Finish it Up Friday-April 21st

There has been lots of sewing going on here. The Snappy Pink Lemonade quilt is done.

The quilting included some ruler work. The addition of a larger ruler base bed purchased by DH helps tremendously. This is the first ruler work that I felt comfortable performing.

It was the easier part of the quilt.  The coin sections have different styles of "feathers".  You can see the fern ones here. Nothing special but just what that space needed.

These fronds are rather fun.

The back is this soft flannel that has lived in the stash a very long time. 

 MJJR graduates in a month. Her top is done but not quilted. The back fabric was washed today.  Time to get up and check off some of the daunting task.  Most of the invitations are out.  The food and cake still need to be ordered.

Another graduate has asked for help with her T-shirt quilt. It contains many memories and it was exciting to help pull it all together.   I think fleece on the back in college colors will work great. The top should be together next time.

Check out what else is going on in the quilty world.  Visit Crazy Mom Quilts, Can I Get a Whoop Whoop and Busy Hands Quilts

Happy Sewing,
Just Another Quilter

Finish IT UP Friday

Life has been busy here in the Midwest.  Lots of sewing.  DH has done much traveling for work. Our life really needs to be flexible.  Not to say it is bad....Life is GOOD, but the big things in life right now seem up in the air. 

What is UP in the air....DH job (has settled since December), where is Lola living in 2 months (not where she currently does, graduates college), MJJR will not be living here in August (off to college) just to name a couple of the big ones.  DH has done some major traveling in 2017-Atlanta, Chicago, DC, and Capetown, South Africa.  I am holding down the fort.  Here in a couple weeks DH begins the busy season.

The "girls" are both graduating, college and high school, one week apart!  Family is driving 4 hours for Lola's graduation, then back home, just to drive 5 1/2 hours to watch MJJR graduate the following weekend.  Lola's move is in there.  Baccalaureate ceremony is just 1 day after Lola's ceremony. 

So with some graduations, come some quilts for the graduates. 

Here is the latest graduate finish.  It is going to a basketball player that is so kind and precious!

This is a Charm square friendly quilt by Tamarack Shack,  Four Patch Charm.  This link has a little tutorial.  Kathy also shows where her inspiration came from.  I really enjoy this blog.  Tamarack Shack is located on the shores of Schist Lake, in Northern Manitoba.  Kathy is a longarm quilter.  You get to see many great quilts along with beautiful scenery.  Most days I am happy to look at her frozen lake vs. mine.  You can see the water behind this quilt.  The sugar maple on the right is just starting to bud out.  If your eyes cannot see it, my allergies will confirm it.

The next project is started....a repeat of an earlier quilt.  The Caribbean Blue Sea now lives in the Chicago area with our great niece (not a 2013 grad as planned, the recipient decided not to come to the graduation party-her loss).  A replica is now going to show off the applique for a presentation in July.  This time pink/rose/peaches.  Do you think it might get a "Design Wall Monday"???

Check out others work at Crazy Mom Quilts.

Happy Quilting

Just Another Quilter

Finish It Up Friday

This is the last of the Friday for 2016.  I have a few finishes for this year that have not been shared.  Here is one.


Here is the beginnings of the quilt a couple years ago.  It is based on the Moda Bake Shop pattern Anasazi Medallion quilt by Shannon Mower.

Now for the finished product.  My step dad is a Vietnam Veteran.  He served our country in the Navy on the USS Myles C. Fox.  He ship was stationed in the Tonkin Gulf.   

The anchors were machine appliquéd down after edges were starched and pressed under.  The patches were found on www.MedalsofAmerica.com except the patch from his ship was found on eBay.  The large center motif is a transfer of a window cling. 

He is a retired railroad yard master.  That means he gets to tell the trains where to go when.  This train fabric is just what the back needed.

I am linking up the Crazy Mom Quilts-Amanda Jean.  Stop over and check out what others have done for 2016.

Keep sewing.  Check back in for a couple more 2016 quilts. 

Just Another Quilter

Finish It Up Friday

Early this summer I finished up a quilt. Thought it was time to share.

This quilt is Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt from 2014-Grand Illusion. It is based on the décor at the Grand Hotel on Mackinaw Island in Michigan. Mackinaw Island holds a dear place in my heart as I passed near it many times through my college career.

Grand Illusion was completed while Bonnie was in our area back in June.

I decided to go with a slightly smaller version than the original design. My leftover corner parts from the main block were put together and then framed with black prints (5" charms) to make this second piece.  The outer border was found on clearance at Michael's.  This is a top at this point.

 

I am linking up with CrazyMomQuilter.  Stop over and check out some of the great things Amanda Jean is working on.

Keep sewing.
Just Another Quilter

Finish it Up Friday-Scrappy

Tuesday was my presentation at one of the local guilds. My goal was to finish up a scrappy quilt I was working on as "Using Your Scraps and Stash" was the topic.
Here you can get a little idea of the direction of the quilt.

