UFO Reporting for August!

Today, I loaded two quilts into the Longarm and got half-way done with the quilting.  I had sewn my UFO #7 and another Red, White and Blue UFO that needed quilting together and am quilting two at once.  YEA!

I took a picture of them loaded and partway quilted.

I'm quilting a pattern called Star Spangled on them.  It goes fairly fast so all I will need to do is bind them later Wednesday night and I will still be within the Month of August, finishing my #7 UFO for the Monthly Challenge with Patchworktimes. I thought I was ahead, but  oops, #10 was the UFO for February! It's is nice to be finishing finally!  Meanwhile, I have another project that I'm working on here at home.  I'll have it up for the next Design Wall Monday Post.

Here they are all Quilted- in time for the End of August binding!  

UFO #7 Finished all the way- Binding Done late August 31st.

A collection of Signatures made into 4.5" hatchet blocks from my WASIQ  Yahoo group.

Only 10 Days left to VOTE on the Challenge Quilt for the McCall's Quilt design Contest!  Then hopefully it's on to the Last Challenge!  Thanks for voting Daily, I couldn't have gotten thus far without all of your support!

Design Wall Monday- August 29, 2011

I have three things on the Design Wall after last week's activities with Elizabeth.  The green in the middle is her 2nd design that will need a border and then get quilted for another dolly quilt.  The nine patches were from the leftover 3"squares in the tote she got to play in.  The Word Play Quilt is on the Bottom waiting to be quilted.  If I want to put it in the Walla Walla Valley Quilt show it will have to get registered by the 1st and finished and turned in by the 10th of September.  I have cut out the "commission quilt" and will sew it up this week so it is ready for quilting before Lynn and I go on our road trip to "TRENDS".  This is the week we have to mail our quilts to Portland to show at the Trends show.

 My Challenge #1 Quilt is done except for the tacking down of the binding, label and hanging sleeve.  I re-stitched the bottom row after the 4 days of un-sewing! YEA! Quilted with "Cristopher's Feather Panto 2".  I had to add a 6.5" strip to finish the quilting.

Click HERE to go see more Design Walls!

Stash Report - August 28, 2011

Total fabric Used this week: 3.5 yards
Fabric Used year-to-date: 123.5 yards
Fabric added this week: 1.5 yards
Fabric added year-to-date: 148.6 yards
NET Fabric used year-to-date  -25.1 yards

I would have had O yards added if I hadn't made the mini quilt with my eldest grand-daughter this week.  She played with my scraps and designed a quilt for her little sister.  We got it quilted at Lynn's But to do that, had to get fabric from Lynn's stash for the backing. My last Word Play Class was held and I cut borders and sewed them on so that accounted for a bit more fabric used. You can click on the highlighted words to see this one at the "flimsy Stage".   I got binding cut for the Challenge #1 quilt and it is sewn on and ready for tacking down on the next road trip- when I'm not driving.  It was a good "Quilting" week all in all.  Fun to pass the skills on to the next generation.
Go see how much Fabric was used by Judy L and the quilter's who LINK-UP each week HERE.

More Family Time

Friday Night Paul and I took Elizabeth with us to see "17 Miracles" then drove her to meet her parents in Richland.  Grandpa took a picture of Olivia with her late Birthday presents from us and her sister.

Olivia in her Super -me cape

Olivia receiving the quilt her sister designed

Happy Sisters

While we were gone to Tri-cities the Arizona Family came to visit for a while. Tradition is getting a picture of the grandchild under this TOY that I bought almost 12 years ago before our first grandchild was born.  I only have one grandchild that hasn't played with this TOY.

Grandchild #17 under the "TOY"

 Saturday Morning was "Kid's Day" @ the Farmer's Market.  They had activities for the little ones and balloons, Pony rides and the District 4 Fire trucks from the station where Jes worked when they lived here were there too.  I had to take a family picture at the Jeep before we headed back home to get ready for the big PARTY!  It's so nice to have the Goodson's come to share Jackson Birthday time with us in Walla Walla.  It helps that BOTH grandparents live within two Blocks of each other.  Thanks to the Goodson's  for hosting the shin-dig!

 I gave Paul the camera to go and take some pictures of the Grandchildren playing at the Party.  It's always fun to see what pictures he took when I get home.  Big Surprise- he turned the camera on the 'picture taker'.

