Kaleidoscope

After spending the morning at Dad's I decided to come home and really work on this quilt top. I've got all the rows put together in three sections. I plan on quilting them ala Georgia Bonesteel. Her method has you quilt the sections then attach them totally different from the quilt-as-you-go method. I've made a few other quilts this way and am looking forward to doing this one. I had thought, at first, that I would send this one out to be quilted since it's going to be mine and my quilts tend to end up in the closet as "flimsies". lol So, instead of dreading the idea of paying to have it done, dreading having to quilt it myself because it will be so big...I will quilt it in sections. I still want to add a 4" border which I have yet to purchase.

The DWR is patiently waiting for me on the living room couch. lol I WILL finish it before I begin quilting the kaleidoscope. That's the plan...

Another little project I have underway deals with the points I cut off the aforementioned kaleidoscope triangles. I can't bear to throw them away especially since they're all stacked and ready to be worked with! I plan on arranging each little kaleidoscope, each piece butted up against each other, on fusible web. I will iron it on, cut off the corners (no, I won't keep those!) then fuse the piece onto a 6" or 7" square of fabric. The one you see here is my prototype :-) I satin stitched around the triangles. I'm not sure what I'll do to make sure the center stays attached, but I'm thinking that quilting with take care of that. I didn't want to sew these pieces because it would have made it way to small for my preference.

Time to check the roast..

Thursday morning

Just a quick note to show ya'll what I worked on last night. I know, I know! I should be working on the DWR and, I am, I just needed a little break. I found this pattern in an old magazine I was browsing and just had to try it. Judy and I ran to Hobby Lobby last night for some fabric and this is what I found. Amazing to me what a little careful placement and cutting can do! I'm having a little trouble lining up my centers, but it's so busy that I think I can get away with it.

I wish I could stay home and work on these as well as the DWR today, but I gotta run! Dad's doing well, thank you, Lord!

Comfort quilt for friend

Robert calls this "Two Worlds". Joe calls it "Peppermint Squares". Jim calls it "Peppermint". I call it "A Hint of Mint". Judy and April just laugh at me. LOL Oh well... This is going to a friend's house. She is about to undergo some surgery and is having some difficult personal issues. Thanks to my QOR friends for making the blocks. I put it together, quilt-as-you-go style and tried the 3" sashings instead of the 1 3/4" front and 1 1/8" back sashings. I also added the cornerstones. It took a little longer to put together, but I like the results.

Now that this is done, I'd like to concentrate on working on Rob and April's DWR. I really would like to finish it before their first anniversary! LOL Time to go eat with Jim.

Quilting 201?

Here we are after a long afternoon of working on these quilt-as-you-go tablerunners. We started about 12 noon and finished about 8 p.m. These girls worked hard! I think they did a great job from choosing their fabrics to finishing up the runners. April even put buttons on her's! Judy hand stitched her binding while April put her's on with the machine. They learned a lot today and I am very proud of them. I think they were a bit leary at first because the pattern was a bit intimidating, especially when it looked for a minute there that I didn't know what the directions were trying to tell me! lol But, I'd made this pattern before so I knew it would work out.

While we worked, Rob and Jim played a round of golf. After they'd been home awhile, we decided we would like tacos for dinner. Rob and I ran to WalMart while the girls sewed their bindings on. Robert and Judy then proceeded to make tacos and Spanish rice. Yumm!! Thanks, guys!

Now the dining room and kitchen are back to normal and Jim and I are left wash dishes. That's ok. Most of us used paper plates. lol Rob ran a plate over to Dad. He's doing great. He and I go to Lubbock tomorrow for a checkup.

Round robin vest started

(Since I posted this last night, I have taken out the left strip of flying geese and repositioned it so it doesn't show the little bit of black next to the pink. Just in case anyone noticed. I know I did! LOL) This has been my week's project. Our local group is doing a round robin and we're constructing vests. Well, mine will hopefully become a jacket when it's all said and done. I'm not a vest person. Layering is just too much heat for me! I'll take this, along with fabric I want the ladies to use and instructions as to what I'm hoping can be done, to the meeting on Monday. I'll come home with someone else's vest that they have done the first round on. I think there are only 5 of us participating so we might be done in the next 4 months or so.

I've felt better this week so I've been able to work a little longer each day. I've been keeping busy with Scentsy,. If you haven't had a chance to look at the website, check it out! We are lovin' these warmers!!

