Quilt Top Finished!

A year ago our on line group, SQTG, had two signature block swaps.  The Snowball Block and a Flying Geese Block, and a 20 block Ohio Star Block exchange that I was invited to participate in.  

The snowball blocks were quick and easy to assemble.  The flying geese blocks, I had nightmares at times. Trying to make 60 plus blocks  "perfectly", to send off; because there are some exceptionally talented quilting ladies that are in this group, I labored over these blocks.  I had my son inspect them, as he is a talented and a world wide known builder of RC Crawlers.  Everything he builds is nothing but perfection. Don't know where he gets that from. LOL  It sure isn't me. LOL So, his eye rejected a few of my blocks. LOL   So, trying to do the "perfection thing", it resulted in having a few x-tra blocks, both flying geese and Ohio Star blocks.

March, 2014 I finished my Snowball Quilt.  I truly love this little quilt.  I documented on the back side the states and countries that were in the exchange.  I sewed the blocks together alphabetically with the quilter's first names.  I wanted the participants to be able to see where their blocks were in the quilt if viewed on line.

Now, loving the arrangement that I had made in the first quilt, I wanted to do something like it for my flying geese blocks.  Lovely blocks ........... the thing was, that if I chose to do the alphabetically thing again, a few of the quilter's first names, if done alphabetically, wouldn't work.  It seems like the "K's" and "S's"  enjoyed the same choice of color in their alphabet. LOL   So, I had to play around with different combinations. Because I didn't have the number of "even" blocks I needed to complete my design, I had to "delve" into those in-perfect blocks I had rejected.  LOL

I had most of the 9 rows of 8 blocks each hanging around on my design wall for a few months.  After my daughter and family returned home a week ago from vacationing with us, I decided that I didn't like the design I had created, and I took apart most of the quilt in one evening.  Laid out the individual blocks, and a couple rows I didn't have to touch, and got those imperfect blocks and threw them in too.  Well, much to my amazement, the quilt top looks pretty darn good.  Trying to "make" it perfect by having everything match, didn't work in this case.

This is the pile I ended up with, rows and blocks separated

I couldn't decide on the picture of the quilt top to show.  So, I am showing both!

So, I guess the moral to this long story is:  enjoy your craft, stop trying to please that "eye" that see's imperfections.  Really love and be excited about what you can achieve.  It "ain't" rocket science ........

I'm Back!!!

Surprise.......I'm back, just in case anyone noticed I was gone. LOL

I have been a busy girl, but not much to do with sewing, or quilting.  I was doing so well keeping up with my monthly SMQT group challenges.  Then mid-June came, and I received an early birthday surprise, given to me by my husband.

He had been working on a surprise for a couple of months, bringing my daughter and 3 grandchildren home from Texas as a birthday surprise for me.  He almost gave me a heart attack........maybe he had an alternative motive?  Anyway, one afternoon I walk into my living room, and there setting at my kitchen table are my daughter and grandchildren!!!  I guess the rest of the family had found out except for me and my oldest daughter.

So, good bye to my craft room for a few weeks.  They are here for another few days, leaving the day after my birthday.  I have been notified by my better half that this birthday present will take care of the next many birthdays presents, anniversary presents, and probably many Christmas presents to come!!!!  We'll see about that statement of his. LOL

It's always good to try and take a picture when they have to look into the sun!! Duh.... 3 of my birthday presents!!!

I haven't been totally craft free though.  Somewhere in the last couple of weeks, my friend, Charlene !!, got me interested in cross-stitching.  It has become a very addictive pastime ........... really enjoy doing it in the evenings while watching TV.  I can't believe that it has taken me so long to get into this craft.  She has been doing it for awhile, and I have always admired her cross-stitching.  But, looking at her latest pattern got me thinking I needed to do this.  I have completed 3 projects, currently working on my 4th..........  I am by know means ever going to be good enough to enter them into any "craft show", but what the heck, I sure do like how they look around my house.

I haven't abandoned by love for quilting.......... I think after the Texas invasion leaves, and I get back into my routine of sewing......... I'll work on some quilting projects during the day until I get to the finishing part where I need to hand quilt them.  For now,  I have time to set in the evening, or outside during the nice summer mornings and pick up my cross stitching.

These were what I was working on before my Texas gifts arrived.  I was going to do a patriotic table runner tutorial.  Well, put this on my to do list before next summer????

Oh, I have so many quilting projects that I need to finish, and want to start.  Does it ever get any easier? Oh, and not to mention the mending, and window panels I need to do for the side of my entry door. Oh, my mother gave me some of her pants, LAST SUMMER, to cut and hem for shorts for her.  I guess I still have time to get them done FOR THIS SUMMER???? LOL  I have to stop thinking about all of these things................or I need to go find some sugar goodies to keep me grounded?  LOL  Some Sugar has won out!!!!

