One More Quilt Finished in 2016

I got Melissa's quilt done and delivered to her.  Here it is:

The name of the quilt is Black & White & Read All Over.  The idea came from a challenge my local quilt guild made for their next quilt show.  I think I'll make another one for the show.  Here's the challenge;

2017 Quilt show Challenge:

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! To you I say

"Not Just Another Quilt Show's" is on its way

A Challenge Quilt we hope you'll make

But don't delay for heaven's sake.

Black and White are the colors to choose

But add one more color, or else you'll lose.

Heart of the Triad is who we be

So add some hearts- five, seven or three.

Ninety-six inches to a hundred sixty-four

Total sides should measure, no little, no more.

When choosing your borders, your number is free,

However four corners in each border must we see.

Now all you quilters get busy…don’t you delay

And be ready to enter your challenge on quilt

show day.

I'm happy with the way it turned out - I thought this little bookshelf quilt was perfect for a teacher. The books patterns were from Jennifer Ofenstein's Project of Doom at her Fandom In Stitches website.  One of the hearts was also designed by Jennifer at her Sewhooked website, one by Piece by Number and the other by Marcia's Crafty Sewing and Quilting.

Welcome to the Pepper Family

Finished a UFO in time to gift it to my future daughter-in-law at their engagement party later this month.  What better way to say welcome than to make a quilt using pepper fabric???  Here's the front and back.  

The paper piecing pattern is by Carol Doak. The long-arm quilting is by Missouri Star Quilt Co. Piecing and binding by moi!

TTMT May 2016 Prizes

Prize selections for TTMT May 2016

BB-8 plus your choice of the following selections:

1.  Yarny Selection:

2. Sewy/Quilty Selection 1:

3. Sewy/Quilty Selection 2:

AND there may be a surprise as well.

New Quilt Top Done

My local quilt guild has a quilt show coming up in 2017.  They have published the guidelines for their quilt challenge for this show.  The quilt has to be black and white with one other color and must incorporate hearts.  After a bit of thought, I decided to make a bookcase wall-hanging and here it is:

I've named it "Black and White and Read All Over."  I have also incorporated several music note fabrics because that makes this little project represent 3 of my favorite things:  sewing, reading and music.

Now to sandwich, quilt and bind.  After the show, it will be given to my niece Melissa, a teacher.

Finished and given to Melissa.  Here is the finished quilt.

2015 Project of Doom Quilt Top Complete

I am so happy to have completed my PoD quilt top.  Now I need to find a long-arm quilter to put it all together!

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I am a little bit obsessed (maybe more than a little) with Harry Potter and a lot obsessed with paper piecing so this was a perfect combination.  The free block patterns can be found at Fandominstitches.com or sewhooked.com.  All of the blocks except for the broom were designed by Jennifer Ofenstein, paper-piecing pattern designer extraordinaire.

I also finished a small wall-hanging quilt top that I plan to quilt myself.  I won't be showing it until after the Heart of the Triad Quilt show in 2017 because I plan to enter it in their quilt challenge.  The challenge is to make a black and white quilt with one other color.  It has to have hearts in it as well.  It took me a while to decide what I wanted to make, but I'm really happy with the result.

I have been working slowly but steadily on getting my sewing room organized.  I've got the pegboard on the wall next to my sewing machine better organized.  I bought a thread rack that holds 120 spools of thread and ran out of pegs.  Oops!  I think I need to get another one for just embroidery thread, but it won't have to be quite so large.

So that's what I've been up to lately.

Spring Cleaning/Organizing

First off, I just want to say that my new embroidery works beautifully.  However, the operator has a thing or two to learn.  I have so far made one patch for my ham radio operator hubby.  It is his call and we sewed it to a cap.  Here it is:

As you can see, it is a bit wavy so next time I'll use a sturdier fabric and stabilizer.

