DWM and April New FO

H2H quilt #2

 Oh goodness, Aprils needle was on fire this weekend.    It was around 8PM Friday evening when there was a switched flipped and suddenly I was back at 100%.  So I  finished quilting this, H2H quilt number 2, The tutorial can be found at  Tutorial is from Shiner's View - Tutorial for Jenna.

H2H quilt #3 - Kitty Korner

And then when I was done with that, I loaded this up, H2H quilt #3. Oh and look at me, doing a pantograph :)  It's called cloud 9 and most of the clouds are actually round and not all boxy.  Finished this up early on Sat.  Kitty Korner EQ7 file is available on the EQ7 and Tutorials tab.

H2H #4 - Venetian Dream

Then finished getting this top together, it just needed the sashing and the borders.  With only 12 blocks, it went pretty quick.  This is H2H #4 - the last one :)  Venetian Dream is in Fons and Porters magazine  - hmfall 2009

QOV #1

Then I loaded one of the 2 QOV quilts that arrived on Thursday.  Judy sent two of her babies to be quilted for QOV.  She's from The Heart of Ohio Quilters' Guild. located in Licking County, just east of Columbus.  I didn't have any patriot pantographs when I started this one so I made a stencil.  Yep that's right see that star, it's a stencil I made.  Not sure sure I'll make another but it's good to know as a last resort, I can.  I got all fancy and used 2 threads.  I used an off white and a dark blue.  If you look at both of the stars above, you'll see that the light colored block looks like blue thread, the dark color block looks like off white - crazy huh?  I love this and will certainly do it again.

QOV#2

And finally the last of Judy's babies.  This is QOV #2 - Guess what came in the mail on Saturday afternoon - yes the patriot pantographs.  I used "stars and bars"  oh this was such an easy one, I think I finished in like 4 hours. Felt kinda bad, like I should have taken longer, but I think it's really cute :)  And hey they wanted to do the trimming and the binding so I only had to do the fun stuff, the quilting - I almost felt guilty :)

Whew, I'm tired now and April is exhausted :)  


Yikes and is it the end of April alread????  What new projects have I started in April, well most of them are right here - 3 new projects, not bad.....

1. Anna's Rainbow Quilt
2. H2H # 2 
3. Venetian Dream 

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Whooping it up on Friday

Slow week this week recovering from surgery, but almost back at full capacity!  I think I'll be able to sew for a few hours today, at least I'm hoping  :) I can only take it easy for so long.

Here's what I got done this week

Hexies, good project for the couch not sure where I'm going with this, but I really like this one

I was hoping this was going to be a good project for the couch but not so much.  I tried hand applique and really I can't do it, so I'm doing the appilique for Dear Jane by machine.  I know it's crazy but I just can't get the hang of the hand applique.  Here's two blocks I got done this week  That's it for couch projects

I did get a little time in the sewing room and finished up all the blocks for the last H2H quilt, just need to sash and put on the border and it'll be ready to go.

I started quilting one of the H2H quilts, hoping to get this one finished today.   I was going to do an all over quilting pattern but really kept going back ot the lines so I just went for it.  I hope it looks ok when it's done,

I also received 2 beauties to quilt for QOV.  Sharon V helped me get over my fear of quilting for others so I volunteered to quilt for QOV.  I'll post those when I get them done.  I'm hoping to get a start on them this weekend.  Stop by Sarah's to see what everyone else is up to and Whooping about.  

DWM

Not a lot of sewing this week, taking it easy a bit.  I did get Anna's birthday quilt top together.  When I asked her what color she wanted her birthday quilt she immediately said "every color in the rainbow".  I made a birthday quilt for her sister earlier in the year and someone had been hoping I asked her this question :)  Well I didn't have every color but I did have 34.  I'm going to quilt this with the baptist fans to look like rainbows.  I also ordered some variegated rainbow thread which should be a lot of fun!

I also have been working on the hexie's. Yep I have a hand work project.  Not sure where it will go or when it will be done, just enjoying the process for now.

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just a little sewing

Surgery on Thursday went well.  I was able to get in the sewing room for a short while today, and that felt really good, but I think it's time to go back to the couch and work on some hexies.  This is Anna's birthday quilt.  She wanted every color in the rainbow.  I have 35 :)   only a couple more row need to be added.  This is a nice easy project while I'm getting back to my normal self.  

April FMQ Challenge

Alright I gave this a try.   I used a pattern from Custome Curves by Karen McTavish.  It was a bit beyond my skill level, but hey we have to push ourselves from time to time huh?  I used the embroidery hoop from my machine, it's nice and big.    I could only find a teal permanent marker so that's what I had to use, it came up a little light, but I could see it well enough.   Need to get a black one.

Then I traced on the material.  It is really light, but I can see when I'm quilting.  The next time I try this techinque I'll make the lines a bit darker.

