SYLVIA'S BRIDAL SAMPLER

I finished 2 more SBS blocks tonight.  Gradually making my way through them.  I should do a count.  I think I'm near 50 done.  Lots more to go.

I-9, Yankee Puzzle

K-1, Road to Oklahoma

AIMING FOR ACCURACY

Have you noticed the new button on my blog, for the Aiming for Accuracy quilt-along?  I can always use help with accuracy -- always learning and looking for tips -- so it caught my eye.  Then I saw Mishka's layout, and loved the quilt!  So..................here are the fabrics I pulled.

Most are from the Annie's Farm Stand line.  I love how they fit Edyta Sitar's Rule of 5 -- a large print, a medium print, a small print, a stripe, a dot (you can read more about that in her book, Hop To It).

Now I need to select a coordinate for sashing, border, etc.  Obvious choices are white or black.  But then I thought what about yellow or green?  And then I thought, what about a black/white print?  Choices, Choices. 

Please leave any suggestions in comments.  I love to hear from you.

ANOTHER ROUND ROBIN

This week I worked on another round robin quilt.  Above is how it looked when I sent it off to AZ. 

 

Below is how the quilt looked when it arrived to me.  The first border quilter turned the center on point and added some applique too.  I added the CW print beige strip to set off that part, and to bring it up to a size that would fit my design.  I needed space for an odd number of flying geese to fit each side.

 

Generally the selecting fabric part is one of my favorites.  But this time I selected, cut, and started the stitching several times, before finally being happy with my third choice.

I'm ahead of the game on this swap now.  The next one is due to me late in July.  I hope it comes early, but it's all good.

I also worked on a row for a row swap this week, but that one is top secret until the owner gets it back.    The theme was Harry Potter, so you'll just have to guess what I did -- jelly beans, wizard hats, brooms for quiditch, round eye glasses, ...............?

Now to get back to 'my' stuff.

ROUND ROBIN

I had the opportunity to add the first border, courthouse steps, to Lynda's quilt center.

 

This is how her center looked when I received it.  It's so fun to select fabrics to use, and to come up with a plan!

There are 5 gals in our group, so she'll be getting 3 more borders.  All of the quilts look wonderful so far.  Mine is now safely in Australia, getting it's second border.  Up next here is Lenny's.  More about that one later.

THE DOWNTON ABBEY FABRIC COLLECTION

..........is coming in November, from Andover Fabrics.  Yeah!  I'm pretty sure I'll need a quilt in these!

 

Perhaps I can use fabrics from the Dowager Countess, whom I was said to be like, in a FB quiz.  You can link to the collection here.

NEVER ENDING GRANNY

My Never Ending Granny has grown this week.  It's getting larger as the skeins of yarn in the basket get more and more limp:)

QUILT OK

 

This message is from Bonnie Hunter, Quiltville.

 

 

"Dear Quilters: I have been contacted and asked to spread this info to you. It's important to get the word out to all the quilters you are in contact with, so ...could you please hit share to post this message to your own walls and news feeds?

This is from Ellen Medlock of the Ellen Medlock Studio Store in Tulsa, OK.

"I am honored to start a QUILT DRIVE for OKLAHOMA Tornado Families. If you wish to donate a quilt, please send to our shop- and we will make sure it is placed in the right hands!

Ship to: OK Quilt Drive, c/o Ellen Medlock Studio Store, 10032 S. Sheridan Rd, Suite H-1, Tulsa, OK 74133. (We will be happy to place any kind of blanket, for that matter!)"

Thank you for all you can do to help those who have been so devastated in the tornadoes that have recently swept through Oklahoma. QUILT ON! ♥"

'YARD SALE'

One quilter's excess is another quilter's treasure!  It was 'yard sale' day today at guild.  Jodi and I both participated.

 

Here's a picture after many things were already sold.  There were quite a few participants.  This picture was taken during the meeting, so you can see the tables sans the shoppers:)

 

There were quite a few participants, especially considering that our snow bird members have flown north already.  I was happy with how I did.  My van, with 3 of us and our wares, went home considerably lighter than when we came.

 

We then went to lunch at Applebee's, where I had the California Shrimp Salad, only 20 carbs, and totally Paleo (my new eating plan), and decidedly delicous.  Tuesdays are very fun around here.  Quilting, friends, and lots of laughter.  Does it get any better?

 

Hope you are having a wonderful day too.

NEG PROGRESS

My Never Ending Granny has grown.

 

 

I want to thank Cyn Forrest, of Cyn:-}'s Quilted Travels, for her tip to keep the yarns from tangling.  At first, on the small afghan, I had no trouble using the directions as on the U-tube.  But as it gets larger, it's harder to use the steering wheel analogy.  Cyn's tip is to crochet across one side at a time, with all five yarns.  This makes it much simpler to keep the yarns untangled.  Thanks, Cyn!

