New York Beauty

As quilters, we are always collecting fabrics and tell ourselves, "Someday,  I want to make......".
A few things on my list of things to make are a Wedding Ring, Cathedral Windows and a New York Beauty quilt. I was up for a challenge.  I wanted my winter project to be "different". I have done block after block of repeats.

 I have been collecting fabrics from a line called "Kansas Troubles". I have added a few fabrics from other lines that work well.  The dark outer fabric is plum and will be on each of the 10 block patterns. This will be the prominent color in this quilt.  I will make 4 of each of the 10 blocks which are all 8 1/2 inches. This is also my first paper pieced quilt.

This is where I found my pattern.
http://www.lenzula.de/pattern/free/nyb.php?l=en

Then I searched for PP'ing videos online and took notes. This took several months. I asked myself, can I really do this.  Who needs another UFO? I am not a PP'er so there was a learning curve here.

This is the first block and each of the four blocks will have the scrappy points with the same basket weave center. We will see what my other 9 blocks come up with as I do them. All the blocks point sections will be scrappy. The centers will also change.

Life has been so busy this year. I think I have not been in my sewing room for almost three months. I finally said, "That is it, I am spending the day in my sewing room". It was one of those nasty, rainy, windy PNW days with the fireplace going and homemade bread in the oven.

Did I pick up a UFO waiting for me? No....It's New York Beauty time.

So here we go:

 I was really impressed with PP'ing when I did the center of the block. It sewed up quickly. Rippit only came out once because I did not get my lights and dark's in the right order. Love those points.

Then I did the center, basket weave fabric.  rip rip rippit! My fabric folded over so many times and got in the way. It included some tucks too. I started pinning the excess fabric to hold it out of the way. That worked for me. Curved pieces.

Then I did the outside, the dark  plum fabric. It is two pieces and I sewed the narrow ends together, sewed it to the block, pressed it.  No No that is not a square. Shhheessshh rip rip rippit! A few more times too! Oh dear, who folded that fabric over?? rip rip rippit! This is curved pieces and I was afraid I would stretch out the fabrics.

The entire afternoon was spent doing ONE block as the rain streamed down my sewing room windows. I was thinking this was going to take me forever and why am I doing this? Oh yes, I wanted a challenge.

Now one block is completely done it is 4 pm DH is hungry....but wait...I loved doing this challenge. So back to my sewing room and I now have centers done to the other 3 block 1's. Maybe it took me 30 minutes to complete this section. I think I have the PP concept down now.

I love that all my points are there! Precision with the PP'ing is terrific.

If anyone wants to leave me some pointers on attaching the other pieces please do.

More PNW weather for today, so back to the sewing room I go. I really want to complete the other three blocks for this so I can start Block 2.

Vintage Car Quilts

Here is a picture of a quilt top I completed yesterday.
I am making two car quilts. One with Model T fabric and this one done with fabrics from "Vintage Cars".
Both quilts are different. The Model T quilt is for me. This one is for.....maybe I will sell it.

The vintage car quilt does not have a pattern. I constructed it by hanging it up, looking, and walaaa, I will do this to it.

Right now I am happy with the way it turned out. I have the backing fabric too. I will use the black fabric which is actually tires. the binding will be done with the red fabric. It is 70x75.

For the actual quilting: I do have some line drawings of old cars for the larger blocks. Perhaps some feathers in the open light blue areas. The center is a panel, maybe some free motion squiggles to make the cars stand out. Any other suggestions are welcome.

I am calling myself a "Topper". It seems the last couple of years that is all the farther I get on my quilts. Make a top and move on to the next top. I might have 8 of these now. I do the top, get the backing.....

I am now headed to Joann's with my coupon for batting. Determined to complete this one.

This is the Model T quilt top.

It was a free pattern I printed off the Internet. I would look it up but I have loaned the pattern out already.
This was another quick and easy one to do. I am definitely keeping this one.

The fabrics are Timeless Treasures. If you notice the model T fabric is directional so I made the cars fan out from the center. The pinwheels were suppose to be a color with white. I did not want too much white in this quilt because of the way it was going to be used.

There is enough of the model T fabric for the backing. Again, another top waiting for me.

We have 3 Model T's. I will use this one in the car to stay warm. Often we travel to picnics and there is not room for chairs so a quilt on the ground will have to do.

Angel Mug Rug

Isn't this angel adorable, yes!! 

Her  wings are very lacy looking.  She included hearts on her socks. I found her at PLB Designs

I love it when I stitch out a design and it stitches as designed, no problems!

 I decided to stitch her out and gift her to a friend. I know she will not see this post until she opens her package, so I am safe. In the digital world, posting of blogs, FaceBook, we could let all our secrets out.

This little project is a crazy quilted mug rug. I have added lace and ribbons with some fancy stitches.

