Grand illusion Part 3

All of my Part 3's for all 3 of my Grand Illusions are done. Pictured here are the ones for my the one I'm labeling as my second one. These are some fun fabrics that I got for about 33 cents a pound. I had found them on Shopgoodwill and bought waaaaay too much. Unfortunately, they are the plastic prints like on t-shirts so I can't press them, but my seam roller and I have become very good friends. At the top of the picture, you can see just the edge of the part 3's for quilt number 3. They are all DS fabrics (Denyse Schmidt).

Finish #4 of 2015

This is for a family friend. It is a flannel quilt for her soon to be baby girl. I love how easy it is to make these. I think the most dangerous part for me was actually in the tying as I kept stabbing myself with the needle.

Dropping the Ball

I'm sure it surprises no one that it is now 10:14PM on TUESDAY, and I just realized that I have not posted the link for the Blocks from the Past Quilt Along. I still have no additional progress to post, but it is nearing the top of my list. I spent most of the last two weeks trying to complete a top faster than I should have because I wanted to be able to show it off at our Guild meeting last Saturday. I got it done, and it will show up on the blog a little later. However, that led to a slight burnout in the quilting realm, and a whole lot of "Well, now what?" Don't worry, now I know what's up on the docket, so progress can resume. But please go check out April's blog for the week 7 update for the Blocks from the Past Quilt Along.

Finish #3 of 2015

It's done. This is my round robin that I did with a few ladies between 2013-2014. I took it home with me when I went to my parents house for an extended Christmas and quilted it on my mom's long arm. I loved doing it. I tried to accent each row without going too elaborate on my quilting. I am very please with how it turned out. I even included each name into the quilting of the big outside border.

Half Square Triangle Sampler

I've begun my HST(half square triangle) sampler. I am using my bonus triangles, and beginning to think this will hardly touch my drawer full of them. When I do my sew and flip corners on things I sew an extra seam about 3/8 of an inch towards the corner as well, which is how this drawer of extra triangles came about. So I acquired Konda's book that shows some different layouts for blocks. And am going to use a bunch of them to make some blocks out of my triangles. This is the first one. I will only use the sets of matching triangles for now. I might save the others for another project. I'm actually thinking this pattern would be fun, if they are the right size.

Red and white applique

I have fallen in love with applique. This is my final 4.5 inch block that I needed for my Red and White Modern Block Swap Quilt, that some of my friends and I participated in last year. We made 1 8.5 inch block for everyone in the group, and 2 4.5 inch blocks for everyone in the group. I have decided on my layout, and still need another 9 8.5 inch blocks, and I'm dragging my feet on it, but I really would like to get this done soon. Hopefully, I'll have more to show soon.

Squirl

This is a red and white block for my Red and White Quilt. It is another 4.5 inch block. I love how it turned out. I almost wish I had switched my thread color when doing it, but not really. I actually kind of like that you can see some of my stitches, to prove I did it myself. And I'm not planning on entering it into Paducah, so I think I'm safe.

First applique

This is my first applique block. It is called Squirl from The Quilter's Cache's Quilt Blocks Galore. I resized it down for one of my 4.5 inch Red and White Swap Quilt Blocks. I had a lot of fun with this one. I'm glad I finally got over my fear of applique.

Tablecloths

I've started planning tablecloths. I've been doing much better of keeping up with the kitchen and getting the rest of the house clean. I admit I'd rather be quilting most of the time. Then you throw in 2 little boys who require CONSTANT VIGILANCE, and the house does not look as nice as it should most days. Anywho, so I decided after having to clean up Kyle's spot at the table one night, that I would prefer tablecloths. This isn't the first time I've thought this, but it was the first time I thought I could successfully make them and use up some of the fabric that has been sitting around for awhile, and is rather dated. Since a single width of fabric would not be enough to cover the table I decided that I would piece some simple tops for it, and then put 2 of them together right sides together and turn them. I also like this option because we have an oblong table, so If I decide I really don't like one of the sides for the table then I can always just turn it into a quilt. I've begun to pull fabrics for some of them, and hope to be able to get to starting on them soon. Of course, since I didn't really need to add another project it may have to wait a little bit.

