H2H being quilted

I'm having a devil of a time getting this one done. The thread keeps breaking. I've rethreaded, changed the needles twice, next I'm checking the bobbin for near emptiness, and last I'll change spools.
Here's the quilt on the machine.

I'm quilting a zig zag pattern in the rows that parallels the row before. I like the look, but all that pivoting might be the stress on the thread.

Linking up with the H2H site.  Go on over there and look at the other charity entries. It's my favorite charity.

P.S. Happy Mom's Day!

Hugs,

Terri

H2H Donation Finished.

Here it is with it's light blue binding...Done!  (Notice the Hubby feet at the side. He likes to model. Oh and I left the picture at this angle because I can keep it bigger and the feet out the side are funnier.  Makes him look magical - doesn't it?)

 Showing a bit of the binding and the backing. The butterflies go with this Kaffe Fassett fabric, I think.  Showing the quilting here, too. I made Xs through the 16 patches and wiggly lines through the Xs. I think it turned out pretty good. I'll try the Good Night Irene setting of 16 patches again. I enjoyed making this quilt. (I used as many interesting fabrics as I could. It's going to Em's Happy Chemo, so I wanted lots of fun squares to look at. There are some bright yellow ones with owls that are talking. One says Wow and another says Good Job, there is a Bravo and a Super, too.)

Sorry this is out of focus, but just another close up. Next time the 16s will be more concentrated color so it won't interfere with the Xs. Live and learn, right? 

So I'm off to share this on Can I get a Whoop Whoop... and probably over at Crazy Mom Quilts, too.  See you tomorrow with a new butterfly - I still have to make one to share.

Hugs

 

 

22Tw

So since they updated something on my computer, I can't access the title field! I hope the publish and save buttons work.
Anywho, I made 2 pink blocks for a charity for breast cancer (bugger doesn't deserve capital letters) that Sarah from Confessions of a Fabric Addict mentioned on her blog. Since it's a cause close to my heart (not me!!!) I like to join in whenever I can.  Here are the two blocks I'm sending.

 

Hubby took some flower pictures from our yard, too. Here's a little Spring from CA

 

 These are Pineapple Guava (a bush) - aren't they pretty and unusual. The fruit isn't that good, and you've gotta be Johnny on the Spot to make any use of them, so we don't. The possum gets them all.

Tiger Lilies from my #1 Son and DIL years ago. They're still good in a bigger pot, and I'm hoping to plant them out at my next house - where ever that is.  The pot is clustered with a tangerine (I started from seed) and the pomegranate I bought at the grocery... it needs repotting, but I wanted to wait until we are at the next house... There is also a variegated holly plant that I bought at Lamb's - a grocery in the NW... I've had it a couple of years now, and it's gotten berries on it. Right now they are light colored. Maybe I can start a new one from the seeds???? Anyway there are other plants in those pots, too; an orange rose that I started from a cut stem in a bouquet, and a little single white rose that I started from seeds that my hubby gifted to me 20 years ago. There are a couple of Buckeyes from seeds and a couple of other trees that the squirrel or birds planted. It's a nursery in the making.

(Now I can't see the enlarge button for the pictures either...)

 

Happy Spring!

Hugs,

Terri

 

Coming soon to a blog you may know

Sunday - the one coming soon - March 16 is the start to Hand to Help - see the (square) button on the side. Sarah has the "rules" written up - go here to see - It's my favorite QAL.  There are sponsors and prizes, tutorials, and Linky parties are planned. This year there are 3 different charities waiting for donations!

Last year I made these 2 quilts to go to the Happy Chemo:

Jazzy Snowballs - 2013 entry for H2H Challenge

 

 

California Earth Tones - 2013 entry for H2H Challenge

 

I used two of my UFOs for the H2H Challenge. I'm not a fast worker, so this works out for me. This year I have two more UFOs that I'll finish for the H2H Challenge. It might be just the thing for your collection of UFOs. 

Hugs,

Terri

 

One Name on My List - Exciting News, and an H2H flimsy, I'm cheating

So last post I suggested a swap.... Valerie Reynolds commented that she'd like to participate.  Well, Val, I guess you and I will swap springy colors. I'll send you  3 - 10" squares, and  you do the same. We'll have a bit of stash exchange; something to take the edge off of winter, some happy snail mail. Thanks for joining in. I really appreciate it.

