Lots of this and that

Diane H

 I'm not sure where this week went, but it flew by. I sewed with friends a couple of days this week...that's always fun. I started the My Little Pretties Sampler Club Wednesday night. Their first block was A Dandy and it really lived up to its name.  As you can see, they all have interesting fabrics and they all got their blocks finished. That's always nice. I went easy on them...no homework this time!

Laural

Cheryl B

Marta

Billie

 It's so much fun to begin a sampler, touch and see all the new fabrics...there's an excitement there that only compares to finishing a quilt.

 Dianne finished her Simply Posies center block during Tuesday sewing.  It's very colorful and pretty. Her group meets Tuesday night, so we'll see the others then.

 Jo, a friend from Florida, sent me a picture of her finished Red, White and True quilt top. She changed the layout a bit, which I love. If you have been working on this quilt, please share your pictures with me...I love to see them. The free patterns are still available on Craftsy for a limited time if you still want to make it.

 You might remember that I started quilting this Circle and Spin to the Moon before I went on retreat. I have been doing so much other sewing since then that I haven't had time to get back to it, so I spent Friday in my quilting room and it's quilted.

 I really love this quilt and am anxious to get it finished. I used a gray/black thread and the Leafage panto. It's one of my favorite pantos for overall effect.

 I'm using the backing fabric below for the binding and it's ready to go. I will probably wait until I go to the store tomorrow for class to sew it on. I like sewing bindings on these larger quilts there as the tables are bigger than any I have at home.

I got the newest quilt in the Circle and Spin series finished the other day, so spent some time yesterday sewing the backing together and prepping the top for quilting. You will notice that this batik is the same design as the other one, just different colors.I haven't decided what I will bind this one with yet. I am going to get it loaded this morning and hopefully get a start on quilting it. I'm really excited about this quilt and will post some pictures when it's finished.

Happy Village....let's visit!

 I spent most of the past two days working on my Happy Village quilt and it's finished. I enjoyed making it and am already planning the next one. Water....the next one is going to have water...

As I quilted around the shapes, I could definitely see places that could use more quilting, like roofs, trees, fill in areas. So I did some quilting on some of the roofs and other areas. I think it gives it even more dimension. (If you look back and forth between the two pictures, you can see the difference). It's hard to know where to stop on this one...when to stop making houses, when to stop quilting. I was afraid to quilt the sky on my machine because I wasn't sure if I could get the look I wanted. Plus I had added in a piece of white tulle for effect and wanted to make sure it wasn't going anywhere. So I hand quilted the sky using a very light blue thread. I wish I would've made the sky a bit bigger by starting the houses down farther, but I can try that on the next one, right? 

Before I went on retreat, I made these Boxy Pouches for my retreat friends. I used purchased quilted fabric so they were quick and easy to make.  I have a few left for other gift giving.

Class highlights and a Happy Village

Jane

This week has flown by and I've been busy sewing and meeting with sampler clubs. Monday night's group is one of two that are working on the newest sampler, Simply Posies. Jane is using 30s repro fabrics for hers and decided to make one large posy. She had some multicolored strips left from another project, so is using them for the narrow border around the center. Her center has a pretty nine patch that ties in perfectly.

Laura W

 Laura is using two fabrics for the posies. Her fabrics have an asian feel with the gold overlay. She hasn't added her narrow border yet...she is planning something interesting for that too.

Deb M had her squares cut when she came, so got most of them added to make panels.

 Tuesday night was a work night for the group making the To The Point sampler. They didn't have experience using setting triangles and corners, so we spent most of the time cutting them and starting to sew the panels together. Two of the quilters worked on blocks they still needed to finish (oops, forgot to take pix of those!). They were doing well by class end and excited about seeing their quilts come together.

Nancy B sewing her triangles to the blocks.

Debbie McQ has some beautiful batik blocks!

Martha is using a white fabric for her setting triangles so that her backgrounds show up better.

 I took a day off from sewing yesterday to clean and mow, but I have plans to do some more quilting today on the Happy Village quilt. I need to get it finished this week.

