Shopping with Big Plans

I popped into two quilt stores yesterday and came away with stuff to finish a current project (remember those itty bitty nine patches) and the first phase of two more projects. You'll notice a Sanctuary Jelly Roll by Moda - it's my first "Jelly Roll" and it's fat free - WooHoo!!!!

Stopped by Barnes and Noble and found the latest issue of Quilts and More and Best of Quilt Sampler (Nadine, I bought one for you, too).

While I was out I met with my good friends, Barb and Mary of Me and My Sister Designs to grab some patterns to proof.

So, new fabric, new magazines, a little time with good friends – a very good day, indeed!

A LITTLE TEASER

I’ve spent the evening working with my Chocolat charm squares (prints and plaids). I’ve already made thirty (30) 3 ½” nine patches. Oh, they are so cute! I’m showing you a picture of some of the itty bitty nine patches – in my new project I will only be using the ones with the dark corners so I’m tossing the others in a basket. A project for those will come along someday! Tomorrow I have to go out to meet with some clients so I plan to stop by my LQS to purchase more plaid charm squares (I only had one pack).

By the way – I’ve been making my itty bitty nine patches out of the charm squares following the tutorial here. (be sure to scroll down the page)

More tomorrow!

Another one bites the dust!

If you've read my blog on regular basis you know that I love to sing "Another One Bites the Dust" when I've completed a project. :-) Do you suppose that Freddy Mercury smiles when I do that? LOL

The past week has been incredibly stressful in my household so when I get stressed I sew! It's such a terrific destresser - I just get lost in the hum of my sewing machine. AHHHHH Thirty five 25 patches pieced and assembled - WooHoo. I used a fat quarter bundle called Spring Spring by Me and My Sister Designs for Moda

I got e-mail notification that my Picket Fences charm pack has been shipped so hopefully I get that project finished at the end of the week.

Wait till you see what I have planned for the next stack of charm packs. Chocolat prints and plaids - YUM!

Having Fun

I sewed and sewed and then came to a screeching halt. I need more 5” charm squares to make more 16 patches. So I’ve quickly placed an order and now will wait for Mr. Postman to bring my little package.

Here’s a sneak peek at my 16 patches with framed 4 patches – next week I’ll show you the finished quilt.

edit: the blocks are set on-point

Charm Square 4 Patches

Several have asked about my charm square four patches. Here's a quick tutorial.

Sew two different 5" squares (right sides together) a 1/4" on opposite sides.

Cut them apart - in the middle - you now have two 2 1/2" units.




Press them open and sew two units together; again right sides together a 1/4" seam allowance on opposite sides.






Now cut those units apart in the middle and you have two four patches per pair of 5" charm squares.


4" finished

I know this is not a new technique but it's a refresher; as so many of us are trying to figure what to do with those 5" charm packs. :-)

If my explanations are not clear please let me know and I'll be happy to answer your questions.

5” Charm squares = 16 Patches

Allow me to introduce you to my quilting project that caused me so much frustration! I made four patches and attempted to lay them out in a pattern on one of the design walls and it was ICKY. So, I set it aside and decided that I would think about it later! Late Saturday night as I was preparing for bed I had a "light bulb moment" – make 16 patches. So, I used two packs of 5” charm squares and now have 25 sixteen patches. Setting? Oh, I’m working on some ideas and hoping for another “light bulb moment”. But, aren’t they cute – it’s Moda’s Picket Fences line!

Drumroll Please!

28 left comments on my 101st posting – thank you! LeahS, baynesK, LisaD, Computerpeach Kim, Sweet Pea, Carolyn, Melzie, Sabine, Nadine, Carol, DoodlebugGail, Vicky, Carole, Paula, Beth, Mary, Swoozie/Suzette, Joyce, May Britt, Anne, Lappemore, The Calico Cat, TJ, Cynthia, McIrish Annie, Nicole Libby and Meredith. It’s been lots of fun to read all the comments to my silly game – thanks for playing!

