{Post 1,040} Washed, Dried, and Quadrupled

Here's Ryan's quilt, washed, dried, and quilty:

I will give it to him tomorrow.

And this:

Became this:

Yes--just *that* fast!  These are pieced, but the sashings and cornerstones are just stuck to my design wall.  I think I'll call these the "Tree of Life" blocks.  Read Genesis 2:9.  Part of the verse says "And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food..."  Pleasant to the sight, for sure!

The blocks finish at 8" square, and the sashing is 2" wide.  The quilt has 25 blocks.  Four down, 21 to go!

Off to list a bunch of stuff in my Etsy store...ShelbyStitcher.  Come check it out!

I mentioned to my quilt-lovin' daughter this AM that I'm going to list and sell some of our older quilts (as in several years old, not antiques).  I actually saw her mind go into hoard mode.  What a shame!  I'll be checking under her bed soon ;)  She's already told me the first two she has decided to snatch/claim when the time comes for her to move out.

~Joan

{Post 1,039} Top Finished!

The Bricks top is finished, and it's halfway quilted with loops!  I needed a break from the machine and wanted to update the status on this gift quilt.

I also started another leader/ender project that I've been wanting to make...Crabapples by Bonnie Hunter.  I'd like to call it something else as the name always makes me think "crabby", which is something I'm trying to avoid.  Any suggestions?

Here is my first block:

I keep two boxes under my sewing table for 1-1/2" strips, one each for creams and colors.  These blocks will come together in no time because of that!

Here is the Bricks in the Barnyard top.  I did not carefully press out any "wrinkles" on the top when I stuck it to the design wall, but you get the picture.

Sooo much variety in here.  And yet, when I sewed on the LAST braided border, look what I found (on the same side!). There was no way I was unsewing all those bias edges!!

Notice the light blue/brown plaid near the inner border?  They are touching!!!

Here is the OTHER end of that same side.  But whatever will be, will be!  See the bright green/dark blue?  Of all the nerve!

{Post 1,038} Sew Unproductive

So, I was bemoaning the fact that I haven't gotten much sewn this summer.  School will start soon.  We home school, so I'm cancelling all parent/teacher conferences for sake of time.  My sewing time will be extremely limited.  I am feeling the loss of sewing time already.

I perused my own blog to see what I've accomplished since July 1.  I don't want to take the time to link everything.  If you want to see a picture, type the key word in the search box on the top left.

Pieced large throw - Apple Pie top (sold).

Quilted and bound full-size Scrappy Bargello (kept).

Quilted and bound baby quilt (to gift).

Started up an Etsy store and listed lots of yardage, I Spy sets, quilt tops, etc.

Pieced twin-sized Northern Comfort top (destination undetermined).

Pieced and quilted fall leaf runner (for Emily).

Started hand quilting Grandmother's Flower Garden wall hanging (about half finished--to keep).

Hand pieced two LeMoyne star blocks.

Pieced, repaired, quilted, and bound queen-sized Christmas quilt (to keep).

Pieces and quilted Twister wall hanging (28" square - kept).

DECLUTTERED AND REORGANIZED SEWING ROOM...deserves to be in all caps.

Pieces Squares Surrounded (queen-size...destination unknown).

Pieced, quilted, and bound top-secret large throw (destination classified).

Quilted and bound Fair & Square (destination unknown).

Assisted neighbor girl in starting I Spy for unborn nephew.

Assisted friend making Twister table runner.

Pieced, quilted, and bound floral string quilt (to be gifted soon).

Pieced Ryan's quilt (needs two more braided borders then outer one-fabric border...obviously going to Ryan).

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Yep--I've just been sittin' around, doin' nothin'.

~Joan

{Post 1,037} Two Braided Borders On

I am stopping here for today on this quilt top.  I have two of the braided borders on and two more about halfway pieced.  I get to take my daughter's car in for a check-up, and that will be a little time this afternoon.

For those who asked, my headache seems to be at bay (mostly) for right now.  Thank you for asking!

I am going to put another blue border outside of the braids because they are on the bias and are so s-t-r-e-t-c-h-y!!  I don't think they could withstand the pull of the HandiQuilter frame without becoming a trapezoid...or worse.

~Joan

{Post 1,036} Braided Borders

Here are the 4 borders for Bricks in the Barnyard.  I cut the rest of the pieces this AM so I could get them all mixed in.  I am adding one piece to all 4 at one time, then pressing.  Going well, but I need a nap.

I stuck with higher contrast darker fabrics for the center.  I'm using a lot of my lights up here in the borders.  I think there is a good mix of color value.

The last 10 days or so I've had a headache of mammoth proportions.  Went to my chiropractor yesterday and today for adjustments.  Hoping things will settle down soon.  Fortunately, I don't work, so I can pretty much rest whenever I want.  

~Joan

{Post 1,035} Bricks Progress!

My Bricks in the Barnyard is coming along very quickly now. I had nearly all the blocks pieced last night.  I haven't sewn much today with a lot of other things going on.  

Here I have 3 of the 10 rows sewn to each other.  The other rows are sewn into rows, so it won't be long now.  I have one piece of border started.  I guess I'll keep adding onto this and chop it off as I have enough for a side.

There is a blue border around the center, then the braid outside of that.  This is fun to piece and see the progression.

~Joan

{Post 1,034} Happy Anniversary to Us! 40/80

My wonderful husband and I celebrate 24 years of marriage today.  Easiest 24 years of my life ;)

I did not get a picture of us (there's one on my phone if you want to stop by to see it).

Here are 40 out of the 80 blocks needed for Ryan's quilt (with the rest well under way):

As I saw and stitched these, my Northern Comfort top was hanging over my quilt frame directly in front of me.  I realized the blocks are identical except that NC has two more strips sewn onto it.  Check it out to compare:

They are also the same size pieces.  They look soooo different!  Which do you like better?  Shirts and muslin or Thimbleberries scraps?

~Joan