Quilting a Little, Dreaming a Lot

It's been so long since I posted to this blog.  I have been quilting,  My problem is I start a lot of projects but never seem to finish them.  I guess I'm the queen of UFO's.  I love to take classes, but if I don't finish it at the class, then I get busy with something else.  The class project sits in its special box with all the other special projects.

 I gave this quilt from the other half of the blocks from the Picture Frame quilt to our new granddaughter, Meagan Renae shortly after her birth in early July 2012.  Her big sister liked it so much, she wanted a quilt of her own.  I let her choose from all the quilt tops I had completed.  Of course, she chose the one I had already promised to one of my former students.  I ended up piecing her a quilt with very similar fabrics and the same pattern:  Split Rail Fence.  Now I have to decide whether I give it to Bekka for Christmas, her birthday, or graduation.  I guess it will depend on when I finish quilting it.

Our grandson, Vic is currently in law school in San Antonio.  His fiance has taken a job teaching in Victoria, where they will be married in January.  It seems like they'll be living apart until he finishes law school, so I decided to make them 2 wedding quilts.  When I texted to ask him their favorite colors, he said his was #382 clear.  He has a great sense of humor, but not very helpful.  Later texts provided better information so I could make a plan.  I thought a Courthouse Square pattern would be good for him, but there is also a block called the Lawyer's Block.  For her, I'm debating either a quilt made from Sarah's Block or a Friendship Album block that guests can sign at the wedding.

Frustration was Unanimous

Went to my final Swirly Girl Michael Miller Clubhouse meeting yesterday.  There were about 8 of us there and none of us had our quilt completed thus far.  We all stopped at the same point:  when Michael Miller kept sending white polka dot on off white fabric rather than the white on white we had begun our quilts with.  I chose the red, white and blue Casino version of the quilt.  I love the pattern and especially the bonus projects.  But it has been frustrating for two years, with not getting the fabric on time or Michael Miller sending the wrong fabric (usually the white).  I bought the white barb wire fabric from this year's Quilt Across Texas and I plan on substituting that for the white on white polka dot fabric.  I hope to get it done in the next month or two, because I want to put it on my guest bed.

We had a good time anyway.  Bonnie auctioned off various items that we bought with our Clubhouse dollars.  I managed to get a "Relax" pillow and 2 sets of 5 inch squares.  We also each got a Swirly Girls Design pattern, Brickworks.  It's a fabulous pattern.  I haven't made it yet, but I plan to soon.  I have made their Perfect Ten quilt and it was a breeze to put together.  I used black and white layer cakes, with pops of bright solids for sashing and borders.

Perfect Ten ~ pattern by Swirly Girls Design

 

 

 

 I still need to add the borders which will be piano keys using up the remnants of the brights.

Just J: Ring Toss by Swirly Girls

Just J: Ring Toss by Swirly Girls

Ring Toss by Swirly Girls

Today I attended a class at Quilter's Emporium taught by Rose Ann Cook on the Ring Toss pattern designed by the Swirly Girls using the Creative Grids Circle Savvy Ruler.  It is a wonderful ruler and so easy to use.  You can cut any size circle from 3" to 15 1/2 " easily.  Quilter's Emporium has both the pattern and the ruler available.

I pulled fabrics from my stash to use.  I wanted it to be bright and cheery.  I haven't decided on the final layout yet, but here are some of the layouts I've tried so far.  We cut 3 different sizes of circles.  I could just arrange them the way the Swirly Girls did on the pattern, but I never follow a pattern exactly.  I like to put my own stamp on any project I do.  I'll leave it up on my design wall for awhile and see what ultimately appeals to me (and my design consultant /husband).  He likes the second layout better because he says each of the 3 circles of the same fabric form a triangle.  He is a very linear person to the extent that he uses a level, a yardstick and a string to trim our box hedges.  Our box hedges truly look like boxes.

Traffic was horrible today.  I guess everyone was going home from Thanksgiving and back to college.  The lead car in both lanes was of course going 5-10 miles under the speed limit so I just sat back and listen to my Spenser novel on cd.  Listening to books keeps me much more alert than listening to the radio.  Another secret I've discovered is that eating an apple keeps you more alert and awake than either water or caffeine.  

