Design Wall Monday

If you are wondering why my BOM is showing on DWM, it's because this is the final installment block of trees and will complete the wonderful journey those of you who've stuck it out with me. Trees 5 and 6 link is on my SIDEBAR and here just in case something goes wrong.
Make sure you pop over to Judy's to see what everyone else is up to on Design Wall Monday.

Granny Squares Complete

I'm finished. Again, a big THANK YOU to Jen over at Miss Punkie Pie for turning me on to Granny Squares.  I added my own little touch with the sashing and cornerstones and I love it. The final measurement is
52 1/2 by 62 1/2 inches, a wonderful sized lap quilt. I took the photo on the carpet so it all kind of blends in.

Somebody Stop Me!

I now have made and squared up 30 Granny Square blocks.  I don't know if there's a certain way these blocks are suppose to look, I just put colors together because I like the way they look.  I did have to make myself stop before this project turned into a tent covering instead of a lap type quilt.
I'm telling you, this is addictive. I was lucky because I already had 2 1/2 inch squares (hundreds of them) from a previous exchange, so it was extremely ease for me to match colors.
The next step is going to be sashing and I'm going to add a little something just for fun..... you know how I am, always doing it my way....... so stay tuned.

Design Wall Monday

First, it's DWM again so make sure to pop over to Judy's to see what other are up to.

A giant shout out to Jen over at Miss Punkie Pie. She turned me on to "Granny Squares" the other day and I've gone crazy. All of my other projects are on hold until I get this out of my system.... LOL..... I'm sure you all know what I talking about when it comes to something that grabs your interest and won't let go.
I asked Jen about her project and she was kind enough to email me the link she used as a tutorial from
Lesley over at The Cuddle Quilter which was very, very helpful.
So here's what I've been doing for the past 3 days......

I had hundreds of 2 1/2 inch squares from a previous exchange from years ago so I was able to match up what I wanted quickly. I used the large squares from my stabilizer stash to divide the different blocks and this made it easier to sit and sew at my machine. BTW, the little Rowenta is hot and on the ball when it comes to no steam pressing...... love it!!

 I went with a brownish gray fabric instead of the traditional white..... so what you're seeing in the background is the stabilizer not fabric.

Taking a photo of each block as you audition the squares really helps to see value or shows you a perspective so you can decide if what you chose really looks good or if the placement needs a change.

In one sitting I sewed up twelve blocks then squared them up the next morning (these blocks are not squared up yet). I decided that twelve was not enough so I've started another twelve or so blocks. It's addictive. Thanks Jen!!!!
For those who think that I'm really getting things done....... well I should be doing way more than I am. Remember, I'm the one with no hubby, no kids, no obligations other than cooking for my mom every evening. The little princesses are so busy these days that they have to "pencil" me into their schedules. So I should be sewing nearly non-stop. But I have to get in some reading every now and then. And then there's all those pesky critters that seem to pop up. I must have a sign etched onto my forehead stating, "Come one, come all critters to Ravelly's house!"  If you're wondering what I'm talking about, read the post from yesterday about the buzzard. Yea, I said buzzard, as in vulture.
Well, I need to get back to my Granny Squares!!

I Kid You Not

For those of you who know me, my history with animals and insects, will appreciate this little encounter.  Saturday afternoon, I watered my little garden, walked around the yard for a time and headed back into the house for dinner. Mom and I had a pleasant dinner and as I was clearing the table, I looked out on my back porch area and spotted this critter just standing there eyeballing Mom and me through the sliding glass doors.
Can you say..... Eeeeeeeeeek!
OMG, that's a buzzard.........a ..... buzzzzzz.......ard!
After I stopped screaming and running around in a circle, I grabbed my camera, cause that what us blogger do..... we are always looking for a photo op..... although this was NOT what I had in mind.
I was able to snap 3 photos before he hopped off over the fence and into the field.
Whew! That was close. I think his wing is broken or injured because he made no attempt to fly and believe me I was shooing him away with vigor!!
I don't know if you can see it but look closely at his beak area.... there's a hole in that area..... yep, a hole. That's his perforated nostrils. To learn more about the Turkey Vulture click on the LINK. It will tell you more than you want to know, believe me.

I hope that the poor vulture/buzzard, as they are known here in Texas, get well or moves on... if this keeps up, I just might have to check into a "nervous hospital"....... for those of you who are fans of Sling Blade, you will recognize that little phrase.