In other news, our company has moved on to Las Vegas, NV. We had a great time with them! (Bill's brother and his life partner)  Love you guys! We took them up to Lake Tahoe and had a bit of a snowball fight along the way. Snow at 6500 ft. - about 50 degrees.

 In the biggest news.... My Oldest Grandgirl is Engaged!  They haven't worked out a date yet, but they are thinking June - OMG!  How's a granny supposed to get a special quilt together that fast?  I made this sketch - I'm thinking low density colors except for the center. What do you think? It might be too incongruous for the center to be red and everything else low impact.  Any  ideas?  I want it to be special, but easy.  She's the first grand to marry.

And now some floral views

 

Seems awfully early for my pear to be blooming... daffodils in the background haven't a single bud, strange.

Somehow, I've got this out of sequence... Talking again about the Grandgirl's wedding quilt: I have some UFO's, but those are earmarked for Hands to Help Charity Challenge... (See the button in the side bar.)  I finished this flimsy last night. It was already cut and partly assembled. (It had to come off of the design wall for the grandson's quilt... the one currently on the top of the blog.)  I inserted some paper pieced lady bugs  and a saw tooth piece or two. (The pink behind is a piece of thank you fabric from Val. I need to get that washed up. It isn't part of this quilt.)

So to summarize:  Help! and sending you some Springtime, Val.

Hubby's birthday tomorrow... off to Red Robin for his free burger.
Happy Hump Day!
Hugs,
Terri

It's Friday!

I guess Friday's are the day of reckoning for me. I did stuff again today!

I made 5 blocks for the QOV Big Blowout Block Drive over at Alycia Quilts. You make 5 blocks and send them in and you are registered in the drawing for lots of prizes! Every 5 blocks is a chance to win... Hop on over there  to see what's what.  I enjoyed making these - based on a foundation piece. There are two other kinds of blocks requested.

 

 

In other news: I've almost finished the new grandguy's first birthday present - the I Spy quilt I've been working on for longer than he has been alive! Putting on a hanging sleeve this afternoon, as I am hoping that it will be used as a game rather than dragged in the dirt, or used as a dog bed. I'll take pictures to show off. Come on back to see.

 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs,

Terri

On the Wall and a Tip

Jazzy Snowballs ready to sew. Actually this is from the weekend. I do have the rows all done and about half of them sewn together, too. But this is the picture of the arrangement. 

(shown sideways - left bottom is left top, and needs to be turned right sides out... Hubby helped.)

Sorry about the resolution on this photo, but it just shows that I pin a seam for each block in a row and then take the row to the sewing machine. (Last week someone I follow used the stacking method to get things off the wall, and that would drive me crazy.) Until I figured out to pin them in place - just roughly - I got into all kinds of trouble stacking. Once I get to the machine I take out the pin and align the pieces so they are matching and right sides together... then I know where to sew.

 

Shows my pinned row almost off the wall. (The second last row.)

 

Sew I hope you have a wonderful weekend (sewing).

Hugs,

Terri

H2H done!

Here's my latest innovation to my quilting regime... hair clips. Okay, it's not new to lots of you - where do you think I got this idea?  I really don't know from whom I got it, but I know it was from someone that I follow. Thanks for the great tip! They are not only easier to use than pins, but they don't distort the quilt or prick me. Best of all it was a package of 10 or so from the Dollar store!!!! So only ONE DOLLAR!

 

 

How did this  plant picture get in here?  It's the flower on my Croton. I've had the plant for 16 years or so, and this is the first time I'm seeing a flower on it. Not much to see, but it is the flower. When I bemoaned the fact that it probably won't make seeds due to no pollinator, Hubby said we should let in a couple of bees. Honestly, I worry about the man.  

 

 

Back to the quilt.

 Here are its final pictures.  Sunbathing!

I call it California Earth Tones. Our dirt (in lots of places) is orangy, and the sky is nearly always blue, and there are greens in here, too, for the multitude of trees of all different kinds.

(You know I'm not much for browns and beiges.)

 

The backing is light blue with stars.

 

And now a couple of close-ups.

You can see the wobbly line quilting I did through all the centers and then a thinner wobble crosswise through the seams - I won't try that again. It makes the squares look like they are badly seamed.

