Design wall update

Remember all the Pink Strips I was working on?

It is finally a top!!

I have decided that it is time to move the furniture out of my house....it keeps getting in the way of me taking pictures of my design wall.... and with a cell phone - you need a straight on shot!

Think the others will agree??   

The top measures 54 x 66 in

And this is still the pile of leftover strips..... anyone interested?   Seriously.... I'm ready for them to find a good home.... I bet there is a lot of a quilt left ( or maybe a whole one.....)   

First to speak with a return email - i'll send them your way ;-)   They are taken - thanks!

Little bit says you need to see Fluffy cat. Fluffy Cat looks like a huge monster of a cat, and when you pick her up, she is tiny and all Fluff..... she says hi

Linking to:

http://www.patchworktimes.com/2016/04/18/design-wall-april-18-2016/

http://www.cookingupquilts.com/mcm-16-new-fabric-crush/

http://lovelaughquilt.blogspot.com/2016/04/monday-making_17.html

http://quiltingismorefunthanhousework.blogspot.com/2016/04/oh-scrap-its-string-time.html

Home Improvement

Wrangler Man said we needed to do a little home improvement around here. I really think that is a great idea.... so I improved ;-)

This is our new Table Topper... It was in the newest issue of Modern Quilts Unlimited and I thought it would look great in Cowboy Fabrics....

And I made sure all my cowboy quilts were pretty... it is amazing how this chair catches things...

Like Ironing. *sigh*

I need a resident iron-er

 And other than a little cowboying - that was my home improvement... somehow though.... I am not sure that was exactly what Wrangler Man was referring to..... but I did my part!

And I can't really show you my design wall, because I am working on the HMQS Veterans Challenge Quilt - and its a *surprise*

For other design walls ...and inspiration... head over to - http://www.patchworktimes.com

Strings Strings and more

Strings... are finally into some blocks. Tuesday the kids and I sewed 22 blocks and then I did 8 more so we could put a top together. Wed. we spent a few minutes trimming them.... and today they are layed out and ready to sew into a top.

The good news is that with a border it should be perfect Quilt of Valor size and be ready to go in May... the bad news is I still have 2 boxes FULL of RWB strings, and ran out of foundations. So I will have to cut more!

We have had wind here EVERY day - and this morning we went outside and played most of the morning in just a slight breeze. Came in for lunch and now the wind is just howling ... it keeps bringing me more and more tumbleweeds. And my sons and husband keep burning them and smushing them and as soon as there is an open spot on the fence another tumble weed appears.... just look at my goofy horse. He is standing in them randomly kicking them... he's in those teenager horse years ya know. And he has the attitude to prove it *smile*

Have a great day!

March 10th Stashbusting

I forgot to do my stashbusting report on Sunday - and I actually had stash busting to report.... bummer.

So for the week of March 3rd thru the 10th
I busted 6 1/2 yards for Backings for QOV's - 2 of them were wide backs...
and 1 1/2 yds for binding and a hanging sleeve for one of my quilts - that will be in a quilt show.

Total 8 yards.
Total in 1/4 yd

I went in to get photo sheets for the labels for the Quilts of Valor and this paisely FQ just jumped into my hands.... Its really pretty and I have no idea what I will use it for - but right now it is just very prettily sitting on the ironing board!

Stashbusting Report

This was a great stashbusting week for me - as I needed to make Backings - lots of Backings!! I made backings for 5 quilts this week. 2 of the backs were made for Quilts of Valor. One that I made and one that my 5th graders made. And then I made 3 backs for Quilts of Valor that I had made and Kim B in La Junta is going to quilt for me.

So a total of 16.33 yds busted this week. And I finally broke down and made a little excel sheet to kind of keep track. I am not good at keeping track of exact numbers - but thought I might give it a try.

The Snow is blowing and it looks like a cold day for us, yesterday was 70... today the high was already hit and its on its way down to 30....

Happy Boys

So my littlest guy got the superhero quilt and my middle son was quite upset with me! He informed me that he was NOT to old for superheros and Batman was his favorite character - and so were transformers.... well lucky me - On my last trip I had found some transformer fabric - and of course bought a yard, thinking I would do something with it!

