Back To Work

This is "RS5, Geisha Girl", an intermediate-level block that I paper pieced and then appliqued the melon shape using the raw-edge machine-buttonhole stitch method. One more triangle remains to be done on the right side of the quilt and then all 13 on the left. Plus the four corner kites.

What bugs me the most about making most of these triangles (and most of the DJ blocks, for that matter), is that I could make a quilt top like this in the time it takes to make some of these triangles!

Buying in Bulk

I've now cut all the batting for the three quilts in my previous post, so all I have to do is quilt them...that may take a while because I have other things I want to work on, including another DJ triangle. My favorite batting is usually Thermore, but several months ago I bought a 20-yard bolt of white flannel using my 50% off coupon from Joann's online. Even with shipping added, it was a deal. Price per yard (90" wide) was $8. I've used it as batting in a number of quilts this year, and so far I've liked the results. I still use Thermore for my "special" quilts, but this is great to have around when I need batting.

Extreme Stashbusting

I just figured out that the fabric I used for these recent three charity tops, backings, and bindings totals at least 15 yards! And I'm proud to say that about 14 yards was all from my stash and about a yard from fabric donated to my guild. No recent fabric purchases at all...just using up what's already available.

I am amazed, however, at how much fabric I still have in my totes....

Sewing With Friends

I'll be spending the day sewing with fellow members of the Mountain Laurel Quilt Guild...This is what I'll be working on. The blocks originally started out like this, more than two years ago. And here's another post about the blocks and their issues....

Stash Busting Continued

As promised in yesterday's post, here is my large version of the first Sew, Mama, Sew Modern Block-of-the-Month. I had to change the proportions of the pieces a bit because I didn't want to make a square quilt, but I think it looks pretty close to the original. You can see my small block here.

And here is the pieced back....I didn't have any more of the lavender fabric that was used in the front, so I just substituted a very pale pink solid.

Apologies for the bad lighting and the unpressed fabric!

Using Up Stash

A few weeks ago, when I blogged about the first block that I had made in the Sew,  Mama, Sew Modern Block-of-the-Month, my friend Susan said that the photo made my block look like a whole quilt rather than just a 12 1/2-inch block. That comment got me to thinking and then to sewing.

I decided that as I make the BOMs, I will also make a charity quilt using the same or similar pattern. What you see above is my large full-size quilt version of the block that I showed last week. And below you can see the backing, just made out of leftover fabric. Both are just improvisational piecing.

Once it's quilted and bound, I will donate this to Project Linus. It will be perfect for a teenage girl, thereby continuing with my plan to make charity quilts for teenagers (as I blogged about here).

Most of the fabric for the top and the backing came from my stash with a bit from the stash that was donated to my guild.

I've also made a large version of the first Modern BOM...I'll blog about it once I finish the backing....

A Smile for Quilters

Today's giggle.

Why Quilts (and the Arts) Matter

I'm proud that my tax dollars go toward something like this....

Modern BOM Continued

This is my version of the second block for the Sew, Mama, Sew Modern Block-of-the-Month series. Again, I'm using the leftover fabrics from my son's quilt. You can see my first block in this series here.

I can't wait to see all of the remaining ten blocks, but I don't want the year to fly by. Time goes by fast enough as it is. Hard to believe that my son is leaving on Saturday for his sophomore (!) year away at college!

So Far, So Good

Some of my readers might remember the saga with my iron that I blogged about here. Well, I've now had the replacement one for more than a year and so far it has not given me any problems (I hope I haven't just jinxed it). I love it as much as I did when I first got the first one. And surprisingly, I don't hate the auto-off feature as much as I thought I would. If it does turn off, it heats up very quickly and I don't have to waste time waiting for it.

I'm hoping this one will last me for quite a while now....

Wine, Anyone?

I recently made a gift bag for a bottle of wine and discovered a great way to make a rounded bottom without having to sew on a circle of fabric.

After sewing a rectangle piece of fabric into a tube, I hemmed the bottom and then just gathered it by hand and voila...a rounded bottom. Easy peasy!

The Kids' Turn

My exchange partner that I mentioned in yesterday's post has a couple of young children, so of course I had to include some fun things for them as well. The ball below is made from fabrics left over from a baby quilt that I blogged about here.

 

And the crayon roll is for the little construction worker in the family...

More Exchange Fun

In addition to the exchange I had with Nancy that I talked about earlier this week, I also participated in one with my cousin's wife. She sent me an absolutely gorgeous knitted scarf/mini-shawl and I sent her the things you see in these photos. A fabric postcard, coasters, and a tea wallet.

