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Design Wall Monday

I had technical difficulties last week and comments posted last week I wasn't able to respond to.  I appreciate your comments and read them all!

This week I'm showing the finished top I showed last week; it look completely different.  This quilt started talking to me.  I didn't know what is was until it tapped me on my shoulder.  It didn't want the traditional setting with straight blocks with plain sashing.  It wanted just a little more so I gave in.  The top stopped talking as this point, after making a final statement, "black binding would be a nice finish."  That was I plan after it's quilted.

I worked on Quiltmaker's 100 blocks this week as well, making a post yesterday.  Here is a picture of the blocks I made and to see the full post, go here.

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Type-u-later,

http://www.teaquilts.com

Quiltmakers 100 Blocks: Blocks 55-59

I've been very busy lately, so busy in fact that I haven't made any blocks in over a month!  I'm playing catch up again.  I need 12 blocks to be on schedule so I got busy yesterday.  Here of 5 of them.

Block 55 - Delectable Grapes
Block #110 on page 26
Marian Mapes
46 pieces

This one will be a mini wall hanging for my kitchen.  I decided not to stitch around the appliques at this point but rather during quilting.

Block 56 - Mount Vernon Steps
#195 on page 69
Maria Umhey
Cheerful Quilts
20 pieces

This one is my favorite block in this batch as I'm partial to log cabin quilts, especially those with 1" finished strips.  Sure wish I had time to make this in full size but I already have a log cabin started from a year or two ago that's not finished.

Block 57 - Ripples
#191 on page 67
Laura Stone Roberts
Assistant Editor, McCalls Quilting
www.mccallsquilting.com
96 pieces

Whew! I was so glad to get this one pieced.  I didn't follow the directions, making two "section 2" units instead of one.  What was wonderful in my error is that the same pieces are used in section 2 and section 3 so I just had to frog stitch, you know, "ribbit".

Block 58 - Tapestry
#182 on page 62
Rebecca LoGiudice
Willow Hill Quilts
www.willowhillquilts.net
41 pieces

Again, not paying attention I had to "ribbit" and it took a little longer than necessary.  I guess I need to bet my groove back.  Nice block that one day I'll make in scraps.  This time I used a fun black and white print for the background.

Block 59 - Focal Point
#180 on page 61
Doug Leko
Antler Quilt Design
www.antlerquiltdesign.com
53 pieces

I was so excited that this block went together correctly the first time out! LOL This is a quick block to make with dramatic effect.  Try it.



I have a busy week planned as I have a Sampler Quilts lecture on Wednesday.  Along with my regular scheduled activities, I don't see much sewing in my future.  And, I just remembered I need to send something to the Scrap Quilting Club regarding this week's project.  Gotta go!.
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Type-u-later,

http://www.teaquilts.com

Design Wall Monday

It's been a while, but here is a quick post of my design wall. It a project for the scrap quilting club.

to see more design walls, visit www.patchworktimes.com
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Retreat Pictures

I haven't forgotten my blog and my friends.  I've just been extremely busy with working, family, and trips.  My job keeps changing daily with new boss, new support staff (as 3 has retired in the last 9 months and 2 were laid off), and I now supervise three employees. 

I've also had two trips, one a quilting retreat and a family reunion.  I'm posting the retreat pictures from May 20-22 at Whistling Meadows Retreat Center in Greenville, IL.  We had so much fun.  You've got to view this video of the quilt police showing up at our meeting.  It was unexpected so I missed recording at the beginning.  We are definitely a rowdy bunch!

So what did I work on at retreat?  I started working on my Shakespeare in the Park and got almost half of the rows pieced.  Then, I realized that I left a set of setting blocks at home and had to put it away and work on something else.  I was disappointed as I really need a large workspace to finish this quilt.

 So, I started working on a Scrap Quilting Club project from a few months ago.  I have a few more blocks done than what's showing.  Have a few more to go.

Our group project was the Jellyroll Sewing Race.  The quickest anyone could make this quilt was 1 hour 45 minutes.  So, the quilter who completed this in 30 minutes is definitely a sweatshop worker. LOL  We had so much fun.  I made two of them at retreat.  This is my first one.

