Percolating to the top of my List

It's funny how sometimes projects that were not even on the radar zoom to the top of my list. I visited my 99-year-old grandmother this summer and she told me to take whatever I wished from her fabrics, she no longer can sew and would like them to be used if possible. Among her fabrics, I found 30 4" squares sewn together into a block, and a stack of 100 more of the print blocks. I took those, wondering what she had in mind when they were all cut by hand. She no longer remembers what she planned to make.

My cousin moved in with her several years ago to be her caretaker, and he has done a good job enabling Nana to live on her farm for the remainder of her life. I suddenly had an inspiration to put the squares together as a quilt for my cousin. I wanted to keep it fairly simple, with large patches of blocks like Nana had started, and keep it masculine. Her block had the red and blue print in no particular order, so I made my blocks random as well. I found a similar blue to mix with the prints, and a nice stripe that blended. I made twelve 20" bordered blocks for the quilt. The upper right block in the photo is her original blue. It was very peaceful to sew her blocks, I remembered all the times I sewed with Nana as a young girl and my happy childhood memories of time at her farm.

The top and back are all sewn together now, I just need to visit my friend and her Gammill to quilt it. I hope to finish it for my cousin's October birthday, and before my grandmother turns 100 in November.

Back to School and Time for Myself

My kids went back to school this week giving me more time to work on projects in my sewing room. I finished up several tops and quilts for linus, which look good blowing in the breeze. We like to give out holiday-themed quilts at the hospital when appropriate, so I made two with Halloween fabrics.

I have been working on some swap blocks, both for a swap among some guild friends and an online swap on flickr. Of course, I end up making extra blocks to try out patterns and different fabric combinations, so I see an orphan block quilt in my future.


I had a chance to finish binding this twin sized quilt for a local boy's shelter. It is Bonnie's TATW pattern using some space motif fabric, I love this pattern for a larger charity quilt. I hope it gives a boy some comfort.

I also packed up a box of fabric and sewing supplies for the ibol project - check it out and see what one soldier is doing to foster goodwill. I'm really impressed with his project and glad I could contribute.

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.