January's Goals

Over the holidays, I buttonhole stitched the first 6 blocks of my

 Lori Smith Fit to Frame Number Six 

small quilt.  

Today I cut the wool shapes for the next two blocks.

This is a WIP I have promised myself to complete 

before I start on another new project...

Country Whig Rose by Kim Diehl. 

I continue to make progress on my DD's wedding quilt 

with a few new flowers added to the garden.  

I do have the wool prepped and half way stitched down for this month's stocking.

I have yet to start on the 110 HST's needed to border my 1880 Barbara Buchner Snyder Sampler,

 but that will be my machine project for the month.

So, the only other goal I have for the month is to finish at least one UFO.

This adorable Easter Table Runner is calling to me.

Can I do it?

Check back at the end of the month to see.

What are your goals this month?

Twas the weekend before Christmas...

...and all through the house,

the sewing machine was buzzing,

and my fingers were stitching.

I cannot show you many of the projects, 

since the recipients read my blog,

 but I can share a few things.

A Quaker Snowman

I started this fellow last year with the hopes of stitching ornaments for each of my children, but alas, he became a UFO stashed in the back of my closet.

Then I saw Carol's, of Stitching Dreams, post here and it inspired me to start stitching again.

A visit to The Attic Needleworks shop in Mesa, AZ left me rather light in the pocketbook, but full of ideas and materials to make enough ornaments to adorn my own garland next year.

And what do you do with left over jelly roll strips?

Why make an adorable photo album cover.

Wish I could take credit for this one, but again it was that creative DD of mine who came up with the idea and embellishments.

For those of you following the progress of the 1880 sampler, I invite you to check out the flickr group.  Carol has sashed and set her beautiful blocks and posted a picture for our pleasure.

I was not too successful with keeping up with the CW QAL hosted by Barbara Brackman this year, but that did not stop me from joining Jeanneke's Building Houses from Scraps 2012 project.  

You can find out more here.

Wish me luck!

Merry Christmas to everyone!

May your holidays be filled with joy and laughter and 

may the New Year be full of promise.

See you then,

Cheryl

Rainy Day Blues???

A crisp, clean rain is falling today and I am loving it!

US Open tennis to watch and sewing to be done...serendipity!

I finished piecing Holiday Happenings, designed by Monique Dillard.

I have a long list of tops that need to be quilted now. 

I saw an interesting adaptation of cross hatching on Diane Gaudynski's blog called Houndstooth.

It might look interesting on the borders.  My first inclination is just to do continuous line quilting in the pieced blocks and maybe wreaths in the light squares. 

Any ideas on how to machine quilt this one...holiday themed?

Finished 2 more blocks for my sampler.

Take a look at the Flickr site if you haven't lately.

I seriously love these blocks in the brown and pink colorway!

Slowly, but surely, I am appliqueing those little willow tree leaves on the last block of Autumn Houses.

What a painful process it has been...7 more to sew down.

At night, we hear a bone chilling, bleating sound that we could not identify. 

Yesterday evening we discovered its source.

A coyote has moved into the valley behind the cabin. 

A family of foxes has inhabited the area for the last few years.

Mr. Fox is the source of the noise.

He is admantly barking (sounds more like bleating though) at the coyote to leave his feeding grounds.  

I love Mr. Fox's tail.  

My rainy day goal is to finish those darn leaves, and then finish piecing the center of Pinwheels for Caroline.  Wish me luck and don't forget to leave any suggestions for how to quilt my Holiday Happenings.



Harvest Time...YUM!

I returned to Colorado and immediately dove into my 1880 sampler blocks.

Nothing like the US Open Tennis Tournament and a little time with Bernie! 

 Just two more blocks and I will have all the patterns written through October.  One more row is actually ready to set, but I will finish Autumn Houses first.  I also have a pattern for a trio of mini quilts that I am itching to get started on. 

My flower garden is in its full splendor and my vegetable garden is quite prolific!

The zucchini is just about to turn in to a delicious chocolate bread, the carrots and green beans will be savored with dinner tonight, those little yellow heirloom tomatoes are in my belly, and the larger red ones will be on my sandwich for lunch.  Last night I used up my Japanese eggplant to make croquettes.  I am a big fan of eggplant and even my husband enjoyed these.  The recipe can be found here.  The only thing I changed was to add some fresh basil from the plant dear Kathy gifted me and I used Parmesan flavored Panko bread crumbs. 

I received a comment from a non-reply blogger (mkrlar) requesting a tutorial on how I prep for applique, especially making those sharp turns on the windows of Autumn Houses.  I would love to share my tips, but I would need to do so using video. 

 I wonder...can that be done and shared? 

 Anyone know how? 

Back in the saddle again...

My break from my sewing room gave me a boost of enthusiasm and I managed to get 4 more blocks for my 1880 sampler made and the patterns written. 

