Design Wall Monday~December 26

Good Morning!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas or at the very least a terrific Sunday. We ate waaay too much and not just yesterday. How about the day before with trying new cookie recipes with my husband. And his failed fudge. Yes. He tried. Yes, he spent literally almost an hour trying to get the sheen off that fudge but…finally I did make the kind with chocolate chips and marshmallows. Do you think I can lose 4# by Thursday night weigh in?

Nothing new on the design wall.

My Christmas was wonderful. I feel very fortunate to be able to have family and friends close by that come and celebrate with us. They are also too generous and I feel guilty over the number of nice things I received yesterday. I won’t list them because it is too embarrassing. Really!  I will show you one as it pertains to quilting/sewing. (Ignore the industrial shelving. Although not pretty, it does a great job of holding my "stash")

 I had seen it months ago at a Senior Center craft store and had said to my Mom “If I had room, I would buy that to decorate my sewing room.”  She remembered that but by the time she went to buy it, the store no longer carried this item. But, being ever so helpful, they tracked down the original guy and he made one especially for me. And of course, you know, I will find room in my sewing room for this! Is it silly? A bit maybe, but I’m still wanting a doll bed too!

Visit Judys so see other, more productive, design walls:

http://www.patchworktimes.com/

Love and Hugs to all,

Enjoy!
Toni

Design Wall Monday~December 19

Just a couple of notes here….of course I’ve waited until the last minute to finish some of my sewn gifts so I shouldn't spend much time on the computer.
 

Last week I mentioned that I wasn’t feeling the love for my rainbow quilt but then seeing the picture of the few blocks on the wall I thought “it might be okay”. Well, now all the blocks are done and I DON”T like it, let alone love it. And it has to do with proportion and scale. Even tho’ we think we can enlarge any block, we have to realize it won’t necessarily have the same impact. That is the case with this simple quilt block. I liked the inspiration quilt as the blocks were smaller but the larger blocks just don't have the same impact.

Now my only question is; should I cut circles out of these blocks and do something like the following?

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kirbylou/3544549482/

Or should I just finish it and donate it? I’m sure someone will like it, and maybe even love it.

This is the first year that I’ve not been stressed over shopping . A few items on line, a few items home made, lots less money spent. As they say “Priceless”

I hope everyone is taking time to slow down and enjoy the holidays.

 
Visit Judys for more Design Wall Inspirations;

http://www.patchworktimes.com/

Love you all!

Toni

Show Me Yours~Scraps

Says Rachel
http://www.stitchedincolor.com/2011/12/show-me-yours-scraps.html

How fun! But how do you define scraps? These are pictures of my less than half yard "remains". Scraps? You decide! Only this last year did I start saving those smallest pieces and often I ask myself, why? I mean I'm not interested in making miniature quilts and I can only make so many bookmarks. I guess I'm just crazy!

So, just for fun, here are my pictures.

Four large totes like this

Six Bags like this

One Large Tote of strips of varying widths. Not sorted in any way.

Two medium plastic containers sorted like this.


They look rather pretty, don't they? 
Enjoy!
Toni

Design Wall Monday~December 12

Good Morning!  Another week closer to Christmas! No sweat! I’ve got it licked this year. Small homemade gifts for friends and family. No waiting until the last minute for me!
 

Here is what is on my design wall this morning. I’ve not been working on a quilt, nor quilt blocks. No swaps, no Quilt Alongs, no exchanges and I was missing making blocks. Inertia and/or indecision were getting in my way. Piecing is the most soothing part of the quilt process for me. Even making a decision on what block to make can be stressful! There are so many choices and so many on my bucket list. I wanted to have something going, in the theory of a block a day. That meant it was going to be scrappy. I went to my saved favorites.  I decided to do these blocks.

Go see the quilt that inspired me.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/potterykate/5794276044/in/faves-43767908@N08/

See the rounded corners? That did it. When I first started making quilts, back in the ‘70ies, I had taken a class at a church and I learned to make blocks and I learned how to layer the backing, the batting and the block. And I learned to hand quilt. I did NOT learn how to sew a mitered corner. For  at least a year my first quilts all had rounded corners. So once again what is old is now new.
 

