Design Wall Monday

Civil War Diary Quilt, set as pictured in the Farmers Wife book.
I never follow a pattern precisely :)

I have a completed Civil War Diary Quilt top to show. Well, I thought so. It needs to be squared up. After multiple pictures and show and tells, one of my friends pointed out something. "Is this your Amish mistake in your quilt?", she asked. (you know that purposeful mistake to keep you humble, not prideful.)

"ummm, nope, why?" I asked. (because believe me, there are plenty of unintentional mistake in this thing, like blocks not lining up, squares with misplaced colors, etc.)

"Weeeeellll, you missed a sashing bar," she states.

I replied, "I AM SO HAPPY YOU POINTED THAT OUT BEFORE I STARTED TO QUILT IT!"

See that lower left corner? NO sashing bar , easy fix

So I need to add a sashing bar AND square it up. But it is photo worthy. :) I am thrilled.

Civil War Diary Quilt

What am I working on currently? I am in the process of quilting my tops that are stacking up. I have a lil twister tool to use for a quilt. I have several patterns I am working on. Plenty to do. But that day job still gets in the way of my quilting life, :)

Design Wall Monday

100 piece block!

I finished it! This block of the Civil War Diary Quilt has 100 pieces. I think it proved to me that I can make whatever I want if I set my mind to it. You have to click on it to make it bigger to see and count all of the pieces!!!

Perfect 10 pattern used

 This quilt I pieced Friday night and Saturday. It take 10 fat quarters plus. I used the little owl fabrics I have been collecting and I love it. I have to buy some border fabrics. My computer is acting up and eq isn't loaded in it right now. Sooo, the last 18 blocks of the Civil War Diary quilt will have to wait. That's OK, I was getting a little stressed with those tiny blocks. This big block quilt was FUN!

Improvisation Quilt

This quilt has charm packs and panels that I have had for a while. I decided to make a quilt with it that was more modern. I liked the look of many quilts that are pieced together but with a improvisational look. I am making the squares 9 inches and it is working out great. I watched show about architecture in England and they have buildings that were built for their look and called them follies. One is all built with it all threes. So my husband said, when I told him my quilt was based on three and multiples of threes, that this quilt should be named a folly and I agree. So this quilt is named Vicki's Folly. I really like how it is turning out.

Civil War Diary Quilt Block

I have Electric Quilt program up and running again in a more updated computer. I haven't worked on the Civil War Diary Quilt in a few months. This is the second block of row 10. I have only 18 blocks to go. This quilt has a total of 121. I have decided that this quilt is going to be set on point unlike the quilt in the book so I believe that I will have a couple of extra blocks.

I am already planning my next small block quilt The Farmers Wife.

I plan to start in September, anyone else want to join me?

The featured quilt in the book Civil War Diary Quilt

rough idea, see the different borders and setting trianges. I think I like the all white sashing and setting triangles.

Completed this morning before work

Here are the two EQ renderings of the Civil War Diary Quilt. Yesterday on design wall Monday it was the on point quilt that recieved the most votes. I like that one the best myself. The on point setting is a challenge for me... but I am going to do it!

Here are a collection of blocks made this week for the quilt above. They are 6 inch and paper pieced. I have 6 more to make of the 121 blocks featured in the book. I love making these blocks. I have more little blocks in my future.

Civil War Diary Quilt

Today was the beginning of my Civil War Diary Quilt or CWDQ. My goal is to have it pieced in 2010. I love the 6" block size. I learned the basics of paper piecing in a pineapple class this fall. I was afraid to start but it went well. I also used EQ6 to assist me in organizing the blocks and print the patterns on the CD I bought last spring. I need to learn more with EQ6 but it is a learning curve. I am doing more each day using it. LOVE IT!!

I chose 2 easy blocks. I thought I would only get one done this week and I did 2 blocks this morning! 10-1 is the first block and 8-11 is the second block. I am proud of my fussy cut flag in the center of 10-1. Tomorrow I am going to try the block that is Chinese Coins. After I do each block I want to read the the diary entry in the book that inspired each block. Makes history more personal, doesn't it?

