Red Sampler Sashings

For the sashings in the Bee In My Bonnet Red Sampler quilt-along, this is what I've designed.  Love it!  Very simple, but so effective.  My version of her quilt-along will be so different.

All of the sashings are in this box which is my project to work on at the cottage.  All the pieces have been prepped and the sashings marked for placement .... I'm good to go to spend hours appliqueing!  There is plenty of time to work on them as there are another six weeks of blocks to make.  Since not all the blocks will be made, I can be selective on which blocks to make and include in my quilt. 

Now that this project is waiting stage, my "Prezzies" project was brought out again to work on.  More olive strips were added to the setting triangles (only 7 more to go) and in a few days borders can be added.  This project is getting so close to being finished.  Backing fabric already has been chosen and the batting will be Frankenpieced.   I love it when projects are zooming along!

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

Red Sampler

How many are doing Bee In My Bonnet's Red Sampler Quilt Along?

In the beginning, I wasn't going to, but my red fabrics were calling me!  Make me, make me!  LOL

So, I joined in and started making blocks.

I'm not going to make all the blocks, but will do my own thing and add in some applique to change the look.

This is where I'm at right now and my layout.  Six more weeks of blocks and then that will be it, but then I will be busy with applique in all the beige sashings.  The borders have already been decided how they will look.

So, how many other red quilts are on the go right now?

Four.  That is a nice even number .... wouldn't you say?!  The last three are UFO's.  Work on three UFO's and start a new project.  Why not!

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

Diamond Star

What joy to have this quilt done!  Perfect timing to enjoy for the summer months.

This photo was taken outside under our blooming crap apple tree.  It looks washed out in the sun, so some photos were taken in the shade.

The backing was a great way to use up fabrics that just needed to go .....

Quilt Details:

Pattern source:  from EQ software (not sure which version)

This star has many names:  Texas Star, Hexagon Stars, Friendship Hexagon, Garden of Flowers, Dolly Madison's Star, Boutonniere.  

Started:  Spring 2009 

Top finished:  Feb. 2021

Quilt finished:  May 2021 (I'm not going to do the math .... I'm not going to do the math .... LOL)

Quilt size:  102-1/4" x 100-1/2" (the quilt has not been washed/dried yet, so there will be shrinkage)

Hand pieced using EPP method.

Machine quilted by:  Kathy Wareham

Quilt machine design:  Edgewood 1 by Christy Dillon of My Creative Stitches

Batting:  80/20 Hobbs cotton/poly

Another quilt done, done, done!  Oh happy days, for sure!

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

Prezzies

That is what this top needs to be called ..... all those blocks look like present boxes with bows and ribbons.

So far, two corners have strips appliqued in the setting triangles.  I'm happy with the look now.

A decision has been made for the outer borders and they will be done soon.

This is a good project to work on at the cottage.

My sister and I made a trip out to the cottage this past weekend and we are now set up for the season.  Our one solar panel is hooked up, water is in the big container and the pump is hooked up.  The propane fridge is working.  We are good to go out and enjoy!

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

It's a Star Thing

From a recent post where I showed my "Pressed Flowers" quilt, a friend asked (when we video chatted last month and I was sewing on the binding) is this where my adventure with that star started?

Indeed, this was the start of all my quilts and tops with those stars.  I just love, love, love that star.

So, sit back and enjoy all of those stars.  Stars on the brain!  LOL

First off is my "Pressed Flowers"

Next and so on are all my finished quilts.

A quilt for my great nephew who is a star!

How about a vase of star flowers (same star .... just smaller)?

I took a class to make this quilt and the teacher urged us all to make something different and I did with a cross of stars!

This blue/green quilt needed something to give it a zing.  Red stars and circles did the trick.

Stars were used in three places in this quilt.  

Then here are the tops waiting for their turn to be quilted.

Stars in the borders and in the center.

What about all stars in the borders?  Why not!  This is so, so effective!

One star but how it anchors the whole look of this apple core top!

Then we have two UFO's waiting in bins.  Now, I'm surprised by this ..... only two UFO's with stars?

So, this has been quite the journey and knowing myself ...... I'm not done with stars yet!   Will you be surprised if a new project pops up with stars in it?

All my quilts, tops and UFO's have been a labour of love.

What about you?  Have you used an item over and over and over again?

I keep journals of all my finished quilts, tops and UFO's and that is how I was able to assemble all of these photos for this post.    That is something that was done when I first started to quilt and now am so glad that the time was taken to mark down my starts and finishes and everything in between in my journals.

