Design Wall Time

As I will soon need the whole design wall for a big project, I decided to finish the Sawtooth Stars top that was taking up more than half the wall:

Once I study this photo a bit, I will decide which blocks to move or rotate. This can become a never-ending task so better not to over-think it too much. I see a couple I will rearrange...

There may or may not be added borders--that is a decision for months from now when the big project is done.

Glad to have this one to this stage. I will dedicate today to finishing it so I can "clear the board" and put up the big project, which I cannot show you, but it is fun and you will like it.

I  feel like I am way behind compared to lots of friends who are finishing old projects left and right and jumping into new projects--so much is available on the Internet right now.   The secret sewing has consumed me the last month and will for the next two months then I can jump back into quilting several tops that will get done later this year. Having 9 jobs that have cancelled or been postponed from April to August has kept me home, and I am enjoying that just fine. Still waiting to hear about two more big jobs for later this year.

What are you working on? Are you feeling accomplished with projects completed or overwhelmed with so much time?

Let's quilt.

Barbara

Masks, Decks, Stella and a Winner!

Still making masks--it looks like we will be wearing them for a while. My sons said the two I made them recently were too tight--I used loops made from t-shirts. So when I was able to find elastic at my local quilt shop, I made a few new ones and retro-fitted their others:

My husband is a hardworking man who would rather do it himself. We are having our old deck replaced so he decided to take out the old deck himself so all the contractor has to do is build the new one. I know he is not 30 years old anymore, so I called in reinforcements--our two sons came to help with the labor. Here they are at the end of a long day, but the work is almost all done. The screws are all out  of those boards, they will just be lifted off when the workers arrive to build the new deck. As usual, it took much more effort than anticipated:

Andy, the youngest, brought Stella for me to play with. She is a delightful child, happy and funny and smart. It is very hard to get her to pose--she delights in making "goofy faces" rather than "good faces" so a bit of prompting finally got this., the new 5 year old:

She and her brother Sam are coming for a sleepover soon--so no sewing for me. It takes at least two full grown adults to keep up with a 5 and almost 2 year old. But we love seeing them and having them visit.

Drumroll Please!  The Giveaway winner, chosen by Random Number Generator from 66 comments is Kim W! An email has been sent, Kim, get me your mailing address and I'll send your package on the way:

I looked back to find out when I made this quilt--it was in 2017. I received the four-patches from someone who posted on a Facebook group that she made them from a charm pack but didn't like them and just wanted to give them away. I saw that post almost as soon as she wrote it and said "I'll take them". I put them into this doll-size quilt and had fun practicing free-motion quilting on it.

All the comments were interesting and  touching. Quilting ties so many of us together, making it a smaller world in some ways. Many find it a link to their past and a foot into the future.

By the way, the first 5 people selected did not have an email connected to their profile so were not able to be selected. Lucky for Kim!

Let's quilt,

Barbara

Time for a Giveaway!

To celebrate making it to over 2800 followers, let's have a giveaway!

A little quilt, a few goodies, and a few surprises not shown here.

To be included, post a Comment on this post--What Does Quilting Mean to You? What are you working on currently? OR  How does Quilting help you get through life?

On Sunday June 14 I will announce the Winner, selected by Random Number Generator. BE SURE your email address is attached to your name--if you are a "No-Reply" person you won't win.

Thanks for all the support. I've been writing this blog since December 31, 2011. It's my diary, my quilting life, and my chance to teach what I know to those who want to know it too.

Let's quilt!

Barbara

Sawtooth Stars

You would think that a 10 foot x 9 foot design wall would be big enough. But, no, when there is secret sewing in progress I wish the wall were twice that size.

This Sawtooth Stars quilt is just a leader/ender project for other sewing. It will be queen size when it's done.

And that step stool tried to kill me. Don't climb up on a step stool wearing flip flops. And don't be too close to the wall--you just might try to fall backwards...

No injuries but a warning to be more careful. Quilting can be dangerous.

UPDATE: The Giveaway Goal is up to 2796! Just a few more to go over my goal of 2800 followers. See this post for more information.  It's likely the Giveaway will be up with my next post...

Let's quilt.

Barbara

Giveaway Goal

As the recent recipient of a Blog Giveaway, I think this is a good time for a Giveaway Goal.

This blog has over 2700 followers, most by email, which you can't see--there are currently 1936 who follow it by email.

Let's get to 2800! Whether people choose to follow with Google, Bloglovin or another blog reader, or by email, it all counts and gets this content out to those who want it.

If you are a follower already, THANKS! I look forward to talking to you a couple times a week.

If you only read this from Facebook where I post a link each time a blog goes live, please follow the blog too.

It is easy to follow by email: just fill in the box over there on the right, and respond to the Confirmation email you will get. Each time I post, usually on Wednesday and Sundays, you will get an email with the direct link to the blog.

And share this with all your quilty friends--when we hit 2800 followers I will be giving away this little quilt and a few other goodies to go with it:

27" square

A fun back fabric

Free motion texture

A huge THANK YOU! to  Janet O--the Rogue Quilter, who has inspired me for years. Here is the terrific package of goodies I won on her blog:

Janet makes soap--they smell divine, Spearmint/Peppermint and Orange/Cinnamon in that little baggie. There is a scented candle, a lovely notebook, and a super Log Cabin Pincushion--I love it all.

The brand new book is THANKS TO Pam Buda  of Heartspun Quilts. Vintage Treasures: Little Quilts for Reproduction Fabrics  is right up my alley--there are several in year I will enjoy making. Pam has a Blog you might enjoy too.

