Slowly But Surely

 Slowly but surely I am trying to catch up on my Block Heads 5 blocks.  And Block 9 is completed!

 Now to cut out the next block...

Block Eight

 Block eight is now complete!  

Still slowly working on cleaning out stuff in the sewing room.  And I started Block 9!

Cat Sitting

 I spent a week cat sitting and I didn't take my sewing machine this time.  I should have as I didn't get anything done that I had planned on.  Oh well.  Live and learn.

I do have Block 7 done for Moda Blockheads.  

I am almost done with Block 8.  Slow and steady, right?

Blocks Five And Six

 Blocks five and six are now complete.

I think I might have said it before, I really like these blocks in the smaller size, but they take so much time to complete. Time is needed so that points match up the way they should.  It has been a skill builder!

Still Playing Catch Up

 I'm still playing catch up.  Two more blocks done for my Blockheads 5 BOM.  Here are blocks one and two.

These are blocks three and four.

 In block three, on the left, I added some of the reproduction fabrics that have a cream background.  I've decided I won't use those again.  I feel they create too muddy of a design.  Not sure if I will redo that block or not.  Once I get things caught up, I may make it again.

But I really like block four.  That's the thing, always learning and relearning.  

Gotta Love Those Finished Quilts

 Gotta love those finished quilts!  This quilt is a pattern from Villa Rosa Designs called "Serengeti". 

 Back in the day, when "Cut Up & Quilt" was open, they had a monthly gathering to see all the new arrivals at the shop.  Plus they gave away a Villa Rosa pattern at each gathering.  All you had to do was make a top out of that pattern and bring it back the next month for a prize.  

This one has been a top for some time but I never finished it.  That happened this month.  Woohoo!  One more top out of my quilting room and off to live it's life.  This quilt has been donated.  Now to get a couple more of those tops on their way!

Another Finish

 Another finish!

It's hard to tell but the print fabric is a hockey design with solid blue blocks.  It was made using 99 five inch squares.  It takes about 1 yard of each fabric to make and measures 40.5 by 49.5.  Which is a nice size quilt for a child.  I will be donating this quilt.

I have another quilt kitted up that I'm working on as a "Leader and Ender".  There is a link with information on what a "Leader and Ender" is, just click on the highlighted part.  I Just love using up my stash!

Another Table Topper

Another table topper has reached the finish line.  This one was from a class my friend Jean taught.  

The class was called "Piping Hot Table Toppers" as each of the three toppers had the easy method of using the binding to create a faux piping.  I set my blocks different from Jean as I wanted a long table topper vs a square.  It's done in Christmas type fabrics so I'm ready for this year's Holiday.
 

Another Table Topper

 Another table topper has reached the finish line.  It's a pattern I have used before called "3 Fat Quarter Table Runner".  

This was a free pattern from Piece Works Quilt Shop in Winterset, IA.  If you want to see the other one I made, it's located here.

February Block is Done!

 February Block is done!  Woohoo!

It's nice to have this block completed. This picture makes the brick red fabric look brown. I did change it up as I wanted it to look more basket like.  Here is the original block at "A Quilting Life".   Are you sewing along?

A Finish

I have a finish!  Woohoo!

 This is a golden oldie UFO.  I think I started it before we moved into our house based on the box it was in.  SO it's about 25 years old.  I still like it and with seeing all the Easter, Spring, bunnies and flowers on Pinterest, I decided it was time to get this one done!  I not sure of the pattern, it's done in "Appliquilt" style.  It's so nice to have this one done.

Aplliquilt is a Whimsical one-step applique and quilting style that I first came to know through Tonee White.  

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day we went out to eat with our friends.  I thought I would share the gifts I received from them.   

From Chris we received these soup bowl with microwave lids.  The bullseye spot opens up to let steam escape while heating up your soup.  I can hardly wait to try these out.  She also gave us a Broth Bomb for making a big batch of soup.  Soup is on the menu soon! 

From Mary we received a table top S'mores kit and a rechargeable hand warmer.  I think my grandchildren are going to enjoy the kit and I'm already enjoying the hand warmer.

I provided the links to the products just so you could check them out.  I don't get any rebate or whatever from these products or companies.

 

Valentine's Day Gifts

I finished the two Valentine's Day Gifts for our friends.  I didn't get a picture of the finished quilts but I have a picture of the first one I finished quilting.  

