Monday, March 18, 2013

Rehab 3-18

While I did do a lot of sewing and finishing up this weekend, not so much was for my BOMs....I did manage to make another Ohio Star block for the Country Threads BOM.   I hope I will be happy with my choice of using neutral fabrics when I'm done.  It is not to late to add some blues in.  I'll have to think about that before next month.   I also drew off a layout for the 2011 FQS Designer Mystery.  Just a few years behind!  The blocks have been done....I couldn't decide how I wanted to set it; I didn't buy the finishing kit on that one!  Can I finish it before Christmas??????

Yesterday I showed my finished Scrappy Trip Around the World.   Here is #2.   My oldest son and DIL are going to France at the end of the month for a christening, and I wanted to make a baby quilt to send with them.  I needed something quick and I thought 4 of these blocks would make a cute quilt.  I pulled some soft pinks, whites, and gray fabrics and sewed the quilt in no time.   I added an eyelet ruffle and tacked it with silk ribbon bows.  Perfect for a little princess!  



Do you need a little extra motivation to finish your BOMs or just want some eye candy.....then you need  BOM Rehab.

Debbie

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Blog Hop Party Winners

Boy this has been a busy weekend, but where did it go?   National Quilting Day, St. Patrick's Day, the ACC tournament, 70 degree weather......  How did you celebrate?  I think we  definitely beat the winter blues with this blog hop!    Did you get a chance to start working  on your projects this weekend.    Looks like there will be a lot of gardening, painting, cleaning, decluttering, and quilting going on this spring.   With the help of Random.org., comment # 225 was selected as the winner of the layer cake.

I have twin sisters who are turning 40 soon and I want to make them each a picnic quilt for the summer to use! thank you!

Congratulations, Lee.  I'll send you an email for your address and get your prize in the mail.   I bet she is already sewing on those quilts!

Michele once again hosted a fun party!  Thanks!   

I spent some of the day, Saturday, quilting my Scrappy Trip around the World.  Had to celebrate National Quilting Day just a little.  I tried to cheer the Wolfpack  to a victory in the ACC tourney , but not to be this year!   Hoping for a good run in the NCAA.  March Madness!  Love this time of year!   My son and daughter-in-law went to the games on Saturday.......

Photo: GTHC

Photo
We still love her even if she is a Tarheel fan!

The sun came out briefly today and I tried to get a quick picture of my quilt, but my the time I went outside, it was cloudy again.   I sewed the binding on tonight while watching The Bible on The History Channel.  








Debbie

Monday, March 11, 2013

Hopping to Rehab


It's not to late to join in the fun and beat the Winter Blues!   I still have a lot of hopping to do.  It was just to pretty outside this weekend and I celebrated a birthday as well!  I love exploring new blogs and seeing what everyone is creating.   Head over to Quilting Gallery for the list of participating blogs.  I've seen some great giveaways.  Maybe the luck of the Irish will be with you!!

I did spend a little time in BOM rehab and made one little block for the Country Threads BOM.    We have three blocks to do this month.  Looks like I will  need to have some extended rehab time......the first month of another BOM came in the mail Saturday.....Peppermint and Holly.....Yes, it does have a holiday theme!!

I was a little disappointed in it though.  Not the pattern...Love the quilt... The book, Quilting the Garden by Barb Adams, Alma Allen, and Ricki Creamer was included in the first month with 3 pieces of red fabric. The fabric was beautiful so no problems there.  The way the shipments are set up it will take about 4 months to get enough fabrics to start a block.  Not a typical BOM...Guess they think I should finish up some of the other ones before starting a new one!!!   There are so many wonderful projects in the book, I may just have to start one of them while I wait.  If you like applique, you may like this book.  The photography is beautiful and the book is full of gardening ideas as well.

Here is my little 6 inch Ohio Star block.  It is resting beside a little box I found this weekend.  Sunday afternoon, we decided to go to the farmers market and get some plants after preparing the beds on Saturday.  Before heading back home, we stopped at a nearby antique mall and made a quick visit.   (Wanted to get those plants in the ground!)   I found this cute little box.  It isn't that old, but it will be perfect in my sewing room.

 I just noticed I had a picture saved of the Peppermint and Holly quilt.  


See why I'm anxious to get it started!!!
Follow me to see who else spent some time in Rehab this weekend!

