April Let's Book It Post

I'm happy to be able to link up with Sharon's Let's Book It group at Vroomans Quilts.
I am making a quilt from Bonnie Hunter's book Scraps & Shirttails II.

Put on my design wall for a look see - this is not the true layout.

 

 Since this post, I've brought in some other fabrics to lighten up things a bit.  We'll see how it works out.

Maybe it is getting too scrappy, but Bonnie's designs play to that so I'm going with it for now.

Many more blocks to go on this one.

God Bless.

Yankee Charm Block and More Caps

The Yankee Charm Block is the 21st block in the Ben Franklin Mystery QAL at Erik Homemade Coffee Break ezine.   Apparently the history of this block relates to Revolutionary times.  I like it probably because it has a semblance to a courthouse steps block.

The April block for the From Head to Toe - A Knitter's Gifts block of the month is this cute cap applique made 4 times.  Notice I goofed on one of the blocks and placed my cap in an alternate orientation.  If it doesn't work when I put all of the blocks together then I'll redo it, but for now it stays as is.  

God Bless.  Have an enjoyable weekend.

New Project From a Bonnie Hunter Book

 I've had Bonnie Hunter's book, Scraps & Shirttails II for a while and have wanted to make something from it for as long, so I'm happy to finally begin one of the projects.

I've selected Smoke Mountain Morning with its stars and modified log cabin blocks.

This fabric line from Windham Fabrics is one I've been saving, so now it's been cut into and is living up to its potential.

I have two stars done and am trying out one log cabin.  The stars are a 54-40 or Fight star and the log cabin is the Chimney and Cornerstone log cabin version.  My takes are a little bit different from Bonnie's but that's okay.

What is really cool is that I used my Sizzix to make this block.  That might be why I was able to get two blocks done in a few hours.

I will link up with the Let's Book It group at Vroomans Quilts when that post comes up.  

God Bless You.

Progress Report on Two QAL's

This Teapot is the Sew Kitschy April block.  And here are my four blocks together.

The April block for the Quilt Doodle Doodle BOM is this row of Friendship Stars.

 I think the stars really make the tree and house blocks brighten up. 

Both of these projects are going to make charming quilts.  

God Bless You.

Sprinkles is a Traveling Quilt

These pictures tell a story.  I tested Sue Abrey's quilt design "Sprinkles", then heard about the Hands2Help Charity Quilt Challenge running now at Confessions of a Fabric Addict and decided to donate my version of Sprinkles because it's a nice size for cozying into and with the fabric I used would be good for a young person.  As you can see, my pal Moxie liked it very much, so after doing a stipple quilting and sewing on the binding, Sprinkles got washed and dried and crinkled up beautifully.  I remembered the label, something I don't always do.

Now, Sprinkles is on it's way to the midwest.  

So, from a quilt designer in Great Britain to a quilter in Massachusetts to an organization in Ohio and then, who knows.  

Happy travels, Sprinkles.

Another version is definitely on the agenda.

Thanks, Sue. It was fun.

Quilting Sprinkles and a Nice Win

 I tested the Sprinkles pattern for Sue of Quilt Times and intend to donate the completed quilt to one of the Hands2Help charities. Truthfully, I have not been motivated for the past 2 weeks to do much sewing or quilting.  But, Sprinkles needed to be quilted so I moved my sewing machine onto the dining room table and went to work.  And guess what.  I got back my quilting mojo.  I hope I get this one completed by the weekend and move on to another project.  

If you read my blog you know I do love my Sizzix machine.  I don't have many of the quilting dies, I use the figure dies mostly, but I do watch the youtube videos because making the quilt blocks  looks so neat and accurate.  I entered one of their giveaways and won two dies, 2 FQ's and a very nice book.  This just makes me very happy.

I showed you the postcard I received from my  partner Dawn.  She has finally received the card I sent to her so I can reveal it.

  Did I use a Sizzix die?  Yes.  I had the whole card finished when I realized I hadn't quilted any of it.  See what I mean?  No mojo.

God Bless!

Beautiful Post Card and Blocks of the Month

 I love the post card I received from Dawn (no blog) in the latest post card exchange that Sheila arranged.

 The antennae have little beads.  I didn't know that beads like that would go through the postal service but now I know they will, so I'll have to try them.  Thank you, Dawn.  It is a beautiful post card.

 The March block in the From Head to Foot BOM from Denise of Justquiltin. The first block were the caps.  The socks were much easier and faster to put together. 

The March block for Quilt Doodle Doodles' 2014 BOM.  I'm going to decorate the tree, I just haven't decided what to do yet.  

The crocus we've been waiting to see.  Everyone I talk with is so happy to see their crocus blooming.  It was a tough winter.

God Bless You.

My Sew Kitschey March Block

This is from Quiet Play's Sew Kitschey BOM.

I'm enjoying the paper piecing, and the designs each month are just too cute.  

God Bless.

Caps with Pompoms

 This is the February block of the From Head to Toe BOM designed by Denise Russart of Justquiltin.  I used flannel for the pompoms so that they would show up better.  

Yes, we're still having the kind of weather where you could wear three caps at once to keep warm.  

I also made the fabric postcard for my partner who is in Canada this time, but I can't show it yet.  But it is very spring-like.  

God Bless You.

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!

FYI; Adding the Pin It to your images

First, the sun's out today, it's in the 40's and the snow is melting slowly.  I'll be doing a crocus hunt this weekend but there's still too much snow now.

Second, I found a blog, Sew Many Ways, that has the best directions for adding Pin It for Pinterest to your blog.  http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/2013/08/how-to-add-pinterest-image-hover-pin-it.html?showComment=1392922533984#c1366169921009788447

Don't even bother with any other directions that have you going into your template.  It's not necessary. 

Thank you, Karen.  I notice she is in Rhode Island, so she is a neighbor. 

I am continuing with the Swoon blocks. 

I like the blocks that have the star in a dark/medium value.  

God Bless.

Swooned

One of the courses I have taken on Craftsy is Camille Roskelley's first one on using pre-cuts, and during it she shows how to make her Swoon block. I finally got around to making one and now I'm hooked.  The block measures a hefty 24" square, so I think it's the biggest single block I've ever handled.  I ended up using the Sunnyside fat quarters for this project.  Not sure why it's called that since there are lots of clouds and raindrops, but I do like it.

I'm enjoying playing with the color values.  

Spoiler Alert:  If you are totally sick of snow and wintry weather, stop here.

We were not supposed to get a blizzard last night.  The Cape and Islands were getting the blizzard.  We had a heavy snow warning only.  Lucky us.

Out my back stairs.

God bless the gentleman who used his snow blower to clear the stuff the city snow plow dumps in my driveway.  I did the rest and am now resting wondering if I should start another Swoon.  I also need some cookies, so I might do that instead.

God Bless Us Everyone!

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.