Design Wall Monday, December 25, 2023

 Merry Christmas Morning Quilters!

Here are some pictures from this Christmas week:

Hubby and I, taken at church, in the lobby, on Saturday.

Our great-grandson, Bennett, in my lap at our son’s house yesterday.  He is so cute!  He s just over one year old.

Bennett with the sleigh bells which were hanging from the ceiling in a long string.  He had such a great time ringing the bells, and enjoyed the process so much.

Our grand-dog, Buster,  who was splendid in his new Christmas ruff of velvet with bells.

Penny Lane and Bennett’s dog, Wrigley, who both followed Bennett around, especially when Bennett had a cracker in his hand.  Penny helped him eat the crackers.

That’s all the Christmas news here this week, but next week I will be back to posting pictures of quilting and doing some planning for 2024.  Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones.  Please join our Design Wall Monday Linky Party below - even if you have no quilt pictures to show us.  Thanks for your participation, you are a blessing.

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Design Wall Monday - December 18, 2023

 This week was semi-productive in my quilt studio.  I put some things away, and got some more things out.  hehe. I found some old hourglass blocks that I will cut to 2.5 inches unfinished size to use in the Hourglass Quilt that I’m making.  Here is a picture of three of them, untrimmed:

This crumpled, hand stitched, partially completed quilt top has many issues, and this will be a good use of what I can salvage from it.  I am resewing all seams on the machine.

Here is a picture of my design wall, showing a beginning of my version of the Challenge Hourglass Quilt.  I am using 10 rows of hsts on all sides of the center hourglass blocks.  I will then put another small indigo border around the hsts before continuing on with an outside portion of hourglasses.  I will be able to get lots of hourglasses from the old partial quilt top.  Win,win.

Also, four more Jacob’s Ladder blocks were made.  Pictured here:

Christmas is coming, and I am preparing at my own pace.  As I age, I am much less stressed about getting everything finished on time.  Christmas will come whether I am ready for it or not, right?  And as an older person in our family gatherings, the gatherings are usually in one of our kids homes, not in ours.  Changes happen every year, but celebration of the birth of Jesus is the constant center of the holiday.  And of course, the most important part.

Yesterday we went to see a children’s Christmas program, and it was so special.  Image a group of children singing carols loudly and enthusiastically and acting out the Christmas story.  Priceless.  

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Merry Christmas!

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Design Wall Monday - December 11, 2023

 Good Morning Quilters!

Since I’ve been sick with a bad cold for over a week, I’ve done little quilting,  However, I did do a little planning on what I want to work on to start the new year.  The number of UFOs here must be dealt with, and 2024 will start with a good push against them.  I know, it is only mid-December and I have no Christmas decorations up yet, but the thoughts of starting the new year with some pleasant beginnings cheered me up.  I didn’t feel like doing too much.  I am feeling better each day, and have decided to resume living.  lol

So here are my 2024 plans::  

I have this UFO that is very near completion, and I want to get it all done.  It  is called “Two Step” and is on the cover of a book by Barbara Brackman.

I have most of the blocks made, but in a different size than the pattern, and my block count is 200 of each of the two contrasting blocks.   The pattern blocks finish at 3.5 inches, and mine are a little bigger.  I think they finish at 5 inches square.  After I got the UFO unboxed and looked at it, there were only about 17 blocks in pieces.  I sewed them all into blocks last week, so the only thing left to do in 2024 is sew all the blocks together.  

A second UFO that I looked at was a Jacob’s Ladder block exchange quilt pattern.  The blocks I have are from an exchange with The Churn Dashers of Tidewater Virginia, and the quilt is shown in American Patchwork & Quilting, December, 2019.