After our Hamburger and Hot dog dinner and Birthday presents and cake it was time to Swim. Even Uncle Joe got in to help his littlest boy to swim safely.  They kids had fun I think, even if they kept jumping off the Ladder...Opps!

Another shot of the swimmers

 Joe even took Jacob around for a while, he loves the water!  We look forward to another day of swimming and fun with the Tri-city grandchildren at Joe and Kori's  while Jes and Janessa are here.  Maybe Grandma will get a group picture of the bunch of them...It is a rare occasion to get more than 11 out of the 17 of them in one place.  Definitely a Cousin Picture time.  Fair warning- If you read this plan on it! We're sorry that the 3 Idaho and 1 Ohio grandchildren can't be with us this time.  The miles to drive when it's time for school to start are too long. We understand when not everyone can come!

One on One time...

Before School started I told NaDell that Elizabeth could come and spend some time in Walla Walla with Grandpa and I.  This was the last chance for her to get to come.  Janessa and Jes will be here tomorrow with their two boys. They are waiting to get on a plane in AZ in the morning.  NaDell brought her 4 children over on Wednesday and left with 3.  I remembered to take some pictures this time...

 All 4 Children smiled for NaDell and Grandma Crowther's cameras.

 Abigail is sitting up and smiles when she sees a camera! After NaDell left to go home, Elizabeth and I went to pick up medicine for Grandpa and went to the park. It was HOT so we stopped for gas and got a Popcicle.

Here's Elizabeth finishing hers so she can play on the toys.  We competed in the swinging, but Grandma didn't run around and go down all the slides.  She said she missed her sisters and brother... On the way driving home (she wanted to walk, but I didn't want to let her walk alone), I let her out at our corner and she ran the two blocks to our house.  We played Rummicub and sorted the game.  There were two games worth of tiles minus a 13 in Orange.  I won this time.  Grandpa had a meeting but got home in time to read with her and we waited to eat Dinner with him. Elizabeth made her "Special Salad".

Here she is with the Blocks she put up on the wall Wednesday Night.  I have these pre-cut from my scraps and in a tote, so they were handy to let her play on my Design Wall with. She went to sleep good, I think she wore herself out at the park.   I left my Phone in the room and called it a few times when I couldn't find it, so I woke her up once with that.  She came downstairs to ask why it was ringing.

Thursday, after our Breakfast of French toast and Smoothies, I stitched the squares together and we took it out to show Lynn after we played with Legos and had our Lunch.  See her Horses, Cows and Ducks she made with the Legos?  I even made some little things with some Legos.  I'd seen a Sewing Machine made from Legos online so I tried to make one.  Elizabeth helped me make the 'needle'.  The two people that I made were fun.  She had to help make the 'Hair' stay attached. I think NaDell missed her a little too, since she called to let Olivia talk to her.

After playing with Legos and a few games of UNO (she won 2 of the 3 games) it was time to go to Lynn's.  I had a FREE Cookie coupon for the Cookie tree so we had to stop on our way to get that, Just in case we stayed longer at Lynn's. She chose a Sugar cookie with sprinkles.

 At Lynn's while she was Quilting a Hearts and Flowers quilt for Guild and I was cutting a quilt out to make for a friend- Elizabeth got to play in Lynn's Scrap BIN!  Lynn asked her to sort out some Blue and Green into two bags for a mini/dolly quilt she wants to make.  I cut out and put together a few Tulip blocks for Lynn to make from the scraps. It was fun to play in her scraps for a while.  I found a cute fabric with "lightbulbs" to add to my BOW-TIES Leader/ender too!  Lynn suggested that I add the borders to Elizabeth's Little quilt and then we could quilt it on the Machine.  It took only 4 repeats in two passes on the long side of the 22" x 27" mini quilt.  We did the Sweetheart Panto that has Hearts and Daisies on it.  Such a cute pattern, I'll have to use it again sometime.  I need the practice on the spacing...

It's almost Friday and time for some shut-eye.  She should sleep good- Grandpa walked with her to the park and let her run around again.  She requested another of my quilts, she was a little cold last night.  It was an event-filled couple of days.  I really know what grandma Zora meant when she said it was more fun to have the Grandchildren One on One.  Thanks for sharing your oldest Daughter, NaDell!  I hope she had fun!

