An old UFO finished!

What may have been the oldest UFO in my quilting room is now a real quilt!

I started this Baltimore Album quilt in a year long class with Mimi Dietrich back in 1992.  I lived in Baltimore so it seemed like the right thing to do!

Anyway, over the course of a year my fabric choices changed significantly and after my "real" quilt was finished I had almost a dozen blocks that didn't make the cut.  They traveled with me for many years.

Last year when I was packing to move I debated letting them go but instead they went to the top of the "to-do" list!  This is hand appliqued, hand and machine pieced, and hand quilted.

Goldie...my 18 year old quilt cat

Cruise!

I'm not sure it is quite the same going on a Caribbean cruise when you live in Florida.

San Juan...

I mean we see water, beaches and palm trees all the time!  (and why does that sound like I am complaining...hummm)  Anyway, we spent 7 days going from Amber Cove in the DR, to St. Thomas, San Juan, and then Grand Turks.

St. Thomas

All good...not a lot of sewing or quilting but then again no cooking or cleaning!

Now back to reality...my design wall...a zipper Christmas table runner, some grey free pieced background blocks for applique and a couple of random blocks found while folding fabric! The zipper table runner is a good way to use some of the charm packs that seem to be multiplying in the fabric baskets...they are like candy in the checkout lane!

I also have Bonnie Hunter's leader and ender for this year under the needle.  I'm using a controlled scrappy fabric selection since my niece asked for a purple and orange quilt.  I was surprised just how much of those colors I had in my stash!  I now have a very large box of 4-patches and another large box of hst's.  I think it may be time to start making more blocks...

Have to finish something!

Today I decided to sit at the sewing machine and sew for a bit.

 All this folding, organizing and packing was just wearing me out!

Also I was afraid that if I pack up this leader and ender project from two years ago that it would never be sewn together!  So after several hours I almost have a top!

Did go through some more boxes that leaves me shaking my head...

like this almost quilt top made from leftover/orphan blocks from my Baltimore Album quilt.  I think I took that class in 1993!  I think I'm going for a personal record with this....

Found boxes of 4-patches in reproduction fabric...

two patches in brights

and even the blocks from a Bonnie Hunter Mystery (this is only about 10 years old so not ready to finish yet!)

Back from the quilter!

Today two quilts came back from Patty Lennon, a local longarm quilter who is in my guild.

First is a quilt I am making for my sister.  I used Bonnie Hunter's Scrappy Trip Around the World pattern only I put it on point!

Changes it a bit.  I've made at least 4 of the regular so wanted to try something just a bit different!

Of course then I had a table-full of 2-1/2 inch strips from making my sister's quilt-top so I played with another Bonnie pattern...think this one is Carolina Chain?  (Can't get to my books right now...)

This is really a fun pattern and uses a lot of scraps!  Now I just need to make lots of binding!  Plus set up my old Bernina...that machine just powers through binding!

Which is helpful.  As I said I can't get to my books...mainly since the MS has crept up on me.  I went to the guild bee feeling a bit weak.  By the time I got home I could barely make it into the house.  Right now I am back to using a walker.  It happened that fast!  Hoping it turns around just as quickly!

Quilt Show countdown...

The guild I belong to has a quilt show every two years.  You would think I would be better prepared!

(A miniature quilt that I just need to quilt and bind...)

But most of the quilts I make/finish go almost immediately out the door!  So I looked around this week and realized if I'm going to have anything hanging in the show I'd better focus on it NOW!

(My "Almost Modern" top just needs to be quilted on my domestic machine)

I'm quite sure I'll be sewing binding or sleeves or labels the week before the show but if I start now I stand a good chance of having a quilt to sew them onto

The background is finished but my heart quilt needs a lot of embroidered hearts...I'll really have to focus...

And finally my "First a Path" quilt...this quilt used a lot of my stash which is a good thing.  When I was first diagnosed with MS a specialist on setting up your house and workspace visited.  He had lots of good suggestions (think of toddler-proofing your home.)  However when he entered by sewing room he was quiet for a moment then said, "first your need a path."

And if I can I'd like to finish up my two political pillows...one donkey and one elephant (fair and balanced quilting!)

Now...I've got to get back to work!

On the design wall...

First I have to say one of the best things I've done for myself in a long time was putting up a design wall!  I love it...so much easier on my knees and so much easier to audition options.

Which is what I am doing today.  I'm trying to cut and pack the last bits for the retreat.  Today I have to decide on the sashing

Option one is above...a wide grey "striped" with four patch cornerstones.

Option two is slimmer sashing in white on white with single red cornerstones.

The pattern is from Pat Sloan's website.  The second option is closer to what she uses.  The quilt is going to be queen size.  I've made a lot of table runners, wallhangings and pillows in the past few months so I need to make some bed size projects!  I had an huge container of 2-1/2 squares and even a Queen size quilt hardly makes a dent...

Guess I'll let it set for a bit then make a decision.  I like them both so not too tough of a decision...worse when you have several options you don't like!

