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. 



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 !

On My Design Wall

I've been flitting about from project to project, so my design wall has lots going on.  Left to right I have my Tumbler leader-ender project which has become more of an add-a-row-a week project.  Next I have a project from Primitive Quilts and Projects (Summer 2014) magazine.  I need to get some pearl cotton in red and gold to get this moving along.  Does anyone know if embroidery thread works for wool applique?  The small applique pieces are from Old Voices New Impressions.  I'm late to this sew along but enjoying it just the same. My birthday present to myself was the Latimer Lane BOM from Red Crinoline quilts.  This is so fun and right up my alley--small pieces, reproduction, and a sampler to keep me from being bored with the same old thing.  On the right are my Temecula Circa 2016 and the first block of Barbara Brackman's Western Women sew along. 

This bottom quilt was gifted to my girlfriend's daughter at her baby shower yesterday.  As soon as the shower was over, she went into labor.  It is made from mostly recycled shirts (thank you Bonnie Hunter)  I'm subbing today and Thursday, so it will cut into my sewing time, but I have to work to support my fabric habit!

Allietare Mystery -Top Complete

This is one of my very favorite Bonnie quilts.  It is not overly busy and I adore the color combination.  I'm kind of sad to see the process end.  I just love looking forward to the weekly clues and trying to make time to keep up with them.  I'm going to have this one professionally machine quilted with an overall pattern and definitely want to do the scalloped border.  

Even the weather cooperated today.  It's been dreary and raining for days, but no complaints here. After the drought we've be having here in California, every drop is a blessing.

I'm trying not to start many new quilts this year.  Yeah, I know, you've heard that one before and not just from me.  I do have to make three baby quilts and a retirement quilt.  I'm going to try to do all three with fabric on hand.  I have many UFOs and at least 20 tops that need quilting.  I don't need to add to that list. 

I'm thinking of donating some tops to someone who will quilt them for charity.  Do you know of such a person?

A Little Slow Stitching

I'm still working on quilting my pink scrappy quilt.  One more pass across and the center will be complete.  I'm going to do a more elaborate design in the wide border.  Its amazing how much you can get done by just allocating an hour a day to hand quilting. 

 



I've also been busy piecing.  I finished Bonnie's Grand Illusion top on Friday.  I worked hard to keep up with each clue, and the quilt came together quickly in the end.  I wasn't sure I liked it at first because it seemed so busy and it is definitely out of my comfort zone.  Actually, its growing on me.  I think it will be a cheerful addition to the guest room come springtime.   

I belong to the Jo Morton Yahoo group and the gals have come up with a great WIP plan for the year.  We were to list 12 projects that we want to either finish or move further along.  At the beginning of each month, a number is chosen and we are to work on the project on our list that corresponds that number.  There are very few rules:  You can finish, make progress or switch to another project.  This month I finished a Thimbleberries top that was about 1/3 complete.  I finished cutting and sewing the blocks and then sewed them to the 1/3 I already had.  This was an OLD project (2001).  Apparently I'm a much more accurate piecer now, because my new blocks were bigger than my old ones.  I just sort of eased them in.  I think hope if I quilt it with a slightly thicker batting, I can disguise the problem.

 



Design Wall Monday

Winston Ways, from Adventures with Leaders and Enders, is on my design wall today.  I have all the rows assembled, and now I just need to sew them together.  I've been piecing on my new (to me) Singer 301.  This was my retirement present to myself, and man does this baby go!  I love the sound she makes as she zooms effortlessly through seams.  Originally a quilting friend who also is retiring from teaching soon and I thought we would buy NEW machines, but once I tried this machine I knew I didn't need to drop thousands of $$$ on a new machine. 

 

Enjoy your Monday.

Clue 1

Part 1 is now complete. Three days of cutting, sewing, and trimming and now I'm ready for next Friday's post.  This is so much fun!

 

 I'm going to try and hook up to Bonnie's link.  Wish me luck.

Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt

I'm  a huge fan of Bonnie.  She is so generous with her time and talent.  So far I've made 4 of her mystery quilts (2 are complete, 2 need quilting) and several quilts from her books and free to use section of her blog.  Last year I changed the color palette, but this year I'm taking her suggestions.  Since 90% of my stash is Civil War era reproduction, can you guess what I'll be using?  This long weekend gave me time to gather my fabrics.  I'm getting excited!

It was great having a long weekend. to relax and sew in what my husband refers to as "the hovel" (it is not, by the way)

Fall is finally coming to our part of California.  The temperatures have been in the 70s with no complaints from this girl.  Our little tree is finally starting to turn color, but the roses are still in full bloom.  The vineyards are looking gorgeous with the sun shining on the autumn colors.  I'll try and snap a pic on my way home from work.