more sewing

well I continued sewing yesterday,  I finished up the clues for Bonnie Hunter's mystery  we are up to 5 clues  waiting for Friday's clue.    then I decided to cut the first two blocks of Edyta Sitar's  new book which is written like a Block of the Month 4 of us are going to do it together this next year.   Wow   lots of small pieces..   I have first 2 done and in baggies ready for the retreat this coming weekend.  Our small quilting group, has been going on a retreat starting on New Year's Day this will be our 3rd year.   first 2 were in Paducah Ky at the Quilt in a Day retreat center this year we are going to Springfield, Ill  Closer to home and they feed us instead of us taking meals..  So looking forward to getting a lot of sewing done and lots of friendship.  

Today I decided to put applique blocks into a quilt top. this project has been a long time UFO  i wanted to learn needle turn applique and these were 9 large blocks and not many small pieces.  I learned I didn't really care for needle turn applique but persevered to finish it.  It is ready for the outer border but I need to find the right shade of dark red so it will need to wait until I find it.   

Here is a picture of it without the last border.

happy sewing,

sharon J

More Christmas Eve sewing

HI,
 well I kept on sewing this evening, so i got the Swiss Mountain Morning quilt top done.  It is ready to find a back and quilt it..     It is a little late this year for Christmas but it will be ready for next year.

Happy sewing
Sharon J

Christmas eve day sewing

HI,
I have been sewing today,  nice and quiet at our house.   I finished my Bonnie Hunter 2 mystery quilt.
top.    It is ready for the long arm machine not sure when that will happen.

then I started to put border on another quilt   Bonnie Hunter's  Swiss Mountain Morning  from a class several years ago.   I was just going to put a plain border on it and be done.  

then I found all of these pieces that are for the pieced boarder   had enough minus 2   so I made 2 more and am going to put them on the quilt.  I just had to trim them down.  now to decide on the small border   Can't decide what color to do   white, red or green?   what do you think?  

I also made my UFO challenge list for 2017   my small sewing group is doing this to help each other get some UFOs done. I also put on the list  3 new projects I want to make this year and 2 BOM projects that I am doing...

well back to working on this border,

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

happy sewing,

Sharon J

Xmas sewing

had two of the same pictures  first time  so corrected it and now have both groups of pillowcases
sorry about that..  first pic is my kids and grand kids pillowcases and second pic is nieces and nephews

well Xmas is around the corner for my family.  nest weekend  we do ours early so everyone can be in the own home for Christmas eve and day.    the kids have declared a tradition  that I must make them pillowcases with their names on them every year.  So I have just finished getting the names on all of them...  Now to get them wrapped.     Did some other sewing  but didn't take a picture so as I pull them our of the gift box I will take pictures and post them hopefully tomorrow.   Here are the pictures of the pillowcases.   

Happy sewing
Sharon J

getting things done for Xmas

Hi
well haven't posted for  a while, been busy quilting for customers to get their quilts done for them to give as gifts One more to go it is a T-shirt quilt to make from scratch..  

I have also made 14 pillowcases for kids,grandkids, nieces, and nephews for Xmas just need to embroider their names on them and will be done.  They look forward to them each year, it is fun to find fabric to match their interests.

Made  a baby quilt and some bibs for new great niece, bibs for great grandson .
I also am making kitchen towels with fabric toppers on them   these are not all done yet, but will be soon.  One apron to make yet.

Just finished this quilt for myself at least the top.  It is called Tavern blues.  took this as a class and didn't want it to be a UFO for next year.

the trees are up but not decorated  but stuff is waiting for me to get in the mood to do it. Granddaughter came over and help get everything out of the storage area and carried to the correct room so that was a big help.  Got a lot of my shopping done while weather was decent.  

well better go get busy on the t-shirt quilt.   see you soon

happy sewing
Sharon J

last week of Sept progress

well this was the end of Sept so thought I would do an update on my progress.   I got two customer quilts done ready for pickup.
I finished making all the blocks and setting triangles for Bonnie Hunters 2015 mystery quilt yes I am behind.   now need the design wall to put it together but it is full with another quilt .

