Got the April 2010 issue of APQ

My April issue of APQ came in the mail the other day, I always look forward to it arriving.  I sat down to look through it and oh my gosh, there is a quilt pattern there that I just have to do! ! !   It is called Two-Piece Puzzle and is on page 68 of the magazine.

  It is done in reds, creams and black prints.  I think I will use navy blue instead of black because I just have a thing for red, white and blue.  I've already thought that if I use eight each of different reds, creams and blues I will only need about 3/8 of a yard of each fabric to get a good variety of prints and colors in the quilt.  I'm excited about making this one but -- I only have about 9 of the 25 blocks on Pick & Choose quilted so there's still a lot to do to finish that one; I have fabric for three more projects in the drawer including another red, white and blue one; and I have a rag quilt to sew a couple of patches on then cut the "fringe" seams and wash it so it is done.  Oh yeah, my nephew is getting married in June and I am thinking of making a lap quilt or wall hanging for them.  I have a couple ideas for the pattern for that, but no solid plan yet. 

I usually try to finish one project before I start another one, especially another "BIG" one but I'm so excited about this new pattern.  I guess I can start looking for the different fabrics and space out the purchases while I am finishing what I have started.   I always have way more ideas than I know I will ever get to finish, but it is as much fun planning the next project as it is working on the current one (or ones).  Thank goodness it will be a little while before the next new magazine arrives! ! !

Happy quilting!
Marsha

My First Quilt

I made my first quilt about 23 years ago.  It was a doll quilt to go with the doll cradle as a Christmas present for my youngest daughter.  I measured the cradle and calculated what I needed for a quilt.  I wanted a pioneer look so I used beige muslin, a dusty rose print and a burgandy print to make rectangles, three across and I don't remember how many down.  I kept shifting the colors over one space as the rows went down so there was a diagonal pattern going.  Then I made a border of a dark rose color.  I didn't put any batting in it because I thought it would be too stiff.  I just put the top, right sides  together, with muslin, stitched around it and turned it right side out.  I was very proud of it and it was really cute with her doll and cradle.  I'm not sure where it is now.  Jenni may have it or it is at my ex's house in storage.  I would love to have it back now, or know that my daughter has it.  I'll have to ask her!

Others mentioned the types of fabrics used in quilts.  My mom made a couple of quilts out of squares of double knit polyester fabric years and years ago.  They were tied with yarn and backed with sheets, I think.  I think the batting is polyester, too.  I love them.  They are very colorful, made of left over fabric from a lot of clothing we had in the 70's.  They are very heavy, I love sleeping under them when I visit at my folks house.  I noticed when I was there at Thanksgiving some of the fabrics are starting to wear through so the old polyester doesn't last forever.  So quilts don't always have to be 100% cotton to be beautiful and well loved!

I didn't sew much while my kids were growing up, there just didn't seem to be much time.  I worked full time and everyone was always busy with something.  My second quilt was made two years ago for my step-grandson.  I had listened to my mom and sister talk about quilting and I have been sewing since I was little so I jumped into making a baby quilt.  It is this blue one.

I have posted it before and I use it as my picture for the blog.  That got me started and I have been quilting ever since. 

That's my story!

Marsha

What I've been working on . . .

Sunday I decided to work on a Valentine's Day table runner for the table in my entryway.  I needed something long and narrow.  The tabletop is about 13 X 38 inches.  It is right next to the front door and under a long narrow mirror.  It is a catch all for keys, mail and the can of pepper spray.  I got out my graph paper and drew it out to scale, then started adding blocks and sashing and a border.  I finally came up with an idea and I had some pretty pink fabrics left over from my granddaughter's and my friend's little girls quilts.  I didn't have any good reds on hand and I couldn't find anything at the fabric store that I liked for Valentines.  I really wanted to use the leftovers from the girls quilts.   Here is what I came up with:

I think I'll call it "Candy Hearts".  It is really pink!  There is a burgandy binding on it that does not show well in the picture against the dark table top.  I stitched some hearts in the right and left borders and between the heart blocks with burgandy thread. 

I had fun with it and now I have the Valentine's decoration I have wanted for a couple of years.  Next is one for St. Patrick's day.  I have the fabric and I think I will make one very similar (since I now have the measurments figured out for cutting) with shamrock's on it.  Now, back to my big quilt and some TV for this evening.

Marsha

Quilting, quilting, quilting

I have been hand quilting for several evenings.  I have five blocks (out of 25) quilted in the middle row of the quilt.  I'm stitching a big X through the center of the block, through the small squares that cross through the big block.  Then I'm quilting around the 8 triangle shapes and around the outside edge of the block.  Hope that makes some kind of sense.  It is hard to describe without a picture of the block to go by. 

I'll just put the picture in again, duh! ! !

Hope that helps make it easier to visualize.   I'm not moving very fast with this one. 

I've been wanting to make a table topper for my entryway table for each season.  I bought fabrick for St. Patrick's Day last weekend but thought I should do Valentine's Day first.  I found enough pinks in my stash to do something, I think.  Maybe I'll start cutting and piecing that tomorrow.  I can do that during the day and hand quilt Pick & Choose in the evening while I watch TV. 

My husband took me out to eat tonight, then we stopped at Baskin Robbins because it is on the way home and got dessert to go.  Now time to relax, quilt some more and watch TV.

Have a nice evening!

