Not Much

Not much to tell, I'm working at cutting out some petals for my hexagon flowers.  Hope to start sewing soon.
(I know this isn't much, but at least I didn't wait 5 days to tell you that little bit of "not much".  LOL)

UFOs

I'm thinking that my closet in the sewing room has become an abyss of UFOs.  I found this top from Quilt Day.  I started either last Spring or last Fall or maybe even 2 Falls ago.  It's now a top and can go back to Quilt Day so a back and binding can be found for it.

I did not lay out the blocks of this quilt before I started sewing the 2 patch rectangles together.  Now I wish that I had.  I'm just not a "fly by the seat of my pants kind of gal".  But it's OK and, more importantly, it's done!  I also cut some more strips of Christmas Fabric today.

Christmas Fabrics

Notice the lettuce tub at top right, I'm going to have way too many reds to fit in that tub.

I spent Friday evening and this morning cutting 2.5 inch strips of Christmas Fabrics.  I have a long way to go.  Some of the fabrics are some that I may have to do something else with, like make a "Too Cute To Cut" quilt.  If I cut it up into the 2.5 inch strips, you'll lose what was wonderful about the fabric.  I also have a number of panels that I've never done anything with.  Will have to see if I can scare up some backing fabric or sashing fabrics.  Have a great day!

Again (In A Forrest Gump Voice)

Again I got behind in keeping up with my blogging this week.  I'm going to have to figure out a time to get this done so I'm not playing catch up.  Monday night I did a little cleaning in my sewing room and then I ironed this fabric:

Notice the date on it?  This is Christmas fabric I have had in my stash for a loooong time.  It may even be older than some blog readers out there.  It's going to be cut into 2.5 inch strips to be used in a jelly roll racer quilt.

Tuesday night I had a meeting and didn't make it home till 9:00, so no quilting or sewing was done that night. 

Last night, Wednesday, I cut out yellow fabric hexagons that will be the center of my Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt.  Tonight I hope to cut the Christmas fabric and decide on petal fabric for my first flower.    

My Own Jelly Roll Racer

Do you remember me talking to you about our Quilt Day here?  We had strips of fabric that we used to make our own jelly rolls and then sewed them to make a quilt.  It takes 40 strips and the directions are here. 

Using my own Christmas fabric, I finished a top today.   I didn't count exactly 40 strips as I used left over pieces of fabric, fat quarters and some pieces that were the width of the fabric.  I really like the way it turned out.  

I'm thinking I should cut up all of my Christmas fabric into 2.5 inch strips.  I could make a couple more of these and also use the strips to make 2.5 inch squares for 4 patch or 9 patch blocks.  I've used up all of my Valentine fabric and most of my St. Patrick's Day fabric.  Why not clear this out too???? 

A Week Of Ups And Downs

I'm going to try and catch up on this wild week of ups and downs.

Tuesday

This was my first day back to work, but the children don't start back until tomorrow, Wednesday.  I have been wanting to go to the Piecemaker's Quilt Guild for some time, so this Tuesday I decided was the night.  What a great group of women!  I got there right when the meeting began, so I sat down in the back.  I ended up sitting next to another lady would was visiting with her daughters and only lives about 2 miles from me.    I saw my friend Lucy from church.  I thought I might see her as she has invited me many times, so it was good to talk to her after the meeting.   And talk about meeting friends, I met up with my friend Rose.  She belongs to this guild too, but I didn't realize it until I saw her.  What a small world!  But the world got smaller still!  There were treats as always.  (Wouldn't be a good guild meeting without great treats and they had some wonderful treats!) And one of the Hostesses, Jill, told me she reads my blog, which is always exciting to know that some one reads this.  LOL

Jill then told me about how she found my blog and then Jeanine's blog.  She told her friend Kathy who had just moved to Council Bluffs that she should get in touch with Jeanine.  And she did and she came to our quilt group last Saturday.  Plus, come to find out, Kathy just lives about 2 blocks from Jeanine!  It is amazing how all connected we are though blogland.

This was my 15 minutes of quilting.  (I know, I cheated a little!)

Wednesday

The children started school today and I helped in the Kindergarten room.  They were so excited and happy to  be starting school.  I went home tired and fell asleep at 8:30 pm.  I didn't get any quilting done.

Thursday

Today the Preschoolers started and I was back to home base.  Such a great group of little ones we have.  I love this age and all the fun it is watching the light bulbs go on when they connect ideas!
But that evening was not so great.  A storm came through with lots of lightening and thunder and hail.

