More UFO's and a SECRET!

SHHHHH!  Can you keep a secret?  This quilt is a big secret, and is why I can only share a picture of this tiny corner of my top secret project!  I used  iron-on stabilizer and then hand-appliqued the edges to ensure the flowers would stay on and not fray through many washes.  It is a sunflower that I drew up free-hand.  I wanted a funky, fun sunflower and could not find one, so did my best to make my own, and I am NOT an artist by any stretch! But, I liked how they turned out.  I ended up having 5 different sizes randomly put throughout the quilt.  The main quilt is NOT sunflowers.  But if I took a picture of main quilt blocks, the special person that I am making this quilt for would KNOW it was for them.  So.....SHHHHH! I just wanted to show you all I AM working on a UFO project! (I really AM!) It will be hand-quilted, so it will take several more months to complete.

And another UFO!  This is yet another quilt that the blocks were done in 2001!  This was a Block of the Month Club project, done by a local quilt shop from Alamitos, CA.  The quilt shop is no longer in business and the fabrics are no longer available.  As I was putting the blocks together, I decided I wanted to place them on point, which was completely different than what they had recommended.  The quilt shop suggested using sashing and cornerstones, but that arrangement was too boring to me. I wanted to mix it up a bit, so I very grateful that I had  purchased extra fabric.  I barely had enough extra, but it worked out to add the large 9 patch on point and the side triangles, with only a tiny bit to spare.   I spent over a week hand-basting it and it is ready to quilt, FINALLY.  However, it has to be on the back burner, once again, since the "sunflower" quilt the one above, that is a surprise gift, is the priority! I am showing several views of the floral quilt (no name, yet) to better see how it is put on point.  Each  block is a "star" block with the center of each star, completely different than the next.

As you can see, I'll be quite busy for a while, just on these two projects alone....
Happy Quilting!!

I just had to share this!!

If you have not seen this video before, it is a MUST SEE!  It is about Diane Rose, a blind quilter.  It is not just about a quilter.  Oh, it is about soooooo much more.  Love this and LOVE this woman's attitude!!  Hope you enjoy it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=7lfaSmDxVZQ

How is that for an uplifter!?

Also, There is a giveaway at Fort Worth Fabric Studio

a sample set of Benartex CHLOE fabrics! AND a book, Two for One Jelly Rolls

good luck!!     Go here to enter

Another giveaway to share!

OK!  I just had to share about another giveaway!  Over at Green Fairy Quilts, they are giving away a fat quarter bundle.  Woo Hoo!  Hopefully one of us wins it!  I sure could do a whole lot with some free fabric!  Good luck everyone!  Go here to enter:  http://greenfairyquilts.blogspot.com

A Note about a giveaway! and a Happy Father's Day!

I just wanted to share that there is a great giveaway over at http://blog.1choice4quilting.com/ .
Shawna over there is giving away lots of goodies to 5 different winners!  Good luck everyone!

I have been busy working on a surprise quilt (I will post pics after it is presented-  shhhhhhh!  It is a secret!)
and finished basting a queen size quilt that is another UFO started in 2001.  Will post pics ASAP.

Wishing all the dads out there, "Happy Father's Day!"

Sewing for a GREAT Cause!

Making Pillowcases for Soldiers

Carol at http://brownquilts4me.blogspot.com is asking us to help her dear friend.  Read about it here:

http://brownquilts4me.blogspot.com/2011/05/i-always-say.html

She is asking those of us that can sew to make up one or two patriotic pillowcases.  These are then presented to the soldiers to honor  and thank them for their service.  I decided I had to take time to make a few.  I decided to make two and mail those to Carol and one to give my dad for Father’s Day.  He has served in two wars and I know he would also appreciate a patriotic pillowcase.  I hope you will consider helping Carol get as many pillowcases to continue her friend’s ministry.

Patterns can be found here

http://meandmysisterdesigns.com/patterns/downloads/dilly_dally_pillowcase.pdf

http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/millionpillowcases/instructions/RollItUp.pdf

AND two Giveaways!

