Sunday, February 28, 2010

Stash Report Week #9

I used a lot of stash this week. Between making the pillowcases, the cancer recovery totes and a quilty finish...man, oh man...the numbers added up this week!

Fabric added this week: 1 yard
Fabric added this year: 39 yards

Fabric used this week: -33.25 yards
Fabric used this year: - 76.5 yards

Net fabric for the year: -37.5 yards (used!)

What I accomplished this week:

Goals for next week:

  • finish piecing 'Tent Flaps' blocks
  • sew 'Tent Flaps' into a top
  • work on another winter project

A Quilty Finish

Railroad Crossings finished! Pattern by Pam at Vanilla Latte Quilts and quilted with Stars and Crescents by Golden Threads.
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Friday, February 26, 2010

Cancer Recovery Totes

I finished sewing five of the Cancer Recovery totes with comfort pillows. These will be donated to area Cancer Centers.
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Wednesday, February 24, 2010

WIP Wednesday

Today is binding day here at Bell Creek Quilts.

First I repaired the binding on this quilt. I had actually labeled it! July 2004. This is a very early quilt of mine and not only was the binding coming off but the quilting stitches (the few that are there!) are ripping out. Yet this is one of the family's favorite quilts as it is so very soft. :) I figured it was time to fix the binding after washing it with the binding half hanging off!

Second, I'm working on the binding for my next QOV~Railroad Crossings, pattern by Pam of Vanilla Latte Quilts. Notice the cup of coffee~a favorite binding accessory and it's half gone. :)

I also washed the pillowcases as I have been binding...does that count as multi-tasking?!
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Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Pillowcases!

Monday I cut and pinned pillowcases.

Today I sewed pillowcases.
Some were a military theme.

Some were patriotic for QOV's.

Some had cars.

Some had the alphabet.

Some had plaids and stripes.












(Blogger is not playing nice and won't let me upload the last of the pillowcase pictures :(~will try again later!)

(EDIT: Blogger uploaded the plaid pillowcases 2-24-10!)

16 pillowcases in all!


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Monday, February 22, 2010

Design Wall Monday

I pieced two more rows of 'Tent Flaps', pattern by Pat Sloan for Camp Sloanie Winter 2010.

The blog post pattern can be found here and the pdf pattern can be found here.
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Sunday, February 21, 2010

Stash Report Week #8

Some fabric added and some fabric used. I keeping on pace so far this year :)

Fabric added this week: +14 yards
Fabric added this year: +38 yards

Fabric used this week: -19.25 yards
Fabric used this year: -43.25 yards

Net Fabric for the year: -5.25 yards

What I accomplished this week:

Goals for next week:

Railroad Crossings Quilted

I finished quilting the Railroad Crossings yesterday.

Pattern from Pam at Vanilla Latte Quilts.

I quilted it with the Stars and Crescent panto from Golden Threads.
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Friday, February 19, 2010

Happy Pillowcase~palooza~Day

Today I made 7 more pillowcases for a total of 10 this week!

The eight on the left are for the All People Quilt 1 Million Pillowcase Drive thru Ben Franklin. The Club's goal is 2010 pillowcases which is approximately 20 pillowcases per member. I jokingly remarked that I planned on making all 20 of my pillowcases to donate at one time and just be done! Looks like I am on my way! :) One thing I discovered is that most of my florals are about 12 inches or less~enough for the cuff.

The question is: should I buy the balance 26.5 inches per pillowcase I need to finish the project? Not sure what I plan to do...

The two on the right are for in the family room. We like to have a regular pillow on the couch so the cases add just a little color. The pink matches my Sweet Treats quilt and the other~St. Patrick's Day!

Happy Pillowcase~palooza~ Day!
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Thursday's Loot

The loot from JAF.

On the left is QOV yardage.

