Stash Busting

We are having crazy weather here in Ohio ... spring one day, winter the next. So, having just finished a couple quilts, not ready to really start working on another quilt pattern at this time. But, I have found a pattern that could be a good stash buster down the road.

It consists of many, many, and many 2 1/1 inch squares. First, I was going to cut up my 30's fat quarters to do this pattern. But, it is hard to cut up those fat quarters I have been collecting over the last few years. And I haven't found the perfect pattern for them at this minute. Having another thought on this, I decided to go into my crazy pile of fabrics that I haven't found a use for yet. lol

This is the first of a few boxes I need to go thru. I am pressing and then cutting these into 2 1/2" wide strips, and then also cutting some 1 1/2" strips from the fabrics that are left. These l 1/2" strips will go into (hopefully) strings quilts. My goal is to work on a box at least a couple times a week. We'll see how this turns out.

This is the first quilt of 2019 that was started and finished.  I still had my Christmas quilt hanging here. The bunnies kind of looked out of place with the Christmas quilt hanging above them. I thought maybe this one would be my spring/summer quilt. Then my daughter suggested that it still looked like Christmas ...........soooo off to find a pattern for the elusive spring/summer quilt.

Somewhere in my travels over the internet, Pinterest and quilt magazines, I knew I had seen a tulip quilt pattern, but couldn't find the right one.  Then on a Facebook page I am following, there it was. Pat Sloan was showing pictures of a new quilt book she had just finished. There on the front cover were these darling tulips. Knew I had to have them .... and within a week I had my copy of her book.

In less than 2 weeks I had my tulip quilt completed.  I took it into the quilt shop that I had  bought my fabric from, to show them my completed top. I have always hand quilted all of my quilts. But my last quilt, which was over 3300 pieces, was long armed by them.. They just so happened to have finished a quilt design perfect for this quilt, large swirls with hummingbirds ... of course this quilt is going to be long armed by them now.

Well that is all I have for the moment .... I don't have any hand quilting to do in the evening, but I am working on some embroidery to keep me out of trouble.  Like anything could keep me out of trouble.

Bye for now,

Sharon

NATIONAL QUILT DAY .....................

National Quilt Day, and so far all I have had time for is to peruse some quilt books and try to find some fabric in my stash for the tulip quilt below.  I ventured out to my local quilt shop, and their winter hours were in effect, so no fabric. I made up for the disappointment by stopping by Arby's and getting myself a mint-chocolate shake. You gotta do what you gotta do to make yourself feel better.

 I have needed a new spring/summer quilt for my kitchen for a while. I actually remember in an old quilt magazine seeing a tulip quilt, but was unable to find it. Then Pat Sloan started advertising her new quilt book .. and of all things .. there were the tulips I wanted. Immediately ordered her book, which arrived this week.

I am only going to make 4 tulips as my wall space is limited. Still, the quilt should measure somewhere around 20 - 22" ish x 38" ish, depending on sashings and borders.

This past week our quilt guild met for a craft session at our monthly get together. We were fortunate to have as our guest speaker, Dee Hart, to show us a method of coloring on fabric. This pattern is from Crabapple Hill Studio, by Meg Hawkey. 

 First we had to outline our pattern.  Then following instructions on what colors to start with, and using a 3 color process for tinting and shading.  This is only the first part of the process. The final process is embellishing with embroidery. That is when the coloring will just "pop". 

So my first part is done (Kelly!) ... now to find time to start the embroidery. That is why a Halloween themed project may be the perfect project at this time. Even though my son stated ..."probably will not be done until Halloween 2020". Now you know I have to finish it forsure this year.

I  plan on continuing National Quilt Day this evening, working on my  hand quilting  project meant for my living room for a summer wall hanging. And when that is done, then finish up some cross stitch summer patterns when I am not trying to finish the embroidery on the above picture. I love being retired ..........

Hoping you all had a chance to celebrate National Quilt Day by playing with some fabric.

