Easy Street

This weeks blocks were really easy.  Not at all like past Bonnie Hunter mystery quilts.

I  was also able to find the time to complete one of the side borders on my Feathered Tulip in Vases quilt.  You can read more about this quilt here.
I hope your Christmas is blessed and you find a little time to stitch.
Nancy

Santa’s Helper

Lillian asked Santa for a Caterpillar skirt for Christmas.  Where she saw one we can’t figure out but her Mom found the material and Santa’s helper made the skirt.  I made an owl skirt first to be sure of the size because I didn’t want to waste that caterpillar material.

Happy stitching and Merry Christmas.
Nancy

Easy Street Part 4

Now it’s starting to live up to it’s name.  This week was quick and easy.  Thanks Bonnie.

My Chester County Criswell Quilt

I have completed blocks 1, 2 and 3 on this directional background fabric and decided it just isn’t going to work.  It would be fine if there was a sashing between the blocks but with them all being sewn together it just looks confusing.

I like the color of this fabric with the different shades of cream so I am looking for something similar that is not directional.

  

Blocks 4 and 5 are ready to stitch.  I tried them on this background but think it might be a little lighter than I want.  I could do the whole quilt scrappy and use several different fabrics.  I believe this is the way the original quilt was done.
Oh happy day more fabric to search for.  Anyone know of a good one?

On another note “MARY LOU " has some good thoughts in her posts today you can check them out here and here.

One More Stocking

I made Lillian’s Christmas stocking last year when she was the only one. This year we have a new member of the family Evelyn

 so I had to dig around in my scraps and see if I could find enough  Figgy Pudding fabric to make a stocking for little Evelyn. Finding the fabric was the easy part---remembering how to use the embroidery attachment on my machine took most of the day.
Happy Stitching,
Nancy

Easy Street

My thoughts about Bonnie Hunters new mystery quilt Easy Street .  I won’t do it this year..OK maybe I will.   NO, not enough time too much else to do.  Oh, what the heck everyone else in my little group is doing it might as well join in.
I started a little late and I must say not my best work but I am all caught up.  I had everything except the grey and a couple of white & blacks in my stash.  I am still trying to figure out why it is called Easy Street.  I find flying geese to be one of the hardest blocks and those shaded four patch good grief but Bonnies quilts are always worth the effort.
Happy stitching,
Nancy

Monthly Mini and Log Cabin ebook

Temecula Quilt Company has a monthly mini program and I have been working on their little quilts since July.  Each month I receive a little brown package in the mail with a new quilt.

 July’s quilt was called "Freedom Rings" and is 12”x 16".  Each little bow tie block finishes at 2 inches.

August had two little quilts to make "Little Stars" 9”x 12” and "So Small Shoofly" 10”x 13”.  I love the cheddar in Shoofly.

September’s little quilt "Red Cross" 17”x21" is one of my favorites with all the little red crosses.

The quilt for October "Four Patch" is a little larger 16”x16” with 4 1/4” blocks.  I like the grey in this one.  I think grey has become the new cream in quilts lately.

and finally for November my all time favorite "Courthouse Step" finishes 15”x15” with 5” blocks.

If you like log cabin quilts as much as I do you should check out the new ebook here it’s free.  I especially like the block charts that tell you what length to cut your strips for different size blocks.

Hope you are finding a few moments to stitch.

Nancy

In Full Bloom

One day  while reading some of my favorite blogs I came across this post on Karen’s blog Log Cabin Quilter.  

It was a free pattern by Edyta Sitar found here..  

Well, not having enough to do and thinking it was very cute I decided to make it.  I commented on Karens post and asked her where she got her background fabric.  To me the background is what makes this little quilt so special.  Karen being such a thoughtful person offered to send me a piece of the fabric.  So here is my version of  "In Full Bloom".

If you enjoy looking at quilts especially applique’ you should visit Karen’s blog.  She does beautiful work.  The headers alone are worth a visit.  

Happy stitching,

Nancy

Feathered Tulip in Vases Progress

 Sunday afternoon I decide to square up all the blocks and put the center of my Feathered Tulip in Vases quilt together.   Well, let me tell you---Squaring up applique’ blocks makes me break out in a sweat.  I think it is one of the scariest things I do.  I mean all that work and one wrong cut and it’s all to be done over.  If you have extra fabric.  I must have spent several hours measuring and marking before I began cutting.

I decided to trim my blocks to 25.5 inches instead of 24.5 since I had the extra fabric and it would space the applique’ a little further apart.

