QOV Presentation and Another Finish

      My local quilt guild, Greater Columbia Quilters, has a sub group whose focus is Quilts of Valor. Last Wednesday they presented quilts to 5 veterans. The second from the right received the “Stars Like Spaghetti” quilt that I made following Alycia's pattern and quilt along.

     I spent some time piecing pink potato chip blocks. I had to search my stash for a few more dark pink fabrics. Here is my stack of 30 finished blocks which will make a 60 by 72” quilt.  Hopefully, soon I will lay them out and sew the top together. 

     I took a little time to play with some green scraps to create 2 mug rugs for St. Patrick's Day.

    A few weeks ago I sandwiched my “Hometown Charms”. It was Pat Sloan's Block Wednesday in 2022. Friday I finished the quilting using Leah Day's Echo Shortcut overall motif. Sunday I sewed the binding on and here is the finish. 

Yay! That is one more off my UFO list.

    Stash Report for 2025

this past week - Used: 4.25 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year - Used: 30.115 yds Added: 3 yds

Net decrease 27.115 yds

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Two Finished Tops

     “Stars Like Spaghetti” has the border and is a finished top. My guild QOV group has a stash of quilts so they don't need this one finished anytime soon. I may look for another group that might need it.

     The On-Point Tropical Log Cabins is also a finished top. The pieced blocks were given to me by a friend of gave up quilting. I love the bright happy colors and am sure it will make someone happy.

    Thursday I and 2 friends from church quilt group finished 24 shelter cat beds. We used donated home deco fabric and stuff with cut up pieces of scrap fabric and batting.

Stash Report for 2024

this past week- Used: 4.16 yds Added: 3.5 yds

So far this year- Used: 32.2 yds Added: 14.125 yds

Net decrease 18.075 yds

I'm linking with Alycia's Finished (or Not) Friday

     Saturday is National (International) Quilting Day.

I hope to piece 3 backs for comfort quilts and make a set of 6 placemats while watching free shows at thequiltshow.com.  What will you do?

Hope you enjoy some time for quilting. Check out some projects by others and get inspired.

“The only mistake is the one from which you don't learn.” - Henry Ford

Late Look at Last Week's Progress

     It is Tuesday evening and I'm just getting around to looking back at last week's projects.  I pieced all the blocks together on my “Stars Like Spaghetti” top, and had hoped to get the border. I did not find a good border blue in my stash so need to buy something.

    Wednesday my guild QOV group presented quilts to 4 servicemen and I was happy to attend and honor them.

      I quilted a comfort quilt for church and got it trimmed for Joan to bind.  I quilted an overall FM motif called “echo shortcut” from Leah Day.

      I spent a couple of days working to prepare for a big church women's event so not much time was spent sewing and nothing changed in my stash report.

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

“The only mistake is the one from which you don't learn.” - Henry Ford

QuiltCon 2024 and Family

     Last week Alycia posted the last clue for “Stars Like Spaghetti” QOV mystery. Before I left for QuiltCon I put as many blocks as would fit in the layout on the design wall. Hopefully this week I will get them pieced together and add a simple border. I love Alycia's design and enjoyed the mystery.

     I met up with 2 sisters and visited more family in Winston-Salem. They had an early birthday celebration for me which was fun and special.

    Friday and Saturday my sisters and a niece enjoyed QuiltCon 2024 in Raleigh. There we met a friend from my church quilt group. We also visited with friends from my sister's guild. It seamed much more crowed than last year; however, the venue was very different. I wonder how the attendance differed. I was not excited by most of the winning quilts; although, it was interesting that many winners were men. Following are a few of my favorite quilts from the show. I especially enjoyed the piecing category and the maximalism special exhibit.

At a QuiltCon vender I picked up 2 small free fabric pieces so they are the only change to my stash this past week.

Stash Report for 2024

this past week- Used: 0 yds Added: 0.125 yds

So far this year- Used: 26.1 yds Added: 4.875 yds

Net decrease 21.225 yds

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

“When life leaves you scraps, make a quilt.”

     I started last week with work on small projects and ended with a nice comfort quilt finish. At least my part is done. I pieced the top using Pat Sloan's free “Traffic Jam” pattern with the addition of a row of blocks so it would finish as a rectangle. I finished the quilting and will let a church quilt group member stitch the binding.

