The Week That Was...

What a week this has been!

I have spent hours and hours on the phone each day...wasn't sure I would get anything accomplished in the way of sewing.  Not that I need to...but, well...yeah, I need to.  You know?

I was so looking forward to using the prints I had collected...Vintage Happy and Bake Sale by Lori Holt of Bee In My Bonnet, along with some basics by Michael Miller.  Let me tell you, I was not disappointed.  These are lovely fabrics...and they all played well together.  Here's what I did with them...

I made the first block last Saturday...and then there were several days when I did nothing on it.  But, I managed to get the blocks done one by one.  Not that it took much time at all to put together a block, mind you.  These blocks are so much fun...rather addicting, for sure!

I spent a bit of time yesterday and today working on the layout and sewing it all together.  I think I like it!  Sixteen large granny square blocks with sashing.  I need to add a small border, yet.

I had mentioned to Sharon (you really ought to visit her blog to see the summer block of the week she is doing with Temecula Quilt Company) that this was the second to last quilt I was making and I think she about fell off her chair laughing...in fact, she may have gone into hysterics.  I just meant until I got all those flimsies quilted!  (see my sidebar)  Since then, I had another shot of inspiration.  Yeah, where is it when I want it and why is it overwhelming me when I have a bazillion other things to do?  ~sigh~  It has to do with this bundle of fabric...

 

I received this wonderful gift of Bali Handpainted Batiks (named Coconut) from Kim over at My Field of Dreams in December of 2010 and thought I knew what I wanted to do with it.  Until today.  I saw a photo of a quilt that totally captivated me and is now what I think the perfect design for these fabrics!  So, perhaps I need to do that one before I put a halt to the ever-growing pile of flimsies! 

I know, I know.

Only time will tell.     

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Some Finishes...

A few things to show off you today.  

And, just so you know, these 2 little doll dresses have been laying around, waiting to be finished, for months.  MONTHS!  One just needed to have the velcro sewn on.  The other needed the bodice sewn and then put together with the skirt.  It took me less than an hour to finish them both up...     

And, yesterday, I finished the baby girl granny square quilt top!

They're piling up, ya know.  The quilt tops...flimsies.   I have more than I have ever had before!  Mostly because I have nowhere to lay them out to pin baste them...not since I moved to this apartment.  When I found out about the ability to rent a longarm quilting machine (back in April), my plan was to set up a day each month to quilt one of my flimsies.  

Yeah, but then my car broke...it got fixed, but with a big repair bill.  Best laid plans and all of that, ya know.

Anyway.  I am not sure what's going on with me...I seem to be a bit more motivated to work on things...to get things done these days.  Kind of scarey, ya know?  ~grin~    

Wonder what I'll work on next?  I definitely have much to choose from.   



"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

And, Then There Were 9!

All 9 blocks for the

baby girl granny square quilt

are finished!

This last one...

these squares were about all

I had left to work with.

I don't do much 'scrappy', 

so I wasn't sure how much

I would like this one.

I think it's growing on me, though.

Next step...

sashing and (maybe) cornerstones.

Stay tuned!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Granny Square Blocks for Your Viewing Pleasure...

It feels good to be productive on what would otherwise have been a lazy day.  

I've made 4 more granny square blocks.  These blocks are fun to put together...and very addictive.  I am following this tutorial by Blue Elephant Stitches.  I would have preferred to do the strip-style piecing, found here, but since these were 'scraps' from Cathy, I didn't have the length needed to sew strips together.  So, instead, I followed the original tutorial and cut the pieces I had into 2.5" squares.  Still, it's an easy block to put together with chain-piecing.   

Here are the blocks I have done today (I may or may not do more, but will save those to show you another day)...

 

I'll make a total of 9 blocks, because that's the most I can make with what I have to work with.  I'll use sashing with a big border all around and this will be the perfect size for a baby quilt!  I'm not sure what I'll use for backing, but finding something for that and for the binding can wait.  

What are you working on today?

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

It is Cathy's Fault!

I had thought several times over the last year or so of doing a granny square block quilt, but I just didn't feel I had the right fabric for it.  And, I had been trying to not buy fabric.  And, I had enough other things to keep busy with.  So, it wasn't too difficult to talk myself out of it each time the notion struck.  

But you know, sometimes too much is too much.  Most of this past week, my friend, Cathy of Turtle Hill Quilter blog/Pink Petunia Cottage Dolls Facebook page fame has been showing off her granny square quilt blocks on Instagram (@clcknits).  I was sorely tempted to give in and start one of my own, but decided I had enough to keep me busy.  

I've been trying to distract myself and keep busy with other things. 

For instance, I organized the 3 boxes of goodies sent me by Cathy.  And, I organized the stuff I have specifically for doll clothes or doll making. 

I had some fabric gathering in my scrap bin that I cut into usable scrap pieces.  

I made two pillow covers...well, they're not yet pillow covers...they're just big blocks of little squares.  They need to be quilted and a back made.  They will eventually be 18" pillow covers for my son, Paul.

 

  
Anyway.  Today, I was cutting usable pieces from scraps sent by Cathy...looks like she had started a quilt and either abandoned it, or had several extra pieces.  Regardless, I didn't want to use them the way they were.


And, then I saw Cathy's finished granny square quilt top.  Ohhhhhh...it is beautiful!  Here it is...

Then, it hit me...

The fabric I was cutting would make a perfect granny square baby girl quilt!

Oh.  My.  Gosh!

I couldn't believe it.  What a great idea!

Don't you think?

So, by now, I have all the squares cut...and I even finished my first block!

See what I'm sayin'?  A cute baby girl quilt in the making!

And, just so ya know?  

I am blaming it all on Cathy.



"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Morning Walk with Tag...

 Tag and I walk almost every morning.  

He enjoys it much more than do I.

There are a lot

of smells for him to sniff out.

Have a great day!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

More Fun in the Mail...Again!

Guess what?!?

I got another box in the mail from Cathy!

I gotta say...

her room is getting emptier

and mine is getting more full!

Not complaining, mind you.

~grin~  

This box was all about doll clothes...

and more.

this is everything

 

A closer look at some of it...

stripey knits

crocheted cap for a doll...I love this!

more knit yardage with flannel yardage at the top of the pile

cotton fabric yardage

felt birds...they need beaks

cutest little machine embroidered hedgehog

machine embroidered mushroom

plethora of crocheted flowers - and cherries

There is more...

knitted sweaters and leggings,

headbands, cotton fabric scraps, etc.

A box of inspiration, for sure!

Thank you so much, Cathy...

you are the best!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Fast and Easy...

Not too much going on around here.  

I had every intention of pin-basting

my wonky charms quilt this weekend

but that just didn't get done.

Nothing much got done.

In fact, I didn't do anything sewing-related!

So, today, I got started bright and early.

I made more Kleenex tissue cozies.

Yes, for sister Joyce.

Back on May 15, I said that I thought

that everyone in the state of Maryland

will soon have one of these!

Apparently, Joyce is doing her best

to make sure that everyone does get one! 

Not sure where they all go, but she requested more.

 

Pinks and greens...what a fun color combo!

Oops...where did that red owl one come from?

(These are all made with scraps from Cathy, by the way.) 

Not sure what I'll work on next.

I know what I should work on.

Time will tell.

Have a great week!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Mini Wonky Charms Quilt...and TagEButt...

 I love this boy...

the (brown) boy and his warthog...

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

I finished quilting and binding this doll quilt.

It measures 15x18 inches before laundering.

front

 back

my label

That's all I have for today!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11