Let's Book It, July

Sharon, over at Vrooman's Quilt's, has a Let's Book It link up each month.  I'm not usually working on projects from old books or patterns, so, I've seldom entered.  I'm entering this month, with a project that I won from another blogger, last fall.  I finally started working on this project. 

Be Attitudes book

I started with the last block, and I've been working backwards on this.  So far, these are the blocks I've hand embroidered.

November and December blocks

October block

Of course, all the blocks still need buttons or beads for eyes and other embellishments.  I'll put those on last, after it is quilted.

I'm working on the September block.  This is how far I've gotten, so far.

September block

Of course, this won't be done any time soon.  I've been working on it when I need a break from machine stitching.  This may be my 'Lets Book It' project for a while.

I'm also entering this in Kathy's Slow Stitching Sunday link up.  I'll be stitching on it again this afternoon. 

Wedding Signature Quilt

My youngest son got married in May 2015.  I made a signature quilt, for people to sign at the reception.  I got the idea from Carla.  She was happy for me to 'steal' her idea.

Wedding Signature quilt top

up close of Connor & Krystal's initials

I should have finished this quilt before their first anniversary, but.....obviously, I didn't.  I didn't want to just put a jumble of the leftover fabrics together to make the backing.  I had lots of 'bonus' half square triangles leftover from all of the block corners.  I also had lots of extra blocks (just in case).  I wanted to figure out how to use them in the backing.  

I laid out the extra signature blocks.

extra signature blocks on back

 I then trimmed the half square triangles.  It took time, since I dropped my bloc loc ruler last month, and broke the corner off.  Can't use it with a broken corner.  I got a new bloc loc ruler last weekend.  Well worth the $$$$ to get a new ruler.  

After all the HST's were trimmed, I figured out how I wanted to use them in blocks.  I made 24 blocks (yes, I still have some leftover HST's).  I surrounded the center blocks.

backing, almost done

 I then stitched more of the blue fabric, used in the strips, and finished the backing.

finished backing

The quilt top was pieced on one of my hand cranks.

1959 Singer Spartan hand crank

 I pieced the backing on another hand crank.

1927 Singer 15 hand crank

I won't get to baste or quilt this until late next month.  I'll quilt it on a treadle.  

The binding will be made from this fabric that is used for the center initials on the front, and also the center squares of the 24 blocks I made for the backing.

fabric for binding

Hope you have a great weekend!



 

Two tops completed

Two years ago, I made some signature blocks for my family reunion.  I made two sets, so that I'd have a matching quilt.  The quilt will be used to raise funds to cover future family reunions.  I had everyone sign two blocks (one was for my quilt).  I got several of the blocks stitched together at the last reunion, but, I set it all aside when I got home.  Well, the next reunion is this October.  Time to pull all those blocks out, and get some quilts finished.  Hubby knows me well, so, he told me that I can't finish the quilt for the family reunion unless I also finish mine at the same time.  Well, I finally pulled out the blocks to get the tops finished.  I finished both quilts yesterday.

both quilt tops

one of the quilt tops, up close

 The last reunion was our 30th anniversary of the first family reunion.  I added some info in the top block.

sorry, hard to read since I photographed it outside.

 My father started this family reunion, at the request of my grandfather.  My father ran the reunion for many years, until his Alzheimers forced him to pass it on to other family members.  I've been at every reunion, except one.  The one was the year I got married, and, I went on my honeymoon instead (only 2 weeks apart).  

Now the big decision.   I don't free motion quilt, I can just straight line quilt.   Originally, I was going to quilt these tops, but, now I'm thinking about having them quilted.  Hmmmm......

 

Illinois Valley Quilter's Guild Quilt Show

Today I went to the IVQG Quilt Show.  Last December, I won a quilt that this guild made for a breast cancer group to raffle off.  That quilt is now on my bed.  I love it! 

Right off the bat, I saw a framed hexie quilt. (you can click on each picture to make it larger).

I had to laugh at this next one.  So cute!

This next quilt is a great way to 'frame' a small 'picture' and turn it into a lovely large bed quilt.

I took a picture of this next quilt to encourage a blogging buddy of mine (Terri) who has just tried crumb piecing in the past week or so.

This next quilt reminds me of the modern blocks I made last year for a Treadle On block exchange.  I really need to put my blocks together.

This is a wonderfully whimsical quilt.

Captain Dick, who started Treadle On, made a similar quilt a while back.  It's on my 'bucket list'.

The guild also had a great pin cushion display (darn, not for sale;)

These are the last of the quilts that I took pictures of. 

I had a fun day.  I stopped at 5 thrift stores, went to the quilt show, and also visited a quilt shop (where I ran into Mary).  I bought backing fabric for at least 6 quilts at the quilt shop. 

Hope you are having a great weekend, too!