I love studio time

Here is today's JL block.  The floral in this one is the Western Washington Shop Hop 2011 design from In the Beginning.  I really like this fabric, too.  Each time I grab a floral from the stack, it seems to become my new favorite.  I have 12 blocks done now, so I decided I needed to put them on the design wall and see how it looks.

I am so excited with the secondary pattern that is emerging.  The background fabric is working so well.  I see so many things in the pattern - big fat arrows, chains, Xs, and squares.  I am 1/3 done with the blocks I need for the size I want.  I am so happy Freda decided to host this QAL.  Stop over and see what else she is doing these days.

Today, I also decided to start a project I have been putting off because I was intimidated by the challenge.  If you want to read more about the challenge, go here.

To see my palette inspiration, visit here.  To read more about the process I went through to get this far, read this post.

That is all for today.  I did make more fabric for the BOMs, but decided I wanted to make enough for all the rest of the blocks before I cut into what I made.  I didn't get any more blocks made for the Christmas quilt.  Tom took me to my local chain fabric store to pick up batting.  That was quite an interesting trip.  I will write more about that tomorrow.  Right now, the pizza is ready, and I am hungry.

Joyful quilting, everyone.

Two New Blocks and a finish

I had just enough made fabric left to make another BOM block.  Tomorrow, I need to make another big piece of fabric to finish the blocks.  I have six more to go now.  A couple of them need large squares (9").  I had trouble with the green stem in this As you can see, it is not quite centered.  I have one more stem piece I have to make for this project.  I guess I better read how to do it.  I also have to include leaf triangles on one block, and I think I will use the same green rather than make green fabric.  I hope it turns out okay.  If not, I will just go ahead and make some green fabric.  Maybe I will let you all be the judge.

Here is today's Jacob's Ladder block.  I love this floral.  I had a small piece of it in  my original stash, but didn't know what it was.  Then, on a trip to Sister's Quilt Shop in Chehalis, WA, I found a bolt hidden on a bottom shelf.  I was quite overjoyed, but relatively broke, so I was only able to buy a yard.  It is Christmas Presence by April Cornell for Moda.  Not sure why I love it so much, but I think it is the colors.

I also spent some time finishing this mini quilt top this morning, before I finished piecing Bella's quilt top.  I am so slow at applique.  Part of it is my glasses.  I really need new ones.  Part of it was the light I was working with.  We fixed that a few days ago, so I was finally able to finish it.  I you want to know more about this quilt, hop on over the Quilters, Books and Bindings. I have explained it in a couple of posts there.

Tomorrow, I will be making more cloth, making a new JL block, working on my Christmas quilt, and hopefully doing a little quilting.  What are you planning for your Saturday?

Joyful quilting, everyone.



Help, please

No photos today because I had a ton of other things to do today.  One of the things was to help plan an auction quilt for Bella's pre-school.  It was decided that each family would make a house block.  Please help me by sending links to easy house blocks that I can teach to mostly non-sewing people. 
Thank you everyone.

Bella's quilt progress

I have all the blocks for Bella's quilt pieced together.  I think I need to move some of them around before I sew all the blocks together.  I don't think I am going to quilt it with the minkee.  I will use some very ugly fabric I found to quilt the top, then sew the minkee on pillow case style and tie it in a few strategic places.  I am doing this for a couple of reasons.  I don't want to interfere with the total softness of the minkee with all over quilting, and I have heard that quilting with minkee is a bear.  I think it will work very well the way I am going to do it.

Here is today's Jacob's Ladder block.

I also pulled some fabric for a project I am doing over at Modern 8 Create.



So far, I am really liking the color combinations.

Right now, I am going to go put my feet up and relax for a while.

Joyful quilting, everyone.