When I get around to modeling the shawl/scarf, I'll show a photo of that as well.

Can't Stop Me Now

This is "RS10, Grandma Nan's Bodice", an intermediate-level triangle. I paper pieced the right side of this and then used the raw-edge machine-buttonhole stitch applique method for the left side. Not perfect, but perfection is over-rated....

Once you accept the fact that you're not perfect, then you develop some confidence.  ~Rosalynn Carter

Modern Project

Sew, Mama, Sew is hosting a Modern Block-of-the-Month, so I decided to join the fun. We'll be making 12 different blocks from now through June 2012. This is my first one, which I made using leftovers from my son's high school graduation/going off to college quilt that I made last year. You can check it out here.

My plan is to make all 12 blocks using these black, white, and red scraps. And this quilt will be for ME!

Different Strokes for Different Folks

Earlier this year, I signed up for a crafty exchange with Nancy of Blogging, Near Philadelphia. From what I could figure from Nancy's blog, she is a fan of Civil War reproduction fabrics. Most of my friends know that CW fabrics are way outside of my box and almost never find their way into my home. The only time that I will work with them is when I make a gift for someone who likes them. Thankfully, I had this in my stash (winnings from a giveaway a long time ago).

Nancy tells me that she loves it! I'm so happy that she does -- it makes working with these fabrics worthwhile!

The pattern is called Charm Party Tote which I found in a quilt magazine a number of years ago. Since then (as you can tell from this photo), I'm made quite a few of them...

Good Things Come in Threes

This is probably a record for me...three days in a row...

This is "RS6, Tumbling Blocks", an advanced-level triangle for which I used the raw-edge machine-buttonhole stitch method of applique. The dark orange fabric was cut as one whole piece and then appliqued on. To see what I mean by that, check my post here.

52 DJ Triangles on the Wall, 52 DJ Triangles,Take One Down and Pass it Around....

Wow, what a great cheering section you guys are! It's great to have friends (both in person and in blogland) supporting my effort to get this @#$%^&* quilt finished.

So, for the second day in a row, here's "RS11, Hills of Jerusalem", an intermediate-level triangle that I paper-pieced.

Trust me, you're not going to see these for 19 days in a row....I'm not that dedicated....But I do appreciate the support!

How Miserable Do I Want To Be?

I had lunch with my friend Madalene the other day and she asked me how many more triangles I had left to make. When I said 19, she said that I could make one a day and be finished in 19 days. I told her that it sounded like she wanted me to have a really miserable 19 days!

There is no way that I am going to make one a day for 19 days, but our discussion did give me the incentive to move along a bit more quickly than I have been.

Anyway, this is "RS7, Fedelia's Hearts", an intermediate-level triangle. I paper-pieced the small triangle parts and used the raw-edge machine-buttonhole stitch method for appliqueing the hearts.

Just a reminder for those who are using the software to make these...there is a bug in the program, so remember to change the size of the triangle to 5 inches by 8 inches before printing out any patterns.

Fun Times

I spent a delightful day on Saturday meeting new friends from the Finger Lakes Modern Quilt Guild. You've heard of the Modern Quilt Guild movement, right? If not, go here and read up on it.

Anyway, for those who don't know, the Finger Lakes area of NY is quite large in area, so most of us spent a good part of the day driving...but that's OK because we quilters will go almost anywhere to find fabric and spend time with other quilters.

I met four other FLMQG members at O'Susannah's Quilt Shop in Watkins Glen...

...and then had a lovely lunch with them at the Seneca Lake General Store. Alas, after lunch we had to say goodbye to Sue, the owner of O'Susannah's, but it was great fun seeing her shop and talking quilting at lunch.

After that, we went on to a great show and tell (and wine and cheese) at Pat's house overlooking Cayuga Lake. Pat recently started a quilting blog...click here to check it out and tell her "hi".

Here are some of the highlights from the show and tell.

Pat's quilts made from her stash of fabrics that she inherited from her mother (her mother had great taste in fabric, that's for sure)...

...a pink and brown quilt Sherri is making for her daughter....

,,,and some of Sherri's practice free-motion quilting squares a la Leah Day...

...and we were also delighted to see Desiree's work....

What did I show? Well, a couple of pictures of the quilts that I've given away (see my previous post) and this....

...and this...

 ... and this...

And after all that...since I was in the neighborhood (sort of), I stopped by Ithaca to have lunch with my son! A great way to end a great day!