     Part 4 of “Stars Like Spaghetti” QOV mystery was posted. Since we only made 2 blocks, it was fast to complete and keep on track. I'm looking forward to seeing how the variety of blocks will go together. I'm sure Alycia has a great plan. I will be excited to get the top together. My guild is presenting 5 QOVs the end of February so I'm sure they will appreciate the top as soon as it is finished.

    My checkbook cover was looking sad so I decided to make a new one. I used an easy tutorial from Crazymomquilts.blogspot.com. I used some purple "made-fabric",  added fusible interfacing and did some quilting /embellishing with decorative stitches before assembly.

       

The 3 green placemats for guild have been quilted and finished.  I simply used the walking foot and serpentine stitch. 

Stash Report for 2024

this past week- Used: 1 yd Added: 0 yds

So far this year- Used: 24.85 yds Added: 4.75 yds

         Net decrease 20.1 yds

     It would be great to make as much progress every week; however, that is probably expecting too much.

   I'm going to Quilt Con 2024.  I will be going with 2 sisters and a niece.  I also plan to meet up with another quilt friend.  I expect a fun couple of days.  Less than 2 weeks away.  

  

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

“When life leaves you scraps, make a quilt.”

Staying On Track

     So far I am on track with Alycia's "Stars Like Spaghetti" QOV mystery and have all the blocks for part 3 finished. Here are the stacks of blocks for parts 1-3.

     I had a kit from church and finished piecing the top. I have seen this pattern with a couple of names. Eleanor Burns calls it ”Piece of Cake”. Someone else calls it “Garden Party”. The units are an uneven 4 patch, just like the ones created when you cut up a “Disappearing Nine Patch”. This kit was cut into 10” squares, 10 by 5” rectangles and 5” squares so could be made using a layer cake.

     When I went through my Valentine fabric box, I found a large piece of Valentine made-fabric perfect to finish into a placemat. It didn't take long.

     My guild is collecting placemats all year for Meals on Wheels clients so Sunday afternoon I played in my scraps and have 5 tops. For a couple I used some orphan paper-pieced leaves which need stems and veins stitched.

 

Stash Report for 2024

this past week- Used: 3.375 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year- Used: 23.85 yds Added: 4.75 yds

Net decrease 19.1 yds

     I'm not sure which UFO I will work on next. I have one sandwiched to quilt and a comfort quilt in the process of being quilted.

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

“When life leaves you scraps, make a quilt.”

Loving the Progress

      The Celtic Rhapsody quilt for my son is finally finished including binding, label and hanging sleeve. I recently wondered why Ricky Tims named his quilt designs “rhapsody” quilts so I looked up the meaning of rhapsody and it made sense. Merriam-Webster says rhapsody is “a musical composition of irregular form having an improvisatory character”. Ricky composes music and quilts. This quilt design is composed of both irregular forms and has an improvisatory character.

       I am participating in Alycia's QOV mystery “Stars Like Spaghetti” and step 2 is complete. I don't know Alycia's plan, but here are my blocks on the design wall. I love the possibilities.

I haven't decided which UFO to work on so I am piecing a quick comfort quilt.

Stash Report for 2024

this past week- Used: 1.125 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year- Used: 20.475 yds Added: 4.75 yds

          Net decrease 15.725 yds

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

“When life leaves you scraps, make a quilt.”

Something to Whoop About

      It feels great to have accomplished so much in my sewing room this week. I finished a couple of projects and made great progress on 2 more.

     While straightening up scraps, I found prepared fusible applique pieces for pumpkins perfect for this time of year. The original design “Jo's Pumpkin Patch” was published in Quiltmaker Sept-Oct '13 (#153) as appliques on a quilt. I bought 2 kitchen towels and added the applique. I couched brown yarn for the pumpkin vines. I think they will be nice gifts to add a special touch for the fall; just need to decide for whom.

    Next I quilted one of several comfort quilts that I have sandwiched. It used Eleanor Burns' easy "Piece of Cake" design.  Here it is quilted and trimmed before I passed it on to another member to add binding. I quilted large swirls.

    Then I added the border blocks and corners to finish the Quilt of Valor top. I know it is busy but I hope a veteran will enjoy it.