I fused 20 blocks for a customer quilt made from shirts they are ready to machine applique down with blanket stitch  here is one of them  the background is from docker pants.

then today I decided to play with this crazy patch paper piecing block. I made three blocks  this will use up 3 1/2 inch strips plus some 2 1/2 inch strips.    easy sewing since I just wanted to sew and not do much thinking.  might make a few more tonight not sure yet.

I put a quilt in the longarm today so it is ready to start quilting. 

starting to make my list for Christmas gifts to make   pillowcases for all  kids, grand-kids, nieces and nephews.  baby quilt for great niece,  not sure what else yet  must get started  I have a retreat coming up end of Oct  so will be taking some of these items to work on.   

happy sewing 

Sharon J

this weeks progress

HI
this week I got a customer quilt basted for her so she can hand quilt it.   This saves the knees and for older ones  no getting on the floor.. another quilt loaded to quilt  hopefully tomorrow.

I also got all 20 blocks done for my 2015 Bonnie Hunter mystery. Yes I know this is 2016 but it got set aside for other things  and then I started the 2016 one.    this is one of two blocks for the quilt.  I was moving right along with them and had 15 done and then stopped to count to make sure how many more I needed to make and looked at the first 3 that I had done last year and they were different from the 15 I had just made.  So decision was to rip all 15 blocks apart and start over or rip the 3 and remake them to match the 15   well I decided 3 was easier that 15 so  I created a new block for my quilt.    they are all done now and sliver trimmed to correct size.   this feels good to be this far and it is on my UFO list so that is even better.   Now I need to make the other block and pay attention to how it is suppose to go together...   I only have one of them done and I think there are 20 of them too.

here is the correct layout  

here is the one I made  and my sliver trimmings

I also made some tag quilts for Great Grandson and his best little friend  first one if for his BFF second one is his for his house and   the cubs one is for him at have at his  GIG's house.   He loved them right away   

my goal for resat of the year is to get several projects to the flimsey stage.  I have many projects in pieces and parts.   I surveyed another project called woodland clover by Pat Speth from a class few years ago with her.  All the blocks are made and pieced borders are made just needed sashing pieces cut and sewn  so I did that today.  Now this project is ready for the design wall next, as soon as I decided on setting triangle fabric for the one that is on the wall now.   

I feel like I got a lot done this week.  Hope next week will be as productive ... 

Oh I fogot  a friend helped me make a long skirt for my daughter out of the cubs fabric to wear to the game on Sunday.    Don't have a picture of it  but hope to get one with her wearing it soon.

Happy quilting 

Sharon J

  

Labor Day weekend progress

I had a good holiday weekend for quilting.  I got several things completed or almost done.
I finished my Row by Row 2016 quilt now to decide where to turn it in at  several shops in my area have not had a winner yet and their row is in my quilt will decide today where to take it.











I finished a floor quilt for great grandson  to play on at my house  just need to sew down binding. first pic is the front  and nest one is the back  used all the fabric in the kit  and made it reversible.

finished the last 4 blocks of  the Tavern blues quilt I have been working on this last year.  needed 4 more blocks when I ran out of background fabric  so friend had a piece that was so close to it that I used it and am going to put them in the 4 corners. the quilt is sewn together on point so need the full amount of blocks.  will post a picture when top is done.  hope to put on design wall later today.

I also got the whole yard mowed which about 2 1/2 acres and cut down small trees and lots of weeds in the flower beds  still much more to go  will wait until it cools down again.


well off to see what else I can get done this week.

Happy quilting
Sharon J

Saturday for me

well I took today for me.   I did 2 row by row patterns.  the first one is done except adding another cow when I get back to quilt shop to get small piece of fabric luckily they had one in their scrap bin.  then will be ready to quilt.   not sure if going to do by itself our put into a quilt.   several shops in my area haven't gotten a winner yet so may try to put quilt together to win...    the second one is pieced background and all the appliques are fused on and ready to sew down....  might get some done tomorrow.  

Happy Stitching

Sharon J

customer quilt done

just finished quilting this one for a customer. She just picked it up and loved it she does lovely hand embroidery work. I followed the blue dots for the quilting design and sewed on the binding so she can hand stitch it down.

also made another block this morning for my tavern blues quilt  only 5 more blocks to make  then ready for design wall to layout the blocks and decide on sashing and cornerstones  looking forward to seeing this made into a top. 

