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Reminder

If you are a "non-responder or OpenID-er" which to me means I have no way of responding to a comment that you've left, please leave a way for me to get in touch with you, especially if you're participating in a blog give-away or if you are asking for information or links.
By leaving your email within your comment, I can find you. I realize that this is sometimes a scary thing to do with scams and all but if you disguise the email as say.....
me at yahoo dot com
this is the perfect way to hide from the unwanted eye. So please help me out if you are one of the non-responders.
Thank you, in advance.....Ravelly Rhonda!!

Jan 30, 2010

Sarah's Quilt


This quilt is for my second grandbaby, Sarah.  She will be one year old in April.....so I did manage to get her quilt made before she goes off to college......LOL
Sarah is such a sweetie who absolutely loves paper...........you can imagine where she loves to put that paper.............
in her mouth...........
sssshhhhhhhh..........don't tell mommy!

Jan 29, 2010

Sailin' Away

I sometimes venture into the world of paper piecing.......a few years back that was all I was into.....you know how that is.  I have lots of paper piecing books and designs.  The above boats and sails comes from "Paper Piecing Patterns" by Shirley Liby.  I'm going to, one day, make another one of these because I see that I  should have used a more solil reading blue or green for the ocean....LOL.....I found a blue scrap in my stash that would be perfect.  Maybe the sky fabric needs to be darker so that you can see the sails better......what do you think? I need input, please!

Jan 28, 2010

5 Years 5th Folder


Pat (click on her site to read about her photo) gave whoever read her post today, a challenge.  She asked us to go back 5 years in your online photo album or whereever, look in your 5th folder with 5th picture and post about the picture.  I came up with this photo of my grandmother and granddad. This was taken, I'm told, in Chicago in the early 1930s. I was fortunate to know both sets of grandparents.  What they taught me, the way they cherished and spoiled me, the quiet moments my brother and I had with them always brings warm and happy memories.  My granddad use to say some funny things.......like....... As the crow flies............ It's going to be a blue norther........If it thunders before 7, it will rain before 11...........He was always saying these things and I wish I could remember more.....you know!
Thanks Pat, this was fun!!!!!

Jan 27, 2010

Lively Logs Warm Heart


This little table throw was fairly easy to make and everyone loves to touch and look at it when I put it out for the month of February.
The design comes from....."Lively Little Logs" by Donna Fite McConnell.  This is a book I purchased back in 1994-ish, so if you're interested this info gives you a reference.  As you can see from the cover of the book, there are loads of wonderful small quilts for lots of ocassions.  If you like the look of mixing applique and piecing, this is a great way to show off your skills. I really like this book...can you tell?


Jan 26, 2010

Back on Track with my Efforts



My Hearts tablerunner is finished. You'll remember in a previous post (link HERE), I had started a tablerunner from one of my favorite quilt magazines.  Today, though I had many interruptions, I got the flower hearts with leaves in place and did a 3 1/2" border.......bringing the measurement to 20 1/2" X 42"..........perfect for a table.  Mom already has her eye on this one.........sshhhhhhhhhh......I'll give this to her for Mother's Day.

Diversion


Alright, so I got diverted!  I was digging through some of my stash and came across a pizza box marked 1997........hummmmmmm......what could this be, I asked myself???????
A project from way back....I think it was my spider's web period......yea, that was it.....I remember now....I had collected red/white/blue fabrics for quite some time and this was just the project to use some of them.  Obviously, I didn't get very far at the time......fast forward to yesterday.....I had to put what I had (left) together......I don't know what happened to the other blocks (probably in some other quilt).  I made a tablerunner for this summer's 4th of July!  All it needs now is a stop border of either red or blue.........I'm ahead of the game....YEA!!!!

Jan 25, 2010

Vertically Challenged - Update



With bad weather Saturday....meaning no special little visitors......I decided to work on my vine panel......as shown, I've added hummingbirds.....I really like the way this looks.

Jan 22, 2010

Vertically Challenged



I know I'm jumping all over the place lately but I've been energized for some reason.....so I need to act while this euphoric feeling lasts......LOL
Some of my "wacky" girlfriends and I are participating in a little row by row challenge......I'd racked my brain for something to do, then went thru some magazines before I remembered something really neat.
I saw this idea for a "vertical" quilt in some magazine and it stuck with me.....We always think in terms of blocks from left to right or DIAGONAL...but rarely vertical.......the idea is to choose the size blocks you prefer then applique or whatever you desire.  Obviously, I've chosen tone on tone fabrics to give a scrappy look;  vines, flowers or berries.  This is just the start of things......I plan to add a few hummingbirds on this panel and will post a pic when that's all done.
My sisers/girlfriends will now have the rest of the year to come up with similar vertical panels so that I will have a complete quilt by December.......whatever each girlfriend choses for their challenge, I will make blocks for their quilt ideas........this is always so much fun.
There may not be any posts about the challenge for some time but I wanted to share the row for myself with you all.
I'm taking the weekend off to use my energies elsewhere......cleaning, washing, dusting, etc., etc., etc. Visiting with grand-princesses maybe.
See you all Monday. Have a great weekend!!!

My Efforts for the Day



I saw this wonderful tablerunner in the McCalls' Quilting magazine (Jan/Feb 2010).  I'm not finished, of course but got a good start.  Blossoms are supposed to be placed above each heart but I'm thinking of doing something alittle different.....you know me.....never follow directions exactly........hehehehehehe.....unless there's diagonals involved!


Jan 21, 2010

Procrastination from December


Actually I started this project early last year, then promised myself to finish it this past December but didn't. But today while cutting fabrics for another project, I also cut 4 1/2 inch squares to finish this one.
The blocks in the center are Shack -N- Whack blocks with outer border of checkerboard.
I like the look of the quilt even though it's in shades of tans, beiges & whites.
It measures 56 inches square.


