May Goals for "Get it Done"

Goals for APRIL 
1-Sew More Pinwheels for Mariner's compass RR, add last borders to make Flimsy TBQ (to be Quilted) DONE The Pinwheels are all made, but have to unsew and get ready to reattach in May.
2- Re-cut & Sew Sashings on Bow Tie Blocks- maybe to Flimsy. :(

3- UN-Sew this block and fix the April Fooling from when I stitched it together this morning. DONE  2 blocks made. Only 35 more to make for "MIDNIGHT FLIGHT" quilt. As you can see the HOT PINK Block WON! That means a LOT more 4-patches to spin...with 88 pieces in each block this could take a long while.

4- Make Block of the Month for Guild and Tips board to go with it. DONE.  Becky M Won the Blocks 

That should be enough to keep me busy. If I get all these done, I'll get out the re-make of the Challenge #1 from the McCall's Quilt Design Star Contest that I promised to make for Brant and Tina's Baby Girl.
OR SEW the Block of the Month "The Romance Continues" together into a Flimsy. DONE

The top of the quilt is the right side - next to me

The Block of the Month is ready for Quilting. Lynn's Thread and Bolts Quilting has taken off and I'm in line behind about 10 other quilts. I really NEED to win that Longarm machine so I can quilt my own. 

As you can tell, I did get some things done this month.  In spite of my hurting hand and many uses of the FROGGIN' tool... I didn't even get the Bow Ties project out of the Tote.  Brant and Tina's Baby Girl Quilt is still in a Tote.  Joe and Kori's Baby Girl Quilt is on the Design wall.  I'll have to hide it when they come for Mother's Day and Balloon Stampede week-end.

May Goals:
1- Work on the 2 New "Baby Girl" Quilts- Secret at least until JUNE.  They might get to see them a bit early. At least the Flimsy, if I get that far.
2- Get the Pink Mariner's Compass put back together. 
3- Work on My Lucky Stars quilt- only need 6 more 12" blocks for it.
4- Trim and sew the House Blocks together.
5- Get my #20 Alliance Quilt finished and sent in before June 1st.
I know that I'll work on my Block LOTTO Blocks and get them done, so I'm not listing them here.

It's the Krazy Horse Quilt Show Weekend in Pendelton.  I'll probably get some more crazy ideas for future quilts there. And the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Blog Tour isn't helping my NewFo's either.  REALLY it IS!

Click HERE to go see how other quilters did on their April Goals.

Design Wall Monday/NewFO - April 29, 2013

It's so nice to have something New to show for DWM.  It wasn't easy, I must say but here are my House Blocks. Dark and Light Blocks alternated and folded to see how they look together.

  The Orange ones will go to the Guild for the Habitat Quilts. They asked that we not 'trim' those.

 My first try with the Dark Blocks

The Top Row, with the chimneys is the row that should go with the Light Blocks.

I fixed the top row but then after this picture I saw that the two strips above the windows are flipped. 

I was the winner of the Froggin' prize.  It was that kind of week for me.

There were 13 of us making House Blocks on Saturday.  Eddie is a great teacher and she even helped me cut for my set of blocks to save my hand from hurting. 

Here is one of Eddie's Quilts.

 She has a Pattern printed up and we could buy it while we were there.  I don't know if I'll make any more but I could.  A lot of  the ladies made two color blocks. Different prints and shades of the light and darks. 

I saw a cute version using only 4 Schoolhouse blocks HERE. It's a Pam Buda design.  This would make a very cute Mini quilt. for my wall of quilts.

 The Brown and Cream blocks were the lady who shared my Table.  See -she has hers the same as I did when I laid them out. I don't think she made the mistake of sewing hers this way, I'll have to check later.

 

I should have seen from these first pictures that the top row was wrong.  The other error was all mine when I sewed the two strips above the windows, I turned them and sewed them on to the window unit wrong.  I even showed them around the room and they didn't see the errors.  I will get these trimmed and see if I want to make anymore. Maybe a two-color one, just for fun.

