What have you been doing?

Let's face it. The month of February has been a lousy one here in the middle of the country, as far as weather goes. I know other parts of the country have been lousy, also. So what have you been working on? I have been thinking about spring and getting out and roaming through the woods and drawing/sketching the landscape, and decided I needed a new carryall for all of the supplies that I use for such endeavors. I am making a large 16" x 22" flat portable drawing board, and I needed a larger bag to handle it. So I went to the stash of fabric, pulled down 3 yards of black cotton duck canvas, and some red, white, and blue fabric from the large stockpile that I use to make veterans quilts of valor, and Ta-Da'. a rather large, quilted, 23" wide x 21" tall x 3" deep shoulder bag, with quilted and padded strap, to lug the board, sketch pads, pencils, and other impedimenta. This should stand me in good stead while I stumble through the Poison Oak, looking for that elusive, "just right" view. If nothing else, homeland security won't question me because of my obviously patriotic bent. There are two views of the bag. One closed and snapped shut with the brass snaps, the other with the bag flap thrown back, showing the overall pattern of Tumbling Blocks on the bag front. I though would be cool to match the flap pattern to overlay the front pattern, and used the snaps to anchor the flap to the front. This is what comes of long cold snowy days in February, while waiting for spring. Here you go.

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John

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John
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I finished up a Quilt For Kids project yesterday and just purchased the thread to quilt a second one. Will hopefully get it done tomorrow. I also bought fabric for a quilt for my DSGD - I'm making it in the school colors of the college she'll be attending next year. I have to get moving on that one, as her birthday is mid-April and I want to have it done by then. Last, but not least, I'm working with my niece to design a quilt for her little one's big-girl bed. She will (I think) do the sewing on this one - I just have to be available for moral support and babysitting! I can do that!

In between quilts, I'm working on creating a "stained" t-shirt a la Polly. I don't have to use paints, however - I can make one naturally!

The bag is cool, John - you never fail to astound me with your creativity.

Reply to
Louise in Iowa

Well....

  1. finishing up some UFOs - swap tops and a HUG quilt that was given to me in blocks to set as my heart desired, as well as a bed quilt for DD that has been sitting waiting to be quilted for a year or so. Hand quilting a GFG that was pieced by my great-grandmother.
  2. starting new projects - a mystery quilt top hosted on New YEar's Eve by my online guild, a black, white and red quilt for my best friend's son for his 13th birthday (need to get it finished in two weeks...eek), a Harmonic Convergence in music fabrics for my chorus conductor.
  3. other sewing endeavors - making flannel PJs for my DD who is growing like a weed, and her friends, because they thought hers were cool.
  4. starting a business - I now do custom costuming, specializing in Civil War Re-enactment gear and plus size women. I received 3 orders just this past week, but no rush, since they aren't needed until June.

and last, but certainly not least...

  1. the ballet - i volunteer at DD's ballet school/company to do alterations for shows, and then i am also in the midst of heading up a project with the local technical college to replace all of the tutus for the Nutcracker corps dancers...like 'snow', 'flowers' and 'fairies'. A huge endeavor, but I'm learning a new, and fairly uncommon skill.

So...that is what i've been doing since October. And i'm still finding time to keep my new house clean, and able to work in the garden a little at a time.

Reply to
Jenn in Tacoma

Love your bag, John! A couple of weeks ago there was a thread about Quilts for Kids, so I signed up immediately. Gosh, I got the kit in just a few days! I just boxed up my race car quilt along with three more to send out tomorrow. What a satisfying program, one that I'll sew for from now on. It was good to take a hiatus from sewing for myself to do this. It gave me enthusiasm in the middle of the longest winter I can remember. I've got all kinds of quilts to do for gifts and will do a blue warm wishes for my DGD next. Donna

Reply to
dealer83

I haven't been nearly a productive as some of you. Seems like all I've done is shoveled snow. Even shoveled in my sleep! To add insult to injury, I picked up a nasty virus. Went to the doctor today, came away with two prescriptions and a diagnosis of asthmatic bronchitis. And I allegedly work full-time, though my paychecks this month sure don't show it!

On the quilty side, I completed a hand-pieced lap-sized top of my own design using 6-1/2" floral squares (from a along ago block swap) with black and dark red/purple accents. Just need to press it, sandwich, and decide how to quilt. I'm not feeling up to the job right now, so I've set that aside until I feel better. In the mean time, I'm deciding how to design my next quilt using two 3/4-yard pieces of a cabbage-rose floral on burgundy and a turquoise accent piece. Probably another lap-size, since the cabbage-rose fabric is at least ten years old. It is one of those too-beautiful-to-cut fabrics, so I'm thinking something with fairly large pieces, using the turquoise for setting triangles. Might even fussy-cut a couple of the roses and applique onto the turquoise.

