Friday's Progress Report

Hi There!

Remember that "Agenda" that I thought I'd force myself to do?

Well, I tried.  

I seriously did.

And all it did was make me miserable.

Monday was my Dear Jane day,

for example.

Tuesday morning, I would sit there and wish I could work on my DJ but Nooooo....  I "had" to work on Tuesday's project!

I've had previously taught myself to continue a quilty project until the end.  And that's how I manage to FINISH my projects!

This way, I felt like I was a butterfly, flittering from 1 flower to the next!

Sooooo, I've decided that the "Agenda" will be put into effect IF I have no other (recent) project that needs to be finished.

With this in mind, Gilbert quilted "Easy Al" yesterday and this morning, I will do the binding this morning

See?  I'll be able to brag that THIS quilt is finished!

*grin*

Gilbert took a picture of "Easy Al" on the frame,

once it was finished.

And yesterday, while Gilbert was quilting "Easy Al", I started sashing my Dear Jane blocks to make a good sized lap quilt and managed to add the outer borders, too!

Today, I'll add the label on the back and send it to my Longarmer.... 

(AKA Hubby or Gilbert)...

*grin*

For the past week, Gilbert and I have been searching for some Bumblebee fabric.  His daughter and her hubby are expecting their first child and have done the baby room in a bumblebee theme.

Do a Google search for Bumblebee fabric and chances are, you'll find the "Bee Happy" line by Henry Glass.  They have a GORGEOUS panel with coordinating fabrics, of course.

Well, we looked high and low, on the internet and ... do we order from a quilt store or from eBay?  Which had the better shipping?  Do they also have the coordinating fabric, to go around the panel, for the back of this baby quilt and for the binding?

Questions! Questions!

Along with...

Decisions.... Decisions....

Finally, I called up our local Fabricville and would you believe - they had the EXACT same panel, with coordinating fabrics?!??

Off to Fabricville to pick up the Bee Happy fabric panel as well as coordinating fabrics!

I was in Quilter's Heaven!!!!

(here, I've added borders to the panel...)

Here's a closeup of one of the bumblebees...

Gilbert and I just need to decide on what to put on the label.  

Then he will quilt his grandchild's quilt.

He said he'd probably do freehand "loops".

He thought it would represent the bee's flight.

Will post pictures later!

Have yourselves a Wonderful Weekend!!!

Rosa

Easy Al Tutorial

 Hi There!

I've finally finished the center of

"Easy Al".

I started working on the "outer" border and should have it all completed by tomorrow or Sunday.

See the mini triangles?

I'll be adding those on the outer border. 

 

So, while I was working on these blocks, 

I thought, "Hey!  Why not put up pictures with instructions on this quilt?  Kinda like a Tutorial!"

You'll only need to make these 2 blocks...

Several times, of course.

:-)

We'll start with the 4 patch.

Cut 3-1/2 inch strips - royal blue and a variety of plaids.

Sew these strips together - side by side.

Once sewn, cut the strips at 3-1/2 inches, into a 2 block.

Then, sew these 2 blocks with another 2 blocks to make a 4 patch block.

I'll give out the exact amount of blocks that I needed for a single quilt....  

Didn't think to take the number done.

But you need to make a bunch of 4 patch blocks.

Next, cut a 6-1/2 inch white background... or beige or white on white or black on white, or whatever.

You need a pale color block, cut at 6-1/2 inch.

Cut some plaid blocks at 3-1/2 inch square and put 'em on the edge of your white 6-1/2 inch block.  Here, I took a chalk line and marked from edge to edge.

Sew along your chalk line and cut 1/4 inch off, once sewn.  

See those 2 pieces of triangles that I cut off?  I saved 'em and that's what I made the mini triangles with.... on the outer border of this quilt.

Here's a picture of one of my mini triangles.

Before I sewed my mini triangles, I squared 'em up to 2-1/2 inches.

Will post final pictures of "Easy Al", once its all quilted and bound.  AND, I'll post the amount of blocks required to make a single quilt.

Have Super Saturday!

Rosa

Getting Organized - Progress Report

Hi There!

