Million Pillowcase Challenge

My girlfriend Marie and I went out to our favorite sewing machine store in Stroudsburg, PA yesterday.  A 45 minute ride - but never long with someone to ride along with you.  The purpose of this trip was to drop off the pillowcases I made for the Million Pillowcase Challenge.  Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture of all of them.. so you'll have to take my word for it that there were 21 of them!  I started them about a year ago.. and like a lot of things, got put aside until last Sunday when I decided they needed to be finished and out of my sewing room.  It felt good to get them done and donated.  Another UFO project off the list and hopefully some comfort to someone else!

While we were there, we took a look at Marie's Sweet Hearts.  She is on row #15 - and it looks great!  Last time I saw this in June, she was only on row #4.  Good work, Marie!

The ladies in the shop were admiring her work.  That is Marie in the white shirt.  And of course while we were there we shopped - not for machines, but for some fabric.  They have a huge selection of machines (I've bought 4 machines from them over the past 20+ years), and fabric in the back of the store.

I needed some 1/4 yard cuts for a baby quilt I want to make.  So as soon as I got home, into the washing machine they went.  I typically don't pre-wash my fabrics, but I do for baby quilts. Greens and brown... what could this be??

You'll have to wait and see!

Happy Stitching!

Deb

Pair of Golden Eagles block - Done!

I have finished the Golden Eagles block from the Bountiful Life (CWBQ) quilt.  I am pleased with the way the block turned out, but I can't say it has been one of my favorites to work on. 

Now onto the next block.  I am not sure I will do them in order.... I keep thinking of that bowl of peaches on my kitchen windowsill.....

The block is sitting on a quilted table topper that is used on my coffee table.  I did make some changes to the original pattern, adding under feathers in brown and adding the separate beaks.  The original pattern had these all as one piece.. and they looked like blobs to me!

Detail of eagle on the left.  I decided to embroider their eyes.

I think the talons were the hardest part.

If I wasn't skilled at appliquing leaves before, I certainly will be after this!

I snapped this photo of Lucy over the weekend.  She is either going for a new look..... or she thinks my husband is keeping the air conditioning too low!!  She is a character..

Thankfully we have gotten a break from the heat today - hope it lasts!

Happy Stitching!

Deb

Sweet Hearts - Day 200!

As I sit on the deck today.. in the heat... I can't believe I am working on Sweet Heart block number 200!  I would have never imagined making 200 of anything and not be bored or burned out.  But they are so much fun!

 This is my block for today.  Who would have imagined I would have such a good use for that fabric with those numbers on it!

Here is the next row of hearts ready to be added to the quilt.  This is row number fourteen and is the longest row in the quilt.  Too long to lay out straight for this picture!

Abby wanted to help with the sewing, but she was just too tired.......

This is our best friend these days....  temps to 99 degrees today, with more high humidity.  Yesterday my car registered 103 degrees went I got into it at the end of the day!  Cooler temps expected by Sunday - Yah!

Happy Stitching - hope you are staying cool!

Deb



You Could Put an Eye Out......

We've all probably heard this from our mothers at some point... or heard it said in the movie "The Christmas Story".... well  it's true.  

I love these little scissors.. they are always on my table at the end of the couch. They are my "go to" scissors for applique... small, sharp and very 'pointy"  I won't tell you how it happened... because it was pretty dumb.. but I managed to poke myself in the eye with my little scissors... OUCH!  I just need to learn to slow down and watch what I am doing and what I have in my hands.  

This is the end result.. which is kinda gross, but luckily it seems to be just an abrasion and I didn't do more damage.  Geezzzzz!  A Quilting Occupational Hazard!  Please be careful!

So I was working on beaks and talons today for the Golden Eagles block.  They are really detailed and take a lot of time and patience.  Sitting on the deck was a real challenge too.. it is soooo hot here.

One down... three to go.

"What do you think?  Does it look like more rain?  

"I heard it's going to get hot - best to stay inside on the bed!"

Happy Stitching and Stay Cool!

Deb

Grapevine Block Done.. on to the Pair of Golden Eagles

I have finished the Grapevine with Swooping Bird block.  Like most of you, I have turned the block around. The bird flying upside down didn't seem right to me!

I added the detail embroidered stems to the grapevines.

I've included red and white grapes!

Could these be for a nice Chardonnay?

