The challenge quilt

I'm so pleased to report that I have completed my challenge quilt for http://lazygallibamish2010.blogspot.com/ This quilt was a really big task for me. First, I researched Gee's Bend quilts and Amish quilts. I actually went to the library and looked in their reference books. I decided that Amish Bars pattern and some Gee's Bend quilts had a lot in common. The rules of Lazy Gal's Challenge were no rulers, templates or rotary cutters. And use a lot of solid colors. I found cutting long strips of fabrics using only scissors and by eye was difficult, unless I decided to simply have fun with it. You know that saying, "don't stress the small stuff." I pulled out a bunch of scraps for the scrappy row that I made going down the whole quilt. Then I used the size that that came out to be for the approximate length of the strips. If the strips were too long, I chopped them off, and if too short, I did what Gee's Bend quilt ladies do, and added a scrap to the edge. The edges of the quilt were quite uneven. So instead of quilting, I tied with size 10 crochet cotton. I use a curved needle when I tie a quilt. I think I ended up with what the quilting books politely call a "utility quilt." I didn't actually know if I liked this quilt all the way through the creating process. It was only after I finished hemming down the grey binding on the outside edge, that the full impact of the quilt was apparent. You know what, I decided that I like it just as well as any other quilt I have made!

Embroidered Thanksgiving wall hanging

Good news, I finished hand-embroidering and hand-quilting this wall hanging. I'm giving it to my daughter to use for a decoration this Thanksgiving. She's the one who makes the delicious meal (I help a little bit) at her house every year! A big crowd of family and friends enjoy it so much.

I bought this pattern from http://www.memesquilts.com/ It's supposed to be made into a pillow--but it's the right size for a wall hanging. I need to purchase a curtain rod or a dowel for the back, and I have a nice cord for hanging it up.

I'm really trying to get my projects finished by the New Year--I have that flannel quilt to put together, and I'm still tying the quilt that I made for http://lazygallibamish2010.blogspot.com/

There's always knitting and crocheting, but I refuse to count that stuff. Needless to say, I do get those done as I go along, but I'm always starting more! And I'm always making a hat for charity. Those hat projects fit into my purse, and I bring them along to work on when I go out.

Well, I got really tired of struggling with the postings and I reset my blog to the old method of posting. I wish that Google wouldn't put out "new" stuff until they get the bugs out!!

Stars Baby Quilt

Here's my Star quilt, all completed! I'm quite pleased with the result. Now I'm going on to the next project, which is making a flannel quilt. It is intended to be for a donation, and I'm using some of the flannel scraps that I have hanging around here--as it were. I promised for a Challenge on Pieces From my Scrapbag Blog which is http://finnleah.blogspot.com

that I would complete the flannel quilt before New Years! Meanwhile, the Thanksgiving embroidery is nearly done. I hope to post that one someday soon. Also, I slipped in a photo of a baby sweater that I knitted. I love making baby things--it's like they say about eating peanuts--you can't eat only one. (Golly, in my case I really cannot eat actual peanuts.) Anyhow, the directions for this sweater are free from Lion Brand Yarn. http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/50678AD.html

I like raglan sweaters because they are knitted all in one piece.

Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative

Thanks so much to Michelle at http://with-heart-and-hands.blogspot.com/for getting in touch with me.  She did a lot of computer search stuff to figure out that this quilt that I donated was at the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Iniative at Houston International Quilt Festival. http://www.alzquilts.org/  I titled the quilt "Tribute to Modigliani."

