Self-binding baby blanket

This self-binding baby blanket is made from 2 flannel pieces and is one of the easiest projects I've done in ages.  It is so easy in fact, that I am going to make more of them so that I have some baby gifts ready to go when needed.

The Pin Cushion has done some classes on this and I've wanted to attend, but just couldn't make any of them work out. So I decided that somewhere on the Internet must be instructions for this. And I was so right - several different tutorials showed up in my search.  Just search for "self-binding baby blanket".

Planning Day

Today is a planning day - not a sewing day. Partly because I have a lot of projects that need some planning and organizing - and partly because I'm going to play some golf this afternoon while we have a gorgeous day.

One of the projects I have to work on soon is a baby quilt that I am making for one of my cousins as a gift she wants for a good friend.  This is the design I've come up with so far. I drew this up on EQ6. The border fabric will be a soft blue baby print with tans/browns/greens/blues in a jungle print. I'm hoping she likes this design so that I can get started on it. Or we may start from scratch with a new design. That's OK too.

The other planning I've been doing today is finishing up my UFO list for our quilt guild challenge. I know it doesn't reflect every single project laying in a drawer or box in my sewing room. But it covers most.  Right now I have 26 UFOs listed, plus 7 quilts that just need binding and a label, plus 5 more that need quilting, binding, and label.  And I've added 15 more projects that have been purchased but not started.  So . . . that is 53 projects total that will be on my radar for the next 12 months.

I'll turn in a copy of this list at next week's guild meeting. And I'm posting this list in my sewing room above my cutting table . . . here I will have to look at it every time I'm in there!  I'm hoping it is inspiration to get things finished.

Stilettos - but not shoes

I saw a bunch of these online - sewing stilettos made from turkey laces and beads.  The perfect tool to keep your fingers out from under the needle when sewing.

I bought a package of turkey laces - not easy to find this time of year - and then dug through the beads I had. The tricky thing was finding beads with the correct size hole.  My choices were limited, but I think they turned out pretty cute. I may make more of them.

Hand stitching only . . .

This was not a very productive weekend in terms of sewing. Saturday was busy with laundry, some cleaning, and then a road trip to visit the grandbabies.  Sunday should have been productive because I was home alone and could have spent the whole day at my sewing machine. But it didn't happen.  Other than doing handwork I just could not get motivated to work on anything else. 

I have a couple of ideas in mind for the final product for these English Paper Pieced hexies. Right now I'm thinking they would make a good doll quilt.

But for the first step I'm stitching them to 5" dark brown squares. And I have 6 of them done.  They are all hand stitched - each individual over card stock hexie templates, then handstitched together, and finally hand stitched onto the brown square. The last thing I did was carefully cut away the backing and pull out the paper.

Random sewing has struck again!

For most of this year I've done a fair job of focusing on getting some UFOs and WIPs finished . . . at least to the point of having them ready to quilt.

But the past couple of weeks I've strayed again to the land of random sewing. I can't seem to just pick a project and work on it for any length of tme.  Over the weekend I worked on blocks for 3 different projects. I am hoping that the guild's UFO Challenge will get me back on track in October.

This week I've picked up my zip lock bag of tiny hexies - and this is the result. I have NO IDEA what I plan to do with them yet however. 

These are too small to make a whole quilt as the hexies themselves are 1 inch.  If I had used Christmas fabrics these would make good ornaments.  Any ideas for me? 

Magnolia block

I think it looks more like a rose bud myself . . . but whatever you call this it's cute.  This is block 6 of our Saturday Sampler. 

Sunday was definitely a "block" day for me. We had brunch, cooked by my husband and then he left for a golf tournament and I headed to my sewing room.  I made this block, then made 4 more 1930's elephants blocks (2 lavendar and 2 green) to add to the 2 yellow ones.  And I made 2 more heartstring blocks.  That is a total of 7 blocks for the afternoon. 

Last but not least I made a cute label and attached it to the wildlife quilt.  All in all a productive afternoon.

