Leg Lamp quilt

My stepfather loves A Christmas Story movie.  (I haven't watched it since it came out, decades ago).  Melvin has a Leg Lamp, like in the movie.  When I came across a paper pieced Leg Lamp, I just had to make one for Melvin.  Sarah made her Leg Lamp into a pillow.  I made mine into a wall hanging.

I used black netting on the leg (it makes it harder to keep the leg fabric flat), and I used velvet for the top of the stocking.  My fringe is shorter than hers, so I can see the top of her leg peeking out.  I ironed over all the different fabrics with no problems (except the fringe).

I hand quilted black stitching along the seams of the lamp shade.  I also quilted in the ditch along her leg.  I didn't think it needed any more quilting than that, since it is only 8" wide, and 20" tall. 

hand quilting on lamp shade

Other than the hand stitching, this was made on my 1959 Singer Spartan hand crank sewing machine.

I made 2 of these (I have a tendency to make multiples of things).  That way, Melvin will get his Leg Lamp, and, after I finish the binding on the 2nd one, I'll have something to put in my quilt guild's quilt show next March.  I usually give my quilts away, and seldom have anything to put in the show.

My 2nd Leg Lamp looks like this:

2nd Leg Lamp, showing backing fabric

Melvin will be getting this in May.  I hope he likes it. 

Slow Stitching Sunday

Does getting a stitchery ready for stitching count towards slow stitching???  I spend part of the afternoon getting 4 of these marked and ready to stitch. 

4 of these, drawn, on my Light Tracer

stitchery from Jenny of Elefantz

I'm headed in now to work on the binding on 2 mini quilts, while watching a movie. 

stitching the binding on a mini quilt

Hope your Sunday was full of stitching (or at least preparation for stitching).

Signature quilt top

After seeing Carla's post about the signature quilt top she made for her son's wedding last month, I wanted to make one for my son's wedding.  Yes, before starting, I showed a picture of Carla's quilt top to my future daughter-in-law.  Krystal loved the idea, and gave me permission to make the top.

Carla used colors from the bridesmaids dresses in her quilt top.  My son's wedding only has 2 colors, but, lots can be done with those colors.  Since pink is not a color I tend to collect, I had to buy fabrics for this quilt top (darn!).  The hardest fabric to find was one with both blue and pink in it, that didn't read either color, but, both colors equally.  I finally gave up and settled on a fabric with both colors, and lots of other colors, too.  I think it looks like the sprinkles on cupcakes.

center square of signature quilt

I used the blanket stitch to outline each fused letter.  Blue for Connor, and Pink for Krystal.  It looks better in person.  My photo skills leave a lot to be desired. 

I drew up a pattern so that I'd get all the fabrics in the proper places.

pattern

I didn't take a picture of my 'legend'.  The legend tells me how many of each block to make, and what 2 fabrics are in that block.  See the numbers in the pattern?  I counted how many of each block that way. 

Carla had made extra blocks, in case someone wrote something inappropriate on the quilt.  I did the same thing, and actually made 2 extra's of each block.  I figured one block for 'corrections' (hopefully won't need any of these blocks), and one block in case I need more blocks.  The extra blocks will be put on the back of the quilt. 

extra blocks (one showing, one underneath, hidden)

These blocks went together quickly.  6.5" squares of Kona white, and 3.5" corner squares.  I got lots and lots of 'bonus' half square triangles from this quilt.

bonus HST's from this quilt top

I don't know what I'll use the bonus squares for, but, I'm sure I'll think of something.

Here is the completed signature quilt top.  The colors look a lot better in person.  Much softer looking.  They are all pinks and blues, not reds and navy, like the picture shows.  I did match the fabrics using the paint chips from Krystal.

completed signature quilt top

center square of signature top

All I have left to do is to cut freezer paper, and iron it to the back of each square.  I also need to find my Pigma pens.  I have a set of colored Pigma pens, but, I can't remember where I put them (you don't ever lose stuff in your sewing room, do you?).

Wedding Quilt

Intertwined is completed!  This is the quilt I made for my youngest son's wedding. 

The pattern was a mystery over on Jean's blog.  Last March, McCall's Quick Quilts put this quilt in their magazine.

I started buying fabric for this quilt last March, after I got the pattern.  Of course, I had to change the pattern up a bit.  First, I had to make the quilt BIGGER!  My son wanted a quilt that he and his new bride could snuggle under while watching TV.  Second, my son is about 6' tall.  He likes it when his quilts tuck under his feet, and go over the top of his head.  Hmmm.... 60" square just wasn't going to be big enough.  Ok, I'll redraft the quilt to make it bigger.

my redrafted pattern

Great, this will make a nice sized quilt, 72" x 81" without borders.  Oops, I printed (and made) my Triangulations papers for my Half Square Triangles the wrong size.  512 completed HST's.  I was NOT going to trim them down 1/2". 

parts of block are the wrong size

Oops!  Larger HST's means that the centers are the wrong size.  It's a good thing that I bought lots of fabric.  Oh yea, that also means that the quilt top will be even bigger than planned.