Next, I would need to cut my setting triangles apart because I appliqued' them all together to prevent stretching of the bias edges.

Because the blocks are now 25.5 inches square I  added a half inch all the way around the setting triangles when I trimmed them so they would fit on to the blocks.  I am sure all you experienced quilters that are good with math know this but it took me a while to figure it out.

"Here’s Tulip!"  Not the best picture.   I just don’t have space enough to get a straight  shot of the quilt.
I am well pleased with the result so far.  This is a pattern from Collector With A Needle and it’s really pretty simple applique’.

My big decision now is do I want three borders like the original or four and what color to make the border flowers?
Happy stitching,
Nancy

Poor Farmers Wife

For the past few days I have been merrily sewing along putting my Farmers Wife quilt together.
Using all these cute little leaves as corner stones.  Then I decided to put it up on the wall and take a picture.  Well, the leaves are falling...I forgot this quilt is - ON POINT-  and when I turned it good grief  all the leaves are leaning to the left.
Looking at my fabric the only way to get them to stand up straight is to cut all the little 1.5 inch squares on the bias with the leaves going sideways and then when the quilt is turned  the leaves would be straight.  Now do I really want to go to all this trouble or just have tipsy leaves?

On a brighter note my package arrived from Kris at The Quilting Garden.  I love the way she wraps her packages and look a little surprise scissors attached for my applique’.  Thanks Kris.

Flower Garden Borders

The borders on Kim McLean’s Flower Garden are really something to stitch.  At least they were for me.  The sides are completely stitched and I am working on the bottom border.   Everything is ready to go except for all the little circles over the vase and I still need to find a fabric for those also after seeing this picture I have decided to change the vase to another fabric.  This one seems to fade into the background a little too much.

Since the green tree is the one I am not looking forward to stitching I thought I would do it first and get it over with.  Surprise, surprise look what I found.  It must be a flaw in the fabric that I didn’t catch.  It’s not stitched and I could make it over but it sure was a lot of work.  So what would you think if maybe I just put a little bird or a circle over it.   I mean this quilt is so busy maybe it wouldn’t be noticed. Or does anyone else have a suggestion as to how this could be fixed?

I really don’t want to make another tree!
Not so happy stitching,
Nancy

A Farmers Wife

I haven’t had a lot of time to spend on my Farmer’s Wife quilts but thought I would post my progress.  I have been making two versions.  A traditional one made with reproduction fabrics and one made with red, white and cream.

The traditional one is set like the book suggests and for the red and white one I am using a setting I found here.  I think it gives it a more modern look.  If I want my daughters to keep any of my quilts and not sell them all in a yard sale  I better start getting more modern.

My latest purchase is from Kris at Lavender Quilts.  Some of the new Kaffe Fassett fabrics for my applique’.  I think they are just wonderful.

Happy Stitching,
Nancy

Surfing

This morning while spending my usual blog reading time I came to this post by Silly Goose Quilts.
It lead me to this site All Quilting.biz click here .
Now if you have some time to kill you might go there.  Lots of great blogs.
I finally just had to shut down the computer so I could get something accomplished today.

Feathered Tulip in Vases

After finally selecting my fabrics for the Feathered Tulip quilt I started prepping the blocks to stitch.

Once again I used the freezer paper and starch method because I planned to stitch this one by machine.

The pieces are quite large and since I already have two applique’ quilts I am stitching by hand I thought I might get this one finished before I pass if it was done by machine.

Well, after stitching a few pieces on the machine I quickly decided machine applique’ was not the look I wanted for this quilt.  So back to hand stitching.

I enjoy using the starch and glue method for prepping my applique because it makes the blocks so easy to take with you and stitch when you have a few minutes of free time.  It does take longer to prep the blocks but once that’s finished the stitching goes quickly and all the pieces stay right where you put them.  Some consider this cheating (not me)  and I don’t use this method for all my applique’ work just the quilts with large pieces.

 Feathered Tulip has five blocks set on point with setting triangles and three borders.

Since the edges of these setting triangles will be on the bias I decided to leave them all together until the stitching was completed.  I finished all the stitching last night but will not cut them apart until I assemble the quilt center.
The original quilt has just three borders but I plan on making 4 borders for my quilt and they still need to be prepped.
This is a lovely pattern from Dawn at Collector with a Needle.  She and her daughter do a wonderful job recreating patterns from antique’ quilts.
Happy stitching,
Nancy

The Chester County Criswell Quilt

There is a new Block of the Month quilt going around blog land called 

The Chester County Criswell Quilt.  

