Thrift finds, block progress, etc. and a Win!

What a busy week it's been.  I still haven't finished unpacking from the quilt show last weekend.  I made lots of Disappearing 4 Patch blocks during the demo of my vintage machines.  I sewed them on two of the machines, the 1959 Singer Spartan (192K) hand crank and the 1896 Singer 15 treadle.  I didn't take pictures of all of the block.  These are just a few.  The unfinished blocks were mostly made by my friend, Marilyn, while she watched over my booth so that I could check out the quilt show.  She was having sew much fun using the hand crank, that she kept trying to find more things at the show for me to check out. 

D4P blocks

I made a block holder this week.  This was demonstrated at my small quilt guild earlier this month.  You start with a cardboard tube.  You cover the ends with fabric.

heavy cardboard tube, about 18" long

ends covered with fabric, and glued down

I did try to see if there was a pattern on the internet for this, but, other than finding one tutorial (she'd seen it before, elsewhere) I couldn't find anything.  I changed mine up from what was shown to us.  If you know of a pattern that is sold, I'd love to know so that I can give them credit for the idea, even if mine isn't like theirs.

block holder, unrolled

block holder with muslin 'covers' over the flannel

block holder all rolled up and tied

I added muslin 'covers' to my block holder.  They fold over to cover the flannel where the blocks sit.  This way I don't have to worry about anything falling out if I put too much in the block holder.  I used a fancy stitch on my Janome to sew the binding on the block holder.  I glued the end to the cardboard tube, then attached a ribbon (with a button) to the end so that I could tie it closed.  This was quick and fun to make.  I wish I knew who thought this up.  I've already used it this week.

When I pulled out my favorite rotary cutter to cut the fabric for this block holder, I found the cover was busted, and I couldn't use the rotary cutter.  Waaa!

broken rotary cutter

My friend, who bought it for me years ago, told me to contact Fiskars, and that they would replace it.  Well, I contacted them on Tuesday, and, guess what arrived in the mail on Friday????

My new rotary cutter!

Fiskars doesn't make the same rotary cutter, but, they sent me the newest version.  Wow!  They were really fast!  I can't wait to try this one out.  I'll miss my old cutter.

I got something even better in the mail on Thursday!  I won a contest over on Terri's blog, QuiltNCards.  Terri makes wonderful paper-pieced blocks.  She's been making several Harry Potter blocks.  Anyone who knows me, knows that I LOVE HARRY POTTER!!!!  To win Terri's contest, you had to guess, by just seeing parts of the paper piecing, what the block was.  The original post is here.  Check it out and see if you can guess what the finished block is.  Terri let me try twice (she's nice like that) so, on the second guess, I figured it out.  It's 'Lily' as in Lily was Harry's mother.

Lily

Isn't it a lovely block!?!?  Well, Terri had also made another block earlier in the month, but, had made the color of the 'potion' the wrong color.  I love the block and the color, even if it isn't yellow.  Terri sent the block along with Lily.  Thanks Terri!  I love them!

Vial of Felix Felicis

Now I'll have to listen to the series again to find a 'green' potion.  Aren't these blocks great?  You can find them (and lots others) at Fandom in Stitches.  I'm going to have to learn how to paper piece so that I can make this quilt.  They are also doing a Lord of the Rings quilt, too. 

I stopped at a few thrift stores (and a garage sale) this week.  I haven't had much time to visit thrift stores lately.  SCORE!  I found FABRIC!  Lots of really good quilting fabric. 

4 different browns, about 6 yards of fabrics

The brown in the center doesn't show up, but, I have some of it in a table runner that I won last year.  It's a lovely fabric.  I loved the interesting batik, too.  These all have the selvedge on them.  I also found more Harry Potter fabric.  Yipee!  I need more so that I can finish the Harry Potter quilts one of these days.  This will help.

HP fabric and Eleanor Burns fabric

There is at least 6 yards of the Harry Potter fabric, and almost a yard of the Eleanor Burns purple fabric.  I paid less than $8 for ALL of these fabric!  I seldom see quilting fabrics at the thrift stores around here.  I collected these from 2 different stores.  I also found a pair of pinking shears that cut very nicely, too.  At a garage sale, they had these pretty 'scissor decorations'.  I broke my last one.  Now I have 3 more to decorate the scissors that I keep with each of my machines. 

scissor decorations

I have one last 'find' to show you.  I found this lovely mini quilt.  It's in wonderful condition. It even has a label on the back with the makers name, location and date made.  I can't believe that it had a price tag of 49 cents.  Now I'll have to find a place to hang it. 

Angel mini quilt

I don't know how much I'll get done this week.  Oldest son is home for Spring Break, and I have stuff scheduled almost every day.  With this great weather, I'm hoping to be able to take my hand crank out on the patio and sew.  I'm working on a new project.  I'll post about it later. 

Have a Great Weekend!