Modern Christmas Trees QAL

I made my trees for the Modern Christmas Trees QAL being hosted by Christa's Quilts http://christaquiltsblog.com/quilt-alongs/  Because I couldn't decide on which fabrics to use for the trees I decided to make them with the scraps from other projects.  Christa refers to these as improv trees, which makes me sound very modern, which I am not :-)  To me they are scrap trees. I used my Tri Recs rulers for the first time and am happy with them.  I've had them for a while but didn't know how to use them, so this was a good project to work that out.

 

 

 

This Annalee Quilter Mouse is my birthday present to myself.  She makes me smile.

 

Have a great weekend.

God Bless You.



Taking Stock

I used a piece of flannel as a kind of design wall and find that looking at projects straight gives a fresh look at blocks.  This year I had planned to work on UFO's and I did complete a couple of big projects, but of course I have plenty more to go.  That's ok, there's always next year.  I pulled out my blocks to take a look.

I love these blocks.  They are Radiant Star, an Eleanor Burns block that is in the Quiltmaker 100 Blocks Vol. 4 issue.  I don't know what made me stop this project but I have to get back to it.

 

These are my Ben Franklin Mystery QAL blocks with Erik's Homemade Coffee Break eZine. http://erikhomemade.typepad.com/erik_homemade/

 I think I'm going to redo the third block down on the right. 

I notice I have two of the same block and I can't think why.  The host for this qal is on vacation, but then we'll be back at it.

 

These are the blocks so far in the Stashbusters QAL at Linda's Quiltmania.  http://lindasquiltmania.blogspot.com/

We were given block 4 today. 

 

I worked on one of my Christmas QAL projects.  I bought fabric at Joann's for the borders of my Nativity wallhanging and wanted to see how it would look.

 

The fabric that is adjacent to the plaid is perfect; it's covered in Christmas stars.

I'm thinking of crocheting some stars to applique to the plaid. Last night I made the quilt sandwich for this project so it is ready when I want to quilt it. I know I'll have other Christmas ideas to work on for our QAL.

 

There is a nice blog hop being hosted by Sheri of Sunshine in the Attic called Quilts in the Pumpkin Patch  http://sunshineintheattic.blogspot.com/

The projects are autumn related so if you like pumpkins and autumn leaves you may like the projects being shown. 

 

God Bless You and have a fun quilting week.





September Christmas QAL - Post 4

I have been sewing today, but not on a Christmas item, although there is so much red and green in this project that I think it could be mistaken for a Christmas Quilt.  I mentioned earlier this week that I made a churn dash quilt.  It is very colorful.  When you take one block at a time, it seems very simple.

But put them all together and there is a color burst.

There are only 5 prints in fabrics in this quilt, but it looks like 100. 

Well, this quilt is becoming another of my favorites.  I think I might do a bit more ditch stitching and then put on the binding. 

 

Thank you to lovely Hazel for hosting this weekend.  She does such a good job of it.  And have you seen all of the pastry people have been showing?  Between the cookies, blondies, gingerbread, Sue's boozy recipes and I don't know what else, we could become a Cook and Quilt Along.

 

Hopefully I'll be seeing you here next month.

 

God Bless and have a great time quilting (and eating;-)

September Christmas QAL - Post 3

Are you a pet lover?  Than you will enjoy this link that was shared by Soggibottom.  The creativity of bloggers is awesome.

http://www.speedyhousebunny.com/

September Christmas QAL - Post 2

I fixed my polar bear and he's going to be quilted, and get his eyes and pompom sewn and finished up all together this weekend. 

He's going to be lovable once he's quilted.

 

I hesitate to show the Nativity because I know the plaid isn't matched.  But this is still a work in progress and we'll see how it looks when some borders are added and maybe some applique.  I need to make a trip to Joann's Fabrics to see if I can find some red or green that matches.  I never seem to have just the right color. 

 

I think I'm going to pick up one of Donna's design walls while I'm shopping.  http://www.sosewcrafty.blogspot.com  Crawling around the floor isn't the best way to see the best layouts. 

September Christmas QAL - Post 1

The Christmas QAL is on at Hazel's http://www.hazelsquilts.blogspot.com   Where I live it is one gorgeous day.  I think I love it more after a week of humidity, the kind of days that sap energy.  Not today.  It's clear, cool, dry; lovely. 

So, I do plan to work on my Nativity, but I need to fix my second polar bear first.  When he was hanging up waiting for attention I noticed his cap was off.  Now paper piecing has the reputation for accuracy, but not in my hands. But it's fixable.  So that's first.

 

You got Cookies by Sonja Callaghan; Quiltmaker Nov/Dec 2012



Things I've Been Doing

This month's Christmas QAL is being hosted by Hazel http://www.hazelsquilts.blogspot.com and it's this weekend.  I hope you can participate and that you are enjoying the qal time as much as I am.  I want to work on the Nativity quilt top this month and hope to make progress with it.

