Finally some sewing time!!!

Is this really only the second post that I've had in December?  Wow, only a few days left to get in a couple more posts so I don't feel like a complete slacker!  But that won't be a problem - I have a  little sewcation time planned this week.  And I finally have something on my design wall for design wall Monday - yahoo.  I got tired of sewing the same block 169 times, so I started putting the blocks together on this king size quilt.  It's definitely gonna be the biggest quilt that I've ever made, but I'm determined to get this one done.  I've got an 8 block square section done (will be a 13 block square quilt), I've got blocks ready to go with the next log, I've got blocks done, I've got rows started, this poor quilt is in every single possible stage except done!  It's pinned to the design wall which makes it look a bit wonky.  My design wall has lost it's will to hold quilts on it.  I think I need a new batting for it.

Shining Star section 1 - 8 blocks sqaure

some blocks are done

only 3 bags of logs left!!  so close

next log placed just waiting to be sewn

section 2 in progress

I did have a little fun this weekend showing Veronika how to use the long arm.  She made her first three quilts.  I need to get pictures of the first two for her son and daughter, they are really something.  She finished quilting those two in one day.  It was a long day for her and by the end she really needed to just sit down for a while.  They were really were so cute.  I finished up the last one for her.  It's made from the scraps of the one she made for her son, I love the colors!!  Pantograph was Tea Lights by Valerie Smith, purple glide thread on top, bottom line in the bobbin, batting was Pellon 100% cotton.  That was really some soft batting, I was pleasantly surprised!

Veronika's Strip Quilt

Tea Lights pantograph, Glide on top, Bottom Line in the bobbin, Pellon 100% Cotton batting

Love the backing on this one

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Happy December!!

December, I won't lie.  I always love the first month of Winter (which I consider December not January).   I love the first snow, I love the brisk air and all the giving spirit.  By January 2 I usually come to my senses and can't wait to be done with the Winter.  But right now, on the first day of December I'm loving it!  Just a few things on the design was, design table, design frame.  I've got stuff all over!!  On the table a few less bags a few more connected logs and it's getting there.  On the frame the Kaffee Fassett tumbler (love all those bright colors) and on the wall 64 finished log cabin blocks (105 are still waiting their turn on the table).

105 blocks in progress

64 of the blocks for option 1 (my favorite)  - this will have have the star off center, just don't have the blocks yet

64 blocks of Option 2 (hubby favorite)

Kaffee Fassett Tumbler - will go great with the shot cotton log cabin

I did have a quick finish.  The frame was empty and I had a panel quilt ready to go.  Couple of hours later, and I had a cute little finish.  I think the panel is call Josie's Aquarium.  I just added the 3 borders and it was ready to go.

Josie's Aquarim Panel Quilt. 

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WIP Wed and Happy Thanksgiving Thursday!

I've got a few things in progress going on.  I took the week off but didn't get nearly as much done as I would have liked.  Sometimes it's really nice just taking it easy and having a lazy day or two!  Here's how far I've gotten on the log cabin blocks.  There's 169 of those sweet little things.  Long way to go....Tumbler quilt in progress at the top.  I'm using those as leaders and enders.

Here's all the logs waiting patiently for their turn to join the other logs in the blocks.

The label for the Freedom quilt.  I got a quote from the Army facebook page and added 3 stars, one for each soldier that did not come back with them.  Just need to get this sewn on

Made a little tote for a 4 years for my daughter.  Every year they provide a tote with art supplies and books.  I made this one portfolio size for her latest art samples and a few books on her reading list.  I was in such a hurry to get this done that I didn't mark from side to side where the handles should go.  I just marked up and down and between the handles.  I don't know why I thought going from the inside of the V was a good idea.  If I would have gone on the outside of the V all would have close enough you wouldn't even notice.  I sewed those handles on so well that I'm not sure I can get them off without ripping the fabric.  Oh boy!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving day.

Freedom Quilt Complete

The only thing left is the label.  The last two post have had the details of this quilt so I won't add those again.  I lost 2 inches on this in the quilting, it's now 88x88.  I'll lose a couple more inches when I was it as well.  But for the most part I'm pleased with how it turned out. I took a very simple pattern and complicated it as much as I possibly could!!  It really was an emotional quilt to complete.  My dad was in the Korean War and my niece as been in Iraq twice and Afghanistan twice, I know this has changed them forever.  There isn't a lot that I can do, so I do what I can and that is to quilt.  Hopefully this quilt will comfort a soldier from my nieces unit and let them know how much their service is appreciated.

Two layers of batting - Hobbs 80/20 on the bottom, Hobbs Wool on top - love love loved this combination.   Premosoft 50Wt thread on top, 60wt magna glide in the bobbin.

Now that I have the next couple days off to sew, I thought I would start a new project.  The quilt on my bed is really worn and tattered.  I've only made one quilt for my bed and that quilt has been used every single day for the past 12 years.   It's time for a new one.  I have the swoon ready to go, but that doesn't really fit the whole log cabin feel, and the way I'm stalling with that one, there will be plenty of quilts coming out of my sewing room before I finish that one, but it is on the list.  Hubby wants a log cabin quilt (that's what is currently on the bed) and I want something a little bit more modern.  So log cabin block it is (hey he wants a log cabin feel, how can a log cabin block NOT give that feel?) I'm using 2 fat quarter bundles of shot cotton (love) so that will satisfy my a little twist of modern.  I know they are going to be 9 in blocks.  Just not sure which pattern, here's the two options - surprisingly I like option 1 where hubby likes option 2 - really didn't see that one coming.  But I have 169 blocks to put together before we actually have to decide. So what do you think?  Option 1 or option 2?  And I think the contrast between the light and dark is going to be a bit less with these fabrics .  Don't forget to check out all the linky love on the side bar.  Lots to see and do every day of the week!

