Lunch Box Social Flimsy

For years I have put Lunch Box Social on my yearly goals list, and for years I have failed to accomplish it. But no more! About a month ago I cut it out with the intention of making it on a sewing day with the girls, and while that did not happen, I did continue working on it through the past few weeks, and today have finished off the top by adding the outer borders.

The pattern is by Kim Diehl, whose designs I just about always like. This one has been around for awhile, like over 5 years, I'm sure, and ever since I saw the one my friend Terry made, I've wanted to make one, too.

And now I find myself wondering why I had such an attitude about doing it! Gosh, it was so simple! There are only 9 blocks needed, and while each block has quite a few pieces, they go together quite easily. I had definitely been making it a bigger job than it was.

The block is made with rather an ingenious method of construction. The center 9-patch measures out at 3.5 inches. Instead of triangles surrounding the 9-patch, you add rectangles. The triangles are formed when the anvils are added to the corners. How nice not to have too many triangles to fuss with. 

Diehl's design also calls for hefty sashing strips, and uses more 3.5 inch 9-patches for cornerstones. My fabrics were all pulled from my stash, and it's quite a variety of old and new. With the goal of scrappy-looking, I really used a lot of variety in the 9-patches. The consistent neutral background and the brown and pink stripe for sashing and block triangles, it really looks more ordered than it might otherwise.

In the last post, I referenced several near-finishes I have in the quilting room. This is one. Now, to check it off the list, and move on to the next one.

I am still fighting the sinus congestion, and I am not happy about it! I have never had a sinus infection linger the way this one is. Ugh.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Kim Diehl Mini Finished!

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! The Queen of Procrastination has finished a UFO!

Shouting from the rooftops and ramparts, this is a finish I am sooo happy to finally share.

Our Frankfort Girls group met for a pseudo "camp" last June at Terry's, and every day for that week, most of us worked on making the blocks for this little sew-along hosted by Kim Diehl on her IG feed. I am sure all the others had theirs finished ages ago while I was stuck in UFO land. On June 11, 2019, I posted my flimsy.

Over a year to finally finish this little gem. *smh*

The reason for my long, long delay? Well, numerous issues popped up after I marked the entire quilt with the Pounce marking tool - it just made a mess of chalk dust everywhere, and it faded off before I could get to the outer edges, and it smeared too much. A total fail, IMO.

So I put it aside for awhile (months) while I stewed on how to proceed. I finally determined that I could re-create the markings with a white pencil. I did that with decent success. I may have fudged a bit on the overall quilting design, but I didn't sweat it.

Then, daggone it, I ran out of the floss I was using to do the big-stitch quilting. The trouble there was that I had no clue as to what the color number was; it was a bit of floss without a color number; I miscalculated on having enough to do the job. Again, I set it aside for awhile (more months) deciding how to proceed.

Then one day in mid-June, I found myself in Hobby Lobby walking through the sewing section. Right there staring me in the face was all the embroidery floss. I pulled out 4 different browns figuring that I would get at least ONE of them to work well enough to finish this mini. And I did. It is really obvious in a side-by-side comparison that the original brown is different from the new one, but when you look at this mini in these pictures, I doubt very much if anyone would see the inconsistency.

I love a story with a happy ending. Even when the ending takes way too many months to unfold.

Hope you are having a great Sunday! We entertained a big bunch of extended family here today; our house was full  - as well as our hearts! I am linking with Slow Sunday Stitching over at Kathy's Quilts. Check out all the pretties when you have a moment.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Simple Whatnots

The group I quilt with regularly, The Frankfort Girls, all have a fondness for designer Kim Diehl's quilts - her colors, her unique block combinations, her "look." One of Diehl's book, Simple Whatnots, features several mini quilts, and a subscription-style club was formed to receive monthly kits for each quilt in that Whatnots book. The name of the club? The Simple Whatnots Club, of course.