I need to get ahead because the next 3 months will be very busy. 

Using the leaders and enders method, I am also getting closer to finishing Pinwheels for Caroline.

Here are some of the best results from my photography lessons with my cousin.

I also used Picassa to soften the edges of the photos. 

Low Blue Mist Penstemon 

Scarlet Paintbrush

Western Paintbrush

Goal Accomplished!

Only 16 more blocks to go!!

Method to my Madness

I always ponder why I have so many projects going all at once. 

I think I have come up with an explanation,

or maybe I'm just rationalizing the situation.

When I work on more than one project at a time, I can use what Bonnie Hunter refers to as the 'leaders and enders' technique. 

The first thing I do is cut a dozen fabric squares that I will pair together to make multiple half-square triangles out of.  Then I cut the fabrics for an 1880 Sampler block.  Now it is time to sew.  As I piece each section of the sampler block, I chain feed in the fabrics for my HST's. That way I conserve thread and keep my machine from 'eating' my tiny fabric pieces.
The result...

3 new blocks for my sampler. 

My goal this week is to make one more and then assemble the next row.  I have enjoyed following the progress of several others who are piecing the sampler through the flicker site (the link can be found on my side bar.)  A brown and pink color scheme seems to have become popular and quite stunning, I may add.  Many are using the Julie Hendrickson Miniatures collection.  One of my favorites!

The second benefit from this 'leaders and enders' technique is that Pinwheels for Caroline is growing.

I think I have finally figured out how to make the ocean waves blocks with a modicum of precision.  I have already told myself that this quilt is utilitarian and therefore, I am overlooking a thread off here and there.  Nothing too obvious!! That would be sacrilege for me.

But, as we all know, once it is quilted and washed, no one will see my transgressions.

We are back in Colorado and after I plucked all the weeds that had claimed my vegetable and flower gardens in the last 3 weeks, we headed to the Continental Divide.  At last, the snow has receded and one of my favorite hikes above the Wolf Creek Ski Resort is now accessible.

And that means...

wildflower pictures.

I have added all the new ones to my Wildflowers of Colorado page, but I just had to share my favorite picture of the day.

You might ask what I do with my photography...

OK, my attempts at photography.

My husband makes rustic wood frames, we stain them and then a local framer finishes them up.  These are pictures I took last year enlarged to 8" x 10".

They make great wall decor for the cabin. 

 

A few hours of 'leaders and enders,' and believe it or not, I make progress on all of the first 5 projects on my priority list.  Of course, you could argue that if I put that much time into just one project, I might finish it.  But what fun is that?

Have you tried this technique?

Sweet Carolina

I saw this little quilt first on Quilt Hollow's blog; and when my magazine arrived, I just could not resist it.  It will end up as a pillow or a wallhanging in the guest bedroom. It can be found in the August 2011 issue of APQ magazine and was designed by Annemarie S. Yohnk. Now I just need to find the perfect medium value tan for the first inner border and then I will try to mimic the quilting design.

I have made lots of progress on Autumn Houses.

Even though the shapes are made, there are many little applique stitches that still need to be sewn.

Block 1, 3 and 6 are totally completed and 4, 5 & 7 are half done. 

I was thrilled to see that Nives, from Northern Italy, and Kathie, from Sydney, Australia, have posted their recent 1880 sampler blocks on the flicker site.  Nives' blocks are closer to the same colors as mine, but Kathie has chosen a brown and pink theme that is very warm and inviting.  I hope to have collages of their blocks to share, but if you can't wait to see them, check them out here. 

Today's goal is to get my exchange blocks made for my SSQSG meeting in July.  They need to be 4" finished blocks and I need 6 of them.  We exchange blocks every other month. I missed the June meeting, but you can read all about it on Merumo's blog and see her collection of blocks so far.

I managed to get this week's CW block from Barbara Brackman's site done.

I didn't like it until I saw my blog friend, Merilyn's, block. 

I didn't have a fabulous floral stripe, but this came close and looks rather handsome on point, which is how I plan to set my blocks.  I have become obsessed with on-point settings recently.

On the topic of the anniversary of the Civil War, I found a new blog to follow called The Civil War Quilter.  Becky is working on a book that I will be anxious to see and reproduces Civil War era quilts.  Make sure to read her April 30th post about Love and Valor. 

My feet are on ice, hoping to reduce the inflammation so I can get back in my hiking boots.

But, until then, I am making lots of quilting progress...

3 more 1880 sampler blocks, more pinwheels and some gifts that I can't show.

I can't go exploring for wildflowers to photograph,

but at least my garden is starting to bloom.

My favorite color in the garden is purple...can't you tell!

