Sew Day and other stuff

Bama Belles met today and the plan was to get those three stacks of Ribbon Candy blocks made up into tops if possible.  I had sort of grouped them by intensity of color or shade last time and knew that we had enough blocks, once I made one more green toned one, for three tops.

Bev and I are always the first ones to arrive (we have the keys to open the Fellowship Hall)  and I had laid out the blocks for the tops.  She said "what do you want me to do?"  I had asked Lois to bring her humungous 20.5 inch square for me to cut the setting triangles for two of them so I pointed her to this first grouping using Lois' idea for making Ribbon rings.  15 - 12 inch blocks gets it in WTIL range.   She kept on plugging so this was the first one finished.

I had gotten my 3rd row joined yesterday afternoon and joined to 4 so all I needed to do is join the two halves.  After I cut two quilts worth of setting triangles, that is!

I used some yardage someone donated for setting this one as it sort picked up on the yellow tones, the blues and teals.  The green in it isn't quite the same shade but there are 5 different greens that I could have attempted to match, LOL.   Lois put this one together and then pieced 5 more blocks to go with 3 blocks Brenda had made.  I will put that one together here at home.

This one does not show the blue polka dot used in the setting triangles very well.  I am in the process putting on a darker blue border but left before I got the two outer verticals on it.  Bev and I teamed up to get this together.  She had never done an on-point setting so I talked her through it.  I joined the rows as Bev had to leave for a 2 p.m. appointment and assembled row three.

Margarita was diligently working on getting the borders on her big block of the month quilt.  I suspect she will have it completed by this evening--she was close and working on her outer borders when she left.  Jane was working on binding for a donation quilt and Brenda was busy marking a fusible applique project.   Linda S was able to come join us for the first time in a long time and preparing hexies.  We enjoyed a potluck lunch again.  Teresa stopped by on the way back from an appointment.  Good day with friends!

I thought you might like to see a couple other of the girl's projects.   Bev made this disappearing nine patch for the JOY Guild's challenge to make a disappearing block of some sort for donation to the comfort quilt program.   She will be vacationing when it is meeting time so she brought it to have us deliver it to the group leader.  They can just be tops though they would take completed ones too, LOL.

Linda S said this has been hanging in her sewing room just waiting for her to drop it off.  The fabrics in it were one of those "grocery" bags challenges.  Make something with a variety of scraps we had loaded up to share.  

Brenda had a couple tops to share with us today but I didn't get any pictures of those.  Maybe once Lena has worked her magic quilting them?

Linda had messaged me Saturday and asked me to call her as she had been given a huge box of fabrics and yarn for her neighbor's estate.  The sons were clearing out their mother's home and needed help connecting the items with crafters/sewers that Linda might know.   The box was huge, tall and heavy, so we just dug through it on my driveway from the back of her van.  Some I was able to keep for Belles use, some I thought Teresa could use since she makes purses and tote bags.   She picked it up today.

Gene saw the message from Linda to me and perked up at the "yarn" part.  I told him he could have at it, LOL.  He dropped by yesterday and picked out some for his weaving.  Some of bagged up to see if Margarita might want as she is an expert knitter.  She thought her daughter could use it since she crochets little animals and such for fundraising.   Woohoo!  Very little is living at my house right now.

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Other than that, no much happened around here last week.  Same old, same old.  Walk, walk the dog, housework, errands----yada, yada, yada.  Seriously, home all week.  I've got a new neighbor across the lane as the house finally sold.  I don't know if she is still moving things in or not but she has been working out in the yard a bit, trimming overgrown bushes and picking up after the two half dead trees.  Going to be one heck of a bonfire!   The house across the main road is apparently off the market as the same folks are still there.  Chickens and all.

We did get one last blast of winter after almost two weeks of being able to shut off the furnace.  It got so warm one afternoon that I did turn the a/c on for about an hour.   The sun sets on the front of the house and I knew it was not going to be pleasant trying to sleep if the bedroom stayed at 78!  It had frosted last night and I think we have one more night in the 30's overnight.  Then it is back to real spring.

The local park where I walk my laps was working on re-doing a large section of the parking lot.  Monday there where three road working large vehicles busy under the supervision of the Public Works Department with barricades going up as well as caution tape.    You see, the construction for the new Community Center had cause a great deal of damage to the asphalt so it had to be repaved.  They had one of those things with the nobby rollers and one with smoother roller and an endloader, I think it is, going back and forth.  I got my laps in but had to walk around the new building and duck under the tape at one end to get to my car.  Later the Mayor said the park was closed due to the activity and that meant the drive through lane for paying the water bill was closed too---come into City Hall.  I guess I'll see if I get to use the park tomorrow or not.  There is another way to access it from the back OR walk the trail.  