I’m not feeling the love, yet. Maybe my blocks are bigger. I’m making a bigger quilt. I’m going to continue. I figure, worse case, I will cut circles from these and make some circle blocks. I find that I am low on orange. Orange never having been high on my favorites list, until I did “A Blockwork Orange”.  Now I love orange and wish I had been collecting it over the years. I hate that I am going to have to buy some. Anyone want to donate some strips?

My husband wants me to make fudge. He loves fudge. Of course I’ve made it over the years but as I don’t like it, I don’t make it very often. I asked him “Do you prefer the kind made with marshmallow fluff or the kind made with little marshmallows?”  His response? “No I want the kind that you make from scratch, where you drop the syrup into the water to see if it’s cooked enough.” Well, I think “HA!” to that. If I have to make it that way, he’s not getting any fudge. At the grocery store, the day after this conversation, the fluff was on sale. I bought one. He put the groceries away and crumbled about the fluff. I’ll wait a week or so. His choice will either be fudge made with fluff or no fudge. I wonder which he will choose?

Check out other design walls by visiting:

http://www.patchworktimes.com/

Enjoy!
Toni

Design Wall Monday~December 5

Egads! It is almost Christmas! What happened to Nov 21 and Nov 28? Okay, nothing happened to them but I wasn’t here. November 21 I just missed doing a post and November 28, we were at the beach, clamming. Having fun without a computer.  I didn’t figure you would like to see pictures of razor clams…but what the heck can it hurt?

Today I don’t have anything on the design wall…at least that I can share.  I am going to show you a couple of shots of color/fabric that I am using for Christmas gifts but I can’t share until after the holidays. Other than my sister, my husband and my Mom, everyone is getting a homemade gift this year. Even those three are getting small homemade gifts in addition to a store bought gift. There have been some great tutorials on different websites for wonderful wonderful  gifts!  I’ll share pictures and sites after Christmas.

 As for me personally?  I have one more UFO to finish this year to make my commitment of twelve and I have two quilts percolating in my mind. One will be a circle quilt of some type, probably with Kona ash as the background and a second quilt, Swoon? Or a sailboat quilt to give as a gift? I’ve been researching sailboat quilts for a while. This gift is a “just because” gift to a friend so there is no deadline. I can’t decide if I want to go with a “real” looking sailboat or this quilt that is more impressionistic. I love playing with prints and colors, more scrappy looking, but this one is stunning and appeals to me as a modern interpretation of a sailboat. What do you think? Mine would be similar but certainly without that lovely, lovely, quilting.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3dxvDuJVWL8c-9T6kjuw4qLkPCqpTgIpH79uKzE3RFIcryzM1Jp4U8WEOtLnC9EpNkPs60pkLvlTI3yPLokqmFiy724QxR4kbrVxnrk7QaOcFVECSDv5wtWhAMga5lepvMV_RnD1itI/s1600/IMG_3944.jpg

 I apologize a hundred, thousand times. I don’t know whose gorgeous quilt this is. I would certainly share credit next week if you do know.

I will be back next week. Hopefully with a start on the circle quilt. Visit Judys for more Design Wall Monday juiciness!

http://www.patchworktimes.com/

Enjoy!

Toni

p.s. I’m putting this here hoping that not many people will see it. This is a candid picture my husband took Dec 2. Trust me…I would have put makeup on for a candid if I knew it was coming. I also would have included more quilts! Do you see four dogs? There is actually a fifth one under the covers.

Design Wall Monday~November 14

Another Design Wall Monday!

I still have this scrappy quilt going on. This is all the blocks I’m going to make but I will spend more time moving them around. I’ve already “played” (I don’t consider it “playing”, I think it’s work) with them and taken six pictures and rearranged. I see at least three more moves and pictures. After that, it is what it is. I love other quilters scrappy quilts, I’m just never as thrilled with my own. I think I do planned scrappy okay but this taking anything and everything out of my 2 ½” strip box just doesn’t do it for me. I figure this quilt will be great for the picnic table.

And here are some blocks from the Heat Lightning Swap.

