As the Frame Turns

What???? Look at this, the second blog post of the year and you don't even need toes to count the number of days in the year, hehehe.  Trying to keep it up here.  There has been a whole lot'o thread flowing in this house in 2018.  I have two more weeks before returning to work. This week I'm going to try to put in a 40 hour Sewing week to help prepare my self for the daily grind.  Yep that's right I'm using it as an excuse to prep for work.  Hey I've been off for 4 weeks so far, lounging, recovering,  a little sewing here, a little sewing there, more sewing here.....Now it's time to dig deep and get some serious stuff done!   So what's in plan for this week?  As usual, more than one project:  Old Friends BOM (completely smitten with this one), BH On Ringo Lake and sweet little Olivia's quilt of gold and grey.  Hmmmm Old Friends on Ringo Lake - sounds like a great name for a book huh?  Lets start with Old Friends

Old Friends BOM  - on the frame, almost ready for another turn

you can't see in the pics, but there are little bits of bobbin coming up on the colored sashing, may need to rip them out and put invisible thread in the bobbin too

Oh I mark everything, especially the fill squares, no fun ripping those out when you did the wrong row, yep yep the struggle is real

A little peek from underneath.  I used a sateen backing so it has a leather-ish look but a smooth satin finish, fun to touch and run your fingers over it.

This is Old Friends BOM from way back in 2015 from Calicao Girls.  It was a free BOM, still think you might be able to find it.  Well I finally got it on the frame.  I had no idea what I was going to do, but knew if I didn't get in on the frame I would never know.  I knew I wanted feathers, I knew I wanted curves, I knew I wanted to start quilting this monster!  And well this is where it's ending up.  Not nearly as many feathers, but lots of quilting.  About 1/3 of the way done now.  We'll see how far I can get on this big girl this week.  She's about 112 ish square.  I may take the feathers in the sashing around the sampler blocks out, there's a bit of the bobbin thread (dark grey) poking up the top.  I'll try some invisible thread in the bobbin and see if that works better.  Its' mine so I may just live with it too.....I really am liking this quilt.  Butttttt..... it is a big quilt for binding.  Anyone interested in bartering binding for quilting?  you finish the binding (I'll sew it to the front) for me, I'll do an edge to edge on up to a queen size quilt for you, 2 lap quilts?  3 baby quilts? I'm in the Chicago Northwest Burbs, leave a comment, send an email, I'd love to hear from you. Binding makes me sad :(

On Ringo Lake - 3 rows done

Monday Table

Saturday Table

On Ringo lake is moving along, I'm going to make two smaller quilts rather than one larger.  I know I say this with each and every Bonnie mystery but really this time I mean it, I think this is my favorite! Honestly.  Love the color, love the pattern, love it all.  I've got 3 rows done.  Almost all the blocks done and my table was looking a bit out of control early in the weekend with pieces here and there and everywhere, but we're getting it all together bit by bit

Olivia Gold and Grey quilt - no broken bones required

Last but not least, my great Niece Olivia has been asking for a quilt for quite some time. Her last remark - what do I have to break a bone or something to get one???  No sweetie you don't.  LOL you just have to wait for me to be off work for 6 weeks!  It's started, not sure when it will be completed, but a little every day.  My goal is to have this one ready to go when Old Friends comes off the frame.  This one now is going to be called No Broken Bones Required

Linking up with some great linky parties, see the side bar  - I've updated a number of the links.  Go get some inspiration!
 On Ringo Lake Linky Party here

Great Start to the New Year, piecing, quilting, relaxing and staying warm

Hope everyone's New Year is off to a great start, mine certainly is.   The boys have already had their first sleep over for the year, I've been able to get some piecing done on Bonnie Hunters On Ringo Lake mystery quilt and even getting some time with April on the long arm with Old Friends slowly but surely getting done. 

On Ringo Lake - first two rows together

On Ringo Lake is quite a quilt I must say!  It's a bit tricky and slow putting the blocks together and then the rows but looks like it will be so worth it.  Not sure if I will make a large quilt or two smaller ones, we'll see after I get a couple more rows done.  Right now I only have two little itty bitty rows done, but it's two more than I had at the start of the day.

Third row laid out

I now have a plentiful supply of Superior Thread Bobbin Line Dark Grey.  I've got 10 bobbins wound and ready to go.  Love how this is turning out so far.  Lots of ruler work, different fills and free motion feathers, just like  I like it!

Old Friends BOM - side border

Old Friends BOM - almost to the first full row of stars

It's a big 'un

Linky up with a few linky parties, see the side bar, it's been a while since I've done a link up.  Some of the buttons maybe out dated.  If you know of some good linky parties, let me know.  I'm also love seeing some great inspiration.

