Spring Break--day 4 and 5

Well, I finished this one.  It took a couple of days.  I am going to hang it over the crib in the extra bedroom.  

 I also spent a morning with my quilting buddy, Dixie.  She helped me get this one ready to quilt.  She has all the knowledge.  I love to spend a morning with her as she works and tells me stories.

It has been a busy week, but I am so happy to get somethings done.  I have to admit that I had Wes clean my machine one morning and what a difference it made.  

Spring Break--day 3

Have you ever pieced batting?  Well I have and this is a rather desperate attempt to finish another quilt today without going to the store.  I have some new ideas for finishing the Spring Flower quilt.

So I finished this one.  The machine quilting went well. This pattern came from Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting, May/June 2010.  As I was sewing it, I found myself wishing I could make one for me. (This one is for my daughter in law.)  But I don't have enough red to make another one. Then I remembered that I bought this pattern last spring from Keepsake Quilting.  I might be able to do this.  We will find out.  

By the way, I love all the quilts that are coming out with the log cabin blocks.   They just make me smile.

Spring Break--day 2

Somethings look easy, but then when I do them, they turn out to be a trial.  This is one of those things.  But I am happy to have it put together and ready to quilt tomorrow.

Spring Break--day 1

I had hoped to get this top put together today, but I didn't and I'm done for the day.  Those watermelon seeds took longer to applique than I had planned.  Just wait until tomorrow.

Spring Break Quilting Goals

So I am off work this week.  I have some quilting goals.

First: I started this last week.  I am trying to decide what I should use for the watermelon seeds.  I have some felt.  The pattern said to use wool.  But I think if I just used black fabric,  the entire quilt will wash easier and it is a picnic quilt. 

Next:  I want to finish the little flower quilt I did.

Then:  I want to baste at least one more to hand quilt. I will have time and I am hoping that my quilting buddy,            Dixie will help me baste one of the bigger ones.

Finally:  I want to make two bags for two of my students.  They will be simple, and as they say, Beautiful!  

--They are in 2nd grade and learning English.  They are both using the word Beautiful a lot right now.--

I will keep you posted. 

Spring Bag

I

I had to stay home with my son one day this week and I decided to attempt this purse.  The pattern comes form the McCall's Quilting magazine - March/April issue.  It looked big and it is.  I was drawn to it because I love the black and whites.  I have to admit that all of this fabric is scraps from the quilt I made for Callie.  So when I saved  a  2 1/2" strip and wondered why, it was because I might find this great pattern that has 122  

2 1/2" squares, right?.  There is none left.  

I didn't think I wanted the flower, but as you can see, it was begging for some color.

Hello Spring!

 I fixed it and and appliqued the flowers down. After it is quilted it gets buttons in the center of the flowers.  Not sure how I will quilt it.

Sometimes when I get a magazine, I can't wait to make something.  This one came from Quick Quilts.  The piecing was tricky, but it sure is nice shot of Spring.

Give Aways

I have started another one of these.  It is taped to the table and after I basted the edges,  I pinned it.  I am quilting it by hand with my little hoop.  I find it so relaxing. 

I also had a great experience this week giving away this quilt.  This is the 4th one of these I have made and I have given them all away.  This one was going to be mine, but I had a friend recovering from an injury that needed this more than I ever will.  The good news is I have enough hankies left to make one more.

Group Quilts

Here are some great quilting pictures from a friend of mine.  Group Quilt Pictures  Have a look and enjoy.

Winnie the Pooh

 I got a really good deal on a couple of these little quilts, however they had been in storage and had some pretty good creases in them.

 So here is a plug for Mary  Ellen's Best Press.  It is great at getting out creases.  Once you start using it, it is hard to live without.  I like the clear one the best.

And here is a finished product.

A Little Garden

Well, I had some time today.  It is just where I want it.  I can applique this week after work.  Then I saw them.  There are three mistakes.  I have already picked out the one in the middle, but I can still see two more.  I was going to leave them, but I can't stand it.  I will have to pick them out and fix them.  It is the life of a quilter.

A Work in Progress

Sometimes I feel like I never get anything done.  When I come home from work, I always think I will sew later, but later doesn't always happen.  I have been working on these 9 blocks all week.  Done!  I hope to sew later today....Please let there be a later.