The Secrets are Ready!

First, I added a border, all the way around each block, making each block 18 inches square.  I forgot to take a photo!  Then I cut an 18-inch square from the front and back of each of Bob's shirts.

Before I went to NYC, I asked around and found someone who was willing to do some machine embroidery for me.  She did a wonderful job.  

After stitching the embroidered patches below the pockets of each shirt front, the front became the pillow cover back.

I love using shirt fronts for pillow cover backs.  I used 18-inch pillow forms, and they look overstuffed, just the way I wanted them.  I sure hope my girls love these.

Not a great photo, but it shows Bob wearing one of these shirts last year on our cruise.

May your bobbins always be full,

Scrappy Scrapalious

 I seems I've been working on this scrappy quilt top forever.  It has been a pretty long time, the month of March.  It's large, 88x88", and it's going on my bed when it's finished.  I started sorting scraps, and I had a mountain of them.  First, I removed all the solids, then all the really girly prints.

From the remaining scraps, some pieces were very small and netted one or two 2.5x5" strips, and some were large enough to cut many strips.  As I worked, at each stage, I kept shuffling the strips so the fabrics would be scattered across the quilt, as much as possible.  Working without a design wall, forces me to be creative in the assembly.  I'm really happy with how it turned out.

Before I decide on the quilt back, I want to work on the San Diego Modern Quilt Guild Vintage Quilt Revival QAL March and April blocks and the 2015 Mystery Quilt Along with Pat Sloan March and April blocks.

There's always something to do around here.  Since my husband passed away on January 27th, I seem to have less time for my two passions, quilting and reading.  Bob took up a lot slack around here, so I could indulge in quilting and reading.

May your bobbins always be full,

Feeling good

My life has been turned upside down, recently, but it felt good to accomplish the February blocks for the San Diego Modern Quilt Guild Vintage Quilt Revival QAL.  These make 11 blocks completed and 8 more, to go.

I have several quilts I want to make, including some really scrappy ones to try to use up part of my scrap pile, but my husband passed away on 1/27, and there is so much to do dealing with that, quilting and most other things have taken a backseat.

May your bobbins always be full,

Knitting is like riding a bicycle

My husband has been in and out of the hospital, he has cancer.  The above photos shows how I left a seam unfinished when we had to dash off to Loma Linda University Medical Center.  I don't think I've ever left a seam unfinished before!

Bob has been hospitalized 10 of the last 12 days, and the current stay has no end is sight.  I was gifted  2 skeins of Classic Elite's Princess yarn a couple of years ago, by Interweave Publishing,  They were promoting their new book, New England Knits.  I learned to knit when I was 20, but haven't picked up my needles in about 10 years.  Knitting is like riding a bicycle, you never forget.

I finished this scarf while sitting at Bob's bedside,  It was a good use of my time, it'll be nice to have it this winter.  I also read and fool around on the iPad, to fill my time.  Today I started knitting a pair of slippers, I'm using bits of leftover yarn, so they maybe patchwork-ish.

Frisco and Ben have been with us for over six months, and they've accepted the new routine.  We have fabulous neighbors, Jan and Randy, and I text them when I'll be late getting home and they are more than happy to walk our dogs for me.

May your bobbins always be full,

Auditioning

I have twelve of these "orphan" flag blogs.  I made them for the first block exchange I've ever participated in.  They were my first attempt, and I wasn't happy with them, for the block exchange.  If you click over to my post about the exchange you'll see everyone's contribution.

I've spent some of my off time from stitching thinking about making these blocks into even more potholders.  I'm thinking they're perfect for a small project.  This morning I auditioned fabric from my stash and came up with these three that I think will work really well.

The fabric on the right is by Sand Gervais, the middle by Sweetwater, and on the right Metro Living by Robert Kaufman.  I think they'll work out fine.

I've been under the weather and haven't touched my sewing machine for 12 days, practically a record, since I started quilting 4+ years ago, unless I was out of town.  Speaking of out of town, Bob and I are leaving on the 20th for a six week vacation.  It's our longest vacation, ever, but we're celebrating our 50th anniversary and thought we'd do it up in style.

Now, for some cutting and stitching.

May your bobbins always be full,

Best Quilt Model

Even though it is hot and humid outside, Bob agreed to be my quilt model, today.  This little quilt measures 43 x 48 inches and is made entirely of leftover charm squares.  The quilt back is made of leftover four patches and scrap whites.  Love using leftovers.

It's listed in my etsy shop, here.

May your bobbins always be full,

Happy Valentine's Day

This is the little wall hanging that's on the back of my front door for Valentine's Day.  No sewing going on this week.  We're hosting our regular card and dominoes groups, here, this week.  That means my cutting table, AKA the Dining Room table, will be other-wise occupied.  Plus, I had to do a deep housecleaning!  You know how it is.

Bob's in a full leg brace, so I've taken over his normal duties, like dog walking, etc. and become his chauffeur.  The brace is on his "driving leg".

Hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day.

May your bobbins always be full,

Scout quilt, beginning.

I don't normally purchase quilt patterns.  Even though I'm relatively new at quilting, I like to figure everything out for myself.  Looking at this great pattern from Allison of Cluck Cluck Sew, I know I needed to purchase the pattern.  So, I did.

Here is the fabric I've chosen, I think it's a good mix.

I edited the photo to B&W, so I could see if I had enough contrast.  Lots of mediums, but I think it'll work.

Did you know that I was a Girl Scout.  I was active in scouting almost up until the time I got married.  That's how I met Bob, in scouting.  He was a Sea Scout and I was a Mariner Scout.  All this took place in Long Beach, CA.

May your bobbins always be full,

Next

I'm heading out the door to go to San Diego with Bob.  He'll get an infusion, to keep him healthy, and I'm going to the Zoo!  Yippee!  Later today, or tomorrow, I'll be starting a red, white and blue quilt.

May your bobbins always be full,

Winner, winner, you're a winner and other stuff.

The winner of my fabric give away is Alison of Little Bunny Quilts, who said:
AlisonFeb 7, 2012 12:30 PM

I would definitely take it! :)

I used the free service at random.org, so I can't show you proof.  You'll just have to trust me.

Alison has a great blog, visit her when you have a chance.

I haven't been quilting since I finished the top and back for my Swoon Quilt, which is in the hands of my long-arm quilter.  For one thing, I really needed to clean my house, Oh My, did I ever.  I also have to spend some time prepping all the tax paperwork.  Grrrh.

I now have 6 quilts to bind, so that's my next project.  As soon as all that's accomplished, I'll be able to start a new project with no guilt.

My leave at Barnes and Noble is over.  I gave them a very limited schedule availability, and they were fine with that.  They all know Bob and know that I'm still involved in his recovery.  I expect him to be pretty much back to normal in a couple of months.  I'm going to NYC, in June for the BEA, "The Book Show", and he assured me he'd be OK to join me the following week, for a cruise to Bermuda.  We love going to Bermuda.

May your bobbins always be full,