Design Wall Monday

 I finished that last bottom border and am very happy with the way things came out. I still haven't put a dent in that giant bag of scraps but I'll get there.

This quilt has been a long time coming. It's from a challenge my "wacky" girlfriends and I came up with. We got this hair-brained idea to do a Row Robin. We each had to come up with our own personal themes, some guidelines and background fabric color choices. I chose beige to white background and my theme was "VINES." I, also threw in the vertical directions just to make things interesting. I made the first row with the hummingbirds which I love and then the other ladies made rows for me as I made rows for them. Once the challenge year was over, we all received our rows. It has taken me 6 months to find just the right fabric to sew between the rows. I designed my own sun rays at the time of the quilt and squared it off using a technique my aunt taught me years ago. I'm thinking about doing a green strip at the bottom but will probably go with the brown fabric.

What do you think???

Finally, this is the center block that will be sewn into my calendar quilt. It still needs so work, maybe some leaves..... something will come to me.... you know how that is!
As for Stash Busting
I used up 4 yards of strips and piano keys
2 1/2 yards of fabric for the strips for the Row Robin quilt
and 1 yard for miscellaneous purposes.... is that similar to medicinal purposes, I wonder?  LOL
Total this week = 7 1/2 yards

Pop over to Judy's to see what others are up to on Design Wall Monday!

Leafing Through The Year - BOM - Block#2 February Came Early

Leafing Block #2

Link on sidebar and above.
I couldn't wait for February. It seems like January has been hear for two months.....LOL
Enjoy this oak leaves and acorns block!!!

Scrap Borders Almost Done

I'm just about done..... only the bottom to sew on but company is on the way so I've got to cook instead of sew.

Scrap Bag

 This is one of my scrap bags that I've been working on to deplete.  However, I don't think it's working. I've been sewing for three days and as you can see the bag's still full. I placed the 3 quart Clorox bottle there just to show how large that bag is. I am determined to make a dent in this bag.
Does anyone else have this problem of multiplying scraps. Personally I think the fabric Gnome is behind this phenomenon.

I've been sewing strips together to make piano keys for the second border around the quilt I posted yesterday. I'll be reporting with more soon.

Stripping Away

I blogged about this yesterday and have been sewing my little heart out trying to get rid of use up some of my stash. But I swear, the more I sew, the more that seems to multiply. I started out with a very large bag of scraps and I've ended up with a very large bag of scraps. It's bottomless.
However I do love the way this project is turning out. So far it's an 8 by 10 row quilt blocks....... each block is five inches square which will sew in at 4 1/2 inches. I don't have to match seams which is a plus (translations... I won't have to use pins, YEA!). With this type of sewing, if you iron each row in the opposite directions, the seams will automatically lock together as you sew two rows together, then four rows, etc., etc., etc. I'll probably come back with a 1 1/2 inch stop border, maybe some piano keys just to use up more scraps and then a final border.... but we'll see.
I'm still deciding on what type of ties I need for my "boot" seat covers and thanks to several of my blogging buddies, I have an idea of what I'm going to use in the center of my "font" calendar.
So much to do..... so little time!

Design Wall Monday

I did some hoop work for a swap mate. This only took an hour because I kept forgetting to change the threads.

 

Next, I decided to use these two fabrics which I found in my stash while refolding the other day.

Note the geometric (ahem) design in the top fabric.  Sorry, that a private joke with one of my blogging friends.

I thought the geometric fabric would be a great one to start a stash busting project.  So far I've sewn fifty-six 5 inch blocks. I used a foundation sew and flip method.  

Love it...... no seams to match... just my style. 

Friday Night Sew-In Results

Craftyvegasmom hosted the FNSI this time. Pop over to see what others do.
Finally got the last two block done.... Whew! Life was crowding in but I managed it.
I placed the blocks on my EQ to get an idea of what to do next. I really like this layout because I want to add one large block in the center with more wording...... something to the effect, "For All Things, There Is A Season" but I haven't decided on a picture to go along with the words...... maybe do some hand embroidered vines around the words or......
Any ideas?
Next, I finally chose the backing for my "boot" chair covers. This fabric as been in my stash for quite some time and it was high time that I cut into it. My plan to use batting and then sandwich the pieces. I have to make ties but haven't gotten that far yet.