Have a wonderful last Monday of November!
 

Thoughts on life

Why did car manufacturers move the bright/dim headlight switch off the floor?  If they had to move it to the steering column, couldn't they at least have put it in a standard place?  My husband and I have cars from the same auto maker, yet the switch for the headlights is in a different place in both cars.

Why do people think it's effective to use a leaf blower to blow the grass clippings and leaves out of their own yard and onto the street or into a neighbor's yard?  Don't they get it that God is just going to send a wind to blow them right back in their yard.  Further, why can't they rake them up, it's much quieter.  Does anyone else get annoyed when they are woken up early Sunday morning (the only day I can sleep in) by a loud leaf blower?

And the most important question, Why don't I go to bed at a reasonable hour at night?

Placemats

I found some fabulous fabric on the Quilt Across Texas shop hop.  Unfortunately, I can't remember which shop I got it at.  Fortunately, I bought enough fabric to make six placemats for my friend.  Her birthday is the week before Christmas and it's difficult to think of a non-Christmasy gift to give to her for her birthday.  She loves brown and turquoice/teal though so I think she'll like these placemats.  Here's a close-up of the fabrics I used.  It's a quilt as you go project that I learned at the Cedar Chest.  I just have to bind them and they'll be done.

I'm also making two sets of Christmas placemats and a tablerunner using the same technique.  I've just barely started them although I do have all the strips, backings, batting and bindings cut.

UFO Pajama Party

Saturday I attended the UFO Pajama party at Quilter's Emporium.  I stayed up until 2 the night before cutting my strips so I could work on the placemats I'm making for Christmas and birthday gifts.  I was lucky to quilt with two of my quilting friends who I hadn't seen since the last UFO party months ago.  I finished one set of 6 placemats and started two strips on six other Christmas placemats.  My two friends were working on a 6 month mystery quilt from Quilter's Emporium.  I sewed until midnight then drove to a nearby hotel for the night.  I always sleep good in that hotel.  Hubby and I hit the road for home around 8:00.

Sunday, I unloaded the shopping from the car, had a restroom break,  took my vitamins, then I was ready to speed off to my friend Ginni's house for our joint quilt project.  It's so much more fun sewing with a friend.  I'm a former Yankee autumn leaf expert and she is the Queen of Quilting Bling so we had some discussions about fabrics for the leaves.  We both think it will turn out beautiful anyway. This is my first time to use Thangles for 1/2 square triangles.  I think next time I will cut the strips just a little wider than the instructions call for to allow for possible sliding of the paper.

International Intrigue Mystery Quilt

I can't wait to have three days of school off for Thanksgiving.  I should be able to get a lot of quilting (or organize my sewing room) done.  Ginni and I will get together one day too while my husband is driving the band to the playoff game.  My class and I will be making posters for two of the players tomorrow.  Last week we wrote them cards of encouragement.

I did finish a mystery quilt this summer.  I did it in red, black and white batiks.  I can't wait to get it quilted, although I haven't decided what to do with it yet.

Yes, I'm back again.  I haven't been quilting as much as I could the past couple years.  I've started lots of projects, but have not completely finished them.

UFO's as of Thanksgiving, 2012:
1.  Swirly Girls Clubhouse 2011 quilt and bonus projects

2012 Swirly Girls Clubhouse

2.  Swirly Girls Clubhouse 2012 1/2 quilt and 1/2 of bonus projects
3.  Square in a Square class quilt 







4.  Summer Solstice by Judy Neimeyer - have all parts pieced but need to put the pieces together.
5.  Big Ten - by Swirly Girl strip club project (black & white & primary colors)
6.  Hunter's Star red and blue wall hanging for guest room - need to quilt and bind
7.  Fall wall hanging - beginning quilting class project - need to quilt and bind

Paper Pieced Stars

8.  Fall star paper piecing - need to quilt and bind
9.  Blue and white table runner - need to quilt and bind

Table runner

Ricebird Rising

10. Ricebird Rising - modified Drunkard Path - need to finish 3/4 of blocks

11. Christmas block of week - 1/2 blocks need pieced

Christmas Block of Week

Summer Lovin' Block of Week

12. Summer Loving block of week - 1/2 blocks need pieced
13. Red white blue table runner from Vermont quilt class - put halves together, quilt & bind
14. Irish Mist quilt - finish piecing

LeMoyne House block in batiks

15. Carolina Lily quilt - finish piecing - Paula Barnes class

16. LeMoyne House quilt - finish piecing - Paula Barnes class







I am also making 3 sets of quilt as you go placemats for Christmas gifts.  I will get them done before Christmas.  The patterns says to use 1.5 inch strips but I think it's more interesting with different width of strips so that's what I'm doing.

