Four more for Prayers and Squares

In 2011, I have now finished 8 quilts for the Prayers and Squares ministry at Living Waters Lutheran Church.  My goal for this year is to finish 11 in 2011.  Here are the latest 4 installments.

These first two are a pattern that I came up with.  I wanted to do a very simple quilt with jelly rolls I had purchased at Walmart.

These are from a quilt-a-long that I participated on Ravelry.

Long time no see

Boy I haven't posted in a long time.

In April I was working on my boys vests for their first communion.  I have never completed a garment before so this was quite the little project.  That 5/8" seem allowance was quite the change from my regular 1/4".

In May and June I was working on fleece blankets for the June Jubilee and for my kids.  Never thought I would actually work with fleece, sacrilege...

After that I started working on some quilts.  Of course that was between softball and baseball practice and games!

Finished these 2 for Lia's kids quilt mission at her church. 

Last year when we were at the New Jersey State Fair, I pick up this animal print for their block challenge.  You would pay $5.00 for a fat quarter of fabric, do the block and it would be entered in to a contest at the state fair.  So mine will be there in the 2011 fair.  They then put the blocks together and raffle off the quilt at the next state fair, 2012 for my block, for Quilts of Valor.  It's always fun to do something different.

 

Finally, this quilt is for the Luther Point Quilt Auction.  Lia donated the top and I did the quilting.  

 Next up are some Prayers and Squares quilts.  Have 4 ready to bind.

Always Learning

So last weekend was a big learning weekend for me.  It was GREAT!

I was stalled on the new "trial" quilt I am working on so I decided to work on my quilting by practicing on some potholders.  I have been wanting to quilt some feathers on quilts but have been to intimidated.  This was my chance!  It went quite well.  I did the round feather pattern and they actually turned out.  Here is how they look.  With a little bit more practice and think the will look very nice.

Regarding my stall on the trial quilt, it was because I needed just the right fabric for the outside of the center portion of the quilt.  It is a bit of a tricky wicket as this fabric touches all of the other fabrics in the quilt.  I knew what just what I wanted and didn't have it in my stash.  Off to the fabric store.  Our plans for Saturday were to have lunch with my Mom and Dad then run around and look for Mighty Beanz.  When the boys ran to Toys R Us, DD and I ran into Hancocks.  I bought a fabric that I thought would work.

When I got home and started cutting out the pieces, I realized it just wasn't the right fabric, it was a bit too bright.  So what does one do when the yellowish tan is too bright?  You throw it in your coffee that is left over from the morning.  PERFECT!  It's almost the exact color.  I was so excited that I wanted DH to come and see.  He kept asking me, "What's burning?"  He must have asked 3 times even though I kept telling him nothing.  In my excitement I didn't really rinse well nor dry my test piece so I guess I burnt the coffee a bit as I was pressing it.  Anyway off I was to making more coffee dyed fabric.  Love it!

Pictures of 2, means another done

So here is are the pictures of Baby C's quilt.  I'm really happy with how it turned out.

Side 1

Side 2

 This is Prayers and Squares quilt #2.

As for my other happenings, I took one project off my project list as I gave it to Anna at church.  Anna is a relatively new quilter and she was interested in doing some work with diagonals.  With having the half square triangle project in the cupboard I gave that to her, with the condition that it becomes a Prayers and Squares quilt.  Gave her a quick explanation on half square triangles and off she goes.  I'm so happy to be able to share this passion with someone else.

After finishing Baby C's quilt I just didn't know what I wanted to work on next.  I have nothing that is needed to be done so I worked on a  couple of bags.  One was the Schlep bag that Lia gave me.  The other a quick little tote with pre-quilted fabric.  I'll post a picture as soon as I get a chance.  

Next I decided to work on the tree skirt.  This is a new pattern with funky rulers so I figured it would be a good idea to do a practice quilt.  Picked out fabrics for a kids quilt for Lia's church.  Boy am I ever glad I did this as I made a mistake in cutting which could have been catastrophic if I had not had extra fabric.  

Today Lia and I went to Bear Patch today to find backing fabric.  It was a relatively successful as I bought backing for 4 quilts, some more 30's reproduction for my English paper piecing, and the batting for our wedding quilt.  So excited to get moving on the wedding quilt!

Progress

Finished the quilt for Baby C.  Hopefully photos tomorrow.  Progress.

Binding on a Prayers and Squares quilt.  Progress.

Borders almost on a Prayers and Squares quilt.  Progress.