I also had to go to something easier so this afternoon I started another curved tote bag for my Mom. Then tomorrow, I am going to make one for me with the Texture magic I have left from my class. So both classes have paid off in learning things I have been using over and over again on my little vacation this week. I feel that I made a good investment. I need to check the class schedule for January to see what else I can learn at the quilt shop.

Next stop, the yarn shop!!

y lo

Block Exchange!

Here are a few pictures of the progress of the Civil War Diary quilt blocks:






For my local friends, I believe our exchange will be in the middle of March. I need to confirm and post the exact date and time. Plan to exchange 12 blocks. I am making 24 or more to have a bigger quilt. Pattern is the bakeshop pattern in the side bar.


I have found a pattern that is taking me several days to piece. The Civil War Diary Quilt has some small blocks that try my patience. I sew a little at a time and put it down.


Our longarm is at the store!!!! My Mom and I will pick it up Saturday and our business is officially started. We are practicing and getting ready to take on customer quilts. Any advice on starting up our business? I am so excited.

Design Wall Monday

Civil War Diary quilt on point setting

I had a nice quiet weekend. I was able to put together the blocks for my Civil War Diary quilt in to rows. They are on point, like the Farmer's Wife quilt. I really like it and think it will look great. I need to decide on the setting triangles color. I may go a light blue. Only 5 more rows to go!

I have put the Farmer Wife on hold. I am so frustrated with it. I am going to buy the paper piecing companion CD when I decide I am ready to try again. Believe me, I have another project, or two,  to finish.

Does any else have neighbor frustrations? I am frustrated with barking/wandering dogs all hours of the day and night, and animal control wont address. I have other neighbors that have a lifestyle and home business that I don't like. They have tons of parties as they are promoting their pole dancing business. Yes, everyone in town knows about it, has seen the "dancing" through the windows and -can you believe it-business cards. I think they are toning down the parties as it is a bit quieter but summer is coming on. I am thinking about what I want to do about this. I think I am going to just keep to myself and it will resolve itself. Maybe I should just be kind. I just can't believe that is legal...ha, I am such an old poop, but think this type of "business" is degrading to women and just, not cool. They rent.


Ending on a positive note, DS, was offered a job at a new fast food restaurant coming to town. I am so happy, jobs for teens are hard to come by in this small rural town because unemployment is so high.

And our taxes are done, finally. We didn't have to pay, that makes me smile!!

Sunday

For the stashbusting report: I used up 1 yard of fabric making half triangle squares for the quilt shop exchange. It is going to be fun. I have until September to turn them in so I want to make a ton. I may even buy more papers. I purchased backing for the sample quilt so that will be loaded on the frame today.

The tote is dwindling and I have about 1 1/4 full. Plus a shoe box of precuts that I am saving for inspiration. I am really getting down to just little pieces again. I have to pitch not useable fabrics soon. I am not into crumbs and any small pieces that are Civil War go into my Civil War diary Quilt stash. That will resume in the winter.

Yesterday was a rainy stay at home and poke around the house day. I was digging in my orphan block pile and realized there was enough to put together a crazy looking quilt. It has test blocks from when I was first learning to quilt, a calendar quilt exchange with my friends, blocks from a pineapple class and other goodies found in the stack. I now have only one orphan block. And a quilt full of memories to load on the frame when I have a lull in the action.

I made a little more complicated block tonight. I thought that it was easier than a block with triangles but it took a long time! I am really feeling more confident with each block I make.

I had questions about my quilt yesterday. The Civil War Diary Quilt is a book written by Rosemary Youngs. There are 121 blocks in the book. They are six inches. I purchased the companion CD that prints the foundation patterns out in EQ6. I have been reading the diary entry from the civil war that inspired the block after I complete it. It is a way to make history come alive.

I am still sticking to the diet and exercise plan. I need to exercise more but I have lost a couple of pounds. The doctor told me I lost 10 pounds last year total. Hey, it is better than gaining!! Now for the next 10.

My little Victory Quilt

This little quilt is roughly 45x38. I love the 6 inch blocks. I am prepping myself for paper piecing and my next challenge. The Civil War Diary Quilt. This is going to be a table topper or wall hanging when quilted. My other little quilts go on chairs and the sofa.

The blocks were from Eleanor Burn's Victory Quilts book. Love her patterns, I can do them!! I usually get lost in patterns and make my own up but not with these. I hope that this little quilt will remind me of my little victory over fears in life.

