Something I CAN Show

The Blogger's BOM for June came out this week so I can show all of my Blocks so far today. we are up to 10 for this BOM.  It is sponsored by Jackie over at Canton Village Quilt Works.  I have the button on my Blog.  I get a 'Malware' warning on her blog right now, so click straight to Pam Kitty Morning for the Tutorial on this month's block. It's the one at the Bottom of the picture. I made the block from May and  June today so I'm caught up on them. I use whatever is around on my Cutting table when the block comes out.  There are only a few fabrics that I've used several times.

 I got the center block made so I could sew the UFO #12 together today too.  The block is called "Cheyenne".   It was one that I had on my list to make from the "Around the Block, Again" book. I blogged about it more HERE.

 I had to substitute different fabric for the back ground so I went looking for something that has a bit of meaning. The center square has 'Sunbonnet Sue' on it.  Jo Fox did a whole year of Sunbonnet Sue and Overall Bill BOM for our Hancock's group.  I'll link up at Judy L's HERE when she posts the new Number for July.

Judy L is doing a Quilt a-long again.  Flying geese are all they are making so far. I need to make a bunch to go on the other two sides of this quilt.   That stuff I can't show that might keep me from making them this week..  I have had so much fun cutting out the Quilt for STITCHIN' HEAVEN. I see the quilt in other fabrics so I will make a second one while I make this one.  I forget how nice it is to make 12" blocks.

July will be here soon and I've gotten more bow tie blocks made as my Leader/Enders.  My count is 216! Maybe I'll show them on Monday DWM post.  I went out to play with the layout on the big Design wall at Thread and Bolts...

My DD#2 that lives in Colorado has been evacuated from her house because of the Waldo Canyon Fire.  The pictures I see make me glad she had a friend to go and stay with in Littleton.  She wants to come home to Washington, but we will see how that works out.  So far- she is still in Colorado.

Design Wall Monday June 25, 2012

My UFO for June is on the wall today.  I am adapting it so that I don't have to make too many more blocks.  With this arrangement, I need to make one 12" block and a bunch of Flying Geese for the two sides opposite the 6.5" blocks.  I may just get this one to the "Flimsy" yet this month.

 This is the picture of the magazine that Jo Fox used to make the Block of the Month Sampler back in 2001-2002.

I can't find the background fabric that I used so I'll have a darker border around the outside.  Now to decide which 12" block to make and how many FG I need to make.

Meanwhile I have a few projects on my Cutting board that I can't show just yet.  Testing patterns and tester quilts that have a July Deadline. A couple of Commission quilts that are together and need a border and quilting. A Birthday Pillowcase for my Oldest Grandson to make and deliver soon also.  BUSY, BUSY!

 Click on over HERE to see more Design Wall postings.

Fastest Quilt Finish in the WEST!

 Tina got to play in my STASH and selected 20 fabrics that she liked.  Then she cut two  2.5" strips off each one.  While I was at my Farmers' Wife class she sewed them end to end and cut them at 60".  She chose a lot of Cowboy prints to make a Picnic/Car blanket since they are moving to the Cowboy State of WYOMING.  We had seen some of the 1600 race quilts at the Pocatello Quilt show last month.  She had fun stitching and quickly got the top done.  Brant helped hold it up before we put it on the Quilting Table last night.  They made me promise not to stay up all night quilting it... I wound bobbins and waited to start quilting this morning.

The little boys were well entertained by their father and this cute wiggling sprinkler.  They had fun squirting each other and getting drinks from it.  Brant had fun turning the water spigot up to make it wiggle faster and spray them.

I quilted swirls like I put on my Table Runner I did last week and we wrote the words; 'Howdy', 'Yeehaw', and 'Giddy-up' on it.  The bottom corner has "Tina" and the year it was made 2012. Tina cut and prepared the binding so we could attach it as soon as we got it off.  The goal was to be done quilting by Noon or 1pm.  It was 2 pm before it got done.  Tina took my picture while I was quilting on it. She asked if her quilt would make it on the BLOG.  LOL of Course! I attached the binding by machine on the back and stitched it down by machine for a quicker and more sturdy finish.

                   Brant says; "Hold it which way?"                 Tina is pretty pleased with how it turned out.

                                       Here is the back, I should have matched up the seam better.
Thanks for helping me use a little more of my STASH.  It was fun to play with "HELGA" today.  That is the new name of my Mega-Quilter Machine.  Brant and Tina helped me decide on the name.  Brant looked at the machine and noted that Husqvarna makes lawn mowers or something like that and threw out a few Viking type names- "Helga"  just seems to fit!  I was about ready to e-mail Bonnie Hunter to think of a name for my machine, she is good at naming hers.

