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. 

MORE MUG RUGS

 I was going through some blocks I made for the Grandmother's Choice: Votes for Women weekly sew along and came across two blocks that didn't fit the requirement of 8.5 inch square.  They both came out short.  I did the blocks again and my second attemps came out fine.  They are the blocks from week ten (Block No. 10) and week one (Block No. 1)

I used these first attempts (now orphan blocks) to make mug rugs. Mug rugs are a great way for me to practice my hand quilting and my binding.  My binding and  my quilting are improving with the practice.  

The teapot was a block a made in the 90's when I wanted to work on my broderie perse.  

For Broderie Perse, one cuts out motifs from a large print fabric and then appliques that motif to a background fabric.  Here I cut out this spray of flowers and leaves with a quarter inch all around and appliqued it (using needle turn) on to the teapot.  The pot was then appliqued onto the pale background which was in turn appliqued onto the beige.   Now this made a fine mug rug or perhaps a small table topper.  It was quick.  I used up an orphan block.  I practiced my skills.  I have a nice table topper/mug rug to either give as a gift or keep for myself.  It will find a use.

I continue to use up my stash of fabrics and continue to make do.  I would love to hear from any other quilters who are getting into their UFO's and stash and making do with what they have.   

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.

  

HARVEST HOME

HARVEST HOME ROUND ROBIN

This wall hanging was started in 1999.  That year in January, the Applique Addicts started meeting at the Quilt Foundry in Maumee Ohio.  Some of us participated in a round robin.  Monthly the quilt would make it's way to the next person and they would create a block with the fabric and backing provided.  My group mates prepared some and I prepared the center, the squirrel, the grapes, the mice, the crow and put it all together.  I found this piece at the bottom of a UFO pile and began reconstruction in December of 2012.  Some of the applique had to be redone.  My grapes, for example, were the grapes of a new appliquer.  Not good.  I began the quilting process in January 2013.  It is all hand quilted.  I just finished it in March and put the binding on in April. 

 

SIGNED LABEL OF HARVEST HOME ROUND ROBIN

At the time the round robin was going around, so was the label.  Each person who worked on the quilt, signed it.  I attached the label to the quilt on April 9, 2013 which happens to be my granddaughter Maddie's 10th birthday.  Happy Birthday Maddie. She wasn't even born when I started this quilt!  I have two granddaughters.  I will try to time a UFO in honor of Emma's Birthday in September.

Appliqued Hearts

Appliqued Hearts

I began this wall quilt with a class some time ago.  I finally finished the last bit of it, the binding.  It is hand appliqued, hand quilted. This is the first time I've used wool batting and I love the way it quilts up.  Another DONE project from the past. 

EARTH AND STARS

Earth and Stars

I began this quilt at the turn of our current century.  Just recently found it in my UFO pile and put on the border.  The pattern is my own.   The flowers are dimensional and beaded.  The stars, dove, and leaves are hand appliqued.  Stems are hand embroidered.  It is hand quilted.  I made this quilt to remind myself that space (the background of stars) and earth (the flowers and the dove) are one.  The dove (a symbol of peace) is a reminder that to survive we must all live in peace.

Calendar Quilt

Hand Quilted Calendar Quilt

April

July

September

 

 

 

 

Snowmen Hand Embroidered

Snowmen at Christmas

I think this was finished (except for a few minor touches) in the Winter of the year 2000.  Added the label today and now it's finished. The fabrics, pattern and floss were all purchased at an embroidery store that is no longer there.

UFO's

So Many unfinished projects.  As I finish them I'll put them up.  I will quilt each to the end - at last.

Over the last few years, I have put a stop to the madness of trying out every new project that comes my way.  I have not been that successful.  Something comes along that strikes my creative fancy and I just have to do it...but alas before it is finished along comes another great idea and... sidetracked again into yet another project.  Although there are ideas out there that still interfere with my promise to finish and new fabrics that just pull me in, I have put a big dent in the UFO's in my sewing room and have stopped buying new fabric.  With fabric prices so high, it's not in my best interest to buy and not use what I have. 

All of these projects were finished from the fabric in my stash
.

FLOWER POT

This piece was the first one done.  It's really very small - about 8" x 8".  It was one block and I didn't care to begin the others I had in mind.  Block is from way back in 1999.  Finally something done with it.  One of my first attempts at Applique.

THIMBLEBERRY PROJECT

Some time ago, can't remember how long, maybe the turn of the century, I went to a Saturday Morning Thimbleberry Club at the Local Quilt Shop - The Quilt Foundry in Maumee Ohio.

This wall hanging is pieced and appliqued  with Thimbleberry Fabric.  I'm not terribly fond of the colors, but when I picked this up from my pile of UFO's it was more than half quilted.  I hand quilted to the finish and put on the binding.

 

HEARTS IN A ROW

Many years ago, when I first began to applique - late 90's, I put this wall hanging together with small bits of fabric left over from other projects.  It was all hand quilted and finished - but a real mess.  I took off the binding, re-cut to make it right, and put another binding on.  It's not the best but it is at it's end.  Finished.

 

AUTUMN WREATH

I love leaves, especially in the fall.  I went around my yard and picked leaves and put them between wax paper to preserve them.  From each of the leaves, I created a pattern and appliqued each leaf to a wreath.  When I picked up this project, the ring was appliqued on and the leaves were partially finished.  I worked on this for over a month and where I thought there was a need, I hand embroidered sprays of color.  It is hand appliqued, hand embroidered and hand quilted and (yes!) finished.

MY BLUE BASKET

In between finishing UFO's, I couldn't help but make this basket.  (As I said, I get distracted.)  It was a month's project for an art quilt group I joined.  It took more than a month but I finished it.  Hand appliqued, hand pieced, and hand quilted. The pattern is my own creation.

All the fabric came from my stash. 

SAUDER'S CHALLENGE

Every year at the beginning of May, Sauder Village in Archbold OH puts on a quilt show and every year they have a challenge.  This was my rendition of the challenge.  After attending the show for years, I finally prepared and finished an entry.  This, by the way, allows you two free tickets to the show and grounds.  My husband and I went together and had a very enjoyable time.

This wall hanging is hand pieced, hand appliqued, and hand quilted. The pattern is my own creation.

 

 

DIMENSIONAL APPLIQUE

Many years ago, I made these blocks.  I will be putting them into a quilt hopefully within the next year.  They are hand appliqued.  I will probably arrange them as you see them with sashing and borders.  It will be hand quilted.  Each block is an 8" square.  But this must wait.

 

 

 

 

 

Because.....

I am working on the wedding gift for my son and daughter in law.  Typical quilter I am.  They were married last February. Their quilt is machine pieced but hand quilted.  I promised to finish it by beginning of November and I am on the last border.  Then it will need to be bound.  Bed size, it has taken me some time. 

 

 

Also working on two quilts for my grand daughters.  Almost finished.  These will be machine quilted.  Pictures will be posted.