MEDALIAN, ROUND 1

Wowzers!  Look what Debbie Madigan did to my center (which I shared in an earlier post) for our medallion swap!  Love, love, love it!  Love everything about it.  The fabrics she chose (using Edyta Sitar's Rule of 5), the way it mimics my shapes, everything!  Thank you Debbie! 

It's now on its way from Arizona to Australia for the next round.

ONE NIGHT'S WORK

Here's how far I got last night.  All the colors are started and the spiral is taking form.

I love how you never break off so there are no yarns to bury.  You do need to turn your work like a steering wheel, back and forth, never completely circling.  That way the yarns don't tangle and twist on each other.

This morning my wrists are reminding me why I don't crochet much anymore.  However, it was fun to do late at night, where the eyes are concerned.  Geesh!  I sound like one o the ancient ones!!!

NEVER ENDING GRANNY

I NEEDED another project.  That's what Cyn said.  What did I say?  I say Cyn made me do it!

 Several of my online friends are making Never Ending Grannies.  Everything is more fun with friends.  You can google Never Ending Granny Afghan to find several sites with directions and even u-tube demos.  I'm using the directions here for mine.

Originally 7 beautiful yarns wanted to play. 

But common sense prevails, and I'm using 5 skeins.

 That will be enough to keep untangled on my first project.

PAINT STRIPS?

 

These hexie strips remind me of quilters paint chips. 

And that I need a manicure and some good wrinkle cream!

PLAYING WITH HEXIES

I'm playing with hexies this morning.  What do you think?  I'm going to try switching a few and taking another pic.  Cameras really help us 'see' things.

All but the last row of these I basted at guild yesterday.  It's amazing how much you can get done if you take hand work along.  I need to have more prepped for Dr. office, etc.

Hope everyone gets some stitching time in today

SYLVIA'S BRIDAL SAMPLER

 

This week's SBS block, F-7, Big T.

GHQA

With all my hexie efforts lately, I was so happy to see that The Great Hexagon Quilt-Along is still active.  Yippie!  What a neat place to get ideas and inspiration.  You can link to it here.

Sew Prim Khris is the originator, and her blog is here

So many projects, so little time!.

HEXIES

Here they are -- 18 sets of 6 hexies, all ready to jump in the mail to swap.  These were to quick and easy to do. 

I think I'll be stitching a table topper with mine.  I don't see an entire GFG quilt in my future, but you never know.

HEXIES

The past few evenings I've been working on hexies.  These are stitched to the papers.  I'm making these to trade with friends so I'm using the prescribed method.  It is very easy and mindless to stitch these while watching tv -- very relaxing.

But really, I think from now on I'll use Inklingo, where the first stitches you take are stitching the hexies together, eliminating the need for the paper pieces.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!  I have a Stashbusters group at the LQS, as well as a First Communion for my Grandson, Devon.

PRODUCTIVE DAY

After making the SBS block yesterday, I whipped up two pillowcases for my guild.  They have the kits ready take and make.  The pillowcases go to kids in the local hospitals.  It's a quick and easy way to  pay it forward and make a difference.

There's a tut on my blog for how I make them -- the rolled way -- all seams enclosed -- super easy.

SYLVIA'S BRIDAL SAMPLER

 

N8, Double Nine Patch is the BOW for SBS this week.  It's pretty straight forward, but fiddly because this is a 6" block, so those little squares are less than 1" square.  The camera does lie.  That background is purple not blue!  One of my goals for the week now with a check mark, LOL!

Round Robin

This is my center for a round robin.  It's an orphan block from a few years back, squared up to size with the narrow border.  We'll be posting pictures of progress as we go, so I'll get to see progress before the end.

Other things I've been working on are secret so can't share yet.

Happy stitching:)

HAPPY EARTH DAY EVERYONE!

SYLVIA'S BRIDAL SAMPLER

After several weeks of no stitching, I got back to my SBS quilt today, and made this week's BOW, B-1 Stamp Basket.

 

As the DJ's say, finished is better than perfect!

HURRICANE SANDY EFFORT QUILT EFFORT

You might remember a few months back, when I made a few blocks for the Hurricane Sandy Relief Quilt Effort, organized by Erin Hutchinson.  When I mailed the blocks off to Erin, I thought that was the end of it. 

I was surprised to get this postcard in the mail today.  It's a thank you for participating.  In the photo is a woman wrapped in one of the quilts holding a thank you sign.  What a nice surprise!

Erin was surprised to receive blocks from over 200 quilters.  To date over 35 quilts have been delivered, and there are over 10 more in various stages of completion.

Here is a link to Erin's blog:
http://vesuviusmama.blogspot.com/

A WIN

I recently won this book from Sandy Blackwell.  My signed copy arrived last week.  She has an interesting way of sering rectangular pieces together, cutting apart, shifting around, and re-sewing, to make these blocks -- square-agonals.

The instructions are excellent and very detailed.

It's always nice to be a winner:)