Latest UFO finish

Just how many quilts can I get out of that one shoebox of small tumblers?

Package to Minnesota

Today I mailed a package to Minnesota for the August project for All Crafts for Charity. There were 2 pairs

of slippers, and 3 pairs of socks.

Package to Texas

Yesterday I mailed out a package to Texas for Parkland Hospital in Dallas. Included were: 3 machine knit baby blankets, 3 baby hats, 3 baby sockies, 15 drawstring bags and 20 sets of bereavement diapers.

A Good Start to the Week

A finish already this week - and I'd say it's about time. How long ago did I make this top? I don't want to think about it. I had to use one of my queen size batts for this with quite a bit left over. Oh well. It's done and I'm glad of it.

Two Finishes this Week

Made myself a new rule - until I get some (maybe all) of these durn tops finished and off the railing. I will spend a minimum of 30 minutes a day on quilting and 30 minutes a day on binding, making backs, getting the batting ready. I will try very hard not to start a new quilting project. Like most of my rules, I am hoping to be able to keep it up.
I was able to finish a Warm Wishes and a blue (with a touch of yellow) Drunkards Path. I saw his setting somewhere - I'm calling mine 'Traffic Circles'.

Pillowcases

I decided to make up pillowcases for a charity project. I had made a trip to Marden's in Waterville on Sunday to pick up fabric for a quilt back. Many yards later, I had enough for 20 pillowcases.

And............on Monday I got a call from a complete stranger asking if I could use some fabric. She had gotten my number from a friend. I went to pick it up. There are 7 boxes plus 3 full bolts. One bolt is 40 yards of muslin (good for many things, including foundations for HeartString blocks), 2 bolts of flowery prints, which I may use for pillowcase dresses. I might add that each of the boxes was nicely organized - solids, blues, quilted fabric, panels, even a box with UFO's (exactly just what I needed).
I should be receiving my small drunkard's path die today. I'm planning to cut a quilt that uses both sizes of drunkard's paths. I think I will make it with blues (and maybe throw in some yellows). At the same time I think I'll cut some squares to make a disappearing 4 patch. So much fabric, so little time.

A Finish, Finally

It's been quite awhile since I've had a quilt finish. The blocks have been hanging around for some time. I needed a gift for a 2 year old and decided to get this one done. I think he will enjoy looking at all the different blocks. (I hope, anyway.)

Jelly Roll Race Quilt

Finished this one yesterday. We had a jelly roll race at the last Clamshell Quilters meeting. We'll be having 'show and tell' at our next meeting Monday evening.

Zip Purse

This is slick. This purse measures 4 3/4" x 6 1/2". It's made on the embroidery machine. You hoop up some tearaway stabilizer, follow the detailed instructions and it's all made on the machine (except for closing up the small opening in the lining used for turning it right-side out). I mean, it even makes a channel for the zipper, you slip the zipper into the channel and then stitch it into place. I got the pattern from moosebstitching. They have lots of different things that are made completely in the hoop. This particular pattern came with 3 different quilting designs and a blank one where you can add your own design. I love it and will be making more of them.

May's package for AC4C (All Crafts For Charity)

Off to Post Office tomorrow.

7 machine knit baby hats
2 pr machine knit baby socks
14 sets of bereavement diapers
2 machine knit cocoons
2 hand knit baby sweaters
12 newborn onesies - I purchased the onesies and added the embroidery

These items are headed for San Diego Navy Regional Medical Center and/or UCSD Medical Center.

Quilts for Hands 2 Help

So, here are the quilts I will be sending to Hands 2 Help. They have both appeared here before. I need to do a label for the Bento Box quilt before sending them off.

Flag Wallhanging

I made this to hang up on the front of the house on federal holidays. It measures 3 feet by 4 feet. I think it will look nice with the window boxes I have planned. I want to have red geraniums, white petunias and blue ageratum along with an English ivy in each of the front corners. Last year I didn't have the ivy and the window boxes just didn't look nearly as nice as they usually do.