Happy Stitching

Sharon J

updated picture of the tree quilt

here is a full picture of the family tree quilt.  done and delivered.  they loved it and the Mother cried.

weekend progress

I got a customer quilt loaded onto long arm  and 2 passes done on it  going to look great. It is a hand embroidered   double wedding ring.  I am following the blue dots for quilting.    Hope to work on it everyday until it is done this week.  

when not working on it I checked out another UFO  to see what was left to be done on it.   I needed 8 more blocks made  5 of them were cut and kitted up  so I cut the other 3 blocks .  I don't have any more background fabric  so this quilt will be one row short  which will make it rectangle instead of square that will work for me.  It is call Tavern Blues.  It was a class I took couple years ago.  I sewed 2 blocks  so 6 more to go.   here is one of them..  I am using civil war fabrics in cheddar, blue, brown, reds.

I also  made some more pieces for my Bonnie Hunter midnight flight quilt.   30 of each.  

Trying to move some projects along in between taking care of MIL.   Happy with my progress for the weekend.  

Happy stitching,
Sharon J.

making some progress

well I have been taking care of my Mother-in-Law  for her broken wrist and surgery on other hand  so has been staying with us.  So haven't go a lot of sewing done..    Made couple of kitchen towels for a friends granddaughter that loves chickens.  

I finished a customer quilt   this was the first of the kind of quilt that I had made  using applique and embroidery to make a family tree quilt.   The family loved it.  hoping for a better picture of this from the family.   I forgot to get a complete picture of it when it was done...  

Then I quilted 2 red and white log cabin block quilts that were baby size for another customer but didn't take a picture of them.   Got these done this last week while MIL was resting.  

While cleaning my sewing room one day this week to find the cutting table and my desk next to sewing machine. I found a quilt as you go string block quilt ready to put together so I worked on it and it is done ready to go to our local sheriff's department to hand out to a child in need.  I have enough blocks done to make another one.   Love making these since they are quick and mindless sewing. They use us scraps of fabric and batting and are colorful .

Today I hope to start on another customer quilt it is a hand embroidery one that I will follow the blue dots marked for quilting.  The lady does wonderful embroidery work.    Also cut the strips to put string quilt together with..  

Happy Stitching
Sharon J    

prep work for Bonnie Hunter class

I am getting ready to take a Bonnie Hunter class in Moline, Ill this coming Saturday.  it is Midnight Flight.    need red, cheddar constant fabrics  and I had them in my stash.  then many neutrals, black prints, blues and purples   I have cut the sizes needed for the class   I started sewing the neutrals to either red strips or cheddar strips for 3 patches     then cut them into 2 patches   Pictured below Then started sewing into 4 patches.   Can't wait to go to the class   another bonus is can stay and daughter's house and see grandsons...  A friend is going with me to make it more fun and we will shop hop on our way from Decatur to Moline...

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donation quilt for kids

I have finished a quilt to be donated to our sheriff's department to give to a kid in need.   our small quilting group make as many as we can to give to the department for kids that are taken from their home and need some comfort.   this one is a quilt as you go  scrap block quilt.   they are fun and easy
uses up extra fabric and batting from projects then us all your left over strips any size to make the block then I use a 1" sashing for the back and a 2" for the front.    

I like to work on these in the evening while watching TV  and don't want to concentrate on a pattern.

off to make some more blocks   I emptied one zip lock bag working on this one

Happy Quilting
Sharon J

sewing up scraps

well this weekend I have been cleaning and putting away fabric and magazines   I has some bags of fabric so put them into their correct stacks  found some more floor space.  I had a stack of magazines on a shelf in my closet  so I went thru them and kept only a few most of them were Quiltmaker and Fons and Porter    had several magazines marked with patterns but re- looked at the and didn't want to do them anymore so put the magazine in a pile to donate to one of my guilds for their show next month.

I found a bag of scraps with 2 1/2 inch strips of paper foundations cut,  so I sat down and sewed up the bag onto these papers   made 25    these are good for sashing for kids quilts.

Then while putting patterns away and weeding some out that I don't want to make anymore and have already made  I found a foundation sheet for a crazy patch block  so i copied some patterns on to paper piecing paper and made one block to see what it looked like   this will make a great kids charity quilt.     just trying to use up bags and containers of scraps..

