Strip Easy Quilt Challenge - H2H 2014 #2

May 28 is the link up for the Strip Easy Quilt Challenge - see the button on my sidebar- brought to you by Denise over at  www.piecedbrain.com   The Challenge was to make up to 3 projects using strips from your accumulated scraps.

Since I needed  to make a quilt this month for H2H 2014 I used this opportunity to come up with a quilt that could use my previously existing strips.  The bulk of these were actually from a friends collection which she left on my doorstep when she moved. The windspinners are all from left over strips.  some needed to be trimmed to 2 1/2 inches but they are all from the scrap pile.  The background is from the misc left over stash of creams but not strips.

Next up on my to do list is a baby quilt for my newest nephew. In February Moda had an alphabet hop and if you followed it you got the patterns for the letters.  In January I participated in a hop that required you to use Kona Solids.  At the time I purchased 2 Jelly Rolls.  I still had quite a bit of that stash left and decided to do the Moda letters using the Kona  Strips. They are addicting. Each letter takes less than a strip of  the left over Jelly Roll.  I started it yesterday.

The next quilt is not new for this challenge but I am including it because it is made from scrap strips. Each block is made from a different strip from my stash.  The top was made a while back and put aside.  Last month I pulled it out and quilted it for my first quilt for H2H 2014.

I hope you have been inspired to dig into the scraps. You just never know what you can come up with if you don't give it a try. Thanks Denise for the challenge.

Memorial Day - H2H

I am so glad that I was able to finish this quilt for posting this weekend. It is my 3rd quilt for the H2H 2014 program. Click on the block on the side bar for more information regarding this wonderful program.

It is a small tribute to those who have served and those who are now serving our country and are keeping us safe and free.

This quilt is based on a mini quilt along that was done by Temecula Quilt Co a couple of years ago. Each block has, progressively, 1 additional piece to it. 1 to 12 pieces. I did 2 mini's at the time and last year I made the blocks full size for a Hop I participated in.

This is the back.

And here is a pic of my free motion quilting.  I don't do it very often, once or twice a year.  I do see improvements, but I really need to force myself to practice, practice, practice.

Thank you to All  members of our Armed Forces and those who have gone before them. 

Have a safe and happy Memorial Day.

H2H Update

Kilroy was here, tee hee

Shouldn't pick on my quilt holder, but I just couldn't help it.

This is my number 2 quilt for H2H 2014.  See link on the side bar.

It's quilted and now only needs to have the binding sewn down. I still do that part by hand.  Should get that done sometime today. 

Quilt number 3 needs a back and then I can get it sandwiched ( my least favorite part of quilting) and then quilted. 

 Hopefully I'll have them all finished and ready for photos and a final posting  next week.  Then off in the mail they go.

couple more small projects

I was trying to put away some of the mess in my sewing room and tripped over some more of the kitty fabric.  Since day 1 I thought that the fabric would be a hoot to color.  So I photo copied it onto some card stock and used my watercolor pencils to color.  It was as much fun as I hoped

I made a few note cards while I was at it (uncolored).

and then I used the actual fabric for a set of potholders.

Both the cards and pot holders will be heading to friends in Fl. who are just crazy about their cats.

Keeping Busy

I am doing really well on my recovery.  No pain and most of my range of motion is returning. I still have a limited  attention span and find I can't focus on reading at all.  The good side is that it is amazing how many small projects and UFO's one can tackle and make progress on in 30 minute segments.

I posted before surgery several projects I did want to see if I could finish or at least make progress on.

The first completion was this pair of socks I had found, from who knows when. 3/4's of the first sock was completed .  All it needed was the decrease for the toe.   Now I have a pair.  Actually they were gifted yesterday to an old friend who met up with us for breakfast. Timing is everything.

The picture of the sock on the foot is to show that it fits,  It always amazes me how big the foot looks on hand made socks because the ribbing is so snug.

I also managed to finish another helmet liner. I know that this picture was right side up in my file. Don't know why google takes these liberties. I think this one was close to half way done when I started back on it.

I did start a baby sweater. Probably got it 1/3 done.  Stopped because I need to look up how to do the next step and that isn't working for me at the moment.  I'll give it a shot next week.

I did make the baby quilt that was in my last post and  these are the blocks for the H2H quilt using the same pattern just adding 2 extra rows per block and an additional inch in width.

I will probably use 3 inch sashing to get it to a more useful size for a teen or adult.

But the biggest and best part of going through the UFO's was this find

I started this at least 10 years ago.  I've picked it up on several occasions since but never managed to finish it.  This is entrelac.  It isn't difficult but this piece is rather cumbersome and very heavy.  It is being worked in a  Bulky wool and mohair blend.  All I have left is 2 rows of the beige and one row of the black and the final  row of half triangles in black  and it will be done. I have given it a temporary home on my kitchen table and chair so I can work on it for short spurts when ever.

