Design Wall Monday - December 30

Now that Christmas gifts have been finished and gifted and store samples have been completed and hung in Delphine's Quilt Shop, I can work on a project for myself.  I actually sat in my sewing studio and thought for a long time about what to start...

I finally decided to begin a quilt that I had seen on a Missouri Star Quilt Company video - Summer in the Park Quilt.  I already had the 2 jelly rolls - High Street by Lily Ashbury for Moda and a Bella Solid (Porcella).  Easy and quick and very bright and happy!  The blocks are about 17" so it won't take long to get a nice sized quilt.  If I use all the strips, I will have 13 blocks so I will make 12 blocks and use the left over strips for borders.  After you cut from the strip sets, there is extra fabric so I will disassemble the sets and use those scraps for an inner border.  Sounds like a plan.

I also want to share my gifts from my BQFF (Best Quilty Friends Forever) - they are the most wonderful friends a woman could ask for...

Barb made this amazing folded star hot pad with beautiful metallic fabric on one side and a German fabric on the back - which she brought back after a visit to her parents.  It came wrapped in Christmas fabric (neat!).  From Marybeth, a lovely tea towel (very chic), a little candle, and a cute thread catcher.  I told her that I would have to break my Eleanor Burns (over the shoulder) technique of dispensing with threads and scraps.  LOL

 

 

Here is what I sent them - Marybeth's Birthday gift (3 months late), mug rugs for each of them, and a matching Bowl Buddy and Potato Bag for Barb.  Marybeth received her Bowl Buddy and Potato Bag for her birthday...go figure...




September block from Buttermilk Basin

Hooking up with Judy L's Design Wall Monday where there are lots of great projects - start making a list for 2014!!  Happy New Year everyone!!

Happy Stitching,
Judy

MERRY CHRISTMAS ONE AND ALL

WE WISH YOU THE BEST CHRISTMAS - A DAY OF PEACE AND THANKSGIVING

 

FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS

HAPPY NEW YEAR TOO!

 

 

Happy Stitching,

Judy

Demo Daze

I had been making samples for Delphine's Quilt Shop here in Gaylord.  The "Demo Daze" were held last week and many of my samples were used for the demos.  I was the "Demo Diva" too!!  Phew - busy days but many happy customers with their new (easy) Christmas projects.  Happy Judy that the work is done and now I can devote my time to finishing my Christmas UFOs. I made this pattern into a wall hanging instead of the entire quilt - it's by Sandy Gervais called "Tree's Up - Light's On" which uses a stack-n-whack technique.  I only used 6 fat quarters so you have to imagine how it would look with lots more variety in the fabrics.     Drum roll please - here is more from Demo Daze...

Hope you are stitching away and getting all your projects done.  I'm sure you will find lots of inspiration on Judy L's Design Wall Monday too!!   Happy Stitching, Judy

Design Wall Monday

I taught a class last week at our LQS - the Easy Striped Table Runner.  It is a very easy pattern with super results.  Here are a few that I have made or are currently finishing up...

 
 

This one needs a binding

Once the wedges are cut, you will have 4
extra wedges.  Cut 2 more (if you have
enough fabric) and make a nice table topper.
I plan to applique some evergreen trees
on the red triangles.

  
 
 



A fun table runner for a birthday party!

 

 

 

This one needs quilting, etc.





I won a prize from Red Brolly!!  It came all the way from
Australia and was wrapped in such cute paper!  Oops, I had
the fabric package upside down!

 

 

Here's what was in the package!  The cutest book by Melly and Me
and the fantastic fabric!!  What shall I make with this??
Well, wait and see...
Thank you so much Bronwyn and Melly!!

I hope you all have a good week of sewing.  Linking up to Judy L.'s Design Wall Monday...

 

 

Happy Stitching,

Judy

 

A Day with Gwen Marston

Last Wednesday, November 6th, I attended a workshop in Houghton Lake sponsored by the Hi Ho Quilt Guild (isn't that a cute name?  It stands for Higgins Lake and Houghton Lake which are two large neighboring lakes here in Michigan).  Well, how excited was I to attend this workshop?  Can you say "Over the Moon"!!!!!  I was all ready to go about 2 weeks before the actual day - counting down to actually spend time with GWEN MARSTON!!!

 To get out of this Smilebox, try Esc or just close the window (red X) 

Slideshow design personalized with Smilebox Gwen lives on Beaver Island which is about 25 miles off the coast from Charlevoix in Lake Michigan.  She is famous for LIBERATED QUILTING - have fun with your work!!  I would say that she is one of the founding mothers of Modern Quilting.  She's written over 20 books and if you haven't read any of them, time to get to the library or your local quilt shop and discover her world.  I hope you enjoy this glimpse into my wonderful day.   Happy LIBERATED Stitching, Judy

Baby Gianna Has a Quilt

I am happy to report that Baby Gianna will have her quilt tomorrow.  It would have arrived today except that there is no mail today.

 

Remember Whooo Loves You!

Her name is quilted in the top border - date of birth, etc. on bottom border



Note flange on binding - great technique!




Meandering with hearts, bows, and squiggles



If you like the binding, go to Susie's Magic Binding Tutorial to see how.  It works really well and adds a little special something to the quilt.  Not only that, it's all done by machine!!

And to get you in the holiday mood, here's looking at our back yard this morning!  Third snowfall this fall with melting between.  Hmmm, wonder how long this one will last?  (Btw, northern Michigan and it's still snowing)

Linking up to Judy's DWM.

