Quilt Show Turn In Day

Today is the day for quilts to be turned for next weeks quilt show.  We will get the all sorted out into categories and the judges will arrive this evening.  We will start the judging tomorrow morning.

I have a lot of quilts here at the house – some were mailed and some were delivered personally to me.  Bill helped me pack up my car last night but we couldn’t get all of them in my little car.  Lynda will stop by in about an hour and we will pack the rest of them in her car.  Here is the back of my car.

By the end of the day, we will have more than 350 quilts turned in, sorted and stacked on tables by category and will be all set to start in the morning.  This is getting exciting!

Melinda

Hexies in the Mail

I joined a bright hexie swap.  We were to make sets of six hexies, basted together.  The minimum number of sets was 35 and the maximum was 100.  I didn’t get started soon enough and was only able to get 50 sets done.  Here they are before I packaged them up.

I should get back an assortment of hexies, enough for 50 flowers.  Can’t wait to see what shows up in the mailbox in a couple of weeks.  I need to decide what to put in the middle of the flower – am thinking of a white and black center.  Not sure yet!

Melinda

Quilt Show Coming Up

My quilts are ready for the show and I have unpacked all the quilts that were shipped to me. On Sunday we will be checking in the rest of them.  I have more than 40 so there are still lots more then 300 that will arrive on Sunday.

Here are my three in their pillowcases, ready to go.

Here are the rest of the quilts here that will get loaded into Lynda and my cars Sunday morning.

I think I am ready – I hope so!

Melinda

Getting Ready for the Quilt Show

I completed the quilting on Winter Wonderland yesterday and put the binding on the front.  I finished up the binding this morning and now just have the sleeve to put on.  Almost ready for turn-in on Sunday.

I wish I could remember how old this quilt is.  I am guessing at about 7 years from start to finish!  I plan to hang it on the wall during the holiday season and maybe beyond since it really isn’t a Christmas Quilt.  I will get better photos of it at the quilt show.  As is my usual, it is heavily quilted.

On to the sleeves.  I made them all so it is time to start sewing them on and then finding pillowcases for each of the three.

Melinda

Quick and Easy Hexie Quilt Blog Hop and Giveaway

Today is my day on the Quick and Easy Hexie Quilt blog hop.  Julia Wood contacted me a while ago asking me if I was interested in participating.  Of course I was interested.  I love hexies and finding a new way to make them was fascinating.  I couldn’t imagine what could be new.  I know some people piece hexagons without using papers but until I saw the book and method, I couldn’t imagine me doing it.

Julia sent some precut circles and even a needle and thread so I read the basics and went to work.

They aren’t sewn together but don’t they look great?  Here is another photo with a couple of them turned over.

It is a quick and easy method.  The hardest part of it is cutting the circles and I can see how valuable a die cut machine would be in cutting lots and lots of circles.  Maybe this is the reason to finally buy one!

Here is the cover of the book.

I love the quilt on the cover and you need to get the book so you can see all the wonderful projects inside, especially Mickey Blue Eyes.

I have a signed copy of the book to give to one person who comments on this post.  In your comment, let me know if you have a completed hexie project, are working on one or just want the book.  No wrong or right answer – I am just nosy.  The drawing will be held at the end of the day on June 10th.

Julia has two blogs.  Her personal one is Green Quilts and she also has The Hexie Blog.  I suggest you follow both.

Here is the schedule for the blog hop.

Blog Hop Participants

June 3, Karen Griska at The Selvage Blog

June 4, Susan Ramey Cleveland at Blackberry Creek Home Arts

June 5, Melinda Fulkerson at Melinda's Blog

June 6, Victoria Findlay Wolfe at Bumblebeans Inc.

June 7, SewCalGal

June 8, Kelly Jackson at I Have a Notion

June 9, Pat Sloan

June 10, Julia Wood at Hexie Blog and Green Quilts

Melinda

Giveaway Results

I know I have disappeared for a couple of weeks but the work on the Quilt Show (coming up next week) for the East Cobb Quilters’ Guild has taken all my extra time.  I have pretty much everything under control so am hopefully back to communicating.

