string block update

I have been trying to empty the bins I showed you last time. Well got down to a few small pieces ..   41 blocks out of the bin.    Well now it is full again I emptied some baggies of scraps into it  and sorted out the too small pieces into a baggie for another project.    So will start again on another project to use them up.  MIL tore off all the paper such a big help.  Now to sew the blocks together hopefully have enough for a twin quilt. 

Happy quilting
Sharon J

string piecing day

One of my guilds is making twin quilts for a home for teens, so I went thru my tops to see if had any I could finish and donate. I found 2  one was wide enough but needed length  so found in my stash a piece of the fabric that was in the blocks  so put it on both ends  now ready to quilt.   Other one is too small and no fabrics that go with the older prints. It is big enough for a small child's quilt so not putting it away.
Then then started on a small tub of scraps to make string blocks for a twin quilt. Here is the tub before I started.

My Mother-in-Law is staying with since she fell last week and wanted to help do something so she sorted the tub into short  pieces and longer pieces. this really helped.   I made 23  8" string blocks  in a couple of hours. 

Now MIL  can take the paper off and I will sew them together  that should come close to making a twin  if not will add a border. 

Today will be sewing Xmas favors for a sewing group's Xmas party  and then MIL can help with them too.   Nice to have help.   She is also going to up some applique pieces out for me that I have fusible on  so I can finish a customer quilt.
Well better go get sewing.

Happy quilting
Sharon J

Sunday sewing

 I baked 4 loaves of zucchini bread this morning and put 2 packages in the freezer  did the grocery shopping.  After supper I got some sewing done, I had a zip lock bag of scraps so decided to see how many string blocks I could make out of them.  Guess how many  I got 11  7 1/2 inch blocks and 11  2 1/2 by 8 inch blocks...  just a few very small pieces left  they will go into box with my crazy pineapple blocks.   here is the bag of scraps 

here are the blocks that I got from the bag.

so fun to see what you can get out of scraps.  I have a laundry basket full of scraps. so can many hundreds of blocks..... 

well off to bed 
happy quilting
Sharon J

sewing today

I have been sewing all afternoon while it is raining outside. I put my On Ringo Lake quilt blocks from Bonnie Hunter 2018 mystery on the design wall so I could start sewing it together. I did half the blocks so making a smaller quilt. I love the colors.  Here is the picture of the blocks on the wall.

Then notice that I am 3 setting blocks short and one sashing block short.  Oh well I started sewing the rows together  and some of the sashing to join few rows.  then quit to make supper  and then made the 3 setting blocks.

While I was sewing the mystery blocks I had pressed the blocks but as I sewed them together I pressed them with the wool pressing mat and what a difference this makes.  Don't know if you can see the difference in the 2 blocks but one one the left was pressed on the wool mat and the one on the right was not.

I decided I was done working on this project for the night. I need to make 1 sashing block but will do it next sewing session.  Won't be sewing tomorrow due to celebrating my younger daughter's 40th birthday, it was on the 2nd and she celebrated on the day by renting a party boat and spent the day with her friend.
We will be cooking steaks and fixings, hope it is done raining by noon.

Then this evening I watched a Hallmark move and sewed on the Garlic Knot blocks from Bonnie Hunter.  I just started them didn't have time to do them when Bonnie and everyone else was working on them but have always wanted to make some.  Well I have cut out 31 block kits and have sewn 9 blocks  they are really cute and easy not doing them as leader and enders but just doing a block at a time.
I had a bag of small pieces and few fat quarters for background hopefully can use these up.  Love scrap blocks. 

It is off to bed so happy quilting
Sharon J

more stars

Well the repair of the quilt is done.  It could use a new binding but that will be for a another time.  She needs it back to sleep...  hope to get it back to her this evening.
I made some more stars last night from cupcake #4 from moda. I have 5 more blocks to make then will have 42 star blocks then to decide how to lay them out.
Be careful if you try these, they are additive.  The sewing of the charm squares onto the paper is mindless sewing(or as a friend calls it stupid sewing) doesn't take brain power just sew on the lines..
I think my next evening sew project will be the garlic knots block from Bonnie Hunter to use up some scraps and strips will need to make up some block kits so they are ready to sew. Using the binder clips to hold each block together makes it very easy.

I also make couple placemat bags at the retreat went to couple weeks ago forgot to post a picture. They are so fun and fast and easy. I show a fellow retreater how to make them and she went out and bought some placemats and zippers and made a few too. She cut the placemat in half and made small ones  so cut. 

Happy quilting
SharonJ

quilt repair

well yesterday and today is being spent on repairing granddaughter's quilt. It has been well loved.  I made it for her when she was 3 I thing when she went into a big girl bed.  I also made a window valance for her room too.  Well over the years all the yellow fabric in the quilt has deteriorated. So I am appliqueing new yellow squares over them and then will re-quilt it.  most of the quilting is gone too  It was one of the first quilts I quilted  before moving to Sullivan so wasn't the best.  Offered to make her a new one, but she said it would not be the same so what does a Grandma do  repair...    Almost done have about 4 more 9 patches to put yellow fabric on.  I have used varies pieces  some 10"squares from an exchange and other odd pieces.   Told her to start thinking of a new quilt and offered to have her come pick one that I have made the top and I can quilt it. The main reason she likes it is for the very light weight batting that I used. I think it was thermore batting  I have found another light weight very drapable batting that she likes.    well off to finish the repair work.

