Moda Block Heads Block #5

Hello Everyone,

 

Here is my alternative block to the Moda Block Heads 3 program.  I felt the block offered wouldn't be a good fit with what I was trying to achieve.....so I made a block of my choice. I know the program is a mystery quilt, so maybe I'm not too mysterious.

 



I wanted to bring in more yellow, so I did. I will have plenty of opportunity throughout the year to incorporate a lot of different colors.  I love this combination of Betsy Chutchian fabrics.  When I get the time, (she says with tongue in cheek), I would like to design another new pattern and call it Betsy's Medley.

 

The response to my quilt naming contest has been overwhelming.  I'll never be able to decide on a name as there have been so many good suggestions.  I run all of the names by Mr. Joe and Mazey.  They either give me a thumbs or paws up or down.

I'm waiting for my thread order to arrive from Superior Thread, so I haven't put the nameless quilt on the long arm yet.  I'll finish making the backing today.  I may become super proactive and make the binding today too.

In between all of this sewing, I'm working on income taxes.  I'm pulling everything together to get to the accountant.  Insert grumpy face here.  I can only stand to work on taxes a couple hours a day. 

I'm also working on my Sew'n Wild Oaks quilting retreat in April at Snowflake Lodge.  There's a lot of planning, kit making, and class planning involved.

For those of you who are local to the San Francisco Bay Area, I am teaching Country Romance at In Between Stitches on Sunday, February 23rd from 10am - 4pm.  Click HERE for the class information.  The quilt is easier that it looks.  It's just one block that you make over and over again!  The scalloped border isn't difficult either.  It would be so much fun to see someone make this quilt in a different colorway. Come join us if you can.

Soon,
Lynn

Keeping Myself Busy

Hello Everyone,

 

I've been quiet on my blog lately because I've been working, working, working, on Country Romance and preparing my booth for the Mountain Heirloom Quilt Show this weekend.

 

Country Romance is all done.....except for the pattern writing.

 

Today is the day to concentrate on the finishing touches for the pattern and start printing.

 

I finished the binding while watching the recorded episodes of the Country Music documentary by Ken Burns.  I'm sad we finished watching, since we both enjoyed watching every episode.  It was well done, and extremely interesting.

I've also been making kits for my booth.  It's a three day quilt show and I have to have a ton of product.  In my travels around the state, I purchase a wide variety of reproduction fabrics.  Luckily my friend Mary Sue and my sister Gail helped out in the latest round of kit making.  It takes a village to get me ready for a show.

Here is just a very small sample of what I will be offering.  I have tubs of product bundled, inventoried, and priced. 

Since I have my last retreat of the year the last week of October,  I hope to have some things left for the girls.  Anything left over after the retreat will be put out in my Etsy shop. 

I hear Mr. Joe stirring this morning.  He is going to head out early to help set up the frames at the quilt show.  All of the men who show up get a free lunch.  That's one way to get the men involved!

Soon,
Lynn

Machine Quilting Country Romance

Hello Everyone,

 

The bobbin has been working over time here in the mountains on Country Romance.



 

 

I want to have Country Romance hanging in my booth at the Mountain Heirloom quilt show in mid October.  So a lot of quilting, binding and pattern printing is going to be taking place over the next week.....or two.

 I love the Susanna's Scraps fabric by Betsy Chutchian.  It is very romantic.

A couple of months ago, we moved my long arm to the cabin.  We cleared out a large area in the garage for my toy.  The garage is pretty much split down the middle.  Mr. Joe has his stuff on one side, and the long arm takes up the other side.  Insert here that my side is much, much neater than Mr. Joe's side.  We are going to have to have a come to Jesus talk soon.

Summer is making a last gasp of heat here in the mountains before we can officially call it Fall.  Yesterday, while I was working in the garage, I opened up the big garage door in addition to the smaller door to get a cross breeze.  I don't know, but I'm pretty sure that I'm the only long arm quilter that has to be concerned about the real possibility of a bear walking into their workspace!  It is hard to concentrate on quilting when I'm constantly distracted looking and listening.  It was very pleasant, and I did have the feeling that I was quilting outside under the pine trees.

I have to hurry and get this done as the weather is going to take a turn south over the weekend.  I don't think I want to be doing any early morning quilting in 30 degree weather!

Wish me luck.

Soon,
Lynn 

Housecaring

Hello Everyone,

 

I've been writing the pattern for Country Romance, and testing while I go.  Changing up the fabrics make a huge difference in the look of the block.  While pattern testing, I'm also making up my step-outs for my teaching binder.  It has been a nice, relaxing time to work on this.

 



 

 

Yesterday, I marked the entire quilt to get it ready for machine quilting.  First I had to decide what I was going to do, and now I have to quilt it!  I normally do not mark my quilts, but I wanted a very special border for this one.  Notice I didn't mark the inside of the block.  I will free motion quilt in each block.  

If I had the backing made, I would have loaded this one on the long arm yesterday. I can't wait to see how this one turns out.