 I worked on it a few weeks ago, but then got caught up in retreat sewing and other things that I haven't gotten back to it. Since I want to teach the technique in Oct. I need to get it finished and to the shop.The quilting wasn't as difficult as I thought it might be as you are basically tracing around each piece. My biggest problem was being able to see around the presser foot, so I found a plastic foot that I think will help with that.

As I was quilting, I decided that there was a blank space on the far left under the black, zigzaggy roof, so I added a new house. It really is hard to know where to stop, but I think it looks better now.

Off to quilt! Are you quilting too?

Can you sew too much?

Diana's Highlights Sampler

I've been back from retreat since Sunday evening, but it's been a busy week. I did a little catching up on Monday, then class Monday night, all day sewing Tuesday and class Tuesday night. A friend invited me to sew with the monthly sew-in at the local senior center Wednesday, so I sewed all day Wed. too. Now remember, I had sewn from Thursday about 10 until Sunday about 3:30. So that is a lot of sewing packed in to one week. I'm happy to report that I have 2 completed quilts, a third one with all the blocks made, just needs side setting triangles cut and then I can sew it together. Plus I made several red quilted pouches too.

 I had made a bunch of these for gifts a few weeks ago, and made 2 scrappy ones from the fabrics we use on retreat to play our games. It's easy and fun to do and easy to adjust the size if you want bigger or smaller bags. It's the Quilted Boxy Cornered Pouch.

Since the Highlights Sampler 20 class just ended recently, five of my retreat friends brought their quilts to work on. They are all so pretty and I loved watching them come together! As you can see, they all used their own color choices and they are all gorgeous!

Pat's Highlights Sampler

Rose's Highlights Sampler

Cindy's Highlights Sampler

Dianne's Highlights Sampler

Diana (top picture) left before we took this picture, but here are four of them all lined up. We had such a good time and I really need to catch  up a bit around the house today and then get back to sewing tomorrow.  I have already been out weeding and watering the garden and flowers, but there is a bathroom to tackle, so I'd better get to it. I took some pictures during classes this week, so more about them soon.

Giveaway winner and Quilters of the Corn, the sequel

Thanks to all who participated in the Red, White and True QAL Big Finish Giveaway of a Fat Quarter Shop $50 gift card...the winner is.....Kathy E! Have fun shopping, Kathy!

Rachel S. Red, White and True

As you finish those Red, White and True quilts, I would love to see them so send me  pictures, blog about it or add your pictures to the Flickr page. Let me know so I don't miss it! I found Rachel's picture of her finished top on the Flickr page this AM. Isn't it beautiful? You can still download all the free patterns from Craftsy, or if you prefer the tutorials, the links to everything are on the Red, White and True QAL page which you will find on the page bar above. The Craftsy patterns will remain free for the next month, then I will rewrite it as one pattern and sell it that way.

I'm just back from a quilt retreat at Stitchin' Tree Quilter's Cottage in Woodbine, IA. The cottage is attached to Stitchin' Tree Quilts, a unique quilt shop about a mile from Woodbine. It's a nice place to getaway and Teresa lets us shop round the clock if we want. So it's not unusual for someone to jump up from sewing and head out to the shop. We had a great time and got lots of sewing done. I will post more about it as the week goes on, so will just post the Quilters of the Corn, the Sequel picture for today. You might remember this Quilters of the Corn picture from last year's retreat there. This is our fifth retreat here and our 11th retreat together.

I have lots to do today to get caught up around here. I have a class tonight too. Happy Monday!

Just Stuff and giveaway time

I met with some friends to sew yesterday and Jane brought her Red, White and True quilt....it's looking so pretty! She sewed it together in rows, rather than blocks, so she has two rows left at the top to do and then she is ready for the borders. It's a lot of fun to see these quilts progressing! You can still make this quilt even if you missed the QAL...the info is all here.

Don't forget to enter the Red, White and True QAL Big Finish Giveaway of a $50 gift card to the Fat Quarter Shop. I don't know about you, but I can always go fabric shopping and shopping at Fat Quarter Shop at any time day or night is even better!

Diana worked on her Highlights sampler in all reds and blacks. It's stunning! Her blocks are all finished, and she worked on her block borders yesterday. 

She also brought us quilting cookies to share! They were as good as they look!