Word Play Quilt

 This is what I had done when I went to the last class on Tuesday evening.  In the picture here I see two BOO-BOOS!  Why didn't I notice it before I took the picture?? See the bright off white patch in the LOG Cabin Block? And the center block of the 'O' in the word "TO" in the 3rd row?  The fabric was sewn on the wrong side.  I used a Paper-pieced Block Lynn made, a Scrappy Heart and a Log Cabin Block -just to prove I could make one...I still can't make one without "frogging", as you can clearly see. The picture with me in it, you might notice I'm wearing the shirt that Inspired the Quilt. This is below my Signature on most of my E-mails, too.     This Quilt when finished- will hang in my "Quilt Zone"!

The last photo shows the final, fixed top, ready to be quilted. The outer border is the RED HAT fabric I found last month at Quiltmania in Richland in their sale hallway.  Eddie suggests we all put them in the Walla Walla Valley Quilt Festival that is coming up. We shall see how many get finished by September 10th.  It was fun to go take a class again from Eddie and sew on the assorted Bernina's at the "STASH" Quilt Shop.

Design Wall Monday- August 22, 2011

 August is half gone and my UFO isn't done, I have been UN-STITCHING for 3 days...UGGGGG!  I hate un-stitching!  Thank heavens I found my Clover Seam ripper! And the Country Music channel on the Television to keep me company. I have to show you how bad the stitching was that I had to un-sew.  I think everyone would agree it just wasn't right not to take it out.  The picture shows the design shows it close up.  I think I could do a Tutorial on "Frogging" after this!  It is slow going with the way the design goes back over itself and makes a smaller stitch in the corners and point areas.  The design is from the Cristopher's Feather's  line of "One Song Needlearts".  It isn't available any longer there, I checked.  I like how the daisies are open with the swirling and leaf clusters.  It has a Tuscany batting that is holding up fairly well with all the un-sewing.  It will be a couple of days before I can get back out to Quilt at Lynn's. I want to have this one hanging at Trends when we go in September.  It needs to be more perfect because of that. I got accused of being a Perfectionist, that is a first!   I'll have to work on my Commission quilts during the time I am home.  Just have to get up and "GO FOR IT" first thing, then I have time to play.

 These are the Blocks already made by Trudy for this quilt in a Ziplock bag that I got at the Yard sale.  They Look like Bonnie Hunter's Maverick Stars.  In her Free Patterns.
Bonnie is having a Giveaway on her Blog starting today too.  
And the rest of the fabrics in the Bag---the black with white dots is tiny strips, maybe the intended sashing?  It makes me wonder what will happen to all of my UFO's.  I'm working on them -REALLY I AM!

I'm feeling a little famous with the article in the Union Bulletin and Country Register.  People are asking me about it now. And I got a mention from Paul's Mother too, that means a lot.  She called my quilts "prize-winning".  I'm hoping to win the BIG PRIZE!  Just one more Challenge to get through after this one is done being voted on and EVERY VOTE COUNTS! Just click on the Button in the sidebar, and Vote once a Day!

To See more Design Wall's go HERE!

Stash Report - August 21, 2011

Used this week: 8 yards 

Used year to Date: 120 yards 

Added this week: 13.94 yards

Added Year to date: 147.1 yards 

Net used to Date: -27.1 yards


I have been "Stash Enhancing" this week again.  Our Guild Yard Sale was held and I worked for a couple hours.  I got there early so I looked at the bags of fabrics and a few pieces jumped into my arms.  They were Purple, I couldn't resist, some Civil War( ie: really old, very thin or non-existent Selvages) and some were background fabric.  I NEED more background fabric for my quilts. LOL!!!  And who can beat the prices at a Yard Sale! A partially done quilt in a bag was there too, I don't know how to count it...it was from a former member of our Guild so it will be a donation quilt. It might be on the Design Wall Monday.  I have used a bit with cutting backing and binding for the Challenge #1 Quilt that I got quilted. I had to buy the backing so that accounts for part of the yards that were added..  Unfortunately, I'm UN-STITCHING the last row of the Panto so I can re-do it.  I cut the backing a bit short and tried to make it work.  Note to SELF- Don't try to make it fit!!!  I also cut backing and binding for the UFO #7  I need to quilt this month. That Binding and Backing fabric sure adds up quick.  