Today is Hubby and my 44th wedding anniversary.   How can that be?  Where has the time gone?  

Life is good!

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

Humble Quilts 2021 Doll Quilts Exchange

It has been quite a number of years since I last participated in an exchange of quilts.  This year, Lori from Humble Quilts was having another of her exchanges and the decision was made to join.  Over the past few years, Lori posts all the quilts in the exchange and I have always admired each and every one of the quilts.  So, yes, it was time for me to jump right in.

Let's start first with the quilt that I received from Carolyn H. from Red Boiling Springs, TN (near Nashville, Tennessee).  Oh so lovely!  I looked at each piece of fabric and none are in my stash.  Interesting (or sad) that we all know our fabric, eh!  Carolyn was a tad nervous about making a quilt for me.  Not to fear, Carolyn, your work is perfect!  Wish I could machine quilt as well as she!  

She included this pin cushion and some Whoopie Pies (all gone now, yumm!)  Thank you, Carolyn, I'm thrilled with my quilt and pin cushion!

Now, let's look at the quilt that I made and sent to Robin B. in Spokane, Washington.

A bit of hand piecing (using EPP method) and machine piecing made up this quilt.  Then it was hand quilted, which I enjoyed quite a lot and am thinking of doing more again on small items!  An assortment of maple sugar items and maple syrup were included in the parcel.  It is that time of year up here and the items were made from a producer just north of me in Quebec.

This exchange was much fun and I can see myself participating again. 

To see what other quilts were made this year, visit this link:  https://humblequilts.blogspot.com/2021/05/2021-quilt-swap-linky-party.html

Today, we have a mixture of rain/snow.  It has been cool for the last few weeks and many mornings have seen frost on the roof tops.  Two of my recently purchased annual plants perished and they were covered or placed in a shed for protection.  Darn.

Still, life is good.

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

Xmas in May!

Well, we had snow yesterday and it was still on the ground this morning!  

I finished my Xmas quilt this week and finally was able to go outside to take a photo.  Perfect timing.  A Xmas quilt and snow!  How perfect is that!

The ground was wet, so my quilt could not be unfolded and draped onto the ground for photos.  So, a swing will just have to do for now.  Snow had to be brushed off the swing so that my quilt did not get wet.  Snow in May!  We've seen snow in June ..... so stay tuned!   LOL

So, inside photos will have to do.  Here is it all unfolded.  I love it!  Come December, how lovely it will look hanging in our foyer.

A close-up of the quilting.

Quilt Details:

Pattern:  "Pressed Flowers" by The Rabbit Factory.  In case anyone asks me, when I'm done with a pattern, it gets passed to a friend as is the case with this pattern.

Started:  July 2009

Top finished:  Feb. 2019

Quilt finished:  April 2021 .... just shy of 12 years!  I'm killing myself laughing!

Quilt size:  103-1/2" x 104-3/4" (before quilting and washing:  104-3/4" x 105").  There was not much shrinkage because this quilt was dried (folded in half) on a clothes rack.  I find that when I use polyester as batting, my quilts look better when they are dried on a rack.

Hand Quilting:  I did stitch-in-the-ditch around all the applique.  Yes, I know it is extra work, but I'm so much happier with the look.

Machine Quilted by:  Kathy Wareham of Kat's Quilts.  It was quilted using "Stars at the Gate" design by Christy Dillon of My Creative Stitches.

Another UFO is done, done, done!  I'm so doing the happy dance!

I did have another April finish, but it was for the Humble Quilts Doll Quilt Swap 2021.  Photos will have to wait until the person receives it.  So, later on that!

Behind the scenes, batting pieces are getting sewn together for another quilt.  This will be #3 from my bins of batting scraps.  In a few weeks time, a friend and I are getting ready to take a drive (we wear masks in the car) to see our LAer.  I'm hoping to take at least two tops with me so I had best get busy, busy, busy making more batting and backing!

Tomorrow, we are doing a drive-by birthday party for a 9 yr. old niece.  This will be her second drive-by birthday.  Last year, we all thought that was a one and only occasion but how wrong we were.  A bunch of us have had at least one vaccine shot, but we are all taking things carefully and listening to the experts.  Our area currently has 16 active cases of covid-19 for a total of 351 cases since the start of the outbreak.  That is low compared to other areas, but still too high.

Wear a mask, wash your hands, keep your distance!

Cherish your day, cherish your life!