This is Fun!!

When I was going through my fabric the other day, I ran across something I had all but forgotten about.  A  bundle of fabric and some already made blocks.  Here's the story on that.  

About a million years ago...okay, only 5 years ago...I belonged to a block swap.  (Actually, I belonged to several in a 3 year period.  I'll have to think about doing that sort of thing again.)  At any rate, April of 2010 (see what I mean...a million years ago!) was my month to have blocks made.  I opted for churn dash and monkey wrench blocks...one of each was made by the other 11 quilters.  I got back from 10 of them, so I have 20 blocks that are sized at 12 1/2 inches.  The fabric collection is Wildrose by Brannock and Patek for Moda.    

I designated this weekend for fun sewing, remember?  So, I thought...why not?  I spent a few hours yesterday looking at the fabrics and making sure I knew how I wanted to proceed.  And, I cut squares...and more squares!  Lots of squares!  Some to make into half-square triangles and some to make into 4-patch blocks and some to remain as squares.

Here is a photo of the original quilt I was inspired by.  I would happily give credit, but even back then, I lost track of the information.  I apologize for this...it is a beautiful quilt, for sure!   

For some reason, Tag and I were up at 4:00 this morning.  No reason...more his idea than mine.  But, there it is. So, by the time 7:30 rolled along, 90% of the chores I wanted to do today were done.  All that was left to do was laundry (which is still waiting for me).  So, I played.

The first thing I did was to rethink the size of the quilt.  With 20 blocks, the quilt would have 4 blocks across and 5 blocks down.  With the added pieces, the blocks will finish at 16 inches.  Add in the 8 inch borders and the quilt would measure 80 x 96 inches.  Hmmmm...nope.  I have no need for a quilt that large.  Okay, time to think about what I am going to do with the quilt.  Keep it or sell it? More than likely, I will keep it.  Just because.  So, what will I do with it?  More than likely, it will end up as a lap quilt.  I could go 3 across and 4 down...that would put it at 64 x 80 inches...which is a little large for me as a lap quilt.  Well, then...how about 3 blocks across and 3 blocks down?  That would work...64 x 64 inches.  Okay, but I have 20 blocks.  Well, I could make 2 quilts, I suppose. Haha...we shall see.  Let's get one done, first.  ~grin~ 

All of that being said, I am going to play it by ear and just plug away at this until it's where I want it to be.  So.  Here is the first block I completed...  

block 1

 And, here's the second one...

block 2

Remember, the churn dash and monkey wrench blocks were already done.  All I am doing is adding 7 pieces to one side and the top or bottom.  One block at a time.

It is definitely going to be interesting to put this together!  

It is a gloomy, rainy day.  Perfect for sewing and listening to music.


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Short Week...Small Finishes...

It's been a short week around here...I feel as if I didn't do too much at all.  

I went through my fabric stash...only filled one small bag with what I didn't want to keep.  I guess that says a lot for the really thorough job I did a year or so ago, hey?  And, not buying (much) fabric unless I need it to finish something off certainly plays a large part in that, too!  I still have more than I need, but it is mostly in collections for specific projects.  

I made a few more kleenex cozies...is there never an end to these?  ~grin~  They are so easy to make that, by now, I could make them in my sleep.  Here's the link to the tutorial in case you'd like to make some.

And, I made 2 linen napkins.  Back in February, I gave Lindy 4 linen napkins and promised her that I would make 2 more (so that there was one for every member of her family)...finally got them done!  

As with the previous 4, these have the more formal finish...1 inch hems with mitered corners (no photo to show these).

And, just for the heck of it, I made this LOVE zipper pouch by Sweetwater.  You may purchase their pattern here.

I love making these...with slight variations, they have a different look.  Here are the others I have made...each one so different than the one before.  See this one, and this one, and this one.  

So, that's what I have accomplished this week.  I need to check my list to see what I'll be working on next week.  In the meantime, it's the weekend, so time for some fun sewing! 



"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Started and Finished...

I needed to make another gift for my Godmother/Aunt Bev.  Why? Because her birthday is June 1.  Apparently, I am unable to think more than two weeks in advance!  This, though, was a quick and easy idea...to make a little pillow to match the quilt I made for her for Mother's Day...see the quilt here.  

Here's what I did.  I made a 32 patch measuring 8 x 16 with 2 1/2 inch squares.  I didn't use batting, but I did do some topstitching.  I lined the front with a piece of Kona cotton (so the raw edges would be protected) and backed the pillow cover with a small floral print. I made an envelope closure at the end of the pillow.  And, I even made my own pillow insert!  
  

front

back

Here's a photo of Godmother/Aunt Bev from today...enjoying the sunshine in Eau Claire.

Godmother/Aunt Bev

Hope your holiday weekend is fun and safe.


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

The Gathering...

I mentioned a month or so ago that I had come late to the Anna Maria Horner party (see those words here).  I  just received my May Gathering and am so in love with it.  Actually, I am pretty much in love with everything I see of her work, whether it be fabric or handwork or patterns.  In my mind, there is a fine line between being obsessed and addicted. 

