Busy! Busy! Busy!

Just because I haven't been blogging, doesn't mean I haven't been busy.  I've been doing things a bit slower since I injured my hand on the way home from the Michigan TOGA (bottom of post).  I finally went to the doctor earlier this week.  He sent me for x-rays (no fractures, thank goodness) and I now have an appointment with a hand specialist for next week.  I still think I damaged the ligaments, but, we'll see what the specialist says. 

Here are some of the things I've been working on recently.  I've worked on my Red, White and True quilt along tops.  I've changed mine up so that they fit the sizes needed for a Quilt of Valor.

I took a row out of the middle of the quilt to make them a bit shorter.  Yes, I'm making 3 of these, but, I only have 2 tops this far.  I took apart the blocks from the row that I didn't use, and, I figured out how to use them in the border instead.

my graph showing how I will finish these tops

I only have to cut some of the white to add to the block pieces that I took apart.  I also need the white for the little, inside border.  I don't think I have enough white left over for the quilt in the top picture.  Maybe I'll 'frame' it in red or blue instead of using the white for a frame, before I add the pieced border.  I like the white better, since it seems to make the top 'float'.  Hopefully I'll get more done on these at the next Quilts of Valor sew-in on Tuesday.

Remember this frog quilt top? 

Frog quilt top

Not only did I make a backing for it (not basted or quilted yet) but, I started on a 2nd Frog quilt, using different frog fabrics.  I have the blocks made.

blocks for 2nd Frog quilt

Here are the fabrics I'll be using for the sashing and cornerstones.

stripe for sashing, green frogs for cornerstones

The first Frog quilt is for a friends husband, but, the 2nd Frog quilt will be for charity.  Both need to be finished before Christmas.

Remember the baby quilt I made that turned pink?  Well, that baby quilt is due in 3 weeks.  I made a new top.  I pre-washed the Minkee (red) this time.  Guess what?!?!  The Red Minkee bled again.  I've treated it with Retayne, and washed it again with another color catcher.  This time the color catcher came out white (thank goodness).  This is a WARNING to all of you out there!  Pre-wash your RED Minkee, just in case!  Now I need to baste and quilt this.

NEW Churn Dash baby quilt top

And YES, I pre-washed and pre-treated ALL of the fabrics for this quilt BEFORE I cut anything out.  I'm not taking any chances. (all the quilt top fabrics for the last quilt had been pre-washed and treated, too, just not the Minkee).

I've also been working on some other projects, bit by bit.  I've started the blanket stitching on these RV placemats and pot holders (8 of each).

The blanket stitch on my Janome works great for a while, then the tension starts messing up.  Do you know how hard it is to remove bad blanket stitches?  Let me tell you, IT'S HARD!.  I've already changed the needle once on this project.  I'll change the needle again, when I go back to it.  A new needle seems to help a lot! 

I've also been working on my little guild's challenge block.  We are supposed to make a 12.5" unfinished block with either a witch or a scarecrow for our October meeting.  As usual, I'm making two blocks (one for the challenge, and one I will turn into a wall hanging for me).  This is as far as I've gotten so far.

Witch blocks

I still need to draw on the words so that I can embroider them.  This is the pattern.

Hopefully I'll get the words traced onto the blocks this weekend.

I did get a fun package in the mail yesterday.  I was involved in another pin cushion exchange with my Treadle On group.  I forgot to take a picture of the finished pin cushion that I made.  Here are pictures of the unfinished pin cushions I made.

I sent the pin cushion on the RIGHT (I kept the one on the left for me)

back of pin cushion, signed

Well, I got my exchange pin cushion in the mail yesterday.  I even got a bonus pin cushion from the hostess (how sweet).

pin cushion from exchange, isn't he CUTE!

pin cushion from the hostess of the exchange

Usually people send a gift to the hostess.  I've never heard of the hostess sending gifts.  Thanks Stephanie!

Oh yea, I did get a FINISH in the past few weeks.  I finished the binding on the twin size Churn Dash quilt.

twin size Churn Dash quilt (DONE!)

Now to go FINISH some of my projects!

Some Whoop! Whoops! and a Major Disappointment!

This post is supposed to be all Whoop! Whoops!, but, I have one major disappointment included. 

I made a baby quilt for a friend.  The baby shower is one month away.  I'll have to make a whole new baby quilt now. :(

This is the quilt, before the binding, and before washing.  Yes, I'd washed all the fabrics on the front of the quilt, but, I didn't wash the Minkee backing fabric.  I've never had a problem with Minkee before.

quilted, before binding and washing

This red Minkee bled all over the baby quilt.

baby quilt after binding and washing

 Check out the background fabric I used, next to the washed baby quilt. 

background fabric is now pink, not off white

Almost all of the color fabrics on the front of the baby quilt were what was left over from my son's wedding quilt.  I'd washed and treated each color with Retayne before I started making his quilt.  Now I have to go buy more fabric, since I don't have most of the colors needed anymore.  For once, this was NOT a fabric purchase I wanted to make. 

I do have a few Whoop! Whoops! that I've been working on.  Not much sewing going on this past week, but, I have lots ready for stitching now.

I made 8 of each of these RV's.  Four of each will become pot holders, and the other 4 of each will become placemats.  These are for hubby's aunt and uncle, who live in an RV full time, and for my brother and sister-in-law, who own an RV.

RV's

I'll stitch these thru the batting and backing, and, then the quilting will be done.  I just have to cut out the placemat fronts.  The placemats will be a yellow with white geometric print. 

I'm also working on a secret project.  The fusible isn't sticking very well on this one for some reason (same fusible as in the RV's).  I'll stitch across everything with a mono-filament thread.  I've not use mono-filament thread in several years.

hiking mini quilt

Hubby is a back packer, hiker and camper.  He can hang this in his cubicle at work.  I hope I don't mess it up, trying to stitch over all the pieces.  Some of the pieces are tiny!  I was using tweezers to hold them in place. 

I'm off to pick up another sewing machine.  When people know that you collect old machines, they keep offering them to you.  The lady said that this machine needs some work.  We'll see.  If it works, I will give it to a friends sister, whose machine just broke.  A win-win for everyone.

Slow Stitching Sunday

I am slow stitching today.  I'm not hand quilting, but, I am hand stitching the binding down on this quilt.

hand stitching the binding down

This is the front of the quilt.

twin churn dash quilt

This quilt will be going to Illinois tornado victims, thru Quilts of Compassion.

I'm linking up at Kathy's Quilts.  Check out her post today, and, go read the great story about finding the 'owner' of a thrift shop quilt.  Great story!