One of our group, Terry, joined the club and has had tremendous fun making these little darlings. Some of us are kicking ourselves for not joining in. Here's a link to some of Terry's earlier Whatnots quilts,

Take a look at these adorable mini-quilts that she recently shared with us.

My picture quality turns out to be pretty bad, but I hope you can see the beauty in these little creations. I have close-ups on a couple of them; perhaps they will look a little better.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Simple Friendships 2 Quilt Along

Yesterday, author and fabric designer Kim Diehl posted her final installment of her mini-quilt-along on Instagram and Facebook. It has been a fun ride, and I am happy to show you my finished top today.

Every Monday for the past 5 weeks, we have been given instructions for a couple of blocks. It has been fun using her signature fabrics/colors as well as learning a few tips and tricks that she has shared along the way.

Last week while we sewed at Terry's, most of us Frankfort girls worked on these blocks. We decided early on that we would be a mini-group doing a mini-quilt-along for a mini-quilt. Sounds good to me!

I have a tub-full of remaining fabric, as this barely made a dent in the little Kim Diehl collection I've hoarded. I believe I will peruse her books - I have several - to see what I want to make with the rest. I may have a hard time making up my mind, as just about all her designs appeal to me.

Next up for this mini-quilt, is spray-basting and big-stitch hand quilting. I believe I can add that to the growing number of projects for my baseball-watching evenings.

To read more about the quilt-along just finished, visit either site above for directions over the past five weeks. The patterns are all in her book Simple Friendships II.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

A Week of Quilting With the Frankfort Girls

What a week we have had! Sewing at Terry's house! Every day! While her DH is away on a hunting trip, she has had tables set up in her family room for us to come and sew all day, every day.

I have been able to make it over each day except Tuesday when I went to the APQS demonstration. My focus for the week has been to catch up with the Kim Diehl quilt-along, Simple Friendships 2. It is a mini quilt and we are in the fourth of its five weeks. Nice and short, in other words. I now have all my blocks made and await the final week's instructions for finishing. All the blocks are in her book, Simple Friendships II from Martingale Publishing.

Week 1 blocks

Week 2 block

Week 2 block

Week 3 blocks

Week 4 blocks

Others in our group have also been working on this quilt-along. Sheryll, Helen, Terry, Jan and Becky are all making Simple Friendship blocks. I will try to bring pictures of some of their pretties in an upcoming post. There are several other projects under construction at any given time, and those, too, I will do my best to photograph for you.

Since my blocks for this quilt-along are finished, I have moved on to the June blocks of the Quilter's Planner quilt-along. They are cut out and waiting for me to stitch today.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

A Cutting Frenzy

I'd like to think I am in the middle of a cutting frenzy, and perhaps by my normal standards, I am; however, I'm actually doing this in a rather slow and methodical way.

Yesterday's post referenced a quilt that we all have the option of working on together at our upcoming retreat at Canter's Cave. The quilt is called Best of All by Country Threads. Terry made hers awhile back, and when we all saw it, we loved it, and the idea was born to do a group-sew - make the same pattern with our own fabrics.

Terry unveiled her version of Best of All back in 2015, I believe. A group of us were at her house for a day of sewing. Jan suggested that we each make one and most of us agreed that it would be fun. Jan cut hers out almost immediately. I now have mine ready. Here are the fabrics I pulled.

Since each block is made individually, I wondered how I could best keep each block separated and organized. I tried using little baggies, but this became a problem because I would forget which parts I'd cut and which still needed to be cut and were enough of each piece cut -yada-yada-yada- I needed a different plan.

Because I'd just glued several hexies and POTC parts to cardstock/paper, I thought maybe a modified version of that method would work for these blocks, too. Here is a picture of how I ended up doing it. I didn't need glue, and I didn't lay out the entire block, but I did lay out approximately a quarter of a block so that each part of the block was in place. I stacked them in a box, one on top of the other, separating each with a sheet of paper.