Farmer's Wife/SBS - Sew Day

                                       #53 Jackknife                             C-10 Night and Noon

Today was my Farmer's wife day and since I already had my Blocks made for June and July, I cut out two blocks that used the same templates and made two totally different looking blocks.  One for my Farmer's Wife and one for my 'Block of the Week' this week.  See how different they look with fabric choice and placement.  I need to re-measure my FW Block to make sure it is 6.5"  It looks smaller when they are side by side.

It's time to Vote again for my SBS Friend who is a Finalist in the McCall's Quilt Design Star Contest.
Thanks for looking and remember to VOTE Daily!   I'll add the Link box to my Sidebar again.

Design Wall Monday, June 18, 2012

 TA-DA I can show this quilt now that Father's Day is over for another year.  My Friend Noel came over and spent the day Friday, (as I blogged about earlier) to finish this quilt put together by her great grandma.  She wanted to give it to her Father.  He didn't know about it as far as she knew.  Her Aunt passed the top on to her after her grandma passed away. Her sister got the backing and batting.  It was the thick fluffy kind of batting and I was worried about how the Mega Quilter would do with it. It did just fine.  Paul says that the Mega Quilter is quieter than the Bernina I had on the table before.

 We quilted a up and down grid type design on it and wrote across the bottom 'Made with "heart" by Helen Worden, Noel and Crystal 2012.'  Several of my friends from the WW 3rd Ward , Noel and my Husband spent all week with the Girls' Camp so I had time to get it bound for her.  I serged all around the edge after trimming it straight. She said 'blue' was her father's favorite color, so I used solid blue for the BINDING. 


TIP:!!!
The Binding was made and pressed in half, then put in the bag so it could feed out to be attached to the quilt by the Machine. It worked pretty good and there was plenty to go all the way around the edge of this quilt.  

The finished quilt, ready for her dad. A gift of love from his girls.

I made this "Friendship Block" for my Block of the week before I went to bed Saturday night.  I found I already had one in my 30's pile, but couldn't find it in my picture on the computer so I'll just have two in my 30s SBS.  It is made with some 'Vintage' pieces of fabric I found at the "Country Store" last week.   I hurt my wrist somehow and am limiting the handwork as much as I can to let it get better. This week is Farmer's Wife, time to cut out some more blocks.

Click over HERE to see all the Design Wall Monday posts linked up today.

When the Family Gets Together

Brant and Tina came to visit before they move farther away to Wyoming.  Brant spent last week in Boise doing some School training.  Tina and the boys played and explored the sites near by.  Brant's class got out earlier than expected and they got here late Friday afternoon.  Since it is Summer and the daylight lasts longer there was time to go to Grandpa's Park (aka: Pioneer Park). But first was Caleb's late Birthday gift to be opened.  I was finishing it when I heard the pitter-patter of feet on my stairs. It was Christopher coming down to see where was Grandma, Grandpa had left to run an errand. I had to make the last two seams with the serger after they got here, wrapped his shirt and the Bubbles inside and took the bag upstairs so he could open it.  

 Here he is holding the pillowcase up to show me.

 Brant lifted the older boys up to sit on the cannon.

 At the Aviary the Peafowl struted and showed off his feathers for us.  It was fun to listen as he ruffled his tail feathers and made all the tail quiver.

 Daring Derek on the walkway.

 Climbing Caleb- -up through the center of the curved pipe.

Brant pushing his boys on the swings.

Saturday was a special day. It was the day to get together with our family in Tri-cities.  Joe and Kori volunteered their back yard (that is like a Park) and the weather even cooperated.  Hamburgers and hot dogs, potato salad, jigglers, fruit salad, jello salad, chips, cookies, cobbler and lemonade were enjoyed by all. Great Grandma and Grandpa Crowther came to share the fun.  NaDell Blogged about it HERE.

 It was of course a great KODAK MOMENT time for Grandma and Aunt NaDell with her new Camera.  This was our first try to get almost all of them sitting in one spot.  There are two extra boys who were visiting Colby and Sam.  They wanted to be in the picture too. The younger one came up to me and asked where he should sit?  I told him by his brother would be a good place.  After we took this one we realized one of the girls was missing.  OPPS --only 13 of our 17 here...

We had to get a "Crazy Kid" picture too.  What funny children, we know who they get the crazy from...

 Brant and Paul helped walk grandma out while grandpa follows with his cane. [I almost tripped over a sprinkler head to get this picture.]  We were so happy that they came.  Thanks TINA for calling them!

 Our 3 JUNE Birthdays, all of them "milestones" this year..  The Aunts threatened to kiss Jared, notice him blushing? This was on NaDell's 30th Birthday.  Kori had her 30th Birthday last week and Jared turns 12 the end of June.  that is sneaky Coy in the back admiring the cake, I think.  It was 3 layers, covered in white chocolate shavings.  We didn't do candles but figured it would have taken 72 to count all the years.

