From Top to Quilt

Made this top a very long time ago and put it in the "Finished Top Drawer".

A coworker asked if I could make her a couple of quilts.  She had no design or color ideas in mind so  instead of starting from scratch, I brought in the contents of "the" drawer.  This was her first choice.

This top was a real test for me.  I sew fast but not very carefully. Strips that are 1 1/2 inches wide are tough. Wiggly seams are much more noticeable.  But all in all it was a success. A good challenge for me.

I sent my quilt to Sarah Russett of Sweet Potato quilts for quilting. She is a long arm quilter in NY.  We mail quilts back and forth with no issues. She did another terrific job.

She totally captured the mood of the quilt.

If you are interested in getting in touch with Sarah her email is srussett514@yahoo.com . 

I think the back was a major winner.  It is all red stars that look like fireworks on a creamy white background.  It was a Christmas remnant at the LQS.

I delivered it this morning and she was thrilled.  She did pick 2 tops.  The other is also back from Sarah.  Will need to bind that this week.  I think it would be a good hand sewing project for the opening of the Olympics Friday night.  Go USA.

Just a Little off Track

This is Tink, she never poses for me.  She usually turns her back to the camera when she sees it coming.  It's wonderful when she is being nosey and didnt see the picture happening. She is such a sweety pie.

My self imposed plan for the week has been to finish the Giant Swoon.  Well I am almost there. I now have the 4 rows  done.  They need a good pressing and to be put together.  Then I need to border the back once I know how big I need it to be.  I do plan on being done by Sunday bedtime and having it in the mail to the quilter on Monday.

Last night was scheduled to be the pressing night.  Oops, I saw the posting about making doll cradle  quilts for the group Get Your Mrs. Claus On,  click on the button on the side bar.  Thats all it took to get me to ignore the pressing. 

They are about 12 x 18. I started them at 7ish and finished all but the hand sewing of the binding by 10:15  with only a break to take Miss Tink for a stroll. Wonderful use of stash and time.

I cross hatch quilted one and quilted the other by doing lines 1/4 inch away from all the seam lines. This was so much fun. I love to do the small quick projects that have a start, middle and end all together in under a day.  Such a great feeling of accomplishment.  Couple that with a donation to a great cause, what more could you ask for.

Can I have a Giant Swoon

Why yes I can !

This will be the back to for my King Size Swoon quilt. I did it in Red and Green so it would be reversible and Holidayish.

It still needs borders but I was too excited to wait for them for pictures. Too excited to wait for help taking the picture too.  Here is how she looks on a King Size bed.  PERFECT. By the way she currently measures in at 80 1/2  X 80 1/2.

and the Winner is.....

Judy 1522

Judy was choosen by my random number generator, Michael, as the winner of the Snowman block.
I have dropped her an email for her address.  Congratulations Judy.

Thanks to all of you for Hopping along and for the wonderful things you had to say, not just to me but to all of the participants.  And one last thank you to Madam Samm and Jane for all their hard work and time spent making this another wonderful event.

This is what...

This is what 16 finished Swoon blocks looks like.  It's really hard to show them when they aren't put together.  Actually once they are put together they won't be easy to show either.

I finished up the last one this morning.  What a great feeling of accomplishment.  This evening or maybe tomorrow i will start on the back.  My idea for the back is an 80 inch Swoon block.

Yeah, I am a little crazy. It's a king size quilt and the back was going to have to be pieced anyway so why not make it count.  I found some funky red/pink Christmas fabric and some funky Green fabric on sale at the LQS.  Found some great cream fabric with huge snowflakes for the background.  When all is said and done it should be a reversible for the holidays.  I'll keep you posted.

My Stop on the Red White and Blue Blog Hop

Happy Summer everyone and welcome to my stop on the RED WHITE and BLUE BLOG HOP.

This hop has been a great motivator.  I had 2 ideas for a small quilt this year that melded together perfectly under this red, white and blue inspired hop.

In December/January, I participated in the 12 Days of Christmas quilt along   from       http://temeculaquiltco.blogspot.com/      where we made a block a day for 12 days.

It was a great sampler made up of blocks that increased in number of pieces over the 12 days.  Day 1 block had 1 piece, day 12 had a 12 piece block.  At the time I thought this could work up to be a great lap size quilt for my couch.  Mean time, I had made myself a RW&B quilt top a couple of years ago that a friend asked me to complete  for her 2 months ago.  So now I needed a new RWB quilt for me. Perfect meeting of ideas.

Here is my parade of blocks for this quilt.  I had no trouble making the original 3 ½ inch blocks but my ability to convert them to larger blocks was woeful.  Some weren’t bad like the pinwheel and 4 patch, but let me tell you the X was a mini nightmare.  I finally drew the block on my yellow cutting board to actual size and then cut the pieces using the actual measurements.  

This is still a top and will probably be a top til at least next spring, my slow time, unless I send it out.  I have no issue whatsoever with leaving it a top and hanging it across the back of my couch as is.   It’s the thought that counts : }

Now while this blog hop motivated me to make this quilt, I felt like I was not working in the true spirit of the hop and that I needed to make 1 special stand alone block.

I originally made a block very similar to this one, just a bit larger to use as a wall or door hanging the Christmas after 9/11.  I quilt gifts for several friends and members of my family every year and this was the gift we all needed that year.  This redesigned one fits my table topper just perfectly.

My give away is this block. I will draw a name from the comment list on Sunday, July 15. Just let me know if you want to be in the running.

This was a great kick off to my summer.  Thanks for stopping by to visit.  Please stop by and see the rest of today’s creative contributions to the Hop.


July 10th

Tinks mom (that's me)

beaquilter

Quilted Sisca (I will Host)

sharon-dancing thru threads

Connie C

Cate`s Linens

And last but never least, thank you Jane and Madam Samm for putting this hop in motion.

A quilt for Phoenix quilts.

Spent yesterday putting this top together to be sent to Julie at Phoienix Quilts for the people who were burned out in the wildfires out west.  This group is looking to make/collect at least 750 quilts, 1 for each burned out family.  Please stop by her blog and read about what her group is doing. Maybe you could offer some help or assistance.

http://phoenixquilts.blogspot.com/2012/07/welcome-to-phoenix-quilts_07.html

Lets Celebrate the 4th

The company I work for participates in a program called summer Friday's where we work an extra half hour a day during the week and then they let us go at 1:00 on Friday.  It was way too hot here in NJ on Friday to do anything productive outside so I spent some guiltless time blog hopping through the links on http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/

What I found is   http://todaysfabulousfinds.blogspot.com/  where I found this great download designed by Janet.  She calls it Subway art and has designed them for all the seasons, most holidays, birthdays,  you get the picture.  She has them available in various colors with instructions for how to download and how to change colors using several popular software programs, all out of the goodness of her heart.

I thought this one for the 4th of July would make a great shirt for the holiday picnic. Picked the shirt up at Target's for $8.  Even if the project was a total flop( one never knows with iron on transfers ) it would be a good PJ top.

Here is a close up of the detail.  I'll wear the shirt proudly on Wednesday.

This is her birthday version.  I had to play a little with this one too.  I printed the design for the shirt at  8 1/2 x 11, the card 4x6, and the bag 5x7.

Thanks Janet,  I'm just getting started with what I can do with this art.  A wall hanging of the seasons is definitely in the wind. 

Happy 4th everyone !