Updates on To-Do List

Well, work let out early due to the snow/ice mix affecting the area and University is canceled. I've got a free night! I'm going to sew a bunch. :-)

I just finished the backing for the cowboy quilt and I've got it basted ready to quilt. I'm waiting to get bright colored, variegated thread to use, since both the top and the backing are bright colors. That will need to wait until I'm out driving - not tonight with this weather. I'll post a picture when my camera batteries are charged.

Next I'm working on the Thangles and my 1930's BOM I'm doing with the LQS by my mom. I also still need to do everything else on my list, lol.

Back to the sewing room,
~QuiltingB29

Weekend To Do List

Well, I've got about a mile long weekend to-do list this weekend. I have to play catch-up at work and get the last of the invoicing committed before the accounting month ends Sunday at midnight. I also have school work to do for both my University classes as well as course work for 3 online course related to work.

But for the fun to-do list ...
1. Sew blocks for PClassic BOM swap :-) done
2. Add border to cowboy quilt. :-)
3. Create a "better backside" backing for cowboy quilt.
4. Finish Navy Blue Thangles BOM (6 blocks to go).
5. Appliqué football & nephew's name onto baby quilt. (Bubba - the younger one)
6. Baste Bubba's quilt and & prep for handquilting.
7. Appliqué Sue and Sam for Happy Scrappy BOM class
8. Cut/prep fabric for Zoo Parade Quilt Class
9. Finish piecing/quilt placemats for Feb. swap.

I could probably add a bunch more, but since I know I won't finish everything I'd better stop now. Well, I have to run - off to the post office to mail the heart blocks for an online swap as well as the PClassic BOM swap blocks. Then to work to get everything finished - fun times!

~QuiltingB29

It's been awhile ....

Wow, it's really been awhile since I last posted. I've been super busy. I guess that's called living :-). Let's see, to recap the past year, I worked my third tax season as a tax associate for a national firm. I took my classes to work again, but have decided not to work this year. Instead, I've started graduate school! I am working on my Master's of Science in Applied Computing :-). I am still working full time and attending classes two evenings a week. It will take me four or five semesters to complete. I'm excited. I'd forgotten how much I like being in school.

As far as personal life goes, my sister had a baby at the end of the year, so now I have a Bubby and a Bubba :-). I need to get going on Bubba's quilt - sissy asked if I was making him one, which of course I was, but I needed a name first. Bubba didn't count. They didn't give us a name until after he was born.

As far as quilting goes, I've done a lot here and there. I went to quilt camp in the spring and made a double size top for my bed. I was able to go down in July and quilt it on my Aunt's long-arm. It's on my bed now, minus the binding. I haven't had a chance to put that on yet.

Of course, I'm working on swaps online and some Thangles BOM projects. I've got to finish a navy blue & white Thangles BOM from last year. I'm dividing the blocks in two and putting them on point so I have enough to make two twin size quilts. Bubba has an older half-brother, so either way there will be two boys in a room. This way, once Bubby (and maybe Bubba) are big enough for twin beds, they will have a set of matching quilts, whichever two are in the room together.

I'm also getting started on a Scrappy Happy quilt project that is being taught by my LQS. The teacher is giving us two blocks a month; there are 15 total. The rest of the year will be spent on sashing and borders. She's planning an applique border - not me though. I'll wait and see, but will probably do something different. I'm doing mine in 1930's fabrics. I'll try to remember to post pictures as I finish the blocks.

Next week my mom and I are taking a class together to make a cute pieced/applique baby quilt. It is 3 X 5 12" squares. Eight of them are nine-patches and the other seven are adorable animal appliques. We'll see how that goes .... The pattern calls for green and lights in the nine-patches and the pieced border. I think I'm doing mine in pinks to make it for a girl at church. I'm not really sure, but I need to decide fast - the class starts next week :-).

Other than that, not much as gone on. I hope to post regularly and include photos. I'd better get going - it's late enough already and tomorrow's a workday.

~QuiltingB29

Tuesday's Update

Well, I'm plugging away. Summer's quilt is nearing completion. I just need to tack the binding down to the back and label it :-). I'll keep that for tomorrow between work and church when I'll have time to do some hand work.

I'm still working on Rachel's quilt. Tonight I plan on putting it back on the machine to quilt. I had run out of bobbin thread the other night so jumped onto some other projects. Tonight I'm going to make 2 or 3 bobbins up so I will only have to insert bobbin and then be ready to go.

