December NewFO's (last one)

Barbara, over at Cat Patches has been hosting the NewFO linky party for the past few years.  This is the last one. 

I don't have much to show for December, since I was trying to finish projects, not start new ones.

I made (and finished) a stocking for my future daughter-in-law.

Krystal's stocking

I did add jingle bells to this, and, somewhere, I have a picture of Krystal with her stocking, but, I can't find the picture.

I'm in a Mystery Row quilt block exchange.  To get the next month's pattern for free, you have to make at least one block to exchange.  This is what the block for December is supposed to look like.

designer's example block

Thank goodness she extended the deadline for December's blocks to Jan 4th.  This is how far I've gotten.

working on this block

working on this block, too

rest of the pieces, cut out

I guess I need to go upstairs and finish these blocks.  They are due on Sunday.

October NewFO's & Finishes

I only got one NewFO done in the month of October.  I'm in a Mystery Row Block exchange, and I finished 5 blocks for this exchange.  One block to exchange....

my exchange block

and I made 4 blocks for myself.

4 blocks I'm keeping

This is the block I got last month (September exchange).

block from Marilyn

I did get 19 finishes done in October.  Not bad, considering I was gone for a week to my family reunion.  I finished 19 - 60 degree table runners.  I do still need to bury the threads from the quilting.  I'll do that while watching TV.

4 Snowman table runners

4 different Snowman table runners

#1 Beach table runner

#2 Beach table runner

#3 Beach table runner

#4 Beach table runner

2 Apple table runners

2 Sunflower table runners

aqua table runner

red floral table runner

green floral table runner

Next month I hope to have 19 more table runners.  Using the 60 degree pattern, you get a 'bonus' round table runner along with the long table runners (shown above).  I just need to back, baste and quilt the 'bonus' table runners.  I think I went a bit overboard on these table runners.  Once you start cutting them out, you just can't stop.  I still have lots more material left to cut more of some of these table runners.

September NewFO's and finishes, etc.

Barbara, over at Cat Patches has her NewFO linky party.  I'm adding my finishes, etc, to this post, too.

This month I stitched 19, 60 degree table runner tops.  Each of these table runner tops still needs to be backed and quilted.  I made 4 of each of the table runners in the first picture below.

4 of each of these (8 total)

I also made these table runner tops.

This pattern also makes a 'bonus' round table runner.  I have these cut, but, I've only stitched the little topper tops from the top picture.  I didn't get pictures of these.  They still have one seam left on each of the 8 round toppers.  All of these will be Christmas presents this year.

I'm participating in a brand new Mystery Row swap that started in September (not too late to join).  I made 2 blocks, one for me, and one to swap (you have to make at least one to swap to get the pattern for free).  I'll make more sewing machines when things slow down a bit.

Mystery Row swap blocks (top block is mine to keep)

I'm in another block swap, with my Treadle On group.  These blocks have to be made on either a hand crank or a treadle sewing machine.  This swap is Canning Jars.  The 'contents' of the jars must be something that would be canned (fruits & veggies).  I made 5 sets of 6 blocks, along with some extra blocks for me to keep.

pickles, made on 1914 Singer 66 hand crank

carrots, made on 1925 Singer 66 hand crank

peas, made on 1925 Singer 66 hand crank

blueberries, made on 1941 Singer 66 hand crank 'Betty'

asparagus, made on 1959 Singer Spartan (192K) hand crank

I can't wait to see what blocks I'll get back in this swap.

I've also stitched over 250 HST's this month for a new Quilts of Valor top I'm working on.

Speaking of Quilts of Valor, I finished a top this month, for my next door neighbor, who is currently deployed.  He'll be coming home late October, early November.  My friend, Karen, quilted this top for me, and she also bound it and even made the pillowcase for it (all Quilts of Valor are presented with a pillowcase).  Sorry the colors didn't come out well.  It looks washed out in the pictures.  The background is a pale cream on cream, not white. 

Steve's Quilt of Valor

up close of Karen's quilting

backing and label in the corner

This quilt will be entered in a quilt show this month. 

I did do lots more stitching in September, but, I don't have pictures of most of it.  I did take a picture of part of what I stitched last weekend, at the Fall Festival, where I was showing off some of my vintage sewing machines.

more blocks and strips for 2 Garden quilts

some 1.5" 9 patches

<><><><><><><><><>
On another blog I read, JulieKQuilts, she mentioned a terrible fire, where another blogger's mother lost all her stash.  A request was put out to send Fat Quarters to the mother who lost her stash.  The first post/request is here.   Those of you who read my blog, know that I lucked into tons of fabric last Thursday at a local thrift store.  When I read Julie's post on Friday, I knew what I needed to do with some of that fabric.  I picked up a Priority mailing box, and, on Tuesday, this is what I sent.

priority box full of fabrics

If you want to help out (fabric, tools, notions, etc), you can send it to this address.

Joyce Wilson,
PO Box 352,
Pateros, WA 98846

August NewFO's and Finishes

Early in the month, while we were in Texas on vacation, I made 3 satin/flannel baby blankies for a friends great-granddaughters.

washable satin & flannel blankies

Later in August, I designed a Table runner for another beginning quilting class at my church, in September.  I cut out 11 kits and made up a sample.  The sample even has faux piping on the binding.  This was easy to do.  There is a great tutorial here.