Obsession...
: someone or something that a person thinks about constantly or frequently.

Addiction...
: an unusually great interest in something or a need to do or have something


I will admit - without hesitation - to being addicted.  It is only because I am addicted that I have the last 3 'gatherings'...having them makes me think about them.  Frequently.  So, I think I am a bit obsessed, too.  Don't you?

At any rate...here is the May Gathering...

photo borrowed from Anna Maria's website

This gathering includes 6 cotton prints, 4 cotton wovens (from her newest collection, Loominous), and 2 cotton solids.

I cannot wait to use the fabrics...I think I have something special and very much far in the future in mind.  Time will tell.

I have 3 months left of this addiction and/or obsession...that will give me a lot of Anna Maria Horner fabrics to play with!

In the meantime, I am working on my to-do list and hope to have a few things to show you sometime soon.



"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

She Likes It...

The quilt I made for my Godmother/Aunt Bev was well-received... 

Please say a prayer for her...she has myeloma (a cancer of the blood) and is receiving comfort care at a nursing home in Eau Claire.  




"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Impossible...

How can it be?  To go from this...

Kaylynn Marie 050405

 to this, 10 years later...

in the blink of an eye.  

As usual, we had a grand time together.  Ate and watched movies and played with Tag and ate and danced and blew bubbles and drew pictures and followed each other on Instagram and talked.  And, ate.  And, talked.  Here are some photos...

And, opened presents.

two pillowcases and a nightgown

Did I mention that we ate?  Holy Schmoly...that girl is a good eater...will eat anything I fix for her...eats more than I do, for sure!  ~grin~

And, she modeled her nightgown...

Precious Princess Kaylynn.  I love her more.  

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

This Week's Finishes...

My granddaughter, Princess Kaylynn, is coming for an overnight tomorrow.  Her 10th birthday was on the 4th...this is the first I've seen her since then, so we will have a small celebration.  Pizza (or some other foodstuff) and movie.  

Look what I made for her...a pink paisley mid-calf length nightgown. 

I learned something new when making it...how to make a thread loop (instead of a buttonhole).  Easy peasy, but I had never been asked to make one before for anything.  

Also, this week...I finished a quilt top.  This morning, in fact.  I had started it last fall (click here) and when I got to the "ohno!  I ran out of fabric and I need two more blocks!", I set everything aside so that I could ponder my choices.  Well, apparently, I was unable to make a choice.  Because, there it sat.  I debated using just the background fabric and stitching a little poem on the two blocks.  I debated making those two blocks with pieces of a few different colors.  The problem was...I was short on background fabric and short on leaf fabric.  In the end, I made two pinwheels and called it good.  

Here is a closer view of the background.  I love this background.  I had been using it very carefully for 5 years and finally decided to go ahead and use the remainder of it on this quilt.  

So, now...the flimsy will be put into the box with the other flimsies that are waiting to be quilted.  

Moving on...on to the next few things on my list.  

Have a great weekend!
 

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

We Interrupt This Program...

Rather, my to-do list.

It occurred to me last Thursday that I did not have a Mother's Day gift for my very special Aunt/Godmother Bev.  I guess it's because 2 of my sisters and I gave me Mum her Mother's day gift early...must have thought I was done, hey?

I was in a bit of a panic, because I usually make gifts.  Right?  What could I make with fabric I already have here on time to get into the mail on Tuesday?  That gave me 4 full days...plenty of time to do most anything, right?  Still.  

You know, of all the people I've made quilts for, Aunt Bev isn't one of them.  Okay, I'll make her a quilt!  Then, it dawned on me that I had this... 

 

I made this quilt top in 2011 and it has been waiting for just the perfect time...the perfect person.  Why not finish that...now is the perfect time and it is perfect for Aunt Bev!  She has myeloma - a blood cancer - and is in a nursing home.   

I pin-basted it on Friday.  On Saturday, I quilted it.  I quilted a minimalist design of 7 squares, starting in the center 4 blocks and working my way out...each one 4" larger all around than the one before.  The binding took a few hours on Saturday night and Sunday morning.  And, it is done!  YAY!  This morning it went into the washer and dryer and was photographed. 

Details:
*Pattern - Postage Stamp.
*Measures 57" square (after laundering).
*Fabric collection is Aviary by 3 Sisters for Moda.
*Backing is Kona Cotton Solid in Bone (with a small piece of a floral from the Aviary collection in  one corner, which is also what I used for the binding).

I need to add a label and pack (stuff) it into a large flat-rate box so that I can ship it out tomorrow.  I think she'll be happy with it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Speaking of mail...sister Joyce sent me a dishcloth...

 I totally got it...green yarn...a granny smith apple design!  I love it!  Thank you, Joyce!

So.  We now return you to your regularly scheduled program.  Rather, my to-do list.  No more interruptions (yeah, right)! 





"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11