February NewFo

As planned I started the Quilt from El's Kitchen this month.
I've had the book for a while and the fabrics have been saved in a special tote to make this.

Better late than never, right??

I joined the Block of the Month last year and got the book, it's autographed.  

This time a few years ago--- I was at Expo in Puyallup and got to meet Eleanor. 

Just one of the many quilters I've been lucky enough to meet.

There are two size options for this quilt. 

 I'll be making the 6" blocks rather than the 12" blocks. 

6" blocks will make a nice sized Wall Quilt.

Here are my first 5 all sewn together.

I had fun sewing the tiny ric rac around the apron and then stitching it down.

The cup is "fussy cut' from my free Fat Quarter I got from QIAD (Quilt in a Day)

It didn't take too long to sew them up on this Snow Day!

 Top L-R: My Mother's Apron, Pork and Beans, Coffee (Cocoa) Cup 

Bottom L-R: Pig's Tail, Broken Dishes

I found a use for this square-up ruler.

Only 11 Blocks plus the center Basket left to make.

I'll link up with the NewFO over at Cat patches HERE when she post the monthly link-up.

Design Wall/Floor Monday- 2-24-14

I'm a bit slow in posting today...life gives us Good days and Great Days! 

More on that at the end of this post.

On my Floor this morning is my QOV quilt- ready for borders.

Here's a closer-up pictures of the fabric I chose.

It won't take long to get these on, I just have to stay home to do it.

Linking up HERE for Design Wall Monday

I was a Traveling week-end.  I went up to Tri-cities to watch 2 Grandson's play Basketball.

They are in 3rd & 4th Grade (no pictures)

It was so fun to watch them play on the same team and have fun.

After the game I texted my sister to tell her I was coming her way to stay the night.

My DH had to work so I was on my own to find a way to get to Grand Coulee 

to see my Brother and SIL talk in Church before they go on their Mission to Cove Fort in Utah.

 Danette and I took pictures outside at the Church. 

My Brother served as Bishop in the Grand Coulee Ward a few Years ago.

The meeting was great and I loved being there with my family. 

I was especially touched by a song what was played on the piano.  

"I Know Heavenly Father Loves Me"

It always happens and I am grateful for the chance to know that my heart is in the right place-

 even when my tear ducts are too close to my heartstrings. (as my mother used to say)

Here is a picture of my Sister, Brother and I

 The ride there was crazy and I was 'white knuckles' and feeling like I was driving a "bobsled" going down the hill at Stratford.  The snow on my car should have been my warning to go the long way there. I just drove very slow and tried not to ride the brakes. We drove home though Ephrata and avoided that hill. After I dropped my Sister off at her home I started home with a short stop to get fuel and deliver Joseph's LATE Birthday Gift. I got to see their new floors and the remodeling of their house.  I was tired and weary from the long wonderful day. It's always good to go for a ride with my sister. We had a good visit. 

This morning I woke up to shocking news on my FB page that my dear Uncle John passed away early this AM.  His heart pacemaker was failing and he was so weak when we visited in November. I am so glad I followed the prompting to stop and see him and my aunt. I blogged about that trip HERE.

My Dear, Uncle John!  Singing with the angels this morning.  One of them is my Momma! He always called me "Mary Jane".  I know he is with his family members who have been missing him. Now it's our turn to be missing him.  Until we meet again sweet Uncle John!  HUGS and Kisses for Aunt Nola and family this week.

2 Scrappy Neighborhood Houses- Built

I got the 2 Neighborhood Houses built  Sewn so I can post them to Flickr.

Click to make the picture bigger, see the fun fabrics I fussy cut for the doors and windows.

There are special reasons for the fabrics I chose.

The doors have Mary had a Little Lamb 30's repro fabric.

Each house has a puppy in one window and the bird in a cage in the other.

For the pup "Curly" I had as a child, the bird cage for the canary my Paternal Grandpa whistled to.

I chose to lay them out to see how the Quilty Fun SAL is looking this week.

Lori says we can sew the left side together, YEA!

