Leaders & Enders - Florabunda Block Five

I finally got around to getting
Bonnie Hunter's latest book
Leaders & Enders. 
It's a great book for me because I have lots of 2" squares already cut.  I bought some  background fabric for one of the quilts "Rick Rack Nines" and hope to get started sewing those leaders and enders today.

I also finished block five for my "Florabunda"  quilt.   Lots of orange in this quilt.

Another Giveaway!

Another great giveaway over at  By Hoki Quilts. I hate to tell everyone but you should check it out.

Scrappy Trips Around the World

Finally something to scratch off the Quilts waiting to be quilted list.


I quilted my Scrappy Trips Around the world yesterday. This is one of Bonnie Hunters quilts from Quiltville. I like this quilt even though it still looks a lot like my Scrappy Bargello.

I did add some pinks and a few other colors I had but that didn't change the look much.

I used a wool batting and it made the quilt nice and soft and shows off the quilting nicely.

The thing I like the most about this quilt is it's finished !

Florabunda Block Four

I finally finished block four of my Florabunda quilt. Patiently waiting on block five to be posted.

Most of the fabric I am using in this quilt was left over from my Aunt Millie's Garden quilt. They don't look the same on the white background. You always seem to need so many different fabrics for an applique quilt.

Florabunda

I have been working on Florabunda a BOM Erin Russek of One Piece at a Time is offering.

It's not too complicated so I have been able to keep up. The first three blocks are finished and I am working on # four.
Erin give wonderful instruction on how to do the applique. She makes it almost easy.

Another Finish

There hasn't been much time for my personal quilting lately but I did manage to finish a lace scarf in my UFO box.  I usually knit at night while I watch TV because you don't need much light.  I used to applique but my eyes have gotten older and they don't seem to see as well as they used to.
This scarf is one of Birgit Freyer's patterns from Knitting Delight she is a German designer and has a Yahoo Group I am a member of.

Cutting Bias Quilt Binding

I was cutting some bias binding today and thought some of you might like to know how I cut mine.

The first thing I do is fold my fabric cut edge to selvedge so I have a bias fold.

I always press as I go so I have a nice crisp edge to work with.

The next step is to fold again along the bias fold.

Then you fold a second time.   Always keep the folded edges together.

After folding the second time you will have a little bit left over.  Just turn this piece down. (got tired of using the word fold.)

Now you trim  all the folds .  Cutting off just about a quarter inch.

                                                                             Turn your fabric around- if you are right handed like I am- and start cutting your strips whatever width you want.

I was a weaver in another life and this is the way I would cut strips when I wove with fabric.  If this isn't clear to anyone (not sure it's even clear to me) let me know and I will try to help.

No Words Necessary

The top is finished. I still have to get a backing and quilt it.  This has been a fun experience. My first time using all solids and only the second time I have used Tonya's letters.  It will have to be put aside for a while as I have other things I need to get done and I am going to  VA to see Lillian.

Liberate Amish New Direction

Turns out those fans weren't as inspiring as I thought.  I really didn't enjoy making them so I decided to go in a different direction. I am using #25  as my inspiration now.
I used the layout I had planned for the fans and think I got a similar look.
Now my big problem - the letters in the border.  I have no idea what I want to say.  I really want them on the front.  Maybe just my initials in the corner.

Hooked Rug - Another UFO

I finally finished this hooked rug I have been stepping over for about 2 years.

Nice to have it off my to do list.
I used to hook a lot but now not so much.
I love hand hooked rugs and have several projects I need to get back to.

Liberate Amish Get Together

OK, as if I don't already have enough to do. I joined the Lazy Gal Liberated Amish 2010 get together - Tonya has organized. I am a little late joining but we have until June to finish. Sounds like a long way off doesn't it? It really isn't when you have as much going on in your life as I do.

We are supposed to use solid fabrics. Make the quilt liberated and use letters either on the front or back of the quilt. Our inspiration should come from the book

Amish Abstractions.

I have decide to use Fans Variation as the inspiration for my quilt. These are the fabrics I have chosen. They are actually brighter than the picture shows and some of the ones that look black are brown and Burgundy.

The Quilts that are being made in this group are really wonderful. You should go over and check it out. It's still not too late to join.

My quilt won't be too large just a wall hanging.

Discovering Quiltville

A few year back I discovered Quiltville Bonnie Hunters site and became addicted to cutting up scraps. I have accumulated quite a lot of all sizes but never seemed to do much with them.

I did make one quilt Scrappy Bargello



I did a couple of her mystery's Orange Crush

and Double Delight.

These quilts didn't seem to even put a dent in all the scraps I had cut up. I think I just like organizing and putting strips in their own little boxes.

Yesterday I started another of Bonnie's patterns
Scrappy Trips Around The World

It goes really fast if you chain piece everything. The only problem I see is this quilt looks a lot like Scrappy Bargello. It uses a lot of the same fabrics. I needed to add more new ones to change the look you can still see all the ugly fabrics.
I guess I just didn't cut the pieces small enough.

One Down and ? to go

I am trying to finish up some of my UFO's this year and this is from the first class I took in applique way back in 2005 I believe. It's been on my design wall so long I forgot. I used my EQ6 and tried to figure out some borders for it. So now I can add it to my list of quilts waiting to be quilted. That list is getting really long.

Don't Laugh

OK, I may be carrying this string thing a bit too far...but I had all those red strips left over from my Aunt Millie's Garden Quilt and I needed something to keep things from sliding off the back of the toilet so I made this.
There must be something more creative I could be doing.

Lillian Keeps Growing

You just gotta love those sleeping baby pictures.

Lillian is 3 months old today!

Aunt Millie's Garden

I finally got the sashing and borders put on my Aunt Millie's quilt top. It seems like I have been working on this quilt forever. The quilt looks better than the pictures. I need photography work.


I am going to add it to my list of quilts waiting to be quilted as I have no idea how I will quilt it. I wonder have you ever spent years working on a quilt and when you were finished you couldn't decide if you liked it or not. That's how I feel about this one. Not too sure about the reds anymore.

Check This Out

If you like Giveaway's as much as I do then go visit Lavender Ridge....It's her one year Blog Anniversary and she's giving away a wonderful book and pattern by Fig Tree.

Blog Surfing and Aunt Millie

I have been on a blogging break lately. My kitchen needed updating and I have spent all my time working on getting a few things done. It is looking better but I will be glad when all is finished.

Today I was blog surfing and found the best tutorial for a cute little needle case over on Sew Prim Khris. I can't wait to make one.


There are so many great ideas on blogs. People are so generous with their information.

I have found a little time to work on my Aunt Millie's Garden sashing. If all goes as planned I hope to finish the quilt this week.

Happy Valentine's Day

I know it's almost over but Happy Valentine's Day everyone! These are some very old Valentine's from my school days. I think they are so sweet.

Lillian's Quilt Part Two

I have finally finished the second quilt for Lillian. It's smaller than the first. Still a little larger than I wanted. I hope it will fit over her crib. I still have to make the label. Not my favorite part of quilting. One thing for sure I don't care if I ever see another piece of lavender and green fabric.
My next project is ripping down wallpaper from my kitchen. What fun!