Babies, Babies, Babies

Three new babies are due in June and July.  Our niece is having her first, a boy, and I made this adorable quilt.  I just love this pattern, and it was so much fun to make.  It was designed by Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts. 

 This next quilt is for my good friend.  She is expecting her first grandchild, also a boy.  His parents chose a celestial theme.

 Finally, this quilt is also for a good friend.  Her daughter is expecting, you got it - a boy!
They love the ocean, so if you look closely you can see the ocean print.

Its been raining here in California.  You will seldom hear a Californian complain of rain, but our local cherry crops have been ruined.  I feel bad for the farmers but I have enjoyed the inside time sewing. 

Slow Sunday Stitching with my New Toy

Last summer I decided I simply HAD to have a Hinterberg quilt hoop after seeing one at a friend's house.  I didn't realize that they were no longer being made, so I scoured Craigslist and Facebook markets for a used one.  I finally found one in Arizona (I live in California), but since we have a vacation condo in Scottsdale I crossed my fingers that it was still available when we went down in May.  It was meant to be!!  We drove two hours south to get it but it was well worth the trip.  It is a lovely piece of furniture and I'm hoping it will allow me to quilt more in the summer because the quilt won't be on my lap. I'm linking to Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching.

I recently completed and gifted this Fleur de Lys quilt to my husband's 90 year old aunt.  She was delighted with the reference to her heritage.  She is Very. French. 

I always say I'm going to get back to blogging and don't follow through.  Hopefully my new I-phone camera will make it easier to take pictures.  I'll share some finished quilts in my next post. 

This Week's Progress

Its been a productive and fun week in the hovel.  First, I finished this small snowball quilt top that I started sewing along with Temecula Quilt Co. 

Next, I reorganized my scraps.  I had been cutting/storing them in strips and squares by size, but I realized that I work more by color than by size.  I now have plastic drawers with assorted sized scraps by color, and it seems to be much easier for me to work this way. 

Yesterday a group of  us took a day trip to two shops in Northern California.  The first was Friends Around the Block Quilt Shop in Colusa.  It is housed in a refurbished old mortuary that looks like a chapel.  It is bright, airy, well organized and well stocked with a wide assortment of fabrics.  The people are delightful too.  It may be my new favorite shop.

Next we headed up I5 to the Quilt Corral in Willows.  Again, this shop had very helpful and friendly owners, although it was rather small.  No problem!  We all managed to support the local economy in Willows.

I found the border fabric and background fabric for two quilts that are in progress as well as a few orange fat quarters to use in a Halloween quilt (someday). 

Today I finished the gold round of EPP on Summer Circles.  Next up is dark/med. blue. 

I have many options for keeping busy this weekend--I hope you do too.  I'm linking to Confessions of a Fabric Addict.



A Finish!!

I actually finished a quilt including piecing, quilting, binding and EVEN A LABEL!!  Working with the l inch strips was such fun.  I never count pieces in my quilt but this one has 3,879 pieces.  The pattern is called Four by Four by Temecula Quilt Company.  I saw the quilt in person when I was in the shop and fell madly in love with it.  Just my style:  Reproduction fabrics and zillions of tiny, scrappy pieces.

It finishes 50 x 64 and I machine quilted an all over meander to let the piecing take center stage.


Meanwhile I've been working on Summer Circles.  I'm not really sure what color I'll do for the next concentric square, maybe blue.  Any suggestions?

Hand quilting has come to a standstill, as it is too hot to sit with a quilt in my lap.  No problem, I'm never at a loss for a hand project to work on.  We continue to have fire after fire here in our beautiful state.  Fortunately none in our area, but the smoke from all the fires collects in the central valley.  Not good for people with breathing problems. 

Handpiecing and Applique

For Slow Sunday Stitching  http://kathysquilts.blogspot.com I'm working on my basket quilt.  I have 135 blocks completed and 17 left to applique.  I'm thinking maybe a lap sized quilt for these blocks.  I have really enjoyed the applique on them.  I used the back basting method because they're such simple shapes.  Very addictive!

Another addictive slow stitching project comes from Temecula Quilt Company.  Its called Summer Circles.  I adore all the small quilts this tiny store creates.  Go to their blog http://temeculaquiltco.blogspot.com to learn more. 

