Only six of us showed up for quilt group last night – you would think because of the low number there would have been little show and tell – wrong!  We are a prolific group Here are the quilts – I think this first group of baby quilts was done by another Karen but I might have the name mixed up – CJ do you know if these were done by Karen W. ?:

More – CJ’s quilts:

And some more (mine you guys have seen these):

The next 4 are by Anna (my son-in-law Ric’s aunt by marriage) this is one of the mystery quilts from a couple months ago:

This is what she is using for the back of the above quilt top, I’m not sure how she will have this quilted to complement both sides:

Another of hers:

Another fancy back this is for the one above – this one was swirly quilted all over:

Dee is having a little trouble with the borders on this one and says she is taking them off and trying again:

This one Dee brought along to put on the floor (large space) so it could be spray basted.  This is a technique that I have not used and think I will try it on my next small quilt top that will be done in a hoop (haven’t decided what that project will be but something with the charm squares that I purchased from Connecting Threads).

And last but not least I know I said I was putting Dear Jane aside for a day – but this was an easy one and I got done with it quickly – worked on it a little yesterday afternoon and then again this morning.  This make 4 out of 13 needed on the second border.

I brought the charm squares that I bought from Connecting Threads to both last nights group and again this morning and we all went through the fabric and all agreed they would use it too and thought it was good fabric.

I had a half an hour left of quilting on the Christmas quilt to do today and I got it finished.  I have it off of the frame and y’all can wait to see a photo until the binding is done and it is washed.  I plan on getting to work on that this evening and for the next several days.

Thanks for all the opinions on the binding.  After thinking it over I cut a strip of both of the red colors and pined them to the top to see what it looks like and I prefer the one that matches the sashing – it just kind of pulled it together.  If I had used the backing fabric for some of the applique it would have looked good but because it was no where on the top I didn’t care for it as much.  I really liked hearing your opinions and the reason you would chose the color that you did – it helped in my decision.

I’m glad to be done quilting on this quilt and in the next day or two I will get my portable design wall put together and start playing with the arrangement of the Bow Tie Medallion quilt and get that top finished and put away to wait in line to be quilted.

I am nearing the finish line for the Christmas quilt!!  Well in hand quilting terms that means maybe one or two more weeks   but really the end is very near in sight.  I put in a couple hours of hand quilting this weekend and gave the rollers another turn last night then quilted for another hour before saying enough and went to watch tv in the living room and started to applique on the Red/Green quilt.  That block is going to be a beauty I think.  I really like the flower in the center but I’m not going to show it until I’m done.

Here is what is left to work on the Christmas Quilt:

I would say about another 15 hours of work possibly – a week if my fingers can last otherwise it will be two weeks.  We’ll see how it goes   as you can tell I’m getting antsy to get it off of the frame.

I have been really good about not starting new projects and really trying to finish a lot that I already started this year – but I am ready to start working on some easy scrap quilts and get some of these scrap boxes emptied out for next year.

For the remaining months of the year I will finish the Star Crazy BOM and be close (possibly) to finishing the Red and Green Traditional Applique quilt – we will see on that – I might get tired of it and put it aside who can tell.  Other than that I will get the Bow Tie Quilt finished this year also (the top that is).  Remaining projects are the second Dear Jane – Insanity Revisited which I need to make most of the triangles for the border I will be working on that one next year in between other things of course.

The next to go on the large 3 roller frame is the quilt “Going in Circles” (link to photo on that highlighted word) that I made last winter.  Next year I will have a pile of quilt tops waiting in line to quilt so I think other then finishing the quilt tops already started I need to think small and just do some couch size or smaller for awhile.  The scrap pile should be plenty to work with and will have one more year of trying to not buy much in the line of fabric other than backings and background.  I did pretty well with not buying much this year and other than 2 bolts of background neutral fabric, a yard of pink moda marble  & one package of 8 fat quarters I do not remember buying much (fabric that is) – but of course I might be blocking my memory somehow – I’m getting forgetful as I age LOL

I have been so busy quilting for the last 3 1/2 weeks that I have done little piecing.  My fingers are saying enough already – I have to take a day or two off of quilting and let the fingers get some relieve! (maybe even a week)

Here is where I stand on the  quilting:

The Christmas quilt is coming along so nicely.  I hate to take a couple days off but when the quilting fingers get too sore from needle pricks it is not enjoyable.

I have put a lot of quilting into this sweet little girls quilt – it is in between crib and twin size.  I am maybe just half way done.

For the next day or two I will get back to work on the sewing machine with the Bow Tie Medallion quilt that I started in late spring.  I have not touched it since June.  I cut all the pieces needed back in June so I could take it along while traveling.  This was going to be my extra project to work on in case I ran out of things to do! I never even opened the box.

I also have a appliqué block that I started while we were traveling and have not touched it but once since we got home.  Between these two projects maybe I will get a little something done in the next two days while taking a break from hand quilting.

