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.

First Finish in over 2 months!

Oh boy, I checked and the last finish I had was April 18!  Oh my, where does the time go.  This one   I re finished for my niece for Relay for Life.  Oddly, the other finish that I posted, was for her too!! Selling a house and quilting just aren't the best of friends, especially when you have a full time day job that doesn't know boundaries.  However, I did get this one finished, less than 24 hours before it was to be delivered.  It was delivered unwashed, but all the markings removed.  Phew, that was close.  Here's the two quilts that went for relay for life.

Then a friend asked for help with drapes. What turn down sewing of any kind, not a chance!!  And it was great, when she was done that machine stayed on and I was able to get three Splendid Sampler blocks done.  My first ever Dresden plate.  Starting out on a 6.5 in block may not have been the best thing, but I love it.  I skipped the circles and the center is bigger, so I could use the accuquilt cutter for the circle. Have any of you done the sewing fashion block?  Oh I LOVED that block when I saw it. I very naively thought, paper piecing too, bonus!!  Oh boy, those were some itty bitty paper piecing pieces.  That was a bit of a challenge but so good to get my quilting fix in today.

And if quilting weren't enough all on it's own, I got to spend a little time in the garden.  We've got hydrangeas blooming, Anna Belle and Oak Leaf, Lilies and hosta flowers along with a few host leaves, really brighten up a room.

And these sweet little guys, got so spend some time holding them and playing a little baseball with the big brother.  Craft brew fest in Chicago as well.

Been a long time since I've posted, but plenty of others are posting all the time, check out the linky parties on the side bar.