Diving into UFOs

I completed the blocks from the last post, and I'll save them for later to sew together.  I can only do so much bending in a day to get them off the "design floor."

I pulled out the 2008 Designer Mystery BOM from the Fat Quarter Shop.  The blocks have been completed since 2009 and have been hanging around in one of those very large Ziploc bags that has totally been in my way for the longest time.  A couple of days ago I moved that bag - again - and thought, "What in the world is in this thing?"  Turns out it was the mystery blocks and the finishing kit.  I'm cutting up the finishing kit now to get it done!

That red, which is a gorgeous red with green polka dots, is probably one of my most favorite fabrics ever.  I'm thinking about switching the red and green -- put the green in the sashings and the red for the outer border.  This is the Peace on Earth line by 3 Sisters for Moda. 

If you have any thoughts on this, I'd appreciate it.  The same yardage was included for both pieces, so that won't be a problem.  Because the blocks are so busy, I was thinking the green might tone them down a bit, and the outer border wouldn't feel lost.

Your opinions, please!!

We've had two sizable earthquakes here this weekend.  The 5.1 Friday night face planted me on the floor.  I had just swung my legs over the side of the bed and had all of my weight on the one foot that was on the floor when it struck.  Because I was off balance, I went tumbling.  I decided just to stay there until the rolling stopped.  It was hard slam following by 10-15 seconds of significant rolling.  Needless to say, I was up for most of the night waiting for the big one! I'm such a weenie with earthquakes.  Penny stayed right next to me all night, practically tripping me up as I moved about.  She was real whiny.  Yep, she's a weenie, too.

With hardly any sleep on Friday night, I decided Saturday night to go to bed earlier. I was laying there reading and all of a sudden Penny started barking.  About three seconds later, "wham," another one.  This one was a hard jolt and then hard shaking as opposed to the rolling motion. It was only a 4.1 but felt as strong as the one Friday night. 

I don't know.  Those occasional hurricanes in Louisiana are starting to look a lot better.  At least you have days of warning before they land.  Earthquakes come out of the blue!  You'd think after 20 years I'd  be use to them!  You'd think!

My Weekend So Far

I felt so "displaced" this week.  My desktop computer has been down since Wednesday, and I couldn't connect the laptop via the iPhone until just a few minutes ago.  And speaking of the iPhone -- I have a love/hate relationship with it.  I can't get emails on it .... can't post to Instagram .... can't get voice messages .... I need to head to the Apple store, but who has the time for that?  So I have an expensive phone that I can't do much with.  I want my Blackberry back!

I tried and tried to get in touch with a friend yesterday who I was planning on meeting up with this weekend.  I'm just going to head over there this morning and hope for the best.  Let's hope I don't get lost getting there.  Yep, can't connect to the GPS on the phone ....

Anyway, while I was waiting to see if my message got to her, I decided to dig into the stash for another quickie quilt.  I pulled out a couple of layer cakes and got busy.

The fabric is A Breath of Avignon by American Jane for Moda and Kona Snow.  The Avignon was purchased two or three years ago just because I liked the clear colors, but I never knew what to do with it.  I think this will make a happy quilt for someone.

Since I always seem to be "confessing" things, here's my latest.  I got up this morning, grabbed a cup of coffee and went to the sewing machine.  I picked up a stack of pinned blocks and took them to the ironing board to press open.  I stood there and unpinned 30 blocks. When I tried to flip them open, I realized I had just unpinned 30 blocks that hadn't been sewn yet.  Seriously. 

Maybe I should wait until my second cup before I attempt anything in the sewing room ....

Charm Pack Cherry Quilt

I decided this morning to give the Charm Pack Cherry quilt a whirl.  This is the free pattern offered by the Fat Quarter Shop.  The link is to the video.

I used two charm packs of Wishes by Sweetwater and two charm packs of Bella Solids 9900PP-11 which I think is the Snow.

It took four hours from start to finish.  Well, I guess it's not finished because it's not quilted, but you know what I mean!  :)  It finishes at 52.5 x 54.5.

I did a totally random fabric selection and block layout.  Amazing that only in one spot are two like fabrics touching. 

This was fun.  So two finished tops on National Quilting Day weekend.  Not bad for me!

National Quilting Day

I hope everyone is getting some quilting done today!  I know we all quilt all year long, but today is the day to forget about everything else and spend glorious time in the sewing rooms!

I got up this morning and finished up Hurrah.  Of course, my pictures are horrible.  It's laying on the grass and looks awfully bumpy, and it hasn't been pressed yet.  I just thought I'd better grab a photo now because once I fold it away, no telling when it'll come out again!

The Hurrah pattern and Grant Park fabric are by Minick & Simpson.  It's 76" x 86" and will have a red binding.

I'm real pleased with how it turned out.

The day isn't over yet, so I'm going to pull out something else to work on!

A Quilt Show!!

This is one of those times when I wish I was retired and living down South!  A quilt show!!!



 

 

 

The Gulf States Quilt Association quilt show in Slidell, Louisiana!  (Slidell is such a cute town!)

The show will be held on March 21-22 at the Northshore Harbor Center.  It's a biennial show.  I think it should be annual!!

It's so nice to know that there will be quilt shows within striking distance from where I'm going to retire.  I get so much inspiration from seeing the work of others.

Click on the picture to see the gorgeous "Pineapple Fields Forever."  I think a pineapple quilt is in my future!

If anyone down in that neck of the woods is interested in attending, you can get more information at www.gulfstatesquilting.org. 

Loretta, I expect to see lots of pictures!  Have fun!  Wish I were there!

Slowly Moving Along

First, let me apologize in advance.  There's nothing more boring than posting the same quilt top week after week.

I wasted spent all day yesterday working on the first pieced border.  I didn't like the results at all, so I started over.  It's moving a lot faster now but will still take me possibly two more weekends to get the top finished. 

I promise I'll find something else to blog about next weekend!