Flying the Coop!

We are getting ready to make our summer journey north to cooler temperatures, and like a true blue procrastinator, I have tons of things to get done in the next few days.  It didn't help that a stomach virus knocked me for a loop this weekend, but I am back with a venegenance today.  Besides all the chores involved in leaving your home for months at a time, there are a few other pressing matters that need my attention.

First was getting the block drafted, made and the pattern written for this week's 1880 Sampler Quilt.  Oh, how I love this one.  These little detailed blocks are like a quilt in and of themselves.

Then I got distracted by a new book, Fat Quarter Winners, by Monique Dillard.

Added to the distraction was the arrival of Judie Rothermel's new line called the Bancroft Collection. A technique that oversizes and then custom cuts the units is right up my alley!  The Fit to Be Geese ruler and technique seemed like extra work until I realized that I am always checking the grid dimension and trimming up my flying geese even when I don't make them oversized, so this method does save me the time of marking diagonal lines on the backs of all those little squares. 

Since I missed work on Saturday due to illness, I will spend this morning finishing up the kits for these two projects from Country Threads.

I like to take some projects to do over the summer that will be shop samples at TOWQS in the fall. 

And if I have time left over today, I will head to Kinko's to do some copying for my Autumn's Bounty quilt pattern.  Yes, you guessed it.  I have left it to the last minute.  But honestly, I work best under pressure!

A Call to Action!

I am participating in and helping to spread the word about SewCal Gal's charity quilt challenge.

For more information, go here.

Here is another great patriotic cause to participate in.

Visit Carol from Brown Quilts here to learn all about it.

These two pillowcases will be on their way today.

Now back to my doll quilt. 

A Simple and Satisfying Saturday!

I just love a day like today. 

Watched a tennis match between my two favorites stars, Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal (lounging in my pajamas until 10am!)

Then played a little game myself called...

Catch Up.

Now I am only 2 blocks shy of being up-to-date with my Civil War BOW.

Fort Sumtner is my favorite block so far; but now I want to go back and remake some of the other blocks to be as dramatic in color.  I always do this in a sampler quilt project, but I am going to follow my own advice and just wait until the end and see how they all work together.

Wishing everyone a Happy Mother's Day. 

A Sneak Peek

I decided to participate in the second round of Christine's doll quilt exchange and after much deliberation, I have finally chosen my pattern for my exchange partner, Nicky at Sew-Organized.

This is always a grueling process...I worry whether she will like the color, pattern, etc.

I decided to contribute to this year's auction quilt for Linda, of Quilts in the Barn fame, to raise funds for breast cancer research.  Jo Morton, one of my fav designers, will be the star of the show this year and I would love to attend.  Alas, Macchu Picchu calls this fall and then I am determined to make it to the Houston Quilt Show (yes, Rosie and Kay...this is me inviting myself!)

My contribution is on it's way down under.

Friday is the monthly meeting of the Farmer's Wife Sampler Club at TOWQS, so I am busy drafting and constructing my blocks.  Here is this morning's progress:

May's theme is baskets.

I purchased my red and white Bella Solids today.  I have selected my pattern from a quilt featured on Barbara Brackman's blog.  I am determined to make a red and white quilt!

Will someone please make more hours in the day!



Vacation...

...a period of rest from work or school! 

More like a near drowning!

Three dives a day for 5 days straight...coming up to replenish fluids and carbohydrates and then back down we would go.  And who said that the sun going down had to deter us?

DD goes back to school today and I plan to get some rest...that is after I catch up on all the blogs I like to read and check out how big the Decorah eaglets have grown.

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.

1880 Barbara Bucher Snyder Sampler Quilt Update

It has been a few weeks since I posted about what everyone has been up to over at the 1880 Sampler blog. 

Bettina has already started setting her blocks:

Satu has been keeping up as well:

Both Mary L. and Bettina have pieced their Kite's Tail blocks:

...and did a fabulous job!

  Today I posted the pattern for Greco-Roman Tiles, another very intricate block.

Remember that there is a flickr group here if you feel like sharing your blocks with everyone.

I know I sure would like to see what everyone is doing.

If you are following along, please introduce yourself as well.

This weekend I will be sewing with my DD, piecing a shop sample made from Marcus Brothers' American Valor fabrics collection.  I'll also try to catch up with my CW BOW blocks. 

What will you be working on?