Happy Stitching!!
Judy

Baby Quilt Progress

Baby G's quilt is progressing.  The interior is all quilted and ready for the borders.  I'm pleased with how it looks...hearts and bows free-motion quilted around the owl (echo quilted).  Still debating what to do in the borders but I do know that the baby's name will be quilted in the top border and her birth date on the bottom border.  Binding is made and ready to apply.  Not long now!

The batting I used is Quilter’s Dream Fusible Batting - a DREAM to work with.  I ironed it to the backing and then placed the flimsy on the non-fusible side.  It was like using a design wall – the top just stuck to the batting and I hardly had to pin baste it at all.  It worked so well - no pleats or wrinkles on the back and I didn't have to keep checking.  The tension on my machine was perfect for the batting as well.  I am so happy with how the stitches look.  Negative:  it only comes in off-white.  The background is white but I like that it looks more antique and not so stark white.  It seems heavier than other batts but they live in Cleveland near Lake Erie so she will need warmth!!  Hopefully by next Monday the quilt will be on its way.

On a different topic, I won a prize from Mama Spark's World and Daisy Cottage Quilting.  Wahoo!  A fat-eighth bundle called 30's Playtime by Chloe's Closet for Moda.  Wow - what a great prize!  See the little blue snail measuring tape?

My idea is to create a Dresden Plate quilt with the fabric so, of course, I had to play with it a bit when my arms got tired from all the FMQ.  I have a wedge ruler and it looked just like the one in the directions - WRONG!!  If I would continue cutting with this ruler, I would end up with a Dresden PLATTER not a Plate!!!!!

Not only am I using the wrong side wedge, I started out by sewing this...

 

Oops!  Sometimes I just crack myself up!!!  FOTFLOL!!!

 

Linking up with Judy L. at Patchwork Times.  Thanks for stopping by!!

 

Happy Stitching,

Judy

 

 

Something to Post Finally!

My last post was in August and now here it is October 21.  Yikes!  I have been working on various things but my latest endeavor has been a quilt for my niece's new baby.  The little girl was born on Wednesday, October 15 so I am a bit behind.  The piecing went quickly but the applique took me forever.  Here it is so far...

The pattern is "Remember Whooo Loves You" by Acorn Quilt & Gift Company.  This week I will add the borders and quilt it so maybe next Monday you will see the finished project.

Lots to be inspired by this week (and always) at Judy L's DWM.  Linking up.

Happy Stitching,
Judy

August Projects

A few more projects completed this month...

This anvil block and the one below were made for Victoria of Bumble Beans.  You "make" your own fabric and then cut it up to form units and blocks.  She will use the donated blocks to make cancer comfort quilts.  If you'd like to help, go HERE for instructions and a tutorial.

I must warn you, "making" your own fabric from bits and pieces of your scraps is very ADDICTIVE but tons of FUN!!

These cute little purses are for my oldest DGD who asked for navy and mustard and a summery interchangeable fabric.  You may remember that I made one for my youngest DGD in July.

I won a prize from Minick & Simpson a few weeks ago.  They picked my comment and sent me a big box of left-over strips from their new collection "Grant Park".  I was overwhelmed at their generosity and have great plans for these!  Gorgeous fabric!  Love, Love, Love it!!

Prep work for a Twister class I'll be teaching in October.  Have you "twisted" yet??  Interesting, easy, and fun!

More bowl buddies and potato bags.

My niece's little boy turned 2 last week.  This quick pillow will help him learn his numbers (at least one of them!)

As you can see, I've been busy.  Lots of little projects but no progress on anything big.  I have a baby quilt to make for a little girl coming in October.   I need to prep for a few classes to teach at Delphine's.  She will be part of a Shop Hop September 21-28 and her anniversary sale is the first weekend in October
(in case you are in the area...)

Happy Stitching to you all.






 

What Have I Been Doing?

It's been quite awhile (yikes, over 2 months!) since I've posted so I thought I would give you a look at what I've been working on this summer.  We visited family in North Carolina earlier this month and soon we'll be in Colorado to visit the other half of the fam.  The Bernina has been humming.

Buddy Bowls - made to give as gifts to my family.  I've made 6 or 7 for the 2 daughters and the 4 granddaughters and others.

Potato Bags -

Throw Pillow for DD1:

DD2 Quilt - a house warming gift.  It's a flannel Brick quilt - soft, snuggly, and warm

DGD3 - her 16th Birthday Quilt with matching pillow cases.  It's a Strip Tube Block technique made with just 4 fabrics rather than with a jelly roll.  The back is much plainer in case she finds the top too busy for her taste.  Cathy Hughes quilted it for me with a soft floral swirl.  (In case you have been following me, I FINALLY finished it!!  see here, here and here.)

 

Close-up of the quilting and the back

 

DGD4 - a cute little purse for a 13 year old.

And finally, here's a photo of a Quilt of Valor that our LQS group has been working on.  We've made 3 like this and will be working on a new pattern next month.  This pattern came from Love of Quilting magazine (May/June 2013 I think).  (not such a good picture but once it's quilted, I'll post another one).

 

 

Hopefully I will have more to share in the next few weeks.  Still lots of UFOs on my sewing room floor and so many ideas floating around in my head.  Enjoy the week everyone!

 

Happy Stitching,

Judy