Pinwheeling...

Hi all!  The summer keeps marching on.  My blog posting, blog reading, and sewing do not. I did finally get to work on my pinwheel quilt again this week. 

I am not sure where this quilt is going.  I will finish all these blocks and then decide what to do next.
I love to look at pinwheels but I am not all that enamored with making pinwheels.  They do continue to become easier to make with experience, and the blocks are being completed a little faster than they were in the beginning.

One frustration is the amount of lint coming from the Bella Solid Charm Squares.  There are little bits of tiny white bits that are coming from the pinked edges all over my cutting table, the ironing board, my machine, the floor and my bedroom.  I don't think I'll be using this kind of  precut again.  I would rather cut the squares myself and have less mess.

Oh and a construction update on our sunroom, aka my sewing studio...the windows finally arrived.  They were ALL stained wrong and unacceptable.  So now the supplier and the contractor are trying to compromise on what to do about it.  Sigh. 

Hope you all are having a good summer with time to get in a little sewing!

:o)

Next project...

This is a quilt of firsts.  First time I have used solid white in a quilt (because we have rust in our water and I just never felt like taking a chance with white.  But we have a new water softener.  Keeping my fingers crossed...)  First time I've tried HST's.  First time I've tried pinwheels.  And yes, I have some work to do to get those pinwheels right...

Sewing room update:  The windows aren't in.  They are actually four sets of sliding doors.  The order hasn't come in yet according to the contractor.  Right now the room is sealed shut.  Can't wait for fresh air!  Can't wait to move back in the room!

:o)

Where has the month gone?

I am shocked that I just realized I haven't posted for a month.  I have written posts in my head but never got to the 'new post' page to actually publish my thoughts.  Does anyone else do that?  June has been a busy month with lots of family things and some construction on my house.  The contruction project was to take two weeks and let's just say, I hope it is done by the 4th of July.

Here is what my sewing room looks like right now.  It is awaiting new windows.  I cleared it out in May thinking the windows would be replaced in a couple days.

And here is how my bedroom looks.  I can't find anything when I try to sew.  It's a mess.  And yes, that is a quilt on my design wall!  I am trying to sew, at least.
 

:o|

Liebster Blog

A while back I was awarded the Liebster Award by Sheila at Sew Cook and Travel.  Sheila is the nicest person with lots of great inspiration.  I didn't post the award icon on my blog and I didn't pay it forward.  Today I was awarded the Liebster Award for a second time by Jen over at Quilter's Daughter.  Jen too is an amazing person and an inspiration as well.  I am really happy and honored to have made these two friends in blogland...one on the East coast and one on the West coast with me in the middle.  This is one of the best parts of blogging...finding friends you never would have found without blogland.  Win, win, win!  And now I 'get it' about paying it forward.  So here I go!

Liebster means Dearest in German and the award is a 'share the love arrangement' that is given to inspirational bloggers with less than 200 followers. There is a list of things that recipients are required to do upon receiving the award.

• Thank the person who presented you with the award on your blog.
• Link back to the blogger who gave you the award.
• Copy and paste the award on your blog
• Present the Liebster Award to 5 other bloggers with less than 200 followers.
• Let them know you've chosen them by leaving a comment on their blog.

So here are my choices for the Liebster Award.  They are people who have inspired me to be a better quilter and friend.

Mary at Spoolhardy Girl

Karen at Sunburnt Quilts

Ann at straythreads

Lindsay at Modern Amish

Meaghan at Made by Meaghan

Thanks for all the inspiration you've sent my way!

:o)

Here I go...

Remember when I won the Ruby charm pack from Connie at Quilting by the River?  I bought some yardage to go with it.

And, here I go...

:o)

A Surprise!

A friend of 34 years (and my godmother) gave me an early birthday present last week. (My birthday is next month.) My friend is not a quilter. But her sister, who is a quilter, helped with putting together this gift.