Thangles are still being worked on. I have all of them with me now, as opposed to being at mom's. I've got Month #1 completed. Month #2 is partially completed in both color schemes. Months #3 & #4 are staying cozy in their plastic bags.

I also received my Ashley purse pattern and my BOM January from Peace by Piece over the weekend. One of my end of January goals is to have the BOM completed.

The Daddy and Me quilt is waiting on pictures. I got some F.Q. over the weekend, but I'm still playing with a layout.

So for the rest of this week, in case I don't get to update, I hope to ...
1. Finish and give Summer's quilt
2. Finish and give Rachel's quilt
3. Catch up on Thangles
4. Stay even on Peace by Piece BOM


Next week (by end of January ... )
1. Finish quilting on Baby M quilt
2. Piece & baste Kali's quilt
3. Baste Ana's quilt
4. Finish handquilting on Lily's quilt

Hope y'all have a great rest of January!
~QB29

Thursday's Accomplishments/Weekend Goals

Last night I pieced and basted Rachel's top. I even got started quilting on it. I tried to do the flower meander I had in my mine, but my I'm not that good yet. So I'm just meandering. I'll practice another time. I finished Summer's top.

Tonight through Sunday night I hope to:
1. Baste Summer's top
2. Quilt Summer's quilt - "in the ditch" and straight X's
3. Bind Summer's top
4. Finish quilting Rachel's quilt
5. Bind Rachel's quilt
6. Sew the Thangles. I'll be picking up January's from the store this weekend. Mom's got December's at her place. I really need to get caught up!

I really like meander quilting. It goes pretty fast.

The next three quilts I'm going to focus on are the cowboy quilt for Baby M, the pink/green quilt for Kali, and the purple/white quilt for Lily. That will get me caught up on Baby quilts until March.

I also need to check with my co-worker on pictures and get going on the "Daddy & Me" quilt. I still need to buy some fabric. I'll check out what's cute and pink and lacy and girlie when I'm getting the Thangles.

Mom's throw, Baby P quilt, and Friendly Challenge quilts are at the bottom of the barrel.

I really need to take some pics and post them :-)

All for now,
~QB29

Thursday's Update

As usual, I am overly ambitious. Last night/this AM before work I almost completed the flannel top for Summer - I just need to add the bottom border. I also got my extra backing washed for Rachel's quilt. That took care of #3 & #5 and almost took care of #1.

Tonight my goals are:
1. Finish Summer's top
2. Baste Summer's top
3. Piece Rachel's backing
4. Baste Rachel's top
5. Sew the thangles!!!!!!

Depending on how I do tonight, my Friday goals are:
1. Quilt the flannel quilt (aka Summer/December Quilt)
2. Start quilting Rachel's quilt

Isn't that enough???

LOL, by the time I go to bed on Sunday I want to have both Summer's quilt & Rachel's quilt finished. Think I can do it? We'll see! Bubby may have to be neglected this weekend. Not :-) I'll have to quilt when he's snoozing. I would let him try out one of the quilts, but they both have pink in them and no nephew of mine is getting pink, at least from me, even for just a few minutes :P.

Speaking of Bubby, I got some fleece last night to make him a jacket. It will be for next fall/winter, so I'm waiting to make it until I know his size next year. I got enough to make a matching hat and a pair of mittens as well as a blanket. He'll be decked out come his birthday :-). I should have enough left over to make a little toy or something. But that'll have to wait til next September to be started.

I also purchased this really cute bear flannel print with aqua accents. I got some coordinating brown and aqua, enough to do two quilts. Best part? All of the flannel I purchased was on sale $2.00 a yard, except for the brown, but I did have a coupon for that. Go JoAnn's :-).

Well, off to JoAnn's again - mom needs some fleece from there.
~QB29

Bad Math - and I was a math minor! and daily update

Well, last night I went to baste the comfort quilt I'm making for the little girl at church facing months or years of surgery/casting/braces. I got the backing taped down nice and smooth to my living room floor. Placed the batting on top that had been chilling all day to make sure any lumps relaxed out. Laid the top down .... and wah! I miscalculated when designing the top - it's 45" wide :-(. It needs the border as is, so I couldn't just trim it down. After lamenting the situation, I just pulled up the backing so it's out of my roommate's way. I'll be heading to Q'Square today to get another two yards of backing fabric. Tonight after church I'll wash it and seam it with my other fabric. Hopefully I'll have time to baste it tonight and maybe even get the first few quilting stitches in. I have in my mind how I'm going to quilt it. I'm going to do an all-over design of hearts, flowers, and meander. I've traced it out on paper a little

