Just Takes 2

I really had let myself get behind on my Just Takes 2 blocks. I hadn't sewn any since the beginning of August!   I was able to use our guild's UFO day on Saturday to make my way through 8 blocks and finished the rest up today.  Good thing as the next set of instructions comes out tomorrow!  Caught up for about 12 hours - Yay me!    I am pretty happy as to date that is 75 blocks completed!

Set 16 - August 15

I really like how the purple one looks.  The orange one had a shockingly large number of pieces!

Set 17 - September 1

The "crumbs" from the large purple block were the perfect size to use for the row of flying geese.  That was cool.

Set 18 - September 15

Set 19 - October 1

I really like the pink "pretzel" block.  When I was appliqueing the keys down all I could think of was unlocking the Caramilk secret!

Charm Table Topper

Quilting can really make something simple into something quite nice.

I received a charm pack as a thank-you gift at the Kick Ass Country Store Birthday sale a couple of weeks  ago.  Instead of adding to the fabric pile I had Kyla piece this top together for me.  I was busy getting ready for our Thanksgiving company at the time and she was thrilled that the job I had for her wasn't cleaning! I have to say that it is really cool having a teenager who knows enough about pressing and matching seams to just let her go for it.

Found a fat quarter and some backing in my stash.  I added a panto called "A Little Bit This".  I think it added great texture.  Cotton thread on top and So Fine! in the bobbin.

Eileen's Scrappy Squares

This is Eileen's quilt.   I have to admit that when she passed this quilt to me I was shaking a little.  I have a top just like this one, and had not yet figured out how to quilt my own. All I could see when I look at it was a sea of white, and lots of odd shapes.

As a general rule Eileen would prefer something other than feathers on her quilts, I knew it needed something special in those snowball blocks.  Slowly the ideas started coming, and after I developed a plan I really enjoyed the quilting process.

So Fine! thread, Quilter's Dream Blend batting.  Eileen's subtle backing fabric really shows off the quilting. 

Her are a few shots of some of the shopping I did at the Kick Ass Country Store Birthday Sale.  I am just a sucker for batiks on sale!  Some for fun, some to match a project I might want to make bigger.  And a new book and some stencils for inspiration.

 

Nine Patch Pizazz

This lovely quilt belongs to Bev.  She took a bunch of simple nine patch blocks that she won at our local Guild and turned them into something very special.

 The fabrics she chose for the setting triangles, sashing and border surprised and delighted me.  I used the "Fluffy Clouds "panto which is very light and open.  A steel blue cotton thread on top and So Fine thread on the bottom.

This was my first post after my photography lesson from Kathy.  It felt a little bit like a pop quiz.  I don't think I would give myself an A yet, but do feel a little more confident.  I am still struggling with getting a nice shot of the whole quilt.  I will just have to keep practicing.  Thanks for stopping by.

 

Patchwork Fields

This is Robin's Patchwork Fields quilt.  She doesn't have the quilt back quite yet, but she wanted me to post pictures so she could see it.  I am lucky to say that I have Kathy from Tamarack Shack visiting for a few days.  Kathy is an amazing quilt photographer, and we used Robin's quilt for my first photography lesson.

Robin said that she didn't really like this quilt when she first started piecing it, but in time it grew on her.  I think it looks pretty good in my living room!

I used the Trellis Vine panto with So Fine thread and Quilter's Dream Blend Batting.

Sorry for the delay with the pictures Robin!  I really enjoyed my lesson and taking lots of pictures of your beautiful quilt.

Mad Scientists at work

I am very lucky to have my good friend Kathy here for a couple of days. Here we are starting the first of our fabric dyeing experiments. Kathy measures, I mix. And a peek and the first bunch of fabrics. (This is the first time I am posting from my iPhone so we will see how it goes!)

Turning Twenty

This is Sandra's Turning Twenty quilt.

 She adapted the pattern to fit the fabric collection she had.   We used Quilter's Dream Blend batting, a mix of cotton and So Fine! thread.  Sandra requested the Plush panto in the center with a custom border.

 She had a lovely robin's egg blue flannel for the back to make it extra cozy.

I am striving to take better and more interesting pictures as I go along.  I am finding that much more difficult than I would have thought!  As always I wish you could see the fabrics up close as i don't think these pictures as doing them any justice.  So much to learn, so little time!