Fall blocks

  What says fall better than colorful leaves, pumpkins and geese!

   Pumpkin blocks to go with the leaves from Carole at From My Carolina  Home .  Another couple of leaf blocks were finished too.

And geese......colorful geese.  If you have been following my Pinterest boards, you probably noticed all the flying geese quilts I have been pinning.    I caught Bonnie's quilt-cam yesterday afternoon and did some cutting of scraps.  Then I sewed a few test units to see how they looked.








   So in an hour I whipped out this huge stack of geese parts.....large and small.  And if I get tired of geese they can become HSTs in two sizes.
 I am debating on the design layout....
I have two I am wrestling with.  Of course, I might have enough scraps for both of them.








   Oh, yeah.....I did not use the rotary cutter for these.  Life is too short for dull blades, and aching hands.  I broke down and claimed an early birthday present.   Sir Old Man did the initial test drive and proclaimed it safe and easy enough for me to use.    (Just wait until the apple peeler gets here that I ordered......he will get to crank that one.)





  I probably won't get much done this week in the sewing room.  I have another PT evaluation this week, as well as the nerve conductivity test on Friday.  The results came back from the neurologist that I have the antibody against the intrinsic factor for B-12......that means this condition is permanent and B-12 shots are forever due to the auto-immune disorder of pernicious anemia.  I expected as much, and accept what is to be.  So if an Accuquilt ---or any other tool----makes it easier for me.....go for it.

  In January, I claimed "Enjoy" as my word for the year.  This small  banner hangs on the design wall right in front of me as I sew.  I enjoy every minute in there.....and every minute of life.    I have some finds to share on Friday......till then, happy stitching.

Finished runner

  I finished up the runner.....quilted and bound with pieced together leftover binding strips.  I like using up those pieces.  I call it a waste not technique.
   As a matter of fact, the plumes were cut from mostly left over fusible backed leftovers too.  With all the patterns and fabrics used in the center strips, I did not have to worry if anything matched.

   You may remember the full quilt I made for a friend that I called Plume Crazy.   This is a smaller version of that quilt.

 For me it's a good size to practice my FMQ skills, and have a finished project.








   This one can be a great table runner, or a door banner.   I like that option.   The finished size is 62'' by 16''.


   There is something about finishing up a project that satisfies the quilter in me.  Seeing the completed project makes me smile.  It's a feel good thing. And no UFO to worry about.

    Do you have UFOs to finish?  Do you dislike those blocks/parts now?    It could be time for a UFO Assault!  Here's my find of the week.......
Read the ideas that Mary at Quilting thru Rose colored trifocals shares.   She has some ultimate recycle type finishes for UFO Assault.

Now attack those UFO, send them into completion, or give them away.  Make room for new ideas and fabric.
 I am....happy stitching.  

Pillow cases

   A new set of sheets, and  a pair of pillow cases arrived here recently.  Only problem the pillow cases are for standard pillows and we have queen pillows.   The cases need about 4 '' more to cover the pillow.  Since I have a shelf full of unused standard cases, I took a cue from the Pillowcase Challenge and re-made a few.

   For this set, I removed the band.  I cut a 4'' strip of favorite fabric.  Sewed the short ends together to form a continuous length.    Stitched it first to the body of the cases and then reattached the band.  I added top stitching, and was done.

Usable cases that I did not have to pay huge $$$ for!


Happy stitching.

Blocks to make

   I spotted a sew along for Fall at From my Carolina Home blog.  Each Friday Carole will post a project....do one or all.  She gives a good tutorial on making the leaf block, too.      Here are my first two, done very scrappy with what I found  already cut in the scrap boxes.   I need to dig some more and cut more background pieces.  Good practice for me.





    I added two more blocks to the Let's Book  It project.   On the wall they look good....but here they look too light (bottom right).    
  Studying this block, I can see that color/value placement really affects things down the road in assembly.  I like the light value strips mixed in, but now see that  I can do better in placing them toward the center of block.  I will try again.


Note:  Take photos of your project.  Then view them on the computer screen.  It is easy to spot potential problems that way.

I am willing to show the "good, bad, and the ugly" as a learning tool......but know it is not required.


Cynthia is hosting a linky party for scrap projects at Quilting is more fun than Housework .  Check it out for inspiration.

 Happy stitching.   

Re-learning FMQ

  We stopped by the quilt shop where I had taught FMQ.  I wanted to apologize for leaving them in the lurch when I got sick.  They had been updated by Susan, or "Sarge" as sir Old Man calls her, and knew what was going on.  Marietta said, "2017......go home and practice".   So I took her at her word, and gave Hot Legs, my Tiara, my attention today.

