Studio day

The first thing I did this morning was to make the back for the corduroy pillow.  It is about 17" x 17".  I think I am going to make red piping to go around the edge.  But that is for another day.
After finishing this, I ran across the street to a garage sale.  I have been scouting garage sales lately looking for 100% cotton shirts.  I have noticed that the thrift store prices are going up, and I am still searching for the $1-$2 dollar shirts.  I scored three this morning for a total of seven for the week.  When I got home, I decided to deconstruct some of them.  I am building a nice stash of blue plaids, checks, and stripes, and a nice jar filling with buttons.  I have darks and lights.  I haven't found the perfect pattern yet, but these are going to make a very cool quilt or two.  I have also found some wonderful patterns in other colors that I have been using in scrappy things.  I love to quilt, but can't afford LQS prices all the time, so I am glad to have found this other source.

My last project of the day this sample of the raffle quilt I am proposing to my guild for next year.  At least, that is what I started out to do.  I was following a pattern that had stars in it.  I kept reversing the HSTs, so decided to go with it to see what happened.  Now, instead of stars, I have crosses.  I think the guild group will want to go with the blue and white, but I threw in some tan just to see what it would look like.  These blocks will be more scrappy than the ones I did, but I went with what I had.  I think I like the crosses better than the stars in the pattern.  Sometimes, I do reverse HSTs without realizing I am doing it.  It seems I have a form of quilter's dyslexia.  I don't mind when it turns out this way.
Have a wonderful Labor Day if you are in the US.
Joyful quilting, everyone.

Another fun cow and a short survey

I think I will call this one Freckles.  I just couldn't help myself today.  I found those two small orphan blocks that are in the body and figured they look sort of like cow's stomachs.  Of course, you have to squint your eyes and use a heavy dose of imagination.  Anyway, I pulled more of the fabrics in the blocks along with some purple and red and started cutting.  In my recent donated stash, I found several yards of grassy meadow looking fabric and decided to use some of it.  I had a small piece of batik that sort of looks like sky, so I decided to use it as background.  This was more fun to make because I had already worked out the measurements.  I am going to put more borders and embellishments on this one, I think.  Maybe a red hat?
Now for the survey.  If you belong now to a quilt guild, or have ever belonged to one, I would be so grateful if you could take the time to answer these few questions.
1.  How many dues paying members were in the group?
2.  How many of them were active?
3.  Did/does your guild have a quilt show?
4.  If yes, how often and do you charge admission?
5.  What kinds of activities does your guild do?  (ie: BOM, exchange blocks, presentation quilts, etc.)
6.  If your guild sponsors a quilt show, what percentage of the members enter quilts in the show?
7.  I would love some suggestions about how to motivate members who come regularly to meetings to become more active participants in all aspects of the guild.
Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy days to respond to my survey.
Quilters are the best.
Joyful quilting, everyone.

A last look at the fish



This is officially fish #12, but I did another one so I could send one to Mary Lou, who hosted this exchange.

This is the last fish.  I created it from the fabric I made the other day.  I have enjoyed making all these fish.  This is what they all look like together (without the pink one who just didn't fit in).



I actually got to work on a couple of blocks for this months presentation block at the guild.  I really like this block pattern and think I may use it to create something for myself.

Tomorrow, I think I will take a blog break unless I make anything worth sharing.

Joyful quilting, everyone.



Busy studio day

I had a very busy day in the studio today, and got a lot done. I finished piecing 12 of the 16 nine patch blocks for Mary Ann's quilt. I just had to cut them up and get them on the design wall. Of course, I had to go buy a new design wall because my two small ones were filled. I am loving the colors of this quilt. It is primarily batiks I have collected over time, some left over fabric I had from Moda's Tranquility line, and a wonderful piece of purple fabric, also from Moda. I found some rich warm brownish paisley for sashing and borders. On Thursday, when I get back into the studio, I will finish up the last four nine patch squares, cut them up, add them to the wall, and start to cut and sew the new blocks together. I have designed this so there won't be any seams to match, at least not too many.

I also got all the strip units sewn and cut for the bonus grab bag quilt. There will be 30 5 inch squares. I am going to add sashing and borders to make this a comfortable lap quilt. I think there may be enough fabric in the bag to complete the top.

I have quilt guild tonight. I am looking forward to seeing everyone and hearing what everyone got over the holidays that is quilt related . We also get our new block of the month, and make some decisions about other projects we may want to continue or not. I am hoping we continue the mystery quilt, but I will have to wait and see until this evening.

My New Quilt Frame and Sewing Machine

My wonderful husband gave me a new Little Grace quilt frame and a new Juki quilting machine for a combined birthday and Christmas present. I got it set up in time to finish the quilt I made for my sister and her husband for Christmas. I really like it and can't wait to get the next quilt on the frame.
I have joined the Cedar River Quilt Guild and look forward to participating in their charity projects. This group makes preemie quilts for a local hospical NICU. I just finished washing the fabric for my first preemie quilt. There is a group within the guild that also participates in the Hero quilt project making quilts to donate to wounded soldiers. When I got the quilt frame and machine, I was determined to participate in making quilts for charities. There are a number of opportunities to create quilts for a cause out there. For now, I am going to start with these. I am looking forward to being part of this guild.
I intend to use this space to share the quilts I make, tips I pick up along the way, and anything else about fabric and quilting that I find interesting. As time goes on, I hope to become a very active member of the online quilting community.