BLOOM WALL WARMER

A new finish.  I stitched the binding down on this wall warmer last evening and call it done.  The pattern for it is in the book "Out The Back Door" by Whimsicals.  The pattern can be done completely in embroidery or a combination of wool and embroidery.  I chose to add wool.  The piece is about 16 inches square and  a project that doesn't take a lot of time.  I will be donating it to the auction at the family reunion.  Hopefully, someone will like it enough to take it home.

I am sewing the label on another wall quilt that I made earlier this year.  So I will have another finished project very soon.
Stay cool!
Karen

"COMFORT AND JOY" SECTION THREE

I have part three of "Comfort and Joy" ready and on time.  The group of ladies that are each making the quilt are listed on Anne's blog (Cottons 'n Wool).  Click here  to go to her blog and there you will find the list and links to blogs where you can see each person's version of the quilt.

I got frustrated with the star blocks that were in the pattern.  Those five pointed uneven kind.  I made templates but did not get a nice 6 1/2" block.  So I switched to the Sawtooth Star and I am happier with making those.

And below you can see the three sections sewn together.  This makes up the whole left side of the quilt.  Quite a bit of the fabric that I am using is from a line by Linda Brannock.  Then I added to it from various pieces in my stash.  Well, all of it is from stash and of that I am glad.

A Santa Claus section comes next.  I have a month to get it done.  Stop back and check my progress.
Karen

"A LITTLE PORCH TIME" BLOCK 2

It is time to post a picture of the second block for "A Little Porch Time" (pattern by Lynda Hall).  I was good and made my block early in the month so there wasn't a rush at the end.  Stop by Lori's blog to see a list of others participating in the sew-along.

Now to select fabrics for the third block and maybe get that one done early too.
Karen

SECOND PIECE AND PLENTY QUILT TOP DONE

Whew!  The second "Piece and Plenty" quilt top is done.  At least my part of it is.  The border will be added after it reaches its destination as I don't have it here.  I selected three basket blocks to replace in the pattern. Similar to what I did with the first quilt top.  Here is the newest one.

Here is the first one.

The lighting was different for the two photos so a slightly different look that way.  It is all the same fabric line.  Moda Madeira designed by Blackbird Designs.  The first quilt top was from a kit.  The second was done from left over kit pieces plus a bundle of the fabric and a few pieces I already had in my stash.  So the background used for some of the blocks is not the same as what was in the kit.  I ended up moving  a couple blocks into different positions so that there would be variety of background.  I have said before that this was a Moda University Block of the Month pattern set but have repeated so that a new reader does not have to go searching for the information.

My crystal ball says there may be a third one of these coming in my future.  Just not any time soon.

Karen

THE SECOND "PIECE AND PLENTY" QUILT IN THE WORKS

I am pushing to get the second "Piece and Plenty" basket quilt top finished yet this week.  I am getting close. I have one or two applique blocks to go and three star blocks to make.  I know one of the blocks that needs to be made will be applique.  Possibly a pieced basket on the second.  I did not like all the original blocks for the quilt and have replaced with ones I like better.  I did the same thing on the first one I made from the pattern.  Here are a few sections of the quilt.  I have more parts together but did not photograph them.

It is a rainy day here today.  A great day for being in the house sewing.  I hope you can find time to do the same.

Karen

SAVE THE WHALES COMPLETE PLUS MORE

"Save the Whales" has been completed for a few weeks now.  I just had not taken a photo of it.  Today was the Sew 'n Sews day and I shared it during Show 'n Tell.   I combined two patterns from Jan Patek's "Ships Aweigh" book to make the quilt.

I will share pictures of the projects shown today by my quilting friends.

Rosy completed her Civil War quilt that she began working on ten years ago.  Each block has a twin but because of light and dark fabric placement and fabric choices, it is hard to find the twin of each one.  I started one of these but got side-tracked and never went back to working on it.  Rosy did a great piecing job on the quilt blocks.

Kenyan is about to have a completed Christmas tree wall hanging.  She is doing the binding now.  It is hard to see in the picture but in the white part of the quilt, there are rhinestone decorations all over.  Sort of like jeweled falling snow.

