A day of friends and sewing...

 I spent a great Saturday planning meals and sewing with my retreat group. We always cook our own meals, and keep them pretty simple so we don't spend too much time cooking. We all help, so even clean-up is easy.

After planning we stayed and sewed. I worked on my new Circle and Spin to the Moon...figuring out the layout I wanted took the longest, I think! It's all sewn together now, I just have to decide if I want a border. I wasn't going to add one, but might add just a narrow black border to finish it off. I would use a batik print, but nothing too busy. I will probably do a scrappy binding.What do you think will finish this off perfectly?

 Dianne and Pat worked on their Red, White and True sewing...I forgot to get a picture of Pat's.

Rose worked on getting blocks ready for a T-shirt quilt she is making for a friend. The prepping for these quilts really take more time than sewing them together!

Diana spent her time sewing down a binding on a gift quilt, so no pictures. Cindy couldn't join us as she is on a birthday weekend trip to Wisconsin to see her sons.

It was a great day of sewing and we got caught up on all of our news too!

I have a busy week of classes coming up as three Sampler Clubs meet this week as well as my Kid's Camp. If you are participating in the Red, White and True Quilt Along, the next sewing direction will be posted tomorrow! Have a great Sunday!

And there is a winner!

Thanks to all who are participating in the Red, White and True Quilt Along. Susan at Hanging on by a Needle and Thread won the beautiful Fabric Spark fat quarter bundle. Check out their Facebook page for giveaways all summer!

I wonder what she will make? She is caught up on the quilt along and posted her QST pictures today, so she might have time to start dreaming up the next project.

There will be a few more surprise giveaways throughout the quilt along, including a Fat Quarter Shop gift card...so keep up, keep posting and keep sending me pix!

 After working on the next several steps in the quilt along yesterday, I thought I earned a shopping break, so headed to Omaha to a couple of shops there. I was hunting for a few more black and gray batiks for the new Circle and Spin to the Moon. I found some that will work perfectly, I think! I cut a set of blocks when I got home and plan to get them sewn later. I still have to sew some more colorful minis and then I will be ready to lay them all out and start sewing them together.  I have a new project I want to start soon too, so need to get this one finished!

I love the small splashes of color in some of them. The houndstooth actually has more color, but I think it will work since it's on a gray base.

Mowing first, then some sewing! Are you sewing too? I'll be posting updates on Facebook later, so join in.

Red White and True Quilt Along Linky Giveaway ends tonight

The Red, White and True Quilt Along Linky Giveaway ends tonight. Add the link to your blog post or your pictures on my Flickr group by 10 p.m. tonight to be eligible for the drawing of these luscious fat quarters. I will post the winner tomorrow!

A lot of family time and a little sewing....

 It's been a busy week. My youngest daughter, Rachel, flew in from Baltimore last Wednesday to spend some time here. ( you might remember our trek to Baltimore last summer to move her.) We went to Lake Anita where a family camp out was in progress Friday and Saturday and had a blast.  It's a beautiful lake and they had camper spots close to the water. Lots of fishing, boating and chatting.

More vendors than ever

 Sunday we went to the Aksarben Farmer's Market and got some yummy veggies for dinner. It's always fun to go, see the people, food and entertainment. We did some shopping on our way home.

Outside entertainment

Greek pastries....yum yum!

Monday, she was spending time with a friend, so I got caught up on a pattern I've been trying to finish writing...it's done! Then I got out some dark fabrics that I've been collecting for a new Circle and Spin quilt and sewed for a few hours. I had made some blocks last week (pic above) so added the new ones to them for the pic below. Most of the batiks are blacks and grays, a few have some color, which I think will add dimension.

I want to add some colorful mini blocks to it for pop. I have some more cut out, just not sewn yet. It felt good to sew for awhile, it's weird when my machine isn't humming!

My brother and nephew have been working on putting a new roof on our garage this summer. The roof has been finished for a few weeks, so my brother came down yesterday to add soffit and fascia to get ready for the gutters. I helped cut, hold and fetch. It's looking so good. I need to take some pictures. It was a gorgeous day, too, so nice to spend it outside. He is coming back today to finish the gutters. Then I will need to paint. I love to paint, not so crazy about the scraping that comes first.

Rachel goes home today too, seems like that week went by way to quickly. We are going to miss her.

 There is still time to add your Red, White and True Quilt Along link to the linky party or post pictures to the Flickr group...I will choose a winner from those entries tomorrow night for a gorgeous fat quarter bundle from Fabric Spark. You don't have to be caught up, just post what you've done so far!

Red, White and True Quilt Along Sewing #2

 Are you ready for the next sewing directions for the Red, White and True quilt? This part will go quickly so let's get started.

Take out your Color One Red and Color Two Blue 5 1/4" squares. Draw a line diagonally across all of one color (Red or Blue) sq. as shown. ( I did Blue for this tutorial.) If you are making the throw, you should have 6 of each color, if you are making the twin, you should have 12 of each color.
Layer one with a Color One Red 5 1/4" sq., right sides together, as shown. Sew a scant 1/4" on each side of  the line. Cut apart and press towards the Color Two Blue. You should have two Half Square Triangles that measure approx. 4 7/8". Make five more like this for a total of 12 HST for the throw and eleven more sets for a total of 24 HST for the twin.