Marsha 

Mmmm Mmmmm good cookies

I tried Katies peanut butter cookie recipe and it is good.  The last few recipes I have tried did not taste as peanut buttery as I remember the cookies from when I was a kid.  Katies recipe tastes as good as I remember my Mom's cookies.  I did not have margarine so I had to use butter but next time I will try the margarine to check it out.

I did a little quilting today, got one block almost done.  I'm still worn out from being on my feet all day yesterday basting the quilt together.  Another good nights sleep will help.  I do plan on this one being a long term quilting project, so no rush.  I have fabric in the drawer for my next project.  It is a red, white and blue quilt.  Plus I have some green fabric for a St. Patrick's Day table runner for my entryway table.  I can work on them a bit if I get tired of the big Pick & Choose project.

I'll check back in with everyone tomorrow, goodnight!

Marsha

Quilt top basted and ready to quilt

I spent yesterday basting the Pick & Choose quilt top together.  It took me several hours but it's ready to quilt.  It is raining in New Mexico today, it's possible it may turn to snow later.  The weather report states that we are in for three storms, one after the other, with rain and/or snow.  It will be a good day to quilt and maybe make some peanut butter cookies.  After reading katiemaytoo's blog about the cookies, I'm wanting some! ! !  

I was so excited to see that seventhsister26 is back from her trip and she found some of us.   She is at   http://seventhsister26.wordpress.com/     I'm so glad she's back!

Hope everyone has a great day!
Marsha

Pick & Choose quilt top finished

OK, here it is.

Tomorrow I need to go to Joann's to get the backing fabric and batting so I can get it basted and start quilting.  I have some 50% off coupons for Joanns and I hope I can use them.  Usually when they have the really good coupons, everything I want is already on sale and the coupons won't work.  We will see tomorrow.  I will hand quilt this one, too.  I like how it has turned out so far.  The scrappy binding will add another layer of scrappy! ! !  Some of the lighter fabrics fade out in the picture, but in person, they are better. 

Well, what do you think, does it compare to the picture in the magazine?

Off to watch some football with my husband and relax!

Marsha

Pick & Choose coming along . . .

Whoa, pieced borders are a lot of work, but I love the look, so well worth it! I have three of the borders together for the Pick & Choose quilt. I'm taking it slow, making sure all my points meet just right! ! ! I am a bit of a perfectionist sometimes. I know nothing is ever perfect, but I try my best. But then, as long as I love it, that's always good enough, right.

My husband and I went to a movie yesterday afternoon, at the cheap theater. It costs $1.50, it use to be the $1.00 movie, but the price went up! We saw "Men Who Stare At Goats", wierd movie, good thing it only cost $1.50 to see it! Not at all what we expected from the pre-views. It was a fun time out though, stopped for burgers and fries on the way home. Today we took a long walk and picked up 18 aluminum cans. We started hunting for the cans to make the walks more fun and when we recycle them, we make a little cash. It cleans up the neighborhood, too. And tonight, I will sleep well after the exercise.

Well, guess I will work on the last border, then I can get them attached and see what the whole thing looks like!

Have a great weekend!
Marsha

Making progress

Well, I have the long sashing strips sewn into the quilt top. The more I get done, the better it looks! I have to press it all again, then start on the border. Gotta make 96 triangle squares, 24 in each side of the border. There are lots of pieces in this quilt! ! !

Yesterday I had my annual physical, today called to schedule the tests the doc wants. Time for those has rolled around again. Tomorrow I will get the blood work done and I have to see doctor again in a couple of weeks for the results. They are all routine things, nothing to worry about. We gave our neighbor a ride to her doctor appointment today with a stop at the Olive Garden for lunch. She had foot surgery last week and this was a follow-up. She has the OK to drive again and her foot is healing well.

It's about time to get dinner ready, relax and watch TV tonight with my husband.

Until later!
Marsha

Pick & Choose Quilt

Here is a picture of the quilt I am working on right now. This is from American Patchwork & Quilting, June 2009 issue.

I am at the point where I have all the blocks stitched together with the short sashing strips. Next step is to stitch those rows together with the long sashing strips. Even though it is a scrappy quilt, it has been a bit of a challenge making sure the colors and fabric designs are well balanced in the whole thing. It is coming together and I am enjoying working on it.

I've spent a lot of time the last week in making sure I am following everyone in the new blogs and learning (slowly) how to navigate and work with this new blog thing. It is all good though, nice to be challenged to learn new things!

I'm headed off to press what I have done so far and maybe start sewing the long sashing strips. Enjoy the rest of your weekend, stay warm and have fun quilting!

Marsha

It's Quilty Weather

It's still chilly in New Mexico but we are suppose to warm up a little in the next few days. It's about 42 right now, I know, much warmer than other parts of the country but a little below normal here.

I am starting to sew the sashing strips onto the blocks of my quilt this afternoon. It is really looking scrappy but pretty with all of the colors and fabric designs.

It looks like lots of you are joining this blog site, it is so good to know I can find you. I will really miss everyone who doesn't move with us. I enjoy reading all the blogs and seeing all of the pictures of everyones projects.

Time to go sew! ! !

Take care!
Marsha

Hope my old friends find me here

Well, since the APQ site is changing their blog site, I hope my old friends can find me here. I hope I can find all of them, too. Change is good and can work out fine if you give it a try but just in case this is a second chance!

I'm making progress on my new project. Got all the sashing strips sewn together, have to press it and sew some more today. Will post pics when I get a chance.