Yes that is the instruction book for EQ on my worktable.  I have been practicing a little but truthfully not all that much.  It will for sure be a winter project for me.

Yesterday was one of those days when I just wasn’t outside very much.  I was going to cut the grass in the morning and then it started to rain just as I was getting started.  It didn’t rain a lot and not for long but I took it for one of those signals that say just forget it and work on your sewing instead

What it really was I think is that I was so close to getting these 169 – 4 1/2 inch blocks finished that I just wanted to get them finished – so off and on all day that is what I did -

Row 13, Block 11 - this block was supposed to be pieced with 31 pieces, I just didn't feel like it and I appliqued the diamond shapes on it instead. It is not perfect but who cares!

Really Jane saved some of the easiest blocks for last! This is Row 13 Block 12 and it went together in a flash.

Row 13, Block 13 - again this piece too was shown pieced - in quarters with curved piecing with what would have been 12 pieces with more bulk of seams. Instead I appliqued the cream piece to the red - so much easier and now all the blocks are finished

Now that the blocks are finished I need to sew row 13 to the body of the quilt and then I will show a photo tomorrow of all 13 rows sewed together.  I got done with the blocks around 5 PM so I had time to quilt a little in the evening.  I was close to the half way point on the Christmas Quilt and got there last night:

If you want to get technical I need to be half way up that center block to be half done with the quilting on this quilt - that gives me two more inches straight across - I'm just saying I am half way done now. I have put in 53 hours of quilting so far - it should not have taken me a half of a year to accomplish this!

In my defense I have gotten done with so many other projects this one just got neglected.  I quilted two table toppers, a baby quilt, and a couch size quilt.  I made a queen size quilt top, and started another (the Bow Tie), paper pieced several more 6 inch pineapple square blocks,  made one Red & Green Applique block,  made one more Little Brown Bird block and I finished I’m not sure how many “Insanity Revisited” Dear Jane blocks since the beginning of the year — I guess that explains why the Christmas quilt was neglected   I feel that I have forgotten a project or two – I might need to get my list out.  EDITED: I forgot to list my Star Crazy BOM – six months done.

The Dear Jane “Insanity Revisited” quilt top will now be put aside until the fall and I will work on the triangles for the border then.

Wow slightly over 50 comments already on the give away I am hosting for Teri – keep them coming!!  Leave a comment on the post from yesterday.   Some people have asked me how this give away came about and who is Teri?  Teri is from Alabama and was one of the winners of my last give away.  Teri says she is not  computer literate enough to have a blog   I think a lot of us feel that way.  It took me sometime to get it figured out and I have my computer master in the same room with me most of the time and I am still bugging him with questions of how do I do such and such!  It comes hard for some of us.  I have asked Teri some questions and will try to post a little bio on her this week.  I really do not know her real well and we can find out together.  We have not met in person – just through e mails as so many of us do.

Sometimes when I have a giveaway I try to thank everyone with a e mail of thanks when I get the message – in this case so many having been coming in at the same time I have not had the chance to do so.  Let me say thank you to all of you now for stopping by my blog and visiting.  Such nice comments everyone leaves.  Good luck to all of you.  I am looking at blogs every chance I get to see all the new ones that I have not seen before.

I have a new photo of my Christmas Quilt which is coming along slowly as I am working on so many other projects all the time.

Christmas Baltimore Album in the works

You see this block in the center with the white flowers? When I get to the middle of it I will be half way done with this quilt. Like I say it is moving slowly - I'm not rushing it and in fact have been neglecting it - I have been working on so many other quilts but this is a Christmas quilt I figure I have until the middle of November before I need it - hopefully I will be finished with it before then!

Yes I need to straighten out under the frame once again – somehow things constantly get tossed under the frame – out of the way you know

Before I forget Jackie is having a give away on her blog Canton Village Quilt Works - go on over and see what she has.

I started making “Going in Circles” on December 20th – I finished the top today, this evening actually.  It took 12 days of steady work  on this top to finish appliqueing the border.  I barely worked on any other project wanting to get this top finished.

Here it is folded in quarter size as it is too big to lay out on the floor - Now it will sit aside for most of this year most likely as I finish up other quilts. This quilt is 100 x 100 inches so it will be quilted on my big hand quilting frame and right now there is another quilt on it. I am in no rush - it will wait until I am ready for it. The border is all needle turn applique although I did make the circles using the technique that I showed in early December on the blog and then appliqued in place - which was easy as the ends were already turned under.

Now that this top is finished I am ready to get busy quilting.  I have a small stack of tops waiting for me to get quilted.  Counting this one that I just finished there are 4 quilts to be quilted plus the Christmas Quilt that is on the big frame in progress.  I thought I would select the smallest top and get started on that one on my 14 inch hoop.  I will be quilting two quilts at the same time and in between working on the 2 applique quilts I have gotten started on this year – 1 block finished on each, I will also continuing working on the BOM Star Crazy and the second Dear Jane quilt which I have barely touched in the last month.  Way too many projects in the works!!!

