Sunday Sewing and Catching Up

I have to confess. I like Sunday Open Sew when there are only a few of us. Then I can actually sew.

Today was one of those Sundays.

I was able to sew two tops together

They are both only about 54 inches square. Not too big and not too small.

Just the right size for a lap quilt or a shop sample.

May I present.... Tower Bridge, a Villa Rosa pattern. This quilt utilizes 18 light ten inch squares and 18 dark ten inch squares to make the 36 half square triangle blocks which are set 6 by 6 in the quilt. 

Tower Bridge "A" and 

Tower Bridge "B"

Two tops webbed and rows sewed during today's Open Sew session.

These blocks had been completed and trimmed, and had sat waiting to be sewn into a quilt top for some time.

Originally bought as two kits, I had intended to sew them altogether into one bigger quilt top.

But somewhere along the way, I got sidetracked on these again, until today. 

Today the decision was made to forgo the large top and make two smaller tops.

I think they look pretty good.

Happy Sunday of Memorial Day weekend!

Louise, on the island, pleased with today's accomplishments

Getting Sidetracked

I said I wouldn't let it happen. 

I said I would stay focused. 

I said I would stay on track.

But what is that saying about good intentions....

Last night at my guild meeting, I put ALL of my tickets into the cup to win this group of things.

And, guess what? I won!

I had thought I really just wanted this group of quilted squares, 

but when I looked further I found magazines from 2013 and 2014.

Now anyone who knows me, knows that 2013 and 2014 were very stressful years for me.  Mother and Mother-in-law were quite ill and living in their own homes, about a mile from each other, both home bound, both needing constant care and supervision to ensure their comfort.

Not a lot of time for quilting and shopping. And did I mention? - neither had internet to use for on line shopping!

I was seriously out of touch with new publications!

So imagine my delight when the bundle from last night's winnings includes magazines from 2013 and 2014! All of my favorites, none of which I had seen, or at least can remember seeing!

As I looked through the bundles, this magazine caught my eye.

I now have my next project.

Off to find the solid roll ups I have been hoarding!

Oh, didn't I just say that... 

I wouldn't let it happen. 

I would stay focused. 

I would stay on track.

But what is that saying about good intentions...

Louise, on the island, getting sidetracked, again!

100 Days 100 Blocks 2017

I thought I would give it a go this year.

100 blocks in 100 days what could be so hard about that! After all they are only 6 inch blocks!

So we started...

But first,...

I would like to thank "The Quilted Crow" in Bolton Massachusetts for their wonderful selection of fabrics for this project. Sue and her staff set the "City Sampler" quilt from Tula Pinks's book "100 Modern Quilt Blocks" as a block of the month program awhile ago. The kits have been staring at me from my to-do list. So when the sew along was announced, I decided this would be a great time to get it done! Thus far I haven't needed to substitute any fabrics. We will see what happens in the future.

I have just submitted the first block so I can show it here.

Look for the next blocks in a future blog post.

I think this will be fun!

Louise, on the island, working on blocks for the sew along 

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