WIP Wednesday- Itty Bitty Finish

 I have two finishes to report this week, courtesy of my new weight loss plan. I realized that when I'm sewing, I'm not snacking. More sewing = less snacking = pounds lost. Win-Win!!

Earlier today, I finished an itty bitty mini for the Schnitzel and Boo mini quilt swap.  The flying geese variation blocks go way back to twiddletails' Geese in the Forest BOM in 2009. The original blocks were 6", I reduced mine to 3", and for this mini, I reduced them further to finish at 1.5"! This tiny quilt is only 8" square.

I always get nervous when it comes time to quilt these little pieces. I wanted something wavy, like the quilting on my 2009 piece.

On the back, I added folded triangles in the top corners for hanging (just insert a dowel or bamboo skewer cut to size).

I had fun photographing this little cutie on various backgrounds: green kitchen wall, rhododendron bush, yellow living room wall, gray front porch siding.

 The other finish this week was my T quilt. Read more about it here.

Next up: I picked up Pete's quilt today from the quilter and it's ready to bind. And our t-shirts for boot camp graduation arrived today. I'm getting so excited to see him again!

T is for Tina

I've wanted to make a T quilt since a fellow Ninigret Quilter, Fran, was making a mini T for her husband, Tom, about 20 years ago.  Fast forward to Anita Grossman Solomon's visit to Ninigret this past August. She showed us her new T block quilt and I offered begged to be a pattern tester (as if Anita needs a pattern tester). She sent me a copy and here is my completed T!

When it came time to quilt it, I wanted to somehow echo the T theme, so I quilted straight parallel lines in a large T shape. I drew the orange lines so you can see the shape.

Outside the large T, there are free motion flowers. I needed something swirly to contrast with the straight lines.

I used my new Halo tool for the free motion quilting and I LOVE IT! It is a Sharon Schamber product that I purchased from Pat Ferguson at A Quilters' Gathering last week. I had heard amazing reviews of this thing and it lives up to the hype. It takes a little getting used to, but it was a pretty quick learning curve.

 I have never attempted micro stippling until now. I felt I could do it with the Halo.

The only time I had any trouble was when I quilted the border on a side that was trimmed a little close to the edge (not the one pictured). The Halo slipped off the edge of the batting and got "stuck" on the bed of the machine. No harm done. I slid it back over and continued on my way. (I do use a teflon slider on my extension table. You need a big flat slippery surface to use the Halo.)

I'm using this striped binding on all my new bedroom accessories. (See the Sea Glass pillow here.)

 Yes, it's going to hang in my bedroom, but it looks so good on my green kitchen wall. My husband, Bill, wants to know when I'm starting the B quilt. Oh, I have a plan for him! Mwahaha!

Quilt Stats:

T is for Tina

Block designed by Anita Grossman Solomon

(Look for it in a future issue of Quiltmaker magazine)

Blue & green modern scraps, Kona white background, V&Co border

47" X 48"

Started September 3, 2013

Completed November 4, 2013

Road Trip

The Ninigret Quilters hopped on a bus yesterday for the 3 hour drive to New Hampshire for A Quilters' Gathering. I had never been to this show before, so I ignored my loathing for bus rides and joined in the fun!

With a half-quilted quilt at home, I was on the hunt for filler quilting inspiration. This amazing modern quilt by Rose Orr knocked my Red Sox off!

There was a lot more appliqué in this show than we're used to seeing, with lots of cool filler quilting around it.

This anniversary quilt by Carol Smith glows!

And then there's the haul from the fantastic vendors!

V and Co. yummies,

some necessary tools, including a Sharon Schamber Quilt Halo, 

aqua for Julia, plum and mustard for the mini swap, and I could no longer resist a bit of The Boo Crew.

On the way home, we stopped at the Quilted Crow, a really lovely shop.

 

 It was a wonderful, inspiring day!

WIP Wednesday

I thought I would miss out on WIP Wednesday, and then I realized it is still Wednesday. I'm typing this as we watch the Red Sox leading in game 6 of the World Series. I need to do something with all this nervous energy!

Finished (for now): Pete's quilt has been delivered to my machine quilter, Pat Harrison. We chose a nifty stars and stripes pantograph. 

