Working on Wednesday

Well its been a little over a week and San Marco,  a BOM from A Different Box of Crayons, is not done, and the table is no longer clear!  But I can show a few progress pics.  I do hope to have it finished today or tomorrow for some Fresh off the Frame picks on Friday.  I will have a finish!!!  I won't be denied!

look at the shimmer of the silk, I'll have better pics the end of the week.

and the rulers, why why why do I have to pull out so many rulers when I do custom work?

Ok so what happend in the last week??

I got a nother squash squad completed and started on number 5, all shananagans with that block have stopped temporarliy!

Squahs Squad #6

I am so close to finishing San Marco.  This was a tough one and I made this quilt too.  So as I'm designing the quilting motifs I'm trying to figure out how I will quilt mine to look a big different from Kims.  The other thing that made this tough is the number of different design elmements in this quilt. It was like desiging for 6 different quilts but still trying to tie them all together.  In the end I think I have a cohesive design which adds to the pieceing and doesn't take anything away from the quilt.  Fingers crossed....lots of thread on this.    I'll give the details on threads, batting etc on the Friday post.  In the mean time, hopefully these will keep you coming back for more.  Here's a picture of how I marked the large black leaves.   I really didn't have a ruler to do what I wanted so I just did it free hand.  I did want to mark them though so I could see that they were at least somewhat consistent before I stitched. I actually tried the first time to just go all willy nilly and stitch some beautiful design on those leaves, but everyone on those stitches came out and I behaved after that!  Taking stitches out of a double batt when you're using thin thread is, well, it's just not fun!!

free hand marking of stem with chalk pencil, I only use white

much happier with these more consistent results.  Do you see the peacock checking out my work???

The modern lap quilt is done. This will be part of you fund raising for one of the guilds that I'm in, I should have tickets the end of October.  We'll have Country Jane (based on dear Jane) this Modern Quilt and an incredible embroiderd bag.  Country Jane is going on the frame next!  This quilt is just so yummy!!!  This modern baby is made with Cherrywood fabric (my very favorite fabric), Silks, a couple different types, some silk velvets, and a shot cotton, yummy, yummy, yummy.  Just need to get it quilted.  I think just some modern straight lines, what do you think?  Maybe some big stitches when it's done......

I need a name, please name me

And finally I'll leave you with a little treat from by garden.  It took a long time for the monarchs to get here, the swallowtails are long gone but we still have a couple of monarchs, they soon will leave us for the migration to Mexico, but I do enjoy seeing them as long at they are here.  And the hydrangeas, I pick them from the start of the annabelles blooming until thanksgiving, just love them so much

Check out allt he linky parties on the side bar, have a great quilty week!

Design Wall Monday - what a mess!

 Ok, it took me until Wed to share my messy unorganized design wall.  I really wasn't going to share for a couple of reasons.  One it really doesn't look like who I am as a quilter.  But then I thought, wait a minute, there were no little quilt fairies that put that stuff up.  But if there are quilt fairies, I must say I have a list of things they can do!! And number two the projects that I really want to be working on aren't there.....maybe this can be a goal for a future Design Wall Monday.  But lets take a little look at whats there.

Everything looks so modern-ish, I like modern but, well looks like I really like modern!  Lets start at the right and work are way left.

We had a workhsop with Frieda Anderson, a year or so before the shutdown, dang still not quilted.  I imagine it will be there a while long, but it is pretty, top right bright pink!  Below that was my backup for our 2019 guild challenge,  A Ribbon Runs Through it.  I wasn't sure my first was going to be the right size, off by about an inch all the way around.  But I begged, pleaded and talked as nice as I could and they let the original in.  This one gonna be there a good while longer.  

Next to those to are the Squash Sqaud, working on #6, #5 is in a little time out, was being too fussy.  Hopefully it willl be back to it's cheery self when #6 is done.  I am just enjoying this so much.

After that is a guild raffle quilt.  We're going to have  Country Jane ( based on Dear Jane, yep we crazye! she's going on the frame soon ) a Modern Lap Quilt, and and embroiderd bag, wow!!!  For the modern quilt, 6 ladies took bags of cherrywood, silk and a little velvet.  They were given a picture of what I was sort of looking for and asked to make 2 blocks each that were at least 16 x 16.  I have all but two left....need to get moving on this one.  This picture below is our inspiration.  We've got a little work to do.  But we'll have something fanstastic I'm sure.

