Then Next Thing

 I bought some fleece for the backing for the One Block Wonder. I was looking for periwinkle as Wynn Anne suggested, but there was none to be found, so I went with a soft spring green. I think it will look very nice. It's a very light fleece, so this one will be for the summer months, or winter in warmer climes.

I also decided on my next project to make.... it's very simple, I wish I could say I thought of it myself, but alas it's a free pattern and was available on the Timeless Treasures site. Its called Jungle Rain and if you're interested I've shared it. I had downloaded it earlier and saved it, it's in my google docs so I can share.

It looks like this. See, very simple. It's all in the color choices. I love  how it looks. I don't have the same colors, but I'll use greens and blues I have. The size is 62 x 77, so it can be my next QOV...we'll see. Each color only needs a fat quarter (twenty 4" squares of each color) so it could be made in many different colors, just using light, medium and dark fabrics.

Super Zig

 Here is the newest project. I have so many quilt tops to quilt, but I couldn't resist this quick one. It's called Super Zig and is a free pattern (click on the name). The strips are 4 1/2" and it's a simple split rail so should go together very quickly. I sewed all the strips together in about 30 minutes (5 colors, 3 strips each).  As you can see on the pattern, the background is white, but I didn't think that would be very practical. I have a white with thin black lines in a wiggly "weave" pattern that I bought from Lunn fabrics about 4-5 years ago. I wanted something light, but not white. It will be interesting to see how it works.

This quilt is being sent to Alycia and maybe the one I am making now will too. I've made QOVs for the past 5 years or so, and want to continue that. Maybe I'll even get 12 done this year, I don't know.

And on the UFO front, I have one more finished, but not because I did any work on it. I thought the Butterfly Blooms still had some quilting to go, but it's done. It's going to be given away this Friday...finally. I made it for my friend, and when we put it on her bed it was a bit too short to be a bedspread (some of the mattress showed). She asked if I could make it wider...I thought I could, but I was wrong. It's been sitting waiting for me to say, what you see is what you get. So she gets it this year for her birthday.


I haven't decided if I get to count that as another UFO done, or if I should add one more quilt top to quilt. I have plenty of them :^)

I did some sewing-Design Wall Monday

 I took some time to sew this weekend, so got the binding done on two quilts. Here is one of them. This is a QOV and I sent it out to be quilted. It is fluffier than I like, but it's done. Now I need to make the label and pillowcase, and it will be ready to be presented.

The flag fabric is what I used for the Stack n Whack octagons in this QOV. I like the way the whole thing turned out. It was beautifully quilted and I even like the backing. I found it on sale at a local quilt shop, and I think it goes well, kind of restful.

I need to make the label and the pillowcase for this one as well, I think I'll be able to get them done today

 

I was "babysitting" (is that what you call it when you stay with other people's kids who are 17 and 12?) and brought stuff along to keep me busy. They took care of themselves, so not much for me to do. I stopped and bought a couple of strip packs from Walmart on the way there, and am making a jelly roll race quilt. I'll post pictures when I get it closer to done. Here is what I have right now.

I also got the ironing surface done. I've had this cotton curtain panel from Walmart for a while. I made a quilt bag from it abotago, and decided it was a nice bright look (and I had it) so covered the board with thin cotton batting, then the striped cotton. I haven't used it yet. It's not attached to the machines underneath, and I'm not sure about the height. I think it will work, if not, I'll figure out how to make it taller.

Check out Judy's Blog to see more design walls.

Another Quilt of Valor

 I just got the Cozy Modern Quilt of Valor back from the quilter. I still have to finish the label, binding and presentation case. The quilting is a meander with stars.

The quilter used polyester batting so it's a bit fluffier that I'm used to. I think it will be well appreciated once it's done. I have one more out at a quilter...can 't wait to see that one.

