Moira - finishes and new starts

Lots going on around here thanks to having my quilt frame up and the long-arm working.  This UFO has been finished up, and just needs a label.   It will go in the mail to it's new home sometime this week.



I did get the binding on one of the other quilts that has been quilted as well but will show it later.   And the Row-by-row quilt was finished up and turned in on Saturday.  I'm headed back to the store today to pick up my prize for submitting it (most of the stock was at a quilt show on Saturday so nothing to choose from).



The next UFO that has been loaded onto my quilt frame is this one.  I don't remember how long I've had the top made, but I do remember that the blocks are from a long ago swap.  It will be a baby gift for my niece who is pregnant with their first child.  Nursery is being done in sunflowers and bees.

And I was the winner of this panel (well what was left of it) on a blog.   I've cut the bears apart and there 10 of them total.  I'll use 9 of them in a quilt top which will be a donation.




















I'm using my scraps to take and add to them in a wonky log cabin style.  I'll add enough to them to make them 15" after trimming to size (largest ruler size that I have).   And will twist & turn as I trim them to size.  =)

Moira: Crazy before Christmas Vacation

Almost finished this potholder, just need to add the binding for it after I find fabric that will work.



















Next up was this quilt top that is approximately 40" by 60" in size.  It was made in response to both a challenge on Sunshine in a quilt that would be sent to Quilts Beyond Borders as a part of what the Sunshine group normally does. 

I used a Long Quarter of a halloween monster print and pulled an orange checked print and a yellow TOT strip to make the rail fence blocks.  A lime green TOT strip for the inner border and solid orange for the final border

Final look has almost a 3D look too it because of the colors and the way they work with each other.

Next up was the stitching on this embellished sweatshirt for my mom.  This was one scene from a panel of cute kitties.   Still have lots to work with for future projects.  =)

Final project over the weekend was making this little mug rug.  It finished out at 9.5" square the pattern and a couple of the fabrics (the house and the snow) came as part of the third free kit during the shop hop I participated in back in November.  This will most likely end up being a gift for someone this Christmas.

Moira: UFO Progress

Three more UFO pieces of cross-stitch are now in snack mat/mug rug tops.    All fabrics in the tops are from my scrap bins.  Tops are approximately 12" by 16" or a little smaller.   All will be put up for sale after being finished.

 And my next commission.   Still to be added - the three wise men and the star in the sky.  This will be raw-edged stitched and quilted all at the same time.  Hoping to have it finished by the end of the week.

Moira: Running late again.....

Sigh, one of these days I might get this posted on time.

This week I've finished up two mug rugs (quilting and binding), made 4 needle books (instructions can be found here for them if you are interested), got the t-shirt blocks ready for my next commissioned quilt and prepped the ties needed for 8 of the remaining blocks.   Just need to press the sections flat and start sewing the string blocks.  =)  I also have one applique block to make for the t-shirt quilt that I'll start this week.

Moira: On the Road

By the time this posts I'll be on the road and headed towards Texas and all that is down there.   My dad will be driving the moving van for me and my mom will be riding with him.  Don't know yet what my car will look like, but I think at the time that I'm writing this, it'll actually be less crowded than previous moves have been.  And that says that I actually did make a dent in what I have as i've been downsizing and getting rid of stuff......YEAH!  

One of the biggest things accomplished this week, was to get a lease application in the first part of the week and it was approved.   Deposit has been mailed off, and the lease has been electronically signed.  =)  And I get the keys to the place on Friday the 12th....woohoo.........I'll have a roof over my head!

In between finishing up the packing and most of everything needed around here I did get some sewing in this week.   Finished up 4 snack mat tops first this week.  All started with a piece of cross-stitch.

I also completed the pieced sashing units for my Modern Block Quilt contest entry.   Am thinking about redoing the yellow ones tho because the yellow kinda blends into the background fabric and that really isn't the look that I want for the setting.  Each set as shown is a different color, all of which have beein used in one or more of the 12 blocks that I made.  

And yes I know what they ended up looking like - totally unintentally........however, I do admit thinking about how I could spin the look into a fun title for the finished quilt.   I'll start putting the top together once I get to TX and can sew again.

Moira: Busy week

The days just seem to get busier than ever around my place as teh end of the school year arrives.   Just one more day for me....woohoo.........(the other teachers have through Wednesday to make it through).    Tuesday morning I'll hit the road on the way back to Purdue and a 2 day conference there that will be the sum total of my prof. development for the year.

I'll be seeing a few friends while there in Lafayette, and then will start on the rest of my road trip through Indiana, Tennessee and Texas before heading home.   A little nervous about the coming job interview in TX, but after the last couple of weeks I really, really want a different job.   Hoping this works out.

Sewing and project-wise I've been able to finish up a few things -

I finished the leather knife sheaths on Sunday.   They were shipped back out to my friend who commissioned them on Monday.   Am glad to have these done and heading back to their owner.  =)  The braided loop below is the moveable hanging strap that he wanted me to make for the sheaths.













Next up were two more mug rugs. Finished the lion after covering up where I'd made a booboo and never noticed for years....sigh.  He is now holding a lovely pink flower (applique).

I then added a final blue border to the patriotic one.  Both are quilted and bound.   =)























And the final two blocks finished are the late March block for the block design contest and the one for May.  May's block was to be based on the traditional Drunkard's Path block.

I pieced the background from my scraps and bits and pieces that have been left over from the other blocks that I've made for this contest.  The quarter circles for the drunkards path are machine appliqued and edge-stitched to hold in place.  At this point I'm thinking I'll name the block path to the stars.