Now onto the next block - Pair of Golden Eagles.  I have drawn the guidelines on my block - there is just too much on these 12" blocks not to draw the placement directly on the block with a water soluble pen.  I made some minor changes to the original pattern and selected some of the fabrics - My favorite part!

There are a lot of leaves in this block!  I iron down my freezer paper templates to make the leaves. I try to number them so I remember where they go!

And here is the first section basted - ready to stitch!

Summer fruit has returned!  Peaches are one of my favorites!  These would look delicious in my quilt!

Happy Sunday - my favorite day to stitch!

Deb

Happy July 4th Holiday!

Happy Independence Day!  

This is a table topper I made several years ago.  It is the center block from a Piece O' Cake pattern called Land of the Free.  I really love this pattern with the red stylized tulips and the flags.  The center, which you can't see here, is a circle with a star.  This is needle turn applique (yes, even the flags) and hand quilted.

Suzi is relaxing on the flag quilt on the back of our couch.  She looks very patriotic!

I started out this morning working on the grapevine block from A Bountiful Life quilt with my morning coffee.  I really like the way this block is turning out.

And finally this is my Sweet Heart block for today.  

On July 4th we can celebrate our nation and the warm summer weather - which has returned to the east coast!  Have a safe and happy 4th with your family and friends.

Happy Stitching!

Deb

Debbie and Dawn's Quilting Adventures...

Sometimes I think we should write a book....  My girlfriend Dawn and I have had some pretty funny experiences and unique quilting adventures over the years.  Since we no longer live close to each other we don't get to see each other nearly as much as we would like to.. so it takes some planning when we do get together.  We decided to meet at a quilt shop about half way between our homes yesterday.  We met at Ladyfingers Sewing Studio in Oley, PA owned by Gail Kessler.  Gail is a designer for Andover fabrics.  It is a beautiful shop (sorry I didn't take any photos) housed in a historic brick building which was a hotel and stagecoach stop in the 1800's.  Lots of character and lots great fabrics. When we went upstairs to the second floor (and the sale fabrics!) we found Gail at her computer... and a brood of young chickens in a large refrigerator box on the floor.  Not something you find in your typical quilt shop!!  This group of young chicks were just about ready to fly to coop... or the upstairs classroom in this case!

After our shopping excursion, we decided to find a place for lunch.  We happened to find a roadside diner, The Creekside Diner, and with not a lot of choices in the area, we decided to go in try it.  When we walked into the modest one story building... this is what we saw.

The bovine decor was everywhere!  Unfortunately this dining room was closed at the time, so we made our way to the diner side of the restaurant. 

This gal was the centerpiece of the dining room.  She is full sized!!

As we sat down in the booth, I looked to my right and saw this rather interesting stool at the counter.  It was interesting not only because of the seat... but also the wheels.  Hmmmmm.. LOL

But the food was very good and the place was clean!!  So we had a very enjoyable lunch, even if the seat covers were also made out of the plastic cowhide that you see on the tables!

We had some show-n-tell before we both headed back home.  Here are Dawn's rows of Sweet Hearts.

This adorable little quilt top is from a pattern I bought for her a couple of years ago.  She is doing a great job - I love all the yo-yo's !!!

Some more work in progress that she brought with her.   

And finally a piece made of 1/2 inch hexagons.  Yikes!  It is done with English Paper Piecing.  This is what happens when you do Show-N-Tell in a parking lot!  

All in all it was a great day spent with a quilting friend.  I know many of you must have similar quilting adventures with your quilting friends on the road!  It's always fun when quilters get together!

Happy Stitching!

Deb

Sweet Hearts Half-way Mark!

Today being the 1st of July, it is the half-way mark in the Sweet Hearts 2013 project!  I decided to make something special today to mark this half-way point.

The heart block today is half and half.  Not only made out of two different fabrics to represent the half-way mark, but also signifies the quilting styles I love - the traditional and also bright and colorful art quilts.

More rows of heart blocks being pieced together.  The colors make me smile. Half way through and I still love making this little gems.  Like I said, they're like potato chips!

It is getting so large I can no longer take a good photo that shows the whole quilt.  Good thing the rows will start getting shorter soon!  

I put it on the guest room bed for this shot.  That antique bed belonged to my grandparents who were married in the 1920's.

Speaking of potato chips.... Am I crazy.. or doesn't this look like a heart????   LOL

Happy Stitching and Happy Half-way mark to my fellow Sweet Heart quilters!

Deb