Click HERE to see more STASH reports...

A Gathering of Flowers- 2008

I HAD to enter my Block of the Month "A Gathering of Flowers" in the Quilting Gallery weekly contest.  I had to search for this quilt, I wasn't in the Quilt cupboard...  This is one of the first quilts I Machine Quilted at Suzanne's on her GAMMILL.  I had so much fun working at Hancock Fabrics and I sure miss that JOB.  It was perfect for me.  I didn't have a Blog back then so this quilt hasn't been on here. I don't think I could have Blogged and Worked all the hours I worked too. Elizabeth's Birthday Quilt was made from more 'extra' blocks  a few years ago.  I even made several projects for the store with extra blocks. The blocks were made by Machine Piecing, Fusible/Machine applique, Rouching, 3D and I did some by English Paper Piecing- of course.  The fabrics are the 'Quilter's Shades" that I still have some of  in my STASH.  I wish they still made this line of fabrics, they are so crisp and clean and fun to work with!  Voting on this one goes through Sunday Night.  Thanks for all those who continue to Vote and Link up to the McCall's Challenge too and Vote.  The link is on the sidebar.  Just two clicks and you're done.  Once a Day-Every day until Sept 8th at 1AM!

Challenge #2 -The BIG Reveal!!!

Challenge #2 is up for the VOTE as of Tonight.  The long awaited "Reveal" is finally HERE.

For my Challenge #2 , I used 9 of the 10 MODA Fat Quarters selected by McCall’s for this challenge.  I added fabric for the center appliqued block, the background fabric, sashing and scalloped border.

 I spent a few days designing in EQ…wanting to combine two blocks to make the best use the different Fat Quarters that really didn’t go together… finally drawing my OWN Applique design using the EQ tools.

The applique blocks are made using “English Paper piecing” method with Freezer paper. Each one hand appliqued onto the background square using Heirloom 100% cotton thread.  The yellow center is added to them using Kay Buckley’s “Perfect Circles”. www.karenkaybuckley.com A Tutorial on using the Perfect Circles  is found at http://wwwbluemoonriver.blogspot.com/2007/12/perfect-circles.html

The quilt is 3x3 set on-point, using 9 appliqued blocks and 4 Pinwheel blocks, with a narrow sashing, the partial pinwheel blocks are used as the setting corners and triangles to form the center of the quilt. A thin border frames the center using the Brown Fat quarter .

The multi-colored sashing fabric came from my personal Fabric Stash.  I liked how the fabric made all of the colors into a cohesive and pleasing design.

The pieced border is Half-square triangles made of the Fat Quarters sewn into a Multi-colored ribbon formation around the center.  I added a final border of the sashing fabric, cut to make the scalloped edge.  This quilt is very “girly”

Below is the picture of the Floor tile that INSPIRED the Applique. Can you see the center design?

Now I ask you to please click the Link once every day and use all the devices you own to VOTE!

Voting goes from August 17th-Sept 8th!  Thank you so much for helping me keep going on with this contest.

Some Pretty Quilts

 I have to be a bit selective here with the quilts I took pictures of yesterday.  I admit. I'm not the best picture taker of Quilts.  DH noted the hanging apparatus they used at the Fair.  Large PVC pipe hung from ropes.  I didn't like the push pins in ones on the walls.  Glad my quilts weren't there.  I only knew one of the quiltmakers of all of the many the Quilts at the Fair. So these are the ones that most attracted my attention.
to see a slideshow of all the quilts I took pictures of Click  HERE. Opps, this goes to all my Flicker photos...
Only the first 18 are Quilts at the Fair.

 This one was a SECTION WINNER.  I like to see all the hand work and know this one is very deserving of the award.  All Hand appliqued and hand quilted!

 These Embroidered Ladies were nice.  The outline quilting around each lady was all that held the three layers together.

I'm attracted to the sailboats, I dont' know why...Blue and white so classic.

Quilt made from Men's ties

This one was a Sampler and Lavendar.  Had to take the picture...

