Changing Directions

The neighborhood quilting group will meet today and that means I had a deadline to get some handwork prepped.  I had been procrastinating on appliqueing the borders for my Kim McLean pattern, so a deadline was a good thing.

 

Two borders have been readied for applique.  Then, I found myself searching and searching and searching some more for my applique threads.  I finally located them in a very logical location, just not one I thought to check for the better part of an hour.  I think I need to do some clean up and organization in my sewing space!

 

This week we are expecting to see three consecutive days of 100+ degree weather.  If that happens, it will be a very early start to our summer temps.  Maybe the weather people are wrong.  We can only hope.

My Quilt Show Loot

As I mentioned last week.  I indulged in some retail therapy at the Guild’s recent quilt show.  One of our charter members, a prolific quilter, broke up housekeeping last year in order to move closer to family.  She donated a massive amount of quality fabrics, kits, books and notions to the Guild and various local charities.  This was in addition to what other members donated to the silent auction, boutique and Bits and Pieces sale.

My purchases included several $1 fat quarters and other sized fabric cuts. 

 

The tote bag was my most expensive purchase, but it saved me from having to construct another one.

 

Also, a magnetic pin and bobbin organizer plus more fabric marked down 50 percent the second day.  The blue fabric is a six-yard cut that will be usable as a backing, and the two potholders were ones I had donated.

 

And from Bits and Pieces, I spent a grand total of $2.50 for a notebook full of sheet protectors, patterns and reference materials plus three templates.  I’ll keep some of the notebook contents, and use the sheet protectors for filing some of my own archived patterns.

In other news…

 

My three-year-old miniature rose survived the winter and bloomed this spring!

 

When I checked on why the dogs were so excited one morning, I saw this floating by.

 

And, another 1,000-piece puzzle was finally completed.  This one included quilts!

 

Quilt Show!

Our Guild held its biannual quilt show this weekend.  It is not a judged show, but ribbons are awarded to the three highest ranked “people’s choice” votes.  The show also marked the Guild’s 25^th anniversary.

 

Third place went to this panel with exquisite quilting.  I hope clicking on it will give a better view of her quilting skills.

 

Here is a picture of her story card.

 

Second place was awarded to this Wiliam Morris design using French General fabric.

 

Second place story card.

 

My photograph does not do justice to the first-place winner.  I knew it would get my vote the moment it saw it. 

 

Read the story card to see why it was so well received.

 

I love the personalized blocks in the border!

 

Of course, I engaged in some retail therapy.  I may include pictures of my loot in a future post along with more quilt pictures.

 

 

Here is the photo of the completed tumbler quilt that I forgot to post last week.  It now hangs with its pieced backing in my to-be-quilted closet.  I began this project in October 2022 and it is entirely hand-pieced using the English Paper Piecing method.  Each tumbler finishes at 1 ¾ inches high.  The base measures 1 ¾ inches and the top is 7/8 inch.  Someday I’ll pull it off the hanger and figure out how many tumblers are in it,

 

A few more 16-patches made it to the design wall.

 

I’ve begun putting together the patio garden we can see from our breakfast nook.  The begonia was my big splurge this spring.  The ice plant, baby begonias and coleus were wintered over indoors.

 

And finally, I hope all my Christian friends had a blessed Easter.  This tatted cross was made by one of my aunts.

Not Much to Report This Week

A very nasty stomach bug got both of us this week and everything came to a standstill as we dealt with it.

Ony a few 16 patches were completed in the sewing arena before it hit.

I did finish this 1,000-piece puzzle that I had been working on for several weeks.  It was in a sealed container, so I guess I was the one who lost the missing piece on the dalmatian.  It certainly is hard to get a photo of these puzzles without losing a lot of the image to glare.

Other than that, nothing to report for the past week other than we are having days in the mid-90s on a regular basis.  I’m hoping this week will be more productive.  The quilt we are finishing for my deceased friend goes to the long-armer tomorrow, so I have a deadline to get the backing pieced.  We are also expecting Bob’s brother to stop by Tuesday and Wednesday on his way back to Wisconsin.  There will be a Guild meeting Wednesday.

 

Two Quilt Top Finishes

The quilt top for my deceased friend is finished.  I took it to the Tuesday gathering to let everyone see it and to get a picture.  The pattern is "Windsong" by Wing and a Prayer Design.  The colors are much prettier than what the photo shows.  It is 108 inches square and my home design wall is too crowded and too small to pin it there.  An order arrived last week with the remaining fabric needed for the backing and I will either cut it here or, perhaps tomorrow, at the place where the Tuesday group meets.

 

I finished appliqueing the border to my tumbler quilt top this weekend.  I’ll try to get a full picture of it for next week’s post.

 

I may be chasing another squirrel in the near future.  We’ll see if I give in.

 

One measley little 16-patch made it to the design wall.

In other news, we had an entirely unexpected freeze this morning!  Apparently, the alert to protect plants was issued in the wee hours of the morning.  Fortunately, my baby plants appear to have survived and we will be on a warming trend this week.

 

Difficult Week

Sunday, last week, began with a call from my pastor informing me that one of me dearest friends, a quilting buddy no less, had passed unexpectedly.  The rest of the week passed in a blur as I tried to process this new reality and offer what assistance I could to the family.  Our circle of quilty friends pulled together to prepare meals, gather photographs, supply information for the obituary, spread the word and attend the funeral. 

 

A member in our Tuesday group provided an arrangement so “her spot” would not be vacant that first week.

 

At her husband’s request, the Tuesday group will be completing a project she had almost finished.

 

Other than a few 16-patch blocks practically no sewing of my own was done, and that only as a calming mechanism.