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.

SCT, new direction

This is my first post to Sew Cute Tuesday

I just cannot stay away from brights apparently.  Two weeks ago I made up a purple and white Jack in the Box block.  This week I prepared HSTs in pink and in yellow for two more blocks, but was bored with the one color blocks. So I am changing direction to some pattern with lots of brights, as below.  Just playing with ideas, searching on Pinterest.  I'm thinking about pinwheels.

Meanwhile, I finally have my latest boy quilt flimsy done.  With my gdau to help I can finish two Project Linus quilts for the May 11 half yearly charity collection at our local quilt group.

RSC15 week 15

Up, up and away...I feel like flying with my balloons.  After a rough week of family illness, it is so satisfying to finish something pretty.  Everyone is on the mend, even sweet Popper, but she has turned into a fussy cat turning up her nose at this food and that.

Actually, I did not notice the purple balloons in the blocks until I started hunting for the border strips!  I was lucky to find good fabrics to complement them. Purple is gorgeous!

RSC15 week 14

 I have joined a second challenge, the HST Jelly Roll Challenge, sponsored by Jelly Roll Fabrics, to make a different 16-block square each week.  All you RSC15 people have been a challenge to me to do more, so I am combining this in addition to my framed balloons.  Today I cut my first set, using purple of course.  This week's pattern is Jack in the Box, and I hope the piecing will go as well as making the patches.  Here is my first ever 16-square.