Sewcialites Catch Up!!!

Last year I challenged the ladies in my guild to help keep me accountable to finish this 36 week plus long quilt along.  Besides a paper piecing program, my longest ever! Well, way back in September we started, and by block 12, I was distracted. Here in April, I put myself back on the rocker! 

I was able to finish block 24, 26, 27, and 28 all in the last week.  

Now I am challenging myself to get 8 blocks done in May! That will leave me 9 blocks to catch up, with 5 weeks left in the sew along.  

So cheer me on and maybe I can get there.  I am truly trying to make this the year of finishes and scrap clean out!! 

And here’s Annie with her head stuck in the gate!! 

April Finishes

I was pretty busy this month between working on the house, work and a quilt retreat!  But, in normal fashion, I was able to get some things done!! 

I went to a quilt retreat at Lutheridge early in the month.  I walked out of the door with this pile of jeans quilt.  It’s huge! I finished it!! 

Before I left,  I quilted this quilt from a Jittery Wings pattern I did.  Then I finished the binding before leaving! 

Then last week I finished this simple but adorable Paddington Bear Quilt. 

After that I finished a few more quilt blocks for the Sewcialites quilt.  

Next month,  I already have sooo many Goals.  I finished 3 T-shirt quilt tops at my retreat.  My goal is to sandwich and quilt them this weekend,  then bind them next week.  After that, I have a star quilt to finish by the 15th.  Followed by another quilt retreat that I am praying will be an awesome finishing event!!

Goals of 2021!!——

1- House quilt- lots of pieces and few rows. Finished!!

2- Small old antique embroidery quilt- only the original blob lock and fabric pulled.  Plan to box the blocks in, maybe like a log cabin. FINISHED!!!!!

3-Harvest Road Quilt- blocks cut, a few pieces sewn together 

4-Debbie row by row- omg, so much to do

5-Rooster on board- one section done.  I think this will be a retreat quilt for this year

6- Pumpkin quilt-  fabrics pulled and all in a box

7- Pineapple place mat- needs to be put together and quilted

8- Jelly roll quilt-  undid it for a race demo in class.  Sewed a few corners and now it’s sittin a box. 

9- Moma quilt- I need to make several of these, but for 2 years,  I’ve had fabric pulled for at least one and sitting in a box. 

10- Sunflower quilt- made with my friends daughters clothes for her kids top finished

11- Sunflower 2- same as above top finished 

12-Sunflower 3- yep, same top finished

13- Bow tie quilt-  I cut a bunch of scrap squared to make this and never did it. 

14- Bea Lea Jumbled Sampler-  Accuquilt quilt fit the year

15- Sewcialites- 16 blocks out of 36 blocks done

16- Ultimate beginner Sampler- FINISHED 

17- T quilt from years ago-  at least 2 blocks done.

18- Stained glass window-  lots of blocks done years old

19- animal embroidery-  needs just a few blocks. 

20- Kaffe embroidery quilt- needs borders.  Top done,  at least 2 years old

21- Yenter embroidery-  needs a few blocks finished

22- batik embroidery-  needs a few blocks finished

23- crown of thorns.  Has a few blocks cut out. Several sewn together 

24- Tree quilt- not started  sewed a few blocks 

25- Scrap log cabin quilt- not started

26- Selvedge aqua quilt-  some selvedge blocks done

27- string block quilt-  random sized string blocks 

28- pineapple sampler quilt- 3 blocks started. 

29- batik HST quilt- lesson from class

30- persimmon dreams block of the month

31- Pat Sloan star quilt

Simple quilt as you go Quilt!

Sometimes you just need to make a simple quilt!  Sometimes you just want something to be simple.  Here is my simple go to quilt! 

I’ve made a few of these over time.  They are so pleasant and easy to piece.  Especially when you precut them ahead of time, so when you need them, they are there.

To do this, I buy several pieces of coordinating fabric.  Usually by the yard.  Sometimes it’s a few yards. I randomly cut strips 2.5-6 inches by the width of fabric.  This will be your entire top.  I make enough to cover about 56 inches, minus the 1/4 inch seam. 

The backing, I use a product called “Bo Nash adhesive” or fusible fleece.  I cut a piece of fleece about 43 inches wide by the width of fabric.  Then I adhere a piece of backing fabric about 58 inches long on one side.  

Then,  lay the precut strips out in the design you would like 

The Pound cake not to make...

If you know me, you know I love a good pound cake!! And I really love making them! 

Well, here are 2 types of strawberry pound cake. One made with cream cheese.  The other without.  Both recipes off Pinterest. 