Debbie

Friday, March 8, 2013

Blog Hop Party

Are you tired of winter??  Or do you just want to celebrate with friends for a few days?  Michele at Quilter's Gallery is once again hosting a great blog hop party to help chase away the winter blues.  All my friends know I love winter, but this year we have had no snow; only a few missed opportunities with lots of cold rain.  Pretty common for a NC winter...timing of systems is everything.   So I'm ready to head right into spring and dream of a better winter next year!  The weather will be in the 60s this weekend and I plan to take advantage of it and spend some time outside.  But I will be joining in the party!

Beat the Winter Blues - Quilters' Blog Hop Party


You can find a list of participating blogs here beginning Friday afternoon.   Now for my giveaway!  What is one of the most recognized signs of spring?   Well, here it is the Robin.   I have been seeing them for a couple of weeks now.  I love how God sends us these little signs reminding us that spring is on it's way.  Everything outside sings of new life.  My poor little daffodils have been blooming off and on all winter thanks to warm snaps this winter.   A few days ago, we had a couple of other visitors stop by too.  They actually come every year about this time and stay only a few hours, but they seem to enjoy their stay.   

 The picture is not great.  I was taking it through the kitchen doors and I didn't want to interrupt their frolicking! I would love to know their final destination.  Just glad they always stop by to say hello! 

When I saw Kathy Schmitz's new line for Moda, Round Robin, I knew it would be the perfect giveaway to chase away the winter blues!

 Moda Layer Cake - Round Robin by Kathy Schmitz

To enter my giveaway and have a chance to win this layer cake... all you have to do is leave a comment telling me about a non quilting project you hope to accomplish this spring!  Not spring where you are or you have no projects in mind....share a favorite Easter dessert that your family loves!  I'll choose a winner on Friday, March 15.  Good luck and have fun hopping!   I will ship internationally!

Debbie

Monday, March 4, 2013

Catching up and Rehab

Wow... it has been a long time since I posted, but I have been doing some sewing.   More sewing than blogging....Time just gets away doesn't it!  I finally caved in and couldn't resist the temptation to join the Scrappy Trip Around the World voyage!   I have seen so many pretty tops out there and I couldn't fight it off any longer.  After a couple weeks of sewing off and on, I have several  (22) blocks made.  A pretty good start.  The hardest part was trying to decide on fabric colors.  I finally decided on using my brighter scraps mainly because I seldom use brights in quilts...(well until the last few years anyway) I've used enough to have a bunch of scraps!  I decided to add a red and white strip in each block for a little consistency. I love how your eye follows the white chain in a wonky way when the top is constructed.  As I was sewing, I would think of other color combinations that would make a great quilt.  I love scrappy, but I love a controlled scrappy much more!  Recently on Pinterest I saw one made with all red fabrics.  It was awesome.  If you haven't started one, go ahead. Just a fun no pressure project.
I've also started another one of Bonnie's quilts, Talkin' Turkey.  I've wanted to make this one from the first time I saw the block.  You can't go wrong with any red and white quilt!  Right?


Still working on my BOMs too!  Here's the latest on from the FQS.  Think this one was the most time consuming one I've done, but worth the effort.  Love how this quilt is coming together.


Head over to the Pink Pincushion and see who else was in Rehab.  It is great to have just a little extra motivation to work on all these BOMs.  Thanks, Sinta!  You're the best!

I've also been working on a lot of nonquilting projects.  I have just as many of these on my to-do list as my quilting projects.  Finished one of these this weekend.   My grandmother's rocker...Here's the before.........

And the after


I have always loved this chair from the first time I rocked in it as a little girl.  If I remember correctly, my grandfather gave this to her, but I don't know the occasion.  I'm hoping my uncle will remember.  I got my love of quilting from her and her mother.  I have lots of pictures of my grandmother, but none of her at the quilting frame.  I don't think anyone took pictures of people quilting in those days.  I treasure all my quilts I have that she made.  Back to the chair!  It was in good shape; just needed a little TLC.  After removing the old fabric, I stripped it and then refinished it.  I wanted to find a fabric close to the original.  I actually found this at Hobby Lobby.  They have a great selection of decorator fabrics.   I was so tempted to go with a more modern design...so many pretty fabrics out there, but I really wanted to stay true to the era.  Several years ago, I saw a similar one in an antique mall and it was called a sewing rocker.  That makes it even more special to me!   Now on to the next project!  After I make a pillow for my rocker.

Debbie