So spread the word, let's get to 2800 followers, and someone can feel lucky too!

Let's quilt.

Barbara

Let's Take a Look

On March 15, 2020, The Quilt Show released the Month 6 blocks two and a half months early so, if quilters found themselves home more than usual, they could begin to make the Double Nine Patch blocks needed for Afternoon Delight, the 2020 free Block of the Month quilt for Star Members.

Here it is 10 weeks later and a lot of us are still working at home, sheltering in place, practicing social distance, all  those new words for the current new normal.

In case you missed my post about that:  Month 6--EARLY RELEASE

Many people were thrilled to get Month 6 in March and have been working away on their Afternoon Delight quilts. including the 64 Double Nine Patch blocks.

Margo's blocks and a little set of X-blocks 

It is fun to see how using different fabrics can change the look of a quilt pattern. While some people chose to use the KIT offered for this project, most people are using their own fabrics.

This month, let's take a look at some of the many quilts being made by TQS members. These photos are taken from the Forum SHOW AND TELL--YOUR BLOCKS  and are used with the makers permission.

First, a student from my local class decided to charge ahead and finish her quilt, making it less than the full size of the pattern. Sometimes you just know when you're done.  Jill's finished quilt:

Jill quilted it on her home machine, in two halves, Quilt As You Go (QAYG):

Bpalluzi is using Yarra Valley Fabrics:

Heather7 has a bright and cheerful palette, with some bright backgrounds for her applique blocks:

Sandytn is adding a line of black embroidery to her applique blocks for definition:

Terrils, who I met at her guild in FL last year, has a beautiful selection of fabric--it reminds me of her sweet and gentle nature:

Terrils is also making the quilt her own by substituting an alternate block when she feels like it. Sue Garman, the wonderful designer of this quilt, loved when a quilter changed a quilt pattern to suit themselves. She always said two of her favorite words were "What if?":

Another girlfriend, and friend to many TQS members is Margo:

 Look at the stack of Double Nine Patches--Margo loves starch and gets great results:

How about bright, eye-popping color? Ellenceleste has it going on:

BeverleyB is from the Netherlands. Her fabrics have a completely different look from mine:

JanetE is using pretty fabrics--the block in the upper left got lots of comments on the Forum for her fussy cutting:

Ajclapp loves to work small, I mean really small! Here are some of her tiny blocks--I believe the Double Nine Patches are 4.5" square, using .5" little squares. The actual quilt pattern has 6.75" finished blocks--most of us thought that was small enough. Her results are spectacular:

I am a push-over for reproduction fabrics. Boots1950 has quite a lovely stash:

How about using a DARK background? HelenW is combining some Afternoon Delight applique blocks with another project:

HelenW is also making Afternoon Delight with a light background, aren't they beautiful:

 HelenW comments frequently on the Forum, so I feel like I know her--even though she is in Idaho. A state I have yet to visit. I appreciate all her comments, she helps cheer us on.

We would love to see your blocks so please post on the Forum:  SHOW AND TELL--YOUR BLOCKS  In the first post I wrote on that Topic, I explain how to add photos to the Forum. Look back to the oldest page if you need that information.

And, if you post your blocks on Social Media too, which is great and encouraged, please use these hashtags to make it easy for folks to find all the posts:

 #afternoondelightbom
#afternoondelight2020bom

You can follow The Quilt Show on Instagram:  @thequiltshowsocial


And if you just can't stop making Double Nine Patch blocks? How about a baby quilt with the extras. These were made from my "testing the starch method" blog--find it HERE.

If you are not a Star Member, now is the time to give it a try. The "Staying at Home" special of $19.95 for 6 months, or $39.95 or 12 months won't last forever. You get the great Afternoon Delight pattern, a $90 value, and 13 YEARS of shows, so much to learn and enjoy!

Let's quilt,

Barbara

Wednesday Already?

The week got away from me.

Lots of secret sewing and parts of the Sawtooh Star project:

Running out of design wall space to properly lay out the Sawtooth Stars--there will be 50 of these blocks, 6" stars set on point are now 9" blocks. There will be 2" sashing between:

I made a few more masks for my sons and their women. Looks like we'll be wearing masks for some time so I will make more for all of us soon. The women both love their "Wonder Woman" mask:

I will get to see my eldest son and his girlfriend this weekend as we gather for a "birthday girls" celebration--Stella and I have birthdays one day apart. We will meet at Lauren and Andy's house--the first time we've all been together since Christmas. Stella will be 5 and Sam is 21 months--how fast they are growing!

While together, I will give Joshua and Cait quick sewing lessons on how to use their new machine. I was able to get my friend, Janet's 1958 Singer 401A Slant-O-Matic machine--she received it as a wedding gift that year. A few new parts were bought and my husband cleaned it up very well, oil and lubrication, and it sews a beautiful stitch:

Joshua recently asked me if buying a $100 brand new sewing machine online was a "good deal". I said "NO!" They would be far better off finding an older heavy-duty solid machine. We started looking on Facebook Marketplace, CraigsList, etc. Those offered for sale usually were not guaranteed to work, as the sellers often said things like "My grandmother's machine, I have no idea if it works". And parts were often missing. So when I found out Janet had this one, I jumped on it.

I've put together a basic sewing kit, scissors, thread, rulers, some fabric, etc., so Joshua and Cait can play with the machine as they learn how it works:

Too bad they live two hours away. But it will be so good to see everyone.

Now it's back to that secret sewing for me.

Let's quilt.

Barbara