Finished!

The UFO challenge for the small group I belong to is finished!  WooHoo!

I do have to show you a little problem I had in the finishing the quilt.  When I was trimming the quilt, I went past the ruler and took a little side trip into the quilt.  As far as the seam allowance and maybe a little more.  I did use a zigzag stitch to repair and I lucked out, it ended up covered by the binding. 

And here is the label.  Always before I just winged the placement of my writing.  This time I used my ruler and Clover Chalk Wheel Line Marker, to draw lines and it was so much better looking.

I love that marker for so many things.  When I need to draw a line on my fabric for HSTs, it's my "go to" tool.  I put a link to it on Amazon, I don't get any kick back for doing that, just thought you would like to see what I'm talking about.  I know other places carry them and they come in other colors. I have used only the white so far, but I love it!  It just disappears when I iron over the line.

Do you have any tools that you can't live without? 

Little Update

This little update is meant to keep me on the straight and narrow.  Hahahahahaha!

I've been making more applesauce and today we're going to make more apple pie filling to can.  That is always a production for us.  I did discover I had an apple corer/ peeling stashed away and that has helped to make the work go faster.

Clowder is all quilted and the binding is cut.  I just got back my UFO Challenge quilt, Julie's BOM, from my friend Cindy.  It's all quilted in a beautiful 3 leaf design.  The binding is pinned on and I am starting to sew it.  I also made a label for it.  Woohoo!

Pictures will be coming soon, I promise.

Two More

Two more tops are finished!  The first one is my Number 3 for the "Dirty Dozen" hosted by "Country Threads".  The top is done but my goal was to take it to the finish line, so I need to find or make a backing for it so I can get it quilted.  The pattern is called "Pacific Grove" by Villa Rosa Designs.

I finished the last seam and took it outside immediately to get a picture.  I should have given it a bit of a press before I did that, but oh well, such as it is.

Next up is the Sampler Quilt that was a BOM that I started back in 2010 using fabric designed by Julie Larsen of PSQ.  The top is done!

I did the borders different than the pattern called for.  But this change makes it mine and more importantly, it's a top!  I have backing for this one and I'm going to have it professionally quilted.  So I'll show that to you once it has it's binding on it, so you can see the quilting.  I'm always amazed at how the quilting changes the look of a quilt.

Sampler

The center of my Sampler quilt is finished!  WooHoo!

I have the first small border on.  The next border is a stripe fabric and it calls for it to be mitered at the corners.  I've never mitered a corner before and I don't think I want to start with this one, but I'm not sure.  I'm stopped here until I decide if I'm adding corner stones or mitering the corners.  Decisions, Decisions, Decisions. 

Another Slow And Steady Week

Another slow and steady week with this quilt:

It's been very relaxing, which is good as there are changes happening in my life.  And last month seemed to have lots going on.  Last weeks of school, Federal Jury Duty, and retiring.  

I'm now Retired!  

I'm hoping to spend more time sewing.  Since I'm usually off in the Summer, I won't feel the changes in my life until next Fall.  

I'm excited!

Jigsaw Puzzle

I feel like I've been putting a jigsaw puzzle together as I make the setting blocks for this quilt.  I'm loving it!

My design wall happens to be the floor of our guest bedroom, which is next to my sewing/quilting room.  Each of the setting squares has "steps" that match the pieced blocks around it.  Once I figure out which "steps" are needed I can move the block to my sewing room to work on it.  I've been wanting to make these design boards by Lori Holt.  It would make working a quilt like this go so smooth.  But I don't have them done, so am using my 12.5 inch square ruler.

I love how it's coming together, very slow, but I'm enjoying the process so much!

Retreating

This past weekend I went Retreating and made progress on this quilt, Julie's BOM:

It's so hard to get a picture of a pattern sometimes as the slick cover creates a glare.  So it looks a little wonky.  The fabrics are from a line that Julie Larsen designed when she had her shop "Prairie Star Quilts".  

I finished these 5 blocks:

 And on this block you miss the nine patch because there isn't much contrast between the brown and red fabric.

Progress always feels so good! 

Another Day

Not sure if these count as starting a new project, but I have been cutting out 5 inch squares since the beginning of the year and the drawer I keep them in is getting full. So decided to sew some of them together to make more room for more squares. I want to make a "Nickel Quilt" from one of the books I have, "Nickel Quilts" or "More Nickel Quilts". Both books are by Pat Speth and Charlene Thode. Once I get more done, will decide which one I want to do. Although I am leaning towards doing a twin size version of "Four-Patch Plaid" only using what fabrics I have and not worrying about plaid.

My 15 minutes was used to finish my block. Good thing I got it done, as I got directions for the next 2 blocks in the mail yesterday.

I also was thinking more about the reorg last summer and in addition to getting the basement set up, my friend Karen, from PSQs came over and helped me set things up in my sewing room. She is soooo organized, in a way I'll never be. And I love how she helped me get things going. I still have homework from that day, but I'm making progress!