A couple of fun things

I have always loved this Topsy Turvy Scarecrow pattern from Happy Hallow Designs!  Last summer I found it at the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum Garage Sale.

 

I pulled it out to put together last weekend when I was home with a cold.  THIS is exactly why you need a stash, right???  (The white edging is serged.  If I am doing a lot of embroidery, etc., I like the outside stable and not prone to raveling.  It is hidden inside the binding and may add a little fullness, who knows!)  I love applique by hand and machine!

I need to quilt this and then add “straw” and a corner buttons to finish it off!  I am watching the Olympics and the lighting in my family room is very poor, but you can get an idea anyway.  I’ll post it again when it is quilted.

This is another runner of mine that is waiting for another border, or two, and maybe some applique or embroidery  in the next border????  I’ve been stalling as I’m not sure where I want to go yet.  I love my stash fabrics I have pulled for this!  I wanted the gold diamonds to look like corn; did it work? 

Here is my Just Takes 2 BOM block with the applique finished.  The outside is turned edge and machine appliqued.  The center is all handwork.  (It looks like I should have taken a picture after it was pressed.)  The next set of blocks came up on the 1st, thankfully I finished the last set.  They were more straightforward.  I’m on the downhill side now for sure!

I’ve got my Halloween fabrics out now, but I cannot decide what I am going to do with them!  Any ideas???

Robbie Marie

More Blocks

Today for some reason a man went into the neighboring suburb of Aurora and shot loads of shots into a movie theatre.  Like the Littleton Columbine High School and Bailey Platte Canyon High School shootings, it seems senseless.  I feel helpless and sad…

Today I sewed on my Just Takes 2 BOM blocks as I watched the television.  There was nothing on any channel besides the shootings.  The blue pieces of tape have the block numbers on them so I can keep them straight!  I don’t know why I had put these blocks off, they are some of my favorites!  I’m up to 50 completed now!

This is the applique block I worked on today.  I always (most of the time anyway, grin) use turned edge applique, but this block is stitched by machine using an itty bitty buttonhole stitch instead of by hand.  The center diamonds are done by hand, however, I have 6 more to go. They sort of looks like eyes, don’t the???  Isn’t it pretty??

Wishing you and yours health and peace!  Please, give your children an extra hug tonight.

Robbie Marie

Block 38–Unit 10

I haven’t needle turned in quite awhile!  This Just Takes 2 block was challenging and fun!

I’ve been putting the more difficult (time consuming) blocks aside and trying to keep up with the easier ones.  Now it is time to catch up on all of them and assemble the sections. 

Wish me luck; I love to learn new things!

Robbie Marie

Wow, I want to try this!

Our quilt guild is having an interesting challenge this year!  64 crayons were dropped into a lunch sack and everyone chose a crayon without looking.  Lucky me loves most colors, but I only only own “blue” jeans – I am not a blue lover. Can you guess which color I chose?  Robin Egg blue – which is actually an aqua to my eye.

I have been messing for months trying to find robin egg blue fabric.  Buying online is difficult because only the majority of the quilt has to be “your” color and I cannot find matching fabric if cannot compare them directly.  Yup, I’m that particular and blues clash!  If I’m going to make a quilt, it’s gonna look good!

So far I have selected a pattern with oodles of applique and there is a quilt show in town this week, just maybe I’ll find some fabric I love there!  I have been to all the local shops, of course.  Many do not carry solids anymore, just batiks!  If the solid is not of a high quality, it is too hard to applique, too.  I will use Kona; this is Kona 1514 – IF you can find it and I need several shades on both sides, lighter and darker.

Equilter.com has been a help.  Too bad they are soooo near and yet do not have a store front so I can look around!  Believe me, if they were close I would work there!!!  Our guild president this year does!  She doesn’t buy fabric there, however.

I found a video on You Tube that may hold my answer!  It uses crayons!  Go figure!  This isn’t the way I’ve seen it done before; check it out and see what you think!!!!

by Terrie Linn Kygar

 

Here is a link to Terri’s book at Connecting Threads:  Creative Quilts From Your Crayon Box, by Terrie Linn Kygar.  I love this site because you can see multiple pages from books here!  As I am writing this, the book is on sale for 49% off – $12.50! 

Robbie Marie

Always something new to learn!