Once all the pieces were cut the correct sizes, the top came together quickly.

Completed top on my queen bed

Ok, I don't want to waste all of those pieces that I'd already cut the wrong size.  I also didn't want to waste all the extra HST's that I'd made. 

Well, this is a wedding quilt.  What better way to teach the happy couple that when you make a mistake, you need to learn from it, and use what you learned.  So, instead of a plain backing, I used my mistakes and made a whole other quilt for the back.

back made from my 'mistakes'

Oh yea, for those that don't know me well, all of this was pieced on a hand crank sewing machine (no motor).

1959 Singer Spartan (192K) hand crank

I'm not a machine quilter, and I don't have time to hand quilt this thing.  Also, this is the largest quilt I've ever made  at 94 1/4" x 105 1/4".  So, off to the long arm quilter.

Erica did a wonderful job on this quilt.  The next few pictures are her pictures of the quilting (with her permission).  Erica found the perfect pattern to use on this quilt.

front of quilt, quilted in variegated thread

up close of the quilting pattern

up close of the quilting on the backing

Erica used King Tut Cleopatra variegated thread on the front and the back.  It's hard to see in the pictures, but, it's lovely in person.  I liked the thread so much that I bought a cone of it at the International Quilt Festival last month.

Well, the quilting was done, now to bind this lovely beast.

binding fabric

This is the binding fabric I chose for this quilt.  It has all of the colors that are in the quilt except the pinks.  I also used this to frame the label for the quilt.

label for the quilt

My oldest son went with me today to take some pictures of the finished quilt.

front of the quilt

back of the quilt

I can't wait to give this to the happy couple!

Illinois Tornado Quilts

I mentioned in my last post, that I'd give any info on quilts for the tornado victims in Illinois.  Here is the info that I sent to both of my quilt guilds, on where to send quilts.

~~~~
I just got off the phone with Janice, the founder and Exec. Director of Quilts of Compassion.  This is the group that Peddlers Way worked with for the Washington tornadoes, and who they are working with again for the tornadoes near Rochelle/Fairdale. 

Quilts of Compassion is working with Quilters General Store in Rockford, IL as a drop off point for quilts.  They need the quilts delivered there before May 7th.  I will be making a trip there, to take any completed quilts on either May 5th or May 6th. 

Quilts of Compassion has been doing this kind of work since 1999, with disasters all over.  They have a Facebook page (open to see for those of us that are not on Facebook). Quilts of Compassion

			Quilts of Compassion "Bringing Hope & Encouragement to the Hurting" 58,000 quilts and...
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Quilts of Compassion requests quilts that are lap size or larger (twin/full), and more for men and women.  They do NOT accept Holiday quilts, since they have found that it reminds the person receiving the Holiday quilt of all that they lost. 

All the quilts that we donate to them WILL be distributed in the Illinois areas that were affected by the tornado's last week.  Quilts of Compassion will be working these areas May 7th - 10th, and will come back if needed the next week. 

If anyone has any more questions, please contact me, or Quilts of Compassion.

~~~~
I know that many of us (me included) don't Facebook, but, Quilts of Compassion's page is 'open' so that anyone can view it.  Quilts of Compassion works all over the country.  They also keep quilts on hand, to have ready for a crisis like this. 

Quilts of Compassion also takes afghans, for those knitters and crocheters out there.

The news today reported that there were 11 tornado's that touched down in Illinois.  Two of those tornado's devastated 2 different communities.  Quilts of Compassion will work to get quilts to everyone that was affected by these tornado's, not just those in the two communities.  They will keep working until the job is done, even if that means multiple trips.  Quilts of Compassion are still working with the people of Joplin, Missouri, since there are still many people that are still trying to rebuild their lives. 

Bunny Blocks

My little quilt guild, Wego Quiltin', had a Bunny Block challenge.  Everyone was asked to make a 12.5" square block, with a pastel background, and a Bunny.  20 blocks were turned in at Monday's meeting, which is great, since we don't even have 20 members.  A couple of members made extra blocks. 

I think the ladies did a great job!  These blocks will be turned into charity quilts. 

A new block challenge was issued at the meeting.  We were asked to make a 12.5" square block, with either a witch or a scarecrow on it.  No other rules were given. Hmmm....now to find something that fits this challenge.