Log Cabin Option 1

Log Cabin Option 2

Work in progress - Freedom Quilt

Nothing new on the design wall, but I do have something on the frame, the Freedom quilt.  I thought I would show a little about the quilting motif and how I came up with it.  LOL, it's all I got this week :)  I knew I wanted something special for this quilt (you've heard the story fund raiser for my nieces' army unit that just returned from Afghanistan).  But was really at a loss. I do have a 19 in round stencil that I like and haven't used yet.  Now I don't have room for the entire stencil but I did find a good use for part of the stencil.  I did read in a Karen McTavish book that you should look at uses for part of stencil and that's just what I did. Match up the the part that I want.

 Mark the part that I want

 Draw in the missing parts, the arcs needed to be completed and I wanted curved cross hatch in the open space.  The interior of the arcs will be feathers (hmmm surprised?)

 I did this on all the white space between the points.   Here's how it looks on the frame.

Here's the center, I wanted to frame everything with feathers.  For some reason the formal-ness of feathers resonates with me.  I will add McTavishing to the rest to allow the words and the applique to pop. I also feel like when I'm doing McTavishing that I really have to be in a groove for it and that groove can change from day to day so I like to do that when I have enough time to do it all in one sitting, just for consistency sake.

Now I bet you're wondering what I'm going to do with those red and blue points.  Kathleen over at Kathleen Quilts has a Free Motion Friday, you send her your quilt, and she whips up a fancy design.  I really like her ideas for the points and will go with something like that.  I wish I could do ribbon candy, oh how I wish I could.  But I'll figure out some other fill for those spaces, what are the chances that feathers be there?    In the red corner triangles, I'll do some triangle design and some more curved cross hatching.  I think just 1/4 in lines on the blue border and bead board stripes on the rest of the white and red border.  And that should just about do it!

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Happy Veterans Day! Nov 11.

To all those that have served kept us free to do as we choose, thank you!!  I can't imagine what some have sacrificed.  We are free because of the brave.  I did finish the top for the my niece and the 101st Airborne.  I just have to do some fancy quilting on this one and get it to her.  She's on her way home and I'm so glad.   She'll be here for her dads 60th Birthday which is just wonderful for both of them.  I think I'm going to use Polydown with this one.  I have a bit of unevenness by the embroidery and I think a higher loft in that area will help and fill things in a bit.  Just a little concern as I do plan to do some fancy quilting on this one (though at this moment I have not idea what that will be) and I don't want it to be too stiff.  I think the hobbs 80/20 may keep it a bit softer.  But I also have some wool batting too.  Thoughts?  What will be the softest of the three with some medium to dense quilting? This turned out to be a nice size, 90 x 90 before quilting and washing.  I completely ran out of the red and blue.  That is why the borders are the size they are, nothing more was in the house.  The white in the border is actually a different white from the interior, but I think it matches well enough.  I didn't have anything at all that could match the blue or red.  But it all came from my stash which is awesome!

I finish this week as well.  I had almost all of a fat eight pack of Oh La La fabric line.  I just adore these fabrics.  I added a couple of solids, used the accuquilt 3.5 x 6.5 die and had a quilt together before you know it.  I used this one as leader and ender  project when I was making the Brick Road.  I just love the colors on this one.  Panto is Fanfare by Patricia Ritter, this is definitely one of my favorite edge to edge pantographs.  Hobbs Poly down batting, Glide thread on top, magna glide in the bobbin.  Size is 48 x 60 after washing, nice lap size.

Fanfare Pantograph, Hobbs Polydown Batting, Glide thread

Brick by Brick

Brick by Brick

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Grow Wise Little Owl

It's done, what fun I had quilting this one.  It's a special quilt for my husband's god-son who is having a baby in January.  They have an outdoors-ish theme for the baby's room in these colors which I thought was wonderful.  Pattern is a modified Owl Duet from Katie's Quilts and Crafts.  I embroidered the saying at the top, the letters are about two inches tall.  I quilted the letters and numbers in the top and bottom with different fills so you can see them just a bit better.   I used Premo soft thread on top which is a 50 wt thread, light lemon yellow on the white and then a military gold in the colored charms.   Of course I had to put feathers in there for those fine feathered owls, but added some swirls every now and then for a bit of whimsy.  Now I'm going to use that extra hour today to sew.  My niece is coming back from Afghanistan the end of Nov and she asked me to make a quilt for her for a fund raiser.  She asked for a combat theme.  Oh boy, that was tough but I think I have it. I'll update this post later today with the progress.  It's going to be a close one thought.

On the design wall, I made a lot more progress than I thought I would.  For my niece and the 101st Airborne.  I hope I can get it done by the time they get home.  It's a good start.  I saw the center similar to this on the qov.org site.  Since it's for my niece I have both the man and the woman kneeling.

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