1857 Album Quilt Update

I've been having a lot of fun working on these blocks from the 1857 Album Quilt by Sentimental Stitches.

 Perfect for some stitching and a cup of tea.

Here are the first six I have appliqued.  They are 10" blocks and I am doing needleturn applique - my favorite method! 

from the Sentimental Stitches web site. 

 I really like working in one color and I think these blocks look great in blue and white. The original quilt, which you can see here, is red, green and cheddar.

 Here is my fabric pull from my stash for these blocks.  As I said in my last post, I won't be making all 64 blocks.  Maybe around 36 should be enough!

Also some inspiration from the plate collection on my living room wall. 

 Here are some closer looks at the blocks.  I am not stitching them in any particular order.

However, I focused on the blocks with hearts for the month of February. 

Some stitching by the fire. Although we have been in the 70's the past couple of days.  Unheard of for February in New Jersey!  But I am not complaining!!

 

 I will be working on finishing up this block today.  Looks perfect for Spring!

I have a nice cozy place to stitch in my living room, which is perfect.  I hope you get to do some slow stitching today.

Until next time...

Happy Stitching!

Deb

Winter Blues - January Update

I know a lot of you have had the winter blues this year with lots of snow.  My heart goes out to you living in the northwest who seem to not be getting a break from the snow.  Fortunately (don't say it!) we have been very lucky here in the northeast with very little snow thus far. 

But what I mean by Winter Blues here are some of the projects I have been working on the past month.  I seem to be working with a lot of blue.. must be the season.  I hope to get the binding on this tabletopper I made for my coffee table.  This is from a pattern by Primitive Gatherings.

It will go well with my snowman pillows which I made two years ago.  These are my own design. 

I used my favorite method for HST (half square triangles) - the Star Singles hst paper by Spinning Star.  I can make 8 HSTs with each paper and they come out very accurate. Easy peasey!

Unfortunately this 28" x 28" table topper did not go together as 'easy peasy' as it should have. Can you see the problem here?  Well, I didn't see it until I had it all pieced together... obviously not paying attention!  My husband said that it still looked like a snowflake (he's so sweet), but I knew if I didn't fix it, it would always bother me.  I know you  understand. :-)

That error resulted in some of this....

Once I got it sewn together correctly, I free motion quilted swirls in the blue patch area and machine stitched 1/4" in the white areas. 

I also have been working on some blue and white applique.  These are the first two blocks of the 1857 Album Quilt by Sentimental Stitches.  I have been seeing these blocks posted to Instagram and finally (caved ) joined in.  I can't say I am going to make all 80+ blocks, but these first two have been fun.  I have wanted to make a blue and white quilt for awhile.  This seemed to fit the bill.. we'll see  how it goes.  

Sentimental Stitches post the patterns (3-4 a month) on their blog and you can also purchase previous month's blocks on their online store.  

That is my January update.  Where did the first month of the year go??

Oh... I have one more January update to show. 

If you follow me on Instragram you have already seen this, but I can't help sharing again because I am such a proud aunt.  The top photo is of my nephew, Chris, who worked in the Whitehouse for the Obama administration.  About 2 weeks before the end of his term, appointees were invited to have photos taken with the president.  So cool!  

The bottom photo includes my brother, sister-in-law, my niece Brigit (far right), my nephew Sean (far left) and Chris's girlfriend. 

Happy Stitching!

Deb

I am linking up at Kathy's Quilts Slow Sunday Stitching since that is what I plan to do the rest of the day!

Playing with Baskets

Yesterday I decided to pull out these basket blocks that I have had for quite a while to THINK about putting this quilt together.  The receipt in the bag with the pattern, my finished blocks, and fabrics says November 2008.  Don't ya think it's time???  

This is a quilt pattern by Lori Smith, From My Heart to Your Hands, called Four Seasons: Spring Blooms.  The blocks are 7 1/2" x 7 1/2" finished. 

 I saw it at my LQS and had to make it.  Here is the photo of the original quilt from the front of the pattern. 

First I started playing around with the layout of my blocks.  Hmmm.. what would they look like without that green sashing? And with the little baskets around the sides, rather than in the middle?  Hmmmm.  I kind of like the busy-ness of this.

Then I cut some sashing strips and put them up on my design wall with the little baskets, like the original pattern.  Hmmmm.  Very soothing.

