Miles of Binding!

 I have had 'miles' (it seems) of binding to do this past week but it is all finished. Here is Evelyn's Album, completed, even with my initials on the front corner, just like the pattern, actually.

 I saw the quilt of Lisa Bongean's at a quilt show and this is how it was quilted around the hearts so I used that idea - I'm a big fan of feathers anyway.

 Just a close-up of one of the other 12 blocks.

 I quilted Not So Easy Street weeks ago and put the binding on by machine but did not get the hand stitching done until this weekend. It is a large queen size quilt.

 I put several different black and white fabrics on the back when I found them all on sale for $5.00 per yard. Since I needed 9, I could not resist that price and piecing them made it a little more interesting to me anyway.

I found another purple batik for the binding that went great with the inner border. I don't know if I'll be doing any more mystery quilts for a while - at least not this large - LOL!!!

Happy Stitching!!
A few weeks ago I decided to give myself a challenge of quilting or making a "quilt a week". Now I know this may seem pretty crazy but I have many UFOs and leftover scraps from other quilts all in little bags, waiting to be made up. So, I began this in July - gave up on the idea since I had a busy August - but resumed again last week. Here is my other blog to motivate me with my challenge. You can also find a link on my sidebar.

SBOW x Two

Here is my Summer Block of the Week in Wool from Primitive Gatherings - that was summer of 2012. More like a year's work for me - LOL! The background fabric is a really nice flannel, not wool. I really enjoyed stitching this wool project - also known as Evelyn's Album. Now a little quilting and it will be ready for the quilt show also. 

I like how Lisa Bongean designed one of the corners to put your initials since I am not too good with doing labels on the backs of my quilts.

Yesterday I stitched these six little anvil blocks - the pieced SBOW from Primitive Gatherings last year. This was week 7 so I am over halfway. The fabric combinations just really make these little six inch blocks. All are unique.

Wool SBOW

I am still working on my Wool Summer Block of the Week from Primitive Gatherings. In early January I got all the blocks and borders put together but then comes the finishing with stitching the vines and leaves on the border. But, before you can stitch, you must bond them in place which takes a large block of time. I finally found the block this afternoon and now I am ready to stitch this pretty border. It is really very relaxing using the #8 Valdani Variegated Threads. Each leaf will get a special touch of embroidery added to it also. This is on my UFO list for 2013 so I'm thinking it is very doable. Stitch when you can!

Easy Street & Christmas!

 Here are my flying geese from Part 2 of Easy Street. I've not begun the next step. I was too busy singing in a Living Christmas Tree this weekend which was wonderful. 

 Speaking of Christmas, here is the completed Christmas tablecloth I worked on a few weeks ago.

And here's a photo of my first Christmas quilt, made in the 1980s. All different stars and hand quilted with stars and a cable border. Some of these leftover fabrics were used in the tablecloth above. Seriously! You can see the poinsettia sashing squares fabric in the tablecloth picture. I think the fabric had aged long enough!!

And when I've had a chance, I've done a little stitching on the 'finishing kit' from the SBOW, aka Evelyn's Album from Primitive Gatherings. One more block to stitch and then I need to put a design in all the stars. So far I just have one of those done. The heart has simply a blanket stitch with a few hundred french knots. Next is the border. Happy Stitching!

Fall Tablecloth & SBOW in Wool

 I recently completed the stitching on my last two wool blocks for the 'summer BOW'. I bought the finishing kit so now I have 6 more blocks and a beautiful border to stitch.

 Here is a close-up view of a tablecloth I put together this winter but just got quilted a few weeks ago. The pattern is Triple Treat Petite by Atkinson Designs in the book Happy Hour. I choose the colors and fabrics (all from my stash) by looking at the quilt on the wall which I made over the years of 1999 - 2004. It is called "The Great Unknown". It was a class given at a quilt shop were I worked and I bought the kit in the 1990s.

 Here are both of them together!

I think the color combinations in the quilt are some of my favorites that I would not have thought to put together on my own. I find if you buy fabrics you really like when you see them then they will just keep going with other quilts you have. Happy Stitching!

Working with Wool & The Pumpkin Patch

I've finished a couple more of my wool blocks. Only two left and then the inside blocks and beautiful red border to do. This could be a year long project instead of just Summer Blocks of the Month. However, I'm still hooked on wool.

And here we are at the Pumpkin Patch at Poppell Farms. Jake was so cute gathering the pumpkins.

And now he's taking a break and posing for some pictures!

SBOW in Wool & Flower Garden

 I've been doing a little hand stitching, just not posting too much lately. Above are the blocks of my SBOW in wool from Primitive Gatherings. They won't be laid out like this in the final quilt but it's easy to see them all this way.