If I can't have REAL flowers in my garden this time of year (or even SEE the garden under the 1-1/2 feet of remaining snow pack, for that matter), then I'll just have to create my own indoor "flowers"!

Frances (in Penn-SNOW-vania!)

Reply to
SingerMom

I'm having a bittersweet time finishing up some quilted wallhangings and bed quilts. Why bittersweet? Due to health reasons I must sell my beloved big, old, rambling house, so I am getting pretty quilts finished up and on the walls and beds to make it show nicely to the prospective buyers. Yes, I know about de-personalizing the house and all that. I still want it to look nice- I've only owned it for 11 months and am still getting settled in even as I start mentally preparing to pack it all up again.

In the process of finishing up a Log Cabin quilt for my bed (one of my 'simple' bed quilts that will be washed to death courtesy of The HairyButt Gang- giving it a short expected life span) I discovered I am crazy in love with Sally Terry's Hooked on Feathers quilting technique. I can't hardly make myself stop quilting to give my poor legs a rest and elevate them for a while (DVT with venous insufficiency).

I feel sooooo artistic making all those gorgeous, curvy feathers! And, since they are totally freeform, there are no rules- you can make some big and some small, some thick and some thin and curve where you like. It's wonderful freedom to play and indulge your inner quilty child! (I did absolutely no marking of any kind. I freeform quilted one side of the central spine and used the side of my darning foot for the second parallel line of quilting on the spine and then 'hooked' the feathers down each side.) What fun!

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Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

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Leslie& The Furbabies in MO.

Bummer that you're having to move, but what a great quilt. I love that purple and green, and your feathers make me smile! I'm glad you're having a good time with them.

Reply to
Louise in Iowa

All I've completed lately is a hug quilt of sorts for a friend of mine whose husband is very ill and she is having a rough time. It was a hurry-up deal, so i picked a simple pattern (Eleanor Burns Orions Star), she loves cats and I wanted a bright and cheerful quilt so I picked Laurel Burch fabric and mixed in some batiks. It's machine quilted all-over paw prints. Mailed it across the country and she got it Valentine's weekend. I think she really liked it.

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Sherry

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Sherry

That is wonderful John. I can tell you February is working out to be pretty rotten around here. Kitchen face lift (I am calling it lipstick on a pig) and then today was spent in the ER with dh and chest pains. I think he is going to be ok and hopefully home tomorrow. I am pretty miserable, beat and can't sleep. The day started out pretty good and went down hill fast. I hope March is better and spring time is just around the corner. Taria

Reply to
Taria

We will want to see pictures of that, Louise. From personal experience, I can highly recommend mustard and salsa. Polly

"Louise in Iowa" In between quilts, I'm working on creating a "stained" t-shirt a la

Reply to
Polly Esther

What a beautiful quilt. I love that arrangement, so that there seems to be a wider path zigzagging through, because of the placement of the strips. And that quilting is wonderful. I can see why it's addicting! . In message , Leslie& The Furbabies in MO. writes

Reply to
Patti

Hope all does turn out to be well, today, for your DH and you. . In message , Taria writes

Reply to
Patti

sounds to me like everyone's keeping busy! I love the winter months when I don't have a lawn to mow, or other various yard duties to perform and can stay inside and quilt! My current project is a challenge quilt for TQS called the Big Love challenge, due the end of March. I intend to do TWO!!! and the first one is what I've been busy with.

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Musicmaker

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Musicmaker

Lovely quilt, Sherry. Those colors are so nice together - I'm sure it'll bring your friend all the comfort you hoped it would.

Reply to
Louise in Iowa

I hope all is well with your DH, Taria. BTDT, and it's not a pleasant experience. Prayers going out that today will be better and DH will soon be home with you.

Reply to
Louise in Iowa

With a splash of spaghetti sauce now and then!

Reply to
Louise in Iowa

That is a very smart satchel John. My achievements have been much less useful. I am trying to get some UFOs cleared - so far that has included

2 wall hangings and a fabric postcard. Another couple of UFOs have progressed nearer to completion. Just as I thought I was making progress DD told me her news and I now have 2 baby quilt tops made ready for quilting with at least another one under way. On top of that I have signed up for the Journal Quilt project run by the Contemporary Quilt section of the UK Quilter's Guild. This year the quiltlets are to be 7" wide x 10" tall and I have my own intent to only use fabrics that I have used for other projects that calendar month. Here is January:

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February is almost finished and uses some of the baby quilt fabrics.

Lizzy

Reply to
Lizzy Taylor

I love it! I know what you mean, though, about not knowing exactly what a project is going to look like. I THINK I know what it will be, but too many things happen along the way to change it!

Reply to
Louise in Iowa

That's an interesting challenge, Lizzy. I like that you've added to it by using fabrics you've used during the calendar month. It's a great way to use up some stash. I hope you'll continue to show us each month's project.

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Louise in Iowa

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Roberta

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