sewing and computing

Yesterday was sewing day and I was able to get the 2nd pineapple blossom top together. Cross another one off my June goals.

I appreciate Linda making me a full set of blocks so we have another of these fun tops to donate to the cause. I noticed that a couple of the fabrics in the strips are a little light and kind of fade away. Something to consider when I take on the remaining 7 blocks that are started at some point. I do love the scrappy!

You may notice that I did not press Quilt Holder into service. Just clipped it to the lip of my shelving unit giving you another shot of my sewing room. The two red baskets and the yellow atop it hold the remaining 2 inch strips. Slowly and surely they are finding their way along and into tops. Some backing fabric that Pam sent a few months back will be used and probably blue WTIL kit fabric for binding though I did not cut it yet.

A lovely package came from Jeanne today---her yellow and orange Quilt spectrum quilt (see April 20th post) and the Pink and Black retro (see June 3rd post) quilt tops along with backing and binding fabric and more neat-o yardage for quilt backs were inside. Thank you so very much, Jeanne , for your help in reaching our goals for Girls Big Oak Ranch and WTIL.

So what have I been up to today? Mostly fighting with my computer. Like Cher, it seemed that the automatic update from Windows was messing up my ability to open my own blog and anyone elses! That just would not do. Restored the computer back to an earlier time more than once---shut off the automatic stuff and put them back in one by one till I thought I narrrowed down the culprit. Then at one point, my server did not want to allow me to sign on. Talk about frustration. Obviously I am back in business. In between times, I started my strip sets for a pile of four patches that you see below and wrote a long, long email to a dear friend who I have reconnected with.

I'm doing a four in nine patch type chain block between some friendship stars that Cher and the Portland Piecers sent to help the Bama Belles cause. You can see the EQ printout clipped to the basket in the picture. I am still working on the four patch spiral thing and finger pressing enough for 18 blocks and the corner blocks. I've pressed the Jem into service to give the Viking a little rest---it is going to get a work out quilting soon enough, LOL.

Hope you all have had a good weekend so far--I'm off to see what you have posted.

no sewing here

I didn't get any sewing done yesterday after all as our pinning "date" was moved up to yesterday afternoon. It is definitely in the works for today as there is no walking today and few errands.

I have essentially been awake since 3 a.m. since little kitty paws were trying to remove my sheet cover telling me to get up. Not really complaining about that since she has not done that for some time. We did the "bowl trot" and of course, she needed nothing. I just couldn't settle down and go back to sleep. I lay there thinking about what to do with this round robin among other things and it is all Aline's fault! She shared what she was doing on the one I had two rounds back when Jane, Sarah and I were over using her pinning table. By 5 I pulled a book off my reference shelf on Seminole piecing and a couple of things might work or could be revised a bit for less seams. At 6 I just got up and turned on the computer intending to look at my project file in EQ. BY 630 or neighbor was out weed whacking so forget going back to bed.

Right now I am thinking about picket fence but needed a clipping from my files before I delve any deeper. Picket fence or garden maze would fit the grandmother's flower garden theme, perhaps? No resolution yet. Double four patches might work and might be a lot simpler. This is as bad as my looking at a menu--I will change my mind about the entree at least 4 times before the waitress takes our order. The longer it takes for them to come back, the more options I come up with. I am rarely this indecisive so I'm guessing this is because it is someone else's quilt.

As we were visiting while pinning, the "mystery" bags I found at the church were explained. Turns out that the bag of non -quilting materials and that lovely top were left by one of our members for another person who occasionally bops by. What she needs it for, I don't know but I retrieved the bag that I had tossed when I got home. If the person does not "bop by" at the next meeting, I know we will not be storing it for her and the hand off will need to handled some other way. The closet already has too much stuff in there and we need a new roll of batting soon. Anyone that has opened 60 yard roll of poly batting knows just how big those expand once the plastic comes off! There goes the quilt top I was so admiring. With no labeling on the bag, how was I to know?

I got my Tailor pressing mat "remodeled". Pippi is sitting on it atop the cutting table as I write this --properly breaking it in. DJ helped me scrape off the industrial strength glue from the mat backing and some Goo Gone seemed to help remove most of the residue. I used double stick carpet tape to stick that mat back on though I rarely use that for any cutting (too hard and dulls up the blades too quick). I do occasionally lay a smaller Olfa mat ON it though. So far so good on the hold. I could not get the goo off the wood backing of the padded part so may as well stick that mat back on it.