Here is another little gnome I made this week. I want to make a summer centerpiece with the little guys in them. I am machine quilting the edges of my 4 patch posie. Hope to be finished this weekend. I am going to jump in and machine quilt my road to the White House. I have a box of blocks to be a top-the Calendar quilt 2, orphaned blocks and panels I purchased for place mats. I better get a move on!!

I sewed the borders on my orphan block quilt. I need to think of a better name for it, don't I? I found this fabric in Texas when my daughter was graduating in the spring. This border fabric has all the colors of the quilt in it, I knew I would find the perfect project for that wild fabric!!

I have been binding up all the quilts here. I had 2 quilts from last spring I thought I needed to sew binding on. Nope, just hand stitch the binding. Then I have 4 more table runners to hand stitch and the mountain is conquered!! I took inventory and I have 4 quilts to get on the long arm and quilt. I am the most caught up ever. I want it to stay that way. I have goals to finish my Civil War Diary Quilt, the second Victory quilt I have started and begin a long journey with Dear Jane in 2011.

Yesterday, my husband had a terrible day. There was an error made in our checking account with a company that made an unauthorized charge. Boo, creative money handling and we are all OK. Then his mother went to the ER and is in the hospital with her lung disease. And to top it all off, DS bought a itunes card. It was missing when we got home from the store. I went back and it wasn't in the parking lot. It had slipped in between the cup holder and the console in my van. I thought I could pop a storage drawer out, but no I jammed it. DH saved the day by fixing the drawer and finding the itunes card. Poor guy, he needs a great day today.

So starting today it will be a more normal week for me around here. I have a bit of a cold so I skipped Mondays workout and I need to go today. I have one violin student on Thursday. Tonight I am going to pin a small quilt of Mom's on the frame and try a new stitch. Then Friday we are going to the high school football team's homecoming. Ahhh, back to the good old routine, I love it. Quilting, knitting and sewing makes it all better.

Sunday stash report

I purchased one charm pack, Moda Civil War Homefront to go with my dwindling Civil War Diary Quilt. My reproduction fabrics are dwindling fast!!

I have sewed about 1/2 yard of blocks this week. I have about a stash that is 1 and 1/4 totes. I am waiting for the long arm quilter to be delivered, it was snowed in last we knew somewhere in the Midwest. Boy do I have the quilt tops to practice on. I have some concern that I will be any good at this but then I remind myself I can do it on my regular sewing machine.

And if you read my previous posts, my Happy Anniversary weekend was visited by a kidney stone for my husband. He is still having problems. We are still in a hotel and did what we wanted but he has felt better, believe me. We are heading home today.

When I get home I am jumping on the Quiltathon with Judy, see what everyone else is up to a Patchwork Times.

Sunday Stash Report and the return to normal

This was a very good week for using the fabrics I have on hand. I made 4 tote bags that used about 8 yards of fabric total. Here is a picture of my tote bag. Note the use of Texture Magic on the contrasting color at the bottom. It was extra effort that was well worth it.

I am going to measure my useage of fabrics by my full tote. It holds 73 quarts by the label. It is full. Plus, I have a stash of gifted preprinted panels in my closet. I would like to use up half of a tote. I had a goal last year to have half of a tote and I was very close, then I had several occasions (Happy Birthday, Merry Christmas, etc.) happen where I was gifted fabric and purchased some sale items. Full tote!! Yea me, I have lots of beautiful fabrics.

I am glad that I used up so much fabric last year. I really don't have a huge stash of fabrics. I just want to not recklessly purchase items without a plan. I will need to buy fabrics for backing and borders. I don't have a lot of large pieces or yardage of fabrics.

I plan to use up my civil war fabrics by making a Civil War Diary Quilt. I have several yards of repro fabric for the sashings and maybe enough for the back that I used a Christmas gift certificate on.

If I get that pieced this year, then I want to make a Farmer's Wife Quilt. My mom recieved this wonderful book and CD from a friend. It is so pretty, a must for my list of things to make. Dear Jane will have to wait and I need more paper piecing skills.

Today I pieced three blocks of the CWDQ. I threw one away after I ripped it so many time I cut a hole in it. Crap!! The other block has an error in the piecing (I swear I followed the numbers and they were wrong!!) But, I learned many things and I will use the blocks pictured. I made the eight pointed star yesterday.

