This is another quilt that I had returned to me for finishing. This has been a long time in coming. The start of the project was in 2015! I know Rhonda, who was also in my group, was working on hers recently as well.
I probably won’t keep this one, but for the moment I don’t have a recipient. I’ll need to check my Niece-phews list and see if it would be appropriate for anyone on it. I have an idea, but would need to make another for a sibling.
BAMQG IRR back
I remember my excitement at using the Queen Street fabric in this quilt. I think the solid turquoise dominates more that Queen Street, though the Philip Jacobs shell fabric is no slouch either.
Queen Street really shines on the back. You can see all the prints, but they aren’t highlighted by piecing.
PP4 was the third quilt I got back from Colleen. The basics of this series are discussed in a post from 2012.
The idea I had for quilting was similar to Fabric of the Year 2019. I really liked the connected little circles. Colleen added some diagonal wavy lines in this one, which weren’t exactly what I was thinking but look ok. This quilt is so old that I really don’t care that much. Sad to say, but this is one reason I don’t like UFOs.
PP4 back – quilted
I made the back specifically for this quilt. It wasn’t a UFO. It was a completely new piece of the quilt and I really like it. I think it really goes with the Night theme.
Because our family is growing, I thought I might need more Thanksgiving napkins for Thanksgiving. I bought some new embroidery designs for my SIL, though I think they were too big.
The turkey on the platter is, I think, a test embroidery. I am pretty sure we didn’t use that one before. I didn’t buy white napkins either. I think the design is amusing now.
Fortunately, I didn’t need them in November, so this project could be shoved off until her Christmas projects were done. I went over during Craft Night the other night and started work.
SIL #2 sat me down in front of her computer and I selected colors for some of the designs. She is pretty well organized and had recorded the thread colors. I was able to select from that group so the napkins will all, pretty much, match.
Pumpkin on blue napkin
She always has to reduce the number of colors, because she doesn’t like to switch threads once the machine has started. I think her machine can handle 6 threads at a time. I always forget to look at the number of colors and inevitably buy a design with 25 colors!
I really like that pumpkin motif and I worked to make it really pretty. I think it looks great on the blue napkin.
Blue pumpkin on mauve napkin
I started changing colors so they didn’t have the issues that bugged me. There were some black threads that looked too dark to me. It may be that the shading was removed, because of the limited colors. Regardless, I am thinking about greys and, maybe, even some browns to soften up the hard blacks.
On the mauve (dusty rose??) napkin, the blue really shows up. I used that blue thread, which I really like, only on this one. It would have been lost on the blue.
Choosing embroidery threads is hard work. I’ll go back when we have Craft Night again and choose some more.
Like the Lobster, the Orange You Glad has returned. The quilting is done and I have to sew down the binding.
I was glad to have a few months break, especially over the holidays where I had little time to stitch anyway. Now I am close to finishing the La Pass rosettes and will have more time to sew down bindings and sew on sleeves.
Orange You Glad quilted- detail
One of the things I like about this quilting is motif depicting rays that Colleen did around each of the circles. Simple, but effective.
She did a great job avoiding the raw edges. I always warn her, but you never know. So far, on all of these Bullseyes, I haven’t had any folded edges. That makes me very happy.
Orange You Glad quilted- detail
In the center of the circles is a simple spiral. She would have done something better, but I couldn’t think of anything.
There is enough quilting to keep the thing flat as a pancake, which is my preference.
Orange You Glad back quilted
Finally, the back looks good. I know I was sick of the quilt when I made the back, but the large pieces are really effective. I like seeing those big flower prints in all their glory.
All in all, I was very pleased with the price. Four quilts, a tablerunner and two pieces of foam were very economical.
Colleen sent back the three quilts, a tablerunner and two pieces of foam -soon to be future bags – that I brought to her in October. What a bonanza!
Also, I have a LOT of binding to do, but soon I will be able to add a lot of quilts to my ‘Finished’ list.
