Friday Finishes - Quilts, Bindings and Labels

Friday the 13th!  Are you superstitious, I'm not but I know it really bothers some.  This morning started off with the hubby leaving for work and then an ambulance came racing down the street.  Two of the dogs were out in the yard as the ambulance went by and they started to howl.   The siren must really hurt their ears.  I don't know what was going on but the ambulance stopped a block away.  Hope it wasn't too serious.

I headed to the basement to make progress on my quilts today.  The local guild, the Covered Bridge Quilt Guild is hold their bi-annual quilt show next weekend March 21 & 22 at the Bureau County Fairgrounds.  The hours will be 9am to 5pm Saturday and 11am to 4pm on Sunday.

This pattern is Pink Patches Doll Quilt by Kathleen Tracy in her book The Civil War Sewing Circle.

It is all custom quilted. 

 

The quilt below is called the Framed Ladies Wreath.  I purchased this kit on the I-80 Shop Hop quite a few years back.  In the shop, this quilt was framed in a beautiful antique-looking frame. Whether or not I will frame it is yet to be seen.  So this UFO is almost finished.  I will be sewing down the binding and adding the label on the back.  

 

Today I made the two bindings on the above quilts, the two bindings shown below and seven labels framed in fabrics to match their designated quilts.  I had to laugh at myself today.  In my flurry of trying to finish many projects today,  I made a binding that didn't match the quilt it was intended for. So maybe, haste makes waste?  So that unused binding will end up in my 2 1/2" strip drawer. 

You can see my tutorial on making labels HERE.

 

Today I am linking up with.....Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Link a Finish Friday, Freedom Fridays, and Crazy Mom Quilts.  

 

Hope you are enjoying great Spring weather this weekend.  It was 65 degrees and sunny here.  The dogs enjoyed laying out on the deck.  I opened up the house to air things out.

 

Yours in quilting,

Terry

Work In Progress Wednesday

How's your day going?  I got up with my hubby this morning and fixed breakfast.  Let me tell you my body was saying, "Whoa, No!"  I pulled a late night with friends getting home at midnight and finally turning out the lights at 12:30.  My friends and I attended the local Community Partners Against Substance Abuse (CPASA) meeting last night for Bureau and Putnam Counties.  I was able to
participate in a discussion about substance abuse and related issues among youth and young adults.
 about drug abuse in our county.  I stood up and spoke about hope.  After working 34 years for the Department of Human Services, Division of Rehabilitation Services I know there is hope for those in recovery.  My job involved helping people with disabilities return to work.  Secondly, I thanked the police, sheriff, first responders, medical staff and counselors for the difficult jobs they do each day.  We are quick with criticism but we need to be thankful for the lives they are helping and changing.  Third, please communicate with your neighbors, friends, co-workers, etc.  Drug dealers are out our back doors and in everyone's community.  Keep your eyes open and communicate so we make progress in beating this problem. 

This meeting was an eye opening experience.  I want to try to fit in next week's program about what drugs look like today.  Let's just say they're hidden in plain sight.  We all need to educate ourselves.  Ok, off my soap box....

After the hubby left for work I vacuumed, cleaned the bathroom, showered, carried the laundry down, let the dogs out, made an appointment and now headed the basement.  Someone is blocking the entrance to the basement, taking a nap on the laundry.  Skye pup is snuggled in for her morning nap while I do chores.

 

I am headed down to finish custom quilting this doll quilt.  This is one of my entries for our local quilt show. 

 

After this quilt, I have three more to get quilted by March 19th.  Say a little prayer for me that I can accomplish my goal of finishing all seven (7) quilts. 

 

Today I am linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced.

 

Yours in quilting,

Terry

Tuesday Tip - Quilt Label Tutorial

 

I make my labels on the computer.  I write up the description of each quilt giving the pattern name, pattern designer, how the quilt was made i.e, hand or machine pieced, machine or hand quilted, name of quilter and where she is from, date finished.  In this instance I also added what quilt show the quilt will be shown in.  The more information you can give about the quilt just adds to its history.

 

Below I have created each label in a table on my word processing software.  Each table has one row and one column.  I center the writing with in the table.  I leave about an inch in-between each label and then create another label.  I have not figured out how to make two columns of tables on one page.

Therefore, the labels are on two pages.  I print them out on paper first,  check the spelling and information for accuracy.  Then I load the fabric page in the printer and print one page, then turn the fabric page and print the second page on the opposite side.  Please read your printer's instructions or practice with paper before doing this on your fabric page.   

I let the ink dry.  Then heat set it according to manufacturer's instructions.  I do not rinse the fabric.

After peeling the fabric off the paper backing, I trim about 1/2 inch from lines.

 

Now I frame the label with fabric from the quilt.

 

Next I lay the label, right sides together on a piece of coordinating or matching fabric. 

Stitch around label using scant 1/4 inch seam. 

