From Mrs. Claus

Those gals at Our Circle of Friends are still going strong making doll quilts.  They are such faithful supporters of this project......I love them all.

 

    Mrs. Claus of Maryland is JLu, who created this sweet set.  She included a pillow case for a pillow to go with the doll quilt.  What a wonderful idea!












  Along the top edge, she inserted a band of eyelet which she decorated with large pearls.  The set is so adorable and full of sweet dreams.
Thank you, Mrs. Claus,  you have made a child's dream come true!






Mrs. Claus of Pennsylvania has been quite busy.  Holee is also a member of the Our Circle of Friends and promised quilts to represent 3 states this year.  And on top of those, Holee decided to send 3 more just for Christmas!
   I really like what she did with 3 panel prints.....very cute and cheerful, and so very fun.  I am getting inspired by these.

As for Mrs. Claus' other 3.....she went over the top!  All three of these are dimensional!

You need to see her details and even the fabric she chose....so here are some close ups.

 For Puerto Rico, there is a dancing girl with a ruffled skirt and a flower in her hair.   The skirt is 2 different layers of ruffles that can be lifted up.   I like how the skirt extends in to border on the  side.   The flower applique in the hair is from the border fabric.  Very cute and such a fun design.












   This one immediately said summer days to me.    The "gone fishing" boy is holding a line to his dimensional fish.  He is for New Jersey.
I love the wild border fabric that repeats the fishing theme.  And the colors are bold and bright.  But that fish is the cutest thing ever......I found myself flipping up his tail and giggling.

And flying high is a balloon over Delaware.  Beautiful fluffy clouds and ribbon streamers to add some fun to this one.
  Holee, Mrs. Claus of PA, you are just a wonder with such creative doll quilts.  You made my day brighter to get to share them and I know some little girls will cherish them.

Thank you both so much.




I went looking for my tally sheet of doll quilts to update a report....and of course, the page has escaped and vanished in the stack by my computer.  I think I need as assistant to keep me straight!  Never fear, I will find it or start over and get an accurate count for next time.  I have had new Mrs. Claus inquiries and I so appreciate the help and interest.  Thank you, Mrs. Claus, where ever you live.
Happy stitching.  

Friday Finds June 5

I know you have seen this, but.........it is sure worth sharing and repeating.
     Personal experience just this weekend.  My young nephew was helping  his big brother work on his boat and motor.  Young nephew was wearing brand new shorts....brand new that day.  You guessed it.....black grease on  one leg....all over the leg actually.  They came to Aunt Deb to solve the problem.  Well, the best de-greaser I know is Dawn.  I smeared it on, heavy, and let it sit about 20 minutes.  Then rub, rub, rub.....toss it in the wash.  Viola, new shorts saved and I am the hero.   And yes, I wash my quilts with it too!
  See this and more tips of the day at 42 Quilts.

From Cluck Cluck Sew

   A free pattern  tutorial for a great summer time quilt.   This would be perfect in all scraps, and what a great picnic quilt.
 You can find it at Cluck Cluck Sew.












  Who  needs a 9 patch technique tutorial?   Apparently, I do.   This tutorial shows how to get 2   4 1/2"  9 patch blocks from 2  6" squares!   A clever sew, cut and re-sew technique that could consume some of those 6" squares I have stashed.   This is posted by Rachel Greco and you can find it here.  

 Size adjustments are possible with this technique, too.  Start with  7 1/2" squares to make 2 blocks at 6 ".


  As always, please visit the links to pin and save.
I'm going quiet for a couple of days......have some things that will not wait and need to be done.  Back next week and hope to share the storage photos then.  Crossing fingers.  Enjoy the weekend, and happy stitching.

Re-thinking a thing or two

   When I am quiet, it is because I am thinking and pondering things.  It could be life events--yes-- or a design challenge, or project I am working on.  Lately, it has been a little of everything weighing me down.

    I have this.....stack of quilts in the living room.

  In the sun room, there is my quilt ladder that is loaded with a double layer of quilts.

   And a section in the guest closet with small quilts and wall hanging......seasonal items, table runners, and a few mini style items.

  In the guest bedroom, you find another stack of quilts.  There are a few quilts put aside for donations to charity causes.  All of these, plus those on the walls and beds and sofas.....do I have overload?

   Please don't laugh.....I do not know how many large quilts I have.  I am afraid I could not count that high.  I'm not interested in selling them either.   I am emotionally invested in most of them.

   Storage is what I seem to need.  Enter Sir Old Man that magical knight of the workshop.  Unknown to me, he had begun to repair a storage cabinet that has been in pieces for a few years.  We believe will work and solve this problem.   I will share details and photos of  this treasure soon.  Just know I am excited about the possible solution.



   All of this leads me to thinking about size.  I have been on the bandwagon for the last couple of years of large quilts.   8 to 10 a year is overboard.....way more than I can use or give away to friends and family.   I already have completed 3 this year....and one ready to quilt now.  So I am going smaller in size for this next project.

    On the design wall are 12 blocks (instead of the 42 planned) of the small size Carolina Chain pattern.  I have some tweaking and re-arranging of blocks to do yet, but I am only going to add a border and call it done.








 

A new Let's Book It project has been nagging at me too.  I went looking for a much smaller project that could give me a work out.  Selecting the fabric for a small bargello has begun.  The pattern is from the book Colorwash Bargello.  It requires 19 fabrics....and my challenge is narrowing down the field.  There is an unseen stack of at least 20 more fabrics that I pulled out to use.  Grin----that's the good thing----having a big stash.    At least I have a plan, let's wait and see how far along I get.

