Patriotic Strings Quilt

I started quilting the Patriotic Strings Quilt today. I wanted to try off setting the Stars and Loops panto from LEQuilters.



I followed the Heartstrings Quilt Project block guidelines, found here.

Fun Mail

I was lucky enough to win QuilterJan's Give Away last week! and this awesome jelly roll was the prize! It is from Moda Woodland Bloom by Lila Tueller and it is beautiful! I'll have to start researching exactly what pattern I want to make from this luscious line of fabric. :) Thanks QuilterJan! Her husband also carves wonderful pens from wood! Check out her blog here.

Stash Busting Report Week #29

I had a finish this week! woohoo!

My report:

Fabric added this week: 2 yards
Fabric added this year: 127.5 yards

Fabric used this week: -9 yards
Fabric used this year: -189.5 yards

Net fabric for the year: - 62 yards (used)

What I accomplished this week:

• bound Patriotic Warm Wishes
• pieced string blocks to a flimsy

Goals for next week:

• quilt and bind String flimsy
• work on Friendship blocks

The summer days seem to be speeding away from me and I haven't made a dent in my summer 'to do' list! well---I guess summer is about a slower pace for everything, even in the sewing room! :)

Warm Wishes pattern here from Quiltmaker magazine. String blocks guidelines found here from the Heartstrings Quilt Project.

I volunteered to...

...demo coiled bowls at guild tonight! I figured I better find the supplies and refresh my memory since it's been awhile since I have made any. Just as I remembered, Bella (the Janome Gem) was having issues doing a zigzag stitch. I only paid $80.00 for her and she has had one check up worth $60.00. I'm seriously debating if I want to spend $$ on another check up or put the $$ into a newer lighter machine for class/traveling/DD.

In the meantime, out came Baby Brother from the cabinet and I will haul her to the guild for demo. She was doing her straight stitch and zigzag-ing on the wrapped clothesline very nicely this afternoon. Nothing like waiting until the last minute to *see* if it all works...lol.

I am following the directions from Susan Breier's book, 'It's a Wrap'. Book here although I used that superstore 40% off coupon (;)) and her website is here to catch up on her other works since she published her book.

WIP Wednesday

I decided to *float* the blocks again with a inner off white muslin border. I didn't have enough of any one blue for the outer border so I settled on two similar values of blue. I followed the Heartstring's method for making the blocks, found here.

Patriotic Warm Wishes

Patriotic Warm Wishes finished!

pattern here from Quiltmaker Magazine.

Stash Busting Report Week #28

No finishes this week but I did receive 6 fq's in the mail from my secret pal. :)

My report:

Fabric added this week: 1.5 yards
Fabric added this year: 125.5 yards

Fabric used this week: o yards
Fabric used this year: -180.75 yards

Net fabric for the year: -55.25 yards

What I accomplished this week:

• pieced and quilted Patriotic Warm Wishes
• pieced 24 string blocks

Goals for next week:

• bind Warm Wishes
• piece string blocks to a flimsy

Saturday Sewing

What would you do if you suddenly found yourself alone for the day?

Sew, of course!

I finished piecing the Patriotic Warm Wishes quilt. Thanks for the suggestion of the small white inner border. I like how it makes the pieced portion appear to *float*.










I quilted it using the Stars and Loops panto from LEQ.










Members of the HeartStrings group (blog and website) were meeting in Nebraska today for a sew-in. I read about it on Lori's blog. So I decided to sew together a few string blocks.

I had cut the foundations and center strips last September, but never did get around to sewing it together. This is how my pile started.



This is after.

No wonder so many people love to make these string blocks! I chained pieced 6 blocks at a time and was done this afternoon. I just made a rough cut to even the edges out. The precision cut to 9.5 inches will wait until I can focus a little better. :)

WIP Thursday

I'm plugging along, sewing together my continents of the Patriotic Warm Wishes.














Yesterday I ran errands. One stop was the local paper where I was able to buy this 'roll end' for $5.00. It is newsprint paper without the newsprint ink. When the rolls are too low to print a run of the paper...they sell them. I have heard that this paper is good for foundation piecing but I am going to try and use it to create a custom pantograph. The receptionist told me that the usual use is for packing for a move.

A Tye Die Day

A few Christmases ago, my BIL gave me a Tye Die kit (similar to this one). Yesterday DD and I decided we would try it out and see how we did. I think we are in desperate need of more practice!

DD wanted a swirl. Here is hers right after she applied the dye. She then decided to twist it again.

Here it is after rinsing but still wet. Where did her swirl go?!









I wanted scrunchies on the top and stripes on the bottom. I realized too late that I should have reversed the colors! LOL Blue on the top, red on the stripes. Oh well, I think we need more practice. This is still wet.

Next I wanted to try a quilt back, still wet.
I wanted to use this with another Mermaid quilt but it might be too dark.



Maybe after I wash and dry it~it will lighten up?!