Live and learn.

I do love the binding I chose. All the edges are blue, so to keep the binding unobtrusive I chose a blue bubble fabric.  I like it, it's fun!

 

Sew I'm linking up to Confessions of a Fabric Addict. This is what floats my boat, this week.

Happy Weekend to you all!

 

Hugs,

Terri

The Latest...

A flimsy done (actually a UFO) for the H2H challenge:

 

 

 And below is the cheater quilt I made for the Project Linus Open House. The front looks like quilt squares, but is solid fabric, and the backing is a wild kitty print. I used my new walking foot and quilted it with wavy lines within an hour!!!!! (I love that thing.) The binding is all set to put on in time to do the hand work while watching TV tonight. (It's that roll of turquoise on the right.) 

 

 

See you in the funny papers!

 

Hugs,

Terri

Working on Two Charity Challenges!

Hello Friends,
We are getting ready for Easter. Our son, daughter in law and newest grandson are coming over!!!!  We're going to have porcupine meatballs, baked potatoes and carrots (in honor of the bunny).  Maybe we'll partake on the patio...  rain is predicted... but you know how the weatherman is usually wrong.

Anyway, I have the flimsy done for the palms quilt I've been working on.  I'd show it off, but it needs ironing. I do have some pictures to share.

Sneak peek: one of my UFOs is going to be a quilt for the Hands 2 Help Charity Quilt Challenge (see the side bar for the beam over button - quilts donated all go to charity. (Join in by Sat. (tomorrow) to get in on the giveaway!) It is my favorite charity! They give quilts to a wide range of people... I like that.)  Here's a sampling of my UFO.

I've had it squirreled away for almost a decade. Time to make it into something!

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

And the Fandom in Stitches Project of Doom Charity I thought I was too busy to join in will be getting at least 2 blocks. It's a Harry Potter thing, so you know I couldn't stay away. See the button at the right if you'd like to make a few blocks. One winner gets the blocks or a quilt, (unsure about that part) and the rest of the blocks are going into Project Linus quilts. That's a worthy charity, too.

So far I've made one cauldron brewing Felix Felicis (the good luck potion). The other pattern will be Hedwig. She's going to be hard to make,  the background has to be white and she is white. Dilemma!

 

Sew that is all for me today. Wishing you all a Happy Easter, or a wonderful spring break, or both!

 

Edit:  Linking up at So Scrappy to show off some orange. Also, Confessions of a Fabric Addict and A Creative Princess where I'm # 148, I think. Check them out, there's lots of creative things to see.

 

Hugs

Terri

You may have noticed...

The new  Hands 2 Help Charity Quilt Challenge is starting again!!!!!!!!!! Get in the game fellow quilters. Sarah has the rules and news on her blog.  Go ahead and push the button at the right to see how you can be a helper 2.

Hugs,

Terri

an easy starter pattern

It's really easy. The Red Herring Paper Pieced Pattern 2012 is the one I'm using - see the blocks above on my banner.

Here's a link to the pattern:

Quiet Play pattern for Red Herring

I'm still enjoying the sewing, and usually by now I've gotten sick of the pattern. On this pattern make sure that there is more than enough fabric sticking out on the "up" side of the addition as you start to sew. The down side has the extra piece to add as the mid rib so you will put enough there.

More paper pieced blocks and quilts that I've made, that aren't Harry Potter:

 

This (above) was a hand drawn paper pieced pattern, but there are lots like it around. Just draw a small square, put a triangle on one point for the center, and background triangles on the three other sides. It takes 4 squares to finish one flower. Then I made strips of the background (white) between them all. "Piano Key" border in the same colors. This one went to Project Linus.

Above is a modified butterfly from 365 Foundation Quilt Blocks, by Linda Causee. It's a very busy pattern, but I just did the wings as one piece each. I also made it smaller than the pattern in the book. This block went to Victoria of Bumble Beans. I signed name and locale as the antennae.

This is the Hugs and Kisses quilt nearly finished. (I made blue hugs and kisses to go around the edge, and have it quilted, but I bogged down at tying the thread ends. This pattern is from either Quilter's Newsletter or QuiltMaker. It is slated for the Hubby for his birthday the end of the month - turning the big 70.

 

 I also see the stars and trees at the left. Those are from QuiltMaker, too, I think. I started that wall hanging for my daughter, but then she said she was so tired of seeing pink everywhere...

I'm going to donate the blocks, I think. It's hard to see them now.

Gandalf. There is a series of blocks about the book, the Hobbit. (There and Back Again (free) patterns from Fandom in Stitches .) I would have made the whole bunch, but block #2 got me. I started out with a wood grain fabric for the coat rack, then realized it would be too hard to handle the "way" of the grain, and there was something else that took priority at the time. Gandalf is still hanging on the design wall.

This is a pattern I modified from feathered friends by Jette Norregaard Nielsen. I used the Waxwing pattern and a bird identification book to get the Cardinal I wanted. (They have a similar attitude on the branch, and they are both crested. I had to make quite a few easier adjustments, as well.) This one went to the "Get Your Mrs. Claus On" charity, little dolly blankets for little girls at Christmas. It's run by .Debbie at Stitchin' Therapy. The blankees go with a cradle made by some very talented and generous gents.

 

So the Hubby wants the computer now... we really should get a second one.

Hugs,

Terri

 

200th Post!!!

Nothing special planned, so lets have a GIVEAWAY!  This contest is now over! Thanks for participating.

First a look at the finished five blocks for Alycia Quilts' QOV....Done!

 Laid out on the cutting table (above)

 The long view...

And a close up.

 

So I'm off to find a prize to give away... Your only task for a chance to win is to leave a comment.  Do you think hearts are okay in a QOV quilt?  How about the stars and swirls?  (QOV - for those who don't know - are quilts given to soldiers and sailors - made with love by their countrywomen, (and men I guess), to express their gratitude for their service to our country. QOV stands for Quilts of Valor. Alycia collects donated quilts and gives them out to soldiers in her area of Colorado.)

 

I'll get the Zombie Hubby Hands to pick a winner in a week... November22, Thanksgiving Day! The prize will be announced next week - probably Monday, November 19. 

 

Hugs,

Terri

 

 

2 of 5 done for Alycia Quilts

I've got 2 blocks done...
Here they are side by side.

 

Alycia is having a little contest. I'm in, but need to get these post marked by tomorrow... so short post. The blocks will become QOV quilts... a very worthy cause in my book.

I'm linking to Freshly Pieced and A Creative Princess.

 

Hugs,

Terri

OMG!

This is the first time I'm blogging since Blogger changed... I'd have bet the input screen couldn't get any smaller than the old one... Wrong! 

Anyway, I finished my H2H and the quilt for the Project Linus Open House.  Here are the pictures...

H2H - button on the side panel - 2 charities, mine will go to the cancer one.

Project Linus donation for the Open House - make a quilt with your favorite color and any of it's tints or shades. Voila!

I really hate making things with a deadline, but I'm glad I made them, and they are gone on their way tomorrow.  And so am I. The Hobby and I are off to AK (that's Alaska) tomorrow. Our granddaughter, Alyssa, will be the first of the grands to graduate!  So we will be there with bells on! We are so proud. And we  are visiting our son and family for a week. Our first time to AK.  I can't wait.

So you are on your own for a week. (But I know you will be alright - after all, you were alright last week without me.)  I hope we will have some wonderful pictures to share with you then.

Hugs,

Terri

Show and Tell

Hi Friends!


I've been busy...

Do you notice that this picture is upside down?  Just keeping you on your toes!

This is the quilt for H2H (see the button in the side bar). I have the flimsy done...

and this is the flimsy done for the Project Linus Open House Challenge.  Am I done? Do I need borders on either of these? I'm thinking I'll need to quickly sew the strip quilt that is underneath first and take down the little triangles quilt so I can use my design wall to baste the two challenge quilts. Should have  been working when I was playing computer games. Now I'm up against two deadlines.

Let's see if I can finish them on time. Pink and Red needs to be done by May 4 and May 27 for the H2H quilt.  I'd better get back to work!!!!

For those of you praying for my Chrissy - Thank you and please keep up the good work.  She is back to chemo again. She had the first round last Tues. and is feeling better from that, but the side effects hit her already on this first time, and well, lets just say they are awful. The courage it takes to do this again is phenomenal, IMO!  I could not admire her more.

