What I have been working on!

Finished the quilt top!

Started 2 baby quilts with precious hand embroidered blocks. TWINS! but wont know sex til mid June. So for now I have gone as far as I can.

Borders You Little Beauty

I may do some changing to the borders, don't know yet. Going to study them for a few days. Starting Twin Baby Quilts today!

Applique borders for BOM/ quilt along

 I havent blogged in 2 weeks. My 92 yr old mother has been with me since Apr 15. While sitting with her and enjoying her company I have been doing hand work, applique on the borders for my 2012 BOM quilt along combo quilt. Only a few leaves to go on the longggggg borders. King size I love all these fabrics so this one will go on our bed when I want a more casual look. I may make pillow shams to go with this quilt.This is the 3rd king quilt I have made for myself, one is all batiks "Batik Puzzle Quilt" and the other is "Blended Medallion" from Marsha McCloskey Blended Traditions. Both are pictured on my blog. All go with my decor and I do love changing quilts often.

A weekend for borders

A weekend full of paper piecing! 4 border sections are complete. Fabrics auditioned. These paper pieced sections have been turned and flipped and moved around.
Final layout is to be determined!!!
Time to stop for a while.  My Guild meets tomorrow evening so I need to get my agenda ready. Next president should be a much more focused member, this president has way too much family depending on me.
Now my NEWS!!! Our youngest daughter Kayla and husband Kraig are expecting!!! TWINS!!! What a fabulous surprise. Too bad they live 9 hrs away in Albuquerque. Guess I better get really comfortable flying cause she will need me a lot!!! Our other grandchildren were all born here in our hometown. So we saw them everyday and never missed any milestones. Needless to say I will be in ABQ alot!
This week my 92 yr old mother will be staying with me for a while. I have plenty of needleturn applique to keep my hands busy and out of trouble while keeping an eye on mother. I hope the weather will be mild so we can sit on the porch and have a cup of tea and watch the birds. She is in early stage Alhzheimers and is weak from a broken pelvis. Pelvis has healed but the recovery has taken its toll on her.
Happy Quilting!
Colleen

Progress on "You Little Beauty"

Today I finished blocks for center all sewn together.

 

                                            Playing with borders and auditioning fabrics. Trying to determine which direction I like. Two more paper pieced borders to make before I finalize. The pattern does not include pattern for borders but does have a drawing with a softly curved section on paper pieced points for a beginning. All four sides are different on the picture included in pattern "You Little Beauty" by Chris Jurd. Chris has encouraged me to create a paper pieced journey throughout the border selections and decisions. Wish me luck!!!

Happy Quilting!
Colleen

New project - "You Little Beauty" pattern by Chris Jurd

 My new project started on Monday April 1st. No foolin! This foundation pieced art quilt really touches my heart and soul. The large paisley print really caught my eye and spoke to me! It said "Buy ME"!
Leaving for Albuquerque for a week to see our baby daughter who is expecting her first child. I need a week's rest after pressing myself to make these blocks in 3 days. Just to prove to myself I could! 5 more blocks to make. The borders are very elaborate. I will post pic of pattern next week.

Happy Quilting!!!
Colleen

Take a walk :)

I have started walking the girls this week, it is a bit cold but the brisk air feels so good. We found these beautiful daffodils, Taffeta and Samantha posed for a pic. Love these babies!!!

Scalloped border

I have been working on the border for my German Heritage Album. The red fabric is the large print that I used for the lyre shape broderie perse floral wreath around the sailing ship.
Happy Quilting!

Next project will be blended!

I purchased the gorgeous green toile with khaki background from PieceKeepers at a recent quilt show. Yesterday I pulled lots of fabrics from my stash, very inspirational!

Blocks assembled

Last week I managed to assemble the blocks from my Guild BOM and Thread Head Quilt Along Blog. 18" and 7" blocks required a few adjustments by adding in filler strips. I may add a wide border, it measures 83"w X 100" long. I know the border will be a dark green print.

What do you think?

Still playing with blocks!

My plan is to someday get this layout finished, didnt happen in January, maybe February. I love the different sizes of blocks together and the motion created.

moving blocks around

 I love these colors :) I may decide to make some small blocks to use instead of the random sashing.

Guild BOM and quilt along blocks

 

 

These are 9 of 12 blocks for my Guild's BOM, each block is 18"

this group is a Quilt Along I have been doing with Joanne Thread Head blog.

I plan to use the smaller blocks as cornerstones and in borders for the Guild BOM.
Will post as I make progress!

Still sailing into The New Year

 

 

 

Back to work in 2013! I will be joining a group of ladies from my Guild in a Baltimore Album sewing day starting this month so I have my project going again!

Pic of Brig Geog Dillus adding to the Broderie Perse floral wreath, need to tuck in a few blooms and leaves to connect the left side of lyre shape.

Thinking about the New Year and the last 6 months!

