30 Quilts in 30 Days, day 2I

Quilts finished today--ZERO--no tally points for this gal.  I seriously think I have quilters block (kinda like writers block but with actual quilting)  I had been blaming the machine but now that it is fixed I have no excuses.  What did I do?

I laid the top and bottom over the bar this morning, then ignored it all till this evening.  When I finally got ready to pin the pieces in I saw that I never sewed the iron on letters on.  Would have made so much more sense to do that before I set the top together.  Quick fix-- ready to tackle tomorrow.  Never do today what you can put off till tomorrow!

This is the back to the top I sewed yesterday.  It looked kinda plain so I raw-edge appliqued a crawling baby.  The one-sey print is the same as the side borders in the quilt top.

Worked on graduation quilt that I was supposed to do last May.  Student 'lost-misplaced 7 siggy blocks.  I was waiting to see if they ever turned up.  NO- so I made a top and bottom row and then half rows for the sides.  Top is now together and in line to get quilted this week--holding my breath!

This top was together on time but the back fabric needed pieced.  Another one ready for the machine this week.  My smile for the day was finding the tie dye fabric for the back--nice surprise.

This had nothing to do with what I was supposed to be working on.  I hope to make this one for our cabin bedroom.  It seriously looks better in my mind then in this photo.  Yes I was trying for using up all the uglies!

I also sewed up a few seams on a favorite sweater.  It really did not feel like I was asking Picasso to paint the garage.  I guess quilters can actually do mending if you ask nicely.

30 Quilts in 30 Days - day one, total--3 quilts

Yesterday, Connie and I took my quilt machine to Springfield to finally get looked at.  I have been having problems breaking thread for several years and for the past year have hardly quilted anything on that machine.  In fact the last 6 months I only finished two quilts.  Simple fix, the hour drive to Springfield  Friday morning was repeated by 5 pm to load the machine and head home.

My first project was to finish the small quilt that was pinned in earlier this year.  First row- wonderful.  2nd row broke a needle and bent the throat plate.  Would you believe everyone I called to help fix it was out of town this Saturday.  I  didn't want to waste the weekend so I ran to Friend Tire to see if they could/would help me.  Danny is a friend to our oldest son,  He knew just what to do, 5 minutes of his time and I was on my way to a fun filled day of quilting.

Now that the machine is running well, I want to challenge myself to finish a pile of UFO's and other TO DO's.  I normally don't do very well completing projects if I feel pushed to do so.  I am going to take exception to my normal routine and make a schedule and stick to it.  There is something to be said about writing one's intentions down and reporting progress.

Normally if I think I want to start a long range goal, I get distracted waiting for the perfect time to get all my ducks in a row.  This quest was thought of and started today, so today is day one.

I am not going to argue or negotiate with my self over what the word "IS" is.  So for the record-  a quilt is defined as 2 or more layers (with or without batting), Pieced or panels, machine quilted or tied, either way(s) I get a Talley mark when one is finished.


Quilts- 1, 2, and 3

This small top has been pinned in to quilt for several months.

Last row and I buried the sewing foot in a loose seam--my bad

This top is small so  it will end up being a baby quilt or a pet quilt.

I added the dog applique to cover where I ripped the fabric getting my foot out.

Instead of loading another top to be quilted I worked on my raw-edge applique borders for Austin and Nichole's wedding quilt.

Did you know that in a pinch you can use your GO mats to trim up fabric.  My regular mat had too much stuff covering it.  I was too lazy to clean it off just for a couple of corners.

Here is the top--Thanks to all the ladies who sewed units.  Special THANKS to Deb. H. for setting the top together.  We started this project over 6 months ago.  It as been gotten out and put away many, many times.

Please don't find any typos in the wording.  I kept meaning to spell check.

This is a line from a song Austin taught the church.

#2  Small quilt for Sarah to use for neighbor girls that are moving away tomorrow.

#3  another one left over from a round of donation tops.  These two will be tied and gifted.

The library class is going to do this pattern for a donation project.  I hope to teach the class next month.  I cut out blocks to practice with.  Easy, chisel, sqs and triangles.

We have a baby shower coming up soon.  I found a yard of pink to use for a back and made enough  9 1/2" blocks to fit for a top.  I think this will be a fun pattern to try in different colors and settings.

I sewed light purple triangles to the top right and bottom left on all blocks.  Then I sewed darker  triangles to the other two corners.  I added 3 inch strips on the sides to widen the top to fit the yardage I picked for the back.

I like the center sqs.  Light purple with cats- so cute!

I might just have to quilt this one tomorrow.  Baby shower is in a week.  It will feel good to have one done in time for a change.  I can 'steal' it back for the class on first Tuesday in Sept.  lol

Flower top is done, now to name it and get it in line to be quilted.

