One More Sleep

Well, technically, 2 more sleeps but the last night will be on the plane as I fly across this beautiful land and arrive in NYC, The Big Apple, the city that never sleeps.

I'll do my best to take lots of photos. I won't be posting until I return. Have a fabulous week, and if the mood strikes you, get out your red and whites and make a little something to honor the Red & White Exhibit!

I'm sure there are other things to do in NYC *vbg* but this has captured my attention. We will see a show or two, eat from street vendors, shop, take in Central Park and above all, try to stay warm. My retail therapy didn't include 40 degree weather!

Sharon

Six Sisters

Here are six more of my Sisters Choice. 19 done and 53 more to go! These are my "whenever" blocks. I'm making the star points as leaders and enders, then when I have a stack of them, I make the blocks. Having the 9 patches all ready to go from the swap is certainly making this project far more doable.

I also have way too much fabric, I've got bolts of striped fabric I bought years ago for this exact project. Fast quilts for someone. Think about it, you just cut up squares, sew them back together and you have a fun top for someone who really needs one. Add a star block or 9 patch here and there, that would add an unexpected element to the top. I'm sending off a few bolts to my friend to cut and sew, I'll quilt and bind.

Hope you get some sewing time in this week.
Sharon

Japan

I know we all only have so  much time and so many things to do outside of our regular day to day schedule. But this is unprecedented and not only do the people of Japan need monetary support, some quilting support will make the world of difference.  Can't afford to send money? No problem, how about a quilt you have folded up at the foot of a bed? or one tucked in the closet?  No? How about a block or two, you must have some scrap bags that need to be reduced.  Check out these sites for ideas on how to help.
Bonnie Hunter
Minick & Simpson
Quiltsalott
Thanks for reading this post, and I hope you can help.
Sharon

Kaffe Giveaway Down Under

Have you popped over to Quilterie? Liz is building a new studio and she's looking for some tips and ideas. In exchange for your fav design ideas, she's giving everyone a chance to win this book.

Stop by Liz's blog, share your favorite studio tip and have a chance to win this great book.  I have it and I know it's worth adding to your library.
Sharon

Love Shack

This has been on my mind for quite some time, but with the Red & White show coming up and all the red & white love going around blogland, I just had to succumb to the calling to make a house block. I know, I'm not starting any new projects, I've got enough UFO's and WIP's and I'm NOT going to start any new projects! Ya right. I started this Tuesday after work and got it finished before my evening walk on Thursday. I just HAD to get this out of me, I guess some itches just need to be scratched!

I couldn't stop with one block so I made a whole sub division. Every project needs to provide some lessons and I learned this, figure out how much fabric you are going to need before you cut up everything. I'm so used to working on scrappy projects, I just decided I had enough red for all the blocks.

This is what was left when I was finished cutting all the parts. I even had to piece one of the 5" strips to finish the last house. These are 12" finished blocks with 2 1/2" sashing. It measured 44 1/2" and the white fabric I was using was 44 1/2" wide after I cut off the selvage. It was all meant to be. The top is now finished, the backing is made and I just need to decide on the binding. I've got a couple of choices so both pieces have been set aside. This will get hand quilted so it's now hanging in the line up.

Taryn over at Repro Quilt Lover is doing a virtual Red & White show, click on over there for a peek at some amazing quilts, this is one I'm sending over to her.

I was a little burnt out after this week of steady piecing and I had company this weekend. My gal pal Muriel came over Sat and instead of heading to the sewing room or the quilt stores, we hit the mall. Talk about stimulating the economy. I guess I do need a few new things, I'm going to NYC and I don't think my jeans and boots that I wear to work at a trucking company will work for Time Square or the Folk Art Museum :-)
We've finished dinner, the dog and cat have been fed and walked, M has packed up and headed home, and I'm going to set on the couch and do a little hand quilting this evening. I'm focused on finishing my Baptist Fan project, it's grey and rainy outside, and I've done enough walking for the weekend.
Hope you got to scratch your itch to stitch this weekend.
Sharon

It Only Took 5 Years

These were pre printed pillow case panels that I purchased back in the winter of 2005. I stitched them and then decided I wanted to make pillows out of them.  Fast forward to about 2008 when I purchased the backing, a creamy yellow w/red toille print in a home dec fabric.  I put the zipper in the backing, then sewed the back and the front wrong sides together, added binding to the quilted side, turned it and hand finished it just like  a quilt.

So here we are, pushing on into the spring of 2011 and I have the pillows finished.  My gal pal Muriel came over a few weeks ago and we got the zippers in and this weekend I did the assembly. The good part was that the pillow forms were 1/2 price last weekend at Joann.

I also did a bit more piecing on my Sister's Choice top. Here are four more blocks, I have about 60 more to go. This is a "whenever" project, so blocks will get made "whenever".

I guess you have figured out that my camera surfaced. Can you believe I lost it in this?

I just dove into my red and white/cream scrappy blocks, I can't imagine working on anything else right now.
Sharon

Two for One

Are you heading to NYC for the Red & White quilt exhibition?  Surely you will want to visit the Folk Art Museum where they have quilt exhibits at both branches.  Here is a  2 for 1 admission.  What a deal!  If you can't make the trip, you can live vicarioulsy through Taryn's blog here , Repro Quilt Lover.  She's doing a virtual Red & White show along with a fun giveaway.
As for an update on my projects, well, I've lost my camera.  OK, it's been misplaced, it's somewhere in my house.  The problem with this situation is that I had company come over on Saturday and that involved some serious cleaning and picking up.  You know, moving all the quilting stuff off the counters, table, couch etc.  But when this happens, when I put order to my personal chaos, I lose things.  So far it's only been my camera.  I've found the case, so I'm half way there!
Sharon

Just Like Potato Chips

I couldn't make just one star.  First off, I had too much fun picking fabrics and had so many choices I had to make a few. Second, these stars go together for fast and easy. How could I stop at "just one".

 They asked for blue.....

 and how could I not include this background fabric?

 or this one. I guess I love stars and Americana prints,....

 Here is my little contribution from the NW corner of the USA.

Come on, I know you want to try to just make one.  Click here for the link.
Sharon

Just One Star

Pop over to Minick and Simpson's blog today. I'm going to participate, how about you?