Wednesday, February 27, 2008

I'm so happy

See that block in the lower left hand corner, I'm so happy it is finished.

That block took me an hour and half to complete, the block is called Guerrillas, the name is correct, it was a guerrilla to make.
I must admit it is a terrific looking block, and exactly 6.5 ", paper piece is always so accurate.
I decided to only work out of the CW Love Letter book.
15 blocks finished and several more drafted and ready to go. I'm wishing now I would have done them all in the red white and blue. Oh well no turning back now.



I have been working on this quilt , for Mary at "All About Quilts". It is to be a quilt shop sample. We select the fabric together it is always so much fun picking out the fabric for a new project, especially when price is no object. We try to make selections that resemble the pattern as much as possible. We did a pretty god job of that, but
I am not happy with the outcome, to me it looks like a little quilt with a bunch of borders sewed on.
I took the top to the shop yesterday and Mary just loves it. She likes it so well she is going to send this one out to be quilted. Maybe when it comes back I'll like it better. I'm sure the scalloped border will help.



Kathie over at Inspired by Antique Quilts has suggested making this quilt for March madness, hey you go girl, I have already did that march.

I made this quilt top about 8 years ago as a group mystery quilt. I just recently came across it when I cleaned my sewing room, now it has been added to my ufo list of things to finish this year.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Rearrangement AKA I like Changes

Did a little spring update on my "office" sitting room. I changed the quilt on the day bed and moved my rocker into the corner, it is a better placement there to display quilts on. I hung my Log Cabin quilt back up, it is always my favorite on this wall.
I went from this, to this, then to this
But I like to change with the seasons.I changed my office chair, from this

Now to this

In addition to working on the civil war blocks and attending 2 funerals, this week I also finished the tote bag, I am not real happy with it. The bag was fun to make but it is so floppy I need to find something to make these bags a little more stable. What do you use?

(I spent 1/2 hour trying to figure out why this paragraph has lines under it, decided it just doesn't matter)

and made a bag for my laptop.

I kinda winged it on the laptop bag, I had purchased a pattern but it looked so complicated I decided not to use it. This one will be just fine, I don't anticipate needing it very often as I seldom go any where that I need a computer

Happy Quilting!

Friday, February 22, 2008

More Civil War Blocks, & A Shop Sample





A few more Civil War blocks I made yesterday. If you would like to see who else is working on the Civil War Blocks, check on the SEW MANY BLOCKS on my side bar.

Enthusiasm
Severe Fighting
Pleasant Camping
Beautiful Picture

Jersey Boy
With dentist appointment and errands to run today I only had a small amount of time to spend in the sewing room, I used the time preparing a few more blocks so they will be ready to sew.

With no directions to follow some of the blocks are a bit intimidating, some of them look down right hard.

I did pick up freezer paper today, to draft the blocks on, may make some of them a bit easier. Some of them I will paper piece as the book suggest.

While I was out and about I stopped at the quilt shop, Mary had a new sample she wants me to make. Looks like I will be getting a little more practice on scalloped borders. I will be using a new line of Moda called "Fruit Cocktail", it will be pretty for spring I think.
I have another funeral to attend tomorrow, so I won't be getting much done, then either.

Sunday afternoons are pretty well taken up with Nascar, I am about to finish hand quilting the friendship star quilt "Working Through The Blues"if they don't have to many accidents Sunday during the race I may get it finished.

Bren over at Pieces From Me, wanted everyone that is working on the Civil War quilt blocks to pick up this award from her. Thank You Bren, you are a very generous person.


Wonderful they have spell chck fixed, thanks guys.

Happy Quilting!

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Civil War Love Letter Quilt Blocks

Several quilters on blogs are doing the Civil Wars Love Letters Quilt, a few blocks at a time. I thought it would be fun to join in the circle so I found the book at Amazon.com, wow fast service, I ordered it on Sunday and it came Tue.
I was anxious to catch up so I hit sewing room early this morning, to make a few blocks.
Each block has a love letter pertaining to the name of the block. I haven't read the letters yet, just felt the need to sew today. I am going to sit down this evening and read the letters that go with the blocks I did today and the ones I plan on doing tomorrow. By the way, there is a total of 121 blocks, this may take awhile, but that's ok I always say it is the journey not the destination.


I started with a few easier blocks,this one is "March in the Mountains", all of the blocks are 6" finished, this block has 7/8" finished squares.
"Hospitals""Papers From Home"
"Americus Soldiers Relief Society"

Then I worked on a tote bag, the tutorial for the bag is on Andrea's blog June 2007, Thanks Andrea your directions are very clear.
The bag still needs a handle but I ran out of steam, hopefully will finish it tomorrow. While making the bag I came up with a plan to make the next one a little shorter and use a few Jelly Roll strips.



Happy Quilting!

Monday, February 18, 2008

Itchin to get Stitchin

I have been itching to get back to my sewing room, I did manage to sew a couple blocks today for Bonnie's housewarming gift.  We can't be there so Tonya is hosting a "housewarming", at her suggestion we can send a block of our choice from here My blocks below will be in the mail tomorrow.

My friend Margie is having a memorial service tomorrow for the son she lost last week. I have been helping her with the details, it has been a very stressful week, she is holding up pretty well,I'm sure tomorrow will be the hardest. Happy Quilting!



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Friday, February 15, 2008

Vintage Quilt Show

I wanted to move on from my last post. I haven't been in my sewing room for days, so with nothing new to share I'll share some old.


A quilt made by my grandmother,Millie Moore, with my granddaughter, Jessica, her great great granddaughter..


A simple little quilt that is thread bare, but still loved. Not sure where I found this.


Purchased this quilt at Salvation Army Store for $5. years ago. It is very very heavy, this quilt dated 1900.


A rescue quilt, I stopped a friend from using this as a packing blanket, the edges were tattered and stained, I cut off the bad parts, and made it into a twin size. Not sure how old this one is or who made it.



I purchased this top on ebay several years ago, I hand quilted it then re sold it so it is no longer in my collection but I wish now it was. I love the colors and the way the maker made use of the stripes.


Another ebay quilt top I sent this one out to be quilted, it spends summers on my bed.



The date of this quilt is self explanatory, this quilt was made by my step father's father, the story is he worked on this quilt while being snowed in one winter in Kansas. His future wifes name is also embroidered on it.



This quilt top was made by my ex mother-in-laws aunt in Missouri, she gave it to my ex husband and I hand quilted it. I no longer have it either it went with the ex, along with the next quilt.


This quilt belonged to my ex mother-in-law, she gave it to me as a birthday gift one year, when the divorce happened she wanted it back in her family., so I no longer have it either. I was always going to duplicate this quilt, maybe I will yet.

Happy Quilting!

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Happy Valentines Day and a sad note.

Then on a sad note I have to write a few words about my friend Marge.  Marge lost her oldest son age 58, Wed. night after a long battle with cancer, this is the second son she has lost to cancer in 5 months.  More than one mother should have to bear in a life time.Tom died in California, I spent the day with Marge yesterday trying to figure out how to bring his body home so he could be buried with his brother and father.It is a very expensive process, over whelming for a lady alone on a fixed income. We also discussed the idea of him being buried there and having a memorial here. Maybe plant a tree or add a bench at his fathers resting place, in his honor.  When I left yesterday evening no decision had been made.

Because we never know.