UFOs

When I have UFOs, I know I've put too many irons in the fire!  I really do prefer to complete something before moving on.  Now that's not saying that I don't have some 'samples' laying around.  I'll see something I'd like to learn the technique and I pull out scraps and give it a try - therefore, samples!  I have 8 quilts that I need to get quilted for Quilters for Comfort but as I was getting the batting ready for those, I discovered that I also have 3 quilts that I've made that I need to quilt.  One quilt that I need to add just side borders to as it needs to be wider but not necessarily longer. I have a 'tropical fish' quilt that I need to border.... And here I am starting the New York Beauty QAL, I'm leisurely taking my time with the Farmer's Wives blocks and as if that isn't enough, I decided I wanted to make a Feathered Star from Marsha McKloskey's book.  I think I need to make myself a schedule to get done what I have waiting...... Maybe UFOs should be renamed "Ladies in Waiting".....
Okay, I'm just rambling... but sometimes I do that :-)
Oh, Disney was great fun.  Weather was perfect.  Cool mornings, pleasant afternoons.  The time spent with family absolutely priceless!  I did come home with a bit of cold, though.  I'm thinking not enough sleep and definitely not the healthiest of eating while there.
I worked this block up in EQ.  I  will work on it after the Ladies in Waiting have moved on

Til next time
Katie

NYB Quilt Along

Like I don't have enough to do :-)  But I really love New York Beauty blocks and I do enjoy paper piecing so I simply couldn't pass this up....... I've done a few of these blocks in the past and they are so nice.... But I did them really scrappy and it was years ago when I was first starting to paper piece.  I'm hoping I've improved and I will pull some fabrics and be a bit more 'organized' in my fabric selections.  I did go and join the Flickr group as well.  Because I'm joining in a little late, there are already some really nice blocks posted there.  I had planned on packing and getting ready for the trip to Disneyland today, but I think that can wait until tomorrow :-)  Today will be making a couple NYB blocks to catch up.....
Stay tuned...


Katie

strings

I love Bonnie Hunter.  I love her approach to organizing your scraps (even though I don't organize), I love her mysteries - I have downloaded several.  Then I get hung up on doing the string blocks.....  I consider sewing string blocks mindless sewing (just my opinion, I am not calling anyone mindless here).  Now mind you, I don't mind being mindless, I just can't do very much for very long.  And, I do love the look of string blocks and I have a stack (if you can call 10 or 12 a stack) of 6 X 9 that is in my scrap bin and ever so often I pull out my bin and make a few string blocks - maybe someday I'll actually have enough to make something more than a placemat :-)
Okay, so what's this all about???  Is there an organized way to make string blocks?  Am I missing something?  I'd love to read some tips, tricks, advice, whatever anyone has to say about how they get a quantity of string blocks accomplished.  I take all my trimming strips and throw (remember I'm not an organizer) them into THE bin, and of course because of this, whenever I decide to do some strip blocks, it's take the iron (which sits right next to machine) and press, then sew, trim, etc...  OKAY, and if I was giving advice to me the first thing I'd say is "well, press those strips and put them neatly in a smaller bin"  and my answer to self would be "I did do that - for about 5 minutes!"  See not only am I not a very good organizer, I also have no patience TO organize.....
SO.... any help truly would be very much appreciated,

Katie 

You've read it before......

I know, I know, you've read it before but I truly am sorry about my inconsistent blogging.  No real excuses, I just don't blog if I don't think I have something that someone would be interested in reading.  I have joined the "Leisurely Wife QAL" (see button to the right) and I did make up these blocks:

I suppose I should give the name as titled in the book, but there have been some posts regarding copyright complaint from the author, so I will just say that I did start at the beginning of the book and will work my way through.  I did purchase the Companion CD from EQ so I could paper piece the more 'difficult' blocks.  I believe in making my life easier whenever possible :-)
I have also been getting some quilting done for Quilters for Comfort.  I had (still have) quite a stack to get done so I am doing simple freemotion meander on most of them.  My previous post shows the Smilebox presentation for the quilt done for a QFC member undergoing chemo and radiation for brain cancer.
My granddaughter, Kari, is going to her first prom tonight.  I will post pictures later.  I am so excited for her.  She has been planning for her prom since the beginning of the school year.  We went fabric shopping for her dress and she chose a beautiful light blue satin tapestry for the bodice and a lightly sparkled light blue satin for the skirt - it turned out quite nice if I do say so myself :-)  This afternoon she is trusting this grandma to do her hair (we did do a 'dry run').  I will so look forward to hearing all about her evening tomorrow.  She is such a special young lady.
I will head out for Disney with my son and his family on the 18th - always so much fun.  Each year (though I hate to admit it), I find it a little more effort to keep up with the long strides of my son (6'1") and his wife (5'11").  The kids so far - we're good (well unless they want to run!!!)
I do appreciate all who are still stopping by in hopes (or wonder) that I may actually post something...
Until next time, I hope spring is springing wherever you live - we had a very mild winter, but I still hate anything below 75 degrees!

Katie

Make a free photo slideshow

getting something done

I actually got a quilt pieced - Yee HA!!!

I had the center lighthouse fabric and wanted to use it but the print is really too large to cut smaller.  It lookes like it's  upside down but really it isn't.  It truly is not a directional fabric.
I had thought about using the 'saw tooth' like this:

down either side and after I finished the top, I really wish I had!  Once I get it quilted, I'll be posting more pictures.  These are 16" blocks and actually I don't think these pictures do it justice - course, you're not seeing the whole quilt top :-)  But my camera battery went out just as I snapped the pictures.....
I'm also working on an Angel quilt.

Sorry about the upper right hand glare - there's a light fixture there next to my design board.

This quit is being made from embroidered angel designs from the ladies of my group for a member who is undergoing chemo.  We felt it would be nice to let her know we're keeping her in our thoughts and prayers.  Of course this is a prioity.  I hope to have the last few angels I'm waiting on by Tues.  I want to get it completed and in the mail by the weekend.

I'm using a multi colored fabric for the borders and was trying to use the aqua and pinkish fabric to bring it all together - which it will once the borders are added.  Right now the horizontal sashing looks like it's a solid strip, but it's not.  I used the border fabric for the 'corner stones'.

So in this close up you can see how the corner stones do break up the sashing.

So.... that's what I've been working on other than knitting.  I've got three knitting projects going right now.  A sweater for myself that I want to have done before we go to Disney, a pair of socks and I am trying to always have something on the needles for the NICU I'm donating to.  Keeps my hands busy in the evenings.  Even with all the lighting I have in my sewing room, I just don't like to sew after dark......

Sure hope everyone is being more productive than I've been.  I'm hoping my sewing/quilting slump is finally over!

Katie



So neglected......

I have so neglected my blog.......It's not that I haven't been working on anything, just not anything I think would be of interest.  Sort of boring stuff but necessary stuff.  I have a friend who donates to a NICU and delivers twice a year.  I've been knitting some little tiny booties and caps (shown in a previous post) and using orphan blocks to make tiny little quilts (14" X 17").  Several ladies over at Quilters for Comfort have jumped in and are helping.  They questioned the size of these quilts until I explained when a preemie is only 2 lbs, they have so many wires, etc hooked up to them that they simply need something to cover them, they aren't 'wrapped' in these little quilts.

I took a simple embroidered design, bordered it out with flannel and used fleece on the back.  I used the 'pillow turn' method and just did a bit of top stitching and used a decorative stitch from my machine to 'tack' in random places to secure.  I have some flannel left over from making jammies for my g-kids and I will use two layers and do the same thing.  Flannel that has just been laying around will get used for a good cause.
I also have more quilts waiting to get quilted but aren't due until the end of April, so have plenty of time.  I am working on a 'lighthouse' quilt.  I had some embroidered lighthouse blocks and some lighthouse fabric and decided to get something put together with it.  Because of the size of the embroidery, I'm making the blocks 16" using a simple star pattern.
And that's what I've been up to.....

Katie