Blessings in the NEW YEAR!!

Twilight Star

This is the 4th and final quilt that I finished for Christmas. I named it 'Twilight Star" and used an accent of T balls...Also made 2 pillow cases to match...62 x 76". I used all the left over material for the back and then quilted it. Mailed today to Tn for grandson.

Christmas Ornaments-Max

This is Mr. Maxamillion...we call him Max...He is my hubby's dog...this is our 3rd Boston Terrier. They are a wonderful dog if you are going to have one.

Finished these tree ornaments..had to make something for my quilt group today so decided to do a couple extra for me. Lots of hand work but cute!!

Colorful Waves - Another Fool around Fun

Shhh...these are Christmas gifts. This is a quilt I did in a class with Freddie Moran..finished the top in '08 and finally completed for my granddaughter. Used all dot material...I had it quilted by Ann Hussey...it is 88 x 70". The black border has pin size dots of all colors in it. Could not find a place to take a picture so took it out doors this morning...around 16 degrees...brrrr!! A close up of the very colorful backing I used.
This is another 'fool around fun'...I added an extra border for length as the men in my family always complain it is never long enough...you cannot tell but it really blends very nice. 60 x 73". This one has a sports theme accent for a grandson.

Autumn Opulence-New Project

This is my newest project. I am making this for a dear friend. It is a kit 'Autumn Opulence' taken from Fabric Trends Fall 2009. It said it was a 'beginner' quilt but it is more an 'intermediate'...there was a lot of piecing...its layout is what makes it attractive. Will not be finished until the first of next year but wanted to do a little to see what it looked like. Well I am off to finish two quilt tops for Christmas.

QuiltCut2 - Christmas projects

This is my new tool that I purchased from Choppin Cotton. I was at a retreat recently and a couple of the gals were using QuiltCut2 fabric cutting system. They cut very accurately and with a lot of ease. A video comes with it plus an instruction booklet. It will be fun learning it. Don't you love new gadgets!!! My Christmas present to myself.I found 'the three stooges' fabric so decided it would be a fun fabric for grand kids. Great to shop for fabric to see what you can come up with. I learned how to make these the easiest way and very quick. Cut:

27" for Body (WOF)
10 1/2" for Cuff (WOF)
2 1/2" accent strip (WOF) (folded and pressed)

Leave WOF until you have sewn and turned.

Layer - Cuff right side facing up
Next - layer Body facing up
Last - accent piece laid on top
( you will have raw edges)

Roll the body into a hot dog. Do not bring to edge.
Bring the cuff up over the hot dog to the
edge...Pin and sew using a good 1/4" seam or more.

Then reach in and turn. finish off with french seam
or zigzag. You will have the easiest and quickest way to make PC.

I was suppose to make an ornament to share at a group. This is my attempt. So I chose my fabric and made a patterrn. The first one had branches too sharp and it was hard to turn and did not lay flat. The second one was not sharp enough. So they are on my tree and not to be given away. It was the same technique I had used for the pumpkins I made a few months ago. Layered batting ...then background right side up and top right side down. Sewed on the inside of the lines I made with a black marker from the pattern I made ....left a couple of inches to turn. The first one I remembered to put the ribbon on the inside before I sewed for the hanger but forgot on the second and just sewed the button and hanger on together.....

Christmas Woolen Ornaments

One of those UFO's sitting for a couple of years waiting to be finished. I probably bought these when on a shop hop and the influence of others (smile) you know how that is...made of felt and easy to work with but I am not a fan of buttonhole stitch....they did come out cute....Christmas Woolens pattern by Rachel's of Greenfield Item #K0803.

Scent of Spring..Live Simply

"Live Simply" ...when I saw this I knew I had to make it to hang in my kitchen. It is from Humble Handwork by American folk artist S. West. Hand embroidered and stitched in the ditch and finished off like a large quilt. 'Scent of Spring' from Fabric Trends Spring issue 2009. I saw this and began to collect batik fabrics. I used a little different variation of color than they used but am very satisfied with it. It is hung going up my stairway. Size 25" x 36"....machine quilted, flowers are buttonhole stitched by hand and stems by machine. These were fun projects for me and now down to business to get those Christmas presents done for others.

Pumpkin Coasters

This is my newest creation...just simple coasters designed by Laurraine Yuyama. Just a simple and fun thing to hang on my door.http://www.patchworkpottery.com/

BRQ Quilt Show 2009

Welcome to the Backroad Quilt Show 2009. This is to give you a taste of the day we had. It was pouring rain. These signs are quilted and made with velcro on the arrow so we can put them pointing either way.

This is the entrance with a Fall look!!

Below: Pumpkin hanging were a chapter workshop recently also pictured are handbags that have been done.

Carolee sang 'Quilt Diva' plus some other songs she wrote about quilting. What a joy she brought to the ladies. She sang with recorded music and also a couple with her guitar. A talented lady!!