    I also needed to  catch up on the Old School BOM and done after making Pat Sloan's October Courthouse Steps block design. Every month there is a block from a different designer.  One month I chose a different block to do instead of hand piecing small hexagons.  Here are 10 blocks together.

They need some type of sashing to help calm it and make the various blocks look more cohesive.

     I hope I can keep up the momentum and get a few more projects finished before the holidays and end of the year.

I'm linking up today with Sarah for Whoop, Whoop Friday and Alycia for Finished (or Not) Friday.

Stay safe and healthy while enjoying some time sewing and quilting.

UFO Progress and Fun Projects

      This has been a fun week with GD time including baking 2 afternoons. Last year GD Lily created a recipe using a box of Brownie mix that she named S'mornies and requested to make them again. Most of the sweets went home with them thanks to my diet. If you have a sweet tooth you might want to give it a try.

S'mornies

By: Lily

Ingredients for bottom graham cracker crust:

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs ( 1 package of graham crackers- about 9)

5 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1/4 cup granulated sugar

Fill pan w/ graham cracker crust and begin making brownies.
Brownie ingredients (not included in box):

2 Large eggs

¼ Cup water

½ Cup vegtabale oil

Finish mixing brownie mix and spread on top of the graham cracker crust and bake. Once brownies are done baking and cooling, spread marshmallow creme on brownies. Finally, sprinkle second package of smashed graham cracker crumbs on top of marshmallow creme.

Chill for a few minutes to make slicing easier. Slice and enjoy!

- - - - - - - - 

    Last year I saw directions for carved apple shrunken heads and this year we made them. First the apples are peeled and carved. 

 After soaking in a solution of salt and lemon juice they were dried in a low temperature oven for many hours.

    GD Lily also got sewing done on a Roly Poly Santa from an old panel. He still needs handwork to attach his arms, beard and mustache. He is real cute and she did a great job.

     I used some time to layout scrappy red, white and blue blocks and pieced them into a top center. 

 I have enough leftover Mountain blocks for the border after I figure out what to do in the corners.

I hope this will be a nice Quilt of Valor.

I'm linking up with Alycia for Finished (or Not) Friday. Hope you see something to inspire you.

Stay safe and healthy while enjoying some time sewing and quilting.

A Special Finish Plus QOV

    My major goal for the week was to finish the requested Hermione replica bag for my GD.  All the family are Harry Potter fans. A few years ago I helped the older GD sew a robe and Hermione has been the Halloween character. This year the bag was requested.  Here is an example:

and here is my finish. 

She asked for it to be large and the cords are long enough for the bag to be fully opened.

It will be delivered tomorrow and I look forward to seeing her response. I hope it will be something she will want to use in years to come for formal or fun occasions.  One of my sisters says she would like one. Maybe that will be a project after a break.

      Another sister requested a Quilt of Valor for a 97 year old WWII veteran and member of her church. He was very happy to receive it and said he plans to pass it on to his son.

I'm linking up with Sarah for Whoop, Whoop Friday and Alycia for Finished(or Not) Friday. For fun and inspiration check out all those sharing.

Stay safe and healthy while enjoying some time sewing and quilting.

Project Progress

     Monday started with rain most of the morning so I raided my 4 1/2” strip tub to make a child's comfort quilt to finish 48” by 60”. I had just enough solid black. The top was pieced by mid-afternoon and I have pulled fabrics for the backing. I adapted a free pattern from Northcott designed by Kari Nichols and Patti Carey called “Color Works”.

     Tuesday I cleared my craft table and got busy sandwiching quilt tops for quilting. Since Wednesday was Earth Day they waited while I spent the morning working in the yard which is looking very good thanks to the help of my younger son. 

 In the afternoon the child's “Color Works” quilt got quilted and trimmed ready for binding. This quilt will be donated for Hands2Help 2020. I quilted a free-motion loopy meander in dark gray thread.  Not the smoothest but getting smoother. 

I plan a scrappy binding of bright colors. This went so fast I think I could pull more strips from my 4 1/2” tub and make another. I love how the bright bricks pop.

     The QOV “Stargazer” top has been sandwiched and quilting began during my rainy Thursday. 

Please stay safe and healthy while doing something you enjoy.

I'm linking up for Whoop, Whoop Friday and 
Finished or Not Friday.  Hope you check them out for inspiration and fun.