Until next time,

Sharon

LOST .. But Soon to Be Found!

Hopefully. I will have a handle on this process again soon.  I had received an e-mail that someone new was following this Blog, and reminded me that I need to re-think and try and problem solve my issue.

I've missed sharing happenings in this 2018 calendar year.  My biggest problem has been trying to post pictures .. I was doing just fine posting from my Tablet ... then upgrades didn't upgrade and I am not computer savvy.

I recently found out how I may achieve this, but haven't really had the time to delve into this.  So, my mission for 2019 is to get back in the swing of things here.  I just really enjoy talking to "people" and I can talk as long as I want to, and know one can interrupt me. lol

Also, I completed a couple cool things in this past year that I would like to share with everyone.  Quilting, knitting, crocheting, cross stitching, even some crafting. Not to big on crafting, but I did make a couple of things.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year. 

Sharon

Test

QUILT BASTING w/ POOL NOODLES

Hello it's me again. Tired of Facebook for the moment and all the problems of the world, thought it was time to catch up on my blog.

So, this morning I decided today would be the day to finally get the back of my husband's quilt basted. Not basted in the way of the pain like peeling off a stuck band aide!  No, the pretty quick and somewhat easy new way that I have found to do it.

A few months ago I was contemplating the sandwiching of a quilt that needed to be done.  Not looking forward to either pinning then hand basting; I started surfing the Internet!  I found on You Tube a video showing basting done by using pool noodles.  I had to sort out how in the heck to set it up, because that wasn't shown in the video.  So after fumbling around, I finally did find out how to spray baste the 3 layers together.











Even though it took me about a month to hand quilt it, almost every night, all the layers stayed really well together.








My brain kept telling me there had to be a better way to do this.  So, yes I figured out a way that just might work. Below is what I have come up with.

First step is to roll your fabric, here is the back fabric for my quilt, onto a pool noodle.

Step 2 ... roll your backing onto it's pool noodle.

Roll out a portion of each, with back fabric on top of batting. 

Roll backing fabric toward and over both noodles.

Spray the batting and smooth fabric on it.

Make sure no wrinkles and smooth, smooth, smooth out with hands.

Turn noodles around, rolling fabric toward you from last sprayed part.

Spray baste the batting, and smooth fabric onto it.

Keep doing that for a while. I did mine just before floor.

I carefully folded up sprayed part and laid on table, and continued.

WALLAH... It's done and came out great.  Less than a half hour of work.

Now top fabric will be done the same way.

Backing with batting, batting side up will be sprayed and top smoothed on it.

My next step will have to wait, because I need to mark the top fabric.  Which I am thinking will take a little while, as I am considering a Baptist Fan pattern or circles. lol Pattern is Walk About by Grizzly Gulch Gallery, designed by Ann Lauer.

Thanks for stopping by.

Quilt Shed in Progress

Coming soon to my backyard .... A shed built for me to enjoy quiet time, or maybe quiet time for husband w/o the hum of sewing machine? This is his winter project.

Behind that tree in 2 weeks assembling of shed will be taking place!  I will be updating it's progress.  Son-in-law has already ran electric thru basement wall for hookup.  Yes, it will be heated.

Now my winter project will be making small wall quilts.

Stay tuned .....

ALL ABOUT ME! lol

Finally, taking time to catch up about this summer.  I am thinking that this was the worst summer for outdoor crafting sessions for me.  Usually working on a few different things outside on my glider, or on my "front porch", which is really the smaller garage which we have screened in.  lol. I would stay outside in these areas until twilight and I couldn't see to work on my stuff, or read my books.