Remember, a while back, I decided to designate certain quilt projects for each day of the week?  Well, here's my progress report and my take on how this "Agenda" has been going.

Yesterday, was my "Dear Jane" day.  

Mind you, I also did errands and did laundry, etc, etc... but managed to finish 3 Dear Jane blocks.

Today, was my "Inklingo" day.

I hadn't done any Inklingo on my laptop, downstairs AND I got a new (Brother) printer in January(?) and had never used it for Inklingo purposes.

Anyhow, it took me about 1 hour to find the Inklingo pattern that I wanted, for my Rose Dream block.  I had to finally write to Linda Franz - I simply could NOT find it!

Soooo, another 1/2 an hour to decide on which quilt I wanted to make...

I mean... HONESTLY!!!!

Just take a LOOK at these gorgeous Rose Dream quilts!!!

And then, ANOTHER 1/2 hour or more, to find the perfect fabrics, in my stash!

By then, it was time for lunch!

Trust me - it never takes this long to print an Inklingo pattern!

Its just that everything that COULD go wrong, went "wrong" today!

*insert wry grin here*

Came back to my Sewing Studio and try and figure out the proper dimensions for this pattern.

Did I mention that I "thought" my ink cartridges were empty and we... I mean Gilbert put in new color cartridges?

FINALLY, at 3h30 I was had printed out a few shapes and managed to finish - almost - 1 of the 4 sections.

I was debating as to whether I should machine piece this quilt or hand piece it.

Hand piecing won!  

I want perfect seams and ... well... 

just a cute and perfect lap quilt!

Here's the pattern that I selected.

Cute, eh?

And who knows, eh?

I just might even hand quilt it, too!

*grin*

As to my feelings about designating certain days of the week to certain projects....  

I'm not really likin' it.  

For the past 2 years I've forced myself to concentrate on ONE project at a time .... 

And now, it feels like I'm jumping from 1 project to the next.  My heart is now yearning to work on and FINISH the previous day's project!

I'll figure it out.  

At least I'm never bored!

LOL!!!!

Have a Wonderful Wednesday!

Tomorrow's my "Asian Quilt".

Rosa

Bobby's (Hospice) House Quilt #1 - FINISHED!!!

Hi There!

Friday, Gilbert finished the quilt that we will be presenting to Bobby's Hospice House.

This morning, I finished the binding!

I decided to "piece" the back. 

That's it, for today's Progress Pics!

Have a great week!

Rosa

Thursday and Friday's Activities

Hi There!

Progress Report Time....

Wednesday, as posted on here already, I finished off one of my flowers for my "Asian" quilt.  I still haven't come up with a proper name for this quilt and its made with "South Seas" fabric, so, for now its my "Asian" quilt.

Thursday, I managed to make another flower block, for this quilt.

Here's the flower collection, so far.

I think I need 9 flower blocks for this quilt.

Gilbert had my 1st "Bobby's Quilt" on Bertha,

our Longarm machine!

Its now ready to "bind".

I will post pictures once that's done.

And here's my new quilty project.

Its for my Dad.  His name is rather difficult to pronounce in English, so a lot of people call him "Easy".  He also LOVES his plaid shirts.  My Mom calls them his "Al Borland" shirts - re: "Tool Time" with "Tim, the Tool Man Taylor".  

Remember that show?

Taking all this into account, I've decided to name this quilt

"Easy Al".

By 4 p.m., I had managed to piece 4 rows!

I got the idea for this pattern from a picture of a quilt that I saw in one of my books.

They called it a variation of Jacob's Ladder.   

So far, it's coming together real easy and fairly quickly.  

And I'm lovin' the look of it, too!

This morning, Gilbert and I have a couple quick errands and then, this afternoon.... I am volunteering at our local Quilt Guild show.

Have a Super Saturday!

Rosa

Today's Agenda

Hi There!

Since today was designated as the day that I work on my "Asian" BOM (Block Of the Month)... circa 2010 quilt, I managed to finish another (machine) appliquéd flower block.

And no, I didn't take a picture.   

I'll try and remember to take one tomorrow.

