QIP

(Quilt In Progress)

The center of my Women of the Bible (Block of the Week) is now finished.  Hopefully I will get the 3 borders on this week (one of them still needs to be cut and pieced) and ready to get put on the longarm next week.  Wish me luck!!!!

Carpenter's Star

Last month, I was approached by the managers of Jackman's Fabrics in Fairview Heights, IL, asked if I would be willing to help them out by making some shop samples.  I was flattered and after discussing all of the details, I agreed to make one on a trial basis.  They even took notes on my preferences of design and fabrics!!!!

A week later, I got a call asking if I would be interested in making a Carpenter's Star.  Sure, why not?  I hadn't made one before and it sounded like a fun project!  And it was!  No "Y" seams...all half square triangle construction...fabulous!  I only veered from the pattern once and that was to miter the corners of the large outer border.  For this particular fabric, it just worked better than the straight set seams.

I was a bit nervous about quilting this one (what with it being for display in a large quilt shop and all).  With so much "white space," this would be a great candidate for a custom quilt job and feathering, but...I'm not a custom quilter - yet.  So, I went with a gorgeous floraly paisley panto that I thought really complimented the feature fabric!  Check the quilt stats below for more information.  I sure hope Jackman's is pleased with my work --- I guess they could always refuse to hang it and never invite me to make anything for them again!  Time will tell; we'll see....

Pattern:  Carpenter's Star ~ Bali Sky & Queen Size
Designer:  Debbie Maddy (Calico Carriage Quilt Designs)
Size: Lap Quilt 70x70"
Featured Fabric Line: andover by Margo Krager (Andover Fabrics)
Supporting Fabrics:  Downton Abbey (Andover Fabrics), Paula Barnes (Marcus Fabrics) Ladies' Album by Barbara Brackman (Moda)
Backing Fabric:  Clara's Garden by Kansas Troubles Quilters (Moda)
Quilt Panto:  Paisley Playtime by Hermione Agee
Quilting Thread:  Madeira AeroQuilt

Disclosure: I received supplies to make this project from Jackman's Fabrics in Fairview Heights, IL.  The quilt will be hung as a shop sample in their store to promote sale of both the pattern and fabric lines,  In exchange, the quilt will be returned to me at the end of the promotion.  They did not require me to write a positive review of any of the products.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

June UFO Goals

This will likely be a busy summer with several guild meetings and quilt classes, relatives visiting, kids home from university, travel and yardwork! Lots to do, and lots more I want to do!!!  Once again, I'm setting 2 quilty goals for this month:  Ring Around the Hexies - Collaboration Celebration & a Wounded Warrior Quilt.

Ring Around the Hexies (A Collaboration Celebration by Mickey Dupre & Bonnie Hunter)

A couple of weeks ago, I shared the center portion of Ring Around the Hexies with you.  This will be the background for the pieced hexies I will make during my class with Mickey Dupre this week.  I can't wait!  I'm thinking that I may want to make it even bigger, so I was thinking that I might add a huge 4-patch border all the way around.  What do you think???

I have a starting point of 6 blocks for the next wounded warrior quilt.  They are a collection of blocks from my Pedal Pushers quilt group (formerly just "ladies who lunch" and talk about quilting, now we're even sewing together monthly!!!).  I really don't have any ideas for them at this point.  It's sorta fun...we just kinda keep a collection of blocks going each month and pass them along.  Once we have enough to make a lap quilt, and someone gets inspired (or sometimes just talked into it) shes creates a top and I quilt it up...when that quilt is done, the leftover blocks move on to the next person and we start over.  This month, it's my turn!  Not inspired yet, but something will come up...I also have a couple (or 4) UGLY panels that I was asked to turn into (a) wounded warrior quilt/quilts.  Hoping for some inspiration.... 

Actually, I'm really going to be working to get several more projects closer to finishing as well.  I've got 4 quilty workshops/classes I'll be attending this month:  Pieced Hexies (working on Ring Around the Hexies/Collaboration Celebration), Nickel Quilts (working on Pinwheel & Labor Day Madness), Road to St. Louis (new) & wool applique (working on Buttermilk Basin BOM & maybe a new project).  I also am hoping to catch up with my 2 spool quilts blocks (I'm behind by one month).  If I have any free time after/between all of that, I'll try to sneak in a bit of work on the setting blocks & borders for the Women of the Bible BOM.  No goals for any of these, but maybe I can sneak in a bit of progress on a few of them over the next few months!

Q2 (Apr-Jun 15) List:

1.  Lozenges

2.  Silent Auction Table Project (for mom)

3.  4-Patch Revisited

4.  Crumb Along

5.  Wounded Warrior Quilt

6.  Thai Ostrich Quilt

7.  Rustic Stars

8.  Soldier Baby Quilt

9.  A Prairie Women project

10.  Collaboration Celebration

11.  Pinwheel

12.  Labor Day Madness

13.  Fan Baby

14.  Ye Olde Schoolhouse (PWSC j4g1)

15.  Orange Crush

Linking up with ALYoF!