 I came across a cute pouch tutorial at SewCanShe and decided it would be perfect as a camera case. I have one I made many years ago, but the velcro doesn't hold it closed anymore and it is actually too big for the camera I have now. The tutorial is great and it made up pretty quickly. I used fusible interfacing instead of the fusible fleece but otherwise followed her directions to the letter.

 I made one for a friend too! I like the handy clip on the side, easy to clip on and go!

 I am heading to Stitchin' Tree Cottage in Woodbine tomorrow for a quilting retreat with my friends....we go twice a year and I think this is our 11th retreat together. I have some serious packing to do today!

Red, White and True Quilt Along Sewing #6 and the Big Finish Giveaway

Sewing machine engines running? Get ready to finish the Red, White and True quilt by adding some borders. As always, you can download the free PDF at my Craftsy store.

"WOF = Width of Fabric

"Throw/Twin amounts will be listed with Twin in parentheses like this: Throw (Twin).

"Measure your quilt top to determine the correct size to cut each border before you

    cut and sew it on.

Bkgd: Cut  five (seven) 1 ½” WOF strips.

Sew them together lengthwise. Cut two 1 ½” x 36 ½” (1 ½” x 48 ½”) side borders.  Align, pin and sew these to the sides of the quilt. Press towards the border.

Now cut two 1 ½” x 50 ½” (1 ½” x 74 ½”) borders. Align, pin and sew these to the top and bottom of the quilt. Press towards the border.

2^nd Border (Color One Red): Cut  five (seven) 1” WOF strips.

Sew them together lengthwise. Cut two 1” x 38 ½” (1” x 50 ½”) side borders.  Align, pin and sew these to the sides of the quilt. Press towards the border.

Now cut two 1” x 51 ½” (1” x 76 ½”) borders. Align, pin and sew these to the top and bottom of the quilt. Press towards the border.

Red, White and True -used border fabric for the binding

"The width of the final border is different on the throw and twin, so the directions are listed separately below.

Throw Final Border: Cut  five 4” WOF strips.

Sew them together lengthwise. Cut two 4”x 39 ½” side borders.  Align, pin and sew these to the sides of the quilt. Press towards the border.

Now cut two 4” x 58 ½” borders. Align, pin and sew these to the top and bottom of the quilt. Press towards the border.

Twin Final Border: Cut  nine 6” WOF strips.

Sew them together lengthwise. Cut two 6” x 76 ½” side borders.  Align, pin and sew these to the sides of the quilt. Press towards the border.

Now cut two 6” x 87 ½” borders. Align, pin and sew these to the top and bottom of the quilt. Press towards the border.

Get ready, get set....SEW!

Red, White and True Flyboys

As you know, I've been working on the baby quilt version of this quilt, using the same amount of blocks, but changing the coloring on three of them.It is finished as well. I love how it turned out and am excited to see a baby on it!

Red, White and True Flyboys

 I love taking pictures outside, the color always seems so much better in natural lighting.

Red, White and True Flyboys

 I named this version Red, White and True Flyboys...since there are planes, helicopters and rockets on the border fabric. 

The backing fabric has the same coloring as the front, but lots and lots of cars. I made the quilt label out of leftover block parts and pieced it into the backing. I sort of wish I would've used backing fabric in the four corners, but it still looks good...and finished! Finished is good.

The binding on the baby quilt is a stripe I had in my stash...you know how much I love striped bindings. 

As we end this QAL, a few reminders:

All info and links for this QAL are on the Red, White and True page, available through the pages link at the top of my blog. 

Please add pictures of your finished quilts to the Flickr page. That group will stay open, so even if you aren't making it now, you can still add your pictures. Let me know if you do.

Post about your quilt if you blog...even if it's months from now. Let me know if you do.

Get all the free PDFs at my Craftsy Store while they are available!

Are you ready to hear about the really Big Finish Giveaway! I've saved a great prize to end the QAL....a $50 gift card to Fat Quarter Shop! I think most of us can always use a little more fabric, and Fat Quarter shop has the best selection! Visit them to see their great selection and decide what you will get if you win! Good Luck!

                                                         

a Rafflecopter giveaway