Quilt along progress and a holiday giveaway...

 I thought I would share a few pictures and blog links of people who are making the Red, White and True quilt. Dianne is a local friend and quilter and is making this happy, happy version...yes she does like polka dots!.

 Karen blogged about her QAL progress on her blog, Hazel Dell Quilts...check out her beautiful blocks! So did Susan at Hanging on by a Needle and Thread and  Cheryl at Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting. Cheryl is making three! If you have posted a blog post about the QAL let me know, I will post for everyone to see!

Pat, another local friend and quilter,shared this  pic of her project so far

You can see more QAL pictures  on the Red White and True QAL Flickr page. If you haven't added yours to the group page yet, please do so we can all enjoy!

Jo's Axel blocks

I'm quilting along and having fun with my baby quilt version of the Red, White and True quilt...You might remember from yesterday's post that I made some Axel blocks using the border fabric in the corners. I am substituting three like that for three of the Bkgd. Axel blocks in my quilt. So, same amount of blocks in the quilt, but mixing it up a bit for the layout. I'm trying to get this one finished before the end of the QAL. 

Don't forget to enter the QAL giveaway on yesterday's post for the adorable Suzy's Zoo fat quarter pack. They will add playful fun to your holiday project! The giveaway ends Friday.

Red, White and True Quilt Along: Sewing #4 and a giveaway!

Are you all caught up and ready for the next sewing direction in the Red, White and True Quilt Along? Let's get started!

 Remember:Throw/Twin amounts will be listed with the Twin in parenthesis 
     like this: Throw (Twin)

Take out:

   All Background 4.5" squares

   16 (32) Color One Red Stripsets

   16 (32) Color Two Blue Stripsets

    8 (16) Quarter Square Triangles

Assemble 8 (16) Background Axel blocks as shown. Press each of the three rows towards the stripsets, as shown.

When pressing the block rows, press the block rows towards the center on half of the blocks, as shown below. 

Press the block rows towards the outer edges of the block on the other half of the blocks. This will help when putting the quilt rows together. After you have pressed all 8 (16) of your blocks you can relax and kick back until next Monday. Good job!

Not so great picture of the baby quilt background block

Here is the background block for the baby quilt. 

Baby quilt border fabric

I decided to make a few extra blocks using 4.5" squares of the border print fabric in the corners of the blocks instead of the background for the baby quilt. So it will have 4 block colorings instead of three.

Don't forget to play along by posting some pictures of your progress on your blog, or on the Red, White and True Flickr Group page. Let me know if you do so I can take a peek. and link to it on a future blog post. You can download and print the free PDF directions for the Red, White and True Quilt Along: Sewing #4 at my Craftsy store.

Now it's time for a surprise giveaway! Do you like surprises? I love them! Read on:

I have a fat quarter set of five Suzy's Zoo holiday fabrics that need a new home just in time for holiday sewing. If you are making the Red, White and True quilt, comment on your progress to win these cute fabrics.  Which step are you on? Are you printing and saving the directions to make later? If you are not making Red, White and True, comment on what you would make with these cute fabrics if you win them. Please respond in the comments below and I will choose a winner on Friday, July 24. I am using Rafflecopter to keep track of the entries...so please click on the Rafflecopter box Leave a blog post comment to register for the giveaway. Then you can comment below as always. 

Aren't these adorable?

Please include your email in the comment if you are a no-reply blogger. I can't contact you if you win without it.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Jenelle of Bizy Stitches won the Suzy's Zoo Fat Quarter pack! Congrats Jenelle! Thanks to everyone for participating! There will be a special giveaway at the end of the Red, White and True QAL....stay tuned!

We all need a little quilty therapy, don't we?

Our LQS, Cut Up and Quilt, has a monthly "therapy" session for their customers to show off new gadgets, fabrics and patterns. They do two sessions (afternoon and evening) on the third Thursday every month.  It's fun to go and see what's new, plus they have a show and tell portion. I took these Runaround Bags that I've been working on to show off. I love this little bag and think it will be perfect for quilt shows and shopping trips when you don't want to lug around the bag you carry your life in (normally called a purse).

 I'm making one for my daughter to use when she takes her dogs out to carry her phone, doggie treats and doggie bags. The cross body handle makes it easy to carry and keep your hands free.

I will be teaching a class on this bag at Cut Up and Quilt in Sept. so wanted to show it off. 

There were lots of fun projects shown for show and tell. It's always fun when the show and tell projects were made from classes I taught or my patterns. Pris M. brought her Red, White and True Quilt Along blocks so I could see them. She is using some of her mom's fabrics that she has been saving for just the right quilt. 

Pris M.