Design Wall - Easter Monday

I finally finished the banner. It's at church and will be used starting next week. I ended up finishing the edges all by hand. I sewed them down, then sewed the lining down by hand as well. I wasn't happy with the puckers I was getting in the banner when I sewed by machine, so that was the answer. The loops to hang it from were machine done, but the rest was done by hand. YAY, it's done.

The baby blankets are going to Iraq. I am going to make a few more before I send them off. I think I have enough flannel for at least 4 more. The process to make them with self-borders is pretty easy. I found the pattern here.  I think I may make a few of these the next time a baby comes round.

The cozy moder QOV top is done. I think I will back it will fleece. It's a quick way to put the quilt together and really is very cozy.

To see what is on other design walls, check out Judy's blog.

Design Wall

 I've done a bit more work on the QOV. I have to put the last borders on, then quilt it.

The banner needs to be finished. I've been dilly dallying because I'm not sure how to finish it. I have it all quilted, now I need to finish the edges and put the hanging tabs and backing on . It's going to be done for Easter!

To see other design walls, check out Judy's blog.

More Flimsies, and a Couple of Pillowcases

 Here is the stack n whack Quilt of Valor top. I still need to quilt it and figure out how I'm going to do that...no idea right now. This is for a military person that my friend works with. She lets me know that she needs a top or I as if there is anyone who needs one and I make them. The folks she works with are mostly active duty and are struggling with PTSD, so I am happy to do this. Makes me feel a little more connected to the recipients, even though I don't know who they are. This quilt , this one and this one were all made for her to give away. Oh, so was this one (I almost forgot). The skull, irish chain and hunter quilt were specific requests for specific people, the others are more generic.

 I also finished a top that will go back to the group I quilt with on one Sunday a month.

It's from a pattern called 4 Layer Cake and has many different fabrics. It's not my favorite quilt, but it did go together very quickly. Only two of us showed up last time, so Linda cut this pattern out, and I told her I would be happy to sew it together for the next meeting. It will be sent off to a volunteer long-armer and then given to someone deserving.

I also made two pillowcases for presentation for these two quilts. Very simple, but they work. I really like the "sausage" method  so that there are no exposed seams. There are plenty of tutorials around, the only change I make is that I cut the contrast bit only 1-1/2" wide instead of 2-1/2". Easy to do and the results are great looking.

To see what more people have on their design walls, check Judy's blog.

Another QOV-Design Wall

 I'm easily bored, or I guess easily distracted. I decided to start another QOV. I have a couple of requests. This one is from this fabric. It's not exactly restful, but it is sure RED WHITE and BLUE!

It's not quite large enough yet, so I'll be adding some borders. I think I'll use some of the original fabric for at least one of the borders.

To see what other folks have on their design walls, check out Judy's blog.

Design Wall Monday

I finished Daniel's quilt and was able to give it to his mother...he came home for some R & R. You can see it here.

I worked some more on the Cozy Modern Quilt QOV, I'm about half-way done now. These are not sewn together yet. I'm going to wait till I have all 42 of the blocks done then take a picture and look to see if there is anything I want to  move around.

I also went to sew with a group (only two of us there) to make QOVs. I finished the binding on one quilt, then took home pieces to make another. It's much too scappy to me, but that's OK. None of these blocks are sewn together yet, but I'll work on them during the week.

To see what other people have on their design walls, check out Judy's blog.

Daniel's QOV

Daniel came back home for a couple of weeks of R and R from rehab. His dad wanted a big welcome for him, so let folks know when he would be landing. We decided to go be one of the crowd, and though I wasn't sure I would be able to give the quilt to him directly, I decided to finish it up and bring it.

I made a label and a pillowcase to put it in. The body of the case is fabric I bought that I thought I might use. It's passport stamps from all over the world. I had a bit of the fabric that I used for the postcard blocks on the front of the quilt, so used that for the cuff.