Road Trip, oh road trip..............need to plan one of these soon with my quilting buddy.......... Quilting road trips always get the "quilting juices" running.  Quilt shops, fabric, patterns...........food..........always a good time with these elements.

Until next time..........

EASY PEASY PLACEMATS - AS PROMISED!

Well it has taken me a while, things just seem to get in the way of plans sometimes.  I had all the placemats cut out, ready to sew.........then procrastination set in, the "I'll work on them tomorrow" syndrome.  LOL

Below are pictures and directions on the placemats that I made.


I used two coordinating fabrics.

Cut one 13 1/2" wide strip by width of fabric:  From strip cut 4 (13 1/2" x 8 1/2") Side A Centers

Cut one 13 1/2" wide strip by width of fabric:  From strip cut 4 (13 1/2" x 8 1/2") Side B Centers

Cut strips of both fabrics to border Centers:  Each placemat will have (2)12 1/2" x 2" strips, and (2) 13 1/2" x 2" strips.

Attach the 13 1/2" to each longer side, and then attach the 12 1/2" sides...........one placemat completed!!

This was the reversible arrangement I was planning on doing.  But, I usually change things as I go. LOL  I chose to add another 1" border to the tops and bottoms of each placemat.  I wanted to get more of that turquoise color in there! 

After adding the 1 inch borders around the sides of both sides..........I layered batting the size of the placemats...........Place Side A, right side up atop the batting.  Place Side B atop Side A, rights sides together.  Stitch around edge with 1/4" seam, leaving space to turn the placemats right sides out.

SIDES A & B

I couldn't find any placemats to my liking, so I chose to make my own.  I am so glad I did..........well, in truth, I have one made.........three to finish.  LOL  And, I probably need to think maybe making a total of 6 or 8.  Or...........this could make a great table runner too!!!!!!

I had mentioned that we are "Iris" lovers.  Take a quick walk around my garden and see what is popping up around here.

Something else poking up too!

Mr. Frog's garden!

I have got a few projects I need to get moving on.  I started sewing the blocks together on my Flying Geese signature swap ............but I don't like how I laid them out, and I now need to get out my seam ripper and probably rip out 6 - 7 rows.  A new challenge from our small quilt group....I would like to make 2 of these for my 2 granddaughters that need them for their dolls.........hahaha..........like I am sure this is going to happen! Oh, I have started a new craft.....cross stitching.........I have finished one picture, framed it and everything!  Now finishing up the other one.  They both compliment each other, and I think they are headed to my bathroom.

My back is starting t ache, so that's all for now.  

Sharon

April Rain....Brings May Flowers!

Okay, it's May 17th, enough with the rain already. LOL  But, I guess it's true, we do need the rain to help our flowers grow and be beautiful.  Hopefully soon, I will be able to share with you the blooms on our Iris's. We love the Iris here at "the homestead".

Well, hello, and welcome to any new viewers and hopefully to old friends.  Since my last update, I have completed a few things.  I'll share them on down the page.  I have also started another "new" craft for me.  I have long admired my friend's, Charlene's, cross-stitching projects.  She is working on this enormous pattern, and I fell in love with wanting to do something.  So, we headed off to a nearby store, and I bought my first cross stitch pattern.  I have a lot of  things still to learn to make a "perfect" piece, but I am enjoying the process, and I am doing pretty good for my first time.  I can where I screwed up, but someone is going to have to have their magnifying glass out to locate all of them. LOL

I have commented before how I enjoy doing some kind of handwork in the evening while watching TV. From hand quilting quilts, crocheting, and knitting projects.  But, cross-stitching is becoming my evening project.  Lot's of hours in this little thing I am doing, but I am almost done!!!

I have also been able to complete another of my quilt challenges from my on line quilt group.  This was our May Challenge.  Funny story here:  I was fabric shopping for my No. 3 daughter's table runner.  No. 1 daughter that I was shopping with, picked up this table runner pattern at the quilt store that would be fun to make for daughter No. 3.  So I purchased it.  Well, you probably guessed it, if I had any luck, I wouldn't have any luck at all. again LOL

Two days later, our May's challenge turned out to be the same  pattern that I had just paid $10.00 for, and our group was given a free pattern to download. I did change it up a bit:-)  Well, I guess it saved on printer ink and paper:-) That's okay, because I love my patterns..........can't have enough patterns, right?

I really loved doing the Prairie Points from our April Challenge, so I added it to the edges.

Oh, this is the back view, and oh yes, these our lovely Mother's Day flowers from Daughter No. 3

I am one lucky mom, in more ways than I can count.

Aren't these spectacular?  There are little white flowers that bloomed in the middle of the purple!!!

Aren't these fabrics wonderful?  

Stop back soon, I am hoping to get started on these fabrics in the next couple of hours.  I am working on a simple, quick project...........hopefully that is what it turns out to be. LOL  I will share with you what I am making, and I will include the pattern. This should be a quick weekend project..................try it, you may like it.

