My thoughts, we could each make blocks out of our stash that reflects our piecing/quilting style with some white/lite space to write our name, city & state. We will need to choose a size for the blocks. We will need a list of participants and addresses to mail them. We want to include all of our bloggging buddies if we can. Do we need to set a date as to when the blocks are finished and mailed? That's what I've thought about so far, what are your ideas. I would really treasure a quilt made with pieces from all of you. Let's see if we can make this work.
I finished the St. Patrick's Day table topper. I called it Irish Hearts:
If you look close you will see I used little hearts to form the leaves of the shamrocks. It looks great on my entryway table.
I only have two blocks to finish quilting on Pick & Choose. I'm sooooo looking forward to doing the pieced binding and finishing it up. I can't wait to see it all done. Plus, I want to get started on the two red, white and blue ones that are next. I have also settled on a pattern for what I want to make my nephew and his fiance as a wedding gift. I need that for early June so one of the red, white and blue projects may have to wait a little while.
I put a link on my blog that shows all of the quilts and sewing I have been doing. I still need to add descriptions to each photo but you can see what I've done so far if you wish.
Here are a couple more photos:
This one is called Navajo Wool. I bought the pattern and the southwest fabric at a great quilt shop in Durango, CO over the summer. I made this as a topper for the refrigerator in our little camper. It protects the cabinet top and adds a lot of color. I have enough fabric left over to make some placemats, too.
This one is called American Homestead. I saw a picture of one on the internet and really wanted to make it. I found the flag fabric on Ebay and I have a house block pattern in one of my quilt books. I had to adjust the block a little to fit the flag and I used fabrics from my stash for the rest of the houses. The red stars are appliqued in the cornerstones. The original pattern was in an old Fons and Porters magazine but I don't have that issue so I improvised. The original had 12 blocks but I had 16 flags so I went with that. This is the first time I have used a template to stitch the border. The corners aren't perfect but I'm happy with it. Here is the back:
I had to piece it using fabrics I already had but I like the way it came out, too. You can see the ladder and some branches we trimmed off of the backyard trees in the lower right of the picture. We will probably will finish that up tomorrow and then have the brush piles in the yard until we can get it cut up and hauled away.
Well, you are all caught up with my news from the last few days. Enjoy your quilting days!
Marsha
Oooh...I like everything! I didn't notice the houses were flags until you mentioned it, but I like that idea. The shamrocks are too cute and oh how I wish we had green grass...not snow...
ReplyDeleteAs for the swap, I've been thinking a little, too. Wondering if maybe we should split it up so one or two people get their blocks each month (draw names to decide who gets theirs when)? That way we're not trying to make a whole bunch of blocks and get them all out at once. I like the idea of using our stash and our own piecing style - makes it personal to each of us, but would we make the same block for everyone? I've never done a block swap before, but I know deadlines are a major motivation for me and many others, so I think we probably need to have them however you decide to do this.
You have been busy and I love all of it! Far as the block swap goes, I am easy. Whatever is decided is fine with me. I like the idea of gravitating towards something someone likes to do. For me it would be embroidery, I think, and I wouldn't mind embroidering a block for everyone! I would definitely do a Sunbonnet Sue for Love and maybe skull & crossbones for Stitch, LOL.
ReplyDeleteOh my! Your idea sounds like a lot of fun, but it also sounds like a lot of pressure for this old lady! I'm still thinking about it, but haven't quite decided. Don't give up on me yet! That embroidered Sunbonnet Sue is terrribly tempting! ---"Love"
ReplyDeleteSounds great!! I'm totally in! I think it would be fun to have different blocks, but maybe we could pick a theme like stars or something to unify it. If everyone made one "signature" star (or whatever theme) block for each person it wouldn't be hard to do. How many of us are there? I think that would be a good way to determine the block size and how to space it out. Thank you for trying to sort it all out Marsha and let me know if I can help! :) Christine
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link to yur quilts. I saw some of them but not all so it was fun to look at them.
ReplyDeleteI am in for the block swap. I will do whatever.
Let me know if I can help in any way.
Will be great fun to swap with our blogging buddies.
Beth
I like Katie's idea of drawing one or two names a month to receive the blocks. Are we thinking a traditional friendship block or something different? Perhaps the number of blocks each person makes might depend on how many are in the swap.I would be happy to administrate the swap - that is collect the names and addresses, manage the emails back and forth, etc. Cheers, Ann :-)
ReplyDeleteWow, you've only been quilting for two years and have all these to show? I'll have to crawl back in my corner now... Love all of your work and the snowmen are adorable. Thanks for the birthday wishes! Please let me know if I can help on the swap. Mary
ReplyDeleteLove the little houses. The navajo one is great. And what you did with the back of the houses is very cool too....working with what you have...goes along with the "homestead" idea;)
ReplyDeleteAs for the swap....I'm open to whatever you guys come up with;)
Happy Quilting!!
count me in for a swap! I am doing a couple simple signiture swaps, but what you have in mind sounds much more meaningful! I'd love to participate! I was so sad when apq changed, but am so glad that many of us are still interconnected!
ReplyDelete