Borders.....Check

 

Hello Everyone,

 

The borders are finished and sewn on Country Charmer. I've been saving the little beige and brown check just for the right quilt.

 

 

The old sled is great to display the quilts.  It is in more pictures than Zinnie!

 



The blocks in this quilt were made totally from the scraps basket by combining just about every color imaginable.  It's never to late to join the Country Charmer quilt along.  There is information about it HERE. Join us and use up some of those scraps that are sitting around just waiting to be made into a quilt.

It is a bit easier to see the check border in this picture.  Now I just have to decide how I'm going to fill the border with quilting.  I have a couple of ideas up my sleeve and I'm actually looking forward to quilting this baby and putting her in the finished column. 

I'll get the backing made today....and it's going to be scrappy to match the front.  Scrappy backs take more time to make, but I take a yard of this and a yard of that and stitch them together for a fun back.  If you make a scrappy back, remember to press the seams open to reduce the bulk.  You never know where the seams are going to come together with the front of the quilt, and your machine quilter might not be too happy with you.

I have a HandiQuilter and love it!  HandiQuilter offers a series of webinars that are very informative HERE.  I'm registered to watch one this morning called Finish Quilts With Modern Quilting Styles. I'm far from modern, but I know I'm going to learn some useful information during the webinar.  After watching a webinar, I want to run, not walk to my machine and start playing with different quilting designs.  All of the past webinars are in an archive that anyone can watch.  Great information!

I'm whittling away at the to-do list.  I promised myself not to add another item to it this week!  There's always next week.....and that list is getting longer by the day.

Soon,
Lynn

Sew'n Wild Oaks Class is in Session

Hello Everyone,

 

Yesterday was Sew'n Wild Oaks day at In Between Stitches.  The girls brought many different projects into the shop in storage containers, and they are working their way toward completion.

 

Kaye's was making yo-yo's for her Buttonwood quilt.  She made all of her little HST using the 8-HST at-a-time-method on the Virtual Classroom tab at the top of the blog.

 

Six beautiful baskets done, only three more to go....and a few more yo-yo's.  Kaye selected fabric from her stash for her baskets.  They are so pretty!  Kaye has a wonderful stash.

Gail cut out all of the parts and pieces for two baskets for her Butterscotch Baskets quilt and put them on her block layout sheet. She said she's going to be disappointed when all of the baskets are finished.  You can tell she's enjoyed making them.

They are just as cute as they can be!

Kathy is working on Toyland Tree and has an adorable little pink pony finished.

Her little bear has such a sweet face.  His tongue is the same color as his candy cane.....now I just wonder if he's sweet because he's been enjoying his candy cane too much??

Isabelle has forty Ohio Star blocks made for her Butterscotch Baskets quilt.  Her brand new Bernina is ordered and on its way....so look out world, Isabelle will be putting her new machine to work the moment it arrives.  Isabelle too, pulled these blocks together from her stash.

 

Marti is making Chelsea Cottage by Blackbird Designs.  I taught this class a couple of years ago and Marti is going to finish this quilt in Sew'n Wild Oaks class.  This is one of my all-time favorite quilts.

She has selected very warm colors and I love her checks and stripes.  Her finished quilt is going to be full of charm.

Carol started working on her pony for Toyland.  She is almost finished with all of the prep for the bear and she'll start stitching soon.  Isn't that a great plaid!  That's one I don't have.

Evelynne made this needlepoint about fifteen years ago.  She is going to turn it into a pillow by adding double flying geese around the border just like Nostalgic Christmas.  She will be adding a flange and an outside border and her project will be finished.

This goes into that's a good idea compartment.  Use inexpensive door stops to prop up your machine in the back just a bit, and it is much easier to see what you're sewing.  I have some too, but Evelynne's are much prettier!  It really makes a difference when you are sewing.  They don't slip, they just tilt the machine enough and you can see better.

So I've had a busy week already between work on Monday and class on Tuesday.  Now I'm going to tackle my to-do list.....which is very long.  I'll be keeping you posted throughout the week on my progress in preparation for my booth at the Amador Valley Quilt Show in April.  No pressure.......

Soon,
Lynn

Pulling Some Strings

Hello Everyone,

 

I switched from making little baskets to Toyland Tree and the marionette yesterday.  The new marionette on the white background is looking a little plumper than the one on the black background.



 

I guess black really does make you look thinner.....well at least in this case it does!  Same pattern, exact same pieces, it's almost an optical illusion.

My buddy Barbara, finished her borders for Toyland Tree last week.  Both Barbara and the quilt are incredibly AMAZING!  (Barbara admitted she needs to lay off the caffeine!) I love everything about her quilt and she inspired me to get my new white version of this pattern finished so it can start traveling the quilt shop circuit.  You've got a masterpiece here Barbara.  Thank you so much for making my pattern......for making all of my patterns!  I'm designing as fast as I can for you Barbara.

Just wanted to let you know the patterns for Butterscotch Baskets are now available HERE at In Between Stitches.  My laser printer and handsome pattern stuffer, (Mr. Joe) have been working overtime getting these patterns ready for sale.

This quilt will travel to Quilter's Paradise in Clovis, California for The Heart of the Valley Shop Hop May 3-5th.

I'm off to work at the shop today.  I have lots to do while I'm there.  I'll be cutting the fabrics for the Toyland BOM and selecting fabrics for the last two weeks for the Block of the Week little baskets.  I'll be spending my day rolling in bolts of fabric while chatting up the customers.  You know what they say, "It's a tough job but somebody's gotta do it!"

Soon,
Lynn