I Like Thursday #200

It's time for I Like Thursday! A bunch of us bloggers post happy and uplifting posts every Thursday. Please visit LeeAnna over at Not Afraid of Color to find links to more of these posts. We all hope she's feeling better soon. My husband has finally placed the birdbath in front of our house among the roses. I love watching the birds play in the water. It's really summer now! I hope the cats don't get too mad!

This week's Schoolhouse Dash blocks were two Bear Paw blocks. They measure 12.5" square. Once those triangles were done, the block was easy. I think this would be a great stash buster if you used multiple fabrics. Those triangles would definitely be a pain to make. 

 My 4 pomegranates are ready to be appliqued.  This block hasn't been too demanding. I also have 8 leaves left to applique as well. Two applique blocks left after this one! I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel!

I finally started quilting Picnic Flowers. I'm using the pantograph Malachite. Malachite reminds me of meandering or stippling but larger and more map-like. I really love how it looks. I quilted 2 passes this morning since we're expecting bad weather this afternoon. My longarm is covered and unplugged so the thunderstorms are not a threat. Tomorrow should be better weather.

I wish you all a great weekend. Stay safe if you're having bad weather. 

Picnic Flowers & Malachite

It's hot again but I've been keeping busy. I loaded Picnic Flowers on the longarm. This took awhile since it measures 96" square. I tried to break it up. I pinned one side of the backing as well as the quilt top. Then I change the needle and get the bobbins ready. I try to clean and oil the bobbin area before I start too. 

Then, I go back and pin the top of the backing. I add the batting and sew the top of the quilt top. Then, it's time for the pantograph to get lined up. I chose this pattern since it reminds me of a topographical map. I thought it would look nice over that floral fabric. I tend to quilt lots of feathers and flowers. I thought I needed a change!

This all takes awhile so I do better if I spread it out over a few days. I'm at the point where I'm practicing my pantograph without actually sewing it. I was going to start actually stitching it today but we're expecting thunder storms so I just might wait.  Longarms and thunder storms don't mix! I hope to have a picture with real quilting on the quilt. Let's hope the weather cooperates!!

I Like Thursday #199

Welcome to I Like Thursday! Boy, do the weeks fly by! Please visit LeeAnna over at Not Afraid of Color to link up to more fun posts from a great list of bloggers. Also, LeeAnna is feeling under the weather so wish her well! My hydrangea are blooming. With all this rain, I thought I'd have a ton of flowers but they're just starting to blossom. I'm hoping we get more! I really love this blue shade. It reminds me of the sky.

This week's blocks for Schoolhouse Dash was Birds in the Air. I thought they would take a while since I had to make 8, but they were quick to make. Once you make those half square triangles, it's a fast block to make. Of course, half the block is just fabric so that helps!

I've started my next applique blocks for Carrie Hall's Sampler. This one is called Pomegranate and measures 20.5" square. My husband says it looks like it's running! I have leaves and blossoms to add so I think the look will change. I actually have to fun to JoAnn's to buy purple thread. I just ran out!

Here's our vegetable garden. Nothing has blossomed yet but we're hoping it will pick up soon! The plants are all growing well. We just want a few veggies! I think my mother has had 2 tomatoes from her plants. It seems like a slow year to get going. We're still hopeful!

That's it for me this week. It's been hot and humid so I've been staying indoors. My sewing room is always cool! Have a great weekend!

Picnic Flowers

This isn't the best picture but Picnic Flowers is done! It measures a whopping 96" X 96"! That's why I can't take a nice picture of the entire quilt. I think you get the idea. It needs to be ironed and then I'll load it onto the longarm.

This is Picnic Flowers without the outer borders. It measures about 92.5" square at this point. I was going to custom quilt it but I've decided against it. That busy fabric, although beautiful, will keep you from seeing the quilting. I think I'm going to choose a nice edge to edge pantograph. I'm excited to get this one quilted Victoria Findlay Wolfe designed the pattern as well as the fabric. She's so talented!

I Like Thursday #198

I missed I Like Thursday last week due to internet issues. Verizon thought it was just our house and we were supposed to wait for technicians to come out to the house. I guess it was a larger issue. I think it was the whole area. It's back and it seems fine. I hope it stays that way! Glad to be back! Make sure you visit LeeAnna over at Not Afraid of Color to read more fun posts. Anyways, my mom was trimming her shrubs and found this nest in the middle of one of them. She left them alone but showed me later. I took the picture but the mom doesn't look too happy! I think it's a mockingbird but I'm not sure. Can anyone tell what type of bird this is? You could hear her babies wanting to be fed when she flew away. So cute!

I'm putting the large blocks together for Picnic Flowers. This block measures 40.5" square. I have to make 4 of them and then add sashing and binding. It's really fun to see this quilt come together. I don't usually buy kits but I did enjoy this one. The fabric is just gorgeous. Victoria Findlay Wolfe never disappoints!

These are the blocks for this week's SchoolHouse Dash Sew Along. I think I'm about halfway through making blocks for this quilt. They're fun and all finish at 12.5" square.

My blocks have been coming out perfect thanks to Bloc Loc. I usually make my half square triangles a little larger and then use Bloc Loc rulers to cut them down to the correct size. This method seems to work well for me. My sewing is much more accurate this way. 

It's been so hot the last few days. I'm so thankful for my air conditioner! I hope you have a cool weekend!

Leaders and Enders/Oopsie Daisie

Bonnie Hunter annually posts a leader and ender challenge. This year it's been called Oopsie Daisie. She had an earlier pattern called Ditch Lilies. It seems that someone screwed up the order of the added triangles and Oopsie Daisie was born! She has 2 different size blocks that you can make. I opted for the larger block. Each strip starts at 2" wide X 5" long. Then you add the 2 little triangles and sew it together like a pinwheel. Ta-Da! It measures 9.5" square.

This is the individual unit that makes up the block. It's made of one neutral strip with a colorful strip either side. Add those little triangles and one unit is done! I thought this block was a little tricky the first time I made it. You also have to be careful about the placement of those triangles. I feel it will get easier the more I make. Bonnie's challenge lasts one year. It's just a nice project to have ready when you want to reduce those pesky scrap bins! I plan on making lots more!

Catch up Time

I've been so busy! I'm happy to be posting again. We had a great 4th of July but it's been so hot. I've also been tutoring and had to take my mom to the doctor for a check up. It's so hard to get everything done with a holiday thrown in the middle of the week. I did try to get some quilting time into my days. I ordered this violet wideback for my Picnic Flowers quilt. It's from P&B Textiles. The colors are a little more vibrant than this picture shows. The quilt top is almost done!

My son and his fiancee brought these fat quarters for me from Portland, Maine. I love the sewing theme! I'll have to find a fun project for them. Maybe a table topper?? I'm still looking around.

It's supposed to be hot over the weekend. I'll probably stay inside with the A/C on. It's the only way to get through this heat!!

Sampler Quilt/Happy 4th!

I've sewn together most of the blocks I've made for Carrie Hall's Sampler Quilt. I still have one more row to sew on. Of course, I have 3 applique blocks still to make. I thought sewing the quilt together would be a nice break from all the applique. I really love it so far. I have no idea what sort of border to make but I have awhile to think about it! I measures about 70" X 45".

Happy 4th of July! I'm having company tomorrow so I thought I'd wish you all a happy holiday today. Enjoy!