Patriot Quilts

Our Quilt Guild did 2 group quilts. One is totally completed and the second the top is done and is off to the long armers.

 

This one was made from a Fons & Porter kit that I had for years and never got too. I donated it to the group and different people worked on the blocks of their choosing. Amazingly very few of the blocks came in at the wrong size so it was fairly easy to assemble. We will raffle it off at our Quilt Affair in 2 weeks. It really turned out good.

 

 

This one was basically the same blocks with everyone using fabrics of their own. It will be raffled off to a member at some later date. There are a few differences with this one. Some people did extra blocks and there were some blocks not done at all. I used the extras that were done so some of the blocks in the first one aren't in this one. On this one I did the flags and the 2nd block down on the left under the stars in circles.

 

I enjoyed doing this project, but am glad to finally have both of them gone.



WIC Quilt

This is the 1st of a few quilts that I will be doing for the WIC program. I love the circus theme, and the striped fabric reminds of the circus tent. Hope to do a few more for that program when I have more time.

I should have pictures of 2 group quilts soon.

Balloon Glow

This year the hot air balloons haven't been able to launch. Too much rain in the area or too much wind. Disappointing. It is so much fun to watch then ride the airstream. They did set up to do a glow last night. They can be quite beautiful. This is a picture from last year's glow. We didn't hang around for it this year. It was just too muggy. It is really pretty when they do a twinkle. That is when they turn their burners on and off quickly so the different balloons flash like Christmas lights. Hopefully next year will be a better year for it.

 

 

Car show quilt

The car show quilt is done. It took me awhile to come up with an idea that I liked for it. Found the fabrics for the blocks on ebay. This is a lap size quilt about 42" square, and I am pleased with the way it turned out.

 

Paper Pieced BOM Block 1

This is the first block of a 12 block paper (or foundation) pieced block of the month. I'll be doing it scrappy. There will be wedges on the 4 corners to square them up, but I will decide on that fabric when more of the blocks are done. It looks more complicated than it is. These blocks are done with six wedges to make up the whole.

I have 2 more blocks to do to catch up to where I am supposed to be, but they go fairly quickly. I really looking forward to seeing this one done.

 

DONE!!!!!

Finally finished my part of the guild's group quilt. I did 4 of the blocks and managed to get them all assembled without too much fudging. Now our long arm quilter will do her magic and then another lady in the guild will put the binding on. I think it turned out pretty good. It will be raffled off at our Quilt Affair in September.

 

This is two of our lilac bushes this year. Last year with the mild winter then the spring frost not to mention the extremely dry weather, we didn't have near as many flowers. They are so beautiful this year.

 

Busy Weekend

We started the weekend attending the First Communion Mass for our youngest grandson. Isn't he handsome. It was a wonderful service with about 52 children receiving this sacrament. He had longer hair and recently got this haircut. It really makes him look more grown up. He wants a military cut like his Dad, but was told to wait until after this weekend. It is always fun to see the young ones all dressed up in white dresses and suits; and then there is their reaction to drinking the Sacramental Wine.

 Unfortunately, we also had to stop by the funeral home as DH's former boss (owner of the company) died. He was a wonderful, caring man who suffered from ALS for the past year.

 

On Mother's day we had dinner with DH's family. It was wonderful to spend time with everyone, but the restaurant did leave something to be desired. They appeared to be seriously understaffed for the occasion. At least the food was excellent.

Is Spring finally here?

We have had a solid week of spring like weather, so I am hoping that winter is done in our area. I feel for those that are still getting snow. Aside from it being time for winter to be gone, it is going to make it harder for the farmers to get their crops going.

This quilt is for our neighbor's baby. I did it quilt as you go. 3 1/2" strips that I sewed to each other through all the layers. Sewed the first 2 strips together. Flipped the second strip up and ironed it and then proceeded to attach the third strip etc. It is a fast way to do a small quilt. Eash strip on this one is different. The backing is a dinosaur print that I used on the front of the next quilt.

This quilt is for a great nephew that was born a month ago. I love the dinosaur's, they are so cute. I just did pinwheels between each strip. The pinwheel blocks strips are different sizes. the backing on this one is dogs of all breeds. Glad these 2 are done now onto the next project which I am doing for our church's car show in July.

Spring weather coming

We will be in the 50's today. It is a long time coming, but won't be long before I will be complaining about the heat.

I have some projects with deadlines, and as tends to happen I am dragging my feet on getting them done. I have made progress on my hand piecing projects, but none on the machine. I must get back to it today or I will really run out of time. Today and tomorrow will be dedicated to finishing one niece's quilt so I can move on to laying out the group quilt from our Quilt Guild that I am assembling.

I am seeing more and more birds out by my feeder. The usual winter group is there, but I am also seeing the robins and yesterday saw a couple red-wing blackbirds. Looking forward to being able to set my hummingbird feeders out again.

The trees are starting to get buds and our pussy willow tree is growing those lovely soft buds. Well....must get started on my sewing.

