Alaska All Quilted!

 

Alaska is off the frame! The quilting is done! This is the most challenging quilting I've attempted. Most of this quilting design is from the HandiQuilter website. One of the educators showed how she used the design to come up with a quilting plan. I changed some of the designs. I love her use of feathers so I kept that. The border is a little different too. This is such a gorgeous quilt that I wanted the quilting to really show it off. I think I accomplished that!

The binding is all ready to be sewn. I'm going to try and get that done some time tomorrow. I just hope I can find the time to do it. 

Anyone else in New England feel the earthquake this morning?? It happened around 10:22am. I was sewing and thought it was a truck going by the house. When everything seemed to be rattling, I wasn't so sure it was a truck! Turns out it was an earthquake centered off the coast of Maine. I think it measured 3.8 on the Richter scale. Scary!

I Like Thursday #262

It's time for Thursday likes! Please visit LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color to link up to more blogs. We had quite the snowstorm Sunday evening. We were supposed to get 4-8" and ended up with a little over 5". It hasn't melted at all. It's been too cold! I guess it will warm up but very slowly. Oh, well, it is January.

I finished my Spring cross stitch. Isn't it adorable?! I love the bees and butterflies. It made me feel better to work on something to remind me that Winter won't last forever! I still have to finish it. I'll probable make a little wall hanging out of it.

Here's my latest paper pieced mini block. It needs a good ironing but other than that, it's done! I have 3 more blocks to make to finish up the mini quilt.

I picked this up from my local quilt shop. They're sponsoring a quilt show in April. I think it's the only one in my area other than quilt guild shows. I'm hoping to go. It's so fun to see quilts and shop! I miss the bigger quilt shows we used to have.

That's it for me this week. Have a great weekend!!

Frightful Minis - 5 Blocks

I tried to keep away from all social media as well as my laptop yesterday. I watched old TV shows and sewed this block. Trump is scary to me and I didn't want to think about him. So, I tried to do things that would make me relax! This block wasn't too hard but I had to made that stem twice. I wasn't placing the background where it belonged. I finally figured it out and it's done!

Here is the progress on my Frightful Minis. They measure 6.5" square. I think I'll use it as a cute little table topper. I'm watching General Hospital! More escapism! 

I Like Thursday #261 (Late!!)

I'm so late posting for I Like Thursday. Once a week, a group of bloggers post fun and happy likes. Please visit LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color to link up to more blogs. I've been working on Alaska so much these past few weeks. I just finished the last big row of quilting before I start the border. I've had to rip out so much! There are times I was so frustrated but I stuck to it and I'm almost done! I should be finished sometime next week. I can't believe it! I've had to really dig deep and fine tune my quilting skills. I love to challenge myself but this one was really a lot for me! So glad I kept on and didn't give up.

My daughter received this adorable kitty house from her boyfriend's mother. Isn't it just so cute?? It looks so warm and comfy to me. As you can see, Lily likes it too! Molly has also been seen taking a little nap in there as well!

I received this book as a Christmas gift. I just love it! There's also a quilt you can make as each chapter gives directions for a block. Maybe I'll have time once my quilt is all quilted??? Maybe!!

Have a great weekend!!

 

More Progress on Projects

 I've been steadily keeping up quilting on Alaska. I'm almost at the end! I have 2 blocks left to quilt and then I have a few circles of feathers similar to what you see in this picture. The circles of feathers are large and the quilting is done quickly once everything has been marked. I don't plan on taking this quilt off the frame once the quilting is complete. There is so much to the quilt pattern that I'm going to go over the quilt with a fine tooth comb to make sure I didn't miss something. I've had to put the quilt back on the frame for missing a few areas and I don't want to do that again! I also still have one border left to quilt. Almost there!!

Here's my cross stitch project with a little more color added to it! I really love how it's coming out. It's making me think Spring is right around the corner! (Even if it really isn't!!) Just working with some Spring colors helps me to feel better and ignore the cold outside!

Paper Piecing & Cross Stitch

Here are my first 2 completed blocks for the Frightful Fun Halloween BOM. I did get my second shingles vaccine on Tuesday. I was sick for a couple of days but started feeling better yesterday. I did manage to sew a little so I finished my ghost block. I really love working on this project.

I made the eye section first and then added the body. All it needs are it's "wings"!

Here's the completed block. I'll have to wait for February 1 for the next blocks.

We've had bone chilling winds for the last week. (It feels like forever!) It's been cold and so dismal. I decided to cheer myself up by starting a Spring cross stitch project. It's from the Spring 2024 issue of Just Cross Stitch. I think it's actually cheering me up a little bit! Have a nice weekend!!

Halloween BOM Blocks 1 & 2

Our first blocks for the Frightful Fun Halloween Block of the Month were released this past Friday. We were told the blocks this month wouldn't be too hard. We got instructions for 2 blocks that both measure 18.5" square. I made this witch's hat first. I did not think it was easy!!! There were a few seams to match up that just wouldn't cooperate. The seams were not pressed in opposite directions that just added to the difficulty. 

This is a picture I took while making the block. I just work on a section at a time and then put the sections together. This one was made up of 11 sections. I'm glad this block is finished! It came out okay but it took awhile. The directions are easy to follow and the paper piecing is very accurate but those seams were a pain!

I've already started the next block. This is the very top of my ghost! More to come next time. I hope you like his eyes!!

I scheduled my second Shingles vaccine tomorrow. I'm a little afraid! I got really sick after the first one. I'm hoping the second injection won't be as bad the first one. I plan on taking it easy the next couple of days. Hope you stay warm!

I Like Thursday #260

It's time for I Like Thursday! The holidays are officially over. It's so much work to prepare and yet the holidays go by so fast. Our tree is down but not before Molly found a gift she liked to snuggle with and take a nap! Too bad it's a shirt a friend bought for me and it's now covered with fur. Oh, well!!

My daughter received the nicest gift from her boyfriend's uncle at their family swap. He's a restorative carpenter who works with leather as a hobby. He made her the most beautiful pocketbook. It's one of a kind and all hand made. It's such a treasure!

Month 1 is complete for The Quilt Show's Laurel Ridge Block of the Month. They measure 5.5" square. It sounds like we have many more of these to make. I think they're taking it easy on us during the first month.

My second block of the month starts tomorrow but they gave us a freebie for signing up early. It's an 18" X 18" table topper. I'm using it as practice for when the BOM really starts. I have 5 blocks to go for the table topper. They measure 6.5" square. This is so fun and mindless once you start thinking in paper piecing mode.

That's my week. It was busy but I also tried to find time to sew. I'm linking up with LeeAnna over at Not Afraid of Color. Have a great first weekend of 2025!!