Sew Cute Tuesday, Eat Healthy

At our Monona Quilters meeting last week I picked up a pile of similar pieces from the giveaway table.  When I got home I realized that they were all WOF and had an idea for an easy strip quilt. So I laid out the strips at half width to try them out and just look at some of the assorted produce!

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I think that strips of the gold fabric will set them off nicely.  My friend and I were wondering who would want such a fruit and vegetable quilt.   Just then a delivery man came to the door and said he sure would like it!  No accounting for taste, so I will put this together when I am able to find the right gold fabric.

I link up with RSC15 at superscrappy.blogspot.com, Sew Cute Tuesday at blossomheartquilts.com and Throwback Thursday at kristaquilts.blogspot.com.

RSC15 week 32

 This has been a hectic week for me.  One thing that took extra time was linking up with Krista Quilts for   Throwback Thursday.  It is a fun place to share your projects done way back when or even more recently.  I posted a photo of a Christmas tree skirt I made for my daughter's December wedding 20 years ago.  Hope you will check that out.

   As for indigo, I found a lot of it is in my D9P top, so that counts for this week. I loved using my new rotating Olfa mat for cutting the blocks.  The partial layout below shows the indigo prints.  My granddaughter helped with the layout.  There is no one else around here who can crawl around on the floor!

I have pieced the first two of ten rows of 8 blocks. Since it is basically a random layout, I have to keep referring to my photos.  Even doing that, I got a couple of blocks out of place.  But being random, who cares?  

The balloon blocks got passed by in my excitement with this new project and here it is the end of the week.  I hope you have all had a productive week.

I link up with RSC15 at superscrappy.blogspot.com, Sew Cute Tuesday at blossomheartquilts.com and Throwback Thursday at kristaquilts.blogspot.com.

Throwback Thursday, August 6

CHRISTMAS NOT TERRIBLY LONG AGO

My lovely daughter and her husband celebrated their 20th anniversary last December.  I had been quilting for several years then and decided to make them a tree skirt for their first Christmas together.  She had been an avid seamstress since her early teens and had made bridal gowns and bridesmaid dresses for friends.  I had no such experience, but had saved many scraps from all our sewing projects.  

Her favorite colors were rose and green.  I chose fabrics from all our memorable projects for the tree skirt, including the green satin from her own bridesmaid dresses.  (She did buy her own gown.)  I just made a large circle and a pattern for the segments.  It was easy to strip piece each segment and then join them.  The binding was also from the bridesmaid green satin.

Neèdless to say, the skirt is filled with many memories for both of us. I love seeing it under her tree every year, a real family treasure, and she still uses her rose and crystal decorations on the tree.

I am very happy to have this chance on Throwback Thursday to share this great memory.   Thank you, Krista here at  kristaquilts.blogspot.com.  I also link up with RSC15 at superscrappy.blogspot.com and Sew Cute Tuesday at blossomheartquilts.com.

RSC15 week 31

FOUND IN MY STASH

I was happy to learn that indigo is the color for August.  I collect antique quilts and am interested in learning about natural dyes used in the past.  Barbara Brackman's excellent posts about old colors has been a great education for me.  I recommend checking out her blog, Civil War Quilts. (Sorry, I have not yet been able to link up with others on my posts.)  

  After hunting through my stash I found this group of indigo batiks. I like the playfulness of some, which will go well with my balloon blocks.

I think I'm becoming a real quilter.   All of a sudden I have three WIPs.  The photo below shows the first step in making blocks for a D9P.  It is a surprise for a friend, who truly deserves the comfort of a quilt.  I had some charm packs on hand and found out that these contain her favorite colors.

I am also helping another friend to design her own table runner, using a nice packet of Bali Snaps in her favorite colors.  I also have one Project Linus flimsy which needs to be backed and quilted.  So I am trying to put in some daily time on these projects, and I'm now looking forward to that each day.  One more thing is dreaming up a plan for a girl quilt using Cyndy's giveaway fat quarters.

   Thanks to all of you for your hints, help and encouragement.  You are such a great bunch!

I link up here at RSC15 and at Sew Cute Tuesday.  

Sew Cute Tuesday, July 28

MY FIRST BABY GIRL QUILT

This quilt was originally intended to be a Project Linus quilt.  My good friend found out she was going to be a new grandma and wanted me to make her one just like it.  I told her I could never duplicate it, being a jelly roll random mix.  So I surprised her by finishing it in time for the birth of her darling granddaughter last Christmas.
   I tried out the 3 Dudes pattern to give it lots of movement and was very happy with the color mix. I backed it with a fleece kids' blanket in pink with cupcakes and other sweets in the same colors.