Next up I think is going to be the tree skirt.  It has been a long time since I've done a quilt from a pattern and funky rulers.  Am looking forward to the challenge.  Progress.

The best thing that happened recently is that DD sat and sewed with me.  She had taped up a couple of her bandannas and made a paper strap to make a bag.  I suggested she sew it together so she did, at least she started to.  Looking forward to more of this.  After a bit she decided that Mario Brothers was more important.  Oh well, at least she came back to it 2 days later, now that's Progress!

I'm back

It has been a long time since I've visited here.  So long so that I've forgotten where I am in my progress of things.

O.k., just check it out and we're good.

So that illusive binding, found it.  I was sure I never made it!  Now it's too late for the intended quilt as indicated in my last blog, I put a different binding on it.  Oh well, there will just be a flannel binding on a non-flannel quilt.  Should be fine though as I have quite a few plaid quilts in the works that it will go nicely with.

Finished the baby quilt, here it is...

They seem to like it even though it is a bit big.

Let's talk a little about this quilt.  The focal fabric and the red fabric Lia and I purchased when we were in Wisconsin last September.   Love the letters as the mom is a teacher whose last name happens to be Stori, how perfect.  I had also purchased a green check but that was just to muddy.  The pattern is from the book Quilts from the Quiltmaker's Gift and it is called Puss in the corner.  I found the blue batik at Glad Creations and off I went!  As I referred to earlier, it did get a bit big, 52x64, but it works great for naps!


I've also made great progress on Baby C's quilt.  I have it all put together and the binding is on, just need to stitch down the other side.  A couple of weeks ago DH was gone fishing with Baby A then Baby B got the flu.  I needed to stay home with Baby B so made a couple of day mini-retreat and worked on Baby C's quilt.  Hopefully will have it done for after the weekend.  I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out, it's just not quite as wide as I would have liked it.  Unfortunately I don't have anymore fabric to be able to add on, (maybe that's actually fortunate!)

Another Done

Finished the Prayers and Squares quilt.

Here is the final product:

As for the baby quilt, I think I may change it to the preschooler quilt.  It ended up a bit large, 52x64.  Oh well.

I give up!!!

After much thoughtful consideration, I realized that I'm not really sure if I made that binding after all.  So after cleaning out a large part of my quilting room, no binding.  Then taking time to analyze the quilt, I'm not so sure I made any.  So onward I go.  Found a blue/black flannel that will work well.  Have it sewn on and just need to sew it to the back.

In the mean time, I've been working away at the baby quilt.  Hopefully will be done with that this weekend.  That would make 2 done in the next week.  This is the exciting part.

Reorganizing- Then and Now

What it looks like when you walk in

Over the years I have tried to take pictures of my quilts and other projects.  I have been relatively consistent so it is fun to look through my photos.  Tonight I was looking through my picture of a particular one and realized that there is a gap in time in the photos.  Not a gap in the photos but a gap in time.  This time gap was after the boys were born and before our addition was finished.  I love my quilting room.  Since its addition not only has my project production increased but so has my spirits.  This room has become my oasis.  Others may certainly enter my oasis but I sure limit the stuff in there.  I can sure say that there are few if any toys.  I love that I pop in there and sew for as much or as little time that I want.  Today I was in there 4 or 5 different times.  I love that the kids can pop in when they want or need something.  Today Baby C and I played a bit of bouncy ball.  Reorganization of my quilt space was such a key to my life.

The design wall and mangle

Storage wall, thanks Ikea

Entrance, iron on left, thread on right

As for my Project Progress...today I worked a bit on my baby quilt. (FYI, this is on the counter of the third picture.)

For the evening I decided to empty out part of my storage in search for the missing binding.  After removing and reorganizing a large portion of projects, I gave up.  I'm second guessing whether or not I even made the missing binding.  Either way, I am moving forward.  Finding another fabric that works, I made a binding and have sewn it on one side.  Just have to sew down that back and this will be done.  (FYI, this is on the plaid quilt on the table.)  I was waiting for the call that they needed the quilt right away, so glad it didn't come.

Finishing and Ripping

Yesterday was baby quilt day.  I finished quilting the one for Lia.  It was a toughy.  Quilting stars on the inside was an easy decision.  The inner border was easy too, just a squiggly line.  Now for the outer border.  I wanted to do a sort of a large S but I just wasn't feeling it.  So I looked through a bunch of books.  Ended up with my first thought.  It worked out fine, I think.