Now Middle son presented me with the perfect opportunity. I made him a Transformers pillowcase - and all is happy with his world. Well it was happy - he told me that his birthday is coming up...... ( its in July - he is a little ahead of himself!)

And the other happy - my oldest son competed in the District Spelling Bee and placed in the top 5 so he advances to the State Competition. He is extremely happy, and I am extremely glad that I have cheat sheets to help him study!!

Now on to STASHBUSTING!!
I used 8 yards of fabrics this week for backings of Quilt of Valors - One quilt is on my Longarm, the other I being prepped to go on for Tuesday!! This makes me feel better about my stash acquistion last week ;-)

Have a happy week!!

Weekly Stashbusting Report ( well not really)

Okay - my whole goal was to reduce stash this year and put them into quilts that I could use, give away, or just look at.... and then this week appeared, and I got crazy!!

I went to Walmart to get extension cords for the tank heaters for the horses, as ours had decided to go out, and the horses don't take to drinking ice all that well. (wimps) In our walmart the fabric is just to the right of the hardware, so I went to browse. They had all these really pretty spring fabrics and they were on sale, and the snow and Ice is so depressing - so they jumped into my cart.

Now I know many don't buy Wally world fabrics - but I do. I check them well and wash them when I get home, and so far so good.

WalMart has been a big big help to us every year in our Quilt of Valor project, and the have helped donate clothes to some ladies in Denver that put snaps and zippers in them for returning rehabbing soldiers... so I believe in the good of the world.

Anyways - I also blame Mary ( lol) http://maryquilts.blogspot.com/ She is the head of the Heartstrings quilts, and I was talking about doing a strippy quilt and she said - Oh I have this one on my site. http://maryquilts.com/spiderweb-quilt So I went and looked and my husband said Oh you HAVE to make that one. Well that is like the kiss of death for me - now it HAS to be made. When Men endorse a quilt design I figure that there are a few soldiers who would agree.....

So - as I am walking thru the fabrics I think - oh these spring colors would make such a cute spiderweb quilt - and then - voila - the fabric just jumps in and I can not resist..... go figure!

I did save myself though - I got these Red and Blue fabrics too to add to my QOV stash - I amazingly use a lot of those colors thru the year. I have 3 kids who tell me they are going to come over to make quilts this summer, so I will be prepared....

It is Super Bowl day and my kids have friends over playing the Wii , counting down till super bowl starts... they are having fun, and they are entertaining themselves (and me but don't let them know that!)

Where Have I Been?

Well I don't know - I've been everywhere man, I've been everywhere.... Okay that probably dates me - but I remember that in a commercial!

My kids were off of school until the 9th so I think I played!! We saw the movie Enchanted, we went to Focus on the Family to the kids area, we went to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science - and then I went to sleep!! Ha

At the museum - my kids kept asking the docents all these waaaay tough questions and then the docents would turn to me to give the answer. Finally I told one of them - I don't know why you are addressing me - I was lost at the question! They had a great time though - we went into Space, and into Botswana Africa, and to the North Pole, and we saw a Polar bear... ohmy!!

As far as my UFO's go I only have 2 left. One has 2 blocks and the borders left to do - and the other hasn;t even been started yet. So I feel like I have made some progress. I have been plugging away on the Bonnie Mystery quilt - I still have step 5 to do - but I really don't feel too far behind.

On the stashbusting side - well I stash gained..oops!! I saw the cutest airplane print and a panel. The panel is the instrument panel of a plane - and you probably didn't know this but I am a pilot and it just struck my fancy. I think I will probably make me a big stuffy pillow out of the panel and then can pretend that I am flying when the weather is bad.

Okay - Oh I know - My oldest son decided to make a pillowcase! This was exciting, hes a great planner, not so great executor - and he finished it. He made it for the soldier that his class sponsors in Iraq. He put a white edge on it so that all the kids could sign in - isn't that cool? The kids at school thought he did a good job too!!