Happy quilting
Sharon J

quilting marathon

well back home from retreat it was great and got a lot done.  we did charity
 sewing/quilting on Monday afternoon and evening this is what we got done.
donating to various organizations.

the rest of the week we worked on our own projects. we played some games and everyone received daily surprises.  great food and snacks.

I have been quilting several quilts this week so far have done 4 small quilts for customers and 1 T-shirt quilt  just need to finish the binding on it and it can be done.
I have been making star blocks from the cupcake papers by Moda  have them all sewn and cut and each block clipped together ready to sew.  I have been sewing them as I watch TV in the evening.  I have 24 blocks done out of 42.  great easy sewing project. I have stepped out of my box and doing a dark background which I rarely do  I usually do light backgrounds 

Tomorrow I am off to visit and stay with a dear friend that has just had her knee replaced last Thursday and help her finish the round table mats you see in the above picture  they need their centers  they need to be done by next week and she is not up to sewing yet so will see how far we get tomorrow. 

I will be back at quilting on Thursday see how far I get with couple more quilts.  one quilt need to wait until I get some more white batting  ordered it on should be here Friday we will see if that happens.  I will get the binding finished on the T-shirt quilt and notify customer that it is done.

Happy quilting and have a great holiday weekend.
Sharon J

AWOL from sewing.

HI I have been missing in action from quilting the last month.  We had grand-kids for almost 2 weeks and enjoyed every minutes of it.  Did a little piecing while they were doing things like fishing and kayaking with Papa. 
I have gotten a couple of customer quilts done in the last week and a half.  Which made them happy. Now to get a few more done.  I am now making a T-shirt quilt ready to put sashing between the shirts.  I have a couple more to make.  So need to get busy.

But there will be a delay since I am hosting a retreat in Springfield, IL  next week Monday thru Thursday.  It is always so much fun the sew with fellow quilters. 

Haven't gotten any thing to the top stage so that I can take any pictures.  I did get all the parts ready to finish Bonnie Hunter's 2018 mystery quilt but need to put it on the design wall to sew it together. It will have to wait for couple weeks at least..

Well will post again after the retreat with some pictures of projects we got done. 

Happy quilting,
Sharon J

cleaning and cutting up scraps

Well this last week in between other projects I have been cleaning up sewing room and cutting up scraps and small pieces of fabric. I have cut 2 1/2 inch strips to go into jelly roll quilts( yes making my own)  and then smaller strips into container for strip piecing blocks.   Both of these projects will be donated to our local Dove to give kids and Moms a hug.  These are so much fun to make and know they will bring a little joy to someone that needs it. here are pictures of a few of the  blocks I have made and container of strips ready to make quilts.  Made 65 of the string blocks  and have enough strips to make at least 3 quilts.

Also my local guild is making surgical caps for kid for our local hospital  I didn't get to go to sew day this last Saturday to help make them but they made 41 caps  I have made 3 so far and have 7 more cut out to make  here is what they look like

I finished a baby quilt for new great nephew coming in June  now to quilt it. I selected the back so now to get it in the machine and quilt it.  will show picture after it has been gifted. also finished a top that I took in a class at Paducah this year called combo weave  so fun and easy  have its back selected ( all of the fabric for this quilt has come out of my stash feels so good)  picture to follow when quilted.
So took about 10 1/2 yards out of my stash this last week for these project and not sure how much of small pieces were cut up for strings and jelly roll projects.   Hope I can get some friends to help put these blocks and strips into quilts...
Well off to eye doctor today and shopping with MIL.  Hope to work a little more this evening.

Happy Quilting,
Sharon J

weekend quilting

I had a great time in Paducah Ky at the AQS show this month, took tow classes.they were great. I will post pictures when I get some more done on them.
I have quilting 2 quilts for customer this last week couple more to get done for graduation gifts for customers.   I will be  at it tomorrow.
Did errands this morning mostly for prep for mother-in-laws  90th birthday party on Saturday. I worked on one of the classes I took at Paducah called combo weave  great scrap quilt.   Then this evening while watching the voice I did some string piecing  I got 20 blocks done.   When have enough blocks will put them together for a kids donation quilt. 
I am done for tonight  so off to read for a little while before bed.

