Here we go again....

A week since I posted. Where does the time go?

I have taught classes the past 2 nights and have the 2nd session of Beginning Quilting tomorrow night, so busy week!

Over the weekend I worked on a pattern most of Sunday,  and got the Cobblestone Path quilt out and started working on it again. You might remember me starting it last spring during some down time. I wanted something fun to work on.  I had all the blocks made, so started sewing them into rows. I hope to get a chance to work on it again this weekend. Hopefully will have some pix soon.

Eric Carle pillows

You might remember the canvases I covered a few weeks ago for the library at school. I had some fabric left. It niggles at me, figuring out what to make out of the leftovers.

I bought 2 - $4.00 pillows at Walmart.

I cut them in half, shoved the stuffing inside and finished off the cut edge with seam binding. Yea, I know, not really my best sewing, the stuffing kept trying to escape, ok? but they are sewn shut and no raggedy edge.

Do they look more professionally sewn this way? (no closeups please!) They turn out about 12" x 18".

I started off with this fabric that I didn't actually use on a canvas.  I always make pillow cases envelope style...easier to take off and wash without ruining the pillow.

I love the fireflies! and that hungry caterpillar.

And of course, Brown Bear, Brown Bear.

 I was a little short of number fabric to overlap for the envelope back, so added the "what do you see?" panel to the front, which gave me more for the back.

I am taking these to school too.

Teaching the first session of Beginning Quilting tomorrow night. It's always fun to meet new quilters!

Quilting finished, anyone want to bind?

I quilted the kaleidoscope quilt yesterday. 

I used the oriental illusion panto and tie-dye variegated thread.

I like to use the variegated threads as they stay hidden a little better.

Now it's off to work I go!

Getting there....

Here is the body of the kaleidoscope quilt finished. I sewed the borders on last night, but haven't taken pictures yet. It is hard to get a good pic at night. I like how you can still see the circular patterns somewhat with this style....I made one last year that was 2 different colorways, and that is the part that intriques me...the circles that appear when you place your colors correctly. I want to load this one on the frame today and start quilting it. Guess I should get off the computer and make that happen!

Repeating blocks are addicting....

I have started to sew together the rows on the Kaleidoscope quilt, so hope to finish it today. I also need to do some cleaning. I have so many dishes in the sink, it is unbelievable. I really let it go this week as I was either working at night or feeling yucky...that is first on the list today.

We went out to eat at Old Chicago last night for my daughter's birthday. It was fun to see the girls and Dan and we had a great time.

Wall art at school

I hung the wall art on Monday that  I made using Eric Carle fabrics. I have some fabric left so might make some pillows.

Taught a Sampler class tonight...the ladies were paper piecing. Most of them find paper piecing daunting so they don't always enjoy it, but it went well tonight.

Sewing and sinus junk

My sis in law came over Sunday and we sewed all afternoon together. It was nice. I worked on the kaleidoscope blocks and got several rows sewn together.

I hung the Eric Carle canvases yesterday at work, but forgot to take a pic, so will try to remember tomorrow to do that.

I either have a cold or my allergies are going crazy, as I feel sort of yucky the last few days.

Dresden Plate Special class

The Dresden Plate Special class went well yesterday. Everyone put a bit of their own style and personality into it.

We had a UFO class afterwards, so some stayed and finished their toppers, or worked on other projects, and a couple more ladies came to work on ufo quilts. It was a great day of sewing!

I cut out my corners this morning for the kaleidoscope blocks, so hope to get those sewn on today and figure out the layout.

Saturday...class...birthday party...

Looks like we are in for another beautiful day. I am teaching the Dresden Plate Special Tabletopper this morning, and then UFO Saturday in the afternoon. Both should be fun....this is the first Sat class in awhile, so getting back in the groove.

 Here are a couple pix of the kaleidoscope blocks. I haven't cut or sewn on the corners yet, but you can get an idea of how they will look.  I sewed the binding on the Diamonds Forever quilt last night instead.

Sorry the pix aren't the best quality, I took them at night. Will get some better ones soon.

Tonight my niece is hosting a birthday party for her husband, so that should be fun. They just moved to a new house, so can't wait to see it. Plus great to see family too!

A tiny beauty & more blocks finished

I went to see my new great-niece tonight after work, she is adorable! I got to hold her while visiting with her mom and dad. She is perfect in every way..even has a tiny dimple. She loves being held too.

I also worked on blocks...I have 32 finished now. Now I need to cut some corners to make them square and sew them on.

It's not every Wednesday I have a new great-niece....and the fabric...

First off the exciting news...I have a new great-niece, Ellexis Nyckol, born this afternoon. I hope to go visit her tomorrow. I guess I was so excited that I didn't get any sewing done tonight...or maybe I was too lazy...anyway, someone asked about the fabric I am using for the kaleidoscope blocks.

This is it before cutting. It is best to have a very busy fabric for these types of quilts, but I was afraid the flowers were too similiar to make many different patterns. They seem to be turning out ok, though. I love hawaiian prints for stack & whack type quilts.

Guess who..I didn't  have that fabric on the floor for more than a minute and she was on it.

She is really becoming a fabric connoisseur!

Here are the link blocks, I cut the fabric repeating for these too, though it probably won't be noticeable.

They will bring a point out from the kaleidoscope blocks.

You have to love a gal who enjoys her fabric so much!

Still trying...and sewing...

I worked on the kaleidoscope blocks some more tonight after supper. There are 2 types of blocks, I have 15 of these repeating blocks and 10 of the linking blocks finished ( I haven't taken pix of the linking blocks yet). I am going to make 15 of each and then see how it looks. It won't be huge, but that's ok. They won't be octagonal either, I just haven't sewn the corners on them yet.

I love making stack n whack type blocks.

Day 2 of trying to do better...

I covered some canvases with Eric Carle fabrics last week to hang at school.

I'm sure many of you have seen these at quilt stores. I had seen them many times and wanted to buy them, but waited until I had an idea of how to use them. I almost waited too long!

Some I bordered with other fabrics so they would show up on the white wall at school better.

I haven't actually hung them yet, they are sitting on the bookshelf til I decide for sure how I want them.

I might make a few small pillows out of the leftover fabrics.

I think they will brighten the library up!

I started a new quilt today...it is a kaleidoscope quilt cut stack n whack style. I have some of the blocks done, will post more about them later.

Catching up, too long since I've posted!

Going back to school, a family wedding and several weeks of classes and other activities in the evenings have equaled no postings from me. I hope to do better now.

I have been cleaning and weeding the garden today. The garden was soooo bad I filled up 3 leaf bags. I shouldn't admit that, should I? Seems like I just never got ahead of it after I got back from vacation.

I got a new stove yesterday. We have always wondered how we would get the old one out and the new one in, as the cupboards and an island were built around it. But my husband and daughter and the neighbor guy did it! It looks so nice. The old one still worked to some extent, but was looking very old and nasty.

Then we finally moved the fridge back into the kitchen. It was still on the porch from before we did the floor. To tell you the truth, I sort of liked it out there, as the kitchen is small and the fridge seems to get in the way now that I have gotten used to it being gone. But I'm sure I will get used to it again. So after all the moving stuff around, cleaning time again.

 I did get the diamonds forever quilt quilted. Just need to get the binding on. Hope to start on another quilt tonight or tomorrow, depending how I feel when I get back from biking.