Next, I have been busy busy busy trying to wrangle my fabric into some sort of organization.  My sewing room looked like a tornado had blown through.  It had gotten so bad that I didn't even want to go in there to sew; I was afraid I'd trip over something.  Now, after working on it for several days, it just looks like a whirlwind hit it. I still have a way to go, but I'm making headway.  My fabric cabinet has been cleaned out, fabric sorted, and everything put back in a somewhat neat and, for me anyway, understandable order.  Here's the cabinet now:

The sliver of stuff you see on top is junk we have stored up there that have nothing to do with sewing. I can't reach up there anyway.  Here's a breakdown of what is in there: 

Top shelf:  2 wire baskets holding 2 1/2" strips, 4 wire baskets holding fat quarters (sorted by color)
Second shelf:  On the left is tan/brown and black/white yardage; on the right in the blue baskets are 10" squares on the bottom and 5" squares on top.  There are a few fat quarter bundles in there too simply because they wouldn't fit in the wire baskets on top.  Next to them are the green/aqua yardage.
Third shelf:  Yellow/orange/gold yardage and red/pink yardage on the left; purples and blues on the right.
Bottom:  The shoebox sized storage bins hold my little bits of fabric to be used for paper piecing (sorted by color of course. On the right are multi-colored print yardage and wide backing fabric.

Now I need to tackle the closet!!!!

Totes, Quilt and a Toy

My future daughter-in-law asked me to make totes for her bridesmaids; she will put a gift for them in the totes.  Since the wedding is in October, she wanted them in autumnal colors but left the design to me.  This week I completed the 5 totes.  Well, I actually made 6 but accidentally had a twisted handle on one of them.  I gave them to her this evening and I think she was pleased.

They are all made from the same pattern, but because I used 2 charm packs, no two are exactly alike. The pattern can be found on a Missouri Star tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7i6Wrl4rZ8

Speaking of Missouri Star, today I received a quilt in the mail that I sent to them for long-arm quilting. I am so happy with how it turned out.  I can't post a picture yet; I don't want the person to see it before she gets it and that won't be until July.

I am looking forward to the May pattern for the My Favorite Things Quilt Along. Only a few more days!

I did complete a quilt top for the Linus Project.  I hope some little boy or girl enjoys cuddling up with it.  I'll post a picture once it is quilted.  HERE IT IS.

Now, about that toy.  My sweet hubby bought me an embroidery machine - a Brother PE 770.  I have no idea all the uses I'll put it too, but I am going to have a blast learning and playing!

Ain't she purdy???

Since the midnight hour has struck, I'll finish up here and talk with you later.

Paper Piecing Vintage - 8 down

In my last post, I had 3 of the little 6" blocks done.  I have now completed 8 of the 12.  I hope I can get the last four done in the next few days, then it's on to sashing, bordering, quilting and binding.  In other words, then I can proceed with gettin' 'er done!  This sassy little quilt will hang in my sewing room.

Here are all 8 blocks I've done so far.

Finished Quilt Top

I got the Paper Piecing Vintage top done tonight.  As soon as it is quilted, it will hang in my living room.  I had planned to hang it in my sewing room, but it is such a cheery little quilt, I want everyone to enjoy it. Here are the last 4 blocks, the signature block that will be on the back and a picture of the completed top.

Started 2 new quilts!

Jennifer Ofenstein at Sewhooked has a block of the month happening this year called "My Favorite Things" and, since I love her designs and I need a quilt for my sewing room, I joined in.  Here are the first 4 blocks;

These pictures were taken before they were pressed. They really are pretty square.

And since I have to wait until May 1 to get the next block, I decided to make a little block of the month quilt designed by Jennifer that I purchased from Craftsy.  Here are the first 3 of 12 blocks:

These are all 6" blocks.  That little pineapple block has 85 pieces in it.  This one I can work on as the spirit moves me.  I have the patterns for all the blocks!!

Well, I'm off.  Janny (my Janome sewing machine) is calling.

Two More Quilts Completed!

Golly Pete!  I have two more quilts completed. I am meeting two of my nieces for lunch next Saturday and I can't wait to give them their quilts.  Even though I don't normally post pictures of the completed quilts until I've delivered them to the recipient, I'm going to this time.  I'm pretty sure they don't read this blog.  As a matter of fact, I don't think they know the blog exists. So here are the quilts;

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The horsey quilt is named "Paint, A Horse of a different color" and he is for my niece Karen.  I believe it is my favorite quilt that I've ever made.  Well, it and my two Project of Doom quilts.  After I have all my nieces' quilts, my soon-to-be daughter-in-law's quilt, and my two sons' quilts done, I'll finish my two Project of Doom quilts.  One of them is just for me and I think the other will be donated to my favorite community theater group to be raffled off as a fundraiser. I will post pics when they are completed.    