Did find a bit of another "favorite fabric"...this will go into the quilt.  The last tiny bit...

My MS thought for this week....

Retreat prep and MS awareness

I love going on quilt retreats however I have found them more challenging with my MS.

First, the noise!  I love being a room full of quilters but that is never quiet.  The constant talking, laughing, and occasional screams (a finish!) for a person with MS is exhausting!  It isn't just with quilters.  It takes a lot of energy to process constant stimulation like this and it happens when I go to other workshops.

So I try to keep my projects simple.  I know I'll have difficulty focusing and that I will tire quickly so I avoid projects that require a lot of thought.  For our next retreat I'm packing up this Pat Sloan project that pretty much uses two sizes of squares...and since it is scrappy no problem with putting a fabric in the wrong place!

Also, I don't start a new project from scratch.  When fatigue hits there are cognitive difficulties.  I remember one year when I was embroidering a witches hat...I must have spent an hour reading and rereading and rereading directions!  Sometimes there isn't enough coffee on earth to make things make sense...that is when a hand quilting project (already marked) is great...following lines with one type of stitch is sometimes all I can handle!  Also when hand quilting no getting up and down to go to the ironing stations!

Which leads to my second point...kit up as much as possible.  For the Traffic Jam  Quilt I have cut a quilter's bazillion 2-1/2 inch squares...made about 80 four patches and even made a few of the finished blocks.  This means as little thought and movements as possible (now if they could just set up a caffeine IV I'd be set!)

And just in case always have a backup project.  So say my leg is a but numb so even the walk to the ironing station is tough and my eye is wonky so I can't thread the needle to do hand quilting...go to project number 3.  For this retreat I have a stack of 10-inch squares (mostly from my stash with a few cake layer squares) that I will trace a huge hexagon onto.

So MS just requires a bit more planning...and coffee...

Design wall update....

I have a lot of projects going on at once...I know!  What else is new!

For years I've wanted a French Prov. style quilt for my kitchen wall and I am now close to having it!  I bought the charm packs at the North Carolina Quilt Symposium in May, put it on the design wall in June and stitched them together in July....if all goes according to plan I'll put the border on in August and quilt it in September!

border fabric for my "French" quilt....

I've also started my neutral quilt using a pattern in Pat Wys book.  My interpretation of neutral is a bit broader than hers!

Anything that looks like denim is a neutral....and I included some yellow just to keep it interesting..

I am also working on a quilt for the Orlando Modern Quilt Guild to give to those in their community effected by the shooting.  Several members of my local guild made blocks and am almost finished sewing them into a top!

And finally, I continue to work on blocks for "The Splendid Sampler" led by Pat Sloan.  I am way behind but I'm ok with that.  In the end I guess I'll make about half the blocks...it is still fun!  I'm using only scraps for this project...not making much of a dent in the scrap bags but at least I'm trying!

Precuts and another finish!

Two things to write about today...first, another finish and second, a discussion on pre-cuts.

Quilt shows are great inspiration to finish things!  This quilt has been "almost finished" for a long time.  I think the pattern was in a McCall's magazine several years ago.

Anyway, this will be for display only, no judging as it really isn't "show worthy" but since it goes well with the season it will be a "filler quilt!"  After the show it will be the new couch quilt for my husband!

So how does this lead to precuts?  Well, I used 2-1/2 inch strips making this quilt.  Not a jellyroll but 2-1/2 that I cut from left-over project fabrics.  Also there has been several discussions on facebook on "how do you use precuts."

I can't say I never buy them.  They are tempting!  Mainly I buy them if they are on sale or if it is a new line of fabrics that aren't carried locally so a charm pack gives me a better idea of the real colors.  They do tend to add up though!

I don't choose patterns based on precuts though I do have one on the design wall that could have been made using some!  I choose this pattern because I need one that used elephants for a baby quilt.  (the elephant and the donkey are not part of the project...but do show I am "fair and balanced!")

Most of the 5-inch squares for this came from a pile of squares given to me for my birthday by my quilting buddies.  This pile has been a great source of bits for little projects or applique!

Rock Soup...

Hit a landmark this week...over 550,000 views on my blog!

Ok, that aside.  When I should be organizing I have been sewing!  Needed to get it out of my system!  (The design wall is now mounted on the wall!  Used 6 command strips...seems to be holding just fine!)

This weekend I made another quilt for the local VA.  My guild is doing an amazing job creating quilts for this great cause.  At last count I believe there were over 30 finished and another 6-8 in the process of being quilted or bound.

I have this seemingly bottomless basket of 6-1/2 inch blocks.  Every time I think it is empty I find another stack or a quilter drops more in it!  Reminds me of the old fairy-tale of the old lady and her "rock soup!"

I also made three sets of binding!  Yikes.  Time to put the walking foot on my machine and get these on the quilts!  This batik quilt is also going to a vet!

Though I love making these quilts for the vets I also want to start working on some more complex/challenging quilts.  I ordered this book for some quilt-y inspiration.  I've been collecting a lot of wool but not using much.  This may be a great opportunity to cut into the wool piles!