I'm still here and as busy as ever. I'm getting ready for 2 retreats, one this weekend and one the following weekend. I'm definitely ready for them.

It's been a long time since I last posted. I've been staying busy and just haven't taken any pictures. Without pictures I think the blog is very boring. I finally got some pictures taken of the more recent quilts. I still have a lot of quilts to take pictures of.

 This baby quilt was maade using a charm pack and white fabric. I cut some of the charms in half.

 These 2 baby quilts were made using charm packs. It is a simple 4 patch. The backs are different, one pink and one brown.

I got the cat, fish and mouse fabric in a scrap bag from my LQS. I added FQ's from my stash to make this baby/toddler quilt.

I used my AccuQuilt Go to cut the 3 1/2" tumbler blocks for this quilt. I finished it just in time for the 4th of July.

 This baby quilt has frogs relaxing in the pool. I got FQ's several years ago at a quilt show and used the Disappearing 9 Patch pattern.

This was made from a jelly roll of Hawaiin fabric I got when my daughter got married in Maui. I added the white and plain colors. I'm still looking for a way to finish it. I'm thinking borders and would like more Hawaiin fabric but just haven't found any.

I made this for a co-worker. It was a panel I found and I added a border.

This has to be one of my favorite patterns. It is just WOF strips. The quilt finishes about 40" x 60", large enough for a baby/toddler of to cover an adults' legs. This has snowmen.

These wall hangings were panels that I added sashing and borders to. One is for my DD and the other for my SIL.

The color in this is off. I took this picture at retreat in Feb. I had just sewn the blocks together. It was a BOM that I did a couple years ago and I added 4 new blocks to make it larger. I used only 2 fabrics for the blocks and a third for the sashing..Since then I have gone on another retreat and put the borders on. The borders use the same fabric. It finished about 108" x 108" and is for my DD.



This was a kit that I bought in Paducah a few years ago. It was 5 yards of fabric and a pattern. I made this on the retreat in Feb. The colors are not right in this picture.

Memorial Day

I'm enjoying the weekend relaxing and sewing. I finished this flag wall hanging in time to hang for the holiday. It is made using the 3 1/2" twister tool. The pattern was designed for a local quilt shop, The Gathering Room. The stars are made the usual way but the red and white stripes are put back together differently. It finished 21"x26".

Derby Quilt

My Derby Quilt is featured on the cover of the Metro Parks Recreation Guide. You can see it here. I'm disappointed that the quilting group is not mentioned as meeting at the community center. I think it would be a great way to increase our membership. The more quilters, the more ideas and the better the group becomes.

Here's a picture of the quilt my mother started. I still need to sandwich it and I'll quilt it myself. It is about 40"x54".

I've got 3 quilts to hand sew the binding on! It's always nice to get to this part of the quilt because the end is near. Two of the quilts were blocks of the month from my LQS from a few years ago. I made the blocks as I got them and have had the tops done for a while. I had them quilted in the fall and then it has taken me a while to get the binding on. One is 90"x112" and the other is 74"x90".

The third quilt I started in the fall and quilted it myself. It is 60"x80".

Last night I finished a top that my Mom had started 2 days before she died. She was so pleased that she started it and it was to be a charity quilt. The pattern is very simple, 5" strips, 4" pink strips and 1 1/2" green strips. The focal fabric has some cute frogs that we bought last summer. I hope to have it finished so I can take it to NY with me to donate where she might have donated it.
I started free motion quilting today. I need to finish this quilt by the end of the month. Then I have a t-shirt quilt to make for a friend of my daughter's. I am also going to teach the Fairdale Happy Stitchers how to make stack 'n slash quilts. They have selected a Buggy Barn and a Pieces From The Heart pattern to make. Busy, busy, busy.

Memory Quilt

I made this quilt for my mother-in-law. It has 9 shirts in it. I included the pockets and tags from the shirts. She really liked it.

I'm still here

It's been a while since I last posted. I'm still staying busy.

I have finished one quilt that is a Christmas gift that I'll post a picture after I give it to her. She doesn't know I'm making it so it will be a surprise. I have another gift quilt sandwiched and ready to quilt. I hope to get that done soon so I can give it away. Again, no pictures yet since it is a surprise.

I did give some gifts already. I made some Mug Rugs. These are about 8" x 10". You can put your drink on one side and your snack on the other. Each one I made a little different but used the same fabrics. I didn't get a picture of the 1st one I made. I made it a little different in that I put binding on it and quilted it different. These I stitched around and then turned (birthed) them. It was a quicker method and I like the results better. I will probably use this method in the future. The ladies who received them liked them. Some of the fabric I used was from the estate of Carol's sister.

