Preview of my Scrappy Sampler

This is the first time that I have laid out all of the blocks that I have made for this quilt over the last several months. There are still a few holes for the last 3 pinwheel blocks (not all sewn together yet) and the last applique heart blocks which I presume is next month's block. I had not realized this would be such a big quilt when I started it. There are two pieced borders to do as well. Still lots of cutting and sewing to do...

Scrappy Sampler--more blocks done

These are the July BOM for my scrappy sampler quilt. This project has been underway for 10 months now and I have faithfully completed each month's blocks. There are actually 8 of these double pinwheel blocks, packed away for assembly after the 11th and final block is posted in August. I think September's instructions will be for the borders for this quilt. I started out with a basket full of fat quarters in the colours I liked. I have had to add some extra light coloured fabrics along the way, not realizing I would need so many when I started this project. I love these colours--if you could see my house, you would see that I use them to decorate as well. I am hoping that this quilt will be done in time for my quilt guild's show in October.

A Little Bit of Quilting...

I have not blogged for ages...My father is moving to my town and I have spent a lot of time lately helping him to get ready to move. He has lived in his house for almost 50 years and has a lot of stuff to sort through. Hence, little time for sewing.

I did manage to eek out a few hours to sew a couple of evenings last week. I ironed the fabric and made a label for my purple Yellow Brick Road quilt which I pieced quite a while ago. I realize now that I promised to post a picture of it and then promptly forgot to do that! Here is a picture of the front, the backing fabric and the label. There is a border on the front now as well but no picture. This quilt has now been taken to the machine quilting lady to be quilted. It should be done and ready for binding in a couple of weeks.

Fabric Postcards

Last night, I spent my evening making fabric post cards and working on my wall hanging. I ran out of thread for the wall hanging--I'll get more on Saturday to finish it. The pink flower postcard is for my daughter who is away working at a camp for the summer. The Yellow flower postcard is for my Grandmother, the one who inspired me to quilt. One of the others will be a birthday card for a friend. I'm not sure who will receive the 4th one. I have more ideas in my head to make more--perhaps another evening when I am watching TV, I will make more.

My oldest UFO

I was exploring my very messy sewing room a couple of weeks ago and came across a hand pieced quilting project started before I got married (Our 19th wedding anniversary is this summer). I took a 20 week class at a quilting store in London, Ontario (Quilters' Supply which is no longer there!) on designing blocks, making templates, hand piecing, appliquing and hand quilting a sampler quilt. We learned how to design and make 13 different types of blocks. At the time, I pieced several of the blocks, quilted most of one block and took down the instructions on how to make the others. One of the blocks which was started, but not finished was a Hawiian block. Over the last week or so, I am pleased to tell you that I finished appliquing this block! I have decided to try to complete this project by hand, maybe as a wall hanging with 9 blocks. I will work away on it as I watch TV or wait for an appt. Here are pictures of the blocks that are peiced, including the Hawiian block:




Pieced star:

Shells:

Pieced Drunkard's Path:

Log Cabin:

Pineapple Log Cabin:

9-Patch:The blocks that are not done include English Paper Piecing, Dresden plate, Applique, 16 patch, Mariner's compass and Cathedral Window. I will have to hunt a bit to find the patterns that I drafted for these...

Maybe some of you could post a comment on your oldest UFO...

I also started another 24 by 24" wall hanging this past week. The background is pieced and the applique parts are cut out. I purchased the kit for this at a quilting store in Savage, MD in March while I was on vacation. My daughter picked the kit for me. Here is the pieced background:



Stay tuned for a picture of the completed wall hanging.

By the way, my MIL liked "Feeling Sheepish". I have not heard yet where she is going to hang it.

Feeling Sheepish is Done!

I finished my MIL's birthday gift tonight--the party is on Saturday so I actually got it done with time to spare!!! I have been known to finish a gift in the car on the way to the event before!


Now...what to work on next. I have lots of UFO's... Here are some of my choices...

1. Fiddlesticks quilt, mostly pieced. I just have to finish putting the strips of blocks together. I want to put this into our guild quilt show this October.

2. Fabric postcards--not actually a UFO but I have some people I want to send them to.

3. Snowman wall hanging--I am quilting this one myself and it is partly quilted.

4. Another Pentecost banner for church--not started yet but I should try to finish it soon so it can be hung up at church.

5. A hand pieced, hand quilted sampler which I started before I got married (20 years ago) which I looked at the other day and decided I should finish it!

6. A fall table runner for me. I have the material but I have not started it yet.

7. Lots of projects that are racing around my head. Fabric is purchased, patterns picked but not started yet.

Stay posted for my decision...

Birthday quilt

I am still working on my MIL's birthday quilt. Her birthday is this weekend, but the family party is not until the first weekend in June so if you know her, please don't tell yet!!!

Here are some pictures of the whole quilt, and details of the blanket stitch (by machine) that I am adding to the flowers and leaves. The vines are hand appliqued and the sheep, leaves and flowers are fused applique.


I still have two flowers and 12 leaves to go... I'm hoping to be at the quilting stage by the weekend. Stay tuned for a picture of the finished product.

Many years ago, I spent a lot of time doing counted cross stitch pictures--mostly as gifts for others, but some for myself as well. Here is one of the pictures I did with a quilty theme.

I will post a photo of the other picture later.