(Not Much) On the Design Wall Monday

Eight hours. Eight hours!

That's how much time it took to write my next Quilty Pleasures Scrap Squad blog post. OK, it really only took an hour or so to write the post -- the rest of the day was spent binding the quilt and trying not to scream at the Comcast tech support person because my desktop won't connect to the internet.

Sigh. I hate technology. I miss my IBM Selectric.

I did get a few more blocks made for my Vintage Memories block party at Ruth's Stitchery.

We're using "Gallery in Red and Blue" by Faye Burgos for Marcus Fabrics. Obviously, I chose the blue! I'm up to date with the group, so I have only two more months of blocks to make. But the setting is nothing simple!

Here is the photo from the pattern:

The only thing missing in the patterns is pressing directions. I hate having to figure out the best way to press things! Lucky for the class members, Cathy always makes the block ahead of time and has lots of tips. 

Hey -- only five more days to comment on this post to win a copy of the pattern I used for my Ho Ho Ho blog hop project!



From the desk of your

Sunday is for Scraps: or Karen Snyder is So Clever!

Karen Snyder blogs at Anna Lena Land -- you've seen links to her blog for the seasonal Block-a-Day challenge.  Look what she came up with this week!

It's the fastest, easiest way to make scrappy four patches you've ever seen!

Because Karen has a whole tutorial on this method, I'm not going to repeat her instructions. Go here to see Karen's tutorial on "Magic Four Patches." I just had to try it out for myself. Here are my step-by-step photos, but again, to see the complete tutorial, you have to visit Anna Lena Land! Be sure to tell her Aunt Marti says "hi!"

By any chance, do you remember this quilt?

 

It was the May "Vintage Schnibbles" project, Gentle Art by Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. The fabric is a charm pack of "Ladies Sewing Club" from Moda.  This little quilt only required half a charm pack, so I have a pile of leftover 5" squares.  Just right for Karen's new technique!

Step 1:

Detail of Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Step 4:

Step 5 (this is the magic part!):

Step 6:

I think I'll use this technique to add a scrappy four-patch border to my May Schnibbles project!

You'll have to go here for the full instructions. While you're there, take a look around -- Anna Lena Land is one of my favorite places!

Linking up to another favorite, Scrap Basket Sunday.

And speaking of links, have you gone to this post to sign up for my Ho Ho Ho Blog Hop giveaway?

From the desk of your

Ho Ho Ho . . . It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

Welcome to the 52 Quilts edition of the Ho Ho Ho Blog Hop.

What a great way to get a jump-start on the Winter holidays -- commit to a holiday blog hop in August! My blog hop project is also the December Jelly Roll Party sample, so I'm ahead of the game there also.

The pattern is "Tea Party," from Cluck Cluck Sew. My friend Jeannie always invites me to a holiday tea in December, so I thought this pattern was particularly appropriate for December.

 I used a new line from Moda, "Winter Lanes." I like this collection because it's wintery, but not specifically "Christmas."

 (Image from United Notions)

I made my quilt longer than the pattern, it's an extra-long twin size. Just right to take to quilt camp next summer!

So long it had to hang over the deck to get a photo of the whole quilt!

Of course, I bound it using Susie's Magic Binding. If you haven't tried this technique yet for binding, here is the tutorial. If you like the look of the contrasting flange, or if you just don't like hand-stitching down bindings, Susie's Magic Binding is the technique for you!

And of course, I had to add a "My Aunt Martha Made It" label.

My sister made this Teddy Bear from one of my Daddy's Pendleton shirts. Doesn't he look comfy?

Here is the best shot I have to show the true colors. I quilted it with "random squares" using Superior Threads "Omni Thread" in Fountain Mist. Because it's a winter quilt, I used a thicker cotton batting than usual.

Today's other blog hoppers are:

August 2

Quilt Doodle Doodles

life, quilts and a cat too

Elizabeth Coughlin Designs

Ridge Top Quilts

Editha

Stitchin By the Lake

Quilts, Fabric and Thread Tales

Sew Many Yarns

Kwilty Pleasures

Robin's Fabric Nest

Kris Loves Fabric

I hope you'll drop by and see what they made!


"Tea Party" is such a fun quilt, I think I should give away a PDF copy of the pattern! It's a NEW copy (see comment #71) not my paper copy with my notes scribbled over it!

