All sewn together!

All the applique blocks are sewn together.  I've been appliqueing stems and leaves on apple blocks while watching TV with Glen instead.  I so enjoyed this project.  Now it needs a border and I'm having a hard time deciding on the fabric.  I don't like what I purchased long ago.  I've also decided to hand quilt this project.  It will be something to work on after Thanksgiving and add to my Christmas spirit.  That back basting applique method I learned a couple of years ago has become my favorite kind of hand work project.

September sewing projects

I finished my final block for "The Night Before Christmas" quilt early.  The plan was to do a block each month and to finish all 9 by the end of September. Done!  Now to assemble the blocks and add the border.  I have really enjoyed this project.

My sweet little grand daughter turns one soon.  A year ago I was making bedding for her crib.  This year I decided to make her a larger size quilt with the leftover fabrics.  This took some planning.  This is the label I made for the back of the quilt using yet again the leftovers from the new quilt.

I love the alphabet options on my new Bernina 750.

I did purchase this pink dot blender fabric for the background and the back.  I purchased all that was left on the bolt.  It was not enough so I had to get creative with the quilt back, but I made it work.  This is the most piecing I have ever done on a back.  It made me think - hard.

Here is the front.

I always pictured pinwheels for this leftovers quilt.  I loosely followed an American Jane pattern.  Those are 11 inch pinwheels. They alternate with a pink and a very light lavender pinwheel background.

I had just enough of this print for the border.  The bright pinky purple background pinwheels ended up on the back.  I also used it for the 1/2 inch stop border and it will also be the binding.  I knew right away that  pinky purple pinwheels would demand the show if on the front.  I marked the top this morning and hope to do the machine quilting later today.  The quilt is 62 inches square.

I also finished my Saturday Sampler square in a square blocks for September.  Can't wait to see how they are finally used.  I am also thrilled today to have all the windows open.  The invigorating cool fall air is divine and the grass on the mountains is golden this morning.  Life is good!

Current Sewing

These are my latest sewing projects.  Two more swoon blocks for a large quilt for these are large blocks.  I have also gone back to a bit of hand quilting on the frame in the background.  It can't be just a room accessory forever.  I hand quilted another handful of blocks.

I finished block number 8 of my "Night Before Christmas" quilt.  Just one more block to go and I can sew it all together.  My block 8 has more appliqued stars than the pattern.  That tiny gray star by mouse's hand covers a mistaken nick of the scissors.  I added other stars blend it all together.

I also hand appliqued a bunch of these blocks as part of the Saturday Sampler I am participating in at American Quilting.

This Saturday I will find out what the next step will be.  I've never done a program like this before with not knowing the ending from the beginning.  It is kind of exciting.  I also like the impetus to finish each month's blocks knowing that completed blocks mean no additional $5 fee. 

Seam ripper overload

After an hour of seam ripper use I decided to take a break and show what I have been working on that has not required the seam ripper.  I finished block #7 of my "Night Before Christmas" quilt top. Only two more to go and I already have part of #8 done. I've been able to pretty much complete one appliqued block per month.

I made twenty 7 1/2 inch blocks for my Madeline Schnibbles quilt.  I picked up the Madeline pattern from the quilt store in Ithaca, New York while on vacation because I thought I might make it from the leftover French General fabrics I am using for "Nigh Before Christmas."

I changed my mind when I came across two charm packs of "Dancing in the Rain" fabric designed by Laundry Basket for 40% off.  I just couldn't resist and found some light backgrounds in my stash to make it work.  I decided to make this quilt top less scrappy and larger than Madeline's, especially since I had two charm packs.  Mine will be 4 x 5 blocks instead of 3 x 3.  I am still auditioning before sewing.  I change things around and then have a look from the top of the stairs.  I then I change some more. Every time I head back up stairs for another reason, I find something else to change.  It's a house of cards I tell you, move one block then move the rest as well.

I made these matching owl pillows for the Baker Reunion raffle.  I placed a folded $2 bill in the wing pocket of each one.  Two siblings won the owls.  Unfortunately, one was a boy and not so thrilled.  I hope he figured out a solution.  I also made a blue owl for my Sadie girl.  Sadie's is blue striped with a polka dot tummy.  That makes seven owls this summer.  I declare a hiatus!

Now back to adjusting and redoing all that sashing.  Maybe I will share that project next week.

June sewing

June 6 through July 6 was full of family and friend visitors.  We hosted 20 + people in our summertime bed and breakfast.  This has limited my sewing time but my time has been well spent as I interacted with the important people in my life.  I've been busy updating my blog so that I might remember it all forever.

I actually finished up these reversible bibs for Opal in May but forgot to share.

I bought the pattern months ago at Piper's Quilts and Comforts in Salt Lake City.

I made two more owl pillows for our girl guests, Alma and Samantha, as a souvenir of their trip to Utah and stay in our home.

I finished the sixth block of my personal BOM.  Yahoo, still on track with one of these blocks per month with a hoped for full finish by Christmas.