 Not a quilt but a great throw to spotlight in the Centennial Fair.  I was glad to see it.  They had a "History" building where they had glass cases on the wall with Memorabilia from each Decade of the fair. news clipping and a few pictures.  They were selling Centennial coins and wooden dollars.  Other things in bags in the glass case- Buttons and tickets.  I remember the buttons.  We wore them to get into the Fair without stopping to buy a ticket each day. I signed in the guest book and got our stickers with the date of our first Fair added.  1976 for DH and 1958 for me, I don't know if I went the year I was born.  My sister told me that our daddy used to go to the last part of the Rodeo after Church on Sunday Night of the Fair.  I don't remember that...  I remember riding the rides and eating cotton candy and Spaceburgers.  I have some of the ribbons my Mother earned at the Fair.
Last but not least is the quilt made before I was born by my husband's Grandma (Nash) Ellsworth for his parents when they married.

 In the 35 years I've been in the family I've never seen this quilt!  I love the colors and the Dogwoods that were Hand appliqued by G-ma and Embroidered by Zora.

 a closer picture of the Applique and Hand quilting.  It was Quilted by the Relief Society. Grandma paid the Relief Society for the Quilting, it helped fund the Relief Society at that time.

Grandma says whoever gets this quilt when she is gone, must NEVER put it in the Dryer!  It has a WOOL Batting!  Just saying... and repeating, so all the family knows how fragile this quilt is.

Re-visiting Our first Date -Grant County Fair

35 years later- Mary and Paul at the Grant County Fair!

It's the 100th Anniversary of the County fair in my Hometown this week and Tuesday the admission is FREE!
Boy does that make the trip more tempting, I don't beg to ride the rides and looking at the exhibits is Free too. The band Big Little Town is playing from 7-12 midnight.  Too late for us old folks tonight!  I called my Sister and said come and go with us. I am looking forward to seeing the Quilts there and eating my favorite Fair Food that I've only had at the GRANT COUNTY FAIR- the Space Burger is made every year by the Lioness Club. SpaceBurgers were first made at the Seattle World's Fair back in 1965. It's only available at the Fair in August -and at the Spring fair. I'll post pictures later to show the proof that I got my "Space Burger". I wish I had a picture of us from that 1st Date.

 Roma and I with our Spaceburgers! It was hot waiting in the line to order them...

Gordon wanted Ice Cream and Selwyn bought 20 Spaceburgers to take home with him. Thanks for meeting us at the Fair today Selwyn, Roma and Gordon!

 I had to find a place to sit down after eating two Spaceburgers. And who do we meet? Beulah and Ken Bohne and Charlotte Fuhriman.

This is my friend Dena who still lives in Moses Lake.  I was hoping to see an old friend today!

I got to see and take pictures of some beautiful quilts.  Only one by someone I knew.  It was worth the drive with at stop at Dad and Mom Crowther's on the way.  She showed me a Hand Appliqued quilt from a kit that she & her mother made back in the 1950's!  It is Beautiful and very fragile.  Hand quilted with a wool batting.

 I have begged to go to the FAIR in Moses Lake several years since that first time (FYI- 35 years ago) and have only been back a few times.  We keep moving farther away from Moses Lake so it is harder to get back on a day trip.  I know I'm 'spoiled" and get my own way most of the time, just ask my Siblings. I've not gotten my way as much as I've wanted in this regard.  Being the Baby of the family did it to me...That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Design Wall Monday- August 15, 2011

The Bonnie Hunter Leader/ender challenge is on my Design Wall today. Just for fun!  These are 3" "bowties".  I'm using  random scraps and it's going to take quite a few to make the quilt big enough for a bed. I have a lot more scraps to cut up.    The rest of the wall it taken up with my McCall's Design Challenge #2 .  Just two more days and you can see the whole thing...I hope my Friends and Family are all ready to VOTE!


I had to add some selvages to my big Ball, it now measures 10" high. It is pictured on the stairs that head out of the Quilt Zone.  That burgundy fabric is made by Jinny Beyer . Lynn and I have it ready for backing Hearts and flowers quilt for guild. I just joined the H & F committee and this is the first quilt I've officially worked on. I'll post pictures of the finished quilt when it is presented at next month's Guild Meeting.

Click HERE to link up with the other Design Wall Monday Posts at Patchworktimes.