Schnitzel and Boo Mini Quilt Swap

My mini came. In this swap, I made a mini quilt for someone and someone made a mini quilt for me. We had no idea who it would be coming from. The lady who received mine said she really liked it. I am absolutely in love with the one I received. This pretty little thing came from Canada. That means it's been to more countries than I have. I love how vibrant and happy these colors are. I love the symmetry of it. I love the way that it is slightly offset. And I love all the goodies that came with it. I have an obsession with notepads, that I know I state in my survey. And you can never go wrong with Chocolate.  I have been known to say on many occasions that the answer is always Chocolate. If you are reading this partner. Thank you again.

Grand illusion part 4

I have all of the pieces cut out for part 4 of my all 3 of Grand Illusion Mystery Quilts. Thanks to the Accuquilt Go I got for Christmas, I was able to get it all done in an afternoon. It was great. Hopefully, they will be sewn up soon. The only problem is, I've been making myself earn my seams to sew, in hopes that it will keep me cleaning more instead of sewing all the time. This is a lot of seams to earn. I guess I better go get to work.

Blocks from the Past Week 6

Go check out this weeks Blocks on Marion's blog. I have no new progress to report on this project this week. I am hoping to soon have put together a sandpaper board to try for all the applique. I have been loving all the applique I've been doing. Which I need to actually take the time and blog about. But for now, got to Marion's blog, and happy quilting.

Upset Rhythm

Hello. So It dawned on me that I had fallen behind on recording my progress on some things. It doesn't help that I have lost contact with my computer (some part of it must sleep with the fishes and we haven't had time to evaluate which part). While I do still have my Chromebook, it can be hard to envision some things still being possible if handled differently. It has felt very odd to be missing my arm (computer). And since I get into certain rhythms as to what is done in which part of the house, or on what computer, sometimes I forget that some of those things can be done in both places (though some things like my games and watching dvds cannot).

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that hopefully tomorrow I can start on sharing some of the finishes and progress and fun things that I have been forgetting to post. More does seem to get done when I'm not stopping to check Facebook all the time.

...And that I probably shouldn't give myself rambling rights after 10 pm.

Please have a happy day.

Blocks from the past week 5

This week I do actually have progress to post. I realized that a lot of my mental hangups on getting started on this quilt along had to do with the applique. I had not done any needle turn applique. So I was feeling especially intimidated. So this weekend after watching several YouTube videos, I finally sat down to start tracing out my pieces. I then did a couple of smaller blocks for another quilt as practice, and am ready to get going on these pieces. For an update on which blocks we are doing this week, go check out Marion's Blog.

Blocks from the Past Quilt Along Weekly Update

I feel I have dropped the ball a little bit this week. I forgot that it was Monday.  I know that never happens to other people, so I'm sorry it happened to me. If you are following along, go check out my friend, Konda's blog to see about this weeks blocks. As for myself, I have copied out the applique pieces, with hopes of getting 1 or more prepped in the next few days.

I also have a few pictures to take of some of the things I have gotten done this week, so I can get them up on here. Many great things, and some harder things have been happening, including some sickness. Kyle has had an icky nose for much of our time in Utah, and I had thought it was possibly teething related until I got it. We also had Spencer come home sick from work one day, and Nate got it just after that. Luckily it wasn't something that stuck around for very long. Also, in the last 2 weeks, Nate has decided that he wants to be a big boy, and no longer uses diapers, and has even being staying dry at night. We are very proud of him.

Anyway, it is after my bedtime now, so I must bid you adieu.

First partial finish of 2015

While this is a finish I am only going to call this a partial finish at this point. Since I'm trying to get myself all the way to bound and labeled with some of my UFOs, bound and labeled will be the only Finishes allowed. I'm also going to be rewarding myself for Full finishes with a fat quarter for each finish every 100 days. The 100 days of not buying fabric will also grant me a fat quarter. This way I will be using my fabric faster than acquiring new fabric.