B & W LUS 

21 Blocks in their appropriate spots.

I learned a new trick with my EQ7 and put the jpg of my Loyal Union Sampler on my sidebar.

I had to un-install and re-install my EQ7 to stop getting the error message.

This will help me as I choose fabrics for the 100 blocks I have yet to make.

My secret project is working out nice too. :)

I signed up for another class with my favorite, Local teacher, Eddie Walker!

3 quilts are registered for the Tri-cities Quilt show. It is the week-end of March 21st.

I added the bindings, hanging sleeves and corner labels to the last two quilts that I finished.

I can tack them down while I watch the girls Figure Skating on the Olympics.

I found the NBC SN (NBC Sports Network) broadcasts are LIVE in the daytime here.

GO Team USA!!!

I have the QOV quilt to get borders on and quilted in time for the March Guild Mtg.

That is what's on the agenda now for the week.

Design Wall Monday- February 17,1014

Keeping up with my BOW (Block of the Week) for my Loyal Union Sampler.

D-6 Fort Sumpter is the block assigned for this coming Friday.

I made the one on the left and when I compared it to the picture I saw my BOO BOO.

Rather than "frog stitch", I decided to just re-cut with one different fabric. 

Some fabrics are more stretchy, I'm noticing. 

The 1st one is a bit small and the 2nd one measures a bit on the big size.

I will use both in my quilt anyway.

The Fall Leaves are finished for my Quilty Fun SAL.

Click over HERE for the Blocks to make this week.

I like playing with my 30's stash. I used a black check fabric for the stems.

 I fussy cut it to show only the black in the finished section.
Betsy has been idle with the Olympics going on. I have to concentrate when watching the figure skaters...
I can do the bindings though. 2 of 3 done, 1 binding left to make.
Gotta put a hanging sleeve on the back of 2 also.
Deadline for the Tri-Cities Quiltshow is Feb 21st.

I had a fun week-end celebrating my DH (Dear Hubby) 60th Birthday.

He had to work, but got off sooner than I thought he would.

We went to late Breakfast at the Maple Counter in our small Town

Then we both came home and took naps.

 I think I had a sugar induced coma from the yummy stuff I ordered.

Paul had the White Chocolate Valentine special with lemon curd and raspberries.

I had Strawberry Granola pancakes.  

I had to bring home a box, so my Sunday Breakfast was made.

I had to buy him a SEAHAWKS polo shirt so he is ready for next years Football season.

I  made him a special Mud Pie. 

The cookies were Chocolate fudge sandwich cookies.

I put caramel and fudge topping in it with Cashews for the nuts.

Linking up with Patchworktimes for Design Wall Monday HERE

Valentines 2014

Mom Crowther's "Jack of Hearts" quilt is finished and I was able to deliver it to her 

just before she went to Lunch Friday.
I had to add a different piece of binding because I couldn't find any more of the blue roses.
The Sunflowers on the backing is to remind her of the Farm.

 I made an appointment to go see my niece in Hermiston for a hairdo before the 

Sweethearts Dance. 

Thanks Danette!  I love the curls!!!

I decide to wear my Black Velvet dress and the Purple Necklace I got last year for my Birthday. 

I didn't have Paul wear the Cumberband and Bow tie.

 After working a Long Day, he opted to wear his heart tie and the gray shirt he wore to Janessa's wedding.

What I'm Doing Wednesday...

The snow piles are melting. YEA! It got up to 50 degrees Tuesday. 

I took this picture in the back of Paul's truck to measure the snowfall on Sunday.

Our Guild held the 2nd annual Quilting Symposium. There were 10 visitors who attended.

I even learned a few tips and tricks.  It's never too late to learn something new.

I might have to try a Piped Binding or do some Appliqued flowers for our 

Hearts and Flowers project.

Here is the Front

 Pat wasn't there to receive it tonight.  

They brought it for us to sign on the blocks for her.

We have a guild member who loves ROOSTERS!  Her fellow Fearless Design group members made 

 blocks with roosters on them so they went on the back.