 I have finished three more in the last month and have the other four ready to stitch. I like having them all prepared so when I want to sit and stitch, it is waiting for me. This past week I got the finishing kit and it is going to be a beautiful quilt. Six more blocks in red, a gorgeous appliquéd border and Wow! So glad I signed up for this one.

 I think it is going to be available as a kit later on, too.

 And of course at the first of the year I wanted to start the Flower Garden quilt by Kim McLean. I had already traced all the blocks, gotten my stems ready and now it is choosing the fabrics which can take a while since I like to use the actual ones in the quilt if I have it or something very close.

 My sewing room is a wreck but it's fun to see all the fabrics again! I actually enlarge my pattern to poster size so I can view it much better then tape them together. It's laying on my cutting table so you can tell it's pretty big - LOL!

Here is block one in it's gallon size bag waiting to be trimmed, pinned on the background and stitched. I use the freezer paper on the top and the pattern is thin enough with tissue paper that it can be used as an overlay pretty easily. I am using a polka dot with pale green for the background. I've gotten several blocks ready this week and soon will be stitching away...........just one of my many appliqué projects I have going. And, no guilt for me for all the different projects. I'll get them completed  eventually. I'm just enjoying the journey and hope you are also! Happy Stitching!

Primitive Garden and More

 As if I did not have enough projects going, I recently began the Primitive Garden Quilt in August. It is a BOM at Primitive Gatherings for 14 months. I quilted it for someone last year and then my neighbor wanted to start the quilt and I could not resist any longer so we can now do it together. The wools are beautiful and such pretty Valdani threads to use to stitch! We began with the Hoe Block and I am already behind, but as usual, not worried about it.

 I am still stitching on my Wool Applique and just finished this block today. It is going to have a red border and some other red blocks so I think by seeing it on this red pillow sham you can see how beautiful the contrast will be.

Happy Stitching!!

Jake, Wool, New Applique and Nursery

 I had been saving my thread cones for Jake to play with. He was entertained for quite some time, building a little tower. Who needs real toys??

 Still working with my wool applique. It is so relaxing and enjoyable!

I kitted up another quilt this past week. My Evening Blooms from the Country Inn.

 Now I have all nine blocks ready to stitch. I took pictures as I went to help remember the order of the pieces since each block has a similar layout with the leaves.

 And now, a little pink and aqua going on around here getting ready for another grandchild.

 Love these colors and aqua has always been one of my favorites.

Hopefully I'll get the quilt top quilted this week, a pillow made and the nursery will almost be complete.

Working with Wool

Still enjoying working with the Summer Block of the Week wool applique from Primitive Gatherings. The applique is relaxing to me and it's nice even if I don't stitch but half an hour a day. I'll probably get two packets this week since the holiday last week must have delayed the shipment but that's okay, I am enjoying the journey.

Just a Little Stitching Going On

First, let me say, that I have signed up for many block of the month programs - often free or rather inexpensive, and some not so free, but I have NEVER kept up with any of them. So, why did I opt to sign up for a Block of the Week program this summer? And not only one, but two!! Well, I had a customer bring in a beautiful quilt to be quilted and it was from the SBOW 2011 from Primitive Gatherings and she began telling me about them. So, since I really enjoy applique and lately have dabbled with wool, I decided to go for both programs. This one is called the Rocky Mountain Puzzle.

So, above are the first week's blocks. They are six inch square. Not near so small as Dear Jane blocks but I feel as though I've never mastered half square triangles so this is a challenge for me. So far so good. Slow, but good. I'm now working on Week 2. Now my goal is not to finish the blocks every single week but just to finish the project eventually, which is more than I've ever done before with BOMs. Again, I thought I'd show the difference in the blocks on point and sitting straight.

Something else I'm still trying to get used to are pressing seams open when they are only 1/4". I've quilted for 30 years and rarely pressed seams open but I'm trying to follow the instructions and make my blocks lay flat. It takes a little while and for me a burst of steam in the end, but they are turning out well.

Now here are the fabrics for the second and third week's blocks........if nothing else, the fabrics are beautiful together and I'll have a nice collection to add to my stash if I don't finish them - LOL!

And now I've saved the best block til last. This is the wool applique, Summer Block of the Week,  Evelyn's Album, which I am really enjoying. No edges to turn under, bond the blocks with gentle Steam a Seam 2 Lite and stitch away. Lots of stitching but I really like this primitive look for a change for me. These are ten inch finished blocks so a little larger to work on.

And here I chose some fabrics the other night for my Farmer's Wife Blocks. That is one of my favorite parts of quilting - choosing the fabrics to go together. I just took my time, went through my stash and gathered the fabrics for the next 8 blocks. Hopefully I'll have those to show in a few days.

Happy Stitching and enjoy the journey and not just the finished projects!