting fabric.  It's probably because I am new at it and haven't figured out how to judge how much I need.  However, I will carry on and see how it turns out.  It's another mind bending exercise that my little brain appreciates.

 

Have fun today.

Christmas QAL August - Post 3

I finished the binding on my Coffee Cats Café quilt and it's ready for the Pets on Quilts show which begins tomorrow. http://www.lilypadquilting.blogspot.com/  I just have to lure Moxie onto it so I can get a cute picture of her and the quilt. 

 

I also took a break for some walking exercise.  A new bridge in my area also has a bicycle path so I walked across the bridge. 

That's the Taunton River.  And yes, there are power plants on each side of it. 

 

Grumpy George made an appearance at Hazel's.  Are we the only QAL with a mascot?  I think so.  Hazel, thanks for adding George to our group.  He makes me laugh out loud. 

 

I took some time to play with the Lantern Quilt blocks.  The link for that quilt show goes up on Monday but I won't be ready for it until later in the week.  And that's if Lifiss Interuptus doesn't occur.

 

Time for a tea break.

Christmas QAL August - Post 2 - Projects

I love the fabric baskets that I've seen online and wanted to make a few to help keep things organized.  This link is the one I followed:  http://www.aspoonfulofsugardesigns.com/2013/03/gathered-round-basket-3-sizes.html  Don't you love the colors they used?  My first basket has a Christmas theme.

Yes, those are soap slivers in the basket; I use them to mark because I know it won't hurt the fabric. 

These are reversible.

The only question I had was the instructions call for wadding, which I thought was what we call batting in the United States.  I used fusible interfacing because I thought it would work.  So British friends, do you think they mean wadding as in batting or is it interfacing?  I'm wondering which is preferable.  I want to make a few more.

 

Now, this is the link to the project I originally wanted to share with you.

 http://katrinastutorials.blogspot.com/

Katrina's ornaments look pretty and are easy to make.  If I used a smaller print fabric it might work better.

I think the little one makes a cute decoration for my bowl.  You could play with it a bit, add some bling and have a nice coat pin.  Don't know about you but I love to put a Christmas pin on my coat or jacket.

 

Am I delaying my Challenge project?  Yes, because I'm still wondering about it.  I actually lost the bow block I made in June.  It's in the house somewhere but I can't find it.  Maybe Moxie took it.

Christmas QAL August - Post 1

Welcome!  I feel like I'm late for an important date because when I looked at the linky four of you were linked in and at it.  I am happy we are finding time this weekend to do some quilting, whether it is working on Sue's Challenge or our own ideas. 

If you are new to our Quilt Along and want to know about it, please read the intro and challenge explanation that is right below the Mr. Linky tool on the Christmas Quilt Along page at the top of my blog.  Sue of Quilt Times http://www.quilttimes.blogspot.com devised a challenge that on first reading has a deceptive simplicity to it, but in practice is, well, challenging.  And that's what makes it fun. 

I have a project to finish today.

It may look like a Christmas project but it's my Pets on Quilts quilt and all that's left is the binding and label to be a finish. 

 

I'm off to visit and get going.

It's There If You Are Looking For IT

Yes, I am 12 hours early, and I don't expect you to comment on this post, but I wanted to get the MisterLinky up early for our quilters in Australia and Great Britain, and maybe even farther away places. So, it's there. 

 

And, of course, I'm talking about the August Christmas QAL weekend.

Am I eager or what? 

 

Be back in 12 hours or so.



Sto Lat To Me And Other Ramblings

I celebrated my birthday a few days ago (60 something - retirement, here I come) and wanted to share a card I received from my sister.  She is a talented scrapbook and card maker.  She designed a card for me and the inside has this sweet patchwork with little buttons and a star.  It completely relates to me; I've made more star blocks than I want to count and love those little buttons, and I do love traditional patchwork.  I love the card.  Thank you, Ging.

 

 

The fourth lantern block is called the Tinkerbell Lantern. http://www.quiltyhabits.blogspot.com  

 Just one more and we're done.  On Monday we get lantern #5 and the finishing directions.  I've thoroughly enjoyed making these cuties.  They work up fast so if you are thinking of joining in it's not too late.

 

I did some more bargain shopping at Sizzix and for under $40, which included shipping, I got all of these dies:

 

 

I can't wait to play with that teacup as well as all of the others, but today I used the hexie.

