FINAL FRIDAY FRIENDSHIP SWAP

Sewing the last few seams of these blocks was bittersweet this week. For months and months Cindy and I have been swapping these X and + blocks. We had decided that 64 blocks was what we would make.
These are the last four that I will send her.

I have a lovely assortment of scrappy blocks

When this fabric came into Katja's , I knew it would be perfect for a backing. A reminder of trading blocks every month  : )

I believe we are going to try to have our quilts done by September to show you. There are several of us that were trading blocks so it will be a bit of a quilt show!

Even though we were working from our stashes, a little fabric was purchased here and there (like every month)  What to do with this pile of scraps I've accumulated?

Well start a new quilt of course!  I love this colour combination so decided on half square triangles with grey/cream on one side and all the other colours we used on the other  : )

I'm liking it so far.  Speaking of these colours, someone dropped off some fabrics at Katja's for me when I wasn't there. The shop was crazy busy and Katja just can't remember who it was. Some days are like that!  Thanks so much whoever you are.  I love them  (maybe you could e-mail me so I can thank you properly?)

Have a great week end

BEACH HOUSE QUILTS--A FINISH

They're done.  After getting shoved to the back burner all winter, I finally finished the two quilts for  great Aunt Carol. Last summer she turned a little shed into a beach play house for her grand girls and I couldn't help but think that it needed a couple of quilts as part of the decor.

 some piecing

and quilting

and the tedious binding made more fun with matching nails!

Then it was off to try and get pictures. We've been having crazy changing weather lately so it was hard to get good light. One thing about having a large family, there is always someone around willing (?) to come on a photo shoot with Mom : )

Does anyone else think crocodile when they look behind the quilts ??

Done!  This is finish 4 and 5 for quarter two of the finish along. Original list is here

quilt stats:
48 x 68
fabrics are layer cake squares and scraps
pieced and quilted by me
backing and binding is 'Here Fishy Fishy" by Henry Glass

BEE BLOCKS AND OLIVE OIL

Thanks so much everyone for all the comments on my last post.  I've been quilting this week so am getting a couple more done.  When I felt I needed a break from the quilting, I made the last of my Bee blocks for this month.

Broken Herringbone blocks for the Humility group of do.good stitches

I got together my first P.O.T.C block.  Patchwork of the Crosses is a new to me block made with english paper piecing.

Summer is coming and I love being outside basting hexies in the early morning sun  : )

I've been doing some free motion quilting.  Not the easiest thing for me, but I know I can do it if I just keep yelling trying

Look what came in the mail!!!  It's my month to get blocks for the Mid Century Modern group and I asked the ladies for an arrow block using my tutorial. The top one is from Cindy, and the bottom is from Elizabeth.  I love them!

A few months ago, my daughter in law got me hooked on infused Olive oil and Balsamic vinegars.  The closest shop was over an hour away until just the other day when this shop opened up.

Just look at all the kegs of delicious oils

and the vinegars

They also have syrups and honey made in the province.  I thought I'd give a shout out to this new shop because I'm thrilled to have it here in our City.
My absolute favourite is Blood Orange infused Olive Oil with a Dark Chocolate Vinaigrette.  A match made in Heaven  : )
So if you're local, pop on by and sample some of the flavours. You'll be glad you did!

FLY AWAY HOME -- A FINISH

Back in February I put this top together from blocks I received from the Bee Purposeful group.  I seem to get hung up when it comes to the quilting but the other day I basted and set to quilting right away.

I bribed one of my boys, and off we went for a bit of a photo shoot  : )

We went down into a ravine close to our house for these pictures. I was a little nervous after walking past the sign warning of bears in the area. My son assured me they are more afraid of me than I am of them. I doubt that............

I quilted it with wavy lines from side to side with a variegated thread

For the back, I used a Fandango print from my stash. The binding is a Bella solid in Prune.
 Love it.
This is now on it's way to Little Miss Shabby where it will be used to raise funds for her Church's mission work. I'm having a hard time letting this one go. Perhaps I will have to make one for myself.

This is my 3rd finish for quarter two. Whoop whoop!!   original list is here

quilt stats:
48 x 64
blocks from the Bee Purposeful group (and me)
assembled and quilted by me

A SECOND QUARTER FINISH

Thank goodness I finally got these blocks off my design wall and sewn together. Now I have room on my wall for other fun things!

99 economy blocks

Little miss J was over the other day and she had fun finding all the puppies in the blocks  : )

For the back, I dug through my stash and found this pink and yellow stripe that's been hanging around way too long.  Good enough.

Done!
This is my second finish for this quarter of the finish along.  Original post is here 

quilt stats :
Economy block scrap quilt inspired by Red Pepper Quilts
pieced by me
quilted by me
45 x 55

linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts

LOG CABIN CIRCLES

Every spring I wait with baited breath for the Quilt Sampler to come out. I was grocery shopping on Mother's Day and there it was!

