Fourth Row of Row Quilt

Today was the day for the next row for the garden row quilt that we are doing at the Allatoona Quilters Guild. Hugette was the teacher/designer for this row which is on top in the photo below.

Hugette likes much more conservative colors than I do. It is really interesting to see how much difference fabric color choices make.

Here is the group waiting to get started.

Since this row is another fusible row, we didn't need sewing machines, just our fusible, pencil, scissors and iron.

This month's row consists of watering cans and flower pots. Here is my first watering can.

I got several new black and white fabrics to use as backgrounds when we went to Mary Jo's last month so used them for this row.

I also have a plastic tote full of 6 inch squares that I have collected over time so that is what I used to do the watering cans. I haven't decided what color to use to do the blanket stitch. Right now I am leaning towards black but since I have a huge collection of DMC machine embroidery thread in every color, I just can't decide.
These flower pots are waiting for the flowers to be added. I got a lot done in a couple of hours and will try to get the flowers added in the next few days.

Even though my pots are bright colors, I think they still clearly look like pots. Of course, when the flowers are added, they will be even better.

I really liked this striped fabric that I used for this pot. This quilt is going to be so unique when finished.

There are only 6 blocks this time since they are 8 inch blocks instead of 6 inch ones like the previous rows. The only rule for the designer is that the row finishes at 48 inches.

I think we are going to have bird houses next month.

Summer Apron Swap

I had a little trouble with the package I sent for the Summer Apron Swap. I must have been distracted while addressing the envelope because I forgot the city and state. Fortunately, I had my return address on it so it came back and I put it back in the mail today. I hope my swap partner hasn't given up. At least this time, I had enough sense to get delivery confirmation so I will know when it arrives.


Part of the swap was to send a dish towel/tea towel. It could be purchased but of course homemade is much nicer. I bought a nice checked towel from the quilt shop and used leftover apron fabric to applique on it. I think it turned out nice.

The apron I decided to make is reversible. Here is one side of it. See the two pockets on the bottom and the cell phone pocket on the top. It was be a great place to put your IPod or MP3 player. I might make myself one since I always use my MP3 player while I work on my longarm. I don't think I can quilt without listening to a book. Thank goodness for NetLibrary where I can download books for free.

Here is the other side of the apron. Same positions for the pockets. The fabric is called Fresh Squeezed by Moda and is definitely a "summer" type of fabric.

The last item for the swap was a recipe for a non-alcoholic beverage. Cute idea.

I have not yet received my apron from my swap partner. Hopefully it will be here soon.

Doggie Update

Here are the latest photos of Max and Chula. Chula is feeling much better since her back/neck problems but both of them are showing their age. Max is getting grayer than I am.

They were out on the sidewalk this morning when I was taking the photo of the grocery tote so I couldn't resist taking one of them.

2009 Retreat - Mardi Gras

We are starting to plan the guild retreat for March of 2009. Mary and I are the chairmen of the retreat. We decided to do a Mardi Gras theme. In 2008, we did a murder mystery where it turned out that I was the murderer. It was a great retreat and will be a hard act to follow.

When we went to Mary Jo's last month, we found a couple of different Mardi Gras fabrics. This one has a purple background with masks on it. We bought 14 1/2 yards. Not sure what we will be using it for but it is a great start.

After purchasing the mask fabric, we found the bead fabric. We bought what was left on the bolt which was about 7 yards.

I love both of these fabrics and they will be great to use for napkins, or something for the food tables as well as perhaps for the goodie bags that we are known for.

Each year we have a featured project - or two. We are trying to decide what to do for next year. We did form a quilt committee last week so hopefully we will have help deciding on a quilt.

We have been exchanging 2 1/2 inch strips of a different color each month at guild and Mary and I are trying to find a quilt pattern that will use many of them. Each person in the exchange now has 14 strips of purple, blue, green, brown, gold and red so far. Next month is orange. We do have two months of light neutrals and one of black prints to go also. Many of the patterns we have found so far only use 40 or so strips and we will have many more. Of course, we don't need to use all of them, especially on one quilt.

On the other hand, a Mardi Gras quilt sounds interesting. I have been googling Mardi Gras quilts and even bought a pattern and found a book by Billie Lauder that I will probably pick up. Hopefully we will come up with a plan soon.

"Green" Grocery Tote

Here is the first project I made with the fabric I bought yesterday. It is a grocery/tote bag made from Pet Screen (available at home improvement stores) and webbing from the fabric store.

I used this pattern called "The Beach Tote" published by my sister Robin. I modified it slightly by making it a little taller and a little wider. It is close to the size that Publix, our local grocery chain sells - but much cuter.

I am going to take this to the shop today for a sample but have enough fabric to make one for me to use. I do need to get more webbing - I hope Joann's has more of the lime green webbing.

