WIP Wednesday Finishes

 For me, there's no better motivation for finishing a project than a firm deadline! I've had a very productive week.

Finishes: This baby quilt was made in less than 2 days and was finished a full 24 hours before the baby shower!

Ninnie Nines was actually finished on Thursday before I started the baby quilt, but there was no time to take pics until today. It had to be done for quilt judging on Saturday. If you remember, our guild had a nine patch swap last Spring/Summer. I used a layout from Camille Roskelley's book Simply Retro.

I took an Angela Walters Craftsy class called Dot to Dot Quilting and tried some of the ideas in this quilt. The judge wasn't crazy about my choices (I agree with her), but it's good to have some new quilting designs in my toolbox.

I wasn't sure what to do in the outer border, so I used it as a label and I stitched in the names of all the members who participated in the swap. It's hard to see now that it's washed and crinkly.

Can you read "Ninnie Nines?"  I should have used a heavier thread.

The baking fabric is a cute print that I picked up at JoAnn's on sale.

Being home alone all day, I had to find a way to get a full body shot. Clip hangers on the curtain rod worked pretty well, but it's not taught across the top. (Edited 10/24/18: This quilt was sent to Wilmington, NC to be given to a victim of Hurricane Florence.)

Up next on the to-do list: I need to make a sample quilt for a guild project so we can publicize it at our quilt show next week. I've had the music prints for years. All I bought was the yellow/gold.  I'll add scraps of red and blue leftover from Pete's quilt. It's a simple nine patch design, so it should only take a few days to get it done.

Pete's quilt will be next. I bought this awesome backing fabric. Isn't it perfect?

Speaking of Pete, we have received one letter from boot camp and he sounds great! He told a couple of funny stories, and he was made a squad leader on day 1 with the drill instructors.

My super sweet husband brought home some gorgeous roses. The colors are so lovely!

Oh, how I love WIP Wednesday!

WIP Wednesday

Hello, blogland! I didn't mean to disappear for almost two weeks. I've been under the weather for the past week (allergies/virus/ear infection), but I'm finally starting to feel better. In the middle of all that, I picked up Julia from college for the summer. Yay!  We will be quilting a lot together in the next 10 weeks, so stay tuned!

No finishes to report. Instead, I'll show you my lovely Mother's Day gifts. Gorgeous roses from hubby, a peach bellini scented candle from Julia (we have a thing for bellinis!) and a bracelet from Pete.

I didn't even know this Alex & Ani Marine Corps bracelet existed. I love it!!

In Progress:
Our guild nine patch swap started last night with round 1. Twenty six quilters each swapped sixteen blocks. It will be fun to see what everyone does with them! This is my pile...

and this is Julia's. The blocks we made are at the bottom left.

Here's a peak at a secret project that I need to get moving on, like now! The colors are so yummy.

I pieced this Dory for Julia before she came home. I plan to embroider "Just keep swimming" on the border and make a little wall hanging for her dorm room. The pattern is from Fandom in Stitches, which is a really fun site.

Buyer beware: sometimes, you get what you pay for with free patterns. The eyes were just wrong. I caught one mistake before I started (a line missing at the top of the right eye), but that eye on the left was way wrong. I had to redraw and piece a whole new section to replace it.

I bought some fabric on sale at Fabric.com so I can add a few more things to the to-be-quilted pile. I knew this Martha Negley print would be perfect for the back of the magenta top, but I had no idea how big the grapes would be. Fun, right?

I also purchased a big back (108" wide) for the back of the three by three top. After a good press, this pile will be off to the quilter, Pat at Ocean Waves. I picked up the batting from Ryco with a 40% off coupon. Gotta love those!

I guess my sick leave is over. We'll be back to the machines tomorrow. In the meantime, I'll be browsing the WIP Wednesday entries.

Lucky Charms Part 3

My mother and nephew were here for pizza last night. When my mother arrived, I was cutting out the fusible applique shapes. Here's how our conversation went.

Mom: What are you working on now?

Me: It's an online sew along.

Mom: What's it for?

Me: I don't know. I just liked it.

Mom: Don't you have other quilts you should be working on?

Me: Yes.

Mom: It looks like Christmas. She's using blue?

Me: Well, it's a charm square project, so you use the fabrics in the pack, not necessarily blue.

Mom: Well there is blue on the pattern. Bill is home and he brought you flowers.

Me: Oh.

Mom: It's not your birthday or anything.

Me: Uh huh.

So, my husband a place called the Rose Shack on his way home from work. Every once in a while, he stops to get me some, usually on a Friday. I guess he loves me!

And, yes, I have a list of other projects that I need to start, mostly for family:
a wedding ring quilt (didn't buy the fabric or pattern yet)
a baby quilt (waiting for Dr. Seuss collection)
a commissioned tree skirt (need to buy more fabric)

It looks like I'll be buying fabric this week. Yay!

Totally Random

A little bit of everything today!

Twirly Girl skirt pattern and a jelly roll of Birdie.
Hoping to make 2 of these this week for my niece's little girls.
We can't wait to see them on Saturday.

A baby quilt for Bill's coworker's new baby boy.
Fabric is On the Go by Jill Webster for Clothworks.
Many thanks to Fat Quarter Shop for the speedy delivery!

Big news!
My nephew Christopher proposed to his girlfriend of 8 years yesterday at a covered bridge in Vermont. We're so happy for them both! And you know what this means: Wedding Quilt!!
(photo swiped from Jamie's facebook page)

Bill bought Julia a bouquet of roses for her birthday that faded to an incredible velvety purple-red. Of course, impossible to capture on our cheap camera.

Thank God for the lilacs!
A farmer nearby dressed his field with cow manure.
If not for the lilacs, we wouldn't be able to go outside for a week!

Pete's first at-bat of the season! Yay! I love baseball season!

An osprey family holds court over the baseball and softball fields.
We watched mama bird deliver a couple of fish to the babies during the game.

The Baltimore Oriole couple has returned home to our backyard for the summer. No pics yet. I just caught sight of them this morning. The oranges are out at the feeder for their lunch.

Happy Star Wars Day!
May the Fourth be with you!
(get it? May 4th?)