Saturday Sampler Blocks for 2016

Here are the new blocks for the first month of the latest Saturday Sampler for 2016.  We are doing two different options - Kansas Troubles and Thirties.

First here is the Thirties block, with optional border. Next is the Kansas Troubles block.

Going to be another fun year.

Melinda

Design Wall Monday–November 23, 2015

We just got back from a quick trip for an early Thanksgiving with Bill’s family.  It was wonderful seeing everyone and there were 78 people at dinner.  Amazing!  We left for Missouri on Thursday and are already back home.  Susie is back from the Vet where she stayed and all is well.

For my design wall this week I have my Saturday Sampler quilt.  I am quilting it today and tomorrow and plan to have it finished by Thanksgiving.

The background looks a little gray here but it is actually Moda Bella Black!  Very dramatic!

For more design walls, go to Patchwork Times.

Melinda

Making Bowtie Blocks–Leaders and Enders

I finally finished another 25 bowtie blocks.  I now have 600 done.  Since the blocks are 3 inches finished and I think I am going to sew them into nine patches first.  Then if I set them 10 by 10 I think I will end up with a quilt that is 90 inches square.  That is the right size for my bed.  I hope I figured out the measurements right!

Here are the 25 I just finished.

Melinda

Block of the Month Day at Allatoona Guild

We are getting close to the end of the block of the month for guild.  I actually finished the last of the blocks for next month but still have to put the quilt together.  Here is my blocks first followed by the others that were there.

I have all the sashing made and hope to get the quilt put together, at least to the final border after I finish up the Saturday Sampler quilt.  Here are the other quilts so far.

I love how different each of them are turning out.

Melinda

Beginning Machine Piecing–Class 5

Another great class last night.  We worked on Log Cabin blocks as well as one Courtyard Steps block.  Next week is the final week of making blocks when we tackle Flying Geese – can’t wait.

The quilts are looking good so far.

Melinda

Design Wall Monday–November 9, 2015

I have been working on several projects and plan to focus today on the finishing of our Saturday Sampler quilt for the shop.  One of the projects I have been slowly working on is Gypsy Wife by Jen Kingwell.  I actually signed up for a BOM since it uses so many different fabrics and have been very pleased with the selections I have been sent.

Here is what I have so far.  This is two sections of ten.

I have started section three but still have quite a bit more to go.

For more design walls go to Patchwork Times and get inspired.

Melinda

Jen Kingwell Class

Stella and I took a class at Intown Quilters on Wednesday and had a wonderful time.  Learned a lot also.  Here is the block we made – this one is from Jen’s quilt and you will have to wait to see my version.

Of course she had a whole quilt made – it was beautiful.  I think my block will probably end up being a pillow!

Here is a photo of Jen showing us her method of hand quilting.  She uses perle cotton and big stitch.  I even think I could do that.

Melinda

Sampler Savvy–Class 2

We had a great class earlier this week.  The homework from the first class is here.

Didn’t the blocks turned out wonderful.  Can’t wait until Wednesday to see the next installment.

Melinda

Allatoona BOM–House Quilt

We had our monthly block of the month meeting at guild yesterday.  We are on the 10th of 12 blocks finished for this years’ BOM.  Here is my block.

Here are the first nine blocks with the sashing on.

Only two more blocks to make and then several borders need to be added.

Melinda

Beginning Machine Piecing Class 2

 

 

 

One person had car trouble so hopefully we will see her blocks next week.  We then worked on Nine Patch blocks and each of them got several blocks done.  I am loving the fabrics for each quilt – such fun to see blocks that are exactly alike but so very different.

Melinda

Community Service at Allatoona Quilters’ Guild

About a week ago we spent the day working on cutting up fabric for community service quilts and pillowcases. We have a lot of fabric donated to us so we cut a lot into 2 1/2 inch strips and a few other shapes to make other kits.  We also cut up a lot of pillowcase kits.

