Finished projects

While I was in Wisconsin, I felt motivated to try to actually finish something rather than work on a larger project. So I pulled out a couple of small Kim Diehl projects in her What Nots line and I made two!

This is the block. It finishes at 4"!

I had started this little appliqué project the last time I was in Wisconsin and I finished up the center. I still need to do the outer border which is supposed to have yo-yos!

Please don't look too closely at my appliqué because it's not that great. One of my friends said it was "primitive"!

Here are pictures of some things that my friends were working on this past weekend:

I absolutely love this quilt and will forever kick myself for not having bought the kit when we were in Chicago a couple of years ago from Primitive Gatherings. Isn't it awesome! The fabrics are what make the quilt. The pattern is nothing very intricate but the fabric is just fabulous

A couple of friends were working on string blocks which I thought were adorable.

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These are smaller blocks than the other ones. You can see with the phone up against one of the blocks! Terri is making a couple of quilts for her darling homemade camper that her husband put together! I think they'll be perfect!

I love this little quilt too.

The high rises of Janesville

I spent the past week in Wisconsin sewing away with my dear friends. I'll

Post pictures of quilts tomorrow. But for now I wanted to show you the view from the porch. Who says there aren't high rises in Janesville??!!!

Note the corn fields in front! 

Oh and of course there are barn quilts!

Flying home this afternoon!

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!!

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.

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?

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???

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!