Slow Stitching Sunday - Binding

Today I am finishing the binding on a small quilt made from blocks that six of us swapped in Shipshewana a couple of years ago. We called ourselves Six Shipshe Swappers. Can you say that three times correctly? You can see the whole top in my last post.

I spent Thursday and Friday at the Sleep At Home Retreat at The Quilted Cottage and finished sewing the latest Whatnots project, a little table runner.

Last November the gals at the Jane Stickle Retreat in Shipshewana had a siggie block swap. That is now in top form.

I finished another table runner made from a kit. This one might make it done before Easter. I want to add a little border around it to make it a tad larger. It will have wool noses and button eyes added after quilting.

After sorting through some of my patterns and kits and I noticed I bought this runner as a kit with pattern and also as a pattern alone. So I will gladly send the extra pattern to someone who leaves a comment by Wednesday, March 16th.

And finally, here are the latest Circa 2016 blocks from the sew along at Temecula Quilts.

Linking up with Kathy for her Slow Sunday Stitching.

Blocks, Top and Kitties

Before the new block(s) come out Friday for Temecula Quilts Circa 2016, I wanted to show my work from last week. Still using my scraps and still not making a dent.

The two blocks given for us to make for our QCU (Quilted Cottage University) sew along this month are done, also.

And I finally set the blocks that I received from our Six Shipshe Swappers block exchange. My header shows the blocks I made and these are the ones I received. Each participant made one applique and one pieced block, plus we did an embroidered block and pieced block for another gal. The blocks finish at 6 inches.

 

Our kitties get along fine, but seldom interact with each other anymore.        What a surprise to find them playing together, pushing the ball back and forth! 

Linking up with Kelly at My Quilt Infatuation!

Flimsy Finish

My applique pic from Slow Stitching Sunday didn't give a good idea of what I was doing. Today, I finished the top so this is the project I was stitching yesterday.

'
This was a challenge given to our group to make it from the fabric scraps remaining from our other Whatnots quilts. It was fun to make. The top measures 18 1/2" x 19 1/2" in size.

A Little Bit of Applique

Today I've been doing a bit of applique for another Whatnots quilt called "Coming Home." It was given as a challenge to finish by our March meeting. I may make the deadline.

Step 4 for the Temecula  Circa 2016 sew along was to assemble the blocks from the first three weeks. They used a gray for their background fabric. I didn't have enough gray so I chose a tan piece from my stash.

And now this week, we were given only one 3" finished block to sew! Easy to stay caught up with that assignment.

I'm linking up with Kathy at Slow Stitching Sunday.

Sleep At Home Retreat

I sewed at the Sleep At Home Retreat this past Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. On my list to do was the Whatnots quilt due next meeting called "Scarlet Stars". Another fun quilt to make.

To the left of the Whatnots quilt top are the blocks I started sewing at the
retreat in Chesaning back in January. I was able to finish and get them sewn into rows after I took this picture.

And finally, here are the first six blocks for the Half Square Triangle quilt we
are making at The Quilted Cottage. Each month we make a block and if we bring it to the retreat and show it, we are entered into a drawing to win some fat quarters. Halfway through the pattern already!

Wishing everyone a Happy Valentine's Day tomorrow!

February progress

I'm loving the latest sew along from Temecula Quilts called Circa 2016. The blocks are little and they use scraps! Here's the last two additions. There are twelve nine patches that measure 2 3/4" unfinished and twenty four hour glass blocks that also measure 2 3/4" unfinished. They sew up quickly so there's still time to join in if you have been tempted.

Redwork Seasons from Paula Stoddard is now done, except for the label. My goal this year was to finish something from the UFO pile each month. It's only been two months, but I'm 2 for 2.

Linking up with She Can Quilt: Scraptastic Tuesday here.

Slow Stitching Sunday

It felt like a spring morning as we left for church today! I'm ready for winter to be over even if it has been a milder one than normal.