My mom needed some help in emailing images (part of the reason why she has my old digital camera) so the two quilts you see above is one of her recently finished WTIL tops. The pinwheel part was made with the cutaways from the heart blocks she sent back with me recently. This was the setting I had inquired in how do I piece this about a week ago. BTW she did it Square in a Square and pieced setting triangles.

Guess that's it for now--------

Weds catch-up

Yesterday was one of those days of doing "necessary" quilt related things. Yes, I was feeling much better though my tummy could cooperate more *VBG*.

DJ was heading right by the meeting place so I rode along with him and got busy pinning the three quilts I had layered. I got them all pinned in 2 hours (they are about 40 x 60 so that helps) with about 5 minutes to spare before he came back for me. I gathered up my batting cut aways and some out of the closet to join up with some that I had at home and stuffed them into a 2X ziploc bag that someone had left for us.

The 1st picture shows just what was in that bag of goodies. Burlap, upholstery samples, a half finished blouse of some sort, canvas like material two patches, some khaki denim, some oriental looking upholstery fabric, olive stuff and that darker green-brown that is some sort of brushed like couch cushion stuff. There is even a small piece of faux fur that I kept out Pippi. I don't know what you call that red and white check fabric. I know we said that we try to use what we are given but this has no use for quilters. Thank you anyway. I can use the gallon and 2 gal and that big zipbag anyway.

BUT deeper down, there was this gem. The hand buttonhole applique is wonderful! The colors are so soft. Unfortunately it looks as though someone tried to set too hot of an iron on it and there is a yellow stain and some holes where I assume the fabric charred and flaked away. You don't see that in camera range nor did I get a good shot of the edges where they have a scalloped edge with that same vine arranged like in ovoid shapes all around the edges and then floral motifs in the corners. Aline said that the bags were not there when they left on Tuesday so they have not seen this lovely quilt top yet. I'll bring it round next time but oh, would I love to keep this.

I sewed two WTIL sized sections of batting together once I got home. Went through the bag of stuff. My back was begging me to sit down at that point. Computer time--read around the ring, wrote some mail etc. Later I pressed another few "miles" of binding for three quilts and finished up the day by finally getting around to re-covering the silver cloth for my big board that I use for pressing. Vacuumed up the sewing room while the cat was out of here too. BOY, did it need it with those tons of strings and binding dog ears. Necessary stuff but not very exciting.

This morning I decided to pull the backing off my June Tailor cutting/ironing pad so I could use a bit of the old, still usable silver cloth to re-cover that scorched pad topping. I still need to get the mat part stuck back on someway. Might require a trip to the hardware store for some industrial strength glue if the old stuff won't hold. It almost took more arm strength than I had to pry it loose and now my back is squawking at me again.

I am planning on sewing today and pinning the last three quilts tops tomorrow if Aline's schedule permits. My low back thinks "good, a sit down job", LOL. But first, some emails and a phone call to return.

special day

Happy Birthday, Mom--I love you

Yep, a Flag Day birthday. She will correct me if I am wrong about this family story, but her younger sister could not see why SHE didn't have one out when it was her turn if Elsie did.

 

missed meeting

I missed our meeting today because some headache from you know where/upset digestive tract thing slipped in here last evening. Aline, bless her, stopped by the house on her way in to pick up some things that needed delivered to the group. They pinned one top for me and she brought me batting for 4 more. She also brought me the completed quilts that were turned in so I could get pictures and log them into our document.

















Quilt Holder helped me with these a little bit ago so I have some to share with you. Not sure where the text and pictures are going to land so the tulip top you see was made by Theramae using a panel piece at the center as her jumping off point. I could not quite get the colors adjusted properly. Pretty clever quilt, I thought.

The little redwork quilt at right was made by Lois. The embroidery was done by machine and has the cutest penguin fabric for the print squares. Red heart buttons anchor the setting squares and the color picked up by the outside border.