I put all the names into a bowl and decided to draw two names.

The winners are:

Doodlebug Gail and Cynthia

Please send an e-mail to me with your full name and address and a surprise will make its way to you very soon!

Again, thanks for playing!

101

Yesterday’s posting was my 100th. I had a good laugh because later I was leaving a comment on someone’s blog and the verification letters were “iblab” – well obviously not because I’ve been blogging since June and I’ve just gotten to 100. LOL

I’ve seen numerous blogs where something special is done to celebrate the 100th post. So, after a little thought I decided it would be fun to do the same thing! I’ve had so much fun with my blog; lots of inspiration, lots of cyberfriends, etc. I appreciate that so many stop by to read about my "doings". So, if you leave a comment, for this posting, before I decide to post my 102nd post I’ll put your name in a drawing for a special little surprise! Are you game????

Friends, Fun and Frustration!

Three of us loaded up sewing machines, suitcases, project overflowing totebags, birthday gifts and “stuff” and headed to a week end of sewing and fun! We arrived late Thursday afternoon and met four more friends! We selected bedrooms and set up our sewing spots. WooHoo – let the sewing begin! One picture shows the right side of the room with four sewing spots!

Thursday evening sewing was very frustrating for me – why? My project looked terrific in my mind’s eye but when I started laying it out on the design wall it was TERRIBLE! OK, scrap one project (for now) and pulled out my snowball blocks and made the needed nine patched and worked on my pink and brown project – finished it on Friday afternoon! (one person told me it was “boring” but I love it!) Now what???? I pulled out what I believed would be a very quick and simple project -Flora- this one took me till Saturday afternoon (grrrr). Not my normal style but I really like it. And then I pulled out my Spring Fling fat quarter bundle – no plan – what to do, what to do??? I decided to make 25 patches and managed to get 12 blocks made Saturday before I headed to bed (had to be in bed by midnight since I was driving on Sunday). I am super happy with these blocks and plan to make 13 more blocks. Up early Sunday morning (needed to make the most of the remaining hours) as I had a new plan in mind for my Thursday evening frustrating project. So I wanted to pull that project out and “played” a little. Oh, my new plan is going to work wonderfully but I had to stop and pack up to head back down the mountains. Sigh!

Lots of fun, laughter, sewing, chocolate brownies and 2 birthday celebrations and now we’re home; back to “life”!

Struggled with blogger and the lay out of the pictures - sorry!

Retreat to the Mountains!

It’s that time again! Time to retreat to the mountains with my quilting bee. Naturally, here it is the night before we’re to leave and I still have not settled on a project or two. I have a tendency to pack too many projects but this time I’ve resolved to just pack two. But, but, what if I finish those two – then what? Well, maybe one more – those cute four patches must go with me! LOL ;-)

The stuff is piled everywhere as I attempt to decide which project to take. I don’t have projects ready however my cutting tools are or will be “labeled”.

I’ll be back Sunday afternoon – miss me!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope that you all enjoy flowers, chocolates, and special gifts!

Thank you!

Thank you for all the wonderful anniversary wishes. We still can't believe that it's been 30 years. Whoa!

Thank you for leaving so many terrific comments on my blog. I try so hard to respond to all your comments but lately it's been overwhelming. I'm not ignoring "you" but I can't seem to keep up. I hope I don't hurt any feelings when I don't respond. I'm at a loss because I believe it would be polite to respond and maybe rude if I don't but I simply can't keep up. I do visit all your blogs and read about everything you do and while I don't always leave a comment please know that I do visit.

I love the inspiration that blogging has provided. I've forged a ton of friends and learned alot along the way!

So, my blogging friends consider yourself hugged!

Peaceful Weekend!!!