Click HERE to go and see more Design Walls on this last Monday in April.
I'm also linking up to the NewFO at Cat Patches.

It's the 1st day of the Quiltmaker 100 Blocks Volume 7 Blog Tour...

Click HERE  to get in on the chance to WIN a copy of the NEW Volume.

What to do...

What do I do when I can't stand to Rotary Cut because it hurts my Hand?  I Blog Hop, go out and shop, LOL,  and dream of new projects.  I tried to put away chairs after Church on Sunday and my wrist is hurting pretty bad again.  I can use the sewing machine, but Cutting with the rotary cutter HURTS!

When I took my Pink project out to show Lynn on Wednesday, we decided that I would need to basically take it all apart and re-sew it.  She said she couldn't Quilt That much wrinkling Out. 

Have you heard that song?

 Cathy Miller's Song "You Can Quilt that Out" It's pretty funny!

So, it's back to the drawing board with it and I'll have to just put it on the back burner again. 

I did get the Miters cut for the border on my BOM "The Romance Continues" quilt.  Thanks to the new Ruler from Marti Michell. It's called her favorite Mitering Ruler  for good reason!

Lynn got this Accuquilt Die (on the left)by mistake and asked if I wanted it. If my hand keeps hurting, my Baby Go might be my best way to cut. While I was out at Thread and Bolts, I broke her 6.5" ruler.  

I went to JoAnn's to get a replacement and they don't carry the 6.5" Omnigrid anymore. I found this BIG numbered one by EZ quilting. Lynn found them on her EESchencks website so she will order one. 

 

I guess I have a new ruler...

I also picked up a copy of the 'Quilts and more' magazine and went to a thrift store and found the remnants of fabric that is rolled up there. I keep adding to my neutral stash, the green called to me, the price was right.

 In my Mailbox this week I got the items pictured below.  My autographed copy of El's Kitchen Book that just came out in April.  My "BLUE" charms by Jo Morton and a Jelly Roll from Missouri Star Quilt Co.

Saturday I have a SEW-In with my Quilt Guild and will be trying to cut out and sew some "House Blocks" for our Local "Habitat for Humanity" quilts. Wish me luck!

We make and present a quilt to the new homeowners for the houses built in our area.

My Daughter by Love's Cousin has a Webstore and is re-launching it. HERE is the Link. Go check it out.

WELCOME to all the NEW Followers, GFC is going away in July so you can go and follow me with Bloglovin' by clicking on the ICON in the sidebar or HERE.

"Quilting by Committee"

It's Quilt Week in Paducah!   The Winners have been announced and HERE is the Link

This beautiful Wednesday I am still playing with ideas for the final treatment of the Mariner's Compass Quilt.
Thanks for all the comments from Monday's Post.  I think this is called "Quilting by Committee".
The quilt talked to me as I laid it out on the floor. Placed fabrics beside the center and took the pictures. I had to turn it on-point, it's just another way of viewing it.  The process is a good one to put it out there and take time to ponder what works best for this quilt.  I had to share it with the future owner of this quilt too and got some insight to how I will get it quilted when it is finally ready for that.

The center was trimmed and the pinwheel borders are on.  Success is good when the borders that are planned - work! Now it is time for the MATH.  I'm hoping to get out to visit Lynn @ Thread and Bolts today.  Her MATH is better than MY Moses Lake MATH... As you can see I'm adding the solid triangles to make this bigger before the final borders.

The first try with my MATH doesn't look like it is quite right.  I hope to press out more of those wrinkles. 

 I should have paid more attention in those MATH classes.  

Someone should have told me then that Quilting included MATH. HaHaHa.

As for the Secret Project I mentioned it is for the Quilt Alliance. I have the design figured out and found part of a UFO to make it.  They extended the Deadline to June 1st. Check it out HERE.

