Spring Cleaning and Ties that Bind

This week while I wait for fabric to arrive I have been spring cleaning! I know, dont be shocked or faint and fall down. This is the third day - something just got hold of me and made me WANT to clean! Do you think it might be knowing how many fabrics I am waiting for? Perhaps I can absolve myself when the credit card bill comes by having spent this much time to make our home sparkle. Also, to free up my time for gardening as these spring days become warmer. The quilts I am working on for my nieces are turning out so pretty, just like them, each beautiful in their own way, yet having traits (colors) that link them all together. The quilt I made for their Mother was all Batik so I am using Batiks for theirs also, hoping to intertwine at least one fabric in all their quilts. A Family Binding! Holly, Shana and Paige are very special to me and I want to give them a family heirloom to help connect and reconnect them with their Mother. Blessed be the ties that bind!!!
Happy Quilting!
Colleen

Kaleidescope top needs borders - next week!

A picture certainly shows what needs to be changed! dont know if I will make changes or leave it like it is.

I am too tired now to make that decision. Tell me what you would change.

Thanks for taking your time to see my blog!

Colleen

On my design wall - Batik Kaleidescope

Today I cut this out and put up on design wall, moved it around a lot, not sure if this is the final layout. It will be a lap quilt for one of my nieces, the French Braid is for her sister, and one more to plan for the youngest sister, she is 29 and single so I am thinking something brighter colors. Once I complete their quilts I will have made one for each of my sisters and their children.

French Braid closeup

The French Braid quilt is almost toooo easy, I usually make quilts with very much planning, forethought, design and design changes. Now I am trying to decide who will get this beauty! I am waiting for fabric to arrive to do the borders as shown. Luckily I can still get the exact fabrics!

Have a wonderful day!!!

Colleen

Thanks for viewing my blog and leave a comment

today's progress - batik French Braid

One more braid run to make, then I will start the separators, I am loving these colors. Instant gratification!!!

Thanks for taking time to view my blog, leave a comment!

Colleen

French Braid in batiks

next project ?????

Several ideas are swimming around in my head for these batiks. Stay tuned to more info when I make decisions!

Underground Railroad - top is finished

The borders are on and the edge treatment is complete, had about 4 points left. I am going to miss working on this one now that it is finished. Next post - batiks for next quilt!!! That will help me not to miss this one so much. Thanks for viewing my blog, leave a comment!

Sorry, I just realized it not hanging correctly, picture it one quarter turn to the right! LOL

Colleen

Prairie Points

I am working on Prairie Points for the outside edge of my Underground Railroad quilt. Lots of cutting, pressing, folding and sewing. I have used my tan prints behind and colors in front. I like the way the points look with the feathered star. Thanks for viewing my blog, please leave a comment.

Colleen

Quilt Slideshow

Today I have added a slideshow to my blog. All the quilts I have made since Oct 08 are pictured. The 70th Anniversary of The Wizard of OZ was my inspiration to start quilting again after 20 yr. I have entered all 10 of my Wizard of OZ quilts in the contest by Quilting Treasures and Fons and Porter Quilting Magazine.
Quilting has encouraged me to create this blog, hence my choice for the blog name. I have met so many amazing quilters whose creativity is such an inspiration to further my love of fabrics and color. Thank you to all who post your quilt blogs on Quilterblogs.com and all who are so gracious to take time to leave comments on my blog. Every day I take time to look at new posts and am rewarded with the quilts you share.
 Happy National Quilting Day!!!
Colleen

National Quilting Day

It is National Quilting Day but I am not sewing. My grandchildren are here for spring break, we are having so much fun. I joined out local quilt guild last week at their meeting, my first time to go. They are enjoying a sew in at a LQS finishing quilts for charity. Since I was unable to attend but wanted to contribute I took 3 lap quilt tops that can be quickly quilted. I think my inspiration from this is to use some cute childrens prints from my stash and make up a few more small size quilts to donate for the next sewing day. I signed up for a free- motion machine quilting class in April. Looking forward to learning a lot! Have a great day!
It is snowing here in Oklahoma on the first day of Spring! That is Oklahoma weather for you, 72 degrees yesterday and 30 today with 24 MPH. I don't even want to know what the wind chill is, just hoping my wisteria wont freeze!
Colleen

New look for my blog!