I'm also making a Thangles Autumn quilt with a friend.  We've worked on it for two Sundays now.  We've got the big leaves "thangled" and assembled but still need to do the small leaves and borders.  We hope to donate it to a local charity.

Somebody Moved My Cheese

I had a principal a few years ago who in an effort to get our faculty to embrace change, read us a book during inservice about mice in a maze trying to find their cheese.  The principal has moved on to bigger and better things but her legacy remains.  Whenever anyone on our campus faces an unanticipated change, we joke about who moved our cheese.  Well this time, my cheese is being moved.

I started my teaching career 23 years ago teaching kindergarten.  After teaching for 3 years, I decided to get my Masters degree in early childhood so I would be a better kindergarten teacher.  I was two classes away from finishing when my then principal decided to move me to 1st grade.

I did not want to change grades, but once there I LOVED teaching first grade.  First graders could already tie their shoes, knew how to go to the bathroom, and were so able to be challenged.  I happily taught first grade for 13 years before beginning to feel burnt out.

Just in time, a new challenge came when I was asked to teach a computer program to both Kg and 1st grade.  It's been a very busy and challenging position, but with no papers to grade or lesson plans to do, I finally had spare time to begin my life-long dream of learning to make quilts.  Then, as the result of budget cuts, my cheese has been moved again.

Next year, my 24th, I will begin a new journey as a Pre-K teacher.  My first reaction, was NO!!!!  I didn't want to have to bend over that far, sit in those itty bitty chairs again, and I gave all my Kg. teaching materials away.  But 10 minutes later, all the positives came flooding to my brain.  I still will have no papers to grade or standardized testing to do, my fellow Pre-K teachers are the sweetest women in the world, I will have a bathroom in my classroom, and four-year olds are still sweet, loving and eager to learn.  And............. I'll still have spare time after school to quilt.

But what really convinced me that this is God's plan for me, was when I looked on the back of the teaching materials that a retiring teacher friend gave to me.  She was the teacher across the hall from me when I started teaching Kg., my next-door neighbor my last year in Kg., and has remained a close friend ever since.  On the back of most of the posters, books, games, etc. that she gave me, is written my name, in my handwriting.  Life really is a circle of love.

So, somebody moved my cheese.  But I'll find it in August, and with it a rediscovery of the joy of teaching.

Boot Scootin' Boogie

I dropped two western baby quilts off for the long-armer two weeks ago.  Boot Scootin' Boogie was a pattern from a 2005 issure of Fons & Porter Love of Quilting.  Quilters Emporium got permission from the original designer to teach it as a class.  I had fun raiding my stash for all the different fabrics.  I added an extra border to the original pattern to make the boot blocks stand out more,  This is one of my favorite boots on the left.  I also had to have an Aggie boot as both mom and dad are Texas A&M graduates.

I had so many piano key strips left from the outer border of the first quilt that I decided to make a second quilt for a boy about to be born.  It was a pain to remove all the pink cowgirl fabrics and Aggie squares, but well worth it in the end.  This quilt is going to a baby from a family who are avid University of Texas Longhorn fans.

Baby Quilt Delivered

Well I finally finished a baby quilt in its entirety and delivered it to the intended baby.  My "ugly" quilt turned out much better than expected and mother and baby loved it.  Little SSJ played on it last night and mom reported that she loved exploring all the different patterns. 

The original pattern was Picture Frames by Cozy Quilt Patterns.  It was a strip club project, but the two different blocks together with the wild fabric was just too busy for me.  So I ended up putting sashing between each type of block and making two different quilts.

The second quilt is waiting for binding and a recipient.  I just have to decide who to give it to. 