Thanks for the visit.............please leave a comment, and if you have a blog.........include it.........

Sharon

Another Holiday Come & Gone

It's definitely true, the older you get, the faster "time" goes.  Wasn't it just the New Year a few weeks ago?

At least the weather here in Northern Ohio for Easter was perfect.  It was a bitter sweet time for our family, daughter No. 3 and her family were not able to join us again this year.  They were here two years ago, which to my way of thinking..........seemed like last year.  It's that old age time flying thing!!!!

We still tried to keep with some traditions though.  My oldest grandson (15) and oldest granddaughter (13) along with their 10 year old brother wanted to do an egg hunt.  Which I heard through their mother was my idea and they would do it "for me"!  When I brought up the idea to them.........they quickly responded with a yes.  "Make it hard for us Gramma" came the cry from my granddaughter.

So like the dutiful Gramma that I am (LOL) I buried 66 colored plastic eggs.  Everyone had their own colors.  So, 3 grandchildren and my 2 daughters and son were also game to play.  Candy in some, IOU's in some for a later date, and the grandchildren's Easter Money in one.

So, of course, my youngest grandson found all of his except the one with the money in it. So, I toured the yard around the house a couple of times........can't find it.  Then I asked him for the 3rd time if he had actually looked in a certain place.........well no, he thought I said something else.  Anyway, thank goodness, he found his money.  Note to Myself:  do not put their Easter Money in a plastic egg and hide it.

So, out of 66 eggs hidden, and me unable to bend or walk the rest of the day, they found all but 2.  We did several searches, and I can't for the life of me think of where the heck they would be.  Note to Myself:  Requested by egg hunters.........Gramma make a map the next time!!! LOL

Back to Quilt Talk.......... I finished the April Quilt Challenge given to us by Kathy T. from her group SQTG. I am pretty proud of myself so far this year.  I have made all 4 quilts as of this date.  This, I think is my all time favorite small quilt challenge.  I had never done Prairie Points before, have always wanted to do them.........so I was feeling a little unsure of myself for this challenge.  The quilt turned out to be a really fun and quick small quilt to do.  The Prairie Points were so much fun ......and they actually turned out even on all four sides.  

Quilt Name:  Prairie Point Delight.......23 1/2" x 29"

I have had a busy day with friends, a local road trip, and I am worn out from having so much fun.  I have a new hand craft that I am anxious to try.  I enjoy embroidery and have been admiring my friend, Charlene's, counted cross stitch samplers.  They are just adorable, and she is in the process of making this huge wall hanging.  So, I asked her to get me started......and please, make the Aida Cloth large enough for these old eyes to count the cross stitches. LOL So we found a pattern today....and wish me luck.  I can't wait to start it, but I think I'll have to wait for tomorrow.........gonna make this an early night bedtime.  Oh, of course I have to kill a slice of cheesecake my daughter made, or maybe the piece of pecan pie my other road buddy, Gail, sent my way.  Oh, decisions, decisions, decisions!!!!

Bye for now......please visit again.

Must Have Sewing Gadget!!

At a recent Guild Meeting, we had a lecturer, Cindy Casciato, showing us her quick and easy ruler she had designed for flying geese, half square triangles, corner square triangles, and many more blocks using this tool. It is The Magic Triangle Method Ruler.  You also can purchase templates that have all the calculations for everything you can use the ruler for.

I am not going to show a picture of it, because I don't know the rules and regulations of showing someone's product without their permission!  But, I would highly recommend that you find her on the internet and check it out for yourself.  That would be:  www.cindycasciato.com.

The flying geese is the one that caught my eye.  In the fall I had been in a flying geese signature block swap.
Much to my dismay.....I had a heck of a time making all my flying geese (at least 250+) coming out perfect. I tried many many ways to make them.  I even did the Quilt in a Day version.  It was better, but they still had problems. LOL

This last week, I have been working on getting this flying geese signature block swap quilt put together.  I have it on my design wall, I just need to tweak it  a little more.

Also, in the last couple of weeks, I put together our SQTG April Quilt Challenge quilt.  I have the top completed..........currently hand quilting it.  It has prairie points sewn into it, something I had never done before.  But, they turned out pretty good.........It was a quick and fun quilt to put together.........  I'll be posting it once I get it all quilted.

Until then...........hope all is good in your "world".

HAHA MOMENT!!

Oh, I have so much to learn about posting things on my blog.  Hahahaha..........it seems that one of my post headings got a lot of attention.  Attention like this I was not trying to get.  My "Happy Dance" heading was referring to some accomplishments that I had made due to my quilting.   NOT what "Happy Dance" may mean to others.

LOL

So..........I will try and pay close attention to what my "heading posts" say from now on.  I just had to put this out there in the "universe".....:-)