I seriously think I have a 5 yr waiting period to quilt b/c there are a lot of projects ahead of this one.

I am starting to fall in 'love' with this top.  I wan't found of the dating process, but now that the flowers are set together, I really love it!

Before I even started pulling fabrics for the flowers I jotted down that I wanted to do a 'saying' as a border.

The grass withers.....

grand daughters are holding up the outer border fabric to see if we like the way to looks.--  Passed inspection!

Large borders, I can decide later if I want to scallop or not

This is ALL that was left of the green I did the letters with, so close but I got it done.

Flower quilt top progress- NO I did not sew all night!

I didn't sew all night BUT, I did get up before the grand kids and sewed strip sets.  I do think this is going to be a favorite for awhile.  It may even get finished this year--lol

Sneak PEEK at the outer border and fabric for the quilt back.

Just starting to set blocks together.

A few more- turning out nice, if I say so myself- and I do!

I still have plans for a border w/words, I may have to run down to Pam's shop and get more of the green fabric.  I will be cutting it close to get the strips done.  Road trip for Saturday anyone?

Showing off the flower quilt work- so far

So I finally got my 20 flower blocks appliqued down.  These were origionally published in the Detroit Free Press in the 1930's and again in the Kansas City newspaper in 1932.

As usual I am a raw-edge applique gal.  I also like to tear my back ground fabrics and  trim to size after the flower is sewn down.  The blocks are 8 1/2 x 11 inches and traditionally set four rows across by 5 rows down.  I tend to like my tops more square so I am setting this group of blocks five across and 4 down.

 I took a quick trip to Aurora with Connie to look for sashing fabrics.  I found the perfect (for me fabric for the outer borders and the back but won't show it off now.  At first my plans were to do a 2 1/2 inch sashing with setting squares.  I sent Connie these pictures to help me choose which fabric for the strips.

 I just couldn't decided between the two.  In fact I thought I wanted the black, then changed my mind to the green.  When I started to cut into the green, I just didn't like how busy the print was when looking at 2 1/2 inches.  So next best thing, cut at 1 1/2 inches and do a strip set with 9-patches as the setting blocks.

 I am so going to love this setting  As a disclaimer-  I don't iron, the 9-patches are 3 1/2 inches and yes I do see the bottom right block is going to need attention,  I will fix it, I promise.  I don't use pins when I sew, so every now and then, my friend the seam ripper gets put to work.

Flower update, library classes, long over due--my bad

Marionville library group progress on our blocks

I have been slow in getting these beautiful blocks posted.  I love working with this group of ladies.  I also love working with blocks from the past and seeing a new generation of lovely keepsake quilts being created in today's fabrics.  

Not everyone got the first seven blocks sewn.  These are all going to make beautiful quilt tops!

Patterns are always left up to interpretation.

Embellishing with buttons, enlarging the original pattern, playing with scrap fabric-  so much fun!

My favorite- cheater flower--sorry I didn't think of this first--lol

I see the start of a beautiful quilt.

This is from show and tell-  Can you see the D-9 pattern?

This one is mine.  Again a D-9 with a twist-  interesting if I say so myself!

Connie is working on anther project - these girls are large and all seams are turned under ready to sew onto their background fabric.

Our intro to applique class produced several lovely quilts.  Of course I didn't get picture of all of them.

The "Crumb" class, mixed blocks with the applique class and all I can saw is "WoW"

flowers, and scraps of solids

Connie came to visit and shared her version of the flower blocks (so far)  I love the green backgrounds.  I am getting excited to see what the other library class gals are doing with their flower patterns.  I always find it so interesting to see the different interpretations.  When the newspapers printed a quilt block pattern, many readers would make similar blocks b/c they had access to similar fabrics.  Today anything goes.  We have confidence in so many different techniques, styles, fabric choices, the possibilities are endless.

Connie has more blocks sewn down then I do.  I am impressed with her colors and I love the straight raw-edge sewing.

While we were visiting and working along with Monett library quilter, Francis, we also sorted through 7 totes of solids.  I want to make 100 baby blankets for a Missions project.  We are going to sew a (print) top and (solid)back fabric together and add applique (or not).  These will be various sizes depending on the original fabric.  They will be going to El Salvador so we won't be adding batting.

After pulling larger solid pieces from the totes to use as backs, we then sorted fabric into smaller piles.  I keep two loose filled totes of colors and one of whites/cream/tans.  So happy the other ladies took home what they wanted and we still had three totes to give away.  I have been calling new quilters and offering them a chance to add to their stash.  We should be totes empty by the end of the week.

Next play-date will be to tackle the prints.  We may need to call extra helpers for this quest.

almost empty!

lots left here

Not a real tote but a lot of good fabric!