I did some machine embroidery and used some of my old lace in a few blocks.

Jan 20, 2010

Something in the Works



I hope you can see the colors I have chosen for a little project I'm participating in with some "wacky" friends.  I've chosen a design from my favorite author, Bea Oglesby who is one of the best applique designers I've ever come across.  Can't tell you what's to come, you'll just have to stay tuned...hehehehe!




Someone asked about the size of the diagonally challenged quilt top...LOL......so I've measured and also included a better picture.

I wanted to point out a little trick that I used that allows room for error.....LOL....the outside triangles were cut one half inch larger than called for.  I did this so that I can easily trim down to the 1/4 inch seam allowance rather than worring about what to do if my seams come up not enough.....did that make sense?

Jan 19, 2010

Diagonally Done In



Four days, 41 hours, 39 minutes later.......I'm diagonally done!!!!!  Let me just say that I really enjoyed the whole process from cutting the squares, to ripping, to that final seam, to the pressing.
I would recommend this quilt to anyone who wants to try it.
A tip....copy the diagram to use and mark on.....you'll need it......LOL
I'll take a better picture soon....right now I'm too worn out!

Jan 18, 2010

Diagonally Challenged #3


Before I retired from teaching, I had developed a twitch over my right eye........well, today it returned.......LOL......can you say "rip it"...........for some reason my little diagram was not directly in front of me or I got distracted or something.........I had to "rip" several times but I was bound and determined to get to a certain point before I called it a night............So, this is my results for the today.....tomorrow will be alot better...........right?

Jan 17, 2010

Diagonally Challenged Part 2


Well, I didn't get as far as I wanted.........company came a-calling........to tell you the truth, I don't remember the conversation because my mind was on "the quilt"........LOL
I'm finishd for the night.....going a little cross eyed at this point but I'll be back at it in the morning.
I decided to make the outer triangles a half inch larger so that when I trim them, the quilt will look like it's floating when I sew on the border.  Also, each row is ironed either towards the right or towards the left making it easier to sew because the seams butt and lock against the next row........in essence.....no pinning....YEA!

Diagonally Challenged But........


I am totally diagonally challenged but when I saw this particular quilt design.....I was compelled to try it.
From McCall's Quilting -Our 100th Issue
the quilt is titled "Promenade."
I made substitution of greens(my favorite color) in place of blues then started cutting all those 2 1/2" squares......about 900 of them.....whew!



So far so good but I really have to keep the diagram in front of me.........if you know me, you know I don't like to do that.
I don't know what I'll do for a border at this time but something will present itself.

Jan 16, 2010

Nothing in Particular/Everything in General








My friend, Jerri and I went on a little road trip to one of our favorite quilt shops, Common Threads in Waxahachie, Texas. 
I thought I went with a purpose......THREADS!  That's all I wanted or needed but Jerri started pointng out all kinds of things.  So, I'm blaming my little shopping spree on JERRI!  I went a little crazy picking out nothing in paricular and everything in general.  (I happy with my purchases...hehehehehhehehe)
Look at all that Eye Candy.
I've decided to be very careful this year with buying fabric for my stash, which doesn't need anything added to it.......LOL.........why is that when you start a new project, you neer have the right color in your stash?...............Well, anyway, this is my first "spend" for the 2010 year. I don't plan on shopping again until May.  Wish me luck!

Jan 15, 2010

Fractured Diamond Completed


52" X 52" square
I took someone's advice to finish off the quilt with a red border (2 1/2").  I love the way it turned out.
This was a wonderful experiment with one part coming from my "dream state".......LOL.
Thanks to everyone who gave suggestions and encouragement.
I'll be taking a couple of days off to contemplate my next quilt.

Jan 14, 2010

Fractured Diamond Part 3


I am so excited about these blocks. As I mentioned in the previous posts, these blocks will soon turn into one of my Christmas Challenge for 2010.  I really love how it's coming out. I chose the foundation (floral green) just to do the tutorial instead of mulsin.....kind of an accident.  But the colors in the foundation really makes the strips pop.  Late last night while in a dream state, I decided that I wanted the diamonds to be whole instead of chopped off, thus the picture below.  Note the beginnings of the first border. I have sewn half diamonds to be placed around the blocks of the quilt. 
One thing to remember, if you choose to do this, you will need to sew part of your squares strips to the left and the other squares strips to the right.  The corner blocks are blank foundation blocks.


Look at the movement you get with this look.  Just a few more blocks and I'll be done.

Alrighty then! I just couldn't stop myself from finishing all the blocks.  Tomorrow I plan to sew said blocks together. Then it's onto the border(s).  What to you think? Help me out.

Jan 13, 2010

Fractured Diamond Tutorial Part 2




Using the template to iron the folds into your foundation saves an enormous amount of time.  That's why I love this method and wanted to share it with you.

Fractured Diamond Tutorial Part 2

Cut varied measurements of chosen strips ranging from 1 inch, 1 1/2" , 1 3/4"  to 2 inches.  By having a varied range of strips, there will be no worries of matching seams.  I'm all about making thing as easy as possible. 
I am working with shades of greens and reds with a slightly floral foundation.


Place a strip of fabric face down so that it rests against one fold line and stitch



To highlight your diamond, sew the same color on each side of the fold.  This is certainly not necessary if you prefer a scrappier look.


Now, begin to sew varied strips on opposite sides until foundation is covered as shown below.


Trim and square up from the back.


So far, I have 8 blocks done to show a sort of instant gratfication!
This is one of my challenges from 2010.   It is one of my Christmas projects that I've started early.  Fiestagirl is hosting the Christmas 2010 challenge.  There's still for you to join in the action.


;-}

Don't count the days, make the days count!

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