Faded dye star and new machine set up

I found some dull-ish fabrics which look sort of faded so I used them for my Star in a Time Warp!! Up to date am I, save for a few older ones I'm still struggling with. I didn't want this to be too normal now that I'm into the wonky stars!!

The colors photographed much brighter then they really are. Trust me:  they look faded. 

My dh arrived yesterday so he helped me move a desk from our other house (which has been sitting in the garage) Into my sewing room to try it out. I decided I could have two machines at my disposal this way; switch off between the 1080 and the 301. It isn't a sewing table at all but might work out. When we sold our other house, most all the furniture went with it. This desk was one of our favorites so we kept it. There's not really any place else for it. 

What do you think?

And on the other wall is my old Bernina 932 in the sew eazy table along with the treadle, which I used yesterday when the power went out!!  I'm not sure I'll leave them like this but for now, I can play with 4 different machines and I like that. 

I'm still trying to figure out the cutting table situation. I'm using an old kitchen cutting island which is much too small but works for now. 

No design wall yet. That'll come. I'm sharing the room with Emma and her crib so I might wait on the design wall until she gets into a bed. 

She just turned 3 so I doubt it'll be long now. 

Here she is with her "purse" and her nightgown that she won't take off! Note the dead California grass! 

Great little quilt show

I've mentioned that my favorite quilt store in Bend (Quiltworks) has a monthly little quilt show. I met Lori there today and I was so pleasantly surprised to find that the quilt show they had for the month of August was a collection of small quilts that were made in honor of the California State Parks system.

Last year I saw a few of these quilts at PIQF but Marilyn had all of them on display. The challenge was for a Quilter to depict a particular California State Park in a quilt. There were parks I didn't know existed. Some of them were just spectacular and I took a lot of pictures. I hope you enjoy them.  I was really lucky to have gotten to the shop before the end of August!  Not to mention lucky that I was able to meet Lori too!

I think this is Emerald Bay near Lake Tahoe, which has the bluest water you can imagine! Hard to believe this is a quilt and not a photograph!

I think this is a park in Carmel, near where we live in California.

This is Donner State Park near Lake Tahoe. We took our kids camping there every year when they were young! The statute depicts the Donner  Party, which is quite a colorful story of survival in the Sierra Nevada mountains in the winter in the 1800s!

San Diego

Redwood trees up north.  This quilt was 3-D

I'll post the rest tomorrow. She also had a featured quilter's quilts and they were equally spectacular. I'll post them in the next day or so as well.

Turkey red day

Today is a first for me! I'm doing the Stars in a Time Warp on time!! I drove up to our cabin in Oregon a few days before my family so I have some sewing time! Woohoo!!

This week's block is using an older turkey red. I wouldn't know an older one from

a newer one, really, so I played around with what I have. Mind you, my stash here in Oregon is pretty limited. Here are two different versions, very different from each other. 

I'll call this normal. 

This one is the odd ball and I definitely like it better!  There was a sample on Barbara Brackman's blog that used different points so I decided to give it a try. I love this flag fabric, and cut up every piece out of this 5" square. 

Hope to get lots done! Will take a break and meet Lori (humblequilts.blogspot.com) for lunch tomorrow!  I tried to get her to come sew with me for a day but poor thing has too much going on these days.

Found pillar print

Well I must admit I found it online and got a yard. No idea what I'll do with it but I can now cross that block off my to-do list from the Stars in a Time Warp list!!

Still have no clue about faded dyed print so will make something up. Vbg

The benefits of multi-tasking

After I've finished a project, I usually struggle trying to decide what to sew next. After I finished the Hawaiian baby quilt, I was having trouble deciding what I wanted to work on next.

When I couldn't make up my mind I decided to work on two projects at the same time.  That turned out to be a great idea.

I recently saw a top on line that I thought was adorable and very doable.   So I decided I was going to try to make something similar to that top. I had also started some blocks that are like a trip around the world, from Bonnie's website so I figured I might as well pull out those blocks as well.