The Lobster – quilted
The Lobster looks great and it is first on my list for binding since I can use it right away. I know I thought about it for July, but I am sick of looking at the Cha Cha Cha tablerunner. I want something lighter and fresher.
The Lobster – quilted detail
As usual, Colleen did a great job quilting all of the pieces. She took particular care with the Lobster. On one hand, she quilted with two different colors of thread in some places as requested.
She was really careful around the embroidery I already did as well as the beads. Of course, she had an incentive to stay away from the beads since I am sure they would have done some damage to her machine, which I absolutely don’t want.
The Lobster – quilted detail
The Sawtooth Star blocks also look good. Sometimes those basic blocks can be super boring to quilt, but I like what she did.
I wanted to get ahead of the ‘pillowcase for the college nephews project’, so I stocked up on some themed fabrics. The Valentine’s fabric was backordered, which was a huge disappointment. I sent them cards and socks. I ended up buying some chili pepper fabric, which I think will work for the Valentine’s pillowcases. I didn’t have a chance to make them yet, though. I might do it and send them late. We’ll see. I don’t need a yard and a half of chili pepper fabric hanging around.
The Granary – January 2023
On my birthday, I went to the Granary and found some fabric for April and May. For April, I will make Easter pillowcases and the May pillowcases will be ‘May the Fourth Be With You’ pillowcases.
You can see that I bought a few other items as well.
I didn’t want the Easter pillowcases to be boring, so I chose some dancing rabbits. These might be on the edge of Easter, but I think they will work for my nephews.
I think the ‘May the Fourth Be With You’ pillowcases will be fun. I didn’t know what to do for May and I think these will be perfect. I could have done Cinco de Mayo. The ‘May the Fourth Be With You’ theme will be perfect for 19 year olds.
St. Patrick’s fabric – March 2023
I also got some St. Patrick’s fabric for March. This isn’t great fabric, but I think it will be ok for the boys.
I received some more blocks from Julie a week or so ago.
These are the result of the postcards I sent to her. It is interesting to think about the choices I made and the result that I see in the blocks Julie made.
I can’t imagine how the blocks the blocks will come together as a whole but I am excited to see how they come together.
I have not made any other blocks since my last batch. I need to get one that.
I had some leftover fabric after making the New Year’s pillowcases for the nephews. Since I’d still like to have napkins for every holiday, I decided to make some New Year’s napkins. I had just enough to make two napkins, which is enough for us, but no guests.
NYE Napkins
I don’t know when I bought this fabric, but it has been awhile. I picked out some fun backing fabrics and whipped these up pretty quickly. We used them right after I made them and I am pleased.
I can’t remember when I finished this pouch, but I did finish it. I remembered to check to see if I showed it to you after I mailed it. Since I haven’t had time to sew lately, I am running out of projects to show you, so I am glad to show you this one.
The zipper, from this angle, looks a little strange, but it works fine. I am not sure why it looks like that, but I will try again harder next time.
Venetia’s Cotton Candy Pouch -interior
The inside is also a Marcia Derse fabric and is really fun. This is the large size. It is big so you can fit a lot in it. I know Venetia brings a large bag to work, so perhaps she can use it for cords or something like that.
I am still thinking about the Odicoat and how to incorporate that substance into more of my bagmaking. From what I know, this pattern doesn’t lend itself to Odicoat application. I’ll have to try it some time. I’d like to try it after I put a pouch together. I will have to try it on a test pouch in case it gets ruined.
Venetia’s Cotton Candy Pouch -interior label
I used another Wunderlabel for this pouch and am pleased to see it not clash with the fabric.
I haven’t had much time to sew lately- just a few minutes here and there. Still, I finished the grey Color Strip blocks and made a couple of pink blocks for the latest Color Strip donation quilt.
In the process of making the scissor cozies, I realized how many of these I have made. I know it is strange to constantly be looking at the various iterations of one particular pattern, but I seem to enjoy it.Scissor cozies are quick gift to make. It is also a unique pouch, so it makes an impressive gift.
