Finished Corner Block (sorta)

 Friends of Balitmore Quilt by Sue Garman

This corner block on the bottom border is "sorta" finished.  There are extra loose pieces that will need to be added after I've sewn the block to the border going across the bottom and to the other

border running up from this corner block.  Those pieces will overlap across the seams to give 

it a flowing effect.  I can't wait till all this happens.

(thanks for the fabrics Kerry, I liked your vase so much I did mine like yours)

I'm playing and auditioning fabrics for the corner block on the opposite end.

I think I have a plan forming!

I've already traced the design onto the fabric so I'm good to go.

I better 'git' busy 'cause'

here's the pattern for this quilt and I'm not even half way through.

YIKES!

My First Border and Pretty Vase

Hello everyone!  I've been absent, but I promise I've been busy!

I'm still plugging along on my 

Friends of Baltimore quilt  AND A Bountiful Life/Civil War Bride quilt.  

I like working on them simultaneously.  Friends of Baltimore has teeny tiny pieces and more tedious while the Bountiful Life has larger pieces and gives me a break from the tedious so I can still keep busy.

I'm excited to show you my progress on the first border and vase from Friends of Baltimore.  I put off starting a border thinking it would be daunting, I was a scaredy cat…BUT HEY…it wasn't so bad.

I. LIKE.

As you can see, it is quite long.

There will be a vase sewn to each end to make a corner on this bottom border, which makes it even LONGER!  I'm still jurying fabrics for the vase on the other end.  Only 3 more borders to go!

The scary part will be when it comes time to trim this down!!

Must show you more proof I've been busy.

 Remember her?  My bride on the Bountiful Life quilt.

She now has a groom!  Isn't he handsome?

 They also have a hospitality table.  I think it's cute!

I think I had just started on this one in a previous post.

Working on both of these quilts at the same time has yielded me enough blocks for a WHOLE quilt!!
….Sigh...
I just don't think they would mix well together….too bad!

Sorry I've been so long with an update and I want to thank everyone who has inquired about me.  I desperately need a new camera.  The photos I take on my iPhone seem to be lacking in quality (I think it's the operator),  but I promise to blog with more quilty goodness!

Cotton harvest is in full swing here and so sad, for this will be our last crop.

Hubby is retiring.

Yes, I'm Making Some Progress

Making good progress on my current projects during the summer is slow but steady.  Having to do garden kitchen duty can take up a lot of time.  Fresh yummy veggies for supper time is so worth it though.

I did finish the bride block on my Civil War Bride quilt.  I think she turned out pretty good.  I didn't want the quilt to be too bright OR too dull in color.  I'm happy with how it is starting out.

Can you believe this is going to be THE GROOM block!

This is how I usually audition fabrics and such for whatever I'm working on.  I pin and poke, roll and smoosh fat quarters and such to my design wall.  Stand back and stare, make some changes if needed.

Stand back and stare some more.  I do this until "I think" I'm satisfied.  Of course I always reserve the right to make MORE changes in the end.  I think this Groom block is headed in the right direction.

This is another block from the Civil War Bride quilt I started.  I'll work on this one while I still play and audition fabrics for the Groom block.  I really like the blue fabric.  Wish I had bought more of it.

I'm still plugging along on my Friends of Baltimore too.  Starting on a new block with this cute little cornucopia.  Working on more than one project at a time keeps it interesting for me.  I think it's need for long term projects.....at least that's the way I roll anyway.

As for Goober....my little helper

It's just another day at the office for him.

Civil War Bride and Friends of Baltimore

I've been piddling on getting this one started for a while now, thinking this one would give me a little break occasionally from my FRIENDS OF BALTIMORE which has SO MANY tiny pieces.  I decided to start with the bride block first so her fabrics and colors would set the tone for the rest of the

quilt.  I must admit, starting from scratch with choosing your own choice of fabrics and colors doesn't come easy for me.  It takes me forever to get it straight in my head, pulling tons of fabrics out to audition only to make a big mess…….well, if I make her dress pink…..OR, maybe it should be yellow…..should I use just Civil War fabrics……and I don't want to use the same colors as my Friends of Baltimore quilt…and on it goes.  I'm hoping a lot of you out there get the picture and I'm not alone in my struggles.  I'm embarrassed to say how long it has taken me to get this far……BUT……here is a peek into where it is headed.

