Quilt of Valor

A friend from church asked me to quilt this Quilt of Valor for her dad.  It is a beautiful quilt and I sure I hope I did it justice.  I added a star in the center.

Hand Quilting

Two words I thought I would never say. Or do, for that matter.  There is a group that has been meeting for years on Wednesdays.  They started way back when a friend was dying of cancer and there were quilts that needed to be finished for her kids.  That's when they got started and once the quilts were done, they decided they'd like to continue.  So on it goes.  

I was never able to go because they meet during the day, but once I retired, I decided to give them a try.  I have been dabbling here and there when there was a quilt to be quilted, but there were times when we were between quilts or I had to work, so that dabbling hasn't really been that much.  

I have to say that I am getting more and more comfortable with it and I actually enjoy it.  I did a whole little section all by myself this morning and I wish I had had my phone with me to take a picture.  It's the first time I've done a section out by itself so I could see just my work and not mine mixed up with somebody else's work. Maybe next week, I'll remember to take a picture.

Three Down Three To Go

You would think that makes me half done, but think again. Unfortunately I left all the big ones for last. Still happy to be crossing off these UFOs though.

Something New

One more down. I tried a new quilting pattern. What do you think?

Moving Right Along

Got those "Floating Triangles" loaded up and ready to go for tomorrow.  And a big stack waiting in line.

Woohoo!

 Well, I got those 6 batts cut for those 6 quilts on my "waiting to be quilted" list.  I got the first one loaded.  I worked out the tension issues and I am on a roll again.  It took a few minutes to get back in the swing of things, since it has been sooooo long, but it comes back.  Like riding a bike.

A Baby Quilt of Mom's

Progress!

Well, as with all things, eventually procrastination must end!  And that was today.  I made backs for 4 quilt tops.  Tomorrow I cut batting for 6 quilts.  And then the marathon quilting begins.  Wish me luck!

Procrastinating Again!

I wish I could say I'd been really busy, or even really busy quilting, but I haven't.  Don't get me wrong.  I have been working and attending quilt guild meetings and doing lots of reading, but quilting has been on the back burner for a little while. I seem to go in spurts.

Anyway, talk about procrastinating.  Our quilt guild did a Quilt in a Box Challenge a year or so ago.  Each person was to put fabric in a box (amounts were suggested) to include a focus fabric and some blenders and some background, etc.  I wanted to participate, but I didn't want to buy fabric.  So......I got Mom to come help and she and I raided my stash for some stuff that would go together.

The 19 people who participated in the challenge were to pick a block to make.  Then they were to make that block (and only that block) from the fabric in each and every box.  Once the blocks were made, they were turned in to Margie, because she was heading up the thing.  Then after everybody completed their blocks, Margie organized them back into groups based on who they belonged to and the blocks made with our fabric were returned to us.  What a lovely surprise to see all those blocks.

Once we each had our blocks, a second challenge was laid down.  Now, there would be a setting challenge.  We had about 9 months and then we would have a showing of the final quilt tops and a viewer's choice, etc.  That showing is to be at our March meeting on March 6.  I started working on mine yesterday.  Can you say PROCRASTINATION?

Here are the blocks I received.

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'll show you my finished top after the meeting on March 6.

Bright Scrap Pineapple Blossom Quilt Top

I finished up this bright scrap Pineapple Blossom quilt top at retreat this weekend.  I do love this pattern by Bonnie Hunter at Quiltville.com.  It is a great way to use up leftover 2 1/2" strips and there is very little waste.

Retreating Again

I Love Love Love to go on a quilting retreat!  I am getting so much done and having an enjoyable time with a wonderful group of women.

I received a set of turnovers - 80 different 6 inch triangles of coordinated fabric.  I sewed the blocks at my last retreat so all I had to do this time was sew them together.  It's gonna be nice when I have it done.

I went through a bin of leftovers 2 1/2 inch strips and gathered enough to make this top.  I had 80% of the blocks done from the last retreat.  I finished them up here and have sewn the top together.  I still have to add a light border and a pieced border.  I'll be working on those tomorrow.

Next, I'll be playing with some more scraps.  I have a whole bin of 5 inch squares and another bin of 2 1/2 inch squares.  I don't have a plan yet, though.  I am experimenting with EQ to try out some ideas.  I need to make up my mind so I can get started.