Drawstring Bags for Days for Girls

It's not easy getting a picture of 84 drawstring bags. I'm sending them out this morning to a girl in North Carolina who is putting together some kits for Days for Girls. I have more of these cut out but am waiting for an order of twill tape for the drawstrings. This is a great use for gifted fabrics such as home dec, and others that aren't what I would be using in a quilt.
I also make the flannel liners when I can get a good deal on the flannel. It gives me a good chance to get the serger warmed up. I love to serge. I also love being able to thread the darn thing which I'm getting pretty good at.

Machine Embroidered Apron

Today I decided to buy and download an embroidery design. At one point I was very frustrated and I couldn't tell you what I did, but somehow (after about 2 hours)  the design appeared on the screen. It stitched out really nice I think.

Small Tumbler #1

You want scrappy? Well, this is it. This one is made using the small tumbler die, 20 across by 20 down. It measures 50" x 60" ish.

How long has it been

since I last posted? Too long. And I think I've made 5 or 6 more tops in that time. One step forward, two steps back.

Progress of Happy Chemo Quilt

I am really liking the small tumbler die for my GO cutter. I just may have gone just a bit overboard - I probably have enough tumblers cut for a dozen quilts.

Another Finish

This a partial view of the latest finish. It's a BOM from Joann's from several years back. I think someone gave me the kits and I've had the top done for quite a while.

Oatmeal Bread (King Arthur)

Going to a potluck today and this will be my contribution. Recipe from bag of King Arthur Bread Flour.

Long Term Project

I can see this project cutting in on my UFO finishing project. I bought the yarn and pattern at Mother of Purl in Freeport. (My first visit there - a really nice yarn shop and the people are very nice.) The pattern is Foothill Road Aran. It isn't often that I get a real broad hint for a gift. This won't be for the birthday in May but hopefully for Christmas 2013.

Bento Box

This is a smallish quilt - Bento Box I think it was called. This is my second finish for this week. Yes!!

Charity Quilting

I will be participating this spring in this project. I'll be making at least one quilt each for Happy Chemo (this has hit pretty close to home is recent weeks) and Quilts Beyond Borders.

This Week's Finish

I'm still on schedule!!
This was a kit someone gave me. I know some of the squares had polyester in them, but that's ok.
I'm not used to making 2 or 3 color quilts and it looked rather bland to me. I quilted it with a red, white and blue variegated thread and it perked it up some.
This morning I prepared 3 backs for the next 3 quilts which will take me well into April.

Baby Sweater

This kind of speaks for itself. I had 3 buttons in my possession that matched exactly. And how often does that happen?

And One More

Another lingerer. 2 or 3 years, I'd guess.

This Week's Finishes

The purple HeartStrings is only a top - going to Yarmouth in April. I made all the blocks and sewed them together this week.
The bricks and black top has been aging for a good long time. Now it's done!
I should make a count of the tops that are left - well, maybe not. It'd probably scare me.
I cut a  shoebox almost full of small tumblers with my GO cutter. Made a small dent in my small scraps. You know I want to start sewing them together but I'm going to try to hold out for a while.

One More Quilt Top Bites the Dust

I am doing well, getting a quilt finished each week. I still have a way to go - maybe 8 or 10 more. I'm not going to get in this position again (I hope). I'll be taking this one with me to the April sew-in in Yarmouth along with 3 other completed quilts and 2 tops for Mary to tie while she is there.

Art Quilts x3

Backgrounds were done on the Gelli Plate onto deli paper. I glued the paper to cardstock, added some elements, then transferred the whole collage to fabric.

This Week's Quilt Finish

The pattern is Picket Fence from an old Quiltmaker. The lights show up better here than in real life.I cut the pieces for this with the chisel die on my GO cutter.

Baby Sweater - hand knit

I've added this to the baby collection box. The pattern is Little Lamb.

Gelli Plate Playing

This is so much fun. There were 3 more but I turned them into collages which I then printed on fabric. I'll be putting them on when they are finished little wall hangings sometime this week