KEEPING BUSY

 There are always multiple projects going on in my Studio. Take a look: 

At my guild meeting last week I picked up two "Comfy Quilts" that needed binding. The first I did by machine, the second I am hand sewing the binding to the back. They will be returned next month and will be donated to one of several organizations the HERITAGE QUILTERS OF HUNTSVILLE  supports with quilts:

This is the time of year I work to finish the current Block of the Month for THE QUILT SHOW so I can concentrate on the NEXT BOM coming in January 2027. Game On! is  designed by Becky Goldsmith. I am making BOTH the SOLID and PRINT kit versions:

SOLID through Month 11, almost done:

PRINT through Month 11, ready for Month 12 to be completed. Flight of the Bumblebee, 2027's BOM, is on the wall behind it--I don't want to take it down until it's finished so the wall is a bit distracting:

I spent some time cutting all the fabrics/pieces needed for the remaining four borders that are made in Month 12. This allowed me to plan the fabrics as I like and each border is ready for sewing as I get to it:

LUCKY STARS is still ongoing. The next star is made by paper piecing using the pattern my friend Cyndi R created and the next ring of wedges is ready to be sewn by hand, English Paper Piecing (EPP):

I had another idea of how to use the great fabrics I get each month from my Sunday Sew and Sew friends should I decide not to make any more Lucky Stars. I have always been taken with Timna Tarr's Circle quilts and this would work. 

First, I considered using one neutral background like any of these, OR the neutral Charm Packs I have on hand:

Here is one of hers using neutral backgrounds and several fabrics in each circle:

Scrappy Snacks by Timna Tarr

But then I saw this one of hers and REALLY LIKE it:

O Happy Day by Timna Tarr

Good thing I don't have to decide today...

Some people may only work on one project at a time. That doesn't work for me as I always have several deadlines looming. 

This is also when I  plan next year's local classes. If you are local OR want to come to Huntsville for classes, let me know what interests you. My usual WORKSHOPS are listed above under the WORKSHOP TAB.  Here are a few thoughts at this moment:

FLIGHT OF THE BUMBLEBEE:  DEMO CLASS once a month, 2 hours, I will show exactly how to make that month's segment of this complex quilt. Membership in The Quilt Show is required--that gets you the FREE PATTERN once a month. You will sew at home:

FEATHERED STARS PAPER PIECED: learn detailed paper piecing while making the perfect block for a center medallion or start a full quilt of Feathered Stars:

MY FAVORITE THINGS: a four-day, once a month class that teaches so much, my favorite blocks, AND how to design your own unique layout, or use mine:

OH MY STARS: this will happen somewhere in 2027--perhaps a one day Workshop for a local guild. Stay tuned: 

Let's quilt.

Barbara

In Between Projects

Now that the big Stars in a Time Warp top is done, I've been catching up on smaller projects.  Here is the free motion quilting project I tackled this week on a top completed in 2011:

It's not the best quilting you've ever seen but it's a big step up for me.  Here is a detail:

Each quilt I free-motion quilt with my Bernina Q20 improves my skills.  And that's progress.  Here's the next piece ready for some free-motion magic, a pre-printed panel from 2008:

I did ruler work for all the straight lines around the borders and outside edges.  Now it's time to play with various designs in all the sections of the quilt.  "Cheaters cloth" is great for practicing quilting, either by machine or by hand as there are no seams to distract you, the top is usually fairly inexpensive and the time for top preparation is almost none, just cut back and batting and baste. This was basted with basting spray years ago and was separating so the straight line quilting now holds it all together and I'm ready to free-motion.

As usual, I am chomping at the bit to get back to a few tops that have been in progress too long.  Like:

Replica of antique top I bought in 2015

String Lemoyne Star--12" block

Paducah Round Robin from 2014

And then there is my Diamond Jubilee Feathered Star quilt, intended to celebrate my 60th birthday--that happened 2 years ago--time to get back to THIS one:

The other day I completed this gold star for that quilt--here it is laid out, all the paper pieces ready, then the 3 rows ready to be joined.  Pattern by Sue Garman

And here is the design wall--I need to see something up there, so when Stars in a Time Warp came down, I threw these pieces up.  

None of these are what I'm actually going to work on next.  Stay tuned...

Let's Quilt!

Barbara