This top is called "Devil's Puzzle" it is a small one for me, most I make are much larger than this. This one measures 38 x 38 inches and will be used for a table topper.

A close up of the backing fabric that I found in my stash. This whole quilt will be made from scraps right down to the batting - I will be basting 3 pieces of batting together tonight to use for this quilt. I will finally have to order some more batting though as I am down to small pieces and way too many pieces to baste together for the next quilts I have waiting in line which are about 50 by 70 inches I think. I would have to baste about 7 or 8 pieces together from here out so I think they will be put aside for small projects once again.

I will need to continue making scrap quilts next year as I have barely made a dent in my scraps and that is after using them in the big scrappy quilt too besides these smaller quilts that I have made this past year.  For the most part for the last year I have mainly just bought fabric for the backgrounds and backings.

Now I am off to watch more Olympics and baste that batting together.  We were really pleased with the Men’s Figure Skating last night and really I thought they all did a terrific job -   Oh and could not believe it got up to 60 degrees today!! and no I do not think spring is on its way early – I just bet we will have another cold spell with the way this winter has been.

I have the worst luck with every cutting/pressing mat I have ever gotten.  They all warp!  Do the rest of you have this problem and if you don’t what am I doing wrong with mine?

My latest - in the photo you can see how each end curves upward - this is what always happens. This one is a June Taylor 12x18 Quilter's Cut n Press II I do a lot of pressing on it - I rarely use the cutting side. I think I will go back to making my own again. I had one that I made - a piece of plywood, batting and muslin pulled tightly and stapled on the back. It finally got so brown and nasty looking on the muslin from all the starch and pressing that I tossed it. I have tried to straighten it out by placing heavy objects on top of it over night - doesn't work. Any ideas?

More patches ready to sew. I haven't worked on my 4 patches in two or three days.

Progress on the Christmas Quilt -- but far from done.

And the weather here is still freezing cold!! Woke up to 12 degrees this morning and it will continue to be “Arctic” cold for the rest of the week – yuk!  Hopefully by Sunday or Monday this will be passing us by – I really don’t mind cold weather that much – but to me than means temperatures more in the 30 – 40 range

I’m surprised more of you do not have comments on the Quilt Show!!  Good or Bad it’s ok to post your opinion.  Thank you to those that have posted – I like hearing what you have to say.

Who can resist chocolate chip cookies! Be truthful can you eat just one   I know I can’t.  I’m trying the same recipe I always use this evening except half of the chips are mint.  Well be a different taste – but one I am sure I will love.  I use the recipe on the Tollhouse chocolate chip package.  No changes just what is on the package.  You can use a variety of chocolate chips – or butterscotch or whatever kind you like.  I do add walnuts in mine.

A little work done has been done on the Christmas Baltimore Album quilt but not a lot.  I have been working on too many things at once, once  again. At least a little more is done but it is a long way from being done.

quilting on the Christmas Baltimore Album

I have the back of the sweater knitted – I might wait to post another photo of it until I am completely finished with it.  No photo of it today.  The Dutch Treat quilt is coming along nicely.   A lot of my time has been spent on quilting it this past week.  There are 36 plain blocks in it and 36 reverse applique blocks.  Right now I have 19 plain blocks left to quilt and 20 applique blocks left.  Just about half way finished!!

The Dutch Treat quilt

the quilting

Do most of you find that you work on more than one project at a time or do you concentrate on one project?  I understand working on just one if you do this mainly for a business and have deadlines but if you do it just as your creative outlet do you have a hard time working on one quilt at a time?

I couldn’t believe the weather today – high 50′s!  I came out of the fitness center and was so glad I wasn’t in a heavy sweater or sweatshirt – it was long sleeve t-shirt day – the sun was shining, no wind, a really nice day.  Of course according to the evening news it will be 20 degrees cooler tomorrow!!  Northwest Arkansas is already in the 30′s and here it just went under 50 and it is 6:45 PM right now.

I want to thank everyone for the birthday wishes to my mom.  It was so nice celebrating 85 years with her.  The years fly by don’t they.

My second Dear Jane - Insanity Revisited now has 8 rows finished.   I need to sew the 8th row onto the 7 rows already put together.  Not sure if I will be working on that over the next couple days or not.  Dear Daughter #2 and family+ large dog Max arrive in an hour or so and will be here until Friday.  Our little house will be bursting at it’s seams.

Block 13, Row 8, Insanity Revisited - those white specks are just thread clippings that I hadn't noticed - somehow I constantly have thread clippings sticking to the furniture, me, husband, all over the house - why is that

Here is some of the quilting on the Christmas Baltimore Album quilt. I decided to use a tone on tone yellow King Tut thread for the quilting on the red sashing. I think it sets it off well, the red thread would have just disappeared in it. I have 10 hours or so of quilting in on this quilt already and have barely made a dent in it. Good thing I really didn't plan on having it done for the Christmas season this year no way no how would it get done!!