In The Meantime.....

So, I'm into Plan H with the project I've been posting about.........LOL
And I've just recently mailed off my Quilt of Valor top.......Yea!

So while that project is brewing in my head for a solution, I made a wall hanging from ....... you guessed it, scraps.

Part 1 ... sew some scrap strips together

Part 2... choose a background fabric to add interest

Part 3... find a nice focus fabric

Part 4..... oh, flower petals sound good

TaDa.... wall hanging 17 1/2" by 21"

Love it!!

Try Outs

So, I'm progressing along with my scrappy string blocks and it's time to audition fabrics for the four corners of each block......... confused?????  I was too..... LOL

Hey, I'm feeling my way through this process, you know one step forward ..... two or three steps back!

Here's the block with the "Y" seam set-ins or as I did ...... the scrappy look.

 Here are four block that need something to tie them all together. See that square space in the middle.... well I've got to fill that area with ......... you guessed it, more scraps.

So, I need to audition fabrics to see which direction I need to go.

 This first one is a fussy cut type fabric...... interesting but not what I'm feeling.

A dark fabric, perhaps??? 

A lighter center fabric, maybe???

Nope, not doing it for me at all.

Plan C is in the works so stay tuned everyone.

Template Difficutlies on Design Wall Monday

Make sure you pop over to Judy's Blog to see what everyone else is up to.

First template.... Template A...... I'm thinking something to do with the "Y" seam should do the trick......... let's see...... Mine you, I'm really not that good at developing my own template but how hard could it be???

"Y" seams are great if you want a less scrappy look but I figured out very quickly that that method was not for me...........LOL

Plan B........ new templates for a more scrappy look...... let's see.

Pick out several fabrics from the old stash and cut using the Plan B templates.

Stack kites and templates in the order you wish to sew.

Notice the sewing method I'm using above which is sewing the one side, pressing it, then sewing the second template and pressing it.

I'm happy with this look!! 

Love the scrappiness of this block and my basket of scraps is dwindling..... I think.  

I will make a PDF of Template B if anyone is interested..... just leave a comment expressing that or any comments about what you think so far would be very welcomed.

Stay tuned for more later on in the week.

Dented!

As I was combing through my stash of quilting books, magazines and patterns, I ran across the pattern above and the ruler that goes with it.  "Great," I thought, here's another way to get rid of use up some more of my stash.

So I started sewing different strips of fabrics together.

Using the trusty ruler, I cut the above shape.

Now which design do I want to make???? This one...... hummmmm

Or this one...... yea, I'm thinking I really like this design better. So I'll need to do loads of sewing strips. So far I have 60 kite type shapes cut, all from my stash which is slowly decreasing... YEA!
I'll have to use tone-on-tones to fill in the edges but that will come later.

QOV Done and......

 Finally got the borders sewn on and the stars stitched down. All that's left is making a label with an opening at the top where messages and letters can be placed.  It measures 65 by 80 inches and remember no purchased fabrics were used. I dug into my stash for all fabrics... one of these days I'll get to the bottom of that bin.
I'll be sending this one off early next week... Yea!!

These strange little weeds are in a corner of my garden. They are very delicate, cute and the size of a quarter. Question???? Any ideas as to what they are?

Stars for QOV

This is my Design Wall Monday.... make sure you pop over to Judy's to see what others are up to.

After re-reading the instructions for the QOV...... you know me..... sew first, read later..... LOL
I went back and added a sprinkle of varied shaped stars on the quilt top..... I really like this better. As soon as I get the borders sewn on, I'll be sending this baby off.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter 

for those who celebrate it

 and a wonderful weekend 

to all!

Easter Sunday 1961
Grandma, Granddad
David and me

QOV

I'm working on a Quilts of Valor  that Marjorie is hosting, and am making progress. There's a "GO" challenge but I'm just doing a quilt.

 Found this quick design "Crazy Nine Patch" .... love it because it's a quick, strip piecing type project.
My PFAFF was smoking through the 12 blocks.

 Each block finished at 19 inches..... I know that's a weird measurement but remember who you are dealing with...... LOL

Block sewn together.... looking pretty good to me

For some reason I decided to do piano keys... OMG, it's taking longer to make those than the whole quilt.... LOL
Please note: I used only fabrics from my stash!!