Trip Around the World

I have been dragging my feet on this one! This is the Trip Around the World block for Long Time Gone. I cut my main color squares once I figured out what colors I wanted. The block consists of 13 X 13 rows. That's a lot!  I cut 84 background squares and I'm finally ready to sew.  I'm thinking of setting up my block and subdividing it into smaller sections. I think it will be easier to sew this way. I'll find out soon enough!

Fabric Extravaganza 2019

I made my way over to Fabric Extravaganza 2019 in Nashua, NH. There were about 10 quilt shops vending and their prices were great! However, as you can see in the pictures, it was so crowded! I don't enjoy having to weave through a ton of people in a small area. I did get some shopping done but I didn't stay quite as long as I had expected.

I wanted to try this pressing mat made out of felted wool. I read the top and bottom of the block get ironed at the same time. They only had the small size left but I grabbed it anyways! 

I got this cute little book for $2.50! It's got some unique pillow patterns. Great for scraps!

I got this cute little group of fabrics. I like that it's a sample of prints as well as solids.

I got this pantograph also. I spied a little bucket of pantographs right before we left. Lucky find!

They even fed us! It was a fun sale. My friends and I went out for lunch when we were done shopping. It was a fun quilt day for me!!

GTSB Last Blocks Quilted

I'm so excited! The body of Green Tea Sweet Beans is all quilted. I just have the bottom border left! I found a great place to quilt feathers on this block. All of the other pieces were just quilted in the ditch. I free motioned a little meander in the background.

This block was rather large. I made a swirl with echoed flowers. The applique of flowers and stems were all outlined. 

This is just a close up of the previous picture. You can see the free motion flowers a little better.

I will start working on the remaining border this week. It's too bad I have to work tomorrow during a snowstorm. I'd rather stay home and quilt!

More Quilting GTSB

I'm in the home stretch! This is my last full row until I hit the border. I'm sort of running out of ideas! I used rulers and free motion quilting to quilt this block. 

I outlined each piece and made loops in the light triangles.

I did the same thing in this block. I outlined each piece and quilted clam shells in the light areas.

As I make my way down the quilt, I also quilt the borders. They quilt up pretty fast. 

The whole time I'm quilting, Molly is keeping an eye on things. This chair is filled with practice pieces. She thinks it's a comfy place for a nap.

The chair is a better place than actually sitting on the quilt while I'm quilting. Fresh kitty!!

More Carolina Chains

I made 2 more blocks for Carolina Chain by Bonnie Hunter. I'm also using fabrics from my (almost never ending) scrap bag for this quilt. This is a long-term project for me. As I make quilts, I cut the necessary pieces I need to make one of these blocks. When I get enough, I'll sew a few blocks. 

I've made 28 blocks so far. I have quite a few to go! I love the scrappiness as well as the fact that my stash is being used. As I work through Long Time Gone, I'll make more blocks for this quilt as well. It's a good thing I like scrap quilts!

Jacob's Ladder Block

This is the Jacob's Ladder Block for Long Time Gone quilt by Jen Kingwell. I made 9 individual blocks that measured 4 1/2 inches square. I sewed them all together and this block measure 12 1/2 inches square. 

Here's my quilt so far! There are 16 different block patterns. It looks like I have 12 more to go! 

Curved Cross Hatching and Straight Lines

I love making progress on Green Tea Sweet Beans. I'm about 3/4 of the way there! I'm not very good at quilting for hours. I'm much better quilting for a little while and then going back later so progress is slow but steady. I decided to really make the applique pop in this block. I quilted very close straight lines in the background and outlined each applique piece. I basically held a straight ruler next to my foot and just kept on sewing up and down. 

I felt this fabric was busy enough for me to try out curved cross hatching. I didn't mark a thing. I just followed the lines on my curved ruler. It's not perfect but I got some great practice. I also learned how to outline around applique pieces. I didn't think you could use a straight ruler but you can! You just use the straight ruler to move around the applique piece which is a great guide for your foot. I'm still new at this but I can definitely see how practice helps so much!

As you can see, I have a helper. That's Molly keeping an eye on things. I think she's really interested in the laser light from the long arm. That's what I use to follow pantographs. I usually shut it off but Molly is entertained by it so I leave it on. What we do for our pets!!