For those of you who are not in the know, the Project of Doom is a quilt-along designed by Jennifer Ofenstein in Fandom In Stitches,  It is a paper-pieced bookcase quilt based on Harry Potter.

That's all for now folks.  Talk with you later.

Dr. Who Quilt Done and Delivered

I finished this quilt a couple of months ago, but forgot to post it.  Oops.  It was made for my soon-to-be daughter-in-law and I think she was pretty pleased with it.

This was fun to make.  All the Doctors are embroidered in the blue squares.  The miscellaneous blocks featuring sayings and a couple of the characters are done with fabric paints, except the weeping angel; she is embroidered.

Patterns for this quilt are courtesy of Jennifer Ofenstein at Fandom In Stitches (fandominstitches.com).  She has some wonderful embroidery and paper-piecing pattern and they are all free for personal use and charity giving.

Second Quilt Completed and Delivered!

I had dinner with niece Debbie and cousins Kathy and Ann tonight.  Afterwards we went to see the UNC Clef Hangers, an all-male acapella group. They were joined by the Demon Divas of Wake Forest Univ., a female group.  Both were absolutely wonderful.  If you get a chance to see them, GO.

Before we ate, I gave Debbie her new quilt.  It's a wall-hanging about 22" x 22''.  Here are pics with some close-ups of the quilting:

After taking these pictures, I noticed a couple of spots I thought needed a little more quilting, so the finished quilt has diagonal lines in the green corner triangles corresponding to the tan corner triangles. And a couple of places in the center square has a bit more echo quilting.

Two down!  I have 3 more nieces' quilts to go.  One has just returned from Missouri Star Quilt Co. where I sent it for quilting.  One is at my sewing machine being quilted by me.  I can handle the small quilts, but prefer to have the larger ones done by a long-arm quilter.  Maybe one day I'll try to tackle a larger one, but not yet.  The last one is for my youngest niece.  Since she isn't on social media and doesn't get on the computer much, she hasn't chosen one yet.  I'll probably choose one to make for her and surprise her with it.

Tonight I'm feeling very accomplished and happy!

Making Progress

I am pleased to announce that in February I completed and delivered the first completed quilt for 2016!  [YAY! Throwing confetti!! Balloons falling from the ceiling!!  Champagne being poured!! etc.]  I took the quilt to my beautiful and compassionate niece, Robin. We met for lunch and I gave her the quilt.  It was a great success - she cried, I cried and we had a grand time.  Silly me, I forgot to take a camera to record this momentous occasion; but I did take a picture of the completed quilt before it left my home.

Piecing by me; quilting by Missouri Star Quilt Co. 

I sewed on the binding when it came back from them.  

Next on the Agenda:

March

1. Shortly before Robin's quilt arrived, I sent off Dianne's quilt to Missouri Star.  It should be back in a week or so and I can bind it and it will be completed for her.
2. Debbie's quilt is on my sewing table right now and I hope to quilt it myself and have it completed as well.
3. I had an unexpected quilt need come up this month - a baby quilt for a sweet little girl.  I also hope to quilt it myself and have it finished by the end of March.  I'll deliver all three of these at the same time.  

April

1. Right now I only have one quilt goal for April.  I sent off Vanessa's quilt to Missouri Star today (March 16) and it will probably be back in about a month.  

And that's all for now, folks.  I must get myself to the sewing machine.

January 2016 TTMT Prizes

Below are the prize choices for the January drawing:

CHOOSE ANY 2 OF THE FOLLOWING:

1.  3 skiens of homespun yarn - color: Lagoon.

2.  3 packs of charm squares:  1 Fairy Frost in blues and whites; 2.Artisan Batik in blues, purples and pinks and 3. Island Batiks in purples, blues and greens.

3.  2 Jelly Rolls:  1. White background with primary colors and 2. Red, white and blue

4.  2 yards of pale blue-gray batik

5.  10" squares called Poppy Panache

With your above 2 choices, you'll receive: