Friday Finish: Liberated Amish

Yes!!!!  I FINALLY finished my Liberated Amish Challenge wall quilt.  It's about time!!!

Quilting without a walking foot

The quilt top has been staring at me from my blog header for over two years now, mocking me.  If you  want the history on this quilt, you can read the first post here,  see more progress made in this post, and here is where i decided to rip out all the quilting.

Center quilted

I am really pleased with the design and piecing of the quilt top but have never liked the various methods I attempted for the quilting.  Several months ago I pulled the rebasted quilt out of the closet and quilted a square spiral in the center with black thread using my walking foot.  I also quilted organic lines in the black strips radiating out from the center.

Juki Junior

Once again I put the quilt away to work on another project, but yesterday I was determined to finish this quilt once and for all.  The problem was I couldn't remember the brilliant plan I came up with for quilting the borders and letters, and wouldn't you know my machine decided to experience technical difficulties and jammed.

Liberated Amish

In no mood to deal with the problem, I pulled out Junior and quilted wavy organic lines with my favorite variegated thread using the zig zag foot (it was either that or the buttonhole foot).  This decision turned out to be a big pain in the @*$ with less than perfect results, but I.AM.DONE.WITH.THIS.QUILT and do not want anything else to do with it am ready to ship it off to Montana.  I used the facing method again rather than binding, and all that is left is to hand stitch it to the back.

Yuck

This morning I found time to check out June, my big Juki.  Hmmm.....you think maybe it needs a good cleaning?!  I recently changed the needled, oiled the machine and clean dust out of the bobbin area...guess I forgot to look under the hood ;-)

What did you finish this week?  Enjoy your weekend!

I Better Get Busy

When it comes to sewing and blogging, lately it seems I take one step forward and two steps back...

can't seem to get into a rhythm....but working on it.

Since the deadline is March 21st, I finally started working on our guild's Robert Kaufman solids challenge.  I've had an idea of what I wanted to do for quite some time, but never got beyond the thinking and planning stage.  Yesterday, I remedied that situation and cut into the RK charm pack, and since we are allowed to use some additional fabric, I also pulled out this Cherrywood fat quarter I purchased last summer.

This purposely isn't the best picture...but can you see where I am going with this?  I tried once before to piece letters (unsuccessfully), but this time I am using solids...and I have Word Play Quilts as a reference.

Surely I will have better results this time ;-)

Last post I hinted that our Orlando Modern Quilt Guild had exciting news about an upcoming workshop.

Does the above picture give you a clue?  Whee...I'm so excited that Lazy Gal Tonya aka Unruly Quilter aka Tonya Ricucci will be spending some time with our group!!!!!  I am a huge fan and can't wait to meet her in April.

However, there is one small issue...Tonya has asked to see my Liberated Amish Challenge quilt....

up close and personal.....eek!  

This is the picture I have in my header and how the Liberated Amish quilt top looked before my pitiful attempts at hand quilting scarred it.  I mentioned in this January post about wanting to resurrect this project, including ripping out all the quilting and starting over.

I actually took the quilt top (along with the seam ripper) to my son's track meet, but since there were what seemed like hurricane force winds and rain, I decided that wasn't the best time to pull it out.

For inspiration (and to refresh my memory), I reviewed the posts on the Lazy Gal Liberated Amish 2010 Get Together blog.  Has it really been over a year since I asked for (and received) help in quilting my JMR quilt?  I think it's time I took the advice given.

Like I said....I better get busy!

Have an amazing day!!!

New Things

The new year brings new resolutions, but also new changes, right?

So I've been working on adding some changes to my blog.  Can you spot them?

But first, let me show you this wonderful table runner my friend Hope made me.  I just love it!!!  It matches the place mats and napkins she made me a little while ago.  I'm telling you, there are unexpected benefits to encouraging your friends and siblings to quilt!!  {grins}

So did you see I added a tab at the top labeled AAQI?  I wanted a central location to list by numbers the Priority: Alzheimer's Quilts I've made.  It also serves as a reminder that I need to make more!

I also added a Follow me on Twitter button and revamped by Twitter profile page.  Every once in a while when I'm not sure what I am doing on Twitter, something will catch my eye to justify my Twitter time.  Something like this tweet by American Quilter which said:  We are all connected by a single thread of hope and love. Quilters Newsletter Blog pays tribute to one of our own... which took me to the following picture and article:

“Phyllis Schneck, quilter.”  That’s what the TV reporter said as he read a list of those killed in this week’s tragic shootings at an appearance by Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson, Arizona.  {Click on the link to read the entire article.  It is very moving.}

Still need to update my Bucket List, Quilts, About Me and Links tab and remember to change my Picture of the Day photo daily....one thing at a time.

This isn't really a new thing.  As a matter of fact it is an old thing, but I want to make it new again.  Since the above picture was taken, this liberated amish top has been basted, partially hand quilted and partially machine quilted.  Now it is hidden in a closet.

It. is. a. mess!!!  

I won't even show a picture.  But I loved it before I messed it up.  So here's my question.  Do any of you have experience in ripping out the quilting stitches and starting over?  I'm worried about the original holes left by the stitches showing if I use a different quilt design.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  I would like to rescue this quilt top from it's current miserable state.

Oh, and I think Monday is my 300th post!  Have an amazing weekend!!

Sorry

That pretty much sums up how I'm feeling at the moment!  

I am so behind on everything....housework, quilting, unpacking from trip, packing for move, paying bills, replying to emails, blog reading, you name it.
I don't have any new pictures or projects to show you ;-(

Sorry that this means I am showing you another quilt made before blogging.

Again, no label and no great photographs for this quilt named Beach Bum.

This was made for my oldest son several years ago.  

The larger squares are fussy cut from this really cool batik fabric showing the palm trees and sun.  The border is also from this same fabric while the checkerboard squares are blue and green batiks.

It is a rather large quilt since at the time he was complaining about his feet sticking out from under the lap quilts I usually made!

The backing is the same fabric as one of the checkerboard squares on the front.  Only three different fabrics were used in this quilt, but I love the way it turned out.

This is the photo that inspired the quilt.  Actually, I do have a label for this quilt.  A while back, I scanned this photo and printed a label.  I just have to find it and sew it on!  I don't know what it is about me and quilt labels.

I have been quilting my Feeling Groovy quilt and the Liberated Amish quilt.  I just don't have any updated pictures, and I am tired of showing the same quilt over and over.  Hopefully, I will be finished with the Feeling Groovy quilt soon (as the auction is Saturday), and I can move on to other projects.  I am hand quilting the Liberated Amish one so no hurry on that one.

Have an amazing day!!!

Fun Quilt Stuff

I am thrilled to say that I've seen my name pop up on several blogs in the most pleasing ways.

Mrs. Moen announced on her blog that I am the winner of her fun pattern Nothing to Wear!!  Nina Lise is an amazingly creative and talented artist.  I love her work and Nothing to Wear is one of my favorites. I can't wait until I can get started on this cool quilt.

Michele, moderator of the Liberated Quilters Message Board, posted about our Liberated Challenge and included pictures of all the quilts up for sale (including three of mine) and auction at the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative.
April's auction starts today and is open for ten days.  You should see the beautiful art quits available.  

Pokeytown Kim must have liked my liberated Amish WIP.  She titled her post for our Liberated Amish 2010 Get Together Inspired by Rene'!!!!  I can tell you, that is not something I have ever seen before.  You've got to see the quilt top she made.  It is stunning!

It was majorly snowing when I drove into town to say hi to the girls at Quilts on Broadway.  Isn't this so picturesque?  All of the rooms in this Victorian home are filled with luscious fabric.  Even the claw foot bathtub has bolts of fabric inside!

It would have been rude of me not to buy something while I was there ;-)

I couldn't resist this Crab Apple Hill A-Z Snowman embroidery/quilt pattern!  They are kitting it as a Block of the Month.  Lucky for me, they had one left.

Since I was shopping anyway, I bought some fat quarters and eights to add to my stash.

I love this Trees for Sale pattern.  I think I'll take this back to Orlando with me.

I had to have this Christmas quilt kit by Bunny Hill Designs.

Look at the cool shopping bag my goodies are stored in.  Quilts on Broadway is going green with recyclable bags.  Love it!

Now if I can just find some time to sew.

Have an amazing day!!!

Feels Like Christmas

While most people are at the beach for spring break, our family is spending time in Montana!

There were goodies waiting for me to open!!

This beautiful gift was wrapped and waiting in the car for me to open.  My friend Lauren left it for my husband and me me on her last trip out here.  Isn't it lovely?!?

