WIP Weds

Other than making a pile of binding, there is not a whole lot going on here today creatively. I AM preparing to mail two boxes of quilts off to Wrap Them in Love Headquarters. including the two tops I made last weekend.

Normally we only send in finished, ready to ship out quilts but Ellen had indicated that the shelves were pretty low right now after she had prepared a large shipment for a site in South America. I have put a moratorium on my pinning anything more to quilt till that pile on my armoire is dealt with. If she didn't mind quilting these two, she could have them a whole lot sooner than if I had to do it. (She has a long arm at the shop. ) After some back and forth emails she said to pop them in the box and she would do the honors.


So there is the aforementioned pile of binding about to be pressed. The project bag is my FAB birthday present for later in the month---I was basting down some of the elements of the design at the quilt meeting yesterday. The stack of fabrics? All fallish themed stuff---some Ellen sent recently, some from the stash, some from the various challenges I have going on right now. I think they may pair up well for On the Boardwalk or possibly Snuggle Up but I want to think on it a bit first.

We may get 2-3 inches of snow again tonight in evening and overnight hours. Maybe some ice if the project path is further north than they think. SO any errands that need running will be done today, just in case. I need some mailing supplies as those two quilt boxes aren't the only thing that needs to go out and a few grocery odds and ends. No, I am not going for the "milk, bread and eggs" that you usually hear mentioned when a winter weather situation occurs, LOL. Typical of me, I have changed the menu plans a bit and now am missing an ingredient or two but that happens. I will happily stay home and applique my gift piece after that. Gonna be cute!

tada---#7 11n11

#7 11n11, PIF challenge flimsy completed

today's goals

This is where I left off last night with #7 of 11n11 and the sewing weekend---all the strip sets are done. The pattern is The Craftsman Quilt from the Quiltwoman.com site and like the one I did over the last two days, designed by Anne Wiens. Basically the same fabrics, plus 1 since I didn't have extra of the focus fabric to use.

SO since all my grocery errands are run, menu planned for the week, frozen stuff pulled out to thaw, etc I am ready to put this puppy's borders together and finish up the top.






This is who has greeted me when I have headed back and forth from the kitchen for the last 10 minutes. I do not have a clue what he wants and he won't tell ME. DJ had left to help someone next door so he might be hoping he will come back soon. Who knows??



And look what has just come up in our back yard---yellow crocuses. There is a bunch more but I just focuses on this clump. We also have some purple ones planted but the yellows always arrive first.

Well, the quilt top will not sew itself so I guess I better get to creating! Tomorrow I hope to switch gears and go back to the pieced and appliqued birthday project. But it has been sewing the last few days too.

I'll post the finished top in a bit----------

#6 of 11n11

Finished to flimsy #6 and part of the "Pay It Forward" challenge as well. Some of the WTIL list group is working together this weekend to see what we can get done.

Center panel from fabric from Over the Rainbow and rest from my stash. I know it looks kind of dead out on the edge but it will be bound in the same blue as the sashing.

Moving on to #7 from the same fabrics but different pattern.

Note cat chewing on hanging down string? That little booger boy!

Design Wall Friday?

Or today's project, LOL. The base for the SPRING Nancy Halvorsen seasonal wallhanging from her "In Seasons" book.

I figured while I was cutting I would get that rolling too---even though I still have a February QOM and a birthday present to finish first.

I pulled some of the applique motif stuff and that is what you see hanging around the periphery. That and some pieces I cut to audition on the base. Live with it a bit before I sew it.



And this is what the one on the book looks like. My borders will not be so olive green in color. I can't begin to replicate those fabrics in the first place but it is fun to raid the plaid and strips box anyway.

Once I get the base assembled I plan on starting one of the kits---Right Angles featuring a girl's sports fabric Red Rooster's Sports World. Stay tuned, LOL!

It is pouring down rain and the temps are just a little above freezing. I'm crossing my fingers that my car doors don't freeze up again or the roads get icy and cause havoc for those who have to drive in it.

still at it---designing, cutting

Yesterday's cutting output at left.

Clockwise from upper left, the go-with's for Lyn Brown's Cypress Quilt (leftovers from Mom). Some old Debbie Mumm animal print will show up there.

Upper right---whatever it was intended to be, it is now cut up and re-purposed for a Naptime though not near as fun and bright fabric as I cut up. No clue as to where it originated.

Lower right---Prairie Window but I am not going to do an outer border. Shells fabric from the BB challenge. Not sure where the stripe is from but I found a use for it and whacked up some old yardage from my stash that looks a lot like wet sand color.

