TGIFF Times Three

Not one, not two, but three finishes today!

First up, a quilt that was pieced ages ago. I made the first quilt of Japanese Taupe fabrics for the high school graduation gift for the last of the 4-H'ers from my boys' club. I had enough fabric left over to make a second quilt just like the first. It sat in the "to-be-quilted" shelf for almost three years. Then I decided the son of my friend, Lori, should have a quilt, even though I didn't know him when he graduated high school.

I took the quilt to my long-armer, Connie of Ponderosa Patchworks late this Spring. When the Black Forest fire burned her house, Connie rescued this quilt along with all her other customer quilts. Mine was the first customer quilt she quilted when she opened her new studio. Since Lori's house was also threatened by the Waldo Canyon fire two years ago, I think it's appropriate that Connie quilted this one.

 

Stuart will be home from college for Thanksgiving next week. I hope he likes the quilt!

I've decided my quilt #48 for 2013, "Full Moon" shall remain borderless. I do like the just-five "moons" rather than one in each block.  Here is a link to my post with details of this quilt.

I also calculated the sashing strips for my "Morning Joe" and finished it.   Here's the image from the pattern cover:

(Image from Miss Rosie's Quilt Co.)

And here is my finished "Morning Joe."

My blocks are 16" square, the table runner will finish at 64" X 24" -- and I know just the niece who will receive this as a hostess gift on my next trip to Idaho!

Linking up to Thank Goodness it's Finished Friday, hosted this week by Australian Lynne at Never too hot to stitch.

And also to Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation.

The first "real snowfall" of the season happened yesterday. I can't wait until the clouds blow away so we can see Pikes Peak in all its glory!

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WIP Wednesday Quilt #49

I might make it to 52 quilts this year after all!  The last two have been table runners, but I count them if I quilt them myself!

Here is my November "Schnibbles" quilt, "Morning Joe."

I used a single charm pack of "Java" by Deb Strain for Moda. I didn't cut down the 5" squares, just made them into half-square triangles. Because my seams on the diagonal weren't quite 1/2" apart, I could square up the HSTs to 4.5" -- so my HSTs are larger than those called for in the pattern. I don't want to go back and cut them down to the smaller size, so I'll have to calculate my own sashing strip sizes.

Linking up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

I just got word from My Little Sailor that he is back on the ship after going ashore in the Philippines to document the relief efforts. He's "a little sunburnt" but safe!


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What's on the Wall Monday

On my design wall today is the November UFO. It's from Brenda Henning's "Strip Therapy 7" and is called "Full Moon."

The pattern has a "moon" on every square, but  I think it looks better with just a few, scattered across the quilt top. The pattern also calls for a border, but again, I think it looks better sans border. What do you think?

I did finish a project this weekend, but can't show you the whole thing because it's a pattern test for Sara of Sew Sweetness.

Here's the inside, though!

Sara is hosting a Bag Contest along with Sew Mama Sew. If you've made a bag using one of Sara's patterns, go here for the details.

My personal favorite of Sara's bags is Petrillo. It's the perfect size and has all the little details that make it a great bag!  Here is the one I made:

Go here for more pics of my bag.

No photos on Facebook yet by My Little Sailor, ashore in the Philippines for Operation Damayan. But my candle is still lit, and your thoughts and prayers are appreciated.

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TGIF: Urban Home Goods Swap

I think I'm safe to post this, because the recipient is busy filming a segment for Craftsy! 

Front Range Modern Quilt Guild is hosting a holiday swap, "Urban Home Goods." Since both Amy and I missed the meeting where swap partners were assigned, we decided to partner with each other. Amy, of Stitchery Dickory Dock fame, is filming a class for Craftsy this week.  So I very much doubt that she remembered this swap. But I know she loves Denyse Schmidt fabrics, so I made her this "dresser scarf" from DS Quilts Flea Market Fancy.

Duncan approves.

 The pattern is from the August/September issue of "Quilt" magazine. It's called "Dresden Stars" and was designed by Tanya Finken.

In case you missed it, Amy made a quilt last month from Denyse Schmidt's Shelburne Falls fabrics. That's what inspired me to make her a "dresser scarf." Or dresser quilt. 