Also, one reason, I enjoy making the same pattern over and over is that I am able to improve my skills at making and get a better understanding of the pattern. I am constantly trying to improve my skills and I find making one pattern a few times helps with that.
Sue’s Scissor Cozy
Maria’s Scissor Cozy #2
Cyndi’s Scissor Cozy
Leaf Scissor Cozy
Scissor Cozy for Gerre
Scissor Cozy for Maria
Scissor Cozy for Julie
Mom’s Scissor Keeper
It’s fewer than I thought, but still a good number.
I showed a friend the Skeleton Hackney I made before Christmas. She really liked it so I offered to make her one. I am in the process of making about 6-8 Hackneys and one more will be easy.
The inside is a pink from a line that has been hanging around my workroom for a long time. It is one of those fabrics I love and am reluctant to use because a better project might come along for which I need it. I am trying to get over that feeling and use the good fabrics. There is always more fabric, right?
Hand Bone Hackney
I have the lid on, but not the bottom, which you can see above.
I decided to center the hand bones rather than the skull this time. That means I ended up with two skulls on the top.
Hand Bone Hackney Handle
I have the handle on, but I am not sure I have that step in the right place. Remember the pattern does not include a handle, so I had to hack it.
My friend saw it in process and was thrilled. I just need to find some time to finish it. I don’t have much more to go, so it shouldn’t take very long.
I am slowly making my way through this block. It seems to be taking forever.
This is one of the larger rosettes and I changed a few fabrics, which is part of the reason it is taking longer.
It’s hard to watch others in the group putting their entire quilts together. I keep reminding myself that it is not a race. Also, I ripped out some so I could piece a woven motif in the larger pentagons. I forgot, which I why I had to rip.
At Sew Day, I worked on creating the letters for Artquiltmaker. I thought this was a good task for Sew Day. I had a big table and could spread out all sorts of papers, tools and implements so I could work efficiently. It took me the better part of 3 hours (maybe 4) to get the words out, but I was able to get it done.
Who Am I? letters in process
The letters are not quite as good as I wanted. For one thing, the A is backwards. I don’t know how that happened. I have very high standards and I decided to be satisfied.
Friend Julie liked them and she is much less judgemental of my work than I am, but would tell me if I was off track.
Who Am I? letters placed
After I cut them all out, it took me a little while to place them.I wanted them at a certain angle, so I fiddled a bit to get them right.
Then I fused everything in place and they were ready to stitch.
Once they were placed and fused, I spent some time satin stitching them down. I didn’t stitch the entire word down. I needed to take a break and was hoping to finish a bag on which I am working.
I talked a little about the random things we did and saw in Portland the other day. There were also several bags that I have made which made the trip with us.
My Take a Stand in the wild
I didn’t want to bring A Place for Everything, which would have carried everything, but it is big. I was trying not to bring my entire workroom, so I brought my Take a Stand/Without a Trace bag. Using the supplies I fit in this bag, I knew I would be able to work on La Pass Month 18. In it I stuffed my La Pass Sew Together Bag. To carry my La Pass thread, I brought the Inside Outside pouch, pattern from Aneela Hoey. Both of these bag fit snugly in the Take a Stand.
La Pass Sew Together Bag in use
I keep the Sew Together Bag handy when I am working on La Pass, because it has everything I need. I know it is hard to see what is going on, but trust me, it is super useful.
We stopped to stay with Mary and Michel on our way home. Mary wants to make this bag and we spent a lot of time talking about the construction.
It was useful to have everything I needed fitted into the Take a Stand. I knew nothing would fall out, so I didn’t have to worry. I also didn’t have to change bags in order to make everything fit.
Mom’s Take a Stand
Mom also brought her Take a Stand. I am not 100% sure what was in there, but it was hanging around the house.
She also brought her Percheron Pouch with her, which I didn’t photograph in situ. She used it a lot. It houses a crochet project I bought for her that she has been working on for quite awhile. She had a big space she could use to lay the piece out so she could see what she was doing. If I remembered the pattern, I would share, but I don’t.