I am going to ask for prayers for my great niece Lily.  She has to have further surgery on Friday to remove the teratoma that remains in place.  You may recall that she had surgery on it when she was a bitty baby but due to the location, it was not all removed.  She has been monitored by a team in St. Louis since then and the doctors felt it was time. The procedure will take 4-7 hours and she will have to stay in the hospital for about a week afterwards.

Here is the little cutie---they did Easter egg hunting early at her Nana's yesterday.  Diane said they egg hunted like 10 times so you know she was getting into, LOL.  Love those purple shoes that look like dyed eggs.

Okay, I think that is really it for this post.  I hope you have had a good day and thanks for stopping by to see what my buds and I have been up to.

Tuesday meeting

Some snaps from the quilt meeting yesterday.

The girls pinned maybe 5 quilts?  Aline had her version of Ribbon Candy that I showed you in the last post.   Bev also had a patriotic wall hanging to pin that was going to a family member.  I didn't get a picture of it and I think I missed one of Lois'.  I heard her say she had 4 tops done, maybe more knowing how prolific she is, LOL.  The first three pictures are ones that she brought to pin.

This is Emily's Wedding quilt.  (There is a free pattern for a larger block version on the link but called "Aunt Gracie's Garden".)  The JOY group has several people working on this one, including our guest Rachel who came to sew with us again.

 Lois had borrowed my GE Designs book( Strip Your Sash) and liked Pixie Stix as much as I did whipping up a Wrap Them In Love sized one with a lighter background.

And here is Lois' Ribbon Candy but set "block to block" rather than on point as the book shows.

I was sewing too--those 4 blocks for my own Ribbon Candy donation top.  Before I left, I picked out 15 blocks that "kinda, sorta" went together and stacked them up.  Another grouping can go on point (need 8 for that). It had a good bit of green in the blocks so I made one more block to even out the required number.  The third batch needs one block re-done.  It was a practice block really and one of the colors is too short to have a seam allowance.  I've got it dismantled to re-stitch.  We plan to sew again at the next meeting and get these together.  That bunch is a mixed bag but has some lighter shades of fabrics.  I have some fabrics we can use for the setting triangles.

We had some "show and tell" too.

This is Beverly's top which was the Block of Month from Ashville House.  She is electing to skip the outer wide paisley border as she didn't care for it much and is planning on donating for a comfort quilt.  This one could be used for a guy.   Margarita is working on sashing her own version of this quilt but she did 25 blocks for a larger quilt.  I had helped her cut the sections out recently and talked her through how to do the pre-sashing.  However, she said she felt more comfortable having more experienced quilters around her if she had questions.  I told her after seeing her more recent work that she needs to start calling herself an "experienced beginner"  I'm not kidding as she did a border treatment I would not have tried on last big project!!

Brenda is returning to the group now that she is retired had several quilts to share.  This is t-shirt quilt for her son who is an area fireman.  You see that reflected in the shirt selection.

I'm sorry this is so fuzzy.  Really cute mini with wool appliques also made by Brenda.

This lovely quilt reminds me of 7 Sisters in a way but that is not the correct name.  I  believe she said that this was in McCall's Quilting?  I seem to be missing the picture of this one's "sister" quilt, similar colors but different pattern.

Brenda was holding up her friend Jackie's quilt for her as she is recuperating from recent surgery.  Jackie said she had made this for a step-granddaughter.

Jackie chose appropriate backing and binding fabric too!  The houndstooth check is like the hat that long time coach Bear Bryant used to wear and look at that elephant fabric!

Brenda pointed out the Bama Belles shirt so I had to get a shot of it since that's our group name.

Most of the group went off to Olive Garden but Rachel and I had brought our lunch and stayed to sew.  Margarita came back after lunch and we three closed the place down, LOL.

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I didn't touch my sewing today but that's okay.

• The dishes are washed though I cooked lunch (just frittata)  after it was started and I'm back to needing to unload/re-load.   
• I walked my laps, walked Oscar four times, visited with my neighbors two sets of them and later the neighbor's son too. Warmer weather will get people out of the house!  I may have sunburned the back of my neck a bit as it is itching--all that time outside.   I drug out a pair of shorts after I got my shower taken as it was 65 when I got up and hit the high 70's.  Even had to drag one of my fans in from the shed.   Skyler is enjoying sitting in the open windows. 
•  The laundry is done and an errand run.    Not much goofing around just a busy day.  
• Still haven't gotten around to reading the morning paper--that kind of day.