Friday Night Sew-In

It's that time again..... you know to sew up a breeze. I'm about to get started. Can't show you any photos yet. Come back tomorrow to see what I've gotten done!!! CraftyVM is hosting this time. Pop over to see what other are doing.

Relax

Therapeutic folding was very much needing after my traumatic experience with the frog.  Just thinking about the little varmit (that's Texas talk for unsavory critter) makes me shiver.  So I'm out in the "sewing studio" folding and refolding fabric to my heart's content.
I'm finding some fabrics that I didn't know I had.... imagine that! Those are going on top so I can find them and use them up. Also refolding helps to keep the fabrics fresh in my mind and creases from being permanent, if you know what I mean.
I pulled out one of my long tables to help with the folding and then I neatly place the folded fabrics back on the shelves.
Ah, I'm feeling much better!

There's A Frog In My Hair!

I swear, I'm never going outside without protection again.
As most of you know, I live in central-ish Texas where the weather is always changing. One day hot the next cold..... make that changing from nearly moment to moment... today, it was a balmy 71 degrees, just perfect of working in the yard... a slight cloudy day but I can work with that....... but I'm babbling.
So I was outside raking leaves, minding my own business when suddenly something plopped onto my head. At this point I'm thinking it's a small branch that's come loose from my red oak and landed on my head.
Did I mention that I don't like surprises.
I reach up to brush it away and my hand connects with something slightly moist, wiggly and it was soft. Not a branchy, hard, rough feeling at all.  Of course I panicked went into survivor mode and carefully brush off the offending critter (NOT). Let's just say it was not a pretty picture. Leaves, my rake, gloves and one tennis shoe went in a counter clockwise directional pattern, the frog landed safely several feet from me (unharmed, I might add) and I wound up bottom first on the ground.  Can you say "upset" cause I really was.
Did I mention that I don't like things that flutter, fly, leap, hop, crawl, creep, slither, limp, wiggle, etc.
I would have posted about the incident right after it happened but I was too traumatized to do anything but have a stiff glass of iced tea and downed a couple of aspirin and a Tea cake to soothe my nerves.
I thought frogs hibernated during the winter. I guess he didn't get the memo.
Note to self....... New plan when raking leaves..... suit up in my hunting gear..... loaded for bear!

I pulled this photo out of the archives to remind myself how to dress when going out into my very dangerous, critter filled yard. I think I need a check list, too......
boots-check
gloves-check
long sleeved shirt-check
pants that can be tucked into boots-check
protective head gear-check
goggles-check
 and then there's the all important fire arm with plenty ammo-check.
I'll be ready next time..... I hope.

Design Wall Monday & Dress Up Your Roll

It's Design Wall Monday again. Here are my next installments for my calendar quilt.
The first October block was not to my liking. I machined embroidered the spider's web but things just didn't go well. The fabric I chose for the lettering was too busy and the overall presentation was off.
I really like the black cat on the fence so that 's the one I'll use in the quilt. I used more of my fence rail fabric and a little bit of a batik hand dyed fabric for the pumpkins. I hand embroidered a couple of curly vines to each pumpkin.
Remember to pop over to Judy's to see what everyone else is doing!

 I decided to make another toilet roll cover. I tried my hand with an half and half theme.... thus the night and day scene.

Jane is hosting this great challenge. Pop over to learn more.

Dress Up Your Roll

Quiltjane is hosting a great competition which I've linked to. We are to design a toilet paper cover and share it on the Flickr group. Barb has already gotten one done and has a great tutorial on how to.
The following is my effort and tutorial.

 The circle is 5 1/2 inches across the middle.

 I used one of my wonderful fence fabrics along with a couple of textured fabrics. I wanted to tree to lay over the top of the roll so I partially  ironed it to the side.

Once the top circle was sewn on using DMC floss for extra strength, I ironed the tree over the top.

I love it!

More Fonts

Here are my next three installments to my 2012 "font" calendar quilt. I am really cutting into my stash (finally) and am actually motivated to get more done.  I've tried to do a little hand embroidery on each block. I'll stitch around everything else later, maybe a retreat.

