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Friday, August 31, 2012

August FMQ

I worked on this at the beginning of the month and then didn't get another chance to work on my sample until today. I had a lesson on a long-arm quilting machine and I used this pattern to practice. (FYI-I would LOVE to have a long arm machine.) I can't get the rhythm of FMQ. I forget which way I need to go and I can't get even coverage. More than once I backed myself into a corner. I love the look of this design on Wendy's beautiful samples. It is just too hard for me.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

See What I Won!

Looky looky! I won a big ol' box of scraps from Minick & Simpson. The scraps are strips that are left over after the manufacturer makes the salesman sample cards.

I entered the giveaway on their blog.They gave away three boxes and I won one of them. Here they are all heaped together on my cutting table.
Here they are grouped by color. Aren't the colors fabulous? Creams and blues. The collection is called Indigo Crossing and it will be in quilt shops in February. In the meantime, I get to dream about what project I will use these little pretties for.
Thanks for stopping by.

Saturday, August 18, 2012

I'm Getting There!

I have finished piecing 365 scrap houses!
I have started putting together rows of small scrap houses.
 I have one caution to offer if you ever try this project, or if you do another paper piecing project. For some stupid reason (emphasis on stupid) I thought it would be important to leave some of the paper on the scrap houses.

I thought it would help me piece the project together. WRONG! What a pain in the neck. I stopped doing this at some time in the process. Now, when I get to some of the earlier houses that I pieced, I have to take the paper off the back. It would have been no problem to put the houses together without the paper. I have a consistent seam allowance, so I don't need the paper. OY! Don't make this mistake.

I will keep working on this as much as possible tomorrow, but I don't know how much time I can give to the project. Classes begin on Monday and I have some more preparation to get done.

Thanks for stopping by.

Monday, August 13, 2012

Nearing the Finish Line!

I am starting a week full of meetings, etc. in preparation for the first day of classes next Monday. For me, today is the beginning of the new school year. I didn't quite get all of my scrap houses done. I have 342 houses done.
My little basket is getting pretty full. I have selected the fabrics for the large center house, but I haven't sewn that yet. I have seen some really nice ones that people have designed themselves to represent a special place in their lives. I am not that talented. I will put some details on mine that will represent the home I live in now.

I actually have 23 small houses to go. I am doing a batch of 24, just in case I mess one up or if I come across one I really don't like as I am assembling the quilt.
Here they are, all organized. I have completed the door walls. I am half done with the window walls. I will keep plugging away at this. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel...and I am pretty sure it is not a train coming.

Thanks for stopping by.


Wednesday, August 8, 2012

A New Look!

Do you notice anything different? It's a cleaner, fresher look. I love it. I hope it is easier on your eyes. I have to thank Jennie @ Click.Snap.Swoosh.Laugh. for making this change happen. I told her that I really like the look of the Vintage Modern fabric line and this is the design she came up with. Isn't it great? I have thanked her by email and now I want to thank her by giving her public kudos for her efforts on my behalf. She has another blog that she does with her mother called Clover & Violet. Notice that buttons for both blogs have been added on the left side of my blog. The Clover & Violet blog is quilty. There are lots of tutorials and fun stuff on her blog. The Click.Snap.Swoosh.Laugh blog is techy. I really need to start reading it every day so I can improve my blogging skills. Thank you again, Jennie.

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Blogger's BOM #11

I am getting back to the sewing machine after returning from New York. I completed another 16 scrap houses.  Another 80+ to go. I completed the Blogger's BOM #11.
This is a Split Ohio Star designed by Victoria Findlay Wolfe (15 minutes of Play). I really like the look of this block. I am almost out of my gold fabric, though. I only have the smallest bits left. I hope I can put some in block #12.
This is what the whole group looks like.
I have setting blocks going through my mind everytime I work on these. I know that Jackie (Canton Village Quilt Works) will come up with something great.

I haven't done the Christmas colorway yet. I'll get to it, but those scrap houses are my top priority right now.

Thanks for stopping by.


Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Rabbit, Rabbit!

First day of another month so it is time for a Rabbit, Rabbit post. We are in NYC visiting with DD, SIL, and Mr. Precious.

Since we can't be here for his birthday, we celebrated an 'almost birthday' last night. We gave him his Thomas the Train quilt and needless to say, he loves it.
He immediately flopped down on it and rolled around. This morning it is accompanying him everywhere.

We will return to KY late tonight. I hope to get those scrap houses done before my school year begins. It is coming fast.

Thanks for stopping by.