  I had this table runner ready to stitch.  Just like I teach in my classes, start with the basics.  It got a medium meander stitch through the center.   Finding my rhythm and coordinated movement for the meander was not bad.....the first section looks a bit jerky, but is passable.  Then I just did some outline stitching around the plumes.  Not in total control in the beginning, but better as I stitched.
  While I would love to do feathers in the border, I will simply progress to the next motif in my classes----the meander with loops.  Again that one has a rhythm I need to practice.   The teacher did not think she would have to re-learn to do free motion quilting.




   I put together a modified machine cover and sewing mat for my featherweight.
 Sir Old Man's worn out/used up (he thought) denim shirt provided the  base fabric....recycled to live another day.  A few scraps, and a leftover 9 patch make up the attached pockets.   I did straight stitching on this for the quilting.  Putting on the binding was good therapy---and practice.

  Just finishing a quick project felt good, even if it took me most of the day yesterday.    I fight every day to learn/re-learn skills I had.
 I fight today to live to fight another day.  I am refusing to quit trying.....even in PT.   The current challenge is to be able to stand on one leg, with eyes open and eyes closed.   Thursday was rough.  After almost getting sick  standing on the left leg with eyes closed, the therapist said we would not do the right leg.  Oh, yes, we will......I stood up and said hang on to me.  It was not pretty but I managed 30 seconds.
   Happy stitching.

Quilt show pics

I spent most of my time at the show talking.....but I did get a few pics of quilt that talked to me!

Recently I have been eyeing basket quilts, so naturally I noticed this one.
This basket quilt was quilted by one of my favorite people, Fannie.  The fabric was inherited from a storage building by one of her quilting groups.  This is the result.

 A winner here, by Susan P.  I heard mention that this one had been in the works for several years :)  Who cares, it is done and beautiful.  Soothing colors and stars and log cabins...perfect combinations.

   I am a sucker for landscape quilts.  And this one is great.  I love that Pat shared/showed the photo she took that was the basis for this quilt of memories.

  Who could not love these giant dogwood blossoms?  Again I liked the color combo used by Janet in this quilt.

One last  entry......
Joan's jacket....just beautiful.  I love the colors used here, too.  So striking.  Figure Flattering Quiltwear is Joan's website  for her other patterns/classes etc.



And it's a wrap for another year.
Happy stitching.

Watercolor display and more

  Sir Old Man out did himself setting up the display quilts.......with a good bit of help from Donna, a faithful and tall guild member.   The wall of my projects was striking with the smaller wall hangings pinned onto the black fabric.  It was hard to get an overall photo  but we did the best to give everyone an idea of how it looked.








 The World is a Garden started the display, with the jaw dropping Wonder of Color pinned to black fabric.

In front of this we placed a short display stand that Sir Old Man crafted for me. He made sturdy bases, with 2x4 uprights.  Then he drilled a hole for the metal pole.  I love the effect, like a porch railing.   Over it I hung 4 small quilts done in traditional patterns.

  The center 2 panels were filled with small wall hangings.   It was interesting to hear comments  about their favorite, as each one seemed to strike a different chord with  the viewer.  The thread painted appliques caught a lot of attention.

We ended the wall with Summer Potpourri---the half log cabin block--- and Higher Hope, the braid on black.  I was continually asked about the stories behind each one, which I love to share :)

I was pretty exhausted and over stimulated....lol.  I really enjoyed meeting new people, even one blog follower drove an hour to
see the show.  It was great to meet her :)  And seeing old friends and getting to visit was such an emotional treat for me.

But an even bigger delight......three students completed their watercolor projects from the spring workshop to enter in the show.  Hold on to your hats......all three won ribbons!!!  I was probably as excited as they were.
   This was Pat's.  She added the black inset border to her basic design.  It beautifully framed the teapot and cup applique, to be entered into the Show Theme Challenge.  I absolutely love what she did with this.











  Another student, Patty,  reworked her class project and added a lot to it. The narrow purple accent strip just pulls out the favorite color of mine.  The addition of applique enlivens this wall hanging.  Note the embroidered  sentiment she added, too.














  And then Miss Joan's wall hanging, which I know I have shown before.  But now she has a ribbon on it.   I do love the flow of dark into the border on this one.

One class and three different versions as a result.  Each student found a different voice in their fabrics.  Congratulations to all of you.


I have a few more photos to share from the show....hopefully tomorrow.  Off to the dentist for now.
Happy stitching.