The 3D bowtie quilt--sorry looks a little fuzzy--is one that Beverly made which has an unusual border in that she made 3D bowties entirely in white for the outside edges. The knots and the quilting add such a dimensional touch. It is backed with white flannel. I hope that you will be able to click on it to see the detail

There were others as well but you have seen Finn's bowtie and basket when they were just tops. I know I showed the sampler top Aline had assembled in an earlier post too--probably in the spring sew-in wrap up.

Other than pressing miles of binding and layering 6 tops, taking those pictures and updating the quilt documen that is all I have done today between bouts of laying down. Aline said that several of the others did not feel too red hot today either so maybe it is something going around. It can leave anytime.........

2nd of 2 and revised

See post below to see why in the world I am showing you this!

These two are probably enough to put your eyes out---sorry, Finn--you might need to look away or they REALLY will make those eyes water.

Still I hope that some child somewhere is enjoying them even if they probably are not getting much rest. Someone gives us fabric and we try to use it if we can------

Edited note: The quilt on the left is a Patience Corner which we did as a free mystery quilt from Judy Hopkins. She called it BlockAid because she meant it to be used for charity quilt work. We cranked out a bunch of these probably back in 2002 or 2003. Good one to do scrappy or with two colors of fabric.

Finn, I know the quilt on the right as "Bonnie Scotsman" or "Scotch Quilt" BlockBase #1390 so you are right in your identification of it. I have made several from this design--my favorite is a green with a lovely black with the same shade of green ivy but I did the first one in WTIL fabrics and it turned out pretty much like the sketch in BlockBase. I'll see if I cannot round up a couple of those pictures to show in series. Fun quilt and easy to strip piece. I've got the directions written up around here somewhere and could try to post them. Not sure we can put up a table though so it may need some revision for blogger. HMMMM

Just back from errands--bank, gas up the car, ran by Hancock's for some backing fabric and found a neat toile hats in pink that I think I will use instead of trying to squeeze the heart top onto some pink that barely fits (save that for a smaller quilt). I have also walked though DJ thinks I won't go without him, got all 3 loads of wash washed, the dishwasher run and will take my husband for lunch as soon as the dryer permits. Then back to sewing two backs and cutting some binding--piece a bit if I have time. The Belles meet tomorrow so I know I'll be pinning rather than sewing, no doubt. That means, back in quilting mode very soon!

another one bites the dust

Another top assembled---Pineapple Blossom with blocks that the Bama Belles and I did earlier this year. I am still debating if it needs borders. It is large enough for WTIL so I am guessing I won't on this set. Originally I was considering the burgundy fabric that I know is at the meeting place but I think I'm done. There is another set of blocks that Linda S made that I might set block to block and border that bunch though I have sashing strips cut if I change my mind. Those can be used for more blocks since I have 7 more blocks started.

The strips are largely from the large xerox paper box Ellen sent me from WTIL headquarters though I see bits and pieces of my stuff and some brights others were using in there. Everytime I see that bright yellow with the black "eyeballs" on it, it cracks me up. I made a Patience Corner out of that stuff that Marilyn donated and sashed it with a black gingham---it was bright!! Imagine--no one wanted to quilt that thing, LOL. And I spot some of the red vein kit fabric as well--ubiquitous stuff but a fairly decent red. I'll check my folders and see if I can locate the quilt in question and add it once I publish this. (Nope, no go with blogger and photos--what a giant pain! separate post then, I'll show them!)

A couple of folks didn't quite understand that scrappy meant using more than 3 fabrics in the block but I think it turned out well. I know it is hard for some to pick up fabric and stick it next to each other without trying to match it up and work randomly. Not complaining about that--making a statement.

Took me the better part of the afternoon and evening with time out for grocery shopping and meal preparation. If you are going for two ingredients and Monday is the usual shopping day, might as well get them, right? ( I made a butter cake from a mix and topped it with homemade caramel frosting. Yummy and the taste I had for it is satisfied. BLT's for supper--good summer fare) The last two rows seemed like they took forever--kept having to rip out and rearrange, fudge them in etc. Danged if I didn't wind up with all the same green in one spot----oh well, I am not changing it now.

Just as a change of pace, I think I will dig out the friendship blocks that Cher sent us and make the alternating blocks tomorrow. Get back to the rest of the Blossoms another day.