Craft Update

On Thursday, the Frienzies were here for brunch. You read all about the big day in my last post. You also read that we did a quick and easy craft. After we finished said craft, everyone agreed that the glammed-up candy dishes were top-heavy; they had a strong tendency to tip over with just the slightest jostling. Some of the girls have remedied the situation, and the results look fantastic. Here's the before picture.

They sure look pretty, and they were certainly easy to build, but we quickly realized that tipping was a concern. Someone mentioned that adding a flat base would solve the problem. Three Frienzies have followed through. Take a look.

Pam had lots of mismatched plates which had been used at a family wedding, so she grabbed one and glued it on. Perfect!

Hettie painted a base in festive, holiday green and attached it to the red pedestal. Works great with the red and green M&Ms.

Susan used a spatter-ware plate to stabilize her candy dish. It gives it more of a country look, wouldn't you say? It works, for sure. I am glad everyone has taken these different directions with the base. They are individualized; each one is really reflective of the maker.

Also in the last post, I shared my little impromptu quilt made while Sharon and I sewed. I have taken a better picture of it, and thought you'd like to take a look.

Pom Pom de Paris is an old fabric line from French General; I had a FQ pack that I'd just barely dipped into. I could make several more of these. Maybe I will. Currently undecided. *grin*

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Sewing With Sharon

After the Frienzie Brunch on Thursday, Sharon and I headed upstairs to the sewing room. We have been so sporadic in our sewing these past few months. And with my OUC schedule changing next semester, it will get worse before it gets better.

When presented an opportunity for sewing, it must be seized!

Sharon wanted to continue working on her Chock Full O' Charm quilt, which she did. And I have no new pictures of her progress to share. I can use this throwback picture from November, however.

I had a chance to do a bit of fun sewing. Several months ago, Sheryll (of the Frankfort Girls) shared a couple of cute creations that I attempted to imitate. The fabric is Pom Pom de Paris. (I think!)

The center panel is a 6.5-inch square fussy-cut from a fat quarter. The borders were cut at 1.5 inches, and the outer border was cut at 3.5 inches. The finished size is 21.5 inches and it is now ready for quilting. Or, I might make more and see what I come up with.

It felt good to get back to the sewing machine. All the holiday prepping and semester finishing and friendly gathering have limited the sewing time. I do love all those other things, and savor them all for the blessings they are. Sewing/quilting is always on standby when things slow down.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Progress on Elizabeth

Yes, I have progressed. Surprisingly - to me, anyway - I have stayed right with this quilt and am now to the stage where I begin putting the top together. All the "parts" are constructed - hooray! I will lay these parts out on the bed to arrange them in a pleasing way. Really, it can mostly be random, but those 4 Delectable Mountains in the center should be the prettiest of all, so I will audition my options and go from there.

These 8 FQs of pink and 6 FQs of neutral were the last bits to be constructed. They were also pretty easy. In addition to being the main part of the Delectable Mountains, these become the setting 4-patch blocks and the side and corner triangles. Very pretty in the randomness of it all. It will be fun putting the pieces in place.

All 24 Delectable Mountains blocks are ready to go. The way the blocks are laid out will turn those dark points into a wonderful interior border around the entire quilt.

Sigh...so pretty. I love the softness of the fabrics and I love the way the blue, brown and red "pop." The individual fabrics are identified in this post, in case you wondered.

Elizabeth parts are stacked up and ready for action! It may happen this weekend; or I could save it for taking with me Tuesday when a bunch of us are sewing at Terry's. Yet to be determined.

Go check out the linky party at Crazy Mom Quilts - there's some lovely stuff happening in 2017!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Last Sewing Day with Sharon ~

or a while, anyway. Right after Labor Day, we both start our adjunct positions at Ohio University-Chillicothe. I teach on Tuesdays and Thursdays; she teaches on Mondays and Wednesdays. That will not be very conducive to spending a day at the sewing machine, will it? So we had our swan song today at my house; we did look ahead at the calendar to see when the quarter will be over. We've penciled in a date for starting back up at the end of November. So a hiatus is upon is, that's all. We agreed today that this has been a wonderful weekly event that has kept us moving on our projects and has seen us finish off quite a few quilt tops! Sharon has even had a few of her quilted. So, we know we must continue when our schedules will allow.

Remember last week, when Sharon took a Pom Pom de Paris jelly roll and began a "race" quilt? Well, take a look at this beauty!

After we sewed last week, she said she was so motivated to continue working on this, that she just kept right on sewing and finished the quilt center. Then, on Saturday, after our tea party (see previous post) we made a stop in Waynesville at Fabric Shack. There, she found the fabrics she wanted for her borders and backing. Her only goal today was to get this top finished!!

An unassuming shop from the outside, Fabric Shack is packed full of fabrics.

 So, Sharon is in a good place to be putting sewing and quilting on the back burner for awhile; turning her focus to OUC classes must take center stage for a bit ~ and for me, too.

I, however, have a long way to go before I can call this quilt top complete. I've got a lot of triangles to press and stitch into hourglass blocks.

I did, though, go ahead and make a block. I just couldn't help myself. What do you think??

One block of September Stars.

I am actually glad I did make an early block because I know now that my measurements are slightly larger than what the pattern says they ought to be. I cut the center square according to the directions, and it was just a smidge too small. I used it anyway, but on all the others I cut, I am planning to add a quarter of an inch to compensate.

Happy Quilting Friends!
I must be off! I've got stuff to do!