Design Wall Monday and Weekly Goals

The Alletaire blocks are slowly being sewn together--

Once I have the diagonal rows together I'll work on the setting triangles.  With the design wall in use I had to find another way to lay blocks out--

Meet the design sheet!  The R/W/B album blocks were laid out on a white sheet.  When it was time for bed I just rolled the sheet up with the blocks on it.  Please see everyone's design wall posts at Patchwork Times.

Weekly Goals--

Sew more Alletaire blocks together

Finish cutting for April classes

Dye a backing

Load and quilt a top

More binding

Two brown Jacobs Ladder blocks

Look at Block Party

The last few days I've been working on pressing fabrics/scraps and cutting for the two classes in April.  One Class is My Blue Heaven.  The Easy Angle and Companion Angle are used in this quilt.  I've never used them.  Never WANTED to use them.  But its always good to learn new things so I'm willing to give it a try.  Lorri2Rs, Sandy, and I are going to swap blue strips.  Mine are cut and rolled into small jelly rolls and tied with selvages--I can put them in my project box and they won't get lost or wrinkled.  Liz sent me an envelope with pink strips in it for Jared Takes a Wife.  My stash doesn't have a lot of pink and Liz's strips were perfect!  Thank you Liz!

A few random pictures--

Before I quilt another top I'll have to clean off the longarm table.

Last week I quilted a top backed with fleece.  Fleece quilts BEAUTIFULLY!  To control the stretching of fleece put it on TOP.  The pieced top (on the bottom) supports the fleece.  Quilt it loosely, too dense of quilting and the fleece gets hard and stiff.  This panto is Lida by Keryn Emmerson, the stitching lines are 1.50" to 1.75" apart, perfect for fleece. The top was very scrappy and busy, the quilting disappeared.

 A pile of pressed fabrics/scraps.

I'm trying to be more productive and actually sew something together as L/E instead of just using a thread bunny.  This small plastic drawer unit fit into my sewing machine cabinet drawer (its laying on its back).  It holds light squares, dark squares, and twosies.  They will become 4 patches for my Jacob's Ladder blocks.  Its still feels strange and clunky.     

Soon it will be spring and I need to start organizing myself.  Lists are being made of what piecing projects I'll take in the camper.  I'm going to try and move some UFOs to the finished top stage.  If the cutting and organizing is done sewing blocks/sashings etc in the camper is easy.  

April can't get here soon enough.  I miss green grass and leaves on trees.  The smell of dirt.  I miss the red striped garter snakes!  What do you miss?

~LORI~   

Rainbow Scrappy Saturday--BROWN!

This can't be the last of the brown blocks--

Three Jacob's Ladder blocks.  They aren't distorted, but hung a bit crooked during the picture.  More brown blocks are planned over the weekend, just can't get enough brown!  Please see everyone's brown projects at SoScrappy.

Time to check my goals--

Load a top on the Princess-loaded, quilted and off!

Finish more Alletaire blocks-Yes, started sewing them in rows

Find backing for 4 patch/guild squares top-decided to dye one

Put another set of blocks on the design wall-used a sheet on the bed to lay out the R/W/B album blocks

Hand sew more binding-Yes

Look at Beach Party-No

Its been a productive week.  Friday Lorri2Rs and I met in Sioux Falls, did a little shopping and attended the Grand Opening of a quilt store (they moved to a bigger nicer location).  We signed up for door prizes, wouldn't it be great if we won something??!!  I bought a little fabric in support of the new store, I will have additions to my stash report.  

There is nothing but sewing planned for the weekend.  What could be better??

~LORI~

 

Design Wall Monday and Weekly Goals

Sunday I sewed a sample block--

Its for the quilt "Jared Takes a Wife" by Bonnie Hunter.  In April I'm taking her class.  This block has browns, oranges, and pinks with neutrals.  I think the colors will work, I just have to be careful with the color/value of the star points against the puss in corner squares.  All the brown diamonds and the star points will be the same fabric within each block.  The squares of orange and pink and neutrals will be random as will be the center square.  I've been pulling neutrals from the box of neutrals I bought a few months ago--

Plenty of variety in that pile.