"Tug-o-War" Crowther family style.  See Uncle Andy on the far left?  He has the rope tied around his waist- he means business, LOL- their side won.   The grandchildren love to play with their Uncles and Grandpa.

Kori had this fun parachute to play with too.   Uncle Brant, the School Teacher, directs the children for some interactive game with it.  Something about "sharks and lifeguards".  I've never heard of that game before...

  Our 2nd try to get them all on one shot looking in the same direction... Notice Coy isn't so focused on where he should be.  He kept trying to hide and run away.  Then his cousin tried to do the same, but we made it before it was time to leave and even got Grandma and Grandpa in this one.  I don't know if I will ever get all 17 in one place.  Ohio and Colorado are way too far away.  

When we got home this shirt was in a package that arrived in the mail from Colorado.  Thanks- Goodsons!

 Sunday Morning Breakfast---Oatmeal in the special "g-ma" bowls.   Making a memory that I had as a child. When my father got off work he would wake us up around midnight and off to Idaho we'd go, of course we all fell right back to sleep in the car.  He woudl tell us to sleep and when we woke up we would be at Grandma and Grandpa Waite's house in time for Oatmeal and fresh milk from Grandpa's cows.  My grandma had these same kind of bowls- "Fire King" or "Peach Lusterware" I found them  atThrift stores recently in Idaho and Washington.  I now have 6 of these special bowls to share this memory with my Grandchildren when they come to visit.  I just have to remind Grandpa not to fill them to the brim for the little ones.  That is a LOT of Oatmeal to eat. There was brown sugar, and milk to go on it and fresh homemade bread to eat with it.

The two generations of Father's at my Breakfast table this FATHER'S DAY.

Some Luck...

I got Some Luck at my Quilt Guild Meeting this month.  I wasn't going to get to go with our Road trip plan. I woke up early and drove to Richland as soon as I could get there. My DD and her four children and I drove all over the east side of Washington on Tuesday.

We made a stop in Ritzville, so I could meet up with an old Moses Lake neighbor from my childhood.  There is a Quilt store in the same building as their Liquor Store.  I had my DD #1 take our picture in front of the fabric this time.  The last time I saw her was when Lynn and I made the Long Ride around to all the Quilt Shops a few years ago.
NaDell blogged about the whole Trip HERE.

We got back to Richland with just enough time for me to travel back to Walla Walla for my Guild Meeting.   I was in a real tizzy, trying to decide how I could do all that I needed and wanted to do.  I missed it last month when I was in Idaho and really didn't want to save my 3 UFO's another month.  Next month is our annual Treasure Sale' and Potluck so the "Show and Share" won't be the focus.

Here we are holding up my Round Robin, Lynn took the picture but didn't warn me to look at the camera.
Now, about the Luck I had at Guild---
 

Here are the gifts from the last two months from my Secret Pal.  She is way good to me. If I hadn't gone I could have asked Lynn to bring my stuff to me.  I forgot to ask her to do that last month.  

I needed to take something for my Secret Pal too.

Because I took 3 UFO's I put 3 Fat Quarters in the basket for the UFO Challenge.  We put our names on the FQ's and this was the end of the 2nd Quarter so Marilee said it was time to draw one out for the UFO CHALLENGE WINNER.  YEA!! One of my Fat Quarters was pulled out and I won these 20 Fun Fat Q's.

The Baskets of Goodies is something new at our Guild.  We are raising money to support Education in the guild.  There are at least two baskets at Guild and they get raffled off- tickets are $1 each.   I put $3 in two jars and won this Basket of fun stuff.  10 Fq's, cookies, truffles, an apple ornament, beads and trim.  Now I get to fill a basket to take back next month.  I'm thinking Red, White and Blue for July!

Wednesday Morning I drove back up to take care of the grandchildren.  I know that is a lot of driving but I think it was worth it all to win and bring home all the fun stuff from Guild and sleep in my own bed.  NaDell's good friend watched them and made them b-fast so I didn't have to get up quite as early.  That was nice.  I am still recovering from all the travel.  Company is coming Friday Night and I had high hopes of getting my cleaning done this week, but it isn't getting done quite like I'd thought I would.  I may have to stay up all night to get some more things done --like organizing downstairs a little.  The beds are ready and I picked two 5 qt Ice Cream buckets of strawberries and watered the lawn. The berries took a while to pick and clean.  Strawberry waffles are on the menu for Father's Day. And some sliced for my Vanilla Ice Cream tonight.