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs,

Terri

Win the traveling box... what I'm working on... and a paper piecing toot!

Hello Friends,
Here's block one done! I'm making this quilt - easy paper piecing - for the Hands 2 Help Quilt Challenge .  There is still time to sign up... Please use the link above to check it out, especially if you would like to win the traveling box that is ready now to send off. (You will need to leave an encouraging comment for Sarah, (you might even like to sign up for the challenge but that won't give you any extra points). Then come back here to let me know you've left a message for her. I'll put your name in a hat, and hubby will pick a winner, say on Saturday the 24th. (You may want to know that the box costs $15.45 to ship in the U.S., and you will be responsible to ship it on to the next recipient.) Sorry, but because of the exorbitant shipping price to foreign lands - only U.S. persons can play. Make sure I can get your e-mail address, so I can let you know you've won, and get your snail mail address. (Boy there are a lot of technicalities.)
This contest is now closed, as of March 24, 2012.

Paper Piecing Tutorial
Okay, back to the  quilt I'm making.  This is an easy paper piecing block I found in one of the magazines in the traveling box. It's 3 pieces that make a square that is on point within a square. 7 pieces in each block.

This is the pattern. (It's a 7", so bigger than I usually work on.) If you already know how to paper piece you might like to quit now.  You probably do it better than I do - I'm not real picky about the size of the seam allowances, which makes my way a lot easier.

First make a few patterns (keeping one as a master). Next cut a piece of fabric that you want to have in the #1 position... The fabric piece must be bigger than the #1 pattern piece by at least 1/4 inch all the way around. Put the fabric piece on the plain side of the pattern with the "pretty" side away from the paper and plenty of seam allowance on all sides of the #1 pattern piece. (Check it by looking through the paper to the fabric... hold it up against the light of window or lamp.) Pin it in place. (Check it again so it didn't move during pinning.) Here is the first piece in position and pinned.

Below it's pinned on the numbered side (where you are going to sew after you add the second piece.)

Add the second piece of fabric, "pretty" side  to pretty side on the plain side of the pattern.

Check to make sure that it goes over the line between #1 and #2 and is enough seam allowance. Holding both ends, turn to the numbered side and place under the needle. (Make sure you have the stitch length on about 15 stitches to the inch. Later you will need to have a secure stitch to allow removal of the paper.)  Back up stitch a couple of stitches, then stitch on the line between 1 and 2, back stitch a couple of stitches at the end of the line, too.

Here is a good time to turn on your machine!

Trim your threads.

Trim the seam allowances so there is enough. This is more important on smaller pieces, and when the newest piece is white. If you don't want shadows showing through white, trim the darker fabric to a smaller seam allowance than the white. - No kidding you will thank yourself for taking this one  more step.

Next - press the seam open.

Next add the 3rd piece.

Check to see that there is enough seam allowance, then sew as before. Trim your threads.

You don't want to cut the paper pattern, so sometimes it is easier to fold back the paper to trim the seam allowances. (See above and below.)

(Above the center 3 pieces are sewn on. Next the triangles.)

Line up the pieces so there is enough seam allowance, and the fabric is pretty to pretty. Sew on the lined side. Trim threads and seam allowances and press.

I use a strip of fabric, so I need to trim off the excess in order to sew the next triangle. See below.

Cut the fabric (above) so it leaves at lease a 1/4 inch seam allowance all around. I just eyeball it. You can trim to 1/4 inch later, but I don't sew paper pieces that way... I'll show that secret tomorrow.

Add the next numbered piece. (Should be #5.) Make sure there is enough seam allowance. Sew, trim, press. Add the next piece.

Below I have sewn the last pieces on and pressed.  Another block done.

The pic below was supposed to show the pattern side after the fabric (above) is all sewn on, but you can't see anything different than the original pattern. Trust me all the central lines have stitches.

Sew - now you start another block. I'll blog some hints and the secret I use to attach one block to another without relying on the old 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Now I know you are probably tired of hearing about this, Heaven knows we are all tired of cancer. My Chrissy (daughter) is undergoing major surgery on her liver tomorrow... (breast cancer metastasized to her liver) Tuesday early morning PST.  I sure would appreciate any prayers or good thoughts you could send her way. 

Ask for a Miracle!

Hugs,

Terri