I came across a method of applique that is new to me!  I have done a bunch of techniques, but have never tried this one.  I seem to always go back to turned edge, but there are applications where it is just too time consuming, or the piece just doesn’t require it for whatever reason. 

I will keep this technique in my back pocket for an option in the future.  Check it out and see what you think of this method from Rose Hughes-

Rose Hughes

Here is a link to Rose’s website for a look at her work and books: Rose Hughes – Quilt Artist and here is a link to Rose’s blog -  Raven Speak Quilts.

Enjoy!

Robbie Marie

Half way there!

I love quilting because it is never the same!  I rarely do those quilts with 59 matching blocks, there are so many things to try that I just don’t have time, grin.

I’ve been catching up on my “Just Takes 2” free BOM from Sentimental Stitches and Dear Jane and we have half of the blocks now.  this week I’ve found time to sew and now I’m only behind the “hard” blocks, grin.  52 of 104 blocks have been posted – I cannot wait to see which blocks still lie ahead!

This is the second grouping; isn’t it great???  I have a few blocks to finish before I can assemble mine.  It is turning out soooo pretty – I’m glad I chose to stay with “reads” red and white, although I have seen some other lovely color ways. 

I am totally in love with this quilt!  This has a been a great chance to increase my skills and try blocks I never would have tried.  When I die, I hope this will be one quilt that the “kids” will hold on to and not put in the dog bed, grin.

This is a quilt I will keep for myself; I love it already!

Robbie Marie

Easter Eve

With anticipation of a joyous Easter sunrise I wish everyone a Happy Easter!

Oh, I DID finish my Bunny Foo Foo runner this morning, but NOT before I cut my finger to the bone, drat!  Sigh….

I used the smaller dot fabric that I thought about using for my border for the binding.  I made an 1/8” pink faux piping that matched all of the other pinks.  I stitched the binding onto the back, wrapped it to the front, and stitched in the ditch to secure it.  I like it! 

Here it is on my frame, and some finished shots:

 

 

 

Pictures of the grandkidlets tomorrow!!!  I can’t wait!

Robbie Marie

Bunny Foo Foo

 

Hmmmm, I can’t decide which outside border fabric to use for my “Little Bunny Foo Foo” runner…. 

I think they are going to be boy bunnies, they look a bit ornery, don’t you think so, too??  Maybe they will sport bow ties!

The bunnies need eye sparkles, too!

 

Robbie Marie

 

Hippity Hop

Remember this??

I finished it!  I had thought about making it a pattern and putting it on Etsy, but didn’t figure I’d sell them anyway.

So, since I wasn’t selling the pattern, I decided to add cross hatching to the background.

I like it!!!

Robbie Marie

Lookin’ good -

My little table runner is looking cute.  I think I’m going to like it!

Robbie Marie

Work in progress…

This is going to be cute!

The pad you see in the first picture belongs in my doll bed I played with as a little girl.  Gad, at 50+ years of age, it still works pretty well!  Now MY granddaughters play with it.

Robbie Marie

Lucky me!

Cathy went on vacation and look what she brought back for me!  Fabric, always the perfect gift – and look how cute they are!

She said that Esther’s Fabrics in Bainbridge Island, Washington was sooo much fun to visit.

Thanks, best friend!

I just love ‘em!

 

 

Today I worked on my Just Takes 2 blocks.  Tomorrow more blocks will be up!

Last year I made this pillow with Amy Butler fabrics and since my embroidery machine needed a run through today, I decided to make a chocolate bunny pillow to go with it.

I embroidered a onesie for my little grandson, too. Shhhhhhh, don’t tell his dad that I used an old pair of his Boy Scout shorts for the tags!

Robbie Marie

Favorite quilts make your heart sing!

I hate to put this wall hanging away for the year.  It was sooo much fun to make!  Its colors are vibrant and the piece jumps off my wall.  I love it!

The pattern is called “Jubilee” by Details by Diane.

Each piece is machine applique stitched with Floriani machine embroidery thread.  It was a tad hard to handle with the fusible, but the drama of the sheen was well worth any extra work! 

I quilted it on my frame with a black batting outlining each piece with black cotton thread.  I bound the quilt with more black Kona.  I can’t wait to make another quilt with this method!  I have patterns ready to go! 

So many quilts, so little time!

Robbie Marie