Well - the nasty winds they said were coming are here! I can hear them, and I have some studying to do, possibly laundry ( don't want to overextend myself) so I guess I ought to stop rambling....

A person on the radio said that every day they had started thinking of 5 things they were thankful for, and it really helped them change there attitude... so I may try that every once in a while.

Grattitudes:

1. Met my Dad for lunch

2. Dropped off 5 customer quilts

3. Dinner is all ready!!

4. Hanging out with my kids.

5. Have fabric to sew on

Have a great one!

Alycia

Scarves and Grocery Sacks

So - I am reading on Beths Blog beths blog about these fleece scarves that she made and I thought - AH I want one. See I just got 8 inches cut off my hair and it is cold on my neck.... So she emailed me how she made them - and voila - I made one. My embroidery is just an A . But it is warm!!

Then I get this very Cryptic email from my mother in law " Do you think you could make me a fabric grocery sack?" See how Cryptic she is! LOL - I love direct requests - I can't go wrong this way!!!! So C and I made up something. I think it is okay - but I don't think it is perfect. Since I am not really short of fabrics I think we will try another style or two then send them to her for testing.

Today was nice until about 4pm, now the wind in howling and blowing snow all over the place. The dog refuses to budge off his warm pillow - I identify with this - and I am about ready to sew!! I just finished step 3 in bonnies Mystery - need to iron them first....

Have a great one!!

Stashbusting Report

This was a good stashbusting week, althought I didn't sew all the stash I busted!

I quilted two tops for Quilts of Valor, and provided the Backing from my stash - so 7 yards out. I pulled fabrics from my Stash for the Mystery Quilt called Carolina Crossroads - I think I pulled about 6 yards, don's know if it will all be used - but I will try!! And then I sewed with my 5th graders - I had a huge box of Red White and Blue Strips. I had each kid grab two and sew them as there practice pieces. A pretty good dent was made in that box.

I even went into a quilt shop. I went in to pick up a ruler and I cam out with the ruler and the ruler only. This was impressive!! Of course I only had ten minutes, so I think that helped!

Have a great Day!!
Alycia

String Blocks ( scrap busting) Part 2

Since we rearranged my front room and unearthed my projects I decided that I MUST finish them!! My goal is before January ( please note I did not state what year!!)

This weekend I sat down and finished the last 2 string blocks, and trimmed them up. Last night I sewed them into a top and ( big drum roll here please) I added 2 borders. My oldest son decided I needed a small yellow border. We headed downstairs to the stash.... and were shocked to find only 1 yellow. It was not what we wanted. So I was digging thru a scrap box, and Viola we found a bright yellow. And there was more than enough to create a small border. So I have finished with Number 1 on my 8 item list!!! It does need to be quilted , but that doesn't count. I will put it in my queue and get to it.

Oh and it measured at 50 x 60 , so perfect lap size quilt.

Moving, rearranging and a lot of work!

So this weekend we learned that we are getting a new TV.... the one in the corner was pretty cool I thought - but my dad is upgrading and so now is my Husband Well - in the first picture this is our current TV. The new one will not fit across the diagonal - so this corner is becoming my new sewing area.

My Current sewing area is next to the Fireplace. Keeps me warm, but makes me nervous with all the fabrics that I (sometimes) keep up there. So this could be a good move. Now I have been trying so hard to keep my upstairs sewing area really organized and only have 2-3 projects at a time. I also have a downstairs for keeping stuff - next to my LongArm Machine. The Pic to the right was my current sewing area - I thought it looked pretty good, until I took the picture. So I took everything out of here and put it on the dining room table. At this time I was still thinking that I had done pretty good - not too much "stuff", not too many projects. Of course, everything is piled so what do I really know???

After a lot of moving, vacumning and whining - my desk had to be moved too and it was heavy ( did you hear the whine with that), my new sewing area was born.

