X's and O's

A self-imposed deadline for finishing this small quilt was just the right impetus to get done what little was left to do.  "Puzzle piece" quilting and and binding went on in a matter of a few hours. 

Pattern from American Patchwork & Quilting, June 2011. 

These pink 9 patches were from Julie's swap of a couple years ago.  Normally I am not that fond of pink, but mixed with brown, I really like them.

The tan and cream ones were leftovers I had put together for the swap. 

I enjoyed working with the Tri-Recs ruler to make these stars.  The pattern provided a template but using the ruler was fast and easy to cut the pairs.

A simple pieced back from fat quarters, and these hugs and kisses are on their way to Arizona as a housewarming gift.  My brother and sister in law and family are finally getting to move into their new home, four months after they originally hoped to.  Happy Days!

What I'm Working on Wednesday

Witches...that goes with the W theme :)

The outer border has been attached.  Dimples fabrics are textured solids and I think that goes just fine with my "lighter" black inner border and the hats.

Piecing was necessary for the backing, but I like a pieced back!

Here is the beginning of quilting on the X's and O's wall hanging/tablerunner.  It should be quick to finish once the jigsaw puzzle quilting is complete; I've already made the binding.  I have a deadline for this quilt and those are always good for me! 

What are you working on?



UFO Challenge 2012 update--June

Close, but no cigar, as they say.  With this month's UFO pick I started with a bunch of swapped 9 patch blocks and ended up here:

Completed top, backing, and binding.  Since I just finished another quilt yesterday that was a UFO Challenge 2012 pick leftover, my record for near finishes stands.  Overall, I am happy with these X's and O's and using up stash to eke out the pieced backing.  The pink and brown and cream make a nice Neapolitan treat.  Maybe that will be my quilt's new name.  What do you think? 

Judy's number pick for the month of July is 3.  On my list that is the Cheddar and Cinnamon quilt, which is a carryover from last year's challenge. Hmm, another food-related name.  The top is complete and the quilt needs backing, quilting, and binding.  Since I will be having more free time when my job ends in a week, I hope to devote proper attention and have a finish to show at the end of July.  See more finishes on Judy's Patchwork Times. 

Design Wall Monday--June 25, 2012

On my design surface today is the backing for the UFO Challenge project of the month, X's and O's.  I've sewn the tablerunner together and made the binding already, so am hoping to get the project completed by deadline. 

These fat quarters will barely be wide enough for a backing but I'm trying to use stash only and that means "making do".

Quilting on the Jewel Box quilt is also going on.  Not sure I'm happy with this yet but am trying to keep it simple so I can finish it this week. 

A do-over of my patriotic displays from the last post.  The yellow flower pot was switched out for a clear vessel and some blue glass chips, clear marbles and glass chips, and some red rick rack, and a quick rummage through the stash for this pinwheel fabric to cover the green vase with the lighted branches.  Looking much better, right?

In the dining room, I hung my Patriotic Fields quilt (pattern from Humble Quilts, Lori's Strawberry Fields Doll Quiltalong) and got the table prettied up.  These starry vinyl placemats have been around a long time--I'm sure I had them when the kids were little!

See more design walls on Judy's Patchwork Times.

One Word Wednesday

Options.

Design Wall Monday--June 18, 2012

On my design floor today are the three blocks for the June UFO pick, which I'm glad to say is well on its way to getting completed this month, yay!

I really like how the O block in the center feels curvy even though there are only straight seams.  The blocks will finish at 20 inches so I'm considering just putting on a pink binding and not doing any borders, since I want to use this as a tablerunner and 20 inches is kinda wide already.  Or maybe a narrow pink border and a cream binding?  Need help here!  See more design walls on Judy's Patchwork Times. 

Past Times/Pastimes

My mom has been going through boxes of photos that came from her parents and my dad's parents, and sending me a few, some of which I have never seen.  This one, for instance:

This is my sister Kathy and me, I believe with Christmas gifts, modeling Grandma's handmade flannel nightgowns and new dollies wearing matching nightgowns.  We must have been about 6 and 7 years old, when Pixie cuts were all the rage. Isn't my sister the cutest with her beautiful dark red hair and matching dolly? This photo must have been taken at the other grandmother's house, because I see a lot of boys' feet and legs and arms, and I think Uncle David is sticking his head in the photo.  My mom has seven younger brothers; David is the youngest and is six months younger than his first nephew, my oldest brother Kevin.  Got that?  Anyway, this photo triggered the memory of the dolly and her nightgown, tucked away in a suitcase with other treasured childhood things.

