April Showers etc...

Well, I skipped over March somehow in the blogging world.

Much has happened so this might be a long post.

First of all we had THREE ginormous snowstorms in March and we LOST POWER each time! Some power loses were short ones but one was for four days or was it three? I only know that the fridge was trashed and I got NO SEWING DONE!!!

Lots of capitals indicate how frustrating that was!

I forgot to take the usual amounts of pictures during open sews and other classes. 

I did not get too many quilts finished.

But it is now April and time to turn over a new leaf!

Except the snow keeps coming!

But it was gone by late Monday afternoon.

Oh, well,...

Now on to the quilts...

Roxanne's newest completed top is a Missouri Star pattern which incorporates friendship stars as part of the border.. She used a line of fabric from Benartex which features dragonflies. 

Marilyn's top is made from a kit she bought from Keepsake Quilting.  "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" is slated for a friend's soon to arrive grandchild.

Candy's recently completed "Quick Trips" quilt is an Eleanor Burns, Quilt In A Day quilt that she made in my recently held series of classes for newer quilters.

Grazina's beautiful basket quilt is a kit and a block of the month class from Craftsy.  It was from a few years ago so it may no longer be available. The quilt combines piecing with Applique and features Ginny Beyer fabrics and techniques.

Joanne's lap sized "Quick Trips " quilt without the final border. She worked on it during our one day class, and the following day during open sew. I believe it is now completed with the final borders.

My lap sized "Quick Trips" quilt features a striped outer border and mitered corners.

Another fat quarter quilt made to add to my "Fun with Fat Quarters" series.  M'Liss Rae Hawley's book, Fat Quarter Quilts serves as the pattern inspiration for this quilt series I have been making over the years.

The last block for a king sized "Celtic Solstice" quilt which was a Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt from 2013-14, I believe.  This quilt is webbed and just needs to have the rows sewn together.

Linda's version of "Jelly Roll Sampler Quilt" a day long class I recently taught at Piecing with Poppers Quilting Center. The quilt uses one jelly roll to make this approximately 45" x 56" quilt of nine patches, flying geese, friendship stars, square in a square blocks surrounded by a piano keys border. 

Brenda's "Jelly Roll Sampler Quilt" from the same class Linda attended at Piecing with Poppers Quilting Center.

"Alliatare" was finished this month. It was the 2016-17 Bonnie Hunter Mystery quilt and is now waiting in the to be quilted que.

One more example of a "Quick Trips" quilt that was made as a class sample.

"30's Cyclone" is a free pattern from Quilt In A Day.  This will be an all day class coming in May. 

A collage of quilty projects that I worked on during a quilting retreat I attended in the beginning of March.

The sun has just come out after a rainy day. Maybe the spring flowers will get a chance to shine now!

Until next time...

Louise, on the island, looking for signs of spring ...

 

Quilt Retreat Withdrawal

After having spent the last three days totally immersed in my sewing, I am having quilt retreat withdrawal!  Yes I am sewing today in the comfort of my own home, 

But there is something to be said for the comraderie found when sewing with other Quilters.

It just isn't the same.

But on I sew.

Log cabin blocks which are the alternate to "Idaho Square Dance", blocks which are already completed.

Part 6 units for "En Provence"

Probably about one third finished.

The never ending (it seems) chevrons from "Celtic Solstice" 

And a few more "Garlic Knots" blocks, all stacked and ready to go!

They will be added to this pile of completed blocks. 

At this point I can't decide if I will stop at 64 blocks or continue on to make 80 blocks.  But that decision does not have to be made today.

I enjoy sewing these units and blocks together without thinking about the end product.  I know this approach isn't for most people, but it works for me and my at home sewing.  Little bits that eventually add up to something.

Oh, yes, by the way, can you tell that I am a Bonnie Hunter groupie?

Louise, sewing at home, while the wash runs and I recover from quilt retreat withdrawal 

Grand Illusion Mystery Quilt Update

I have been steadily and industriously working on Bonnie Hunter's latest Mystery Quilt, Grand Illusion.

I have completed all of the parts!

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6 will be out on Friday this week, the first day of the Post Holiday Quilters' Retreat!
What perfect timing!

I hope the next clue is something I can diligently work on over the weekend.  But, if not, there is always Celtic Solstice to finish

Stay tuned....

One Month Later... And My "New" Sewing Space

I have not posted for 32 days, a little over a month.  There are many family issues which have been and are continuing to be draining.  So much so that the moments to sew are few and far between.  I do have numerous opportunities to hand sew but rare opportunities for machine sewing.  I thought today with the few moments I have at home, that I would re-enter the blogging world and bring you up to date on the UFO progress!

In my "new sewing space", created to provide opportunity for found moments for sewing, there are the following...

2 more blocks for "Lazy Sunday" left to do.

Numerous blocks for "Easy Street #2" needing to be finished.

Many pieces of several steps to sew on "Celtic Solstice", but I am caught up with the cutting for each step 1 to 4.

 

Working on cutting Step 5 now.

 

Since this is predominantly where I have been able to sew in those found moments, I am pleased with the progress of each project.  Thank you to Bonnie Hunter for providing patterns that fit into this new "found moments for sewing" lifestyle I currently am experiencing!

Life will continue to be crazy in the weeks ahead.  But I can trust that I will continue to be handed short segments of time to spend in my new sewing space. Life can be trying sometimes, but it also can be good.

Happy New Year to All!