I thought it looked pretty nice, and as I started taking things off the dining room table to organize them in my newly expanded sewing area I found stuff!!! I thought - WOW I will have so much more room, hope I don't pack it to full, and come to find out I HAD ALREADY packed it full!! I found 8 ( read that 8 - not 4) Quilts in Progress. Now I knew they were all in progress - I just didn't realize that I had left all of them Upstairs. Good thing my husband is a forgiving man, and really excited about his new big screen TV!!! Distraction worked in my favor this time!!

So the 8 things I found:

1. The string quilt that was on the cutting table/ironing board ( I knew this was here I have been working on it)

2. Cowboy Quilt - I have the border fabric washed a pressed....then stalled.

3. 4 Patch Log Cabin - 12 blocks ready for setting!! ( what happened, when did I stop??)

4. Lessons from Mama quilt - again Knew this was here - my goal is 1 block per month - I have two blocks left to do - then start the borders.

5. All the fabric cut and ready for a Big Quilt ( the BQ) - how & when did that happen???

6. Carrie Nation Quilt of Valor - Well I remember thinking I could really use this block for a leader ender project - but again - who cut the fabrics??? They came from my scrap bin.. I recognize them!!

7. Binding on a Gift Quilt - to be bound by Christmas ( knew this was here)

8. Reproduction Quilt - I knew this was here too - I have just been trying to finish the other things before I start - all the fabrics are ready, the pattern is here, I AM planning it - and well, again I stalled.

I guess I have a clear list now - I must make a clear plan right ......

Off to plan!

Have a great day

Alycia

String Blocks ( scrap busting)

I had all these 1 and 1 1/2 inch strings left over from another scrap project. I kept thinkging I should just toss them - they won't make much. Then one afternoon the kids and I sat down to watch a movie. I thought well I'll just sew them into strips and make a rail fence type quilt out of them. So I sewed them all into 4 string strips. It then dawned on me that if I cut each strip up to make it like a rail fence quilt I might give up before I got anywhere.

Theeeeeen I remembered that I love to do string quilts so I bet I could just use the strips as "big" Strings and make some of those blocks. The first few blocks went together awful quick as the strips were anywhere from 3 to 4 inches.

But then I had lots of little pieces left, and I wanted 24 blocks total . Because if I am going to go to all this effort - I really want a useable size quilt right? So I spread everything I had over my cutting table and started sewing up some really little crumbs into strips that I could use. My hubby thought I was nuts ( he may be right).

So I kept sewing and sewing and pressing - and Voila - I have come up with 24 string/crumb blocks our of really bright fabrics. I do need to trim the blocks now, the can sew them together into a top.

My curious man just had to know what they would look like - so he layed them out for me.

But you just can't stop with 6 - you need more to really "see" what they will look like. I think this quilt will be very bright. The center of every block is a royal or navy blue, so it may need a blue border to draw it all together.

Now I am done with that scrap pile - anyone want the extras? I bet there's enough for another block or two, but to tell you the truth, I think I am tired of these fabrics now. And since I am on a mission to stash/scrap bust as much as I can - I volunteer to pass them to someone who would love some pretty bright colors. You can leave me a comment and they are yours!

Stashbusting, UFO's and Snow

The kids have today off from school and when we woke up this morning there was about 5 inches of snow!! Yay!! So as they warmed up I headed downstairs to quilt for an hour or so. So technically I have my "work" done for the day ;-)

After breakfast we headed out to the hill to go sledding - it was a blast and of course I did not take my camera - but after an hour we were cold. So as they watched "surfs up" I finished block number 10 on a quilt that has 12 different blocks. I started this quilt in January and you would think I would be done - but alas it became a UFO. It is sitting in a nice little box with all sorts of scraps just patiently waiting.... So now there is another blocks finished.

Then I got a book at the quilt shop - an Atkinson designs one. I just love her stuff. So I grabbed 12 FQ's from my fabric cubbies and cut them up. I got all the blocks done and had to go in search of some border fabrics. Found them and they are now in the dryer. So if I stay motivated I might actually get the borders on and have this top finished before 2008 :-)

I leave you with a picture of a quilt that was displayed at a quilt show last month. It was in Johnstown and was a fun day. I really liked this one because it was a string quilt and was really random, yet really drew your eye to it!