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