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Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Done is great

I'm in Wisconsin this week for a retreat with my friends and I brought a few small things to work on first. 

I had finished the blocks for Lori's sew along and decided at the last minute to use chrome rather than cheddar. It was  when I was supposed to be packing so I didn't spend a lot of time and cut the large  squares the wrong size. Fortunately my friend Debbie had something to substitute!

I like how it turned out! 

I also brought some  fabric to make some more blocks for the Quilts of Valor so I whipped up a few more blocks!


Fun, hunh??

My friend Pat has a long arm and quilted my little snowman quilt for me. I just love what she did! Little snowflakes!!


Isn't that cute? I didn't bring the binding with me so it'll. Have to wait until I get home for binding but I love it!!

Sunday, September 27, 2015

And the winner is....

thank you for all commenting.  I drew a winner from the comments and she is 

IDA!~~!

I'll be sending off a book tomorrow.

I love giveaways.  It's great to hear from so many people.

I'll post some quilting stuff later today.  We have had the kiddies all weekend.


Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Lori's blocks and a Goodwill find

I worked on the blocks for Lori's little mystery. Of course I'm doing mine in pink and brown rather than blue and red!! What can I say??!! I like to be different!


I like it. 

And I stopped at a local Goodwill at the suggestion of a few people and found a very old and heavy iron for $5.99!!


For now it'll do. It gets very hot and I think it needs to be cleaned since it's a little rough. I'm still on the lookout for a new iron though. Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll draw a winner tomorrow!

I also made another charity quilt this week. I know! It's shocking!!

This was another Yellow Brick Road pattern but I forgot to add the fifth row I had already sewn. Oh well. 

My only complaint is all the leftover scraps. So I cut everything into 3" squares, found some sashing fabric  and made new 4-patch blocks. I've yet to decide how to set them. 

I haven't liked any of my stash as larger sashing. I am thinking of a zig zag setting but need something for in between that'll pop. Maybe a bright green?
What do you think?

Monday, September 21, 2015

Small iron suggestions and a GIVEAWAY!!

Okay, the fancy Panasonic cordless iron works great. But I want something I can leave on my little tv-stand of an ironing board surface.

My mini Steamfast died, although I realized I bought it 2-1/2 yrs ago so maybe that's good.

My request is for a recommendation for a small, lightweight iron.  doesn't need to be a portable. I don't want a heavy thing; don't need a Rowenta;  don't need one of those things that looks like it's connected to an IV; don't need the ones that float! Nothing fancy.  I really prefer that it NOT turn off automatically.  that drives me NUTS.

And to entice you to give me your thoughts, I'll offer a GIVEAWAY  of a book to a name drawn on Thursday of those who make suggestions!!!

How's that for motivation???

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Charity quilt done

I finished the charity quilt I really wanted to make for a local children's cancer organization. I used the Yellow Brick Road pattern and used fabric I had on hand. The selvage on the border fabric read "1999" so I think it was definitely ready to be used!!

It's not anything complicated but will hopefully make a child happy. I am using a bright floral flannel for the backing.  Not sure if I'll undertake  the quilting myself on my Janome 6600. 


I also made two stars using this week's theme: Cretonne, which I interpret to use something like periwinkle, which I love. 


Liked it so much I made another in reverse and I actually like it better!



I also picked up a little kit in Madison to make a block for the quilts of valor project. I'm going to make more blocks next!

I'm definitely in the mood for charity these days!

Thursday, September 17, 2015

New toy and Lori's sew along

I recently bought a Panasonic cordless iron through Massdrop, a way to buy things at a discount. I just opened the box last night and was going to wait to open it until my little iron died last night, coincidentally!!

So far I've been pleased with it. The only thing I don't like is that it can't stand up by itself. When not in use, it has to be in the power base. 



I've been using it to press my little 4-patches for Lori's mystery sewalong. 

Of course I had to do mine differently and am using brown and pink rather than blue and red. I like this color combination a lot. 

Next up today is the donation quilt using the pattern Yellow Brick Road. 

Hope to get it done today. I have this compelling need to do this. I'm not sure why. Tomorrow is Nana Day and we are going to have the kids all weekend. 

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

A new washer


Do you remember a few months ago when I posted about the broken washer in my rotary cutter? I found something at my local hardware store but the rotary cutter never worked very well. When I was at the expo show in Madison last weekend I came across an Olfa booth.

I explained my situation to the man working there and he pulled out a case filled with washers and gave me a new one. So now my rotary cutter is happy and working!



I finished last weeks star this morning and I'm really happy with the fabrics I chose. The theme was Cretonne and I think I nailed it. I actually bought this fabric in a little kit in Madison. I think it's gorgeous fabric!

I am determined to make a charity quilt for a local organization that takes care of children with cancer.  Anybody have any suggestions for a quick charity quilt pattern that you can recommend?

Monday, September 14, 2015

More quilt show photos

Here are more pictures from the Expo show in Madison, Wisconsin!

This is made to look like a very typical flower in Wisconsin called Hosta. I have never seen them in California.  Isn't this amazing!

I really liked the setting for this log cabin quilt. 

There was a display of antique quilts and the reproductions made by Julie Hendricks of JJ Stitches in Sun Prairie. It's a great quilt shop with fabulous fabrics and patterns!  Julie displayed her antique quilts alongside her own reproductions.
This one is the reproduction. The original is on a rack:

Antique quilts in the rack:
Reproduction is hung behind. 

Antique Sisters Choice

Another reproduction. 

 This was another display of amazing machine quilting on a small home machine. 

Detail:
I thought this was incredible!!


More amazing quilting!

I was enticed to do some appliqué by a cute kit by Kim Diehl:
This is Pat's. Mine is in pieces still. 

Lastly, I saw this on the way to the airport. Only in Wisconsin!!!

Today is the start of the Jewish New Year so I'm sending wishes for a L'Shanah Tovah to you! Tomorrow we go to the ocean for Tashlich where we throw bread into the water, representing the  shedding of our sins. I'll bring a whole loaf of bread!! 

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Quilt show in Madison

There's a big quilt show in Madison that I've wanted to go to for years. Finally managed it this year and I was not disappointed!! Coupled with a great visit with my sweet friends in Wisconsin, it was a perfect weekend!

Our first stop was Edwards Apple Orchard, where the tastings are amazing and the apples are the best!

That is Pat Riley, Rose Duel and Debbie Dodge.

The displays are just beautiful!

Need some jam?

Tools of the trade

Then there were the quilts in Madison!! Just great. 

Here are a few. 
Isn't this adorable!



I couldn't get the whole quilt in one Picture because there were so many people in front of it. I thought this was the nicest quilt in the entire show!

There were two quilts in the show that were based on Bonnie's patterns. I always love to take pictures for her to see that there are many quilters who finish her quilts and then put them in a show!

I am always so impressed with some people's appliqué. Isn't this amazing


There were an unusual number of quilts with feathered stars, one of my favorite blocks ever!
This woman collected green fabrics on a cross country trip with her husband. And that's something we all do?





I'm heading home today and will
post more pictures this week.