My Friday Finish!

My wing it block for my Civil War Quilt :}

  It's a Sunny May Day.  It is a little cool out today but quite sunny.  I find myself recouping from my hectic past 2 weeks.   The last week in April was filled daily with things to do, get- together's, Saying goodbyes to friends, Grandparents day, IV Therapy and a bus trip to Beaver Dam.  Followed this week by family time, spending time helping a friend with her quilting.  yesterday I went downtown to my local quilt shop to My Civil War Club.  I wanted to work on my Civil War Quilt.  I had started a block 3 weeks ago and forgot to mark which block it was to be and totally forgot.  I decided to wing it and it turned out to be a very nice block with the help of Kathy Lee.  She helped me pick out some fabric that would go with it...I did like the way it turned out.  I will wait to resize this one when I place it in the quilt top.  Now I have several more quilt blocks done and I am glad.  I have learned my lessen tho - to mark the pattern or block I am currently working on.  I will use some of the great suggestions from the ladies of my group.   I also finished my spring wall quilt.  I did some FMQ on this and I do like how it looks. all I need is a label and it is ready to be hanged.


My Spring wall hanging is finished and ready to hang.

April is Here and Spring is in the air!

My Center panel with Trapunto and Surface Quilting

Ready for the borders after a little pres

well it looks like spring is in the air. at least it was on Easter Sunday.  although I had not been in my studio for the past few day's I made up for it today.  I woke early, realized that I had missed the deadline for my March finish so I worked on my MeadowLark Row Quilt today. I joined all the rows together, applied the 1st and 2nd border and the Outer border on the sides.  Tomorrow I will finish up the Top and bottom border and get my finished top ready for quilting.  I've posted pictures of my progress on my Flickr page so head on over to see my progress. 

March's Lovely Finish choice

Thanks To:

Melissa of Sew BitterSweet Designs and Shanna of Fiber of All Sorts for hosting this Year of Lovely Finishes.

 



I was unable to finish my Meadowlark Row Quilt top in Feb so I will have it as my March Finish. But Thankfully I was able to do a lot at the "Ladies Night Out" Retreat I attended Early February.  I feel I did do a lot in those few days and I loved getting to know everyone. 

I really like this pattern it has challenged my quilting muscles.



Center Panel Row 3 - I will do some Trapunto on this piece.

Block #1 Row 2

Block # 3 Row 2

Row # 2 completed

Block #4 Row 2 completed with the Snail in the Center



These are my finished rows up on the Design Wall that need to be squared

On the center panel I was able to do some Trapunto.  As seen here on the Bird and below on the Butterfly

I really enjoyed doing some surface Trapunto and free motion quilting on the center panel.

 I have been out of commission for the past 2 weeks.  (It feels like 2 months).  I started out with a head cold the Sunday after retreat, OK, nothing much then on the 21st my eardrum burst and I was now fighting a raging ear and sinus infection with it's pain and dizziness.  I think the dizziness really got the better of me.  I was using my 4 prong cane inside my home and had to have my daughter drive me to see the Dr.  I am very independent and it is difficult for me to ask for assist.  Thankfully my daughter understands this and offers help freely when she sees I need it.  I am truly Blessed.  Today after a week of Zithro and ear drops I am feeling better.  much less dizziness and I am feeling more like myself.  Yesterday the Dr.  said that I still had fluid behind the eardrum (no more drainage) and that it should completely drain in a week or 2.  Whew! 
I have been able to do a small amount of sewing during this time but mostly been in bed or watching TV.  You could call me the preverbal "DIZZY DAME" lol! 

I almost feel that I can get something accomplished in my Sewing Studio today, Maybe.  I am taking it a day at a time.... I do need to finish my mug rug for send out on Monday.... So I am hopeful.  :)

Meadowlark Row Quilt - my Feburary Finish

I would like to make my February Finish - my quilt topper. Meadowlark Row Quilt. by Nutmeg Quilts. This beautiful Quilt was Designed by Meg Tybra using the Meadow Lark Panel & fabrics from Benartex with creams, beiges, rich plums and lavenders & Blacks.  Very Elegant.

 

 I started this quilt early February of last year taking classes with my friend Diane at my LQS "Riverside Quilting LLC" in River Falls WI.  I joined the class late and Meg was so sweet to let me get in on the fun.  I enjoyed our sessions and did manage to get a lot of the blocks done while taking classes.  I should have kept going but life kicked in and my constant shoulder pain took the forefront, (I had been experiencing discomfort thru Nov/Dec 2011, after going to PT for 8 weeks with no relief it was determined that I needed surgery...MAJOR SX - so the rest of the winter/summer was taken up with Dr's Visits with the goal of getting this done....Finally in late Aug I had surgery replacing my shoulder - extensive Rehab - I was back to my sewing machine in late Sept, I remember trying to piece using 1 hand .LOL).  Enough Said -

 I am Ready for anything this year!   

 Wow Meg is an amazing Designer

 I want to do Trapunto on this middle Panel

An amazing Block, I love the color and fabrics

that go with this quilt.

Row one blocks are pieced and ready

 

 

This is an amazing Block

 

A Year of Lovely Finishes - Jan 2013

The Piano Runner 9 1/2" x 60"

Oh I am so happy to report that I finished my Piano Runner.  I did enjoy making this from conception to finished project it was so fun and really my first time making something with out any pattern.  I choose the blocks 1st that I wanted to include in the runner, started with paper piecing the 3 Pineapple Blocks and 6 log cabins.  I carefully chose the colors, wanting mostly creams and browns with and accent fabric for the Pineapple blocks to give it a pop of color.  The finished runner is 9 1/2" x 60".  I really do love it and know it will look nice on the piano in the community Ctr. where I live.

Thanks  Melissa at Bittersweet Designs and Shanna of Fiber of all Sorts for hosting "A Year of Lovely Finishes 2013".  I am looking forward to choosing my February Finish.

 

The Creative Process of making the Piano Runner
Telling the Story:  Last Year I was asked to make a runner for the piano in the community center where  lived.  I wanted the runner to blend in with the surroundings and for most seasonal changes so I wanted neutrals with a pop of color.  I chose to combine Log Cabin blocks with Pineapple blocks and to paper piece the blocks to keep them uniform.  My Runner would be 10" x 60".  The above picture shows the process.

Januarys Goal for my 1st finish

January's Goal, for a year of lovely finishes

 

 

I have chosen as my January goal to finish a piano runner I am designing for the community ctr. where I live.  Dimensions are 10" x 60".  I have chosen a soft palate of browns, tans, creams and white with a pop of color in soft greens, gold and pink.  I wanted a muted and soft background so that it would compliment  most seasonal displays that might be chosen to be placed on it.   the blocks I chose to use in it are the log cabin and the pineapple blocks.  I paper pieced 6 log cabin blocks and 3 pineapple blocks. finished size to be 6" for each.  I used the pineapple block to give it a "Pop" of color.  The Border will be 2" wide and I have chosen a soft green print for it.  I haven't decided on the backing fabric or color yet.