It is exciting to learn that my nephew and his basketball teammates are going to represent their school in the Class 1A division of the Illinois High School Association state finals.  They one their super-sectional game last night and are in the Elite Eight.  This is the first time in LeRoy's school history for the basketball to get this far.  They play next on Friday and my brother sent a link for the streaming video.  I saw some of this game when the town paper had a link to the opposition's feed.  You may recall that we went to watch Teddy play when I went back to Illinois at  Christmastime.  They are fun to watch!

Guess that's about it.   THX for stopping by----

party time

Yesterday, as I mentioned previously was the Bama Belles Christmas luncheon at the Oxford (AL) Olive Garden.  Good group!  Yes a few faces were missing at the table for various reasons but many of us were there.  Some of us went back to the church afterwards for a little show and tell. We also helped Teresa get her ginormous Carpenter's Star quilt that will be her daughter and son-in-laws Christmas present pinned.  Well maybe it wasn't that huge but compared to the donation quilts, it was!  LOL.  pin and shift up the center section, pin  and shift left and then up, then shift right and then up and pin, pin, pin.

I showed you my challenge top last week using the "On the Boardwalk" pattern.  Here is Lois' version using scrappy nine patches to offset  her Debbie Mumm yardage in the snowballs and binding.

 And this is Valera's.sweet quilt.  She has yardage for another quilt or two down the line as her focus is the lightest print used in the triangle wedges.  I don't know that she gave a name for the quilt but she told me she used a trio of Scrap Crazy rulers.  I believe that THIS LINK , if this is the right set, is from Creative Grids.  She can let me know if I am wrong.

Lois had a few more to turn in so I was getting pictures and logging them into my document before I could help pin.  Some of recognize by name, others not.  LOL if you ask Lois she usually says something like "I had lots of scraps to use up" or "I spotted it in a magazine".  Either way they are wonderfully scrappy and quilted in interesting ways.

Here is Shaded or Split Nine Patch.   people.virginia.edu/~rfk2u/shaded_9patch.doc  is one version I found that they had recreated from the old HGTV "Simply Quilts" website.  Billie Lauder was demonstrating the block and its versatility.  Because of its diagonal properties of half light-half dark, it works like any log cabin block or for that matter, faux log cabin blocks to make Lois' Medallion  or Barn Raising version.  Other options would be Streak of Lighting or Sunshine and Shadows sets.  Look at THIS LINK from Big  Horn Quilts for various log cabin sets and you may see other possible sets for this simple but effective block.

 

This one I just called  Rails with alternating blocks.  It was one of two quilts using similar fabrics.

Lois uses this pattern a good bit, probably a go-to version when she has 2 or 2 1/2 inch strips on hand.  You may recognize it as Bonnie Hunter's Many (or Scrappy) Trips Around the World.  She called it both names in her tutorial.

Here is one that Lois couldn't tell me BUT I think it is a version of Disappearing Nine Patch.  Different setting that you may normally see though.  Anne Weins of Quiltwoman calls her version "Scotch Blocks" but they look considerably larger than these blocks.

This pattern I do know as I have made two pro bono quilts with it.  Atkinson Designs "Bridgecreek Blossom"  .  Lois has an embroidery machine and used it to quilt the setting triangles.  Doesn't it look neat?

 

Lastly there is this mystery block quilt.  Yep, she said she saw it in a magazine but didn't know which one.  I spot a pieced in Friendship Star at center. This one intrigues me! Valera and I were both trying to figure out how it was pieced.  Was there partially seaming involved?  Lois said not but I think you do that 4 corner sections and then add sashing with flipping corners that form that star when joined.  Fun cow print at centers and the same color background for the blocks and the stars tie it together.  I am drafting this one up in EQ.  Perhaps someone can tell me the block source???

And there you have it for show and tell.  As I hoped to do, all but Valera's quilt were delivered to Gene on my way home for his Angel Quilt project.  It was a bit short in length so it will be a better option for the younger kids.  I have about 8 or 9 others that fit that bill at the moment.

What is on tap for today?  Judging from the way things are scattered about in my sewing room, I need to do a bit of picking up, paper sorting and so forth.  I had hoped to start the friendship block project but I am awaiting some confirmation on some details before prepping for it--don't want to not conform with the other participants at least on a few points!  DJ's surgery is eminent so my time will not be my own but I have a book and some embroidery to drag along with me to help pass the time.  Knitting too if I chose.  I don't think binding a queen sized quilt or hand quilting would be as good an option though that is all on my to-do list.