I have only made 4 of those green leaf appliques for the corners (see pattern photo) and probably will not use them after all. 

What if I added some green setting triangles with the little baskets?  Of course now I would have to make more little baskets. :-)  Green would also be used in the corners.

I even threw the border fabric up on the design wall to take a look...

Seems that I have created a design dilemma for myself...  What do you think?  I always appreciate feedback from my blog friends!

I have continued to quilt the red and white Oak and Reel quilt.  I am really loving hand quilting at night while watching TV.

Just a quarter inch around my design and in the triangles.  Next decision will be how to quilt the borders. 

Decisions, decisions, decisions.. I love it!

Happy Stitching,

Deb

Linking up at Kathy's Quilts on Sunday Slow Stitching. 

Summer Cosmos

I started an applique project earlier this summer... (always have to have an applique project going!)  And Eileen asked what the piece with the scalloped edge was in my last post.  :-)  Good catch Eileen!

Do you remember this from my last post?  Stitching on the deck while on vacation at the beach. 

Let me show you what I have been doing.  Here is the fabric pull for this project.  Light blue/green, tan, medium green, brown, and a little pink.

The blocks are called Meadow Cosmos from the book In the Meadow by Blackbird Designs.  Love Blackbird Designs!!

First block done.

 I am calling them Summer Cosmos since I started this in the summer... and someday hope to hang this in my dining room during the summer season. Make sense? :-)    

I am making four 20" blocks.  Layed out something like this... I'll decide as I go along. :-)

 I am using a couple different methods for laying out my applique pieces.  Here I have ironed down the freezer paper template I use for the scalloped ring applique.  I will trace around it with a water soluble pen.

This will help with placement of the flower points that go under the scalloped ring.   You can see the blue pen markings here. 

 For the leaves and stems I decided to use the plastic template method rather than tracing the pattern onto the fabric.  This method comes from Piece O' Cake designs and I have used it in the past with success. 

This is a 12 gauge, heavy, clear, upholstery plastic cut to the size of my block and then the pattern traced onto it with a sharpie permanent marker. 

 The leaves can then be moved into place under that plastic using the markings as a guide and pinned or basted in place. I like this for multiple blocks of the same design.  

 Pinned in place and ready for stitching.  Easy Peasey!

I have finished the second block and now am working on the third.  Stay tuned!

Happy Stitching!

Linking up today at Kathy's Quilts - Slow Sunday Stitching.  She is working on a beautiful bow tie quilt.  Check it out along with all the other stitching going on today!

Deb

Beach, Lighthouses, Quilt Shops.. and Relaxation!

We just returned from a week at the beach.  We take our summer vacation at the end of summer when  most of the vacationers are gone and we can enjoy the late summer days without the crowds.  For anyone who has grown up in a resort area, like my husband, you know that late summer is the best time of year at the shore. 

North Wildwood, NJ Seawall

Anyone who follows me in Instagram has seen some of these pictures during the week. 

It was also my husband's birthday and we visited some lighthouses.  One of his favorite things to do. 

We visited Hereford Inlet Lighthouse in N. Wildwood, NJ.  My husband grew up just a few blocks from this lighthouse. 

They have done a beautiful restoration and have beautiful gardens around the lighthouse.

Love the butterfly sign.

My mother-in-law used to have these pretty purple flowers in her garden. 

We had perfect days with blue skies.  Perfect for walking the beach

We also took several trips to Cape May, NJ for shopping and dinner. 

There was always time at the end of each day for some stitching and sipping. :-)

On Friday we took the ferry from Cape May to Lewes, DE.  My wonderful husband took me to two great quilt shop - Serendipity and Mare's Bears Quilts.  He even found time for a cat nap while I shopped. 

 Serendipity Quilt shop in Dagsboro, DE had a large selection of reproduction and traditional fabrics.

Mare's Bear's Quilts Lewes, DE had some great deals on modern fabrics. 

Two great shops!  I would recommend them if you are in Delaware anytime. 

I was also able to get the binding and label done for this baby quilt for someone at work. Love the backing fabric on this one.  I have had this in my stash a long time and it was perfect. 

I was even able to get this quilt basted together before we left to come home. So much easier without my feline helpers! LOL  I am hoping to big stitch this one. 

 

It was a fun week... good food, great weather, a birthday, and two quilt shops!

Happy Stitching!

Deb