Max–Best Dog Ever 11/14/94-2/28/13

Max the Yorkie was with us for over 18 years and we will miss him.  He had a good long life.

Melinda

February/March Getting It Done

Getting it done progress.

1.  Quilt and bind Easy Street.

Done and loving it on my bed.  I even took it to see Bonnie and she signed the back.

2.  Quilt one quilt for donation.

Identified but not done.

3.  Put borders on mystery quilt and finish it by quilting and binding.

Borders on but not quilted.

4.  Work on scrappy trips to the point of getting at least 36 blocks done.

I have 31 blocks done but after looking at it, I need to make more blocks – at least 42 but probably 48.

Some progress but not as much as I had hoped.  I did get several other things done though.

March Getting It Done List

1.  Finish the shop hop strip quilt.  It needs to be quilted and the binding finished.  Pattern needs to be written.

2.  Finish the tumbler quilt in time for shop hop.  Also needs the quilting and binding done.  Pattern needs to be written.

3.  Finish the Nancy Drew blog hop quilt in time for blog hop.

4.  Keep working on scrappy trips – try to get 42 blocks done.

I should be able to do this.  Some of them have firm deadlines so they will be done!!!!

I am linking to Judy at Patchwork Times for accountability.

Melinda

Beginning Machine Piecing–Last Morning Class

Wonderful quilt tops!  Great fabric choices and good workmanship.  What more can you ask!

Evening ones in another post.

Melinda

Beginning Machine Piecing–Class 7

I just realized that I did not post photos from last week and the final classes are today.  Here they are.

Melinda

Teaching English Paper Piecing

I taught a class in English Paper Piecing last week and here is the result.  It will be turned into a pillow.  We tried different methods of attaching the fabric to the paper.  Some were done with glue alone, others were done sewing through the paper and still others were done just sewing the corners.  I am more comfortable sewing through the papers but think all options should be explored to decide what works best for the project.  These hexies are 1 1/4 inch.

Good job Rosemarie!

Melinda

Design Wall Monday–February 25, 2013

I finally finished the tumbler quilt for Shop Hop.  It is made from the Noteworthy collection for Sweetwater.  I used every fabric in the line.

Now to get it quilted.  I decided it did not need a border so I will pick up backing today and hopefully get it done soon.

For more design wall inspiration, go to Patchwork Times.

Melinda

Teaching at Tiny Stitches

I taught a class at Tiny Stitches yesterday called Sewing 101. Some of the students had never touched a sewing machine before yesterday. We made cosmetic bags.

Marie Bostwick at Tiny Stitches

What a treat last night.  Marie Bostwick was at Tiny Stitches.  She gave a short talk about her writing career – it was fascinating. She also read a short part of her latest book that will be out in a couple of months.  Here I am with Marie.

Next is Mary and Marie.

Barb and Marie

I can’t wait to get the next book.  All the characters feel like friends.

Melinda

Design Wall Monday–February 18, 2013

On my design wall today is the Shop Hop Quilt.  I am using all the fabrics in the Homecoming line by Sweetwater.  I still have five more rows to add.

The sun was out and very bright so you can see the sun spots on the quilt.  I was really unhappy with it when I first started but as I add more rows, I am liking it better. 

The other thing on my design wall is the first 10 months of Saturday Sampler.  Only two more blocks to go.

For more design walls, go to Patchwork Times and check them all out.

Melinda

Tumbler Quilt Progress

I have 5 rows of the tumbler quilt put together.  There will be a total of 11 rows when it is complete – of course that is if my calculations were correct.  Keep your fingers crossed.  I finished the other shop hop quilt top so will now focus on this one.

I think it might need a border but will decide for sure when all the blocks are sewn together.

Melinda

Getting it Done for February

I thought it was time to check in on my goals for February.  I have made some progress but not enough.  Still have lots to do.

1.  Quilt and bind Easy Street. Done and it is on my bed!

2.  Quilt one quilt for donation. I have identified the quilt I want to do but it isn’t done yet.

3.  Put borders on mystery quilt and finish it by quilting and binding.  Borders on, back made – still needs to be quilted.

4.  Work on scrappy trips to the point of getting at least 36 blocks done. I have been working on these but they got put aside for the shop hop quilts.  Still hope to get this done.

Not too bad.  I think I might be able to finish my list this month.

Melinda

Shop Hop Quilts In Progress

I have made progress on both of my shop hop quilts.  In front is the one using the strips from all ten shops.  In the back is my tumbler quilt.

I hope to finish at least the bright quilt today – probably not the tumbler yet.

Melinda

Beginning Machine Piecing–Class Six

Yesterday was the last class that we made blocks.  For the next two weeks, we will work on getting the top put together.  First here are the log cabin blocks from the morning and then evening classes.

We then moved on to flying geese and made them two different ways.  First using Marti Michell’s flying geese ruler and second using the square and rectangle method.  It is always interesting that about half the students like one way over another.  Here are the flying geese from the morning and evening.

I can’t wait to see how the quilts look like with sashing and borders. 

Melinda

Another Shop Hop Quilt

Here is another of my many projects.  Using the shop’s Accucut Studio, I cut tumblers out of all 40 fabrics in the Noteworthy line by Sweetwater.  I designed a simple quilt in EQ7 and am getting ready to start piecing.  The tumblers should go together easily since they have the corners cut out.  I plan to use them as leaders/enders while I complete the other shop hop quilt.

I also got all the 50 blocks made for the other shop hop quilt.  I need to get it arranged so I can sew them together.  Here is the stack of them.

I think the bright flower print in the center will tie all the very different strips together.  It is difficult to use such a variety of fabrics in one project but I think this will work OK.  Especially with the flowers around the outside as a border.

Melinda

What I am working on

I signed up for the Nancy Drew blog hop next month so I picked up some fabric over the weekend.  Here is a preview – the rest will have to wait until March.

I have an idea of what I am going to do with it all this.  Hopefully it will work out.

I have many good memories of reading Nancy Drew as a child.  I admired her so much.  Recently I reread the first book – it still is surprisingly interesting.  I wonder if children still read Nancy.

Melinda

Design Wall Monday–February 11, 2013

Shop Hop is coming up in about a month here in Atlanta.  This year, each shop will be giving out 10 strips of fabric that are 2 1/2” x 22” or half a strip.  There are 10 shops so if someone collects all the strips, they will have 100.  Each shop is making a quilt from the strips and that is what I am working on today.

Here is the start.  Since each strip is only about 20-22 inches long, there is not enough to go all the way around the focus fabric.  I paired up the strips with similar colors and will make 50 of these blocks.  Then I will sew them into pairs and finally into 5 rows of 5 blocks.  That should get it to about 60 inches square before borders.  So far, so good. 

For more design walls, go to Patchwork Times.

Melinda

Mystery Quilt Ready to Quilt

My mystery quilt from the Tiny Stitches retreat is ready to quilt.  I had enough leftover fabric to piece the back and I still have enough to make a pillowcase.  I hope to get it quilted this week.

Melinda

Quilting on Easy Street

Here are a couple of close photos that hopefully show the quilting on Easy Street.

Easy Street on the Bed

Easy Street is finished!  I quilted it with lime green thread, a green polka dot backing and wool batting.  I am in love!

I guess you can’t see the quilting.  I will take a closer photo tonight.

Melinda

Beginning Machine Piecing–Class Five

Wonderful classes yesterday – here is the morning homework followed by the log cabin blocks they worked on yesterday.

Here is the evening homework followed by their log cabins.

Next week we will make the last of the blocks.  We will be working on flying geese and then spend the next couple of weeks getting the tops together.

Melinda