{Post 1,197} Pumpkin Patch Top Finished

23-1/2" x 40".  The side black borders are 2" and the end ones are 4".

I have cut and sewn the binding (same fabric as inner border), so I have to iron that.  Later this AM I am taking one of my church friends out for lunch.  Might get to quilt a little after that.  I am thinking cross hatching by machine in the center where the squares and HSTs are, then some free motion quilting amongst the pumpkins, and maybe a feather in the wide border ends.

{Post 1,196} Pumpkin Patch and Mini Request

I already had 3 pumpkins pieced, and the squares for the center were already cut out as well, so I didn't sew as much as this makes it look like I did.  Well, I did do a lot, but this looks like more.

Tomorrow I will add an outer border and get this quilted and the binding sewn on the front.

It measures 20" x 32" now.  One more border to go.

It was dark in my sewing room, so the colors are not very accurate.  

I have some more of this plaid on point (inner border) fabric that I will use for binding as well.  I think this will be for my kitchen table (until EVERYONE gets here, when we will use this old standby that is huge).  I have a cute quilting motif in mind that involves pumpkin veins, leaves, and tendrils.

A request.  If you make mini quilts, or have a wall of mini quilts, would you send me a picture?  I am hoping most of them can probably be made without patterns.  I see a mini quilt wall in my future!  I won't put any up until I get a few made.  I'd like to see different arrangements and layouts before I put a bunch of holes in my walls.  LOL :)

{Post 1,195} Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery

I wanted to sew a little something this morning, so I cut out and made a duplicate of the mini Marcie quilt, but all from men's shirts.

Here are pictures of the process.  The tiny squares finish at 1/2" square.  Felt like I fell down the rabbit hole for a while there.  I just need to sew the binding to the back.  Plenty of opportunities to do that this week.

My outer border is a little wider, so mine measures 10-1/2" x 13".

{Post 1,194} Marcie Quilt and Shirts Abound

Here is some sewing progress for today.  I quilted and bound my Marcie quilt.  I hand quilted in the ditch between the pieced blocks and the border, then horizontally and vertically in the setting squares and setting triangles.  Here it is completed:

I also pieced a few more Shirts Abound block units.  Let me know if you want to swap some.  I want all stripes or plaids, 100% cottons.  I use men's shirts, but I suppose you could use store-bought fabric.

The units are 7-1/2" square each, making a 4-unit block 14" square finished.  Only the upper right block is sewn together.

{Post 1,193} Marcie Quilt

I know--you couldn't stand to wait a few more days.  Well, me either!  I happened to have the perfect color for the binding for this little quilt.  I had the binding already made, and had 2" to spare.  It was meant to be.  

The whole quilt measures 10" x 12".  It will fit perfectly on my nightstand.

This little quilt is now basted and ready to have the binding sewn to the back and the hand quilting done.  We are making a long road trip next week.  Guess what I'll be doing?

{Post 1,192} Meeting Marcie

Wednesday AM, my son James and I drove to VA Beach, VA for a wedding.  My adopted son, Tim, was to be married yesterday (and he was!).  James was a groomsman.  I was the adopted mother of the groom ;)

Here's Tim and his bride:

When I learned that the wedding was going to be in VA Beach, I contacted my then e-friend Marcie Patch to see if we could get together.  She invited me to stay with her, but the bride had already arranged a place for me to stay.  Later I found out that the bride's plans had fallen through, so I ended up staying with Marcie and her husband at their lovely home.

I want to respect Marcie's privacy, but oh, did I have a marvelous time.  She even made me a mini quilt top .  I will show pictures of it after I hand quilt and bind it.  

I didn't want to be too pushy (after all, I had already asked if I could stay with her), so I didn't get a picture of the two of us together.  Here SHE is, though:

There was something magical about the room I slept in at her house.  For the first time in many years, I slept all night without waking up!  That's from 11 PM until 7 AM.  It seemed like a 48 hours.  Incredible.  Thanks, Marcie and husband for a wonderful stay.

{Post 1,191} Baby and Blossoms

Yesterday I saw all my children except my son who lives in AZ.  My grandson is growing like a weed.  Speaking of weeds, I weeded this flower bed this evening for about 30 minutes.  My hubby had been mowing the lawn, but came over the joined me in the fun and rewarding experience of turning THIS:

Into THIS:

Here are some lilies in my front yard:

Black-eyed Susan:

Here's the cutest baby in the world.  No bias here:

Close-up of those chunker legs.  He is well nourished.  My daughter and SIL are taking excellent care of him.  He lacks for nothing :)

Yes, I went in and took pictures of him while he was sleeping.  I am that kind of grandmother!  Can't get enough of the little nipper.