WIP Wednesday 11/28/2012

Scottie Dogs

Fundraiser for my office

Disappearing Nine Patch blocks constructed by strip piecing

Partly from stash. Original layout. 56" square.

Completed 11/28/2012

Close-up of block

Scottie Dogs fabric may have been in my stash for up to 15 years (selvage says 1997).

I just finished the Scottie Dogs quilt, a fundraiser for my office. I'll take the quilt to work tomorrow to show my fundraiser team, then bring the quilt home again to share with a few friends over the weekend. The fundraiser doesn't start until Dec. 10. Each team puts together a gift basket to be auctioned. The team whose basket gets the highest bid will win a pizza lunch. A couple of members of my team contributed $25 to help me buy materials for the quilt. I spent the $25 on fabric, pieced scraps of batting together, and spent a few of my own dollars for embroidery floss.

Now that the Scottie Dogs quilt is completed, I'll be moving on to a pair of quilts for the young sons of friend Jennifer A. Tonight I bought two solid blue background fabrics, spending a little less than $15 for 5 yards at Jo-Ann's, thanks to coupons. Recently I picked up a couple of theme fabrics, one for each boy. I'll use large squares of the theme fabrics, adding checkerboards of blue background and scrap fabrics. I'll probably start working on those on Friday.

Debbie

Like my new Facebook page Traveling Quilter and get more updates on my quilting and my travels.

New Facebook Page: Traveling Quilter

I just created a new Facebook Page for this blog, also called Traveling Quilter. I'll be posting frequent updates on my quilting and my travels - more than you will find here at my blog.

Hope to see you there!

Debbie

Like my Facebook page Traveling Quilter and get more updates on my quilting and my travels.

Make It Monday 11/26/2012

Scottie Dogs Quilt Top

Last night I got the border sewn to the Scottie Dogs quilt. Tonight I did a pillowcase finish and turned the quilt right side out. Tomorrow night I'll topstitch around the edges of the quilt, and perhaps tie some knots with embroidery floss. With extra orchestra rehearsals for Christmas for the next three Tuesday nights, we'll see how much I can accomplish during those evenings.

When the Scottie Dog quilt is finished, I'll move on to a couple of quilts for the young sons of friend Jennifer A. They will be quick, with a pattern of large pieces of theme prints surrounded by scrappy squares. I hope to be working on the boys' quilts by Wednesday.

What are your quilting plans for the week? Please leave a comment. I'd love to hear about them.

Debbie

WIP Wednesday 11/21/2012

This week I've been working on Scottie Dogs, a fundraiser quilt for my office.

Main part of quilt top sewn together

Close-up

Quilt block - made 16 of these, twisted the blocks to form an interesting layout

I'll add a wide border in red, then do a pillowcase turn and tie knots. I should have the quilt done in a couple of days.

Debbie

Make It Monday 11/19/2012

Africa Hope quilt

Commissioned by friend and co-worker Debbie S.

Quilt will be given to American couple who run a medical facility in Africa.

Hope of Hartford and Bright Hopes blocks

Partly from stash. 60" square. Original design.

Completed 11/16/2012

Back of the quilt

Made up mostly of fabric from Africa

Brochure about the medical facility

Border of the brochure is reflected in the border of the quilt.

Chose Hope of Hartford and Bright Hopes to go with brochure's phrase "Hope is Happening Here."

Red earth in the area is represented by rust background fabric in the quilt.

Quilt includes lots of bright prints and colors, like the dress of the people who come to the medical facility.

I delivered the quilt to friend Debbie S. on Saturday. I tied a few knots in the quilt to hold the layers together. Debbie will finish the rest of the knots, then send the quilt on its way.

Tonight I started working on Scottie Dogs quilt, a fundraiser for my office.

I began with the Scottie dog fabric in the center. I've had it for a long time. I bought the red solid and off-white backing (not shown) at 50% off at Jo-Ann's. I used a 40% off coupon on the white polka dot.

Selvage says 1997. Guess it's time I used the fabric!

I was shy one 8.5" square, so I had to piece the last one. It doesn't look too bad.

Here's the pieced square with a white rectangle attached.

