July 27, 2014

Jane Austen BOW 16 and 17


   BOW 16 
Lucky Pieces. I really like my fabric choices for this block. I made the flying geese with a rectangle and 2 squares. I prefer that to all triangles-they usually come out wonky!

BOW 17 
Waterwheel. Hmm, I am not as crazy about these fabric choices. But they are good enough!

July 13, 2014

Jane Austen BOW 15, King's Crown

This week's Jane Austen BOW is called King's Crown. It took a little longer as I made sure my fabric was facing the same direction. This block has a couple of new fabrics that I added to the mix. I hope I have enough for all of the blocks now. The pink is from Ladies Album and the small brown stripe is a reproduction that I have had in my stash for a while.

July 12, 2014

LUS BOW 36 Prosperity

This week's block went together very well. It did take some time as there are 41 pieces with some Y-seams. This was a block that the Y-seams turned out very well and lay very flat. One triangle is off in the middle snowball square. Not the place I expected! All in all a pretty block and well sewn. 
Finished it just in time too. Posted at 10:30 pm!

LUS BOW 35-Gettysburg

This block was due last Friday, but I finished it a little late. I was able to finish it Tuesday while I was at Jury Duty. It was a most interesting trial. The defendant represented himself and we really couldn't tell what his defense was. But it was a short, 2 day trial, and an interesting experience.

July 6, 2014

Jane Austen BOW 14

Wow, a busy day for me. I pulled out 1000 weeds and mowed the back lawn. Did a couple loads of laundry. Sewed an hour on Stacy's Red, White and Blue quilt. Cleaned my craft room at least an hour. I prepped the next LUS BOW. And I made this block! It is called Home Comfort for Jane's brother George. It turned out the right size, and I am pretty happy with the fabric choices. 
Next up-fried rice with leftover steak.

June 29, 2014

Birthday Sampler for June-blocks 10 and 11


There were 2 birthdays in June for my Birthday Sampler.
This is going to be such a pretty sunny quilt.

Jane Austen BOW 13 Crosses and Losses

This week's bow for the Austen Family Album. A little out of focus :)
I noticed that I have 3 blocks with the same 3 fabrics. I better mix it up next week!

Threads of Memory BOM 6-Salem Star

A very pretty block this month. I am pleased with how it turned out. I did remember not to use the fabric I have saved for the Jane Austen BOW. This block is for Charlotte Forten Grimke. As I was reading the blog post I recognized her last name. Yep, she married the nephew of Sarah and Charlotte Grimke. I just read the Invention of Wings a historic novel about the 2 abolitionist sisters.

Loyal Union Sampler BOW 34-Honeybee

Loyal Union Sampler BOW 34. A nice easy block, until I got to the applique.
I really thought I was better than that!  Those bee's wings are crooked, pointy (in the wrong spots) and just plain messy. to borrow a saying....`finished is better than perfect'.

June 28, 2014

Scrappy Sawtooth top finished!

The Red, Cream and Blue Scrappy Sawtooth Top is Finished! Woo Hoo.
The back needs to be pieced, but shouldn't take too long-it is only 5 or 6 pieces.
Then off to the LongArmer it goes!

June 26, 2014

Jane Austen BOW 12-Waves of the Sea

This week's Austen Family Album block is called Waves of the Sea. The blocks come out on Sunday, and here it is Thursday already. But it is finished before the next one comes out! A fairly easy block again this week. Except for the squiggly pink triangles-I kept turning them the wrong way. I triple checked each one thus avoiding sewing them on incorrectly.

June 21, 2014

Gift Bag? Gift Box?


So a neighbor is having her annual Summer Solstice Party tonight. I usually bring a bottle of wine, but when I was picking it out I thought I remembered something about a Facebook post and Gin. 
So I hope it was her post, and that she likes Gin. Can't stand the stuff myself. So I have no idea if it is good Gin or bad Gin. 
I hadn't yet made a gift bag so I thought I would give it a try. Is it really a bag with no handles? Is it a lidless box? And while it is a perfect size for Gin, I didn't leave room for little Pumpkin. So little Pumpkin has it's own little box/bag on the front. It is cardstock, but I wasn't sure if it would be sturdy enough for that hefty bottle.  So it is maybe a lidless box/bag that must be supported from the bottom and placed on a table as soon as received. Try marketing that!

