Challenge: Block #1

We have been challenged to "leave our comfort zone!"  Ummm this is HARD for me to do, but I am going to try! All I can do is try, if I fail, at least I tried...right???

Block 1..Apple Core

Curves? Template? Are you kidding me?????

Ok....calm down and at least try! After four hours I succeeded! (Only had to remove and redo 1 seam!) Yeah!!!

I have decided to do this challenge "scrappy." Will see how that goes as we all know I am not a "scrappy" quilter, but I'm trying!

Irene

Quilting Vacation

in Eastern PA with a few friends was on the agenda for June 2013. Five of us headed for East Stroudsburg, PA on May 31st for a week of relaxing and quilting.

A few accomplishments of the week:

My Lime Green/Hot Pink is a top!!

A Finish for me!!

Another one ready to quilt!

Debbi also took the time to try and teach me how to crochet...it's a "slow-go" but I am working on it.

Car Crocheting

Some evening/late night adventures:

Plus the beautiful mountains and skies:

Very Relaxing and peaceful...Hope we can do it again!

OH MY!!!!

I have been bad and not kept up with the Blog....I will try to do better!

Not sure where the time has gone but Fall is in the air! I had a very busy summer but not sure what I accomplished! Ever have times like that? I traveled some, spent time at a retreat, spent time with family and friends....Now I am back to work and have very limited free time. So will try to get caught up soon....


Irene

Jelly Roll Quilts

 I have caught the "Jelly Roll" Quilt bug........

Need to quilt it and put it on the shelf so it's ready for a quick gift.

Lazy Sunday Mystery-a Bonnie Hunter Mystery

 Bonnie Hunter is 'doing' a mystery called "Lazy Sunday" in the 2013 issues of Quiltmaker.

I have chosen not to make mine scrappy since I need to use some small yardages in my stash.

My fabrics:                            

Sixty-eight 4 patches:

 




Two hundred forty-two half square triangle:

   

Now, I have to wait until May/June issue to continue.......

  

A New Quilt Is Born.......

An on-line group I belong to decided to do a Mystery Quilt the past few weeks. I seldom do mysteries because it seems my fabric choices are usually so far off that I never finish them!!! But, with the encouragement of the gals, I jumped.......

My fabric selection:

My finished top:

Hearts for Hope

"Mom, do you have a quilt we could donate to the "Hearts For Hope" auction????"

Here is the quilt that went---

!Insights From SewCalGal: 2013 Golden Quilter Awards - Voting

!Insights From SewCalGal: 2013 Golden Quilter Awards - Voting: Quilters from all over the world were  invited to recognize those in the quilting business by nominating them for 12 categories of Gold...

"Lined Travel Bag"

Another bag, but this time it goes into my suitcase!!! Two fat quarters of fabric and I have a neat bag that holds all my personal bathroom supplies!! And so fun and fast to make!  I found the instructions here:
 http://beeinmybonnetco.blogspot.com/2012/03/lined-travel-bag-tutorial.html

I am sure I will be making more of these in the future!!

A sofa throw with a matching set of coasters. The quilt is the finished product of the Mary Mayhem's New Year's Mystery which I posted earlier.

This is going out the door this week to Samantha for her new apartment.

A New Bag

Saw this bag made up at a local quilt shop a few weeks ago. It is an "Indygo Junction" pattern. It's made out of strips, so I dug into the "strip drawer" and came up with these nine "Springy" strips.  I also used sewn together strips to make the handles. Now if the weather would let SPRING arrive...............

inside with pockets 

outside 
 

Holiday Weekend...

...equals quilting/sewing time!!! My plans for the 3-day weekend got changed due to family and cold/wind/snow!!!

What a better way to pass the time than to play in the studio?

Miscellaneous blocks made today:

 

and then I took some "rabbit/bunny" fat quarters and "stripped" them. Sewed them into yard lengths and made a "Jelly Roll" quilt. Hope to get this quilted in the next week or so.....

So, am I caught up? Nope
Is my studio a mess again? Yep
More later...............




Irene

Busy, busy, busy.....

,,,not only did I finish up my "Easy Street" mystery top, I also made Merry Mayhem's New Year's Day Mystery!