The living room was returned to normal this afternoon once the tree and Christmas decorations were put away. Tomorrow is back to work after a 2 week staycation. Back to the normal routine. Sigh, up at 5 am tomorrow, that is going to come very early.

Quilted items

I did finish machine quilting the Road to the White House quilt. I am excited that I have learned a lot doing this quilt. I have some issues with the back but I will keep working on it. Smaller items I have quilted are better. Yes, I have several more smaller ones to quilt. Don't most of us has more to finish??

I am thinking about several new tops with fabrics I have purchased. I have the concentration to get cracking on my Civil War Diary quilt. My thyroid issues made focusing hard so I put that on the back burner. I also am signing up to take a Pineapple class with 2 methods being taught, I think I will get more experience with paper piecing. I am still in the beginning stages of learning for that.

Basting is still an issue as you can see with the photo of the puckers on the back of my quilt. Practice, practice, practice I think is the solution.

Maybe Santa will consider a small long arm????

Sunday Stash Report

Sunday Report

Purchased Fabric: 2 yards on sale at $4 a yard and a Valentine Charm pack from Moda. Couldn't pass it up at the Quilt shop

None out.

Tote is full but not spilling over. I am going to make my goal to have 1/2 tote of scraps.

Here is the picture with the mistake in my assembly of the Comfort Quilt. I didn't follow the directions well enough, but it wasn't costly in fabric just time. It needed a couple of lattice strips added and then the setting triangles. I found the mistake adding the last triangle on the corner. It was a grrrrr moment but this was my first attempt at an on point setting, so I shouldn't have expected to go perfectly.

And here is the finished product.

On to a 6 inch block quilt from the Victory Quilt book by Eleanor Burns, the sampler and my first attempt at smaller blocks. I am going to keep getting smaller and smaller. I will need to learn paper piecing next then the Civil War Diary quilt by the end of the year.

Happy Easter all!!

I've been busy!

I must be feeling better because I am getting things done and I don't need a nap afterwards! I have a clean house and laundry is caught up. Yeah for stay-cations and not having to work. I even tackled 2 rooms that are the guys domain. They are less cluttered and clean. Do you have those rooms in your house that you just shut the door too? Ours is the office- too much stuff in it. The other room is the guest room/video game room. It wasn't bad like the office, just need a bit of work. I also did a bit of shopping, hit some sales. I purchased some fabric samples. I did find some clothes on sale that actually fit for summer.

Yesterday I went to a quilt show about 40 miles from here. It was great! Inspirational. I am not into the day glow colors or Batiks that seemed all the rage. Forgot the camera so no pictures. I saw many traditional to minis to art quilts. I also saw a paper piecing demo done by the quilt shop in my town. (PS Did I tell you the Quilt shop is just across the street and down 4 doors? Dangerously close, I must stay disciplined to bust the stash but this was not the week for that.)

I decided to tackle a Cardinal block. I was home sick last winter and saw the Fons and Porter show on PBS. The block was demo'd and is a freebie here:

http://www.fonsandporter.com/userdocs/FonsandPorter/TVShows/fp1306_4x6Cardinal.pdfs

Ugh, it was harder than the demo and TV show but I managed a result. Not perfect, but I learned a lot. I used the stitch/flip method. I sewed the first block totally backwards with the seams on the right sides, duh!! The mess pictured is what I had to clean up after I finally had one little bird made. I am trying another bird tomorrow. Maybe it will come faster. I have to master paper piecing because my next project is the Civil War Diary quilt then ultimately Dear Jane.

Here is a photo of my first attempt at the 60 degree ruler table runner and place mats. OK- not perfect but I will be creative in the finishing to hide the not so perfect lines. I had several attempts at the runner and this is the best with much easing. I think a larger stripe or border print may be a better choice next time.

Off to cut some blocks for my pieced raggy shower curtain.

Edit on Sunday: I did more research and found out my problem in the striped runner. I put 3 triangles on the end and it only requires 2 triangles and angle cut on the long pieces (I used straight edges on them). Ok, deep breath, tomorrow I will try again to correct this, I purchased extra fabric just in case! Yea for sale fabrics!!