Alletaire made an appearance, I'm determined to finish it before I take Bonnie's class.

These blocks are finished.  Whew!  I think I'm going to really like this quilt when its done.  Please see everyone's design wall posts at Patchwork Times.

Stash Report

Stash In--7.75 yards yds (chicken fabric!!)

Stash out--11.00 yds

Stash in YTD--23.00 yds

Stash out YTD--17.00 yds

Stash is ahead 6.00 yds!

Weekly Goals

Load a top on the Princess

Finish more Alletaire blocks

Find backing for 4 patch/guild squares top

Put another set of blocks on the design wall

Hand sew more binding

Look at Beach Party

Last week I accomplished all my goals except for Beach Party.  It was hung behind something else and its "out of sight, out of mind!"  Being Nurse Ratched keeps me close to home and I do lots of sewing.  Ken has been cranky, but I've threatened to smother him sans lobotomy and he's working at being more cheerful.  I also bribed him with ooey gooey rice krispie bars, French dip sandwiches with mashed potatoes, root beer floats, and a few cookies.  He's finally getting his appetite back. 

Its going to be warm this week.  At least warmer than it has been.  April can't get here fast enough!  

~LORI~

Rainbow Scrappy Saturday--more Brown!!

Can it stay February for another month?  I'm having so much fun with brown--

Two more brown Jacob's Ladder blocks.  I'm sure there will be more!  Please see everyone's brown projects at SoScrappy.

Its been a busy week.  Last Saturday I sewed in Moville Iowa with Lorri2Rs.  We had a blast!  We both worked on Alletaire--

It was a big event, 117 quilters.  There were mini workshops, lots of visiting, silent auctions, raffles, and good food.  

 Its held every year, and you can bet we're going next year!  Never wear black to sew in public--

Monday Ken went to the Dr.  Double pneumonia--both lungs, viral and bacterial.  Possible influenza.  Shots, inhaler, Tamiflu, another antibiotic, cough syrup, steroids.  He was miserable.  All this in addition to recovering from shoulder surgery.  He is feeling better but still wheezy and coughing.  

Friday 4am the wind hit.  And I mean HIT!!  76mph winds.  The back door kept being sucked open even while latched and locked.  (this is a east door--the wind was from the west).  How to keep it from being torn from its hinges?  

 I wrapped and tied a selvedge to the inside door handle.  Then I

slid the selvedges through the inside door by the hinges.  I tied a wooden kitchen utensil in the selvedges!  Hooray!  It worked!  Another use for selvedges??  The two garbage cans that were wired to a post were gone.  We drove around looking for them but no luck.  Someone returned one while we were gone, I told Lorri2Rs to watch for the other one as I think it might have made it to Iowa.  Friday afternoon was warm and sunny--there was a red striped garter snake laying in a cold shady spot.  I thought it was dead, but then realized it was just cold.  I carried her to a protected sunny spot on some concrete to warm up.  I like garter snakes, they are harmless and eats lots of pests.  

We see them all the time, in the flower beds and sunning on the concrete.  This one was pretty big so I think she's a female.  

I've had a few small finishes--

A small baby panel I found in a box downstairs.  The copyright date is 1984.  The panel itself was very thin, so I backed it with white muslin.  I think the extra layer will help.  I'll donate it--it used about 4 yards.

Next I finished this one--

Its another panel Natalie had given me several years ago.  Lorri2Rs pieced it, we used all the fabric Natalie had sent with the panel plus more.  Its a nice size 64x71, the label will read "made by Natalie, Lorri, and Lori"!  I'll donate it too.  7 yards?  And I'm not sure if I posted a pic of this one--

Its the 5" challenge I did with Liz and Teresa.  Its a free pattern from Fons & Porter, you've probably gotten one in the mail.   Its used 10 yards.  All my yardages used is are "close enough" guesses.

Today the Iowa Sweat Shop Ladies are sewing.  I miss them, but will sew along.  I'm quilting and the top thread kept breaking. After doing all the regular things--rethread, oil, different bobbin, new needle--I switched out the top thread--

The thread on the left is a 100% cotton YLI.  The right is a poly--Permacore.  
The Princess likes the Poly thread better.  It holds up to the high speed and sawing motion of the needle.  I can use 100% cotton in the bobbin.  I hate switching in the middle of a quilt, but don't think anyone will notice, its a busy top.

