The Second Donation Block

As promised here is the second block. While the other block was entirely paper pieced this one is both paper pieced (the star points) and regular piecing (the 4-patches). Since the last block just barely measured 12 1/2 inches, and that was with adding an extra 1/8 inch - for this block I figured I would just automatically add the 1/8th. Well that was a mistake. I ended up having to rip the whole thing apart and re-trim all the blocks. When I did put it all back together I didn't even have to trim it - it came out a perfect 12 1/2 inches.

I have quite a few upcoming quilting deadlines so I got organized this weekend and posted the Quilting Deadlines list on the door in the sewing room. This block was at the top of the list so now I can cross it off - (it is such a great feeling to do that). Next on the list is getting ready to teach a workshop on Fabric Postcards for the guild on March 1st. I want to come up with a couple simple patterns that can be used, and maybe some cards in different stages of construction as examples in the process.

Dad's Famous Quilt

OK, famous may be overstating it. But the first quilt I made for dad (the one he gave back), along with 2 other smaller quilted pieces are now on display at the Plattsburgh Public library. You do not need to take my word for it - it was featured in another blog! Check it out at: http://writog.blogspot.com/2010/02/gallery-sews-up-space-for-textile.html

Sue Donohue who is featured in the blog article is the one coordinating the quilt displays that have been hosted by the library for the past year. This will be the final quilt display - they should be up for a couple months.

Donation Block

Actually got a block constructed this weekend - I know, I am as shocked as you are. It seems like forever since I sat down and sewed, let along finished something.

This is what I would consider a mega-block that is actually made up of 4 smaller individual blocks. These were paper-pieced. I need to do one other block for this project. Both blocks will be going to a quilt to be raffled off. Our small quilting group is all putting in a couple of blocks to make the quilt. The blocks will all be color coordinated using a variety of the teals, beiges, and browns.

From Mess to Disaster and Back Again

I usually like to include a picture with my blog posts, but as you can see from this week's title it wouldn't be a pretty picture. Officially I am "organizing" things, but the process of organizing involves first taking everything out and apart and only putting back what really should be there. I have been organizing since the week of Christmas and have completed the pantry, the built-in in the dining room and the upstairs storage closet. I Freecycled a few things but still need to do a few more.

The real disaster is the office/sewing room. I have been using it as the temporary storage place for everything that got displaced from all the other organizing projects. On top of that Damon bought me some new storage cubes/shelves for the sewing room and I finally got around to putting them together today. But of course I needed to figure out where to put them. So the room is in shambles, file cabinets have been moved. All the stuff stuffed in the corners need new places to be. For about half the day the upstairs hallway was impassable with chairs and boxes to make room for all the re-arranging in the room.

Things are still a mess. But as of right now the mess is back to being contained in the sewing room.

Getting Back in the Groove

The 'girls' were over on Saturday for our monthly quilting get together. And even though I was pretty busy playing hostess I did manage to start experimenting with English Paper Piecing. I used pre-made card-stock templates and fabric from my scrap pile. The fabric is pressed around the template, then baste stitched, then hand sewn together. This first attempt was successful! While I have seen quilts made entirely from these blocks, my intention is to make a few of these flower shapes and hand-applique them onto a quilt or wall hanging.

For a variety of reasons the sewing room has accumulated all the shifting 'stuff' around the house that I am working on sorting and organizing. And at this point all the actual sewing areas are not accessible. Since I set up a table in the living room for the Saturday of sewing with the girls I figured I would see if my old back-up machine was still in working order and try to get one of the New York Beauty blocks done. (I am waiting to see how long it takes Damon to say something about the quiting stuff taking over the house). The block was about 1/3 done and was all laid out on a cutting board so it was taking up a bit of room itself. Now that the block is done I was able to pack it away with its siblings. I did a quick count - I am up to 35 NYB blocks.

Post-Christmas Cold

By 'cold' I mean it in both senses of the word. Our high temperature yesterday as 3 degrees Fahrenheit.

My lofty goals for the winter break of cleaning and organizing all the closets (one per day) and quilting a full-size quilt was waylaid by a head cold. I am back on track today. I did manage to spray-baste the quilt the other day and started quilting today. I am using 3 sizes of star shaped cookie cutters and tracing them onto the quilt as part of the free-motion pattern and joining them with swirls and loops.

Damon's mom Pat creates an original Christmas ornament every year for everyone in the family. This is this year's ornament - a hand-sewn felted wool dove.

Holiday Decorating with Quilts

I don't usually keep many of the quilts I make but I do tend to keep those I can decorate with during the holidays. Here is the hand-applique Hawaiian quilt hanging in the dining room.


There is also the compass star piece on the dining room table.

The first thing I made that was a holiday decoration was the wool holly wreath. It was hand-sewn with blanket and running stitches using pearl cotton. The red 'berries' are buttons.