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.

SWT, rainbow quilt

A rainbow zigzag quilt for my granddaughter's 14th birthday in July.  She is crazy about the Beattles and has painted her room like a rainbow.  This is just a sample of the blocks.  I have already completed  the colors through green, now working on aqua.  Doing a grandma quilt is such fun!

RSC15 week 23

JELLY ROLL JUNKIE COMES CLEAN!

The picture tells the truth. I have to confess that I have been giving in to Jellyroll sales for a couple of years now.  It started quite innocently with one Project Linus quilt and I was hooked.  Until now I have not really sorted out my stash.  I found enough strips for a dozen or more quilts, not to mention all my charm packs, layer cakes, fat quarters and saved and free fabric. 

I have two projects at present involving aqua, teal and blues, namely the June RSC15 blocks and the rainbow quilt.  Those colors alone make a pile about 10 inches tall, not to mention all the other colors and prints. Just trying to pick out the best strips for each project has taken so long, maybe because I just love looking at them.  But finally the three groups in front are the ones that have made the cut so far.  The middle row is for the Rainbow challenge.

That's enough hard work for now.  See you next week.

I link up with RSC15 and Sew Cute Tuesday.

RSC15 week 22

LOOK WHO MADE IT!

Mr. Green was very determined this week and so was I.  Despite a lot of distractions, I completed all of the red and orange blocks and most of the yellow ones.  I was anxious to see the dark green blocks, so I snuck in a few of them before working on the lime.  After four of the lime, the bobbin ran out late on Friday and I called it quits. Fortunately for Mr Green, he made it in his rightful place after all.

Oh, oh, I see from the photo that one of the blocks is going the wrong way, which is a good reminder to snap a photo before going too far and having to rip again.

I am running out of floor space, but lucky for me, the new color is light blue/greenish, which just happens to be my next color.  Looking forward to less pressure in June!

I link up with RSC15 and Sew Cute Tuesday.

RSC15 week 21

WHERE IS THE GREEN?

I am excited about starting on the rainbow quilt for my granddaughter.  It is the first bed-size quilt I have made in many years and has a deadline of mid-July for her 14th birthday.  As you can see below, I am doing a zigzag rainbow, her choice of pattern, similar to a Pinterest pic by Red Pepper Quilts.  I started by doing 21 blocks of red, using jellyroll strips.  I was discouraged by a tension problem, but it took me longer to find my sewing machine manual than it did to fix the tension.  

I completed the red blocks and began orange, so cheerful.  But what about my RSC15 green?  Well, I am using my quilting rainbow of nine colors; it has to include lime green, teal and pink of course.

That puts poor dark green way in the middle.  It is trying to sneak into the photo, but I had to put it back in the box.  Hopefully it will make its arrival next week!

I enjoy being linked up with RSC15 and Sew Cute Tuesday.  Getting to know so many terrific people and being inspired by your beautiful work is a real pleasure.

SWT, first Project Linus quilt

This was the first of my Project Linus quilts, made in 2013.  I loved working with the colorful jelly roll strips and did a simple Rail Fence pattern to show them off.  

For the backing I bought a readymade fleece child's blanket to back it, with no batting needed.  I simply tied it with perle cotton, but had to use pliers to pull the needle through the fleece...live and learn.  Since then I have made six Project Linus quilts for needy kids.

SWT, rainbow quilt

I am making a quilt for my granddaughter who will be 14 in July.  She is a huge Beatles fan and has painted her room in rainbow colors.  So we decided on a zigzag rainbow quilt for her.  Last week I assembled all my rainbow fabrics and loved doing that.

 This is the beginning, with 21 red and and white 6.5 inch blocks.  It went really smoothly until I disciovered a tension problem, so I decided to blog instead; much less frustrating.  

She was excited to see this beginning to take place and I am glad to have a deadline.  Hopefully next week will be more productive.

I am linked up with Sew Cute Tuesday and RSC15.

RSC15 week 20

Thanks to all of you for the consensus that a bright and dark green mix would look best with my balloons.  So UW, Wisconsin, and UW, Washington are no longer rivals but teammates!  I am very happy with how the blocks turned out.

This is a new project during the fun part.  My granddaughter will be 14 in July and is nuts about the Beatles.  She has painted her room in rainbow colors, so I will naturally make her a rainbow quilt.  I just loved digging out my fabrics and deciding to supplement a few low color spots.  Out came the old credit card and the new stash will be here soon. I love being a quilting grandma!

Quilt Expo 2013 in Madison WI

Madison's annual event sponsored by Nancy Zieman, with 300 quilts judged. 

A blue ribbon winner

I could only dream...

Done by one of our Monona Quilters who excels at embellishments 

My first exposure to wonkies 

Loved the humor

This is linked to Val's Tuesday Archives Linky Party.  I also link to Àngela's RSC15 and Sew Cute Tuesday at  Blossom Heart Quilts.

SCT, Project Linus boy quilt

Rushed to finish this Project Linus quilt in time for our Monona Quilters semiannual charity quilt collection.  Our 50 or so members contributed almost 200 quilts in 2014 to a number of local charities.

I really love the chance to make lighthearted colorful quilts for the kids in need.

The quilt is made with two Riley Blake charm packs, black Kona roll up, Jellyroll Fabrics border and binding and a fleece blanket for backing.  

RSC15 week 19

My green this week is the leaves on the beautiful lilies sent by my sisiter for my son Chris's memorial service last Sunday.

We also said goodby to Poppor this week, due to pain.  She is now with Chris in heaven.

I am rushing to finish my boy Project Linus quilt to turn it in on Monday.  Had hoped to get two done, but circumstances did not allow.  Next week I WILL have some green blocks to show.

RSC15 week 18

Now it is May, so I got out my "Christmasy" greens to start.  But I felt that maybe they were too bright and overpoweried the balloons.  So I scrounged up some darker greens to mix in and am wondering if that mix will be better.  What do you think?  Maybe all my years in the Pacific Northwest have given me a love for the dark evergreens.  I do miss them here in the Midwest.

HERE IS A HINT:  Another bit of green.  I use a very inexpensive gardening glove with gripper dots on the fingers and palms for steady gripping.  It works well while maneuvering a large quilt for stitching or free motion work.  As you can tell, this one has been used and washed, but is easy to slip on and off.

Linked up with Rainbow Scrap Challenge and Sew Cute Tuesday.

RSC15 week 17, violets

These violets from my daughter's garden are the only purple this week.  My son Chris, age 47, passed away peacefully last weekend after a long struggle.  My next balloon blocks will be in memory of his Mày birthday.