And, here is my second one made from a scrap bag I purchased at Hancocks of Paducah during the quilt show.  I joined the strips with a diagonal seam.  I've come to the conclusion these will make excellent quilts for my family members (about 10) that are still on my list.

Here are the other quilts made.  They all have their own personality depending upon fabrics used, scraps or from a collection.  These are our charity quilts for 2011.

 Debra won the race and received $15 gift to local quilt shop.

Here is a photo of the challenge quilts to make any quilt, any size that was dimension with fabric, not just embellishments.  I did not make a challenge project as my life is too hectic at the moment.

We also made cd holders for our cars but I don't have pictures of them.  In the next post I'll post that along with two other quilts I gave away at the family reunion.

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Type-u-later,

http://www.teaquilts.com

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks: Blocks 53 and 54

I'm going to have a hectic next three weeks and am not sure if I will be able to keep up with the blocks.  I'm really thrilled that I got this week's blocks completed.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can find a few minutes to work on the blocks.  Here are the two for this week.

Block 53 - Bird's Eye View

#108 on page 25
by Dawn Heese
www.dawnheesequilts.blogspot.com
13 pieces

Instead of needle turn, I used fusible web and have a reverse block.

Block 54 - Porch Swing
#197 on page 70
by Cyndi Walker
Stitch Studios
www.stitchstudios.com
56 pieces

I'm not sure what I was thinking.  I didn't use enough contrasting fabrics to make this block but it's completed and included in the count.

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Type-u-later,

http://www.teaquilts.com

Quiltmaker 100 Blocks Volume 3

Because of my computer issues I have not had a chance to visit or enter the give-aways for Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Volume 3.  One day I did pop into Quilty Pleasures Blog to see a few of the blocks and was again amazed at the blocks show cased on the blog.  I think I am a block addict!

Diane at Quiltmaker contacted me and said in honor of the 100 Blocks Volume 2 Challenge that I'm working on (completing all 100 blocks within a year), she would send me a copy of volume 3.  I really appreciated Diane getting me a copy because as soon as they hit the stores I'd plan to go purchase my copy.  When the package arrived in the mail, I was so excited.  But wait, this package was heavier than a package containing one magazine.  This is what was inside.

Included was the magazine AND 30 fat quarters from the American Jane collection by Moda.  Here is a close up of the FQs.

Then upon closer inspection, I'm now thinking that Diane must have (1) been following me around in Paducah, KY last month or (2) she's been lurking in my home.  In Paducah I purchased a yard each of two chicken prints by Timeless Treasures Fabrics.

I plan to use them to pull fabrics for these patterns which are part of a BOM quilt called A Country Journal by Maggie Walker Design.  I've had these patterns for a long, long time and haven't done a thing with them.  When I saw the fabrics in Paducah I thought maybe just purchasing a little fabric would motivate me to start the project.  FYI - you can still purchase the patterns!

I really got a kick out of the kit Diane sent me.  Now I have enough fabrics to re-do the entire kitchen with this theme.  So, "thanks again Diane for such a wonderful surprise and well appreciated gift."
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Type-u-later,

 http://www.teaquilts.com

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks: Blocks 50, 51 and 52

I hope all you moms had a wonderful mother's day!  I sure did.  Spent the day with family, having a family meal and then I taught them a few line dances.  I didn't want the day to end.

In case you're wondering where I am online - I'm not there much.  My computer hard drive crashed and is in the shop for up to 30 days.  Funny, if I hadn't purchased a service contract when I purchased the computer, I could have had my computer back in 3-4 days top.  Because the hardware is bad, the machine gets shipped back to the manufacturer.  I've decided I'm never purchasing another service contract again.  I'll just spend the money to fix my equipment or purchase another one.  The one positive is that I've been backing up my computer files since my last crash two years ago so this time I have my files.  Just need my darn computer back...