Adesertquilter.blogspot.com is giving away two charm packs.  Go here to sign up:
http://adesertquilter.blogspot.com/2011/06/its-time-for-summer-time-fun.html?showComment=1308098540348#c2619495690603338981 

And HERE>>  http://carolyn-justonemorestitch.blogspot.com/2011/06/we-have-guest-and-giveaway.html  Just one More Stitch is teaming up with Shabby Fabrics for a GREAT giveaway this week.

Good luck everyone!

Visiting Old Friends

Some of My Best Friends are Quilts

I found a few pictures of quilts I have made over the years.  It caused me to reminisce some and seeing the pictures put a smile on my face.  By the time I have completed a quilt, it has become like a very dear friend.  For those of you who quilt, you will understand what I mean.  I have spent many, many hours, sometimes hundreds of very intimate hours with that quilt. I might have shed a few tears and perhaps even some blood in the process of designing, cutting, pinning, basting, and hand-quilting it.  Some of these ‘friends’ I have kept, but most of them have been given away to someone I love.    I always hope that the person who receives the quilt will realize how much I deeply care about them.   I am glad I took pictures of the quilts (or the recipients did) so I can always remember them.  Some of the pictures are attached below.

Machine pieced, hand appliqued and hand-quilted.  Made for our first grandchild, Grace in 2009.

Cleopatra Swap 2001

Machine pieced, hand-quilted

Not such a great picture of the quilt, but the best I have.  This was a twin size kitty quilt presented to Dr. Yang for a raffle quilt.  Dr. Yang has a wonderful healing non-profit ministry and was instrumental in my daughter's healing from a chronic illness (Lyme disease). Machine pieced, hand-quilted.

Gabriel's baby quilt presented 1998.

Hand pieced and hand-quilted This picture was taken this week. It has been well used for over 12 years 

and 5 kids!

As I locate more pictures of my quilt friends, I will add them.  Hope you enjoyed seeing them.

  

Giveaway!

There is a new GREAT giveaway at 1 Choice Quilting.  She is giving a tote bag FULL of great quilting goodies. Go here http://blog.1choice4quilting.com/  and follow her directions to enter.  Good luck everyone!

.....One Down - 4,078 to go

Finished and presented!

Well, I finally finished the baby quilt I was working on for the last several months.  Did I mention how busy I have been?  Taking care of elderly parents; moving them, unpacking them, trying to organize their stuff (they have way more than fits in their apartment), and putting together the baby quilt that was needed June 4^th!

This quilt was made for my DDIL’s twin sister who is due next month with her first child.  She likes bright fabrics and I just happened to have these kitty blocks from an online exchange done in 2001!  Yes, that is 2001!  Better late than never!  I did at least a dozen block swaps in 2000-2001 and have only completed maybe four quilts out of the huge pile of blocks.  These exchanges were through the quilting forum at www.about.com.  Not sure if they still do them, but it motivated me to do tons of new kinds of blocks with new types of fabrics.

This baby quilt is made up of a kitty block and each kitty is made up of “kitty/cat” fabric!  So a person in the exchange made up 25 blocks all the same, sent 24 away to the hostess, and was returned 24 all different kitties sent to each participant.  These blocks were from all over the United States, so it was great fun to receive the different blocks and see what state they came from! 

So in this case, I chose various bright prints from the blocks I had, took them to one of the LQS, “Busy Bee Quilt Shop” in Yucaipa, CA,  and the owner, Heidi, helped me to chose the sashing and cornerstone fabrics with matching backing.  The fabric we found at her shop matched perfectly and brought all the various colors together!  I pieced the top adding hand-appliquéd hearts and added ribbon bows on alternate kitties, hand-quilted the quilt diagonally, added the binding and even though I personally am not a big “brights” fan, ended up LOVING the way it turned out!  I presented it to the mommy-to-be and it was a HUGE hit at the shower!!  Don’t you just love giving away quilts to people that really appreciate it!?

"Baby Brooklyn's Kitties"

Close up view

And the backing....