I'm planning on sewing all weekend.  Next week are more Dr. appointments for Ken.  Lord I love the man but he is one cranky patient!  I will blame it on the steroids.  

~LORI~

Design Wall Monday and Weekly Goals

Still playing with the b/w 4 patches and plain alternate squares.  

This is about 3/4 of the blocks.  I'm making a twin size boy quilt.  Consensus on Stashbusters is one sized about 75x90".  Its destined for a boys group home and I'm not sure if they have bunk beds, twin beds, or XL twin beds.  Please see everyone's design wall posts at Patchwork Times.

Weekly Goals--

Finish the quilt on the Princess

4 Patch on design wall to a flimsy

Sew 4 rows of Beach Party together

Cut the fabrics I have ironed for Faux Log Cabin, Bricks, and whatever is left

Dye backings for flimsies

Keep working on bindings

Press some donated scraps and cut them up!

There's enough to keep me busy.  The week is already full of appointments and I'm not sure how much sewing time I'll have.

~LORI~

 

Rainbow Scrappy Saturday--BROWN

More brown!  Oh how I LOVE brown!

More Jacob's Ladder blocks.  Tonight I ironed 22 pieces of brown fabric.  I plan to make a lot more brown blocks!  Please see everyone's brown projects at SoScrappy.

How are my weekly goals coming??

Quilt a top--half way
Reassess Alletaire--packed for the Sew In
Border on Star Struck and Binding--Yes
Mindless Piecing Project--Its a finished top
Top from guild kit--on the design wall
Binding--Still working on them
Look in closet for blocks in rows--yes, found "Beach Party"
Pick projects to take to Sew In on Saturday--packed and ready to go

I took Liz's advice on borders for Star Struck.  I wanted a plain blue border, but didn't have enough of any one fabric in the stash.  Bummer!  Instead, I used a very narrow border of solid blue, then a wider border of a print, and cornerstones from the same fabric as the narrow border.  

Hard to see but it works.  Next is finding a backing for it.  Its a nice size--86x92".

Recently on Stashbusters someone was looking for quilt patterns to use a large donation of FQs.  This one caught my eye (Thanks Lisa)--

http://www.reocities.com/quiltfrenzy_archives/faux-logcabin.html

Faux Log Cabin by Billie Lauder.  Its a "ME" pattern!  50 FQs barely made a dent in the box I keep them in.  They're pressed and waiting on the ironing board for when I get home.

I'm heading to Iowa to a Sew In with Lorri2Rs.  I've packed Alletaire and a Bricks and Stepping Stones project.  We're only sewing one day and they have great small workshops interspersed with other fun things.  Something already cut and easy to piece.  Alletaire because Lorri is bringing hers and maybe with both of us working on it we won't make so many mistakes. 

Its frigid cold again.  Well, at least we're not tracking in mud!  The outdoor freezer is stocked with baked goods.  

Are you sewing this week?  Is it warm and sunny at your house?  April can't come soon enough for me.

~LORI~

Design Wall Monday and Weekly Goals

The Star Struck blocks are now a flimsy--

A narrow border in blue will finish it.  I'll search the stash for some this week.  Please see everyone's design walls at Patchwork Times.

Weekly Goals--

Quilt a top
Reassess Alletaire
Border on Star Struck and Binding
Mindless Piecing Project
Top from guild kit
Binding
Look in closet for blocks in rows
Pick projects to take to Sew In on Saturday  

Lorri2Rs and I are going to a Sew In on Saturday.  We went last year, it was a lot of fun.  I'll take easy projects, there are lots of people and small workshops so nothing too challenging.  For me its the socializing.

Ken is recovering from his shoulder surgery.  A tear, a spur and something else, I forgot what the surgeon said.

The wind is howling here.  High winds with icy roads and blowing snow in parts of the state have cars being blown off the road.  A good reason to stay in and sew.  

We watched the Super Bowl but didn't see any spectacular commercials.  I watched for the half time entertainment--I'm a fan of Coldplay, Beyonce, and Bruno Mars.  Lady Gaga is a favorite too.  