Poor thing, her hair is a mess, the nightgown has a weird blue stain and the sleeve elastic is long worn out, but she still has the most darling face.  The sock doll I made at about age 10 or 11 with my best friend from two doors down, Toni, from a book of crafts she had.  The dolly's name is Flower.  I gave her the black hair and blue eyes I always admired on Snow White.  Flower's looking a bit worse for wear too, but I'll always keep her.  

I took a much-needed mental health day off of work on Thursday and worked on the X's and O's to distract myself from the sadness and stress of the last two weeks until we close.  The stripes are going every which way but it isn't really bothering me.  I may turn some of the squares to have all the stripes going the same way around the outside edges.  So there you have it, Past Times and Pastimes.

Chores on Saturday

I woke up early yesterday and got right out of bed--not my usual pattern, to be sure--ate breakfast, made tea, and set to work on the day's chores.  Fortunately the first task was most pleasant and involved sewing.

Three of the four blocks for one of the X blocks were sewn and pressed.  That bottom left one might need some resewing as it is not laying flat.  In my eagerness to proceed to sewing, I didn't check the pink swap blocks for square.   

Oops, this one will need some adjustments too, so the sewing session ended for the day. Aren't these the prettiest fabrics?  I just love them. 

Grant was up by then and after he ate breakfast we proceeded to the next chore, which was fixing the washing machine agitator.   For some unknown time, the top of the agitator was not turning, and through my online research, I learned the problem was some feed dogs wearing out, an easy fix not requiring more than a socket wrench and a half-hour's time.  Replacement parts were ordered (less than $10) and received, directions read, and the first attempt made.  Well, at first the top of the two part agitator was not "easily lifting off".  Therefore, the You Tube video was watched, some extra muscle applied to separate the parts, and within 15 minutes the new feed dogs were inserted, agitator reassembled and the washing machine repaired.  Isn't the Internet an amazing thing when help is required?

Final chore of the day was painting.  We have had sample colors on the wall for months and finally agreed on one.  Last weekend we picked up paint and supplies and started the prep.

Dining room paint samples and patching.  Cute, huh?  On the bottom left are the final two we were choosing between.  We went with the lighter soft tan, called Fioli Antique Lace.  We also picked a more expensive primer/paint combo for better coverage. 

A few hours later, the walls were dry and looking pretty good.  The medium terracotta we put on the walls more than 15 years ago will be covered over gradually.  The last time we did this job it took the two of us nearly six weeks to complete, mostly because the house's "open plan" includes two-story walls in the living/dining room, a hallway to the family room, a wide stairwell and the second floor hallway, with no good place to stop.  Today we'll continue the painting chore to get the dining room back together at least! 

Tri Recs Puzzler

Sewing machine time this week has been nearly non-existent, but some progress was made on the UFO project of the month prep.  First, a bunch of MATH to see if the 1/3 yard of background fabric from stash was going to be enough.  J-u-s-t squeaked by on that note!  Then, instead of making a template from the magazine pattern for the X's and O's, since my record with template accuracy has not been great, I bought a set of Tri-Recs rulers. 

Squares, rectangles and tri-rectangles ready to go.  Folding the fabric in half before cutting gave me the reversed triangle at the same time.  It's so nice to have these things mentioned in the directions in case I hadn't thought of it before pushing the rotary cutter through my limited fabric :).

The Recs Tool includes a notched edge at the top of the triangle for lining up the offset pieces when placed right sides together.  I'm looking forward to that extra help at assembly time.

It was a puzzle to cut the brown striped fabric and get all the tri-recs pieces in their proper spots in matched pairs--I just couldn't let the stripes go willy-nilly. Though the background fabric is a bit light compared to the tan blocks, I like the contrast with the brown.  So, pressing onward to construction!