We took a road trip to Oregon to visit family over the 4th, so I had plenty of time to stitch.  Sadly, much of our state is on fire.  We encountered two huge fires on our trip.  One on the northern border closed Interstate 5 to traffic, but we were lucky to have made it through before that was necessary.  It was clear that the fire was out of control and spreading everywhere.  Fortunately this area is sparsely populated.  I've have lived in California all my life, and I've never seen the amount of fire activity that we're seeing now.  My prayers go out to everyone involved, especially the fire fighters who risk their lives on a daily basis.



Moda Blockheads is a Top

I actually finished this top in mid-April when I went to Quilt Camp in Lake Tahoe, but since I haven't been  blogging and the Blockheads II started yesterday, I thought I would share it.  I'm not sure if I'm going to do the second one, but I'm printing them off just in case.  I'm contemplating doing it in red, white, and blue to be used as a Quilt of Honor.  I thoroughly enjoyed working on the first one but I'm in the middle of so many projects already.

 

 

 

 



I also started the Sarah Johnson quilt at camp.  I've had the pattern for years, but didn't feel I had the time or expertise to attempt it.  I got most of the middle medallion finished at camp and began working on the 172 star blocks needed.  As of today, my star blocks are done and my applique blocks are prepped.  I should be able to start assembling next week.  I included the second picture with my hand so you can see the small scale. 

 



Here is a link to the pattern and some background on the quilt.
https://www.hooplapatterns.com/shop/Shelburne-Museum/p/Sarah-Johnson-Quilt-pattern-x20241186.htm

A Few Finishes

I've been slowly and steadily working on many projects, and actually managed to finish some.  I posted about this quilt a few posts ago.  It was my first scalloped edged quilt and binding was quite the challenge.

 

 

The next quilt is for a soon-to-be-arriving grandson of a good friend.  His parents live by the ocean so I chose a sea theme.  The pattern was from a Mary Ellen Hopkins book.  I believe Mary Ellen said it was a kindergarten block but I found it difficult to choose fabrics.  I usually use many small fabrics in a quilt so limiting myself to only a few was really a challenge for me.   I meet with my Quilt Sitters group later this month and look forward to seeing what the other ladies do with this pattern.

 

 





Finally, I embroidered and created these small quilts from Jenny of Elefantz. 

 

 



This doesn't look like much now, but this was in addition to hosting a St. Patrick's dinner party for 11 and cleaning out my quilt closet.  Whew!  I need a rest. 

Nothin' But Slow Stitchin'

We took a road trip to Temecula, CA and then on to Scottsdale, AZ so I had many opportunities to slow stitch.  I've been on a kick to finish 35 year old cross stitch projects.  I can't believe I left them to languish when I was so close to being finished.  This first one brought back wonderful memories of a lunch trip my friend Connie and I made to Allied Arts in Palo Alto.   Our kids were around 3 or 4 years old at the time, so it was a great get away day with my friend.  All I had to finish was the two bottom stars.

The next finish was my January Elefantz stitchery. 

 

 

 This berry sampler is probably the first cross stitch I started.  Again, I wonder why I stopped.  I only had the last two squares to do. 

 This is today's Slow Stitching project.  Another oldie but goodie.

 

Have a great Sunday everyone.

 

 

Challenging Myself

I've always loved the look of a scalloped border, so I decided to give it a try.  I probably should have watched a video on the process, but I reasoned that I could figure it out.  A little bit of math and a whole lot of patience were required.  The hard part?  Putting on the binding in the rather deep vees  I had created.  Why it didn't occur to me to make shallow scallops is a mystery.  I guess I have to learn things the hard way.  The binding is on, and I just have to do the hand stitching.  I take a photo of the quilt when its done.  Its a small one- 58x58.  I'll probably use it as a table topper. 

I've also been cutting some pieces for my basket quilt.  Blacks, greens, and purples.  I already have reds, pinks, golds, and blues.  We're planning a trip to Arizona, so I'll keep busy doing handwork on the road and while staying at our condo. 

I'm looking forward to meeting with my sewing group, The Bag Ladies on Friday, and on Saturday I'm taking a hardanger embroidery workshop through my guild. Lots of stitching goodness!

 



A Finish and Some Progress

This week I finished this stitchery BOM provided by Jenny at Elefantz.  I belong to her Facebook group, Gentle Domesticity, where she is providing BOM called "A Year in the Garden".  Check out her website at www.elefantz.com

Below is a shot of my design wall this week.  The top left blocks are a SAL from The Quilted Moose, and the 3 blocks on the top left are the last three Moda Blockhead blocks.  I'm waiting to be inspired to create a setting for these 48 blocks. The tiny shoo-fly blocks are my leader/ender project.  I have many shoo-flies pieced but decided to set them as the mood struck me.  Notice a pattern of behavior here?  No to do lists for this gal!

