It's Time!!

I've been waiting very impatiently!

 This is such a fun mystery quilt challenge - and it supports a great cause. The clues are very detailed and there is a video to go with each clue. Perfect for a beginning quilter.

So, are you going to join me?

Double dare you.

 

More quilt tops have been finished...have I mentioned that I'm practicing retirement? I'm currently working part-time - three days a week - and it is WONDERFUL!! That is the reason I've been so prolific lately.

I won a bundle of cute chemistry fat quarters last year. After added a few coordinating I made a new Yellow Brick Road quilt - my all time favorite pattern. Sorry the picture is not the best.

I'm not ashamed to admit that I dumpster dive. Last year at the quilt retreat I went to I raided the garbage cans and "stole" scraps. One of the quilters was making a bear paw quilt and I acquired the corners she cut off and threw out (after the first day she started saving them for me 😄). They have been one of my leader-ender projects this past year. After getting them squared up to 1.5 inches I made several small quilts / mug rugs.

I'm hoping to have one or all quilted before the next retreat so I can gift one back to the quilter who let me have them all.

And speaking of quilting...I put the Juki back on the frame.

 WHOO-HOO I have two finished quilts!! I made this little quilt a couple of months ago and forgot to post about it. Finally used up the last of the cat fabric. It is about 34 x 41 inches with a bright green flannel on the back. I quilted double loops in it.

This is the last of the log cabin sections. 40 x 60 inches with a yellow and white print on the back. With so many seams I quilted a simple meander.

I bought the log cabin quilt at a garage sales. It was original made in the 70's and has everything in it. Unfortunately I never even though about washing the quilt before I quilted it. I've found that several of the fabrics bled to the back of the quilt even with Color Catchers.  I originally intended to donate the quilts - now I'm not so sure.

Bella follows me everywhere. I've found having her in my sewing room can be a challenge as she like to jump up on the ironing board and cutting table, and likes to eat thread - specifically the thread I'm trying to sew with.

Have you heard about cats and boxes?

Its true...thank goodness.
 

Lots of Finishes...not all mine

I've been meaning to post some finished quilts for weeks, I've also been doing a lot of sewing. Each week I've thought okay I'll post after this finish but each week I've almost finished another project and thought okay I'll post after this finish...I could say that again this week - I only have one more row to add and I'll have another finish...but it is getting a bit ridiculous.

I made Missouri Star's free 4x4 quilt. This was a fun easy quilt. Perfect spring time quilt and fabric.

This is Nancy's version minus borders. I'd make this quilt again.

 I ended up with some odds and ends left over from the jelly roll so I made a little kinda sorta coin table topper...

...and still had some left over so I made this little mug rug...

 ...with the left over four patch blocks I made this table topper. I think I used up all of the jelly roll and coordinating yardage I had with the backs.

Stephanie and I took a class at the Quilted Heart and made Maple Island's Scooch Over 2. Another fun easy quilt. I even made a little bit of a dent in my Asian fabrics.

All of the above were squirrel moments to keep me from finishing Sweet Tooth. It is FINALLY done.

So the ridiculous pile of tops that need quilted is up to 7 table toppers/wall hangings and 12 quilt tops...geeze.

Nancy was over this past weekend. Here are two of her finishes. The quilt on the left was a Connecting Threads kit (can't remember the pattern name and couldn't find it on their site) - love it. And the quilt on the right is Jaybirds Quilts August Stars,  One of the few purple quilts I actually like. My pictures don't do either quilt justice.

 

I'll close with a new picture of Bella. She has been behaving lately...

   

But I don't expect it to last long. ;o)

 

Likes and Dislikes

   
A couple more small finishes...

...I don't like how this table topper turned out.

Same block, but I really like how this one turned out.

I really like my sweet Bella...

 

I don't like what she did to my roll of batting ...

15 yards...folded...I haven't gone though it yet to see what I can salvage.
  

Lots of little finishes

It looks like I've been really busy...and I have been sewing a lot...but most of these where already almost done...

When I made my grand-niece's quilt a few years ago I made way too many blocks. I finally made a small quilt with the left over blocks.  I still have lots of the fabric leftover.

This little tumbler quilt has been my leader-ender quilt for the past year or so. I put it all together into a small quilt and then found another bag with already cut out tumblers. I think I see another small quilt in my future.

This table runner was a sample border I was thinking of for the medallion quilt - then I decided the quilt was big enough. I played with quilting feathers in the large squares.

 

Hexie table topper 1 was made last year during the retreat I attended. The pattern is Jean Wilder's, of Sew'n Wild Oaks, Seasonal Hexie. I just did some simple stitching in the ditch but it is done.

Hexie table topper 2 is a kit I purchase at the retreat of the same pattern. Quilted and bound. Done!

I made the nine patches for this little quilt a few years ago...can't remember why...leftovers from something else? Oh well. I used Jo Morton's Sadie's Quilt pattern as my inspiration.

Kathleen Tracy had a free pattern for this little mug rug on National Quilting Day. It was one of those "I have to make this" things. I loved quilting this.

 

And this is what I made yesterday. Stephanie and I took a class at The Quilted Heart in Vacaville. We both finished our quilt tops. The pattern is Maple Island's Scooch Over 2. Fun, simple quilt. Don't look too close, mine still needs to be ironed. Some day I will learn how to take proper pictures of a quilt so that you can all the details.

 

And this is the sweet cat who is walking across the quilt...meet Bella.

Siddi went to play with Obba and Fred last month. She was five week away from her 19th birthday. Bella needed a new home after her 95 year old mama went to live in a nursing home. She is doing a wonderful job of cheering me up.