First – I have two outstanding giveaways that I need to complete.  First is the giveaway of Jennifer Chiaverini’s book – The Giving Quilt.  I have two copies to share.

Cory and Carolyn have won the books.  I have sent emails to each of them so hope to hear from them soon.

For the fat quarter pack from my blog anniversary, the winner is Amy.  I have also sent her an email.

I am so glad I finally got the drawings done.  Tomorrow is my day on the Hexie Quilts blog hop so be sure to check back.

Melinda

Design Wall Monday–May 20, 2013

Another Monday – I think they are coming faster and faster and I can’t keep up.  On my design wall today are the 20 Kaffe houses.  I still want to make 10 more of them before I start sewing them together.

The upcoming quilt show is keeping me busy and I don’t know when I will have time to do more work on these but hopefully I can sneak in a little sewing time here and there.

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

Melinda

Working on BOM's at The Quilt Shop

I am here early morning working on putting together BOM. Lots of pieces of fabric. 

Saturday Sampler

Today was time to pick up finishing kits for Saturday Sampler. 

Gifts for Students

I made little pin cushions from selvages for my students from the Sampler Class.  I forgot to take a photo before I handed them out but here are three of them.

Three of the students were unable to attend the last class so these are waiting for them next time they come in.

Melinda

Sampler Class Quilt Tops!

What a fun night last night.  First we had decided to do a little potluck and everyone brought desserts!  Yum!

Here are the quilt tops – not all are finished but well on the way to being finished.  Here is the parade -

Wonderful quilts from wonderful students!

Melinda

Gifts for Students

Here is a preview of something I am making for my students this evening.  Not done yet but almost.

Hope they like them.

Melinda

House Update and Blog Anniversary

Here are my latest houses.  I have 20 done now but am thinking I will make another 10 so I can set them 5 x 6.  Besides, I am having fun making them and don’t want to stop yet.

Also, I just realized that I am starting my 8th year of blogging.  My first post was on May 13, 2007 and this is post #1953.  I decided I should do a little giveaway to celebrate!  At Quilt Market last November I got caught up in a buying frenzy at Sample Spree and have never figured out what to do with this fat quarter pack. There are 20 fat quarters in the stack. I am going to give it away to one of my readers.

All you have to do is comment on this post and tell me what your all time favorite quilt pattern is.  Do you love log cabins, churn dash, string quilts??  I love all kinds of house quilts, no matter what pattern is used.  I am loving this variation of Bonnie Hunter’s Happy Scrappy Houses, using my 2 1/2 inch strips instead of 2 inch like she did.

You have until Friday evening.  I will pick a winner around 9 pm here in Georgia which is on EDT.  Please make sure I have a way to reach you if you are a no-reply blogger.

Melinda

Design Wall Monday–May 13, 2013

I finally finished my Swoon blocks.  They are so large I had to use two design walls at the shop.  Here is the final arrangement – maybe.

Next I need to add sashing and then the small scrappy border.

I made a few more Kaffe houses.  Up to 16 now.

It certainly is going to be a fun neighborhood.

I spent two entire days last week sending out acceptance letters for the East Cobb Quilt Show.  We had such a great turnout for our call for quilts and I ended up sending 300+ emails.  At least that part of the job is over.

For more design walls, go to Patchwork Times.

Melinda

Happy Mother’s Day

My Mother was born in 1914 in South Dakota.  She has been gone for about 10 years now and I still miss her.  My sister Robin posted this photo of her on Facebook today.  It was taken during the war, around the time I was born.

I miss her!

Melinda

Wacky Devine Nine

Here is a wonderful quilt made from the Wacky Devine Nine pattern by my sister Robin.

Cat made this – turned out great.

Melinda

Update From Sampler Class

Wednesday was the next to last Sampler class.  The blocks are all done (for the most part) and we started putting the quilt tops together.  Betty got ahead of everyone and actually put her top together.  She will be unable to attend the last class so she finished hers over the rainy weekend.

