Tackling another UFO

             
UFOs.....WIPs...whatever you want to call them, I have a LOT!
I keep saying I need to get them done before starting a new project but it doesn't seem to happen. So I'm just going to do my best and finish up COMPLETELY each one as I come across it in my sewing closet.

This one is SO old! I won floral "happy" blocks YEARS ago through Block Central's quilt forum...this was way before Instagram and back when Facebook was mostly teenagers.

I gave the blocks to my sister because she liked them and I had way too many projects going. She stitched them together and then it sat. She decided to give it back to me to quilt knowin she'd never FMQ it.

When I pulled it out a week ago, it seemed too small so I figured I'd add a 8" border all the way around then quilt it.

I searched for large florals in my stash but didn't have anything that would work to I drew up this Tulip block. I made one then decided it took too much time to do 32 of them..so an alternate block would be needed. That was easy...sawtooth. Sawtooth is one of my favorites and it sort of looks like grass.

I cut a bunch of HSTs and chain stitched them...that was quick!

So far I have two borders on and am making flowers for the third. With any luck, it'll be ready for basting this weekend.

Charlevoix quilt is quilted

All quilted!

This is my "Charlevoix quilt"...all the fabric is from Minick & Simpson's Charlevoix line, which just happened to be where I was living when they designed it.

Before we moved into the temporary rental where we now live, I started to free-motion quilt it...then ran out of time. We've been in the rental for 6 months now and I just came across it. Luckily I packed the top thread (a soft white) and the bottom thread (a medium gray), into a baggie and pinned it to the quilt.

What I forgot to do, is pack up the 1/2 yard of binding that was purchased to match. I've spent HOURS looking in boxes for that piece. So, binding will have to wait until the boxes are unloaded in the new house...and that could be another 5 or 6 months!

I'm searching websites in the meantime, so if anyone knows of any Charlevoix fabric in peach or light blue for sale, let me know. I'd really love to have only that line on the whole quilt.

This pattern is my own design...I drew up 3 versions and had everyone on Instagram vote on they're favorite setting. They chose this one.

Farmer's Wife Quilt

 I don't know about you but I sew in spurts...I'll barely sew anything for a month or two and all of a sudden I'm going gangbusters. That's where I'm at now. This top was started long time ago... maybe 2012 or 13. It got worked on from time to time. The main blocks we done as I taught a class...quickly.

But then I slowed down. The Irish Chain blocks weren't as intetesting.

I changed my mind three times about what size to make it. Finally i decided 99 blocks would make a nice sized bed quilt.

I'll be giving this to my daughter and she has a queen sized bed...it needed to fit that.

These blocks were from The Farmers Wife. There were over a 100 6" blocks in the book and I made all of them. Some I made twice. I taught the class twice so I ended up with quite a pile. 

These are the first 50. There will be probably two more quilts to use up all the blocks. I kind of dread making 49 Irish Chain blocks again so maybe I'll find another alternate block. There are over 2100 pieces in this quilt. It's good to have the top done. 

Now to decide on how to quilt it.

Charlie's I-Spy quilt is DONE!

I'm happy to say I finished a quilt..Yay!

I am linking to Oh Scrap (use the button on the right side). These i-spy quilts are a great way to use up scraps of novelty fabrics and to reuse cotton shirts that are still pretty but maybe stained or have rips. I get more than a FQ out of most shirt backs and the backs are almost always free of stains and damage.

So where have I been? What have I been up to?

Al and I have been very busy with designing and building our new house so finding time to quilt isn't easy. I design the house and draw the blueprints so most of my work is done...for now. The last few days we've been waiting for the basement guys to pour the walls so I had a chance to sew.

My eyes are not that good anymore so I saved stitching down the binding for when we were traveling or sitting waiting for workers to show up. The light is SO much better outside, sitting in the truck.

I finished the last stitch on the binding today as we took a Sunday drive to visit my dad.

Henry helped to pick out the I-spy blocks for his brother. There are bad guys, pirates and trucks. ...Lots of treats like peppermints, bomb pops and cupcakes... And a ship in a bottle that he insisted on, so thats on the back. It was too large for the front.

A few of these cute little characters were recieved during an Instagram swap. Thank yous to those of you who contributed to Charlie's quilt. #quiltyfriendsarethebest

#getyourquiltywishesgrantedsummeredition

This is my third and probably final I-spy. 

Want to make one?

The blocks are 6" finish (6-1/2" before sewn into a top). 

1. Center (spy pieces) are cut 2-1/2" square 

2. Cut two shirting pieces cut 2-1/2" sq attached to each side of spy piece. 

3. Now cut two shirting strips 2-1/2 x 6-1/2" and attach to each long side. 

Very simple block and a good way to use pretty cotton shirt scraps.