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Monday, April 26, 2010

Math.

Today we're going to do a little math.
Will that be too hard for you on a Monday?
It's simple math.
You know I've been working away on quilts for seniors.
About a week ago I couldn't figure it out on my fingers,
so today I'm going to document my progress.
Maybe that will help this visual learner over here! (me)
So...let's do some addition.
Two.
all done.
finished.

+++++PLUS++++++
ONE
Pinned and ready to be quilted.
++++PLUS++++
THREE:
completed tops.
They just need to be
pinned, quilted, bound...
JUST!
From my quilt along with Victoria.

I showed you this one recently.



From the quiltalong with AmandaJean.

O.k.
How many quilts so far??

SIX???
yep.



One more to go.
That makes...
SEVEN!!

The perfect number.

The end is in sight!
Horray!

And now.
Drum roll please.....


FIRST PLACE!

This quilt was entered in the 3-D category

at the local art show.

Can you believe it?

Me neither.

Friday, April 23, 2010

can't put this down.

I began quilting this yesterday
and I can't put it down!!!

This is my liberated amish basket quilt.
I've already begun quilting the third basket out of 16!
I did not mark this quilt.
I'm just following along with the piecing.

Wow!
This big old fashioned quilt stitch goes fast!!




I looked and looked for some smaller weight perle cotton...
I was patient...(amazing but true)...
and finally found some 20 weight thread at
Hobby Lobby when I was visiting my daughter.
YEAH!



Love the back!!!
I'm using wool batting.



And I'm definitely enjoying myself as I quilt away!!


I'll add this to Amy's show and tell...
then I'll go around and see what everyone else
has been up too!!
I'm always inspired!!

Thursday, April 22, 2010

trash art.

Here's what I've been puttering around with
the last couple of months.
And I mean puttering.
I had a germ of an idea.....
But no idea how to execute it!!
I did have ideas....
Do you ever have ideas?
Ideas can be frustrating.
Sometimes they keep you awake at night.

Ideas can also be exhilarating!!

Ideas can work...
and sometimes they
don't work.

If I ever make a little art quilt with clothing tags again...
I know some things I won't do!!

AND I know some things I want to Try!!
But......
right now I'm out of clothing tags...
so I guess I won't be doing this project for a while!!!

This little 20"x30" piece is
headed to the local art show this weekend.

Just need to sew down that binding on the back...
I'm finishing this one JUST in the nick of time!!!

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Gwen.

This is the first quilt book I ever bought!!
I met Gwen Marston here in this book about 3 years ago.
My "quilt mother" Gerda took me to a few quilt shops.....
and I bought this book!
I was hooked!
I read this book cover to cover many times!!
I even made a couple of the quilts described.
I found out about that same time there were quilt magazines,
quilt guilds,
and lots of quilt shops!!
You could say that Gwen is my "quilt hero"
since she's the one (through her book)
that got me going!!
Today I was able to take a class from Gwen!
What a treat!!
She talked about 19th century quilts,
showed pictures,
talked a bit about history,
and then...


gave us a lovely "show and tell".
I learned today what a dog tooth border is and
how to make one!!
Woo! Hoo!
The red border on the above quilt has the border.
Sorry you can't see it too well...
but it's basically a long red piece of fabric
cut with that triangle edge...
and then appliqued down!!
Someday I'm going to add one to a quilt!!
A few of her small quilts.



Most of them were hand quilted.
I love the pot on this one!



Lovely.
Simple.



The double hatched quilting on this one
was amazing!



Pretty in pink!
I like the four panels that match,
but don't match too perfectly!
It's hard in this picture to see
that it is NOT perfect.
That's the charm!

Here's a quilt with more modern fabric.
Fun, huh?


Well...
I'm dreaming about doing four big blocks
with pots and flowers or leaves.
I didn't get too far today.

I cut four pots.
That wasn't too hard.
Then I did this tiny bit of reverse applique.
That's it!!
It took me all day to do that???!!!
OOps! Guess I was talking too much.
It was fun though!!!!

Monday, April 19, 2010

progress.

Do any of you remember a 9 patch quilt along
last summer with Amanda Jean?!!
Yep!
Here's mine.
These little guys finally are making an appearance.
They may even end up in a quilt!???
Amazing, but true.
This one is headed to one of the 7 graduates
I'm making quilts for.

I still need to cut some sashing...
sew some sashing....
quilt...
bind...
You know the routine, right?

Here's another quilt for a graduate
that's quilted.
Just need to trim....



And get it ready for the binding.

One of these days I'm going to get them all done!!
Right?
Right.

Before I get to work on all those quilts
I thought I'd show you this.
Aren't those little tiny blooms pretty??
This little cactus has been with me a long time.
I can tell by the pot...
painted by one of the big kids
many moons ago.

This little cactus is showing some color...
And I LOVE it!!!

Friday, April 16, 2010

April Bees.

I sure had fun with these two blocks!!
Can I have a quilt with a whole bunch of these??

Tracy from the Nitanny Block party sent some fabric
and requested anything,
but she likes improvisational.
I was inspired by Carla....
who was inspired by Gwen Marston!
AND.....
since I'm taking a class from Gwen next week...
guess what I thought about the whole time?


You're right!!
I dreamed about that quilt class..
happening next Tuesday!!
I can't wait!
Dreaming about things is almost better than
the REAL thing for me!!
I hope that Tracy doesn't mind that little bit of
GREEN I put in there.
I hand appliqued the leaves and circles...
so she can just take them off
if she wants!!
I kind of like that little bit of green!

Then Sarah over at the Modern quilting bee
sent strips...already cut!!
And newspaper to paper piece these blocks.
Let me tell you....
It was a struggle.
She requested 3/16" seams.
Do you know how hard that was for me???
Well...it was.
I'm sorry Sarah.
When it comes to numbers,
measuring,
seams,
I'm a little challenged.
I'm sending these to Sarah.
Two corners in each of these blocks has a little
blank area.
I had four chances to get it right
and I just couldn't do it!!
AAAH!
She said that was o.k....
Really??
It just doesn't feel right.
But, I'm sending them back.
She'll fix 'em up...I'm sure!!
You know...
Trim them down...
Add a little piece....
Who knows how she'll work her magic???
But I know she will. :)

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

one sheet.

I have a little pile of vintage sheets at my house.
They keep looking at me...
Hinting they'd like some company.
Could I please find one more pretty sheet
before sending them away to
the vintage sheet patchwork swap??
"O.k.", I thought.
"I do like to shop at thrift stores.
Maybe there's another sheet wanting to
be turned into a quilt out there!"
I found more than one.

In fact, I had to leave some of the pretty sheets there.
:( :(

I couldn't buy them all...
Too bad.
I'll be cutting these up tomorrow...
Then I need to send them off!!
Maybe when that little pile is not looking at me,
I'll get my mind OFF of vintage sheets!!

And, of course you know, I did not leave the store without
some other little goodies!!
Fabric for my stash...


And this little doily.


I just l-o-v-e little things like this!

You see what shopping for
ONE sheet got me???