And these are the pine cones on the Colorado Blue Spruce that are planted around the perimeter of our land.  My Snow in Summer is finally getting its little white flowers and I love the contrast with the Dianthus.  I am an amatuer gardener, but sometimes my combos actually work.

Update on my Barbara Bucher Snyder Sampler

I finished another row! Yippee!

Sorry that I posted this week's block a little early...I got a little over zealous and pushed the wrong button.

I am loving this quilt even more now than when I first started it.

I'm also enjoying seeing a few (13 out of the 90+ followers) posting their blocks on the flicker site.

I would really be pleased if you would share your blocks with me if you are sewing along!

Visit the flicker group and see the others' blocks.

They are all stunning!

Wildflower collages courtesy of our hike along the Piedra River.

We found a field of Wild Iris near a natural spring.

I sure enjoyed the hike, but I'm a little hobbled today.  New shoes, but I had worn them several times previous.  Oh well, a few days with my feet up will just mean more quilting time.

A special welcome to my 200th official follower...a very dear quilty friend!  She knows who I am talking about and she has been lurking for quite awhile. 

Will I start to see her leave comments next?? ;o)

 Funny that my 100th follower was a quilty friend also. 

Quilts of Valor

My daughter finished piecing this quilt top Sunday made from Marcus Brothers QOVC fabrics.  Very patriotic with vibrant reds! The center is a panel, which makes the quilt look complicated, but it was rather easy to piece.  It measures about 62"x82".  A nice lap size quilt.

It is available at TOWQS.

And besides keeping an eye on those adorable eagles in Iowa...did you see how big their feet are getting!...I pieced another block for my 1880 Barbara Bucher Snyder Sampler quilt.

Goose in the Pond Variation

It may be my favorite so far.  I had to resort to paper foundation piecing it though, and will spend some time in the next few weeks figuring out how I can transfer the pattern to followers.  Others have done it, so I know it can be done.

I am off to a tropical location next week, so I will catch up with everyone in a few.

Flickr Group for 1880 Sampler Blocks

I created a Flickr group for sharing everyone's 1880 Sampler block pics.

If you want to join, go here.

Marge from IA recently joined in the fun and sent me a collage of her blocks.

From now on, you can share your progress by uploading your blocks to the Flickr group. 

I will probably still do a monthly update with collages of everyone's blocks.

If you would prefer, you can still send pics to me and I will upload them on the site.

Now I have to get back to drafting them, because you are slowly catching up to me!

A little this and a little that...

Right now, I am busy binding Serendipity found.  Not an exciting process, so I dabble in a few other projects to keep myself entertained (or from going crazy---binding is my least favorite part of a quilt!)

Finished the last block for the Paris in the Fall BOM at TOWQS.

It was a challenging block to say the least.

Then doing what I love to do best... 

drafting and piecing blocks for the Farmer's Wife Quilt.

The rest of the time... 

I keep making siggy blocks for my Album Quilt designed by Kathleen Tracy.

Mine will be 4x4 and I am waiting for a few more signed blocks to return before I piece it together.

I love Kathy's patterns--accurate and easy to follow instructions.

Not all patterns are like that!

Others have been busy too.

Satu's recent additions to her 1880 Sampler (her blog can be found here) and...

Bettina (her blog can be found here) always keeps current.

Charlene in NH just contacted me and I expect pictures of all of her blocks soon.

Another block pattern posted today for a total of 9, enough to assemble the first 3 diagonal rows, so next week I will include sashing and setting triangle cutting instructions.

I haven't made the last two installments in Barbara Brackman's Civil War BOW.

Other priorities right now and they look easy, so I can catch up.

And, BTW, my inspiration for my Valentine Twister quilt came from Jeanne over at Crystal Creek Quilts.

Jump on over and see the beautiful job she did on Lori's doll quilt along.  Tell her Cheryl sent you.

Spring is around the corner, so I think I will head to the plant nursery today for some cheery annuals.  The frost we had in Jan. and Feb. did a number on our yard.  Lots of work trimming and replacing as needed, but I love to work with my hands gardening.  Just not next to those dang jumping cholla cacti!

1880 Barbara Bucher Snyder Sampler Quilt Update

Karen over at the Log Cabin Quilter has started her blocks.

I love the fabrics she has chosen. 

I see a few familiar Jo Morton's in there. 

Bettina over at Patchwork Passion is keeping up. 

I have 4 diagonal rows set so far.

After next week's block, I will post the cutting dimensions for the sashing and setting triangles for those of you who are like me and just have to start assembling the quilt before all the blocks are made!

Autumn's Bounty is back from the quilter and bound.

It is going to look so wonderful hanging in my breakfast nook.

Click on the picture to enlarge so you can appreciate the beautiful quilting!

Today I pick up my Kim Diehl quilt from the longarm quilter.

We'll see what kind of miracle worker she is...

I can hardly wait.