I'm also joining Christa Quilts QAL of her pattern, Modern Christmas Trees Wall Hanging.  http://christaquiltsblog.com/2013/09/11/christas-quilt-along-7-0-modern-trees-intro-and-schedule/ 

 

I think it's a sweet design and will use up some of my Christmas fabric.  If you visit Christa's blog you will see variations of the design that show the possibilities with changing fabric and layout.  Join in if you can.

 

I am quilting a churn dash quilt.

The fabric is from a 2010 collection called Golden Afternoon by Connecting Threads.  I think I've had the fabric since 2011 when I began quilting, and probably bought it because the floral is of marigolds, one of my favorite flowers.  In my part of the world, they are now coming into their best show, and I love that I can have them growing until late October or even November.  I'm doing only simple curves on this quilt so it's almost finished.

 

I've also wanted to see if I liked the look of drop cloth slipcovers so I made a cover for a hassock.  It looks pretty good so I'll be making new slipcovers for the living room. 

 

God Bless You.

Double Hourglass Block

I saw on Sheila's Quilt World http://sheilasquiltworld.blogspot.com/2013/09/a-little-mail-today.html about the Stash Buster's Quilt Along at Linda's Quiltmania http://www.lindasquiltmania.blogspot.com/  and decided to join in, mostly because the first block is so cute.

I was happy to see that I have the two rulers needed.  In fact, I used one of them for the first time making the Double Hourglass block.  Thank you, Sheila, for posting about this.  I think it will be fun.

I finished one of my polar bear You Got Cookies wall hangings which I began during the Christmas QAL.  It is sweet.  I love him.  I can't show him off until December when we have our show and tell at Sue's (http://www.quilttimes.blogspot.com ).  I did say "one of my polar bears."  I made another one with a bright blue cap.  I didn't have to do that because the first one, which I thought was bland, is not at all plain since he's been quilted, has cute brown eyes and  a big blue pompom at the end of his hat.  And I am loving paper piecing, even though I rip out more stitches than I put in. 

 

God Bless You.

QOV Block Drive

I learned of a blogger in Colorado who is collecting blocks for Quilts of Valor.  http://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/2013/08/big-blowout-block-drive.html  There are only two types of blocks being collected, and the directions for making them are on Alycia's website.  There is a giveaway attached to the block drive.  If you are interested, you have until the end of October to make and submit.  These are some of the blocks I made.

August is the month for me to try new quilting methods, apparently, because I had never made a string block before, but now I have.  My first two attempts  I redid once I figured out my own way of doing it, but they are fun to make.  Now I can say I have paper-pieced and string blocked.  Good for me.

 

God Bless.

Lantern Quilt

 

My Lantern Quilt is bigger than I originally planned but I'm pleased with the size because I can use it on my bed.  Don't look closely at the quilt because I haven't buried the threads yet, but I wanted to link up to Quilty Habit's Lantern - a - long Linky.  http://www.quiltyhabit.blogspot.com/2013/08/lantern-long-linky.html

The backing is polka dots that blend with the mix of colors from the top, and since I had made 2 extra Tinkerbell blocks I used them on the backing.

Thanks to Jessica of Quilty Habit for this fun design.  I said I wouldn't join any more qal's this year because I wanted to work on my ufo's but this was a fun and quick project.   And thanks to Sharon of Vroomans Quilts where I spotted the qal button.  Love that quilting community. 

 

God Bless You.

Where's Moxie? Pets on Quilts Post

Let's begin at the beginning.



What did she make now?

Don't bother asking.  I'll test it for you.

I love it.  It's mine.

You didn't make it for me?

 But I want it.

I think I see my cousins Tiger and Smudge pictured on it.

And Mitsy and Mickey.

Looks like my whole family.

I'm keeping it.

Thanks.



 

Coffee Cats Café by Color Principle for Henry Glass & Co.

The design is Around the Twist by Sandy Turner. 

 

Thank you Padsworth and Snoodles.

http://lilypadquilting.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-pets-on-quilts-show-is-here-2013.html

Christmas QAL August - Post 6 Thank you

Thank you to everyone for joining me in the QAL this month.  In September we head over to Hazel's http://www.hazelsquilts.blogspot.com.  Grumpy George was almost knee deep in vegies this month; who knows what shape he'll be in after another month of sunshine and fertilizer.  Hope Hazel can find him.  Now here's a thought that Sue and I had; What about putting GG on the QAL button?  He looked kind of cute in his Santa hat the first time we met him.  What do you all think? 

 

Not to make anyone nervous or anything, but there are only 3 more QAL's before the December show.  Just thought I'd mention that.

 

Thanks again and

God Bless You.

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.