Sharon from Two Bits Patches is recreating a family quilt made in the 1850's in Pennsylvania as a wedding quilt.  The blocks were all made by different people and all are appliqued signature blocks.  Sharon is the Great Great Grand daughter of the bride for whom the quilt was made.  If you click on the link above you can read all about the quilt's history.

I have completed block one Jane Wilson’s block

and have block two Elizabeth Cowan's block ready to stitch.

  At first I wasn't going to do this quilt because I have several other applique quilts in progress but as I kept reading  her blog I finally became hooked.  One thing to like about the quilt it doesn't have borders.  I also enjoy reading all the family history.  There will be 36 blocks so all 64 of them will not be included...Thank goodness.  

I decided to use the starch and freezer paper method with the first two blocks.  You can read about my process here.  Having quite a few reproduction fabrics in reds and greens  my version will be somewhat scrappy.  I also had this background fabric on hand and decide to use it but on further examination I see it is directional..oh well, it will just have to do because I am not doing these blocks over.

When will I ever learn to pay better attention.

Happy stitching,
Nancy

It's got to be a Habit.

I think blogging is just like exercise....it's a habit or routine you get into.  Once broken it's hard to start back.
You have to really push yourself to get going again.
Lately I have had a lot of distractions in my life so here I am pushing myself.

I am almost finished with all the applique on my Flower Garden quilt.  I know this is a terrible picture but I just can't figure out how to photograph 24 blocks and two borders without having a picture overload.  I am working on the bottom border now and then I only have the top one left to do.
My next step with this quilt is to wash and trim all the blocks.  Then I have to decide if I want to sash it like the pattern with scrappy  2" squares sewn together or use just one fabric for the sashing. If anyone is interested in making this quilt it is a Kim McLean pattern and really fun to do especially with all these wonderful Kaffe fabrics.

One quick question before I move on.  Does anyone recognize this fabric?  It's the tree in the bottom border.  I have something to use but just curious as to what this might be.

Last year I bought this pattern  "Feathered Tulip in Vases" from Dawn at Collector with a Needle.  Dawn and her daughter find antique quilts and reproduce great patterns from them.
Well, I have been forever trying to decide what type fabrics I wanted to use.  Did I want to use solids like in the original quilt or look for prints?
In the end I decide on prints and the original colors of the antique quilt.  The pattern colors are much lighter but thats because they have faded so much over the years.
If you click on the link above and go to Dawn's blog you can see the fabrics she has chosen for her version of the quilt.  The pieces are quite large, something I like and I hope it goes quickly because I have this one in the waiting.

Calico Paradise is also one of Dawn's reproduction patterns and it is really something.  Maybe if I start now I will have the fabrics chosen when I finish Feathered Tulip in Vases.
We can always dream can't we?
Happy stitching,
Nancy

Tiny Quilts

This little quilt is  from Quilts by Cheri.  It's called Puss in the Corner.  If you would like to make one  the directions are on her blog.  Just click on her name and it will take you there.

Puss in the Corner is 14 1/2 inches square.  It's made from four patch and solid blocks.  Really simple.

I am also a member of Temecula Quilt Companies Monthly Mini.  This is last months little quilt.

It's called Freedom Rings and measures 12 x 16.  The little bowtie blocks are 2" finished.

I have started quite a collection of these little quilts and am running out of places to put them.

 I sometime feel like my head is spinning around because I have so many things going at the same time.  Every time I think I am getting all caught up another little package arrives in the mail.

What was I thinking?

Hope you are all having a wonderful day.

Nancy

Back from Blogging Break

When I checked the date of my last post I could hardly believe it has been so long since I posted.  Life sure gets in the way of quilting sometime.
July the 28th we were blessed with a new  Grand daughter "Evelyn Irene " so I have been busy helping my Daughter however I can.  At the moment she is battling a case of mastitis.

My DH has some compilations from the motorcycle accident he had a while back and we have also been dealing with this.  Things do seem to be smoothing out a bit so I have a little time to get back to what relaxes me.
First I would like to thank Kris from Lavender Quilts for the nice gift I won on her blog.
Don't you just love it when something arrives all wrapped in pretty paper and tied with a bow.
I know I do.

I won this christmas pattern by Jan Patek really cute.  Thanks Kris.

I find if I can't quilt I tend to buy books about quilting. Like I really need more books.  

Someone once told me you don't have to need something to buy it so  I picked these up the other day.  

I really like both of them and hope to follow through and make something from each book.

Happy stitching,
Nancy