And finally I have two guild challenges.  The top one is a round robin, the medallion could be whatever you want, with in certain size constraints.  The next rounds was curves and now I need to get working on the next two rounds, flowers or hearts (at least 3) then triangles.  Pretty sure mine is the only one without a single stitch, it's all fused.  The other is a paint chip challenge.  You are given a paint chip and can only use those colors. That and you need to try a technique that you've never tried befor.  My technique is free for curves....still TBD is they will be redone or I will add a little yarn couching to it....

Phew, that is my crazy design wall.  

I did finish a couple of things last week....

A Tea Cup runner that last picture shows a spot I forgot a teensy bit of quilting.  This is the main reason for taking so many pictures of custom, making sure you haven't skipped a spot, back on and off the frame in a jiffy!

Look at this edge to edge, so bright and cheery!

Next up,San Marco from A Different Box of Crayons.  Look at that table all clean and spiffy. Want to guess how many rulers and spools of thread will be there when I'm done!  

Don't forget to check out all the linky parties on the side bar, so much inspiration out there.

Final Sew Day for Hands to Help and Care Givers (Helping Hands) 2019

Wow!!!  This, my friends is love. These people spent many weekends making not 20 but 21 quilts! We have 10 for hands 2 help, 10 for caregivers/helping hands (I’ll be sharing their stories over the next two weeks) and one was made for a friend to give to her friend who has cancer. My heart is full. Here are 13 quilts -from top to bottom- Jodi, Liane, Laurie, Veronika, Suzan,Dorothy, Robert, Abby and me. Kim has one out for binding,Kathleen has two being quilted, one for binding and one she made, Greg N Annette donated 2, and Cari has one for binding, Tom for keeping us nourished. AND.....we finished Abby’s improv string quilt today! Simply amazing. Thank you all for the time, the effort, the laughs and the greatest quilt drive yet! We’ll have the full quilt show in two weeks!

It  was wet and rainy out, had to get a group shot in side, I think we did fairly well

The final week of sewing and the machines were humming.  I just expected to finish the two tops that needed to be complete.  Our wild blue, green, orange and yellow strings 

This one is targeted for a care giver

Betty's Majestic Mountains are together

For Betty's friend, - I love how this one came out

And there was a surprise top!  We had the two above completed before lunch.  We still have piles of strings all over.  Abbey had one block completed from last week.  We (well me)  really wanted the blocks on point.  She had an example of one that looked great and before you know it, they had all the blocks ready to go!!!  No pattern, just pure creativity being let loose, love how this one turned out.  And a few more strings were used in the process!

Abby's Improv

Another two quilts quilted since last time

Baptist Fan on Flannel, so cuddly

Hobbs Poly Down, light and fluffy

Issac really likes this one! 

Curly Feathers by Jessica Schick

Hobbs 80/20 Batting

I love this color pink with this color green!

You can see the other quilts in this post  and I'll post pictures of all completed quilts in two weeks when we have our quilt show.  If you're in the Crystal Lake, IL area on June 9 stop by!! We'll have 21 quilts hanging in the backyard and all the team members there.  I'll also have the Rapsody in Blue Raffle quilt there is f you want to see it in person and purchase a ticket or two, we have a few left! Stop by and let these folks know what a great job they did, you can see their work up close and in person!!

Final Tally
Quilts waiting to be quilted -3 
Quilt Completed - 18

Quilts for Quilty Hugs 5
Quilts for Carolina Hurrican Project - 5
Quilts for Helping Hands - 10
Quilts for a team members friend who has cancer - 1

GRAND TOTAL - 21!!!!!! 

A record breaking year!!

Hands 2 Help 2019 May 5 sync up - you're gonna be amazed!

One of my favorites - this is going to one of our care givers.