 If you’ve never done a swap you might consider this one. Quick blocks in colors of burgundy, pink, red, purple. Visit the group at Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/groups/heatlighteningswap/ If you would like to join, there is still plenty of time. Or if you just want to see how the block is built and arranged see it here: http://seejennmakestuff.blogspot.com/2011/08/lightning-zigzags-tutorial.html

For more inspiration, pop on over to:

http://www.patchworktimes.com/

Enjoy!

Toni

Design Wall Monday~November 7

Not much to say today…yet! I wasn’t here last week as we were spending six days at our funky trailer “Lucy”. She is on a small lot in Ocean Park WA. We just bought her a month ago. We already own 4 other lots on which we’ve kept our OLD fifth wheel. (Not as old as Lucy tho'!) After using that for vacation for over six years, Lucy seems pretty spacious. Yes, she needs a lot of work. A fun summer project.  Heeeeere’s Lucy!

Anyway, my design wall has two things going. A swap from the Flickr group “Teal We Meet Again” http://www.flickr.com/groups/tealwemeetagain/

Those are the plus or cross blocks. (I like to call them the “T” blocks as my name begins with a “T”) and the Scrappy Trips Around the World. This block happens to be the one Block Lotto is doing this month http://blocklotto.blogspot.com/

And the design is from http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2005/06/scrappy-trips-around-world.html

I’m not doing it as part of Block Lotto, I’m doing it on my own. This is how many blocks I have done, not the final arrangement. I’m going to treat it as a block a day and have that be my goal. It's going to be a picnic quilt. I have to say that on the wall I’ve been kinda’ “meh” about it but I like it in the picture.

Oh! “Teal We Meet Again” has a new swap going. The new one is: http://www.flickr.com/groups/heatlighteningswap/ This just started and there is plenty of time if you would like to join us.

Be sure to visit Judys site for other exciting design walls! http://www.patchworktimes.com/2011/11/07/design-wall-monday-november-7-2011

I hope you enjoy the links I’ve included.

Enjoy!

Toni

p.s. Can you say Anniversary? 32 years. My card was waiting by the computer this morning. He knows what I do first thing in the morning!

Design Wall Monday~October 24

Where was I last week? Actually I was here but there was nothing on the design wall. I didn’t think you would enjoy looking at batting with a lot of threads on it.

This week is not much better. I don’t seem to be getting quilting done but I’ve made curtains for the utility room out of this:

I’m making these pennants for the wall in the bedroom out of these:

Oh! And let’s not forget the cute pillowcases.  If you’ve not tried the “burrito” or “hotdog” style of pillowcases. You really need to! Quick and fun!  Look at this one:

And I’m continuing to quilt the Double Hourglass. I could do a whole post on the problems I’ve encountered but I don’t want to whine. I’m still in that learning curve. Actually the quilting should be finished today and then I will get the binding on this evening. So even tho’ there is not much on my design wall, I am being productive. (I’ve also been knitting!)

So even tho’ there is not much on my design wall, I am being productive. (I’ve also been knitting!)

Visit Judys site for more exciting  design wall happenings.  http://www.patchworktimes.com/2011/10/24/

Enjoy!

Toni

Design Wall Monday~October 10

Great Rainy Morning in the Pacific Northwest! I woke up to the sound of heavy rain and it made me need to go potty. TMI? I was thinking; does this mean I'm housebroken?

Here's a picture of my design wall. These blocks are for a fun swap over here:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/tealwemeetagain/ For me this is the perfect type of swap. You use your own fabrics and you decide how many you want to swap and you usually have a month to complete your blocks. It is so fun to see all the fabrics from others!

AND unlike Block Lotto

http://blocklotto.blogspot.com/ which you know I also love, with this swap however many blocks you send in you are going to get that many back, so you WIN every time. I built forty blocks. Twenty I will send in and twenty I will keep to mix with the ones I get back. It's not to late to join "Teal We Meet Again" swap. Isn't that a great name? Chelsea also managed the last one for us and it's name was "A Blockwork Orange." Isn't she just too clever? Here is a picture of that completed quilt.