Not sure how much I'll get posted over the next three weeks....but maybe while at Susans next week.  =)

Moira: end of school madness

The end of school is fast approaching and life seems to be going crazy as a result.  Finished up the last major to-do for the club last night and am glad to be with that for this school year.

Finished up a couple of things this week, and started several others.

Among the finishes were two scrub tops made with halloween fabric featuring Mickey Mouse and friends. Also finished was the flannel quilt top I put together a couple of weeks ago after adding the border to it.   This one will be donated to Sunshine quilts.  And I put the binding onto the latest snack mat as well.

I've continued working on the knife sheaths and have the final coat of stain on all 4 now.   Next up is are two coats of a sealant so that the stain won't come off when wet (well at least not as badly!).  Then the glueing and stitching.   My plan is to finish all of that thsi week.   Plan is to get them all done over the long weekend and ship them out on Tuesday next week.

I also started to work on another commission - this one a liner for an old metal tub.   I've got part of it together, and am starting on the backing for the main part of the tub.   This is another one that I'm aiming to have finished off by the end of the coming long weekend.

Plans for the coming holiday weekend include finishing up the knife sheaths (shipping them out on Tuesday), finishing the tub liner, finishing up the contest block for March that I didn't get submitted, getting the contest block for May designed and started, and basting/quilting the tornado quilt.  

And thinking of vacation, I've also been busy planning out a 3 wk road trip.  Lots going on in it.....a professional development type 2 day conference at Purdue University, then visiting friends in Indiana, off to Tennessee to visit with Susan for a couple of days and then down into Texas for a week to visit friends and family and interview for a job possibility down there.  =)

Moira: The Carousel is getting faster.....

School is fast coming to an end for this school year.   Doesn't seem possible that there are less than 3 weeks left and of course things are starting to come fast and furiously.....including  the first of my final exams this week (seniors are out next week).  At least I won't have to grade these because they are on the computer and automatically done.  =)

As for sewing.....This past week / weekend was focused on getting commissioned stuff done so that I can get it out of here and paid for.

The Green and Cream quilt has been totally finished and even named - something I rarely do.    Because of a comment that the lady who is buying it said, it is named "Springtime in Bloom".

Next finished was the final set of towels for a grad gift.   That has already been mailed off to my adopted niece.  

From the leftover strip set used on the bath towel, I made a mug rug.   It'll end up on sale at some point.

The blanks for the 4 leather knife sheaths that I'm working on have all been cut out and stained.   Am waiting for the bottle of finish coat to arrive so that I can seal them.  That should arrive tomorrow or Wed. if I have to pick it up at UPS.  Once the finish has been applied and dried then I can sew them together.   That should be done before this coming weekend is over.

I also managed to get two more scrub tops finished up.   Next up more of them!

And my fun right now is planning out a 3-wk trip that will take me to Indiana, Tennessee (gonna be visiting Susan!) and then down to the Dallas TX area.  Lots going on in this trip, and will write more about what I'll be doing as the trip happens.

Moira: scattered thoughts and projects

More 'little'  completions this week.  

First up was the tops to a couple of mug rugs that started with a little piece of aborder print from a couple of pillow panels.  Used scraps in red, blue and COC's to make a checkerboard around the print.   Posted a pic of them on FB and sold the blue one before I could even think about it.  =)  

Backing for the two mug rugs is to the right.  Love being able to shop my stash and find the perfect fabric for what I need..  =)

Made a couple of sets of leaf blocks for the Block lotto and realized that I misread the instructions on how many fabrics to use for the background.   So I need to go back and fix them.......sigh......Not my fav thing to do, but at least the problem is fixable so I won't have to totally redo the blocks.











I also made the September block for the Modern Quilts Block Design contest that I didn't get made back last year thanks to the move out here to Wyoming.    Only one more block to catch up on from last month (still waiting for inspiration on that one!) and then to decide on what fabrics to use for this months block.

Tried to decide what colors to use for this months block and haven't been able to make a decision yet.   Have it down to the two color ranges shown below.  The block I designed needs four shades/colors to showcase the pattern....I just can't decide which one to go with.  Also below is a pic of the 8 blocks I have done at this time.

And I was able to get two graduation gifts made - embellished towels for girls that are graduating and heading to college.  Only one more to go, but need another towel set and have to make a trip to the quilt store when I'm up in Casper on Friday to find fabric that she'll like.

Moira: Small Finishes

Progress was made this last week on a few fronts.  The bigges project I've been working on is a commissioned quilt that I'm making as a gift for a friend.  It has several outfits he wore a a newborn and at few months old.   And a Daniel Tiger block because that is his favorite tv show.  fabrics for the most part are flannels which aren't my favorite to work with.   I've backed it with solid grey flannel and have it quilted.  It will be bound in the same grey polka dot fabric used for the letters.








Got a pair of flannel pillowcases made for a Christmas gift for my mom done.



















Next up was taking a piece of cross-stitch I finished on Friday and putting it into a snack mat with a remnant of cardinal fabric.   It's backed with the same fabric as in the right side of it.   This will also be a Christmas gift and will go to a friend of mine in Phoenix.








Last thing worked on was the binding for four of the six snack mats that were quilted last week.  Only two more to go there but I need to find fabric for the bindings on them.


















And what would it be if I didn't start
another project......altho this one wasn't planned.  I had tried cutting the strips needed for the binding on the last two snack mats and then realized I cut them in the wrong direction - oops.   So not wanting tons of seams in the binding, I decided to use them to make blocks for a different project.  So I cut the remaining strips and squared them up to 6" unfinished in order to minimize waste.  Have the design worked out, just need now to pull a fabric that will coordinate with the blue polka-dotted batik and make the remaining  blocks I need for the quilt top and sew them all together.