She looks quite pleased with herself doesn’t she.  I am pleased with her also!

Here are the blocks from the rest of the class.

Next week will be fun!

Melinda

Microwave Bowl Potholder

My sister Robin has been making microwave bowl potholders and I decided it would be a good special project for guild so I made one for my Fiesta bowl.

Isn’t it great!  I need to make some for my other bowls.

Melinda

Fabric Find!

Look at the wonderful fabric I found yesterday.  Clipboards, typewriters and typing.  I ended up getting a yard of each.  I don’t know what to do with them but I couldn’t resist.  Do you have any ideas for me?  A notebook cover?  IPad case? Purse?

Melinda

Hexie Alert!

Look at what I found at Joann’s.

Two hexie punches!  The large makes 3/4 inch hexies and the medium makes 1/2 inch.  They do make an extra large but I am not sure what size it is.  It looks like it would punch out 1 inch hexies.  My Joann’s didn’t have it but I will stop by and check again.

Melinda

Design Wall Monday–May 6, 2013

My village is getting larger.  I have 12 done now – on to the next 4 or 8.  Look – one of them has a roof of selvages.  It is made from leftover fabric from the backing of the ECQG raffle quilt that I quilted.  I think it is my favorite one.  Which one do you like?

I finished the eighth Swoon block and have started on the last one.  Here is it, partly put together.

Not much more to this one.  I hope to finish it this week.  The next big decision will be how to set them. I think I will have to take them to the shop to play with since they are too large for my design wall.

Before all that, I need to put the binding on the Saturday Sampler quilt.  I hope to get that done tonight and will be able to post a photo of it tomorrow.

For more design walls, go to Patchwork Times here.

Melinda

Houses

Still working on huuses.

More Houses Being Built in my Kaffe Neighborhood

Isn’t my neighborhood looking like fun?  I am having so much fun putting each house together.  I start with the house fabric from my Kaffe stash.  I then dig around and find a roof out of my 2 1/2 inch strips.  I then go into my 2 1/2 inch squares and try to find two that match for the chimney's.  I have a huge collection of white and black fabric so cut the sky out of it.  Lastly I dig around on my cutting table and find scraps to use for the door and window.

I still can’t decide how many I want to make – I could stop at 12 for a lap size quilt or keep going.  I am having so much fun, I think I will keep making them for a while.

Melinda

Tumbler Quilt in the Spotlight

Look at all the color at the shop.  My tumbler quilt has the spot of honor under the paint sticks.  I love the fabrics in the rack in front of the quilt. 

Here a a close up of the quilt – I love it!

Melinda

Sampler Class Update

Look at all the beautiful blocks brought in as homework last night.  We worked on the last two blocks and will start putting the quilts together next week.  So far, most of them feel like the drunkards path was the hardest.

Melinda

Get it Done–May 2013

I skipped April altogether but am trying to get back on track so I will list my four items for May.

1.  Finish the Swoon Quilt – at least get it pieced and ready to quilt.  I still have 7 blocks competed and one almost finished.  The last block has all the components made and is ready to be put together.  I have the scrappy border made and ready for the blocks to be finished.

2.  Complete first house quilt – the one with Kaffe fabrics and 2 1/2 inch strips.  Probably won’t quilt this one until after Las Vegas since it will fit in my suitcase better as a flimsy.

3.  Start the 2 inch strip house quilt.  Still need to decide on the theme for it.

4.  Finish the Saturday Sampler quilt – could be done today if I get to it.  It just needs the border, quilting and binding.  It is the bright blocks on the right side of the design wall.

All these are realistic goals but will require some focus.  I think I can do it!

For other lists, go to Patchwork Times.

Melinda

Nancy’s Swoon Quilt

I got a photo of Nancy’s quilt at guild yesterday.

She made it from 30’s fabrics and I love it!  She decided not to use the sashing between the blocks but look at the cute half square triangles in the corners.  My favorite block is the one in the middle but I like them all.

Melinda