WIP Wednesday 4/4/12

I am so excited I finished Megan's block for the cocorico bee!!! I love it so much. Her theme for March (yup, I'm a little late) was The County Fair. I thought of a canning contest.

The jar lids look a bit bigger than I pictured but the rest I am so happy with, the banner came out exactly how I wanted it to.

I love this bee! I have to put my thinking cap on every month. It makes me step outside of my box. All of the blocks from the other ladies in the bee are always fantastic. I feel privileged to be in such good company!

I finished another hexie flower. Love them.

And when I should have been working on my quilty Granny Squares. I started CROCHETING Granny Squares. Crafting ADD at it's finest, I tell ya!

But according to my big list I've finished quite a few things. This week it was a birdie quilt and the twins.

Still working on my hand pieced blocks, Granny Squares, and have several tops in need of quilting.

That's it for this week.

Linking up with Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday.

Today...

we're playing with dollies and flowers.

Catching Up ...

I was digging through my orphan/WIP/misc. box and found this from way back here. I intended to make a Christmas hanging with it but wasn't happy with the tree and then I ripped a lot of quilting out of it and took it apart. It's been in the box since then.  I pulled it out to see what hand quilting thread would like, using it in my machine. It looked okay on top but I couldn't adjust my tension enough (maxed out) to get the back to look good. And I am not about to mess with the little screw on my bobbin case. So I just did some free-motion quilting on it with regular thread. I've avoided stippling these bird quilts, up until now, because I didn't want the applique to be poofy. But I think it's okay, except that I quilted into the red bird's head :) I went with bright colors and , to me, it has no resemblance of a Christmas quilt. It's a bit funky, and I can't say that I love it but I don't hate it either.

I finished this Bright and Cheery quilt a few weeks ago. It is on it's way to Anita. I commented about the Bible covers she makes and she was so kind to offer to make me one. I thought a swap would be fun so I suggested that. She's such a kind and humble lady. She's actually sending this to one of her friends who is away on a mission. I hope they both like it.

Isn't this pretty?! She got my colors down pat :) It covers the Bible that belonged to my father. I love this one. It's full of his notes and underlined scriptures. So it's really special to me. This cover makes it all the more better. Thanks so much, Anita!

In my Granny Square CRAZE, I cut a lot of 2 1/2 inch squares. A lot! More than enough. I think I am going to use them to finally start the postage stamp quilt that I've always wanted to make. Trish showed some simple patchwork that she's working on and it sealed the deal for me. So I think I'll start that when I get my Granny Squares top all together.

I'm using more 2 1/2 inch squares for hexagons.  I have a scrappy pile of hexies I started a couple of years ago. But this is "planned" pile. The beginnings of a Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt. Another that I've always wanted to make but just never did. Others on that list include an Apple Core quilt and a Tumbler quilt. I got a taste of working with the tumbler pieces when I used them on the border for this quilt. But I'd like to make a full quilt using 2 inch tumblers. Someday.

That's what's shakin' here. Hope you have a happy week :)

linking up with manic monday @ sew happy geek and canoe ridge creations {sew} modern monday!

Late Night Sewing

working on Megan's block for the cocorico bee....

Hope you are having a restful Sunday :)

Hand Pieced Quilt-A-Long Block #10 ~ Log Cabin

So, I'm a little bummed this is our 10th block and we only have 2 more left. Where does the time go? I enjoy making these and I know I will continue with hand piecing after this. How about you?
This week's block is Log Cabin. Traditionally made with light values on one side and dark on the other with a red center block symbolizing the hearth of the home. I didn't follow the values rule but I did include the red center.I sewed mine ahead of time to make sure all the measurements were correct.

To make the block (6 inch finished) you will need:

1 ~ 1 1/2 in. square - block center ( I used red)

Light Value (I used blue)
1 ~ 1 1/8 x 1 1/2 in.
1 ~ 1 1/8 x 2 1/8 in.
1 ~ 1 1/8 x 2 3/4 in.
1 ~ 1 1/8 x 3 3/8 in.
1 ~ 1 1/8 x 4 in.
1 ~ 1 1/8 x 4 5/8 in.
1 ~ 1 1/8 x 5 1/4 in.
1 ~ 1 1/8 x 5 7/8 in.

Dark Value ( I used pink)
1 ~ 1 1/8 x 2 1/8 in.
1 ~ 1 1/8 x 2 3/4 in.
1 ~ 1 1/8 x 3 3/8 in.
1 ~ 1 1/8 x 4 in.
1 ~ 1 1/8 x 4 5/8 in.
1 ~ 1 1/8 x 5 1/4 in.
1 ~ 1 1/8 x 5 7/8 in.
1 ~ 1 1/8 x 6 1/2 in. 

(click to enlarge)

Sew your pieces together clockwise starting with the light (blue) 1 1/8 x 1 1/2 in. to the center. See picture for order.

Here is my block from last week.

Here are all of my blocks together.

and one for good measure including this week's block. Someone must have thought it needed a little something extra :)

Here are the links for blocks #1-9:


Block #1 ~ Churn Dash
Block #2 ~ Jacob's Ladder
Block #3 ~ Ohio Star
Block #4 ~ Bear Paw
Block #5 ~ Granny Square
Block #6 ~ Shoo-Fly
Block #7 ~ Card Trick
Block #8 ~ Friendship Star 
Block #9 ~ Square in a Square


As always, if you want to join, in all are welcome at anytime! Here is our flickr group! I love all the blocks that are being added to the group pool! They look great. I'm looking forward to seeing more.

Have a great weekend!

Twins (quilts that is...)

I finished my first, completely-by-hand quilt! I started this quilt with someone in particular in mind. As I was finishing it I realized although it was all hand done, it was not up to par. There are patches where my youngest thought she would imitate me and mark on them with the pencil I used to mark my 1/4 inch seam. I also noticed several "pulls" in the fabric where my knots were too big and they messed up the fabric when I pulled them through. So I decided to make the same quilt by machine for her. It's crisp and nice. I feel so much better sending this one off and knowing it won't fall apart in the washing machine.

Look at the difference in size!! Everything was cut the same. But I guess my ginger pressing and generous seam allowance while piecing made for a smaller quilt with the hand pieced one.

I made a little fabric basket to hold the quilt. I used Ayumi's wonderful tutorial (my favorite) and some of the same fabric from the quilt with linen for the base and handles. I hope she likes it :)

Hand Pieced Quilt-A-Long Block #9 Square in a Square

This week's block is a square in a square block. Another easy one, perfect for a fussy cut center.

You will need:
4 ~ 3 7/8 in. Half-Square Triangles for the outer square
4 ~ 3 in. Half-Square Triangles for the inner square
1 ~ 3.5 inch square for the center

Sew the long side of the inner square half-square triangle onto each side of the center square.

Sew the long side of the outer square half-square triangle along each edge of the square. That's it!

Here is my Friendship Star block from last week.

Here are all of my blocks together so far.

Here are the links for blocks #1-8:

Block #1 ~ Churn Dash
Block #2 ~ Jacob's Ladder
Block #3 ~ Ohio Star
Block #4 ~ Bear Paw
Block #5 ~ Granny Square
Block #6 ~ Shoo-Fly
Block #7 ~ Card Trick
Block #8 ~ Friendship Star

If you haven't yet, come join our flickr group. All are welcome at anytime! I am looking forward to seeing your blocks and thank you so much for your patience with me in getting this week's block posted :)