 "A Modern Twist."

I need to quilt this and get it mailed along with a set of 4 coasters!  

Still Rockin' Down "Easy Street"

I still haven't got all the "parts" into a top, but am making progress! I need to make the "B" blocks and I can "set" this quilt!  I am very proud of myself that I've stuck with this!!! If you know me, you know that "scrappy" is very very very hard for me to do!!! I would love to make this pattern again but not scrappy...and that may happen down the road!  Have to finish up this one first!

A sample of by quilt so far:

I will come back to this post and update as I make progress..so stay tuned!!

I have finished piecing "Easy Street." It has the backing with it and ready to mail to my machine quilter...

Couldn't get the whole top into the picture, so here is part of it:

I added a narrow purple batik border then a wider turquoise one. The backing is a black on white fabric and I put some lime green fabric in my "don't use, I'm for bindings" box.

--Easy Street--

has been revealed, but I am not ready to "show" my completed top!  I am behind! It's not a top yet!  I am working on it but with all the "family" happenings this past week, I haven't been able to get into the studio and to the machine as I would of liked.... Am getting really excited about getting all the "parts" together into a top!!!!

Stay tuned------

A few of the triangles that will be used in the "settings"

Saying Goodbye--

It's been a hard week. Yes, I know, a great Holiday Season was just enjoyed, but the "cycle of life" has been experienced by the family this week. We laid to rest Hubby's Uncle Ervin on Wednesday and then my Aunt Mary on Friday--so happy they are now pain free and walking Heaven's streets of gold, but it's always hard saying good-bye.

Flying with the Angels my loved ones!!!!




Irene

A Little Knitting.....

My daughter, Stacy, commented she would like to learn to knit.  I haven't knitted much since eighth grade--so many years ago--but told her I would help her with the basics...... We did some searches for patterns, checked out the yarns and needles and she was on her way. She also depended a lot on youtube when I wasn't around---we do live an hour apart.

She has finished her second project and wants to keep this on hand as a "TV" project. So for Christmas I made her a "knitting bag" and filled it up with assorted needles and yarns. Also made a notebook with an assortment of patterns in it......

the bag:

outside of bag

inside of bag

needle holder-inside

needle holder-closed

accessory bag closed

accessory bag-open

Now, maybe I should finish my 1st project?????


Irene

Error on MY "Easy Street"

I was cruising along Easy Street last night and enjoying the time bonding with machine and fabric. Had to cut more 2" squares, as apparently I couldn't count!!

Pulled more purples and cut--but wait, something doesn't "look" right!!! OH NO! I have 68 blocks half-done and these cuts aren't matching up with the others.... (last corners added aren't trimmed in the back yet, so the are reuseable)

I had cut the purples at 2.5 inches instead of 2 inches. So today, when I need to take breaks, I will sit and remove the corners and resize them in hopes I can still use some of them. I don't have a lot of purples left I had "pulled" for this quilt and really don't want to introduce new ones now.  Recutting all the turquoise squares won't be a problem--just really upset with myself!!!!

Corrected blocks:

*Note to self: reread instructions AGAIN before cutting, especially if cutting for more than one project at the same time!!



Irene

Another week on "Easy Street"

And I am caught up..until Friday that is!  This week we made more flying geese using our purples and turquoise then added them to our purple/black-on-white geese.  I even managed to get them all squared up and trimmed!  I also cut 140+ lime green squares.  Now, waiting (impatiently!!) for Friday when another step is posted.

In the meantime, I will continue to work on Christmas gifts and all the Holiday baking!  Shopping is almost complete so need to start the wrapping too.  But first, will this flu bug just PLEASE go away???????

Still Strolling Down Easy Street

Doing my best to keep up with Bonnie Hunter's "Easy Street" Mystery.  Step 3 was posted on Friday and I actually found time to cut the fabric on Friday!  Worked 5 hours Saturday, then sewed since Hubby was gone. Progress has been made and as soon as I trim these blocks, I'll be ready for Step 4 this Friday--YEAH ME!!!!!!
The block pieces:

The blocks: (untrimmed)

Can't wait until Friday to see the next step!!!!