Then I moved on to working on my baby quilt.  Cut some of it out, sewed the strips together, cut the strips to correct size, realized I was using directional fabric.  I then proceeded to rip out the 2 1/2" squares I had just put together.  Oh it will be so much better with the direction going the same way.

Recent Progress

I'm pleased to say that I have made some real progress recently.  Tuesday night I started quilting a quilt for Lia.  I went until I ran out of thread for the bobbin.  Just a little bit more left. 

So yesterday I went to the quilt shop, bought thread and fabric for a baby quilt. 

Then last night, I did nothing!

Day 4 of not finding that darn binding.

What a day

This evening I had a Prayers and Squares meeting and had a real nice time.  Prayers and Squares (from now on referred to as P&S) is a mission our church supports.  We make quilts with ties.  Then when there is a need, members of the church tie one of the ties and says a prayer for a person in need.  Tonight was my first time back in a long time.  Before I had a quilt meeting with another group on the 3rd Tuesday of the month and I didn't want to be gone 2 nights in a row so I suspended my participation in P&S.  We tied one of the quilts I had done.  When I returned home, I basted the edges and trimmed it up, all ready to sew on the binding.  So, where the heck is the binding.  I CANNOT FIND THE BINDING, UGHHHHH!!!!

In looking for the binding I found 2 more UFOs.  WOW, I have an endless number of projects.

Still haven't found that darn binding.

Oopsie

Today's goal was to finish the backing of the first Prayers and Squares quilt.  This was to be a bit of a challenge as I needed to to put a cross on the back and I wasn't sure exactly how I would do this.  So I figured it out, did the cross and I was quite pleased.  After laying the top over the backing and the backing, I discovered the back was too small.  Oopsie-daisy.  Immediately I knew I had a few choices.  First, rip it out and do it all over again. Second, put a border like piece around the whole thing in the same color or in a different color.  Finally, cut down the top to fit the back.

I can tell you that cutting the top was the last of the options.  For a brief second I thought about ripping but then decided to to try the other option.  I found a coordinating fabric but wasn't to sure about that.  So I went to my reliable source, my Johnag.  His thought was to use the same fabric and add it all the way around. That is what I went with.

So that's how my simple project became an oopsie.  Not a big error, just a little bit of frustration.

Next is to get it tied then bound.  Tying will take place Monday night at church then to bind.

A little quilt history

This time of year always brings me back to my marathon hospital stay.  It was 8 years ago last month that I was admitted for the 78 day stay.  I’m not exactly sure of the timing but about this time of the year I started getting “squishies” in the mail at the hospital.  I had no clue what was going on but boy was it wonderful.  Later to find out, one of the members of my quilting group suggested that members make 6” blocks in bright colors.  It was fun to get them pretty much daily.  The volunteer who delivered the mail would bound into my room and say, “Mrs. Wlazlo, you’ve got mail!”

I started showing the blocks to everyone.  One of my nurses, wish I could remember which one, suggested that we pin them to a towel and tape the towel to the wall.  By the time we were all done, we had 3 towels covered in blocks.  Boy was it ever a conversation piece.  Everyone who came into my room commented on them and wanted to know the story behind them.  I explained that I was a quilter and how my quilt group was sending them.  What a lovely experience; a sort of support that cannot be described in words. 

Fast forward 5 years, quilts finished.  Here is the final product.

Does a bad day end good if one quilted?

No Doubt!!!!

Without going into what was bad, all I will say is it started early when I replied to an email and it went to the whole company.  It was downhill from there.

Tonight I tried to keep my mood in check and stay very patient with the kids.  One does feel a bit better after the zen of quilting.

What I did tonight was finish cutting the fabric for Baby C's quilt. Yesterday I started cutting out the strips and I made a mistake, cut the strips 6" rather than 6 1/2".  Holly crap because I can't get either of the focus fabrics that I had cut out.  Oh well, now the quilt will be 60 1/2" wide rather than 66" wide.  No big deal, lucked out this time.  Actually it was much easier to cut 6" pieces. All that's left now is cutting the batting then all ready to start sewing.

Now the big question, what to work on next.  Monday is Prayers and Squares and really I want to finish the backing for that quilt, then that will be checked off.  I also can't wait too long on quilting that baby quilt for Lia or starting the baby quilt I'm working on.  I'll have to try to find when the baby shower is.

Oh my, so many projects so little time.

One of my hopes for this blog was to post a lot of pictures of the progress each day.  Not too so successful so far.