Super Bowl Sew-In

We missed you, April! Judy and I got these two runners together in the time it took the Giants to win the game today. April had a party to attend, so she missed out on Quilting 201 today. Maybe we can catch her up next week.

The runner on the left is Judy's and mine is on the right, as they are facing you. The shiny things you see along the edges are binding clips. Thanks again, Vicky, for the clips! They sure keep my arms scratch-free unlike the pins do.

I slept until almost 9 a.m. today but I'm tired enough to go to bed right now. I think I'm still trying to get over whatever it was that hit me last week.

Customer inspired

When Vicky walked in with her Valentine runner today, I knew I had to come home and make another one myself. But, I didn't have enough of Valentine fabric, so I just pulled some of my pinks out. I'd forgotten how fast and easy these are to make.

I'm feeling better, but still get a little weak. Haven't been able to eat like I want to, (a blessing! lol) but I can tell the appetite is working it's way back.

Speaking of, I think I'll go get me a bowl of Shredded Wheat.

Feeling better - spent time in the sewing room...

I thought I'd better get the lotto blocks out of the way. We're doing this in our local group. February's blocks are hearts. I might make another one of the big heart since the four small hearts didn't line up exactly like I wanted them to.
This bib is for the new baby due in May. I wanted to continue the theme I have going with the sports quilt. I still need to put a velcro closure on it. The pattern I took this from had an Overall Bill applique on it. I substituted with the football.
The sports quilt still needs the borders sewn on and then quilted. I still have until April to finish it, but getting it done now will save me from rushing at the last minute.

It's not been a fun two days. I was sick, sick last night. Must've had a stomach bug. I went to work this morning, but left early. I didn't feel as bad today as I did yesterday, but now I'm beat. Time to go to bed.

Tissue holder site and new Scentsy!

I knew I should've posted the site for the Tissue holder,. So sorry about that. I just get lazy and forget how to do the linking, but thanks to
Linda, I can always go back and figure it out. Thanks, again, Linda! Except for that little comma...

Thanks to all who have visited my site. Another link I'd like to add is my new Scentsy, site. These are flameless candles. Actually, they are warmers with a bulb in the bottom of the unit, a little bowl on top where you melt the Scentsy bars. And, oh, what marvelous scents we have! When Rob and April gave me this little treasure for Christmas, I KNEW I was going to have to sell them. I'm not a salesperson, so for me to tell you that this is absolutely one great product ~ well, let's just say that I don't usually go gaa-gaa over things, but Scentsy is different! Please drop me a line at vgoff@suddenlink.net for more information.

Back to quilting...

Sunday Morning musings

I've taken a little break from cutting scraps. A girl can't live on scraps, alone! lol So, Judy and I have begun thinking about baby shower quilts for our niece and will be working on those. Mine is going to be the rail fence quilt you see started here. There will be appliqued sports balls on it before it's done. It's going to be a boy!

I've also been asked to make more tissue holders. This is a picture of the tissue holder that one of my QOR sisters sent us a link for. It actually makes up a lot faster than the ones I made at Christmas, and, they have an extra little pocket (for mad money?) and a flap. Everyone that has seen them seem to think the flap needs some kind of velcro closure, but I think that when you need a tissue, you don't need to fumble with a clasp! lol

Before I forget, I need to thank Mary C. for bringing the quilt tops to me yesterday. I think, if it's alright with you, Mary, that I'll take them over to the Senior Center and let them work on them. They are way heavy! That's what happens when you make them out of the single and double knits. I would cut them in half and make four lap robes... Now, the other piece you brought me that had some quilting on it, I have decided to take the stitches out and use both pieces as backs for the comfort quilts. I can see why they decided not to continue quilting. You can't see the design from either the front or the back! Too much work not to be able to enjoy seeing the fruits of your labor, I think. But, the fabrics are wonderful and already pieced big enough for two quilt backs, or linings, as some would call them.

Now that I've taken a break from cutting scraps, it's time to cut a few more.

Scrap update

Just to keep me on my toes, I'm going to post my progress with my scraps. As you can see, the pile has diminished, somewhat from the previous post. I'm working on 3 piles of squares and rectangles that represent the 3 quilts Judy, April and I will make with these scraps. I only need 100 more squares in each pile and, Lord only knows how many more rectangles! LOL Probably about 200 each. Then, I need to cut a whole bunch (like 1144) of 2" squares along with (143) 3 1/2" squares of the cream colored fabric! That's per quilt! Judy and April will have to come help me cut those. I think I need to buy more of the cream-on-cream or cream-on-white fabric. Don't have much of that in the pile. I've enjoyed watching the pile disappear and become something usable.
It's nearly midnight so I will close for the night. Waiting to see if the weather turns as bad as they've said it will...