And we're talking BIG hail!

So big, it broke through the skylights.

I didn't get any sewing done that night.  We were lucky that we didn't lose the electricity.  What a mess.

Friday

I pretty much did nothing.  We had another storm coming though and we put plastic up inside, as my husband hadn't be able to get it done Thursday, the night it happened, and he worked Friday.  The storms started up again early evening on Friday.  Nothing like going out and becoming a human lightening rod, I vetoed that one.

Saturday

My husband has gotten the tarps on the windows this morning and I feel I can relax a little.  Hoping to get to the sewing room this afternoon.  Wish me luck!

Summer Is Over (for me).

Today was my last day of vacation.  I'm back to work tomorrow. I'm happy and sad.

I set about trying to make a jelly roll of my Christmas fabrics today.  Took a lot longer than I thought it would. (I'm still not done.)  And I'm trying to sew the strips together so I can make one of the jelly roll racer quilts to show you.  I posted about making one this past Saturday at my quilt day.  I have a bin of fabric but when I started decide what to cut, I really didn't have many large pieces.  Lots of fat quarters.  So I'm using those.   It will be interesting to see how this turns out.

String Block Quilt

The String Block Quilt is pieced!  Ready for the next step, finding a backing.  I'm feeling a trip to the quilt shop coming on.....  

Quilt Day

Friday I almost got all of my string blocks sewn into rows.  Won't be long now!

Today was quilt day for Quilts From The Bluffs.  It's always so much fun.  I got to try out a new pattern, one you might have seen on-line using a jelly roll.  If you haven't seen it, check it out here.  It was so much fun to do.  And we used 2.5 inch strips in one color way, all fabrics from the stash, to make our own jelly rolls.  What a fun way to bust the stash!  I'm thinking I may have to do this with some of my Christmas fabric.

Have you tried any new patterns or techniques lately?  Let me know, I love trying out new ideas.  (Or even old ideas that I haven't seen before.  I wonder sometimes how some of these ideas got by me the first time around.) 

Pajama Morning

Pajamas - a loose suit for sleeping or lounging.

Yesterday morning was a pajama and sewing morning.  To start off, I finished piecing this table runner.

I just bought this at Prairie Star Quilts this past weekend and decided since I've been on a roll with table runners, I'd get it done!  Problem for me now, is the piano key border is not totally in sync, I can't do linear quilting.  So will have to think on this a few days to see what it tells me it needs.

While looking for backing for the table runner, I came across this:

Again, from Prairie Star Quilts.  I had gone to Pumpkin Gatherings in the Fall of 2007 and this was the kit we made.  I had worked on it all day that Saturday I was there and then the first Quilt Retreat that Quilts From The Bluffs sponsored, I finished all the blocks.  Except one.  I didn't have enough hourglass sections.  So here was a note from my friend Karen,

So I finally went through the charm squares I have and found some fabrics to finish the blocks.  (As you can see in the picture above.)  Now all I have left is the sashing and maybe a border.  Not sure if I'm going to work on it now or save it to take to this year's Retreat.

Then with that sense of accomplishment, I started putting my string blocks together.  Yes I finally have enough done!

At about 11:00 am, I decided it was time to shower and get going on the rest of the day.  The garden was calling as the weather was beautiful.

Pesto Recipe

I have a Mini-Prep by Cuisinart that came with a little recipe booklet.  The Pesto Recipe I use is from that booklet.

Pesto

1 oz Reggiano Parmigiano cut in 1/2 inch cubes or shredded

1/4  cup toasted pine nuts or walnuts

1 clove garlic, peeled

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 cup (packed) fresh basil leaves, washed and dried completely

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

First grind up the cheese. (Which is why I use shredded, I avoid this step and it goes faster.)  Remove from processor and reserve.  Add the nuts and chop.  Remove and reserve.  Add garlic and salt; scrape the sides and then add the basil leaves. and half the olive oil. Pulse.  Add the rest of the oil in a slow, steady stream through one of the holes in the recessed area of the lid.  After all the oil has been added , add cheese and nut and blend again.  Let pesto sit for 30 minutes or longer to allow the flavors to develop.  (this is when I start the water for the pasta.)  Sauce will keep up to one week in the refrigerator or it can be frozen.  Transfer to an airtight container.

When I freeze pesto, I leave the cheese out. It's just something I do, as I like fresh cheese. When I use the thawed pesto I add the cheese to the pasta when I add the pesto.  (And toss well.)  