No sewing has happened here this week.  Some unexpected things have come up, and kept me away from my sewing room.  One of those things was the Sewing & Quilting Expo in Schaumburg.  On Thursday, I helped work the Quilts of Valor booth.  It was a slow day, partly due to the nasty weather in the Chicago area. 

Please pray for all of the people affected by the tornado's last night in Illinois.  Homes, lives and jobs have been lost.  I can't imagine what people are going thru.  One of the quilt guilds in that area are trying to see what they can do about a quilt drive.  They promised to let me know, once they make plans.  I'll pass that info on to all of you. 

Slow Stitching Sunday

I usually don't do any slow stitching on Sunday's, but, this week I did.  I have a block due for my quilt guild meeting tonight, and I had to finish it.  I'm linking up to Kathy's Slow Stitching Sunday post.

Bunny block

Everyone in the guild was challenged to make a Bunny block (however they wanted to) and bring it to our April meeting.  These blocks will be put together and turned into a charity quilt for a kid.  The blocks all have to be 12.5" square, and be on a pastel background.  The light is off in this picture, so the background looks green, not pale aqua.

Here is a better picture of the block, before I stitched on it.

Bunny block, before stitching

I took this bunny from this pattern.

Bunny table runner pattern

I'm making lots more of these Bunny blocks, but, only this one for the challenge.  I'll finish the rest of the bunny blocks later.

Since I had to pull out my Janome for the blanket stitching for the bunny, I also did some stitching for another project.  It's not hand stitching, but, I'm very slow when I blanket stitch on the Janome.

center square for signature quilt

I've been busy this past week, cutting out fabrics and sewing them on, for a signature quilt for my son's wedding.  I don't know if my son knows about this project, but, his fiance thought is was a great idea, when I showed her a picture of my inspiration from Carla's blog.  (I wasn't going to make a signature quilt unless the bride to be wanted it) I changed up the colors, to match my son's wedding colors, and drew up a pattern, so I'd know how many of each block to make.

signature quilt mock-up pattern

Carla helped me with the sizes to cut the fabrics (yes, I asked if I could copy her quilt).

Here is a stack of the blocks, ready to be sewn together.  I still have lots of blocks left to sew.  You get bonus HST's with this pattern.  I'm not sure when I'll use the bonus half square triangles.  I'm also making extra blocks, just in case, that can be put on the back of the quilt.

blocks for the signature quilt, along with bonus HST's

Binding Blitz!

I'm joining Julie K's Binding Blitz linky party today.   I finished one binding in March on the Rectangle Island quilt.

Rectangle Island, before quilting

I don't have any photo's of the finished quilt yet, but, as the weather gets better, I'm hoping to get some.  Here is a photo of the last corner of the binding, and the label.

label for Rectangle, with the last corner still needing to be stitched down

This quilt is finished, and will be heading to it's new owner soon.  It's a graduation quilt for our niece.  She graduated high school this year.

I'm also working on the binding for my youngest son's wedding quilt.  I've made the binding, but, I haven't had a chance to sew it onto the quilt, yet.  I've also made a label for the quilt.  Hopefully, I'll be able to start stitching the binding on this weekend.

binding for the wedding quilt

binding for the wedding quilt, all rolled up

I won't be getting much sewing done in the next few days, since we have guests tonight, and again on Saturday.  Saturday is my oldest son's birthday.  He will be 25 years old!  Happy Birthday Christopher! 

Block Exchange and some fun stuff!

I'm in a block exchange (TOBE) with my Treadle On group.  This time I decided to try the Modern Block Exchange.  I'm usually a traditional gal, but, these blocks appealed to me.  I made 5 sets, but, I can only exchange 4 sets, so, I mixed up 3 of the sets.  These are the 3 sets that I mixed up, since they were all made on the same machine.

These 3 sets were all made on my 1959 Singer Spartan 192K hand crank.

1959 Singer Spartan 192K hand crank

Here are the other 2 sets.

Both of those sets were made on my Post WWII Japanese treadle.

Post WWII Japanese treadle 'Victor'

I've received a few goodies in the mail in the past few weeks, but, I haven't had time to take pictures and post them.

First, from Pickles Quilting, I won some fabric.  There was another fabric that I got (not in the picture) but, I donated it to my quilt guild for a Linus quilt (it was Project Linus fabric with Linus on it).

fabrics from Pickles Quilting

Next, I won a great zipper bag from ~Zany Quilter~.  I'm already using this bag to hold some fusible applique pieces.

zipper bag from Zany Quilter, with applique pieces in it

Lastly, I was contacted about the new book from Marie Bostwick.  I received a signed copy in the mail.  Marie will be at Anderson's Book Store, in Naperville, IL on April 8th.

I'm several chapters into this book.  It is NOT the Cobbled Court series, but, it is a quilting related novel.  I like it so far.  It's a good 'people' story.