Since 2012 when Marlene brought her Olympics quilt to Guild, I've wanted to make one.

I don't see myself making one exactly like hers, who could compete?

I played on my EQ7 and came up with a Mini quilt to make for myself.

I spent part of Tuesday cutting and sewing the top. 

I laid it out to keep things in the right order.

Webbed together

This is my interpretation of the Olympic Rings or STARS in my case.

I will put something in the lower corner to signify it as the Olympics.

Possibly a Torch? 

There will be a patchwork border of some kind then I will quilt it.

On "Betsy" this week is my Parcheezi quilt.

I'm watching the Olympics while I quilt.

 I am still practicing my spacing and learning how to calculate for the rows.

There are many patterns in the "Quilt So Clever" to Try out.

'Continuous Swirls' with 5 repeats across.

I tried mirroring the pattern and made every other row go from the large to the small swirl. 

I like it so far. I had to stop so I could go to Guild on Tuesday night. 

I'll be finishing the last row of quilting this one up. Then I can get 

the 3 quilts that I've finished this past week- trimmed and ready to apply the binding.

Which one will get the piped Binding??

I started a new project Monday night. 

I love taking classes from Eddie W. and couldn't resist this one.

It will remain a Secret Project for a while.  Sorry to tease you, Janet O!

Design Wall Monday - February 10, 2014

It's been a busy week of quilting.
Two UFO's Quilted and ready to BIND!!!
They are posted HERE and HERE

 I took the day Friday and Saturday to catch up on my Blocks of the week.

Here are the Quilty Fun SAL Blocks so far.
Lori's Blog is HERE

 I only had 2 Tulip blocks to make this week.
I found the fabric for the top Tulip in my Stash sorting. I think that it is REAL 30's.
The background is scrappy too, I didn't notice until I had them sewn that there is 2 fabrics used here.

This week is Fall Leaves that go beside these Spring Tulips.

I'll go over HERE to link up and find the instructions to make them.

I  link up to the Flickr account HERE for a chance to WIN prizes each week by Friday at Midnight.

My Loyal Union Sampler BOW (Block of the Week) was 

B-11 Constance's Pride

I have a total of 20 blocks made so far of 121 in the pattern book.

I put them up in the order I've made them on my small Design wall and on the floor in the rows. 

Not the exact placement, I see there are a couple rows I haven't made any blocks for.

I'm loving the Blues!!!

I am still trying to tame the scrap bin while I watch the OLYMPICS!

Do I see a Quilt in HERE??? Yes, and I am pretty sure I have a Boondoggle ruler to make it!

We've had snow falling the past 4 days and it just keeps coming. This picture was taken at night.

 Linking up with Patchworktimes for Design Wall Monday HERE

2-7-14 Celtic Solstice Final Link-up

What does a Quilter do when it snows?

She goes out with her trusty Ruler and measures it!!!

AND THEN...

She carefully lays her Celtic 'Christmas' Solstice out on the un-tracked 

"Blanket of Snow" and takes a picture.

I just couldn't resist. 

I couldn't miss the chance to Blog this quilt again and link-up to Bonnie Hunter HERE!

Many Thanks to Bonnie for this Beautiful Mystery Quilt. 

I am so glad I made it and can hardly wait to quilt it. 

 There just wasn't time to get it done before the Link-up so this will have to do. 

It has been so fun to see all the different versions of it over on the 

Celtic Solstice Facebook page and linked-up to Quiltville!

2 UFO's Done

I'm doing pretty good and almost quilting one quilt,every other day.  Before I put the last one on I wanted to put a new Leader on the bottom rail so when I get to that last row I can bring it all the way up to the top.

 I had a bolt of fabric I bought by accident. It is PFD (prepared for dying)

I have a bolt of this Sunflower too. Now there is 4 yards less of it.

                                       

I had a bit of thread breaking issues and the cable of the Quilt So Clever is a bit loose so it looses contact and I have to re-program the panto and start all over. I had to quit and sleep last night.