Gilbert and I left the house around 4 p.m.  He had to go to Home Depot and pick up some melamine - white shelfing planks - that's what I'd call them .... and a few other items.

As we pulled into the parking lot, here's what he first spotted -  a BIG, RED, truck with the Milwaukee tool sign on the side.

In the past year or so, he's been buying Milwaukee tools - he's quite impressed with this brand.

After picking up everything on his list, we headed off to Boston Pizza, for supper.  

He took a surprise shot of me, playing with my iTouch.   

*grin*

After supper, we went to the city center.  Our local quilt guild's "Opening and Awards" ceremony was held, this evening!

Such lovely quilts but I forgot to take pictures!

Not to worry - I'll be going back there and will surely take some pictures to share!

That's about it!   

S'now 10h25 p.m. and I'm EXHAUSTED!

Have a Terrific Thursday!

Rosa

Not On Schedule

A few posts ago, I set up a weekly agenda or schedule and I got a few "congrats" on this.

But it sure is hard to stay on course!

Yesterday, I was supposed to play with Inklingo but had to do a binding on a client's quilt. I guess Inklingo was not to be.

Today, my Agenda said Asian blocks and I've managed, so far, to do only 1.

Will keep you posted.

Rosa

A Dear Jane Day

Hi There!

Well, as I had promised myself, I spent a good deal of time with my DJ polka dot blocks, today.

I had started these blocks in 2010 and, since then, I decided that I wanted a polka dot quilt done in a TATW (Trip Around The World) pattern and their colors were not "correct".

Sooooo, I trimmed these babies and put them on my design wall... Found some royal blue dotty fabric, for the sashing. As you can see, I need to make 2 more DJ blocks.

But that will have to wait till next Monday.

This will either be a table topper or a lap quilt. Dunno yet.

Rosa

Winter Twitterings

 Hi There!

Okay, I "was" working on a hook rug piece and its all hooked.  I need to heat set it, turn the edges under and put in a couple tabs to hang it.

Sooooo, since I like to have something to do with my hands, in the evening, I decided to pull out a book that my friend Frummie gave to me, while I was in Florida.

I will be making the quilt on this cover.

Gorgeous, isn't it?!??!

This is a picture of the quilt.

It's all redwork - 

Something new for me!

I'll be tracing the 1st pattern, this evening.

Stay tuned!

Rosa

Getting Organised... (or trying, anyhow)

Hi There!

Are you like me?  

I seem to get the "bestest" ideas early in the morning. Most times, within 1 hour of waking up, even.  And I wasn't even REMOTELY looking for these "ideas".  They just seem to pop up, out of nowhere!

This morning's idea?  

Instead of going into my sewing room every day and tackling my recent project and feeling guilty 'cause this other project or whatever project isn't getting touched, why not have a weekly schedule, right?

Sooooo, I jotted down projects and things that I wanted to do.  Not all drudgery stuff.  And this schedule would apply to either a whole morning or a whole afternoon.  And IF I was enjoying myself too much, at that time, then it would be a WHOLE day thing!

Plus, my "schedule" or "agenda" will not be written in cement.  These projects are merely "suggestions"...  *grin*

Monday - Dear Jane blocks or work on piecing my DJ Siggie Blocks, including my Christmas Siggies.

Tuesday - Inklingo: Dream Rose

(I've been putting this one off and this will FORCE me out of my comfort zone, too!)

Wednesday - BOM:  finish my applique'd flower blocks and then, piece the blocks together.

Thursday - Quilter's Cove:  "Hand stuff" - embroidery, pincushions, "Diamond Stars", etc,

Friday - SnowPeople quilts with exchanged blocks.

Saturday /Sunday - New projects  -  Table runners for our "wall".

How's that for a schedule?  

But, that truly won't come into full effect till after our Guild's Quilt Show... May 2nd to 4th.

This morning?  I've got toilet duties, unfortunately.  And am trying to get caught up with Bonnie Hunter's recent Mystery Quilt that is published in the "Quiltmaker" magazine(s).   Aaaaaand....  I might make some more pillowcases, to sell, at our quilt show.