The green geometric is for cuffs on pillowcases, if you click here it will take you to You Tube then click on 'Nifty Trick for Sewing a Pillowcase'. I never really *understood* the hot dog method until I saw this video, then *something* clicked. :) I thought the green would contrast nicely with some of the florals in my stash. The Ben Franklin Quilt Club has joined the All People Quilt 1 Million Pillowcase Challenge. The club's goal is to make and donate 2010 pillowcases. Cute, eh?!

The polka dot and birdhouses will be a Cancer Recovery tote that the Lake Country Quilt Guild donates to two local Breast Cancer Centers. The ladies delivered 30 totes just before the holidays and sadly, the Centers need more totes.
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Thursday, February 18, 2010

A Trip to JAF...

...I went to JAF to buy a pair of black handles for my recent placemat purse, A St. Patrick's Day one. I think you know where I am going here...lol...the loot is in the dryer. Pictures of the fabric tomorrow. promise! In any event, I didn't find any black handles I liked so I got out the little screwdriver and the handles that were on

the Valentine themed purse are

now on the St. Patrick's Day purse!

How's that for recycling?! I will need to make green wonder wallets as the red/hearts wonder wallets are just not looking right! :)

(I carry two wonder wallets~one for cash and one for miscellaneous cards that I have~um, like credit cards, driver's license, gift cards, medical cards~you know, we all carry them!)
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Wednesday, February 17, 2010

A Few Finishes

I finished the Downy's Quilts for Kids kit that arrive two weeks ago. I just need to label it and wash/dry then it will be ready to mail. Although none of this fabric came from the stash, it feels good to move it along closer to it's forever home.


I also finished my Valentine Five Yard kit from Boline's. This is from the stash so it busted a nice number for me~9 yards.

I'm not loving the front but...

...I am loving the back and have renamed it 'Sweet Treats'! A little late for Valentine's 2010 but early for Valentine's 2011. Right?!
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WIP Wednesday

Although I didn't participate in Pat Sloan's Camp Sloanie on February 5-7, I really liked the pattern. Found here. Pat blogged about Camp Sloanie with pictures that *campers* sent in, here are a few posts about the weekend sewing. I enjoyed looking at all the different possibilities of setting the blocks but, as usual, barn raising wins. :)

I thought I had a tub-ful of beige 2.5 inch strips but when I went to get the strips for this pattern, I only found about 5 WOF strips. I went to the cupboard and pulled some *what was I thinking* beiges and starting cutting. I am about halfway through making the blocks. I want to make an 6 x 8 set for approximately 57 x 76 without borders. I need to fill in the side holes and make two complete rows, one for the top and one for the bottom.

Not exactly sure when I will get back to this project as DD is home sick, but it will wait for me :)
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Monday, February 15, 2010

QOV Quilting

I quilted another Guild QOV. This one is constructed with Signature stars and Signature pinwheels. It was pieced by Linda, Mary and their sewing group.
I used the Star and Crescent pantogragh from Golden Threads, although my stars and crescents look a little wonky. :)
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Sunday, February 14, 2010

Stash Report Week #7

No finishes, no fabric added, no fabric used.

Fabric added this week: 0 yards
Fabric added this year: 24 yards

Fabric used this week: 0 yards
Fabric used this year: 24 yards

Net fabric for the year: ~0~

What I accomplished this week:

Goals for next week:

  • bind Little Hearts
  • bind Valentine
  • quilt guild QOV
  • quilt Railroad Crossings

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Valentine Quilting

I finished the quilting on my Valentine Quilt, the Five Yard Quilt from Moline's. This pattern in the 'Square Holes' that was part of the free handout when I brought the fabric at the Wisconsin Quilt Expo in September 2009.

I quilted it with Heartstrings from Willow Leaf Studio.

One closeup of the focus fabric.

Another closeup of the other focus fabric.

Lookie who wanted to try her hand at the long arm! yes sir! that's DD giving free motion quilting a whirl. I loaded a piece of fabric she selected from the blender closet. I was going to *lay claim* to it and make myself a St. Patrick's Day purse but I don't think she is going to *give up* her first long arm quilting piece! :)

Now she wants to piece a quilt top so she can quilt it!