Where Does The Time Go?

I just realized I haven't posted anything since last Friday!  Sorry!  It has been a busy weekend.

First of all, I didn't complete the binding on the table runner until Sunday evening!  But I'm blaming it on the mini quilt shop hop my friend Rachel and my sister Deb and I went on Saturday.  We stopped first at Prairie Star Quilts in Elk Horn, IA and I picked up a table runner and a little quilt kit.  Then it was onto Log Cabin Quilt Shop in Exira, IA where I picked up a solid yellow from a 1930's reproduction line to use in my Grandmother's Flower Garden.  By the time we got home, I was tired.

Sunday I worked on the table runner kit and cut more templates out for the hexagons.  I hope to be able to show you the table runner soon,  I love the summer colors of it.

The garden called to me today so I spent time pulling weeds and picking some produce.  I have onions I need to freeze, along with beets.  Plus I still need to get some basil dehydrated and some pesto made to freeze.  I love this time of year!   And I'll love it even more this winter when I'm using produce from the freezer.

I Must Be Crazy

I worked on the binding of the cat table runner today, it's almost done.  I should have it finished by the end of the evening.

I must be crazy, as I want to make some hexagons just like my sister Deb and her One Flower Wednesday.  Just like Jean and her fun hexagons.  Just like Bonnie Hunter and her hexagons.

I have a hexagon template called "Piecing Pal Templates" by Quilting Creations International, Inc. and the largest template is 2 inches.  They are a nice heavy acrylic with a slot for you to trace the paper piece and you can use your rotary cutter on the outside line to cut out your fabric.

So I decided I want to make a king-size Grandmother's Flower Garden" using the 2 inch template.  I know, I must be crazy.  I'm not even going to try to figure out how many hexagons I'll need, as that would stop me from even thinking this is possible.

I had some old recipe cards and I started making the center "paper" pieces from those.  I also am making 1 1/4 " and 1 inch templates with the left over card.  It looks like such a nice carry project to do in the car or while waiting someplace.

So what do ya think?  Am I crazy? 

Table Runners

Today I sandwiched and quilted the table runner I showed how to make yesterday.  I also got the binding cut out, but haven't sewn it yet.

These have been so much fun to do.  The first one I did, the one that started it all, was done in Halloween fabrics.  I sewed the binding on it this morning.  So fast!

Super Easy Table Runner

Super Easy Table Runner

Supplies:

12 Five inch charm squares

1/2 yard fabric for sashing

1/2 yard fabric for backing

1/3 yard fabric for binding

piece of batting 43 inches by 18 inches

From the sashing fabric: cut 2 strips 1 1/2" by WOF*, and 4 strips 2 1/2" by WOF

Now from the 1 1/2" strips cut 10 - 1 1/2" by 5"

From the 2 1/2 inch strips cut 3 - 2 1/2" by 32"
                                             2 -  2 1/2" by 15"

*WOF stands for width of fabric.

Start by setting out the charm squares with the 1 1/2" by 5" sashing.  Find an arrangement that is pleasing to you.  Sew these sashing strips to each of the charm squares.

Set the sashing pieces that are 2 1/2" by 32" between the charm rows and on the outside of the charm rows then sew.  ( I pin everything, but if you don't like pinning, go for it!)

To each end add one of the 2 1/2" by 15" pieces.

And it's done.  Now sandwich the backing, batting and top in your favorite way and quilt.  Add binding and you're done.  (There are lots of tutorials out there for sandwiching, quilting and binding if you need help.)  Very fast and super easy!

As always, if you have any questions or need more information, let me know.  Have fun!

The Best Laid Plans

My sister, Deb and I met for lunch today to catch up on all the goings on and to go to the Sarpy County Museum to see a quilt show.  Lunch was fun and good.  But the museum is closed on Mondays.  So we decided to head over an antique/craft boutique and it was closed on Mondays also. :-(

So the best laid plans were foiled.  We both now have to check our calendars to see if we can meet up again this week before we both go back to work.

Thoughts Of Quilting.

I woke up thinking about quilting again.  Does this happen to you?

I picked out fabric from my stash to make a couple of table runners.  That's what I was thinking about when I woke up.  I designed a pattern that is really simple and I am going to do a little tutorial here on my blog.  I'm sure this design is so simple that it may be out in blogland already, but I thought of this design after making this quilt. 

I'm taking pictures and writing as I go so hope to have it ready soon. :-)