It is a bit larger than I planned at 8 x 10. Before starting I asked Laurie about the things she collected, she answered, "angels"; what is your favorite color, she answered "purple".  I think this is just perfect for her. It  will look good on her desk while she is at her computer.

I have several more Christmas projects waiting to be photographed and wrapped. It will be awhile before those photo's are posted. I know those guys are in here peeking. Shhhhh, it's the time of year for secrets.

Merry Christmas to all of  you

Wild Flower Rhapsody~~~August

Talk about busy summer months! This sure does explain our house. So many good things happening keeping us busy. It is hard to find time for quilting when the weather is making things grow in the garden, that included the weeds. They seem to grow taller than anything else.

In the beginning of August I was able to cut out this block.  It must not of been a good day because I cut two of the fabrics wrong.  Doing BOM's there is not room for "do-overs". 

I put it aside for a few weeks.  My next trip to town I stopped at the quilt shop and asked about matching fabric.  There was no luck there. Now a wild goose chase so I could finish the block on time. It is really frustrating when this happens.

We searched the fabrics, walking up and down each isle.....ohhhh cute bee fabric, old cars done in a patriotic theme,.....Christmas fabric everywhere.  Come on, lets focus on what we really need.

 I did find a floral blue that worked. The little flowers had the same pink hue as the pink used in this block and the greens matched too. You can see this in my HST's.  How lucky was that. I was thrilled! 

When i returned home to sew the block together I discovered I needed some pink fabric too.  My trip to town was not well planned i guess.  I went through the scraps I had been saving for this project and came across the lighter pink.  There was just enough to complete this.  I sewed the darker pink in the center which is what the pattern called for; the lighter pink on the outside.

Next month I will definitely be more careful when cutting. I love this BOM!! The fabrics and colors are wonderful.

Wild Flower Rhapsody for July

Here is the July Block for Wild Flower Rhapsody.

HST and a 4-Patch. The more I work with the fabrics for this project the better I like it. No new fabrics this month which is the first thing I look for.  Lots of tiny ornate flowers.  It will not be long and I will be sewing the blocks together. 

Crazy Quilting by Machine

The month of July sure has been a busy one. Summer is finally here and it has me catching up everywhere I look.  The grass, weeds, cleaning, painting.  Grand kids with birthdays. Get aways! Car shows too.

Last night I escaped into my sewing room to do some machine crazy quilting. July's block is called Queen Anne's Lace. Wow do I ever like it. She is all done up in purples.

Usually my crazy quilting is all done by hand so machine crazy quilting is a new concept for me. I am liking how quickly a block works up.

Next month is dragonflies.

Rhubarb and Huckleberries

Today's efforts produced jam and a very sticky kitchen. These are made from our rhubarb and huckleberries.

The grand kids have not been around to pluck the huckleberries from all the bushes around here so I claimed them. That was a lot of picking.

There are 14 pints but only 4 are huckleberry. So much for the idea of sending a pint to each of the kids for the grand kids to enjoy. They will have to come for a visit and perhaps grandpa will make them some pancakes to go along with the huckleberry jam.

Yes, I have been in my sewing room. Those pictures will be here later this month. Gifts need to be a suprise!

WildFlower Rhapsody BOM

Wildflower Rhapsody BOM June block

We are home from our annual fishing vacation. We came home to some really wet weather so while catching up with putting things away and laundry I cut out my block and got sewing.

This month two new fabrics were added. Imagine my excitement when I found PURPLE! Not much but I am sure there will be more.

The blocks in this BOM are really"pieced" but I enjoy them. the four patches are cut from 1 1/2 inch strips. The floral's are very delicate and blend so well.

Now I have to admit when I found this BOM online and really hesitated to get involved. I couldn't touch it to make sure the fabrics were nice or know the business I was about to work with.  This quilt has been a dream and the instructor has made this so easy for us.  She has posted her next BOM to start this fall.  There is trouble brewing.....it's tiny sunflowers with bees!

Now to wait for July's block.

Really Rose: Chive Blossom Vinegar

Living at the base of the biggest mountain around, it seems we always wait for Spring a bit longer than everyone else.  It always gets here but after it shows up everywhere else.  Spring has so many different meanings for all of us. No matter who you are warmer weather is at the top of your list.

For me, spring means being outside. Being outside, means playing in the dirt or riding in our cars which are older than dirt.

A few days ago we finally had our first day of 70 degree weather. Mowing, weeding and planting were on my list all week. I am still looking at things that have not started sprouting wondering if they are just ignoring the spring weather or if they are upset of the lack of Spring weather and have given up.

I glanced at the rusty old wheel barrow of herbs to see the changes. Yes the Lizard rain gauge is full too! Oh yes, the garlic chives have blossomed. I picked the blossoms off which landed in the compost pile. Meanwhile, Rose, a childhood friend is harvesting chive blossoms.  This is a reminder to not throw away gorgeous, purple blossoms anymore.

This link will take you to her blog. Really Rose: Chive Blossom Vinegar