Be still my heart! Happy Valentine's Day!
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Wednesday, February 10, 2010

WIP Wednesday

I finished the quilting on my Quilts for Kids kit. I quilted it with Popcorn from Willow Leaf Studios. Next step is trimming then onto the binding process. It was fun to play with someone's fabric choices and hearts, too! I think I have just enough of the backing fabric to make the binding.

I also put together a few of the blocks for my Valentine 5 Yard Kit from Moline's. I brought the kit at the Wisconsin Quilt Expo in September 2009. I manage to change the pattern from the way it was written so I will only be able to have a 5 x 7 set instead of 5 x 8. The quilt should finish at about 58 x 78, still a good size couch throw or tent! :)
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Monday, February 8, 2010

Wacky FAB Challenge #3

What I Gifted:

I made Norma a Fish Wall Hanging as her Harold likes quilts with fish on them. So, I wanted to make sure that Harold would enjoy looking at this wall hanging~lol~

This is the Gone Fishing pattern from Eleanor Burn's book Quilts Through The Seasons.
I quilted it with Ebb and Flow from Willow Leaf Studio. I just realized that I didn't take a close up of the either fish that used the challenge fabric~oops! It is the light blue that has been paired with purple.


What I Received:

Pam gifted me these 3 wonderful 'ditty bags'! Aren't they just the cutest! I love them!

Thank You Pam!

She also sent the seaside note pad and notes. I always can use more note pads as I love to write lists! Pam also sent the Build-a-Bear journal and stickers for DD. So very thoughtful to include DD! Thanks Pam! :)
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Design Wall Monday

A few days ago I was reading Holly's blog, Fabric Mom and she shared a link to Quilts for Kids, Sponsored by Downy. When you visit this site, you can volunteer to assemble and quilt a Comfort quilt.

I submitted my name and this is the packet I received in the mail.

Included in the packet is the pattern, label, fabric squares, strips for the 4 patch, border, backing and binding. I'm thinking I might use the b&w fabric for an inner border than add something from the stash as the binding.

What fun! A heart quilt for a little girl!

Thank Goodness it is a 4 patch and not a Pinwheel...lol I have a few of the rows together so far. A couple more hours and it will be ready to quilt. I need to supply the batting but I have a few pieces here that I think will work.

I have white thread on the long arm already and I can see *clouds* on this quilt. DH raised up the table to long arm is on so I'm anxious to try it out!

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Stash Report Week #6

An easy week. No finishes and yet I added to the stash. :(

My report:

Fabric added this week: 2 yards
Fabric added this year: 24 yards

Fabric used this week: 0 yards
Fabric used this year: 24 yards

Net Fabric for the year: ~0~ neither positive or negative

What I accomplished this week:
  • pieced Scrappy Railroads to a flimsy

Goals for next week:

  • quilt a Guild QOV
  • quilt Scrappy Railroads
  • piece Valentine's project

Friday, February 5, 2010

My Wonky Railroad

I finished piecing the Railroad blocks and even added the borders but...it is a little wonky. Pattern by Pam at Vanilla Latte Quilts.

Now I totally remember *why* I shy away from hst's! and the fact that the directions say to sew *a skimpy 1/4 inch seam*. My seams are so out of whack~no wonder I have points in hiding!

It also reminds me of a story I heard about the Grand Hotel on Mackinaw Island, Michigan many years ago. Two building crews were set to work on the building the main floor on the foundation on opposite sides of what will be the ground floor of the hotel. You guessed it! When the crews were nearing the center of the floor where they we to meet and match up~it wasn't happening! I don't remember exactly how far apart the floors were but I do remember it seemed like a big distance to me at the time!

Let's hope no trains ride my railroad tracks as there will be wrecks for sure! :)
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