I have been working on my blog, creating a brand new background design. Take a look and let me know what you think and suggestions are welcome. My goal is an antique French Flea Market look.
Colleen

Underground Railroad - ready for borders

Today I sewed the blocks to the feathered star medallion and inside borders, I had to add one more narrow border for everything to fit. Tomorrow I hope to sew on the outside borders. Thanks for viewing my blog!!!

Dallas quilt show

The Dallas quilt show was wonderful, this is what I bought. I love the soft look of the blended quilts, something new for me. Does anyone know of a website to find more of these English country florals? I would like to develope a stash of florals for blended quilts. Thanks for joining me today!

Borders and changes

Many changes in my design---decided to do a block to block layout to border the medallion. Made a larger pieced border and really love this medallion center. It is speaking to me now instead of "screaming at me" to make changes. Never made these pieced borders before, they are very showy but I don't feel like they compete with the feathered star. Thanks for following my progress!

Border auditions continue

I completed my pieced border for the medallion and turned the feathered star straight. I want to use my brown botanical print on inside border but will probably cut it narrower than the piece I pinned to the design board. Tomorrow I will work on another choice instead of the green, I was really tired when I finished today and didnt bother trying another choice. I might do that border a 2 inch for variety in my border widths. I also need to choose a border for between the blocks and the medallion. Thanks for viewing my blog and leave a comment.

Violets - Spring is coming

This morning I went out to feed the birds and look what I found! The first real sign of Spring in my garden.

Border Ideas

Today I completed one more block, bowtie, on lower left. I cut some strips of my brown botanical print for my outside borders, inserted blue in between and rust between blocks. (not sure about the rust but like the blues and browns) I am working on a pieced border to go between the blue and brown borders in the center medallion. It is a smaller version of the bowtie. In the back of my head I am thinking of squaring the center instead of setting it on point. That will be my next post hopefully with some of the pieced border. This is my favorite stage in quilting, working out the details and fitting my ideas into the space I have created. Running out of room vertically so I may have to move my batting to a wall in order to see the full length as I get further along. Oh well, I'll think about that tomorrow! Thanks for looking at my blog. Leave a comment!

9 blocks Underground Railroad

This weekend I have completed 4 more blocks. I moved the feathered star down to approximate center to get a perspective so I can start adding some borders. I had it straight and didn't like it so turned it on point.  It looks so lost with such enormous margins it is screaming at me to work on borders before moving on to the next blocks. I will post when the medallion starts to take shape and size. So far I am happy with this quilt.

Thank you for taking a look, let me know what you think.

5 blocks for Underground RR quilt

I put some batting scraps together to make a design wall over the north windows in my sewing studio. That has made a lot of difference in heating during this cold winter. I can tell I will have multiple borders for the feathered star medallion center so that will expand my design process for this quilt. I have enjoyed using Eleanor Burns book and have learned many new techniques. This will be a long project but will be worth the time and effort, I am very happy with my fabric choices. Thanks for following along!!! Come back soon and leave a comment!!!

Colleen

Feathered Star center for Underground Railroad quilt

My first feathered star block, I used a tutorial from "One Piece At a Time" that was posted here. Good instructions! I did lose a couple of diamond points but very pleased with finished block. This block will go into a center medallion for an Underground Railroad quilt. Not sure yet about what fabrics or design I will use to border the medallion. I have layed out my fabrics and drawing along with my fabric swatch sheet. I have been sick with upper respiratory infection and laryngitis so I am looking forward to starting the blocks when I feel like sewing again.