The advantage of doing that was that for each piece of fabric that I pulled out of my stash I was able to cut it into pieces to use for two or even three projects at once.  So I did not have to put the rest of the fabric back into my stash. I used up whatever piece I pulled out.

This is the block from Bonnie's website:

These blocks recall require six strips that are 2 1/2 inches wide and 16 inches long.

The other blocks that I decided to work on take different size pieces but I was still able to use up the scrap piece that I pulled from.

Here is one block:

This block required a 4-1/2 inch square for the center, four strips that are 1-1/2" wide and four squares that are 2 1/2 inches square. This block uses lights and darks.  So I would cut a 2 1/2 inch strip for the trip around the world and then I would cut 4-1/2 inch square and 2 1/2 inch squares and 1-1/2 inch strips which I would use in other blocks.

Here are the blocks I finished the other day:

The blocks finish at 6 inches.  

I didn't clear a lot of space in my stash but it felt good not putting fabric back into the stash but rather I was able to use it up.  So that is my brilliant thought for the day.

Stars in a time warp catch up

I seem to always fall behind in this project and then try to catch up by making several blocks at once.

I also have decided that I don't have to religiously follow the color recommendations and guidelines. I don't always have the exact fabric described in the blog posts and have agonized over trying to comply. I am going to do it as I want rather than worry about strict compliance. It's my quilt afterall!!  Aren't you proud of me??!!!

The easiest one I can do is the toile. I have lots of it and just love that fabric. Most of mine has come from trips to Paris. 

I had trouble finding lapis blue fabric so went with a navy/red instead. I'm thinking of using this navy in a larger quilt I'm doing with my friends in Wisconsin but that's for another blog post. 

I also am using this for the floral trails fabric. I love this fabric and actually found the fq in a large bundle I bought several years ago at quilt market. 

I'm still trying to find a pillar print and wood block print or something close. I'll keep looking!

By the way, I make my flying geese using the Open Gate Fit to be Geese ruler. I love using it and find my blocks are super accurate and use the least amount of fabric. I highly recommend it!

Baby quilt is ready for delivery

A friend of ours who we know from Hawaii just had a granddaughter born a bit early. Fortunately I had the baby quilt finished. I just needed to add the binding. 

I love how bright and lively it is!

Simple block:

And how about this backing fabric? All the fabrics came from Hawaii except the backing, which I found in Redding, Califirnia, no where near a beach!!  Go figure!!

I am giving it to my friend this weekend. I am confident they will love it!!

Hope to sew this coming week !

UFO done

I've been focused on finishing up my Dipped in Chocolate top, which was made using tiny 4-patches from a swap. This top has a zillion pieces and I'm really happy it's done!!

Here is a close up of one corner. 

This is my first sewing project in my new sewing room at our new house in Sunriver. So that'll go on my label!

Family arrives on Wednesday!!

Sunriver quilt show rocks! Another birthday present!

Lucky me for being up in Sunriver when the local guild was having their annual outdoor show in the Sunriver mall. There was even a big band serenading us!

I think the youngest person in this band was on Medicare!! 

The quilts were inspiring and since I'm by myself for another 5 days, I plan to get some sewing done. Hope to use the new treadle!!

This was done in a class which I would've loved. Isn't this darling??!!  Don't you need one for your sewing area??

I recently got this pattern and am now excited to make this Pat Sloan design

. I loved the way the piano keys border was arranged. 

This had amazing quilting! 

Very impressive!

I loved this simple quilt. Here is one block:

Pretty cool!

I loved the simplicity of this as well as the colors!

Isn't this adorable??

I liked the use of alternative blocks!

Another great block:

Love the colors!

Now the best:  my next birthday gift to myself:

My very own almost barn quilt!! Painted in great colors,  and stars are my favorite blocks! Not sure where I'll put it. Maybe in the garage so it won't get damaged by the harsh winters here!