RSC Saturday in blue.....

This week I searched in my closet and found some pre-cut 2.5x4.5 blues from a swap back in the 90's to make a table runner. Nope - never got made so..... I decided to split them up into light and medium values and make some blades for a dresden plate! I used the tutorial from about.com here and it was really easy to do. I just need to appliqué it down to a background.... but I have not decided on that part yet so it might wait for a few months with the growing pile. I think I'll have enough white left from the Hunter star quilt I am going to make for a graduation quilt this year but I want to make that first to make sure there will be enough left for 12 - 12.5 inch blocks for the dresden plates. The medium blues plate is done.

I also made a twinkle stars or wonky 25 patch stars in blue. I just love how this came out! I made the light blue one this month too since I had them in that scrap pile from last week.

Head on over to SoScrappy on Saturday morning to see what other blue projects are in the works this year.

Attempting to hand quilt last night....

This is what happens when I get the hoop and quilt out. Meet Maxie and you can see Sophie the white cat laying on the end of the recliner.

Mommy put the quilt down for me!

That hoop is in my way Mom!

Fine. I'll make it work but it is not the most comfy pillow!

I timed it and it takes me 1.5 hours or so to do a block! I am probably just slow and there were some breaks for some cereal and reviewing insurance policies on-line (Greg did all the work I just review the two and select the best one after some discussion.). I did have three needles going and that was a big help for not having to turn it so often and disturb the poor cats from their naps. I have nine blocks completed and one block just needs some quilting on the inside of the four peels. 40 blocks to go.....and the borders =).

Tiny Tuesday - Week 1

This year I am back to doing my Tiny Tuesday posts. I am working this year with the Midget Appliqué blocks from SentimentalStitches.com with 52 blocks that will finish at 4.5 inches. Yes, that is TINY! I hope my appliqué skills will improve this year and maybe I'll try a few new techniques in the process. Some have asked about the appliqué process I am using. I am not an expert (self taught by books and Youtube video's) but I'll try and write how I make the blocks each week. Freezer paper is my friend!

The first block is called Wild Rose. I used my clover bias maker 1/4 inch  to create my flower stem (ok, it is a little bigger than it should be but it is my block!).

The leaves I traced the shapes onto freezer paper and pressed to the top of the fabric. Cut out with a seam allowance and then pulled off the paper and put it on the back and pressed the edges onto it to form the leaves to appliqué down. The flowers - I left the freezer paper on the top and used needle turn appliqué to turn and shape the flowers. The circle... I cut a shape onto card stock and basted the yellow fabric over it to create the perfect circle. Then I just used appliqué to attach it and cut through the back of the project up to the front to remove the card stock.

Wild Rose by VTQuilter

My companion today while I was stitching is Ms. Sophie. She is purring away and was not too pleased to be disturbed for a picture.

Slow Stitching Sunday......

I'm trying to put the house back together (putting xmas away and pulling out my snowmen) while trying not to reinjure my back. Somehow on Friday I did something to it and boy did it hurt all day yesterday. It was fine when I got up today but after doing dishes and putting away the dishwasher... I guess it was a little too much bending and lifting. I did manage to put away my snow globes but now it is time for a break with the heating pad and some prep work.
I'll be drawing the lines on my white squares to add a round to the Trip around the world block.

Trip around the World block - hand pieced 2.5 inch squares.

Edited - The white round is on.... time to select the next blue color for this. Quiche is in the oven - spinach, scallion and cheese - with a salad on the side and dinner is done.

After a rest - I plan to head into the sewing room and pull from my bin of sorted scraps and prep some Midget Appliqué blocks. Those will be my Tiny Tuesday posts this year and if things are all prepped in advance it is so easy to grab a bag as you head out the door and get a few stitches in while waiting on the kids or even at night in front of the tv relaxing. I printed out a bunch but will only prep 4 or so... unless I am really on a roll and do more =).

Later tonight - or as my back yells at me - I will be putting a few stitches in something - either the TATW or Hugs and Kisses (in the header picture) while I sit against the heating pad. I have a feeling there will be some movie watching time this afternoon with that heating pad on my back. Greg took the kids for a bike ride and made breakfast this morning. The kids have been playing doggie and are entertaining themselves good so far today. So nice to just run outside to play (84 degrees today!) instead of bundling up in winter coats, hats and mittens up in VT last week.

Emily came down with the fifths disease on Friday (rash that appears 4-21 days after a fever) that was going around school before Winter break. It is not bothering her at all - no itching and no fever or aches so I don't think she needs a doctor visit on Monday but can go to school as she is not contagious once the rash appears. I will call her pedi on Monday just to make sure. It is making me itch just looking at her though.