Give-away

I really shouldn't mention this but Gene is hosting a great give-away. So if you're interested, pop over and read all about it.

Font Blocks

 

I am very motivated with my new project and I've been working on it nearly everyday. 

Here are two more blocks that will go in my 2012 "font" calendar quilt.

Design Wall Monday & Stash Report

Last year (2011) I made a calendar quilt which I shared with everyone as a BOM. It was fun and I got in some practice with the hand embroidery. This year I'm working with different "fonts". And in the end, I'll have another quilt. So my Design Wall Monday include these two blocks.
Next, I'm also working on seat covers for my dining chair. I machined embroidered 6 boots last week and posted about that. Now, I've added a great border around the blocks and cut them into the shape of the seat.

I'm thinking that I'll use a backing and batting to quilt the boots and the backing will be something to compliment the boot fabric so I can reverse the seat covers every now and again.
If you'd like to see what others are doing, pop over to Judy's and take a look or if you'd like to sign up for Design Wall Monday, Judy has a linky for that.
As for Stash Report:
I have use 3 1/2 yards from my "cowboy" stash towards the chair covers and 4 yards from my tone-on-tone fabrics for the Font calendar blocks.

Chair Covers in Progress

I machined embroidered these boots the other day. You can't see my background fabric but it's a soft blue, light weight denim.  The machine work took around 5 hours total.... how do I know this for certain????  You guessed it, I sat there and watched it stitch out..... LOL
The squares measure 13 inches square at this point and I plan to border them with one of my favorite cowboy fabrics, quilt around the boots, make ties..... and so on.... and so on.... and so on..... Hopefully I'll have more to show next week.

When Nature Calls - Block #6

WNC-BOM #6 is here!

I hope everyone's 2012 has gotten off to a wonderful start!

 Block #6 is here. I have linked to the PDF above and hopefully on my sidebar.

I really loved making these because there was so much area to work with. I had to cut into my crackle fabric... sob, sob... but I think it worked well in this case.
It is amazing how different the same outhouse looks using different fabric choices and layouts.
Go for it and enjoy!

Grab Buttons

Hooray!

Have you ever visited blogs with those great "grab buttons" on the sidebar? You know the ones where there's a great BOM or swap going on and you want to participate and "not" forget each month.... well, I've always wanted to learn how to place the buttons on my sidebar and actually tried many times and failed terribly.  The other day, my friend Betsy suggested that I try again what with my new BOM - Leafing Through The Year just starting.  I thought about it and decided to try again. I googled "how to....." and started my search.  Oh brother, did I mention that I'm very, very bad at understanding and following instructions.... very, very bad. After a frustrating hour of trying, I stumbled upon THIS LINK and was happy to discover that I had only to type in a few commands and widget in an HTML and TaDa...... my button appeared on my sidebar. This site makes it so easy, that even I can manage it.
I just had to share this with everyone because I know that there are a few of you who are just like me.... you know who you are!
A huge Thanks to Betsy. You lit a fire under me. Now, if that would just carry over to my sewing projects......  SMILES!
Happy BUTTON making!

Happy New Year and New BOM

Happy New Year Everyone!

Wow, it's 2012!  I can't believe it. Way back in grade school, 1960s,  I never thought that I'd be living in the 21 century with all these new and marvelous gadgets to play with..... iPhone; iPad; iPod; HD television; Bose radio systems; cars/SUVs with video capability and GPS; e-Cards; Kindle which is a great way to read just about anything (novels, in my case) and saves our "trees;" refrigerators that house TVs; computered recipes, shelves that slide, constrict, and have several temperature controls to store meats, milk, veggies and whatever else you can think of  easily; the ever changing computer and then there are the wonderful embroidery/sewing machines. Alot of these gadgets do several things that make our lives more livable.
But I'm babbling. So allow me to get to the point. I've been working on a new BOM. This one involves loads of hand embroidery fun.  I've named it "Leafing Through The Year" Don't worry, When Nature Calls BOM  will be posted in a day or so.

Link here or at my Sidebar!
This is also Design Wall Monday. Judy has a list of great quilters with some wonderful projects going on. Pop over and check them out.