These beautiful knives are a Christmas present that had delivery issues ;-))  I think they arrived in late January or early February.  They are definitely worth the wait.  I absolutely love them!!!  Thanks Mom and Ron!  Because of the delay, I scored a gift certificate from Bridger Kitchens for a cooking class.  Can't wait for summer to see what they'll have cooking!!

Another Christmas present (from myself) that didn't arrive on time.  I love the SewEzi table I have at home, that I ordered one for Montana.  I really love this table, and it is great for small spaces.  I hope to use it to make something for Sew and Tell Friday.

Did I ever show you the cowboy and cowgirl wall quilts actually hanging in Montana?

I brought this Liberated Amish quilt top with me.  I played hooky from skiing and did a little hand quilting...just didn't take any pictures.  Even though it is destined for Montana, don't think it will be finished while I am here this trip.

Soon I will pick up my oldest at the airport which is conveniently located near a quilt shop.  Think I might just stop by and say hi ;-)

Have an amazing day!!

Goodwill

More decluttering than sewing going on around here.  I'm becoming a regular at Goodwill.  The guys even noticed that I had washed my car in between visits.

These piles of fleece are destined for Project Linus.  Hopefully, they will get made into blankets sooner than if they hung around in my closet.

As I was making piles of clothes to send to Goodwill, I realized some of my shirts and pants could be saved and used for quilt projects.  Am I the last one to realize this?  So a pile of 100% cotton and linen clothes were removed from one closet and put into another closet.

Always check the insides of your purses before giving them away.  I found money tucked inside a hidden pocket.

All in all, I think I was the one who benefited from cleaning out my closet.  Not only did I donate items to Goodwill and Project Linus, I learned to recycle clothes for quilting, I scored by finding $173 in an old purse AND I found a forgotten outfit.

The cash and clothes were found just in time for the Taylor Swift concert!!!!

I finally settled on a quilt design for my Liberated Amish quilt top.  Last night I marked one side and did some hand quilting while watching 24.  It went faster than I would have thought.  I took some pictures, but you really can't see the stitching.  I'll try again when I've quilted more.

Have an amazing day!!!!

Back to Work

I don't usually get much sewing done during the weekend as I'm doing family things.  This weekend was no exception.

I decided on the backing and border for my Amish quilt top.  It is basted and ready for quilting.  If only I could decide how to quilt this.  I think I am going to hand quilt it, but what color thread and what pattern, I have no idea.  Help me, please!

I managed to sew one long strip of my LOVE quilt.  I'm taking it one block at a time and deciding which fabric to use as I go along.  

There are only six days left in February.  I know I will not meet all my February goals, but I'd like to make one Dear Jane block by then.  Actually, if I accomplish that I will have met all my goals but one.  That's not too bad considering I worked on some projects not listed as goals.  

Time to get back to work.  Have an amazing day!!!

Sew & Tell Friday #18

Happy Friday again!  These Sew and Tell Fridays make me realize how fast time goes by.  

Now, restrain yourself from getting too excited over the complicated project I am showing you.  I needed a little something for a last minute teacher's gift.  My daughter helped me make these bookmarks.

Here's the flip side.  Two will go to my daughter's teacher with a Barnes and Noble gift card.  I'm going to keep two on hand with the extra gift card I bought for when I forget a gift  emergencies.

Whew!  For a while there, I thought the bookmarks were all I had to share today.  But, I was able to find time to work on my Amish project.  I finished adding the aqua and black stripes since the last time.  The liberated part of the stripes was having different widths and a little bit of wavy going on.  I'm not sure about the red border, but it is what it is.

Part of the Liberated Amish Get Together's challenge was to add letters or numbers somewhere in the quilt.  After some pondering, I added the JMR since this is destined for Montana.  It's our "brand" for all things Montana.  It took me several tries to get the letters the way I wanted.  So now my top is complete.  Next I need to decide how to quilt it and what color to use for the binding.  Any suggestions?  Should I go with red again or another dark like the inner border?

Enjoy all the other Sew and Tell Friday posts.  Have an amazing weekend!!!

LOVE Project

What to do?  Still not much sewing going on.  Lots of sickness going on though.

I added some stripes to my Amish quilt.  I just hope I don't run out of the aqua fabric.

While watching the Olympics, I tried to decide what to do with my Amy Butler Love fabrics.

I am hesitant to cut into those beautiful fabrics.  Since I haven't found a quilt pattern with big enough blocks to showcase the fabrics, I sketched out an idea of my own.

I'd like to get started on this soon.  Wish me luck on this latest "doing my own thing".

Have an amazing day!!