Design Wall Monday, June 11, 2012

I spent all day Friday helping a friend finish a "Father's Day" gift quilt. This week while she is gone to Girl's Camp with the Young Women from our Area- I will bind it.  I will show it next week after it has been received.  I need to take it out to Lynn's to trim it because my cutting table is still over-flowing with piles of  projects that need sorting. De-cluttering that table should be on my agenda for this week.  My DD #1 has other plans for me and I have #3 DS and his family coming for Father's Day Week so I'll be making beds and cleaning up for that between the Grandma watching that DD #1 has asked me to do. And she is taking me on a Road trip one day this week with her four children.  I don't think I'll get to play on my Mega Quilter as much this week...
I had BIG intentions to finish the Grandchildren's Pillowcases and put them on the DWM this week- they were posted on Saturday HERE so I wake this morning in a Quandry...

WHAT'S ON MY DESIGN WALL?  

I sewed up these strata to make a border for my Bargello Quilt that was on a Previous DWM HERE. This is as far as it got last week.  I need to sub-cut this into 2.5" strips and sew them end to end.  I think I'll add a White 1.5" strip to either side and it will be the border. It's just clamped to the doors of  my 2nd Design Wall that was taken down on Friday, I used the covering to add to the backing of my friend's Quilt- just in case.  It was the only flannel in my house to use.
Stay Tuned to see what happens to the Bargello quilt.  LOL

On my Floor upstairs is a quilt that I found in my 'To Be Quilted' tote... when I was looking for something to test out on the Mega Quilter now that the Mariner's Compass Quilt is off the Quilt table.  I knew I had it and have thought it might work for the Feather Lessons JUDY L has done.  The link goes to Lesson 1.  I don't remember exactly when I made this Quilt.  It could have been a Mystery??? I'm guessing it will remain a Mystery. It needs one more border in my thinking, but I am not sure where the fabrics are that I used in this project.  That would require more digging and De-Cluttering.  I didn't want to start a new Carpenter's Star and make another UFO!  The star points are way too big to quilt like Judy L has done on her Carpenter's star so I'll have to re-group and finish this quilt when I find the tote with the fabrics I used or buy some fabric to make a border so I can at least practice the pretty Feather's she taught to use on Borders. I really want to try my Mega Quilter out on those Border Feathers.  I can quilt a 5" Feather with the Mega Quilter.

(Judy L has a Free Pattern HERE  for her Carpenter's Star 

Click HERE to go see all the other Design Wall Monday Postings.

Rainy Saturday Drive & A giveaway prize received

It was a day to go and see family in Tri-cities, rainy, windy and we forgot our coats- We are trying not to think it is going to be chilly and a 30% chance of rain.  We got there in time to visit a little before Olivia's turn to Dance.  The place was full of people with umbrellas, tents and lawn chairs, trying to watch the girls and boys dancing on stage.  My view was obstructed by a big striped umbrella, but I was glad we could go. Thanks to NaDell for bringing enough blankets to share and keep the chill off . She beat us home and has already Blogged about the Recital HERE.

 Here is Grandpa Paul and I with the 'ballerina" Olivia!  Elizabeth held up her little quilt the she designed last August when she came to visit- I finally got it finished for her- except for the label...opps.

A zoomed in picture of the stage at WSU Tri-cities while Olivia was dancing and her shivering face with her rose after she danced.  Elizabeth helped choose the pink one for Olivia.

 This is how NaDell, aka: super-MOM get the gang and all the gear back to the van.   I think she had a few things to carry plus a baby.  Thank heavens for the stroller.

 Our next stop was Joe and Kori's, with a short stop at Subway for lunch.  They were still napping at their house.  I had mis-read the text message from Joe.  It said they would be napping until about 4:30 pm.  I read it as get there before that time.  I left Kori's Birthday package with her sweet grandma Fish.  I can't show it on here yet since NaDell's birthday is coming up and it might spoil the surprise... I bought them something similar.

Then a quick stop and a few pictures later...at Milton and Christen's.  I tried text-ing Milton and calling both of their phones with no answer.  We took a chance that the Birthday boy and girl might be home. I had stayed up most of the night to finish their Birthday gifts and wanted to deliver them. Grandpa with two May Birthday kids. The other May Birthday grandchild will come visit later this week and get his gift then...Ok, Caleb?
Here are Trevor and Lydia with their Pillowcases. I think they were a little excited and they liked the extra things I put inside their bags too. We always get the biggest hugs from the grandchildren, even when we don't bring a present.

M & C's four youngest children.  They kept saying "take our picture grandma." 

Big Brother; Jared was on a Scout Campout.

This was waiting for me in my mailbox when I got home.  THANKS Sew much Kathie W for choosing my name in her Shop Hop Giveaway, I was Lucky #5.  Kathie is a Quilt/blogger from Canada so it took awhile to arrive.  The pins will come in handy to keep my Farmer's Wife rows in order when I get the blocks all sashed.  My Blogging friends are all so Nice!  I'm happy to be the lucky winner this time. 

The charm pack will be another choice for the Twister quilt I still want to make.  The kit is Civil war Tumbler pre-cut pieces. There are some fun prints in there.