First was a custom-made quilting themed pin cushion and thread catcher combo.

Look how sweet the pin cushion is!  (Thanks Mary!)

Tucked in the thread catcher were more goodies.  There were these way cute quilt pins...the kind you always want but can't justify the expense.  And there was also this great squeeze ball that says 'When life throws you scraps...make a quilt!'  Amen.  Thanks Fran!

:o) 

Bloggers' Quilt Festival -- Spring 2012

I always look forward to May when Amy from Amy's Creative Side hosts the Bloggers' Quilt Festival.  Thanks to Amy for another opportunity to be inspired and to make new blog friends!

I am linking a special quilt to the Festival.  It was a baby gift for a newborn girl, Lucy.  I had the honor of holding Lucy's mother when she was a newborn.  And Lucy's grandmother and I have been friends for 44 years...since her hubby and mine were college roommates! 

There was a theme for this quilt...this adorable bedroom designed and painted by Lucy's grandmother.  It is shown here as the painting was in progress.



The other elements of this theme that I had to work with was a crib set picture from Pottery Barn Kids catalog and this sheet.

There was some fussy cutting and some improv designing (from me, a person who sometimes plans and organizes things to a fault.)

I made a little pillow to match the quilt!

In the end, I was pleased with the results and the recipients seem to be pretty happy too!

:o)

It's done!!

I finished the 'big boy' quilt!  My quilt holder was in town to help me get this picture.

I haven't given this to my grandson yet as I am crocheting a small pink blanket for his little sister so she won't feel empty handed.  I told him about the quilt though.  He asked, "Can I hide under it?"  :o)

Here it is after washing and drying.  I used Dream Wool which helped the quilt to be all fluffy, soft, and ready for cuddling.

The back is black with little aqua doggie bones.  I love stripey bindings!

I am happy with this one!

:o)



Planning ahead...

I got to babysit last week for my older daughter's two little girls in Cleveland.  It was so much fun.  AND they live just a couple of miles from JEllen's House of Fabrics that I blogged about here.  I got to stop there on my way home from Cleveland.  The prices are unreal...$8 for all Moda and Michael Miller and $5/yard for Bella solids.  Plus they have a frequent buyer program.  SO...even though I have little time to sew lately, I have added MORE fabric to my collection for 'someday'.

I need to replace this quilt that hangs in my kitchen.  I bought it eight years ago from a young Swartzentruber mother who showed me the quilt when it was in being made.  It is a 3-D kind of bow-tie and hand quilted.  Sadly the black fabric is now faded to an off shade of brown by the sun.

I dream about making an Amish-style wallhanging for my kitchen using solids but in modern colors, like these.  They are more saturated than the picture shows and the one that looks blue is a deep lavender.

And I could not pass these up either.

Wouldn't it be great if someone had a special deal on purchasing some 'time'?

:o)

Denise Schmidt

I will admit I really never heard of Denyse Schmidt or her Flea Market Fancy collection the first time it came out.  It must have come out right before I started reading blogs.  Anyway, I kept seeing this one print in different quilts, and I wished I had some.  Well, thanks to blogging, I put two and two together and figured this all out recently.  I kept telling myself  'you don't need more fabric, Linda'.  But last week I caved and bought some online.  I LOVE IT!

:o)

Three variables

I have been working on my grandson's quilt, but time hasn't been on my side as far as being able to finish it.  I have three new variables with this quilting project.  1) It is the first time I've quilted anything on my new machine.  I can report she is doing well and I love the newer walking foot.  2) It is also the first time I have ever quilted anything on the diagonal.  I was concerned with stretching.  The top looks okay, but the back has stretched some with the handling.  I don't have any puckers on the back yet, however. I think once the quilt is washed and crinkly, my concerns will be over.   And 3) this is the first time I've used painter's tape to mark the sewing lines.  I am not sold on it yet.  I think marking the lines right on the quilt is more accurate, at least for me.  My lines have been wavier than usual.  I do think that as I progress through the quilt, my lines are getting less wonky.  Hopefully, I'll have a finish within the week!