Strawberries!

It was a lovely day today! Warm, with a little clouds. Just right to go Strawberry Picking!
There were a ton of people with the same idea already there, and I thought for sure all the strawberries would be gone. But I still got over 5 pounds! Yum!

June 20, 2014

June 18, 2014

Oldest UFO?

So over on Esther's Blog she has a post about her oldest UFO. I think this one may be mine. I started it for my now 10 year old daughter when she was a baby. I took it out a few months ago and did a little work on it. But, gee, I have a long way to go!

June 15, 2014

Jane Austen BOW 11 Friendship Square

This week's Jane Austen BOW is called Friendship Square.
My seams must be pretty good, the points are good, the block is just about 12 1/2". 
I love it when that happens :)

June 11, 2014

Loyal Union Sampler BOW 32 Twin Star

Just  a quick moment to post a picture of this week's BOW.
It took about an hour to sew, and came out rather straight, etc.
Phew!

June 8, 2014

June 7, 2014

LUS BOW 31- Ohio H-5

So many Y-seams! I think this turned out fairly well, only 2 spots that are a little ruffly. I finished this one close to the wire-finally posting a picture at 9pm.

June 4, 2014

Jane Austen BOW 9, London Roads

This week's block for the Jane Austen BOW is called London Roads.
I added a new fabric to the mix as I know I will run out of my main 7 fabrics. This block went together easily this week as well. So much easier than the Threads of Memory block!

June 1, 2014

Threads of Memory, Block 5

This month's Threads of Memory  block is called Madison Star and it is for Delia Webster. Delia is described as  "a very bold and defiant kind of woman" and I found the block to be very bold and particularly defiant. All those Y-seams really fought back. But it is done, again in the wrong fabric, but done!

May 31, 2014

Birthday Sampler, Block 9, May

There is only one Birthday in May for this sampler, and this is the lovely block chosen. These are my new yellows, and I love both of them! The dark color is really purple, even though it doesn't look like it. The block came out a tad small, so I think I will log cabin around it with the white to make it the correct size. Phew! Finished just in time!

May 30, 2014

Loyal Union Sampler BOW 30 Two Bears Farm

Every week I am surprised at how many BOWs I have completed. This is number 30.  It was a fairly easy block to sew. Even though I am hand sewing I still make my 1/2 square triangles big and cut them to size. I found myself stitching at gym with my triangles complete, but no way to press and trim! I cut out about half of the cornerstones this week. I have yet to decide if I will put the blocks together in order as in the book or in a different order.

May 27, 2014

Scrappy Sawtooth Progress

14 blocks are completed. 3 sets of 4 are sewn together.  It is coming along!

May 26, 2014

Dance Recital

Ballet and Hip Hop. V was also in the Hip Hop dance after her ballet dance.
Photo Bomb! I couldn't have taken a better picture if I tried!

For those of you coming from Esther's WOW-I couldn't resist this post! For something quilty,  see the Scrappy Sawtooth Progress!

May Flowers





The garden is in bloom.

May 25, 2014

Jane Austen BOW 8, Eliza's Star

This week's BOW is finished! The Y-seams gave me a bit of trouble, but I pressed them into submission. I do feel the need to add more fabric choices to the blocks....

May 23, 2014

LUS BOW 29 A House Divided

This week's BOW from the Loyal Union Sampler is A House Divided. With only 8 pieces the block went together quickly. It took just about one hour to sew.

May 19, 2014

Jane Austen BOW #7-Philadelphia Block

Block #7 of the Jane Austen BOW.  It is another fairly easy block. But I need to check my seam allowances. My seams were off by a small amount again. :(

May 13, 2014

Loyal Union Sampler BOW 28, Abigail's Swing

Abigail's Swing. I am finished early again this week. Woo hoo! There are a lot of Y-seams in this block which makes my center a bit wonky. The block is the right size though! I love this bird, nest and flower fabric. It has been in my stash for quite a while and I am glad I kept it. The motifs are a nice size for the small pieces of the block.
Loyal Union Sampler Book 

May 11, 2014

Jane Austen BOW 6 Empire Star

This week's Jane Austen BOW is called Empire Star. I added a new fabric to the 7 I am currently using for this quilt. In this picture it looks like a light pink, but it is more of a off white with the pink flowers.