Wildlife quilt is finished

Another finish to check off my list, as I finally finished the binding today.  This lap quilt was made by setting blocks from a panel into a drop shadow. I added a narrow black folded border around each block because they seemed to need some black to frame them. The drop shadows are each different and are from the same batiks I used in the picket fence side borders.  Then the top and bottom have wide borders from a really unique swirled fabric that looks like water.  The colors are really rich.  

A new UFO challenge

Our quilt guild is going to start another UFO challenge in October.  Those who are participating will need to bring a list of UFOs. Then as we finish them we get to mark them off the list. If we don't finish any then we pay a penalty.  I'm working on my list.  In spite of the UFOs that I've finished in the last year I still have a huge list.  And a few items on it are really old.

The best thing about doing this . . . I feel more normal because I'm seeing how long everyone else's lists are too.

Where did this week go?

Thursday already?  Where did this week go? 

I had promised more pictures from the quilt show, but I forgot to take my camera back in on Sunday so there are not any more to show. Bummer!!

In between time spent at the quilt show over the weekend I did get a little sewing done.  One of the things I did was make 2 elephant blocks using a 1930's reproduction fabric from my stash.  I plan to make more out of some of the other colors I have collected - lavendar, blue, pink, green, etc.  I think they will be really cute in the 30's fabrics.

Another WIP - but there is a plan for these. They were a request so I don't feel guilty about starting something new in this case.

Heartland Guild 2012 Quilt Show

Today is the second and last day of the 2012 Quilt Show. It is so inspirational to see all of the beautiful project made by local guild members.  This is just a quick look at part of the patriotic display.  More photos tomorrow!

More guild stars

Six of my Guild Stars are done!  I still have 4 more 6" squares from the quilt guild to turn into these cute stars.  Then I will be all caught up and ready for more stars in the future.

I posted a couple of days ago about the special tradition that the Heartland Quilters Guild has. When members travel and have the opportunity to get to a quilt shop, they bring back fabric for the other members. Each member gets a 6" square.

After 3 months as a member I already have 10 squares and they are just too pretty to cute into smaller pieces.  So I needed to come up with some idea to use them whole. And, as my regular readers know, I love star blocks.

My first month as a member, one of the ladies brought in a large quilt she had made out of the squares she had been collecting. It was a wonderful design - with each 6" square cut in half and a narrow black strip inserted. Then the new blocks were all put together with the black strips turned opposite ways. Very scrappy looking and very beautiful.

Wash Tub project

Another WIP finished to at least the "flimsy" stage. Don't you just love that term - flimsy? 

This very girly pink quilt was a project from Wash Tub Club this spring and summer.  The pattern is so simple and I think I'll use it again. 

I used a panel of squares called Lil Darlings, and set them in square-in-a-square blocks. Then they were set on point in vertical rows. I got my sashing and borders done on Sunday and now it's ready to quilt.

One more set of blocks has become a quilt top!!

My guild stars

I join the local quilt guild recently, The Heartland Quilters Guild, and immediately discovered that they have a really fun tradition.

Whenever a guild member travels somewhere and has the opportunity to get to a quilt shop, they remember their "sisters" back home. The member buys fabric that reminds them of the trip and then shares a 6" square with each member at the next guild meeting.

I've only attended 3 meetings so far, but have already collected 10 unique squares. And I've decided to make a scrappy quilt using them. Stars seemed to be a perfect way to use the square without cutting into it.  And maybe I'll mix in some square-in-a-square blocks as well. A scrappy white background will tie them all together and I can just make them as I get them.  These blocks are turning out to be just over 11" square, so it won't take too many to make a quilt.

More Halloween bags

I just had to do it! I made 2 more of these cute little Halloween trick or treat bags.  My favorite one is the "eyeball" bag on the right.  Those eyeballs glow in the dark.  I think I may have to give that one to my grandson.

It felt SO RELAXING to finally get into my sewing room on Saturday morning. And today I also got to spend some time sewing. Now I'm headed out with my husband for a hot windy round of golf.  But at least it's time spent together, right?