 Lorraine brought her finished Honeycomb Waffle beauty. I don't often get to see them finished, so I always enjoy it. Several of us commented on her floral borders and she said they just seemed to fit...we always know, don't we?

Lorraine

Darlene brought her finished Cottage quilt. I hosted a Cottage Block Swap a few years ago. We swapped in small groups and by season. So everyone ended up with cottage blocks for each season made by their friends. I then hosted a class to make trees and other stuff to add to them. Here is a post about my finished cottage quilt. I meant to catch her afterwards for a better picture, but I didn't. Seeing her quilt made me want to host another swap, so I'm adding that to the summer To-Do list! Not sure what it will be at this point, but I will keep you posted.

Darlene

 If you want to keep up with Cut Up and Quilt and see more of the goodies brought to CUAQ Therapy, check them out on Facebook.

Kid's Summer Camp and sampler pix

 I had so much fun Wednesday helping these budding sewists make their first skirt! They had the choice of making the longer, straight version or the short sassy version.As you can see, they did a great job!

The three girls on the left (above) are friends and helped each other as they were sharing a pattern (wrong size purchased by two). Miss E (zigzag skirt) was visiting from California and her Grandma signed her up for the class.

 I forgot to ask if any of these were going to fair this year, but they would definitely wow the judges! It's always so much fun to see what fabrics they pick out.

 This cutie has taken kid's camps in the past...not sure if you can see the doggie faces on her skirt or not, but it's a cute print.

 These two sisters have taken classes before. It's always fun to see them.

That evening we had an extra class for the Sunbonnet Sue Sampler quilters...they worked on getting their borders finished. Two of the four were able to come. Diane H has one more border to go...she spent some time auditioning her fabrics for that first border. We liked how choosing the cornerstone fabric was going to change the look of the setting design. It's always so much fun to play with color, isn't it? I can't wait to see it finished!

 Marta is making two, one for her and one for a friend. She finished her friend's quilt that night. I am anxious to see her top finished too. She cut the borders for it, so it won't take her long to sew them on.

Jane has a good start on her center Posie for the Simply Posies Sampler 21 that began Monday night. She is making her four flowers all the same fabric.

I have to confess that I had didn't take any pictures during Tuesday night's To The Point Sampler class because they were so busy learning paper piecing techniques to make their block, that I just forgot. They will be meeting one more time for an extra class to learn how to set their blocks on point next month, so I will get some taken then.

I plan to start a new project today so hopefully I will have pictures to share soon! Are you sewing today?

Back to the Past with selvages

Scrappy selvage hexies for my Summer Fling quilt.

I recently came across Val's Quilting Studio while browsing quilty places and discovered she has a Tuesday Vintage linky party every week...isn't that a great idea? There is a different theme each week and the theme this week is selvages, so head on over and link to a past selvage project you have made.Or just head over and take a look at what others have done for inspiration. I've used selvages in a few scrappy string pieced projects, but my first selvage project is still my favorite...this Selvage Bag .

Summer Fling

It's been a busy week so far and I have actually been getting some sewing done. Also a Sampler Club every night so far. I am teaching the second session of Kid's Camp: Sassy Skirt today, with a Sampler Club tonight. Then I will have a few days off to work on some new projects for fall classes. I made a cute bag yesterday, but forgot to take pictures, so I will do that soon and share.

Red, White and True Quilt Along Sewing #3

Now the fun really starts, as we will be making some blocks today!

"Throw/Twin amounts will be listed with the Twin in parenthesis like this: Throw (Twin)

Take out:
   All Color One Red and Color Two Blue 4.5" squares
   8 (16) Color One Red Stripsets
   8 (16) Color Two Blue Stripsets
   4 (8) Quarter Square Triangles
 
Assemble 2 (4) Color Two Blue Axel blocks as shown.

 Press the three rows towards the Color Two 4.5" squares and the QST (in the center row).

Press the block rows towards the outer edges of the block.

Assemble 2 (4) Color One Red Axel blocks as shown.
Press the three rows towards the stripsets.
Press the block rows towards the center row.

   

Are they looking so pretty? I want to see, so post about your Sewing Step #3 and comment below and I will come visit. OR share the pictures on my Flickr Red, White and True Quilt Along Group. It's ever so easy!

You can also print out the free Red, White and True Quilt Along Sewing #3 PDF pattern on my Craftsy page.

Baby quilt blue

Here are my blocks for the baby quilt. Hopefully it's true that babies like bright colors! 

Baby quilt orange

Tonight is the first class for the Simply Posies Sampler Group One, so I'm excited to see what fabrics they have chosen to make this quilt.

Simply Posies Sampler 21

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!