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 My next project is another girl quilt for Project Linus, which just needs to be backed and quilted.  Having this Sew Cute Tuesday spot to share my projects keeps me going.

RSC15 week 30

A RED LETTER MONTH

This month has been momentous for me in my quilting journey.  In addition to doing my red balloon blocks, I finished my granddaughter's quilt in time for her 14th birthday on the 17th.  It was the only bed sized quilt I have done since my first quilt for my daughter, Sarah's mom, when she was 14.  That was before precuts, rotary strip cutting and mats.  I must have been crazy, or just innocent, to have done that first one.

  This rainbow zigzag quilt was Sarah's choice, to match her room painted in rainbow colors and Beatles themes.   She made various choices along the way, even to the diagonal quilting done on my home machine.  

   On Monday she came to our Monona Quilters group and talked about her room.  She said that the quilt itself is the brightest thing in there.  She even took it with her to curl up beside her mom that evening.

For my red contribution to RSC15 I finished these red balloon blocks and have started on a couple of other projects.  One is a disappearing nine patch using charm squares, but softer colors.  The other is using the group of fat quarters I won in Cyndy's giveaway, lovely modern patterns which will take me in a new direction. 

I enjoy linking with RSC15 and Sew Cute Tuesday each week, a and hope you will go see them.

Sew Cute Tuesday

BIG FINISH

I actually met my goal of making a quilt for my granddaughter for her 14th birthday on the 17th.  She helped plan this rainbow zigzag quilt for her bedroom painted in rainbow colors and featuring the Beatles.  With help from kind friends and my Monona Quilters group, it was finished last Thursday.  The back is brilliant yellow and bound in lime green. I machine quilted it in 8-inch diagonal squares on my home machine.  So glad it is done in only two months.  The only previous bed quilt I made was for Sarah's mother when she was also 14, my first quilt made the hard way, before pre-cuts, rotary cutters and mats.   This was a breeze compared to a generation ago!

I link up here at Sew Cute Tuesday and at RSC15 with Angela, both great places.

RSC15 week 29

Red month is here, so finally I can show my IPAD CARRYING BAG.    I made it about a year ago from a decorator fabric swatches giveaway at our quilt group.  I have a hard time holding heavy things, like the iPad case you can buy.  This is much lighter and can be used as a regular purse.  Each piece is made from a different sample, and each is lined to prevent fraying.  Notice the leopard lurking inside the pocket. I can carry my phone, keys, etc without scratching the iPad screen. Also it is reversible.

This bag serves me well.  I did not use a pattern, just made it to fit the iPad.  I love it, but am not inclined to make any more bags for now.

 I still have not gotten the balloon blocks done, but I DID FINISH Sarah's birthday quilt.  Hooray!  Just in time for her birthday.  

Sew Cute Tuesday

ZIGZAG RAINBOW

I am finally at the end of my granddaughter's birthday quilt, a zigzag rainbow.  She will be 14 tomorrow, loves the Beatles and has painted her room in rainbow colors.  I let her choose the design from a similar one on Pinterest.  The backing is the brightest Kona yellow I could find and the binding is lime green.  

This photo of the flimsy was taken at our Monona Quilters group, who then pinned it for me.  It is the biggest one I have ever made and I am thrilled with it, and so is Sarah.

I enjoy linking up here and on RSC15 with Angela.  

Piggy Bank Challenge

Val is hosting this Piggy Bank Challenge again this year.  I learned of it from Cynthia at 

http://quiltingismorefunthanhousework.blogspot.com/.  

My bank is a jeweled one made for me by my granddaughter Sarah last year.  I plan to save money for some traveling here in WI, to the Milwaukee Art Museum on Lake Michigan or to Wisconsin Dells for a boat ride through the cliffs along the river.  I have been here seven years and it is overdue.

Thank you, Val, for this chance to save for a goal along with many other great quilters.

RSC15 week 28

PROGRESS REPORT

Here is a recap of my RSC15 balloon blocks, which have not got the red yet.

The red blocks will have to wait until next week because I have been working hard for my deadline of the 17th for Sarah's 14th birthday.  My quilt group helped by pinning it at our Monday meeting.  As you can see below, I am in the middle of quilting the zigzag rainbow 72 x 90 quilt, using my Huskystar with a 6-inch throat opening. 