I also cut out a bunch of Hexie foundation pieces and punched the holes in them but I'm not sure about going forward with that project. Time will tell.

I will continue to plod away and feel so accomplished.  I want to make a set of pot holders and some note cards  and I think there is a not quite half finished pair of mittens somewhere and  3 H2H quilts to be sandwiched and quilted. 30 minutes at a time is amazing.

 Here's wishing you a productive week too.

Sewing Again

Yea, I can sew again.  OK, only in short bursts but that is progress.

I have seen this block popping up in various places around blog land.  Don't know what it's called or if it has a traditional quilt built around it but this is what  I have done with it.  Each block took about a half hour to put together.  About what I can sit still for. 

  

My base block measures in at 12 1/2 inches by 22 1/2 inches.  So this quilt comes in at about 44 x 50.

I made it using up left overs from the Kona Sunrise Colorstory Jelly Roll I got for the Kona blog hop from last winter.  It was a great help that the fabric was pre cut.  

The quilt is for a baby shower I am attending this weekend. I've know the mom since she was eight. She is now in her mid to late 20's.  Time is a flying by.

I had some bits and pieces left from the front and then I tossed in a couple more strips to make the strip of color down the back and I used a few more strips for the binding. I used about 20 strips and then one of the Kona Whites, can't remember which one.  When I replenish my stock my LQS tells me what I buy.  They keep much better records than I.

The backing  is all wonderful black on white kitties.  I bought this fabric at Hobby Lobby last year for a quilt back and loved it so much that I went and back and picked up some more. Oops that picture is upside down.

I love how bright and cheery this quilt turned out. I love bright for babies.  

I think I will try and whip up another one of these strictly from my scraps.  I think I have a good collection on 2 1/2 inch strips in a drawer somewhere. I think I will make it a bit bigger, maybe starting with a 14 1/2 inch strip instead of a 12 1/2.  That will make the blocks 14 1/2 by 26 1/2 and a quilt of maybe 50 x 62 with out borders.  I have one more quilt to start for this years H2H and this may be it.

H2H 2014

My personal goal for this year for H2H is 3 quilts.  I cheated a little bit.  I went rummaging in my drawer of "tops" and found these 2 which fit the bill perfectly.

I should be able to get them quilted and another done start to finish by the completion date.

It's not to late to join H2H 2014.  Click on the magic button on the right for details and information on the prizes that are available for winning for the participants.

Do you have a drawer or a box or a shelf holding tops for safe keeping?  This is a great chance to give one a home where it can do the job a quilt is meant to do.  HUG

It's been a tough week

First thanks to all of you for the prayers and happy thoughts regarding my surgery..  It went extremely well. Surgery Tuesday morning, home Thursday afternoon.  I'm able to walk around the house quite well with the walker and cane.

The tough and very sad part to the week is that my faithful assistant Tink passed away on Saturday.  It was very sudden and thankfullly  there was little to no suffering on her part.

Here she is helping me with a photo shoot.

She is a huge loss to our family. She was loved and will be missed.

This is my most favorite shot of her and her dad.

She was a wonderful example of what a rescued animal can be.  She arrived at our house a bit of an emotional mess and turned out to be a loving girl as the picture above shows.  WE were privileged to have had her in our lives for 6 wonderful years where she shared her love with us each and every day.

A Little Bit of This and a Little Bit of That

Hello my dearest friends in blogland.  I would appreciate it deeply if you could keep me in your prayers on Tuesday.  I am having my right Hip replaced.  This is elective surgery and I am very excited to have it done and behind me.

I have lined up several UFO hand projects for my down time. The first picture is of a quilt I made when I had my left hip replaced 5 1/2 years ago. All it needs is to be bound.  I hope to get the binding on later this evening so that I can hand stitch it down  in the next couple of weeks.

This sock needs about 2 more inches and then a partner.  I have no idea when I started it.

This one isn't a UFO. But it is so cute.  It's a baby hoodie.  I have several Babies that I need to get gifts done for in the next several months and I think this one looks like fun.

I started another Helmet liner that needs finishing.

I started this knitted afghan at least 6 maybe 7 years ago. I'm hoping I can remember how to do it.  It was when I first started following knitting  instructions. 

This is a crocheted afghan that I started 2 years ago using scraps.  I think I stopped because I ran out of scrap so I may actually just rip it out, haven't decided yet.  

In addition I have 2 hexie projects that I would like to dig out and maybe work on. and then there are the books to read and the  DVD's of season upon season of TV shows that I want to catch up on, not to mention all of the blogs i want to keep up with.

I think that there is enough variety here to keep me from being bored.  I should be home from work for 6 - 8 weeks. My real hope is that I actually finish some of these projects not just move them all forward a tad. I will report on completions if I get that far.