This morning I took some time to cut some flannel. I'm just going to do a flannel quilt for the baby born at the end of December. I have way too much flannel and since she's a winter baby it'll be good to use. I've got a print that has squares of bears with blue sashing between each square. I've cut it apart at the center of each sashing and will do a checkerboard style with coordinating solid & tone-on-tones. I've got a coordinating all-over print that I'm going to use for the backing. I was thinking about doing this one rag style, but I don't want to deal with all that lint to make it raggy for her. :-). I can't decide between a 7 X 7 design w/no border or a 6 X 6 design with a plain border. If I have time to run to a different store today I will check out store #2's flannel so see if I like any better. I've got a pink and a yellow I can use. I would like to get a purple and a green. We'll see. I plan on quilting it "in the ditch" and by doing diagonal lines in the squares, so it should quilt up fast.

When I go to Q'Square today I'm going to check out some fabrics for the "Daddy & Me" quilt I'm making for my co-worker's little girl. I'm looking for something pink & girlie in pastels - pinks, yellows, blues, greens, purples. I'm thinking about adding some type of lace to it too. We'll see once I have the pictures and a design. Q'Square is having a 25% off sale on Saturday so I'll buy the fabrics then.


My quilting hopes for tonight are:
1. Wash & seam the backing & press
2. Baste "Rachel's Sunshine"
3. cut rest of squares for December's quilt
4. piece October & November Thangles - December is at my mom's and we haven't gotten January yet. I'm doing the piecing for her. She is doing the blue and white option and I am doing the raspberry and cream option. I will accent mine with chocolate when the year is up. Mom will accent hers with red and it will become a Bubby quilt :-). Bubby's going to have way too many quilts :-D.
5. Start piecing the top for the flannel quilt.

I can do #3,#4,#5 while #1 is in the wash & dry mode. Luckily I have some clothes I can throw in so I have a full load. I just hope my roomie isn't planning a load tonight; otherwise I will have to wait until Thursday or Friday.

Just to recap, my quilting goals thru tax season are
A. Rachel's Sunshine - comfort quilt for toddler at church who will be undergoing medical treatment.
B. Baby quilts - Lily, Summer, Kali, Baby M, & Baby P
C. Daddy & Me quilt for co-worker's daughter
D. Mom's throw
e. Friendly Challenge - 36" to 45" baby quilt for charity, collected by my LQS
Yep - that's 9 quilts to finish in the next 13 weeks!

Tonight I'll be making progress on 2 of the quilts - Rachel's Sunshine & Summer flannel. Who knows, if I do #3 - #5 quick enough, I may even be able to start cutting the Kali quilt. If Baby P is a boy, I've got a yellow fabric with different blue & green circles on it that I can use as well as a collection of blues & greens. If Baby P is a girl I've got a pretty blue, green, and yellow combo I can do. Baby M is the cowboy quilt already started.

I have ordered the Ashley Purse pattern online as well as signing up for a BOM program. I'm looking forward to that as well. I'm also involved in a bunch of online swaps. So I'm staying busy!!!! I need to buy some red/Valentine's fabrics and some green/Easter prints for swaps for the next two months. So aside from that, I should be good.


all for now,
QB29 <><

48 Weeks List

Someone on a group I belong to has created a 48 weeks list. Basically, she plans on finishing 1 project each week for the next 48 weeks and then will have all her Christmas presents done. Me, personally, I can't imagine needing 48 presents for Christmas, but hey, I've got a small family. I've decided I'm going to use the concept, though my list will include birthday gifts, Mother's Day presents, comfort quilts, charity quilts, baby quilts, and just-for-me quilts. :-). Also, I work full time and do taxes, so until tax season ends I can't plan on the one-a-week completion goal. Mine will be more like one finished every two weeks, but that's okay :-).

Here's my initial list

1. Rachel - toddler size - comfort quilt - ready to baste
2. Lily - baby size - about 3/4 quilted (hand) - will do border quilting by machine.
3. Kali - baby size - need one or two more F.Q.
4. Summer - baby size - flannel rag quilt - nePublish Posted to start cutting
5. Baby M - crib size - 3/4 way done quilting (machine)
6. Baby P - crib size - have to wait b/c gender unknown (due in March)
7. Megan - youth size - comfort quilt (dad deployed)
8. Mom - throw - at basting point - for Mother's Day

My goal is to have these completed by the end of tax season - April 15th - about 2 weeks a project for most. Some are to the point I could finish them in a week.