Happy quilting
Sharon J

weekend sewing

HI,
I have been cleaning up my sewing room  unloading my desk next to sewing machine it had gotten stacked really high...  and also cleaned out 3 drawers of a rolling cabinet.   Found the 2 things that I have been looking for and had given up on finding soon.  One was a pack of newsprint paper I had ordered from amazon for paper piecing at xmas time  to finish an order for free shipping  and a kit I bought last year at Paducah quilt show (small wall hanging) that I wanted to get done before this year's show.  I found them both in the rolling cabinet.  Put kits and projects all in one drawer, scraps in another drawer and misc in the bottom one.  This cabinet sits close to my sewing machine with ironing board on top of it so I can pull it close to machine when sewing.  This works great for small projects. 
I have been doing scrap sewing in the evenings this weekend. I used up a small brown shopping bag full yeah bag is empty, now to work on the drawer I just discovered.  Here is what I made over the weekend while watching TV in evening.

Also in the one of the drawers I found this project that I took a class in Paducah many years ago, the year that Paducah flooded and they had to move the show to any available building in town and churches offered up there classrooms for classes.  one block was done but not quilted and other one was not started so I finished both of them and now they are hot pads. 

On one of my quilting yahoo groups they had been talking about these button hooks so Friday a friend and I went looking for them  we found them in 2 Dollar General stores out of 5 stores. One manager told us to check back in day or two  they had a truck unloading so she went back on Sat and they had them. they are really cute for our sewing rooms. She is reclaiming a room that used to be hers into her sewing room  so will be great decorations.  I asked friend to look for them and she found them in store near her and daughter was out shopping Sat. and found 3  so I think we have plenty  great Xmas gifts for guilt groups.

Now I need to go looking for a piece of fall fabric in my fabric closet but tote that has that fabric in underneath other stuff  so I guess I will see what is all piled in that corner of closet.  Making 4 season pillows for our local guilt guild's show in June  I have winter done  need to get others done using my embroidery machine. They will be part of our raffle prizes.

Well back to quilting a bargello quilt in the quilt machine  purples and using gold thread looking good.

Happy stitiching
Sharon J

sew day

HI,
We had a great sew day yesterday.  We had a new person join us  looking forward to having her come often. Everyone was working on different projects and great food for lunch everyone brings something to share always plenty to eat. 
I finished a quilt as you go quilt yesterday  only needs the binding sewn down and a friend does this for us  keeps her busy.  didn't take a picture of it  used lots of strings.   Then sewed bind down on machine of another quilt bringing the back to the front and sewing it down.  Both of these will go to Dove to make someone feel loved.   Then I made back and quilted a table runner and put binding on  then sat last night and sewn binding down.   Our sew group received many bags of fabric from a quilter that was going into nursing home at beginning of the year so we are trying to make things to donate from it.  I found this table runner made but not quilted so I finished it.  Here is a picture of it.

Others worked on sewing down binding, quilting 60 degree table runner, piecing kids quilt, etc.  great day visiting and sewing.   We sew most 1st and 3rd Weds at my house. 

I finished up a breast cancer ribbon wall hanging to donate to a benefit for a friend just need to put a hanging sleeve on it last weekend.   I also got all the clues for Bonnie Hunter"s mystery quilt done up to starting to make the blocks so excited to see how the blocks go together...  will be working on them in between other projects and quilting.   
well better close for now and go load a quilt in the machine  and start quilting..

Happy Stitching
Sharon j

new year progress report

well looks like I have not written a blog post for quite awhile.   holidays came and went with some sewing done   I made 18 pillowcases, 6 kitchen towel scarves, and few other things. 
then came end of Dec and Jan  flu bug came to our house.  I had 2 different kinds  not fun still battling and ear problem.  But back to sewing again.

I finished a large queen quilt for a customer  and now it is ready for the quilt machine hopefully yet today.   Quilted a customer large wall hanging and sent it off to her. 

I have been working on Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt.   I have first 5 clues done.  making progress
here are those clues

I needed to find a hand project that I could work on while sitting with a friend while she gets her chemo treatment every Tuesday.  So I am doing 3D bow ties blocks using 5 inch squares.  They are so fun and easy.  I am not a big fan of hand work but I am liking these blocks.  I had 2 charm packs of the same fabric so that is what I am using   not sure what I will make out of them  will determine that later.   

I have been asked to teach a class in Olney IL and this is what I am going to teach   Labyrinth  by Debbie Maddy. this is  a fun and easy quilt  if anyone else would like me to come teach this at their quilt I would be happy to.

Then while at a retreat that I hosted beg of Jan  a friend and I started making log cabin blocks from black and white fabric. We probably have been collecting fabric for 2 years.  Black with white prints and white with black prints.  We both got about 30 blocks made  here are mine laid out  trying to decide how big I want the quilt..

Then this last week I have been cleaning out some sewing stuff and seeing what I could finish.  I found a few of these blocks made and 3 little bins of red, blue and white strips. So Weds at sew day at my house I worked on making more.  I have 30 blocks done  will put them together and donate the quilt to our local National Guard unit. 

Well I think this is long enough and I need to go get busy. I am practicing with a new long arm ruler   then need to get quilt in the machine..    It is sleeting here and cold so good day to stay in sewing room.  

Happy Quilting,

Sharon Jack