I had a terrific week end. Went to sew with friends on Friday evening – haven’t seen them since before Christmas so it was great to visit and laugh. I didn’t do any machine piecing, instead I chose to work on binding. Makes it easier to chat. LOL I had to work on Saturday, then I went to dinner with my Sweetie and then spent the evening watching TV and working on binding on a quilt for a friend. And, today I was invited to sew with a different group of ladies and had a wonderful time. This time I did do some piecing – made more four patches but I’m not sure what I’m going to do with them, so I’ll post pictures when I’ve made some decisions.

February 12, 1977 – 30 years ago!!!

That was the day my sweetie, Ron and I got married. I can’t believe that we’ve been married for 30 years – wow where did all the years go???? I have to share that many did not think our marriage would last – one family member even stood up and announced that “the wedding was a complete waste of time because this marriage will never last”. I believe we fooled her. LOL

Happy Anniversary, Ron, I love you!!!! XXXXX

The Need to Piece!

I was reading blogs and e-mail very early this morning (4:30am). I love the quiet of the early morning hours. So peaceful; very little noise and then POOF the day begins and the quiet is gone! (and my solitude is gone, too)

Patti posted a picture of Hot Apple Pie by Kim of Water Pail Designs and I thought “HMMMMM”. I had one charm pack of Four Seasons by Moda – made quick four patches (you know, sew the sides, etc, etc). Sewed 8 blocks by 8 rows, an inner border and outer border. I might have to quilt this one soon as I think it would be a darling table cover in my kitchen. I got caught up in the Charm Pack frenzy so I have a drawer full – this project was quick and easy so I might have to make something much larger with other charm packs.

Now, I’m going to get back to my pink and brown project that sits waiting for me!

Bunnies!!!

Saturday afternoon, the Hallmark Channel (great chick flicks), my needle and thread and my favorite spot in the living room = Finished chocolate bunnies.

I have completed the appliqué; need to finish some tiny finishing touches and then I can start assembling the blocks. Yahoo! Soon I will start the appliquéd scallop border so hopefully this project will be done by the end of February! By the way, this project is “Rabbits Prefer Chocolate” by Anne Sutton of www.bunnyhilldesigns.com.

Thank you all so much for wonderful comments regarding my stack of flimsies. That stack does provide a lot to think about. Several suggested that I buy a cabinet to put my finished quilts in – well, I do have a very tall red cabinet with glass doors that currently houses 50 finished quilts. There’s a picture in my June ‘06 archives (sorry I don’t know how to link it). My daughter and I discussed that I need two more cabinets like the red one; one cabinet full of quilts for her, one for her oldest son, Seth and one for her youngest son, Eli. This way they will all inherit my quilts. LOL (actually, it’s not a bad idea)

Another Bunny

One more chocolate bunny done!

Ponderings

I’ve been thinking a lot about my piles of “flimsies”. Yesterday Patti and I had a discussion, via e-mail, about whether or not I should quilt all of those “flimsies”. We pondered whether or not I still like them all; should I consider weeding through them and donating some? This discussion has caused me to do some thinking about this dilemma. I believe that I do like all of my quilts and quilt tops – I only make something if I truly love the pattern or fabric. I have a tendency to bond with my quilts when I’m sewing. All of my quilts and quilt tops have some sort of memory – maybe it was a trip I took and bought the little bundle of fabrics; maybe it was sewing with friends; maybe it was a special pattern; maybe it was a purchase I made at a quilt store that I may or may not get to visit again; maybe it was that I saw a sample in a quilt store, on the web, in a book, in a magazine, etc; maybe it was a class; lots and lots of maybes. I know that all of my quilts are not superstars but like the fabrics they all can’t be superstars – I do need a few to be supporting cast members. Some don’t look pretty when they are spread out however they will look wonderful folded in a cabinet or piled on a table or draped on the back of a chair.

So, will I quilt and keep them all? I truly don’t know at this point as there are still a lot to be quilted – I’ll make that decision as I go through them but I don’t believe I can part with any them.

Final thought!!! I don't believe I've ever met a quilt I didn't like! :-)