Red White Blue and Christmas

A few weeks ago I showed my design wall with a mixed up bunch of red, white, and blue blocks.  This is what I came up with.

I'll donate this to Quilts of Valor next week. 

 The backing idea came from /http://www.maryquilts.com/off-center-4-patch-backing/.  The backing and border fabric was given to me, but the patches and squares for the top were leftovers just waiting to be used. And of course I quilted my favorite swirls. 

 Add a label, finish binding,  a pillow case, wash/dry, then it'll be ready to go!

It was Christmas in June for customers!  

Marilyn's Flurry 

Quilt Basket Twister

Quilting these curls was so much fun!

Not really Christmas but it could be.

Another Log Cabin for Jean

There's more to share because I haven't taken the time to post lately but this is enough for today.  One of the reasons I haven't been blogging is that I'm mad at Blogger/Google.  I'm not getting all the blogs I subscribe to through Blogger and Google Friend Connect in Google Reader anymore.  Has this happened to anyone else?  I've spent so much time trying to figure it out and I have no clue.  Can you help me?

 I'm linking with Patchwork Times today.  Thanks for stopping by! Look forward to seeing what everyone else has been quilting.  

Susan

Red and Red White Blue

In my last post, I said that I would share more about the Warwick Guild show.  I'm very proud to say that I was awarded a Second Place red ribbon for Moonlit Night. 

Overall the show was terrific!  Our guild has so many talented quilters!  I spent most of the show helping Allan from the Quilt Basket.  I played with the Handiquilter Sweet Sixteen, the sit down longarm machine, and chatted with everyone that passed by on the way to see the quilts.

Over Memorial Day weekend, we were at our house in PA, so I pulled out Star Struck that I blogged about here.  I'll try to remember to take pictures next time.     I remember last year over Memorial Day and July 4th (before I started this blog)  I worked on Quilts Of Valor projects.   I guess it's my way of honoring those who served or are currently in the military, the best way I know how. 

 Yesterday, still in a patriotic mood, I pulled out the leftover Red, White, Blue pinwheels from this quilt.  This is my design wall after I laid them up sort of randomly with some squares of the leftover fabric.  I will see what I can come up with. It doesn't look like much yet, does it? 

It's a nice coincidence that the quilt I just took off the frame is patriotic looking too.  This is Jean's quilt for her granddaughter.  Don't you think it's a great idea for a QOV donation quilt? 

Bloggers' Quilt Festival, Spring 2012

It's Bloggers' Quilt Festival time! 

 Hello to everyone stopping by from Amy's Creative Side.  

Today I am very happy to enter
 Batik Beauty. 

 I have blogged about this quilt several times before but I'm very proud to show it again with a 

 Blue Ribbon hanging on it!

Batik Beauty

I began this quilt in October at a Warwick Valley Quilters Guild (Warwick, NY) workshop,  It was  taught by Linda J. Hahn, of Frog Hollow Designs, using her New York Beauty Simplified book.
 I used batik scraps or pieces I picked up here and there because I really like the color and pattern.  It was pieced and assembled except for the border, so I decided to finished it to enter in our guild show. The curved border was a last minute decision and a new technique for me.  I'm so happy with how it turned out.
 The show was this past weekend and I'm thrilled that it was chosen by the judges for a First Place award!

This picture shows the quilting a little.  I used my Handiquilter Fusion 

with Superior So Fine thread.  It's a combination of freehand and ruler assisted quilting.

I must say that I really loved the whole process of making this wall hanging.
In the class, I learned about paper and curved piecing  and enjoyed the ladies in the group.
 I truly enjoyed the cutting, folding and sewing of the fabrics, playing around with the color placement and layout, dreaming up the quilting designs, and of course the quilting itself.   I even liked making and sewing on the biased binding on the curved border.  It's so nice that every once in a while I finish something of my own and feel really good about the whole process and the end result.  An award just makes it feel even better!

I'm happy to share Batik Beauty for the Bloggers Festival.
 Thank you for stopping by and letting me show and tell.
 I have more to say about our guild show but I'll save that for the next post.