These are the fabrics for Baby C's quilt, now all cut up.  He's pretty excited about it.  I'm not sure if I mentioned it before but I made a fleece blanket for him last week, camo on one side and blaze orange on the other, and that seemed to satisfy him for a bit.  So maybe his quilt will wait for the other 3 to get done.

I think I may challenge myself to get one Prayers and Squares quilt done a month.  Now that may just be possible.  Let's see, where are we...one top done, just need to do the backing; one on the design wall and only needs borders and backing; 3 more that the blocks are done; and finally the blocks from quilt-a-long, 7 blocks done, I think I can do 2 out of 8 blacks.  Total of 7, this just may work.  That then answers my question of what to work on next, the backing for the Prayers and Squares quilt.

So to end the day, yes, just thinking about the quilts and quilting make a bad day much better.

Project List

In order to organize my thoughts, I thought I would order, in the form of a list, my quilts.  Now mind you these are not in order of importance, just happen to be what I'm working on right now.

1.  Right now, as I sit here, I'm looking at 1 row and 1 border of a Prayers and Squares quilt.  The blocks came from Lia who got them from Marcy.  The are homespun stars, 48 of them.  I will be putting them into 4 quilts.  Lia thought she would use them for Kids quilt but it works out better to use them for Prayers and Squares.

2.  Flannel plaid Prayers and Squares quilt.  This one I found at the bottom of a drawer, have no idea where it came from.  I don't recognize it and neither does Lia.  Hmmmm, a mystery.

3.  Baby C's quilt.

4. A baby quilt.

5.  Our wedding quilt.  Progress has been made on this, I cut the inner border.  Haven't put them on yet because I'm trying to use up thread on a bobbin.  I really need to get more bobbins for the Brother.

Those are on my actively working on list.  Of course I have a whole bunch more in the "coffers."

6.  Basket block from the board I was on over 10 years ago.

7.  Applique flowers

8.  Block exchange from the Strip Club who know how long ago.  My these was "All Hearts and Farm Animals."  Very uncharacteristic of me.

9.  Black and white charm squares on yellow, I think.  This will be for Prays and Squares.

10.  Fabric for pillowcases, just have to learn how to do french seams.

11.  Hand dye fabric for quilt for Michelle.

12.  Block for the New Jersey State Fair block challenge.

Well, that's all I can think of right now.  It will be interesting to see how this list changes and evolves.

December quilt

In December I finished a quilt for my oldest son.  He is 7.  Finished it on 12-31, still in time to count it for a Fall 2010 UFO project.

A brief history of this quilt, when we were on vacation in 2009 we stopped at a quilt store in Mitchell, SD, just down the road from the Corn Palace.  In this store Baby A found a charm pack of Halloween fabric so the decision was made, a Halloween themed quilt for him.  The pattern is similar to one that I saw at Fabric town.  Right now I don't recall that pattern specifically except for that fact it was a one round courthouse step and it was made out of Civil War reproduction fabrics.  I drafted it on wrapping paper at Dave and Tammy Abbott's house.  We were there for Labor Day and I was able to sneak away to go to the quilt shop.  It was nice to use the wrapping paper as it had the cutting lines on the back that I help with diagramming the pattern.  At first I was going to use all Halloween fabric but it was way too busy.  So I put it on point on my black design wall and it was a go from there.   Referring back to an earlier post from October 15th, I finally decided to buy more backing rather than piece it, and bought truly just barely enough.  I was afraid I would need to buy more!

Remember that charm pack that was the spring board for this quilt?  It was not used in the quilt.  The blocks ended up being 6" and of course that charm pack was 5".  With the charm squares I made coasters then gave them to Michelle, a teacher, who used them for her classroom Halloween party.


Now that I've caught you up to December 31st.  I'll let you know what's coming next, next time.

I'm back

It's hard to believe its been since October 15th since I last posted.  In October I finished the Sport/Puzzle quilt for Baby B.  He is thrilled!  Here is the final product, not the best picture but I'll get a better one outside when the weather is better.

 

The border gave me some issues.  At first I had the sport fabric in the small squares but that was a bit much.  Some would probably say this is a bit much as it is but I like it.  The small colored squares in the border came from 5" in square of Moda Marbles that Lia so kindly bought for me when she went to Hancocks of Paducah.  Thanks Lia, I think they worked out beautifully.

I still have a bunch of scraps of the sport fabric so I think I may have the perfect pattern for a kids quilt. Oh so many ideas so little time.....