So a volley was fired from Baton Rouge. Glen from Quilts and Dogs let me know through this blog post that she has more quilts quilted and more backs lined up for her queue of quilt tops. While we were watching Americas Got Talent "together" we discussed how many were quilted exactly and how many were bound. 2.5 quilted, none bound. It's not done til it's done! This news did not spur me on to jump up and start quilting.
Also, as a result of our earlier UFO discussion, Patty the quilt lady got involved here. She has managed to take apart a UFO and get it quilted again. She too lacks that finishing step of a binding. Her log cabin, seen here, is lovely.
I didn't share this with Glen but I have managed to accumulate three more flimsies this year that were made by others. If I don't quilt them this year onto the UFO list they will go.
Argh! I'm heading in the wrong direction! I have all the power yet I don't take action. Sigh...
At least someone is using my quilting setup...
That is my grandcat Artemis...
She's taunting me...
Hugs!
Swooze
Back in March of 2007 I bought the fabric and pattern to make this quilt.
I got a great deal on this fabric and thought it was especially great because I had enough fabric to make two!
Fast forward to 2010 when I actually made the top. I was surprised that I would not have quite enough to make that second quilt. I was in no hurry to make the second one so figured I'd pick up what I needed as I came across it.
Over time I would look for a piece of turquoise fabric to fill in what I needed. Eventually I found something that would work and put it with the rest of the fabric.
I pulled out the book to refresh my memory because when I showed the above quilt I got a commission to make the quilt again just another row longer. I took out all the fabric to prep it for cutting. It was at this point I realized it wasn't the turquoise color I needed it was the purples and I needed three of them. I misremembered!
I sort of set it aside and didn't think too much about it. As I came across purples that I thought would work I set them aside. I decided to cut the white I needed for this quilt. I also pressed the other fabrics as well and it dawned on me the pinks weren't even in the stack. I misremembered that I took that pink out and did who knows what with it.
Regardless, I realized I was going to need three more pinks just like the purples. Look at the ends of the quilt. You will notice that there is an "extra" row of these two colors. This extra came from my second set of fabric when I made the first.
I cut and sewed and cut what I did have. I will be stash diving for the rest. I plan to get this done in the next few weeks so I can stop misremembering!
Hugs!
Swooze
No really she did with this post. She had been texting me the previous night and mentioned she was at her guild meeting. She relayed the story she shared in her post via text.
When I read her post it had me thursting for details. I wanted to know exactly how many UFOs she had and how many of them were completed tops. She lured me into divulging my sordid details.
I tossed some number out then felt the desire to know the specifics. I went to my handy dandy spreadsheet and counted. I have 42 UFOs with 4 of them in the piecing stage.
Why do I have so many unquilted when I have this Avante sitting here. I'm still trying to get over my "what if I'm not good enough" syndrome. I've even tried to convince myself to work on them in 15 minute increments a day. It hasn't worked yet. I will say that I made progress by getting backings made and battings ready for several.
So today what do I see? Glen's true confession here. And she has almost as many UFOs as me. And she also has an Avante. Why isn't she whipping them out? She also made progress by trying to pull backings together. She must have the same disease as me. I'll have to consult with her.
After reading her post I decided I am going to quilt that quilt on my frame today! I need to get even with her. I was all set to start working and I couldn't turn my overhead light on. Got that resolved then decided I was hungry so made lunch. When I finished eating I decided a nap is in order. Hopefully the urge will be there when I awake.
I'll leave you with a picture of my quilt ladder laden with unquilted tops. I really have some pretty things here and need to get them finished up.
I hope you and yours are safe from the path of Irma.
Quilty hugs!
Swooze
I've been a member of the yahoo group "stashbusters" whose mission is to encourage us to use our stash. This was posted just a day ago and i wanted to share with you. Betty is a longtime member. Of the group. I am including the contact info for Betty as some of you might be able to help...imagine if ALL your stash were lost, your UFOs, your quilts
THIS IS THE MESSAGE THAT WAS POSTED IN RESPONSE TO QUERY:
Gosh, how do I ask..
The storage unit with about 40 full sized disaster quilts, 80+ Nursing home quilts, 60+ Linus Quilts, Christmas Stockings, a new roll of batting, about 40 Preemie quilts, and untold yards of fabric, cutting boards, shelving,, and so on were lost due to flooding from Hurricane Harvey.
One of my best friends (Nita Beard - chairman of WHQG Comfort Quilts) is just devastated. They had over 4 feet of water in the storage unit where we store this stuff... The Storage place said it is a total loss as it has been under water for over a week, and is too toxic to even come and look at, and is still underwater (at least 2 feet) as long as the Addicks reservoir is still releasing water.
