Tuesday, March 31, 2009

QOV # 75 quilted

I got the last QOV quilted today. I did feathers on it.
Still not sure I like feathers. I'm hoping I can get this in the mail tomorrow.

More purple arrives


Well, this is blowing my usage of fabric for the year. :( But, I do have a variety of items to use for this upcoming quilt.
Now, I NEED to get busy and finish one of my own quilts. LOL
It is great to finish QOVs, but I really NEED to complete something of my own!

QOV #74 quilted

Well, I'm proud to announce that another QOV is completed
One more to go.

QOV #73


Marsha sent me 3 more QOVs to quilt. This is the first of the three.


On to quilt the next 2.

More FQs in the mail

I am getting a good variety of purple FQs. I can start working at getting the parts cut. That is later this week or next. Aren't they pretty?

QOV #72

I forgot to show you a picture of QOV #72. This is one I did detail work on.
I've got 3 more to work on and I'm needing to bring up my batting to get started on them. It is tough having a studio upstairs sometime.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Carolina Crossroads

Well, I pulled out Carolina Crossroads. I don't remember if this is new to 2009 or if it was done in 2008. Guess I'll have to go back and check it out. I had troubles with deciding on the borders. The blues I had were not working well, but this blue did OK for me. It added the darker border I thought was needed.

Now, to get back to quilting it and binding. Guess I'd better find a backing first.

Sunday, March 29, 2009

FQs started arriving

I finally opened my mail and I have received 4 packages of FQs from all over.
This won't help my fabric usage this year, but it is going into a quilt that I'm making in purples and white. Some of the fabric colors are not showing well here, they really are all purples. LOL I think this is a good start for the project. Now I need to cut it up and make the blocks.
I'm looking forward to this.

Sunday update

Fabric usage goal --100 yards-- 81.20 to go
Fabric Added This Week - 0 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date - 2.25 yards
Fabric Used This Week -4.53 yards
Fabric Used Year to Date - 21.05 yards
Fabric Used this month - 5.13 yards
Net year to date: 18.80 yards

Judy is having us do the check in again this year. Accountability is a good thing

Nothing has changed this week. I did some quilting and am really close to finishing one of my UFOs, but it didn't get done yesterday. So, I am exactly where I was last week.

Next week I should have a finish and I should have some fabrics added to my stash. The purple quilt I'm making needs more variety, so I'm getting FQs from around the county. That is good and bad. When that one is done, I will be able to count them out too.

Friday, March 27, 2009

4-patch love quilt

Well, I put the 4-patch quilt on the long arm and quilted it tonight. Not exactly my favorite quilt, but I did a flower quilting pattern. Now to bind it. I might just use the leftover bindings in the colors of the quilt.

I received 3 more QOVs in the mail today, so those will be my next ones to tackle. First, I have to get my batting upstairs. I do have some leftovers I can use too.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Bears in the Garden

Seems I forgot to add the extra border to the quilt. Seems it was supposed to be red, but that was not the right color. I decided this darker teal was the right choice.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

QOV #71

Got the next QOV quilted and ready to be mailed off. I love Marsha's greens and reds in this quilt. Very pretty.

Only 5 quilts more to be quilted.

QOV #70

Finished quilting the first of three QOV's. Now to get the other ones loaded. I love the way Marsha made the heart.

Sunday update

Fabric usage goal --100 yards-- 81.20 to go
Fabric Added This Week - 0 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date - 2.25 yards
Fabric Used This Week -4.53 yards
Fabric Used Year to Date - 21.05 yards
Fabric Used this month - 5.13 yards
Net year to date: 18.80 yards

Judy is having us do the check in again this year. Accountability is a good thing

I finished a quilt that was completely from stash. I tried making the braid quilt and like the effect. It felt good to have this completely from stash. This is going to a dear friend that just lost her husband.

I've done lots of quilting this week, but not finishes for me. Many were love quilts that had blocks and backing donated, so I can't count them.

I did make some quilt labels for the QOVs I'm quilting now and a love block that was needed to cheer up a fellow quilter.

Even thought it is much smaller than the amount many of you use in a week, I feel good about my accomplishments this week.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Vicki's quilt

Got the quilt quilted tonight. Here is a close up. It is for a male, so no flowers. Hope the loops are OK.I can mail it off tomorrow or Monday.
Finished washing the braid quilt, so I can get it mailed off too.

Glenn's quilt is in the dryer. If I'd remember that it was on, I'd already have it ready too.

I think the next ones are the QOVs I have to quilt. I think there are 3 of them.

Busy day

Even with doctors appointments, horseback riding for DD, and haircut for DD, I managed to get the 2 love quilts bound. So, they are washing and will be mailed early next week. It feels good to finish things.
This is Glenn's, and the label on his. Thanks, Vicki for digitizing it for us.

I think I only have 8 more quilts to quilt now. That's still lots to go. I have the big one on the machine now. I hope to get it done tonight or tomorrow. Time will tell. I'm about ready to turn on the A/C today. It gets warm upstairs when it's above 80 outside.

