BOM

I don't seem to be able to get much done lately. I am working on another project for work. I am trying to keep it a secret. I am terrible at keeping secrets. This project will be a sort of a club/demo. With the help of the two summer helpers at the store we cut up all the end of the bolt left overs into 2 1/2 inch strips. I have been wanting to use that fabric for something for a long time. (That is Bonnie Hunter's influence...use up those scraps).  Here is a sneak peak. More to come I promise.

I fell behind on my Sweet 16  BOM. This month I worked to get caught up. Some of the blocks will have beads, but I want to square all the blocks up first then I will add the beads. Without further ado here are the blocks.

I did finish the August block of my other BOM, but I haven't had a chance to get a picture yet. I will show it on the next post. I might even get to the September block. That would get me caught up on the BOMs at least.

Happy Stitching

Pineapples

Yep. Pineapples. The second demo that I did at the shop was pineapples. The book is Sew Simple Pineapples by Karin Hellaby.  It is an easy way to make those great pineapple blocks. No  special rulers. No paper piecing tiny pieces. Just squares.

The book has measurements for more than one size of the pineapple blocks so you do not even have to do the math!!! I totally love that since I am a bit math challenged.  Anyway.... you start with two squares the same size. Put them right sides together with the fabric you want in the center on the bottom and sew 1/4 inch seam on all four sides. (You can chain piece these).

Once you have all four sides stitched, make a line from corner to corner on each diagonal  on the top fabric.

Take a small, sharp pair of scissors and make a little slit. Then cut down the lines carefully. Go right up to the stitches but not through them.

Once you have both lines cut, press the flaps back. The book recommends using a bit of spray starch. If you stop at this point you have a block called a pineapple chunk. You can sew the 'chunks' together using a 1/2 inch seam. 

OR you can continue to add a square on top and repeat the process. I did not do as many rounds as the book had, I just needed to demo the process. Anyway this is how my little pineapple quilt came out.

Cute no? Happy Stitching everyone.

An over-due post.

I told you a while back that I was working on some secret projects for out free demo days at the shop. The demos have been done, but now the projects will be taught in a hands on class rather than a demo.
The first one many of you have probably seen. It is the Lil' Twister. I did one of those and it was so much fun. Then I made a quilt with the large template/ruler and layer cakes:

The left over bits were just to cute, I had  to trim them and make this:

Of course now that I had done big, lil', and mini, what else could I do?  Tiny. Yes, tiny.

The two smallest templates are made by Primitive Gatherings with the permission of the creator of the Lil' twister. The larger one uses 3" squares and the tiny one uses 2" squares. We have had a bunch of customers come in with finished projects since the demo. Later this month I will teach the technique for those who would like a more hands on class.

I will write a post on the other demo in the next few days.
Happy Stitching

Sad Goodbyes

When I posted last time I mentioned that DD was moving and we had lots to get done. Well lots happened after that post.
My Mom had been in the hospital with pneumonia, but was back out of the hospital and seemed to be doing better. With a swiftness that has left my head spinning, she got very sick and passed away on August 19th. Luckily we had a couple of days warning so we were all with her during her last days. (Except my poor sister who had gone home to California the week before after being here for 10 months helping Dad). My Dad and I made all the arrangements. My sister flew back here. My daughter delayed her departure. One week ago we had a lovely funeral for my Mom. Two of my cousins sang at the mass, a duet of Amazing Grace and a solo of The Old Rugged Cross. My head knows she is not suffering anymore but my heart is missing her.

The day after the funeral I was up early helping DD pack up her car for the move to California. She would have delayed the trip a bit longer, but she is going with a friend and they both already left their jobs. Her little trunk was packed really tight. The bike rack on that full little trunk with two bikes strapped on. The luggage carrier was strapped on to the top of the car and loaded with space bagged clothes. The back seat was filled from floor to even with the top of the seat. The floor had lots of bottled water and Gatorade to keep them hydrated. Behind the other seat was a bag of food. Cereal, soy milk that does not need a fridge. Some snacks and plastic ware. Also stuffed in a roll of paper towels, a roll of toilet paper and some wet ones.
The seat held a keyboard boxed up, a cooler on top of that with water, juice and string cheese. The duffel's that held the travel clothes, two pillows. That was a lot for her little Chevy Prism to haul across the country.
I am happy to report that they had a good trip. They went hiking in Colorado. More hiking around the rim of the Grand Canyon. They made a short stop in Vegas and walked the strip. Yesterday they were at the beach in sunny California.
***sigh***
I was able to sew a bit last night, so hopefully I will have more to post soon.
Happy stitching!

So much fun

Yesterday  I had the pleasure of meeting Ruth from Country Log Cabin in person!  She took more pictures than I did ( you know me and the camera) and she posted them on her blog. She came to my house and we took off to do a mini shop hop. I wanted to show her some of my favorite places. Here we are in Pieceful Gatherings.

We had lunch at the Brunch Cafe near one of the shops. The food there is so good. I know we both got more than we could finish. It was hard to eat because we just had so much to talk about.

I wanted to post about our wonderful day. I had so much fun meeting Ruth and getting to talk her ear off. LOL. I hope I get to meet more of my blogging buddies someday.

I need to get going cause the DD is moving tomorrow and we have a ton of stuff to get done.

Happy Stitching

Parties and minis

I survived the graduation party!!! I should make a T-shirt. Just kidding. Sunday we celebrated Sam's (DD#2) graduation from the University of Illinois. The last class is completed and it was time to party.
DD is a vegetarian so first there was a battle of wills between DD and DH over the menu. Guess who wanted meat?  We compromised and ordered food from the Pita Inn. It is middle east food and much of it is vegetarian. DD did agree to some meat dishes as well. I added fresh fruit to the table. Just to put out the food I needed my whole kitchen table, and most of the counter space.
My Dad, sister, niece, and Aunt all came. DH's cousins came too. I think we had around 20. Later in the evening DD friends came over. There was still lots of food and dessert. It was a very long day, but a very fun day. DD had a great time.

You may remember the quilt of the author I did for DD? Kind of tells you about her. Here is the cake she picked out. She also dictated what should be on the cake.

DD and DH

On the quilting front not much has been happening while party preparations were ongoing. I had to drop everything to get my minis done for the silent auction. Here are the completed ones. I am putting the bindings on two more. Depending on how many the organizer needs, I may be quilting up the last two and finishing them as well.

Happy stitching!

Popping In

Just popping in to say a quick hello. Time just keeps getting away from me.
I have been very busy cleaning and decluttering around the house. It was supposed to be a project that DD and I were going to do over the summer. Between her work and school schedule and my work schedule and the heat....well we never did get going. I will just keep working on it myself. It will keep me busy once she leaves for California. 
Tomorrow we are having her graduation party. All of her classes are done. She is really finished and we are going to celebrate with her. I will pull the camera out and get some photos. I will also get some pics of the mini quilts I have been trying to finish up.

Later
Happy stitching all