I’ve never used strawberries inside, just as a topping.  Well, I won’t do that again. Omg.. recipe fail.  strawberries are made as a topping, not to cook inside. #pinterestfail

3.5 Week old Hanging tomatoes!!

I planted these 2 tomatoes in my pots 3 1/2 weeks ago.  Look at the amazing growth!! I wrote a blog a few weeks ago about my process. So I figured I would give you an update!! 

Here is a photo of the same one a week and a half ago.  

Then here the week before that.  Honestly they are 3 times fuller then the ones I put in the ground! Stay tuned for updates!! 

Big Pile of Jeans

I honestly sleep under a Jean quilt every night,  as in I can’t go to sleep without one. I soo love the weight and the feel. If ones not around, I usually feel like I’m freezing.  So here is my second one of the year already!!

This one is made out of long strips of Jean pants legs. When I get given a pair,  I cut the top off, and all the bulk from the seams and hems.  The remainder folds up to be put away for use well.  

 For about a year now, every time I cut up a pair of jeans, I made a rectangle out of the length and width.  My widest ruler is 8.5 inches by 24.5 inches long  This allows me to get wide cuts and not too long. The boys jeans of course are narrow and my brothers the widest. Most 5 to 8.5 inches in width.   

Each time I had a strip cut the same width as another, I would sew them together and roll them up. When I had several of these rolls, the sewing of the rows. Began.  I laid the first 2 across my king size bed to decide on my quilt width. Then I kept sewing strips until I had enough to cover the top of the bed! 

The backing fabrics are 2 Jason Yenter materials that I was able to snag on clearance at Asheville Cotton Company for a good deal.  The colors matched the jeans really well and I loved the big flowers.  One cut in 1/2 made the top and bottom, the other I placed in the middle.  The smaller print, I used as the binding. 

I did add a layer of batting.  Only because I love the thickness and weight.  I used flannel once in the middle of a Jean quilt and it’s still my favorite. Yo quilt it,  I just used straight lines at the seams. 

This is by far the largest quilt I have ever made, measuring in at 114x94

I be sandwiched, quilted and bond this quilt At Luthridge.  Hence the photos!! Now, it’s time to enjoy!! 

Strawberry Oreo Lush

So excited for it to be strawberry season!!  I love trying recipes and combining recipes to make new ones!  So here’s a combination of 2.  If you love strawberries with something cold, this is it!!

• 1 pack Dreamwhip made to package directions 
• 2 small boxes of Vanilla Pudding made with quick method and placed in the fridge
• 1 box Vanilla Wafers
• 1 pack vanilla Oreos (I prefer double stuffed)
• 1 container cool whip thawed 
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 8 oz of cream cheese room temp
• 2 1/2 strawberries cut up

 Blend the cream cheese into the powdered sugar into the Dreamwhip until smooth.  

Blend the Cool Whip into the mixture.                  

Layer vanilla wafers on the bottom of a 9x13 or larger.  Save the remaining.   

 

Spread the pudding over the vanilla wafers. 

Layer cut up strawberries and spread them over the top of the pudding. Save some for the top. 

Crumble the Oreos over the strawberries.  The more you crumble.  The sweeter the dish. Save some for the top. 

Spread the Whip mixture over the top.

Cover. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight. 

When ready to serve, sprinkle the leftover strawberries, vanilla wafers and Strawberries over the top! 

HAppy Easter from my family to yours!! And here I am with my beautiful niece Teagan. 

Overcoming A Challenge in Quilting

The sewing and quilting group that I am part of  did charity blocks last year.  After that, a few of us came together and sewed the blocks into tops.  

This one was sewn up by another member, who did not have time to quilt it.  Do you know me, I will just add it to the stack and try to get it done. 

Well,  I held onto it for like 2 months, why? Well, I laid it out and realized how crooked and wavy the borders were.  Then realized the entire quilt was uneven.  These items are usually the hardest to quilt and honestly a pain in the behind.  So there started the procrastination. Well, I gave myself until March 31, so I picked this up on March 30, pulled it out as much as I could and sandwiched it up.  The quilting began.  

So the lesson of this quilt,  starts with starting in the center and quilting out.  This helps to either flatten the uneven areas or to let them grow to the edges. Use a simple design like a meander or loop meander.  Doing this let’s you use the stitches to hide puckers.  

My other secret is to do a switchback in the outer boarder to make ticks.  This allows the quilt to lay flat.  Then cut off areas of the boarder that will be overly wavy. 

So, even if a quilt is not perfect and might be a pain to finish, it still can be done! Patience a s time or deadlines are what I need.  What is it for you? Took these photos in a pretty field on the way to work! Love the green and the Wisteria in the trees!!