Here is the pile still waiting for some attention. 

Here is the finished product. The last binding stitches were put in at 4pm. Not much before the 7pm presentation. It feels good to set a goal and achieve it. 

I am linking up with Amanda Jean at Crazy Mom Quilts 

Happy Quilting,
Just Another Quilter

Finished it Up on Friday-Quilter's Scrapbook

Finished Up the quilting and binding. Here's the quilt.

After some car rides last weekend, the binding is done just in time for Bonnie Hunter to see it for Show and Share.

The Quilter's Scrapbook pattern is designed by Canuck Quilter.  I just love looking at all the pieces. It brings back all the quilts given to loved ones over the years. This quilt top is a from 2012. I just might have to make a new one with all the current leftovers.
This quilt gave some practice on the long arm.  The spiral designs turned out great. a different design in each block.

 These spirals are so forgiving.

 There is some straight line ruler work in the quilt.  The lines aren't straight. No pictures. No proof.

 Always something different to try.  Those corner loops were just added to bring the design into the corner better.

This is my youngest in the house.  She arrived in January 2015.  She left a house a full house where she couldn't get along with her brother and sisters.  Here she is the Queen.  She loves to sleep while I sew.  She took a quick nap in the sun while I took the few pictures.  She found the spot and was all cozy while the block pictures were taken.

Linking Up with Amanda Jean and Finish It Up Friday

and with Shannon at Modern Traditions Quilts-Keep It Simple & Make It Fun

Happy Quilting,

Just Another Quilter 

Finish It Up Friday—Bathroom Update

This was the year we updated the master bathroom.  We have been in this house for over 15 years.  Some of the master bath towels…have seen better days.  New towels appeared under the Christmas tree.  The bath deco went from a celery green to dark brown.  The curtains were the last thing.  Our house is located in the sticks, boondocks, end of the road-literally.  We have only 2 families that drive past our house and with a beautiful lake and park like yard, why cover up the view, so coverings are minimal.  Our curtains in the bathroom were made from 2 layers of green sheer crinkle fabric and is edged with sheer green ribbon folded in half held up with shower curtain tension rods.  This worked great.  The ribbon looks like a design element and made finishing the edge of the thin slippery crinkly fabric so easy and the shower rods were thicker than ordinary small ones.  This is a small rod for a very small window.

Since Christmas, any trips to the store include looking for curtains to accent the new towels.  Trips included Penneys, Younkers, Hancock Fabrics and various other stores.  If I could find thin bottom tier drapes in the appropriate color-heaven!  Finally found some fabric that would work.  Took the picture and discussed with DH if he wanted FLOWERS all over his bathroom….yep!  Off with a coupon and ready to commit to making them.  Just after opening at Hancock’s had a discussion w/clerk.
Me:” I need 9 ft. X 2…make that 6 yards of fabric”  as the clerk starts unwinding the fabric.  “Oh…just out of curiosity how much is it?” 

Clerk: $19.99

Me: “Stop, UH, really.”

With coupon, down to $10/yd.  That still is $60 for 2 panels.  Looked all around the store for something else, I had already done that the day I took the pictures.  It was time to move on.  Time to try Hobby Lobby, swap states (cross the Mississippi and you are in a new state)and back to curtains.  Found a panel on clearance at Hobby Lobby.  The panel will no longer fit in the bag…$2.16.  The panel is also available at full price..$11.99. These are way too thin for my purpose but thinking of all the browns in my stash, decided I could work with them. 

Ripping out the rod pocket & cutting the panel in half then just sewed it to the original curtains.  The green shows through and looks great.  They are the proper weight.  The girls like them…DH had to be reminded to look, men.   These 2 windows are out of the $2.16.  Now to cut into the $11.99 panel for the small window.

The Amaryllis is lovely.  There is a second bloom getting ready to open.  Lois, one of the Project Now Ladies gave these to all of her drivers.  Volunteering is great.  On another note, one of the shelter dogs I walked on Monday found a home! 

Time to pull out a project.  Quilting on a UFO!

Just Another Quilter

Finish It Up Friday

My finishes with week include sashing and block for the Quilter’s Scrapbook.  It is coming together so nicely.  It may not look like much farther than the last time….but some cutting and pressing is going on for the next steps.

Just a tip or two for pressing in general.  Some pieces for this quilt are small (remember 1 1/2” squares”")….when working with small pieces starch your fabric prior to cutting.  The less your fabric moves around the better the sewing and matching of points.  Steam can either be your friend or your enemy.  If you give steam and a heavy hand on the iron your pieces will warp.  To keep your strip sets straight, pull out a ruler, press where you think straight is and confirm and adjust as needed.  It is better at this step to have things straight than fight with them later.  This is a great step for television or talking with friends. 

Stop by Crazy Mom Quilts and look at the other finishes today, Friday the 13th.

Just Another Quilter