Block Swap Sneak Peek

Our guild is looking forward to our Big Reveal of quilts made from our Block Swap.  It's not until September, so I can only share a glimpse.

Doll Quilt top

This little doll quilt top was made from the scraps of my Block Swap top.  Once it's quilted, it will be tucked inside a new doll cradle and given to a child for Christmas.

I have a lot of work ahead before our Reveal just to finish joining the rows before my quilt top will be ready for quilting.  It's due in early September, so I think there's still plenty of time. 

Next on my to do list is to design a quilt for my mom.  This is a challenge because I really want her to like it, but I'm not quite sure what that will entail.  I think she is drawn to art quilts, but would rather use it on a bed since she doesn't have much wall space.  Art quilts won't hold up to the wear and tear of being used.  Hmmmm.  I'll keep dreaming up ideas.

Enjoy your day!
- SeeingStars

Off the frame - a Quilt of Valor

I'm doing the happy dance again.  So glad to have this one quilted and ready for binding.

Since some friends are on their way over this morning, I'm posting mostly photos rather than my usual long-winded words. 

Enjoy your day!
- SeeingStars

Summer Travels

We've been on the road ... a lot.  So I haven't posted since it's probably not wise to tell the world wide web that the house is unattended.  We've left many footprints in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina and North Carolina.  Our teens are going whitewater rafting on Friday, which is one more trip to Tennessee.  Whew!

For the NC beach trips, I brought along a sewing machine.  We like to avoid the most intense sun rays during prime tanning hours.  Also, it's really nice to have a backup plan on rainy days.  With a set of 12 flannel fat quarters plus a piece of tan solid flannel, I made three baby quilt tops.  The first two used Missouri Star Quilt Company's tutorial for Serendipity quilts.

Both of these are small, so I plan to add a border to them before quilting.

I've not sewn with flannel before, but it was good quality and didn't stretch or misbehave at all.  I like the soft texture and the piecing wasn't any different than using quilting fabrics, except for perhaps a few more pins than I'd normally use.

The green triangles went fast and I didn't have a source for more, so I used the other blocks to form one more top sans green.  It's larger and I'll quilt it without borders.

Our camera batteries need replacements, so these photos are from my phone.  I guess there's enough dirt on the lens to act as a softening filter. 

Now that we're home, I'm looking forward to a few finishes.  First and of the highest priority is to finish the quilting for the Quilts of Valor quilt.  It's much closer to being complete, but still needs more attention.  Two more eagles, a few more feathers and the outer border on one side.  Plus those little touch up places that I find as I turn the quilt.

Time to go to work now, so  ....

Enjoy your day,
- SeeingStars

Three More To Go

Here's the first eagle.

It was marked with the blue water soluble pen.  I'll soak the quilt in ice water when it's finished to be sure all those marks have a chance to go away.

Row 3 - Left side

Row 3 - Right side

I'll turn the quilt so each eagle is quilted right side up.  I think that will be easier than attempting to work upside down.

The next two rows will be the very center of the quilt.  Woo hoo!  Can't wait to reach the half-way mark.

Enjoy your Father's Day!  Our breakfast casserole will go in the oven in about a half hour.  It's a nice way to make Mr. SeeingStars feel honored.  We have a small goodie bag for him too.  (I think he'll like his repaired flip flops the best.)

- SeeingStars

Jumping Mental Hurdles

... or another On The Frame post.

This Quilts Of Valor quilt top patiently waited almost 3 weeks before I've started to quilt it.  Once the plan was made, I realized I was too intimidated to start.

First Row

I hope I'm not the only one with ambitions that exceed my confidence level. 

I can hear Karen McTavish telling me to do the hardest thing.  Yet she keeps getting interrupted by my inner self screaming, "What were you thinking?"

First Row a little more to the right

I haven't erased the chalk marks around the stars yet.  Guess that will give me something to do once I get ready to inspect and roll back to the start.

First row - center

2nd row - starting at the left edge again

This one is a combination of ruler work, chalking design elements and free motion.

2nd row - a little more to the left

I like the solid blue background with the mustard yellow So Fine thread.  (That's probably not the real name of the thread color.)

2nd row - center

 I love quilting feathers!  The stems were first designated with white chalk and blue water soluble, depending on the fabric color.  Then free motion quilted.

2nd row - right portion

I hope to have a little more progress tomorrow to share with you.  The back will be so neat to see once it's all done.  I'm hoping the diagonal lines will make the back look like a totally different quilt.  Have I mentioned that there will be eagles quilted in the upcoming rows?  What was I thinking?

There are lots of starts and stops with this quilting.  I'm practicing tying and burying my threads with hopes that they'll look better on the back side.

I have a recipient in mind for this Quilt of Valor.  Can't wait to present it to him!

Enjoy your day!
- SeeingStars

QOV Mystery Top

At a retreat in April, I made this top for Quilts of Valor.  It was a mystery pattern and I'd saved and printed all the steps.

I tried to get my frame to duck out of the photo, but it just wanted to photo bomb instead.  What can you do?

I'm eager to get this one loaded on the frame, but still playing with a quilting design.  I think I'll end up marking this one a bit more than I'd normally do, but I'd like eagles to surround the 4 stars in the center and I'm not ready to free motion them.

I like the diamond shape in the white and want the overall texture to emphasize that shape.  The very-very-low-tech method of planning a quilting motif involves a blank piece of paper, multiple folds to show each block, a quick sketch of the star blocks with light colored pencils.  Then a ziplock bag to cover the paper and act as a transparency.  Then markers drawn over the ziplock.  If I need to start the design again, I simply replace the ziplock bag with a fresh one.

Don't laugh too hard.  I'll be able to purchase more fabrics with the money I save by avoiding the purchase of a high-tech quilting motif system. 

Usually, I snap a photo and print it out with faded colors, and draw on the photo.  If I need to start again, I can print another copy.  I'll call this preferred method, my medium-tech solution.  However, it's the end of the school year and all the teachers are demanding one more project to grade.  Our teens are frantically using Google to gather research facts.  Thus, I'll rarely get to use our computer for another week. 

Enjoy your day!
- SeeingStars

Learning a new trick

Our guild is making an opportunity quilt.  It's a combination of log cabin blocks and applique.  We made block kits and invited our members to help us make the blocks.  Now, several are using needle turn applique to add the birds and a nest.

Although the first attempt left me with lumpy eggs, I had patient help and a sheet of heat resistant mylar to smooth everything around the edges.  I'm happy with how it's turning out now.

My bird's wing still has a needle in it.  There's a little embroidery in progress.  I'll add a little more to the tail and then pass these blocks on to be added to the quilt.

I can't wait to see it altogether.  It's a pretty pattern with the jewel toned batiks.

Enjoy your day!
- SeeingStars