 

These are easy to sew together.  It's important to start and stop 1/4" in when sewing the seam so I'm finding this a slower project, but that's fine.  I'm using up scraps and it's fun. 

 

I won this FQ bundle from Camelot Fabrics.

 The collection is called Gray Matters and is mostly polka dots and paisley prints.  It's so cool.  Thank you, Camelot Fabrics. 

 

What will you be doing a week from today?  I'll be here hosting the August Christmas QAL.  Hope you join in.

 

God Bless You.



Postcards and Lanterns

I joined in Sheila's Postcard Exchange http://sheilasquiltworld.blogspot.com/  and received this beautiful postcard from my partner, Sharon, who is also "up north" as we say here,

 in Nova Scotia.

I love the musical fabric and the Broderie Perse applique roses. 

Thank you, Sharon.

 

These are the cards I sent to Sharon.  These were my first fabric postcards, and I love making these things.

 

 

 

I designed the top card and used a Sizzix die for the second. 

 

This is another I made.

 

You see, they become addictive.  You can let your creativity take over and play.  My only issue is that my wonderful little sewing machine has only a few decorative stitches. 

Thanks for organizing the exchange, Sheila.  I'm happy I joined in the fun.

 

The third lantern block is called Double Ladder.

 



 

God Bless You.

Enjoyable Sewing

I worked on a quilt today that I totally enjoyed making; it was fun putting it together.  I had this collection; Coffee Cats Café, and wanted to make something that wasn't summery.  After the past two weeks of heat, yesterday it hit 98 degrees, I am ready for cooler weather and an autumn project. 

I love the beatnik cats.  Visions of Dobie Gillis and Maynard G. Krebs.

This panel is part of the collection but I didn't use this today.

 

I decided to make this quilt, an Around the Twist design,

from this book, Big Print Patchwork by Sandy Turner. 

True confessions, I borrowed this book from the library, it was due back yesterday, so I need to return it on Monday because someone else has it on hold.  So, I wanted to make something and had this weekend to do it.

This is what I have so far.



The intertwined sashes have a cool look and are deceptively easy, even though for me it was a  mind-bender putting the pieces together and totally fun. 

Second Lantern-A-Long Block

The second block in the Lantern-A-Long is the Staircase Lantern.

Only three more blocks to go.

I sent four slab blocks to Calgary yesterday.

I made another postcard that will be going off to the west coast.  I haven't heard that my other postcards have reached their destination, but I'm keeping the faith that they will...someday.

 

I learned today that Mary Ellen Hopkins passed away on July 10th.  Mary Ellen was the quilter and instructor who published a few books, one of which I was able to recently purchase used, The It's Okay If You Sit On My Quilt Book.  The American Quilting Society did a nice post on her that made her sound like a very funny, happy person who made her mark in American quilting. 

 

God Bless You.

Christmas QAL July Sunday - Post 4

I put everything back almost the way it was in my sewing room and I think I will be able to find things again. 

This is the arrangement I'm going with for this project.  I'm pretty sure it's a wall hanging.  I love Nativity scenes and have a few, so now I'll have one more.

I get the Craft Gossip emails and wanted to share a free Christmas Quilt BOM that they posted about.  It's a beautiful design and the blogger is Erin Russek.    http://erinrussek.typepad.com/one-piece-at-a-time/jingle-bom/

For the cat lovers, check out this quilt http://www.24blocks.com/2013/07/caterday-quilts-july-13.html  I love it.

It is currently 90 degrees outside, but being the nut I am I just finished cutting the grass.  It takes me about an hour, but at least it's done.  I now have to rely on this stuff:

not because I'm an athlete but because it helps me to keep going when I want to quit.

So, with that I'm done for today.  I want to say that Hazel and Granddad George have been delightful hosts.   I hope we continue to see Granddad; his grumpy face is growing on me.  As usual during these QAL's I get things done and I love seeing what everyone else is up to.  It's been a nice weekend. 

 

Thanks, Hazel.

 

God Bless You All.

Christmas QAL July Sunday - Post 3

 Last night I played a bit with the Nativity project and laid some cotton lace between the rows to see how it looked.  I think it works.  I have no idea where I'm going with this project and hope it turns out okay.  I'm having my doubts, though.