Here are some of the strips – we had both regular cottons and batiks.

I took these photos fairly early and the boxes were almost full of strips by the end of the day.  Later on we sorted the batiks and make jelly roll equivalents.  We ended up with 14 full batik jelly rolls and several partial ones.

Barb made sloppy Joes – very good and there were lots of chips and other goodies to go with.  There were a couple of cakes and the most Dunkin Donuts boxes I have seen in one place.  There were enough donuts for the whole police force!

Fun day!

Melinda

Make and Take Projects

Every year I teach a Make and Take day at Tiny Stitches.  It is scheduled for November 15.  We always have a fun time and the students go home with several projects that they take home – usually completed or very close to being completed.

Here are the projects for this year.

There is a bag, a covered journal, a covered (wool) tape measure, a table runner and a fold up tool bag that doubles as a pad for your sewing machine, keeping your tools handy.

Melinda

Fabric Clocks

We made fabric clocks at guild yesterday. 

The one on the lower left is mine.  I love them all!

Melinda

Last Beginning Machine Piecing Class

We had the last class last night.  A couple of people were unable to attend but I am hoping to get photos of their quilt tops later. Here are the quilts.

As usual it is so much fun to see all the different fabric choices and how they turn out.

Melinda

Tahitian Applique Class

One of the classes I took at the Chattanooga AQS show was Tahitian Applique.  I learned a lot and now have a beautiful UFO to add to my collection!

It was an all day class and we started by picking out a pattern, folding our fabric and pinning the pattern on the fabric.  Next was cutting it out and placing it on the background.  Since Didi McElroy was the teacher (by the way a wonderful teacher) we used Roxanne’s Glue-Baste-It, which she invented and named after her mother. After glue basting the design we were ready to start appliqueing.  I learned a lot about needle-turn applique in a couple of hours.  I only got started on the applique but at least I feel confident enough to continue stitching.

Here is my piece being shown during show and tell right after lunch.

Great fun!

Melinda

Halloween Blocks and Halloween Lighted Bag

I made two more Halloween blocks for the block lottery.  I still have some more fabric but I think three will be enough.  Here they are.

I had forgotten how much fun it is to make wonky stars. 

I finally remembered to take couple of photos with the Halloween bag with the lights turned on.

It is really cute – even cuter with the lights turned on.  There is a pocket inside to hold the battery pack.

Melinda

Halloween Block

At the Allatoona Guild we have a block lottery each year.  It used to be Christmas fabrics but this year we are doing Halloween.  How it works is that the guild buys fabric, cuts it into fat quarters which are then sold to the members.  Everyone who wants to, buys a fat quarter and then makes up to five blocks using their own fabrics and a recognizable amount of the featured fabric.  For each block we make, our name goes into the lottery.

When all the blocks are received the chairperson sorts the blocks into sets (12) with leftovers made into small kits for table runners, etc.  At the December meeting the block sets are hung around the room and the drawing is held. I have to admit that I won 12 Christmas blocks several years ago and they still are not made into a quilt.

Anyway, I made one block today and hope to make a couple more.  I will be happy with 2 or 3 blocks.

Melinda

Design Wall Monday–September 14, 2015

Today on my design wall is my Allatoona BOM House Quilt.  I spent some time last week and got it caught up through the 9th month.

I got all the checkerboard pieces sewn together and even have the rest of them done and just patiently waiting for the blocks to be made.  I am really liking it.  It calls for 4 borders after this.  First will be a small border of the lime green, followed by slightly larger but still very small of the white dots and then another tiny border (1/2 “ finished) before a wider finishing border.  I plan to start looking for the final border soon but have no idea what to choose.

For more design walls, go to Patchwork Times.

Melinda

One Block Wonder Class

I taught a One Block Wonder class yesterday.  There were five students and completely different fabrics being used.  I love seeing how they turn out.

It is really going to be fun to see these as they get finished.  Can’t wait.

Melinda