Yard Work or Quilting.....that is the question

Hello Everyone,

Here I am at the cabin while my current project is sitting back at home in my sewing room. So what would you do? Would you do yard work? Clean the cobwebs out of the rafters? Or.....start a new project that has been waiting patiently? Well, you guessed it....new project it is. I've been stockpiling fabric from Fig Tree for years. It is just too gorgeous to stay hidden away in my fabric closet any longer.

Several weeks ago I gathered it all in one place just to see what I had on hand. It is almost, but not quite embarrassing to see the volume of fabric I have from this designer.

The possibilities with this fabric are endless.....but I've had this idea floating in my head for awhile and had to capture the thought before it drifted away.

I love making the small 1/2" hexagons and I've been making them in the car the last couple of trips up and back from the mountains. I knew someday I would use them.....but how?

I decided to put small flower clusters in setting and corner triangles. This will give me some room to possibly try quilting some McTavishing around each of the clusters. When it comes right down to the quilting, I will probably chicken out....but it is a nice thought.

I love putting flanges around my areas of interest. I think it sets them off beautifully yet subtly. Just that hint of diagonal print is all it takes....just 3/4" of an inch folded in half makes a big statement for something so small.

Now tonight I can applique all the flowers that I made. Just a nice, easy project during TV time. A project where I don't have to think too hard!

I'm thinking about naming this pattern Summer's Blush. The peachy tones remind me of peach cobbler, peach crisp, peach pie and peach ice cream. Now that I've gotten all of us hungry....I'm getting back to work in this wonderful mountain air.

As always,

Lynn

Go To The Head of the Class Photos

Hello Everyone,

How do you approach a new quilting project? Do you buy the pattern first, then select the fabric at the store or do you shop in your own stash? Or do you have just the perfect fabric in the hope of finding the perfect pattern?

The ladies that signed up for my Sallie's Quilt class all approached the project in about the same manner. They brought in baskets and tubs of fabric from home.

A couple of the ladies bought the kit of fabric that I chose for the project from the wonderful fabric selection at In Between Stitches. Each block needs five different fabrics.

After the five different fabrics were selected for each block, some of the ladies put them in plastic baggies.

....and others rolled them into perfect little bundles.

I was lusting over Jean's basket of reproduction fabrics!

Then the girls got right to work making their blocks. Some of them did their homework....I'm not going to mention any names here!

Janice stopped by to show us her doggie quilt that she was making. This got me to thinking this would be a fun "I-Spy" quilt.

She's been buying fabric with doggy prints on it for as long as she can remember.
Kay's blocks have a "hint" of Autumn in them. The black sashing adds a dramatic touch and makes the blocks just pop off the wall. Kay's daughter liked this quilt soooo much, that Kaye will be making two, yes two of them!
By the end of the second class, Jenny finished all of her 32 blocks! She is one speedy quilter.
Carole used a mix of reproduction fabric with a sprinkle of other fabrics from her stash.

Ladies, your quilts are going to be fabulous and I can't wait to see them. Thank you all for the two evenings of fun.

Sallie's Quilt pattern, available here: http://www.inbetweenstitches.com/shopping/patterns/page_3.aspx is a great "stash-buster" quilt. The largest piece of fabric you need for the blocks in only 4-1/2". It's a fun block to make and you will become addicted to selecting your fabrics for the blocks.

My quilt is done and now I'm down to the binding....oh my....wish me luck!

As always,

Lynn

Lotta' Quiltn' Goin' On

Hello Everyone,

Between my granddaughters quilting, the two classes I'm teaching next week, and almost finishing up the quilting on Sallie's quilt.....I'm pooped! I wanted to get the majority of Sallie quilted and get it off the machine before we left for the cabin for a couple of days. I still have to turn her and get the long borders quilted.

I can quilt feathers left and then right, but I don't do so well going up and down the quilt. So in most cases, I quilt from top to bottom, take the quilt off the machine and turn it. I took the quilt off the machine to let it rest (not to mention letting me rest) so the sides won't get their "knickers in a twist" before I get back to it in a couple of days.

I'm still planning to have it completely quilted by Monday night for the second part of the class. The binding is a whole 'nother story! I usually work on binding in the car.....but not on Sallie. She is so big, she would act like a permanent air bag and I'd be safe, yet I wouldn't have any room to move.....nor could the both of us fit in the front seat at the same time.

This is a shot of the back of the quilt. I'm liking the intricate design on the back. It is such a pleasant surprise when you turn the whole quilt over and view the secondary design on the back. Just one of those quilting "treats" that come along once in awhile that are completely unanticipated.

Well my friends, some yard work needs to be done up here at the cabin. My Toyland Tree quilt is taking on a new and improved look. Pictures will be arriving on your computer in the near future!

I hope you all have a wonderful day!

As always,

Lynn