 I took DH to work way EARLY so a Nap was the reason I didn't get to finish it until afternoon.

 This system doesn't save the whole pattern like the Side Saddle  at Lynn's. This is my learning curve! 

 Getting the spacing right is another thing I'm still not as efficient on.

The last 3 rows I figured out how to get the rows better spaced. 

I used Warm and Natural in this one.  DH said that batting isn't 'prickly' like the last one you did.

This quilt was a Mystery by E-mail in 2012.  I made it for my in-laws for Christmas, then Mom was in the Hospital on Christmas Day so I saved it. I wanted to quilt something fun on it to give it texture. I found a DFX pattern that looked a bit like fleur di lis (sp) I don't know 'french'. I put it in a bag and finally showed it to Paul's mother on her Birthday. I'm happy to say it is nearly done, just need to bind it and put the label on.

Next up maybe the Celtic Solstice so I can practice doing individual blocks on " Betsy"!!! 

 I'd like to do my Farmers wife or the Parcheezi soon though.

Way too many in that page in the tabs up there.
Quilting is the best FUN I can have while the 'blanket of snow' is falling outside.
Weatherman predicts 2-3 more inches tonight.

I need to get my Quilty Fun blocks made and posted to Flickr by midnight Friday.

 It's a hard choice always to Piece or quilt now that "Betsy" in in the house!

YAHOO!!! "Betsy" the Viking- finished a big Quilt

I'm jumping for JOY today!  "Betsy" is FIXED!  There was a big Wad of thread stuck in behind the bobbin case that finally got removed yesterday.  I was so excited to get my "Somewhere In Time" off the frame. I had to take a picture and post it to Facebook.  My Facebook friends have been very supportive in my trials with getting her working right- as have my Blogger friends.  Thanks!

The first quilting on "Somewhere in Time" [Jessica Schick- Leaves Panto 16]  Green backing fabric.

Close-up of quilting below...

TA-DA!!!

 I can hardly believe it's finished. If I can get one quilt quilted every week 

I will be caught up in about 3 months I bet. 

Red and White --Virtual Quilt Show

HERE  is the reason I'm posting Twice in one DAY!  Besides waking up to a little more SNOW!

Bonnie Posted HERE  about the Challenge to make a Red and White Quilt again this year. She talked about it being her Leader/Ender Challenge starting in July too. you can see that You-Tube Video from 1-13-14 HERE. 








Sew Cal Gal is having a Virtual Red and White Quilt Show of quilts made before 2014- this week.


SO... Thanks to the BLOCK LOTTO BLOG HERE.

This quilt is the one that spent the a lot of time on my Bernina Quilting Table in 2011 and therefore one I am the most happy to have it finished. It looks much better from a distance, you know from the back of a galloping horse??  I was a Newbie winner over at the  BLOCK LOTTO Blog. I saw the Block offered on another blog and clicked over to join the fun.  The simplicity of the D4P (Disappearing 4 Patch)  was appealing to me. 

 The tutorial for the 8" finished Block is found HERE. It took a few tries for me to make my blocks correctly. And finding different reds to use.  A 1/4 inch off on the cutting makes a BIG difference.

 I was very Lucky to win in the first month. 

 It's fun to have blocks made by others, like the old days of sharing the joy of Quilting- it goes on even now! I Blogged about them when I got them Here. They came from all over the country. 

I'll have to find the packages and make a special label. 

 I found the pretty fabric that is the outside border and on the back at one of my Local Quilt shops. 

It jumped off the shelf !  I quilted it from the back.  Something I'd heard of doing but never tried. 

On another note... thank heaven for "color catchers"!

TOO bad not everyone pre-washes...just saying!

I learned, the hard way, in the washing of a Quilt made from LOTTO blocks with my Red and White Disappearing 4 patch from the Block Lotto Blog last year.  I washed it once before and the Batiks bled into the background fabric. I washed it a second time and used a 'color catcher'.

I'm Linking up to SEW Cal Gal HERE... 

What better way to spend a SNOW DAY ---Browsing Blogland!