Another beautiful Sunday

Outstide, anyway! My sewing room is still a mess, but I have finally undertaken the job of weeding out my scraps. I've decided that my students (Judy and April) and I need to make this quilt. So, I will cut my medium to dark scraps into 5 1/2" squares and 5 1/2" x 3 1/2" strips. I'll need to buy the light fabric, unless I find I have enough scraps for that, too. I imagine I have enough scraps for each of us to make a quilt, and then some. I told them this will be our year-long project. It's not a hard pattern. I think the most time-consuming aspect of it will be the actual cutting of the scraps. But, now that I have a quilt in mind, I am psyched!

Here is one pile of scraps. I know, I know! What a mess. This pile doesn't look as bad right now since I've rearranged the scraps to be a little more controlled. lol yeah, right! This picture was taken a few months ago, so the pile is actually a bit taller now but not so scattered. But, remember, there are at least two more piles almost this big!
Alrighty! Here are the first piles of the scraps that have been cut. These two piles represent only about half of the amount of squares and strips needed for one quilt. If I come in here and cut for about 15 min. at a time, I should be able to get all the scraps, okay, most of them, cut in about a month. LOL Oh, I'm also cutting 2 1/2" strips because I really enjoy doing scrappy bindings. And, I've got a pile of 2" strips just in case I have a mind to work on some Log Cabins.

I've been doing all this while waiting for April to text me with news about how Rob is doing. He's been having some back pain, radiating to the front and it has affected his breathing a bit. They are at the ER and she wrote to tell me that they say he has pleurisy but he will be fine. He got a shot in the butt (he'll be glad to know that I've told the world! lol) and was sent home with meds and instructions to rest. Apparently, he should be well enough to go to work tomorrow. Thank you, April, for taking such good care of him!

I've also finished the binding on the last Cow-oh-boy quilt I made last year. 'Bout time! I'd forgotten all about it. It was in a sack, by the door, full of other fabrics. I have also quilted 12 lotto blocks in preparation to put them together for a deserving person in our list.

Kids quilts almost done

Here's the second of the quilts I'm getting ready for the kids in the Christmas Day fire. I'd like to get them sent off this week. The big squares quilt needs binding. I'm taking them to group tomorrow for show and tell and the fish quilt with the brown and red back will be part of my class sample. I've got the program tomorrow and I'll be demonstrating "quilt-as-you-go". That's why two of the sides are not yet quilted. I want to show how to apply the borders after the body is quilted without having to use the sashing strips.
This is the front of this quilt.

Rob and April came by last night to visit and Rob stood at the entrance to my sewing room and asked, "How would you feel if I came in and just got rid of all your little piles in this room?" LOL I didn't know how to answer at first but he nailed it when he said he figured I'd be mad but glad at the same time! I don't know why it's been such an ordeal for me to get even one corner of this room straightened out! I keep saying, "As soon as I finish THIS quilt, I'll clean the room!" Hasn't happened yet and I'm getting awfully antsy about it. I think my creativity is beginning to suffer from all this chaos. It used to be "organized chaos", but, no more! See, instead of sitting here, griping about it, I should be up and doing it! lol I think I'll go take a nap before I have to go check on Dad.
This is the back of the fish front.

"Lunch of the Penguins"

Today is April's birthday and I finished her penguin quilt just in time. She and Rob are on their way over to collect it and her b'day cards. When I saw this pattern in the new "Quilter's World" magazine, I knew I had to make it for her since she had a "penguin-thing" for Christmas this past year. It's a very simple pattern and the skill level is "beginner". Worked up fast and the quilting was very simple. I used a homespun plaid for the border. Happy Birthday, April!

Is she happy, or what?

 Here's April with her first quilt. I say first, because she already has fabric for two more! She had a little trouble with this one because she, or maybe Rob, or both! got a little "snip-happy" and there were a few holes that needed patching up after washing and drying. But, it was nothing we couldn't fix. And, it only took her 2 days! A few more days because we had to fix the holes, but 2 days, start to finish! Am I a good teacher, or what!? LOL Great job, April! Thanks to Robert for helping her 'cause I KNOW he did some snipping. He's helped me do that before.