 

 

I'm looking forward to some hand quilting time while watching the Olympics this evening and weekend.  We are having unseasonably warm weather here in California, but we need rain and snow desperately.  Maybe some of you in the Midwest can send some our way. 

 



Welcome 2018

I guess I'm a little behind for the new year.  Here it is February and its my first post.  I've been busy completing two tops that I began last year.  The first is "On Ringo Lake", a Quiltville mystery quilt.   I have so much fun doing these mysteries, and this one came together so easily.  Lots of piecing to keep me challenged. This is the 9th Quiltville mystery top I've finished.   Notice I say top--many still need quilting.

 

This second quilt, Holy Toledo,  is from Bonnie Hunter's book Scraps & Shirttails II.  Its made from mostly recycled shirts collected from hubby, son, and the thrift store. 

 

 

I've been doing a lot of slow stitching as well.  I have about 115 of these small baskets appliqued, and I'm working on this embroidery design offered by Jenny of Elefantz .

 





 

 

 

I'll be linking up to Kathy's Blog for Slow Stitching Sunday, working on these projects, as well as doing a little hand quilting while I watch football. 



Slow Stitch Finishes

I finished hand quilting two quilts that I began several years ago.  The first is a mini quilt  that I started at a Jo Morton retreat in Nebraska in 2015.  The 1/2" hexis are fussy cut and paper pieced.  I used this project for car work when we traveled, so it took 2 years. 

 

 

The next quilt was a kit I purchased at Quilter's Corner in Sacramento.  I rarely buy kits but I just loved the border and vertical sashing fabrics in this kit.  Its been pieced for some time, just waiting its turn to be quilted.

 

 

 

I noticed when I hung it that the blocks were going different directions.  I planned it that way.  (That's my story and I'm sticking to it!)

On a personal note:  Finished chemo and thankfully have no lingering side effects other than a nearly bald head.  I will say that wearing a wig is much quicker than drying and fixing your hair.  I like to believe there is always a silver lining to every cloud.  I've completed week 1 of 6 weeks radiation with no problems.  They tell me I may get tired by week 3, but it should be nothing compared to chemo.  I'm happy to be in the last phase of treatment and anxious to get my life back. 

Design Wall Monday

I envy people who can work on one project start to finish before moving on to something else.  I'm not one of those people so I decided to work on several projects a little bit each day.  Since early April I've been making a weekly list of items I want to work on.  This coming week I have the following on my list:

Blockheads Block #22
Continue piecing stars for A Quilt for Alice (goal:  4 per day)
Continue piecing  Lady of the Lake blocks
Continue hand quilting my Civil War quilt.

 

 

I hadn't noticed that I've been using a lot of blue lately.  I used to teach an art lesson to my students about Picasso's Blue Period and his emotional state at the time. Hmmm...

I'm halfway through my chemo and doing well thanks to my friends and family.  These two lovely ladies (Alison is left of me, and Krista is on the right) were my grade-level team members when I taught.  We were a team for almost 10 years and I love these women like sisters.  When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, they started sending these stones accompanied by an appropriate quote.  I've received one each week since early May.  I don't know how they manage it, but each week's quote is perfect for my state of mind.  I thought I'd share some of them, as they apply to life in general.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

The three of us on a food tour of North Beach, San Francisco.

Slow (Hot) Sunday Stitching

I've been getting a lot of hand stitching in lately, as there as days when I don't have much energy to do much else.  I'm so thankful that I have this hobby to keep my mind and hands occupied.  Today I will be stitching on this Fig Tree Frivol.  I'm almost done quilting it.   Just a few more blocks and 3 borders.  Its small, so it is comfortable to hold even in the heat. 

 

Last week I finished up my paper pieced hexagons.  Each hexi is 1/2 inch and most are fussy cut.  I started this back in November 2015 when I attended a Jo Morton hand sewing retreat at Lied Lodge in Nebraska with my friend Nancy.  I haven't worked on it steadily, as it became my car project.  We make several 12 hour trips to Arizona and back every year, and I occupy myself with a hand sewing project or two.  This in addition to having a 17 pound Shih Tzu on my lap!  I have it pin basted and will hand quilt it when I finish my current quilt. 

 

This past week wasn't my most productive week, but this coming week should bring me more energy and motivation.  I did read a great book this week called  Beneath a Scarlett Sky by Mark Sullivan.  It is based on the true story of a heroic young man in Milan, Italy during WWII.  Not the most uplifting of things to read when you're feeling poorly, but it definitely made me realize that things could be waaaay worse! 