Thanks always for the kind comments and suggestions- most days, I couldn't quilt without you...
Linking up to Judy's Wednesday UFO Report HERE

Design Wall Monday -April 22, 2013

I am using my "Design Floor" again this week -there are more border decisions to make this week  All of the Pinwheel block border units are made and I like how they look surrounding the center.  I need to trim the center before I sew them on since I made the solid triangles extra big.

 Testing border Option 1 with a slightly darker Pnk and the dot fabric for the outer border

 Option 2 has a different print with lots of colors. This fabric wasn't used yet and could be the backing too.

Option 3 is to add another set of large triangles and set the whole thing on point again. 

The original has more Paper-piecing and I opt NOT to do that.  The open space would just have a pretty design quilted on it. Choices, Choices! 

 Leave your choice in the Comments, please. I want to get this one to the 'flimsy' this week

Heading over to Link up at Patchworktimes on this EARTH day HERE

Friday "Flimsy" Finish

It was a week of hits and misses for me.  I took pictures and read directions but when it came time to lay this quilt out, I turned it wrong every time.  Finally after I got my picture right in my brain it laid out right and went together pretty quick.  I didn't really need all those sashing I cut and sewed together.  All I needed to do was the ones down the right side. I even had to take the sashings off of the top row of the half-blocks to make it the same as the picture in Marti's instructions.

This is the CORRECT way it is suppose to be laid out. I had to take one final picture before I sewed the last parts together. I pinned them to where they went before I took the quilt to the machine.

The Borders are another sad story...

I took the fabric out with me Wednesday to use Lynn's big cutting surface to cut the stripe apart.  DUH, Me -cut between the small White border and the Blue Floral by mistake.  I've sewn them back together and will add a 1/2" to the Inner border to make up for the seam I had to make between the White and Blue. 

The borders are all on and I'm ready to use the New 8 1/2" Miter ruler out at Thread and Bolts.  

I can shout a BIG YAHOOOO!  It's done except for the quilting, basically.

The corner showing the 3 borders, before the sewing-

 Here it is on my Living room floor one more time...

"The Romance Continues"

90"x102" 

Made with the Wild Roses 2 fabric line by Marti Michell

Next UFO to work on is the finishing of the Mariner's Compass for Cassie.  I've been sewing the pinwheels as Leader/ enders and I have almost enough to finish that border.  It was on my UFO Parade Post.

I think it can be finished in good time before the end of the month. (at least to the Flimsy).

It's going to be fun to choose the quilting for this one with all that open space to quilt in. Lynn will be doing it on her Long Arm with Side Saddle for me.

 I'm excited to get to work on the Baby Girl quilts next. 

I also have a secret project to play with it has a deadline to be sent before June 1st.  

Switching to Bloglovin' too...

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Thanks to my Followers from GFC  who come and FOLLOW my Blog Here!

MM BOM Ready for Borders- Almost

This quilt project IS listed in my April Goals HERE.
 I am very happy to have this Block of the Month getting finished ahead of schedule. A couple years ago I had my 1st Marti Michell Block of the Month in 2011 done and I showed it at Guild in May HERE.  There are some perks to having the Owner/Operator at Thread and Bolts as my Quilt Buddy! I got some of the fabric that I've used in this quilt from achieving a goal set by Lynn for the following year.
Monday it was just another pile of Blocks sitting on the stairs.

 After going to the M & M Group Meeting Tuesday and making the last 6 Alternate Blocks, 

I laid the blocks all out on my Living Room Floor.

 Tuesday afternoon, I sewed the rows together and realized I need to get more fabric AGAIN for the sashing. This is the 3rd time to buy more of the White with blue roses on it.

 All laid out and I'm glad I take pictures!  See the bottom border?  It is laid out upsidedown. 

This shows WHY there is good reason to use the camera as a Quilting Tool.   

Here is the bottom corner with the Border choices.   Almost time to add the borders! 

This Stripe will be cut and used for the 2 outer borders.  The corners are mitered.