Till next time--------

another meeting wrap

It just occurred to me as I sat down to write this post that I had posted the pictures from our June 12th meeting!  I was caught up in the preparations for my trip and did not have time to share the pictures, etc from our machine quilting sessions or any of  "show and  tell".

I showed how to stitch in the ditch.  Lois showed us how she copies motifs to paper or freezer paper and then machine quilts around them and some great ideas on how to avoid marking your quilt top.   Bev had an attachment for her machine that helps you with the "wax on-wax off" movement of the machine but was unsure how to get the stitch regulator to work.  We had some guests and a good turnout along with a potluck lunch.  Fun, fellowship and sharing----I love this group!

The first 4 pictures are from June 12th

First up, Bev with a tote bag she had made-----

Bev's Improvisational quilt inspired by some Vera Wang king sized pillow cases she found at a yard sale---and she quilted it herself!   She would tell you that she is feeling a little more comfortable using that walking foot now.

Teresa's Jewel Box quilt using some Toy Story novelty fabric and fabrics to go along with it.  I had suggested it as a way to make a quilt using 5 inch (charm) squares at the April sew-in since you can make both 4 patches and hst's using the quick trick methods.  It was later pinned.

Teresa's Desert Mirage---pattern from Fons and Porter Quick Quilts from the Heart.  Those strips finish at one inch and she made it wider to fit their bed.  The book sample was a twin, maybe?  I helped her with trimming it down at a recent meeting and getting the backing prepped.  A friend from Friendship Quilters professionally quilted it for her.  She is currently working on the binding---or about to.

 Up until early Tuesday morning I was not sure that we would even HAVE a meeting but fortunately I was feeling a good bit better with this cold/cough thing I have going on.   I knew from the offset that Bev and Teresa would not be coming due to prior commitments and I thought another was vacationing. (I got the dates wrong. I can't keep track of myself let alone 10 others, LOL).   It ended up feeling  like "old home week" with 4 of our members who have not been able to attend for a while coming.  

Judy brought some books to share for our library---some that had been gifted to her but where not really her choice of technique or subject matter.  She also had 4 tubs of batting cutaways so she and I started patching those together to make usable sections for our donation quilts.  I think we had 6-8 done by the time we left.  I drug some sections of 80-20 home to try the the heat press tape on for another.

Lois had this lovely double Irish Chain to pin

Beverly had picked this quilt up from the long arm quilter recently.  There is a family connection with this quilt and it will go to her daughter.  It is extremely heavy as the inside contains a used nine patch quilt as the batting.  It was completed except for a specialized label that will tell the story of the quilt.  Lois had done up a Sunbonnet girl on her embroidery machine and Beverly will complete it from there.

And this lovely quilt is Aline's round robin from the Thursday evening Piecemakers group in Jacksonville (AL).  Didn't they do a great job on it?  Later this led to a mystery of who had left some purple fabric at the meeting site and do they need it soon.  Gary had the last round of the medallion on this quilt and his wife and our fellow Belle had brought some of the purple selection that might be used for binding.  I think SOME of it goes back to her, LOL.  Meanwhile it is at my house for pick up.

Me?  Well, I had intended to work on binding one of my donation quilts but got up to work on that batting.   I had the label sewn down and maybe about 4 inches done when the others began to arrive.  Jane volunteered to take it so I handed it off.   The quilt I was quilting two weeks ago is STILL on top of the machine, waiting.  In my defense, I was gone for a week and had things to tend to because I WAS gone for a week and then got sick.  This is the only thing I have finished---Egg Basket from Bee Tree Designs.   At one point I thought I might start the next basket since I am now half done with the set of 12 or the Bird Brain Designs 4th of July embroidery but it did not happen.

Judy had two donation quilts with her but she has asked me to bind them as she does not feel it is her strong suit.   In the past she has paid me to do this for her for opportunity quilts made for fund raising for local concerns so she must think I do a good job on it.  She had the leftover fabrics to cut it for one of them and I'll scrounge around from something for the 2nd one.  Turns out I have the leftovers from from a previous quilt she had made using the same fabric line so I can see another quilt being made from the "leftovers of the leftovers".  I may go ahead and cut out a few more things while I am in that frame of mind---like that Prairie Stroll I mentioned in my last post perhaps?  Maybe the August Button Up that will also fulfill that Paint Chip Challenge from guild too.  Who knows?

DJ is going into town soon on errands and I have asked to ride along to make a couple stops of my own along the way.  Better wrap this up and finish getting ready.  Hope you have a good day in whatever you chose to do--------