With the exchange, I had 96 blocks, and the quilt has 120 blocks.  So I only need to make 24 more blocks……12 slanted to the right and 12 slanted toward the left.  I am making one of each whenever I can to get all the blocks completed by February, 2024, so I can sew the whole top together then.  I made 2 last week while I was sick, and I am making 2 more today.  Here is a picture of the current two of them laid out with the sample block next to them:

The two blocks use the same components, but hsts are turned differently.  I have to lay a sample block out with the one I am sewing together,  just to be sure I have the parts turned the correct way.

What are you working on, or planning for next year?  I am planning on getting the  Christmas tree up and decorated before we meet again next Monday.  Please stay healthy and take care of yourself - this cold was a doozie!  And thanks for joining in our Design Walk Monday Linky Party!  You are a blessing.

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Design Wall Monday - December 4, 2023

 Good Morning Quilters!

I’ve been sick with congestion and a sore throat, so this week has been a “stay at home and keep my germs to myself” kind of week.  I have been busy in the quilt room though.  The long term redwork quilt is now bound, and ready for a label.  The quilting by Sue Daurio, was simple diamonds, in keeping with the style of old redwork quilts.  I am very happy with how it turned out.  It measures 93 inches square and I am so happy to have this long in process UFO completed.  

I love the border. 

 I think I will leave it out for the Christmas holiday.  For the label, I’m including the extra chickens block, which I made twice by mistake.  It is a cute block, and attests to how long I worked on this quilt, off and on through the years.  I had forgotten that I had previously embroidered it.  

The Splendid Sampler is a quilt top now, shown here on our bed.  Adding the extra blocks to the outside makes it the right size for our king bed.  It is now ready for a long arm quilter.  It’s a whopping 102” square.   I am glad it is no longer a UFO.  Progress rather than perfection.

What are you finishing or starting, or what have you put on hold until after the holidays?  Please join our Design Wall Monday Linky Party below and talk to us.

  

This week I hope to get some Christmas decorations up.   I should get some young children to help me - that is what is needed to get me excited about decorating.  Do you have your home ready for the holidays?  

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Design Wall Monday - November 27, 2023

 Good Morning Quilters!

Well, I succeeded is getting the “Splendid Sampler” blocks sewn together, and it is now off the design wall!  Yeah!   But….

The new development with this quilt is that it looked very small when sewn together.  It needed to be bigger.  Luckily, there was more of the green alternate blocks fabric in my stash.  So more green hst blocks were made and I intend to add a few rows/columns to the outside.  Here is a picture of it as it is right now:

So now it is too big for the design wall, and I have it laid out on the family room floor until the extra blocks get sewn to it.  I am happier with the size now, and it will soon be a top to be sent to a long arm quilter.  Yeah!  Sometimes quilts take many turns before they get finished, and this one sure did.

The next project is a civil war era fabrics hourglass and hst quilt, and I made a start on it this week.  Plus I’ve made some additional hourglass blocks.  

And a small start of sewing the blocks together (2 inch finished size).  This is a 12 x 12 inch start.

I mentioned last week that I have 1,200 two inch finished size hsts in my stash, and several of you asked how that happened.  It is kinda amazing, isn’t it?  Well, I used to be part of a group of quilters in Virginia that has now disbanded.  For quite a few of our semi-annual meetings, we exchanged groups of hsts with each other.  I have kept them together for such a time as this,  They are a great memory of my time in that group, and I am looking forward to using them in the upcoming quilt.

Just as soon as I get the Splendid Sampler sewn together and off the floor.  

What is on your design wall this morning?  Or what is on your design floor?  Thank you for joining in our Design Wall Monday Linky Party below and letting us know.   I appreciate all of you who faithfully join in each week.  You are special.

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Design Wall Monday - November 20, 2023

Good Morning Quilters!

At my recent retreat, several people (me included) were smitten by a vintage quilt, and I talked about it last Monday.  I have decided to make a modified version of it.  Several of you have asked for more details, so I am providing my plans here.  If you would like to make a copy of the original quilt, or make my modified version, please join me in making lots of hourglass blocks.  Here are two pictures, the whole quilt and a close-up:

The quilt has 39 blocks across and 43 blocks down,  all two inch finished quarter-square triangles (also called hourglass blocks).  So the total size is 78 x 86 inches.

