Guild Challenge blocks and Jamaica

I got home from the Texas & Arkansas TOGA trip Sunday evening (Oct 4th).  On Monday, Oct 5th, my little quilt guild met.  We turned in our challenge blocks.  The blocks had to be 12.5" square, and, had to be either a witch or a scarecrow.

here are all the blocks, pinned up

I took pictures of each block, so you can see them better (not the best pictures, sorry).

Marilyn's 'mini' blocks (it still needs to grow to the correct size ;)

my block

We have a new challenge, now.  We are to take our blocks, and turn them into something (tote bag, wall hanging, table runner, etc).  I left early, so, I don't know what the deadline is.

I left the meeting early, since we had to be up at 3am, so that we could get to the airport.  Hubby won a trip to Jamaica, thru work.  (Don't worry, I'm only showing a few pictures).

The trip was at an all inclusive resort.  It was great having lots of people wait on us, hand and foot.  The food was great, as was the service.  We got to meet several great people on our trip (locals).

private pool for the few rooms below our deck

 We took one tour, to a plantation.  It was a great tour!  Our tour guides were so knowledgeable and fun to be with.

plantation we visited

Winston and tour guide in training, Norbert

Alecia, who was a fount of plant and herb knowledge

 The tour bus stopped on the mountain road where a lady had set up her wares to sell.  She had made bags herself, and was also selling touristy items.

me, shopping on the side of the road

bag made in Jamaica by the lady in the picture above

We also took a picture with Sarah, who worked at the resort.  Sarah was great, and we saw her at meals every day.  She went out of her way, to take care of us.

Me, Sarah & Hubby

 Of course, we did see some fun sights.

Montego Bay

falls, on the mountain

plantation

Montego Bay Harley-Davidson shop

There was also a Harley-Davidson Jamaica shop in the airport. 

Do you remember the movie, Cool Runnings?  Well, in the airport, they have a replica bar, just like in the movie, that plays the movie on screens.

airport cafe

airport cafe (Cool Runnings on the screens)

airport cafe

It was a fun trip.  By the end of this trip, I'd been gone almost 3 full weeks.  I'm ready to be home for a bit.

Some Finishes!

I have gotten a few things finished in the last week or so.  First, is the baby quilt.  This is the 2nd of these baby quilts, since the first one turned pink when I washed it (red Minkee bleeds).  This is a picture of it after I washed it (yes, even though it was treated with Retayne, the color catchers still came out pink on the 2nd quilt for some reason). 

2nd baby quilt

up close of the straight line quilting

red Minkee on the back

corner showing the binding

Woohoo!  The baby shower is next Tuesday. 

I also finished the witch blocks for my little guilds challenge.  We had to make a 12.5" block with either a witch or a scarecrow.  Here is my finished block.  I have another block made, that I will turn into a wall quilt sometime.

challenge block finished

I also finished a quilt that another quilter started.  I was asked to finish it, since she got sick, and couldn't finish it.  I didn't even know her.  She passed away the end of last year.  I finished the quilt (lots of applique) and sent it off to be quilted (she had already arranged this part).  I stitched the binding on, and made a special label for the back, per her husband's request.  I delivered this quilt to him earlier this week.

Salt Box sampler

Her family has pictures of the blocks I made, so that they will know which blocks she made.  I found out when I delivered it, that one of her daughters is having a birthday this week (she wanted it finished for her daughters).  The quilt will be a great way for them to remember their mother/wife. 

I'm off to the Ottawa, IL quilt guild tonight.  My large quilt guild has a raffle quilt, and we will be taking it to their guild.  It will be a nice road trip with some of my guild friends.

Have a great weekend!

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!