Another start??

I forgot I committed to another Block of the Month program back in December until it arrived in the mail recently. I could not resist Di Ford's new mystery quilt called "Mountmellick", named after a town in Queen's County, Ireland. Mountmellick was well known for textiles in the 19th century and Di Ford is well known for her antique Old World designs, so I am certain this will be a thrill to work on. 

Block One is 20 inches square with a basket and broderie perse flowers appliqued. Little half inch flowers (hexagons) are appliqued in the corners so I will be trying the English Paper Piecing techniques. I'll post some pictures when I actually get these pieces together. I hope to have them ready for applying on Super Bowl Sunday.

Two quilts have been sent out to the machine quilter and I expect them back sometime in March. I already have the binding cut and the labels completed, ready to attach. I'll post pictures when they are officially finished.

It has been a record cold January here in Ohio and this week we experienced "snow rolls" one morning. An amazing but rare weather phenomena where the wind actually blows the snow into rolls. They were numerous! Our neighbors had what looked to be hundreds. Here is a view of our backyard. 

They look like toilet paper rolls, don't they?


I finished a table topper last week made from a few vintage pinwheel blocks I had saved years ago. I do not even remember where I got these. Most likely from an auction or garage sale. I alternated the blocks with plain muslin blocks and added a small border. It is hand quilted and now sitting on the dining table looking appropriate (blue) during these cold months. So this was an unexpected finish. I'll tick this one off my list!

I do not consider myself a expert hand quilter but here is a closeup of the blocks showing the old style fabric. I do not know what the original maker used for the plain triangles but it was a tight weave and I could feel the difference in drag on my needle. I wonder what she had planned for these blocks...or maybe they were extras from another project. I can only hope she would be pleased that they are now used in something pretty on our table.



So back to the sewing room to add the borders on the last year's Border Creek Station Mystery Quilt using Moda's line, "Cinnamon Spice" fabrics. I am very happy with how this quilt came together, but I wish it was a little larger as it finishes at 77" square. It will make a nice Christmas throw and I have already purchased backing fabric so once the borders are on, it is on its way to be quilted too! 

Border Creek's mystery for this year was a temptation to begin. The fabric line they are using is 3 Sister's "Vin du Jour" but no more BOMs until I get these other projects finished! Isn't that what this blog is about??

I like the word, 'distracted". That is what it is - I get "distracted". This year is the year for no distractions and to focus on the goals I have set. It will feel so good to achieve!!

I hope you are accomplishing your goals and staying warm this winter. It will soon enough be spring and then we will be splitting time sewing with the outdoor chores.  So let us make good use of this time and -  "Let it snow, let it snow, let me sew!" 

An Easy First Finish for 2014

I am so happy to have this one done. It was nicely machine quilted by Dottie at Just Quilt It Quilt Shop and is presently hanging in her shop as a "sample". The pattern is El Dorado Canyon and the fabric line is Stonehenge's Woodland.

I've been wanting to make something using these fabrics so when Dottie asked me to sew this one up I was thrilled. 

For the label I used one of the tree sections from the border, then using a pigma pen, I added the verse from Psalm 1, "He who meditates and delights in God's law is like a tree planted by the rivers of water. Whatever he does will prosper." (my paraphrase) 

 
Then, of course I add my name, date, and hometown. 


The label on Abigail's quilt has the priests blessing from Numbers 6:22-27. I made four miniature pinwheel blocks with leftover fabrics from the top. This fabric is one of my favorites because it is the scraps of a maternity blouse I made when expecting Sarah, Abigail's mother. Unfortunately, I cannot find a photo of this quilt finished. I'll have to take a shot the next time I am visiting for my scrapbook. Do you have pictures of all your quilts too?

Bonnie Hunter's Christmas Lights Mystery Quilt was completed a couple of years ago and I gave it to my niece. Here I made a label for the back using a simple nine patch block and included my rubber stamp of a girl doing her needlework.

So labels can be as simple or ornate as you desire. I think using leftover scraps and a miniature block that compliments or replicates a piece of the front is a fun addition to the work. Ideally, it would be perfect to have the label attached to the backing before it is quilted but by stitching it on afterwards I am sure it is where I want it, and is square to the edges. Once it is "appliqued" on, I use accent quilting stitches to secure it in the middle without going through all the layers.

I hope you are motivated to create your own original labels for your quilts. It is never too late to add them. Have fun, and share your work with us.

Looking Forward in 2014

I love new years! The Christmas decorations and tree is packed away. The house is swept and clean. Pork & Sauerkraut are roasting in the oven and filling the house with the smells of an upcoming delicious dinner. And the sewing room is ready for some focused work! We are expecting a winter storm and I have the song stuck in my head that goes,

"Well, the weather outside is frightful, but my fabrics are so delightful. I have no other place to go. Let it snow, let it snow, LET ME SEW!"

In the sewing room, I went through the cupboards and drawers and took inventory of all the works in progress, blocks, quilts needing only the borders, quilts needing quilted and binding put on, and unopened kits. I am so thankful to be blessed with so much. But I am also so convicted to be a better steward of my time and gifts that I seriously need to clean up, finish up, give up, and move on. 

So this new year, in 2014, my goal is to finish 12 items! I feel this is a realistic goal as there are a few items that should finish rather quickly.  My motivation and accountability will be to get them completed and journal the progress here. The only fuzzy part of this challenge is defining what completed is. I am happy to have the top finished and ready to be sent out to be quilted, so if I only make it that far, then I will be satisfied. Please forgive me if I am wimping out.

Today, the project in my lap is the El Dorado Canyon quilt I have pictured in a previous post. I picked it up yesterday at the machine quilter's and today I am stitching on the binding. This is the ONLY easy project that counts towards the 12 to reach my goal. Is that fair? 

I really enjoy attaching bindings. I really enjoy handwork. In high school, I made my homecoming gown with an over-skirt of chiffon that had a hand-rolled, bias hem of what seemed like 20 yards! We only had an old Kenmore sewing machine, and I didn't have a clue how to use the hem rolled presser foot (if there even was one). The tension on that machine was so fickle it would have likely ate the sheer fabric anyway, so to save the frustration, I hand stitched it and LOVED the process! It took me a week working in the evenings. How I now wish I learned to quilt at 17!!

To make the binding, I cut my binding at a width of 2.5 inches, across the width of the fabric. I prefer cutting along the length of the fabric because it has no stretch but this time I did not. I do not use bias binding nor do I make bias binding, even though it really wears the best. I sew the lengths of binding together on the bias and trim the dog ears. This is so there is no bump when turning it over and stitching it down to the back of the quilt. I love the look of mitered corners. To see how this is done, you can check out a video on YouTube. It is not complicated but would be for me to explain the process here.

Fold over your binding and blind stitch to the back. I try to keep my stitches about 3/8 inches apart except smaller around corners and seams. How about you? Are yours smaller? Larger? I certainly do not want a "toe-catcher" but I guess it depends on the expected use of the quilt. A child's quilt would have heavy use and frequent washings.

I found Roxanne applique needles at the quilt store and I am in love. They glide through the fabric like a hot knife through butter!

Once the binding is finished, I will make my label, attach it, and cross this one off my list! BOOYAH! And happy new year!

Making labels will be a good subject for my next post.