Make a small slit in the fabric backing side behind the where the framed part is.  That way the slit will not show through from the front.

 

Clip the corners to reduce the bulk and turn right-side out through the slit.

 

Push out corners and seams to create a square label and press. 

 

Now turn over the label and we have to close that slit.  Notice that my slit is behind where the frame is.  If you would put the slit behind where the label is, it might show through your white label. 

 

I used a blanket stitch or button hole stitch to close the slit.  

 

Now you can pin on your finished label and whip stitch or applique stitch your label onto your quilt's back.  I find by using this method, I have a nice square label that is easy to read. 

 

I would appreciate hearing from you about my tutorial.  This is the first one I have written and would appreciate some feedback.

 

Today I am linking up with Connie at Freemotion by the River and A Quilt Story's Fabric Tuesday.

 

Yours in quilting,

Terry

Design Wall Monday-Oil Change, Secret Clues & Shop Hop

I have some back-tracking to do.  I did not post my visit to Fulton, two weeks ago.  It always seems a little funny how some of my shop hops develop.  I mentioned to several of my "quilty" friends that I was going to D & D Motors to have the oil changed in my vehicle.  Then I planned to head over to The Quilt Box Quilt Shop in Kewanee.  Kathy O and Maribel K decided that they wanted to accompany me on my journey.  The day was easily made into a multiple store shop hop. 

Here is a clue to a future story:  Before heading out to Kewanee and picking up Kathy O and Maribel K, I shipped a quilt to Houston.

When I headed out to pick up my friends, the roads weren't the best so it slowed me down.  We were a little late arriving for the oil change.  I think we made up the lost time quickly as the mechanics wanted to go to lunch, so tire rotation and oil change happened smoothly.

Arriving at The Quilt Box was a warm experience.  The girls who own the shop are always happy to see us.  We took in our template for English Paper Piecing the Patchwork of the Crosses.

We used the above template to audition different fabrics and to imagine how we would cut out the different designs.  I found a bargain bin of $2 fat quarters.  (Did the happy dance!)  After leaving our money at the store and taking their fabric, we headed out for lunch.  We voted on an economy style lunch saving more money for future shopping.

A quick selfie after picking up sandwiches at Subway.  We headed for LeClaire, Ia, for Expressions in Thread, not.  I had "sometimers disease".  I forgot the turn off for LeClaire and drove straight to Fulton's Susan's Calico Creations.  The girls didn't act like back-seat-drivers and question where I was going.

 

We spent the rest of the day at the sewing day in Fulton.  I was excited to introduce Kathy and Maribel to all my friends that meet at Fulton several times a year.

Congratulations on your beautiful finish, Susie!

Below is the back of the quilt.  Just stunning. 

 

Below are Susan's Patchwork of the Crosses blocks. 

This is an example of why we audition fabrics with the template.  Notice how the stripes are used in each block.  Also, the placement of light and dark fabrics changes the block design.  You look at fabric very differently after taking a class in this technique.

 

Susie made this wonderful Quilt of Valor for a man in her town. Susie designed the center block as the man was in the Navy.  It was going to be presented at his eighty-something birthday party the following weekend.

 

There was another Quilt of Valor that was a surprise.  I will have to get more information about it before sharing the story.

 

Today I am linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times, Nurdan at Hug-a-Bit Quilts, and Beth at her scrappy blog Cooking Up Quilts.

 

Yours in quilting,

Terry

 

 

Friday Finishes

What a great evening at guild last night.  My friend, Kate Hall, gave her "I want to be an Artist" speech.  Kate and I met many moons ago at my husband's class reunion.  As you might guess my husband and Kate went to high school together.  So Kate and I started talking and learned that we both liked quilting.  We swapped email addresses and stayed in touch from time to time.  It was exciting when about four years ago Kate and her husband moved back to Princeton along with joining the Covered Bridge Quilt Guild.  She is currently Co-President and helping to guide us all towards a successful quilt show on March 21 and 22 at the Bureau County Fairgrounds.

Kate took us on her quilting journey through her family's many moves, health issues, and design decisions.  (Remember quilters don't make mistakes, we make design decisions!)

 

Have you ever borrowed a gifted quilt back?  Kate brought this quilt back from Arizona.  It is her brother's quilt and will be shown in our show later this month.  Love those rainbow colors. 

 

Kate has a soft spot for African fabrics.  She trades fabrics with her good friend, Patsy. 

 

Kate taught a quilting class with the Girl Scouts and look at these funky houses.  Kate put out a challenge to our group to make her house blocks to add to the finish of this quilt.  She gave guild members a timeline of one and a half years to complete the challenge which is the length of her Co-President term.  My brain is spinning with ideas!

Thank you, Kate, for sharing your quilting journey.  I am happy to call you my friend and fellow quilter.

 

Here's a little show and tell.  This quilt belongs to Sandy G.  It was a round robin quilt  with 7 participants.  Sandy love oriental fabrics.

