Design Wall Monday

On the design wall today is a little baby quilt for my oldest son's, ex-wife's daughter (whew, that's a mouthful!), who is expecting a baby in April.



I had a piece of Winnie-the-Pooh fabric leftover from something, maybe Andrew's 1st quilt. Anyway, I bordered each block with a blue or green and am adding white sashing. I have a white/green/blue plaid that I'm going to use for the backing and binding, and maybe a border.



Creative Scrap Quilting at its best!

January UFO - #6

I finished my UFO for January tonight. Winter Pines is the pattern by Kay Capps Cross and I only made 9 of these trees, well, actually 10 of them and the other will become a pillow, or something.



I quilted it today using Square Spiral by Keryn Emmerson, Eggshell Permacore thread and Hobbs 80/20 batting.



I stitched the binding on the machine this time. I intended to do it by hand, but Dan was watching something on TV that I didn't want to watch, so I shut the door to my sewing room and emerged later with a finished quilt.

Stashbusting 2011 - #5

Fabric Added this week - 0 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date - 3 yards

Fabric Used this week - 4.5 yards
Fabric Used Year to Date - 24.25 yards

YEAR TO DATE STASH USED: 21.75 yards

No purchases again this week. I'm noticing that my drawers of fabric have more and more space each week. Out with the old and in with the new!

Retreat Door Prizes

The past few days have brought great door prize donations for Spring Break at Mardi Gras. It is wonderful to know that even in these tough times, quilting supply vendors and quilt shops are still willing to send a donation. This weeks goodies are from June Taylor, Walmart, Nancy's Notions, Olfa, and Pieced Together Quilt Shop in Fort Wayne. Thank you so much!!

We are down in numbers a bit from last year, but we still have 37 guild members attending.

Speaking of retreats....
There is still space available at the Shipshewana retreat October 27-30, 2011. The link to the registration form is at the right and all you need to do is send $20 per person to me, and make your room reservation at The Farmstead Inn.

Here's a funny for you: We have 37 signed up for this retreat, also.

Another Rhapsody in Bloom

Last night I decided to make a little valentine table runner with the Scrap Squad Rhapsody in Bloom pattern.



I won a Fat Quarter pack from Jeanne's blog giveaway in 2008 and they have been waiting for the perfect pattern. Well, here it is...isn't it cute.



And look at the stripe I will use for the binding. I have enough of the red/white polka-dots to add triangle ends if I decide to.

Quiltmaker Scrap Squad

It's time for the big reveal!

When I saw the call for participation in the Scrap Squad, I knew it was for me. I have long been known as the "quilter who doesn't do random." And I didn't, until I started following Bonnie from Quiltville. Her quilts really got me out of my little matchy, matchy box and helped me create great scrappy quilts.

My oldest grandson, Tony, asked for a quilt for his new apartment and I planned to make one for him in burgandys and tans, using the first Scrap Squad pattern. But when I saw the Rhapsody in Bloom pattern, I changed my mind. I had a stack of floral fat quarters from an online birthday swap and decided to use them. My quilt is not what I call striking, but has a blended look. Tony's quilt will be the next one I make, as I think this one will be a very nice Quilt of Valor for a female soldier.

Here's what I started with:



On the design wall, deciding if I wanted to keep all the segments of each block together, or randomize them??? I actually sewed my quilt together in rows, and not blocks. That process works best for my brain.



A closeup of some of the fabrics:



The back:


The finished Rhapsody in Bloom:


The pattern was designed by a teenage boy. If you subscribe to Quiltmaker, you will want to check out this pattern.

Check out the other Scrap Squad members quilts. They are stunning!
Jane
Dionne
Kim
Donna
Pat
Carol
Linda

Visit Quilters Club of America and check out the Scrap Squad Group.

Thank you Quiltmaker for this wonderful opportunity! Be sure to visit the Quiltmaker Quilty Pleasures Blog to see all the other beautiful quilts.

That's What Friends Are For!

A few years ago I purchased a little kit for a mini Dresden Plate quilt for $14.99 while on a Shop Hop with my guild. Months later I opened up the package and saw the size of the plates. They were tiny!!! No bigger than an inch.

Talking to my friend Janet about it, she said she would love to have it. So, I handed it over to her and wished her well. Imagine my surprise when I unwrapped it at Christmas this year. She had stitched all those little plates and sewn them down to the background, and she even quilted it. The only thing I had left to do was the binding. See that 3.5" ruler!



I finished up the binding while at the Indianapolis Airport during our 6 hour delay.

Isn't it cute?


Thank you Janet!