In The Hoop

 Bohemian Roosters has been in the hoop for awhile.    I  did have it in my large wooden hoop but found that for some reason whenever I use it my carpal tunnel flares up.  I took a break from hand quilting for a bit and decided to switch to my square pvc hoop. I never seem to have problems when I use it so I guess even though I have to move it a lot more than something in a big hoop I'm fine with that if it prevents problems with my hand and wrist and sometimes neck and shoulder. 

Anyway...you can't see it very well but I'm now quilting the center of the Sunbursts. 

 I'm using this flower stencil. I chose it because it has eight petals like the sunburst and each petal extends just a little bit into the sunburst.   Since those Boho Roosters in the center  circles are so busy I had a difficult time figuring out how to mark the stencil for quilting. I tried several things I had on hand for marking and finally decided the blue chalk showed up the best.   I'm using some blue-green thread I had on hand for the quilting. 

Before I started on the center circles I stitched about 1/4 inch (eyeballed) inside and outside each sun ray and then 1/4 inch (eyeballed) inside and outside the circle in some yellow thread I had on hand. 

I'm thinking I'll make a template of one of the sun rays to trace around in order to quilt some rays into that large area (in orange here) between rays.  I'm using Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 batting and the recommended maximum quilting distance is 3.5 inches and the distance between rays is more than that. 

Then in the space where the blocks meet I'll probably again use that flower stencil. 

After that I will probably stitch in the ditch around the large circles and call it good.  Time will tell. 

Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts. 

Yellow 3.5 Inch Scrap Edition

 Six Inch Bow Ties

This is a Rainbow Scrap Challenge carry over project from last year.  I've been making these from 3.5 inch scraps.  Most of these yellow tone on tone scraps are left over from a Jacob's Ladder quilt finished last year. 

I now have 197 bow ties. My target is 224 for a 14 x 16 layout.  I'm almost there! 

With 3.5 inch scraps I'm also making 3 inch Snowballs.  Last year I made 230 of them with light corners so thought I'd make them with dark corners this year. I was thinking I may alternate dark and light corners in a quilt similar to what I did when making my Lozenge quilt although I haven't ruled out combining them with another 3 inch block like nine patch or rails. 

And that strip at the bottom is what gets made when I get to the end of a 3.5 inch scrap that is smaller than a 3.5 inch square.  At the end of the year I'll see what I have and will probably make a Chinese Coin quilt or use them as a border. 

Rainbow Scrap Challenge ScrapHappy Saturday

Time Flies

 

Audrey's (Quilty Folk) recent Tree of Life finish reminded me that I had one in the works. 

I started my Tree of Life February 2015  and made two 12 inch blocks.

March 2015 I made four blocks. 

October 2015 I made six blocks.

And then the trees quit growing.

This week I made six more blocks.
I'm thinking I will make a total of 41 blocks to set on point without sashing.
Backgrounds will be solid blues.
I now have 18 blocks.
I'm using a free online pattern when I actually make blocks.


I was thinking I'd make a Family Tree for the backing. Still thinking about that.

Second Quarter Finish-Along Goals - Just the Top 20

 1. Blind Man's Fancy - needs backing and hand quilting

 2. Boho Roosters - in the hoop

 3. Drunkard's Path - needs backing then will be quilted on my DSM

 4. Plain Brown Wrapper - Needs backing. Not sure if it will be quilted on my DSM or by hand. 

 5. Pansies - Needs backing then will probably be hand quilted. 

 6. Rocky Road to Kansas - needs backing and quilting.

 7. Wandering Geese - backing ready. Needs quilting. 

 8. Star Chain - backing ready. Needs quilting

 9. Snowball's Chance. - Needs quilting. Will be combo of machine and hand. 

 10. - Fall Festival - will be top soon. Then will need quilting since I do have backing ready. 

 11.  Happy Christmas - need backing then machine quilting. 

 12, 13, 14 - Orphan block quilts - need backing and quilting. 

 15 - Foothills - needs sashing, backing, quilting. 

 16. - Blue Collar Work - will be flimsy soon. 

17 - Patriot Mystery - needs backing and quilting

18 - Old Old Mystery - carried over and carried over as a goal. It's pin basted and ready to be quilted. I just need to do it!! 

19. Rosebud. - Need to piece backing and get it quilted. Will quilt on DSM. (Maybe).  

20. PREPARE - needs to be prepared for quilting!

Most of these need backings. Since I retired last March I've been on "no buy" for fabric and trying to "make do" with what I have.   I might have to break down and buy some backing fabrics because I have plenty of small pieces of fabric for piecing (which I love) but not many pieces of fabric for even piecing a backing. I also might have to leave the hermitage to visit the thrift stores to see if there are any sheets suitable for use as backings since my stash is almost used up.  Batting is another thing that's running short. I've even pieced most of those leftovers.   

The other thing is that I prefer hand quilting over quilting on my DSM but know that I will never be able to hand quilt all of the quilts I already have made and will make.  So I just need to tell myself I CAN quilt on my DSM. I CAN and I WILL.  And it will be OKAY.  

Q2 Finish-Along 

It's a Finish!

Rainbow ABC I Spy

40 x 48

For grand nephew Silas

 I've made quite a few of these quilts for grand kids and grand nieces and nephews.  A variety of different I Spy games can be played.  I am sure to include all colors of the rainbow in the borders and a few blocks with numbers. 

 I usually give the quilts as baby shower gifts along with ABC, Number, Shape and/or Color books. 

You probably noticed that these are Happy Blocks like yesterday but in a different size.  That's what I like about Happy Blocks  - they are so versatile. 

I include iron on letters that are sort of velvety feeling - fun to trace with the fingers.  

I quilted it like yesterday's quilt - with Julie's "Blowing Bubbles". 

I had some monkeys for the backing - the scraps may end up as M for Monkey in one of the next quilts although I do have two of these ABC I Spy tops already made and in the UFO pile waiting for some letters, pieced batting and backings. 

This was my goal #14

for 

18 in 2018

It's a Finish!

Happy Blocks with a school theme. 

40 x 60

Hands2Help quilt for Little Lambs Foundation for Kids

(Good thing I took photos yesterday because there's 2 inches of snow out there today). 

I have a big box of Happy Blocks in various sizes and themes. I used to participate in a lot of novelty/I Spy swaps and when I had scraps I would make a few Happy Blocks and throw them in a box (aka Happy Place) .  Now when I need a quick quilt I dig around in that Happy Place.  I had about half of these 10 inch school themed blocks made already so got busy and made a few more.  

 I was inspired by Julie's " Blowing Bubbles"  quilting so gave that a try on my DSM.  

 And, hey!...Look who's getting a little better at machine binding!  (I really don't like the look of machine binding [or the process] but it is requested by a lot of the places I send quilts for kids.) 

I pieced the batting and backing.  I had this remnant of fabric with ABCs on it so thought it was perfect to throw into the mix. 

Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Moving it Forward at Em's Scrapbag

It's a Mysterious Finish!

 I guess I don't need to name a quilt I'm donating. 

This is the result of a magical mystery quilt along with Libby who blogs at Life on the Hill. 

48 x 48

This is a Hands2Help Quilty Hug for Happy Chemo

I used up some old floral bits and pieces and chunky scraps  - a lot of them daisies - and had some fun doing it. 

There were several ways to layout the mystery blocks. I chose fields and furrows. 

 I quilted it on my DSM with some very free form daisies. 

The backing and binding are full of roses. 

And those scraps were sure put to good use. 

Oh Scrap! Quilting is More Fun Than Housework