Ideas to work on late spring/summer include:
1. A Mommy & Me quilt for my sister w/ pictures of her & my nephew - would be for bday in August
2. Friendly Challenge quilts - a charity quilt collection by a local quilt store
3. Green & black log cabin - a UFO I started at a quilt camp in the fall
4. A toddler size quilt for my nephew - have two cute patterns - cars & planes - to choose from - he'll be 2 in the fall
5. my bed quilt - keep changing my mind about the pattern so haven't even cut yet!

I'll firm those ideas up as I get close to finishing my initial list. :-)

~~QB29

Lots of baby quilts! New techniques! Rachel's Sunshine

Well, I'm making progress on my quilting. For Christmas I finished 2 sets of placemats - one for mom and one for sissy.

I also made 3 game sets - one was a checkerboard panel, the other 2 I designed myself. One was a tic-tac-toe and the other was a checkerboard. For the tic-tac-toe, I used rickrack to make a 3 X 3 grid. I then made a sandwich of the backing/batting/front of the playing pieces, quilted them, and cut apart. I made the backing as a little bag to store the pieces between the playing board and the backing. It Velcro closed. The checkerboard was made of grosgrain ribbon woven to make a 8 X 8 checkerboard pattern. I constructed the backing and the playing pieces in the same fashion as the tic-tac-toe game. Actually, I used the construction method of the backing and playing pieces from the panel checkerboard game.

As far as projects I've completed since August ....
July baby boy got his quilt back in the fall. A friend hosted a post-baby baby shower for him and I was able to finish the quilt in time for the party.
September baby girl (very end of Sep - was one of the Oct ones) got her quilt last night. Hers is pastels with a Christian print.
Other Oct baby girl is still on the frame - being hand quilted - it's purple and white.
Nov baby girl (was end of October) - still waiting to be bound! I made it from a table topper pattern I learned at quilt camp!

Oh that's right, I went to quilt camp. It was in the fall at Camp Horseshoe YMCA Camp in West Virginia. I loved it! I had so much fun. I've already got in on my calendar for next time :-D.

We have had two baby girls born at church recently - one last wee and one about 3 weeks ago. The one last week I'm making a hot pink & green quilt. I'm going to do a pink/yellow/green/white YBR quilt for the one 3 weeks ago.

Two more babies are due - an unknown at the end of the month and I believe a girl in February?? but I'm not sure. It could be a boy in March. We're having too many babies for me to keep straight. As far as I know, that's it for awhile :-). Hallelujah!

For the one in January I'm working one a cowboy themed quilt. The dad works at our Bible Camp and is way into cowboy stuff.

For the other one, I will do a blue/yellow/pink/green quilt (if it's a girl!)

I'm also working on a quilt I'm calling "Rachel's Sunshine". I designed the pattern myself. It's made up of a yellow, sherbert orange, lime green, pink, and blue. The backing is a yellow background with pink, orange, and blue flowers and green leaves. I'm calling it "Rachel's Sunshine" because my friend notice the orange and yellow star in the middle first and said it reminded her of the sun. It is for a little girl at church (15 months) who has just been diagnosed with hip dysplasia. She meets with the specialists this week. Possible treatment could include, according to her pediatrician, surgery, spica casts, and braces. According a quick Internet search, treatment can last for months or years. I wanted to make her a quilt to bring comfort during the treatment. Since my friend thinks the design looked like a sun, I thought "Rachel's Sunshine" would be a perfect name - playing on both the design and the purpose. I need to finish making the piano-key borders (I've got 1 completed, need to do the other 3) and then attached the borders, baste, quilt, bind, label :-).

I taught myself a new technique with the cowboy quilt (for the unknown baby at the end of the month) . I am using my darning foot to do a meandering border! It is so easy and works up real quick. I really like being able to meander rather than straight lines using my walking foot. It's nice to be able to add a new technique.

I also used the darning foot to do hearts on the border for my preacher's new baby girl. It worked out okay. I'll need more practice following the lines, but I've got the basics down.

For "Rachel's Sunshine" I plan doing some sort of meander, hopefully to emphasis the center star.

All for now,
QB29

New Sewing Machine!!!

Husky broke Friday evening. (That's the name I've given my mom's old machine - a Husqvarna 990 SLE). She's in the sewing machine hospital as I type. However, on Saturday, I found Matey!!! Matey is a Singer Fashion Mat 237 M.A. I picked up her a yard sale for $10.00. The guy said it worked. It had the base and the lid, though one of the clasps on the lid is missing, so I'll never be able to carry her with the lid. That's okay. I'll like never be carrying Matey because she's so heavy!!!! But after fiddling with the threading and the tension she works!!!!! And, she's got a 1/4" presser foot :-).

