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Thursday, March 29, 2012

Spring Projects

I've heard from several online friends who were concerned that since I wasn't blogging I had also burned out on quilting.  Not at all!  I've been busy, though probably not as busy as I used to stay.  Don't know if I've become lazier or if old age is just setting in, but things do seem to take longer than they used to.  When I first started quilting 10 years ago I completed 10-20 quilts a year with ease.  I just don't think that is going to happen anymore. 

But I have been piecing and quilting.

First off I finished the little hexie table mat using the vintage hexies cut out by my grandmother. 



Some of these fabrics are really old and also thin and I wouldn't have used some of them if this was going to be a quilt that will be washed and used.  But I so wanted to use all these pieces Grandma had cut out. This is the last of this size of hexies and it will be a treasured piece.


Then I made three more T-shirt quilts for our daughter-in-law, using T-shirts that belonged to the brother she lost to cancer in April 2011. 





Nothing fancy about any of them..just t-shirts all cut the same size and put together without sashing.  I used fleece for backing and they are nice and cuddly.  Perfect recliner/couch quilts.  DIL Deb kept the first one I made in December; she gave the next two to her other brother and her mother.  The fourth one was for my son, Jeff.  He's a Steeler's fan so I used licensed Steeler's fleece on the back of his.  I'm glad to have these done as making t-shirt quilts is not my favorite kind of project.

Right after Christmas I started piecing a scrap quilt using the keyhole pattern I kept seeing all over the internet. I particularly liked this quilt so I drafted my own pattern and added cornerstones in the sashing. I quilted it a couple weeks ago and it is now added to my finished pile.



It was a fun way to use up lots of different 2 1/2" squares that were already cut and stored in one of my bins.  That makes for a super fast quilt.


Because I always like to have a hand project going to work on in the evenings I started a big (as in ultimate size of the quilt) project using small (3/4") hexies.  I designed the quilt in EQ5. Here is  what I hope to make (pretend it is all scrappy diamonds.




This is what I've done so far


Monday I started piecing a sofa quilt for my mother-in-law who will be turning 90 in June.  It's ready to be quilted.



It's been a beautiful spring despite a storm that brought 110mph winds through our neighborhood last month. This morning Tom found this tiny daffodil blooming in our yard.  I'd forgotten that I used to have a big group of them.



Next week Tom and I will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary.


 We'll be spending time in AZ at our son and DIL's.  We'll also get to finally meet our great-grandson, Bryce, who turned 1 last January. 


He'll be flying to AZ from MA with his parents.  So looking forward to spoiling him a bit!  We'll also celebrate Tom's 65th birthday as well as Easter.


Until next time..............



14 comments:

Cheryl Willis said...

time with family is always the best, enjoy your trip.
I love your scrappy key hole, I think it would make a neat strip piece for QoV. another TO DO!

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

I love that keyhole quilt! 3/4 inch hexies - are you nuts!! LOL - really that is a challenge and should keep you busy. Glad to see you blog even if it is just now and then.
Karen

Helen McNaught @ AuntyHennys said...

Gosh Mary, you really have achieved a lot!! I'd be happy to get all that done in a whole year! :-)

Love the hexie quilt. I received my New Beginnings Miniature quilt (Quilting Gallery Swap) last week and it was made with 3/4" hexies! beautiful!

Have a wonderful time catching up with your family,
Cheers from Helen

Donna said...

Wow, Mary, you have been busy! Everything looks so nice, and I love the hexagon quilt and the keyhole quilt. Have a wonderful time with your family. And Happy Anniversary to you and Tom and Happy Birthday to Tom. Did I cover everything? Probably not, but good to see you back.

Anonymous said...

Glad to see the update on the many, many things you have been doing. Best wishes to you and Tom.
Lillian
lillianscupboard.wordpress.com

Anonymous said...

I agree with the other comments, you've been busy, and love what you've done!

Anonymous said...

Mary, so glad to see that you are blogging again. Have been checking everyday to see if you had updated your blog. Was beginning to think that you were sick or something - but now I see that you have been quite busy.

You quilts are great, as always. Welcome back to cyberspace.

Carolyn B., MO

Lynn said...

Wow, you certainly have been busy. I still don't get much done but the way I think of it is that I savor each quilting task I do. With deadlines and the rush, rush that I used to do with quilting now just makes me tired and not want to piece or quilt at all. The new attitude that what gets finished gets finished when ever it is done no matter how much time it takes is much more enjoyable.

Geta Grama said...

Wow Mary, you are a busy bee!Beautiful new projects,I love your scrappy quilts, as always.
Happy Anniversary to you and Tom and Happy Birthday to Tom.

Sunna Reyr said...

Good to have you back, (which could mean I'm back to blogging too, I'm not, sigh) Love your projects, the keyhole is a pattern I just might do... one day.

Have a safe trip and happy time with your family and congratulation on all the upcoming anniversary.

Sarah said...

Great hexie design! Hope you don't mind that I saved it for future inspiration - I really like your triple sashing. Did you see the tile floors that Bonnie posted yesterday? http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2012/04/tile-floor-spotting.html. I'll be posting an update of my hexie diamonds quilt later today.

Sheila said...

Good to see you back. It looks like you have been very busy. Enjoy your time in Arizona and have a great holiday!

Anonymous said...

Welcome back! Missed you. Happy Easter.

Shelia
sb12041@yahoo.com

Teaquilts said...

Congratulations on 25 years of marriage with Tom. Love the picture of the two of you.

Also, the keyhole quilt is very pretty.