I will go out and get the fabric I need to sew the rest of the sashing on and take pictures of the Groups Blocks, IF they bring them to show us at the Wednesday Meeting of the M & M Quilters.

The month is only half over and I have 3 of the 5 or 6 goals nearly completed for April.

Digging Deep for the UFO Parade.

It wasn't really TOO hard to find all my UFO's.  It was getting them all in 1 picture that was a Problem.
I lined them up on the stairs.  How to list them now is an issue. I have divided them into 2 groups. I've made the list and have them all in a fairly organized state- I just need 72 hour days and Unlimited $$$- maybe then I would get more completed. Ready or not- it's true confessions time...40 UFO's and 13 TBQ's.

1- Quilts that have at least 1 or more blocks made and are in totes, ziplocks or pinned together. 

Christmas Guild SWAP, Kim Diehl Churn Dash, Pineapple Blossom
Jack of Hearts 2, Quilt, Blogger's BOM, Candy Jars
2013 BOM Romance Cont, 12 days of Christmas, Emily's Hand-pieced Baskets
Buggy Barn Stars, Lori Holt- Bow ties, Boondoggle-I spy, Double Delight
Snail's Trail (Lotto), SBS Star SWAP, Guild Baskets (Lotto), Trudy's Stars
Jo Fox BOM, New Years Resolution x 2,(SBS Swap)
Midnight Flight, Lucky Stars, Block Base QAL
Swoon, 9-patch for Sister's Choice x 2, Spools (Lotto)
Block Party Swap, Baby Bud, Sailboats
QM Tester Blocks, L/E Bow Ties,
30's SBS, Stitchin Heaven re-make- BLUE
Pictured separately- (Could be UFO or TBQ's)
Judy L's Big Star, Spiderman Zig Zag, Civil War Chronicles, QAL Civil War MINI, Cassie's RR, Famous Siggy's, Author's Swap, Just Takes 2

 

My UFO's List = Everytime I think I've listed them all, I find another one...
This doesn't even count all the PIGS (Projects in Grocery Bags) and Swaps from my WASIQ Group.
This List will stay on the Top of my Blog in the TABs HERE. I look forward to crossing some off my list through the rest of the year.


2- Quilts that need a final border or two and are waiting to be quilted. (2 pics)
[If they stay on the Midarm will it convince DH that I NEED the Longarm I'm begging for?]

Crayon's, Easy does it, Temecula Row Quilt, Jack of Heart Mystery, Sarah's Choice Stars

2 recycled Quilts, Farmer's Wife, Check Out Spiderman, Teal Hearts, Star & Crown


JUDY L asked for it and I'm willing to accept a challenge.  UFO Parade- Linking up HERE.

Design Wall Monday- April 15, 2013

It's Tax Day in America.  Our Taxes are done and refunds have been received as of last week.  Thanks to our CPA son that takes good care of us. I've got a few things to show on the Design Wall this Morning.  Later today Judy L is posting a Linky box for a UFO Parade.  Check back to see the Parade.
First on the Wall are my TWO Midnight Flight Blocks that are all together.  I have quite a few more to make.  .

These are some of the charms squares I found in the Bag of goodies I got at the Thrift Store in Hermiston. I don't have plans for these right now.  I found it odd that they just put a bunch of charms in the bag. Random for sure. Some are 4" and there are some 5".

I got the Neutrals cut and made more 9-patches for the Pink/purple Sister's Choice Quilt. It's too hard to not show a bit on here. I will need more PINKS and PURPLES for this one. I used Bonnie's method for this set of 9-patches. It is found on HERE on her FREE Patterns TAB. 

The Neutrals all came from the Scrap Bag I got for $4. HERE.  

 I mailed out another FISH Block to Carol, one of my new friends from the Block Party who asked if I wanted to Swap with her.  I made extra so I'm happy to SWAP more.  DONI will be getting this one.
I'm taking the brace off more and more, feeling better every day.  When my hand hurts -I have to STOP.

Click HERE to see more Design Walls on this TAX DAY in  the USA!