Half Square Triangles are so much fun!

Now lay out two HSTs as shown below:  One HST will be right side up and the red in the upper left corner and the other will be right side down with blue in the upper left corner. Draw a line diagonally across the wrong side of one of the HST as shown.

 One has the right side up and the red in the upper left corner and the other is right side down with blue in the upper left corner.

Carefully move one on top of the other, lining up the diagonal seams carefully. They should dovetail.

Fold back the top one gently to check that you have the blocks aligned correctly. It should look like an hourglass (Quarter Square Triangle).

 Sew a scant 1/4" on each side of the line. Cut apart and press. You will have 2 QST. Throw: make five more like this for a total of 12 QST. Twin:  make eleven more for a total of 24.

These should be about 4 1/2" now, so may need to be squared up a bit. QST are a little trickier to square up than HST. I like to draw a line diagonally on my square up ruler to divide the area in fourths so that I can trim them properly.  So since we want to square them up to 4 1/2", take a ruler and a marker and carefully draw a diagonal line from the 4 1/2" mark on the top edge of your square up ruler to the 4 1/2" mark on the side as shown. See the spot where the yellow diagonal line intersects with the drawn line? That is the center of your block.

Line up both of the diagonal lines on the ruler and trim off any excess on the top and right side of the square. Then turn the block around and do the same on the other two sides. Pay close attention to the center of the sq. so that you trim correctly.

Now your QST is perfect! Isn't it pretty mixed in with the sq. from last week?

The Sewing #2 PDF directions are on Craftsy for easy printing!

Here are the QST for the baby quilt. I can't wait to start putting it together!

Ok, it's time to take some pictures so that you can share your progress! There is still time to join Friday's linky party and post about your Red, White and True quilt or add your pix to my Flickr group page . If you do, you will be eligible to win this gorgeous fat quarter pack from Fabric Spark. The giveaway closes Thurs. night, July 9. (If you have any problems with adding pictures, send them to me via email and I will post for you.)



I know you probably don't need any more reasons to make this quilt, but I have been told that the twin size will work for Quilts of Valor. Cheryl at Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting has cut out two more to sew this week! I love the idea that quilts from my pattern and quilt along might end up in the hands of a veteran. Let me know if you make one for QOV!

Red White and True party time and giveaway

Who's ready for a 4th of July party? My daughters and I are heading out to Lake Anita later to join family that are camping there, so I'm looking forward to that.

Are you ready to show your progress on your Red, White and True quilt? I can't wait to see what you have been doing! Plus I have a little prize for someone who shares!

I learned about Fabric Spark by finding them on Facebook. I took a look at their fabrics and fell in love. Daryl is hosting the Summer of Fabric Love with events and other surprises all summer long. She is giving away a red and white fabric bundle right now...it would be perfect to use in your Red, White and True quilt! Like them on Facebook  and join in on the fun.

 I recently won this gorgeous fat quarter bundle from Fabric Spark and Daryl has generously offered to give one just like it to one of my Red, White and True Quilt Along quilters. All you have to do to enter this giveaway is blog about your progress on your Red, White and True quilt and link to my linky party below. If you aren't a blogger, you can still join in by adding your pictures to my Flickr group and leaving a comment below letting me know you did so. This linky party ends on Thurs. July 9.

There is still time to join, just check out the info here and get started! I am posting tutorials weekly on Mondays or you can get a free pdf on Craftsy that is easy to print if you prefer that.

I'm thinking of making a bag with my fabrics...I don't want to cut it up much! What will you make if you win?

The winners of the 2 copies of the Aug. Sept. McCalls Quick Quilts magazines are Dee W and Dayna.  Dee W. thought the quilt would be pretty in rainbow colors and Dayna wants to make it with a black background and scrappy brights.I enjoyed seeing your ideas on color choices and hope you will send me a pictures if you make it. Thanks for helping me celebrate the publication of Ruby Facets! I can't wait to see yours!

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

Red, White and True choices and a giveaway

 I wanted to share some of the fabric choices that quilters are using for their Red, White and True Quilt Along quilts. Jane chose these patriotic beauties. She made sure and cut the fabric so that the stripes would be going the way of the red stripes in the quilt design.

 Gretchen is using a softer palette for her quilt...the blue on the left is her backing fabric.  She is ready to finish this quilt!

 Jo had all but the blue in her stash, so had to do a little shopping to find it.

They are all ready for the next step in the quilt along which will be posted on Monday. How are you doing? Are you sewing along with us? Full details of the Red, White and True Quilt Along are here if you need to get caught up.

I will be hosting a Linky party tomorrow so you can share your progress. These quilters don't blog, but will be posting their pictures to my Flickr group, so they can participate too! I will be giving away a very pretty prize, so you won't want to miss it!

Speaking of giveaways, there's still time to enter the Ruby Facets giveaway...go here and tell me what colors you would use to make this quilt. Two winners will win a copy of McCalls Quick Quilts of their very own! I will be putting a little surprise in with the mags when I send them out! I will be choosing the winners tonight.

IF you are a no reply blogger, please leave your email address in the comment too so that I can contact you if you win.