Back from a wonderful Change of View

We returned last week from a wonderful trip to the west, seeing family in Washington and hiking at Mt Rainier and then Glacier National Parks. Such stunning views everywhere we looked! Someday I hope to live in the west again ...


I returned home to a freshly serviced Bernina and ready to do some creating in between unpacking and thinking about getting the kids ready for school. These two linus quilts were cut and prepped and just what I needed to get back in the swing of things.



I finished the hand quilting on my Scarlett Rose Celtic wall hanging during our travels. I echo quilted with perle cotton and I like the texture it added. It was a quick job to add the edging and binding to this 19" square piece. I just did the center portion of the Celtic Rose Garden pattern and changed the flower pattern, but I'm pleased with the result and my dd is looking forward to hanging it in her room.

Mailbox Treats

Several months ago I sent off an 8" central block on a journey around the country. This week it returned completed into a beautiful 20" quilt. What a treat to find this lovely quilt in my mailbox. I love the process of adding to one another's work, and Margaret does a fabulous job hosting the Spring Fling Round Robin.




This week I've been teaching a kids sewing class at our local Park & Rec summer camp. Thirteen girls signed up, from ages 6 to 12. The first 2 days we did hand sewing projects and made felt album covers and then needle felted pillows. Very successful projects for the wide range of skills in the class. Wednesday I pulled out the sewing machines because I want to introduce them, but as has happened before, once the sewing machines are out, everyone forgets how to hand sew and they form a long line at the machines (we only have 2). Once I convinced most of the girls to have a hand sewing project to work on while they waited for a turn at the machine, there was less standing around in line. Some girls made vests, some made fleece pillows and others made sleeping bags for their dolls. Our last day we'll dig into my box of 4" squares and make small doll or stuffed animal quilts.

More Projects in Progress

At long last I have moved forward on my piece from the Scarlett Rose workshop at our guild last fall. I finished the knotwork with enthusiasm, but then was stumped with the applique flowers, which did not inspired me. I always find applique a big hurdle, although once the pieces are prepped I enjoy the process. After the project aged in my sewing room for several months, I pulled it out and my daughter helped me choose the fabrics for the flowers. I decided to do fusible applique in a simplified flower design so it would actually get finished. My daughter wants it for her wall, and I'm enthused again to do echo quilting during our travels this summer. It is 20" square, perfect for taking along.



The expected baby boy in our extended family was born last week, so I added the label and sent off this zig zag quilt - it's bright and simple and I like how it turned out. I found a great fabric for the back and I used it on a few of the front triangles as well.

I also got started on a TATW quilt for a local boys shelter - our guild is donating several twin sized quilts with boy themes. Bonnie Hunter's strip method is easy and looks great! This is the third one I've made from her pattern. I found the space and galaxy fabric, and pulled a number of colorful prints to coordinate - I will quilt it later this summer when I get over to use my friend's gammill.

Workshop Points and Quilting Complete at Last

At long last I finished the table runner from the Judy Neimeyer workshop this spring. It looks great in my dining room, and I had it finished for show and tell at our last guild meeting of the year. However, it paled in comparison to someone who had finished a bed-sized quilt of her design. Oh well, I enjoyed the runner size, but did not want to make any more so I'm satisfied with my completion. I was pleased with my quilting - simple stippling and following the star points, but it enhances the design.


Our Linus coordinator commented that we had many more girl quilts than boy quilts in our last delivery, so I started thinking "boy" in my Linus tops. I have a few boy novelty prints which I will make up soon. I also think this sailboat pattern is easy, great for a boy and can use scraps of any non-floral fabrics.


Finally, a sneak peak of my SFRR3 ... I finished the quilting and I love the result. I just need to finish sewing the label and hanging sleeve. It will be hard to send this on! I'll show the completed quilt after the recipient receives it.

Inspired by Gifts of Fabric

I was amazed recently to be the winner of a fabric give-away from generous Victoria of Bumble Bean's blog. What a delight to receive a squishy full of fun kid fabrics in my mailbox late last week. And, even though I have drawers and bins full of fabric, new fabric is often more inspirational. I quickly whipped up this quick strippy quilt (from Mary's pattern) for my project Linus group using 2 of the cat fabrics.


And then my daughter and I decided the pink dog fabric would be a perfect pillowcase for her friend's birthday gift. I cut and she sewed it together with some coordinating fabrics and will wrap it up with a book and some homemade bubble bath for a special gift.


I also put together some more pieces from my "Flower Garden" quilt for another placemat ... this is currently my daughter's favorite, although they are all floating around the table from place to place.

gifts, school and a re-do

The busy pace of the end-of-school-year is upon our house, and I've been finishing projects for several activities. I've done quilts featuring class artwork for my daughter's teachers since kindergarten. However, for this year's third grade and her third grade teacher, a quilt didn't seem the right gift. So, my daughter and I made a quilted apple tote bag together. We started with an apple print fabric, she selected coordinating prints, embroidered one square with an apple and signed in the center of her stitchery. I did the assembly and quilting. We are both very pleased with how it turned out. Perhaps I need one as well! She is going to fill the bag with a batch of cookies for her teacher and her teacher's family before she gives it next week.


My son's teacher got a class quilt last year (when my daughter was in her class). Since this teacher loves reading and really inspires the class, this year we made a "reading cushion" for her room. Each child decorated a square of fabric with the title of a favorite book, and we hope future classes will sit on the cushion and be inspired to read.

My son needed overalls for his "old schoolhouse day" next week. The class dresses in 1909 clothes and spends the day in the one-room schoolhouse which is on the school grounds. It is a wonderful day that every 2nd grader looks forward to. He has his poem and his 12 multiplication tables memorized already! Since I always make my daughter all these special dresses for these types of occasions, of course I need to make my son overalls. He's not a fan of stiff denim or jeans, so I made them of a heavy chambray and I think he will be comfortable.


Finally, back in February I made a guild challenge quilt for the song "Where Have All the Flowers Gone". I liked quilt elements, but I wasn't that crazy about the whole quilt together. I tucked it away in a box after the challenge, and couldn't imagine ever displaying it or giving it to anyone. I love using fun quilted place mats in our kitchen, I've made lots and the kids love changing them. It occurred to me the other day, why not cut the quilt up into place mats. I love them! The kids love them! I'm so glad I thought of a way to re-do my work and now we can enjoy the fun pieced people around our table.

Bound at Last

I finally finished the binding on this 16-patch quilt inspired by Freddy Moran and Gwen Marston's book Collaborative Quilting. It's a large throw size, and I like it, although I think I need more contrast between the setting triangles and the 16-patch blocks. It was fun to find bits and pieces of all my brights for the blocks. I also did my first attempt at feathers with my friend's Gammill ... they need lots of work, but I still like how they look.


I also tried out the no triangle zig-zag quilt tutorial. I ran out of the bright music background fabric, so it ended up short several rows and square. My daughter and I laughed together as we laid out the squares on the floor trying to get the zig and zag correct. This will be tied by my Linus group, and I hope the cozy square shape and bright colors will cheer up a child.