Kindle kills quilting

I haven't sewn much lately or posted to my blog because my Kindle seduces me with another and another and another story to read.  I thought I was addicted to reading before.  But now that I can download in seconds, I'm discovering even more wonderful books and authors.  And renewing my acquaintance with all the different genres I used to enjoy.

I did manage to finish piecing my cowboy boot quilt.  I'll share pictures later.

Bright Baby Quilt

Here's the baby quilt I finished last week.  I started it last June while I was in Ohio babysitting my great nephew and niece.  They went to the quilt store and helped me pick out the border and backing.  It turned out really bright!

They may join us (with their parents) in Florida this summer so maybe they'll help me pick out more fabric.  Christopher's mom told me that he has already made his first quilt - one of those you sew together and let the seams fray.  He's in 2nd grade this year and his grandma also sews a lot.

Michael Miller Clubhouse update

I finally got started on my Michael Miller Clubhouse projects this week. I missed the first two meetings because I was teaching Saturday School.  Last month I got all my pieces cut out at the meeting, but didn't have time to sew them as my husband was impatiently waiting to go see a movie. 

This week I cut out the pieces for months 1 and 2.  I chain pieced parts of the bonus for month 1 and the pieces for months 2 and 3.  Then I would take them to school and pin for the next step on my lunch hour.    I finished the Month 1 bonus pillowtop Monday and the center medallian and 4 corner stars from Month 1 on Wednesday.

Today I finished the Month 2 corner squares.  I still need to cut pieces for Months 2 and 3 bonus projects, and quilt the bonus pillow top.  I usually have 15 or 20 minutes before school in the morning too, where I can press a part or chain piece something.  Tonight I sewed the half square triangles for Month 3.

  

Sunday Successes

   It was a beautiful day to drive to Houston for my quilt class.  Max at Quilter's Emporium did a wonderful job introducing the Irish Mist quilt from The Quilt Branch.  I went through my stash yesterday and pulled out all the greens I had at least 1/2 yard of.  I had enough for all my blocks except for the 3 borders and my light fabric.  I thought for once I was going to make a quilt without any purple in it, but it is not to be.  I found a beautiful fabric - "Iridescence" designed by Linda M. Poole for Avlyn.  It had just the faintest lavender hearts in it, so I chose a deeper purple to make the one inch middle border.
    We made the flying geese blocks using Stitching Lines from Marin & Colusa.  You use one big square and 4 small squares and sew on the stitching line paper to make 4 flying geese blocks at a time.  It was incredibly easy and no wasted fabric.   All mine came out nearly perfect.  The class continues next week.  For homework I need to cut out the rest of my fabric, and sew steps 1 through 12.  There are 58 steps in this quilt so I doubt I'll finish next week.
     I've got two more baby quilts to finish this week.  I also need to get started on my strip club project and the first three months of the Michael Miller Clubhouse.  April will be the last Clubhouse and Strip Club I'll be able to attend until July due to school commitments.

Super Saturday

It's been an eventful day!  I started out the morning with Saturday School.  I run the computer lab with a wonderful program called Waterford.  It has both Math and Reading and the students love it.  It teaches the kids and gives them a chance to practice.  The science and Math components have fabulous pictures and information.  We had a pretty full crowd today.

When I got done at noon I ran to the Cedar Chest to see if they had the fabric I needed to complete my quilt back.  Unfortunately, I hadn't bought it there so I ended up going to Plan B and C and D.  Always before I've used just one fabric for my backing.  But I've seen so many fabulous backs at Quilter's Emporium's Strip Club show and tell, that I was inspired to try something different this time.  I used my leftover blocks.  I didn't have enough fabric to do it the way I originally intended so I spent an awful lot of time "thinking". 

After my fruitless trip to the quilt shop, I picked up my hubby and we made a trip to the recycling center with all my shredding and cardboard and plastic bottles collected from school and home.  Then I treated him to some good Texas barbeque at Mikeska's for lunch.  We saw an elderly woman there with her family who had sprung her for the day from the local nursing home.  I hope when I get old(er) and start forgetting things that my friends and family don't talk about me as if I'm not even there, or ask me a question and not give me a chance to answer.  Don't ask me if I know who you are.  I'll feel sad enough already that I don't remember who you are.  Talk to me, not at me or around me.

backing for baby quilt #2

I finished the one backing for my baby quilt after that and got another one up on my design wall ready to sew.  Here's the backing I finished today.  I hope to get the two baby quilts I have done to the long-armer tomorrow.

