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

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

April 1st JT2 blocks are up!

Gee, I just love the “Just Takes Two” new blocks AND the setting for the blocks we have already finished!
I am soooo glad that I have pretty much kept up!  This is going to be a completely different quilt than I have ever done before - I love it! 
I don’t think I’ll have time this week to work on these blocks with Easter next Sunday, but maybe I can assemble what I have!  I love this BOM!


I can’t wait to post MY blocks!
Robbie Marie

My First Feathered Star

Here is my Feathered Star in the Just Takes 2 BOM project.  This is one of the more challenging blocks I have made, but luckily it was paper pieced and DOES fit together perfectly!  (I did “re-sew” a bit!  The Kona cotton has proven a good choice for the more challenging blocks.)  It looks like one of the tips is off a tad on the top, but really it is just the way it way it is laying, I took the photo late last night when I couldn’t sleep, grin. 
The next set of blocks included a hand-pieced compass.  I’m not fond of hand-piecing and if I cannot get it drawn to paper-piece, I’m going to substitute it with another period block.  It finishes at 12”, so  that shouldn’t be an issue.  I’m pinning some options on my Pinterest boards; gotta love Pinterest!
I came across a blog named Cookie’s Creek where Cookie is making her blocks in dark blue.  The blue is simply lovely!  I’m tempted to make a pillow using blue! 
I need a miniature quilt to donate to our quilt guild in June.  The quilts must measure less than 24” on a side.  I’m thinking of making a feathered star and put geese all the way around it.  Hmmmmm, what do you think?  Think it would be sellable?
Robbie Marie

Phew, caught up!

Lucky me!  The last two blocks were a breeze!  I had read that folks were having difficulty insetting the triangles into the burr block, but it was a snap.  I do set-in seams in two steps.  I went from the center to the point on the same side of EACH arm.  Then, I flipped the seams, pinned, and sewed the remaining side seams from the point to the center, this time.  No sweat!  When I was happy that the block was just right, I turned the block over, removed the paper, swirled the seams and pressed the seams.  Ta-dah, flat and perfect!  I’m liking this project!

Here is this group of blocks, now onto the next group!

Robbie Marie

Kicked me!

These are the latest Just Takes 2 blocks I have finished.  The turkey tracks were easy.  I machine appliqued them; I used Sharon Schamber’s stabilizer and I turned-edge applique.  NO problem!
The half square pinwheel block was a breeze.
The broken heart block kicked my butt!  It was paper-pieced and worked fast and easily.  BUT, when I put it together I got the pattern I had the geese fling “out”!  I took it partly apart and walaaaa.  STILL wrong!  Now I had the arrows facing inward.  I thought about leaving it and not admitting it for about 10 minutes.  Then out came my friend “Mr. Rip” and we reassembled the whole block for the individual units once again.  I was a little worried that since I had taken the paper off that I might have some issues, but luckily I’m using Kona and good quilting store cotton.  NO problem!  I did choose to stay-stitch the border 1/8 inch from the edge for security while I await assembly instructions.  I believe that next month we will assemble the first quarter of the quilt.
Now when I look at my block I am pleased!  I won’t have to look at the quilt and cringe at that block!
Lesson learned?  Pay attention!
This BOM has been good to reinforce and stretch my skills!
Today I’m off to make the basket and burr blocks.
Here are the nearly released March 1st blocks.  You can download the blocks HERE.  The redwork is purchased separately.  I was on the fence if I was going to add it, but I think I will.  It looks so cute on this block.  I hope my block looks as nice

What do you think?  Are you ready to jump in, too?  If you HAVE already, let me know!
Robbie Marie

Caught up!

13 for 13 – Hooray!!!
My last two blocks are finished, for the Just Takes 2 BOM.  Whew, no new blocks until February 15th, what’s a girl to do until then???

Robbie Marie

11 down, 2 to go!

Have you seen this symbol on my blog sidebar, or on other blogs??  I’ve taken the plunge on this free 2012 BOM! 
Just Takes 2 is a Mystery BOM that is hosted by Sentimental Stitches and Dear Jane. You can find the quilt information at www.justtakes2.com including a link to Basic Information that has some good information.
On the first day of the month, you will receive a”unit” of blocks from Gay at Sentimental Stitches. You grab your second “Unit” on the 15th of the month on Brenda’s Dear Jane site.
The patterns have been easy-to-do, so far, grin.  The instructions are the “sew-it-big-and-cut-it-down” type, so if that is not you, you can adjust as you please, but I love it!  If you hand piece, I bet it is annoying, however.
I found  a thread on the Quilting Board that is answering questions and working together if you are interested, too.  It’s fun to share and see what other quilters are doing.  Just Takes 2 Quilt-Along!
Here are my blocks so far.  I have not purchased the optional embroidery “yet.”  It is offered for a small price and looks like it will spice the quilt up some.  I can do it later, right now I am trying to get the blocks done!  you could always do your own, of course, too.

I am using my stash red on reds and with some Kona solid reds.  My white is also Kona; I love to work with it.  I have the fan block and house block to do and I’ll be caught up until the middle of the month!  Yay!
Want to join me?  Ah, come on and jump on board!
BTW, the website says the completed quilt will contain about two thousand six hundred pieces, if you’re a counter like me.
Robbie Marie

Season BOM Quilt

One of my favorite blogs that I follow on Reader is Quilt Happy, Quilt Often. Paula graciously designed a free BOM last year depicting the seasons of the year for her readers. (The pattern in now available on her website at: Pacific Patchwork Store.) I finished the redwork early in the year, but I did not get to the piecing and quilting until this summer. I hand quilted around each embroidery, machine quilted the ditches, and piano keyed the outside red border. The bunny was my favorite block!







This January Paula started a new BOM for 2011 called “Home Sweet Home.”  I have been collecting them, too, of course. Block 7 is up now. You can go back and pick up the previous blocks until they are all posted. Thanks, Paula!

Paula moved to Colorado last year with hr two Boston Terriers along and great family! I hope you are tempted to visit her Paula's blog and check out her blog and quilt patterns!

~ Robbie