Only one of these will count towards my fabric usage, so I still won't have a great report this week. But, my to do list is decreased by allot.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Wednesday

Had our Red Hat group meeting on Wednesday and had a fun time.

Well, I got the love quilt quilted, the label made and the binding sewn on the front. Now to get the binding finished and all will be done.
I've loaded the blue and yellow quilt for Vicki, so maybe that one will get done in the day or so. Depends on how the day goes.
One thing at a time.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Quilting

Got another quilt quilted. This is a love quilt, so I need to get the binding sewn on and then I can get it mailed off. Oh, I need to make the label too.

I embroidered the 3 QOV labels needed for the next 3 QOVs.

I made a heart love block that I need to send off.

Overall, a good day.

I'm ready to load another love quilt for a neighbor to my parents. Her husband passed away late last week. So, this one needs to be done quickly.

That brings the quilts to be quilted down a bit, but still lots more to go. I'm making progress. This next love quilt will count towards some fabric usage, so that is a positive.

My plan is to quilt Vicki's quilt next and then the following love quilt will count towards my fabric usage and a UFO. So, I'm making progress.

Hoping things work as I want.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Love quilt quilted

I got one quilt quilted. I need to get it packaged up and mailed off tomorrow. I quilted flowers on it.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Bears in the Garden

Well, I had a rocky day, but got the borders on for this Bears in the Garden quilt. I can't wait to have this top done. I'm not sure who it will go to now.

Sunday Update

Fabric usage goal --100 yards-- 85.73 to go
Fabric Added This Week - 0 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date - 2.25 yards
Fabric Used This Week -1.74 yards
Fabric Used Year to Date - 16.52 yards
Fabric Used this month - .60 yards
Net year to date: 14.27 yards

Judy is having us do the check in again this year. Accountability is a good thing.

I worked on love quilts that were some my fabric and some other's fabrics. So, that is counted as a stash buster (for my fabrics)

I made some birthday blocks and they went to their new homes.

I did some quilting, and that counts as nothing for fabric usage.

I am working on a couple of projects that as soon as they are quilted, things will look better.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Saturday sew in

Here is a photo of Bill and the Heartstrings we gave to him. He is finally home and doing better. I just received this photo yesterday.

Today was my small group. There were 3 of there that were sewing. Ina came for a bit to visit, but had some shopping to do.

Wanda was trimming pieces to make a disappearing 9-patch. She's started it and needed to increase the size.

Lana was working on the donation quilt for the Home Owners Association where we meet. I like the way it is turning out.

Me, I was working on the borders for Glenn's love quilt and actually got it ready to be quilted. Now to sew the one seam on the backing and get the other quilt quilted. Then, I'll quilt this one.

I was also working on Bears in the Garden (formerly Butterflies in the Garden). I still need to put an off white border on it before I submit the photos.
After my group, the scouts went and played BINGO with the elderly home. It was a good time. All the girls did wonderful!

Friday, March 13, 2009

Only a Quilter

We've all heard the classic line that only a quilter would take yards and yards of material, cut it into little pieces and then sew them back together again. While this statement is true and a little funny to think about, it doesn't even scratch the surface of the things that only a quilter would do.

Only a Quilter would spend more hours sewing several hundreds of buttons on a quilt to embellish it, but wouldn't take five minutes to replace a button on a pair of pants.

Only a Quilter would give the gift of a wedding quilt two months after the birth of the couple's second child.

Only a Quilter would put hundreds of dollars worth of fabric into her fabric stash because she might find a use for it sometime, but wouldn't replace a 50-cent needle on her sewing machine.

Only a Quilter would let three later-arriving patients go ahead of her at the doctor's office because she is on the verge of completing a block.

Only a Quilter would rush to finish a gift quilt. Not so it's done in time for the recipient's birthday, but so it's done in time for Show and Tell.

Only a Quilter would make a special quilt to give to her son, who would then have to attend quilt shows just to see it.

Only a Quilter would use freezer paper in the production of something to keep someone warm.

Only a Quilter has a welcome mat at the door to her home and an "Enter at Your Own Risk" sign on the door of her sewing room.

Only a Quilter invites everyone to see her sewing room, then says, "Don't look at the mess."

Only a Quilter says, "I really don't need another project," then offers to make a quilt for a friend.

Only a Quilter will buy more than she'll ever need of one fabric for her stash, but slightly less than is needed of another fabric to complete a project.

Only a Quilter would give a quilt book to the guild auction then bid on it to get it back.

Only a Quilter would drive 40 miles in a hurricane to attend a quilt show, but call out to have her dinner delivered because it is drizzling.

Only a Quilter's family would put up with, understand and love a quilter.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

QOV # 69

Well, this was a simple quilt that just needed something else added to it. I'm not good at feathers, but Ruth said to just practice on these. So, I did feathers in the opposite path from the stripes.

I like the way it turned out.

Here is a close up.

QOV #68 done

I finished quilting this QOV. I feel good to be quilting again.



So, now I need to vacuum the floor and pull out the love quilt. OOPS, I have to wash the backing first, so I loaded a second QOV to quilt today. Only problem, I'm not sure what to do with it.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

BDB

I decided to work on the birthday block I need to make this month. So, I made this one. I like the way it turned out.