 

also found some more kits just what I needed to find.   luckily not large projects small ones so might get some of them done this year.


then I finished a T-shirt quilt for a customer  so it will go in the mail by Weds    great graduation gift

until next time 

Happy sewing

Sharon J

long over due post

well I haven't written a message in quite awhile.  I have been busy this year taking care of hubby that had a hip replaced  he is doing great and out and going. then took care of my sister-in-law for about 2 months before she passed away then took care of her things.   in between I quilted several customer quilts  don't think to take pictures of many of them.    here is one I made totaly from shirts from a customers son.    the pattern is Twisted sisters by Ami Sims.  just love this pattern  works with any fabric  even scrappy.    this one is plain blue shirts for background and blue plaid shirts for blades. everything is from the shirts.  she is going to have it hand quilted by her church ladies that knew her son.

then  made the quilt below for my new great grandson Griffyn Trevon Black  he arrived on April 18th  I there to await is arrival  he took longer enough    but both Mom and baby are doing great.  just can't get enough of him...    I gave him his quilt today but don't have a picture of him on the quilt yet.  hope to get one soon

Now making a T-shirt quilt for a customer for a graduation present.  have the row together  need to sew rows together and put border on it quilt and bind it  must be in mail by end of next week.

I took a week off and went to Paducah ,Ky to the AQS show.   so many beautiful quilts  and lots of vendors.  I did my best not to buy too much and I did a good job this year. 

well off to sew some more 

Happy quilting

Sharon J

snowy week progress report

 well since it snowed on Monday most of the day  I got some sewing done  but best of all I got the upstairs Christmas tree down and boxed up and Sun-room put back together.  this is the longest a tree as been up in my house, the downstairs tree is still up  hope to get it down and everything put back in storage be end of weekend.   Too many other things going on to worry about the trees until now.

well the pineapple block I posted about few days ago is not a hot pad.  totally done  Love it  found out that it is a block from Edyta Sitar's  pattern Hawaiian Delight   Thanks Kathy for the block.

I have another customer quilt done and another one in the machine for today work on.  
Yesterday  afternoon  Hubby was taking a much needed nap  so wasn't in mood to start quilting so I cleaned up some strips  and had some 10" squares of fabric and batting ready for quilt as you go blocks  so I sat down and worked on them  I got 18 blocks done    but the strip bin doesn't look I used any.   I just fluffed it up...     here is a picture of the bin and some of the blocks.    these are great charity blocks. I put sashing between them on front and back  all my machine.  

then last evening  I made all the pieces that are for my applique quilt   and then I worked on it for about an hour while watching TV.   I am determined to get this block done this month   It is the UFO number for this month.  
until next time
Happy quilting
Sharon J

new year update

Well I haven't  posted for awhile.  busy with holidays and then hubby had hip replacement  and taking care of sister-in-law    I have been quilting some customer quilts in-between.   A group of us are doing a UFO Challenge.  We each listed 12 items  on for each month to work on.   I am drawing a number each month for the one we are to work on and get as far as we can that month hopefully done.
Here is my list:

1. Double wedding ring
2. Hand appl basket quilt
3. Garden party embroidery quilt
4. Edyta sitar tree of life quilt
5. Purple fan quilt
6. 2015 B.H. mystery
7. Swiss mountain morning B.H. quilt
8. DQG presidents quilt
9. Woodlawn clover quilt (Pat Speth)
10    buck stops here   ( a paper piecing deer Cynthia England’s way)
11.   Royal Cross
12.   B. H.  Scrappy Irish Chain  

Jan. number was 4.    I got the applique fused on to the borders  but not sewn yet.
                             I also got number 11 to the top stage.   just didn't put box back away when listed it
                             needed to blocks together and put border on it  so it is ready to quilt.

Feb number is 2.    I haven't worked on this one yet  need to get it done only one block left to hand applique and the put it together...

this morning I woke up early  so went to the sewing room and straightened up my cutting table . I found this block that a friend had given me to finish.   so instead of just moving it to another pile I sat down and finished it. I think it will be a hot pad  so it can be done....  thanks Kathy I love it.

well back to customer quilt in the machine.
later Sharon J