I am having so much fun

working on the next Grandmother's Choice - Votes for Women quilt.  I am big stitching around the larger parts of the blocks.

It is so relaxing and is going fast.  It's like coloring in a coloring book.  Just wish I could spend more time at the frames.

Here are two more blocks completed for the 1857 quilt.  The block below was a stinker.  I had to really concentrate to make sure I was turning a curve and not a point as I went around the leaves.

This is a cute little block.  I didn't do the more complex lids for the bottles.  It turned out fine.

And here they are with a few of the other blocks.

We had a 'make n' take' at my quilt group "Bound Together" last month.  It is a little mug rug block.  The fabrics are Fig Tree which I don't have much of but I was able to find the plaid (from another line) to bind it.  I think it turned out pretty cute.

I thought I would have the two little doll quilts finished to show you today.  But, alas, I am still working on the binding of the first one and haven't started the quilting on the 2nd.  So, here's a sneak peek and hopefully they will be finished soon.

I also made two little house ornaments yesterday.  Another challenge from my quilt group.

I think they turned out pretty cute.  They were very easy to make.  There may be more in my future.

Here they are together hanging at the mantle.  It is hinting at the holidays.

As I was working on the binding yesterday with the crispness of the morning, it felt like fall to me.  It was Saturday and it felt like it was time to go to the music store to pick up the new music for my daughter.  I started going to the music store in the fall right after my oldest son started playing the French Horn (he was already playing the piano).  Then the next child, a daughter, began the saxophone.  The next two tried drums, violin, piano, but mostly preferred more physical things like football. . .  My 2nd daughter played piano, trumpet and drums in middle and high school, and received her BA (or was it a BS?) in organ performance.  She's the one that really got me going to the music store on a regular basis.  And then, finally, our youngest began violin at age six.  Choosing his music became quite difficult in later years.

So, here I am, ready to peruse the racks and files with no one to buy music for.  It's a sweet feeling not a sad one.  It finally feels like fall.
Robin

I am linking up with Kathy's Slow Stitching Sunday here.

I have been keeping busy

This is a true beginners project.  When I made this (obviously using scraps) I had no idea about matching corners, or trimming threads, or cutting things the right length.   It's pathetic.

But, it is the exact right quilt top for this project.  I am trying to make a Kantha Quilt.  I'm using sport weight (white and yellow) and knitting worsted (orange) acrylic yarn.  I chose the yarn from what I already had.  I like the sport weight, it's easy to pull through.  The knitting worsted weight is harder to pull through and makes my joints ache a little after doing a few rows.  It's not in a hoop or frame.  It's just draped over a long table with two cutting mats underneath to protect the tables surface from being scratched by the needle.

There is no batting.  I spread the top and bottom out on the floor, smoothing it out flat.  And then pin basted it together.  I'm not sure how it will turn out with my wavy borders but so far so good. 

I finished the hand quilting on my second Women of Grace & Charm quilt by Blackbird Designs.  I love the way it looks.  My absolute favorite fabric is the floral in the center star.
There are stars quilted in the large dk. beige corners of the center medallion.

I also spent a lot of hours on the 1857 QAL.  I back basted one of the September blocks and 14 of the border and corner blocks.  I just arranged them around this block for the picture. The border is different than anything I've ever seen in a reproduction quilt. I need to baste a bunch more and then get busy with the applique.

So, I've kept busy but I never get as much done as I think I will.  

I enjoyed looking at everyone's Gwennie Inspired Quilts this week.  Such creativity.

And speaking of creativity. . . I also enjoyed Audrey's latest post.  She's got me intrigued about the new book she is reading.  Kinda quirky but interesting.

Robin

I'm linking up with SLOW STITCHING SUNDAY on Kathy's Quilts blog.