Of course all Nita's Bee members have donated a bunch of fabric. but, this was a storage unit 10 x 20 foot FULL of fabric.
Last week, I asked for jelly rolls for Tri-County Quilt guild. They had OVERWHELMING success. Standing room only, making jelly roll quilts.
This is for West Houston Quilters Guild. Our meeting location (Bear Creek and in the the middle of the Addicks Reservoir) is under several feet of water. Closed until further notice. The storage unit is in the midst of this.
The Comfort Quilters will begin again. We are starting from scratch. Nita had about 40 kits in her car,, and that is what we have to start with.
We have some Hobbs UPC codes to try to get some batting again.
****We could use:
--Hobbs UPC codes - ANY Hobbs product.
--Yardage to get us started again.
--Quilt tops
--Finished quilts
Just devastated at what we lost, to help others.... Very discouraged. Nita with her positive attitude says that all will be well, and that God will take care.
***Any donations can be sent to me or I can give you Nita's address.
Betty Baker
Attn: WHQG Disaster
17412 Bobcat Trail
Cypress TX 77429
We will start over... gosh, still grieving over what was lost. Our Thursday Bee is starting with a sew-in in a next week to piece tops. A couple of Bee members with longarms and I have volunteered to quilt anything that comes in.
This is a different group from Tri-County. I am a member of both.
Betty
Cypress TX
www.TShirtQuiltsTX. com
I've had this quilt sitting on my frame for weeks. It's about time I get it quilted and bound. It's time has come!
I'm linking up with Elm Street Quilts goal setting linkup.
Hugs,
Swooze
These photos were shared with me.
This picture was taken with a cell phone through special glasses.
This picture was taken on a roof. The trees leaves filtered the rays and you can see the crescent.
I took these last photos with my cell phone just out of curiosity. What will I catch?
Hope you got to experience the eclipse where ever you are.
Swooze
I think I own every single pattern and template there is to make a Double Wedding Ring quilt. I was driven by my mothers desire to own one. Ultimately, I bought an antique one and gifted it to her. She passed four years ago and that quilt is now in my collection.
In November of 2012 I pulled out a Double Wedding Ring quilt UFO that I bought at a garage sale and asked Mom to pick out the hideous purple pieces that were used as the background. She happily did so and sadly I came down with some sort of flu so we didn't spend much time together. At the time I did not know this would be the last project she and I would work on together before she passed the following May.
This is the background.
Here are my choices for a replacement. Preferences?
Here are all the choices together. Which do you prefer?
I bought the Accuquilt GO die. I hope the pieces are the same size. Will report back but help me choose first!
Hugs,
Swooze
While thinking about how I'll be quilting the purple cow I chose the fabric to make a backing for the double four patch.
I bought the rest of the bolt of a glittery grey that I used in this top. I decided to prewash it because I wasn't sure how the machine would handle the glittery fabric.
So sparkly....
So glittery!!!
Now I know what it feels like to be glitter bombed!!
Hugs,
Swooze
p.s. That's the garage floor in front of the dryer in that last picture.
I finished quilting this little gem Thursday night. Trimmed, made the binding and attached it Friday night. Saturday a.m. I got up and finished the job.
I took it to the LQS for a little show and share. Tossed it in the washer and dryer. That evening I gifted it to my friend.
Friday night at church I think was the first time I finished everything I took with me to work on. I trimmed the little quilt above. I made and attached the binding. I added the borders to my double four patch. I dethreaded a quilt top that had been washed and frayed that I plan to quilt next.
My double four patch.
I plan to quilt it on the diagonal with wavy lines.
My next quilting subject. A baby BQ that I call purple cow.
I'm going to load the top as if it were the back then load the cow patterned back as the top and outline the spots. I am still trying to decide how I'll transition from spot to spot. Any suggestions?
The Happy Blocks were my IMG finish. I'm linking up with Patty at Elm Street Quilts.
Hugs!
Swooze
I will be finishing up the quilting on this little table topper and binding it.
I am stitching in the ditch around the blocks and the inside square. Then in the black space I am stitch ditching to give the appearance of the happy block. Pardon the chalk lines.
i am gifting this to a friend that just finished her sewing room in turquoise and black. Her husband gave her a treadle and I made it to use as a table topper for that machine.
Linking up with Elm Street Quilts OMG goal linkup.
Here is my July finish. I have really been trying to grow my skills on the long arm. I both learned and accomplished a lot on this quilt. I found a great foot in my box of Janome feet that is clear and has a little red arrow that keeps my needle perfectly on the edge of the binding as I topstitched it down.