There are many ways that you can make the hourglass block, and I googled “hourglass block instructions” to find many good instructions and videos on the internet, if anyone needs help making them.

My version of the quilt is this:  I plan to make the majority of my quilt with two inch finished hsts (half-square triangles) because I happen to have 1,200 of them in my stash that need to be in a quilt. 

My plan is to make a center medallion and also a  border midway into the body of the quilt - both out of newly made hourglass blocks, and then make the majority of the quilt with the hsts that I already have in my stash.  I am making some hourglass blocks this week and forming my quilt plans in my mind.

Also, my design wall will be helpful in planning this new project, so I am sewing the blocks together of the quilt that is on the design wall right now.  This new project provides me incentive to get the old project sewn together and off the design wall.  A win win. Here’s the project on the design wall right now (blocks from The Splendid Sampler of a few years ago) with most of the rows sewn into strips:

  

It will be fun to see this new project come together, and good to use some of the1,200 hsts from my stash.  What are you starting this week, or working on, or finishing?

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Design Wall Monday - November 13, 2023

 Good Morning Quilters!

It was a wonderful, peaceful week at the retreat in Shipshewana, Indiana.  So many wonderful ladies gathered in one room, all talking and laughing together.  I loved it.

 While there I finished the binding on the May Day Basket Quilt, and made some more bird blocks for Cousins Walk.  Here are a few pictures from the retreat:

First, a picture of me with my progress on Cousins Walk:

Next, a picture of all the ladies who came with their bird blocks of our uncompleted Cousins Walk Quilts. 

Note:  Several of us wear aprons while we sew in the work room, and I am wearing one of my mother’s aprons.  It looks like a skirt, but is pleated cotton, and was one of her “company coming” aprons, not an everyday one.

For the “Show and Tell” Friday night, I brought my large and small May Day Baskets quilts.  I had showed these two quilts before as just tops, but brought them again to show the quilting, and that they are now finished.  Yeah!

Here are pictures from that night:

At the end of “Show and Tell”, an antique quilt was shown to our group by Rebecca Haarer, an antique shop owner in Shipshewana.  I love old quilts, and she always brings a lovely one for us to see.

The hourglass blocks measure only 2 inches finished size!  Several of us want to make our own version of it.  Even though I vowed to finish all my UFOs before I start any others, I do start new projects.  Last April at this retreat, I started Cousins Walk, so it may happen.

Close-up of the quilt:

What have you started this week……or what have you finished?  Thanks for participating in the Design Wall Monday Linky Party each week.  Even if you don’t have a design wall, link up your blog post and we can read about you and the fun you are havng.  Don’t forget to provide a link back to this post within your blog, and mention Design Wall Mondays to your readers.  Thanks!

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Design Wall Monday November 6, 2023

Good Morning Quilters!

I am leaving for a week long quilt retreat soon, and am packing up projects and supplies today.  There is not much progress here at home, as this week has been a thinking and packing time.  However, I do have an interesting picture of fabrics to show you.

Close friends are in Togo, Africa, right now, and sent this picture from a visit to a market.   I think the local fabric is cotton, made with wax relief, but I’m not sure.  It is very colorful, and bright, so happy looking.

My stash is mostly civil war repros, and I have promised myself that I won’t buy any more fabric for the next 20 years.   But if I had been with my friends in Togo, I would have been tempted.

I have three projects to take to the retreat, and am thinking of adding another one before I leave.  I would hate to run out of projects while there!  haha. I always bring too much.

What are you working on this week?  Please join in the Design Wall Monday Linky Party below and tell us all about it.  

 

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Design Wall Monday - October 30, 2023

 Good Morning Quilters!

