Redecorating!

The classroom samples and displays needed a redo. Redecorating needs to be done once in awhile.

Yesterday was the day!

On your right when entering the classroom...

"Snug as a Bug" using a jelly roll from the Moda line called "Karma". The original quilt is by Christine Sharp and Rachael Wright and is approximately 40" wide by 52" long. I found the pattern in a recent issue of a Fons and Porter publication. It is now available as a download on their website.

Next to it is....

"Tiffany", a Villa Rosa pattern using an older batik jelly roll.  The pattern is available in the shop next door, Piecing with Poppers Quilting Center. Any colorful jelly roll would work in this pattern.

By the ironing stations...

My "Limey Squares", is a pattern which can be found on the Missouri Star You Tube channel called "The Quartered Squares Quilt". It uses a little over a yard of any striped fabric. Sharon is running a class at the end of May, called "Triangles Fun with Stripes". If you are interested, give the shop  a call.

On the back wall, on the right...

"Rainstick", a pattern found in th Spring 2014 issue of Quilting Quickly.  This quilt uses 2.5 inch strips, 80 of them! I chose two jelly rolls by Quilting Treasures, the Matrix and the Tempations line to make this quilt. Sharon still has these jelly rolls available for sale in the shop.

And next, on the back wall, on the left...

"Sun and Sand" was a free pattern from Quiltmaker when I did the top a couple of years ago. It is now available for purchase as a PDF download from their shop. I used a variety of scraps and yardage that I had available in my stash. A fun quilt to do that reminds me of summer and the warmer days ahead.

A little bit of show and tell, and redecorating, to hopefully get your creativity flowing!

Louise

On the island, enjoying the warmer days

Moving on Towards May

The months have a way of moving quickly when you are busy. I looked up today and it was already April 25. Can you believe it?!!!

Most of this month has gone by so quickly and now I am looking towards a new month. May! Wow!

But on to quilty things.

I have been trying to finish those almost completed quilts.

A border here...

A group of blocks that needed to be put together there..

A completed top that didn't look quite right until I added a second and third border.

A kit that has languished for several years, but one that only took three days to get it to finished top status! An early kit from Eva Paige Quilt Designs, as my friend Barbara pointed out to me, and one that has a 2006 copyright date on the pattern and on the selvedges of the main, floral print. Did I say several years? How about a decade plus one year! However, the top is now completed and out of the UFO stash.

First flowers from the beginning of April

Miniature daffodils

White and purple crocuses

Don't know if I posted these from the end of March.

A border finally on this top that was made in a class with Kimberly Einmo maybe five years ago at "The Gathering" in Manchester New Hampshire.

And finally the binding is complete on a flying geese quilt made from a Craftsy kit.

I will post a picture of the top in my next blog post. I couldn't find one in my picture file.

It has been a busy month in my quilting world.

I am pleased with my progress with my UFO stash.

Here's to hoping that the rest of April is just as productive as we move on to the month of May.

Louise, on the island looking towards May

I missed all of March!

It is now April. Time to catch up with you and let you know what is going on here on the island and elsewhere.

No big things to report. Health is good (knock on wood!). A family loss that set me back a bit and oh, yes, the snow!

But April is here and the sun is shining. Time to take advantage of spring in the northeast.

Finally the crocus plants are blooming! 

(Notice how I worked around the plural of crocus. Is it crocuses or croci? Spell check and autocorrect say crocuses and change croci to crock. I have never been able to figure that one out. Suppose I should consult a dictionary, huh?)

I was fairly sewed out when I finished "Idaho Square Dance".

It is shown here as a corner on the right and then as the whole top on the left.  It is now at the long arm quilter's studio waiting its turn.

I finally got the borders on this top. It was made in a class with Kimberly Einmo a few years ago. Sorry I took the picture a bit too close to show the green print border going all around.  It is not too big, a wallhanging size. I feels nice to get this one done!

Most of March consisted of working on "Idaho Square Dance" as I said previously. But I did manage to complete these two table runners which used a charm pack from the Moda line called "Plush". It always amazes me how the fabric companies will combine diverse color ways in order to get to the required 42 pieces for a charm pack of five inch squares.

The pattern for this is found in the book "The Big Book of Table Toppers" from The Patchwork Place.

For those who are local,  I think Sharon still has some copies in the store.

This is the next table runner on the docket.  It will be for my sister who has always liked this daffodil fabric.  I am hoping to work on this today.

A bit of binding has happened ...

Sorry about the dark picture!

A bit of snow has happened ...

But the birds are still flying 

And remind us all that even through adversity, life goes on.

I always loved this photo and my friend Pam reposted it recently.

Yes, Spring is peeking around the corner.

Life goes on...

RIP Steve. You are missed.

Louise, on the island waiting for spring