A LITTLE ABOUT ME:

I am retired, and living the dream I had when I was working.  Mostly wanted to be home quilting.  I have turned my extra bedroom into my crafting sanctuary.  Only the brave enter if not invited.  My husband came in once and wanted to know if there was something that we could work on together in there.  He barely escaped with his life.   lol  He has his hobbies and he needs to stick with that! Woodworking, gardening, and he is an excellent cook.  Thank goodness, cause I don't do that anymore!  I bake, but the meal planning and fixing he enjoys, so I let him be happy!  lol

I have 4 grown children and 6 grandchildren.  3 out of 4 children live within 2 miles of us, and 3 grandchildren, ages 18 - 12 are in those 2 miles.  I know, we are very lucky parents and grandparents. Unfortunately, the other child her husband and the other 3 grandchildren, ages 13 - 9 live way across the country in the State of Washington.  Our son-in-law is in the Service, and they have almost another year or so out there.  I pray they will all be closer to us.

So, as of 3 weeks ago, my husband and I acquired a pet.  At my son's place of work, they adopted another cat, offspring of their first cat, and he talked us into takeing her in because he said she was just to sweet and didn't want anything happening to her.  So ....... Her name is Maggie Mae ..... and she is about 10 weeks old now.  She lets me know when it is time to put my hand quilting away for the night!  lol

Okay, moving on .....

The only way I can get pictures on this blog now is to take them on my I-pad, then I go here to my blog and fill in the descriptions.  So, nothing is in order the way I would like them to be, so bare with me, please.

Son and girlfriend will be over for dinner today.  They like dessert, who doesn't.  lol  So, this recipe is about 30 plus years old,  Printed in a 1978 recipe booklet from Quaker Oats.  I am so glad I held onto this, cause it is quick and easy to make.  A nice soft fruit bar that everyone will like.

2 cups Quick/Old Fashioned oats (uncooked), 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour (or whatever you prefer), 1 cup butter/margarine, 1 cup packed brown sugar, 1/2 cup chopped nus/or not, 1 tsp cinnamon, 3/4 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp soda ...... mix all together in your mixer.  Reserve 2 cups for topping

 Press firmly in a 13 x 9 inch greased pan

Spread 3/4 cup preserves or more on top

Sprinkle reserved 2 cups mixture on top

bake at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes

TRY IT, YOU'LL LIKE IT!

I dog sat at my daughters for a week in July. Coming and going 4/5 times a day.  I used her sewing machine, and set up shop in her dinning room.  yeah!!  I completed 3 tops while I was there.

This one I started with my now almost 16 year old granddaughter (3) years ago.  We planned the setting of the blocks .... then we were to get together so she could sew them.  Well, as we know, life has a way of changing all your best plans.  She was involved in gymnastics, school, then cheer leading then with friends galore.  lol  So, I pulled it out, sewed it together.  I will hand quilt it this winter.  I have lots of left over fabric, she is going to make her dog a small quilt.  

I saw these darn, cute 5 inch blocks in a quilt store.  I was not looking for anything ... but they found me.  So, I put together a Christmas Quilt top, "just for me".  lol  It is a little bright and quirky, just like me. another lol.  I found a great backing, which is of course is out of order in these pictures, it is a couple pictures down!!!

WOW .. a really bad picture!

Yay, another blurry picture!  This is a wall quilt, 36 x 36 inches, for my son's house.  He picked the pattern and he picked the fabric.  I have it now sandwiched and ready to hand quilt.

This is a better picture of his quilt.  Also, he made me a wave template just for this quilt.  I will hand quilt the lines pretty close together .... it should give the quilt "movement".  Gotta get this done, like yesterday:-)

Here is the fun fabric I found for the back of my Christmas Quilt.  lol  It is license plates all to do with quilting,  love, love it.  So now I have a "year" long usable themed quilt ..... Us quilters are always thinking!!!!

Well, that is about all I can think of right now.  I have also been cross-stitching some cute fall themed things for a wooden bowl I have.  Gonna make "little" pillows out of them to display in it.  I have almost 3 done, the cross-stitching is easy .... the completing the process is where I procrastinate!

Almost dinner time .......... try my jam bar recipe above .... really, you will like it.

Thanks for stopping by, until we meet again ........

Sharon

P.S.:  let me know if you try my recipe!