My class last week on the Runaround Bag went well. I had 2 students and both finished their bags in about 3 hrs. I had a couple bags partially completed so I could show them how each step was done. Last weekend I cleaned off my cutting table so I could rearrange the room. I organized the fabric as I put everything back. I rediscovered the blocks for a Four Patch Posie quilt using Christmas fabric. I had set it aside because I didn't know what to use for the sashing. I found a piece of green on the cutting table that will work. Now to finish it...

Today I sandwiched a quilt at the community center. The great thing about going there is there are lots of tables so quilts can be laid out. I also cut some fabric for the binding. Last week I made 2 table runners for Thanksgiving. I have a couple other quilts that I'm working on, one of them I'd like to have done by the end of the year.

I've been staying very busy lately. I made some Runaround Bags by Lazy Girl and will be teaching a class at my LQS. The class is on Nov 6th and 2 people have signed up already. Two weeks later I have a class scheduled for another Lazy Girl pattern, the Wonder Wallet.

I've been trying to keep up with my wall hangings for my door at work. I made 2 for September which a co-worker purchased. They are purple coneflowers in a hiking boot and yellow coneflowers in a hiking boot. I have 2 started for October and hope to finish them before the month ends.

I have a couple quilts started. One is a Christmas gift and I have the top finished. I still need to piece the back and then I'll machine quilt it. The other quilt is a gift which I'd like to give next month. I have some of the blocks completed and hope to finish the rest this weekend.

I donated a quilt to a church for a silent auction. I'm very pleased to say that it brought in $75 for a program the church sponsors.

Derby Quilt

My Derby Quilt has been hanging up in a Quilt Show since mid-August. It is 90"x108". It didn't win any prizes but I thought it was the best. Each large square is a KY Derby related fabric. The large light colored spaces are horseshoe fabric and the small white spaces are fleur-de-lis fabric. The red fabric is fireworks fabric. The name of the pattern is BQ by Maple Island.

Has it really been a month since my last post? I keep meaning to write something but am distracted before I can do it. I have been busy as usual. I made another wall hanging from the "Small Quilts Big Events" book that I used before. This one is called 'Warm Wishes'. I gave it to a co-worker who retired on August 1st. He always had a blue coffee cup with him.


When I was on vacation, my niece and I went to a quilt shop. As we were leaving, we were given 2 FQ's each. I made her a purse with hers. The pattern is "Runaround Bag" from Lazy Girl.



In my efforts to decorate my office door I made a new wall hanging. Since I work for the school system and school started this week, I thought it appropriate to make a school bus. The school bus is pieced and from the book "Block Magic" by Nancy Johnson-Srebro. It is a 15" block with a 2" border.

Back from vacation

I'm back from vacation. It's great to go but also nice to return to the daily routine. I was visiting family and did some sewing while there. I taught my nieces to make a pillowcase, helped my sister-in-law and mother with some quilts. I even had time to work on a new quilt and a tote bag.

Time sure does have a way of getting away from me. I didn't realize that it had been so long since I posted. I finally got around to taking some photos. This first one from the book 'Small Quilts Big Events' by Julia LaBauve & Tammy Silvers. It is about 15"x16". This is now hanging on a friends' door.

I got my Derby Quilt back from the LA. She did a fantastic job quilting it. I have been working today on the binding and almost have it done. Then I have to put a hanging sleeve and a label on it. Here is a photo of it. I hope to get better photos soon.

Derby Quilt

I finished my Derby Quilt tonight. I will press it tomorrow and find something to put on the back. I will also call someone to see about quilting it. I used the BQ pattern by Maple Island Quilts. It has fabrics depicting several of the KY Derby festivities like hot air balloons, marching band, fireworks, horses, red roses, airplanes and marathon runners.

I have been planning this quilt for a couple years and collecting the fabric for as long. I got a nudge a while ago when I entered a local contest. The rules require at least one fleur de lis on the quilt. After more thought I decided on using this pattern instead of creating one. I think someone will be very happy with this quilt.

I took a 'Picture Piecing' class taught by Cynthia England. I chose the 'Snow Scene' kit to make. I completed one section so I still have a lot to do. It is easier to do than paper piecing and you can get the same level of detail. All stitching lines are straight. The 2nd part of the class was on designing. Cynthia had some exercises for us to do to learn to draw a pattern. She critiqued eveyone's drawing. Everyone brought a photo and Cynthia told how she would draw the pattern. It was a very worthwhile and enjoyable class that was over way too soon. I highly recommend it.

I have started my Derby quilt after collecting the fabric for a few years. It will be queen size and I have 9 of the 30 blocks completed so far. I hope to have the top completed by June 15th. I will be entering it in a contest in August.

