A little of this and a little of that

I made more of the x-blocks yesterday and am now up to 24 of them. I think I'll need at least double that to make a decent sized quilt. Thanks go out to those readers who gave me their feedback on the layout. I've decided to go with that zig zag looking one. It's looking good so far on my design wall.

The other thing I've worked on this weekend (beside my golf game) is a table runner for the 4th of July. Here is a sneak peak. I'm using a clam shell design for the hand quilting and it's going pretty quickly. Hope it's actually done by the 4th!

Help me decide, please . . .

I've been so busy with work lately that I just haven't made any time for some quilting projects. But I finally finished up a couple of big projects for work this afternoon. I closed my laptop about 3:00 PM and headed for my sewing room. It was nice and peaceful - just me and the cat. And the cat didn't stay long for a change.

I mentioned a few days ago that I bought an X-block ruler on a shop hop the first week of June. It uses a basic 9-patch and turns it into a slanted 9-patch. You have 3 choices of angles - line up the lines of the ruler with the seams - and trim. You can even save the pieces you cut off to use for a border or something else. Depending on how you cut the blocks, you can arrange them in different patterns. So I cut 3 blocks from the front, and then cut 2 more from the back. That gives me blocks that tilt in 2 different directions. Now I have to decide on a layout for them.

So my dilema is this - - - which pattern looks the best? Here is a layout that ends up with a diamond.

Or should I cut the blocks all the same direction and lay them out like this?

Any advice is welcome - including options I haven't thought of yet. Thanks!

Summer Quilt Swap

Since I thoroughly enjoyed making a mini quilt for the Spring Blooms mini quilt swap - I've signed up for another one. Usually when I'm quilting, I'm working on whatever I'm creating with my own personal taste in mind. But with this swap project I was trying hard to create this project with my partner's taste in mind. That was fun! My project went to Heleen in The Netherlands. See her blog at http://dutch-colours.blogspot.com/ .

And I'm still waiting (OK - impatiently) for my own swap quilt to arrive in the mail. But the anticipation is half the fun too! The deadline for mailing the mini quilts was just 2 days ago, so maybe in the next day or 2 I'll have a surprise in the mail.


The summer quilt swap registration started yesterday at http://quiltinggallery.com . Go check it out and make some summer fun for someone! I can't wait to receive my partner information for the summer swap.

Nothing to do with sewing, but . . .

I did something last night that I haven't done since I was a kid - watched roller derby - in person. My youngest daughter skates with the Sioux Falls Roller Dollz and I went to Lincoln, Nebraska last night to watch the team skate. It was fun, and the Dollz won 100-37. Other than the 4 hour drive down and the 4 hour drive back to Sioux Falls last night, it was a fun way to spend a Saturday.

I just know there were quilt shops out there (in the dark) calling my name as we drove on past . . . oh well, next time.

Starting a new project

I have a new project to start. On the recent shop hop bus trip that I took to Nebraska, I bought this ruler to make "X blocks" from 9 patch blocks. One of the shops demonstrated this ruler and technique, and I'll bet they sold a bunch of the rulers.

Today I took a day off and went to Sioux Falls. I had to make a quick stop at one of my favorite fabric shops - Heirloom Creations. (I managed to sandwich this in between a doctor appointment and meeting my youngest daughter at the bridal shop to see her wedding dress.) At Heirloom Creations, I found a beautiful black, gold, rust batik fabric to use in my X blocks. I think it will look great with this rusty-gold colored batik. Now - I need to find some time to start cutting and sewing. Since my husband is gone for a couple of days golfing with "the guys", I should have plenty of time tomorrow evening after work.

Giveaway at Quilt Qua . . .

You have to check this "cool" (pun intended) giveaway at: http://www.quiltqua.com/ . Quilt Qua is giving away fat quarter bundles of Frosted Memories fabric, which is a Moda fabric by Holly Taylor.

Frosted Memories is a gorgeous and FUN holiday fabric line.

It's raining AGAIN

It's raining again today! I am in desperate need of some sunshine and blue skys!!!! Will summer never arrive in South Dakota?

For the past 2 weeks we've had cold (50 degree) days - with drizzle/downpour/fog. I'm sick of gloomy weather. Usually in South Dakota in June we are having lovely 80+ degree days.

Yesterday - the fog had lifted by noon - and we had a very brief afternoon of sunshine. I'm sure glad I took advantage of it and played 18 holes of golf with my husband while I had the chance.

