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.