More Fun Than I Deserve...

 Friday was my day to go and see my Niece in Hermiston. No trip is complete without stopping in to see what's new at the Thrift store.

I found these new books to add to the Bookshelf and a cute Porcelain doll that is musical.  

She plays the Theme from "Love Story".  Isn't she just adorable in her pretty blue dress? 

The quilt pictured is from my Guild 1/2 yard Challenge a couple years ago.

The fabric in the bag below was my Bargain of the Day...

I can always use more neutrals.  

I've entered the Quilter's Show and Tell over at the Quilting Gallery. 

 If you want to go and vote, I'd love to win another prize. HERE is the link. The them this week was English Paper Piecing.  I enjoyed making this quilt and it has been hanging above my stairs since I made it.  Come to realize after posting that I've entered this quilt in the Quilting Gallery Weekly Contest before...oops.

I need to change that and put my mini quilt collection up. This quilt is the right size to block the sun as a curtain when I take my nap...LOL

I posted this LINK to Facebook also, but wanted to share it here also.  The family of Ruby Short McKim have graciously offered 101 of her patterns for FREE.  It is just one more source for patterns that are available for personal use. Check them out, I like that they are listed alphabetically.

On My Needles

My mind is spinning with ideas of things to make for the 2 new Grand-daughters.  Of course they will get their very own special quilts, but OH does this Grandma have plans... I have got to keep them secret until I get them done so you might see a few piles of fabric here and there but no full pictures.  So sorry.

I made a fast trip to Tri-Cities this week and took time to stop into the "Sheep's Clothing" yarn shoppe again.
I wanted yarn to make a shawl for fun. I want to use the circular needles I have.
So soon to be "On My Needles" in this yummy yarn that I bought.  I got this book that the owner recommended too. The most fun part was watching her use the Yarn Swift and wind it into this ball.

I didn't get to see any family while there because I took the Elders and Sister's with me.  I was only in town a short time.  I stayed pretty close to where I dropped them off at their meeting. AND got my lunch at my favorite place "Taco Time".

So I'll be going again on Saturday to watch two of my grandsons play baseball.  (If it doesn't rain)

Linking up to Patchworktimes for her Friday "On Your Needles" post HERE.

Making 'Many' Parts of 'Many' Quilts this week

 I have to show my story board for Guild here with the parts and pieces I demonstrated to make this months' Block Lotto, Card Basket from Quilter's Cache. Click HERE for the pattern. I didn't remember to show the HST method in the Block. I placed the pins to show the direction of stitching on either side of the line.

 The cutting for the quarter-squares I changed from the 5-1/4" square cut twice on the Diagonal to using the Companion Ruler like I showed on Monday's Post.  The pattern shows one of those triangles cut in half and sewn back together.  We'll see how many use the trick I showed them.

 I stayed home all day Tuesday, and sewed more parts of Midnight Flight. There are enough of the Blue corners to make 5 more blocks.  I'm still having fun spinning the 4-patches, they are pretty tiny, but so cute! I think I've got this figured out even though I had to do a bit more 'frogging'. I'm doing the Pinwheels for Cassie's Mariner's Compass quilt as L/E (Leader/Enders).
The Multi-colored 9- patches are done and I found 7 more that were leftovers that Lynn shared from her 9-patch quilt she made for her caregiver. 13 just from my 2.5" tote. I'm about halfway to the 42 I need to make the Sister's Choice like Bonnie's.




 I think I should make a totally PINK one for my Grand-daughter that I found out is 95% sure it's a Girl for J & K. The 2 Big Brothers got to make the call to tell me. They were pretty excited to share the news. Time for MOM and Grandma to go shopping. I have a surprise already made for her when they have a shower.  Maybe I'll give it to K for her Birthday in June...I don't think I can wait til September to show it.  I could even put it in the Walla Walla Fair if I wait.  Choices, choices.

Lastly, My Secret Pal didn't forget me. Cute fabric, a New Author to read, trim and thread socks.