As for the rest of my projects? The binding is on the wall hanging. All 90 blocks are done for the double hourglass. I will get those sewn into a top this week. And I am ready to layer and quilt the small bowtie quilt. I have been productive!

Enjoy!

Toni

Design Wall Monday~October 3

I am so boring! I'm still working on the same two quilt tops...Double Hourglass, you can see the group here:
https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/A-Quilt-Block-A-Day/211113868950661

And the bright wall hanging from last week. I really should have that one done, but don't. Where does the time go? I realized yesterday that I didn't have a finish in September. Of course, it could be because the weather was gorgeous and it is my favorite month. I am ahead on my UFO's and also on the 11 in 11 program so I guess I'm okay. I'd better kick it this month tho'!~

And this month I decided to join the Flickr swap "Teal We Meet Again".

http://www.flickr.com/groups/tealwemeetagain/

I had so much fun with many of these same ladies doing "A Blockwork Orange".http://www.flickr.com/groups/blockworkorange/

 And let's not forget Block Lotto. http://blocklotto.blogspot.com/I did not participate last month as the fabric choice was batiks and I had absolutely none. I looked at buying some and then remembered my mantra "from your stash, from your stash".

Just to have a picture to show, I am showing the Double Hourglass Blocks again. I have 44 different fabrics and there will be two blocks of each.

My commitment this month? Finish machine quilting the bright wall hanging, layer and quilt the small bowtie and finish my Halloween UFO from last year. I also have some traditional sewing of curtains to do....too bad I will have to spend so much time in my sewing room, huh?

Visit Judys Patchwork Times for more Design Wall inspiration:

http://www.patchworktimes.com/2011/10/03/

Enjoy!
Toni

Design Wall Monday~September 26

Nothing new to share today. Only updates on two projects you've seen before. Last week I said I might add some yellow to the double hourglass blocks...and I still might but I doubt it. I've added a few darker shades, more turquoise than aqua, from my stash and I still have another six or so fabrics to use. I want the colors to retain a "beachy" feel.

And today I am machine quilting this quilt. I had intended to do a meander or other overall FMQ design but suddenly my tension is off on the back when I FMQ but is okay for straightline quilting. Sooo, decided to do "Organic Lines'. I did a swirl in the circles and then I'm doing organic lines in the other areas. I'm rather liking it. It does take alot of thread and although easy, it takes alot of time. My shoulder aches (an old horse riding accident) so I will have to remind myself to relax more.

Be sure and vist Judys site for other Design Wall Monday inspiration.http://www.patchworktimes.com/

Enjoy!
Toni

Design Wall Monday~September 19

I love Design Wall Mondays! It's the one thing that keeps me blogging. I usually have something to share. Geez! It is September 19 and I don't have any finishes for this month. I had better get busy. At least get my UFO done.

The following blocks are for an Hourglass QAL. Which hasn't actually even started yet. I decided to switch it up a bit and do double hourglasses. Spool blocks have been on my list of quilts to do and these remind me enough of spools (I know, I could enhance that more by choosing more "spool like" colors and placement) that I will be able to cross spools off my list. Also, I'm finding the colors a little predictable and redundant so I'm going to play with adding some yellow. Much like Sue has in this pretty quilt. http://suedaurio.blogspot.com/2011/09/another-easy-one-100-quilt-for-kids.html 

The tutorial I used is http://www.cluckclucksew.com/2009/09/tutorial-double-hourglass-blocks-easy.html And it's wonderful. I'm doing a couple of things slightly different, like I found a place to mark, with tape, on my 45 degree triangle that is close enough to the template size that I don't have to use the cardboard templates, and I'm marking and pinning more than was suggested. Just me! My blocks, using a scant 1/4" seam allowance are squaring up perfectly at 7 1/4".

Now, today, will I be working on UFO's or this new, fun quilt top?

Enjoy!
Toni

Design Wall Monday~September12

My grandson is 17 today. How did he get so old so quickly? Sighhh......

On the design wall are these bowties blocks. I'm doing a bowties quiltalong and I wanted to use my reproductions. Old fashioned block, old fashioned fabric. I needed 108 blocks. There is no way I thought I would have 108 different prints but I did! And there were more than that. I didn't count them. Let's just say I was surprised. At least all were/are small cuts. I never got into buying yards and yards of reproduction. Or so I thought!

