summer runner

I thought I'd do something brave and post a picture of me in a bathing suit - lol!   This is DD3# and I at the beach last week.  We went to stay with my parents for the week and it was so hot the only thing to do was to go swimming.  We had a lot of fun!

 

 

 This post is actually supposed to be about this table runner.  I finished it but I'm kind of disappointed with it.  I decided to use the blue fabric for the border. The green was fresh and pretty for spring but spring is long gone.

 I love these fabrics and the Nosegay block but, it turned out way too big and my machine quilting is pretty bad.

 Here it is on the table.  It's more like a blanket than a runner.  Oh well - I'll use it for now and make something else for fall.

We had to visit an orchard while on our holiday.  These pretty early peaches don't seem to mind the heat  :0)   I brought back a boxful to freeze for cobblers this winter - I better get at it!

Happy Quilting!!

basted and ready to quilt

I had plans to sew this week.  I always overestimate how much I can get done :0)  One project was to piece the backing for my Crowfoot quilt.

 

 Next was to get it basted for handquilting.  I was going to try the Sharon Schamber method or at least use a table but...  I am such a chicken and went with my reliable floor basting method.  This is a large quilt - much larger than any I had thread basted before.  It took 3 long evenings to baste.  Wow, did my knees and elbows pay.  I hope I've learned my lesson and will try something different next time!  

Now though, I look forward to all the happy hours I will spend hand quilting. 

Happy Quilting!!

a little finish

Before I left on holidays I finished quilting my Harmony top.  I think I like to handquilt larger projects because they fit in my hoop better. (Maybe I just need more practice.)

 The binding had to wait until I got home.  I chose this rust print because the reds looked too bright and none of the browns were quite right either.

It still is quite puffy but it's growing on me.  :0)

The kids are all either away at camp or at day camp this week.  I have lots of sewing planned!
Happy Quilting!!

old quilts

I'm back from our family summer vacation and I have some pictures of lovely old quilts to share.  DD#1and I spent a morning at Bobcaygeon Settler's Village.

 They have several beautiful old log homes moved to the site.  And upstairs in this house I found...

 This marvelous little crib quilt.  Oh how I wanted to unfold it to see the whole quilt.  I was thinking there might be a few more quilts to see here.  I was not disappointed!

 More charming log houses later..

 There was this gorgeous silk log cabin quilt with only a few of the silks shredding.

 This was my favorite!  So much beautiful quilting!!

 It was well loved and used.

 But not quite used up :0)

 Another well loved quilt with great fan quilting.

 A bed turning revealed lots more!

 I hadn't seen this block pattern before.

 I think some of these quilts might have been brighter once upon a time.

 This was a thick, heavy, wool quilt.  So simple and so striking.

 Another pretty crib quilt.  I love the soft, pretty pink fabrics in it.

 Another great logcabin quilt

 I love that big, bold polka dot print that shows up as a large black dot here and there :0)

 Lanterns with such a nice quilted design in the open space.

What a beautiful place to visit and with such a treasure trove of beautiful old quilts.

Happy Quilting!!

slow progress

Every spring, soccer season arrives at our house and I get crazy busy.  This week is the first week that's not so crazy.  Finally, I have time to post.

 

Soccer season is also a good time of year to work on my hand pieced star project. I work on this at soccer practices and at the orthodontist...  everywhere.  Slowly it is growing.  I'm a bit stuck for pink at the moment.  There hasn't been much for new pretty repro pinks lately. I am always using pink so my supply is getting low.  Also, I was hoping to make all of these stars different without repeating fabrics.  Hopefully I will find some quilt shops in my summer travels :0)

 

 It's such a fun, portable project!

I have also been doing a little hand quilting.  I remembered to get out my Harmony top to finish it.  I basted it with a little scrap of wool batting I had lying around.  Maybe wool wasn't the best choice for a quilt of this size - lol.  It's a little too textured (puffy) for my liking.

 I am now going in the other direction to complete the crosshatching.  Maybe more quilting will flatten it a bit.  It sure is easy to needle and a relaxing project to work on in the evening after a busy day.

 

 I made another Solomon's Temple block.  So fun to piece!

 

 This weekend we went on our annual fishing/camping trip.  It was a bit windy, cold and wet but I did manage to take a few stitches in my favorite spot by the lake.  I am almost 1/2 way done panel 7 for my Trailing Vines quilt. 

Slow progress is still progress!!

Happy Quilting!

Pictures from the show part 1

There were so many wonderful quilts at the quilt show.  I took a lot of pictures. There was a special applique exhibit that has some marvelous quilts that I'll share next post.   These are just a few - enjoy!

 This quilt was SO fun.  It was huge!  Can you imagine sleeping under all these pink flamingos?  :0)

 This is a vintage quilt.  I loved the pattern and it had some fabulous fabrics in it. I sure wish my picture wasn't blurry.

 Like these cowboys  :0)

 And this wild, pretty print.  This could be leftover fabric from someone's dress?

 This pineapple quilt had a great border of smaller pineapple blocks.  So scrappy!

 I adored the quilting on this quilt.  I think it was done by machine but it gives me ideas for handquilting.

 This one was so eye catching.  The scrappy blue background is so rich.

 Loved this applique.

Another pretty scrappy quilt. 
More soon!
Happy Quilting!

courthouse steps finish

Today is my DD#2's birthday. It seems fitting that tonight she can sleep under her new quilt.   



 

 It took me a very long time to machine quilt this quilt.  It is SO heavy with seams and with the Warm and Natural batting inside.  The time was spent in the procrastinating not exactly at the machine. 

 I was going to try to free motion quilt this quilt but in the end I stitched in the ditch  - about 1/2 of the ditches - I figured that was enough quilting.  I am really happy with how the feathered border turned out.  It shows up better than I thought it would.

It looks great on her bed.  It's 104 inches long and tucks in really far - this quilt won't be coming untucked in the middle of the night.  No cold toes  :0)

Happy Quilting!!