It was pretty cool at the airport. When we got there, there were already about 50 or 60 people there waiting. His family of course, and people from his church. There were about 10 or 15 people who were Marine vets...an HD motorcycle club. People had signs and balloons, and when he got off the elevator everyone clapped.  I hope he felt the love. I gave the quilt to his mom to give to him. I hope he likes it.

Here is a clip of his homecoming (thanks Paula).

Tomorrow I go to work on some more QOVs with a group that meets at the Air Force Academy. This will be the third time I go. It's a small group, but it's good to be doing something.

Weekend Work and Design Wall

Here is the back of my UFO #1, done. Because there is not batting, just flannel backing you can see through the quilt. I like the way this looks. It is a summer weight quilt, and I just need to clip the threads and it's done.

Here is the front. I almost got it in time. It's a bit cloudy outside so the first picture I took didn't have any shadows, but then the sun came out. I am all done, and I know who this is going to. Oh, wait. I don't have the label done yet, so I still have a bit more work.

Daniel's quilt cam back from the quilter. I trimmed it and now need to add the binding. He is coming back to Colorado for a vacation from rehab in San Diego at the end of March, so I will be able to give it to him in person. He was up on "stubby" prostheses last week as a first step to getting around without a chair. Wow, it looks like really hard work.

Here is the whole top. I am going to use dark blue for the binding. I think I have enough from the backing that was left over that I trimmed off. If not, I have to go face the cutting nightmare again, but at least it won't be for 13 different fabrics.

 Here is the charity top with the outside borders. I had it with just borders between the stack n whack strips and on the top and bottom and it looked a bit unbalanced, so I added the two outside strips, now it's much better. Thanks Wynn Anne, Suzette and Deb for helping me out with that decision.

This is the design wall from a couple of days ago. I cleaned it now, and there are no more bits of thread or other dreck, so it's ready for a new design.To see more, go to Judy's blog. 

Cozy Modern QOV

 

I've got twelve of the blocks done, I only have 30 more to go, so 5 more rows. I like it, but it's a bit of a pain to put together. I feel the need to choose fabrics that are different in each block. I'm just not a scrap quilt person.

New QOV

 Here are the first three blocks of 42 for the next quilt of valor. I think I'm going to like it. It is sort of scappy but sort of planned. It comes from the book Cozy Modern Quilts by Kim Schaefer. Nice.

Daniel's Quilt of Valor

The top is done.The color of the outer border is not quite as blue as it looks in the picture, but has enough blue that it goes will with the cool colors of the strips in the top. Because I wasn't clever I have to get a bit more fabric to finish the backing. If I was quilting it here I would exactly enough, but I'm sending it to my sister who is going to have it quilted so I need an extra 6 inches on the width. I think I can figure out how to piece the leftover fabric to make it wide enough, then off this goes to be quilted. I'm very happy with how it turned out. Not my usual colors, but I like it anyway.

I'm feeling motivated, so I'm going to see if I can finish a charity quilt for the guild (or maybe two) before our meeting the second Thursday of February.

Switching Gears

I talked to my wonderful sister tonight, and she wants to participate in the Quilt of Valor for Daniel, so she is going to take it to her local quilter and pay to have it quilted. I know that I can send it through the QOV volunteers, but doing it this way we get to make this quilt for him together. She live states away, so we can't actually quilt together on it, but I know if she was closer we would probably work on this one, and others together. That would be so cool!

I've included a close-up of the border fabric, and then how I think I'm going to put it together with a narrow inner border.

On another note, I am switching back to the spiral quilt. I have to get done...it's a contest. I come from a family that is just a bit competitive, and though there is no winning or losing here, I have said I would get it done before the end of the month, so I will. I have the backing just about ready, the batting is unfolded and laying out and I might even get started on pinning it tomorrow morning. I tend to get a lot of work done in the morning before work (I have been waking up about 4:30 or 5:00) and then I feel like I have some life outside of work and sleep. So, I may actually get it done, and get Daniel's top done and ready to send to my sister all by the end of the weekend...and wouldn't that be cool! Here is the border fabric with a bit of the top so you can see them together.

