Grandsons & June BOM

Last Monday through Wednesday I got to spend time with my grandsons.  We had a pretty good time.  They went swimming, playing at the park, shopping, playing on the slip 'n slide etc.  One day we decided to make banana splits & sundaes.  The boys had a good time & it was fun to see how each one of them made their treat.  They all have different things that they like.

Last night I stayed up to finish the June Block of the Month.  It was the Lemoyne Star.  OK, we all know how I feel about points!  I watched the tutorial a couple of times & kept putting construction off.  Finally, I decided I knew how I was going to construct the block.  Took me longer to figure it out than it did to complete it.  I don't know that I will do another one.  Thank goodness this is the only one in the 2013 BOM quilt.  Next month - 60 degree triangles.  We will see how long I can put that one off.

Working on my county fair quilt now.  I am designing it as I go along.  Just need to finish the applique strip & then put the final rows together.  Then, what shall I do for the border?  The fair is the first week in August.  Guess I had better buckle down.

Charming Little Quilt Shop in Salina, UT

Today I went to Gunnison Valley Hospital to see my new great-niece, Sophie Olivia Spraycar.  What a beautiful little girl.  Her Mommy is doing well too.
On my way home I stopped at a charming little quilt store in Salina, UT.  The name of the store is Cotton Tree Quilt Co.  The store is owned by Jennifer Gates.
I just happened to stop on "Fat Quarter Friday"!  My lucky day.  Every Friday the fat quarters are on sale.  What a bargain.
The store is small, but has a lovely assortment of wonderful fabrics, patterns, etc.  I suggest if you are in the neighborhood of 315 W Main in Salina that you stop in and say howdy to Jennifer.

Oh, and one of the things I absolutely adored was that my purchases were put into a brown paper bag with tissue paper & tied with a piece of selvage.  I felt like I was coming home with a gift just for me!

Go to their facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/CottonTreeQuiltCompany

I love how Jennifer packaged my purchases

Some of my "booty"

Busy Day Projects

Last night I finished my May BOM(block of the month) project.  The block is called "Strippy Hourglass".  For those of you who know me, you know that I am all about scrappy.  I have black & white, tan, and gold fabric for this years BOM Craftsy project.  That means I am using only fabric I have on hand.  So far, I am really happy with the blocks.



I also had a project from the Summer 2013 Quitler's World magazine.  It is a "Portable Ironing Board".  You start with a TV table & add a removable ironing pad made from a fat quarter, heat resistant batting, & bias binding.  I just happened to have everything but the TV table.  Found one at a local chain store for $5.  I used Insul Bright by The Warm Company for the heat resistant batting.  The pattern says to add an additional 2" to the size of the TV tray top, but I think when I make another one I will add another 1/2" to all the sides.  But I do like this little project.  It will be so handy to press my quilt blocks as they are being put together.

Wild Side

Finished a quilt that was ordered as a graduation gift.  It is made with cotton & cotton flannel.  Made a pillowcase as a gift bag for it.

The big blocks were made using a big block pinwheel pattern.  I really like the way that it turned out.  Called it "Wild Side" because of the leopard & zebra prints.

Next projects are the small ironing table cover (will post that when it's done); curtains for another little great niece's nursery; and of course the May blocks of the month which somehow keep getting pushed to the back of the lineup.

Took photo in bright sun - washed the colors out!

This represents the colors much better.

Label reads "Wild Side"

Another Just For You Quilt

When you have a few left over fabric pieces from a commissioned quilt you just have to make another quilt for that person!  That's what I did with the fabric from Katelin's quilt.  I decided to try Jenny Doan's "Falling Charms" layout and this is what I came up with.  I had all of the quilt top fabric & enough fabric in my stash for the backing.  It was quick, easy, and I really like this layout.  I will definitely be making another quilt with this pattern.  I have made a few quilts that I label "Just for You".  I hope the person receiving the quilt knows that I had them in my mind while making the quilt.

Next, finishing another quilt order, May Block of the Month blocks, curtains for my great-niece, and start my fair quilt.

Close up

Falling Charms pattern by Jenny Doan of the Missouri Star Quilt Co.

Left over block from Katelin's quilt used for the label

April 2013 Block of the Month

Just completed the April BOM (Block of the Month).  The pattern is called "Fan Block".  Curves are not my absolute favorite, but I like the end result.  I attached the center circle with a machine applique stitch.  I am still liking the colors!  Hmmmm, my flash didn't go off on the camera so this is a bit "washed out".

Fan Block

March 2013 Block of the Month

Taking a break from quilt orders & projects to work on my Craftsy 2013 Block of the Month blocks.  Finished the March block this morning & have the pieces cut out for the April block.  The March block was very easy to put together & is trimmed to 17 1/2" - so it is a nice big block.

The March block is called the "Economy Block".  The lesson was on drafting the center portion of the block.  I decided to just follow the pattern pieces & played with fabric to make the block my own.  I don't especially enjoy the drafting portion of this block, but I suppose it was good to refresh those skills!

Snowy weather has really helped me enjoy being inside sewing.  The sun is actually out today.  Still a little chilly, but so good to see the sun shining.

Katelin's Quilt is Finished!

Put the last stitch in the binding tonight.  I really like this quilt.  Created the entire quilt with half square triangles.  Had enough fabric to make matching king size pillow shams too.  Machine quilted with an edge to edge geometric pattern.  Free motion is my favorite quilting to do.  Allows me the freedom to be artistic.  We all know that I can't draw worth beans -but when I quilt, that's when I find my artistic wings!

I hope Katelin likes this quilt.  Sometimes when I have special orders I am a bit anxious about the reveal.  You just never know what the client had in mind.  I think I may be spot on with this one.  We shall see.

The star is centered.  When I drafted the pattern from a quilt that Katelin had seen I had to draft a pattern - added 4 rows in the length & 2 rows in the width to make a queen size quilt.  I actually wrote the pattern down on this quilt.  I don't usually do that.  Also kept the labels from the fabric for color & fabric line & yardage amounts.  Purchased the fabric from connectingthreads.com

Used some leftover units on the back too!  Just can't have a plain backing!

Of course there has to be a label.

Matching pillow shams - my own design.

A close up of the machine quilting.

On the frame

I was able to load Katelin's quilt onto the frame this past weekend.  I am about half way through the machine quilting.  Decided to use geometric edge to edge design.  I even pieced the backing using some of the remaining units.  I like it!
Also cut out some crib sheets for a new little great-niece who will be here in a couple of months.
Have another quilt order to work on too.  Have pinwheel blocks made and just have to decide how to put them together now.
Winter seems to be upon us again.  Quilting is always a good thing to do during the cold/snowy weather.

Katelin's Quilt Blocks

Two weeks ago I finished sewing the half square triangle units & squared them up ready to sew together.  Tonight I will be sewing on the last two borders & then piecing the quilt backing & hopefully loading on the quilt frame ready to machine quilt this next week.  I have been busy with work and now yard work begins!  Don't have the garden tilled yet, but that is on the list.

It took me about two weeks to finalize the design and layout of the quilt for Katelin.  Working with a photo of a quilt that she really liked, I broke it down & created my own pattern.  I actually kept track of the fabric yardage & colors that she chose for this project.

Now that I am almost down to the end of the project, I am a little nervous.  When someone commissions a quilt I usually have full reign on the design, color, style, etc.  I hope that this quilt will meet Katelin's expectations.

Enjoy the beginning of Spring everyone!

Units ready to press

Units all squared up