Wednesday, September 30, 2015

I can't believe it's the last day of September.  Today, I'm linking up with WiP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.  Thank you Lee.

It has been a busy week so far as we learned Monday that a site was available for us at the Escapees Co-Op here in Pahrump.  We jumped on that as we had been waiting for the call as we were number one on the wait list.  We went right over and gave them a bunch of money and got the keys for our mail box and our storage building, a/k/a man cave.

This is where our big 5th wheel will be for as long as we like. 

 
 
Tuesday we took the little 5th wheel over and emptied all the goodies that were stored in it when we gave up our membership at the Escapees Co-Op in Coarsegold, CA.  Then it got moved into the storage area waiting until we load it up and head out for our east coast travel adventure.
 
Today we'll move the big 5th wheel over and get all settled in.
 
In the meantime, I've been getting some quilting done.  I finished round 2 of rosette 1 for the New Hexigon Milliflorie Quilt Along. 
 
 
I'm liking it so far, but now comes decision time in choosing the fabrics for round 3.  I'm hoping the ones I've pulled from my stash will work. 
 

 
When we get settled in I'll cut one hexigon out and see how I like the combinations together and go from there.  This morning I did get the two different paper patterns (6 of each one) for Round 3 cut out.  The two different ones alternate so this round will be interesting. 
 

 
My mess I made cutting them out.
 




All cleaned up and getting ready to get everything in the 5th wheel secure so we can move it over to the co-op.  May your Wednesday be full of quilting time.

Friday, September 25, 2015

Creating, Sharing, and Inspiring

I'm linking up with ~ Create ~ Share ~ Inspire ~ #CreativeGoodness ~ hosted by Quilt Shop Gal.  Sew, hop on over and link up today.

Yesterday I spent a good part of the day foundation paper piecing this cute Halloween banner that I'll hang outside from about mid-October until the end of October.  I got the pattern from a blog friend, Marsha over at Quilter in Motion, which has been long out of print.  You can see her version of "Fly" here.  I still need to put the borders on, bind it, and then quilt it, which I hope to get done this next week.




I've also been working on an EPP QAL project by Katja Marek.  I'm way behind on this as most everyone is on Rosette 9 and I'm just starting Rosette 1, but you can join in at anytime. I have round 1 of that rosette finished and was stumped on fabrics for the next round.  After a lot of deliberation last night I think I've come up with a combination.  I'll be doing some cutting this morning to see if it'll actually work.  I sure hope so.  Here is what I'm thinking for round 2.  I'm not sure if I'll use the pink or not.  Time will tell once I get those shapes cut and laid out to see what looks good and what doesn't.  Stay tuned to see what I decided on.


Lastly, my wonderful husband finished the hanger for my outdoor banners to hang on and here is my first banner, Hangin' with the Boys, up and bringing a smile to my face each time I come in from outside.


Hoping you all have a wonderful weekend.   We are headed down to Las Vegas to spend a couple days with family to take in a car show, celebrate a few birthdays, and, of course, shopping.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Work in Progess Wednesday

Linking up today with Freshly Pieced's WiP Wednesday.  Thank you Lee for sponsoring this linky party.

As usual, I have a few things in the works.  Since we will be hitting the road sometime this winter (gotta get all the doctor and dental appointments taken care of before we can leave.  Did 3 tests today and a flu shot tomorrow, next is the cataract appointment and dental), I need a quilting project that will be somewhat mobile I can take along on the trip.  So, after lots of looking around on the Internet I came up with The New Hexagon:  52 Blocks to English Paper Piece by Katja Marek and there is a Quilt Along with a Facebook group.  You can find out all about the QAL here. I started the second round today and then didn't like the fabrics I chose so a hunt began.  I may start all over again with a FQ bundle I got on Monday which is all coordinating fabrics which will make it a bit easier.

 
 
This is what happens when I'm looking for material options.  It's not pretty at all.
 

 
Now that I have Hangin' with the Boys hanging outside our 5th wheel, I need something for October/Halloween.  My Blog friend, Marsha, was kind enough to share her pattern for FLY which is from a magazine long out of print. Be sure to check out her FLY wall hanging here.  I've been pulling fabric options together for it.  Here is what I have so far:
 

 
 
I also have my Midnight Mystery Quilt in the works and I've finally gotten caught up.  It is never to late to join so hop on over to Meadow Mist Designs and check it out.  If you don't know me, I love mystery quilts.  Thank you Cheryl for putting this one together.  Just waiting for the October clue to get moving on this again.  Clue one was picking fabric, two was all about cutting all the fabric up, three was making flying geese a new way (to me anyway) and four was square in a square.
 
 
I think that is enough project for now.  Oh, but wait, I still have my grandson's quilt to sandwich together and quilt.  Enough already.  Happy quilting.




Friday, September 18, 2015

"Can I get a Whoop Whoop", I sure hope so as I'm linking up with Sarah over at Confessions of a Fabric Addict today. 

I actually have two Whoop, Whoops.  The first is that I've finished my "Hangin' with the Boys" banner that will be hung outside under our awning.  I'm just waiting for my husband to finish the driftwood that I'll be hanging it from.  I'm not a patient person and I asked him about doing this many days ago.




My second Whoop, Whoop is that I finially got the back to my grandson's quilt finished.  Not sure what I was thinking when I decided to piece the back.  Now, I need to iron the front and the back, get it sandwiched together with some batting I bought while in Colorado, and quilting then it'll be ready for the mail.  So I guess I'll get another Whoop, Whoop when it is totally done.