If you would like to make you own Tea Party quilt:

1. comment on this post and tell me if you've started your holiday quilting for this year
2. if you're a no-reply commenter, please include your email
3. international entries welcome!
4. giveaway ends the last day of the Ho Ho Ho Blog Hop, August 9 at midnight MDT

From the desk of your

July UFO Challenge Parade

If you're new to 52 Quilts in 52 Weeks, you might wonder what the "UFO Challenge" is. Go to this post to learn how to play along. There are still five months left in 2013, that's five UFOs you could finish before the end of the year!


Are you ready for the August UFO challenge? Here it is, it's:

Go ahead, run and check on what is your #11 project. Then come back and see what everyone finished during July.

July is a tough month for quilters. What with school vacations, family commitments, quilt camp . . . . But our intrepid UFO Challenge contestants stepped up to the plate and finished some wonderful UFOs this month!

I don't have the excuse of school kids or family vacation, but I did spend a week in Wyoming attending Quilt Wyoming and visiting nine shops on the Southeast Wyoming Quilt Shop Hop. I also had to finish two Jelly Roll Party samples, two Scrap Squad quilts and my #8 UFO.

Details are in this blog post, but here's a photo in case you missed it:

The first UFO completion came early in the month from Carol in Idaho. Aren't the colors gorgeous?

Sandi has another "K" quilt. This one is called "Kubicles," and she blogged it here. Not only is it a UFO, it's a scrap project. She says it should make a great baby quilt -- I agree, don't you?

Irene submitted two finishes this month. Here's what she says about the top one:

The red border one is from the 2007 Quilting page-a-day calender and my first try at paper piecing. I had planned to have this in my library office when I was working, but now it can hang in the living room.

Don't you just love being retired, Irene?  The second one is from a pattern she bought while on a cruise to Alaska in 2012. She says "quilting it can be the UFO project for 2012!"

Irene detailed both quilts on her blog here.

Gill in the UK is my sister-of-the-heart, 'cuz she doesn't like Flying Geese either! Read what she says about this (incredible) quilt:

My finish is one from 2005 - pre-children! It was on my UFO list despite me reaching a point of not liking anything about it anymore - but with 400 flying geese units made I was past the point of no return! I like it a bit more now it's actually together and I will quilt it when we get back from France.

These quilters who complete one of Bonnie Hunter's scrappy quilts always impress me. Look at this stunner Karen completed (she confesses it was actually her June finish, but I say she still gets extra credit!):

Karen says she's been knitting rather than quilting. Karen, we'd love to see some of your knitting finishes, also!

Oh, hey, look at this! Karen did get her July (#8) UFO finished!

Karen tells me the fabric is "The Caroler" by Mary Engelbreit. I love that line! Her tablerunner is made from a turnover Karen bought from Missour Star Quilt Co. years ago and "never figure out what to do with."

We agreed it's a good idea to buy some yardage from the same line as precuts, because you never know what you'll want to make with the precuts! Because the precuts usually arrive at my LQS weeks or even months ahead of the yardage, I leave them on the cutting table until the yardage is available at Ruth's Stitchery. The staff at Ruth's is so good about looking up what they have on order, so I know if I need to search further afield for a particular line.

Susan in Australia has a funny story about her July finish. Here is the story, and here is the photo. Pretty, isn't it? We'll look forward to seeing your machine quilting project, when it turns up!

By the way, My Little Sailor (Younger Son, and the blog's co-author) is in Brisbane this week. Wave to him when the ship pulls out, please, Susan!

Sooli "whipped up" this lovely quilt for her Auntie Betty's 88th birthday in October (happy birthday, Aunt Betty! I wonder if our birthdays are on the same day, they 18th?)

Here is the link to Sue's blog post describing the quilt. I want to add this one to my "Scrap Quilt Ideas" folder!

Kerry also has two finishes for July. She got this patriotic tablerunner finishes just in time to use it for summer decorating:

And she also finished this lovely batik quilt:

Debbi had a little trouble getting a good photo of her quilt, because of bad weather. The first one shows the colors most true, and the second shows the whole quilt.

Debbi told me this is a "Hidden Wells" quilt. Searching for the pattern, I found this tutorial from Moose Stash Quilting. Very pretty, Debbi, I'm going to add it to my "Sunday is for Scraps" folder!


I count 12 finishes, plus my own. Wow! That's pretty impressive for a summer month! I'm not counting my own for the giveaway winner, so let's see who the Random Number Generator chooses.

Let's see, the 9th photo is -- Sue! Congratulations, Sue! I found a book I think you'll like from Martingale:

 

And the best part is, it's available as an e-book. So I can send it to you right away!










Tomorrow is my day on the Ho Ho Ho Blog Hop. I hope you'll come back to see what I "whipped up" for Winter!

From the desk of your