In Progress: I had a package of queen sized batting that I trimmed down for Pete's quilt. I looked around to see what I could use the leftover batting for and immediately saw the T quilt top. I dug out the backing, and it was layered and pin basted in no time. Now to decide how to quilt it.

That's about it for now. I'm heading to the Gathering on Friday with a shopping list. Then I can start working on the mini quilt for the schnitzel and boo swap.

Pete's Album Quilt Top

Pete's quilt top is done! It looks a little funny in this pic with some light shining through from behind, but you get the idea. Bill is standing on the piano bench and it is almost hanging floor to ceiling. It will fit a twin bed nicely. I think that's all he'll need for a while as single Marine, hopping from one training to another. He'll be in barracks or dorm-style quarters for some time.

 

I paper-pieced the borders on my new Featherweight. The pile of trimmings is proof!

I tried adding the borders to the top by Featherweight, but had a little problem. Skipped stitches after the bulk of the seams, or maybe because it didn't like running over pins. I had to go back and repair a bunch of these holes. I'll have to me more careful.

An additional 2" of navy made for a nice, finished edge.

 

The back is pieced from a Quilts of Valor text print down the middle, a strip of white on each side, and the star print on the edge. Can you read the text? 

Thank You, Home Safe, Miss You, Proud of You

 I managed to not cry as I pieced the back, which was a major accomplishment. 

I cried all day yesterday for no apparent reason. Pete is recovering from the pneumonia, but lost his squad leader billet since he was missing training for 4 days before the initial drill inspection. He missed the actual inspection as well because he went for a medical follow up. Still waiting to hear if he is back to a full training schedule. I'm sure he'll regain some leadership role soon.

Game 3 of the World Series tonight. Go Sox!

WIP Wednesday

Wednesday is my favorite quilty day of the week. I enjoy taking stock each week and re-prioritizing the to-do list. 

Finished: The Ninigret Quilters show has come and gone. I'm happy that it was a fun and successful show. See you all in 2015!

At the top of the list: Pete's album quilt. He is half way through boot camp, so I'd better get moving on getting his quilt done! I was prepared to take it to my machine quilter with no borders. But when I took it out to piece the backing, I wasn't happy with the borderless look.

Now, I'm planning a dark blue border and striped bias binding. But Bill likes a pieced triangle border. I don't have a lot of time, so a decision must be made. It looks like I'm heading to the LQS after lunch.

Next on the list: Mini Quilt Swap using these fabrics, plus a few more from stash. My partner has a Forest of Geese in her inspiration mosaic, so I shrunk the patterns down to mini size. One and a half inch geese blocks? That's right up my alley!

Head on over to Freshly Pieced and check out the adorable blocks Lee is working on!

Quilt Show Wrap Up

 I forgot to show you the Ninnie Nines. I was really happy to have five completed quilts from our nine patch swap to display. Mine is the one hanging in the middle. Don't you love the Sister's Choice with black points on the bed?

Julia and I had some fun in the Westerly Armory museum. I pasted a picture of Pete's head onto this uniform and sent it to him with the note, "This will be us on December 13!"

 (Please say a quick prayer for Pete. He was diagnosed with pneumonia on Thursday, which is not uncommon in boot camp. He was on one day bed rest and 3 days light duty. He should be back to a full training schedule by now. It looks like he will be able to stay with his platoon and graduate as scheduled.)

Bob Harrison, Featherweight dealer/repairman and my machine quilter's husband, presented me with a Featherweight skeleton as my reward for winning best of show! It was part gag gift/part real gift. I was told I could trade it in for a working machine. I've wanted a FW since I met Bob at least 15 years ago. I told him this was the year, so he sweetened the deal!

 

Ellie Coffey, my friend and president of the guild, gave me this enormous, gorgeous bouquet!

It was great to have Bill and Julia there, but we missed Pete. When my kids were little, they used to come to the show wearing their Halloween costumes.

What goes up must come down. In just over an hour, the Armory was just an empty drill hall once again.

 

No, I did not trade in the gutless machine.  She is my major award!

I did finally buy a Featherweight! She was born in 1938 and she is so pretty!

It's time to start stitching and planning for the 2015 show!