Sunday, March 30, 2014

Done and Re-Done!

I finished a block this week, re-did one, and started another!  

I will start with the "Done".  I finished the Ostrich Pair block from the Bountiful Life Quilt.  This block was fun and the only changes made were to the ostrich beaks, and those bird feet!  I learned that ostiches only have three toes on each foot.  That made my life easier! LOL
I had the perfect fabric for the eyes!
Now for the "Re-Done".  First I want to thank everyone that commented on what I should do about that one wrinkled grape leaf in this block.  Most comments said to take it off because it would always bother me, and, of course, you were right!  Easier to re-do it now, rather than later.
Before
After



















You can see the leaf looks much better now!  So happy I listened to my wise quilting friends!
Now this next block is going to be a challenge!  Bird of Paradise.  The block after which the original quilt top was named.  Look at that tail - whew!
 I already know I need to make some changes here.  I have no idea what those two pieces are on the right side of the bird... wings? tail feathers?
Here is the assortment of fabrics I have pulled together for this block.  We'll see how it goes!  I think I will be spending part of my rainy Sunday making tail feathers!

Happy Stitching!

Deb

Linking up at Kathy Quilts Slow Sunday Stitching.
Also linking up mid-week at WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced and Let's Be Social at Sew Fresh Quilts.


Wednesday, March 26, 2014

100 Basket Blocks on the wall...... Take One Down, Sew it Around....

You know the song, right?  Well I have changed it a bit, but you get the idea.  I finished the last of the 100 basket blocks needed for the Lil' Baskets Quilt on Sunday.  It was great to finally get them all done - I can't decide which is my favorite - I like all the colors! 
There is something about muliples of small blocks that appeals to us.  Like Dear Jane, etc., right? Here are most of them spread out on the guest room bed before I started sewing them together.  So pretty!
The quilt from the book (Scrappy Firework Quilts by Edyta Sitar) uses a smaller print in the plain blocks. 
 
 I  chose a larger scale print by Jo Morton from her Bridgeport collection.   
You can see how they look on my design wall with the brown blocks and the rust colors set-in triangles. 
Thankfully we didn't get any of the snow that fell on part of the northeast!  It is a beautiful, sunny day here and hopefully these images will be a distant memory!


What a winter!!!!!



I better get sewing!

Happy Stitching!
 
Deb
 
Linking up at Let's Be Social and WIP Wednesday!  Check out the other projects quilters are working on.

Sunday, March 16, 2014

AQS Quilt Show - Lancaster, PA - Yahoo!!!

This past Friday, my girlfriend Dawn and I attended the AQS Quilt Show in Lancaster, PA.  This has become a tradition and pilgrimage for us for more years than I care to count (25+!!)  While the show and venue has changed over the years, it has always been a show we enjoyed and a wonderful time for two special quilting friends to spend together.  Warning - lots of quilting pictures below!  Sit back and let me take you to the quilt show! Enjoy!
AQS Quilt Week is held at the Lancaster Convention Center on three floors.
After a 2 1/2 hour drive we arrived at the quilt show ready to shop the vendors and see the fabulous quilts!



Lots of vendors on three floors!





Like kids in a candy store!! We wait all year for this!




First Place Bed Quilt: Big Bertha by Margaret Gunn
Incredible quilting!
Zen Garden also by Margaret Gunn - WOW!
Feathers and Farms by Joanne Baeth
The detail on this quilt was amazing!  Done on a home sewing machine.
Close up of the stitching and the barbed wire - which looked almost real!  Texture was also added with the bushes and leaves on the trees. 
Rusty Blooms by Cheryl Kerestes



Love the colors in this quilt!


This alphabet quilt was called A Letter Bit of Baltimore by Janet Stone.  Again, the quilting was amazing. 
The photos don't do these quilts justice!
Whetstones & Stars by Carolyn Rider
Loved this funky bird in a very colorful quilt called Earth & Twig by Kelley Cunningham
Spring Has Sprung in Baltimore by Rita O'Connor & Donna Derstadt
Crime Scene Investigation by Pauline Saltzman
I think this one was Dawn's favorite - as a lifelong dog owner and having recently had a house full of puppies, she can really relate!!







The detail on the dogs was fantastic and the doggy quotes were so funny!

The total look of innocence!

"Here is some of what my Mom bought at the quilt show.  Notice there are no cat treats!!"

Sorry for such a long post - but I hope you enjoyed the quilts. 
This is just a sampling of the incredible quilts at the show.  It never disappoints and always amazes.  The creativity, skill, and artistry of quilters is always a joy!  Congratulations to everyone that shared their art!

Happy Stitching & Happy St. Patricks day!

Deb

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

I Am So Disappointed! Any Suggestions?

So I finished the Fruit Bounty, aka Fruit Salad, block from the A Bountiful Life quilt.  I really like this one becuase it reminds me that Spring and Summer will return after the bitter cold and snowy Winter we have had. 
Here is my finished block.  Isn't it pretty? I definitely made the right choice to go back and add the stems for the cherries.  What was I thinking?  I think I will also embroider some stems on those grapes.  Once the block was complete, I hand washed it and dried it on a towel.
Once it was completely dry, I pressed it on a nice towel - face down.  When I turned it over.. this is what I saw.  OH NO!!  Look at those wrinkles on that grape leaf!! UGH!!!!! 
Does anyone know how to avoid this?  What went wrong??
I tried pressing it again, startching it... nothing helped.




Here are some of close-ups of other parts of the block.


 These grapes really are purple and not as bluish as they appear. 
I am seriously considering getting the seam ripper out and re-doing that grape leaf.  It bothers me everytime I look at the block.  Don't you hate that when it happens?  Any suggestions?

Happy Sewing... and Un-sewing!
Deb


Linking up at Let's Be Social!

Sunday, March 9, 2014

This is Going to be Fun .... and the Best Potato Chips!

I haven't written a new post in couple of weeks so I have some catching up to do.  We were away for the weekend, heading south to the Jersey shore for my father-in-law's 89th birthday.  I took a nice walk along the beach, which was wonderful to do with all the snow we have had this winter.  It was nice to get away to where there was not still 12" of snow on the ground and you could see the grass!  It was in the mid-50's on Saturday!

I finished the Fruit Bounty block from the A Bountiful Life quilt in the car on Saturday.  I like this one because reminds me that Spring and Summer will return!!!!  More about that later.....
I have been looking forward to this next block.  Next in the A Bountiful Life quilt is Ostrich Pair.  I think this one is going to be a lot of FUN!
Here are some of the fabrics I have chosen.  Male ostriches are are more colorful than the females, sporting black, pink, and white feathers, while the females have black and tan feathers.  
 
Over the weekend we stopped in a convenience store and we picked up a bag of these potato chips. Zapp's New Orleans Kettle Style Voodoo chips.  I love the packaging with the Voodoo dolls on the bag!   The chips were really good too! We also tried the Dill Cajun chips  - Gator Tators which were also excellent!  YUM!!!

Happy Stitching!

Deb

Linking up at Slow Sunday Stitching because I did a lot this weekend during the car ride!

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