Sewing frenzy

Spent a few days with Lesa last weekend.....made progress on many "little things." The BellaBella is getting bigger! Am now to the point of connecting the four sections---am stuggling with it, but----am also down to making six sets of HSTs and adding the final borders for the "Wedding" quilt! Yippee! Some "top" finishes coming up soon, at least I hope so! Also made 120 2.5" HSTs for a Jaunty Rail Quilt made of 30's fabrics.

Lesa and I were busy sewing, shopping (ut-oh!), and playing with her new Pfaff mid-arm! Thanks Lesa for a wonderful weekend!

Happy thanksgiving to each of you!

Week of appointments

This past week was our week of multi-appointments! UGH! I think that ehausted me more than working 12 hours days!

Mic had a MRI done on Monday, results on Wednesday. She did tear her ACI (plus other damamge in there) in her left knee. As of now, she is scheduled for surgery on November 30th. There is a lot this mommy has to get done before that day rolls around! I have asked for a week off but haven't been told I can have more than three days.

I am slowly getting the top made for Ry and Amber. Still have to make 20 HST's but need to sew more dark strips together. Wonder how I managed to miscount my strips? I am using the pattern "Ripples."

I am also working on another flannel quilt. These are blocks from last years swap. Still collecting the blocks from this years swap. Yep, a year behind again!

Since it's cold, rainy, and windy outside, I'm off to cuddle with a quilt and a book for this afternoon.

~Irene~

Updating

November and no snow!!!!! Altho the mornings are frosty and nippy, I have been able to go to work with mostly a sweatshirt, but I think that is coming to a hault as there is snow in the forecast..brrrrrrrrrrr..and I don't like driving the bus in the snow, but then, we've made it so far without snow and that's unusal!

Not much sewing going on this week, been running with Mic. She will possibly have ACL surgery yet this month or early December.....not what we had in mind for the holiday season, but..............

A few more "comfort quilts" I've had a hand in making this year:

Month's End..........

......and I feel like I haven't accomplished much of anything! Looking over my chart, I do see that three quilts are completed! WAHOO!

I also, ummmmmmmmmm, joined two block swaps. Oh boy, I'm not supposed to be doing that! My goal is to empty the block drawers NOT fill them up! But, I only had to buy one yard of flannel for the two swaps, the rest of the fabric came out of my stash! This does justify joining the swaps---right?

It's time to pull out last years flannel blocks and get them done---that four lettered word I don't like to hear (namely, snow) is in our forecast for next week....guess fall is about over? Will need the flanel quilts, jammies, etc. if it's cold and the fuel prices keep going up!

Wonder if I can accomplish anything quilty in November?



~Irene~

Duh!

One of these days I will learn not to try sewing when I am tired! Everything I pieced Tuesday night, I have to undo and try again! ggggggggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Maybe it's time I take a breat, clean up the messy room and hand quilt for a day or two? But wait, I can't do that right now, I have to get 12 blocks made for a swap I join (which, by the way, I cut wrong too and have to recut!) Oh well, more fabric into the scrap bin. Someday I'll figure out what to do with all those scraps...............

Weather turned cooler. Had lots and lots of rain the lst few days. Windy and the leaves are falling fast. They say we could have our first hard frost this weekend. Brrrr I'm not a fan of cold weather!

Well, best go see if I can salvage any of my booboos. (altho today I'd rather curl up on the couch with a book and quilt!)

Later

Irene

Busy, busy, busy................

Time to slow down! I am tired! Helped at school a lot last week, very emotional week, but God is giving us the strength to go on. Celebrated Mic's 18th birthday over the weekend---where has the time gone? My "baby" is ready to spread her wings (well, as soon as she graduates high school!). Weather has been so beautiful so am outside as much as I can. Just a few more hours and we will be ready for the snow (gasp). The leaves aren't as pretty this year, but there is still some color around!

I am working on my quilting too. The three quilts for the "kids" have the bindings on, are washed & dried, and ready for their new home.

Also made a Homespun Rag Quilt for the shop.

Now, it's time to clean up the sewing room and start (or finish) another project.


Enjoy the fall weather!
Irene

Post retreat

Came home from retreat Sunday in time to enjoy lunch with DH and DD. Retreat was a success and I got quite a few things accomplished.

All three tops for the "kids" are now quilts! Did two of them on Friday and Janet helped me finish the third one on Saturday. Did the binding yesterday and today--yep, I had forgotten to pack them so had to do them myself. Also worked on some 4-patch raggy flannel blocks (12 made) for a swap. Then set some more blocks on my DS's wedding quilt. Have to make more HST, but for this quilt it takes a lot of consentration, so will make them here at home. I had taken my BellaBella for the others to see (well, what I have done so far). I did work on it a little on Saturday night. It did spark a lot of interest and a few books and pattern packs were ordered.

Lots of great food, fun, and fellowship. Didn't spend a lot of $$$ this time. I decided I needed to finish some UFO's before buying for new projects!

On the homefront, DD had a minor accident on Saturday. Noone hurt, just a small dent in her car. But, since she's not 18 yet, we have to go to court sometime. Hope next time she brakes harder! Just thankful no on was hurt!

Saturday night, DD, a high school senior, lost a classmate due to a horrible accident. Tomorrow is the funeral and we are still all in shock. Mic and Cody have/had been classmates since Kindergarten---friends, this is a tough one! Whisper a prayer for the 66 seniors as they say thier final goodbye tomorrow and for us as parents/friends of the family that we may be strong for them.


Irene

Mini Retreat

The time is almost here! I am so excited to be able to get away for a three day weekend! Heading to Parkersburg WV tomorrow after work for a mini quilting retreat. No hubby, no kids, no cooking, and no cleaning! Can't say no phone as I have to have the cell on in case my Dad has problems again. Even with his new pacemaker, he is having some chest pains, so need the cell in case Mom needs to get in touch.