Is it May already?  Oh my where does time go?  I'm happy to say that we have a number of new members.  Bob, Liane, Laurie, Dorothy, and Veronika - all have been hanging around for years and I love them all so much.  We have some new helpers in the sweatshop this year, Abby, Sue, Jodi, and Kim have been with us and it's been amazing.   Kathleen is helping with quilting and binding and Cari has helped to bind a quilt as well.  Annette also donated 2 quilts to the cause. That is what love is, giving of your time to share good will, compassion and love to those who needed it.  So.....here we are syncing up - are you ready to be amazed, cuz I sure am!!  Here's a look at the finished quilts.  Grab a cup of your favorite beverage, you might need a snack, we've got stuff to share.....so let's get started

fabrics that have been used from many quilts for Hands2 Help over the last 7 years

Simple quilt with graphic edge to edge quilting gives it a bit of a different looks - modern moon

Big Block Quilts were my thing this year

graphic edge to edge can really makes a difference-mesmerize

Bonnie Hunters Good Fortune - this will go to a care giver

edge to edge quilting, flower fans seemed appropriate

One of my favorites, front and back this is one of the brightest quilts ever! Jodi has her mark all over this quilt

simple edge to edge capri feathers 

Leftover blocks from H2H 5 or 6 years ago, Jodi knew just what to do with them!!  She definitely taught me a thing or two about using prints, love it!

edge to edge - tried to find a pattern that complimented the large print - far east leaf I was pleased!

Beau Jangles edge to edge  

Isaac approved!

Abby quilted this, her first time at a long arm, amazing free motion, she's a natural!

Annette donated two quilts .  She had a queen size quilt that she really didn't like so she split it in two and practiced some custom quilting on these!

 Wow!!! that's a lot of finishes and we're not done yet! 10 tick marks in the finish column!

We also have a pile of quilts that are waiting to be quilted

Using up some of those left over strings, Sue mad this I love the colors together. She had some blocks that didn't work the way she wanted in her quilt so decided to use them with the strings, fabulous!!

Bright and cheery!

Kim put the Spools big block quilt together, Love it!!

This may be my favorite big block quilt, wait have I said that already?

A little more calming with blues greens and reduced color range

Kim made this soft flannel quilt, we just need to flip that top row and it's ready to quilt

Butterscotch - this was pieced many many years ago, it's finally going to be finished

I really want to custom quilt this one, but we'll see if time allows

phew - that's 8 quilts waiting to be quilted.  I've used up all my batting scraps on these as well.  I love the king rolls as I can use two scrap pieces for one quilt.  For just about every 4 quilts I make, I get a scrap batting for a comfort quilt, love it!!!  That gives us 8 tick marks in the waiting to be quilted column.

Here's the quilts that are in progress.

still debating the layout of these strings - there's so many more, they just won't stop

Betty's blocks - still working on getting those together.

Kathleen has one that she is making that puts 3 tic marks in the in progress row.   There's still one more session before the big party / quilt show on June 9, I wouldn't be surprised if these crazy people came up with a couple more!!

Summary - are you ready for this? did you make it this far? If you did please hold on as I have a request after the summary

• Finished -                   10
• Waiting to be quilted - 8
• in progress -                 3

• Grand total            21!!!!   

A record breaking year - congrats to all the team members who  gave time and creative energy to the process!  My heart is so completely full. 

I do have a request.  I need more caregivers.  With this record breaking year of quilts we have many more quilts to give to than we originally thought.  I will ship quilts I don't have a problem with that.   I'm looking for those that go the extra mile and honestly can't help but care for others. These people are special they are all around us, nurses, doctors, teachers, neighbors, volunteers, psychologist, managers, house wives, house husbands, brothers, sisters, they are everywhere.  These people feel, they have high levels of empathy and they are concerned about the well being of others, whether they know you or  not.  When they see someone who needs something, they feel as well and do everythng they can to comfort and care for those who have a need.  Because they feel so much and they give so much for others, they need a little self care. That's what these quilts are for.  If you know of anyone that fits the bill and goes the extra mile to make sure that someone is cared for, send me note.  Do you have a neighbor watching out for a loved one?  A Dr or nurse that goes the extra mile?   A Day care provider, one of our submissions was for a woman who but her retirement on hold for three years to care for two precious brothers of a child she watched for years.  Please, let's recognize those people just this time.  Have you ever been given a quilt?  I was given one for the first time fairly recently and I have to say it is the best feeling ever.  So lets give that feeling to someone who really cares. Thanks!!

Now that was a posted wasn't it!  My goodness. I'll be sharing this at all the linky parties on the sidebar so please stop by all the parties and go get inspired!!