A New Book Worth Checking Out

Good morning!  It IS still morning right?

This morning I wanted to share a new book I found while

out shop hopping with my friends recently.  

It is Civil War Legacies by Carol Hopkins.

Inside are instructions for making fifteen small quilts ranging from 20" x 22" to

36 3/4" x 43 1/2".  Here are just a couple examples of the quilts in the book.

Alexander's Bean Pot

Mary Smith's Dishrag

Grandpap's Cards

And my personal favorite (and the first one I'm going to make)...Michael's Victory.

While searching for my One Block Wonder...

I came across my spiderweb quilt.  I have really missed working on this quilt.  So I decided to do a little work on it instead.  Here is where I am as of this morning. 

All 48 blocks are completed now and all that's left to do it sew the blocks together and add a border or two.  I'm beyond tickled with how this quilt has come along. And while tearing off all the paper on the back is going to be a pain, it'll all be worth it. This is just one more quilt that I check off my Bucket List of quilts.

Here are the backing options I've come up with.  Originally I was going to go with the roses (which I ª muchly).  When I first saw the rose fabric I immediately knew what I wanted to do with it.  But then yesterday when I was getting the other bolt out of the closet, I rediscovered the multi-colored floral you also see.  It was originally bought to do a maxi dress out of but I think it'd look fantastic on the back of this quilt. 

After much consideration I've decided which one I'm going with but I'm curious...which would you choose? 

You can find instructions for making your own spiderweb quilt by clicking HERE.

P.S.  With Market coming up in two weeks and being one reader away from 350 followers I feel a giveaway coming on!  So you know the drill...don't go anywhere and stay tuned.  Who knows what goodies I'll bring back from Market to give away.

Well...it's done...

...but I don't have a better picture of it.  Bird's Eye View is so large (98" x 104") that it wouldn't fit back onto my design wall.  So this morning when it was being shown to the girls down at the shop, I snapped a photo.  Sorry it's not a better photo.  You get the idea though.

I have one tiny bit of embroidery to still do at the top on the bumble bees but that can wait for another day.  There are several button that go on the quilt also and I'll add those after it's been quilted.

Well I guess its back to the One Block Wonder.  Oh...and I have that paper piecing from the from tutorial that I promised.

Till next time...

Gettin' close

Well here's where I am as of 2:13 AM.  All the applique is fused on (for time's sake) and I have only the upper applique section left to stitch.  The two little black dots will become bees after a little hand embroidery is added to them. 

So after that little bit is finished all that needs to be done is add the borders which are completed and ready to go.

I have to say...I'm really liking this quilt.  I thought I was over Kansas Troubles fabrics a few years ago because they were so dark.  But making this quilt has helped change my mind. 

Until next time...

Still alive and kickin'!

The move is finally over but there are still many boxes unpacked waiting in the garage.  We very s-l-o-w-l-y going through each box deciding what to keep and what to donate.  The original plan had been to do that as we were packing.  But you know the best laid plans...  So Plan B...we're doing it now. 

All this moving has really zapped my desire to do all things creative.  In the last month I've actually worked on very little.  Most of my time has been packing, unpacking, repacking, and adjusting to life in the country.  At the moment I'm combating insects.  We had a ton of rain at just the right time that resulted in a buster crop of insects outside and inside...including my first scorpion in the house...and he was a BIGGIE.  I'm terrified to do any yard work for fear of copperhead snakes.  On the upside I have tons of squirrels, cardinals, bluejays, and other birds to enjoy outside my window...and a couple longhorn steers next door.

The week or so I have been working on a few things.  Wanna see?

During the day I've been working on Bird's Eye View by Kansas Trouble Quilters for the shop.  Here is the original.

and here is where I'm at.

Today I'm working on the blocks for the middle border area and then I'm go to piece the main part of the quilt together and add the applique before attaching the borders.

(Edited to add:  OOPS...I just noticed the bottom section is upside down...duh)


In the evenings I've been slowly working on a small penny rug from Wooly Lady.  There's still lots of work to be done on this before it's completed.

And finally...to work on at my quilt bee I pulled a UFO from my closet.  This is the original designed by The Rabbit Factory...

...and here is my version in progress.  I have seven blocks finished.  The blocks with the blue star flowers has yet to be appliqued.  I really dislike appliqueing.  I'd rather cut and piece a bazillion little pieces.  But I keep doing it because I just love the results.  Never mind that it takes me YEARS to complete a single applique project.

So that's what I've been up to...SEE...Nancy and Connie...I told you I'd post today.

And for those of you that read my blog and leave comments.   I want to apologize that I've been so bad the last few months about replying back.  Life has been really hectic.  I promise to do better.

Till next time...