The final arrangement has been inspired by this;

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dawnasfolkart/3004402744/in/faves-43767908@N08/

Lovely, yes?

 This is Sabine. She is joining Sally Ann.

                                                   Visit Beths site to find instructions on making your own.

                                                               http://lovelaughquilt.blogspot.com/2011/08/

And don't forget to visit Judys blog for other Design Wall Inspirations!

http://www.patchworktimes.com/

Enjoy!

Toni

Design Wall Monday-Sept 5

Here we are! In my favorite month! September!  All the benefits of summer, warm days and blue skies but you can see fall starting to happen. Love it!

On my design wall is this small bowtie. I will piece the blocks today....after I replace one of the weaker (red w/white) blocks in the lower right corner. Then I will continue working on my larger bowtie. Larger in number of blocks not in size of blocks. The larger one is done in reproductions and is a different setting. Not locked into any setting in particular yet but there is some great inspiration over at Flickr. I think I have like twenty more blocks to make.

And I know you have all been rooting for me and my August UFO...another small quilt left over from the '80ies. I was going to donate it unfinished and then decided to finish it as a practice piece as it was already sandwiched and basted. I did cross hatching in the middle, trying different marking techniques.I decided painters tape is the easiest but I need to increase my "library" to different sizes. I did "el's", like the lower case cursive version of an L", and "ee's" like the lower case version of the letter "e", in the narrow blue border. I was surprised how much I liked it. It looked too simple to be effective but it's great! And easy to do. We all know how to write l's and e's so it's easy to take it to FMQ. On the border I did stippling. Yes. I am still practicing stippling.  My stippling started out "okay" as in it held the quilt layers together, and then it continued to get better, prettier. At the end of the day, I liked it. Until.....I stopped for the night. When I picked it up again the next morning my "flow" wasn't quite as good. I know! Practice, practice, practice. Anyway, I like this quilt more now (a lesson to be learned from this?) and I think it has enough blues and greens to work as a tablecloth at our beach place. So instead of donating it, I will use it.  Here it is:

Trust me, the colors are much better in person. I just realized this was before the binding was added. It's on! Minty green solid.

And one more thing this week. I made a doll! Thanks to Beths instructions over at:

http://lovelaughquilt.blogspot.com/2011/08/

I'm going to make one more doll today and adjust the proportions a little. Beths instructions are very general and that allows each doll to be uniquely different. Just like us!

Be sure and vist other Design Walls at Judy's. Have a great Labor Day. Don't labor too hard!

http://www.patchworktimes.com/

Enjoy!

Toni

Design Wall Monday~August 29

Not much to chat about today. Here is what's on the design wall. I have two bowties going. One with just white in the negative spaces and reproduction prints and this one. I was only going to use primary type reds, greens and blues but find I don't have many of those in my stash/scraps. Because of that I am having to broaden the shades. It's probably pretty obvious that this isn't the final arrangement.

I'm working on a UFO and it will be finished Wednesday in time to claim my August UFO success.. It's something I started in the '80ies with hand quilting but I no longer like. I was going to donate it as it was but then thought "hmmm, take out the hand quilting and then practice different marking techniques, walking foot work and FMQ". It will still be donated but I will have gotten full use out of the prior work of piecing, sandwiching and basting. I sure can use the machine quilting practice!

I did not make any progress on last weeks top but I hope to before weeks end. Also I am dying to make a doll...look here;   http://lovelaughquilt.blogspot.com/2011/08/ . Isn't this too flippin' cute?

Visit Judys blog for other Design Wall inspiration! http://www.patchworktimes.com/

Enjoy!

Toni

FMQ AND QAYG

Have you ever noticed how many Acronyms are used in everyday life? Even before texting! These two refer to Free Motion Quilting and Quilt As You Go. Yesterday I said I would share the things I learned by FMQ my Pineapple Blossom. These are lessons that many of you already know. As I said, I'm keeping a personal journal on my progress. Too bad I didn't start the journal when I first started doing FMQ on the small projects.

