The Drive Continues

An enormous quilt top and 36 extra blocks arrived in my mail on Thursday from Nancy at http://pugmomquilts.blogspot.com for my mom's charity quilt drive. The design is the Texas Two Step from Atkinson Designs and Nancy had made a queen sized version. I split it in half removed 5 rows from the length of each half. I combined the five row pieces together into a 10 row smaller quilt. I added some of the extra blocks to the other two quilts making them more square. Don't they look cool floating in the wind on my garden fence?

This is the smaller top. I found a great turquoise and green large dot for the border, backing, and binding at Joann's for $3 a yard plus 20% off. I love a bargain especially for the charity quilt drive.

In our stash of backings, my mom had a great turquoise that will be an ideal backing for this one,

that means we just need to find a backing for this one.

My mom quilted the brick quilt sent from Bobbi in Tampa. It finished 60 x 68 inches with the borders after washing.

Here is an up close of the quilting with some pretty lines of loops horizontally through each brick. The jewel toned fabrics framed by black are stunning.

I had bought the same black with a small green and blue paisley for the borders, binding, and backing. The paisley is a good choice for either a man or a woman.

My mom also quilted the Bricks and Stepping Stones top I made. It finished 60 x 66 inches after washing.

She quilted is with small loops and hearts--I need to try that design myself.

My mom used a donated green backing from Sherrill at http://quiltinginmysleep.blogspot.com

My mom also quilted up the brick top I made. It finished 62 x 62 inches after washing.

She quilted small loops and used black thread.

The backing was a busy print I found on sale at Joann's for $3 a yard because all of their red tag fabric was half price. The manager said it would be back on sale for Labor Day weekend, so hopefully we will have some more tops done and ready to find backings for them.

Speaking of finished tops, I finished this top today and have everything cut to make another one! I figure cut two at the same time and get two tops. This is Scrappy Summer from Cluck Cluck Sew, here is the free tutorial http://cluckclucksew.com/2013/06/finished-scrappy-summer-and-pattern.html I made this one 64 x 72 inches and 8 x 9 blocks. It is so bright and happy, I am glad I will have two for the charity quilt drive.

Missouri Quilt Co. had an awesome daily deal the other morning--a Hello Darling layer cake for half price. I could not resist! My background for my Dog Gone Cute quilt arrived and my day for the blog hop is October 13th, so I will be working on my dogs this week.

Charity Brick Tops

 Whoop whoop! Look at this beauty that came in the mail--the jewel tones are stunning. This gorgeous brick top came all the way from Tampa, Florida from Bobbi (no blog) for my mom's charity quilt drive. I hit Joann's for some black Kona with my 60% off coupon yesterday and also found a perfect fabric for borders and backing at $3 a yard. Score, especially since it was $13.99 a yard originally. I will drop it off for quilting hopefully tomorrow.

 I will also drop this top that I finished today off. This is just a quick scrap quit.  All the rectangles are cut 3.5 x 6.5 inches. Sew two together to form a block and then lay the blocks out in opposite directions. This is set 10 blocks by 10 blocks. Before borders is measured 60 inches square. I cut my borders 3.5 inches wide. I am proud to say there are no repeated fabrics in this quilt! I also found a busy $3 a yard backing for this one too.

I am still waiting for my fabric I ordered for the Dog Gone Cute QAL to arrive. Instead 

this week, I plan on working on making one of these--a Scrappy Summer Quilts for the charity quilt drive. I am not going to make it quite as long as the free tutorial, but I am using this color scheme.

Here is a link to the tutorial

http://cluckclucksew.com/2013/06/finished-scrappy-summer-and-pattern.html

If you are interested in contributing a top or a quilt for my mom's charity please send me an email at mcsdces19(at)gmail(dot)com or leave me a comment. Have a great week!

Lucky #17

 Today is my daughter's 17th birthday! 17 is kind of a let down from the excitement of turning 16 and driving. She did not really want anything, so I improvised and got her a variety of gift cards and goodies. I made this gift card and goodie bouquet. It was pretty simple and inexpensive--I hope she likes my crafty effort! It is cuter than anything I found on Pinterest...