May 10, 2014

American Heroes, Quilts of Valor, Family Quilts

At my last local quilt guild meeting, we had a speaker come give us a challenge.
The town we meet in has an annual outdoor quilt show in the month of September. Sheila told us of a challenge to every quilter in the area to make 50 red white and blue quilts to donate to Quilts of Valor, American Heroes, or any service member we personally know to show in the quilt show. So I got to thinking and signed up to be part of that challenge. The block on the right is the first block of a modern red white and blue quilt for my sister. The block on the left is for one of our guild member's daughter. She is leaving for 6 months to watch her daughter's kids while her daughter is deployed. After it is displayed in the quilt show, I will send the quilt as a surprise to our guild member and her daughter. The one for my sister I will send to her when she returns to the states in November. At our next guild meeting, we will be slyly asking members to make their own scrappy star blocks to add to the quilt-while still trying to keep it a secret! I will also ask for the modern blocks, but that doesn't have to be a secret!
Both quilts are to be sewn together block to block without any sashing. I hope to update progress soon!

May 7, 2014

Jane Austen BOW 5-Village Square

I think this was the easiest block so far. And that can be nice sometimes. I have tons of sewing I would like to catch up on (who doesn't?) and this helped give me extra time. This block really showcases that main fabric. The blog post shows a version with a pieced center.

May 6, 2014

LUS BOW 27-Glad Tidings

Ah, such a pretty block. Only 4 1/2 hours. Ugh, it is too big though!!
I am hoping I can add sashing, and trim that smaller to make it the correct size together.
LUS 

May 2, 2014

LUS BOW 26-Rhode Island

This week's block went together very well, if a tad too big.
LUS 

April 29, 2014

Jane Austen BOW 4-Thrifty

This week's block for the Jane Austen BOW is called Thrifty. It is another fast and easy block. The cutting and sewing took 1/2 hour total. I have not been able to find these fabrics locally yet....
And I know my 7 yards will not be enough!

April 27, 2014

Threads of Memory Block 4 Canada Star

Ah, I got my fabrics mixed up this week. These are the Ladies' Album fabrics I am using for the Jane Austen BOW. But at least I am using scrappy 1800's reproductions for this ToM BOM and this block will fit in.

April 26, 2014

Birthday Sampler-Block 8

This block is called Texas Rose. There is only one birthday in April for our group, so it is easy to stay caught up. I was pretty much out of yellow fabrics. And they aren't easy to find! This yellow is the only one from my closest local quilt shop that I thought would fit in well. All the others were too gold or too orange.  I did make it to another shop a bit further away and had more luck. I found 5 yellows that I think will go well in the quilt. 
I hoped that that shop would also carry some of the Ladies Album and Mill Book 1850 lines, but they aren't carrying either. I am not sure my 7 yards will be enough for the Jane Austen BOW that I am sewing along with.

April 22, 2014

LUS BOW 25

This week's BOW. A very quick block this week. That will give me a little extra time to catch up on my other sewing. I am almost finished with my Around the World swap blocks from one of my Yahoo groups. I can also work a little more on the first Benjamin Biggs block. LUS

April 20, 2014

Jane Austen BOW 3-Cross Within Cross

Another quick and fun block. Side by side, my blocks look rather similar in color. Must be because I am using the same 7 fabrics. I may add more, but I think only if I can find the Ladies Album or Mill Book 1852 locally. I like both lines very much.

April 19, 2014

A Spinning UFO Finished!

Wow! I finally finished spinning this wool! V has claimed it for her own. She has decided it would look great as a scarf. I showed her a pretty twisty pattern that is pretty simple and got the OK. It should crochet up quickly.
 Only a couple of hours, and it is finished!