My other machines, so they don't feel left out, are Kenny (A Kenmore Min Ultra) and Sergie (A serger ... can't think of the brand/model off hand.

I finished the skirt! I was working on the seat pockets when Husky threw her fit :-). I'm working on the SBS blocks on Matey. --- it's nice having a 1/4" foot.

Well, all for now,
~~ QB29

Let's see, what have I been doing???

Since I last posted I have finished two of my HRB classes. This week will finish up another class. After that I just have three more classes to go (Sole Proprietor, Retirement Plans, and ITIN). Then I'll be done with that until pre-season training and update :-). At least now I'm done to once a week (except for the ITIN week, but that's only a one night deal). No more 3 nights a week comprehending tax issues :-D.

But this blog is about sewing and quilting ... so onto the good stuff. It's been two weeks plus since my last post and I feel like I haven't accomplished much of anything!!!! I'm still quilting blue & yellow 1930's baby quilt. I still need to finish cutting the train quilt for the special 1 year old. I did pick up fabric for a sheep quilt for his new baby brother, but again, that still needs to be cut.

I did manage to make pillows for sis for Bday. As I can use coupons to buy the forms, I'll have them finished. I ended up cutting the big ones too big, so I need to trim them down to fit the pillow form. A really neat trick that I found out at class (more about the class in a minute) - for pillows 14" or bigger, make the cover 1" to 2" smaller. So for a 20" pillow form, make it 18". The pillow cover fits nicer then. It doesn't work for 12" or smaller though. I just need to buy one more pillow form for her.

The other night I took a pillow class at the local quilt store. We put the back in the front and added a cute button and loop. It looks cool. I'll post a picture of it one of these days. (yes, I do have a camera ... I just don't take pics and when I do actually take them, they sit on my camera forever :P.

Tonight I have a free night ... if I can get out of work. It's a crazy start to the month :-( and I may need to stay late. I need to finish my SBS blocks. I've got 7 whole sets to do and one partial. I still need to label/sign for all of them too.

My sewing class with mom on Saturday was cancelled. We were the only ones signed up for it. Mom told the lady I was coming in from out of town but it didn't help any. Oh well, one less project to do ... not like I'm lacking at all, well, maybe time, but not projects. Definitely not projects.

This week I hope to get 6 sets of SBS done, leaving me with just 2. I also hope to finish the pillows as I buy the pillow forms and to finish 1930's baby quilt. I know, I'll probably be listing this again next week, but I gotta aim for something.

All for now
~~QB29

Weekend Notes

Let's see ... yesterday was a long day. I was up by 6 so I could be at WW at 7 (I decided to join - I've got a lot of weight to lose and the Dr. recommended them) for the 7:30 mtg. Then I was off to Ethics class at 10. Then to the store as soon as my test was handed in and graded (100 % :-)). Then home barely in time to pack for "all night quilt"
It started at 4, but I got there around 4:30. There were four other ladies. The owner of the shop T., an instructor for the shop, S., a lady by the name of J., and one by the name of L. Another L. arrived shortly after I did. It was fun.

We chatted and sewed and looked at fabric to see what would work for a new pattern (to me anyway) that she is teaching called "One Block Wonder." It is out of a book - I don't know if that is the name of the book or not. It is similar to a stack and whack method. You take 6 repeats of your fabric. Stack them up exactly on each other and whack away. You cut it into triangles and then put them together in hexagons so it's sort of like a kaleidescope pattern. She had two samples in the store and they looked really awesome. I might take the class if I can fit it into my schedule. It is Sat. Aug 18th and takes all day. Sweet, then the All-night quilt occurs :-).

We ordered pizza. The poor pizza place had to come three times. The 2nd L. made it too late to order with all of us as our order was already on its way. Then they messed hers up so they had to come back to replace it.

I was pooped from running all day and having a long week so by 9 I was packing up and heading home. It was cool though. I plan on coming every month. It is always the 3rd Saturday of the month. Several of the ladies meet on Thursdays to sew. Some of them are there all day. Some arrive after work and stay until the store closes at 7. I just might have to start doing that when I don't have class. Cool - more quilting time!!!

I got most of the stuff cut for the special one year old. This week I really need to work on his and on quilting (for the 3rd time) the 1930's blue/yellow quilt. That baby was born this past week. No, I still haven't uploaded pictures. I promise I will sometime soon though.