A couple weeks ago I went to the AQS Quilt Show in Paducah. I drove down on Friday and my first stop was Hancocks of Paducah. The back room where the 1 yd cuts are was packed as usual. They were $3.98/yd when I was there. I found several that I just had to have. While I was there they marked down the charm packs to $3 each. I managed to find some that I liked.I also got some fabric that my LQS doesn't have.

My next stop was the quilt show. I kept running into none of my friends so we decided to walk around together. I had never gone to a show "with" anyone and was pleasantly surprised that I really enjoyed the time spent together. We left the show and went to the mall and shopped the vendors there. I found several items I just had to have and as usual spent some money.

After a long day I was able to find a hotel room in Calvert City. On Saturday I saw Eleanor Burns and was not overly impressed with her new book. I also went to the Rotary Club and saw the antique quilts and the Hoffman Challenge.

My overall impression was that attendance was down from past years. It was not as crowded. A lot of vendors were sold out of several items. Several said that they had been at the show in Chicago the week prior. I did enjoy myself and look forward to next year.

I have another finsh! The Violets in a Vase was a kit I bought who knows when from online. It was a charm pack with a pattern. The only fabric not included was the binding. I used warm & white for the batting. The front and back are both pieced using the 5" squares. Then I fused the applique pieces in place, layered the fron, batting and back and then stitched the applique on using the applique stitch. I stippled the background and did straight stitching in the border.

I have the top done on the Twister Wreath. This was a kit I bought at Quilters' Day Out last month. I already had the templates and I couldn't just get the pattern. It went together quickly. I have a backing for it already and hope to have it quilted soon. It will also have a bow made out of one of the reds.

I finished the memory quilt and the lady who commissioned it was pleased. I used about 10-12 shirts, some cotton and some cotton blends, and one t-shirt. My basic square was cut 5 1/2" and then I pieced some blocks to equal this. The t-shirt blocks were added to to equal 10 1/2". I used navy blue for the backing and the binding. The quilt finished about 60"x80". I was pleased with how it came out.

This past weekend I started another quilt. Surprised? I am using a jelly roll I got last year in Hawaii. I have added white and the plain colors of yellow, orange, pink and aqua.I made about 240 4-patches. My original idea was to make this as big as I could without buying more fabric. That would make the quilt 52"x72". After completing 4 rows and thinking about how much work I've already put into this, I've decided to make it queen size. I bought some more of my solid colors and have contacted the quilt shop in Maui that I got the jelly roll from. I will buy about 2 yds for a 4" border. I'm thinking of using orange, yellow or green for the border. I also inquired if they make charm packs (they make their own jelly rolls). I thought I might scatter some 4" squares so I don't have a zillion 4-patches to make. So this is on hold until I know for sure what I'm doing.

I made a wall hanging for my office door for March. It is a shamrock. I found the pattern for the block online at Quilting Assistant. I made the shamrock an 8" block, the white border is 1" and the outer border is 2". It finished about 14" square which is a good size to hang at work.

Since the retreat I have made 2 more snappy totes. The blue one I made at the retreat. I made the cats last weekend and the butterflies yesterday. They are a good size to use as a small handbag or cosmetic bag. I like the shape of these better than the first one I made which were rectangular/square.

I've been commissioned to make a quilt. It is a memory quilt made from clothes. I received a good assortment of shirts to use. I have cut up the shirts and am now ready to cut them into squares and rectangles. The blocks will be 10 1/2" unfinished so I will be using 5 1/2" and 3" squares and 3" x 5 1/2" rectangles. I think it will turn out very nice.

Retreat

I really enjoyed the retreat. The place we went is a Leadership Center in Jabez, KY, which seems like it is in the middle of nowhere. The roads were bare and there were a few snow flurries on the way home. The drive was about 4 hours each way.

The accomodations were very good. The rooms had the essentials but no tv. There was a tv in the lobby. The room we sewed in was well lit and each person had 6-8 ft of table space. The food was well prepared and I did not go hungry. It was so nice to not worry about meals.

I accomplished a lot! I finished 6 tops and started cutting out more. I made 3 Quick Strippie tops, 2 of which I will donate to charity. I finished a disappearing nine patch and a strip twist. The blocks were at least partially done so I only had to sew them together. I finished the border on my twister quilt. I used scraps from the quilt to make small twister blocks to put in the border. This makes it different and interesting. We also had a class on making a purse using a carpenters tape as the closure and using 2 fq's.

My only regrets are that I forgot my camera and I waited so long before going. I will definitely go on another retreat when my schedule permits.