A quilt airing

Three things to be happy about:
(1) fresh breezes
(2) a song in the air
(3) free stuff

There's a new  phenomenon in my neighborhood, just 6 houses down the street from my house - Freedge!

When I first saw this "freedge" last month I thought it was something nice the home owner had done, but it's actually a free sharing space sponsored by Freedge.org.

I've seen items such as water, bread, cookies, yogurt and fresh fruit in there.  They're trying to go nationwide with this program, and the very first one in the DC area is on my street.

Go check it out!

I took two of my quilts for a stroll yesterday; I figured since I was going to be in Wheaton Plaza anyway, I'd see if I could get some "atmosphere" pictures.

Jasmine, a manager at DSW Shoes (my FAVORITE shoe store) very generously allowed me to pose my quilts in their store.  You can't see them in the picture but they had some really nice hats and bags for sale!

Same quilt, "X and Plus," in the pattern section at Joann Fabrics.

I like the way the colors in the books echo the colors in my quilt!

"Red and Black Passion" at Joann Fabrics!

I need to learn more clever ways to pose my quilts, but there you go!

I'm pleased to say I didn't buy one piece of fabric, tempting as some of them were!  On sale at 40% off, even!

That's it for now, I have a workshop today with Sandra, also known as Sistah Stitch a Lot - gonna learn how to make that portrait if it's the last thing I do!

Sew forth and sew on til later...

Three quilts done

Three things to be happy about:
(1) one quilt finishd
(2) another quilt finished
(3) and a third quilt finished - yes!!

I got these back from the LA in record time!

I was waiting for a good day to photograph them outside where the light is better, but it's been overcast the last couple of days.  Also, it's been raining and I won't chance these on my porch railing.

So here's my X and Plus, looking good!

Closeup to show the quilting.

I really like the border I put on this one!

My Red and Black Passion.

Is that the name I finally settled on???  Need to know before I label it!

Closeup of the quilting, she used a variegated thread.

When I give Bernerdett my tops and we discuss the quilting pattern I usually end up saying "ount know."  In this one she quilted a design that echoes the border fabric - clever!

And last but not least, Allietare!

By now you've seen plenty of these floating around the blogs, so I just posted a closeup to show off the quilting.

This is the one I'm binding now, just 1-1/2 sides left to do!


So that's it for now, have to make a run to Costco and Target today, not looking forward to going out - I dislike trundling around in yucky weather!

Sew forth and sew on til later!

Scrap crystals top done

Three things to be happy about:
(1) Outlander tv series
(2) a new handbag
(3) an unexpected funny

You ever come face to face with something that was so funny you just had to stop and laugh?  Then take a picture of it?  The other day I was separating some Black Forest ham that I got from Costco; I looked at the pieces I'd just removed from the package and this is what I saw:

this little piggy is napping, LOL!

Moving right along....

I hadn't planned on posting anything else about the Scrap Crystals UFO til it was done, but I may as well share the last little steps.

My last dilemma, border-wise, was that I couldn't find the piece of yardage I remembered seeing.  I didn't quite like this fabric, I even let it sit awhile to get used to looking at it, but no dice.  I think it's the black background that's throwing things off.

I searched through every bin of fabric I have, looking for that elusive piece of blue-green fabric that I knew I had - couldn't find it!  So therefore I only thought I had it.

I did find a piece that was sort of blue-green with a faint yellowish swish running across it, but that's no good for this project.

You're probably thinking "oh my, she has a large stash!"  Yep, I do - but this isn't even half of it!  LOL

I located these two pieces that could have worked, at least they came closer than anything else I could find that was large enough...

Viewed through the camera there's only a subtle difference in the two, but I decided to go with the second one, just to get on with it!

So here's the top with the borders, finished and being check off my UFO list!


My guild's UFO challenge pulled at this month's meeting was #8.  I don't remember off hand what that was on my list, but I know I'd finished it already.  Running out ahead of the pack!

Well that's it for now, buy some new plants, find something to laugh at today, sew forth and sew on...

Another one bites the dust

Three things to be happy about:
(1) fresh tomatoes
(2) e-books
(3) spray adhesive

While I wasn't looking, Hancock's in Gaithersburg sold 99.999% of their fabrics!

I was in this store last month; they had fabric coming out of their ears, but the prices hadn't been dropped enough for me to buy anything I didn't need...

I mean, reduced to 40% off????  That's the same as a regular sale at JoAnn's!

Among the stuff they had but I don't need and wasn't tempted by were some books, embroidery floss, thread, Christmas junk, some 2016 calendars (75% off, they oughta quit) and some upholstery fabrics.

But I did get this fabric though - black and white is always good, 3 yards of gold that I can definitely use.

I got the green Christmas fabric because I liked it - and it felt good!  Large enough for a backing.

All at $8.99, minus 75%.

I can use this 10-1/2" square up ruler, it was the only one left, just hanging there.

Not a bad deal for $6.40!

So the last day for this particular store is this week, I think it's April 21.

Meanwhile, I'm thinking on a border treatment for the Scrap Crystals quilt, this doesn't look too-too bad I guess.

I've been looking for a piece that's a sort of blue and green muted swirly stripe, that I know I have.  I remember seeing it about month ago, so frustrating!

I'll keep looking though.