I just got my May Day Baskets quilt back from Sue Daurio, who quilted it for me.  Here are pictures of her beautiful work (pictures copied from Sue’s Instagram account):

Sue’s website is  (Here)   She also quilted my little matching doll quilt, and I’m working on binding this little quilt today:

Both quilts make me so happy.  It makes my quilting mojo return in full force.

The weather is turning colder here in Michigan, and binding these two matching quilts is a perfect way to spend this week while inside.  Most of the beautiful leaves are floating down to the ground and now the ground under the trees show a beautiful display of color.

What are you working on today?  Please join in our Design Wall Monday Linky Party below and show us a picture, and provide a link to your blog so we can read about it.  Thanks for joining in, you are appreciated.

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Design Wall Monday - October 23, 2023

 Good Morning Quilters!

This past weekend was the third weekend in October, which makes me want to show you one of my favorite quilts.  “Third Weekend in October” is a pattern by Ruth Powers and is available from her website for $8.50.  (Here)

It’s 85 x 110 inches, and is paper pieced, like a large but easy puzzle.  Since I have given it to our Grandson Hunter, here is a current picture of him with the quilt, at his apartment.  He is my favorite Grandson…..(they all are!)

There are several pictures from previous posts that show more of the quilt and I include some pictures here:

Displayed on the couch when we lived in Virginia. I made it while we lived there.

In Grand Rapids, on the entry way railing:

Picture taken from the top of the stairs, at the cabin, looking down on it on the floor.  It was too big for my design wall here in Grand Rapids.

And here are two pictures taken this week of the beautiful leaves on display in our yard.  The quilt is aptly named!  

Taken from my bed, of the backyard.  Colors are brighter, but it was a rainy day.

And the maples in our front yard,  which always give us a great display of color:

Happy Third Weekend in October ladies!

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Design Wall Monday - October 16, 2023

Good Morning Quilters!

We have been on vacation this week, and went to Lubbock, Texas to visit a granddaughter who is a student at Texas Tech.  She is a baton twirler with their band.  We had a nice week watching their great band, and going to see the football game on Saturday.  Their team lost, but we thought the halftime show was terrific, especially the baton twirlers!

Here’s a picture of us with her:

While traveling with our daughter to the game, our daughter crocheted, and I knitted.  Here’s our progress:

First, Christa made me “Frog and Toad” to give to our great-grandson as a birthday gift.  I have three of the classic Frog and Toad books to give him, and thought he would like some stuffed animals to go with the books.  Christa is so talented and can crochet anything in such a short time.  It’s fun to watch her.  I am going to add mouths of black yarn after I look at the book illustrations.

I knitted several cotton dishcloths/washcloths as small gifts for friends:

So that’s about it around here, as we were away most of the week.  I will be back home to work on quilting this week, and hope to have some progress to show you by next Monday.  .  I know you have some progress to show me today!  Thanks for joining in our Design Wall Monday Linky Party. 

just add your link below and remember to mention Design Wall Monday within your post.  Your projects are much more interesting than mine this week, so I’m looking forward to reading your blogs and seeing your project pictures.

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Design Wall Monday - October 9, 2023

 Good Morning Quilters!

I’m still on the subject of sampler quilts.  But I am making progress!  The Splendid Sampler blocks setting design issues have been resolved, and I am relatively happy with the plan to finish this UFO.   Here is the progress I have made:

1) I made a choice of setting design, as per favorable opinions you provided.  Thank you very much!  I am going with this plan:

Since last Monday, I auditioned light and dark solid fabrics for the plain parts:

2) pink and light green:

Result:  A) Too pinky and baby looking for me.  I realized I’m not very fond of pink.  

B)  I eliminated the pink, and used just the light green alternating with white:

Better, but still not enough contrast for me, 

C): Using a dark green gives me the contrast I want.  It still is a sampler look (too busy for me) but I do like it and it is a go to finish up this UFO.

I am glad this project is moving along.  And I think there are only a few more sampler UFOs in my stash.  😊  For sure, I know I am not starting any new ones in the future.  What are you working on this week? 

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