The quilt on the front cover caught my attention so I made a couple of blocks right away.

Then a couple more just to see what four would look like

I purposely used the scraps from my arrow blocks because I'm thinking of using these in the quilt too. They look good hanging out together

I'm not sure yet where this is going, but I like it.  A lot  : )

Arrows have been popping up in the blogosphere and will be landing in my mailbox soon. Looking forward to showing them to you.

linking up with work in progress Wednesday

NEW HATS--OLD FRIENDS

I'm sure it was at least ten years ago, I bought this panel. Since then it's been ageing (like me) in a drawer. I've thought about it from time to time. My intention was to make something for my sister when she turned 50. Then I thought no, maybe a friend when she had HER big one.  Now that I can say I'm in to my fifties, I just may have to make it for myself.

Oh. My. Word.

I know someone who is probably howling right now.  Hi Karen!

The panel is called "New Hats- Old Friends" by Sandy Gervais. Do you think if we bug her enough she might come out with another one???

I think I should make this up to remind myself about the humorous side of getting older.  As my mother says.........."This getting old thing aint for sissies"!

Happy Mothers Day       : )

A CHURN DASH FLIMSY

This past January it was my turn to pick the block I wanted for the do.good stitches group. I asked my bee mates for churn dash blocks. They could make skinny or regular--whatever they wanted.

I received a lovely assortment of scrappy blocks.......

.........and put it together like this

Digging through my stash, I found this big piece of Fandango for the back  : )

Lovely.  Now to get it quilted up

I scooped this huge bundle of fat quarters yesterday for a song.  Happy birthday to me!

BEE BLOCKS AND A NEW STASH BUILDER

This month, the shop where I work started a new program called 'Modern Stash Builder'. Every month, those who sign up will receive 4 fat quarters of the newest modern fabrics that arrive at the shop.

This months stash : Sweet Harmony

As it turns out, Ella asked for Aqua and Coral for this month's blocks in the Heal group of do.good stitches.

I got to cut into my new stash right away  : )

I was asked to make a 12", 9", and 6" traditional block. I made two of each size because I'm doing an extra set for someone this month.

I thought a 9" block would look cute made up of 1" squares. Had I thought ahead a bit I would have realized that meant 81 little squares. Duh!

This rolling diamonds blocks is a new favourite

Here they are, all lined up on the shelf.  I think I will look at these for a couple more days before I pop them in the mail.  I love this combination.

Have a lovely Monday.

linking up with Anything goes Monday's

ARROWS---A HOW TO

******I need to start off by saying that there are probably other tutorials out there for piecing arrows, but this is what I did to make mine.

I used scraps for the tail feathers and bits of yardage for the backgrounds. First of all, you will need to piece a strip set.
 Start with a background strip about 3" x 19" or 20"
4 or 5 coloured strips ranging 1 " to 1 1/2"  x 19" or 20"
ending with a background strip 3" x 19" or 20"

Place the 45* line of your ruler on the bottom of the strip set. It's ok to have it go off the top corner. You will still have enough background.  Cut the angle

Turn strip set around so the angle is on your left.

Cut a strip 2 1/4"

We now need to cut another 45* angle the opposite direction. Place the 45* line of your ruler on the bottom of the strip set. Again, it's ok to have it off the fabric on the bottom right.

Cut the angle

Turn the strip set around

Cut a strip 2 1/4"

If you put the cut pieces back, it should look like this

That big triangle in the middle? It won't go to waste as I plan on using it in my quilt somewhere.

Square off the ends of your tail feather units leaving yourself some background

Now cut some background pieces 2 1/4" by however long you want your arrow to be. Mine are made up of several pieces to give it a more scrappy look. Cut a 1" by 3" background piece for the tail end of arrow
The arrow was cut 1" by about 18" and the arrow head is a flying geese unit cut 4 1/2" x 2 1/2" with
 2 1/2" connector corners sewn on

Sew background pieces to tail feather units and sew to either side of arrow. Sew on arrow head

Done!

This is what I have in mind for the triangle pieces that are left over. I think they will make nice blocks or perhaps a border

**If you want to make several at a time, you can make a strip set and cut several pieces the same angle, then make a matching strip set and cut several of the opposing angles. That way, there would be less waste--- but I want the leftovers        : )

I hope that's clear. Any questions just ask.  If you make one, I'd love to see!

stats:
Arrow pattern: making it up as I went along
fabrics:  scraps,  with text low volume backgrounds ( pure, eclectic elements, word play, various black on cream)
block size : 4 1/2" x 20" or  23"  whatever you decide!

Diane Warburton-- you asked about the backgrounds but I had no way of replying. There is no info on your google+ profile and you came up as no-reply. Hope this helps  : )

linking up with Fresh Sewing Day