And quilted .  Hmm a flash really makes a difference and there is alot of thread on there.  I need more practice following lines.  I did have fun with the fillers though.  I saw on Joan's blog one of her practice pieces had a McTavishing filler with pebbles mixed in, loved it so tried it myself.  Yep, I'll try this technique again and when I'm doing a dense background I'll echo the entire pattern first.  And I'll practice following the line, so hard sometimes :)

Half Moon Modern Log Cabin

Oh my goodness!!!  My quilt is featured at Quilt Story - wow, that just kinda made my day :)    Stop by Quilt Story and see what's going on over there.   Oh and this is one of the quilts for Hands 2 Help.  See the button on the side bar, two wonderful charities need some quilts.  This is an easy one to make, pieced in a day, quilted in a day for a great cause.  It's not too late to join in the fun.  See the EQ7 and Tutorials tab for directions.

DWM

Alright I think I made up this weekend for my lack of sewing during the week.  I'm having surgery on Thursday so I think I made up for next week too!!

H2H quilt

So what did I do????  Well I started and completed a quilt for H2H.  I'm trying to make a male quilt and a feminine quilt (that's the easy part) for each of the two charities.    This one has 24 different solids, my first quilt with solids and I used one of the tutorials from the linky party that Sarah had up a few weeks ago.  Ah, back to the fabric, of the 24 solids, 7 of them are from mens shirts, so I'm thinking there has to be a part of it that appeals to guys.  I just hope I didn't girl it up too much :)  Tutorial is from Shiner's View - Tutorial for Jenna.  I modified it so I could use some solid charms that I had (I caught a great sale at Green Fairy Quilts) and 2.5 in strips.  Here's my version - so what do ya think,  man enough???

Venetian Dream

Since I had enough of the fabric I started a second one different pattern.  This pattern is Venetian Dream from Fons and Porter Fall 2009 Easy Quilts.  And I have to say it was pretty easy.  I had these six blocks done before Anna should up at 9am.  There's a good start to H2H manly quilt number 2.   I have to say I'm liking the solids.

Kitty Korner

I also put 3 borders on Kitty Korner, so it's done and ready to quilt.  This is also a H2H quilt.  I do have one of the H2H quilts that is actually done :)  Half Moon Modern Log Cabin can be found here

And yes there's more!!!  Shannon at Pieceful Quilter had a 30s repo block swap, my first ever!!  Look at those blocks - 150 different fabrics in that baby.  Some from Japan and Austraila, that's pretty cool.  Little Rocco approves.

Anna finish her first quilt!!

But I saved the best for last.  Anna came over this morning and we finished her quilt top.  I have to say I'm not sure who was more proud me or her.  Man, remember how you felt when you finished your first quilt?  I talked her into keeping this one.  Your first quilt is special, we'll make another to donate.  Hey this is how it all starts now isn't it :)  She did so good!  Joanne's had flannel on sale so we went and got the backing, she picked out the panto for the quilting.  We went to Happy Jack's and celebrated with a hot dog and ice cream :)

Ok, that's all the quilty news I have.  But there is one more picture, look who is so awfully proud to be 12 weeks old, little Mr  Smiles :)  Just melts my heart I swear.

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Friday finally - very long week!

Oh man a week of work after a week of sewing bliss, that was a REALLY long week.  The only sewing I got done was the binding on the square pants quilt.  Last pictures of this one.  I did have show that I do finish things all the way :)   The pattern for this quilt can be found here at Lilly's Qulits.

Here's a project I'm working on with Anna.  She's 12 and this is her first quilt.  She's making it for project linus.  She asked me if I would work on one with her.  It took all of a nano second for me to say "you bet!". I did the cutting and the ironing.  She did sewing and designing.  She picked out a jelly roll (cuz I still have a few :) and here's what she came up with.  We have all the blocks together, and started sewing the blocks into rows.  We sewed for 5 hours straight, well with one pizza break!!  What fun.  Anna has a really good 1/4 inch seam going on these blocks.  I think she's doing great :)

Linking up  with Sarah 

What's on your bed?

Bonnie Hunter is having a linky party to show what's on your bed.  Stop by and see the beauties that others have on their beds.

Here's mine, my one and only king size quilt.  In true Bonnie fashion, this one used a ton of scraps!!

What I did on my sewing vacation....

Oh, is it over already????  What a wonderful week I had!!

Here's  a few of the things I got done this week.

1.  Little Smiles Granny Square quilt was quilted and bounded - quilted with puppies, so cute
2.  Finished the last of the 16 Swoon blocks and have the blocks sewn into rows
3.  Started Half Moon Modern Log cabin and learned how to do Baptist Fans for quilting - this one is done!  And it's a quick and cute way to use a Jelly Roll you can check it out here  Directions are included in the post and there's an EQ7 project on the Tutorials and EQ7 tab.  This is my first H2H quilt, all done
4.  My second H2H quilt has the center together - the EQ7 project for this one can is available.  I just need to get the borders on it.  I used the bonus triangles from the Swoon blocks.

4.  I quilted joanandmikesquarepants.  Look at this, I have a Christmas present finished and it's only April :)  The pattern for this quilt can be found here at Lilly's Qulits.  I used a ruler on the feather spines and the rest is freehand.  Oh ruler on the circles, man I wish I could do circles freehand :)

5.  Two more Dear Jane Blocks done

6. Had a little visit with the Easter Bunny!

So I think I did pretty good on my "practice for retirement" vacation.    Now when people as what I'll do when I retire, I'll send them this link :)

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