Recent Finished Projects

I've been lax in posting on this blog.  Not that I haven't finished quilts, because I have.  I've concentrated on my blog HandPiecing.

Here are some of the quilts I've finished in the last few months

Prairie Women Project Vase and Flower

This pattern was created by my friend and quilt teacher Mary Clark.  I hand appliqued and hand quilted this wall quilt.  Here's the back.

Back of Vase and Flower

This miniature is made with Inklingo 0.5 Log Cabin Collection and half square triangles.  All hand pieced and hand quilted.

Close up showing hand embroidery and beading

The Back

In keeping with my promise to myself, both of these quilts are made with fabric from my stash.

I have many more quilts in line.  As I finish them, I'll post them here.

Quilt tops in line to be finish keeps getting longer!  I'm not sure how that happens.

Thank you for visiting my blog and come back often. 

USING UP MY STASH

Just today on one of the sites I frequent - a quilting fabric site - surprise.  The question was asked.  

If your family and friends had to describe you and your relationship to fabric, what would they say?

There is no doubt.

They would say that I’m a mess. I love my fabric. I keep every bit and every piece. I spend hours organizing, pressing, admiring. I use it like an art medium. The more I have, the more fun I have…..so I’m organized. Why then would my friends and family say I’m a mess ( and they frequently do say, ahem). 

Pookie aka Dudley aka The Pooks

I’m in my sewing room now? I lift my head from my sewing and look around me. I’m shocked. What happened to my sewing room? Intent on finishing this one simple block.. .one block mind you…I must have pulled out every piece of scrap I have. What a mess. Just look at this mess! Threads and bits of fabric everywhere. Pookie (that’s my Westie-um his real name is Dudley, but he’s just a Pooks to me) is just covered in bits and pieces of whatever. The floor below my sewing machine looks like a vacuum cleaner dump. ..And I’ve been in this room for hours.. yes hours. The dishes need doing, the beds need made (too late for that- almost time to sleep again), grass needs mowing…but since this is all such a mess anyway, I’ll just make one more block.

Four Patch top finished.

4 patch from stash scraps

 

 

    I have an obsession.  I mean really.  I just can't, can't throw away my scraps.   I have another obsession...using up my considerable stash of fabric and fabric scraps.   So putting these two obsessions to work, I decided to make a 4 patch quilt.   Some time ago, (like over a year ago) I squared some of the bigger pieces into 4 inch squares. This year, I've committed myself to putting those patches into a quilt top.  I have so many UFO's...therefore the subject of this blog.  This was one of them. 

 

I've been working on this project all year, here and there.  This month, armed with my  Janome Jem Gold 660 Lightweight Sewing Machine, and having the luxury of Quilting Play Dates with friends, I finally finished.   

 

First, I joined the patches into 4 patch blocks.  Next, the four patches were joined into double 4 patches.  4 double 4 patches made a row.  I ended up with almost 6 rows.     In the end I had to make 3 more double 4 patches to finish it off evenly...so back to my scraps and cut 36 more patches and put these together into 3 more double 4 patches. 

 

Now this was fun.  No pattern to follow, just a random happening of patches of fabric.  For me a very enjoyable and satisfying project.  OK, any quilter's out there with scraps.  What can you do with yours.  I have so much more to work with.  I need to think of a new way to use them up...nothing mind boggling mind you...just a simple project.  

 

But first.  I need to get this top quilted.  I'm a hand quilter, but that does take some time.  I just might try my hand ...er.. machine at machine quilting.  Maybe something simple like straight line stitching. 

 

 

 My Jem Gold has a 5 piece quilting kit. 

I purchased it so I may as well use it.  I'll quilt this top at one of my next Quilter's Play Dates.

SMALL TABLE TOPPER

QUILT AS YOU GO BLOCK

In 2001 I took a class to learn the quilt as you go technique.  I made this little block and put it away.  When I was organizing my sewing room, I discovered this little project.  I decided to bind it and went into my stash of blue scraps.  I cut out strips and put them together and last night put the binding on.    I'm using it as a table topper for the end table next to my chair.  It fits perfectly and fits a mug a coffee as well as a few other items.

  

Appropriately it's the Courthouse Steps Block.  I've traveled up and down those steps for 35 years and last week for the last time.  My retirement is official.  Even though I will practice law and keep my license to practice, I'm not taking on any new clients. I may go up and down the Federal Court House steps once in a while but not on a regular basis.  

 

And in memorium to Judge Richard L. Speer who has recently passed away, you will be missed.

  

Calendar Quilt

Hand Quilted Calendar Quilt

April

July

September

 

 

 

 

Gifts for my granddaughters

Flowers for Emma Pattern created in EQ

Fish for Maddie.  Pattern created in EQ

 Quilts promised to Granddaughters

The lap/cuddle quilts promised to my grandchildren are now finished.  Grandchildren picked their own fabrics from my stash.   I'll be making a pillow envelopes for each lap quilt.