Shopping was good. I spent way too much of course. But I now have all fabrics for dad and sis. I got backing for special 1 year old and picked up a coordinating white to use as the train backgrounds. I also got backing for Pastor's baby girl and several F.Q.'s. I also picked up a Christmas panel. So now I just am looking for w.o.w. for SBS blocks (I completely forgot to look) and whatever novelty/coordinating prints I get for special one year-old's new baby bro, and coordinating fabric for the Christmas panel to make a throw.

My goals for this week are:
1. frog, baste, quilt, bind, and label 1930's quilt and give it away.
2. finish cutting, piece, baste, quilt, bind, and label special one year-old's.
3. shop!!!! - sbs blocks w.o.w, new baby bro, and Christmas panel coordinates.
4. Rest, relax, and have fun :-). I think I can do this one. Well, maybe the have fun part. I don't know about the rest and relax part. I never seem to find time for those :-D.

Well, I best get out of here (I came in to work some - but the printer is out of ink :-().
~~QB29

Just Because

This is a just because post. I'm looking forward to one or two hours of quilting before church tonight and one or two after. I've got June Baby Boy's ready to go - I just need a gift bag and a card. So I'll be making a quick run to the dollar store after work. They've always got cute stuff there.

I hope to get July Baby Boy's basted and maybe even quilted tonight. :-)

Bye bye,
QB29

Finished June Baby Boy!!

Last night I finished June Baby Boy's quilt. I took pictures but left my cable at home. I'll post them later this week when I have a chance to upload. Speaking of pictures, I also have some train ones from my nephew's quilt to upload. Hopefully I will get all those uploaded by the end of the week.

I cut all my fabrics for dad that I had. I was going for a red/brown/gold scheme, but I think some of the reds are too close too each other. I might add in some of the darker neutrals and just use the lightest neutrals for the outline/backing. I may also need to add in like a blue or a green. We'll see.

I dug through my F.Q. and found 4 that are suitable for sis's throw. I also had about 5 or 6 9" X 11" pieces that I can get some extra blocks out of to use.

I did get my labels for SBS and dad's blocks printed. I cut the SBS ones this morning and just need to finish cutting the ones for dad. To help me piece the blocks correctly, each fabric is assigned a number and each block is assigned a font. That way I'll be able to tell at a glance if everything is right. I printed off a 16 X 16 puzzle to use as my pattern.

Tonight I hope to baste, quilt, and label July baby boy. That will just leave binding to be done later this week. I also need to recolor my design for the special one year old and cut the rest of his fabric.

The rest of my "later this week" assignments are the same. :-P

All for now
~~QB29

Quilting Life This Week

I'll be pretty busy this week, but I hope to squeeze in a lot of quilting. Each evening this week I've got at least a two hour commitment (class/church/platelets) which will limit my sewing and quilting time. But I am trying to look at each project in baby steps (go FLYlady!) For June baby boy I just need to finish binding the quilt and then label it. I've decided on my "baby quilt label" -

A special baby, sent from Heaven above,
An answer to prayer, given in love,
A gift to be treasured, welcomed with love.

Made for _________ by __________ on (month year).
"Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord." Psalm 127:3a

So tonight I plan on getting that taken care of for June baby boy.

I also need to finish cutting the fabrics for my dad and label each one. His quilt is a sudoku style quilt. I still need two more fabrics for the blocks - I've currently got 14 but I'm doing a 16 X 16 version. One of the fabrics I'll actually get yardage out of so I can have a matching border. I may need to pick up some more neutral as well. I'm trying to decide if I should do a quilt as I go method, so I would have a 4 X 4 pieced back + borders, rather than just quilting after the top is finished. That idea is attractive to me, as I want to learn the method. Doing so would kill two birds with one stone so to speak.


Later this week I plan on:
1. basting/quilting/binding/labeling July baby boy quilt (the 1930's blue/yellow top)
2. piecing and basting the train quilt for the special 1 year old.
3. piecing a yellow-brick road girl's baby quilt for my preacher's little one due in Oct. I did all the cutting I could do before sewing last night.
4. cutting & piecing all the SBS blocks I've got fabric for (I think about 6 or 7 more - I need fabric for just one set I think)
5. Labeling and adding signature blocks to all my SBS blocks. I'll need 50 total.
6. Shopping!!!! Always a fun time. I need backing for the train quilt. I also need all the fabric for that little boy's new baby brother. I need to pick up a little bit for the SBS blocks. I also need to get the coordinating F.Q. that match Beth's fabric for her pillows. I think one or two from my stash will work out. Luckily the store closest to me is having a 30% off sale.
7. Washing and pressing all my new fabric.
8. Basting throw for mom. She's hinting that someone could make her a quilt. Well, won't she be surprised when she doesn't get it for her birthday. Hee, hee, hee. I want to give her the placemats for her birthday so she can actually use them this holiday season.