My Redwork Seasons quilt that I made back in  2013 from a free, BOTM from Paula Stoddard at Pacific Patchwork was up on the frame this week at the local longarmer. She does excellent work!  I loved stitching these blocks! Today, I am hand stitching the binding down and it will be done! (except for the label)

I also finished a little, strippy quilt for the January challenge in Kathleen Tracy's SmallTalk group.

Linking up with Kathy at Slow Stitching Sunday  
and She Can Quilt: Scraptastic Tuesday.

Circa 2016 And Updates

Well, I've started the latest Temecula Quilts sew along, Circa 2016. My willpower seems non existent! This quilt is for scraps! Perfect! The first week requires me to sew four, cute, little pinwheel blocks using medium and dark fabrics. They measure 2 3/4" unfinished. So far, so good. 

Here are my latest two blocks for Farm Girl Vintage. We are making two blocks each month. I am really enjoying these patterns and appreciate the fact that the size for each sewn segment is given. Sure helps to keep the blocks the correct size. 

And finally, here is my latest Whatnots quilt called Anthem sewn at the retreat last week. Kim Diehl's patterns are also fun to do. She seems to always come up with unique ways to sew the blocks. 

 Linking up with Freemotion by the River here.

Vintage Farm Girl

At QCU (Quilted Cottage University) we started making two blocks each month from the Farm Girl Vintage book by Lori Holt. They are so much fun to make. Here are my first eight blocks.

I'm using bright fabrics which aren't my normal choice, but they are making me happy each month.

Bring On The New Year

I've been buried in my sewing room trying to sort through the overload of stuff! My goodness, I'll have to live to be 150 to even have a shot at using most of it. It is January, though, and I always have high hopes in January that the new year will bring positive changes.

With that said, here is my first finish for 2016. This is my Woodlands quilt that I made here. The photo color isn't the best, but take my word for it, the Jo Morton fabrics in this one are so pretty.

Another Whatnots top is ready for quilting, too. Kim Diehl called this one "Five and Dime" and it was a fun little quilt to make.

This past week-end was spent in Chesaning at our annual New Year Retreat.
On Friday, our friend, Marlene, guided us through the making of the table wreaths that are popping up all over the internet. Here is my finish.

On Saturday I sewed half square triangle units and trimmed them to the size needed. They will make a little quilt soon.

We had team shirts for Saturday and Sunday. Always a fun time spent with these ladies!

A New Year

I wanted to share the Quilts of Valor I presented to my son, Mike, and daughter, Kari, at Christmas. They were both surprised!

Another year is about ready to begin. It still amazes me how quickly the days, weeks and months fly by. I wish you all a very Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

                                                     Merry Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I spent a fabulous few days at The Jane Stickle Quilt Retreat in Shipshewana, Indiana last week. One hundred and twenty quilters from all over the world sewing, laughing and sharing all in the same room! On Thursday evening, over
half of us donned our pink, sewing themed pajamas from Target and had our photo taken together. That's a lot of pink in one place!

On Saturday, we watched all day as the first snowfall blanketed the area and kept us inside for the most part.

At this retreat many of us sewed little dresses and shorts for children in Africa. The final total was almost 50 dresses and 7 shorts. This is one of the clotheslines that was hung.

Finally, a couple of pictures from Yoders Department Store. Five quilt blocks on the outside of the building and oodles and oodles of pre-cuts waiting inside.

 

                                       Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

Pumpkin time

Fall has arrived and so have the pumpkins! This local market has oodles of them in all sorts of colors and sizes.

I haven't had much progress to show lately. However, just attended the October Sleep At Retreat and finished another Whatnots quilt. This one was a lot of work, but oh, so worth it! It took me almost three days to get to the top stage. Nothing difficult, just a lot of steps. Sixteen 4 1/4" unfinished blocks became...

this top!

Also finished the Half Square Triangle block for the month. Three down and nine to go!