Progress September 17, 2011

I have 8 diamond shapes completed!

Insanity Quilt

"Insanity" is my latest long term project to start. It has 10,339 hand pieced 1/2 inch hexagons! It took the original creator, Rhonda Pierce, two years to complete. But this wonder gal from down under also runs a quilt shop and pieces a bazillion other quilts too. It's one of those ultimately satisfying type quilts that I need in my life right. The boys are grown and basically on their own. I find myself on my own more often now, and this is my "i can do it" challenge. I have never hand pieced, so in a way, I feel like I am becoming a real quilter like the gals of yesteryear, and what I call, you real seamstresses.

With Linda Franz's Inklingo, you print stitch lines right on the fabric and piece them on the stitch lines. There are no paper templates and no whip stitch like with English Paper pieced. so far, I love this method.

I plan on journaling my progress, and hope you enjoy it. I created a separate page which has its own tab on the top of my blog. Insanity

My official start date is September 1, 2011.  Three done.... here we go.

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July!  This Buggy Barn Pattern "Star Spangled Banner" has been waiting to be made for awhile, and I finally finished it just in time to celebrate this year, the birth of our Nation

We are so humbled by the sacrifices made by the original Pilgrims, the Founders, and current Americans to maintain the freedom and sovereignty of our Country. Thanks!

 and Happy Birthday America!

BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

While enjoying http://beeinmybonnetco.blogspot.com today I visited the link to a retreat she attended and found this delicious recipe for butternut squash soup. Great directions and yum, is it good. Here is the recipe at Be My Guest's blog: Be my guest in alpine

I can't wait for David and the boys to try it. Be my Guest has a lovely photo of the finished soup!

New Notion- All Steel Flower spool holder!

Yesterday, our owner brought out yet another neato Quilt Market find, this hand crafted flower thread cone holder, made from steel scraps and polished to a beautiful deep brown bronze. 


Well, I just had spent three days diligently cutting my Bonnier Hunter of Quiltville.com strips and squares from years and years of scraps! Wow, what a job.  Okay, promise to self.....cut my strips immediately after a quilt project like Bonnie suggested at the Guild lecture that I saw her at (Still my happiest quilty day this year). That will make the next strip cutting session easier, phew.

Back to my new thread cone holder!  At least I didn't buy any new fabric......

www.paulsmetalpetals.com  isn't that a great name

The polished steel is shiny and beautiful

The right side peg is for holding bobbins!

Here's my scraps and some of my folded fabrics a little more organized:

Hope you have a fun quilting day!

Brandon Graduated from College

Our youngest son, Brandon graduated from college on Saturday. He attended Cal State University San Marcos which is about 15 miles from home. He will start his Masters degree in the fall.

We are very proud of Brandon and his positive, hard working attitude. Our three sons are the richest blessing in our lives.  Second son, Cory will be done with college next spring, and Our oldest, Kyle, is working full time in the work a day world, and enjoys being on his own.

I finished a second baby lamb quilt for a quilt shop sample and now I am back to a big flag quilt I have been working on. The pattern is a buggy barn one that has been around for awhile. Pics to come soon I hope.




 

Baby Quilt with lots of Pink and cute lambs

This pattern is Baa Baa Blankie by Bonnie Sullivan

I used chenille for the bodies

Instead of all lambs I modified the pattern with with alternating 16 patches with lots of pinks that I have been longing to use in a quilt

I just love the little rolling wheels on the lambs.

This is a Robert Kaufman flannel - sooo soft and Pink!