{Post 1,074} Mini Lone Star

Here is a little UFO I picked up recently to finish hand quilting.  I bought it on eBay from a woman who made mini quilts a long time ago...I'm thinking about 5 years ago, at least.  I had to remove and reapply all 3 borders.  She was so precise in piecing the centers, but must have just sewn on the borders w/o measuring (you know--just sew as you go?).  

Nearly finished with this.  The backing fabric has the words to the pledge of allegiance.  It's about 15" square!  The yellow thead is my basting.

{Post 1,073} New Purse

If you knew me well, you would find out that I use things I like until there is just no life left in them.  My "purse" is one example.  What I was using as a purse was a glorified tote bag.  I have already recovered the handles twice.  They just wore through again.  It was much taller than I needed.  The pictures started flaking off, too.

So I went through the patterns I've taken from magazines and put into page protectors.  I came across this pattern.  It is a little too color-specific, but I'm going to carry it for a while to see if I like the pockets and size.

The best part is that I made it for free, using materials I already had on hand.  I think I'll make a brown one in the future if this one works out well.  

~Joan

{Post 1,072} SSSS First 2 Rows Together!

I have the first two rows of 6 blocks sewn together.  I need to make more green blocks before I can move on.  

Here it is so far:

{Post 1,071} SSSS Blocks

This AM while I was cooking grits, I tore off the papers from the back of my green units for the scrappy string selvage spiderweb blocks.  Here they are on the design wall.

A reader asked if I wanted her selvages.  YES!!

BTW, I mailed an envelope of fabric to someone today.  Let me know when it arrives, won't you?

The blocks are 11" square.

I cut out the purple sections for the next diagonal row.  Stay tuned!

~Joan

{Post 1,070} Spiderweb String Selvage Blocks

It's been over a week since I posted!  So much has been happening.

Quiltwise, I started a new project.  It's a spiderweb block made from selvages and is a string project.  Natasha--see any of your fabrics???  I do!

Here is a close-up of a finished "web" with the blocks just stuck to the wall, not sewn together yet:

I am going for a diagonal rainbow color look...red, orange, yellow, green blue, violet, then reverse back out to a red in the bottom corner.

Here's what I have pieced so far.  The selvage strips really multiply and go much farther than one thinks:

More updates later as time permits.

~Joan

{Post 1,069} Feels Like Fall Finally Finished

This picture does not show the quilting very well, but it did turn out really cute.  My son and husband are holding this up for me outside, where the leaves are indeed changing colors.

This was washed and dried yesterday.  With the flannel on the back, it will be a popular one around these parts!

{Post 1,068} Hi-Ya!! Take That!

My third son and fourth daughter competed in a karate tournament today.  They both did very well.  Here is a silly shot of all from their dojo (place of learning) that went with their sensei on the left:

From left to right, my daughter's best friend, my daughter, and my son:

Ben won against a black belt and brought home two gold medals and a silver medal.  I didn't get Rachel's specifics, but I'm sure I will!