Some 2013 Finishes

Here are a few finishes this year; proof that I'm still quilting. LOL

The "T Quilt" is a guild challenge quilt.  The main rules were to make a quilt with blocks that begin with the initial of your first or last name.  Now, anyone that knows me knows that if I make any sort of quilt about "me", it will reek of me!  I had been working on the Trailing Geese units and had them in my works in progress storage for years.  I pulled some of the units out and made a letter T with them.  In addition, I made Tumbling Blocks; I had cut 45 degree diamonds left over from a previous project so I had a great start there too.  I then pulled 3.5" Tumbler units I'd already cut on my GO! cutter.  I made all of these things go into one quilt.  I won 2nd place for most creative use of blocks.

I had help finishing the Pineapple Nine Patch quilt.  It will hang in the quilt show so I went to one of my favorite long arm quilters, Sarah Cohen.  She used orange thread and the quilting is fabulous! This pattern is designed by Cathy Wierzbicki from book Geometric Gems. This link is not necessarily the cheapest price, but you can see all the designs in the book. I saw cheaper prices at online stores:  Barns & Nobel, Target, and WalMart.

I also had Sarah Cohen quilt the Shakespeare in the Park quilt too.  This one took so many years to complete to end up with mediocre quilting.  I used three colorways instead of two and that almost burst my brain to keep all my pieces straight.  I did have to use the seam ripper a couple of times on this one.  I'm glad it's finally done and love everything about this quilt. This design is by Judy Martin and on Sunday the book with this pattern was $9.95.  You can purchase by clicking this line.

I know I haven't listed all the finishes but I must not have taken photos.  More to come later...
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Pineapple Nine Patch Top Completed

Yesterday I figured out how to finish the borders on my quilt seeing as how the instructions in the book had an error.  I decided to make corner squares featuring the pinwheels in the quilt center.  Now, I'm happy to have had this little incident occur as I like my border much better.  The quilt is now too big for my design wall so I had to take it to work to get a photo.

Come back tomorrow as I have my first two Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks photos to upload.

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Design Wall Monday

I worked earlier in the week and made all the optional blocks for the guild year.  You can see the blocks in a previous post.

In addition, I worked on the Pineapple Nine Patch quilt top.  I have the first border on the quilt center.  I pieced the 2nd border and when I went to put the sides onto the top, they wouldn't fit.  I found that Martingale has a corrections page posted online.  So, I'll tackle the quilt top later this week.  Here is a picture of half the quilt top with the border attached but it sure doesn't match up.

Saturday my small guild met and I made this meeting my cutting day.  I cut over 300 tumblers and 300 chisels.  I didn't cut too many apple core shapes as I wanted to test sew them first.  The longest task with using scraps is prepping them for cutting.  I spent hours starching and pressing fabric and a little over an hour to cut all the pieces.  The GO! Cutter has definitely changed the way I view cutting. 

So I didn't win a copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Collector's Edition Vol. 2 magazine so I purchased one on Sunday.  I just had to have my own copy as the participating designers had their blocks posted on their blogs last week and they were oh so pretty.  As I was driving home from Hancocks, I thought about the fact that I purchased the first volume of this magazine and did not make one block.  So, the challenge for me is to make ALL the blocks within a year.  I'm starting this week and plan to make 2 blocks per week.  Anyone want to play along?  It would be neat to see the blocks showing up in blog land.  I said I didn't win a magazine.  However, I did win some flurry friends fabric that I should receive in the mail this week.  Check out the fabric at The Whimsical Workshop; they have fabrics and projects that are perfect for children quilts.

One challenge isn't enough!  While shopping this week I came across this drunkard's path sampler.  I was buying door prizes for my scrap quilting club and just couldn't pass up one for me too.  I plan to make these 12 blocks, one per week.  If you want to play along, purchase the Many Paths All Around from Elisa's Backporch Designs (scroll down...I think it's 4th from the bottom).

To see more design walls visit Patchwork Times.



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Some progress around here...

I'll admit up front that I've been home so far this week and haven't been to work.  I have a very bad upper respiratory infection and my doctor is not sure if it's sinus related or walking pneumonia.  I'm so heavily drugged that I've only been awake for very short periods of time.  In those moments, I've been working on my projects.