Group Quilt

Our Guild is doing a group quilt to auction off at our quilt affair in September. It is a block of the month that I got sometime back from Fons and Porter. I love the design, just haven't gotten to it.

 

I'm really looking forward to seeing it done. The members will each do one of the months. We might also do a second one using our own fabrics. I still want to do it for myself, but I will use my scraps for it if and when I get to it. Don't you just love the design.

Another one done

Finally, got this small baby quilt done. I've moved faster on some of my bigger quilts. This one is for our next door neighbor who had a little boy. Sometimes I amaze myself. The stripped binding matches at all the joins; even the final one. How lucky was that. LOL  I have enough of these animal blocks to make another small quilt for a local charity.

Patriots in Petticoats Block 2

This block is to honor Ann (Mad Ann) Bailey. She was born in 1742 in England and came to US in 1761. Her first husband was killed fighting Indians, and she vowed revenge. She dressed as a man and rode a black stallion named Liverpool. She became an Army courier and scout, and her belligerent mannerisms and hatred of Indians terrified them, so they named her 'Mad Ann'

Ann enlisted as Samuel Gay on 2-14-1777 in a company of the 1st Massachusetts Regiment. She quickly rose to the rank of Corporal and for reasons unknown, she deserted in less than three weeks. A warrant was sworn out for her arrest and on 3-3-1777 it was discovered that she was a woman. She was fined 50 lbs and given 2 years in prison for 'appearing in men's clothes'.

In 1785 she married again to John Bailey and after his death moved close to her son. At the age of 70, she built her own log cabin and lived there until her death at 83 on 11-22-1825.

Project done

 Another project done. This is the front and the back of a baby quilt for friends. The baby was born the end of December, and is a little girl. Quilt and Pokey Little Puppy book are now ready for delivery.

Time to clean the sewing room again before I start on the next project. Circus theme is next.

Patriots in Petticoats Block 1

This is the first block for the Patriots in Petticoats series. This block is for Deborah Sampson. She was the first known American woman to impersonate a man in order to join the army and fight. At 21 she joined the Continental Army as a man named Robert Shurtleff. She was wounded in the leg and tended her own wounds to escape discovery. When she was later hospitalized with a fever in Philadelphia, the doctor attending her discovered she was a woman and made discreet arrangment for her to be discharged. She was later awarded a pension of $4.00 per month.

It will be interesting to learn about these women.

Warrior Quilt

This is the front of the quilt. It is going to a lady friend who is a AF veteran. She has Parkinson's and is really struggling.

 The Angel was done using 3 fabrics from the front of the quilt. She was added to the back among the pieced blocks that make up the backing. I used all flower blocks on the back of this quilt. We haven't seen our friend in over a year, so we look forward to visiting with her now that she is back in our area.
I really love the fabric that is the background for the angel. It is material I picked up a couple years ago in 4 different color ways. It really has the look of satin doesn't it.

 

Christmas Gift

Just framed for Christmas a note DH got from our second son for his birthday. This son has been a drill seargent, and also has helped run the program over his 20+ years in the Army Reserves. The note reads:

Dad, Thank you for teaching me to be a good father and person in general. I have taken what you gave me and passed it on to my children. I can easily say I'm proud of them. I see many examples of kids raised wrong, without a sense of responsibility or duty. You gave me those characteristics and enabled me to be successful in life.

When I think of all the people I've trained, I know they take a bit of me and incorporate into their lives; so they also get a bit of you and your lessons. I'd like to think lives have been saved because of it.

It's almost Christmas

Can't believe it is almost Christmas. Have to put aside my quilting to get all the baking done. 10 banana/pumpkin/cranberry nut breads to make as well as some cookies. The marathon starts tomorow. Got the top done for the baby quilt. Just need to do the backing and bind it. I think I will use a green for the binding. The Pokey Little Puppy book should be arriving in the mail today or tomorrow to go along with the quilt.

When the baking is done, I will start on a lap quilt for a friend who is veteran and is now in a wheel chair due to Parkinson's. My list of projects never gets any shorter.

December Projects

Finished my bag for the Winter months. It has 2 internal pockets, 2 outside pockets one each front and back and a pocket on each side. Lots of room. It also has a flap that closes the top. Don't you just love the Cardinal fabric.

I've finished one placemat except for the binding. I will do that when they are all completed. I think the fabrics I chose give them a very classy look. She likes teal, and these are lighter shades of it than I gave her last year.

Yeah!! It's Done

The quilt top is finally done. Have 5 projects to finish in the next 3 - 4 months and then I can work on the backing for it.

First, I'm going to make a bag for Christmas, and then 6 placemats for my hairdresser for Christmas. Then I will start on the baby quilts.

Once again, I can't get far enough away from the quilt to get the whole thing in, but you get the idea.

Angels Among Us

I took a paper piecing class at quiltuniversity.com  I liked the angel that was the project. I have finished mine and am quite pleased with it. I just might make her a part of the backing for all my quilts from now on. It would make a nice signature piece, possibly using fabrics from the front of each quilt for the background and her gown. What do you think?