Green Fabrics

Look at the great new fabrics that came in the shop. There are a couple of more coordinates but I restrained myself and only bought 3 of them. Can't you see grocery bags out of the recycle fabric?

I also fell in love with the stylized tree fabric at the top of the photo. I thought the green one will make great handles.

Here is another view of the recycle fabric with words. There is something about fabric with words that attracts me. I can hardly resist it.

I think I will try a pet screen bag using this fabric. It will be fun to take to the grocery store.

Show and Tell from Guild Meeting

As usual, there was a wonderful assortment of projects shown at guild this week. I can't post them all but here are a few.

This is a shirt that Susan made for her son from fabric he bought in Africa. It seems to have beer keg taps on it. Strange!

After making the shirt she moved on to a quilt. She did a 4-patch kaleidoscope and it turned out great. Can't tell what it started out as, can you.

This is a disappearing 9-patch made from many of the 6-inch squares that we swapped last year. I like how it turned out.

Here is a small quilt made from junk food fabric. She put the same fabric on the back. It has all sorts of junk food on the fabric.

Here is a bright kid's quilt, also made by Susan. Love the bright colors.

Show and Tell is always inspirational, with lots and lots of quilts to look at each month.

Next month, we are going to be showing our challenge quilts. The challenge this time is to use a color chip from the paint store and make a quilt based on those colors. We need to use at least 3 colors from the paint chip and can add others as we wish. No size requirement this time. The guild purchased some very cool pings to give out for a completed project. I have my top done but just need to get it quilted. It is a small wall hanging.

Allatoona Silent Auction and Birthday Club

Tuesday was the general meeting for my Allatoona Guild. We decided to do a Silent Auction as a fundraiser. We asked for people to donate sewing/quilting items and we had the auction during the meeting.

Here is one table full of items, with the bid sheets on top of the item. We had around 200 different items for sale and the agreement was that if what you donated didn't sell, you had to take it back home with you. Thankfully, all my donations sold.

I had two fleece quilt kits that I had intended to make but never got around to it. I also had a fleece throw that never got done. You can see the two quilt kits on the front of this table.

There were a lot of books donated, including some that were in the guild library. I bid on a couple of books but got out-bid - thank goodness! I also donated some colored pet screen that gathered a lot of bids.

One more photo of the eager bidders.

The auction was very successful. People really enjoyed it and the guild made over $800. Good money maker!

Something else that we are doing this year instead of secret pals is to have a birthday club. What this means is that if you sign up, you specify what color you like and each other member of the club buys you a FQ for your birthday month. We have about 30 people signed up. Here is Arlena with her purple birthday FQs. There were two other club birthdays this month but Arlena is the only one I got a photo of.

Pillowcases for Kids with Cancer

We had a sew-in at Tiny Stitches last week to make pillowcases for kids with cancer. The customers responded with great excitement and make lots an lots of pillowcases. The kids are from ages 2 to 17 years old so all types of pillowcases are needed.

Here is the top of the container.

I think we collected more than 100 pillowcases and plan on continuing to collect them for the rest of the summer. The organization we are working with is ConKerr Cancer.

Pillowcases are so easy to make and fast.

Pillowcases Again

I taught another class on pillowcases earlier this week. Each time I teach it, I am able to get at least two more made for myself. I find that the easiest way to show them how to make a pillowcase is to actually make one.


This one is made from the Very Hungry Caterpillar fabric. It is for Emilio and I have a stuffed Caterpillar plus a couple of books to send along with it.

This one is made from Sushi fabric and will probably go to California with the other one.

This is a batik pillowcase made by one of my students. She made two that match her first quilt.

Roni made this one. She took the previous class but decided to take it again so she made two more beautiful floral pillowcases.

Tifani was in my last beginning class and she made this very cute pillowcase for her daughter. The main part is lemonade so we found lemon fabric for the cuff. It really turned out great!

Laura Wasilowski

Here is me with Laura Wasilowski at lunch. We usually go to Ted's Montana Grill after the guild meeting. See the beautiful beaded bag around my neck? My friend Liza made it - I have one started somewhere but will never finish it so I was very pleased to be able to buy it from her.

I managed to take a few photos of her quilts. I really like this little heart quilt. She made it from many of the pieces that were leftover from other projects.

Here is one of her house quilts. I think I would like to live in the yellow house with polka dots.

Laura likes tools. Her is one of her many paintbrush quilts. I really like this one also.

Laura was so entertaining during her lecture called "I quilt, therefore I am". She sang songs about her name, the Chicago School of Fusing and a couple of others. If you ever have an opportunity to take a class from her or go to her lecture, please take advantage of it. You will have a great time.

Next month we will be having Pat Sloan here. I always enjoy her.