Anyway. This lovely little house is part of a swap I'm participating in with my mom and some of her quilting friends in Indiana. There are 5 of us and we will be making 10 houses every month. There are few different styles of houses to choose from. They finish at 4.5 inches. i had fun picking out the fabrics for this one, since I had a Curious George print that was the perfect size for the window. They are now packaged and on their way to Indiana.

Finish #2 of 2015

This is my second finish of the year. It is a baby blanket/quilt for a new little guy, the son of a lady from church. It is all flannel. I used 5 inch squares that I randomized using my random number generator app and then sewed together just making sure that the same fabric was not touching itself on either the sides or the corners (until the end where 2 touch on the corners, betcha can't find them :P). I used a low loft batting and sewed, flipped, and topstitched to give it binding-like look. It was the first quilt I tied. I have helped tie some for donations, but this was the first one I did by myself. It's a bit bigger than I realized. It finished at 49 inches square.

Quilt Along Progress

It's another Blocks from the Past Quilt Along Day. Go check out Natalie's blog for the beginning blocks. I have had a few very busy days since returning to Utah, so my blocks are still living as dreams for a little longer.

I had a baby shower last Saturday with another one this Saturday, so a lot of my focusing the past week has been on some blankets/quilts for those. I also have been hard at work on a comfort quilt for a friend. Pictures of all these things will come if I can find some time. I also have been trying to get some blocks ready to mail for a swap I'm in with my mom and a few of the ladies from her guild (in Indiana). And I hope to soon be able to get a little more progress done on Bonnie Hunter's Grand Illusion Mystery. My husband and I have also been enjoying some time together sitting and watching 1-2 episodes of some of the shows that have been waiting patiently for us to start, so my binding is coming along slow and steady on my Round Robin. It is slower some days, since the shows get a little more intense at times.

Hopefully, I will have more to share with you soon.

In an attempt to use what I have, I have not bought fabric in 101 days.

First Finish of 2015

 My first finish for the year is this lovely mini quilt. I chose to participate in Schnitzel & Boo's Mini Quilt Swap: Round Three. We each signed up and gave a little bit of information about our selves, and she very generously paired us all up. We were to make a mini quilt to send to a new friend. A big part of the fun is that we could follow any number of other people on Instagram who were also joining in this swap. But none of us know who is making the quilt that will be coming to us. 

Shipping opened this week for getting them to our partners, so I had to get over my fears of my partner not liking it, and get it quilted. I managed to piece it at my parents' house while I was visiting for a very long Christmas visit. My mom allowed me to search her stash for just the right fabrics and I am quite please with how it went together. I finished it with a bias binding of the same bright square fabric that I used for the back and included a corner label and 2 hanging corners. Once I have settled on what extras I want to include in the package, it will be on to it's new home.

Blocks from the Past Week 2

Hello again dear friends. With another Monday comes another Blocks from the Past Quilt Along update.

This week Natalie is discussing fabric selection and fabric requirements for this project, so go check that out. As for myself, I plan to stick fairly closely to the book in layout, while doing scrappy neutral (or low volume in modern quilt speak) and scrappy colorways, too. Just before heading off to Indiana for 3 months because my dad had a heart attack (and he's doing really well now) I had started to sort my scraps by color. The bags and bags of scraps were just getting to be overwhelming, and needed to have some help in finding a way back into use.

The book is Teach Yourself Blocks from the Past by Marie Henry and, while out of print, copies can still be acquired through Amazon.

Remember to use the #BFTPqal for any progress you post to Instagram.

I am hope to get pictures up soon of some of the other progress I'm making on other projects, including 3 versions of Bonnie Hunter's Grand Illusion Mystery. And an addition 5 more projects I decided I needed to add to my life, yesterday.

Happy crafting.