Gorgeous sunshine out there, this morning!  

Hope you all have a SUPER Saturday!!!

Rosa

Mystery Quilt - Step #2

 Hi There!

Finished sewing up Step #1 blocks for Bonnie Hunter's new Mystery Quilt called "Lazy Sunday".

Step #2, we get to cut some purple squares and start putting some blocks together!

Mind you, in this picture, I've still got more blocks to cut up in the oranges... and the blues have yet to be introduced but I, nevertheless, started playing with the placement of these blocks.  This setting is rather eye-pleasing.

As for this one, I really don't care for it.  

I believe that if I'm going to put a LOT of effort into cutting and sewing a lot of blocks, I like to be able to SEE a pattern emerging - A least to show off my efforts.

Something that looks like it was thrown together or worst, even...  looking like fabric got "vomited", is not "eye pleasing" to me. 

:-(

You really don't see a clear and precise "pattern" on the picture, here.

Yesterday evening, I finally finished piecing all of these blocks... all 24 of them.  The picture below shows the extra blocks that were left over.  These will probably go somewhere, on the quilt back.  Stay tuned. *s*

And here are all my blocks, on my Design Wall.

This morning, I get to work on my last quilt that I will be entering in our local quilt show.  I need to make and baste a sleeve.  YUCK!!!  I truly DO hate doing this but if we need to make a "sleeve" if we're to enter a quilt in a show.   Otherwise, how do the organizers hang it up, eh?

AFTERWARDS, I will play with these blocks.

Hope you have a Super Saturday!

Rosa

Another Mystery Quilt.

Hi There!

I decided to make/take the time to start Bonnie Hunter's latest Mystery Quilt, printed in the last 2 Quiltmaker's magazine.

I've got (almost) half of the 1st Step finished.

At this point, I counted and re-counted my blocks and read and re-read the instructions.

I was supposed to "cut" 48 pink and purple 1/2 blocks...
to finish with 24 pink and purple four-patch blocks. 

Instead, I made 40 four-patch blocks before I realized that I had gone overboard!

Picture below shows my bundles of 10 blocks.

The pink and white ones, on the left, are okay.

*sigh*

Looks like some of my extra blocks will be going on the back of this quilt!

Do you see the lime green, orange and aqua/sky blue fabrics on my Design Wall?  Those are the other colors that will be incorporated in this Mystery, as well as a white background fabric - not shown in picture.

Will be sharing my progress, as I go along.

Stay tuned!

Rosa

"Strawberry Crumb Quilt" Has a Label!

I've been incorporatingy labels on the back of my quilt BEFORE its quilted. Gilbert thinks its better and me? Well, at least the quilt doesn't sit on a shelf, waiting for its label. Its already done.

Saturday evening and we're waiting for Downton Abbey, in French, to start. And I'll be rug hooking this evening, while watching TV.

Yeah - relaxation!!!

Have a great evening...

Rosa

Strawberry Crumb Cake - Progress Report

I think I've done half of my quilt back. This morning, I'll be re-measuring and figuring out my next moves.

Have a Stupendous Sewing Saturday!

Rosa

Bobby's Hospice House #3 - AKA "Strawberry Crumb Cake"

 Hi There!

Just an blog update - a sort of "Sew 'N Tell".

A few days before Easter, I made 10 pillowcases for family members.

They were well received!

Sew, I guess I'll make some more....

in the near future.

*grin*

Okay, you must be SICK of my red quilts, by now!

LOL

Well, I truly AM trying to use up all my bits and pieces and then, move onto some other projects.... hopefully projects with other colors, eh?

LOL!!!

Here's my pile of "crumbs".

For you non-quilters out there, "crumbs" are fabric bits and pieces and smidgeons, even!

 Here is a picture of me, making some "Crumb Blocks".

Here's a picture of my "Strawberry Crumb Cake".

I can assure you that the top is now completed but unfortunately, I didn't take a picture of it, yet.

And since I finished the quilt top this morning, I started working on piecing the back of the quilt.

As of supper time, I have 2 big chunks sewn up.

Tomorrow's another day, eh?

Rosa