First completed block

All sixteen blocks laid out on the design wall - not bad looking

Twisted many of them - more interesting now

A wide red border will surround the blocks, and a solid off-white will make up the back. I'll have the quilt finished in a few days. The quilt will be on display for auction on Monday, along with a few other items from co-workers on my team. If our basket of goodies gets the highest bid, we'll win a pizza lunch.

What are your quilting plans this week? Please post a comment. I'd love to hear about them.

Debbie

WIP Wednesday 11/14/2012

Tonight I pieced together a back for the Africa Hope quilt, using leftover fabric.

Bottom fabric is from Africa. Had lots of it left.

Where the fabrics were joined.

Added long piece of the African fabric to complete the back.

Where the three fabrics come together.

During the next couple of days I'll do a pillowcase finish, then tie a few knots to hold the layers together. I intend to take the nearly-finished quilt to Saturday's Sacramento Modern Quilt Guild meeting for show-and-tell. Later in the day I'll deliver the quilt to my friend Debbie S., who commissioned the quilt, and who will tie the rest of the dozens of knots.

Possible fabrics for the next quilt: office fundraiser. Have had the Scottie dog fabric for many, many years. The other fabrics may change a little, but the Scottie dog is a keeper.

EQ Sketch of the quilt I plan to make

It will be quick one, to be finished by the end of Thanksgiving weekend.

Debbie

Make It Monday 11/12/2012

Africa Hope quilt top finished

Close-up

Narrow border - black print

I got the quilt top assembled for the Africa Hope quilt. I plan to piece a back using leftover yardage of the fabrics below. This was part of the original fabric that friend Debbie S., who commissioned the quilt, provided.

After the back is pieced, I'll do a pillowcase finish, then tie a few knots to keep the layers together. Debbie will tie the rest of the dozens of knots herself after I deliver the quilt to her this coming weekend.

What are your quilting plans this week? Please leave a comment. I'd love to hear about them.

Debbie

Entered a Quilt Contest

Marine Star

40" x 40"

Wedding gift for couple where groom was a Marine

Collaboration between friend Kaye S. (guest at the wedding) and myself

Marine Star block in the center

Marine themed fabric for border, pieced stars in corners

Original design. Completed June 2008.

I've entered this quilt in an online contest at QuiltingGallery.com. Please vote for my quilt here. While you're there you can choose one more quilt. Voting ends Monday Nov. 12, 8:00 AM EDT. Thank you!

Debbie

WIP Wednesday 11/7/2012

This week I'm continuing to work on the Africa Hope quilt. Below are the latest three Hope of Hartford blocks I've made.

What I've got so far. Getting there! 

Five Hope of Hartford blocks to go. Then I'll add borders of the rust fabric to the small squares (Bright Hopes blocks).

I'm hoping to get the quilt top finished by end of the coming long weekend.

Debbie

Make It Monday 11/5/2012

The latest Hope of Hartford blocks

This week I'm continuing to work on the Africa Hope quilt. I got a rough start tonight, having to rip out four seams...not once, but twice. Each time, 30 seconds to sew and 10 minutes to undo. Not fun. Finally I got on track and completed two Hope of Hartford blocks.

Eight blocks to go! I should get a few more done tomorrow night.

What are your quilting plans for the week? Please leave a comment about them. I'd love to hear.

Debbie

WIP Wednesday 10/31/2012

Centers of Bright Hopes blocks for Africa Hope quilt

Triangle paper by Quiltime, used to make half square triangles for Bright Hopes blocks

Used the triangle paper to create 12 of these (4.5" square)

Drew a diagonal line across the back of the half square triangle (chopstick pointing to the line). Positioned - eyeballed - on an oversized triangle.

Sewed on the line

Pressed open

Trimmed off the extra yellow fabric even with the original half square triangle.

A peek at the fabric that will be trimmed away

Finished unit on the left, piece for the scrap bag on the right

Four units as they will appear in the Hope of Hartford block

I'm glad to get momentum going again on this quilt, after being away on a quilting retreat, and then making Halloween candy bags for my granddaughters. I'm hoping to finish the quilt in the next couple of weeks.

Debbie