Finally Figured Out Partial Seams

I only have 5 blocks left of my Vintage Quilt Revival quilt. I tried and tried to figure out what I was doing wrong with my Tilted Star block with its partial seams but was having no luck. Then I went to Sukie’s blog and to my happiness it is the block for Week 7 and the short tutorial is right there waiting for you. WOOHOO! I DID IT!!!! If any of you are having trouble, be sure to check it out. These are the 2 block for this week in our block-along.

 Tilted Star ~ Block 14

Wheel of Fortune ~ Block 12

 I have started whipping down the black binding on my Crazy Chicken Checkerboard quilt.

 The outline stitching of one end of my March topper is done.

And, I am starting on the strips for the 5th block of my purple candle wicking quilt.

This post is linked with:

WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced and Sukie’s Vintage Quilt Revival Block-Along

Slow Sunday Stitching~March 2, 2014

While scrounging around in my fabric room, I came across 16 blocks of lavender candle wicking I did at least 30 years ago for my daughter. She was in Sigma Sigma Sigma at UVA and these are the colors...purple and white. Some of the muslin is spotted, but all in all they are in great shape. I have decided to finally make her quilt, and this one will be done all by hand. These are the things I have been working on for the last few days and today in particular. I switch back and forth from one to one. I wonder if others of you do this.

 This is the first one I put together.

 As of today  I have completed four.

My happy hand stitches.

When doing it by hand, where my seams meet always turn out so much better.

I am also basting the binding onto my son’s birthday Crazy Chicken Checkerboard quilt. I will stitch it and then whip it by hand.

 A group of us are making monthly table runners, and this is my outline stitching. 
This is so relaxing.

Here’s the way it should when completed. The fabric is green and beige tho’ the camera does not show it that way.

This post is linked with Slow Sunday Stitching over at Kathy’s Quilts.

My Weekend Quilting Projects

 Back in 2007 I made this child’s Pinwheel Quilt from a pattern I found on the Moda site (http://www.modabakeshop.com/2009/03/pinwheel-baby-quilt.html) using the Snipets fabrics. Well, when I went to my precious dermatologist at UVA last week, I learned she was going to be moving to NYC and that she had had a little girl since I saw her last year. I knew immediately what I had to do. I remembered this quilt and decided to make one with smaller 6” pinwheel squares. I started on it this afternoon and have competed 4 squares...from the stash! I did have to run to my quilting shop to get some good off-white for triangles and strips, but I guess that’s still staying true to my resolution to stick to the stash except for needed backing, binding, and emergencies.  All my whites were prints, and they looked horrible.

Sorry my photos are so crummy. Terrible lighting in the house at this time of the day.

I am using all of my 30’s baby fabrics plus others I can find. Am still looking thru my buckets, but here are some I have pulled. Hope to get at least another 4 squares done tonight.

I posted this runner on Wednesday, but I have now made a small “heart” templet which I am going to hand quilt on the white strips. This is my Slow Sunday Stitching for the weekend. It’s the kind of handwork I love to do. It is so soothing and downright FUN!

 These are some of the felt and fabric stuffed hearts I’m making for friends again

 this year.

I am linking up with Sew Darn Crafty at Karen’s Sew Many Ways and Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy’s Quilts. Be sure to check them out. They are both filled with wonderful pieces and inspiration.

WIP ~ Valentine’s Day Runner

 Here are the 4 blocks before assembling the runner.

I AM NOT REALLY CRAZY. JUST WANTED TO SHARE THE NEW SNOW WE GOT LAST NIGHT.
WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE COLD TEMPS BUT NO SNOW!!!

 I have finished putting the runner together and hand quilting along the major seams and around the hearts. Only a bit of the embroidery is finished, but I will continue with it each day. I’ve button hole stitched the hearts and embroidered down the centers.

I backed the runner with the cutest tiny vintage gingham print from Cottonwood Quilt Shop in Charlottesville, VA. It is a Civil War red. I am not buying new fabric unless I need backing. Am sticking to my resolution to use up as much of my stash as I can this year.

It fits my table so well, BUT the hearts really should have been turned two to the left and two to the right like some a Christmas tree runner I saw online. That way they wouldn’t have ended up all facing in one side directions. Since this was my first, and I was making it up as I went, I'm happy with the outcome. It washed and the hand quilting puffed up perfectly.

This post is linked with WIP Wednesday over at Freshly Pieced. Just click on the “WIP Wednesday” and you will see how many fab things are under construction this week.

Getting Ready for Valentine’s Day

I thought it was time to take a break from working on my Vintage Block Quilt so decided to come up with a  Valentine’s Day table runner. It will be 4~8X8 squares and will have strips of  patchwork squares in-between and around the edges...at least that is the plan right now. This will give me a chance to work on my embroidery stitches which need lots of work. It is so calming, and it is nice not to have to worry about matching points and getting blocks to come out the right size. I am creating this one as I go. The pattern is in my head :-) That may be good or bad.

These are the 4 blocks, but they will be all in one line and not on top of each other.

This post is linked with:

Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy’s Quilts

Karen’s Sew Darn Crafty at Sew Many Ways

I’d Rather Be in England

I am what you call a British Wanabe...a Displaced Anglophile.  All the years I took students to England, Ireland, Scotland, and Paris, I was collecting these dear woolen ornaments. When they married and left the roost, I gave my three children all of their annual ornaments we had collected through the years. Then I created my own new tree...my Memory United Kingdom Tree. I do have a Scotsman and a shamrock though you cannot see them...and there is one from the Eiffel Tower. These ornaments are my treasures! The big paper star hangs there in the corner all year round, but I was afraid to take it down...nervous I would never get it back up there. So, the tree has one BIG star on the top!!!

The Orb and the Crown are at the top in the place of honor.

 Left Side

Right Side

More Goodies

My Dining Room

These are the table runners I was making for my Christmas presents. I kept 2. 

Another Table Runner

A YoYo banner I made for the window.

Not only do I love The United Kingdom, I LOVE RED!

This post is linked with:

 Rednesday over at Brown Gingham Creations

Ruby Tuesday Too