Pineapple Blocks

     Another rug finished, and I have a few days before the next rug needs to go on the loom; so I have been working on the pineapple blocks for my class sample. I showed my drawing, and the full quilt class sample in the very last post, so I won't add it again here. I wanted to give the students the choice of working on a smaller project if they chose, since the quilt has 80 blocks. This sample has only 9 blocks. I have 5 of them done so far.

     Four blocks to go. I hope to finish them this weekend. 
    
     I had started with this block. 
 

     I started over because I decided to make it scrappier, and use a different print in each corner. I am happier with the scrappier version. I usually find that I prefer more variety.





     I am also about 75 percent finished with the T-shirt quilt. Two days ago, I put about 6 or 7 items on my Etsy site that I have been meaning to post for months.

     I have all of my blocks for this quilt finished and trimmed. I want to get them arranged on the design wall this weekend too. It would be so nice to get another top done.

     I can't wait to see these blocks up on the design wall. Finally, I will have something to post for Design Wall Monday, at Patchwork Times. I have not had anything I could share on my design wall for months!

     I hope all is well with you all, and you get to do something that you really enjoy this holiday weekend. Thanks for stopping by!

Unbelievable Weather

     This will make more sense if I remind you that I live in Georgia. Yesterday, I was running errands. It was 4pm when I drove by the bank and saw the temperature reading at 63 degrees! At 4pm on August 16th!? It sure is beginning to feel like fall around here, but, I know it won't last. A friend of mine told me today that it feels like she should be planning her Thanksgiving dinner! Crazy,crazy.

     I am scheduled to teach paper piecing using the pineapple block this October 26th at A Scarlet Thread in McDonough, and November 2nd at the Spirited Quilters in Duluth, and again at Hot Springs Village, Arkansa in March of 2014. Here is a photo of the quilt:

     I thought it would be nice to come up with a design that uses less blocks, but involves the same principles for those who prefer not to make a commitment to doing a 90" quilt with 80 blocks. So, I designed this:
 

      Only 9 blocks.

     I have started making the sample for that.

       I am thinking I will start over, and use a different print on each side of the center.

     I was reading at The Quilting Edge Blog where she was showing photos  of her messy work space. I turned from my Ironing board and saw this:

 

     EEEK! Oh well-the cost of creativity.

     Back to sewing. I hope you are able to have some fun in your sewing room this chilly, rainy weekend. Thanks for stopping by!

Pin Cushion

     This week I have been setting up my loom for the next rug, I shipped the Doubler Star ll quilt,  

     Since finishing that quilt, I have spent most of my quilting time getting T shirts ready for a T shirt quilt. I am reluctant to show that quilt since it is meant to be a surprise for someone local. 

      So, I will show you photographs of my first chicken pincushion. I made this for a friends birthday. She seemed to really like it. This friend is not a quilter, but is a fabulous seamstress, and I wanted to make a nice large, functional pincushion. After I stuffed it, I wished that I had made the beak a bit larger. I will know better next time. I used scraps from my days of weaving scarves and blankets, so this is made from hand dyed, handwoven fabric. I plan to make more for our fall show.

     Well, that is what I have been up to. I hope all is well with you guys. Thanks for stopping by!

Working on Binding

     The Double Star quilt has come back from the quilter, and I have trimmed it.

     I made the binding, and sewed did the machine sewing side.

     Now, I am doing the hand stitching. I have the sleeve made, but I still need to attach it, and make and attach the label. I hope it will be ready to ship by Monday.

     I have a sewing date with my friend Eleanor Monday. I have not yet decided what I will work on at her house.

     I am also trying to get my loom set up for the next rug. 

     There is a ton of computer work I need to do. There are several finished quilts, and even a couple of patterns that need to go on my Etsy site.

     That is what I am up to these days. Thanks for stopping by!
 

Quilt Portrait

     When I got up this morning it was cloudy; so I thought it would be a good time to take photos of my Missing Monkeys quilt.

     I did some piecing on the back of this one.

     Last night it was mt turn to host my sewing group. While they were over I cut apart the blocks for this quilt.

I started this quilt last winter, so, I better remind you what is happening here. I make a set of strips from one color family, a set of strips from another color family. I place them with right sides side together, so that one set of strips is running perpendicular to the other set. Then, I sew all around the outer edge.




     Here is a whole group of them pinned and ready to sew from a retreat I went on last spring.

     Once you sew around the outer edge, 2 diagonal cuts are made from corner to corner.

   
     This will yield 4 blocks. All that is needed is to press the center seam, and square up. You can set these in any log cabin/HST configuration.

     I hope I can get these on the design wall soon, but first I have some T shirts that need to be cut and stabilized.
   
     So that is what I am up to.  Hope you are having some fun. Thanks for stopping by!

Shopping

     I had a lovely time at the Mountain Laurel Quilter's Guild. They are such a hospitable group of ladies. And, boy do they ever have a lot going on!

     When I got home, I had a rug to get finished, a newsletter to get typed up, and after that....shopping!

    I needed to get a binding for the Ohio Star Quilt so I can get it made while that quilt is being quilted.

 

      I bought this because I am planning to make a gift for someone, and I thought it would be a good constant fabric to tie it together. It's a good thing I got some extra, since look how well it goes with this!

 

      I didn't even think of that until I got home.  And... I did splurge a little. The main mission was to get some stabilizer for the T shirt quilt I have to make. 

    That red was on sale. I am collecting reds and purples for a quilt, and some back and whites for another. No excuse for that other fabric.

     Last night Mary invited me over to sew, and I worked on getting the sleeve on this quilt. I am 3/4 done. I hand stitched the binding when I was getting ready to go to the Mountain Laurel Guild earlier in the week. So this quilt will be ready for it's portrait soon.

     Now I am in the process of putting another rug on the loom, and getting ready for my bee group to come over Tuesday. The person whose turn it is to host has to cook dinner, so I am planning....

     That is what I have been up to. Thanks for stopping by!

At Last!

     Finally, all of the blocks are finished, and I have it up on the design wall. I couldn't get the whole quilt in the photo, but I did the best I could. Sorry for the hot spots from the window. It has been a long time since there has been much sun coming in the window around here. It has been so soggy lately that I expect to mildew any minute.

    
     Just a reminder, this is the quilt that I am trying to recreate:

     Fortunately, I still had quite a few of the same fabrics, but I did have to add a few to replace those that I had run out of. The light in this picture is different since, this one was taken outside.

     One thing that slowed me done a bit: since my last post, I got a call from someone who wanted a T shirt quilt for a gift, and I had to make a couple of drawings, and look for fabric, etc. for her. I am reluctant to talk about it in much detail here since it is supposed to be a surprise for some one.  

     Since my last post I have sent supply lists to A Scarlet Thread in Mcdonough GA, for the 3 classes I will be teaching there this fall.

     I am also pulling together my quilts for a guild program that I will be doing for the Mountain Laurel Quilters' Guild in Clarkesville, GA next Tuesday.

     We had a ice cream social at our Community Garden last night. This was a neat idea we had done in previous years. The garden supplies vanilla ice cream, bowls, and spoons, and everyone brings their favorite ice cream topping. Fun! And it was great seeing the other gardeners. We are a small group at this point, but so much fun to be with. And, hallelujah! It didn't rain!

     I hope all is going well in your world. I plan to get those blocks sewn together before the day is over. Do you think I can do it? I hope so. Thanks for stopping by!