I've decided to be brave and share this photo. It's only because recently I had seen another blog where the quilter was brave enough to do this. Here is Kristyne's blog http://prettybyhand.com/blog/2011/8/23/project-simplify-day-56.html  Thank you so much for going public!

The point is we all have to start somewhere. Plan on the beginning FMQ to be done on quilts for loving family members or for yourself. If your first FMQ serves the pupose of keeping the quilt layers together, you have been successful. In the beginning your FMQ will not be as pretty has you had hoped, but with practice you will get there.

Things I learned:

Small motion practice is good for speed control and stitch length but the movements (small vs large) do not translate well. Practice both. 

Take breaks…don’t just push on through to get it done

 Do not trust that the bobbin can make it through one more width/length. If you have to guess, it probably won’t, change it.

Curved/swirled travel lines are much more forgiving than straight lines. And also more versatile if you find you want to move up or down to fill in an area that look “forgotten” in your design. Besides, they are just prettier! (I will do that next time!)

 Look at many examples of FMQ before you finalize your design. I first thought I would work edge to edge with random bubbles between two rows each time of a basically log cabin block and then do something special in the middle of each block and in all the white spaces.  This created lots of stops and starts to save those white spaces. In the end I went back and did the same circle/loop in those areas too. Also, as I was doing a QAYG technique I didn’t orignally plan for the fact that I wanted to make certain that there was enough quilting of the “join” to secure the batting sections.

All pretty basic stuff but if you don't know what you don't know, then you don't know. How's that for a theory?

As for the QAYG method I used. I found this suggestion on the Internet but I don't know who to credit for the initial idea. I had used some of the original QAYG methods but this was the best for me...so far! There are clever people out there coming up with new ideas all the time. The method I used allows you to build the quilt top and quilt back the way you normally would. What changes is that you only quilt one section at a time. In my case, I did three sections.  I laid out the normal quilt sandwich, and then cut the batting from the left side and the right side. Only leaving batting in the center. I spray basted that center section, regular pinning or basting would work too, of course. I quilted that center section. I then put the partially quilted quilt back on the table, inserted another section of batting (doesn't matter if you do right or left now) aligned the edges of the batting, pulled everything flat and tight (I use binder clips and sometimes additional tape)baste this second section and then machine quilted this portion. I was then left with one section and I repeated the process.  Plan your quilting so that the least amount of quilt with batting is between the needle and the body of the sewing machine.

I hope. if you have taken the time to read all of this, that you found something that will help you.

Enjoy!

Toni

Design Wall Monday~August 22

This is on my design wall.What was going to be a wall hanging but it is too dang cute! I'm going to add some more borders and make it a baby quilt. I love doing that size quilt!

The pattern came from here:

http://www.modabakeshop.com/2011/04/hoopla-pops-quilt.html

I will be adding circles to mine too. Do you know I found seven different ways to do circles? I don't mean cut them out, last year I decided on my favorite way to do that, and no, I don't have a GO!Baby. Of the seven ways I found, I've tried three.  There are two more I want to try and then I will decide which to use on this quilt. They are: 6 minute Circles and also the Steam A Seam method. I'd used fusibles before but haven't liked the stiffness they leave. We will see if I've changed my mind.

And, I know, some are sick of this and others will be thrilled to see it. Below are pictures of Pineapple Blossom finished! First picture is finished, unwashed, second picture is back with part of front pulled around and third is washed, quilty goodness, my quilt! Be kind, this was my first time FMQ a large quilt. Notice, no closeup pictures! Tomorrow I will do a quick blog showing the closeup and noting (I've started keeping a FMQ journal) the things I've learned.

Remember, these fun blocks are from my win at:  

http://blocklotto.blogspot.com/  Come join us!

And the original pattern came from:

http://quiltville.com/pineappleblossompf.html

And for more design wall fun:

http://www.patchworktimes.com/

Enjoy!

Toni

Design Wall Monday~August 15

Can you believe it is August 15? Wow!

I missed blogging last week as I was at the beach. I love going to the beach!