Busy

All kinds of adventures have occurred since my last post.  I recovered from all my medical stuff except for an attack of arthritis--and at this stage in my life, arthritis doesn't count anymore.  And a lovely event, a family visit. So much fun seeing everyone!  We took the grand kids ( well the adults liked it, too) to see Peter Pan.  It was a big production put on in a giant tent.  Peter Pan and Tinkerbell were flying through the air on enormous wires. Lots of fun for all of us!  And then we had Halloween.Tons and tons of candy--funny costumes!
Meanwhile, I haven't completed one thing!  But I started on another project, pictured here.  I'm making an embroidered wall hanging for Thanksgiving.  So I moved that to the front of the line, as I have to get it done on time.  I ordered the pattern from http://www.memesquilts.com/ Sherri's web site has all this primitive embroidery stuff on it.  I've bought from Meme's Quilts before. This web site has no connection with me personally. 
That "stars" baby quilt is nearly done, I just have to hem down the binding.
Now about the top photo--that big pile of left-over flannel--it's for a charity quilt. I often sew a quilt backing in flannel. As soon as enough flannel scraps accumulate, I can start to make a quilt out of them.

Are the stars out tonight?

 Here's a photo of my Star quilt.  I have it all pin basted.  That's in spite of my feeling a bit sick lately.  I'm getting discouraged.  I was planning to be all back to normal long before this.  I guess it's what happens when you get older (and older)!  I've begun to free-motion quilt this today. That ought to lift my spirits.

I'm posting some pictures of the tree that flowers every year in back of my condo.  I just love this tree and I notice that hummingbirds do too. I used to know the name of this kind of tree, but it escapes me right now.  The streets around here are lined with trees, and many of them are of this variety. 

 That's the wonderful thing about California, there's trees and flowers blooming all year around. Some people say that they miss the snowy weather.  But it happens that if you drive up to the tops of the mountains there is snow there in the winters and people can go skiing and snow boarding.

Thanks to all the kind folks who look at and/or post comments on my blog.  I appreciate it.  I've been surfing around looking at all my blogging friends as much as I can--so many really interesting and creative quilters!  I have to remind myself to get back to sewing sometimes.

How to make coasters

I haven't posted for a few days because I was a bit under the weather.  This is not a medical blog, but let me say that I've got three different medical appointments this week, and let it go at that. 

Boy oh boy, what a struggle I had trying to post these photos in any kind of order. If anyone has any helpful hints in how to post a bunch of photos without wasting an hour, please let me know. I decided to make some coasters for gifts and I figured I would post some photos of how I'm doing it.

First of all, I cut out three  5 inch squares, a backing and a  front, of course, and I decided to cut an interlining.  I pinned the backing and interlining together with a piece of batting that was cut in a 4 1/2 inch square sandwiched in the middle.  I sewed the sandwich together all around in a 1/4 inch seam.  Place the backing and the top right sides together and sew around the edge. Leave an opening on one side for turning.  Trim the corners. Turn right side out and sew the opening closed.  There you have it.  I tried machine quilting one of the coasters in the center, and the other one, I just sewed and extra row of stitching all around the edge about 1/4 inch inside of the first one.  A set of four or six coasters would make a nice little gift, just tie with a ribbon.

Stars Baby Quilt, ready to be quilted

I'm making progress on this quilt.  I sewed on the green gingham border. So now, I still have to finish tying (not much headway there) the liberated quilt I made for the Amish-Gee's Bend Challenge (see previous posts)  and I have to pin baste this one.  I'll be busy.  I don't like to have a lot of quilt tops hanging around, so to speak.  It's important to me to complete each quilt top as I go along.  I feel a real sense of accomplishment after I finish sewing on the binding.  So now I have two to work on.  I'm also crocheting a shrug for myself, knitting a sweater for my daughter, plus I had a big idea yesterday on how to use up some green baby yarn that's been in my stash for ages, and started knitting a baby sweater.  This sounds like a big bunch of stuff, but--I did complete a sweater and cap for my granddaughter yesterday evening--so stuff is getting done, eventually.  By the way, I made a baby hat and booties for my doctor last week.  I have an appointment with her this week.  My dentist just went on maternity leave, too.  Good news, people keep having babies!
And another thing, I'm reading a cute book That Dorky Homemade Look by Lisa Boyer.  It's an amusing book about sewing quilts. A quote: "Give it (the quilt) to someone you love dearly.  They must drag it around the house, wrap themselves up in it when they have a fever, spill something brown on it..."