 

Friday night before I worked on my scraps I reorganized my sewing room, but it just isn't working out.  I can't find anything, so it's going back to the way it was before I became industrious.  So you may not see any sewing from me today but I will be in my sewing room:)

 

Christmas QAL July - Post 2

I finished my bell wall hanging and have moved on to this project.  And as if sewing wasn't enough joy, I received a delivery of more Christmas fabric; angels, trees and musical instruments.  I could have used the cream and blue poinsettia fabric for the Challenge, and maybe I will yet. 

These bargains were purchased from Fabrics Galore.

 

My bell is translucent and looks cool in the window.  My seams are going in another direction, but other than that I like it.

That's where I am at, and now break time.

Christmas QAL July - Post 1

I'm linking in to the Christmas QAL which this month is hosted by Hazel http://www.hazelsquilts.blogspot.com

My coffee has kicked in and I am stitching away.  I've already spotted some lovely projects being worked on and know that the December show and tell will be a delight.

 

I have begun to quilt my star by stitching in the ditch.  My goal is to finish this little wall hanging today and that shouldn't be a problem. 

Last night I finished my second slab block.  Hopefully I will make one or two more and then mail them out on Monday. 

Are you distracted easily?  As I was making these slab blocks and seeing what a mess my scraps were in I decided to begin organizing them.  Thus, last night I was cutting, pressing and folding the yellow scraps.  The good news is doing this makes room; the bad news is I have a big shopping bag full of scraps to work on. 

Christmas QAL, Lanterns and Slabs

This weekend Hazel is hosting the Christmas QAL http://www.hazelsquilts.blogspot.com  Hope you can find some time to join in and quilt with us.  I'm curious and want to see your projects.  If you are new to the QAL, the info intro on the Christmas QAL page is a good place to start.  Both Hazel and I have that posted.

 

Isn't this a beautiful bundle of fabric?  I received it today from Henry Glass Fabrics and is what I won from their July 4th giveaway. 

 

This week they are hosting a Summer Fabric Party.  Check it out. http://henryglassfabrics.blogspot.com/

 

I joined the Lantern QAL at Quilty Habit and completed the first block. http://www.quiltyhabit.blogspot.com   I made 2 of the block because I'm not sure what I'm making in the way of size or design.

 

 

Sharon of Vrooman's Quilts posted today about the slab blocks (scrap blocks) being collected by Cheryl, a quilter in Canada, for victims in Southern Alberta and Calgary.  http://naptimequilter.blogspot.ca/2013/06/slabs-for.html  I have one block completed and one half done and that's just from this afternoon and evening.  After the first block they come together quickly.  This is doable for me because I don't have to make a complete quilt. 

 

 

God Bless You.

 



Henry Glass Fabrics Summer Fabric Party. Lantern QAL

 Henry Glass Fabrics http://henryglassfabrics.blogspot.com/ is posting about some of their designers this week, and there are fabric bundles for giveaways each day.  Yesterday the fabric line was  called Here Fishy Fishy.  You will smile when you see the quilt that was made; it is too cute.  And today they are showing the most lovable bears in Bear Hugs.   I won one of their giveaways from July 4th. 

Today I am working on my blocks for the Lantern QAL I joined at Quilty Habit http://www.quiltyhabit.blogspot.com/ (even though I said I wasn't joining any QAL's this year so I could finish UFO's - so much for plans.)  I needed to make something new, easy and different.  These blocks are modern to my thinking, so I'm putting my toe in that pond to see if I like it. All I have so far is the layout;

I'm using up strips from a Ty Pennington Impressions jelly roll.  I'll be working on this between a doctor appointment and a dentist appointment today so we'll see what gets done. 

I made my first fabric postcards and mailed them yesterday to my partner who is in Nova Scotia.  Sheila of Sheila's Quilt World http://sheilasquiltworld.blogspot.com/ posted about the exchange she was planning so I joined in since I wanted to make fabric postcards but held back because it was an unknown venture.  I can't post my cards yet until my partner receives them, but then I'll show what I made.  Post Office I'm counting on you:-)

Janet Wickell at about.com quilting http://quilting.about.com/ has templates for the backs of the cards.

Check out the giveaway at Henry Glass.

 

This weekend is Christmas QAL; hope to meet up with you at Hazel's http://www.hazelsquilts.blogspot.com

 

God Bless.