Sarah has been helping with the design and chose the yellow back, Kona canary, which we both love.  She also suggested diagonal quilting, which has turned out to be the easiest choice with my machine.  I only have to squeeze the diagonal corner through on the longest runs.  The close ups show the 10-inch spaced quilting lines.  I used Warm and White batting after good advice.  I have to use large pins in order to get them open easily.  

It took only two hours to get half done and it went very smoothly with only one false start to rip out.  So I am very happy with my progress up to now.

RSC15 week 27

 ON TOP OF THE RAINBOW

It's been a busy quilting week for me. It's also been beautiful weather, not yet in the 80's. Happily I am on schedule to have the zigzag rainbow quilt pinned at our group meeting on Monday.  So here is part of the red streak for July.  It has been a lot of fun matching up the various fabrics and some colors are not as easy as others, red being one, because it doesn't have a very wide range from light to dark.

 

Below is the top third of the rainbow so far.  I'm so happy that I promised this to Sarah, my granddaughter, for her birthday on the 17th.  The charity quilts are very gratifying to make, but then I say goodbye to them.  This will be around for many years, I hope.

I link up with Angela at Rainbow Scrap Challenge, and with Alyce at Sew Cute Tuesday.

RSC15 week 26

NEWS FLASH!   Flock of pink flamingos spotted in Wisconsin senior living complex, nibbling on whatever is in the garden.  This is the third year these intrepid fliers have ventured to this very spot.  Some residents are suspicious that pranksters are at work.  However, they do bring lovely color to the garden and seem happy to remain, so no charges will be made at this time.

HALF WAY

My balloon blocks are not challenging like the star blocks that Angela has suggested each month.  But this Rainbow Challenge has meant so much to me in other ways, like the discipline of a post deadline each week.  The posting has taught me so much about blogging, with lots of frustration included, but having success with them is great. (Not right now, since I just accidentally deleted the final draft of this post and am redoing it.) 

However, the best thing has been meeting so many wonderful, talented and giving people.  Each one of you has given me something, especially Angela.  So many, many thanks and blessing to all.

Here are my 18 blocks, which I am enjoying so much.  I plan to make at least one Project Linus quilt when finished, and have just come across a fleece blanket a possible backing. What do you think?

I link up with RSC15 and Sew Cute Tuesday, both fun places.

RSC15 week 25

ALL THE BLUES

I'm making progress on my granddaughter's zigzag rainbow quilt.  The aqua/light blue blocks were my favorite because of the many different hues to choose from without getting too dark.  So the actual blue blocks had to be the full range of light to dark for a contrast.  Now the purples are nearly done and only the pinks remain.  I don't know where I can lay them out all at once though. 

I did order some backing fabric today from Missouri Star Quilts, Kona citrus, one of the cheeriest yellows.  I already have a lime green print Jellyroll for the binding.  But I have not made a bed size quilt for years and am not sure what to use for batting.  I do not plan on close quilting.  Any suggestions?

 

One more blue -- I found this rolling stacker in our basement garbage room yesterday.  By the way, the best thing about senior apts in WI is the underground parking!  This thing was filthy with gardening dirt, but I ran each basket through the dishwasher and it cleaned up well.  Now the WIPs, overflow solids and batiks all have a new home beside the rolled up fleece blankets waiting to be Project Linus quilts.

I link up with RSC15 and Sew Cute Tuesday, hope you will check them out.

RSC15 week 24

I am very happy with my June balloon blocks, not only mixing light blue and aqua, but also finding a couple of "cloud" prints to include.  Now those balloons are definitely flying high!

I also finished all the green and the aqua blocks for my Zigzag rainbow quilt and am now working on blues, from light all the way to dark, with some starry skies thrown in.

Speaking of blue, I have also been finding more resources for info on antique quilts, on blogs like Barbara Brackman's Civil War Quilts, and also on Pinterest.  I have pretty definitly dated my scrappy medallion quilt as 1840-1865.  What a thrill. Here is a closeup of some of the borders containing Prussian blue, typical of the period.

I especially like the Prussian blue flower on white near the top center.  The quilt has been well used and laundered, but that is part of its charm for me.  I like it to give old quilts a good home.

I link up with RSC15 at so scrappy and Sew Cute Tuesday at blossomheartquilts.com.