During my TV time at night, I've been working on my Lucy Boston, Patchwork of the Crosses blocks.  This block has not been stitched together just yet.  All of the basting is finished, now it's good to go to be stitched together.

I've been cutting and packaging kits as I go.  It takes me weeks, and weeks to get ready for a show, so I start preparing way in advance.  I would like to have ten blocks, and 100 kits done before the show in October......wish me luck.....I have a lot going on between now and then.  It takes a ton of product to fill a large, 20' booth.

I'm going to have to put my quilting aside while I get ready for two sets of summer company arriving next week.  It's a good thing we have visitors, since it's the only time I really CLEAN the cabin.  I keep things semi-picked up throughout the day to lessen the burden of cleaning.  I like to call it "housecaring" which isn't as daunting as housecleaning.  My quilting room is going to take up the most amount of time.  I actually love to be in my favorite room organizing the chaos, I mean organizing my creativity.  I find all kinds of treasures that I'd forgotten about.

Soon,
Lynn



 

Happy Mother's Day



Hello Everyone,

 

Happy Mother's Day to all! My plan is to do what I enjoy doing......which is quilting.  My pink background fabric arrived, so I can proceed with the blocks for my new Country Romance quilt pattern.  Here are the components which make up the block.

 



I'm making lots of components at one time to make the blocks.

I'm packaging all of the parts and pieces into individual snack-sized sandwich bags to take with me to the Country Pines Quilt Retreat next week, where I plan on doing some serious power sewing.

We celebrated Mother's Day with all of the family last weekend.  Today is a free day for me.  I get to do whatever I want to do......and we all know what that is!

Don't forget, tomorrow is the last day of my Mother's Day pattern sale on ETSY.  All patterns are 15% off.  I won't be having another sale for awhile, so take advantage of it now.  Click HERE to go to my ETSY shop.  The sale has been keeping Mr. Joe and Mazey business with their daily trips to the post office.  Mazey loves it!  She gets to hang her head out of the car window and blow all of that skunk smell out of her golden fur.  She is smelling better.....so is the cabin.

Soon,
Lynn

Country Romance Progress

Hello Everyone,

 

Here's my progress on Country Romance so far.  I'm impatiently waiting for more of the pink background fabric to arrive. 

 

I originally started with a half-yard bundle of Susannah's Scraps by Betsy Chutchian for Moda.  Once this bundle arrived, I didn't open it up for a few days.  I wanted to keep it pristine and beautiful until I had the time to work with it and create a new design.

After I finally opened it, I put it on display in an old tool box in my sewing room.  Here is part of the bundle.

Here's the other part of the bundle.

Since the first bundle arrived, I've purchased additional yardage.  I didn't know what I was going to do with this fabric until I started playing with it.  When I decided to use the pink floral as the main background.....guess what? I only had the original half yard, and I needed three yards.....and I didn't have any. The yardage is in the mail and I can't wait until it arrives.

I'm in Livermore today and tomorrow for class with my Sew'n Wild Oaks girls.  I'm so anxious to see what they've created since the last time we met.  I know it is going to be good!

Don't forget my Mother's Day Sale is still going on in my ETSY shop.  Click HERE and it will take you directly to my shop.  All orders placed over the next few days will be mailed this Thursday.

I hope you all have a great quilting week ahead.  It's a new week, and a good time to finish up a project.....or start a new one!

Soon,
Lynn

 

Mother's Day Sale on Etsy

Hello Everyone,

 

If you have been wanting to purchase a Sew'n Wild Oaks quilt pattern, now is the time.  I'm offering a 15% off Mother's Day sale in my ETSY shop.  

 

 

All patterns are marked down 15% starting today, May 4th, 2019 to May 13th, 2019.  Click HERE to access my ETSY shop.  Have fun shopping! 

While you are busy shopping, I'll be busy writing pattern directions for Country Courthouse and Country Romance.

Country Courthouse

Country Romance

I'm waiting for more background fabric to arrive so I can keep working on Country Romance.  This quilt will have either 36 or 42 blocks.  I'll see how it looks once I get a few more rows made.  I absolutely LOVE this block!  It goes together so easily and quickly.  There is something to be said for 10" blocks.

Soon,
Lynn

Country Romance

Hello Everyone,

 

One test block using Susannah's Scraps fabric led to four test blocks.

 

Now my mind is spinning with ideas for this block and fabric.  It is a very romantic looking block since I used the larger print fabrics for my backgrounds.  This is something a little different than my normal style.  It has been fun changing things up.  I love the additional design the blocks make when they are put side by side.

It is an easy, 10" block which is huge for me considering my last quilt was made with 5-1/2" blocks.  This quilt should go a bit faster.

I'm heading to Susanville in a few weeks for a quilt retreat.  I have two projects that I want to work on, and this is one of them.  The other project that I want to work on is Huckleberry Hill.  If workspace is limited, I will work on the appliqued border.

So many projects, so little time.

Soon,
Lynn