Friday, April 26, 2024

Mystery Quilt Display


 I just finished the top of the Mystery Quilt.  Here is a picture of it.  Since I was on a trip (more details below) I didn't really complete each step as it was given and until I saw the final picture, I just couldn't imagine what it was going to look like.  It really was a mystery!


The next step, of course, will be to find a backing fabric and then quilt and bind it.

I recently took a trip to visit my sister near Chicago and from there I went to Kansas City, KS to visit our youngest son and his family.  My husband joined me there and we had a wonderful time with our 2 grandsons, ages 13 and 15.  They are such sweet and loving boys!  The dog, Olaf, thinks I'm his grandmother too!

One night we were all watching a movie in our PJs and Olaf squeezed into my chair with me.   

Of course he had to be able to watch the movie too!  The family is so busy and one day I ran a errand for them.  As I was just ready to go home, I caught the word "quilts" out of the corner of my eye and thinking quickly, I turned into the shopping center to look for a quilt shop.  I found it and saw they were having a "going out of business" sale!!!  All fabrics were 40 - 45% off!!  This is what I purchased.  Some of the pieces are large enough to use for backings, but I don't yet know how I will use them.  See them below.
I didn't get the Christmas fabric there, but saw it in another town and decided to get it because I had never seen it before and I really liked it!




When we returned to McMinnville, this beautiful sight greeted us!



Happy quilting this spring!

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

iPad Cover

I recently purchased an iPad and realized that I would need a case to keep it in when carrying it out and about.  I looked on Etsy for a pattern to use and found one at the Napkitten Pattern Etsy site.  I was rather intimidated when I saw that there were 27 pages of instructions!  I dug out some fabric from my stash and had enough fabric and elastic.  The only thing I had to purchase was one yard of heavy duty iron on interfacing.  I followed the directions carefully and after 1 1/2 days it was finished.


I was finally able to use this piece of vintage upholstery fabric that I had purchased at a garage sale years ago.  I also had the red fabric and gold fabric that I used.



It can stand up for watching a program on it or following a recipe in the kitchen.


 I was pretty proud of myself after getting this finished!   

My quilt guild has a UFO challenge and we had to make a list of 5 items that need finishing.  Then at the meeting, there was a drawing and number 3 was picked, meaning that we have until our May meeting to finish it.  The one that was #3 is a baby quilt that I am almost finished with, so I won't have any problem finishing it on time.  If you look at my March 3 post and scroll down to see what is on my design wall, the baby quilt is hanging on the right side.  It looks like it is finished, but the hexes need to be all sewn together by hand.  Most of them are sewn together already and there are five or six left.

We have had a few gorgeous days here in Oregon and have really enjoyed it.  The trees are blooming and the daffodils have been out for a few weeks.

Happy Spring!

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Two Beautiful Quilts from the Quilt Show and More

It has taken me a while to finish getting all the pictures of quilts added to my blog.  This one is one of the best quilts in the show.



Another beauty!

I'm sorry it took so long for me to get these quilt pictures added.  Next I took a picture of my design wall which is behind my chair. 



 On the left is a quilt top that I put together from a panel that I bought at the quilt show.  The sashing and borders are from my stash - valentine fabrics that I have had for years and was thinking of giving away, but glad that I didn't.  To the right of that top is a baby quilt that I have had in the works for a few years and have neglected it a lot.  It is on my UFO list and I decided to work on it and now it is almost finished!

Canuck Quilter is having a Two Color Mystery Quilt-Along and I signed up for it.  Then I kind of forgot about it, so I am a little bit behind.  Yesterday I went to my local quilt shop, Boersma's, to get fabric for the baby quilt size.  I decided to sign up for this because I have been a "blogger friend" of Canuck Quilter for a long time.  When I first started a blog, it was on the American Patchwork and Quilting blog that they advertised in the magazine back in November of 2007.  There were other quilters that started then and Canuck Quilter was one.  I'm not sure exactly when she started, but after a while the magazine decided to close their blog and a bunch of us transferred to Blogspot.  Later, in 2010, there were 12 people in the "APQ Blogging Buddies" group.  We followed and commented on each others posts and even made a "friendship" quilt together!  I have met some of the other members of the group in person.

