Horseshoes and Hand Grenades

 I have been known to say that "closeness only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades".  I'm not playing horseshoes nor with hand grenades, but I am close to completing the 2nd top of the t-shirt quilts.

First, I'll show you the practice piece that came out so well that it can be used in another quilt... which one, I'm not sure.

And here is the actual block in the quilt top, which has been waiting for this before it gets sewn into a 'flimsy'.

I loaded a different quilt top onto Mo'e thinking that I could get it done before the  stenciling supplies arrived but it took me a couple of days to try and figure out HOW I wanted to quilt it.  Once I figured out HOW, I started but didn't last long - darned legs were hurting AGAIN arghhh!  I got one complete row done ( which is actually three rows done at the same time) and 2/3s of the second one done but then had to call it quits. That was the day before yesterday.

After I finish quilting the purple strips with purple thread, I'll go back and use the same quilting design on the white using white thread.  I have six more 'rows' to finish in the purple.

And that's it for now...  MAYBE by Sunday or Monday night, I'll be able to post that this quilt is off from Mo'e and that Molly's quilt top is loaded and ready to quilt.  MAYBE.

take care.....

STAY SAFE....

ttyl..

Two Steps forward then pause

 First, I have to give an update over the tiny red buttons that I need for the Bringing Home the Tree BOM from Shabby Fabrics. 

 I tried and tried to find replacement buttons for the ones I thought were missing - yes, thought... stay with me and I'll explain.  I couldn't find buttons small enough  so I took a chance and called Shabby Fabrics ( on Feb.24th) on the chance that they might have some 'left over' or that were being used on another of their projects.  In talking to the gal, who's name I've forgotten, I was told that the block with the candy canes had precut tiny circles of red for the holly - the buttons were just for the tree in the back of the pick up truck.  OOPS!!  I thought at first that I didn't get the precut circles, but she waited on the phone while I checked my kit leftovers ( Yes, I kept it all - just in case).  Oh yeah, they were there.

  Well, as I told her, the buttons are sewn on, the quilting is done and I'm not about to take those buttons off and replace them with itty bitty circles that would be next to impossible to machine stitch on.  So, she checked and, yes, they had some buttons that were similar.  She didn't tell me how much it would cost - and, at this point, I really didn't care. They arrived today!! $1.50 including postage.

So, the buttons will get added to the tree and I can call the quilt completely done.  Yay!

Now, back to the grandkids' t-shirt quilts....  First, I want to show what I added to the first one, which will go to Steven.

My original plan was to stencil a train locomotive on this block, but changed my mind this afternoon and tore a pocket off a pair of gpa's jeans and then cut one of his bandana handkerchiefs into quarters and folded it until it was like I wanted.  I stitched the bandana to the top of the pocket ( hidden by the bandana hangover) then I machine stitched the pocket to the block and the went back and hand stitched the sides of the bandana down.  the top of the pocket is open and so is the bottom (the pointed part) of the bandana.  It was easier to do than I thought it would be and I'm glad I did it.

The second t-shirt quilt is assembled into rows - well, the top and bottom rows are sewn, but the middle blocks are still in two blocks because I definitely want to do the locomotive on the white bandana block on this quilt - I'm just waiting for some spray stencil adhesive to arrive from Amazon.  I had looked for it over at Walmart, but didn't find exactly what I wanted and  I also had to order stencil paints from Amazon since I haven't used the ones I have in probably at least 10 years -- those are going into the trash.

Here's what I have so far.... this one will go to granddaughter, Molly.

While I'm waiting for the stencil spray to come ( should be Wed. or Thurs), I loaded a backing onto Mo'e and will finish loading batting and the top on tomorrow.  No photos right now - but I'm sure I'll include them in my next post.

Ok, dinner is calling....

take care...

ttyl.......