I am NOT going to show a picture of Pineapple Blossom. I have this guilt thing going on as I've not finished it yet. I've reset the finish date at least twice. What is my problem? I'm not happy with my FMQ. I mean the quilt will be for my lounging pleasure and the machine quilting will do the proper job of keeping the quilt sandwich together and I am getting lots of practice but....it's not beautiful or even. I told my sis that at least I will be able to keep it and say "this was the first full size quilt I FMQ'd". Really, I do plan on finishing it this week. It's 2/3rds quilted...so just the last final third, which I estimate will take me about two hours, and then binding. Fortunately, I like the handwork of binding.

I should have a UFO going but this months number brought up a LARGE flannel one and I'm not tackling that in August...so I'd better choose another to get finished in these next two weeks! But I did piece a top just for fun. I wanted something fun, bright and quick. I think this quilt top was right on for all those categories.

Enjoy!  Toni

Design Wall Monday~Aug 1

Good Morning!  This is going to be a quick post. And y'all say "I've heard that before". This mornings design wall really is a "design wall" rather than just a place where my most recent PHD (projects half done) are.

The Violets are this months Block Lotto project. This is five of the nine I'm going to do. I've donated the last few months blocks but I might try my luck on this one. I say "I'm not really that into flowers" but these are speaking to me.

The pink and gray is my July Block for Sew, Mama, Sew's, new Modern Block of the Month.

The other block? Funny colors you say? I have to say this was a fluke and in person I really like it. Too bad I don't have more have that violet/purpley color. My DIL wants to do a baby quilt for a friend. We searched for ideas and I found a quilt that she liked. But we didn't have a pattern. I said I could do a pattern and come up with yardages for her. All by myself, no EQ7 in this house...yet! Anyway, I just pulled some scraps to make a sample block and check my calculations...I really wasn't worried about color and this is what came about.

The prairie points are the test ones I did first. Remember I mentioned ugly fabric? I've not finished my blue prairie points on Pineapple Blossom. I have about 12 inches to add. There was a learning curve for me. Not on making the prairie points but getting the corners correct and just doing the correct spacing to get the pp to fit. I've learned alot and still plan on having the Pineapple Blossom done by this next weekend.

Speaking of continuous Prairie Points. I was so impressed by this technique but something happened this week that made me realize; just 'cause it's new to me, it doesnt' mean its necessarily new. While looking for a quilt for my DIL I was going through some old magazines. Before the 'net, that was the best resource. And yes, I've kept many, well organized I might add, through the years. Anyway, I found this PP technique in a 'zine from 1997. I had dog eared the page planning on trying it someday. And finally I have! It is much easier to find things on the 'net tho'!

I hope everyone has a fun, productive week! I have to ask, where is this summer going?

Visit Judys for more Design Wall inspiration http://www.patchworktimes.com/

Enjoy!
Toni

Design Wall Monday~July 25

Yawn.... I'm feeling a little sleepy. I mean we have had a few days of summer here in the Pacific Northwest but today is dreary and it sprinkled. I don't mind rain but as it is July I expect more sun! Maybe we will have a fabulous September, which is my favorite month in the PNW.

Not much to write this morning.  Here is a picture of the Pineapple Blossom again. This time I have some continuous prairie points pinned next to it. This technique is so cool!  I did some first in an ugly fabric (how do we ever end up with those?) to make certain I understood the technique. And the smaller ones make the ugly fabric attractive. Well, less ugly anyway! And then I did a few in a second trial as I wanted bigger ones for the border. Easy Peasey as they say! I'm going to be using this technique often in upcoming baby quilts.
Keep this link...you will be happy you did
 http://sewtakeahike.typepad.com/sewtakeahike/2011/01/super-easy-continuous-prairie-points-a-tutorial.html


My plan yesterday was to get the prairie points finished and on, piece the back for this quilt and get it layered and then begin quilting today but....I needed to get caught up on my Bowtie Blocks after spending a few days at the beach with no sewing machine and I was so excited about the Block Lotto Sneak Preview blocks that I cut 9 and finished 5 of those. Shhhhh!  I can't say any more. The blocks are kept secret each month until the reveal. And I did more yo yo's. I will have to update my yo yo progress bar in a few minutes.
http://blocklotto.blogspot.com/

And I have to show you this absolutely, postively, cute, cute, cute apron thatTiff made when she was here this last week. It was her idea. She said "Nana, let's make an apron". We did spend time looking at patterns on line and narrowed it down to a few but I was thrilled when she chose this one that I had saved as a favorite along time ago and yet hadn't gotten around to making. Now I want to make bunches of them!

