UFOs Turn into New Quilts

Sheets from the thrift store turned into quilt backs. And what's on the other side?

This is the Americana Snowball quilt. For nearly a year I swapped snowballs in red,white and blue fabrics of an americana theme. This is lap quilt size and will make a good camping quilt, I think. I can see me in a lawn chair next to the campfire with a grandkid on my lap. The air is chilly and we snuggle under the quilt until it is time to roast marshmallows, make s'mores and the quilt turns sticky.

Stars say Americana to me. So, I free motion quilted some stars on my little ol' sewing machine. Some are pretty wonky...but it's all made by me. Now, if I could just get around to labeling these things.

Next up is another quilt made of blocks swapped monthly. These were made of 30s reproduction fabrics and WOW (white on white). This is a full sized quilt. I love the 30s fabrics. They remind me of my grandma and her quilts. Staying on the farm in the summer with grandma was one of the more pleasant experiences of my childhood. She always had a craft for me to work on and taught me to sew and embroider. I miss the crotchety old lady.

And this is a close up of the kind of plain quilting I did on it. Quilting is sure a lot easier with a walking foot. And walk I did. A couple of things I learned while quilting this one was 1) always watch your back (if you don't you might find puckers later) and 2) sometimes it's good to be under a little pressure. (I fiddled around wondering why the thread kept bunching up on back of the quilt, why the bobbin thread kept knotting, why, oh why. After about half an hour of frustration I figured out I needed to put the pressure foot down. Sheesh!)

Bees, Beetles, Butterflies and It's Spring! (The Latest in CQ RRs)

My stitching on a Bees, Beetles &  Butterflies Round Robin. Four ladies send a block around and take turns stitching on each block until it returns back home to the owner.

And this is Margreet's entire block after 3 ladies have added lots of bees, beetles and butterflies.

And, finally, my rendition of Spring. This is an RR where I am supposed to embellish half of my own block and then swap with someone else who will finish the other half while I finish the other half of theirs.

And, it does feel like Spring!

New DYB RRs Coming Up

My blocks for the Art Nouveau RR. I'm hoping to get art nouveau renditions of flowers.

My blocks for Pansy RR. Maybe this will eventually be a bell pull for my bedroom which is full of all things pansy (except for my husband).

Celtic Stitching

My work on a block for a Celtic RR. Rebecca is going to make a bookcover for her husband. I'm anxious to see how it will look when it is complete. What a great idea.

The Queen of Hearts

This is my work on one of Gerry's blocks for an encrusted round robin with CQI yahoo group. It's pretty glitzy for me. "Jewels" are out of my comfort zone.

Spring Sampler Quilt

Spring sampler quilt in blue, green, yellow, white. Blocks were exchanged each month for a year on the Blockbuddy Yahoo Group - keep one, exhange one. The sashing fabric is Moda Marbles I found at the thrift store for just a few dollars. I used it and another ferny fabric from the thrift store that matched for the pieced backing.

Siggies

Siggies I have received from a siggy swap. Hopefully all have received mine also. What a wonderful mix of blocks. It has been interesting reading the notes everyone sends along with their siggies. You can join this ongoing swap too. You will find directions at Annelies' blog.

Dandy Quilt

Dandy quilt blocks in 1930s reproduction fabrics from block swap on a yahoo group last year. Backing is muslin. Whole quilt is queen size.

Round Robins

My work on Beryl's Red Color Study

My work on Janet's Bees, Beetles, Butterflies

My Winter block back home. Thanks, Lauri, for your half!

Hearts

Embellishment on Candji's heart block - celtic hearts made of gold piping couched with gold sulky thread. Doesn't look too shimmery or like it is made of gold, but it is.

Another embellishment on Candji's heart block - yoyo heart with charm, heart with silk ribbon embroidery.

My work on Carolyn's heart block.