Deb, this one's for you!

How fun is this quilt!!  Good friend Deb H found this pattern in one of her favorite quilt mags.  We used a GO strip die to cut yardage and the Triangle Die to cut 1/2 sq. triangles.  She brought her orange and blues and raided my stash to fill in.  Fats can go a long way in making a controlled scrappy sing.

I am so excited to get to see this beauty one step closer to being gifted as a snuggle under HS Graduation quilt.  The more I look at this pattern the closer I am to cutting out one for me.

Deb bought the orange sheet I used on the back from our local Walmart.  I am going to have to check to see if there are any more.  I love this color!!

When I remember the name of the pattern or the mag it is from I will let you know.  be good  -cheryl

I am not an embroiderier (yet)

In my defense, I have only had this machine about 6 yrs.  I have made a couple of labels and many throw away projects.  I keep thinking all I need is to commit to learning how and do it.

This practice piece (and that is a biggie for me to practice- I almost just pinned in the quilt and went with it) will be framed and kept as a reminder.  A reminder that I have NO business trying to embroidery with or without a machine!!

My first line, I 'forgot' to lower the presser foot.  Totally messed up the first letter.  I re-threaded (after clearing the thread jam) and continued.  Not too bad so I figured I would just 'start' again and stop after the "B".

Didn't realize that my machine cuts thread after a line.  SO.... now I had to re-thread again.

My machine is a touch screen.  My fingers evidently ''touch'' everywhere on the pad except what I want to be touched.  I spent a lot of time erasing and starting over.

The third line, I learned about spacing.  I didn't learn very well but I did learn a lesson.

The last line is wonky.  One reason is I dumped everything out of the hoop when I tried to cut a thread.  Two is I didn't load it back up very straight.  And three is I evidently hit a different size font.

30 minutes later I have confirmed that I am not mature enough to do machine embroidery.  Maybe next year!  Thankfully I have grown up enough to have not practiced on a real quilt- lol

Black and Orange for a Wedding Quilt- blocks are coming together

Don't look too close, I haven't ironed or squared up the blocks.  Here is the start to the center, hope to do sashings and borders this weekend..

I had to borrow Kelly's camera and didn't know how to take the date off the picture- my bad.

Black and Orange for a Wedding Quilt- Baseballs too!

A friend of mine asked if I could make a wedding quilt for a couple who are getting married in July.

I should have 'time'.

Then he said he wanted a Baseball theme.---  I am always up for a challenge.

Then he called and asked if I could 'add' photos--- sure (not my favorite but doable)


Then he called to tell me the couple likes Orange and Black-  (I put him on notice that I will NOT be taking any more of his calls-  seriously just kidding)

So much for me making a baseball diamond applique with photos of the bride and groom.....  Instead I decided to do a Black &Orange  swoon quilt

I think Two color quilts always look great.  I am excited to see what I have in Blacks and Oranges that I can mix and match.

The photo is taken at the baseball field.  It shows off the engagement ring sitting on a baseball.

My concern with this block is that there is not enough contrast.  I think I need to re-do the outer orange in a lighter shade.  It may be quicker to just make another block and use this one on the back- lol

Not sure I like this enough with the light to un-sew the outer orange,  what do you think?

MC for April = ORANGE!

4-30-11  This is what I have so far:

4-8-11 A few changes, candles are added for Jesse (4-04) and Kelly (4-09) and Dustin (4-09) The bunny grew up! I printed a pattern and sewed all lines paper piece style(on the back side of the fabric)- then cut and removed paper and did raw edge applique. Since this is now my B-day month block, I am going to either add 50 pieces of confetti or 50 words about me. additional poss TO DO- spider for April Fools, Mayflower ship for saying April Showers bring may flower's 4/5/11 So far progress has been slow. I sketched out some ideas and have decided on the following; A cake to celebrate my B-day! Eggs and a Bunny for Easter, A Spider on the Cake (very bad April fools joke from when I was a kid- "Look there's a spider on your back- April Fool's"- told you it was bad!) I haven't made up my mind yet but I think I want 50 different orange things like confetti. I may cut circles b/c I am also trying to use my GO in my MC projects.

Again I am going to reserve this spot for my "Orange" project. I will edit in progress. As of this minute I am just 'blank' I will have to find my notes and see if I can come up with something interesting in orange and April (or spring). I am looking forward to having another block for my challenge quilt!

I asked the pups for suggestions and they just laughed! (I think it was laughing) Do you know how hard it is to get puppies to sit still for a photo?

Jack and Oreo are now 3 months old. Jack 'knows' his name and Oreo comes when I holler for Jack. Their trick for today is tipping over the trash can. Their reward is getting to spend less time in the kitchen!

After picking up the trash a couple of times I figured out to remove the container out of their reach. (again I know I heard them laugh!)

My version of design wall- todays color: ORANGE

For years I have been pinning my quilt tops to the mini blinds as my version of a design wall.

The other day I nailed a strip of oak trim above the windows and set in nails to hang clothes pins on.

The second picture was taken b/c I thought it might look better with the blinds closed.

After that shot I realized the table clutter deserved its own picture.

The flowers have been around many years, evidenced by the layer of dust.

The Hummel wanta be was a thrift shop find.

The orange bowl is a yard sale purchase.

I am starting to see an 'orange' theme going on.

I moved a couple of pieces up from the basement and haven't decided what to display in them. For now I am liking that the hutch is empty! I know it won't stay that way for long. The rooster wall hanging was a b-day gift from a good friend.

This piece was another yard sale find. It reminded me of work my mom use to do when I was a kid. I don't know if she ever did this pattern before but the texture reminded me of her so I had to add it to my collection.

This is not all a design wall post but it was fun to realize just how much I seem to like to decorate with orange.- So what is your favorite color to hang on the wall?- cw