Now, on the fun stuff! This week is my 26th week of making blocks so that means I need to have up to 52 blocks completed.  I'm really excited that I was able to make the journey so far.  I know some of you have gotten too busy to work on the blocks and I fully understand.  Come back when you get time.  I don't have time either, but since I started this "crazy" challenge, I feel compelled to complete it for as long as I'm able.  So without further ado, here are my blocks for last week.

Block 50 Scarlet Days
#176 on page 59
Kimberly Jolly
Fat Quarter Shop
www.fatquartershop.com
73 pieces

A fun block to make as you got to make half square triangles and flying geese.  I wonder what this block would like like with scraps; just don't have time to play around at the moment.

Block 51 Rosie's Posie
#101 on page 22
B+Cara Bonner
Quilt Nook Gal Designs
www.thequiltrnook.com
mine=22 pieces

I delayed working on this block because I was waiting for my yo-yo makers magically resurface from their hiding place.  I think I have them stored with a WIP, but which one is a mystery.  However, I had these yo-yo made from old calico prints at least five years ago.  I rearranged them, reducing the number needed since they were all the same size.  I also omitted the rick rack bow and the hand embroidery.  I just need to get the base blocks completed at this time.

Block 52 Merry Little Flower
#113 on page 28
by Kari Ramsay
Fresh Cut Quilts Pattern Co.
www.freshcutquilts.com
11 pieces

A very quick block to make, especially since I used fusible which is why it's reversed.  Again, the yo-yo was already in the batch I used for the previous block.

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Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks: Blocks 46, 47, 48 and 49

I have 4 blocks to upload, 2 for last week and 2 for this week.  I'm still one block behind as I should have 50 completed by week's end.  It feels great to be at the half way point in my journey.  I just pulled fabrics from FQs and scraps to make these blocks so they have no defined theme.

Block 46 Midnight Dream
#126 on page 34
Carolyn Cullinan McCormick
CM Designs, Inc.
http://www.addaquarter.com/
57 pieces

A great paper pieced block.  I found that the 4 corner units would make a great block as well so it's two blocks in one.

Block 47 Simply Sweet
#109 on page 26
Barbara Jones
QuiltSoup
http://www.quiltsoup.com/
7 pieces

I need to make some applique blocks so this one is easy.  I didn't even reverse the pattern to make with fusible web as the original is hand applique.  I've finally realized I can't do them all by needle turn with my current schedule; that's how I got behind making the blocks.  I decided to use satin stitch instead of button hole stitch.  I find the washed quilts hold up better with the satin stitch.

Block 48 Star Flight
#155 on page 49
Kathy Brown
The Teacher's Pet
http://www.the-teachers-pet.com/
37 pieces

Cute and easy to piece block. Enjoy the strong contrast of the black print with the other fabrics.

Block 49 Payton's Star
#160 on page 51
Sharyn Craig
http://www.sharyncraig.com/
37 pieces

This one is my favorite for the week.  Love the appearance that the block is made on point.

P.S. - Anyone going to Paducah on Friday?

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Type-u-later,

http://www.teaquilts.com

Design Wall Monday

My neighborhood was affected by the severe weather that hit the St. Louis area this weekend.  I was fortunate that my family and I did not suffer damages to our homes.  Most of us lost power from Friday evening through Sunday.  As I look at the damages to the metropolitan area, we are very fortunate that no fatalities occurred.  God definitely protected many, many people.

I did make one of my QM challenge blocks but will upload it later this week with additional blocks.  Scrap quilting club was canceled Saturday due to the weather so no pictures this month.  This is the start of our project due next month.  I only need 35 starter blocks but sewed everything I had in a bag of strings given to me by Doris at our last quilt guild meeting.  This is the result one person's trash being someone else treasure.

Since I had no power, a friend invited me over to sew and I quickly and graciously accepted.  I quilted the Black, White and "Red" All Over quilt for my retiring supervisor.  This will be her last week on the job.  Not sure how I feel about the next batch of changes affecting my department in the next few months.  Everyone hired or that I've worked with, having had close working relationships, have retired.  I'm having a woo is me kind of moment right now. I just need look over the quilt to clip strings and check quilting tension before handing it over as the binding is also done.

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Type-u-later,

http://www.teaquilts.com