Quilting Marathon!!

Phew, that was some weekend!! I can't believe how much quilting got done.  These wonderful people did it again, they used every inch of the design wall and two tops got finished with the rows of two others sewn!  Look at this, just amazes me how much they do. Hands 2 Help 2019 we are making it happen over here!

I just love these big Blog patterns - 2 tops complete 

we used the entire design wall.  So sorry I didn't get a picture of the spools, it will be wonderful when all those rows will be together

I really am just enamored with the big block quilts this year. We started working on three today!  We had our heads scratching a number of times, especially on the one with the dark blue background.  Then blocks went missing, then found and missing again.  Perhaps we learned three at time might be a bit too much!  But I LOVE LOVE LOVE them.  There's only one more that is cut and ready to sew.  I think we might want to recover from these before starting that one!

Betty gave us block to finish the quilt, we need to do a little planning here, Kim and I were thinking of the wood pile blocks in the guild  opportunity quilt.  But it's going to look wonderful when it's done

These are Betty's blocks.  She has a friend who has cancer and we are trying to finish this for her.  It's going to be beautiful when it's done!

Hared workers!!  Little bit of a different configuration with Loretta down there

Last one stitching!  Had to pull her away for lunch

Every machine was in use, they were humming

 Every machine was spoken for today, they were all going, these folks were so motivated today and their hard work paid off!!

As usual, Tom put out a great spread.

Where would we be without Tom?  He always takes care of us!  He wasn't there last week and believe me we noticed!!  So wonderful to have him there today.  Even though he's not stitching, he is definitely a key part of our team. 

Jodi blinded but all the beautiful brighness of the fabrics

 Jodi is working a quilt that is filled with sunshine.  She's using a Missouri Star Quilt Co pattern.  The creativity in her is overflowing!

Isaac letting Liane know how much he appreciates her effort, he's cheering her on!

 Isaac joined in the fun too, he was there always encouraging everyone and looking for a little love in return.  He was so proud of all the team members. 

Isaac looking for a little love among the hustle and bustle. Veronika giving a little cuddle, hard to resist. 

Here's the stats - our goal is 8, stretch is 10

• Quilts completed              1
• Tops completed                4
• Tops in progress               3
• Tops cut                            5
• Kathleen is taking strips   1
• Annette is making one      1
• Grand total                      15

I also had my first machine rental this weekend.  So while Loretta was busy quilting with someone else (yes there was just a hint of jealousy seeing my girl with someone else!) but then I moved over to April (my Millie) and the world was good again.  I got this sweet table runner completed using the new Circle 2 (circle squared) rulers from Quilting It and these rulers are amazing!  I know these are going to be used on a regular basis, love them!!

perfect colors to match with my family room.  It amazes me that these were picked and sewn over a year before we went with the new color scheme. 

I have two wonderful quilt finishes that I can finally share, but I want them to have their  own post so check back in later this week.  So  much quilting going on over here.  It's heaven!!

OH almost forgot - raffle ticket on sale now for this beauty made by the Country Quilters of McHenry and quilted by me!  Tickets are $1 each, or 6 for $5.  A few options for paying - Paypal friends and family (the business account charges a fee), Apple Pay, send a check.....once payment is received I take a picture of the tickets filled out but before detaching and placing in the hopper.  It's an incredible quilt, appraised at $2725!  And it could be yours.  Just leave a comment and I'll get back to privately about paying options.  I'll be at the Quilt Festival in Chicago on Thursday March 28, selling tickets in the morning, white gloving in the afternoon. Stop by and take a look, it's so much better in person.  Double batting Hobbs Heirloom Blend and Hobbs Wool.  Heirloom quilted, cotton sateen on the back (unbelievably soft).  Tickets now available!!

Take a look at the linky parties in the side bar, so much creativity out there!

H2H2019 and Care Givers Quilt Drive - off and running

Wait a minute, hold the presses - guess who won a FABULOUS giveaway over at Quilting It by Leisha Farnsworth  I seriously won the entire set of Circle2 (circle squared) rulers!  They are a dream.  I'd love to show you what I"m doing with them but gosh darn it I can share the quilt yet.  But I love  love love (really love) the rulers!  Finally I have a set of circle rulers.    Stop by and she some of the quilting Leisha does with these, amazing!!

What a great start we had.   Our first get together was a cutting day.  Quilts planned, quilts cut, quilts sewn and even a finish, yep that's right a finish.  I've decide to use my Good Fortune  for the care giver quilt drive. Honestly, I have a basket of Bonnie quilts all with the same color, I don't need another!  So that will go in the mix. I'm really into the big block quilts this year!

We are very excited to have new members!  Jodi, has a great idea for a quilt and got started right away.  She even took it home for home work!  Abbey is joining us and hit the cutting matt getting stuff cut.  Kim joined us as well.  She not only, but started sewing a quilt.  Veronika, an original member got a chance to sew and has the center of one of the quilts done.  I was able to get a little sewing together and finished a top, woohoo!