Rosy showed a very pretty wool table mat made by a long distance friend of ours.  One that used to be part of the group and moved away.  Hand-dyed yummy looking wool.

Beverly is working on what she calls a Church Quilt.  Some of the church members meet regularly to make quilts for fellow church members  who are not able to attend services.  Those that are ill, shut-ins, and nursing home residents.  Some of the quilts are lap size and others larger.  She said that different members did the embroidered blocks for this quilt and they have another six to make into a second quilt.

Beverly made a very pretty wool mat.  It will be good for spring and summer display.

Pat showed us one of her quilts made quite some time ago.  She won a Bernina sewing machine with it.  It is a dimensional quilt done origami style.  It has a very feminine and dainty look to it.

That's all for today.  Time for me to get some stitching done.
Karen

LAST BLOCK FOR "THE BIBLE QUILT"

The last block for The Bible quilt I have been working on is done.  The quilt pattern is by Jan Patek.  Now I need to trim the blocks, pick a sashing, and stitch them all together.  This block takes up the space of two of the other blocks in the pattern set so it took more time to complete than the others.  I am happy to be at this point in creating the quilt.

I had plans for today to work on finding out where I am on projects.  I have so many UFO's and it has all become rather confusing as to what needs done.  I am not feeling my usual self so I don't know how far I will get.  One of the main UFO projects I want to sort through is the Moda University basket blocks quilt.  I have parts and pieces done and all the applique parts cut out.  I just don't know how much I have done and if I need to cut out any more filler pieces.

I have made two blocks that I can't show you until later in the month.  They are for BOM quilts.  I did not want to put off making them and have them ready before the due date for posting (part of group efforts).  I feel good about having them done and not having to rush later in the month.

Back to my sewing room.
Karen

LIBERTY HOUSES AND A MASH UP

Where have I been?  Either in the sewing room or glued to my chair watching television and doing applique.  I just finished putting borders onto two wall size quilts.  The first is "Liberty Houses" which is a pattern by Jan Patek in the book "Liberty Garden".

A fellow prim lover posted a picture of her "Liberty Houses" quilt recently.  Once I realized that I had the book the pattern is in and most of the same fabrics as the sample in the book, I was off and running to make my own.  The triangles on the borders are appliqued on.  I stitched enough of them for 1 1/2 quilts.  The side borders are cut two inches longer than the top and bottom borders.  I got parts confused and did not leave room for the stars on the corners.  A triangle removal and re-sewing on two of the borders before I finally was able to complete them.

I also finished my Cheri mash-up quilt (as Libby from "Plain and Simple" calls the technique).  It is parts from two of Cheri's patterns.  It is done in wool on cotton applique.

Today, I started on the final block for "The Bible Quilt".  It is a double the width of the other blocks in the quilt so it will need more time for the stitching than parts of the quilt.  There was a kit for the quilt on E-Bay that sold a few days ago.  No bids until very late in the auction.  I thought someone was going to get a very good buy but in the end it went for about $110.  Still a good price.

Lori from "Humble Quilts"  has two interesting posts about quilt magazines.  If you haven't already read them, be sure to visit her blog.

Time to stitch.  I hope you are doing the same.
Karen

STUFF

I started a new project.  One that won't take very long.  I combined elements from two Cheri prim style patterns.  The wool applique is done.  Now I need to make the border.  Half square triangles more than likely.

Block four is done for "Town and Country".  I have kept up with the BOM for four months in a row.  Hurray!

And a new book added to my collection.  "Away From Home" by Nancy and Oliver Rink".  I have not read the book yet but there is some history on the mill girls who worked in the Lowell, Massachusetts factories.Most of the quilts involve applique but there are some pieced quilts too.  You can see a close up picture of the cover quilt here.  It doesn't show the applique blocks that surround the border.  A wonderful quilt.  I did a search on the Mill Girls fabric used for the quilt.  It is due out in September.  I am assuming some quilt shops will offer kits.

Happy stitching!
Karen