Friday Finish: Jelly Roll Party Day

I really missed hosting Jelly Roll Party at Ruth's Stitchery last month. But spending the time with My Little Sailor made it worth missins!

Today's Jelly Roll quilt is Parallel Universe from Cozy Quilts.

My version is made with "Elementary" from Sweetwater. Two of my favorites -- pattern designer and fabric designers -- in one quilt!

This is a super-quick sew using the Strip Tube ruler, also from Cozy Quilts. Go to the link for a demo on using this clever tool. It makes sewing HSTs from strips a breeze!

Enough tease. Here is the finished quilt:

Today is the day partiers vote on the strip quilts they want to make next year. Do you have a favorite strip/jelly roll quilt? Share in the comments, please!

From the desk of your

Thursday's Yarn Day

It's the time of year when Hats for Sailors knitters finish up "just one more hat" to mail to the HFS coordinator. We don't yet know which ship will be the recipient of our stitches, but I know the Sailors aboard will love the hats!

We have two "deadlines" to send in hats, Memorial Day and Veteran's Day. My goal is always to knit one hat per month. My friend and long-arm quilter, Cornelia, also knit hats this year. A friend and member of the Front Range Modern Quilt Guild (and graduate student at Colorado School of Mines!) Emily, knit hats too.

Here is the stack I mailed yesterday:

I printed a little label on business card stock to attach to each hat. It reads:

Thank you  for your service to our country.

You are remembered and appreciated

by someone in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

 

I'm also hosting the Knit-Along (KAL) on the Ravelry group "Hats for Sailors." Go to Ravelry.com for details. 

The Dishcloth Diva, Deb Buckingham, designed a new hat pattern just for us. It's called "Fair Winds and Following Seas," I've already shared a photo, but here it is again:

I have some special skeins of yarn to give away to knitters who finish a hat this month and post a photo of their finished hat on the Ravelry group forum. 

Each is a unique, hand-dyed yarn -- but 100% washable wool, as required for Hats for Sailors!

I hope you'll consider joining us to knit a hat! 

From the desk of your

Sunday Stash -- On Monday

I didn't get yesterday's Stash Report posted, because . . . well, read on, and you'll see why!

During my whirlwind trip to Idaho last week, I made only one quilt shop stop. On my way to the airport, I dropped by my favorite Boise Shop, Quilt Expressions. It's the only shop I know that is even larger than Ruth's Stitchery. And they always have something unique!

In this case, it was a good selection of Aboriginal fabrics. I owe a quilt to the DH of my Idaho hostess, and I think these will make the perfect quilt for him!

The pattern is a Quilt Expressions original, "Neighborhood Association." 

Only one more addition to my fabric stash this week. This is "A Field Guide" by Moda. I scored this bundle on Gotcha Covered Quilting's Instagram de-stash.

It will be perfect for my next "low volume" quilt.

And now, the reason nothing is getting done at my house this week!

My beloved Siamese, Prince Chulalongkorn, died two years ago. We have two other cats, but neither one wants to cuddle me. So for my birthday, a friend offered this little cutie!

I usually give my cats "food names: (i.e. Marmalade, Chutney, Chocolate Mousse) so this little guy is named "Samosa." For my favorite savory pastry!

It's been a hard week, but one simply cannot be sad when one has a purring kitten on one's lap!

From the desk of your

UFO: November Assignment for 2014

This is how people get to be old and wonder where their lives went! Only one more UFO project for 2014 after this month! The November challenge is number:

I did finish my October UFO, but I posted it yesterday!

Several UFO finishers have been very productive this month -- Debra finished three quilts in October!

UFO #2 - Bonnie Hunter, Love Shack. Bonnie came to San Diego and we had a Love Shack workshop at Paradise Sewing on October 14th. It was a very fun class and we learned a lot - wonky houses, hearts (string-pieced), marverick stars, and letters. The Love Shack workshop cannot be found in any book and is only available by workshop - so if Bonnie is coming your way you may want to have the Love Shack workshop. It is loaded with information and Bonnie, as usual, is an awesome teacher.

Debra, I'll be watching for a workshop with Bonnie!  This quilt looks like so much fun!

My second picture is the finished Marcus Fabrics Designer Friends and Companions Sew-Along. There were 9 instructors who submitted there blocks and the last part was the actual "how to put the quilt together" instruction. This was such a fun sew-along. It was a mystery and blocks were provided on a weekly basis. I am not a very good picture taker, but the actual quilt is much prettier - it has reds, blues, greens, cheddars, blacks, and whites. Take a look at Red Crinoline or Heartspun Quilts blogs to obtain the instructions on how to make the quilt.

And -- there's another one in my UFO pile! Love your borders, Debra!

My last entry is Bonnie Hunters, Scrap Crystals. Bonnie also visited Sunshine Quilter's Guild in El Cajon and had two workshops at Memory Lane Quilt Shop. The first was Winston Ways and the second was Scrap Crystals. I signed up for Scrap Crystals and was so excited from the Tuesday night lecture and getting prepared with my fabrics for the Thursday workshop I think I got myself into a frenzy and couldn't attend because of horrible back pain and a headache. I did complete my Scrap Crystals - I even added another row so the quilt is 5x5 and 88"x88" large. I love it.

Debra, I'm so sorry you didn't get to attend the workshop. Your quilt is gorgeous!

 Arianna sent a photo of this sweet baby quilt:

There is quite a story behind Arianna's quilt, I'll let her tell it.

I finally finished a quilt - my first one!  In our area, women who have children or are pregnant and who are convicted of crimes must take their children with them to jail if they have no family members to care for the children.  Many are taken to jail with little more than the clothes on their backs.  As a result, our church runs a ministry that collects blankets, clothes, etc. for a local women's prison.  This baby quilt will be going to them.

Arianna, I will be sending some fabric to you. I'll try to keep it to a large envelope-size package.

Reyna also sent a photo of a charity quilt. It's called "Sunrise, Sunset," and you can read the details on her blog Yarn In, Yarn Out. 

It's a great story, you should go to Reyna's blog and read it!

Sandi swapped out the number of her finish for this month. Here is "Kaptain Khorous."

Details on Sandi's blog, KwiltnKats, plus a sneak peak at her next finish.

Can't wait to see it, Sandi, it looks intriguing!

Heather also sent in photos of two finishes for this month. First up is a jewel-toned beauty, "Happily Ever After."

Her second finish is her "Leaders and Enders" project, "Charming Stars." 

Go to Heather's blog, Peachy Pages, for details on these two lovelies.

Hey, Heather, is that a new quilt on your blog header? I love it!

I am absolutely in Love with Gill's October finish. This Halloween throw is perfect for snuggling under between answering the doorbell for trick-or-treaters!

Irene finished an oldie-but-goodie for her October UFO. She says she's had this quilt "in the works" for about five years.

I don't see this one on Irene's blog, A Serendipitous Retirement, just yet -- but you'll want to follow her to get the whole story! 

Ten finishes for October. That's pretty good! Arianna is our first-time finisher this month, so I think she should win the giveaway prize. Arianna, I'll be emailing you to ask for your postal address. Thanks for playing along with "12 in 2014 Finishes!"

Between traveling with My Little Sailor and a quick trip to Idaho for emergency leave, October was an overwhelming month.  I worry that I might have missed someone's UFO Finish email. If I did, please let me know so I can update this post!


From the desk of your