I guess today is a good day to stay home with my quilting projects to keep me warm and dry. At least the flowers on my deck enjoy the wet weather. I've never had a hibiscus plant before, but it looks beatiful, even with raindrops on the petals.

Mini Quilt Swap

On Monday morning my swap quilt will be in the mail and on its way to my swap partner. I do hope that she enjoys it. I had such fun designing and completing the piece. My partner indicated that she liked flowers and bright colors like pink.

The flower is machine appliqued and the whole piece is hand quilted. I've done a tiny bit of crystal beading on the flower.

The colors are exactly what I picture when I think SPRING.

Giveaway

Tonya's Sewing Room is one of several quilting blogs that I enjoy. She has a fantastic giveaway going on to celebrate her 100th post. Check it out!

http://tonyassewingroom.blogspot.com/

Home from Omaha shop hop

We're back - with more weight in our luggage and less weight in our wallets. There were 33 ladies on the bus for the shop hop trip to Omaha. We had a wonderful time and I came home feeling refreshed, relaxed, and ready to start some new projects.

This picture of Marilyn, me, and Sylvia was taken in front of the Country Traditions shop in Fremont, Nebraska - which was our last stop. This shop was 3 stories tall - with a trunk show going on up on the third floor. Lot's of fun and unique gift items as well as TONS of fabric selections. And they have an online shop at: http://www.countrytraditionsonline.com/ . When we got on the bus the first morning we got a zippered baggies with 5 tiny pieces of a fabric. We had to keep one and exchange the others. When we got to Fremont, the shop owner came onto our bus and drew one piece of fabric and everyone having that particular one got a prize. I was a lucky winner!! All 5 of us with that piece got a bag with a package of needles, a seam ripper, a notepad, and other items. THANK YOU to the Country Traditions shop!!

Marilyn stayed put - and Nancy and Pam stepped in - for another picture. Notice everyone's smiles, even after 2 days of riding a bus and shopping 'til we dropped.

Our first stop on Friday morning was Heart and Hands Dry Goods in Sioux City - http://www.heartandhand.com/ . They had such unique ways of packaging some of their kits. And they were so friendly! Everyone on the bus was given a small bag with some goodies and even a bottle of water. What a great way to start the day. It was difficult to pace ourselves!

Next stop was the Omaha Quilt Show at the UNO sports complex. Lots of beatiful quilts to see and lots of vendors to visit too.

Then we stopped at the Sunshine and Stitches shop in Omaha. They had lunch for us and also demonstrated a block pattern. http://www.sunshinestitches.com/ .

The end of the day brought dinner at a nice restaurant, and a relaxing evening at our hotel - including a pajama party with the whole group.

Our itinerary for Saturday included Seams to Be Quilt Shoppe in Plattsmouth - and this shop had the largest selection of panels in one place that I've ever seen. http://www.seamstobequilts.com/

The Country Sampler in Papillion was next, followed by the Quilted Moose in Gretna. The Quilted Moose had the best selection of batiks on this trip. I have GOT to come back to this one! http://www.quiltedmooseonline.com/

I think everyone on the bus had a blast and can't wait to cut into the stash of new fabric to create something.

Sneak Peak at my "Spring Mini Quilt Swap" project

The photo is a little fuzzy - but this is a quick peak at my spring mini quilt swap project. My partner indicated that she likes pink, so there is a touch of pink. I think it looks very "springy"! I hope she likes it too.

I just have to hand quilt this project, bind it, and mail it. I'm really excited and hope it turns out as I've been picturing it in my mind while working on it.

And I'm looking forward to finding something in my own mailbox by the end of June. It's the first time I've signed up for a swap, but I'm planning to do this again. It's kind of exciting to know that someone is out there, making something just for ME.

3 Days & Counting

It's only Tuesday, but I'm already counting down the days until leaving for a short quilt shop hop bus trip. The local quilt guild - Heartland Quilt Quild - sponsors a shop hop bus trip every other year and even though I'm not a member (yet) I've enjoyed a couple of these bus trips. This year the trip is an overnight visit to Omaha and we get on that bus Friday morning at 6:30 am. A quilt show in Omaha, and stops in about 6 Iowa and Nebraska quilt shops is on the agenda. We'll get home late Saturday night. It will be so much fun to sit back and relax with my quilting friends!

Each participant is also invited to bring a completed block and enter our names for a chance to win them all. The block had specific instructions for a raw edge applique flower on a black background. Who knows - maybe I'll be lucky and win them.