Since it is her senior year, we have been going through pictures from her childhood to design her baby ad for the yearbook. We found this sweet picture--she is 4 years old and with our dogs, Dora and Melody. 

We are total dog lovers which is why I am so excited to participate in Lorna's upcoming quilt along, Dog Gone Cute. There is a button link on my right hand side bar. I bought the pattern and ordered some fabric to make at least one quilt--probably more. My blog will also be part of the blog hop for the Dog Gone Cute, so I will let you know when I am on the calendar. Lorna designs fabulous quilts with very detailed patterns. The quilt along begins on September 1st! Join in on this one, it is too adorable to pass up!

 I am feeling better, so I spent most of yesterday in my sewing room. I finished piecing this top for my mom's charity quilt drive. I used Bonnie Hunter's free pattern "Bricks & Stepping Stones" and dug into my stash. I made mine slightly bigger and set the blocks 9 x 7. I added a 5.5 inch border. Here is a link to the pattern

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/p/free-patterns.html

 This morning, I made this week's Farm Girl Vintage blocks, Peas & Carrots and Pie Cherries. My sister and my niece have fallen in love with all the projects in FGV, so they are joining in on this quilt along which makes it even more fun!

This morning Kathy was asking about long term handwork projects as part of Slow Sunday Stitching. My current long term handwork project is Cottage Garden--this is block 2 of 18 blocks! See what everyone else is up to here http://kathysquilts.blogspot.com

We are off to celebrate Heather's birthday dinner at my mom and dad's house. My dad is making homemade pizza in his fancy pizza oven and we have a decadent cheesecake for dessert. Sounds delicious! Have a great week.

Week of Little Progress

 My mom's charity quilt drive continues and we received this gorgeous top from Maggie at http://cheerfulchickadee.blogspot.com

It is gorgeous and made using vintage fabrics from dresses. It is twin sized and very vintage looking.

 This is the other Boxy Stars Quilt top I made using Bonnie Hunter's free pattern found here

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/p/free-patterns.html

My mom quilted it up and bound it for the charity drive. It looks so different from the other one I made with salmon colored sashing and a black calico border.

 This was another top I had made from a kit in my stash for the charity quilt drive.

 My mom quilted it with free motion six petal flowers chained across and bound it too. I was afraid this one would look juvenile, but it does not! It just looks so happy!!! 

Speaking of the charity quilt drive--my mom is trying to get 62 quilts donated for each patient at a local nursing home by Christmas. So far, she has 28 completed quilts, 5 tops to be quilted, and 3 quilts being pieced. I also have another top on its way from another blogger! Not bad considering we started working on this in mid-July. I think she will reach her goal...

If you are interested in donating a 60 inch square or bigger quilt or a quilt top made from 100% cotton, please contact me by leaving a comment here or emailing me directly at mcsdces19(at)gmail(dot)com

 I got this cool top in the mail today from my sister. She asked me to quilt it for her. I could use my mom's longarm or it is small enough for my domestic machine. The skeleton is actually a panel and it is a gift for an 11 year old boy, so it does not need any fancy quilting. I was thinking of maybe some vertical stitching every inch with cream colored thread because I don't want to distract from the skeleton too much.

 I had asked my sister to pick me up some pink fat quarters last weekend when she was in Salt Lake City because I want to make the Lori Holt pig quilt.

 Here is the pig up close and the other blocks are made using the Farm Girl Vintage book.

 My sister actually went to the quilt shop in Draper that hosted Lori Holt for two retreats in June and they had their own version

 and a gorgeous kit to make it! She bought me both!!! I am so excited, but need to get some other things done before I dive in to this.

 Plus, she sent me the lovely pink fat quarters too. What a nice variety!

 Also, in today's mail was the Moda Frivols #1 kit featuring "Hello, Darling" fabric by Bonnie & Camille.

 I ordered this back in June as part of my birthday. It is the only Hello, Darling fabric I preordered, but I might just ask for some for Christmas. :0)

The pattern is called Kindred and I think I might use navy or grey for the background. You will notice that I personally do not have any finishes this week. I have been sick since Monday afternoon and even had to miss my first two days of work; but, worse was I have not even felt up to quilting. YIKES! I need to feel better soon because I have stuff to do!