Here is the center of my quilt all sewn together now.  I need to cut sashing strips for the 1st border.  It also has a pieced 2nd border that I have to cut as well.  We'll see how far I get on this over the weekend.

 I also worked on the quilt guild's optional blocks for the year.  They were so easy that I made each block in 30 minutes or less.

October, November and December 2010

January, February and March 2011

 April, May and June 2011

July, August and September 2011

 I was so embarrassed by the pictures of the optional blocks that I cleaned the strings from my design wall.  It's been over a year since I last swiped it with something.


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Type-u-later,
http://www.teaquilts.com

Design Wall Monday

I got a little preoccupied this week.  I've been going through things in my sewing room and straightening up at the same time.  I purchased a couple of shoe racks and a storage unit to organize my art bin containers.  They were stacked on top of each other and of course every time I needed something that case was on the bottom.  I did work in the Pineapple Nine Patch quilt.  I now have all the blocks sewn and half the quilt top sewn together.  I was a little disappointed as I couldn't get the pinwheels to match up accurately.  I guess this will be that quilt that I'll get to use some of the buttons in my stash (of course blogger would turn my photo AGAIN. )

So in frustration, I decided to work on the blocks for my guild's optional block program.  The one on the left was due in October; we have a month's grace period to get them done.  The leaf block is due at the November meeting.  I hope to work on these ahead of schedule, maybe getting all the blocks done by the end of the year.

Then I cut and pieced the center block of my Tessellation Pinwheels work in progress I started last week.  You can see the details here.  I'm planning to put two rows of blocks completely around the center.  The goal is to have each pinwheel made from a different fabric.  That means I'll need to cut more squares.  I've already used 57 different prints and need to make 24 more blocks.

I've been looking at this free pattern, Cotton Candy Quilt, from Robert Kaufman's site.  However, the pattern uses templates to make the block.  After staring at this for a while, I decided I could cut the print units with my GO! Chisels die.  However, what about the triangles that make the pinwheels?  I then thought maybe my GO! Bountiful Baskets die would work.  

Cotton Candy Quilt Pattern from Robert Kaufman

Yes, it worked!  I'm about a 1/16" too short but I can make that up in the seam allowance as I'm only missing the triangle points that I'd trim any way.  My block is larger of course than the pattern and I have bias seams on the outside of the block (which has been happening a lot lately with the techniques I've been working with.)  In addition, I cut the 8-point star using the GO! 2.5" Strip Die that I pieced into the block on the right.  I need to tweak the size of the setting triangles and squares for this one.  No plans to make the star into a quilt, just testing cutting on an angle with the die cutter.

To see more design walls, visit Patchwork Times.
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Design Wall Monday

What's old is new again.  That's seem to be so true with quilt making.  I had a guild member ask me if I knew about the tessellating pinwheels quilts made with the new Twister ruler.  Since I'd previously taught the pinwheels class a few times, I knew of the technique which is the same technique as Square Dance by Martha Thompson.  

 That reminded me of the quilt I made in 2004, Tessellating Pinwheel based on the technique.

Back then I wanted to make this quilt in queen size.  I collected squares as I cut scraps during the last 6 years, but never got around to making the quilt.  I've used the squares for other projects, but not for the intended use.  So I got the squares and made a small block to test the directions since it's been so long.  I got addicted and made 8 blocks.  I then decided to make a larger panel.  I haven't cut it out yet, but I now have a start on a queen size quilt even though its not exactly how I thought the design would be.  That's okay as the whole point here is to enjoy the process.

 This must have been the week for experiments because I made a few Arrowhead Blocks using Anita Grossman's technique in the Nov/Dec10 issue of Quiltmaker magazine.  It's a really cool way to make these blocks.  It must be some kind of "good scary" thoughts rolling around in Anita's head.  If you haven't seen the technique, please get the magazine and try it.  It's amazing how these blocks are created.

 I finished the top for my African Inspired project.  The only deviation from the pattern was to use traditional card trick blocks in the border corners.  I had so much fun working with the African prints in my collection that I definitely can't wait for the next quilt that I'll make using those fabrics.