 You can see that I've used a cardboard box from the grocer's; the can marks are visible under my first block.The box will be easily transported to the retreat. I will wrap it up somehow to keep all the parts where I want them. Weight them down, first, perhaps. Yes, this should work well.

This picture shows that several are stacked on top of that first block. It was a system that ended up working rather well, so I will probably use it again when I cut out this next quilt, called (I think) Baskets; it's a Kim Diehl quilt from her book Simple Abundance. Again, Terry has made this quilt, and it's a beauty.

So far, I have only pulled the fabrics; no cutting yet. Remember, I'm slow and methodical, you now. Below are my fabric choices for Baskets.

Gotta' get busy!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Taking a Breather

I hadn't realized how consumed I'd become with that craft show last Saturday. Too many other things had been let go, and today I think I need to take a deep breath and deal with them. I just loaded the dishwasher with all the dirty dishes that had piled up in the sink. After I finish this blog, I will deal with folding the last load of laundry (still in dryer), kitty litter, and putting away all the debris from the craft show - piles of quilts and other items, fabric, signs, miscellaneous.

Then I am going to finish the t-shirt quilt top I've had on the guest bed for about a week. It needs the rows sewn together and the border attached. I'd love to take it to Terry's tomorrow to leave for quilting.

Since I have no new sewing to share, I will treat you to a quilt show by three of the Frankfort girls. These were shared on Friday morning at Sheryll's house when we got together for stitching. Above, is Jan's positive-negative quilt. Isn't it wonderful?? She gave me these details: she used 10 light fat quarters and 10 dark fat quarters to make the blocks. There are 3 of each combination. Wouldn't it be a fun - and fast - quilt to make? I am very, very tempted to add this to my list of "someday quilts."

The basket quilt above is a Terry creation. She used the pattern Lunch Box Social from Kim Diehl's book Simple Appeal. Gosh, I have just fallen in love with this quilt. Sheryll brought down all her KD books - she has most of them - and we all made wishlists. This definitely is one I want to make.

This quilt top is another one that Terry recently finished. Their guild had a 3- or 4-day retreat not long ago, so they all have much accomplished. This is another Kim Diehl pattern, and I think it is also from the same book, Simple Appeal. Impressive - both the quilt and the fact that Terry could stitch this in such short order!

For several months, I have been showing you pictures of work that Sheryll has been doing on her work shirt quilts. Her brother-in-law recently passed away, and her sister asked Sheryll to make quilts of his shirts for their children and herself. All in all, 7 quilts were to be made. What diligence on Sheryll's part! I show you the one above, as all 7 are the same pattern. And I am so proud to report that Sheryll has finished all 7 quilts.What an accomplishment! Buttonhole-stitch applique on the borders - I wouldn't even consider it!

Below is a closeup of the appliqued border. Exquisite work. Sheryll is a master! She purchased the gray flannel for the border and the beige flannel for the background. All the rest is made from the shirts.

 

Another quilt top Sheryll shared with us is this orange peel quilt. She used the pre-printed fusible interfacing that is out now. Her use of the reproduction fabrics on an off-white background makes for an absolutely stunning quilt. I seriously have never given a fleeting thought of making one of these for myself, but this one is so scrumptious, I think I could be talked into it.

Also from Sheryll - I told you they'd been busy at their retreat! - a basket quilt from who else but Kim Diehl. We are all rather enamored with her work lately, aren't we? This is a wall hanging, and will be a great addition to Sheryll's Christmas decorating. The outer border and inner background are very muted tones, and the red inner border and baskets really pop, don't they?

Last but not least, this BOM Challenge that Sheryll finished. Their guild has fun activities like this that members can opt to participate in. The blocks are all by Thimbleberries, and one block was assigned for each month. At each meeting, those participating would show their most recent block. I think that would be a really good way to stay motivated. This would have been fun to get in on.

And that concluded our Monday morning quilt show. Hope you are motivated to get going on some fantastic creations of your own!

Happy Quilting, Friends!