Here is the site for this:

http://jonag.typepad.com/stop_staring_and_start_se/2008/12/your-christmas-gift-from-mean-apron-in-an-hour.html

Visit Judys website to see what else is going on for Design Wall Monday
http://www.patchworktimes.com/

Just so you know...even after all this ....  I'm still yawning. Too bad I don't drink tea or coffee.  And to think, I said "not much to write about"  Have a great week!

Enjoy!
Toni 

ZUCCHINI SEASON!

 

 I'm already getting enough zucchini to use in some of my favorite recipes. Each year I look forward to the zucchini and trying new recipes. And each year I say "next year I'm only going to plant one hill" but they grow so well!

I don't remember where I got this recipe. I'm pretty sure it was one of the bigger sites like AllRecipes or Cooks.com.  Sorry I can't give appropriate credit.

Zucchini Cobbler

Ingredients

• 5-6 cups zucchini - peeled, seeded, and chopped
• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 1/2 cups butter, chilled
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

1.                    Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Coat a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.

2.                    Place zucchini and lemon juice in a medium saucepan. Cook, covered, over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, for about 15 minutes, or until tender. Stir in 3/4 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and nutmeg. Simmer 1 minute longer, remove from heat, and set aside.

3.                    In a large mixing bowl, combine flour and 1 1/2 cups sugar. Cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir 1/2 cup crumb mixture into zucchini mixture. Press half the remaining crumb mixture into the prepared pan. Spread zucchini evenly over crust. Crumble remaining crumb mixture over zucchini, and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon cinnamon.

4.                    Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until golden and bubbly.

ENJOY!

Toni 

Design Wall Monday~July 18

Short and sweet this week.


This is the progress I've made on the Block Lotto Pineapple Blossom Quilt. You can see the top rows are sewn together and the bottom ones aren't yet. I WILL have it finished this month. The power of positive thinking! I'll finish the top today. Now I've decided that it would be fun to add prairie points on top of a border. I want to use this technique:

http://sewtakeahike.typepad.com/sewtakeahike/2011/01/super-easy-continuous-prairie-points-a-tutorial.html

Using all one color. I'm thinking a darker marbled blue, with white border. This means I want/need to buy two yards of blue. I am going to Portland tomorrow so I will get that then. AND I might get 4 more quarter yard cuts of some violet or violet blue for the August Block Lotto. Sophia has given us an idea of our fabric requirements but we don't yet know what the block will be. Okay, I will check my stash first. Maybe I don't need to BUY some purpley/violet.

When I quilt this I'm going to use an "alternative" QAYG technique. Always fun, and scary, to try something new. I'll share that website after I've actually used the technique.

For more Design Wall fun, visit:
http://www.patchworktimes.com/2011/07/18/design-wall-july-18-2011/

Enjoy!
Toni

Design Wall Monday~July 11

Whew! I am so glad we are done haying so I can get caught up on somethings on my design wall. You've seen all these before at one point or another.  This week I am going to get caught up on My Block a Day Bowtie quilt

Then I have to get caught up on my  Quilt Along Kaleidoscope Blocks. Those will be sewn into a top this week. I have half the blocks done...all the aqua ones.

And then, with both these projects off the Design Wall, I am going to arrange the Pineapple Blossom Blocks that I won from Block Lotto and get them sewn into a top. This is the quilt I want to finish this month. So glad I got this months UFO done early!

And lastly I have a UFO to show....done early this month as I wanted it for a 40th birthday present for my son. HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOEL!! He was 40 yesterday. Yesterday morning I only had the binding left to do so up at 5:30 to get it done before we hayed...then made beans and salad and went to a surprise barbeque at Joel and Robyns house. Great, full day!  I was tired.

Visit Judys for more Design Wall Fun~

http://www.patchworktimes.com/

ENJOY!  Toni