Thanks in advance for your prayers and good thoughts.      Selina

Flags on a Stick my way

Hip, hip hooray, it’s my day.  My day to wave a flag that is.

I need to start with the comment that I am not a flag type person.  I live in a Townhouse so they don’t work really well here, but that is no reason not to play along.  Once I decided on an Easter Flag I pulled out my Easter fabric stash. Lo and behold I found the pieces to an Easter project all cut out and raring to go.  My best guess is I started this years ago and didn’t make any progress before Easter so back into the drawer it went.

This is so old I have no recollection of having started it.  It started with me pulling out a piece of fabric that I thought would be a great background (the great egg fabric) and found the bunny and tulip pieces nicely folded up inside.   I found 2 other incomplete projects in there too. I’m guessing that because Easter moves around from year to year I just didn’t plan my lead time properly .

I have been driving around with the bunnies and the pole for a couple of days now looking for a bright spring like background, but nothing is really springy yet in Central NJ.  This picture is taken in front of my Hydrangea which is yet to start to go green.  Next week these guys will have a new home in sunny Florida as this Easter Banner is  now a gift for friends.

This picture is in my back yard, equally un spring like.

I also like how the blanket stitch looks on the back of the flag.   

The other flag project that I found hiding in the Easter drawer is this one.  As you can tell it is still incomplete.  But you can get the general idea of how it will finish up.  I have 3 weeks yet so maybe I’ll get it done for this year.  I’ll keep you posted.

I had a great time participating in this hop and want to thank both M Samm and Thearica for all of their time and effort on our behalf.  Please stop by and visit the rest of today’s participants.  If this is where you are starting it would be great for you to go back and catch all of the talented flag makers and their contributions to  this hop.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for taking the time to leave your kind thoughts.   Here is today’s list:

April 2nd

Thimblemouse & Spouse

Stitchin' By The Lake

Just One More Stitch

The Quilting Queen Online

Selina quilts

Whims And Fancies

Black, white and Grey quilt - DONE

I'm done, I'm done. Hip, hip Hooray !!!!!

I have been working on this quilt physically for about a month but mentally since before Christmas.  It feels so good to have it finished. Tomorrow it will be delivered to the tween who requested it last year.

Sorry about the dark picture but it's raining here and quite dreary inside and out.

She requested a black and white based quilt with some animal prints.  She is also into sneakers.  Ta Da.

I squiggle quilted using all of the seam lines as guides in a blue grey .  I love the design that popped up in the white.

I also love the backing that was picked out by the Tween's grandmother.  For being so bright it is rather dark. I think I will need to go out and get some for myself.

This shot is after it's been washed and dried made all snuggly. Its now all ready to be popped into it's bag. 

While the rain continues to be dreary on the outside it is wonderful weather for crafting.  Not only did I finish this quilt, I finished my flag on a stick for my Hop posting on Wednesday and another helmet liner.

Have a happy week.

PostCards - Hats and an almost Quilt Top

I received these 2 lovely "SPRING " themed post cards this week.

The Sunflowers are from Marie

and the sweet birds on the branch are from Fiona.

Both of these talented ladies are from Australia, so my post cards have some heavy duty mileage on them.  You would never know.  They both arrived unscathed. They actually look like they could have been hand delievered.

These are the postcards I designed and sent to them in return.  We all were participating in a SPRING THEMED post card swap organized by Sheila over at........http://sheilasquiltworld.blogspot.com/

Thanks Sheila for another wonderful event.

 

I also whipped up these chemo caps for the local hospital.  I noticed that I had primarily been making hats for girls so I figured I would make a couple for the boys.

Next up on my todo list is this quilt top.  I just have to add the final border and make a back and quilt it. I need to get it at least as far as sandwiched by tomorrow night. I'm headed for the quilt room as soon as I hit the publish button.

 

Have a great week.

Great weekend of hats and blocks

I had another very productive weekend.  I found a new pattern I wanted to try for some chemo caps. I found it on Ravelry.  It is called Olivia's Butterfly. I know this is a strange photo but I had a very hard time getting a picture of the butterfly detail.

While I can knit I do knit rather slowly.  Crocheting on the other hand is a game a play with myself where I want to beat my own best time. It does make for a very productive adventure. 

Is this the cutest hat ever.  You can change the size by adding a row or two in the middle or changing your hook size.  I found the pattern at lunch time on Friday. 

I managed to make 2 Friday night,

2 on Saturday

and another on Sunday night after making 12 of these  blocks in the afternoon.

Glutton for punishment that I am, I made another one tonight same as the last one, just couldn't take another photo of them.  For some perspective, the largest of these hats fits my head.  They take me between an hour and an hour and a half to do.

I need to stop crocheting for a while because I have 3 quilting projects with deadlines due in the next 3 weeks and a couple of BOMs for this month that I haven't started yet.

Have a great week.