 
 
Here is a picture of the front if you haven't seen it yet.
 
 


I've still got to figure out a better way to measure my scant 1/4' seems on my flying geese which is my task for the day.  Of course that is after grocery shopping and doctor's appointment. 

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Three's a Charm

Three projects that I'm working on today.  Linking up to Linky Tuesday, Freemotion on the River.

First is my "Hangin' with the Boys" banner that is just about done.  He's all pinned and ready to quilt and bind.  The last step is sewing on the buttons for his eyes and shirt.  Then I'll have my husband stain and varnish a piece of driftwood I picked up along Lake Pend Orielle in Idaho this summer to hang it from.  Better get him working on that project today.


 

 

Second is the backing for my grandson's quilt, Scrappy Mountain Majesties.  I have all the rows finished and will be sewing the rows together today.




Third is working on my flying geese for the Midnight Mystery QAL being put on by Cheryl over at Meadow Mist Designs.  My geese are a bit out of whack so today I've got to rip and resew a couple of them and then get my scant 1/4 inch seems right. 



It's not to late to join this QAL. 

Sunday, September 13, 2015

We are now at our temporary homebase in Pahrump, NV, having arrived yesterday and boy is hot here, as in 109 yesterday and 101 today.  Needless to say we are staying inside as much as possible.  I have been working on my banner, "Hangin' with the Boys" by Bloomin Minds.  I blanket stitched around everything except the overalls and backstitched the scarecrow's mouth and straw hair.  I'll do some stash shopping and come up fabric for the borders and backing.  I hope to get that all done tomorrow along with some grocery shopping.  Here is how it looks so far.  Linking up with Slow Sunday Stitching.


As soon as I finish my fall banner, I'll be back working on my grandson's "Scrappy Mountain Majesties" quilt. 

Friday, September 11, 2015

Quilting on the Road

I did actually accomplish something this morning before we head to Cedar City, UT where we plan to stop for the night.  I have traced the pattern pieces for my fall banner onto fusible webbing.  I'm hoping tonight to get it ironed onto the fabric and cut out.


I purchased two pieces of blue fabric for the background as I couldn't find a nice light blue one.  Not sure which I'll use until I cut all the pieces out and lay them out to see which looks best.


Of course the true colors don't show up.

Updated progress picture of Hangin' with the Boys:


Of course now I need to do all the embroidery on it and sew some eye buttons on the scarecrow and one on the shirt.  I'm not liking how the hat is sitting on his pointy head so I may recut it and put it lower on his head.   He's looking like a cone head instead of a scarecrow.  Once I get the buttons on and the embroidery done I'll add two borders, sandwich it and then all that will be left is to quilt it.  I have a nice piece of driftwood I picked up at the lake while in Idaho that I'll hang it from.  It's nice to be working on something that isn't going to take weeks to finish.  Gotta run and do some blanket stitching.  See ya'll later.



Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Today I'm linking up to Scraptastic Tuesday even though it is Wednesday.  And also linking up with Let's Be Social! because it is Wednesday.  Yep, I'm behind with traveling, my son's wedding last Sunday evening, and tonight is our big family dinner before we are back on the road headed for our homebase in Nevada. 

I've completed the top for my Grandson, Cole's, quilt and now I'm piecing the back out of more old men's shirts that I collected from various thrift stores.  I'm hoping to get the back all finished before the dinner tonight.  I'm half way there so only have another 8 rows to go.  Here is what it looks like so far. 

 
 

The rows are just laid out on the floor and not sewn together yet.  The light smaller half row is to make it 16 1/2 squares long and I decided to use the lighter shirt for this rather than the darker ones and it will be 1/4 of the way down from the top.  Definitely scrappy.  After I got the first photo, Lola decided she liked the backing and had to get in the picture.  :-)  For those of you who have not seen the top here it is.


 
I still need to purchase batting for it and currently have a 50% off coupon from Jo Ann's so may try to find one close to where we are and get it today before leaving tomorrow.  That way when I get back to our homebase I won't have to travel into Las Vegas to purchase it.  Frankly, I'm a bit tired from all the travel, sightseeing, and wedding and just want to be in one place for a bit.  Happy Quilting!
 


Sunday, September 6, 2015

It has been a very busy week so far.  We arrived at our Colorado destination on Thursday afternoon and got settled in.  Friday I got to see my daughter, granddaughter, and my grandson for the first time in over a year and a half.  I also met my grandson's girlfriend, Callie.  They've been together for over a year.  I can't tell you how happy I was to see them.  I also got to see my son and future daughter-in-law Friday night.  They look great, but a wee bit stressed with all the wedding planning.  It had been just as long since I had seen them.  I gifted my Granddaughter, Dakotah, her quilt and she loved it.

 
 
I also gifted my son and his soon-to-be wife their quilt.  I didn't get a picture of them with it as things have been a bit hectic the last couple of days, but here is the quilt which I called collected and I quilted with loop-d-loops and stars.
 
 
 
The wedding is this evening at 6:00 and it promises to be a wonderful experience for all of us.  They had the rehersal last night and it was a lot of fun and a few tears were shed as they practiced their vows. 

 
I decided to piece the back of the quilt for my grandson out of more recycled men's shirts I had collected and I now have a pile of 193, 5 1/2" squares.  I estimated that I'll need about 231 so today during some free time I'll be ironing a couple more shirt pieces and cutting those up.  It will be the first time I've tried to do a pieced back.  Of course I'll posts pictures as I go.  This is the pile I have so far.  You can see a few from the shirts I used on the front, but there aren't too many of those.