Saturday, September 7, 2013

Saturday on the Road

DH and I are taking a little road trip today to enjoy the last days of summer. We're in Salida, Colorado for the Fiber Festival. Imagine my delight when I saw they also have quilts on display!

I'll try to share some photos with you. 


Love this "mod cow" quilt!


DH likes the saturated colors in this improv design. Hey, I could make one like this!


This one inspires me to hit the scrap basket!

Wow, my iPhone takes pretty good photos, doesn't it?


Hope you're enjoying the great outdoors today!

Monday, September 2, 2013

BOM-day

Today is a holiday here in the US, so I took a holiday from my quilts-with-deadlines to do a little Block of the Month Rehab.

First, a quick stitch for Sugar Block Club:


Here is the September block, "Come Fly With Me."


Amy's DH thought this block looked like a propeller, so I photographed it slightly off-kilter -- so it looks like a prop just beginning to spin!

I caught up on "Toes in the Sand," made with Tula Pink's "Salt Water" collection.


And I'm making progress on the next Scrap Squad quilt. My deadline is September 27, so the quilt will be up on the Quilty Pleasures blog around October 4.


Just a little peek, it's a secret until the magazine comes out! 

rocks the blocksFall13 coming 300x300 QM Rocks the Blocks Tomorrow

Be sure to check in with Quilty Pleasures tomorrow for a chance to win one of 25 copies of the newest "Quilts from 100 Blocks" magazine!


From the desk of your auntmartisignature

Sunday, September 1, 2013

August UFO Parade: Update!

I received email with two more finishes after the blog post went live -- so I hope you'll scroll down and look at Carol's and Kerry's finishes.

Worth waiting for!

But of course, first the challenge number for September.  It's:



#6
My #6 UFO is already cut out. It's the "Cosmo Cricket" FQ bundle I won in the very first "Schnibbles Parade" I ever entered, back in June 2012! I cut out a "Cobblestone Road" quilt from these fun fabrics, stuffed it into a "Eleanor Burns Made a Stripper Out of Me" bag and . . . . that was as far as I got!



Only four "finishes" left for 2013. Are you starting to pile up UFOs for 2014? I'm considering joining the "slow quilt" movement in 2014, making quilts that are more complicated and take more time. Shall I continue to host the UFO challenge, or are you "caught up?"

My own August UFO was fairly new. I just started it in April as part of Jamie's Brick Road Quilt Along. It's her own pattern, "Brick Road."

Here is the link to the finished quilt, and here is the link to the kick-off of the QAL.

Kerry sent this photo of her "Jeweled Trees Quilt," from the December 2009 McCall's Quilting magazine. Isn't it lovely?
Here is her blog post with details.

Carol finished the "B" block of her hand-embroidered alphabet quilt. She doesn't say how she did the coloring, maybe in the comments, Carol?


Here is her report:
You probably thought that I had given the project up since I have not been sending any pictures.  Summer is usually weed pulling time for me but I have been trying to do something on my quilting too.  This is an embroidery project.  This is the B block for an alphabet quilt.  I have been working on it for almost a year.  It is good to have it done.
Sorry I didn't get them into the first "release" -- this blog post has  now been updated three times!

The Gypsy Dreamer, Liz, and I got to corresponding about Marti Michell's templates and how much we love using them. She sent a link to her most recent MM finish, "Coffee Anyone?"


Debra is a long-time 52 Quilts follower and consistent "finisher." I love this quilt so much, I just have to show you all three photos she sent!




Here's what Debra says about this quilt:
My #11 is called A Day At The Spa, designed by Carolyn S. Vagts for the Village Pattern Co. and was in Quilter's World February 2013 edition. I saw this quilt and knew I wanted to make it and after going to Rosie's Calico Cupboard in La Mesa, CA purchased the fabric that I had to have for it - Laurel Burches new cat line. I think I am going to hold onto this quilt until next year. I really love all the bright colors. The finished size was to be 66 x 79 - mine is 100 x 100. 
Deb, I agree, it would be hard to let this beauty go!

Debra also finished her #8 UFO this month. And what a finish! It's a Crabapple Hills Designs, "Snow Days." If you've ever made (or drooled over) one of their patterns, you know they combine piecing and hand embroidery. Debra report she had trouble tracing the design on her dark fabrics, so she "free-handed" the trees, branches and twigs.


Be sure to click on the photo so you can see the details of the hand embroidery. Gorgeous!

Sue has me all inspired to make one of these for my upcoming trip to Japan. What a clever way to use orphan blocks!


They are passport wallets.  Be sure to go to her blog, here, to read the details.

I'm sure you remember Sandi's ongoing "K-collection" of quilts (or kwilts). This is "Korral."


Sandi blogged about this quilt hereThis one was also made using Marti Michell's templates. Sandi says she isn't a MM fan, and frankly, I don't see why one would use the templates for this pattern.For super-complicated blocks, such as "Farmer's Wife," the templates are ideal. But to my eyes, I think this pattern calls for strip piecing.

I'm sure you remember Martha winning the UFO giveaway earlier this summer. She becomes a first-time grandma in January. Looks like she is getting ready, multiple "baby" finishes this month!

First, three receiving blankets (best blankie pattern ever!):



Next, a "Professional Tote." Martha didn't say if this was to be a diaper bag, but wouldn't it make a great one?


 And third, a baby quilt for a friend.
Wow, Martha, you're whipping out the projects this summer! 

Oh, Dear, Irene had a major problem with her August finish. Read the details on her blog, here.


Irene, I've been toying with the idea of making 2014 "The Year of the BOM." You make me think I really should do that!

Big mistake! Huge! I missed not one, but THREE finishes for August! Here they are:

Susan in Australia finished this incredible embroidered-and-pieced wall hanging. Here is the link to her post describing the project, "A Quilter's Journey."






Karen finished this lovely, cheerful quilt. She is gifting it to her niece, who starts chemo soon, Karen, we'll keep your niece in our thoughts.


Lucky Noela is off to quilt camp. She's planning to finish the binding on her August UFO:


I'm so sorry I missed you three! Please, please accept my apologies.

The three finishes I missed make 12 this month -- but I'm sticking with the original giveaway winner. 

The winner of the August UFO Parade is:
Oh, Look! It's Irene! She totally deserves a win, after the problems she had with this month's finish! Irene, I failed to choose a specific prize this month. Send me your postal address and I'll find something nice at Ruth's Stitchery's Anniversary Sale to send to you!

If you're curious why I've been so quiet this week, come back tomorrow for a sneak peak of my latest Scrap Squad project on Design Wall Monday. It's a doozy!

From the desk of your auntmartisignature