…….and for those of you who are thinking I should make those green striped buds all go the same direction, well, I probable agree but I'm NOT doing them over.  The stripes are the 3rd fabric I've traded out.  My bride also looks like she's been hit in the forehead with something.  Maybe that's the reason there wasn't a groom in the original quilt….lol.  I've also been blogging for 8 yrs. this week.  How 'bout that!

A recent Friends of Baltimore finished block.

"SNAP OUT OF IT!!!"

Do you remember that movie Moonstruck?  The one where Cher smacks

Nicolas Cage across the face and screams to him to

"SNAP OUT OF IT!"

LOL

That's what I'm trying to do….just snap out of this 'slug' mentality I've had lately.  Even though I've been quiet on the blogging scene, I HAVE been busy…..well, sort of…..at a snail's pace.

Here's some of what's been hanging around on my various make shift design walls upstairs.

Determined to use from my stash I finally chose some dots and stripes to piece together a backing for the quilt top laying there on the ironing board.  Maybe I'll just cut a bunch of big squares and sew them together.

This is my "taking forever and ever" log cabin.  It IS all sewn together… BUT…yep...there's that BUT... there's ALWAYS a BUT with me!  I decided it needed one more row, you know, just to make me TRULY happy with it.

Yesterday I sewed more blocks and all I need is 5 more to have enough.

Here and there with blocks of time I have put together these free pieced little cuties.  I have planned this for a 'real live little cutie'…….hhmmm, I hope she doesn't turn into a 'big' cutie before I get this finished.  I'm constantly mulling over how I want it all to come together.

NO pattern here…..just me and my constant brain churning…..sigh.

Of course my MAIN project for the past year has been my FRIENDS OF BALTIMORE hand appliqué blocks…Sue Garman's pattern.  I thumb tacked some flannel up in the hallway so I could admire them as I pass through.  Red bird on the bottom is the current 'in process' one I'm stitching on.

Only 9 more blocks…AND 4 most tedious borders to go.

Speaking of birds, you should go Here and see Lynne's oh so creative birds and quilt
she has sewn.  Yes, go NOW…I'll wait.

A-N-D

T-H-E-N

I succumbed to THIS TEMPTATION!!

Can you guess which one it is?

Darn it…..I'm so weak and easy…..sigh.

 …..and my little helper who's always close by...IS NEVER impressed.

Now that we're all caught up it's time for me to get back to the sewing machine.  I think I've

'snapped out of it' for a while and I'm quite amazed I could still spell all these words.

p.s.  If you live in Canada you should go HERE and check out this NEW quilting book Brenda is
giving away. It's Julie Sefton's new Build A Barn book….good stuff!

Nancy is having a giveaway too!

Midnight Oil

Sometimes you just have to burn some Midnight Oil…….to get in some

good stitching time.  Peace and quiet.  Alone time!

Tonight I just FINALLY had to get upstairs and have some time to stitch stitch stitch!  With the weather being extra warm here I've been spending a lot of time outside preparing garden space and such.  Oh man, I am SOOOOOO ready for garden goodies!!!

Yellow ovals shown here are reverse appliqué….I dread and usually put off these parts and I don't know why, it doesn't end up being as hard as I think it will be! 

This is block #6 out of 16.

Lucky me…..Erin Brockovich is on for my late night stitch fest.  I LOVE this movie!  I watch it every time it's on.  I know it by heart and can listen more than watch as I stitch away on my Friends of Baltimore blocks.

I prepare parts on some other blocks to take a break from too much stitching.

In another room upstairs where I'm burning the Midnight Oil is all the fabrics I have set aside for this particular Friends of Baltimore appliqué project. I have added MORE fabric selections since I took this photo.  

I DO pre-wash/soak with Synthrapol in HOT water before I cut out any of my appliqué pieces.

And if I stitch into the wee w-e-e hours and dare not disturb Goober dog or Hubby….there is a real comfy quilt adorned bed right behind where I'm stitching away I can slip into when needed…..doesn't happen often but when I do on occasion it does feel as if I'm on vacation!

OK…..my OIL is burning up and I shouldn't be wasteful with it!!!

Hhhmmm, I sure could use a snack…..wondering if I could tippee toe downstairs and snag something good to munch on without being found out…..or heard……

Hearts, Flowers & Song

I hope everyone is having a nice Valentines Day!

This is one of my completed blocks from my Friends of Baltimore appliqué quilt and I thought it fit in perfectly with the day.   So far I have finished 5 blocks of the 16 and I'm

close to finishing number 6.

