Salt & Pepper Dalmations

Only one Dutch Treat block finished last night.  It's called Salt & Pepper and is #135 of 196.

I finished quilting the last of the baby quilt tops I put together in May.  This is the second one using the Dalmatian fabric. 

Just a simple rail fence. I used a red fleece for the backing which should make it nice and cuddy,

Another scorcher here.  Varying reports predict a high from 99-103º actual temps.  I don't want to think what the heat index will be after humidity is factored in.  A good day to stay inside and quilt.

Happy Weekend.

Raggedy and Friends

I decided I needed a break from my routine and pulled out the pattern for the first block of the new  redwork BOM from  The Painted Quilt.  It took me two days, but I have it done. 

I decided to use a bundle of 30's fabrics I purchased about 3 years ago on a trip to Iowa for a cousin's funeral.  For some reason every time I thought of using them it made me sad. Now I think the time has come to use them and as I do I can think of my cousin Lois and treasure the memories.  I miss her so much!  She could always make me laugh and this fun BOM is sure to be full of smiles as well. 

Too bad I have to wait until the 20th for Block 2!

Strawberry Shake & Chiclets

I finished the binding on the baby quilt last night.  I've decided it's called Strawberry Shake (the red cows bouncing all around) and Chiclets (the sashing and border print that reminds me of Chiclets gum). Strange combination, but there you go! 

It is 40 X 46..a nice size for wrapping a little one I hope. I used some Valdani varigated thread again to do an all over loop de loop.

Nothing fancy about the quilt or the quilting. Just quick. I used more of the yellow fabric for the backing. It's good putting some stash to work with these simple quilts.

It also feels good to be making progress on some of the flimsies even if I am wimping out and doing the easy ones first!

Only one Dutch Treat block finished last night.   Since I'm doing them alphabetically as they are printed in the book, it feels great getting to the "S" blocks. 

Here is Sailboat.

Both Tom and seem to have picked up a stomach virus and are on our third day of battling that.  I got sick Sunday and he started feeling it yesterday afternoon.  Nothing serious..just uncomfortable and inconvenient with so much to do in the next few weeks. Hopefully today will see it banished from the house.

Happy Quilting.

Lesson Learned

No matter how old we are there are still lessons to be learned.  The one I learned last week, is IF YOU ARE GOING TO USE BLEACH WATER TO WASH KITCHEN CABINETS, BE SURE TO WEAR GLOVES.  On the spur of the moment I decided to wash the front of a couple painted kitchen cabinets last Thursday.  Things were going fine and I was almost done when suddenly the tips of three fingers on my right hand starting BURNING.  I don't mean tingling, I mean BURNING!  I rinsed my hand under cool running water and it still kept BURNING!  I rinsed some more with no noticeable relief.  I put aloe lotion on. Nothing. I put Vitamin E cream on. Nothing.  I put topical anesthetic cream on. Nothing.  It took about half an hour to get any relief whatsoever.  NEVER DO THIS!  I know I won't again.  This was 2 days later.

Luckily I discovered that I use the side of my right middle finger to push the needle when I applique, so I wasn't slowed much in working on my Dutch Treat blocks.

#127 Poirot

#128 Pussy Willow

#129 Pyramid

#130 Queen of Spades

#131 Remembrance

#132 Riot of Growth

#133 Rotunda

Two new siggies arrived in the last week.

Rita from North Dakota writes of an interesting life with brief sojourns in France and the Czech Republic.  Her stamped flower looks like an hibiscus, but I may be wrong.

Helen, from Australia, embroidered this darling koala on her siggie.  Reading  the letters that accompany these little blocks is so interesting.  Quilters all over the world seem to have so much in common.

I also managed to quilt another of the baby quilt flimsies on Friday but still haven't finished binding it.  I'll go work on that now and should have a picture to share tomorrow.

Happy Monday!

Flimsies

I may not have as many as some folks... (Tea for instance)....but I have way more than I wish I had.  The urge to start something new is always strong. And there's that Dutch Treat #2 to finish.

But I do need to get some of these quilted.  In an effort to shame myself into making some progress on them, here is a report card by age. 

Thangles BOM Nov 2006

There were 12 blocks in this BOM..I bought three kits each month and added 24 more blocks, all using squares and HST's.

                                              Dandy Doodle BOM Dec 2006
Don't even remember the website that offered this now.  I had 13 different BOM's going that year and making them all from stash.

Charming Nines Jan 2007

Vintage scraps.  Each nine patch has a different fabric..a true charm quilt.

For some dumb reason I had grey thread in my bottom when I was adding some of the blocks.  Didn't realize it until I had sewed a LOT of it.  I was also using cotton on top and poly in the bobbin and because of this the ends of the seams wanted to pull apart and showed the grey thread.  Now I need to take a LOT of it apart and do it right! Lesson learned!!!!!!!

One Block Wonder  Wall hanging Jan 2009

Just playing with some wild fabric I bought as a remnant

Stack 'n Whack Feb 2009

Workshop by Jan Campbell for our guild. I worked on  my Imperial Gardens One Block Wonder that day and then made this a month later.  It's huge and I get tired just thinking about manipulating it through my domestic machine.

Brown Remembering Grandma Nov 2009

Not technically a full grown flimsy yet as I still want to add some major applique in that wide plain outer border.

Dinah's Delight Mystery Quilt Dec 2009

Another of Cynthia's great scrap patterns.  Really need to get this quilted but can't decide what I want to do with it.

Stars in Grandma's Garden  Jan 2010

Another use of the block I call "Remembering Grandma".  This time the blocks are the same but set with pieced sashing to form the dark stars.

Baltimore Album Sampler Feb 2010

Well we know this one is going to gain some age before I get brave enough to tackle quilting it!

Dalmatians Baby Quilt May 2010

Easy quilting job..I just need to get 'er done!

Strawberry Milk Baby Quilt May 2010

Ditto!!!!!

Lynn Brown Orange Co. Baltimore July 2010

This is going to hang out with the other Baltimore top while I gain inspiration, confidence and energy!

Dear Jane My Way July 2010

I plan to hand quilt this in section so it's not totally joined.  Also will add an appliqued border I think, but not until the rest is quilted....like I said...My Way!

Okay..have I shamed myself properly to get busy?  I would if only the fingers of my right hand weren't screaming in pain after doing something dumb yesterday (no, not a rotary cutter).  Even typing hurts so I'll quit for now.  We're not going to discuss the UFO's and BOM's that haven't reached the flimsy stage.