So I've got a busy week coming up!!!! Not to mention 12 hours of tax classes. :-D. Gotta love the off season. Luckily Saturday is the "All Night Quilt" at the store here in town, so I'll have some time to work.

Next Saturday we're going to see the cousins ... and you know what that means ... even more shopping ... the Fabric Shack :-).

All for now,
~~QB29

Sew-sew weekend

I had a sew-sew weekend. I ended up being lazy Friday so I really got nothing done. I finished knotting Bubby's quilt and gave it to him on Sunday. Sis was able to change plans with his daddy so I could see him :-D. He took his afternoon nap with it, so I'm hoping he likes it, lol. You never know with a nine month old.

This week I really need to get the 1930's blue/yellow baby quilt basted and quilted. July baby boy was due this weekend. I also need to get the top pieced for the special one year old. I still need to buy fabric for his new baby brother. I'm not sure what I'll do. A store in town here is having a 30% off sale Saturday so I'll decide in the store. I still need to finish June baby boy. I did work some on the binding, but I need to finish that as well as add a label. That I need to do tonight or tomorrow so I can leave it at church on Wednesday.

Saturday is the "all-night quilt" thing at another store here in town. I'm looking forward to it. This week I hope to get several things prepped to work on at it - the 1930's quilt to the binding stage, the special boy basted, the new baby brother cut. That will give me a quilt to bind, one to quilt, and another to piece on Saturday. That should keep me busy for a few hours :-).

Sis did pick out some fabric for her pillows. I hope to get coordinating prints to do a throw for Christmas. The pillows will be for bday.

Well, all for now
~~QB29

Worked on Swap Blocks!

Last night I finished two sets of my SBS swap blocks. Just eight more to go! Tonight is a free night for me so I plan on getting two to four more sets finished. I also plan on basting July baby boy tonight, machine quilting, and attaching the binding to the front. That will give me two quilts to bind/knot loose threads while away from my sewing machine on Sunday. Saturday is the all-day tourney for softball so I will be manning the concession stand all day long. No quilting/sewing for me :-(.

I won't get to see Bubby after all. He's already promised to his daddy and other grandma for the day. But sis said she'd be able to get together with me to go fabric shopping. I'll just have to give her the train quilt instead of giving it to Bubby (like he knows yet what to do with a quilt - the little guy will just be 9 months this weekend).

I signed up for the pillow class, but the supply list was not ready. The lady teaching the class is out of town 'til next week so I have to call on Wednesday to get it. I liked the sample pillow. I'll have Beth pick out some fabrics and just do some patchwork pillows for her. If I can find a similar/coordinating print I will make her one of the class ones. Who knows, I may be able to get enough extra fabric/coordinating prints to make her a throw for Christmas. That's an idea.

Since I won't see June baby boy until Wednesday I'm not worried about finishing his quilt tonight.

I did look into the rag quilt class that I thought was interesting, but it's a flannel/home spun type of quilt, which is not what I was wanting. Oh, well. The sampler class looks interesting, but it's $270!!!!!! You meet 1 on 1 with an instructor for your first session. After that you meet the first Thursday evening or the first Saturday morning of each month. Class time is devoted to discussing problems/issues/techniques. You hand-piece one or two blocks a month. You can finish in a year if you do two blocks a month. You pay $90 when you sign up. At that time you get 15 yards of fabric, which is enough to do a queen size quilt. Then after you finish the first 8 blocks, you pay the next $90. You pay the final $90 after finishing 16 blocks. So I will either be paying $90 every four months or every eight months. I'm thinking about it. It was a lot more than I expected it to be.

Well, I guess that's all my updates.

~~QB29

Not really about Qullting

VBS has been going well. We had about 48 girls ages 5 - 8 last night for crafts. They liked doing the frames. They had to decorate the foam frames with foam stickers and use an additional sticker to adhere the ribbon on the back for hanging. Each girl got a picture of the race car to put in the frame.

I did not get home until late last night so I got nothing done. I noticed last night in the car how the seatbelt hits R in the ear so I purchased two boosters seats after dropping them off so both R and F will have one to use in my car. After I got home I had to switch the car seat to the middle and put both boosters together and put in my car. I'm not sure if it will work or not. There's practically no space for a little hand to buckle :-(. F may just have to ride in the middle where there is only a lap belt while R uses the booster with the shoulder harness.

