Summer Stars

Summer Stars is finished and measures 61" by 72". Joy from Calico Point was the long arm quilter. 

The jelly roll and border fabric came from Calico Point too.  

Some of the pieced square don't look quite right but I can live with it. The 8 year old granddaughter will be thrilled.

This year I decided to subscribe to Block magazine from the Missouri Star Quilt Co. The first issue came February 20th, the same day I was leaving for Phoenix. I stuck it in my bag so I could peruse it while relaxing on my vacation.

The first quilt I chose to make from Volume 1, 2020 of Block is Summer Stars. MSQ has the pattern for sale but you can watch the tutorial for free. Just click it and watch.

This pattern has wonky stars. I didn't understand the Block directions for piecing the stars. I finally cut some strips 2-1/2" by 3" and cut them diagonally. These diagonal cuts worked much better for me.

The backing is the same large dotted whole cloth fabric that was used on the back of Calico Stars.

Two final pictures of the finished quilt.

Linking to Peacock Party, Whoop Whoop, TGIFF!, Brag About Your Beauties, Finished Or Not Friday, UFO Busting

Calico Stars

Joy, from Calico Point, has finished the quilting on Calico Stars. Calico Stars is a pattern from the 2020 Volume 1 issue of Block Idea Book. Here is a link to the digital pattern for Calico Stars. I couldn't find a tutorial.

It does look kind of long and skinny in the photo but it's just fine. The pattern in Block is for a larger quilt but I wanted twin size, my quilt finishes 63" by 89".

The fabrics are from an older Summer Breeze layer cake. Since I made the quilt smaller, I had layer cake squares unused. I cut them in half and used them for the border.

Several years ago I made a crib quilt using a Summer Breeze charm pack and some yardage. The yardage fabrics found their way into the border too.

I did make a mistake in this quilt which a commenter pointed out to me in April. I had already delivered the flimsy to Calico Point for quilting so I just left it go. I've always said I wasn't a perfectionist.

The quilting design is called SS-DBD-Daisies.

For backing fabric, I used this dotted fabric. I thought it looked like happy fabric.

More pictures of Calico Stars.

For the binding I used blue and green strips left from the crib quilt I pieced so many years ago.

Linking to To Do Tuesday, Favorite Monthly Finish, Midweek Makers, Wednesday Wait Loss, Clever Chameleon, Put Your Foot Down, Needle & Thread Thursday

Almost Finished

I've finished the quilting on row 5 of Grandmother's Embroidered blocks. I also stitched the sashing between the top of the row and the outside border.

You can see the border in the top of the picture.

Lovely daffodils.

Another unknown flower, any ideas?

I was unable to mark the center circle in the lilac block so I just did a free hand circle.

When the quilt is out of the frame, I'll show you the back so you an see how crazy my freehand circle looks.

This tulip is a cutie!

These are Chinese Lanterns.

Last Sunday I said I had a project that was top priority for the week. That project is completed and here's a photo to show you. (I've blocked out the personal information.)

This is a counted cross stitch wallhanging to celebrate the birth of a friend's first grandchild. She did the stitching but didn't want it framed so she asked if I would finish it for her. 

She ok'd the fabrics I pulled and this is what I came up with. I'm very pleased, so was she! It measures 15" by 18".

I've made great progress with the new blogger format. One thing I haven't learned is how to delete a photo from the post. Open for answers here!

 Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another.  If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.

Kathy, Margaret, Tracy, Deb, Susan,  Nanette,  Edith, Sharon, Karrin, Gretchen, Kathi, Bella, Daisy, Connie, Monica and 

Sherrie

Linking to Patchwork & Quilts, Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching, Show & Tell Monday, Monday Making, Design Wall Monday, BOM's Away

Scrappy Sprouts & Circle of Squares

I wasn't planning on starting a new RSC project right away, I thought I'd wait and catch up on some other projects first.

I mentioned earlier that I was working on a project for a friend. That project used pink fabrics which are the color for June. 

While I had the pink box out, I decided to go ahead and cut the blocks for Sprouts but why just make one block? So I cut enough for two blocks.

Here is a link to the Scrappy Sprouts pattern.

Another project I've long admired is the Circle of Squares block, so I pieced two pink blocks. A link to the Circle of Squares block is here. I did make a slight change, I used a 2-1/2" by 4-1/2" rectangle in the corner units.

I don't know who originally designed the pattern.

Here's a link to a crib quilt  I made using the circle of squares pattern.

We'll see how long I last making monthly blocks before I decide I need a finish. 

I said last Sunday that I was going to start figuring out how to use the new Blogger format. I also said that Sunday June 28 would be the preview of my new skills, Wrong! This is my first post of the new Blogger format. It's been a learning experience which would be made much  easier if I would remember where everything is located. I'm sure with time I'll be as used to the new format as I was with the old.

Linking to UFO Busting, Scrap Happy Saturday

Thank You Sarah!

Every year Sarah coordinates the H2H charity drive and every year more charity quilts are made and donated.

I really appreciate all the work and effort she puts into this successful program.

She even coordinates gifts to the participants! I received these two mini charm pack as my thank you gift. I've always wanted to make a quilt with muted fabrics. These mini's will go into that box for the someday quilt.

So thanks again Sarah, God bless and stay healthy!

Linking to  Peacock Party, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, TGIFF!, Finished Or Not Friday, 

John Deere Panel Quilt

The John Deere panel quilt is finished. He was long arm quilted by the 3 Sisters, New Paris, Indiana and measures 91" by 100", perfect size for a double bed.

I love how this quilt has turned out. I started with this panel which I really don't think is very attractive. It's too saturated with orange and red and I don't think the blue and green plaid improves it any.

I still haven't figured out what the crop in the spring section is supposed to be. Definitely not spring in the Midwest.

I purchased the panel because I wanted the tractors, they look exactly like my father's old JD 6/20.

I thought about how to finish this panel for years, it came together very nicely.


I used 2" strips pulled from the 2" strip box to make the log cabin blocks.

I took this picture of a corner because I wanted you to see the lovely stripe used for the binding.

When I saw this fabric at the store, I bought it immediately, I knew it would be perfect for this quilt!

The fabric on the back is a neutral beige/brown.

An overall medium/large stippling was used for the quilting. This quilt is going to be gifted to a 12 year old boy. No fancy custom quilting necessary.

Link to post about the quilt.

Linking to To Do Tuesday, Midweek Makers, Wednesday Wait Loss, Clever Chameleon, Put Your Foot Down, Needle & Thread Thursday, Oh Scrap

Sunday Stitching Grandma's Embroidered Blocks

We started baling 2nd cutting of hay last week and I wanted to get Modern Amish into the flimsy stage. Hand quilting Grandma's embroidered blocks was not the top priority, the 5th row is not completed. The bottom half of the row is finished, then I rolled after taking the photos.

I'm not pressuring myself to get the quilt finished this week, just have to wait and see how farm work goes. I also have a small project to make for a friend which is my main sewing priority.

Since I have several weekday posts written ahead, I'm going to take the plunge and try out the new blogger format. Hopefully I'll be able to find the post button and post the prepared posts.

Since I can't write posts ahead about my hand quilting, next Sunday will be the premiere post using the new blogger format. If there is no post, then you know the transition isn't going smoothly for me.

It has been interesting to read about the varying experiences with the new blogger. The experiences have ranged from "IT'S A DISASTER!" to "No Problem". I'll let you know which type I am.

Linking to Patchwork & Quilts, Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching, Show & Tell Monday, Design Wall Monday, BOM's Away