Next quilt in the frames

I have wanted to make a quilt for a friend of mine for a long time.  It's finally time.

I took some quilt tops over to her house yesterday and she picked one out.  It's not the one I thought she would choose so I was glad she had the opportunity to make the decision.

This is the one she picked out.  It's a bigger quilt than I was planning on because I want to get two of them done before Christmas.  So I got busy and put it on the frames this morning (my knee will attest to that).  I only have a partial ball of pearl cotton so I need to go to the store before I begin.

I think I can work on it first thing in the morning and then again after dinner to make the progress a little faster.  At least, that is my goal. . .

Hope you're having a lovely Saturday.
Robin

Christmas in Cedarburg

The book that I used for the pattern had the sawtooth border on these blocks going two different ways.  If I had looked a little more closely at the other blocks I would have noticed that some of them have that border all going the same way.  I wish I would have noticed that sooner but my blocks are done and they are all made crazily alike.

I can't decide if it needs another border.  It is 72" square and so I'm leaning towards it being done.

Look what greets me every morning as I look out my back door.  We have six hibiscus bushes but this one seems to be the heartiest.  Such a cheerful greeting each day.

Have a great Saturday.
Robin

If you want to find out the story behind this quilt, go here.

Hexies and Flying Geese and a finish and a new start

I read an article many years ago in the Reader's Digest.  It was called "The Positive Power of Procrastination".  I looked it up so I could give you a link but I guess it was too long ago - over 20 years.  

Anyway, it stated that when you are trying to avoid doing something, use that time to do something else, something positive/productive.

So, a few weeks ago I was trying very successfully to avoid working on the 240 flying geese units I needed to complete my blind man's fancy project and I decided to productively use that time to finish up this hexie project.

Ta Da!

I had no plans when I started this.  I just wanted to see what I could come up with.  It measures 55 1/2" X 53 1/2".  I'm going to use it as a table cloth.  I'm not sure how I'm going to quilt it but I don't have to think about that right now because I NEED TO GO SEW THE FLYING GEESE.

I sat down to my sewing machine this afternoon and made some good progress.  I only lack two more units on each of the 20 strips.  I can finally see light at the end of the tunnel.  Hopefully I can finish these up tomorrow and get them sewn around the quilt.  The next border should be much easier.

I finished the hand quilting on this quilt today.  I've been working on it since March.  It was supposed to be done in June and then July and now it's August.  At least it's done!  I found the fabric for the binding this morning and will soon get to work.  I'll take a picture when it's all done.

This is just the back frill of a flower.

I basted some arcs on 6 1/2" squares to start making some flower blocks for the newest floral challenge with Adhoc/Improv group.  I have one completed and 11 more to go.

Hope you're not too hot~
Robin

Over and back

I was working on the Blind's Man Fancy blocks and got bogged down in the tiny flying geese units.  For some reason I put it aside and started madly trying to finish the project below.

You know how sometimes you are just ready for a project to be over.  It isn't that you don't like it or are not enjoying the process.  You are just anxious to start something new.

Well, I am over and back with this project.  It's time to be done. 

Hexie project started June 2014

Quilting is my solace

I have thoroughly enjoyed working on the applique quilt on my frames. I love admiring the curves of stitches as I go along.  I like measuring how much progress I've made as I finish each early morning shift with needle and thread.  Some mornings I turn on the classical music station or listen to a lecture/talk on my Ipad.  But, other mornings I just want to unclutter my mind without any distractions.  Today was one of those days. 

I should have been cleaning house because I'm expecting out of town company this evening. 
But, it  just felt so calming to stitch and watch the pattern appear. 

Clip a length of thread,
nestle it through the needle's eye,
knot the thread and hide it between the lovely layers,
rock the needle up and down,
follow the design,
knot once more when at the end.
Repeat.

So soothing,
Robin

Current happenings

This is the most recent Cheddarback block.  The picture is a bit fuzzy - sorry.  It was a really difficult block to make with over 12 "Y" seams and all those bias edges - gasp!  It doesn't lie flat.  But, it's done and I'm moving on.  I think it will quilt out (Ha!),  The conversation print for the background is two birds looking at gold fish in a fish bowl.  It's really sweet.  The color isn't true in the picture, the block is brighter. 

I'm not planning on putting a cheddar colored backing on this quilt like the original.  But, I wanted to put a goodly amount of cheddar fabrics on the front.

And now the current news. . .   My husband (above) is picking the currents while laying on his stomach. 

At least he's in the shade, it's supposed to be 99 degrees today.

And here is the gorgeous bounty.  They are so cute.

Robin

It's coming together

Blocks sewn together

Still plugging along with this quilt.  I finished the surround blocks and after much shifting and considering and changes, this is the configuration that my son and I figured out.  It's always hard to figure out where to put a block that you've made at random.  There are blocks that are together that have similar fabrics but this was the best set up.

Sashing?

I wondered if these blocks were too dark and might need some sashing strips between them.  I made some flying geese units to see how it would look.  I don't really like them for sashing.  They  interrupt the flow of the blocks and they look too small.

Flying geese stop border

I have some border fabric from this fabric line and I think the flying geese will do a great job of introducing the outer border.  That being said, I'm going to have to make a zillion flying geese because they only measure 3/4" X 1 1/2" finished.  (Whose idea was that anyway???)

I'm anxious to see the new set of blocks for the Cheddarback Quilt.  I keep checking but she hasn't posted yet.  Here is what I told Kaya when we were discussing that quilt;

I like this quilt.  It looks exactly like what it is, a "utility quilt".  I'm going to really enjoy using it when it's done.  It's a quilt I won't feel like I have to be careful with.  I'm not going to let my grandchildren jump on it but I will allow sitting.  It's funny how some quilts just give out a vibe. Some say "display only" or "come and admire me."  This one says, "use me up."

It's a lovely Monday.  My husband has brought in enough strawberries to make jam, enough raspberries to delight my grandchildren when they come (one of them mows our lawn every Monday), and a large bowl of peas that will go into the freezer.

Life is good,
Robin