I talked to mom just a bit ago and it looks like I might get to see Bubby this weekend. Sis would like me to make her pillows, but wants to pick out the fabric herself. There is a class coming up down here that I would like to take but I'll need to get together with Sis beforehand to buy the fabric. If I can do that Sunday I will be very prepared for the class.

Since there are no crafts tonight I should have some time to work on the quilt for Little June Baby boy. I saw him last night as his momma was dropping off big brother for VBS. He's a cute little guy :-).

All for now,
~QB29

Binding Done!!!!

I finished the binding on the Train Quilt last night!!!!! Knotting it off will be my downtime tonight!!!

VBS went well. We had about 30 girls ages 5 - 8 for crafts. Two other ladies and I are doing that age group. Last night we had them make American flags out of construction paper and stickers. They liked it. Tonight they will be making book marks. We will have stickers and colored pencils/crayons/markers for them to decorate them. We also will have eyelets to use to make the hole and ribbon to tie on them. MJ is printing off the Bible verses for the week in several different fonts for the girls to glue on the book mark.

Tomorrow night we will do foam photo frames. I made 28 last week, but it looks like I will need another 10 or 15 more. I've got the supplies at home to make another 30. I will make enough tonight plus 10 for the number of girls we've got tonight. They will be putting foam stickers on the frames. Then we will hole-punch the frame and add a ribbon for them to be able to hang the frames on their wall. We are printing off a picture of Bro. D and the race car for each girl to put in the frame. BTW - it is a race car theme. Depending on how tonight goes I may have to stop and buy some more foamies. I may also buy some markers or other stuff to make it last longer. Craft time is about 30 minutes.

Back to quilting. My registration is in the mail for the camp in the fall. Four whole days of nothing but quilting (okay, eating too) - what a wonderful trip :-). I also called and found out about the all-night quilting a local store does. The third Sat. of each month they meet about when the shop is closing (3 - 4pm) and quilt until late. They take a break around 7 or so for supper. What fun!!! It's on my calendar. If it's a friendly group I'll plan on going every month :-D.

Tonight I plan on knotting off the train quilt. If I have time I'll start on the binding on Paddington. I'm having J and the kids over for supper before VBS so I won't have time to work on quilts between work and VBS, but that's okay :-D.

All for now,
QB29

Got some stuff done!

Well, I got some stuff done over the weekend. Only 1 more softball weekend and then we're done until the fall :-). I'll get my Saturday's back!!!!! Which means more quilting!!!!!!

Let's see, despite being at the ball fields about 6 hours, I did piece and quilt the Paddington Bear quilt for June baby boy. As long as I take my time basting and keep the layers smooth and tight, it turns out good! I've got the binding attached and just need to hand finish it. I also need to label that quilt still. Train quilt for my nephew still needs to knotted off and the binding finished. I've got both of those quilts with me, along with thread, needles, and scissors to work on this afternoon and tonight when I've got down time. VBS starts tonight so I probably won't get much accomplished quilt-wise.

I also frog stitched the yellow and blue 1930's baby quilt I started a few years ago. It was my very first attempted at machine quilting (way before my walking foot). I never finished it because I did not like how the quilting turned out. Now it's ready to be basted again. I rinsed out the top and backing to help the stitching lines disappear. I've got it piled on my quilt frame - along with the purple and white quilt and a cowboy themed quilt. Both of those I started by hand awhile ago and plan to finish this summer for two upcoming babies. The purple and white one will go to an Oct. girl while the cowboy one will either be an extra or will go to a Jan. baby if it's a boy. The dad's into cowboy stuff.

Besides finishing the Paddington Bear Quilt and the Train quilt for my nephew, I hope to get the yellow/blue baby quilt re-quilted and finished. That baby is due this week. After that, the next two quilts I plan to work on are train quilt #2 and green/black/yellow animal quilt. They are for a set of brothers. The younger one is also due anytime now. He gets the animal quilt. Big brother is just over a year. He gets the trains.

As for as non-baby quilts, I need to work on my Sylvia's Bridal Sampler swap blocks. I got the blue fabric washed and picked out for all but one block. I will need to stop by the store to pick up a white background though. Tonight, if I remember, I'll measure how much I need of it. I'm doing 10 sets of 6 plus 1 extra. That gives me 5 of each to swap, 1 of each to keep, and an extra for the author's quilt. I also need to check on the label directions and pick up fabric for that.

So that's the rest of my July. Finish three baby quilts, start two more, and make 61 6" SBS blocks.

~~QB29