I'm really sewing! and 200 followers!

I really am sewing here, even if I've not been posting about it.  I even have pictures as proof.

post WWII 'Victor' treadle

See all the blocks I finished stitching today on my lovely 'Victor'?  I'm supposed to be at the Quilts of Valor sew-in, but, I think I'm trying to fight something off, and didn't want to go, so, I stayed home and worked on the same project that I would have worked on at the sew-in.  Now to square up these blocks so that I can put everything together.

I have quite a few 'extra' half square triangles from this project, too.

'extra' HST's, ironed and waiting for....who knows what?

I'm also working on a commission quilt.  I was asked to replace the backing on 'Grandmother's quilt', but, not to take out any of her quilting.  I 'tied' the new backing on, over the old, faded backing, and carefully put the stitches in the corners of blocks, so that they would not be seen.  Now I'm burying the threads.  There are LOTS of threads!  I will still have to stitch the binding onto the front (just like Grandma did the first time).

lots of threads to be buried

I've also been working on this years Christmas mini quilts.  A few years ago, I gave family and friends a mini quilt stand with a Santa mini quilt.  Last year they all got Valentine's mini quilts.  This year.....

maple leaves with acorns quilted in the center

Don't worry, the people who get these don't read my blog. 

I've also been working on a 'secret' project for my little quilt guild.  We are all supposed to make either a 14.5" or 16.5" snowman block.  The sizes are 'standard pillow form sizes' so, if the recipient wants, they can turn their block into a pillow. 

This is what I've done on my snowman, so far.  This is due Dec. 2nd. 

embroidery on my snowman block

This is from one of the '100 Blocks' magazines.  When it's done, I'll post which issue.  I don't want to give 'too much' away yet.  Now to find some buttons for his eyes, and make his 'frame'. 


Hey!  Guess What!?!?!?!?!  I now have 200 followers!!!!  I've also written more than 200 blog posts, too.  Oh my!  I'll have to figure out something for a giveaway soon to celebrate.


Well, time to get back to stitching!  Lots left to do!

I'm OK!

I've had several people contact me to see if I am ok, after the tornadoes that devastated parts of Illinois.  Yes, we were lucky.  Almost all of the destruction was south of us.  Please pray for all of the communities that were hit by these storms. 

Cheryl

Quilt Show!

First, let me apologize for not posting lately.  I've been really, really busy this month.  I am working on projects, but, no pictures.  I'll try to post something else, soon. 

Today, a friend and I went to the Sewing & Quilting Expo in Tinley Park, IL.  Yes, we also went to the expo back in the spring, at a larger venue, but, we got free tickets, so, we went again.  This was a much smaller expo than the one in the spring, but, they had different quilts at this one. 


There was a wonderful display of vintage quilt tops that had been sent to some of the best long arm quilters in the business to see what they would do with these tops.  Oh my!  I tried to include a close up picture of each, to show off the quilting. 

quilter: DeLoa Jones

quilter: Ginny Rippe

up close of embroidery

quilter: Vicki Maloney

up close of one square

quilter: Barbara Dann

up close of one square

quilter: Sue Papalia

up close of quilting

quilter: Wilma Cogliantry

up close of the quilting

quilter: Claudia Pfeil

up close of the quilting

quilter: Jackie Herbert??

up close of quilting

quilter: M&M Quilting

up close of quilting

quilter: Debbie Kauffman

up close of hummingbird, there were also butterflies, dragonflies, and other things

quilter: Karen McTavish

up close of blocks

quilter: Marty Vint

up close of blocks

quilter: Vicki Maloney

up close of quilting

quilter: Sue Patten

interesting quilting motif in quilting

There were other quilts, too.

by Connie Guhlstorf

up close of block

Mary Fons

up close of block

Elizabeth Dackson

Barbara Yates Beasley

Judy Ross

Margaret Williams

Caroll Ivy

Alice Zeman

up close of small blocks

Sharon Moran

love how some blocks are 'framed' and some are not

There were more quilts inside the vendor area.  There were several from Victoria Findlay Wolff, but, since I've shown some of these before (from the last expo) I didn't take more pictures of these.  Oh yea, Victoria is coming to one of my quilt guilds in July 2014.

Here are the rest of the pictures.

longarmer: Dustin Farrell

up close of top corner, sorry about the color, it is deep black, and stunning to look at

Judy Tucker

 This one is for everyone that is already missing summer.

Linda Marcangelo

 This one is made from kimonos, all in silk

no name on the description sheet, oops!

Shirley Van Dyke?

Ebony Love

Cindy Sarino?

I got a few names wrong, sorry.  They came thru blurred on my camera.  I did try to get everyone's names on their quilts.

I was a VERY GOOD GIRL in the vendors area.  I bought 2 discounted pieces of fabric for a quilt that I'm making for Quilts of Valor.  Now I can finish it.  I also bought 2 120" tape measures.  I can't ever keep up with the one I have, because it is always being brought upstairs, or downstairs.  Now I have one for both, with a spare, just in case.  I also bought a pattern that I've been looking at for a while now.  It will be great for scraps.