Both were exactly the same and I did the binding in black on both.  They did come out nice, if I do say so myself.  LOL   I made up the border as I wanted it to be 6 inches wide, but it seems very similar to a Villa Rosa pattern I'm sure exists.  They are the perfect lap size for sitting in front of the fire on a chilly evening while camping!

A Slow Down

A slow down in the cleaning of strings has happened.  I have been busy working on a project for the 2 couples we go out to eat with on Valentine's Day.  No pictures yet, but as soon as they have been gifted, I will post a couple of pictures. 

I bought some new sheets for our bed and they come with two pillowcases.  I pulled some flannel fabric from my stash to make a couple more for our bed as my husband and I each use two pillows.  

I would share pictures, but my phone died, the dreaded Black Screen, so I can't take any pictures.  It's amazing how much you use your phone when it's gone.

Strings, Strings and More Strings

Strings, strings and more strings.   As you know I started operation clean up at the beginning of the month.

I decided to tackle the area know as "strings" .  I hate to show it, but they had gotten out of control.  (Which they are known to do.)  

Here is the "Before" picture.  I shouldn't have more than I can hold in the 3 drawer bin.  So the weeding process begun.  Here is how it looks now:

Still needs more work but I have cleaned out 2 drawers and I can shut them now.  I have the bin and the top drawer left to work on.  In the process of tossing strings, I made 34 string blocks.

I have a bunch of foundations cut and ready to go, so will continue to work on the blocks as I clean strings out. 

More Squirrel Like

I'm more squirrel like than I realize.  Going through Christmas stuff to clear out some of the old stuff, I came across this tin.

 Cute little tin.  I need to figure out something to do with it.  I open it up and discover that I had already decided what to do with it.  

Hahaha!  So now I'm working on cutting up the scrap that is in the tin!

Block 8 Group 1

I just finished making Block 8 from Group 1 of Moda Blockheads 5.

It took me more time than I thought it would.  And it didn't help that I cut the triangle pieces for the center square in a square blocks the wrong size.  And not only that, I sewed them all on even though I thought they looked wrong. Ugh.  So I ripped them out and cut new triangles and they came out great.  Whew!

As I was finishing it up, I decided to count the pieces.  61 pieces.  That is if I counted right.  No wonder it took me so long to make this block.

Another New Project

Another new project has been started.  I seem to do well with block of the months now days.  I had been working on Moda Blockheads 5 Group 1 before Thanksgiving.  But with the Holidays I got waylaid.  I've been picking out fabric for those last 2 blocks so I can get caught up.

But I did make these blocks for another project.  What?  Another new project?  Why, yes, of course!

These are going to be fun!

I Started A New BOM

I started a new BOM from "A Quilting Life".  This is the January block.  I'm using my leftover fabrics from Julie Larsen's  "Prairie Homefront" for Paintbrush Studio.  I may have to add to it with other Civil War Reproduction fabrics in my stash if I don't have enough big pieces.  We'll see.

 

 If you are interested in doing this BOM, here is the link for fabric requirements.  And here is a link to the January block.   This block is 16 inches big so you'll have a nice size quilt when done.  Or you could use each block as a table topper or small wall hanging.

Another

 Another pillow case is finished.  Last Fall on the bus trip I won some spray press.  I'm not a big fan of it, but it was a nice gift.  However, my bus buddy won a pillow case kit, which she wasn't a big fan of.  ( Do you see where this is going? LOL)  So we traded gifts.  

Ready for Quilt Retreat!

Squirrel!

 Squirrel!  That's exactly what happened this week.  I did do some cleaning and in the process found a pillow case that I had cut.  So part of cleaning became sewing up the pillow case.  Actually it was my reward for the little bit of cleaning I did.

I had the monkey fabric cut but didn't have fabric for the header.  So digging, oh wait, shopping in my bins, I found an odd color of green/golden yellow.  It really is kind of a yellow green.  So I used some of that.  

Now, back to cleaning projects off of my flat surfaces.    

Nothing To See Here

Nothing to see here, move along.  LOL 

I decided it's time to do some major cleaning in my sewing room.  I don't have room to move around and my room is very small.  But I have every flat surface covered in projects.   I have taken a "Before" picture but I am too ashamed to show you.  

But this week is "Operation Clean Up".  I hope to have an "After" picture to go with the "Before" so I can show you the improvement.  

Wish me luck!