  June always flies by around here.  I need to sneak out and do a little birthday shopping for Sir Old Man.....remember the fuming tent for the bed?   He has already made his birthday purchases, but I want to tweak him a little bit and add some color to that workshop...lol.  The bed---alas, poor me---is not finished.  That is the rub....the finish.  Sir Old Man is having a very trying time with the hand rubbed finish, and it looks like he will have to sand and start again.   So, we are waiting yet again for drying time, etc.  That is why he took to repairing the storage cabinet.   Things work out for the best.....I am not complaining.
Off to the sewing room....happy stitching.

Let's book It --May

    Hello, from Morph!  My maker is a bit busy this morning,  baking bread it seems.  I figured I could fill in just as well since I am the Let's Book It project.
  A couple of months ago, I was being assembled as a lot of string blocks.   And somewhere along the way, she got bored with my layout.  She put me aside to finish up other things.....I mean really ignored.  What was wrong with me?   My blocks were fabrics she loved, a nice size, different values to play with.....all good things.  I was so dejected.






 
    Then about a month ago, she got inspired.....to make a change.   A new arrangement, some  sashing strips, and I was given a new chance to become a real quilt!

   This week I got quilted.....and stuck with way too many pins, but it was worth the pain to become a finished Let's Book It project.  She says she just did meandering stitching and a few loops in the border, but I think I turned out to be quite handsome.

   She named me Metamorphosis----now really who can get their tongues around that?  So just call me Morph, I will come winging my way to cover you up.

   These are my official ID photos..... hanging on the railing.  You can see my concentration of light values give the appearance of light streaming through a window with a garden view....or so she says.

    And resting on the new walk.   Did you happen to spot  the trick I played on her?  Believe me she was hotter than a hornet when she caught on----after the quilting was done!

 
   OK....if you need a hint.  Check out the middle group of three blocks of the window panes.  I managed to flip them around so that the strings fall in a different direction.   After spitting a few needles, she calmed down and laughed about it.  She said those were the broken panes that got replaced  after she had to break into the house.  And I believe that is a long lost story for another time.

   I am  ready for a nap.....and I smell fresh bread.  Bet she is just about done.
Thanks for letting me share my history story today.
   ***************************

  LOL.....I see you met the quilt that almost did me in.   Hiding in plain sight, those three blocks almost made me quit.  Yet in the end, a design mistake doesn't really destroy anything.....except maybe my self-esteem and pride.  Putting it out there for all to see.....we can chose to laugh or cry about it.  I did both.
    This will end out my month as I have family in town for a few days.  One quilt finished for May along with a few small projects recently posted.  I see I am slowing down, and that is okay.  I have one ready to quilt for next month, and that's a good thing.

    Info for Let's Book It can be found here at Vrooman's Quilts.    Now I just need a new Let's Book It project.  Something small for a change.   Happy stitching.

Finishing a few things

  I decided it was time to get a few things finished up to make some space on the "to be done" table.  I am probably the only one in the world that has a stack of small projects that get  set aside for  later completion.  This runner is one of those projects.  It's the Piano Keys pattern done in fall tone florals.  This is the small size using 2" strips.

 








   Two place mats needed binding.....so I got to dig through the binding strip bin to find the right colors.  I love these done in the colorways.  I don't do much quilting on them, just some straight stitches in the white area to keep them from shifting.

   The design wall was bare.  I need to have something up there to keep me motivated.   The Carolina Chain---small version---went up on the wall for some interest.   I have a couple dozen units pieced and will get them turned into blocks soon.

   I know I seem to be a one-trick/repeat pony lately, between the string blocks and faux braid, and Carolina Chain blocks......but classics never go out of style.  When I get this one done, I should be ready for something new.
   I am spending the afternoon quilting on Hot Legs....she needed a good workout.  Maybe I will actually have a large finish this month.....happy stitching.  

Friday Finds May 22

  My case of batting arrived this week.....so now I can get the next quilt pinned.   I ordered from Batt-mart......Quilter's Dream on sale last week.
 The finds this week follow that thought....batting tips.


 From the Quilting Board.....a handy tip to remember  how to place the batting!  It can affect your stitching and appearance.     * I know I have done this backwards and hated how the stitching looked*.

Laura Wasilowski explains what she calls the Scrim Factor.....on you tube in a short video.  Worth the 2 minutes of watching!


Some miscellaneous.......

   Sir Old Man's latest project gives me a safe, level board walk.  This area is right off the back porch, and gives us access to the rain barrel and bird feeder.  Recycled decking screwed down to 4x4 supports.....made in 2 sections, and pegged in place with rebar.  Sounds easy, but it took 2 days of hard work in the heat.
   Of course it needs to be washed down and painted,  but it is level.....that is all I asked for.  I can keep the weeds pulled and the plants trimmed up down without being worried about stumbling and falling.

   Off to get haircuts and run some errands......stitching later.  

Just yard work.....

   After fighting the weeds in the beds, I have had no energy to sew.  After cutting back bushes that are way over grown, I have not felt like cutting fabric.  I did not mean to stay away so long, but some things must be tackled before the heat wave arrives......and stays.
   We put up the sun shade sails yesterday, and we need to finish one small project before I return to sewing.    The short back path off the porch needs a face lift.  It was originally just stepping stone slabs with lots of ground cover.   The ground has heaved and done its thing--very uneven and dangerous for me---- and now the stones must be re-set or replaced.  We have decided to go for a level path and use reclaimed decking instead of stone slabs.   Hopefully this will be accomplished in short time as Sir Old Man has a plan.   I will provided the lemonade for  heat relief.

    Don't forget the Blogger's Quilt festival is still going on.  It is time to nominate your favorites.  
  Then the voting begins next week.......








   A last bloom, and those pesky weeds......and soon I will get back to the regular routine.  Happy stitching.