Head on over to Kathy's Quilts and see what other slow stitching is taking place today. I figured I'd show a picture of my rose bushes out front as of Friday. Just something bright and flowery for all those getting a freezing chill or winter storm today.

First RSC Saturday in 2015 is BLUE!

I made the first block posted for the 2015 RSC Sampler quilt on New Years Day. What fun fabrics to play with from Vicki Welsh.

I had started a blue trip around the world block in December with 2.5 inch squares. This is a hand pieced block and goes together really easily. I think I will do one in nine of the bright colors this year and make them into a quilt. The next row will be either a cream or white which will be in each block at this round... they should connect like a chain and hopefully it will look pretty neat.

While putting away my extra feet (walking foot and A foot) I found some blue blocks that are 8 inches finished.  I grabbed a few fabrics for leaders and enders and added a couple 8 inch blocks to the group.

While the kids were at Grandma's Friday.... I dumped one bucket of scraps and sorted. I knew this one had lots of blues and creams from my log cabin...... and since this month is blue I will play with this blue pile. Maybe I'll try and sort another bin next month. Now to put away the other colors so they are ready when their month comes up.

Head on over to SoScrappy on Saturday morning for the RSC 2105 link up. There will be lots of ideas and eye candy in blue this week as we start a new year of scrap busting.

Happy New Year - 2015

I remember the saying -'Whatever you do on January 1 you will do the rest of the year!'.... or something like that.

So far I made homemade cinnamon rolls (note to self - 1.5 hours in the bread maker and then more rise time and baking makes it a nearly 3 hour process! Do not start this at 7AM). They sure are yummy though. Almost as good as my ex-SIL Donna's. Boy were those yummy when someone else made them =)

Watched a little Myth Busters.....

Was a doctor and patched a hole in Pluto. He made it through surgery with flying colors.

Stitched some binding onto the RSC Sampler quilt. One side done - three to go.

Did dishes and cleaned the kitchen a bit while I prepped a bunch of appetizers - meatballs in sauce (10 ounces grape jelly and one jar of chili sauce melted together and put in a crock pot with meatballs and/or mini hot dogs - so yummy!); deviled eggs; veggie platter and shrimp cocktail. Grandma H is bringing a slew of things and she and my FIL should both arrive around noon for nibbling and enjoying the last Christmas exchange.

Then the kiddos will head out with Grandma (I am so lucky she is taking them overnight!) and I plan to put a little xmas stuff away and then start the first block of the RSC 2015 sampler quilt posted here.

An hour walk will be worked in this afternoon as well.

Hope you all have a wonderful day doing what you enjoy. I know I plan to.

2014 Recap

 Here is my year in review. The completed quilts.

Springtime 

Triangle Quilt Along this spring.

Kaleidoscope for Becky

Crossroads

Free Tutorial for the Crossroads pattern is here.

Flag little quilt.

Log Cabin scraps - double bed size. * Quilted this year.

Baby Stars

Starlight Starbright.

The pattern for this can be found here. Joanne does a great job writing her patterns and it was great to test it for her.

Maple Leaf Quilt. *Quilted this year

A BOM from many, many years ago through Yankee Pride Quilt Shop in Essex Jct, VT.

RSC Sampler 2014

The sampler Angela created with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge for 2014.

Baby Quilt for Jordan

Little T Quilt

Thanksgiving Placemats.

Another pattern from Joanne which can be found here.

Finished Tops: Maybe these will be quilted in 2015?

Quilters Scrapbook

Another testing pattern from Joanne - this one has beautiful borders that would work great with any 10 inch block.

The Century Quilt. Joanna Fabrics BOM from 2000.

Scrappy Churn Dash I still have 72 blocks for another one of these =)

16 patch stars - might need a dark border?

Celtic Solstice - Bonnie Hunter mystery from 2013.

Orange Peels - Extra peels I found when cleaning!

Blocks in progress.

Civil War Diary Quilt blocks. Ready to be set and sewn. This was my tiny Tuesday block of the week in 2014.

Hand pieced Grandmothers Flower Garden blocks.  These will get a black frame this year.

Hand piecing hexagon flowers.

Current Hand quilting project with a top finished this year.

Hugs and Kisses..... top completed this year and hand quilting started on Thanksgiving day.

I am sure I am missing some things but that is a recap of my year! It is amazing when you look back over the year at how much can be accomplished in little bits of time here and there. Did I mention that I love having both kids in school full time this year =)

I hope 2015 is just as productive. Have a safe New Years Eve everyone.... and remember to sew something tomorrow to start the year off right. We are very happy to be home from our visit to Vermont with uneventful flights and no delays. It is so nice to sleep in your own bed again.... and see green grass and palm trees!