Another Post - Another Password

Today I laid the last stitch to finish my "Scrappy Nines" from Pat Wys' book, Spotlight on Neutrals. When Pat tells you to lay the seams open on all those nine patches, take her  seriously! They finish at 1 inch so those seam allowances can be quite thick! Pressing is half your success in piecing a flat quilt. 

I like the quilting pattern we chose. It is a random square stipple-type design. I feel somewhat limited in the designs I can pick from (read - pantographs). At present I am just happy to have these quilts completed, but in time, I hope to develop some confidence in picking out and using some unique quilting designs.

Of course my ultimate goal is to machine quilt these myself with custom designs. I am looking at the Juki TL2010Q machine. Do you have any experience with this machine? I am very interested in hearing what you think! This year's sewing expo will have a Juki dealer on site. I am anxious to attend this event and test drive this machine.

So let this be another official finish! On the wall she goes! 

The colors work well in this room. Maybe I should keep this one....

Another finish is Thimbleberrie's Summer Day. This quilt was a project at "quilt camp" in 2008. A very simple pattern but has such pretty fabrics that I really like the end result. 

It measures at 100" x 120". I'll have to piece the backing but I have a few extra blocks and extra fabric from the top. I will make a few pinwheel blocks, sew them into a row and add to the backing to make it wider. Off to the long-arm quilter to finish. Yay!


Some other projects I have been working on are little rice bags for the grandchildren to cuddle up with at night to keep warm. I have an Ohio State University fan, a few Iron Man wannabes, and darling girls who love pink and purple! 
 

I used Jasmine rice to fill these bags because it is known for being fragrant. They are all made with muslin and the covers are made with soft flannel and basted closed. So if they become soiled, the covers can easily be removed, washed, and basted closed again. I did not think of it until I was finished but I should have added some dried lavender buds to the mix. Perhaps after this next growing season I can break them open and add some. Do you know if lavender will break down after repeated zaps in the microwave? Maybe this is not such a good idea. Any suggestions?
 
I also made a little Doc McStuffins coat/jacket for my youngest grand-daughter using a nice white twill fabric. The pattern I used was simply a shirt pattern that I lengthened to mid-thigh length.  I found a cute graphic of a band-aid and will print this, along with her name on fabric that has been pressed on freezer paper. That's right! It goes right through the printer! I will then cut it out and applique it on the front side to personalize. Combined with a purple hairband she will be ready for play!

She has not seen this yet so this is why it is pictured on a hanger. I am so anxious to see her smiles, and spy on her playtime as she mends her stuffed animals. Doc McStuffins is such a sweet pre-school program!

The weather is beginning to warm up and I have onions and peas planted in the garden plot.  That also means time will be divided between working outside and sewing. (I wish I had a housemaid and a cook). My count is progressing though, so hopefully when it becomes too hot to work outside I will be back at the Unfinished Projects.

Another Snow Storm - Another Finish

March is not going out like a lamb here. We are expecting another accumulation of snow tonight and I got the motivation to finish my Border Creek Mystery quilt from 2013. It needed the two final borders to be sewn on. This quilt finished at 78" x 78" and I was stalling on its finish as I contemplated purchasing more of the border print to make it larger. It is finished though and it will make a nice large throw over the bed.

I love the fabrics that were chosen - Moda's Cinnamon Spice by Blackbird Designs. The colors are soft muted shades and the fabrics handle so nicely. Just like all Moda fabrics! I found a nice dark green mini print that will be used as the backing. It was in the clearance room at 40% off so I could not resist. Off to the long-arm quilter to be officially completed!

Another finish that I made mention of in my last post was Lori Smith's sampler. This quilt was a block of the month at our local quilt shop. The setting for this quilt was originally with blocks arranged in rows of 3 x 4 with sashes separating them. I liked this setting much more and again it made a square quilt. 

The colors are richer than what is pictured here. And the border fabric is a mustard yellow. I had enough border fabric so I made the backing entirely using the left overs. It matched nearly perfectly so it is hard to find the seams joined together. Perhaps I will make some pillow shams but...I don't want to get too cutesy! What do you think?  Either way, It is going on our bed in May.

It feels good to have a change in "scenery" in the sewing room. The design wall is ready for the next project to be hung up to inspire me. I'm not going to "wonder" too long on what to work on. Momentum is still humming!