I had "lofty" ambitions when I started this project last March.  My plan was to finish one block

per month…..LOL…..well, I accomplished "half" of that goal….

But I'm determined!!!

Life has had priority lately and I've worked on a few UFO projects in between this appliqué

project.  One needs a break from the "tiny" pieces involved on this quilt.

LOTS of Log Cabin paper piecing on a UFO I'm trying to get completed.

I decided today I needed one more row to add to the length and then I'm calling it quits.

11 blocks per row will take me a bit to get sewn up BUT it's nice

 to know I'm so close to a finish on a project I started

YEARS AGO!

Time to stop standing and staring and get to it….right?

I've Been Absent But Not Idle

No way would I EVER be "idle".  It's just not in my nature.  I've had sisters-in-law and others in 

my past sit, stand or follow me around touting

"I'm bored...sigh...I'm bored."

My response was always the same.

"Well, go be bored somewhere else 'cause I've got a bazillion things I'm itching to get done!"

So, even though you don't hear from me around blogland I'm active and busy with quilty things.

Busy with more blocks from my FRIENDS OF BALTIMORE project.  This is the second block in the series. (I've completed 5 so far ) Wow, kind of a doozy.  Stitching all those tiny black sail riggings was not fun for me, but I persevered and won the battle.

This is a fabulous quilt and there is no reason to fail, after all, it is one of Sue Garman's patterns.

Here is my binder with all the pattern pieces and her wonderful instructions.  I have not had ONE question about these blocks that she has not included in the instructions.  She is a master!!

TINY PIECES ~ TINY PIECES

So many tiny pieces to prep, but there's something calming sitting quietly turning down all the little edges.  Trying to master the process and improve my skills with each piece.

Yes, it's fun and I love it but it can grow tedious and that is why a quilter ALWAYS has to have other projects handy to work on.  Sometimes you just need to shake things up a little.

One of my breaks from the hand applique was doing some blocks for the November Block Lotto.

Loved these blocks.  They would make a fantastic looking quilt.....sigh......but I didn't win this time.

I have other quilty progress to share, but we'll do that next time.

Happy stitching girlfriends!!

Friends of Baltimore Woven Basket

This block is basically finished.  There's a little thread work I need to

finish up but that won't take long.

I'm also prepping prepping prepping on another block.  This new block is made up of TONS

of tiny pieces, but it is sooooo beautiful and the nice thing is I'm just

about finished with it too……that will make me 4 finished blocks…….only 

12 more to go!!

I find myself irritated when I have to stop and eat……and make myself go to bed at night.

I just want to keep the momentum going!

Speaking of……hubby is hollering for me to come down for supper….

Just A Little Basket Weaving

It's what "us crazies" do.

Are We Still Friends?

I CERTAINLY HOPE WE ARE!!!

Thank you to all my followers who hung in there with me.  I've missed everybody!!  I see some followers did bale on me, as is the case when one takes a little vay-cay from blogging…..uuhm, seems I should call it

something else besides a blogging vacation for as long as I've been absent!

Well….since we're STILL FRIENDS and all…..I'll share what I've been working on.

TA DA!!!

Block size will finish at 15''.  This is the first block I finished back in March.

If you're looking closely you'll see I still have to soak out my markings and glue basting.  I just

swoon over this block whenever I look at it.

Keeping with our FRIENDS theme…..afterall, you DID say we were STILL FRIENDS, well, this fabulous eagle block belongs with 15 other equally amazing blocks along with 4 stunning borders.

FRIENDS of BALTIMORE!!

I think Sue Garman outdid herself on this design.  I looked…..studied…..admired and studied some more on this pattern for 2 years.  I wanted to do it and I wanted to DO IT!!  I drug my feet ordering it because I knew it was going to be a l-o-n-g term project….yes, l-o-n-g l-o-n-g term!  I knew I could probable master the skills to do it, but to make the commitment to know and determine I would

actually finish it took me the 2 years studying it to finally order it.

I'm soooo glad I did…..the blocks I have done are just beautiful in person. 

Yes, I have finished the SECOND block and I'm prepping

and preparing the THIRD.

So….that's what I've been up to…..and if your keep being my FRIEND 

I'll share the other blocks I'm working on with you later.

P.S.  I also finished my Flags of the American Revolution (previous post) quilt top from the Sew-Along LORI from HUMBLE QUILTS organized last year.  It's great lookin' in person too!