Anyway, if you go to her blog site, I believe you can still sign up for it.  She has become a quilt designer and has patterns for sale in a lot of shops, including Boersma's!!  Right before Christmas they had one of her patterns hanging next to the Christmas fabric!  The quilt-along pattern is free for people who sign up before April 11.  She sends out notices on Thursdays, so I am looking forward to seeing that one in a couple days.  I started cutting the fabric yesterday and I think the next notice will tell us to start sewing pieces together!  

While at Boersma's, we (my next door neighbor and I) saw this new quilt hanging and thought you might like to see it too.


We loved it and I took a couple of pictures (not the best) that will give you an idea.  My friend's hand is pointing out the binding.  Boersma's shop is wonderful and is only about a mile from my house!  Very convenient, right?  Well, thanks for visiting again.  I better get eat breakfast and get ready for walking with 2 neighbors.  One owns the hand in the picture and we have walked together for about 10 years now.  

Thursday, February 29, 2024

More Quilts from the Oregon Quilt Festival

 Before I add the pictures I want to tell you that I am now trying to help quilters in my guild who want to learn how to quilt their own quilts.  I learned how to do the quilting from some other bloggers and I am forever grateful to them.  One of the first quilters that I contacted was Elaine Adair Elaine Adair Pieces in Nebraska.  She was kind enough to give me some advice and I was very encouraged to continue.  Then, sometime in 2011, Joann from Thread Head started a year long, monthly challenge with actual experts in quilting giving us training and then an assignment to complete.  This really got me going and was a great boost to my quilting.  Since then, I have quilted all my own quilts and have even won a lot of ribbons for them.  

Two friends came over today and I shared some of my ideas on quilting and they practiced a little on my sewing machine.  I hope I will be able to help the quilters that are interested in quilting their own quilts and give them the encouragement to practice and keep working on it.

Now on to more quilts from the quilt show!  I tried to get pictures of the description as well, but didn't get all of them.



















This will be it for today.  I will add a few more next time when I get more organized.  Thanks for visiting!

Monday, February 26, 2024

The Oregon Quilt Festival

 Finally I am getting pictures for you.  I'm sorry it has taken me so long.  I was having problems getting the pictures to transfer from my phone to my computer.  I can't do a post on my phone, so I just had to transfer them a little at a time.  First I will show you some of my favorites and best of show.

This is the Judge's Choice and it is my favorite quilt!




This one was amazing.  It is a raffle quilt that will be featured at a quilt show in Eugene OR in May.  I love it but wouldn't want to make it.

















This one was awarded Best of Show and it was made totally with stitching thread for the picture of trees and sky.  


This lion was best of show too.  Can there be more than one Best of Show?  Just wondering.  The lion is so bright!!
 

This is the one that I entered into the show (and I didn't win a ribbon).  The colors don't seem as good as they are in person.


The daffodils are blooming now!


That's all for today.  I will show more of them in a couple days. 




Monday, January 29, 2024

CUTE TEDDY BEARS, ETC.

For several years there has been a vendor at lots of the same craft shows where I am a vendor selling teddy bears that she makes.  These teddy bears are just adorable and so snuggly!  I was able to get these two!  Jeanne Weirich's motto is "comforting hearts one bear at a time" and her Dad, who is in assisted living, helps her stuff them.

While at my quilt guild meeting last month, one of the members had some fabrics that she was giving away and I couldn't resist this fabric with children showing their teeth.  I decided to make a small wall hanging for my dentist and I put a large tooth in the middle as you can see.  I will take this to the dentist on my next appointment in March.  I hope they like it.



The Oregon Quilt Festival is coming soon - February 15-17, 2024.  I will be a vendor and have been making items to sell. If you live in Oregon or near enough to Salem I hope you will come to it!  It will be held at the Oregon State Fair Grounds, 10AM - 5PM (until 4PM on Saturday).  Admission is $12 for adults and $8 for children under 12.  Go to Oregon Quilt Festival for more information.  And, I hope to see you there!


 January is almost gone already!  Time to get the Valentine decorations out.