Winner, winner!

Linda Collins of Quilts in the Barn had a give away for pin cushion patterns and I won one of them!  She had four different patterns and mine is called Folky at Heart, perfect for me.  She also sent wool to make it with - how great is that!!!  It went together really easily and was a lot of fun to make.

Pattern and wool she sent

Pattern and finished pin cushion

I used yellow and green that I had but I really like what she sent.  Thank you, Linda!!!

I finished my Nearly Insane quilt last week but haven't photographed it yet.  I'm working on my guest room where it's going to live and need to finish that first.  The weather has been beautiful here lately so I'm also working on getting my garden in.  Rain is in the forecast for next week so I have to get that done while it's dry.

Meet Gwendie

Artists know the phrase, "Value does the work but color gets the credit."  Gwendie thinks the saying could be said for cats and dogs since I've shared pictures of my dog but never of her.  And she knows the quilts are hers because of my blog name.

Just having a cat nap

These are regular doll buggies.  Gwendie's just a big girl. 

I've been busy hand quilting my Nearly Insane quilt so there are no pictures to share yet.  I'm even behind on my Barbara Brackman Civil War blocks but will catch up when the quilting is finished.

Nearly Insane and Beyone the Cherry Trees - 18

I've been making blocks for my Nearly Insane quilt like I'm, well, nearly insane.  Rather than one at a time, here's what I've finished so far. I think I have 51 blocks in this stack but there may be a few more.  This seems like an obvious scrap quilt to me.  Some of the pieces finish at 1/4" and some blocks look like leftovers that were cut down to finish at 6" - an example is a Lone Star that has the star tips lopped off.

Nearly Insane blocks

I also finished block 18 of Beyond the Cherry Trees  ---

Block 18

This block has been up on the design board for over a week waiting for me to get the camera out.  Sometimes that's the slowest part of blogging.  


I've also been working on clothing for my granddaughter's 3rd birthday.  That girl loves new dresses more than toys and since I also love to make them for her, well, we're a perfect fit!  Pictures to follow . . . .

Civil War blocks

Here's a look at my version of the first nine blocks of Barbara Brackman's Civil War quilt.  The most recent is the upper left.  Let me just say that three doesn't go into nine evenly.  I ended up using 1/16th inches to get it even close.  Luckily, I have a ruler with those marks but it's only 4 1/2".  I wish Omnigrid made one maybe 10" or 12" square with 1/16th inch marks on it. 

I have several more blocks finished for my Nearly Insane quilt.  Some of them are fairly easy, others - not so much, but I knew that going in!  I don't get a chance to sew every day but, when I do, I usually can get two put together.  I try to have several blocks prepped ahead of time and that's been a big help.  There are some of the harder ones coming up so that will be slower but I don't have a deadline. 

I also started a '30's style quilt.  That makes four I'm working on at once - I never used to work on more than one at a time!  I have to say, I'm really enjoying it.

More Nearly Insane

Here are eight of the Nearly Insane blocks I've finished in the last couple of weeks.  I've finished up to block 18 - upper left corner.  I thought it was going to be the  hardest but then I read ahead - maybe not!

There's something about this block I really like.  I think part of it is the fabric.  I don't usually use black and gray or white for blocks but I'm really happy with this combination. 

How I spend my Fridays

Smile for the camera!

You have to hold the tongue just so . . .

This glue is sticky stuff

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tah Dah!!!

 

 

 

We do an art project every week and this time we made a flower pot for her parents for Valentine's Day.  Her brother is 14 months old and was too busy playing with his blocks to pose. 

Midnight Stars

Midnight Stars (thanks, Lori!) is finished - quilted, bound, and washed.  I don't prewash unless I'm worried about a fabric (bleeding, crocking, etc) but I always wash after a quilt is finished.  Yes, even applique.  I like the look and it gets out whatever markings I've done.  I'm not sure if you can see the binding well enough to tell what the fabric is.  I used a deep red with blue flowers.  I really looks good with the fabrics I used in the body of the quilt.

Midnight Stars finished

 

with some tools

Some of the things I used on this quilt are in this picture.  I used the plastic top from a ricotta cheese container for the circle template.  It was the exact size I wanted.  I used Cebelia thread to quilt with.  I think this is a crochet thread and I've always wanted to try it.  Since this quilt isn't that big, it seemed like a good project to experiment.  I'm glad I tried it but I won't use it again.  See the pliers?  I used those with every stitch.  I can usually get the needle through with a wide rubber band but not this thread!  The bent piece of metal is a Finger Protector (?) for my under hand I purchased at Quilt Expo in Portland several years ago.  I'm lost without it.  I looked at Quilt Expo last September but couldn't find them - I was going to get a spare.  (I know I can get them online in an emergency.) 

Since this is finished, I've been going through some of my old (like 25 or 30 years old) quilt books for another project.  It's amazing how styles have changed.