Domestic Days

 I have been speed stitching lately working on all the charity quilts, but I had fallen behind on my Farm Girl Vintage blocks. Yesterday was when Lori Holt posts the next two blocks, so I was determined to get caught back up. It was also Friday Night with Friends (FNwF) http://stitchingcubbyhole.blogspot.com/2015/08/baby-gifts-fnwf.html, so I made these four blocks:

1. Kettle's On!--I used some of my Bonnie & Camille fabrics

2. Kitchen Window

3. Mama Hen

4. Milking Day

I cheated on dinner and made mac and cheese in the crockpot using a super easy recipe:

1 pound elbow macaroni uncooked

4 cups of milk

4 cups of grated cheese (any kind you want)

1 8 oz. brick of cream cheese (I use Neufchatel)

1 12 oz. can of evaporated milk

I recommend using a crock pot liner for easy clean up. Put all ingredients in the crock pot on hi. Break the brick of cream cheese into smaller pieces. Cook for between 2.5-3 hours and stir every hour or so.

This is so easy! I keep the ingredients on hand and often throw it together when I get home from work and my family can eat it whenever they are ready for dinner. It also gives me more time in my sewing room.

 Today, I made these FGV blocks:

1. Old Glory

2. Old Red Barn

3. Out to Pasture

4. Patchwork Pumpkin

More domestic chores filled my morning--four loads of laundry. I baked brown sugar brownies or blondies for my daughter's yearbook party. They are delicious and so easy--here is the recipe http://m.allrecipes.com/recipe/10728/brown-sugar-brownies/?internalSource=staff%20pick&referringId=2754&referringContentType=recipe%20hub

I double it and use a 9 x 13 inch pan. I also leave out the walnuts. I made two pans worth, so we had some leftover.

Four Finishes

Yes, that's right I said four finishes. This week was my last full week off of work, so I have been trying to make the most of it and work on quilts for the charity quilt drive. This one is Fun Flowers--I made sixteen Sunny Sunflowers blocks from Farm Girl Vintage. I sashed them with a bright green

 and found this perfect pink with polka dots that form stripes for the border and binding.

 I quilted it with meandering loops. The backing is brighter than it looks in this picture--it is a cloudy morning, but it was a great buy at $2.96 a yard at our local fabric store. After washing, the quilt measures 60 inches square.

 Number 2 is Boxy Stars. I made two versions of this one, but only this one is done. It is a free pattern from Bonnie Hunter over at http://quiltville.blogspot.com

 It was tough to find a border that went with the salmon colored sashing I had in my stash, but this black calico worked perfectly. 

 I quilted it with the speedy loops and some stars thrown in.

 The backing was $3.50 a yard and I bought enough to back another quilt with it too. It also measures 60 inches square after washing. It was still warm from the dryer when I photographed it this morning!

 Number 3 is Shangri-La Patches and Pinwheels. I quilted it with the loops.

 My mom found a perfect busy backing for it. It measures 60 inches after washing.

 Finish number 4 is Wistful! I made the top and my mom quilted it up and bound it.

 The backing fabric is an oldie from my stash--probably 10 years. This one measures 60 x 70 inches after washing.

I had so many quilts to get pictures of, I needed the laundry basket to haul them out to the garden.

 This top is unnamed and came in yesterday's mail as a donation to our charity quilt drive. We are about half way to our goal of 62 quilts. Please contact me if you would like to donate a top or completed quilt at mcsdces19(at)gmail(dot)com or leave me a comment.

Sherrill donated this fun scrappy top, three backing fabrics, and two pillow cases to our charity quilt drive. Check out her blog and thank her here 

http://quiltinginmysleep.blogspot.com

Tonight is Friday Night with Friends where quilters all over the world stay in and sew virtually with friends. I am joining in and you can too here

http://stitchingcubbyhole.blogspot.com/2015/08/baby-gifts-fnwf.html

I plan on getting some of my Farm Girl Vintage blocks done because I am behind on them. I also have a couple of tops nearly completed for the charity quilt drive. Enjoy your weekend!