Today will be a no-sew day for me, I'll be out and about - there's a jackpot with my name on it waiting at Maryland Live casino!  My friend Brenda and I want to do some happy dancing before we come back home.

Sew forth and sew on til later,

Guild meeting

Hi all - just a quick post to share some photos from our guild's show n tell yesterday!

Let's start off with a beautiful bag!

Unfortunately I was too slow to get really good shots, of the inside and all the pockets.

But I like this bag!



One of our newer members showed two quilts...

This lovely sampler above, and a full-sized quilt made with 4" squares gifted to her

Two from Azalia...

one made by Deb:

and last but not least - a face portrait by Phyllis!

Sew forth and sew on til later...

Little by slowly

Three things to be happy about:
(1) popcorn
(2) trail mix
(3) a child's enjoyment of simple things

They're doing some work on my street, digging and pounding and jack-hammering.  My neighbors' 3 year old son is just fascinated with it all - he's a truck man!  Me... I look forward to them finishing so I can park in front of my house again!

My latest progress photo on the Scrap Crystals UFO - three rows done, two more go go!

Still sewing away at it; I want to finish this before I pick up something else.

Besides, I have to show more progress on it at the guild meeting this Saturday!

Among the sewing I still need to do - I'm combining the blue and green sashing strips that I pieced on phone book pages into longer strips, then cutting them down into usable 12-1/2" pieces.

Little by slowly, but it's progress!

When I cut a strip I have to move the ruler left or right to get a piece that's long enough to have a decent seam allowance after cutting.

So, that means unsewing tiny bits and recombining pieces to get what I need.  Some of the strings I used were a bit narrow, but the good news is I included a lot of 2" pieces so I have plenty of wiggle room!

I was looking at some of the strings I used in these sashing strips; at one point I wasn't too sure about the other colors I let creep in amongst the blue and green ...

But looking at it now, I think I made a good decision.

All those reds and yellows and golds add a lot of texture to the sashing, without overpowing the quilt.

The SNS cornerstones give it light, and help pull the sashing together.

That's it for now, have a great Wednesday.  Don't tell anyone but I have to get started on my taxes!  Sew forth and sew on...

Scrap crystals UFO

Three things to be happy about:
(1) mint-flavored floss
(2) small quilts
(3) change

Well, one change I'm not too happy about is the acquisition of Target pharmacies by CVS.  I've never been a CVS fan, even when they were People's pharmacy, so I chose to get my prescriptions filled at Target.

I liked the color-coded bands around the bottles, and their meds were cheaper, ya know?  The water tight bottles were really good for holding mouthwash for an overnight trip.

Ah well...

I got all twenty blocks done for the Scrap Crystals UFO, yes!

My lazy side wanted to kick in and just set the blocks side by side, as you see them here.

But no, I went to the trouble of piecing sashing strips, so I may as well use em!

I thought about using 3-1/2" squares for the cornerstones, but that was too plain.  Green 4-patches might work!

I'll need 30 to go inside as cornerstones and also along the sides, top and bottom as part of the inner border.

After piecing a few 4-patches to test the design, I wasn't too crazy about the way it looked, blah!

There's already a lot of activity in the sashing what with the string piecing and all.

Besides, you can't even see the 4-patches!

It occurred to me that I could do a simple square in a square for the cornerstones, they would echo part of that star design in the middle of the block....

Here we go, I think I'll go with this option.  The original designed called for a 9 patch in the cornerstone position, with blue HST's sewn onto the sashing to carry out the star pattern.

I can't see myself trying that trick with these string pieced sashings!

So my mission for today [should I choose to accept it] will be to join the sashing strips end to end and cut them to size, and to make 36 more square in a square units for the cornerstones.

I'll need to decide what to do for the outer border, you guys put your thinking caps on!  Sew forth and sew on til later....

Those little things

Three things to be happy about:
(1) a sale
(2) finding new ideas
(3) putting your feet up

Here's something I found intriguing.

I was watching the weather yesterday morning and just happened to catch the lady in the background ... See the "quilt" she's sitting in front of??

Not really a quilt, on closer inspection I discovered it's an orange board with a lot  of photos attached.  Sure looked like a quilt though!

Sometimes I have to just sit back and laugh at myself!

Here's another heehee - I bought a new Spring-y wreath for my front door yesterday from Michael's.  Wasn't 100% satisfied with it, but I could live it with, especially at 40% off.  Today I looked at it hanging there and decided ... well maybe I could find something better at A.C. Moore, since I was going out that way anyway.

Didn't see anything I liked on display at A.C. Moore, so the floral designer spent about 20 minutes with me, pulling together just the right flowers so I could make one myself.

When I got back home and looked at the one I'd left hanging on the door I said to myself "you know, that wreath is right cute!"

So I had to make a decision:

Door #1...

... or make it myself??

I'll take door #1 please!!

Meanwhile, back in the sewing room, still putting the finishing touches on the units I need to make in order to finish the Scrap Crystals UFO...

A bit of trimming was in order, but I didn't really mind that.

My sewing time today will be dedicated to finishing up as many of the sub-units as I can, making sure the blocks are mixed, old with new, to get a good variety in the fabrics.

Because I had to go out I've already fotted away a good part of the day, so we'll see what I can get accomplished.  Sew forth and sew on...