Check out Santa's beard.  That is a lot of french knots.  I kind of wish I had counted them as I stitched them.

I machine quilted and bound my five row sew along for a small quilt sponsored by Temecula Quilt Co. earlier this Spring.  Heather held it over the railing for a quick picture and I liked it so much it is still hanging there.

I didn't put together this outfit.  Heather did.  She is pretty creative and just measures and cuts as she goes.  It was so fun to have her with her sewing machine for the last month.

Pretty cute and I love the accessories she found at the doll shop at Gardner Village.

I did make Heather this cute border print skirt from Simplicity pattern #2226 .  She picked out the fabric.  and we had fun figuring out how to best cut and use it .

Little sister, Julianna, got a new skirt, too.  It is made from the leftover fabric and ric rac from her quilt, "It Takes a Village."  I used Simplicity pattern #2356 .

And last but not least, I bound my disappearing nine patch made from Tapestry and other Fig Tree charm squares early in June.

 It has been a great cuddle quilt for the grand kids movie watching.  I now have a very (almost too) quiet house and have projects waiting for me after I finish loads and loads of laundry and top to bottom cleaning of the townhouse.  When we purchased this place next to the mountains in beautiful Utah Valley it was for times like June and the 4th of July.  I'm so glad that it accommodates a crowd.

Arizona sewing

I finished the 5th block in my own personal BOM for 2013, The Night Before Christmas by Bunny Hill.  This is a very big block, but so far I have managed to finish one each month.  I was finishing up the embroidery work on May 31st.

I made new skirts for my sisterly trio of granddaughters.  They are made from the leftovers fabrics, all from Bonnie and Camille, that I used for their quilts   Simplicity #2356 and multiple sizing  was a great choice with tiers and bands of different fabric.

The waistbands have elastic, but I also went with a decorative bow topped with a decorative button.

There was a different button color for each skirt, all part of a large card of buttons all different but coordinating that I purchased a few years back.

I would show you a picture of the girls wearing them, but some were not so willing having been in the pool for the afternoon.

More of my own BOM

I did it!  I finished two appliqued blocks this month to make up for not doing one in February.  See that fabric under the alphabet block?  I was searching for the perfect fabric because it is used over and over in the quilt top.  The one fabric in the Le Petite Ecole line from French General that I could not find online was supposed to go there.  I looked every where for a substitute, even bought one, wasn't happy with it, and finally found the French General Favorites at the Fat Quarter Shop and discovered this fabric which is close but different. I even like it more.  It's perfect!  Loved stitching all those stockings.

I just finished block number 3.  It includes one of the Ohio Star blocks I made earlier.  The pattern calls for buttons on the package bows which I wouldn't want to place before quilting.  I'm not even sure that is what I want to do so I might just add more applique later.  All the applique that you see is done using the back basting method.  I'm so happy that I learned this technique which has opened up so many other possibilities for me.

There you have it, the top row and first three blocks. Six more blocks to go and then two months for finishing and "The Night Before Christmas" by Bunny Hill designs can go up on the wall.

Last week's projects and a book for quilters

This is what I did last week. I finished the week 2 row of the Temecula sew along before week 3 was posted using fabric from that same fun scrap bag I used for week 1.

 

I also finished block #1 of The Night Before Christmas quilt by Bunny Hill.  I found the BOM patterns from 2011 on sale at the beginning of 2012 and finally decided that it would be my own BOM for 2013.  I didn't finish this block in January, but it was close.

I love this quilt with the book and the mice and all things Christmasy.  I also loved the French General La Petite Ecole fabric line that was used for the original.  It took me a year to find most the fabrics, but I really think that is part of the charm of this quilt.  Of course the applique and embroidery are time consuming but also make this quilt charming.  I also put together most of the Ohio Star quilt blocks which will be scattered throughout the quilt top.

 

It seemed appropriate as I was reading The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier last week that I was sewing Ohio Stars. Tracy has finally come across the pond to the United States in her latest book.  I have loved reading her books ever since I picked up and read The Girl with the Pearl Earring years ago.  The settings for her books have been Europe and England so it was interesting to see what she would do with Ohio in the 1850's.  The main character is a Quaker girl from England so we see the United States from an English perspective.  Honor is also an accomplished quilter who is not much enamored at first with the Ohio appliqued quilts that she sees.  She travels to Ohio with her sister but soon finds herself in a tight spot and trying to find her way in a new place while struggling with the institution of slavery and how to help with the Underground Railroad.

Tracy Chevalier writes historical fiction and most often her books also revolve around an artistic object or thing.  It might be a Vermeer painting as in The Girl with the Pearl Earring, but she has also included tapasteries or fossil collecting or as in this book, quilting, in her books.  I think that is part of why I enjoy her books.  The Ohio Star block was even mentioned in the book.  I also loved learning that Chevalier took up quilting while researching this book and completed her first quilt!