 I finished sewing all the leftover pieces from cutting my Drunkard's Path quilt.  I'll put them up with some other crumb blocks I have around here.  One day I'll make a very interesting crumb quilt.

 I also have 10 of 30 Pineapple Nine Patch blocks pieced.  I'll leave this on my design wall so I will not push this project to the side, again.  I really want all the fabric pieces laying around here into a completed top.

Other than throwing the family Halloween party and handing our 95 bags of candy to trick or treaters, that's how my week went.  To see how other quilters spent their week, visit Patchwork Times.
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Design Wall Monday

I've had a very busy week.  When you see my projects, just remember that I still danced 3 evenings this week.  I just got frustrated that my quilt making was suffering due to exercise.  I got proactive instead of reactive and sewed for those few minutes between activities this week.  Now I'm motivated to continue with my projects.

I started the week working on my Star Burst quilt.  I got the borders pieced and added to the center.  This one is now ready for quilting.

 I received some new Dies for my GO! Cutter and cut and sewed a test drunkard's path block.  The units are 3.5" with the 4-patch unit measuring 7".  Not perfect, but it got easier to sew as I went along.  Have you noticed that I'm working with curves again...stay tuned as more curve sewing will be posted to the blog in the next few months.

 I cut and sewed this quilt top over the weekend and had many hours to spare!  This is really a quick quilt to make.  I created a tutorial for this quilt with the cutting instructions using the GO! tumbler 6.5" die.  The sewing was so easy.  I have detail photos of each step with some tips that may help with the sewing.  I'm looking forward to making another one.  I'm in the process of sorting my scraps by setting aside all the larger pieces that I can cut with the die cutter.  Maybe I'll cut tumblers, maybe I'll cut chisels; who knows...

While having so much fun with the previous projects I forgot that my string quilt needs to be ready for my scrap quilting club class this Saturday.  It probably won't happen seeing as I need 128 string blocks and I only have 33 made.  However, if I can get about another 20 or so made I can show 1/4 of my quilt.

Nope, I'm not done yet.  I used my Pineapple Nine Patch block units for chain piecing while working on the previous projects.  I still have a stack of rows to sew but some is definitely better than nothing with this quilt.

My "tell" this week:  I'm giving my sampler quilts lecture to the TnT quilt guild that meets in Glen Carbon this Tuesday.  If you are in the area and want to attend, write me a note and I'll give you the details.

To view more design walls, visit Patchwork Times.

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Type-u-later,
Tea in MO
http://www.teaquilts.com

Design Wall Monday

I was able to work on my Pineapple Nine Patch quilt last week.  I now have all the block units made.  Now comes the fun part, piecing the blocks.  To see pictures of my progress, click link above.

My craft guild at work met on Friday.  I usually baste quilts or cut projects.  In July I purchased the 2009 Collective Reds FQ bundle that includes 20 Kaffe Fassett FQs.  When they arrived, they were not at all what I had in mind so they sat in a corner for a while.  Needing something to work on Friday, I decided to cut the material into various size squares and rectangles.  It appeared a little too busy so I then added a few Kona Cotton solids thus giving the eye a place to rest.  These are all the units pieced (some of them are stacks as I ran out of space on the design wall.)  I still needed to add spacers to get them all to fit.

I actually got the blocks and spacer units organized as best I could to space out the fabrics (remember, this was not planned ahead of time).  SURPRISE, SURPRISE!  As I played with the layout, I fell in love with it!  Here is a final picture of the top (photo sideways as blogger sometimes does.  The lime green print is the top left corner.)  When I started working on this quilt I was all ready to gift it.  Now, I'll have to rethink the plan; maybe, maybe not.  This is my first quilt top using Fassett fabric predominately throughout the quilt.  I have some more fabric that will arrive tomorrow so I'll plan another one and see which one I like best.

To view more design walls, visit Patchwork Times.