I have packed a few projects, altho I'm not sure I'll get to work on any of them. My number one goal is to get the 3 kids quilts quilted on the HQ16! I am hoping to come home Sunday with 3 completed quilts! May even ask a few ladies to help with the bindings (gosh, I hope I packed the binding fabrics!) Will have to take time off to do a mini shop hop---good thing I stashed my last paycheck!

I did sit down today and stitched a few more stitches on the Fairy Frost quilt I am hand quilting. I think this may take me all winter to get done!

Hoping you have a great quilty weekend!

Kid's Quilts

The third quilt top is done!

Now to gather up the batting and backing!

"Fred" block

Fabrics I used and how the block was/is made:

Fabrics: prewashed Civil War Reproduction prints.

Color placement: two light squares in diagonal corners, two medium squares in the other diagonal corners. (For these corner squares, use fabrics in the beige family as shown in the picture) For the Center square use the darkest brown you have. Focus colors should be 2 that compliment each other but have some contrast. Background should be a creamy fabric similar in color to Kona Natural or unbleached muslin.

Directions: Cut and use 2.5" blocks for the individual pieces. Make half-square triangles by cutting a 3" square of each of the color and cream background fabrics. Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the back of the cream background. Place the 2 squares right sides together and sew 1/4" from the line on both sides of the line. Cut on the diagonal line to separate the HSTs. Press open. Trim to 2.5" before using in the block.

Kid's Quilts

Quilt number two is ready for the quilter! Now to get another 12 blocks made.....

Kid's Quilts

Have one quilt ready to quilt......

"Comfort Quilts"

I love making "Comfort Quilts!" Giving someone a quilt to cuddle with when they are through a tough time in life warms my heart!

The following quilts were make for "internet friends." Blocks were collected from across the USA and then I set them. Sheryl @ Parkersburg Sewing & Quilting quilted two of them and I quilted one of them on her HQ16.

Progress

I am making progress on the quilts for the "kids." Have one border to add to quilt #1 and quilt #2 then they are ready to quilt. Decided to try and make a matching patterned (as #1) quilt for #3. Means I have to make about 24 more blocks! Have the fabric, but finding the time to get them make and into a top before Oct. 12 will be the challenge!

Red, White, and Blue Quilts

What to do with a stack of red, white, and blue quilt blocks that aren't uniform in size? I had 12 swapped r/w/b Star blocks that weren't equal in size. I took 4 of them and trimmed them, yes, I lost some points, but sometime you just have to make the best of it! I then added a narrow red border around each of them. Now, what am I going to do with them?



I used them as a center row for a row x row! Two quilting friends added a row of their own on each side of my row..........Thanks Linda and Sheryl for helping me end up with a great quilt! DS had claimed this one!

I then took the other eight blocks trimmed them and added a blue border. I found eight other Star r/w/b blocks in a bin so took these sixteen blocks and made another row x row quilt. DD #1 has claimed this one.

BellaBella........

While visiting Lesa in August, she helped me get started on my BellaBella top......I finished five "wedges" then didn't work on it with school starting and everything else that has been going on with the parents, etc.

An on-line group I belong to, has started challenging each other to work on projects to help keep us motivated. Last week I was challenged to make another five "wedges." I am happy to report, I met that challenge and my BellaBella is slowly becoming a top! Not done yet, but now ten wedges are done! Hopefully you can see the light & dark yellows and reds with the black, white, and green.

Just an update:



Both parents have had their surgeries and are coming along well. Sure has cut into my quilting time, but they do come first, along with soccer games and extra driving.



As for quilting, the Fairy Frost is now loaded onto the frame for hand quilting---basically my winter project. Did take a few stitches yesterday, but this will take a while to finish!



Have been working on my BellaBella top too......paper-piecing so another "slow" one for me, but I'm learning. Also attempted to machine quilt a top on my machine. Don't like it at all so will be "froggin'" and sending it out to have machine quilted or visit a friend that will let me use their machine.



A family whose kids ride my bus had a house fire and the kids have lost everything (the bedrooms received the most damage), so I have committed to making 3 twin quilts for them.....this should keep me busy and out of trouble????

Christmas Round Robin

As you probably already know, I used to love to swap blocks, etc. At the beginning of the year I resolved to NOT swap so much and turn blocks into tops and tops into finished quilts! I am happy to report that I am making headways! I just finished quilt # 5 , have 2 out to be quilted, and 6 more ready to be quilted! But, alas, there are more on the unfinished pile! Some of them I don't even like anymore but will finish them and donate.

Another finished quilt

Spent some time in Western Ohio last week. Some "power sewing" and then got to play on a mid-arm quilting machine (wish I had one!!). Quilted two tops, but this is the only one that is completely done.

Also started my "Bella Bella" quilt....Hoping to finish my "Leaves" and then move on to the Bella soon. Maybe after the parents are done with all their surgeries?

Just Rambling

Kids are moved and settled (?). I worked on getting a guest room set up today between phone calls. Finally get to have my "30's" room! I've been in love with the reproduction fabrics for eons.......have 2 quilts on the bed and a wallhanging on one wall. I am working on taking three dresden plate blocks, found in my late MIL's sewing chest, and framing them for a wall grouping too.

Still working on my "leaf" quilt. Slowly making headways. But, am going to take a break from it and work on the Ripple Effect top for a day or so......want to get this one done so it can be quilted and ready soon so I don't have to rush next spring.

I am finding that I don't enjoy "scrappy" quilts as much any more. Have many ideas and wanna-dos and I think it's time I persued them!

Time for a snack, some TV, then bed....................later folks.