Sarah Ann Smith - A Maine gal....Artist-Author-Quilter-Teacher who demo. and signed her new book "Thread Work Unraveled"

Can't have a quilt show without vendors and a place to spend our money. This is a view of 1 of 4.

This is Koleen Painchaud's corner..she designs her own patterns, and I did not realize but took many pics of her quilts in the show...check out her website. She also has retreats for quilters.

Some of the charity quilts that our club did that will be distributed after the show. My Granddaughter Alli who also had done one.

My blooming garden on top row..hand embroidered

Ameriquilt with Star Spangled siggies by Karen Viega.
Ameriquilt was created as part of an online Y2K group swap in 1999. That swap resulted in the exhibit Y2K Quilts" A MILLENNIAL CELEBRATION which was featured at the 200 International Quilt Festival in Houston. The quilt features 200 squares, rectangles and triangles and 100 signature squares representing all 50 states, Washington D.C. and many U.S. military bases around the world.

Farm scene-do not know who did it...

My Flower Green and granddaughter

Pumpkins in the Garden - K Painchaud

A Lighthouse for Leo who was dying with cancer. Done by his sister Rainey Doyle.

Hand pieced and appliqued and her design.

Snowman Collection - Sherry Flagg

Simone's Garden - S. Long-7 years old, granddaughter of Pauline Smith, chose her own fabric, sewed her blocks and Gram helped her put it together and it was quilted on her long arm and Simone did some of the quilting. Quite an accomplishment for a little one.

Reminiscence - Koleen Painchard - hand appliqued. Scrappy Stars - Diane Dixon (trust I have this name correct as I could not make out the tag)

Orange Crush - Sue Rapalus

Fire Storm - Donna Webber
'Where I came From' - Beth Corey-Smith 72 Blocks of the Past - Alvine Creamer

Grape Escape - Kim Greenleaf

Winner's Bouquet - Donna Webber

Garden Comfort - Sandy Carey - 177 yo-yo's

Orphan Blocks of BRQ - many are signed - hand quilted by a member - Owner Joanne Minot Old Glory - K Painchard - hand appliqued

Vintage Moments - Norma Cook

James Town - Block of the Month - Nena Cunningham

There were so many more but obviously I could not take pictures of all of them but this is a sampling ...Enjoy!!!

Christmas Star 2008

I finally finished my projects that the gals from Casey Q did at the retreat the first of October. If you will scroll down you will see theirs. Christmas Star 2008 makes a 13 1/2" block and a 29" x 70" table runner. I opted to make mine for the top of my washer and drier. I used various techniques including machine quilting on my Janome 6500 as well as my short-arm quilter, and hand quilting. This one is for my washer and is 23" x 23".. This one of for my drier and is 18" x 24"
This was a fun project ...very easy and could be done in many different palette's.

Playful Pumpkins

This is called Playful Pumpkins taken from QUILT magazine. I had been collecting some oranges and got this wonderful border last year. It is done with lite and heavy heat 'n bond and machine stitched on edges of pumpkins. Size 12"x15 1/2". I am not really skilled when doing quilting on my domestic machine. But it is DONE!!Our Casey Quilters and Sewing group met yesterday. It was 'Our Annual Pumpkin Fest Sewing Day'. Each one was to have a pumpkin project. And we ate all day beginning at 10:30am and finished with dinner. Our menu is below. The food tasted as if had gone to a specialty restaurant. Everything was unique and delicious!! Have you ever felt water logged...well, I felt pumpkin logged all night long!!! But would not have changed anything.

• Pumpkin Muffins
  
• Pumpkin Soup


• Pumpkin Lasagna


• Pumpkin Pie


• Spinach salad with roasted pumpkin seeds.


• Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle


• Pumpkin Fudge


• Pumpkin Dip

It was a great day for all of us!!! I intent on getting mine done did not get any other pics.

Quilt sizes

Have you ever been in the process of designing a quilt and stopped dead in your tracks trying to remember the dimensions of quilt sizes? Or have you ever wondered how small you can make a quilt and still call it a baby quilt without it looking like a pastel-colored wall hanging? I know I have!

http://quiltingpassion.com/Terry/quiltsizes.html

Check it out!!....very interesting. The paragraph above is taken from their site. It interested me because of a true miniature size. Looks like there are some other interesting heading also..

Tacoma Show and Tell-Oct.

Our meeting always brings ooh's and aah's over projects that the gals have finished. We meet on a Weds. morning twice a month. This month we auditioned our fabrics that we will be using for a challenge that will go into the Maine Quilt show, July 2010. Then we have show and tell and these are a few samplings.

Pauline with a pumpkin wall hanging she made in a workshop. She is our Secretary.

This is Barb, our president, with her extra long table runner. The gals also suggested using them for the back of their couches.

Pauline with her gorgeous 30's quilt. She also has a long arm and quilted it herself.

Close-up

Each month we have a block drawing. This was the Fall block and Peggy, one of our new members won them. Now she will decide how to put them together into a quilt or wall hanging.

This was my offering. I liked it enough and thought of making a larger wall hanging...we will see!!!