 

Have a great Sunday everyone.

 

 

I'm Baaack!

Wow.  I didn't realize how long it has been since I last posted.  Six months and so much has happened.  This will be a rather long post so I'll keep the quilty goodness at the beginning and add the personal update at the end in case anyone is interested.  In early April I spent a wonderful week in Lake Tahoe at quilt camp with many wonderful ladies and my high school friend, Connie.  I worked on finishing some WIPs and came home inspired and thankful.  I'll be sharing these soon. 

I've been successfully keeping up with Moda Blockheads block of the week despite some real challenges (see personal below).  Here's my work so far:

 

 

I recently purchased Jo Morton's Jo's Little Favorites II and fell in love with most of the quilts.  I finished the triangle one last week.  It is so satisfying to work on smaller quilts that can actually be finished.  Both quilts are hand quilted.

Courthouse Steps

Half-Square Triangle Challenge
 

Finally, here is my Circa 2016.  This was a sew along with Temecula Quilt Co. last year.  It hangs in our family room.  It is the only quilt I can ever remember my husband saying he likes!

Circa 2016

Tomorrow's Slow Stitching will be some hexi flowers.

******* personal info*******

After my delightful time in Tahoe, I decided to take care of some routine health maintenance which included my mammogram.  Much to my dismay they called be back, I had a biopsy and was diagnosed with breast cancer in early May.   I had lumpectomy surgery and a lymph node biopsy in mid-May.  I feel extremely fortunate that my cancer is small and an early stage, however it didn't get me out of chemo.  I had my first of 4 treatments last week, and while it certainly isn't a walk in the park, it is manageable.

I hesitated to share this much personal information, but there are two things that I want to share with my quilting sisters.  First, if you are not regularly getting your mammos, please start.  Do it EVERY year, if possible.  Women in their 60s are most at risk.  The second thing I want to share is how much being a quilter has helped me brave my frightening new world.  Hand stitching, reading your blogs, and prepping new projects have kept me from falling into despair.  We are so blessed to have this hobby to help us through the challenging times in our lives. 
With gratitude,
Barb

This Week in the Sewing Room

Its been a very productive week for me in the sewing room.  We got home from Arizona last Friday and within a week I finished my En Provence Mystery Quilt top as well as my Garden Party quilt top.  Of course it has done nothing but rain here in California (no complaints from me, as I think we are finally out of the drought). 

I basically used Bonnie Hunter's colors for the mystery except that I used Civil War era reproduction fabrics so the quilt has a more muted look to it.  I'm happy with it, even though the pattern isn't as bold as Bonnie's.  I sure did get A LOT of practice unsewing on this one.  Many ways to screw up!

Here is a close-up so you can see the colors better.

My Garden Party quilt just needed the two final borders to be done.  The pattern came from Bonnie Hunter's Addicted to Scraps book.  I prepared the back today and will drop it off to the long arm quilter on Thursday. 

 

 

 

Here's a close up

 

Finally, I'm starting to pin-baste my Allietare quilt.  My hand quilting buddy, Nancy, and I planned the quilting, and I'm looking forward to getting started . Not bad for a week's work- Oh how I love being retired !

Slow Sunday Stitching

Although I usually do slow stitching on Sunday (in fact, most days), I have been bad about posting pictures to Kathy's Blog.  I'm going to try to make it a habit in 2017.  I'm sorry about the quality of these pics.  I've misplaced the battery charger to my good camera, so I've used my phone.

I had planned on working on my big stitch spider web quilt, but as you can see someone thought it would make a cozy nap spot.  Jack thinks its his personal responsibility to lie on every quilt I make including the unfinished ones.

I'll just work on my hand-pieced Sunburst quilt.  I'm using www.cindyblackberg.com Cindy Blackberg's stamp set, and they are coming together easily.  I've made 8 since before Christmas and my plan is to make 16 for a wall quilt. No hurry, just very relaxing. 

Have a great Sunday stitching.  Stay safe and warm!

Slow Stitching

I had to lay aside the spider web quilt because it is too heavy for summer quilting.  Since I didn't have anything basted, I looked in the UFO closet and found this old beauty.  I made the top in 1988!! and started quilting it.  For some reason, I got tired of it, put it in the closet, and forgot about it.  I have been working on it steadily for about a month, so I only have the border left to do.  This is really sloooooooooooow stitching!