This pattern is from Terry Atkinson's book Allegro.
This was my goal for July. I'm linking to Elm Street Quilts July OMG Finish linkup.
Hugs.
Swooze
I've been quilting. Started out with free hand flowers. Added pebbling. Finally a diamond pattern. More pebbling. This repeats three times ending in a row of flowers.
Trying to grow my skills. Done is better than perfect.
Happy quilting!
Swooze
Last quarter was not very successful. I only finished my shirt. So here is my entire list of UFOs.
Leanne at She Can Quilt hosts a Finish Along each quarter. You link to her blog, or one of the other hostesses, with a post about your proposed finishes.
1 Strip Stacks - purple borders
2 Strip Stacks - red border
3 Double Four Patch
4 tumbler
5 4 patch on point - black green pink
6 Avignon Picnic
7 Matchstick Marimba
8 Strip Stacks - green and pink
9 Renees navy top
10 Nancies Floral and White Blocks
11 Pieced together contest
12 Pink Poppy BQ
13 Bloomers
14 Garden Party - Bonnie Mystery
15 Wanderlust
16 Pfefferneusse
17 Baby BQ
18 Lazy Sunday
19 Strip Stacks - green and pink
20 Original Orca Bay
21 Rainbow Orca Bay
22 Stepping Stones
23 30's Dog prints
24 Happy Block Jean Quilt - Jason
25 Row by Row Quilt
26 Antique top to quilt
27 Garage Sale top to be quilted
28 Dizzy
29 Grand Illusion
30 Freeze Frame
31 Double Wedding Ring
32 Nancies 30's Red
33 Nancies 30's Green
34 Christmas Packages
35 Razzle Dazzle
36 Stepping Up - yellow lavendar
37 Awareness - red black
38 Hopscotch - yellow green
39 Red and White bow tie
40 Red and White Burgoyne Surrounded
41 Turquoise blocks
42 Crossroads
43 Renees yellow top
44 - ? Find and quilt all the charity quilts I have lingering here
I have had this quilt top done for probably 7 years, maybe more. I have quite a few unquilted tops and really need to get them finished.
i loaded it on the frame last week but finally convinced myself today to get started.
I have the quilting design all drawn out so now it's a matter of executing.
My goal is to quilt and bind this quilt this month. I'm linking up with Elm Street Quilts for the July OMG linkup.
Hugs,
Swooze
My goal was to finish the top for Crossroads.
I love this quilt and have a load of scraps to work with.
Linking up with Elm Street Quilts finish linkup.
Hugs,
Swooze
Over the years I have collected wool applique patterns. I have never tried making one because I was afraid to ruin the wool. I had visions of jagged or frayed edges. When a wool applique class was offered at my local quilt store I jumped at the chance. They were offering a really cute pattern as a kit.
I showed up on the day with a few skeins of DMC floss, a package of embroidery needles and a pair of scissors. Everything else was provided. The instructor showed different methods of applique and provided the materials for each. She had a sample that had all the methods so you could feel the hand of the fabric and see the results. I went with the fusible using Heat N Bond.
She also had several types of scissors to try. She had Kay Buckley. I loved the feel of them in my hand but not the feel as I cut the wool. They did the job but when I tried the Fiskars Easy Action Micro Tip I fell in love with them. They cut smoothly and easily.
During class I managed to cut out the entire project and get all the fusing done. I had all the wool applique stitches done and only had backstitching of the letters and the embellishments left.
Here is the final project.
Wicked Chickens Lay Deviled Eggs. Hilarious!
The pattern can be found at Briar Root Primitives here.
It was a great class and I got over my fear of cutting into wool.
Hugs,
Swooze
The Mesquite Guild asked for mini quilts to be donated for silent auction to benefit the ROTC. The ROTC is going to be helping setup and take down the quilt racks for the show. The money raised will go to scholarships for ROTC students.
I finished this little mini back in January. I was just not pleased with it.
The binding was just not applied well and didn't match well. I tipped it off last week and applied a new one.
It was delivered today for the show on the 23rd and 24th of this month. I hope it raises a little money for the ROTC students.
Hugs,
Swooze
June? Really?
I've been doing well with achieving my goals with the One Monthly Goal, hosted by Patty at Elm Street Quilts, this year.
Here us my June goal. I am going to finish this quilt top. It is my Crossroads BOM that was hosted by my LQS, Wattafind. It was only 6 months long so not too drawn out. I am currently working on month 5 and ready to tackle month 6 with all the pieces for that row already assembled.
Here is where I left off.
Wish me luck! I'm linking up with Elm Street Quilts.
Hugs,
Swooze
