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.