Lizzie doesn't like it when the camera flash goes off.

Linking to TGIFF, hosted this week by Hot Pink Quilts.

If you pray, pray for the Sailors of the USS George Washington who are helping to provide relief to the victims of Typhoon Yolanda. Including, of course, My Little Sailor!

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WIP Wednesday

Somehow I had the bright idea that the March Jelly Roll Party sample, designed by Kristy and Shayla Wolfe of "Sassafras Lane Designs" should be machine-quilted by Kristy.

Which would be fine, except in order for Kristy to quilt it and get it back to me, she needs the quilt  by Friday. This Friday!

I fell in love with this image of the quilt on their blog:

And decided I would make a batik version also.

There are 216 Flying Geese in this quilt, in case you're interested. 

Linking up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

And hurrying back to the sewing machine! Four blocks down, 31 to go!

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Friday Finish: Urban Cabins

It's shaping up to be an exciting day in Colorado! First, My Little Sailor pulled into Hong Kong for a quick liberty stop with the USS George Washington. (Yes, they're dodging Super Typhoon Yolanda).


Second, I'm taking a quilt class with Sonya at Ruth's Stitchery to start on Metro Hoops:

I'm particularly pleased to start this quilt because in 2012, I test-sewed one of Jenny's first patterns, "Deco Curves."

Third, tonight Jacquie Gering is speaking at Front Range Modern Quilt Guild! And she has agreed to autograph copies of her book:

Not to mention I have a quilt finish! It's a Strip Club quilt from last month at High Country Quilts. I bought the kit for Urban Cabins at Quilt Beginnings in Columbus, Ohio a couple of years ago. So I was excited when Shelley chose this pattern for the October Strip Club.

Terry Atkinson's design is a versatile one -- it can be made with either 2 1/2" strips or fat quarters. I used fat quarters from Jenean Morrison's "Wild World" collections.  Please believe me when I tell you this quilt is a lot more colorful than it looks in the photo! Between the wind and the cold, I haven't been able to take it outside for a photo in daylight!

Quilt #46 for 2013. 

Linking up to:

Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Quokka Quilts

and Richard and Tanya Quilts.

If I finish all the quilts on the November Quilt To-Do List, I'll have only one more to reach 52 Quilts in 52 Weeks for the forth year in a row!

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What's on the Needles Wednesday

In anticipation of Season 4 of "Downton Abbey," I've been watching seasons 1-3 on DVD.Since I've seen all the episodes multiple times, this allows for lots of knitting time!

I started this sweater ages ago and had all the parts knitted and blocked for about two years. When I spent the weekend at Mary's cabin, I started sewing it together. Because it has a hem on the bottom and the sleeves that has to be turned up and stitched down, a button band and and a neckband -- it too longer to do the finishing than to knit the sweaters. And the buttons have gone missing. But the Shetland wool in Sunglo coral is lovely!

I've knit three cowls and have another started. This one is "Downtown," a variation of the Downton Cowl by Shannon Cook. It's knit with the Madelinetosh DK "Cousteau" that Elder Son gave me for my birthday last year. I made mine longer than the pattern because I like to wrap my cowls twice and still have them not be too tight around the neck.

This is Stephen West's  "Purl Ridge Scarf" knit with Cascade 220 Paint. It's not quite the raspberry color it shows in this photo, but it is a gorgeous purple variegated.

This is another cowl knit with Madelinetosk DK, this time the colorway is "Filigree." It is a variation on "Waves of Grain" from the new Scarf Style 2 book by Ann Budd.

I had two skeins of Mini Mochi worsted and made this neckwarmer -- of course, I tossed the pattern as soon as I finished it and can't remember the name of the pattern!

But if you belong to Ravelry, there are lots of similar neckwarmers there!

I also started a purple sweater for my "Japan Wardrobe." This is "Uma," pattern by Bonnie Marie Burns for Chic Knits. The yarn is Debbie Bliss's Cashmerino Aran, Merino, Microfibre and Cashmere. Yummy to knit with and once I figured out the unusual  top-down construction, a fast knit!

Linking up to Tami's Amis Work in Progress Wednesday.

With the length of my Quilty To-Do list this month, I need to turn off the TV and get back to the sewing machine!

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