I have spent the evening working on April's birthday present. I am bound and determined to have it done in time for her birthday, tomorrow. With Dad in the hospital, I didn't think I was going to finish it, but I'm getting there.

Speaking of Dad, he's doing ok. He just needed some blood since he's been losing some due to some bleeding. They will do a colonoscopy soon. Please pray that there is nothing serious going on.

Time for bed since I need to be at the hospital by 7 a.m. and work by 9:30.

Quilting 101

Here are my students! LOL We had a great time on Saturday afternoon until about 7:30. Judy, April, Robert, (yes, we dragged Rob to the fabric store) and I shopped for sewing notions and fabric so April can make her first quilt. She (we) decided on a rag quilt since it's a relatively easy one to make as a first quilt. We came home, cut all the fabric and batting, pulled out the Bernina machine that Deborah has so good-naturedly let me "store" for her, and we went to town! Rob and Judy shopped for dinner and so we ate hurriedly on Albertson's chicken, potato salad and beans.
Of course, Judy is my Quilting 102 student and was a very good assistant. As soon as April has her first quilt finished, I'll post a picture.

Time to change clothes to get to the gym. My Jim here at home is not feeling too well since his back has been giving him fits the last few days. Joe came over and gave him a massage and now he's taken some meds. I hope he begins to feel better, soon! I don't like him sickly.. lol

I'll be back to comment on Susan's "Make my day" award. Thanks, Susan!

One down, two to go

Here's the first of the quilts for the kids that were in a house fire on Christmas Day. My sister said, "You didn't quilt-as-you-go?!" I had thought about it, but I really wanted the blocks to butt up against each other instead of using a sashing strip. I think in this case, quilting it in one pieice went a lot faster than quilt-as-you-go. Now to bind it. I have lots of 2 1/2" strips left after the first round of strips so that's what I'll use.

Judy and I went to WalMart today and that's about all I did. Rob and April stopped by for a visit. So nice to have both my boys in town! The other boy, Joe, stayed home at Dad's and cooked a turkey! He's my Jack of all trades.

I didn't get to Dad's since I'm not feeling the best. Can't really pinpoint what's wrong, but I almost feel as though I'm coming down with the flu and/or a throat problem. Think I'll get to bed early tonight.

A view from my chair

As I look up from my Bernina, here's what I'm seeing on my design wall now. I saw a pattern in one of my books for a very simple setting. They used hand-dyed fabrics and in the center block, they stamped a big flower. So, I thought, "why not just use a focus fabric, kids' designs in this case, and build around it. Works great. The blocks are 18" square and I think I'll make two lap-size quilts with the twelve blocks I'll end up with. I will probably border them with a 4 or 5" border. Haven't decided what to use, yet. I'd like these quilts to go to children who were in a fire near Albuquerque. Their home burned down on Christmas morning and one of the girls is badly burned. I'll probably need to contact the TV station to find out where to send these to. There were three children involved so I have another top that someone bought at a garage sale so I'll get that one quilted, too.

Jim and I had a nice dinner at Chili's last night. Although, the salmon was overly seasoned, I thought. I'm not much for using salt, and it was pretty salty. But, the rest of the meal was good. Time to run to WalMart for the traditional Slim Fast purchase for New Year's! LOL

Coloring quilt blocks top

Okay, I admit it..my name is Veronica and I'm a Quilt-a-holic! LOL I found a picture of some coloring block quilts and I couldn't stop until I got it together. I may not quilt it for a while, but the top's done. Since it wasn't very busy at work today, I came home around noon, worked on the quilt for a little while, went back to Dad's, (he's doing well), then came home to fix dinner and finish the top. Judy came by for me to run to WalMart because I needed the rickrack. I've got four more blocks ready for Brittany to color tomorrow.

Colors for Christmas Day

After having our lasagne dinner, Brittany, Judy, April and I sat down and colored these blocks. I traced the pictures onto muslin just before I left for Dad's in hopes that we'd have time to color them. We did and I brought them home, ironed them to remove the excess wax, and now I can't wait to put them together in a quilt. The blocks depict the 4 Seasons - Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. Notice that Brittany even put rosy cheeks on her sledders! We all signed our blocks except for April because she left before I thought about doing that. I'll get her to sign it next time she's here.

The wind is picking up outside and we are threatened with a winter weather advisory tonight and part of tomorrow. We'll see how that affects my going to work at 9 a.m. I pray that everyone had a joyous, peaceful Christmas and looking forward to a wonderful New Year!