Aspens and Pines

 The first two rows together. They took a bit more time than I wanted because the grey strip I cut for the cornerstones was a bit narrow, about an eighth of an inch too narrow so I had to fiddle with the first row of blocks and for the second row, I had to unstitch the grey and sew a right size block. Probably not crucial, but it makes sewing in the long run easier.

I also couldn't resist some clearance fabric. The colors just make me happy. I bought it at Connecting Threads. It was $2.28 per yard because the leaves do not go in a straight line across the fabric. I decided I am going to use it for charity quilts so I could justify buying 2 1/2 more yards of each. I'll have 3 1/2 yards of 10 different fabrics so that should be enough...it feels wonderful and looks beautiful!

Travel Blocks

I've got all but one of the "travel" blocks made. I think they work pretty well in the quilt. The fabric only had a few different motifs and I don't want to repeat any of them. I'm going to put the dark fabric that is framing the travel pictures between the blocks and a lighter gray-blue as cornerstones. I think I can have the top together by the end of the weekend, then I have to figure how to quilt it. I'm going to use the dark blue for the backing as well.

I don't know if I am going to add a border or not, the pattern doesn't call for one, but I may add one anyway, just to give it a little more width. It's only 49" x 56" right now.

New Quilt of Valor and Design Wall

While I'm waiting for the batting to arrive so I can finish my #6 UFO, I started the Quilt of Valor for our friend's son who was injured in Afghanistan. He lost both legs above the knee and fingers from his left hand. He is only 19 years old, and there is not much I can do, but I can make a quilt. I asked his father to check to see what colors he might like, or what theme. He told me he really liked earth tones and loves to travel, to see the 7 wonders of the world, like the pyramids.

I found this fabric and I didn't know how I was going to use it, but I think I've figured it out. The squares of the quilt are 6" finished, the motifs in the travel fabric will fit into that size block, so I'm going to make some of the blocks with the travel pictures with some of the leftover strips around them and put them in place of the striped blocks.

The colors I chose of the quilt remind me of aspens turning gold in the fall, and the color of pines and the sky...Daniel came from Colorado. I hope he likes the quilt. It's moving to the top of the list till it's done.

This is also my design wall post...to see more design walls, check out Judy's blog. 

Hunting Quilt of Valor

It's taken me a while to finish quilting this one. Didn't take me much time at all to piece the top. I want to be more constant when I am quilting so I can get them done. It's not my favorite part of making a quilt, but necessary.

It's backed with a blue/black/white camo fleece. I ended up doing an outline around each of the motifs in the center, then quilting in concentric squares (I just looked it up, because that's the way I am, concentric actually should only refer to circular things but I'm using it anyway) around the panel.

I hope to give it to my friend early next week so she can present to the soldier it was made for...finally.

I'm going to design a label for it and use some iron-on printable paper I found a while ago. I'll post a picture of that when I get it done. I have an idea of what I want it to look like. Let's see if I can do it.

Two more tops quilted

Two more tops quilted. I've decided that I will work on getting as many tops as I can finished. Both of these have fleece backings. The greek keys top is meant to be a quilt of valor. It is 54 x 69. Not huge, but I think it will be a fine size. My only problem now, it to figure out how to attach a label to it. I didn't think of that before I put the fleece on the back.

The disapperaing 9-patch is much smaller. It is only 36x48, but a nice size for a baby blanket. I don't have a specific recipient in mind, but I'm sure there is someone in my future with a baby. I just gave away the 4-patch posy baby quilt I finished a while ago, so there is always another baby that will need a quilt.

The quilting on both is very simple. I just did concentric "rings" of quilting following the blocks on the greek keys. The baby blanket just has straight lines at varying intervals. Nothing hard...and I used the walking foot on both, so that made it even easier.