Thank you Amy for hosting this terrific event 

and thank you to all the bloggers sharing their wonderful quilts. 

 I have been looking and getting so inspired! Hope you are too.

Susan

May Mania

So much has been going on in May since I last posted. Here's a recap.

On the 4th, I was very lucky to take a Cathedral Stars class with Bonnie Hunter in Kingston, NY.  I was so excited to meet her!! She's terrific!   The day before class I quilted and bound my Orca Bay Mystery so I could bring it in to class for show and tell.

This is what I made in class  and currently have on my design wall.  I am using Christmas fabrics but I think they are too busy. So yesterday, when I finally got back to work on them, I stayed with more tone on tone neutrals for the four patches.
 

On the 6th, I went to the show in Somers and saw Bonnie's lecture!  I enjoyed seeing her quilts in person, they are even better than the pictures in her books.  She kept everyone enthralled with her amazing quilts and terrific personality.

View of the Somers show

This next picture is of a store sample I quilted recently for the Quilt Basket,

  they had it on display in their booth at the show.   It was featured on the store blog as well.  

I finished Moonlit Night just in time to turn in on the 8th, the guild show drop off day.   Judging is  tomorrow and the show is the 19th and 20th. 

 I volunteered that day and saw so many beautiful quilts coming in, it's going to be a great show.

In between all this quilting activity, I made a special dress for my daughter Emily!  Her high school Junior Prom was Saturday night!  I haven't made anything like this in years.  It was interesting to sew and everyone loved it.  

Also, I recently started to work 1- 2  days a week at The Happy Quilter! 

  I'm so "happy" this opportunity came my way. I will continue my quilting business on the days at home.     The owner, staff, and customers have been very welcoming.  And I get to play with fabric and talk quilting all day! 

 Thanks for taking the time to visit!  Hope everyone enjoyed Mother's Day!
Linking with Judy at Patchwork Times, I'm sure there are some interesting projects there today as always.

Quilting for a Show

 Batik Beauty is finished! 

 Only some labels and it's ready for the Warwick Guild show.  This is the first time trying a curved border and bias binding.  I'm so happy with the results.   #11 on my UFO Challenge list is now checked off. 

 

 Also, this is the most quilting I've ever done on one piece.   I like my quilts soft and cuddly, but a wall hanging (it measures 50" x 50") can be a little stiff and full of thread.  

Moonlit Night is the other quilt I entered in the show.  Still on the frame but almost finished and ready for binding.  I must say, I love this quilt! It was on my design wall for months and months while I worked on other projects but I didn't mind because I love the fabric (Moda's Luna Notte) and the pattern (Nice Day by Carrie Nelson).  This is # 9 on my list.  So I'm really working out of order.

A few other sewing and quilting related things are going on here

 but I'll save them for another post when I have more time to write. 

Today I'm linking with Patchwork Times, Small Blog Meet and Quilting by the River Tuesday's.  

Many thanks to everyone who wrote such encouraging comments last week!  I truly appreciate it.

Susan

Batik Beauty on the Frame

A quick post to show what I've been busy with this week. 

   

  I thought I'd be done quilting this by now and working on the binding.  Unfortunately, I've been unquilting,  as well as quilting.  It's different quilting for a show.  I'm being extra careful but still noticing imperfections, then wondering if anyone else will see them.   It's a bit of pressure but I'm also very happy to be finishing something of my own.

I'm in the groove now and hope to have it off the frame in the morning.  Next is a customer quilt. 

 Then I have another of my own to finish for the show.  Pictures of that one next time.

Today I'm linking with Design Wall Monday and Quilting by the River Tuesdays (early).    

Design Wall Monday- Batik Beauty

Batik Beauty

I know I have posted about my New York Beauty before, hope you don't mind seeing it again. 

 I'm getting to work on it today because it's entered in the Warwick Guild show in May!  

So, better spend a little time on it between now and May 8th - drop off day. 

Even though I like it like this, a border of the wine color batik will be added as kind of a frame.  I have a few ideas on how I will quilt it but I'm still thinking through designs and enjoying looking at pictures and books for some inspiration.  

Soon I hope to have pictures to share of this all quilted and ready for the show. 