Yesterday I ventured up to my garage apartment quilting studio. First time since before Thanksgiving to actually TRY to get inspiration to finish some UFO's. I placed the many blocks for my Baltimore Album ( German Heritage ) quilt on my design wall and need only 2 more blocks to create a nice layout.
You see I begin these projects (actually have been working on this for 1 year) with no end size in mind, sometimes the layout process requires making extra blocks.
My quilting fun was put aside in November to make new draperies for my living room. (Once you spend $1,500.00 on fabric, trim and rods, you better get to sewing before someone ( generous HUSBAND ) has a chance to say " And just when are you going to use all that fabric I let you buy?"
So I devoted November to the task and actually accomplished the finished draperies and sheers.
Then "ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE" 2 days before Thanksgiving when my 91 yr old Mother fell and broke her pelvis!!!!!! yes that is what I said! Could not do surgery so she was in hospital for 3 weeks with intensive physical therapy in rehab unit to get her back on her tiny feet. Dora is a trooper and was soon able to walk using a walker. My best friend/Sissy and I spent most nights and all days at hospital to help Mother but most of all to support each other. Mother lives with best friend/sissy and she was feeling very guilty for the fall, which BTW could not have been avoided.
Backing up my literary bus for a moment --- when the EMTs and rural volunteer fire department arrived to get Mother to the ER, one of the gentlemen we knew ( owner of carpet store ) told best/friend sissy not to tell me but my carpet had been delivered ( BTW I had been waiting since August for this carpet --- hence the decision to make new draperies!!!) So while attending mother at hospital I had a decision to make on carpet installation ---------
I know--- this is a tragically LONG tale --- but hoping that telling it will ease the stress and tension that began last summer when I decided to choose new carpet (after 22 yrs and a big family living on old carpet)
The Monday after Thanksgiving the installation began --- by this time I was ready to put myself in an asylum! Generous Husband and I had to clear out rooms before the installers could come and more big furniture. UGH so much accumulation having lived here 34 yrs and stuffing STUFF into closets and under beds for years. Exhausting work not to mention the dust allergies that activated with all that moving old STUFF. Well in the long run I actually got rid of very much trash and filled many bags to donate to Goodwill.
Now that Christmas decor is once again all packed away (OOPS! almost forgot to mention the week long FLU between Christmas and New Years Day ) This is turning in a SAGA! I am really appreciating my new carpet and draperies.

Once again my quilting has called me back to finish UFO's before starting anything else. Decision made to not use the large obtrusive looking pineapple block on top row and add a lyre shaped wreath around my sailing ship as if to view it through the wreath. Last night I hand appliqued flowers and leaves ( well I did work too long because my left shoulder hurt all night ) My orthopedic Dr told me I need to PACE myself!!! how stinking FUNNY is that. I obviously DO NOT know the meaning of the word --- so have given myself a little help with it --- my darling niece Jennifer called me
"Aunt C" :)))  Oh how I miss her! thank you my angel as I know you love this!!!
P -  Preserve
A - Aunt
C - C's
E -  Energy

Happy New Year and thank you if you had the patience to read this SAGA of a blog post!!!

Finished Draperies with new rods!

You may wonder why I include this post in my quilting blog. My best friend/Sissy (Janeen) my baby sister ( a whole 15 months younger ) and I had a custom drapery business for many years. For 8 yrs after that we both worked in interior design in a wonderful furniture/design/gift store.
For many years my designs were for clients. This fall I designed and made the lace sheers and lined draw draperies for my living room. I even treated myself to all the trims and beads I would have chosen for my clients. It was a BIG job to say the least but turned out fabulous and I want to share with my quilting blog friends. I have included day and night pics.
What a crazy Christmas holiday this has been!!! I was later than usual getting the house decorated for Christmas because of carpet installation. So I rushed to decorate and was so glad I did because the grandchildren really loved it all. I am always antsy to take it all down and did the day after Christmas, Allison and kiddos were still here and she was sick with the flu. Thursday I came down with flu too so now it is Wednesday Jan 2 and I feel like I have lost a week.
Today I took pics of the new draperies and lace sheers I made in November, with the new traverse rods installed. I even hung a quilt on a rack in my morning room. First time I have had one of my quilts hanging in my home!
Thank you for taking time too view my blog!
2013 will be a great year for lots of quilting!!!
Colleen

Happy New Year

I have been sick with the flu since Christmas. Looking forward to feeling good and sewing again. I have several UFO's to complete before beginning anything new.
Happy Quilting to All!
Colleen

Drapery project!

 I havent been quilting for a few weeks because!!!

This last month I have set aside my quilting and poured all my energy into making new draperies for my living room. I have 2 sets of triple windows and a set of french doors. 58 yds drapery fabric, 30 yds drapery lining, 46 yds of decorative trim. In the good old days I had a custom drapery design business with my sister. The old ones I made in 1998 so it was really overdue to make a change. The new fabrics give more of a French country flair. I think there is a pic on this blog of the green floral draperies, swags  and sheers.
New rods should be here soon. I left old rods us so I could see the finished draperies

Quilt Along progress

 Thread Head Joanne has a fun Quilt Along, we are at 7 weeks now! Last week was Ohio Star and I made 8 blocks. This week I made 5 blocks

 The blocks in the last 2 vertical rows are weeks 6 and 7

Mosaic stack and whack

Stack and Whack

 Last weekend my Guild had a Stack and Whack workshop. Lots of fun and the blocks are great. Note the pic of the cats! So cute!

THQA week 5 blocks

 Tuesday is my favorite day of the week! All because I am working on a Quilt Along with Joanne at Thread Head Blog! These little blocks are just 7 inches finished. This is a great way to feel a sense of accomplishment. Thank you Joanne!