Lower left, BQ 1 the half sized version. The focus fabric is some of the Over the Rainbow PIF challenge fabric. The red dot is donation fabric though I am not sure about the source. It may have been in the BB challenge, not sure. It was not a purchase I made though.

This is what I am supposed to be cutting for today but I have gotten a little sidetracked drawing in EQ, etc. I am taking a Gordian Knot class as part of the Friendship Quilter's sew-in later in the month. The instructor has indicated that there will be no time to cut in class so we are to cut and label what we need ahead of time. 16 bags worth---and I needed to go get some ziploc bags for that purpose 1st. Other than cutting some fabric that has not arrived yet for one of the kit bags, this is probably going to be the end of the cutting binge till I am ready to trim down the cut pieces in my Belles scrap challenge bag.

To that end I was considering more what to do with some of those strips and scraps. Printouts were compiled from my clippings files, computer and otherwise.

Tomorrow I believe I will set up to sew and get a jump start on the WTIL sewing weekend. LOL, no shortage of things to pick from, with all the organizing I have been doing.


I had to laugh at DJ and Skyler this morning. DJ was practicing his putting on the living room rug. Skyler was flopped on the "green" and impeding progress. At one point he was playing with the golf ball as he would his puff balls or catnip mouse but it didn't scratch up as well OR fit his mouth.

It looks like we have snow flurries dropping. A little earlier, it was sleeting. The temperatures are right at the freezer mark but I don't think much of anything is expected. Nothing like what my friends and family in the Midwest have had to deal with, that's for sure!

That's it for now------busy girl this week!

cutting and kitting

I guess today's post is cross between Design Wall Monday and WIP Weds, LOL. You have to cut and kit before you can do either of those posts.

I've been busy today and will probably still be at it tomorrow. Pressing fabric in preparation to cut, calculating if I have enough yardage, debating on which background to use for another project bag.

Yesterday I had gone thru a former project bag and decided there was no way on God's green earth that I wanted to complete the original project plan. Actually I already had switched gears once on it. Originally it was a millenium quilt from Patchwork Studio, 12 blocks with alternating chaining blocks. I did 6 of pieced blocks, enough of the chaining blocks and cleverly called the quilt "500 Years"---perfect size for a donation quilt. BUT I had a good bit of WOW that could be re-purposed and the two leftover blocks can go in an abandoned block top later.

So this morning, I put that WOW to use. I need a fresh project to work on for the WTIL sewing day on Saturday so I started out by cutting a Right Angles top using the large figured "Sports World" fabric from Red Rooster. The yardage was part of my "Pay it Forward" challenge from Over the Rainbow. Since I am doing the crib sized version, I found that I had enough leftover from my panel type cut for the quilt center. Should I make another one just like this or try another pattern? I think YOU know, LOL.

I had enough of the "go-with's" if I substituted a different white fabric. If I swapped out the sashing colors, I could try the Craftsman top. Not having a coordinating fabric that goes in the bits around the cornerstones, I dug around in the blue and green bins auditioning fabrics. I was able to squeeze out what I need from a bright green piece but will have to piece the strips. No biggie. If it was good enough for my quilting foremothers, it will work fine for me.

Next up, I have a pile of 5 inch oriental type print squares that one of the Belles donated some time back. I decided on a 4 patch on point, framed or maybe not framed, that will be similar to the one shown HERE. I guess that makes it technically a 4 patch strippie with a half drop block between. I never did find the EQ file where I had drawn it up the first time around so started from scratch. Originally I had thought maybe that pile would become a Jewel Box quilt but I like this idea too. I am not sure if I will go with a soft creamy yellow background or a soft pink. Also I had to order a bit of fabric for it that will be here in a few days. I'll decide once the blocks are together.

Lastly I cut out a donation sized Prairie Stroll (Quiltmaker #81 Sept/Oct. 01) using some of the fabrics someone had shared with my mom when the owner had to be permanently admitted to a long term care facility a few years back. Mom and I spent a few days pairing up fabrics for various quilt projects when I was home on a visit a few years back. I got part of the yardage after that, what didn't come back with me at the time.

I still have a couple more piles of fabric to cut thru---one will become a On the Boardwalk once Pam sends me some red cobblestone kit fabric. Those are words I never though I would say but it works with that leftover lunch box fabric. Another stack, I am considering for Diane Weber's Big Block Bargello .

I'll think I will call it quits tonight after I find something to use on the Cypress kit that my mom just sent.....and/or cut out a Naptime top. Good thing I made myself a list to keep me on track!