This top has been in progress for at least 5 years.  We've been using the little two patches as leaders and enders for a few years now.  This beauty is what became of all that work.  I love it and can't wait to quilt it.  It's going to be a little cozier down there this year since Loretta joined us.  I've got 6 machines set up here and one over by the long arms (the time out machine).  If we have to we can set up some machines up stairs.

Have you signed up yet for Hands 2 Help?  Check out the side bar and go take a look.  New causes this year, so many to choose from, so much love to spread.  Not only do you get that warm fuzzy feeling from spreading some quilty love but she's got prizes!!!!  Good prizes too, so get on over there and sign up for a quilt or two or four :)

Here's our stats this week - goal is 8, stretch is 10!! and I believe we're lined up for 13 right now!

Done -   1
Flimsy - 1
Cut       - 9
Out for homework - 2

1 done - 9 to go!

Rhapsody in Blue - Reveal

Oh boy will you look at this?   Country Quilters of McHenry Quilt guild have been working on this quilt for some time.   Fabrics selected and cut, little block kits made, and came back then trimming, rows and finally a flimsy.  Then guess what happened, that's right I got to quilt this sweet thing!  And quilt I did.  They let me do what I wanted, the only restriction was not too modern.  Ok, but when you leave me unsupervised with a quilt, this is what's gonna happen, some thread is going down!  I had  a lot of fun with this.   There's two layers of batting, Hobbs 80/20 and Hobbs wool, glide thread on top, Ivory and two different shades of blue.  The back is a scrumptious cotton Sateen.  Lots of ruler work, lots of free motion feathers and even a little computerized quilting.  The center of all the stars has computerized motif.  It's the same motif on the center medallion star, just a bit bigger.  I gotta say I was  a bit nervous doing the quilting for the raffle quilt. The guild didn't have a quilt show and this is the main income source for the year.  But I think it turned out great.  

Now this beauty can be yours raffle tickets will be available very soon, they're getting printed now.  We'll have a few ways to purchase the tickets.  If you're going to the Chicago Quilt Festival in Mar, we will be selling tickets on  Mar 28 and Mar 30.  I'll be there on Mar 28 the morning selling tickets and the afternoon white gloving. I'd love to meet you, stop by and say hi!  They will also be available on Facebook for sale soon.  And of course you contact me directly.  I'll have all the details on the cost of the tickets and the date of the drawing very soon.   You can bet I'll be buying a few, I would love to have this hanging in my entry way!!  

Oh almost forgot the pattern is called Monterrey Medallion.

One other thing I want to share. It's that time of year again, Sarah has the Hand 2 Help Comfort Quilt challenge ready to go for 2019  Stop by and take a peak, I'm sure you're going to want to join in the fun.  See the link in the sidebar

I have a group of us who have been getting together for this for years now, we all look forward to this time of year.  We make quilts for H2H and for local needs. This year we're going to do it a little differently. We're going to make quilts for H2H and for the care givers this year.   

It must be difficult at times to be a caregiver for people who are the sickest, families are distraught and they must keep their chin up and be the bright light that these families may not have otherwise. So I'd like to give them a quilty hug as they need to self care and the job can be hard and emotionally taxing. If you know of an excellent care giver that could use a quilt to wrap in and let the world slip away for just a few minutes so they can care for our loved ones, send me a private message. The group of us will collect them all and determine at the end of the session. So come on and join us! Let me know if your in. We'll have our first get together in Mar, dates to come shortly, need to pick patterns and fabric and get some quilt kits cut and ready to go!

Still Waiting.....

No twins yet, but they will definitely be here for the next Monday post, so EXCITING!!!  I think I just may be a bit more excited than any of them.  In the spirit of babys' I did finish Veronica's Pachyderm Pals.  Such a cute pattern by Cheri Leffer.  Hobbs 80/20 batting, Glide thread on top, magna glide in bobbin.  I quilted elephants in the big squares, the fabric is so busy it's hard to see but creates a nice texture change for the little guy.  When you look a the back with the minky you can see the elephants, they look polka potted, so fun!

Continuing to pace back and forth with projects - this guy is done, just need to get the backing together, another quilt for H2H

And this guy got started, oh I do love the solids and the earthy tones.  This should be a good one for a guy.  I try to make guy quilts for H2H as well as the sweet girly ones. But ya know the guy thing is a bit harder, at least for me.

And one more splendid sampler block that I made on Lia, have I told you how much I love her?  She sews like a dream.  I may only use Amanda for big long seams.

Ok next I post, there will hopefully be two cute pictures of those sweet little guys that we are so anxious to meet.  Check out the linky parties, so much inspiration and creativeness out there.