:o)

At it again...

I found some new 'gotta have' Aboriginals at Canton Village Quilt Works.  What am I going to do with my ever growing collection?  I am thinking about it.  I think about it a lot.  But thus far, I have no plan.  In the meantime, they are so fun to look at!

:o)

WIP

My big boy quilt is coming together and I am liking it a lot.  Maybe I can work on it this weekend...

:o)

A little shopping...

I have always wanted to stop at JEllen's House of Fabrics on Mayfield Road in Cleveland.  I have driven past it several times but never when I could stop.  I finally got the chance to go in and it did not disappoint!  Oh my goodness...when you walk in the door you can hardly move because of how beautiful the displays are.  You just stop and take it in.  The fabric is all quality quilting fabric from manufacturers like Moda and Michael Miller, organized in collections, and only light and bright and modern collections like Flora or California Girl.  There are all kinds of notions, buttons, and patterns...things you would expect in a boutique.  Plus there is a large selection of Bella solids and Moda Marbles and other basics.  And the prices...well, you have to see it to believe it.  I visited for two hours and did a little damage to our credit card account.

Collections like this...

Checks and Stripes

Polka Dots Galore

No, the owner is not a relative or even an acquaintance!  LOL!  She's friendly and helpful, and she has a very sweet daughter.  It's worth a trip to stop there.

:o)

Having fun...

#3 grandson has outgrown his baby quilt.  Mom hinted he is ready for a bigger quilt like his brothers have...one he can hide under!  So what's a quilting grandma to do, but deliver.  I love making kid quilts!

:o)

A 2012 Finish!

The quilt is finished and delivered.  The family seemed to have really liked it.  Yay!!!

Here is a close up showing the top and the back. 

I sent a matching pillow, too!

:o)

I finally decided!

Last night I brought home this baby.  I set it up this morning and am ready to go.  There is a class next week to explain some of the fine details.  But this machine is user friendly so far.  There will be another class explaining the stitch regulator next month.  Can't wait to try that out!  I am a happy camper!

:o)

Yard work...not!

This weekend was dedicated to some much put off yard work.  After the warm weather of last week, it started snowing on Saturday.  Too bad...so sad.  :o)  I can put that fall clean-up back on hold.

I spent some time Saturday looking at sewing machines...again.  I almost own a new one.  And I finally got to get back to my owl quilt!  Can't wait to get this off to its recipient!

:o) 

I Won Some Ruby!

I am a winner...heehee...of  a giveaway over at Connie's Quilting by the River.  I won this:

Thanks Connie!  (Have you read her blog?  It is wonderful!)  I have ideas swirling in my head about how I will use this charm pack.

:o)

Progress on the Owl Quilt

My owl quilt is progressing very slowly on account of some math errors and from spending a lot of time with these two little buddies who have been under the weather.
 

I usually get some inspiration here and there, and then work out the math myself when I make a quilt.  And yes, I do make errors and always learn what a dunderhead I can be something.  This time I borrowed some math that was "off".  I didn't discover the errors until I had the entire quilt cut out and had sewn a row or two of blocks..okay half of the blocks.  Ugh.  Rip, recut, resew, resize...sometimes more than once for a block. (Sigh. Did I mention I am a s-l-o-w learner?)  Moral of the story...we all make mistakes.  Check your math before you get too far into your quiltmaking.  Here is where I am:
 

I am really happy with the final design.  I hope to have this quilt in the mail to its sweet recipient and be able to show it to you all within the next couple of weeks.

:o)

Aboriginals

I found a couple of Aboriginals from M&S Textiles for my collection.  Yes, I need to USE it instead of just hoard it.  I also found this great black and white check from Michael Miller.  It's a gingham print.  There were several colors.  I used constraint and only got this one.  Can you ever have enough checks and dots?

:o)