Above is Maribel's Patchwork of the Crosses  new block.  You can see more blocks HERE.

 

Here is my Friday Finish.  This quilt is called Framed Ladies Wreath.  It is only 18" x 24".

 

I am currently working on quilting Pink Patches Doll Quilt, pattern by Kathleen Tracy in her Sewing Circles book.  I had a glitch in my longarm computer this week which delayed the finish of this quilt.  I am thankful for help from Elaine Gilmore, Handi Quilter Educator, and I am back to quilting.

 

 

Have a wonderful weekend.  I am looking forward to some warmer temperatures but not the mud in the backyard as the snow melts.

 

Today I am linking up with ..... Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Link a Finish Friday, Freedom Fridays, and Crazy Mom Quilts. 

 

Yours in quilting,

Terry

Work in Progress Wednesday

Good Morning!  Its warmer and its not raining, snowing or sleeting this morning.  I am hoping for slow melting or we will have a lake in the backyard along with lots of mud.  With three dogs in the house, not looking forward to wiping feet off.

I have been working on my own quilts this week.  I can't tell you how long this top has been hanging around waiting for quilting.  Its quilted!  Its only 18" x 24".  The full reveal picture on Friday.  Another small quilt is loaded and on its way to being finished also.  The big push is on to finish 7 quilts for our local quilt show March 21 & 22.

I bought this kit on the I-80 Shop Hop years ago.  The finished small quilt in their shop was framed beautifully.  We'll have to see if it gets framed, since that can be costly.  It will look nice hung in my new kitchen.

I hope you are having a productive day.  I have vacuumed the main floor, cleaned off the dining room table from all my quilting piles, cleaned off the counter tops from valentines decorations and put out Easter decorations.  The dining room table looks like a dining table.  Because I have not cleaned and organized my sewing area, I had moved upstairs to the dining room table which doesn't look so great when company stops by. 

The quilt on the table is called Window Box, pattern by Lynnette Jensen.

I made this quilt for Quilter's Garden Quilt Shop when I was their sample maker.

 

I have not posted the links for the free patterns I like lately.  So today is catch-up day.

 

Quilt Doodle Designs BOM 2015

http://www.quiltdoodledesigns.com/Marchs_Block_2015.pdf

 

McCall's Freebie Friday

http://www.mccallsquilting.com/blogs/?s=friday+freebie

Quiltmaker Bitty Blocks

February

http://www.quiltmaker.com/blogs/quiltypleasures/2015/02/qm-bitty-blocks-basket-block/

March – Row Quilt Options

http://www.quiltmaker.com/blogs/quiltypleasures/2015/03/qm-bitty-blocks-the-row-quilts/

March Blocks

http://www.quiltmaker.com/blogs/quiltypleasures/2015/03/qm-bitty-blocks-home-sweet-home/

Farm Chick Quilts ( used to be the Country Threads block of the month)

http://farmchickquilts.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/February-Block-PDF.pdf

http://farmchickquilts.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/March-Block.pdf

 

Hope you have a great day.  Today I am linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced.

 

Yours in quilting,

Terry

Tuesday Tips

Tip 1:  Stay inside and quilt today.  We are having freezing rain here.  Our deck is coated with ice and the dogs just came in wet with misty rain on their coats.  I even notice that one quilter posted on Facebook that she called in sick today because of the icy roads and will be having a quilting day.  I declare today a "Quilty Day"!

Tip 2:  Cook something yummy.  I love my new kitchen and have found an outlet for all my baking.  I have been taking my baked goods to church for the social hour.  Its fun because I get to bake what I want, when I want and they love it all.  My family doesn't eat out much since the new kitchen because I cook more.  My roast recipe is on my recipe page.

I use my grandma's old enamel roaster to cook roasts in the oven.  I also use my crockpot a lot.  I love the crockpot liners so there is no mess to clean up. 

 

This morning I tried this recipe for Texas Sheet Cake Cookies.

Bake for 7 minutes.

Cool....

Frost with warm frosting....

 

Enjoy with a cup of Chai tea or your favorite beverage.

 

I wish the little gremlins would come out and do the clean  up!

 

Tip 3:  I wanted to share two of my favorite tools for quilting.  Famore 738 scissors

These work by pinching them so they are easy on the hands.  The tips are the important part.  I use the tips to pick out stitches as well as clipping threads.  These are my "go-to tool" for quilting and sewing.  They have slightly curved-up blades so they are handy for embroidery also.  The Chicago International Quilt Show is coming up on March 26-28th and these are on my shopping list for a second pair.  Famore guarantees sharpness for life and will sharpen them for free.

The Pin Place & Scissor Spot is a magnetic suction cup.  I keep it on my longarm for easy access of pins and the above scissors.  I took the scissors off for the picture.  This item holds a lot of goodies while you are quilting.

 

Stay safe if you have to go out today.  Today I will be linking up with Connie at Freemotion by the River.

 

Yours in quilting,

Terry