Of course I will take time later to look at all the Design Walls at Patchwork Times and hope you will too.  

Susan

Liebster Award

Yesterday I was thrilled to receive a Liebster Award from Judy at Shade Tree Quilting. 

 Thank you so much Judy for thinking enough of my blog to send this my way.  I truly appreciate it.  Please visit her blog and the other blogs she chose.  

A Liebster is given by fellow bloggers who have fewer that 200 followers.  Although the beginning of this award is unknown, it is believed to have started in Germany.  Liebster is translated to mean favorite, beloved, or dearest.  I think it's a nice way for smaller bloggers to recognized and appreciate each other. 

There are five rules that come with accepting this award.

1. Please thank your Liebster Blog Award presenter on your blog.
2. Link back to the blogger who awarded you.
3. Copy and Paste the blog award to your blog.
4. Reveal your 5 blog nominees (each with less than 200 followers)
5. Let them know you chose them by posting on their blogs.

Step 4 took a great deal of thought and research.   I usually read blogs on my IPad through  Google Reader so I  don't see all the information on the sides of the blogs.  I really didn't know who has a lot of followers and who had less than 200.  It was interesting to see how everyone has their blogs set up.  Anyway, some of my favorite blogs have more than 200 followers and some didn't show the number of followers at all.
 It was hard to choose just five. Please know that I appreciate all the blogs I follow and everyone who follows me.

  I'd like to present the the Liebster Award to

 Dilly-Dally Days

Sue Daurio's Quilting Adventures

Little Jewel Quilts

Linda's Quiltmania

Tamarack Shack

Please take a few minutes to visit these "favorite, beloved, and dearest " blogs.
 Hopefully they will be pleased to be chosen.
 I wish I could pick more a few more but this award came with rules.

Thanks again Judy

Susan

What's on your Bed?

Bonnie Hunter is hosting a What's on your bed? linky party. 

 It's been going on for a few days and I'm glad I haven't  missed  the deadline.  Our bed is king sized and I haven't made a quilt for it yet    so I'm featuring my daughter's bed.  She usually has a few quilts layered on it depending on the temperature.   I made this quilt for her using Amy Butler fabrics that she picked out and a large, very random, disappearing nine patch pattern.  She wanted it to look modern, not like traditional patchwork.

The rail fence quilt is usually the next on top.  She picked these fabrics and pieced the top with my help.  Yes, I'm trying to get her into quilting.

The next layer used to be on the back of the sofa but somehow ended up in her room. That's okay, because we have other quilts for the sofa.

 and finally her t shirt quilt.  I actually labelled this one. 2008  My first t shirt quilt and one of the first quilts I quilted with my smaller quilting machine.  These are shirts from elementary school years, a beautiful batik and a cosy flannel back.

 I'm joining in at #82 so there are lots of great beds to look at.  Be sure to take a look.

Last but not at all Least.

 I've been been nominated for a Liebster Award!! 

I'm so surprised and thrilled. Thank you so very much  Judy from Shade Tree Quilting for choosing me. More about this award with another post.

About MQX.  I only spent a few hours there this year but it was good. 

 Diane, a good friend of mine, won a blue ribbon! So exciting!  

I was there on Thursday so I looked for Bonnie Hunter, but I didn't see her.  Disappointing.

Enough for now, I'd like to do some piecing.

Susan

Design Wall Monday and Saturday Sewing

 Hope everyone had a good holiday weekend!   

 My design wall is slowly gathering more Four Patch Posie blocks.  

I finally made a decision to use the creamy beige as the inner sashing and got to work on that.  I still like the idea of green for one of the other sashings but I only have a fat quarter of this green.  So I have added more green fabric to my fabric shopping list.  

We spent some time this weekend at our place in Pennsylvania. I have a new to me vintage Singer 301a there and on Saturday I worked on a QOV (Quilts of Valor) project.  I cut it out and started sewing it in January but  haven't touched it since. I did a lot of chain piecing and made some progress.  I am making Bonnie Hunter's Star Struck with fabric I won through a QOV raffle last year at MQX (Machine Quilters Expo).  I was entered because I donated a quilt at the show.  Lucky me.