Thread Emergency!!

Ha, well I finally get around to doing some serious quilting and what happens??? Yep ran out of thread.  Like I didn't even get to the roll the quilt forward (and it's a king size quilt) before I ran out.  But thanks to Amazon and speedy delivery, I had thread in two days.  Why is there no thread hot line????  Yes I'm *finally* quilting the Old Friends BOM quilt.  I added the last border, it's about 110 x 110. I'm really hoping this will fit on the king size bed without the mattress peeking through.  If not, it'll go on a queen size bed in the guest room.  Of course in my usually style, this will be quilted like crazy, lots of feathers, lots of all sorts of quilting.  It's mine I get to go crazy!!

Thread emergency resolved

corner - good to take pictures so you know what it looks like when you get to the other end!

Thread Emergency!!! Ran out of thread, didn't even get very far!!

And I even MADE a quilt this year.   Yep that's right, picked out the jelly roll. sewed , cut, sewed some more, quilted, binding and gifted, the whole shebang!  Man that felt really good too!

I jumped into the Bonnie Hunter Mystery quilt On Ringo Lake - jumped in a bit late, caught up and only one part behind - substitute navy blue for Brown, Green for teal, a bit brighter orange than salmon.  Hey, bright is my favorite color.

On Ringo Lake

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year, I hope 2018 is filled with all the things that bring joy and peace to your soul. 

Catching up!

Two more quilts quilted!! Woohoo!  So since I've actually started using my machine again here's what I've done

• pieced tops 1 (it's a baby quilt but it's a flimsy now, and might even be completed prior to baby girl's arrival, maybe...)
• Quilted on the long arm 6 - yesssss!!! 
• binding - 1, :( why, why do I dislike binding so much? 
• material waiting on the cutting table anxiously awaiting it's turn - 1 (wedding is in March, need to get a move on)

Here's the latest two that were quilted.  Both will go to Sage Cancer Center here in McHenry

Love using up those 2.5 in scraps.  Batting is Hobbs Polydown, Hot Pink glide thread on top, Panto is Patricia Ritter Marigold

Used up some solid scraps on this one.  There is patter on the web, will need to look for it.  Batting is Hobbs Polydown, Glide thread Vegas Gold (I think), Panto is Jessica Schick Prism  - striking huh???

And a sweet little baby quilt flimsy

Heading out to Lancaster PA in a few days - any one have recommendations on quilt stores or places where there's some wonderful eye candy????

Has really been almost a year since my last post???

Oh boy, it has been a long time. Sure hope I remember how to do this!  So, what's been going on since June of 2016?  Sold the house, got a new one.  I started a new job.  Now we're all settled in the new job, settled in the new house and I *finally* got to break in the new sewing room.  Part of me loved the space at the old house so much that it was really hard to get started, but that's all behind me now.  Spending time in the new space was like catching up with a good friend that you have seen in a while.  Ok, here's what I got done.....see I've been doing stuff :)

New Sewing room,

New little toy for the long arm, I really don't like Pantographs and this makes the edge to edge to much more bearable!  Oh the precision of this little guy....

And here's what that new toy can do - look at those swirling hexies, I never could have done that hand guided.  The pantograph is Honeycomb by Patricia Ritter, batting is Hobbs 80/20, thread is glide

Patricia Ritter Honeycomb, Hobbs 80/20 Batting, Glide thread

This is Megan's first quilt, we made this about 2 years ago, boy and I'm finally getting it quilted.  At least it got done before she started high school.  Pantograph is Daisy Doodle by Patricia Ritter, batting is hobbs polydown and thread is glide.  The circles, oh so nice.

Patricia Ritter Daisy Doodle, Hobbs Polydown Batting, Glide Thread

The back, sure hope that hot pink flannel doesn't run.  

This is a quilt that our group made last year for charity quilts, just now starting to get them quilted.  The fabrics shot cottons, love how they look up close.  Pantograph is spinning rays by Jessica Schick, another one I never could have done hand guided.  Batting is Hobbs Polydown, thread is Superior So Fine.

Jessica Schick Spinning Rays, Hobbs Poly Down batting, Superior So Fine thread

Love the back

Of course I would much rather be doing the hand guided free motion quilting which is exactly what I did on Veronika's t-shirt quilt for her daughter.

Bottom Line thread top and bottom, free motion quilting and a little bit of ruler work, Hobbs 80/20 batting

So good to be quilting again!!  Just something about creating something that melts all the stress away.  Hope everyone has a wonderful Memorial Day.