I'm taking an Irish Mist quilt class from Max at QE tomorrow and next Sunday.  It's from the book Six Halves Make a Whole Lot More from The Quilt Branch.

I'm also excited because I finally have my first follower, my friend/sister Renae from Nebraska.  We became friends back at church camp in our teens.  Our friendship has survived her moving from PA to NB my senior year of high school, my moving to Texas after college, and many years of separation.  We were in each others weddings, then didn't see each other again for 22 years until the summer before last.  She is still the beautiful, bubbly girl with the kindest heart, and deepest faith that I met almost 37 years ago.

Bali Rail Fence

I finished my Bali Pops Rail Fence quilt from a class I took over Spring Break at the Cedar Chest quilt class.  I love how it turned out, so colorful!  Purples and blues and pinks and greens, oh my!  I used two sets of Bali Pops.  I had sixteen blocks left over so will make a table runner to practice my machine quilting skills on before I attempt the larger quilt.  My friend, Neta helped me arrange the blocks tonight during a break at Family Literacy. 

Spring Break Fun

I got a lot of quilting done over Spring Break.  After finishing my two baby quilts, I loaded up my bag full of all the quilting projects I worked on in 2010 and drove to Austin to visit my friend Mary.  I had started a Christmas Cactus pillow for her for Christmas and finally finished the back of it on Tuesday evening.  She loved it and kept holding it the whole day while we caught up on everything since last we visited two years ago.  She is my biggest fan for my quilting.  When I saw this pattern in McCall's online bonuses it just shouted her name.  She moved to near Taos, New Mexico after retirement and is an artist herself.  I really miss her!  She is also my Harry Potter buddy.


Thursday my friend came over and helped to start to organize my quilt room.  My husband also put in another shelf in my closet.  I got a lot of my stash folded  neatly and put away.  I plan to work on it a little each day until I have my whole stash organized.  Then maybe I can find the fabric I'm looking for when I have a project to do.  I bought some new archive quality photo storage boxes to use for my fat quarters too. 

Friday I took a split rail fence class from Taylor Phillips at the Cedar Chest in El Campo.  I took the class so I could try to get to know other local quilters, but unfortunately I was the only one in the class.  I had fun sewing all day and visiting with Taylor and Ginni from the shop.  I got all my strips pieced and cut into blocks at the shop.  Ginni and I made tentative plans to meet at the shop some Saturdays and work on the blocks from The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt book.

Saturday and today I worked on finishing my split rail fence quilt.  I used two sets of Bali Pops.  I have 12 out of 14 rows done.  I'll post a picture when I finish.

2nd quilt done

baby quilt 2

baby quilt 1

I finished my second quilt with my self-titled "ugly" block late Friday night.  Took both quilts to show and tell at Strip Club at Quilter's Emporium.  Now I just have to put together the backing and decide whether to quilt them myself or give to the long-armer.

Two members brought old quilt tops that their grandmothers had pieced.  They were beautiful and unique.  One was a T block the other two were unknown patterns.

This month's strip project looked quite uninteresting when merely viewing the bolts of pale batiks.  But once Max added a textured, interesting black accent fabric and a 6 inch wide outer border, it turned out very interesting.  The accent fabric was directional, so I don't think my skill level is up to that yet.

March strip quilt by Max

But I do have some interesting other black prints that I think will do as well.  I LOVE piecing with black!

"Ugly" quilt done

I sewed all day and finally finished my self-titled "Ugly" quilt.  Now that it's done it's not quite so ugly.  It's still not my favorite quilt that I've worked on.  I unsewed a lot of seams today where my seams didn't match, resulting from prior sewing where I didn't watch my 1/4 inch seam allowance.  I was more careful today.  I added the cornerstones because my side borders were an inch too short.

Tomorrow I will piece the backing and start on the companion quilt with the other set of blocks from the original quilt I started.