 I love this machine because it reminds me of the machine I learned to sew with and used when I was very young.  Ours was a beige and cream two toned .  Too bad that machine is long gone.  I found this black one on Craigslist with the cabinet for a good price and it works great. The 301's are similar to a Featherweight without the big price.

This is the beautiful view I had while sewing.  The sun was so nice but don't be fooled, it was chilly outside.  I was cosy warm sitting next to our new pellet stove.  Looking forward to spending more time here as the weather warms up.

Speaking of MQX.  It's this week in Providence, Rhode Island.  The last few years I spent a couple of days there enjoying the show, vendors, and taking classes.  This year it falls on Emily's spring break so I didn't register for classes or make reservations.  She and I plan to go for one day and probably spend the night somewhere around there.  I am always so inspired by the wonderful machine quilting at MQX and wouldn't want to miss it.

Linking with Patchwork Times Design Wall Monday.  Looking forward to seeing all the design wall posts.

Thanks for visiting. 

 Susan

March UFO

Quilt # 8 on my challenge list is a Sudoku quilt. 

 I really didn't work on it this month.  All I did was pull it out of the pile and look at it and think about it.  The top was already finished!   I decided I don't like the backing I bought for it.  Well, I like the fabric, just not with this quilt.  So I will shop around for something new.  Probably a green to go with the sashing.  I've decided I am giving it as a gift in a few months, so now I have a deadline to get to quilted!  I think freehand overall  quilting will be nice on this.  

 

The quilt picked for April is #10.  

That's Bonnie Hunter's Orca Bay Mystery!!! 

 The top is finished and the backing is ready to go!  I am really excited and want to get this quilted.  I loved making this quilt and all the blogging activities that went along with it.   Maybe I will rename this quilt Lakeview.  I had a lot of nice comments whenever I  posted about it.  So many said they thought it looked like a meadow or lake scene.   One of my favorite places is our lake house in Pennsylvania.  I think this quilt may end up living there when it's finished.

I'm linking with the other challengers at Patchwork Times!  Looking forward to being inspired!  

We are celebrating my daughter Emily's 17th birthday today!  

Susan

Quilting and Linking on Tuesday

 Here is a little of what I have been quilting lately.

 This is Pattie's beautiful bargello quilt with my favorite freehand swirl quilting. I had the chance to take this workshop with the Chester quilt group.  Had. I don't remember why I didn't, but after seeing hers I really wish I did!
Pattie planned a bus trip for the day to the Lancaster quilt show last week.  I am so glad I didn't miss it.  A long day but so worth it.

 This next quilt is one I made for Project Linus.  The blue and pink squares were precut in a kit from the charity volunteers in the Warwick guild, then I added some backing and leftover batting from my stash and quilted a quick overall flower pattern.  I hope you can see it.  Then binding, of course.

This bright and colorful quilt was made by Dale.  I quilted loops in a bright orange/red thread.  I don't have a picture of the back but it is a spiderman print.  She is giving it as a gift.  Fun!

Since today is Tuesday I am linking with some new link parties.  Connie's Quilting by the River and Fabric Tuesday at Quilt Story.  I have been looking / lurking at these for a while and decided to join in this week.  I look forward to seeing what everyone else is posting and I hope you will stop by too.  If you are visiting from these links...Thank you!

Until next time,
Susan

Four Patch Play

 Here are a few pictures from my design wall to link with Design Wall Monday. 

 I made a few more four patches for the center of the Four Patch Posie blocks.

I am playing with some different ideas for the sashings and layout. 

 Trying out a few color options.  Thinking of skipping the inner sashing altogether and having them blend in with the outer triangles then adding the outer sashing.

Now for a little of what I have been quilting.

Another Glacier Star, this one made by Joanne. Love her color scheme.  

I'm so happy she let me quilt this for her.  This is mostly freehand and a little ruler work.

And here is Rachel's T shirt quilt.  Her Mom and Aunt picked it up yesterday and really loved it.  Lots of fun memories in this quilt. 

 Close up of quilting and purple backing

So that's what's new for today.  Thanks for taking a look.

Susan