Projects

Well I promised pictures of the things that I have worked on and I have a few for everyone. I still participate in an online group called the Silly Gals and we recently did a challenge fabric block. I have done a couple of these previously and have mentioned them on my blog. Heres a picture of the latest:

That I believe was by far one of my best blocks that I have ever done. Tracey was the proud winner of this rounds blocks.. ENJOY!

The Silly Gals also recently had a pin cushion swap that I also participated in. I'm always on the lookout for cute pin cushions because they make great gifts for your crafty friends but always go back to my stand by chicken pin cushions. I love them.. if you do them in different colors they could be what ever bird you wanted them to be. Here are the ones that I made for my partner:

I already got confirmation that my partner recieved them and likes them so I was pretty excited.

Karens Block

I realized that I had yet to post a picture of the block that won our group challenge. Here it is though it is so pretty.

She is the reason that I want to learn to paper piece. Our group used to do a block of the month one rotary cut one paper piece so that we could practice but that stopped a long time ago. Maybe I should do that again one block a month to practice and then I could use them for other projects like potholders and stuff.

Challenge winner Named!

Well the challenge winner was named! It was a lady named Karen and she made a super awesome paper piece block. Thus the reason that I need to lern to paper piece it opens a whole new world of possabilities.

So I had a thought and I am going to jump on this when I get everything moved up north. Notice I didn't say unpacked and settled? I don't think that I can wait that long. I am going to issue a challenge out there to everyone. Pick one fabric from your stash and and create your own challenge quilt... pick just random quilt blocks that you like and figure out how to incorporate your stash fabric into it. I have packed most of my fabric but I have some ideas that I want to try to use.

I have a bunch of western fabric that I want to make things for my new apartment when I get the chance and honestly can't wait. I want to start creating and making things again.

If this challenge doesn't suit your fancy but your interested in a challenge like my group did let me know and I'll see about getting one started once I get up north. I would be happy to be the swap moderator if people were interested. My group usually does 12 1/2 in blocks but we can do what ever we want 6 inch.. 8 inch.. we ould use them to make wall hangings or table runners.. heck if we did table runners and only got 3 or 4 participants maybe depending on the fabric we could just do a table runner challenge... I have all these great ideas this morning .. primaraly because I'm trying to procrastinate going to work just that much longer.

Well I really have to get going so I will write again soon. Today is my last WORKING day at the squadron so I am hoping that I can skate out of there super early but think that I have one more investigation to finish before they will let me leave.

Challenge Block Completed!!

I don't know if I ever mentioned my group that periodically does challenge quilt blocks? But we had a challenge this last month and I completed my block and actually took a picture to share this time before mailing it in. I had to use our camera at work because mine the battery died and I couldn't find my spare and didn't have time to wait for it to charge.

So here is the challenge concept. A central person chooses a fabric depending on how many people join/ sign up will depend on how much fabric you'll need (or if your using from your stash will determine how big a piece each person gets to work with). Everyone gets their square in the mail and you use that fabric to make a quilt block. Usually its any block you want but the last few challenges we have done different one it was any block that was considered to be 9- patch, another it was anything that was a star, and the last one the background fabric was white on white and we had to choose 2 other fabrics to go with the challenge fabric that was sent. Let me tell you the challenge fabric was very pretty. Once you have made your block you send it back (With a few stamps to offset the cost of the swap moderator mailing the squares to you and the winner) to the central person and they have a NON-quilty person/ friend choose from the blocks participating which one is their favorite. The person that made the favorite block gets all the blocks and any remaining fabric to put together for a quilt. Pretty neat huh? I won one last year I was so excited.

Here is my block. I thought I picked a pretty neat one. I even had enough fabric to make 2 so the lucky winner of these blocks will get another one from me to add to the mix. The yellow fabric with the flowers was the challenge. The picture really doesn't do the fabric justice the flowers are pink, purple and blue and of course the greenery.

Good Monday Morning

How is everyone doing today? Most are I'm sure back at work.. ewe.. I bet we all wish that quilting could be our work.. I know I do. I haven't actually done the end quilting part, I'm one of those that has a few tops finished and keeps starting new ones. Smiles.. I have a quilt made for 2 of 4 brothers, one for mom and then two that were just for fun.. plus a couple others that are in the works.. I have a row robin to finish putting together, and blocks from our last challenge block that I won .. yeah.
No sewing today.. woke up not feeling great (migraine.. guess its time to go back to the dr) so I went back to bed. Now its time to start getting ready to head to work. Good thing that I already made a lunch yesterday because I'm even procrastinating that today. What are everyones projects today?
Has any one started on christmas things? I have decided that this year I am going to make some things for myself but haven't figured out what. Oh and we are getting ready for our Christmas in July swap so that is the top of my list too.

Comments:
Monday, June 11, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
Up until this last year all I did was stitch in the ditch on my tops. I would stitch between the rows in both directions and that was enough. I took a Free motion quilting class just this past november and am first getting brave enough to stipple. I have a few tops myself that are sitting there waiting to be done...until I get brave enough.

Monday, June 11, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by
Since I'm rather new to quilting, I thought that everyone did their own quilting and were quite good at it. So it came as a surprise to me that some people are no more experienced in that part of it than I am! I started by just doing it. I had no clue what I was doing with stippling, and the tension wasn't great - but the machine was 40 years old and probably wasn't designed for that. I also like doing straight lines - crosshatch or vee shaped - whatever the spot calls for. That's pretty easy, you just have to measure and mark it. I have a table runner top done in blues for my daughter for Christmas. She decorates in blues and silvers. I need to finish that sometime soon. I don't have any other Christmas projects planned. Sorry about your migraine. They're the pits, aren't they? The Chiropractor really helps with mine. RhodaEdited by 51050 on Monday, June 11, 2007 at 02:58 PM

Monday, June 11, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
Sorry, that you feel so bad. Hope you get better soon. As far as quilting goes, I usually just send my to the quilters, she is really cheap. I have handquilted a couple but that really takes a long time. I did my first machine quilting a few weeks ago, and it was only a small wallhanging. Maybe someday, I will do them all myself. I think someone else on here is working on a Christmas project. It's not too early, it will be here before you know it. It is so funny that you use the name Quiling Cowgirl. On here of course, I am Country Quilter or Kristie, but my website is www.quiltincowgirl.blogspot.com it has alot of my quilts on there. I thought that was so cute, I had to tell my husband that I wasn't the only one that was a cowgirl at heart... Kristie

Monday, June 11, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by SewAndSnip
Sorry to hear that you're not feeling all that great. It sounds like you've got a pretty good start on yours quilting. I started a new quilt yesterday so that's what I'm working on now. Feel better Cindy

Monday, June 11, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by orchidlover
I'm sorry that you're not feeling to good I'm lucky that I don't get that many migraines. On the matter of quilting, I do all my own as to send out to a quilter here in the UK costs an arm and a leg. I prefer hand quilting but for speed I machine quilt. Nothing fancy, straight lines and free motion love and hugs gina xxx