#12 Blue – Green – Peach Sampler

So far so good.  Almost finished with the clam shell block.  Not sure why I felt threatened by this block all those years ago.  Got it under control now.   When I finished  this block I have a goose in the pond block, a paper pieced pineapple block, and a block called snow crystals, but I might substitute it with carpenters wheel.  Then set it all together.  Woohooooo.  Racking up UFO empty tubs.

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# 7 Completed up at bat is # 12

It’s done!!!!  This came in at the 11th hour.  I can’t believe I procrastinated on this one until the last minute.  Sorry no applique on this one.  Plan on putting fun quilting on it.  It will make a great sofa quilt and cuddle quilt for the kitties.    It was fun the see how all the scrappy fabrics would work together.  That’s always a challenge for me.  Visualizing the finished product.    I’m pleased with it.

Signed up for 5 k have to get out and gear up for it.

Onward now to # 12 which is a sampler with a center medallion that is specially quilted.  This was designed in 1987 with special hand quilting in mind.  I was not into machine quilting at that time.  The only people I knew playing around with machine quilting were Harriet Hargrove and Diane Gaudowski.  I can’t spell either of their names.  But they started out short arm quilting and I really admire their foresight.  The blocks are 16″ and I have this awful theme of blue and peach and green.  Keep in mind everything was mauve and blue at that time so I was trying to be different with peach and blue I guess.  I have 4 16″ blocks to make and sew them all together.  The kicker is I have only a hand drafted diagram of the quilt and not actual patterns.  In the classes if I remember correctly the pattern was passed around and we traced them onto our template material.  Yeah, mylar template material and hand traced  (no rotary cutter yet)  and hand cut out then machine sewn.  I had to rely on my pencil marks for seam allowances and I did not have 1/4″ presser foot yet.  So what a walk down memory lane on # 12.  I’ve got to figure out the blocks to make then draft my own blocks for 16″ size.  That’s okay,  it just means I’ll have one more empty tub!!!!!!

Also getting ready for AQS in Paducah, KY.  It’s a 5 hr drive for me.  Got my hotel room reserved, my tickets to the show arrived.  All I have to do is pack my bags and gas up the car!!!!  I am so looking forward to seeing the awe inspiring creations.  Can’t wait.

Will post new photos in a day or two.

See ya later.

Sissy

The Lucky Number for March is 7 – Kim Diehl pattern “Late Bloomers”

After sewing madly for two months, I took a week off and watched you tube videos on short arm machine quilting.  I also discovered a plethora of videos for my Bernina 550 QE.  I purchased my dream machine last summer and we are still getting acquainted.  So finding 66 videos covering basics to advanced usage was a real boon.  I had taken a machine quilting class at my local shop and came away a little overwhelmed but encouraged.  After watching a couple of short arm videos I practiced with my BSR and executed a respectable feather and filler background.  Not quite ready to tackle a full size project just yet but getting closer.

Yesterday, 6 inches fresh powder.  Yuck, so over winter.  Ready for spring but looks as if it’s weeks away.

So today cutting into 30 fat quarters (which I determined have to come out of my stash – cannot purchase new) for this cute scrappy project.  It’s a perfect size for a sofa quilt.  I really like draping quilts over the back of my sofa.  I originally saw this quilt in Better Homes and Garden American Patchwork & Quilting April 2012 and fell in love with it.  The pattern came with the magazine.  Then for some strange reason I purchased Kim Diehl’s book last fall 2014 with this same quilt in it.  I guess I REALLY like it.  I had a tub that I had started collecting fabrics to make this which relegated it as UFO status so on my list it went for 2015.  Now I am making it.  YEAH….. not just a dreamer (nicer than procrastinator) but a quilt top maker.

I am hoping to get this one completed ahead of time so that I can forge ahead with one of my other UFO projects.  I have many more that are not on the list for 2015.  I am already planning my list for 2016.  I can be such a geek.

Till next time.

Sissy