Not in the mood

I just haven't been in the mood to do much in the way of quilting lately.  The quilt top shown is one that should not have taken me all that long to do; it's a Missouri Star Quilt Company version of  The Disappearing Hour Glass.  This took me probably close to two weeks to assemble - mainly just because I found it to be boring - 42 blocks of the same thing... and the prints just weren't speaking to me; definitely not something you'd normally see me using.

Finished putting the borders on yesterday morning - and I am so glad!!  Now, I need to get a backing fabric before I can quilt it and call it DONE.  Of course, I also have to figure out how I'm going to quilt it - ideas are still running through my mind.

I was going to work on my Amish with a Twist BOM this morning, but when I got the fabric out, I realized that I can't tell which is which and will need to go down to The Hen House tomorrow ( or Tuesday) to look at the sample in order to figure it out.  At first I thought I would do the applique' version of this block, but then decided that I already do so much applique and really need to focus on my piecing.  Then I thought "Well, I could do two of each", but I think I've pretty much decided that I'm going to stick with the piecing - it's subject to change again - we'll see  LOL.

Last week, at our guild's quilt show, Mary Jean brought in some magazines and novels to give away.  I was helping her unload her car when I spotted the novels and snatched them right up.  Of the six, I've already read four... and am half way through # 5 - guess that's what I'll be doing this morning since I don't want to work on the Amish BOM mentioned above.

This afternoon, we'll be going over to hubby's son's for Easter dinner.  I'm taking veggies ( broccoli and green beans) so it won't take me long to fix those before we leave; that leaves me plenty of time to finish the book.

And on that note, I'm outta here

Happy Easter
TTYL

Pluggin away and temptation

I finished putting sashing strips onto the blocks for the Bright Scrappy Throw that I started cutting pieces for while 'cleaning' last month.

A pretty fast and definitely easy quilt to do.  I've made it before ( my Lots of Dots quilt) and just love it.  This time, I've decided that, after doing these blocks, I want to make it bigger - big enough to use on our queen sized bed.  Since it's from scraps, I won't worry so much about the animals laying on it.  I'm not sure how many more blocks I'll have to make, but I'll guess that at least 21 ( it takes 42 sets for the lap size).

Last night, I gave in to temptation - figured that since I got the above blocks sashed and had cut the background blocks for the upcoming Scalloped Potato quilt class, I could start a new quilt.  

I'm doing MSQ (Missouri Star Quilts)'s Disappearing Hour Glass 5.  It requires a layer cake of prints and a second one of a solid.  I had the prints, but found a solid in yardage that I decided I'd use instead of buying a solid layer cake.... had JUST enough - maybe 4 inches left, if that.

It was a little confusing at first, but it didn't take long to get it figured out.  

I'm not crazy about the lighter blocks, although they do look better in person than in pics.  Have to use them or my quilt won't be big enough... and what else would I do with them?

Unfortunately, there's not enough of the background/solid fabric left to make the small inner border that the pattern calls for; I'm going to have to either try and find more of the same fabric or find something else that will work - and I need to go to MSQ's site to see if they have any yardage of the print so I can order some for the outer borders and binding.

That's about it for me.... still haven't loaded anything on to Mo'e - I know I should, but just haven't felt 'in the mood' - having more fun getting other quilty things done.  I'll get to Mo'e one of these days soon.  :)

Marnie's on the phone...

TTYL

Falling Behind

on my blogging, but there really hasn't been much to tell.


Last Sunday, I finally got around to making the bowl cozies for relatives up in Saginaw - five for the kids and two for the adults.  I mailed them out on Tuesday and they received them on Thursday and were already using them when I sent a message via facebook to see if the package had been found where the post office left it.

Thats been about it sewing wise, other than working on my Christmas Row by Row - 9 reindeer this month ( no pic yet).

I have been doing embroidery, though... at night, while 'watching' my programs.

Here's the pattern....

and here are the first two blocks... don't let the pics fool you - they are BIG.... 15" squares.

there are basting stitches in both blocks because you have to back the fabric with muslin ( to keep threads on back from showing through).  I THOUGHT I was using a dark blue embroidery thread - it wasn't until after I finished the first block and needed to think about getting more floss that I thought I had actually used a dark blue/green.  When I went to Walmart to see if they had any, I realized that it's really a dark green... which I thought might be a problem since the fabric for the surrounding blocks are dark blues, but I think it's going to work out ok.

Block three is on the light box waiting for me to finish tracing the pattern and then basting to the muslin so that I can get started with the embroidery by the time my programs start tonight.  So far, it's taking me an average of about six hours for each block.  There are 6 blocks sized at 15" square - the rest are 'bigger' in one way or another.

In between all of this, I'm doing SOME housework BLEECH! and watching the new class I signed up for on iquilt.com... "If you can feather, you can freehand".  I wasn't sure it was going to be something that I would learn anything from, but was willing to try it for their sale - and I have learned a little - enough to say I've gotten my money's worth :).  We'll see how much I've learned once I get some practice fabric onto Mo'e and try doing it myself. -- that won't be til Monday or later, though.

Off to do SOMETHING - not sure it will be quilting - might be more - sigh - housework/laundry or might be just taking a nap.

TTYL