I've loaded the QOV that I need to finish too, so that is a good thing.

The Love quilt I need to quilt quickly arrived today, so when I get the QOV off the long arm, it will be next.

The chocolate brown came today too, so I need to get the borders on the other love quilt.

I should be so busy and getting everything done, but I was at the doctors today. What a mess.

I also went into the Intrepid at Ft Sam Houston -- it is the place where the wounded soldiers get the help they need. They had the most beautiful quilt hanging behind the reception desk. How inspiring.

I also delivered 6 QOVs to BAMC (Brooke army medical center. It was a good day.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Doris' top together

Well, I got the Doris Love quilt together. I don't particularly love the colors, but it will be a great quilt when I'm done. Need to make the backing and then put it in the pile to quilt.




I got the next QOV ready to load. I need to the focus to do it, and today was a depressed day. Mom is not doing great and she says what she's thinking at times like this. She is upset with DH for going for the job in CA.




I'm still fighting with making a batting large enough for a friend's quilt, so that needs to be done too. But, there are lots of quilts that need to be quilted. I wish I'd get motivated to do that.




I am working on the Butterflies in the Garden sashing tonight. The one fabric I chose for an inner border won't work, so I need to figure out a different one. I think I will get the sashing together and put on the first border before I figure out what change to make in the next sashing. The idea was to use a red border, but I don't like it with this choice of fabric. There isn't any red in there, so I will either use a teal or another orange or maybe a green. Time will tell.


Still no recordable use of fabric, because nothing is DONE. But, just think what I can count when it all comes together.


I'm waiting on some chocolate brown for Glenn's Love quilt. When that gets here in the next day or two, I will get the borders on that quilt and it needs to be quilted immediately. Glenn has had his surgery and this would be nice to get to him soon. I did find the red I'll use for the border. Actually, it is the red I was going to use in this project.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Birthday Block

Well, I am done with one Birthday block, well actually 2. I love this fabric.

Sunday report

Fabric usage goal --100 yards-- 87.46 to go
Fabric Added This Week - 1.25 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date - 2.25 yards
Fabric Used This Week -0.12 yards
Fabric Used Year to Date - 14.79 yards
Fabric Used this month - (1.13) yards
Net year to date: 14.79 yards

Judy is having us do the check in again this year. Accountability is a good thing.

All I've done this week is work on some items. I've not finished much of anything. I've made 4 patches for a love quilt and will use my fabric for borders.

One of these days will be a big finish.

I did buy some fqs. I bought a lot to find lots of purple. Didn't find much of them, so gave the rest away and kept the purples. So, I'm in the hole for the month.

Butterflies in the Garden

Well, I finally got the blocks finished. I like the way they are coming together. Now, I'll be able to get the next step on time.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Butterflies in the Garden


Formerly known as Bears in the Farmhouse, I've now named mine Butterflies in the Garden.

I have 4 of 12 blocks made. The pieces are all done for the others, but I have to sew them together. That seems to be taking me a long time. I'm not sure why. Hopefully I'll be able to get the rest done tomorrow. I need to clean out the bobbin area first. Seems to need it right now and I've run out of bobbin thread and think it is the right time.
So, until tomorrow.

First Friday

Sometimes we go down to Seventh Heaven quilt shop for first Friday. But, Wanda decided to invite us over for a sewing time at her home. That was closer and we didn't spend any money. That is a good thing. She made us a wonderful dinner to start us off right. It was very relaxing for me.

Wanda worked on a quilt from an old scrap box and then started on
this one. She isn't sure what the pattern is, so she tried different things to get it to work.
Lana is working on a quilt to give to the association where we meet monthly. I will be quilting this one when she is done with it.
Ina is working on this table runnerShe got it ready to finish the applique.

It was the 4 of us and we all had something to work on.
I worked on Glenn's Love quilt and thought I'd get it ready to quilt, but I didn't like the choice of borders I brought with me, so I need to finish that at home.
I started to work on Doris' love quilt. I'm using the flower 4-patch swap and matching colors. This is not a good photo. The orange is actually pink. Lana called it an Aunt Ruthie quilt. So, that is what it is. I have the columns sewn together and will be working on the rows in the near future.
Today I'm working on the next step for Bears in the Farmhouse. I'm calling mine Butterflies in the Garden. I'll post a photo of the finished step and go from there.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

HST done


Actually, I should have a few extra hst ready to make sure things are "balanced". I didn't press them open because of the bias edges. I find that I stretch them if they lay around too long, soooo.
I ended up pulling some extra colors from the things I chose at the beginning. WE shall see how this all turns out.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Sunday check in

Fabric usage goal --100 yards-- 86.33 to go
Fabric Added This Week - 0.00 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date - 1.00 yards
Fabric Used This Week -0.23 yards
Fabric Used Year to Date - 14.67 yards
Fabric Used this month - 2.89 yards
Net year to date: 13.67 yards

Judy is having us do the check in again this year. Accountability is a good thing.


I made a St Patricks day postcard for a swap I'm and lots of little blocks for the love quilt. I did get the layout done, and am working on the clean up around my studio