It's going to be a machine quilting weekend

I've had a number of quilts on my "waiting to be quilted" list for much too long.  This is the weekend that I start to make a dent in them.  I"m participating in a FMQ challenge.  14 consecutive days of FMQ.  That should really help to get those quilts under control.  Here's a couple of pictures of what I've done so far.    Quilts that I have sandwich and ready to go:  2 baby girl quilts (my HST project for cyber quilters) , Snowman Collector, True Lovers Knot and Tyler's Bargello.  Whoa, that's a lot of quilting.  My husband is going to a Sox game on Saturday so I get the house all to myself!!  We'll see how far I get.

If I get tired of FMQ I can always work on my Hands2Help quilt.  I have the first block done.  I'm trying to keep it random, we'll see how I do!!  One down, 24 to go!!

Don't forget to stop by Sarah's to see what everyone is Whooping about 

Hands 2 Help update and Design Wall Monday

I received some wonderful fabrics from Diane at Life Scraps

I'm thinking about adding these to the mix

I have a couple of patterns that I'm thinking about, but haven't settled one yet.    The first one is from Quiltmaker magazine, called Raspberry desert.  I just love this pattern.  But I think I like Urban Cabins below a bit more and with these fabrics.  Terry Atkinson is the maker of Urban Cabins.  So what to do you think?  Which one?  Maybe something different?  Different colors to add to the fabrics???  I love the process of starting a new quilt.

Oh but that's not all.  All four girls were home this weekend and look what we got done!!  I just love the stash closet re-organized.  It's so much easier to find fabrics, pull them out and get them back where they belong.  You can see the before picture here  What a nice Easter surprise for me!!    

Random fact:  My kids, 31, 27, 19 and 17 still like to hunt for Easter eggs.  Yep that's right, when will it end?? This year the three grandsons are old enough and they hid the eggs for the "older kids".                                                                                                                                                                                             And what do you do with the left over panels from a a Bargello?  I finished the top of Tyler's Bargello .  I cut up the left over panel pieces for QST and pinwheels and came up with this.    I used every last bit of those panels, just enough.  I'll add a black border then a border of strips from the material that is left and another black border. Two quilts for the price of one!                                                                                                                        

Tyler's Bargello top is done - woohoo!!

I'm so happy that Tyler is getting a quilt and not just a pot holder.  I can't believe how quickly the blocks went together and the borders got on.  I really didn't think I would have the top done before next week.  Ahhh, nice to have it done though.  I ordered a chocolate brown backing, but the quilting is just going to have to wait.  I really need some mindless sewing next.

But all the girls are coming home today and they're going to want something for dinner so I better get shopping!!  Need to keep them fed and happy so they fold and sort all my fabrics this weekend, they have no idea what fun is in store for them!

I also received my fabrics for Hands2Help, lots of ideas swimming around but haven't settled on anything.  I know it won't be a bargello ;)

Stop by Sarah's to see what everyone is Whooping about this Friday.

Design Wall Monday - Bargello fun

Oh, this may be the only Bargello quilt I ever actually complete.  I love the Bargello quilts and admire them so.  I really wanted to try one.  And I did!!  Good thing is that Tyler will be getting a nice size quilt instead of a bargello hot pad!  I managed to almost complete the blocks this week.  I would have completed them if I didn't have to redo 24 strips that were sewn together backwards!  But at least I'm making progress.  I don't think I'll be doing another.  This gives you an idea of what it's going to look like.

I did make a little progress on the Mirage Bargello. But I have to say, there is a part of me that thinks this one may never actually be finished.

While I'm sewing this my mind wanders (which might be why I had to re-do so many strips) and was thinking about the stash.  I love seeing pictures of peoples stash when they use the little mini bolts.  I looked them up on line and they were just too much for what I have.  So I thought what about manila folders folded in half?  They should be sturdy enough and most of what I have is less than a half yard.  I tried it and was please with the results.  Here's a picture of my closet before.  Not sure how long it will take but the girls are coming home this weekend, wonder if I can talk them into wrapping fabrics around folders?????  Or maybe the Easter Bunny would do it for me???

Don't forget to stop by patchwork times to see what everyone else has on their design wall.  Sew darn crafty has some wonderful things that people have worked on all week.

not sewing but having fun with EQ7

I was so inspired by Jamie's scrappy HST quilt that the minute I saw it, I knew I had to make one.   I love the way she boxes in the stars.   So I put it in EQ7 and just been having a blast with the different options.    Here's what I have so far, which one do you think is best?  I've played with different color options as well, but these are the fabrics I have so this is the color option I have.  One of these days, I'll have to stop playing around and just sew something


This is option 1, I just like the clean lines.

This is Option 2, different corner stars and different center. Hmmm, what is the center???  

Here's option 3, I think I can call the center a star on this one, Well maybe it's a stretch, but I do like it.  And I think I'm really liking the corner stars.

Option 4 is the same as Option 3, but with the blue forming more complete squares between the stars.  I like the clean lines, but the sides now look a bit cut off.

Option 5, The lines are quite as clean, but I don't think it looks cut off.


So, which option do you think is best?????

  Here's the fabrics.  I think there's enough variety to make it scrappy looking.


Don't forget to stop by Sarah's to see what everyone else has done during the week.