Binding Frenzy

 I have been getting some bindings done lately...on my quilts and two of my mom's. 

Mom's Twister 

My Honeycomb Waffle Too. This was partially sewn and I used it when I taught 

the class. I finished it recently, quilted it and now it's bound. I really like the vivid colors on the back in relation to the mostly neutral front.

My small quilt made using the Squirrelly Girl fabric line. So cute.

My Mom's quilt. Not sure what the name of this quilt is, but it is bound now.

Conrad likes the Squirrelly Girls quilt and claimed it when it was waiting to be bound. 

I quilted both of mine (above) recently after I had my midarm worked on. It's working well again, so keep your fingers crossed for me. I'm working on this one now. 

Giraffes in a Row

Garden Window Sampler Finish

I'm not sure what I've been doing the past few weeks. Seems like I stay busy, but my house isn't spotless and my sewing isn't all caught up. Do you feel like that too? I think I get more done when I have a schedule of classes to teach and some 'at home time'. I have been working on my Etsy Shop, however. I've been trying to get it up and running since Craftsy closed. It would seem like it wouldn't take that long to list patterns, but finding multiple pictures, making sure the pattern is updated and in the right format...it all takes time. I don't have all my designs there yet, but a good portion of the newer ones are there now, including the Circle and Spin series quilts. 

 

I have been doing some gardening. Have some tomato plants getting used to being outside. They are ready to plant, but we have had a few cool nights with frost warnings (can you believe that?) so I have only planted the Early Girl so far. I don't do any canning anymore, but like to have them to eat and share.

I bound an oldy but goody yesterday. Garden Window Sampler #3 is one of the first quilts I designed after I started teaching classes and I've taught it many times. It introduced the 3D sashing that students learned to make as well as an easy paper-pieced birdhouse.  I used to hang quilts on the walls of the classroom when I taught at Hancock Fabrics, so it was better if they weren't quilted. (That's my story and I'm sticking to it.) My friend Cindy quilted it recently so it was almost to the finish line. 

I love the springiness of this quilt and it was fun taking it outside for pix on the grass. 

Bindings finished = quilts finished + retreat prep

 Binding day was successful! I got all 3 quilts bound. I still have to write the pattern for this one and the Cathedral Windows pillows. Then I might be ready to post some fall classes!

 You are probably getting tired of this quilt, but I really love it. I think Marci Baker is a genius for figuring out how to do this using strip piecing methods! Plus I'm really happy to have it finished.

I'm so glad to have this finished, since it's been aging as a top for several years.  I need to learn from this photo...note to self: get down even with the middle, so that the quilt bottom doesn't look smaller.

Today I want to do some quilting on the Twister quilt...and get things packed and ready to go on my retreat. I have some projects ready, but need to figure out a couple more, just in case. I would hate to run out of things to work on! We are leaving tomorrow.  We do all of our own cooking, each of us signing on to make a meal and bring snacks, so I have some enchiladas to make today as well.

Lots of people ask me about the retreats I go on. We came up with this one night during a quilt class...talking about how much fun it would be to go on a retreat and then planning it. We found a bed and breakfast, Harrisdale Homestead,  that we rent about an hour away, and there's plenty of room to set up to sew. We take over the place, cooking our own meals and sewing and chatting into the wee hours. We work on our own projects, though sometimes we plan ahead to make the same projects. It's just fun to get away from home and spend some quality quilting time with friends! 

Binding Day for me!

I'm going to sew with friends today, and have 3 quilts to bind, so that is what I will be doing. I am really happy to be getting these finished. I will get some good pix too!

I got the Twister quilt on the quilting frame yesterday, and quilted a few rows, then left for an appt. I didn't do much sewing after that, but I did get two of the quilts trimmed for binding today. Wish me luck!

Hollow Cubes and bindings

 I spent a lot of time sewing this weekend! I got all of the Hollow Cube strip sets that I had sewn cut into triangles. I have the additional strip sewn to 2 of the color sets. Here is a preview....I had to put some up on the wall to see how they were turning out! I love this 3D optical illusion!

 A lot of you know that I have a "few" quilts that need bindings. I sorted all of my tops last summer into "needs" categories. Some need bindings, some need to be quilted. I didn't post the full list, as it is l-o-n-g and I do have some pride! I sewed the binding on one of them yesterday, the Puzzle Quilt. I taught this class last year 3 times, so it hung for a long time on display quilted, but not bound. At least it was quilted, right? The scrappy binding was all made and ready to go. I have been trying to make the binding when I finish the top, so I am not looking all over for something that matches when I finally do get around to binding it.

I sewed binding on 2 other quilts Saturday, will take pix later and show you. These were not on "the list", but more recently made. I also took a trip to one of my favorite quilt shops yesterday. More on that later.

Conrad is almost as big as Smokey now. Here they are a few months ago. Look at that fluffy tail! It is so long. I have a feeling he will be bigger than her before he's finished growing!

Cottages done and on to something else...

I finished the cottages yesterday and got them in the mail. I decided since Betsy was the swap hostess, I should include her picture on her cottage too! Looking good, Betsy! Have you been working out?

I did get almost 2 sides of the binding sewn down on the memory quilt last night while watching tv.

Not sure what today will bring...I might start something new. Or quilt something of mine.

Another quilt quilted and on to the cottages!

I got my sister's quilt finished this morning. It's a biggie at 95" x 112". I like this pattern too, even though I just realized the quilt is upside down in the pix. I had it draped over the quilt frame. Well, you get the idea.


It's a very pretty quilt, I will have to take a pic of her and the quilt when I give it back to her. I didn't have anyone to hold it up so I could take a picture of the whole thing.

Tuesday I got the new Beginning Quilting quilt tied and the binding sewn on the front. So now I just need to hand sew it down to the back. Sometimes I sew both sides by machine, but I teach them the traditional way, so have to finish the way I teach it. (heavy sighing....)

I also got the binding sewn to the front of the memory quilt so it needs the same thing...(more heavy sighing....lol). I need to take a couple of good pix of it too, as I haven't yet. Glad I don't have to bind my sister's quilt!

Now to get those cottages finished. I am behind on reading blogs too, so might have to find some time to do that also! I forgot to put that on the list the other day!