Christmas table runner sample

I finished the 'Birds on a Wire' wall quilts for my son.  I hand stitched the binding down, then fused and stitched the birds onto the 'wires'.  I stitched the birds down, while watching Bird on a Wire with Mel Gibson and Goldie Hawn.

Birds on a Wire wall quilts

 This weekend, I finally got started on my Canning Jar exchange blocks (they are due end of September).  These are for my Treadle On group, so, they have to be made on people powered sewing machines (treadles or hand cranks, no motors).

asparagus (8 blocks made)

blueberries (7 blocks made)(last block is a repeat of the asparagus)

We can make 4 sets of 6 blocks for this exchange.  I cut more blocks than needed, so that I'd have a few extra's.  I actually cut 5 sets of blocks.  Not sure what I'll do with the last set. 

Another New project and finish for the month is my new (to me) double sewing machine cabinet.  I repainted it, and got it set up last Tuesday. 

double sewing machine cabinet

I've been sewing up a storm since the cabinet was finished. 

March NewFO's and Progress

Much of March was a 'no sewing' time for me.  I had my booth of vintage machines at the quilt show to get ready for (and put back up).  I did get to sew while at the booth (when not chatting about machines).  That really helped with what I have to show for the month.

I'll start with something I actually started in February to demo at my little quilt guild at the March meeting. 

Disappearing Pinwheel blocks

I made 18 Disappearing Pinwheel blocks, using the method from the Missouri Star Quilt Store's YouTube video.  I saw this block over at Linda's blog and decided that I needed to try it out.  I still have quite a few of these blocks started, but, not finished.  I love the look of this block, but, trying to measure it properly for cutting is a real pain.  I also didn't like working with all the bias edges. 

My Aunt asked me to make a baby quilt for her first great grandchild.  She asked for a white with little pink flowers and a pink as colors.  I loved the look of the block above, so, I decided to draft it out as a 12" block and use it for the baby quilt.  I love Triangluations, so, I figured out what sizes I'd need, and proceeded to make all my half square triangles while I was showing off my machines at the quilt show.  I stitched all the triangulations blocks on 'Betty' my 1941 Singer 66 hand crank I got in January. 

'Betty' my 1941 Singer 66 hand crank

baby quilt top, ready to be basted

up close of 2 of the blocks

The colors don't show up very well with my camera.  This quilt top has been spray basted, and is waiting to be quilted.  This one was fun and quick to make.  I liked twisting the blocks back and forth for different looks.  These blocks were MUCH easier to make than the blocks from MSQS's video.  I LOVE Triangluations!!!!  No bias to mess around with, and perfect sized HST's every time!

I prepared lots of things to work on while at the quilt show.  I knew I wouldn't get to all of them, but, I did get to work a bit on each project while there. 

I'm in another block exchange with my Treadle On group, using people powered machines.  This exchange is using a simple 4 patch block.  I wanted something simple, and, I made 3 different sets, on 3 different machines.  These aren't due until early May, so, I just may make more, if I get the time to cut more squares.

3 sets of blocks for the exchange

There really are three different sets in the picture.  I just put them side by side for the picture.  I used 2 different hand cranks, and a treadle for these blocks. 

I also took another Missouri Star Quilt Store pattern to work on at the quilt show.  I'd seen the Sashing for the Flower Garden Quilt YouTube, and liked it.  The original pattern is called the Garden Flower Charm Pack Quilt.  I had several charm packs I'd gotten last year, and, I thought they would be great for this quilt.  I cut out 504 little squares for the corners, and 4 charm packs. 

charm packs and corner squares

I only got the corner squares stitched onto 2 charm packs.  I finally got the charms sewn into 4 patches this weekend.  Only 21 blocks so far, so, I'll have to make more blocks for a larger quilt.  I have plans for this quilt, too.  It will be a wedding quilt.

21 finished 4 patch blocks

A friend from church will be graduating this May.  She saw a quilt I made for another graduate, and decided that she needed one with her name on it.  She chose pinks and oranges for the colors.  I finally got started stitching the letters for the center of her quilt.  This is the center of her quilt.  I still need to add borders.  It will just be a wall quilt. 

center of Erika's quilt

She squealed when she saw this picture, so, I'm guessing she likes it so far. 

Another thing I worked on this month, while getting ready for the quilt show was blocks for Kevin's Quilts of Valor block drive.  If you haven't heard about Kevin's block drive, please visit this post and check it out. 

10 blocks for Kevin's Quilts of Valor block drive

Kevin is still collecting blocks.  I have 2 other ladies from my little guild (so far) that have also made blocks for Kevin.  These are super simple and quick. 

The last thing from March is the Box Bag I made at the Sewing and Quilting Expo this past weekend.  The pattern can be found here.

my box bag

 I think I made some progress this month, and had fun starting some new projects.  Hopefully I'll have lots more to show next month. 

I'm linking up with Barbara, over at Cat Patches for the NewFO's.