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Type-u-later,

Tea in MO

http://www.teaquilts.com/

I want to thank those who commented on my site the last 2 weeks.  I've been so busy that I just haven't had time to respond to each comment as I usually do.  I don't have access to my personal email when away from home; can view blogs but e-mail sites are blocked.  When I am home (which is very limited) I prefer to sew instead of  being on the computer.  My sewing time has suffered greatly since I started line dancing exercise classes (which I also enjoy.)  Please know that I read each comment; just not able to respond to all of them.

Design Wall Monday

Shamefully, I don't have anything to show on my design wall today.  I bet you thought you'd never see a post from me starting with the previous line, huh.

I went to Atlanta, Georgia to attend my cousin's wedding.  I even go time to spend a few hours with a friends who lives there.  I had so much fun that I didn't even think about finding a quilt shop.  It shocked me when I finally realized that it was way too late.  I enjoy the wedding and seeing family that I hadn't seen in years.  We're in the process of planning a family reunion next year so it's not so long between visits.  I did take my sewing machine and managed about 2 hours of sewing on my Pineapple Nine Patch quilt.  However, the iron in the hotel room was not cooperating so I couldn't press the units; no need to take a picture of that yet.

I'll leave you with a picture of my cousin and his new bride. 

 
To see more design walls, visit Patchwork Times.
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Type-u-later,
Tea in MO
http://www.teaquilts.com/

Design Wall Monday

This week went by way too fast!  I played chauffeur for my sister three days during the week and assisted her with her job hunt.  I helped her create a resume and then showed her how to upload it to various websites specializing in job listings.  The great news is that she acquired four contacts in two days and has her first interview tomorrow.  That was definitely more important than quilting.

I did manage to quilt for a hour or so on Friday evening and completed the border units needed for my Star Burst quilt.  Next I need to make a decision for the spacer border.  I have pulled a few fabrics from my stash and hopefully one of them will work.

Saturday was my Scrap Quilting Club meeting.  We are working on string, crumb and/or mile-a-minute quilts this month.  I started my string blocks but will not post a picture until next month's meeting.  I have lots of show and tell that I'll post later this week when I get the photos edited.  Here is a picture of my Pineapple Nine Patch quilt in progress.  We are working on completing unit 2.  This quilt is really getting exciting now as we have another simple unit to complete then we can starting piecing the units into blocks.

As I was working on the other projects, I got another Mountain Top block completed.  I seem to use a lot of blue in my bindings and that color was taking over the blocks.  So, I decided to make one block that's color controlled.  I still need to trim it but I think I like it and will make a few more to balance out the quilt.  This block is not as accurate either as I was tried sewing without pins at the intersections.  These pieces are so tiny that the pins causes big lumps making it difficult to sew.  I will go back to the pins as the blocks line up much better.

And while I'm here, I might as well show the completed Loving My ABC's quilt for documentation.  I just need to hand sew the binding and this made a great project to take to work for entertainment during my lunch hour.

Go here for mor design walls.

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Type-u-later,
Tea in MO
http://www.teaquilts.com/

Design Wall Monday

I worked deligently on my Pineapple Nine Patch quilt this week.  I have all the unit 1s completed.  Cathy and Robin have posted their progress on the blog as well.

I'm setting my machine up to start machine quilting the Just String Series: Hot and Cold quilt that's been in the UFO pile for a loooong while.  We'll see how far I get. 

Visit http://www.patchworktimes.com/ to view more design walls.

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Type-u-later,
Tea in MO
http://www.teaquilts.com

Design Wall Monday

I got my birthday top (Noveau Riche) pieced.  The only change I made was to increase the final border size by 1.5".  Hopefully I'll get this quilted after I complete one that's already pin basted.

I had some edge pieces from making the larger Asian Influence that I made this mini quilt.  It's 17" square.

The Nine Patch Pineapple group is up and running.  We have started work on unit 1.  To read more about this and see other fabric choices, visit the NPP Blog.

These are the blocks I received from a swap.  It was a calendar blocks swap and each participant was assigned a different month.  I had January.  I took them off the design wall and put them away as I plan to used them in another project.

What are you working on?  Head over to Judy's site to add your blog or see what others have on their design wall.
-------------------------- Type-u-later, Tea in MO http://www.teaquilts.com/