February has me longing for spring.  Time to check seed catalogs, there are a few specialty seeds I want to order. 

~LORI~

Rainbow Scrappy Saturday--BROWN!!

Hooray!!!  Brown!!  Its one of my favorite colors.  I'll have no problems making brown blocks.  Here is the first one I made for browns--

This is a Missouri Star 4 Patch Star.  Its easy and I am using repurposed 4 patches in the center.  Please see what everyone is doing with brown at SoScrappy.  Did I remember to tell you how much I LOVE brown??

A variety of scraps/colors are needed for the planned boy quilt using the b/w 4patches I found.  A wonderful friend sent me TWO boxes of scraps and fabrics.  

Here are some of them I pulled out to use.  Its so much fun to have a variety of fabrics to use.  So many quilts--so little time!  Thank you my friend!

This week a blizzard hit parts of Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, and Minnesota.  Not usually a problem except Ken was scheduled for shoulder surgery on Wednesday.  The storm was coming Monday night through Tuesday for sure.  We threw our suitcases together and headed to Laura Beth and Nick's--they live in a suburb of Sioux Falls where the surgery was to take place.  I'm glad to we did--it was a nasty storm!  

Looking out Laura Beth and Nick's garage door

Lorri2Rs got 15", Mary in Vermillion got 17".  High winds and no visibility.  All roads were closed.  Luckily the storm was over by Tuesday night and plows began to clear the roads at 4am.  Ken didn't need to check into the hospital until Noon so it worked out.  The surgery went well and he was able to leave Wednesday evening.  We stayed with the kids Wednesday night so we didn't have to travel the snow and ice packed roads in the dark.  We're home now, we had very little snow from the storm here.  Whew! 

So there hasn't been a lot of sewing.  I've been christened "Nurse Ratched".  Ken delights in being waited on.  I know he's feeling better, he asked for a Coke and Oreos!  Although we're not football fans he's asked for me to make "football dip" for the game.  I'm waiting for the commercials and the halftime performance of Coldplay.  Did you know the big screens used in the stadium are made by the South Dakota company Daktronics?  

Which team are you rooting for?  Are you attending a Superbowl Party?  Watching at home?  Or maybe not watching and sewing??  (that's me).

~LORI~
 

Design Wall Monday and Weekly Goals

These blocks are on the ironing board-

The start of Simply Woven by Moda Bakeshop.  Its a free pattern, check it out!  I'm using two jelly rolls and whatever else appeals to me.  Please see everyone's Design Wall Posts at Patchwork Times.

The quilting is done on Raggy Flowers--

Its been trimmed, the binding stitched on and now on the Happy Binding Pile.  It is #9 in the Gauntlet Toss.  

Weekly Goals--

Finish last seven seams on Star Struck

Quilt another top

Find backings for two tops

Search closet for blocks in rows

Pull 112 Bricks for swap with a friend

Simply Woven-next strip

Binding beside recliner

Looks like lots of projects?  I don't intend to do them all, but do need to list them to focus my attention.  Last night after I was in bed I had a 

and had to go search for an old project in my sewing room.  Immediately.  Yes, an OCD moment.  I have another "guild quilt kit" and I remembered some black/white 4 patches from a long forgotten UFO.  Drat, they are not the same size as the kit's squares.  Do I cut the squares smaller?  I'm thinking I will.  From 6.5" to 5.5 inches.  They are a good color--wine reds to purple reds.  I can add another color from my stash.  There are at least 50 B/W 4 patches already made. This year I'm working on "boy" quilts to donate.  My search was prompted by seeing this photo I had saved--

I can't remember where it came from--but loved how the 4 patches are not all B/W but you only see the dark/light diagonals.  I think this will be a good pattern to use some of my unloved 5" charms. I have more new starts floating in my head, but I need to get cracking on a few older projects first.  Still need to quilt 3 tops for my personal Gauntlet Toss.

There's a blizzard watch, I'm hoping we are on the edge and most of it goes southeast.  Lorri2Rs better stay home, she's right in the heavy snow zone.  

I'm ready for April, tired of winter.  Sigh  

~LORI~